It's Friday . . . Let's Dance

While you are reading this I will be letting the train take the strain getting the 16:57 from Euston back to civilisation.

I had totally forgotten about today's track until I was scrolling through the posts on Pure Club Classics when I came across a posting for the Brothers in Rhythm remix of Here Comes The Rain Again which I remembered being rather good.

I'm sure that the first time that I heard this was on the radio during a Brothers In Rhythm mix on Pete Tong's Essential mix. I remember trying to hunt the track down only to find out that it was only available as one of the Remix Culture releases from DMC which were exclusively available to DJs and therefore rarer than hobby horse shit.

Anyway, after down loading the track from Pure Club Classics and finding that it has aged quite well I decided to see if I could find a copy on Discogs. After clicking on to what has to be the best and for me probably the costliest website I have as a bookmark I found out that it was actually part of a double pack 12" with other remixes of the likes of Salt n Pepa and Degrees Of Motion. There was a quite reasonably priced copy for sale so I decided to take a punt on it. When it arrived, as I suspected none of the other tracks were as good as Eurythmics remix but I think I still got a pretty good deal as it was worth it for the Brothers in Rhythm mix alone.

Have a good weekend people.

The Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again (The Big Brothers Annual Outing)

Lazy Week pt 4

Up until a couple of years ago I was under the impression that today's track was a Cramps original. With a title like Goo Goo Muck, I thought that it had to come from the demented minds of Lux and Ivy.

How wrong I was, not only was it not an original but it was first recorded in 1962 by Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads.

Ronnie Cook and The Gaylads - Goo Goo Muck

Lazy Week pt3

The Fall have picked some songs to cover which at first glance induce a shudder of absolute incredulity, for example Black Night by Deep Purple, sometimes they work wonderfully as in the sublime cover of Lost In Music at other times the work less well and today's choice of tune should definitely be included in the later category, suffice to say it isn't one of the group's finest moments.

I have no idea what  possessed Smith to cover Houston by Dean Martin, maybe he felt an affinity with the Hollywood star as Martin was also a bit of a jakey but I can find no details anywhere of  Dino being a gutless, robbing bastard, so that's just conjecture on my part.

Houston was released as a single in 1965 as a single and was produced by the great Lee Hazelwood.

Dean Martin - Houston

Lazy Week pt 2

Well at least the performance review is over for another 6 months. I have no idea whether I am where I should be or not and anyway it's all arbitrary as there is a curve to follow and we can't have too many people doing well as that wouldn't fit in with whoever's bullshit theory the curve was, I'm sure I could find out if I really gave a toss. That's not to say I don't give a shit about my work, it's just all the bullshit that I can't be doing with.

Anyway,  back to the important stuff, Surfin' Bird is probably the maddest song ever and one that always puts a smile on my face. The song itself, borrows heavily from Papa Oom Mow Mow by The Rivingtons. It was released in 1963 in the US and got to number two. Apparently it was re released over here in 2009 and was also used in a campaign for stopping the last cack factor winner getting to number 1 last year. Both of which I was oblivious about.

The Cramps version was produced by Alex Chilton and was released in 1978. However the first version I ever remember hearing was the Ramones version which was on their third album Rocket To Russia.

The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird

Lazy Week pt 1

Right, I have a really shit week ahead.

End of year review today and three days in the smoke to look forward to. So I have decided to do a week of original songs that were either covered by the Cramps or The Fall, two of the most plagiaristic bands in my collection, indeed a couple of this weeks track will have been covered by both. Both bands however put their own inimitable slant on anything they cover.

First up we have Strychnine by the Sonics and released on their 1965 album Here Are The Sonics, the track was also included on the seminal Nuggets compilation of 60s US Garage bands.

This was also the last track that waste of space and fuck-wit Smith sung from the stage the other Thursday in Edinburgh. The Fall's version can be found on The Complete Peel Sessions and various live things. The Cramps version appears on Songs The Lord Taught Us.

The Sonics - Strychnine

Crimson & Clover

Prince's version of this came on the mp3 player on Thursday during my long journey up the road from Nottingham when I rashly opted to drive rather than wait the three hours for my flight home.

I think that Joan Jett's versdion is my favourite,  just a baw hair in front of the original by Tommy James and The Shondells.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Crimson & Clover

Eye Know

Some Daisy Age hip-hop for you. Back in the day when there was no East Coast/West Coast shit going on and guys rapped about more than money, ho's and guns. It seems so long ago.

It was a bloody long time ago, twenty one years ago to be precise.

De La Soul - Eye Know (Daisy Bass mix)

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance

I don't know about you but I'm in the mood for some uplifting house music, courtesy of Strictly Rhthym.

I am not ashamed to admit that I cried the first time I heard this, granted I was full of more than just emotion that night but still.

Have a good weekend people.

South Street Player - (Who?) Keeps Changing Your Mind

Lest We Forget

For 

Cpl Andrew Wingate

Private James Little

 Eric Bogle - No Man's Land

Pop Perfection

Is there a more perfect pop song?

The Ronettes - Be My Baby

Black Satin

I wish that this duo would tour over here sometime soon. As I've said on numerous occassions they make a beautiful racket live and to a lesser extent on vinyl.

This track comes from their third full album Lust Lust Lust released in 2007.

The Raveonettes - Black Satin

Look At Me Now

Terry Callier has had a sort of renaissance over the last few years what with supplying vocals for the likes of Massive Attack and working with Farley & Heller and Paul Weller amongst others.

His recording career stretches back to 1963 and covering the genres of Jazz, Soul and Folk. Not the kind of stuff that you would associate with northern soulbut tunes like Ordinary Joe and today's posting caught the attention of the more discerning on the scene.

Look At Me Know was originally released on the Cadet label in 1968 and pretty much sank without a trace until it was embraced by the northern fraternity. These days an original copy of the 7" will set you back at least a couple of hundred quid, well worth it if you have that kind of spare cash.

Terry Callier - Look At Me Now

Science of Silence

Do you think that the similarity to Neil Diamond is intentional?

I really like this song even although the lyrics are pretty crap. Does that mean that I am secretly a fan of Song Sung Blue?  Certainly not.

Richard Ashcroft - Science of Silence.

I'm off to see The Airborne Toxic Event tonight, yippee, @ the Arches, yuck!

A Plague For The Naive

This post was prompted by the track that Scott over at Spools Paradise uploaded yesterday.

Just Like Fred Astaire is probably my favourite song by James. When I hear it I cannot help but smile it is such a an upbeat optimistic song, the last verse especially.

Meteors may strike the earth
Nations live and die
I'm the boy who got the girl
Who showed me how to fly
We can cross the race divide
Bridge a gap that wasn't really there
I'm gonna hold her in my charm
Just like Fred Astaire

Not a bad way to start a Sunday.

James - Just Like Fred Astaire

Massive Attack Vs Burial

I have thought long and hard about posting this in it's entirety as it is brand new. I don't generally do this, if a new record comes out then if I think that others may like it I will post a track off of the record but not the whole thing. But a couple of factors have pushed me into posting both sides.

Firstly, this is a limited release, only 1000 copies were pressed, with no repress and no digital release. I think that both of these tracks need to be heard by more than the maybe six hundred or so people that have bought the record to listen to. Which brings me onto my second point.

Even before the release date their were copies of this for sale on ebay with a starting price of north of a hundred and fifty quid. The single was originally on sale for £25 but somehow without doing anything other than clicking a button someone decides that they should make six times that amount. This kind of shit really pisses me off. These gets have got copies over fans who would love to have the record just to listen to,  for the sole purpose of making money. That is not what music is all about.

I know there are loads of people who say that a record such as this should never have had this sort of exclusivity as there are so many people who would be interested in this collaboration and you know, they are right it should have been made more available in some format, maybe a bog standard 12" single or cd. But it was decided that the record would be released the way that it is and I was lucky enough to get a copy.

One thing I can assure you of is that the record will be played as have the two previous Massive Attack limited editions from the vinyl factory. Yes the covers are beautiful but records are meant to be played and records that are so lovingly produced using the very best press and true craftsmen deserve to be played and not sealed away as some sort of investment.

It is my hope that by posting this single, there is a little less interest in the vinyl copies on  ebay put there by vampires who have no interest in the music and are only out for money. I realise that they will still sell for the reasons above but if they make even 10% less than they factored for I will be happy.

So much for the bullshit Drew, I hear you say. What you want to know is how do the tracks sound. The answer to which is absolutely fucking wonderful. What else did you expect?

I would download as soon as possible as I feel a DMCA notice winging it's way to me as I type.

Massive Attack vs Burial - Four Walls

Massive Attack vs Burial - Paradise Circus

It's Friday . . Let's Dance

In anticipation of D's week of Techno Classics over at Acid Ted I decided that we would have some serious heavy duty dance shenanigans this Friday.

Who better then the Baron of Techno, Dave Clarke. Here is Robert Hood's mix of Clarke's seminal Red 2 release Wisdom To The Wise. So you really are getting two legends of techno for the price of one.

Oh, and SA, get your head out of the bass bin it's not good for you.

Have a good weekend people.

Dave Clarke - Wisdom To The Wise (Robert Hood remix)

Well,  that was what you were supposed to be getting, however I  am having technical difficulties with the ripping of vinyl for some reason today, so  instead .  . .

Dave Clarke - Red 1

Enough Is Enough

Well Smith has done it once more in Edinburgh, took the piss out of the people he makes a living from and sadly I was there to see it again.

The venue was busy, busier than I had expected and without doubt the biggest venue the Fall have played north of the border for some time. By 20:45, the time the band were supposed to come on stage the place was just about full.

Two minutes to nine the band take to the stage followed by Smith less than a minute later which was pretty surprising as it usually takes him three or four minutes to wander on and bask in the adulation (which he pretends to ignore). From the off the band sounded good although it was difficult to hear Tim Presley's guitar until half way through the fourth song when Smith turned the guitar amp up probably the only thing he added to the evening as he then sauntered off stage. I looked at Stiff who shook his head in disbelief, it was happening again.

The band then launched into Laptop and Smith proceeded to deliver the vocals from backstage which was mildly amusing for the first couple of minutes but when he continued to do so for the next song I have to admit my patience expired. And that was it the band struggled through a further 7 songs with no input from Smith whatsoever and then left the stage.

The wife came back on to explain that Smith had sore feet, sore fucking feet! Stiff, Myself and a good number of the crowd then left the building. Apparently the band did come back on for an encore of Mr Pharmacist with Smith briefly taking to the stage but I was on my road home by then, having once again wasted my hard earned money on that fucking waster.

I have decided that, other than when the gruppe are playing Glasgow that will be the last time that I will see them live. I know it may sound like a bit of a cliche but he wouldn't get away with that kind of behaviour in Glasgow, the audience is just not as easy going and Smith knows that. It has to be said that the man is an out and out git and also a  bit of a spineless bastard, leaving the group to take the abuse from the crowd that he knows will follow him leaving the stage because we all know as the fud himself said "if it's me and yir granny on bongos, then it's the Fall" and also hiding behind his wife, having her come out and explain to the crowd why your not there, yeah Mark, really grown up that, taking responsibility for your actions.

Two things that really gaulled me about last night, firstly the band sounded brilliant, very tight which is quite surprising when you realise that the guitarist stepped in at the last minute and had only a couple of weeks to rehearse the new material. Which shows that if Smith had been at all interested it could have been a brilliant gig

And secondly, I just can't fathom the mentality of the fanboys who are prepared to let Smith get away with this shit and they are not in the minority. They obviously have money to burn and are quite happy to be made mugs of by this absolute tosser who In their eyes can do no wrong. Here are a few of the responses posted on the Fall forum regarding last night's pish.

Was a great Fall gig, band were tight, memorable, (just) over an hour from first appearance to the end of Mr P

Anyone that seriously appreciates the band and comes without the review already written would have come away positive after tonight.

I hope everyone going to the rest of the dates gets it as good

Great gig. much better than the Studio 24 Debacle.


Hope he gets better soon..

I fear that that my obsession with the Fall might be just about over what with this and also what I think is a pretty mediocre new album. I will not stop buying new releases and searching for that elusive vinyl copy of The Marshall Suite I just don't think that I will be eagerly awaiting each new release or wishing that they were touring again.

Here is something by a band who never disappoint, well not yet that might all change on Monday night and a group, who could teach Smith a thing or two about his so called work ethic.


Airborne Toxic Event - Missy (live)

A Full Gig This Time Please

I'm off to see the Fall tonight. The first time since last April when Smith decided that we didn't deserve a full gig for our money. So I am more than a little anxious about tonight as it is also in Edinburgh but at the Picture House, a venue I have not been to before but have heard that it is larger than the usual venues the gruppe play up here, so hoping that it will be more than half full.

Another reason for my nervousness, is that I got hold of a snidey download of the new album a couple of days ago and am still not sure whether I like it or not. It may just be a grower but the track that everybody has been going on about "Greenway", I really don't like.

On the plus side Smith seems to be becoming more enlightened these days, as the guitarist has been granted paternity leave.  His place being filled by Tim Presley, one of the Dudes who filled in when Smith was left band less in the middle of an American Tour and who recorded and toured the Reformation Post TLC. Changed days from when Marc Riley asked if his girlfriend could get on the guest list and got the answer "fuck off, she can pay like everybody else"!

The Fall - Reformation

Sinead O'Connor

I've always had loads of admiration for Sinead O'Connor. I love the way she says exactly what she thinks and does not worry about the consequences. I also loved how she sort of pitched herself against the music industry and did things on her own terms.

Although neither of the above factors would have meant a lot if she didn't have the talent to back up these actions and by god does she have talent and a voice that could melt the heart of the most cynical of cynics. If anybody can make a Lloyd Webber/Rice song sound essential really does have something special.

This is the song I was going to post on Sunday but got waylaid due to events.

Sinead O'Connor - Thank You For Hearing Me

What Do You Think?

When the clocks go back and the nights start to draw in up here in the north, I always find myself reaching for some John Martyn and in particular Small Hours for some reason.

A couple of weeks ago I did a post concerning the White Label, Stolen Voices album and mentioned that they had cut up, for want of a better word, Small Hours. At the time I was quite disparaging about this, as fucking about with that song is akin to Michael Bolton covering Dock Of The Bay. Anyway, after repeated listens I have grown to quite like what has been done with it, granted it can not compare to the sheer beauty of the original but it has a charm all of it's own, I think anyway.

See what you think.

White Label/Stolen Voices - John 2

and here is a version that you may not have heard of Small Hours from the US mixes of One World. I cannot take the credit for bringing this to your attention, it was kindly sent to me by Dubrobots, a Martyn aficionado and frequent commenter.

John Martyn - Small Hours (US mix)

Gui Boratto

At the end of last year I was bemoaning the lack of what I considered to good full albums that had been released and was pondering why this was so. Was it due to artists padding out albums with filler which bored me. Or had I just fallen out of love with the format, the concentration span not being what it once was? Never ever came to any conclusions but erred towards the later position

Things have been very different this year. There have been over a couple of dozen albums which I have bought over the last 10 months that I have neither got bored with nor have felt the need to get up and lift the needle or press the skip button on the remote control.

One  such piece of work which I had been looking forward to on the strength of the previous offering was Gui Boratto's third, simply titled III. The Brazilian architect/minimal producer/DJ has come up trumps again with an album which although breaks little new ground does work as a whole album but most of the tracks would also fill the dance floor in any discerning club, tracks like Flying Practice and Stems From Hell.

III is well worth checking out, especially if you liked the previous one or his remix of Paradise Circus for Massive Attack. The track featured employs the vocal talents of Luciana Villanova, otherwise know as Boratto's better half.

Gui Boratto - This Is Not The End

Fourteen Years

Fourteen years ago this very day I was standing in a Registry Office in Lanark, rather nervously saying I do despite the couple of swift Laphroaig's I had in The Cave on my way there.

Then we went down the clyde valley and had a rather splendid do and purvey.

This one's for L for putting up with me for what seems like no time at all to me but probably a lot longer to her.

Ruby Andrews -Just Loving You

Happy Birthday Son

It's Max's birthday today. He came into this world eight years ago at 08:30 on Halloween and has been scaring the shit out of his mother and I ever since.

Here is a couple of his favourite records.

Tinie Tempah - Written In The Stars 

The Fall - Touch Sensitive

And seeing it's Halloween, here is a relevantly themed song by Shane MacGowan with the aid of the sweet, sweet tones of Sinead O'Connor

Shane MacGowan And The Popes - Haunted

Football And (or) Music

Unless you are a parochial, small minded bigot from west central Scotland , then this post will probably mean very little.

For years I have wondered about the correlation between having a shite taste in music and being a fan of either of the two sectarian clubs in Scotland. It has never ceased to amaze me at the lack of taste in music of most supporters of what we are led to believe are two of the greatest teams in the world and whose derby is so much more important than that of any other two teams that reside in the same city in any other nation on earth.

I have decided that it comes down to passion or lack thereof. There can be no other reason as to why one side of the divide will stand there week in week out singing a third rate Tina Turner song or at the other extreme,  be so passionate about a song from a forties Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which has been stolen from a more successful team from another country!

 Recently I have come to the conclusion that the reason that  most people who support either side of the Glasgow sectarian divide have such a bad taste in music is that  their allocation of passion is wasted,  they would rather use all of their emotion in hate and bigotry for a past that can not be changed than just feeling the sheer joy of hearing something that does something to you on an emotional level,  for no more reason than it sounds wonderful and makes you feel happy

I am sick to the back teeth of people I know who behave in this manner. I have had enough of the insinuation and covert sectarianism on both sides.  Get a grip and realise what is important, not the perceived wrongs of a generation or so ago but who we are now and what we want for the future and for us fortunate enough to have them, our children.

Here endeth the rant

 Specials - Doesn't Make It Alright

Just Because . . .

. . . sometimes a bit of Marvin is all you need to get by.

Marvin Gaye - His Eyes Are On The Sparrow

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance

Since it's the Friday before the 31st of October, Max's Halloween party is today and at least a few of you I bet will be following his lead by dressing up and dooking for apples over the weekend I thought that we should maybe have a themed dance track.

Finding scary dance tracks wasn't as hard as I originally thought it was going to be, my first thought, obviously was Spooky with Billie Ray Martin and their version of Persuasion a track I've always found more than a little disturbing. Then there was Organ Donor by DJ Shadow which does send a shiver up my spine. I found quite a few more including more than a couple of unsettling Aphex Twin tracks.

I also found a 12" single called Nightmare by Brainbug which I have no recollection of buying. When I went to put it on it was surprisingly not as bad as I thought but it is still, unmistakeably trance,  a form of music that brings me out in cold sweats just at the thought of how mind numbingly tedious it is.

However, by far the scariest tracks are to be found in Drum and Bass, what with all those amen breaks, tracks like Shadow Boxing, Escobar Blues or Origin Unknown's QED near death experience documentary sampling Valley of the Shadows.

But the daddy for me has to be a remix of the track released in celebration of Moving Shadow reaching it's hundredth release. The original of The Shadow along with Distorted Dreams on the flipside are two of the darkest tracks I've ever heard. Rick Smith, however on his Process mix takes it onto a further level of eeriness which when played at night on the mp3 player while out walking makes you stroll that little bit brisker and you start to view your surroundings differently. It is a most wonderful piece of paranoia inducing music or maybe that's just me.

Have a good weekend people.

And remember, don't have nightmares.

Dom, Rob & Goldie - The Shadow (Process mix)

A suitably scary picture don't you think?

Just Because

I'm in London for a couple of days and I didn't have time to do 3 posts on Sunday night.

But it is a brilliant song.

Bruce Springsteen - American Skin (41 Shots)

Keeping It Peel Day 2011

Last year for Keeping It Peel Day you may recall that I did a run down of my Top Ten Peel session tracks ever. This year what with one thing and another I have not had the time to do anything as extensive.

But what to do? Pick my favourite number 1 from all of the Festive Fifties, or a track that I had first heard on the Peel Show or go for another session. The problem with Peel is that there is so much choice, the man shaped the music I listen to in more ways than one. Also it didn't matter the genre of music, if it came Peel approved then it was at least worth a listen, if only the once, for me in the case of  Bolt Thrower and Napalm Death and many others which just didn't do it for me.

As I've said before, no matter what your taste in music is, Peel will have championed somebody you love, unless the extent of your interest in music goes no further than that Irish Band. He will also have played stuff that you absolutely detested.

When looking through The Peel Sessions by Ken Garner for inspiration for this post I decided to steer clear of the stuff that he will always be remembered for by people of my age group the post punk and indie. This decision did not reduce the amount to choose from that much. So I decided to further limit my choice to sessions that I actually had either on record, those wonderful Strange Fruit 12" singles, cd, just about every re-release comes with Peel sessions, if available or download which I had already acquired. I gave myself one further restriction for which I know at least two people will be glad of and decided no Fall.

This was still proving to be difficult until I looked at p312 in Ken Garner's excellent reference book and it hit me, of course a session by the first band I ever saw live,  at the Glasgow Apollo aged thirteen.

So I have posted the one and only John Peel session by my favourite band from the age of ten to about fourteen, Motorhead. I cannot claim to have heard this session at the time as in 1978 I probably only had the vaguest of ideas of who Peel was. But the truth is that Motorhead were the first band I saw live and I remember going to school the next day and not being able to hear a thing the whole day due to the ringing in my years.

This session was recorded at Maida Vale on 18th September 1978 and broadcast seven days later on the 25th.

Motorhead - Louie-Louie
Motorhead - Tear Ya Down
Motorhead - I'll Be Your Sister
Motorhead - Keep Us On The Road

Mukatsuku Records

Here is a record label that you really should check out if you like anything with a dance beat or a bit left field.

The label was started by Dj Nik Weston and is a strictly 7" vinyl operation, no cds or downloads here. The label has been championed by the likes of Mr Scruff and Giles Peterson. Most of the artists on the label I had never heard of before with the exception of Tom Middleton and Amp Fiddler but all of the stuff that I have bought so far  has been as funky as one of the most funky things you can think of. The records can be ordered from Juno Records here .

Mukatsuku is Japanese for pain in the neck, btw.

The track posted is from 7" MUKAT 007.

Gaggle(DJ Mitsu the Beats) - Eastern Voyage

Church

I have been reliably informed that 2 Bears are Joe Goddard from Hot Chip and Raf Rundell. They have produced a few 12" singles for Southern Fried, however this absolute belter of a track is released on Bitches Brew and has been remixed by Darkstarr Diskotek (Ashley Beedle & Collen Murphy) into a gospel and afrobeat tinged balearic classic.

But why the hell wasn't this released during the summer, not now when the sun and heat are just a distant memory?


  2 Bears Church DarkStarr Remix by DarkStarr

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance

What with all of the Stone Roses stuff that has been happening this week I have been casting my mind back to the late 80's and to what was really going on, with me anyway.


I remember buying The Stone Roses a couple of months after it's release and liking it. It didn't blow me away or anything, no Damascene moment. At this time it wasn't Manchester bands so much that interested me but more producers such as A Guy Called Gerald and the others who had been showcased on the "North, Sound of The Dance Underground album. In fact around about this time I was getting the feeling that guitar bands were a thing of the past , slightly outdated and that House and Acid were the future.

I know that the two scenes weren't mutually exclusive and there would be a coming together of the genres in the years to come in what would horribly be termed as 'indie dance' but could be more appropriately be termed as 'indie shuffle'. But I do think that there were 2 distinct camps, the House heads and the guitar loving indie kids still not at one with the concept of 4/4 beats.

So when I think back to 1989, sure I played Fools Gold,  I Am Resurrection and  W.F.L by Happy Mondays but the track that sums up that summer for me from a Manchester band is Pacific 202 by 808 State.

Have a good weekend people.

808 State - Pacific - 202

You Made Me Realise

I was going through my tracks on the mp3 player trying to make some space for new stuff last night. I hate doing this as I end up spending the night playing about a minute of  maybe a hundred tracks that either I can't remember or think 'haven't heard that for a while'. Last night spending about two hours and freeing up less than half a gig of space. I even thought of converting everything back to 128kbps but know that I would just spend more time reloading all the tracks that I will convince myself no longer sound right.

I was surprised to find that during an earlier cull I had deleted both My Bloody Valentine albums released on Creation Records but what surprised me even more is that I hadn't noticed and hadn't missed them. Both of these albums used to be played pretty regularly around these parts, although I can't even recall the last time now.

I decided that if I hadn't missed MBV, I could go ahead and delete the other things by the band with the exception of the Weatherall remix of Soon.

Before doing so I clicked on You Made Me Realise and it did just that, made me realise what I have been missing. So instead of freeing up space it was time to reload both albums mentioned above but I decided to stop before uploading the bootlegs from the last tour.

My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realise

Ain't That Always The Way

It's half term up here and I took the week off to look after the boys. I also figured that I would have plenty of time to get a load of blog posts down and bits and pieces done around the house.

 . . . well it's now Wednesday and I have done absolutely bugger all on either the DIY or as you will have noticed the blog fronts. We are going away for a few days tomorrow so I better get my arse in gear.

Paul Quinn - Ain't That Always The Way

White _ _ _ _

Well the Lord Chief  Justice has upheld the 4 year prison term given to the two numpties who encouraged others to riot on Facebook. It makes you wonder what they would have done to Joe and Mick if they had released the single below in 2011 rather than 1977?

The Clash - White Riot

I Got A Letter From The Government The Other Day.

Before I heard Tricky's interpretation of Black Steel if I had read anywhere that somebody was tackling covering Public Enemy I would have thought that they were mad and would have been confident that the results would have been pretty dire.

I wouldn't say that Tricky's version is better, it is on a par with the PE version. I love the way he has dropped the piano sample and replaced it with loud thrashy guitars and poiunding drums. But it is probably Martina Topley-Bird's laid-back delivery of the lyrics which makes this a classic.

Tricky - Black Steel

Btw this was the 1001 piece of nonsense that has been posted on this blog!

Let's Get Ravey

The only problem with this brilliant remix is that it takes far too long for the beat to come in and then it's all over too soon. But that is probably why I love it so much, the anticipation of what's to come.

La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey mix)

Tightrope

Something a little bit different from the usual stuff you find round these parts.

I bought Archandroid last summer after reading all of the reviews and expected a bit or R&B in the style of Kelis or the like. But the album is a melting pot of different styles and experimentation at times a bit psychedelic at other a bit folky and with quite a bit of a jazz feel. But on the whole,  the concept album about a dystopian future holds together rather well and keeps your attention throughout.

Here is one of the stand out tracks

Janelle Monae - Tightrope

and the brilliant performance from Glastonbury earlier this year.

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance

Is anybody becoming bored of this?

I'm just asking as I think that it may be time to think of a new Friday feature the only problem being I can't think of one. JC suggested just posting "Sturdy Girl" every Friday but I'm sure everybody bar Anon would soon get tired of that.

As I am persisting with flogging the dead horse for the time being. It's back to 1992 for a bit of Italian House remixed by a Mancunian.

TC1992, were  the same guys as TC 1991, surprise surprise. They were also the FPI Project, responsible for the 1990 remake of Going Back To My Roots. They also recorded under a number of other aliases that I will not bore you with.

Funky Guitar came out in 1992, the clue being in the band's name, on Union City Recordings. The version posted is the Justin Robertson mix. The man responsible for Lionrock and the Most Excellent label amongst a myriad of other things.

Have a good weekend people.

TC1992 - Funky Guitar (Lion Rock Inna Milanese Stylee)

Nostalgia's Not What It Used To Be

So, I'm standing there with L, front and centre in the ABC and who comes and stands next to me? The one and only Vinyl Villain, pleasantries were exchange and I was introduced to the rest of his gang, after which he said " well,  are you going to review this then .  . . "  I explained that gig reviews are not really my thing, as I never remember set lists, running orders,  band members etc. But I capitulated in the end as what with him being away and having other things to concentrate on, you people would miss out on hearing how the Boy Wonder's first outing in over a decade with a band turned out. So here is my gig review.

Roddy Frame at the ABC in Glasgow was absolutely fucking wonderful.

Somebody once said nostalgia isn't what it used to be, whoever that was was talking through their arse either that or they have never experienced a Roddy Frame gig. At one point, during Oblivious I was fourteen again, at the school disco, stomach full of butterflies asking the girl of my dreams to dance. During Killermont Street, I was transported to my cold flat in Aberdeen, winter of my first year of Uni, homesick and longing for the security and warmth of home in the west.

It was pretty easy to track my development from petulant teenager to married middle aged man through the music being played last night.

I always come out of a Roddy Frame gig elated but also a little angry that a musician and wordsmith of such prowess has never been given the recognition that he deserves when other numpties from the eighties, take your pick, it's easy, got lauded with praise and sold shed loads of albums. Not that Frame seems all that bothered judging by the performance last night. He looked as if he was loving every single minute and he even made a joke about being on "the fringes of the post punk indie scene".

I must mention that the backing band were brilliant and it looks as though he has stolen at least half of Edwyn Collins touring band. The guitarist and also the bass player, neither of whos' name I can remember, which incidently has nothing to do with their ability but more of me having the memory of a particulalry forgetful goldfish these days,  seem to have either been put out on loan or have decided to jump ship. The keyboard player I have seen play with Roddy before but the drummer was entirely new to me. They dealt with the tracks which spanned Frame's whole career with the exception of Dreamland with the respect such classics deserve.

I have only two gripes about the evening.

Firstly, that there was only one new song aired, so no new album anytime soon!

Also the gig was over far too quickly no sooner had he taken the stage than he was off again , okay that is a slight exaggeration, they did play for over an hour and a half but it felt like about ten minutes. Personally and I don't think I was alone in feeling this last night, that they could have played for three hours and it still would not have been long enough.

Oh, and while I'm at it, I'm sure Mr Frame has a portrait locked away in an attic somewhere as he looks no older now than he did in 1990, the bastard!

Nostalgia isn't what it once was, last night it was so much better than that.

Roddy Frame - Rock God

The Boy Wonder Returns

I'm off to see Roddy Frame tonight and I am looking forward to it more than just a little as this will be the first time in over a decade when he has been accompanied by a band. It's kind of hard to remember how good he is when electrified but we have had glimpses over the past couple of years when he was performing with Edwyn Collins, an amazing bit of a guitar wig out during A Girl Like You at the ABC springs to mind.

One thing for sure it will not be dull and let's hope that there will be some new songs showcased as well. i will also hopefully hook up with the Vinyl Villain who shall also be present. The last time the two of us met at a Roddy Frame gig he put the notion of doing this nonsense into my head so who know what might come of tonight?

Here is a track recorded twenty one years ago at the Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow. I had the good fortune to be there that night and when I exclaimed that's Mick Jones, the girl I was with just said in a rather bored voice "who?"

Aztec Camera - Good Morning Britain (Live Barrowlands)

Seda Muerta

How about a bit of pounding Techno to brighten up your Tuesday. This mix by Female is one of the best things this side of the new Slam single Chasing Shadows which you really must look out for.  The track just keeps building and building.

Svreca - Seda Muerta (Female remix)

Love Like Fire

I don't really know that much about this band other than they come from San Fransisco and they have been going since 2006. I bought this single on the back of hearing it somewhere, it sort of reminded me of Asobi Seksu who I was quite into at the time. Listening to the single again at the weekend I'm wondering why I didn't go on to buy anything else other than the next single, Stand In My Shoes.

If you feel the need to investigate further see here

LoveLikeFire - William

Do It All Over Again

I'm off to see Spiritualized tonight in the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh, not the best venue in the world but still, I'm excited. It's been a couple of years since the last time I so Pierce and his henchmen. The album release has been pushed back until March next year when there will be a further round of gigs, this time the ABC in Glasgow a much better venue. I'm still hoping to hear some new material this evening.

Here is a laid back BBC session of Do It Over Again, originally on the Let It Come Down album.

Spiritualized - Do It All Over Again

Breaking Into Heaven

I have played this track quite a lot recently and for me it holds it's own against anything from their debut album or the non album single releases.

What really strikes me is the guitar playing there is a certain swagger or looseness about it that isn't quite as apparent on the earlier releases.  It reeks to me of somebody who not only thinks that they can play but has that arrogant belief that they are better than almost all of their peers. The self belief that the likes of  Jimmy Page or Ritchie Blackmore had/have and there in probably lies the reason why I like the track so much, it has to do with spending all that time in my youth with the pseudo hippies and soaking in all of those albums by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix and the like which has made me a sucker for the sound of a wah wah peddle or a meandering self indulgent guitar solo.

One other thing, doesn't Ian Brown sound like he really can sing on this track,  what happened?

The Stone Roses - Breaking Into Heaven (Full version with wanky intro)

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance

Here's a track from probably my favourite band from the early nineties. It was a real bloody shame that they only released one album but what an album Morning Dove White was. Even now after nearly twenty years of listening I still don't get bored of it and there isn't a duff track on the album.

I have seen the album compaired with Screamadelica and I think this is due to a certain Mr Weatherall being in charge of production and it does have a similar kind of feel about it but I'm not sure if the comparisons are all that helpful. To be honest I play this album a lot more frequently than I play Screamadelica but I don't think that anything here is as outstanding as either Loaded or Come Together. That is not to say that it doesn't have it's standout tracks, it does and for me those are Breakdown, Transient Truth and Why Don't You Take Me. I am not as keen on Weatherall's mix of Fallen as the Darkest Hour mix that was on the original Soma release but that is due to me completely falling in love with that single when I first heard it and flogging it to death. In fact that statement above about One Dove having nothing to match Loaded or Come Together is pish, they do, it's just that the version that does rival those two is not on the album.

Sadly the band split up before completing the follow-up long player so we will never know what could have been. But although Dot Allison went on to produce one really good solo album and three that have their moments she never produced anything nearly as good as this quite underrated album

Anyway today's dance track is one of the brace of Secret Knowledge mixes of the third single to be released from the album, Breakdown. Most people will already have this but I was in a One Dove mood yesterday so . . .

Have a good weekend people

One Dove - Breakdown (Secret knowledge light mix)

Cashing In

Another track which Ian Levine must get the credit for breaking. Due to the music policy in the Blackpool Mecca being a lot less insular than that of the Casino new soul records such as Cashing In were played as well as the more exclusive 60s tracks.

The track was released on Just Sunshine Records in 1973 and was a Leroy Hutson/Curtis Mayfield production that went on to be an anthem in the Highland Room showing that the Blackpool crowd had impeccable taste.

Voices of East Harlem - Cashing In

Giving Up

A couple of years ago I posted a track by Hairy Diamond that sampled this rather brilliant Van McCoy penned track. Mr H put me onto the original track which I have been searching for on vinyl ever since. The only copy that I have so far seen was £40 which in these cash strapped days just cannot be justified. So it looks like I will be stuck with it on a digital format for the foreseeable future but still think that it should be shared.

The Ad Libs are probably better remembered for The Boy From New York City which was released in 1964 and covered by Darts when I were a wean.

The Ad Libs - Giving Up

I Won't Hurt You Anymore

How about a bit of Chicago Blues? Here is the b-side of the latest release in the Jazzman  Juke Box Jam series.

Quite, quite beautiful

Frances Burr & KJ Trio - I Won't Hurt You Anymore

White Label, Stolen Voices.

I'm not sure what this is apart from really good. Is it an edit, refit, cover,  mash-up? I'm buggered if I know.

Ok, so the concept is that 3 musicians got a pile of obscure tracks by people such as Billie Holiday, John Lennon and Dennis Wilson to name but 3 and took the vocal and a few snippets of the tracks and built their own tunes around them in the style that they felt suited the feel of the vocal. So the Billy MacKenzie vocal is given a Memphis era Elvis like production. On the whole it works but I'm not too sure about the cut-up of Small Hours by John Martyn but that maybe because I love the original so much that touching it is tantamount to sacrilege in my book.

The tracks are collected on a vinyl album which can be purchased for the very resonable price of just £10:49 including postage. The track posted is worth that on it's own.

Jean1 is a reworking of an old Supremes song, 5:30 Plane on which Jean Terrell took lead vocal duties and has been turned into the sort of track that northern soul djs have wet dreams about discovering.

White Label - Jean1

Beyond The Clouds

Here is a lovely piece of dub techno to soundtrack what ever it is you are going to get up to today. Me, I will be doing the bloody shopping . Hope you people down south are enjoying the sunshine. It is grey, dank and horrible up here as I suspect it will be over the water as well!

CV313 are the duo who also record under the name of Echospace and have produced some exceptionally good pieces of dub techno, very remeniscent of the Basic Channel stuff. This is the b-side the epic 23 minute live mix of Beyond The Clouds which you can really lose yourself in.

cv313 -Beyond The Clouds (reprise)

Repackage, Reissue, Ripoff

This week saw the repackaging of all the albums of my favourite band of the 80s and also the back catalogue of another group from that period who, seemingly,  if you believe what you read single handedly changed the music scene during that decade.

Anyway, all this repackaging and remastering is beginning to get on my nerves. I know that I have mentioned before that I bought the remastered Screamadelica and I have also said that afterwards I felt like a mug. I just can't understand why these things are remastered, well I can,  it's just to make money. But what it says to me is, at the time we released a sub standard product which we weren't really that proud of and it has been remastered to sound the way it should have in the first place. Well, if that's the case I want a free copy of the remastered album or my money back as the one that you sold me at the time, you sold under false pretences and all the time in interviews you were saying that this is the best thing we've done, blah de blah.

I have decided to say no to any re-releases, even Fall ones from now on. The Reids, Marr's and Gillespie's of this world, if you want me to spend money give me something new, fresh, original which is more deserving of my money than say, the new Death In Vegas album (not likely, as it is brilliant)  and if you can't,  fucking retire!

Here is an extremely bad cover version by the Reid brothers

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Alphabet Street

oh, and the demo of Upside Down available on the repackaged Psychocandy

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Upside Down