July 16th, 2010
After missing countless opportunities to see The Empiricals live, and hearing friends rave about their live shows, and even going to shows where they were the opening act and arriving too late, I finally got to see them live at the opening night of the Ottawa Bluesfest, on Tuesday July 6th, and they were simply unbelievably amazing.
Paul Hogan plays his guitar with the precision of a highly trained brain surgeon (but having a lot more fun, I’m sure) and can create sounds from his guitar that many can only dream of, and bringing back memories of The Ventures meet The Tiki Tones with some Sterophonic Space Sound and Huntington Cads thrown in for good measure.
(the pictures were borrowed from here - http://www.flickr.com/groups/601606@N22/pool/with/4771427652/ )
Mike Dubue, is also an extremely talented musician and multi-instrumentalist, who has quite an ear for music and I’m sure could be big time music composer like Ennio Morricone or Peter Thomas (he has actually done scores for movies and works with the The Mayfair Theatre Orchestra recreating old film soundtracks) and on top of that is a pleasure to watch as he is always on the move.
Phil Bova is quite the exceptional drummer and knows how to fill in the sounds at just the right moment. He is an extremely talented musician who has assisted countless Ottawa bands, through the years, not to mention his ear for capturing just the right sound in the studio (We have our very own Liam Watson).
I have to admit, I know even less about their fourth member, who I think was Daniel Sauve (at least Dan has played with them on earlier shows that I missed) or Damian Sawka (Who also plays in Ukrainia) - but here is a picture and I am sure someone will set me straight. (Sorry!)
The Empiricals are easily one of the most talented bands in Ottawa, and possibly even the Country, and I say this having only seen them perform 2 songs as part of the duel to the finish with The Flaps (The Flaps were also amazing but since this is about The Empiricals, they will need to wait for another post, in the meantime you can pick up The Flaps mighty fine debut on Kelp Records and ask for a copy of Kelp 16 which is also very impressive - sorry I am getting sidetracked - but before I get back on track I should also mention that there is a link to these 2 bands, that goes back some time, to another great Ottawa band Polaris in which both Pat Lawler and Paul Hogan both played in - now back to the program). I realize that instrumental music is not everyone’s cup of tea, but these lads make it interesting and intriguing as they draw on a wide diversity of sounds, whether it’s Oriental soundtracks or Indian spy movies, Joe Meek’s 1960’s surf instrumentals and even beach party B-movies, for their influence they sound quite original and yet strangely familiar at the same time.
The Empiricals are band that I have a great fondness and respect for and in many ways are a band who have helped inspire our very first International POP compilation “Into The Jetstream of Pop” (Beauty 004). When I first heard their self released 4 track CDEP, I loved it so much I wanted to help in some small way to spread the word about them and so after speaking with Paul and Mike it was arranged that their exceptional track “Seven And A Half Stars” would be the intro to that compilation (some of the same band members also appear with the HiLo Trons track which was also on that compilation) and so it all started.
I have wanted for some time to see if they would be interested in releasing more songs on our label and if I could only find some more time, maybe encourage them to release an EP or an album (if Kelp Records is not already doing that), but in the meantime they have agreed and will be featured on our instrumental compilation - The Many Moods Of Beauty, which has been in the works for about 3 or 4 years and is yet to be released (hoping for later this year).
The members of this very talented band have also had links to many Ottawa bands and musicians, which I will not even begin to start mentioning as I don’t know the half of it (Ok ok, maybe I will mention a few The Acorn, Ukrania, Kepler, Boycrusher, The Hammerheads, Clark, Bande Senore, The Holger Schoorl Trio and Polaris which I already mentioned, but the list goes on), but I will also say that several of our releases have featured the talents of Mike Dubue and Phil Bova as they have played on various Nick Danger and Social Icons releases. I should also mention that Phil has done the mastering on almost all our releases.
It is a shame that The Empiricals don’t actually have many releases, if any actually easily available (I know they self-released an 4 track EP and an album “Golden Beat” a few years back, but try and find a copy - I recently got a request to help someone find a copy of their EP, which is now quite rare), and search for information on them and you will not likely find very much. So as you can see I have had their music circling around my world and in my head for many years and they are long overdue to have a proper release of their own so their wonderful sound can spin circles and figure eights in your world.
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music, Past Projects, Upcoming Projects |
Tags: HILOTRONS, Into The Jet Stream Of Pop, Kelp Records, Ottawa Bluesfest, The Empiricals, The Many Moods Of Beauty, The Social Icons | No Comments
June 30th, 2010
“My Star Has Fallen” is the title of the second album by Exeter band National Pastime (www.myspace.com/nationalpastime), which has just been released on their own indie label Pastime Records (Pastime 008). This however, seems a bit inappropriate as I think their Star is actually rising, especially after listening to this album. This is a superb follow up to their first album “Short Stories” and their “Paper Planes” EP, which both came out on the wonderful and increasingly prolific Pop Noise Records, a label that is quickly making a name for themselves, by consistently releasing some of the finest UK POP.
The album is called the unofficial album, which I am not exactly sure why, but may that it features some reworked tracks from their earlier releases, and the press kit also says that they recorded this “album themselves in their rehearsal studio whilst work is ongoing on their second official studio album … at Off The Rails Studio”. Maybe it is because this album was not recorded in the studio, that it seems to have a sense of excitement and a rawness that really suits these songs.
The introductory song “Goldsworthy Gurney” packs a real punch and I love the fuzzed out guitars (courtesy of Dave Goodes) and how they interplay with the piano, as a very strong rhythm section (Andy Botterill & Kal George – if you seem to recognize some of the names, it’s because they all play in what seems endless numbers of other bands also) keeps the song clipping along. I love the passionate and yearning vocals by Andy Padfield which are exceptional, especially on my favourite track “Judge A Book By Its Cover” and in some strange way they remind me of The Stockholm Monsters, who curiously have a song called “National Pastime” (which I think the band is getting tired of me saying this). Also among my favourites from the album are the slower and elegant “My Star Has Fallen” and “Running Scared”, with it’s sweeping keyboards/piano.
They have also been compared to some of the bands on Sarah Records like The Field Mice and Teenage Fanclub (Creation Records), but at times they draw from a much wider range of sounds and even remind me of early Echo & the Bunnymen, like on the intro of “Houston” or early Psychedelic Furs and even a bit of Joy Division on “Bad News Story”. This is all good in my books as these are all bands that I love, so it makes it for an even more enjoyable listen.
Now I am even more eagerly awaiting their second official album and here is to hoping that their star continues to rise.
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music |
Tags: Echo & The Bunnymen, National Pastime, Pop Noise Records, Stockholm Monsters, Teenage Fanclub, The Field Mice | No Comments
June 29th, 2010
Hey now that summer is here, we also have the perfect soundtrack for summer with The Sound Of Pop Art (www.myspace.com/popartsongs) and their debut self titled longplayer on the newly founded England In June label. Pop Art (as they started out as) is a band that I have been very excited about and have been following since their very early days when I heard their initial demos, and knew that they were going to create a masterpiece of a record. They were so amazing, that I even reviewed some of the songs here - http://thebeautifulmusic.com/blog/?p=757 – and provided some hints at the legendary history of two of the main characters behind the band Chris Free and Tony Jenkins, which goes back as far as the punk days when Chris was with The Users and the second coming of Mod with A Craze and labels such as Paul Weller’s Respond Records and Tony’s band Plume and his record label Everlasting Records. With a history like that it is not surprising that The Sound Of Pop Art has created a majestic collection of Superb Songs that will satisfy any discerning music fan.
“12 Classic Songs For Beat Bohemian Music Lovers” and “Beatnik Pop / Accoustic Soul” is how the album describes itself and that is a perfect description. I will attempt to provide you my observations on these tracks as follows:
“Custom Built” starts things off with a swaying epic, a wonderful update of The Ronnettes style in a “Be My Baby” heavenly vocal style, with a real beat flair especially when Tony sings “Oh Yeah”, kind of like The Revillos singing the Beatles.
“That Summer Feeling” kicks in sounding like Makin Time meets The Style Council and colliding with The Beautiful South to create a groove with a whole lot of Soul – something to live for.
Track 3, “Visions Of You” slows things down, sounding like a folky Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera) fronting the Fantastic Something, with gentle guitars serenading you drift into a daydream.
For anyone who hates Shopping, then “Shopping Centre Saturday Afternoon” will become your new anthem as he sings ‘Shopping Centres, they mess up your mind’, yes let’s run away as we listen to this song which conjures up the sound of Paul Bevoir and The Jetset and maybe hints of The Cherry Orchard.
Song 5 starts off mellow but has the undercurrents of a spy thriller theme as the song builds in a Stereophonic Space Sound feel, only to slow things down again, keeping you in suspence.
“High Street Girl”, brings us some swinging sixties feel with guitars from the early Who sound and hints of The Jetset, and dreamy psych pop flourishes.
The soulful blues stomp of “Damage Limitation & The Junk Yard Blues” also conjures up a ‘My Generation’ Who, with traces of The Jam and maybe even The Inmates.
“Run Away Baby” is an early favourite of mine, and this version is a beautiful ballad a la Burt Bacharach with plenty of class as sung by The Zombies, The Direct Hits or The Left Banke.
“A Love Out Of Bounds” is more swinging sounds for the Beat Bohemian music lover with a jazzy feel, not far from The Wondermints meet The Sneetches territory.
Track 10, “Until Forever” is a real gem which drifts along quietly, sounding like a young Paul Weller or a Colin Swan doing an exceptional folky ballad taking you through ‘pastures new’. This is a quiet song that you will want to play load and let yourself float through time.
Another dreamy masterpiece is “Shooting Star” that takes you ‘high above the clouds’ and has traces of Bowie and Pink Floyd and the French chanteuse.
Not sure how to describe the closing track which ends things off in more bluesy style, bringing to close an exceptional album. “These are the things that mod/pop dreams are made of!”
And as Jonathan Richman once sang (and BMX Bandits covered) “That Summer Feeling Is Going To Haunt You The Rest Of Your Life”, well this album will haunt you, in a good way the rest of your life as this is timeless POP for the NOW generation.
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music |
Tags: A Craze, Aztec Camera, Everlasting Records, Paul Weller, Plume, Respond Records, The Direct Hits, The Sneetches, The Sound Of Pop Art, The Users, The Wondermints | No Comments
June 23rd, 2010
Anyone who knows me, has heard me praise the wonderful Jasmine Minks, a band that was to be huge and was well on their way, but as usual the music machine lost their way and missed out on great band. Right from their first few singles on Creation, you knew there was something special, even the b-sides were better then most of the music coming out those days - but more about these in a few minutes - first the good news.
The release by the “Poppy White ep” by The Jasmine Minks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jasmine_Minks ) marks the launch of an exciting new Scottish label Oatcake Records ( http://oatcakerecords.co.uk/), which is run by Jim Shepherd of the Jasmine Minks. This is a label that is poised to do some exciting things as is indicated by the list of future and upcoming releases (I can’t wait to hear more from Scottish Funk greats APB).
The single contains four fabulous slices of Pure Pop Perfection, and are among the best songs ever by the Jasmine Minks. These songs were recorded in 1992, but for some strange reason, were never released till now, so it’s great to finally hear these tracks. “Poppy White” kicks off with a real jangle and some beautiful guitars. “Distraction” has an early Jam/Mod/Small Faces feel, especially when he sings the title and chorus. “Dead And Gone” is a brilliant track that will not leave you unsatisfied and somehow seems fitting in the memory of two lost friend. The Final track “Rain” is also a perfect Pop tune with a great beat and rhythm,(just watch those kids dance in the video and you’ll know what I mean) and dripping with a heart full of Soul - . This kind of music can “Rain on me” forever, I love it.
Now back to my story - I have been a fan of the Minks for a while now, ever since I heard their first amazing single “Think”, which was released on Creation Records (The Jasmine Minks were one of the first signings on Creation, along with Biff Bang Pow, The Legend!, The Loft, The Bodines, and The Revolving Paint Dream) way back in 1984. Even the b-side “Work For Nothing” was brilliant and made it’s way on a few of my mixtapes and still sounds fresh and relevant today. The equally brilliant follow up “Where The Traffic Goes” which was also out in the same year, cemented their stature as a band to watch out for. They had a fresh and exciting new sound that drew on the 60’s Mod/Beat/Garage sound (akin to the Pebbles series but with a modern feel) and adding a healthy edge and vitality that set them apart from much of the music coming out at that time. It also didn’t hurt that they also featured the talents of Dave Musker on Keyboards and music genius Joe Foster on production duties, who both had links to the Television Personalities, who were a favourite of mine.
(Picture borrowed from the wonderful Creation Website -
After that the albums started coming and a few more singles, all of which are gems and worth searching out. They didn’t allways stick to particluar mold or sound and drifted into various different styles of sound, drawing on some of the sound of punk, Postcard and soul elements and always exciting and melodic.
If you can’t find their early releases, you can always check out the mighty fine Rev Ola Records compilation “The Revenge Of The Jasmine Minks - The Best Of The Creation Years” or the Edition 59 reissues of some of the early Creation singles -
All the Best with the new label Jim!
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music, zUncategorized |
Tags: Cherry Red Records, Creation Records, Dave Musker, EDITION 59, Jasmine Minks, Joe Foster, Oatcake Records, television personalities, Vollwert Records | 1 Comment
May 7th, 2010
I’m reposting this info about a long awaited re-issue, that I am very excited about:
TV21 
“A THIN RED LINE” BY TV21 FINALLY RELEASED ON CD AFTER 29 YEARS
Scottish post-punk pioneers TV21’s critically acclaimed 1981 LP ‘A Thin Red Line’ is finally to be released on CD along with all of the band’s singles. The collection – named ‘Snakes And Ladders’ after TV21’s biggest UK hit – is billed as an ‘Almost Complete’ collection of the band’s recorded output from 1980 to 1982.
It is released on Cherry Red subsidiary, Rev-Ola, on 29th March and is available from X, Y and Z and on download from X, Y and Z.
During 1979/82, TV21 were regulars on the John Peel and Richard Skinner BBC Radio 1 shows and achieved significant radio play with all their singles – especially Snakes And Ladders and All Join Hands – which both charted in the top 100. TV21 reformed in 2005 for a John Peel testimonial gig and released a critically acclaimed second album Forever 22 just last year. The band is still active on the live music circuit.
When ‘A Thin Red Line’ was first released - listing Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds as its main producer - it won the Edinburgh band a front cover appearance on the Melody Maker along with a glowing review. In his review, well-respected music industry writer and commentator Paulo Hewitt, said: “Emotionally diverse, magnificently played, with touches of genius throughout it and delivered with an unnerving force, TV21’s debut is a welcome light at the end of a dark tunnel.”
‘Snakes And Ladders’ includes a lengthy booklet which tells the band’s story – from its early beginnings in Ayrshire to the point of their split up after supporting the Rolling Stones in Edinburgh in May 1982. The sleeve notes are introduced by BBC DJ Gary Crowley, who first championed TV21 in 1980 on the release of their first independent single, Playing With Fire/ Shattered By It All. He says: “They touched the lives of many of us and left in their wake a smattering of fine singles and an uplifting, soaring, under-rated debut album in A Thin Red Line which still stands up to scrutiny today. I was a big fan.”
The current TV21 line-up sees three founder members - Norman Rodger (lead vocals, guitar), Ally Palmer (guitar, backing vocals) and Neil Baldwin (bass guitar, backing vocals) - joined by Simon McGlynn on drums who, over the last 15 years, has played in several other bands with Rodger, Palmer and Baldwin. Lead singer and songwriter, Norman Rodger, says: “We’ve tried several times over the last twenty years to have this material issued on CD but every attempt so far has stalled at some stage in the process, so it’s great to finally see it coming out. The songs have been sequenced in more or less chronological order and you can really hear the band develop, from the early singles we recorded in Edinburgh, through to the more polished album material. Enjoy!”
More information is available from HYPERLINK “http://www.myspace/tv21offical” www.myspace/tv21offical
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music |
Tags: Cherry Red, Ian Broudie, Rev-Ola, Shame, The Lightning Seeds, TV21 | No Comments
May 7th, 2010
Check out an exciting new band – The Notes from Southhampton / London UK who twist and turn our conceptions of Shoegaze by introducing elements of Garage, Goth (a la Siouxsie and the Banshees), and Post Punk POP.
http://www.myspace.com/wearethenotes
………………………………………………………………….
Take parts of The Three Johns and The March Violets, and blend them with Slowdive, The Shop Assistants, The Close Lobsters and early Soup Dragons and modernize them with The Dum Dum Girls, The XX, and The Crystal Stilts and you may get something that sounds like The Notes. Then again, maybe you won’t, but at least it gives you an idea of what I thought when I heard them for the first time. The Beauty of music is that it is in the ear of the listener, so give them a listen and tell me what you think.
Download their first single for free courtesy of Holiday records here - http://www.holidayrecords.net/notes.html
As if that’s not enough to give them a listen, they are also inspired by the Velvet Underground, Orange Juice, Joy Division, The Wake, The Sonics, and Gang of Four ensuring they have been given an education in fine music (or is that a “Bad Education” as The Blue Orchids once said). And that’s not even the best part, they are also fans of the Television Personalities and have agreed to record several covers for the TVP tribute series so keep your eyes and ears Peeled.
Enjoy!
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music |
Tags: Close Lobsters, Crystal Stilts, Post Punk POP, Shoegaze, Shop Assistants, television personalities, The Soup Dragons, The Three Johns | No Comments
February 28th, 2010
One of my all time favourite albums finally gets an elegant re-issue treatment by the ever increasingly, impressive Vollwert-Records of Berlin. Biff Bang Pow! - The Girl Who Runs The Beat Hotel (VWR 08) - http://www.myspace.com/bbp2009 - was just released as part of the re-release of classic albums in a limited pressing of 99 copies.
This is an essential record to own and a very significant release in so many ways. From a magnificent cover, to the band name and the inclusion of so many fine musicians and influential music icons, to the album title and the inclusion of JC Brouchard, and of course THE MUSIC. WOW! Let me explain a bit.
Everything about the band Biff Bang Pow! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biff_Bang_Pow! ) was cool . They were formed from the ashes of The Laughing Apple and somehow inexplicably related to The Revolving Paint Dream who both recorded for Whaam! Records (which in itself makes them drop below the freezing point on the cool scale) and was the main outlet for the music of Alan McGee, a true music fan and visionary, who not only knew his music, but also had an ear for a great POP tune and what’s cool as was later borne out by the releases on his labels, Creation Records and later Poptones. The name of the band “Biff Bang Pow!” was taken from a true gem of a song by The Creation, a band from the 60’s who are also in their own right a highly influential and well respected band.
Biff Bang Pow! also featured the talents of so many great musicians, like Joe Foster, Dick Green, Ken Popple, Dave Evans, Andrew Innes, and came to include many more later including Edward Ball, Joss Cope and Dave Morgan. The mention of all these names alone should strike a chord with any discerning music fan, and weave a web of music connections that is not easily untangled.
The original album artwork was always something special and very striking in its original format on a 12″ vinyl sleeve, of a flower bouquet in vivid colours that stood out from many of the covers in its day and somehow perfectly represented the sounds that the disc contained, a flowery psychedelic mod pop amalgamation that would go straight to your heart. The re-issue has borrowed from the original artwork, with a zoom effect that when you open the package, still inspires that same warm feeling, although I am sure it would look even better in a vinyl re-issue package, which I am sure someone will eventually consider.
The album title “The Girl Who Runs The Beat Hotel”, somehow also was the perfect title and captured a time and place and a mood that no other title could. You just knew you wanted to visit this exotic location and stay at this hotel, spot the cool faces in the crowd and mingle with the foreign operatives. You spot the beautiful girl at the front desk with the the endearing smile, who was wearing her black and white striped beat outfit, something from the Prisoner series or the beatnik era or the movie Darling or maybe even an undercover Modesty Blaise
and you can just imagine her radio playing The Page Boys “You’re My Kind Of Girl” or Anorak Girl’s “Smashing Time” (I know, I know this song isn’t even released yet, just have a bit more patience, it’s coming) and you want to go over and chat about the latest mod hit parade, and other cool music with her. There is an intriguing romance surrounding the title that is somehow mirrored in the songs “Love’s Going Out Of Fashion”, “She Never Understood” and “The Happiest Girl In The World”.
But to ignore all my rambling and get to the most important part (although everyone knows the whole package is essential), it’s the music that makes this release so special, and regardless of what Alan McGee’s modest opinion is, the music contained here is timeless, exciting and inspiring to a new generation. The first track is the ultimate fear of any mod to have his scooter nicked in “Someone Stole My Wheels” which kicks in the album quite nicely and has some groovy organ sounds and guitars and some exceptional production by Mr. Joseph Foster. I really love this song and it has been featured on my “Here Comes The Mod Parade” compilation, years ago, but that’s another story. “Love’s Going Out Fashion” is a real highlight also and is one of those songs that could play on forever and you never tire of it. I imagine this is how the Cure might sound like, if they were inspired by Television Personalities and New Order, and what a swell guitar intro and beautiful harmonica. “She Never Understood” is also a pure heavenly POP gem which was also released in a different version on the “The Acid House Album” and is the perfect POP song. It has also been covered by several bands including Comet Gain on their “Realistes” CD and the wonderful Aberdeen on the “What Do I Wish For Now?” Release on LTM Records, which shows that I am not the only one that was inspired by this tune. “He Don’t Need That Girl” continues in fine form with an upbeat groove and a bounce in it’s stride and could easily fit on a Revolving Paint Dream album. “She Shivers Inside” slows things down a bit and maintains a dreamy feel and reminds one of the TVP’s in their quieter moments. (This paragraph is getting long so I’ll take a deep breath before carrying on).
Another song that has inspired others to record a cover (check out Lovejoy “Plays Biff Bang Pow” on Matnee Records) is “The Beat Hotel” and when you hear it you will know why, as it is a beautiful love song, sung with pure melancholy that just melts the heart and ‘get’s a hold on you” and “that’s a fact”. Then comes “The Happiest Girl In The World” who shifts from sounding happy to being on the verge of tears and somehow captures the essence of life. “If I Die” is what the Smiths might have sounded like if they had a female lead singer and listened to more Pebbles compilations, and is that the amazing JC Brouchard making an appearance on the spoken word part? - ahhh yes it is and a bit more on him later. If you want to take a break go watch a Biff Bang Pow video and come back and finish reading - www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPwUhapR2F8 .
Track 9, “Five Minutes In The Life Of Greenwood Goulding” is nice psychedelic ramble with backwards guitars and hushed vocals and a beat that recalls “Back To Vietnam” or maybe even “The Painted Word” which is no way a complaint, as everyone knows I love the TVP’s. The title likely alludes to the bass player in The Loft and The Weather Prophets, who were two of the bands who were with Creation Records right from the start. They keep the best track for last in the wonderful garage/surf influenced “The Whole World Is Turning Brouchard!”, which although being way too short at 1 minute and 29 seconds is a brilliant way to end this ride. This song also brings back our favourite Creation character, Mr. JC Brouchard who was an influential figure in the rise of Creation Records, and ran the Biff Bang Pow fan club “Non Stop Movement”. It’s probably best if I let him tell his own story here - http://pagesperso-orange.fr/vivonzeureux/Pages/pidgmeandalanmcgee.html . JC like Alan was and still is a true music fan and continues to write a music blog which you can read here at - http://vivonzeureux.blogspot.com/ , although you will need to understand French. Another interesting side note on JC Brouchard is that he provided us with a wonderful interpretation of a TVP song for our next tribute which I have had now for some time but hopefully to be released soon - sorry JC.
All that said, this is the perfect album in many ways and with only 99 numbered copies you may want to get a copy now, before they are all gone like the Laughing Apple single which is already sold out - I don’t want to say I told you so. Excuse me now as I head back to the Beat Hotel, there’s a girl waiting
Categories: 2010 Favourite, Great Music |
Tags: Alan McGee, Andrew Innes, Anorak Girl, biff bang pow, Creation Records, Dave Evans, Dave Morgan, Dick Green, edward ball, Joe Foster, Joss Cope, Ken Popple, The Creation, The Laughing Apple, The Page Boys, The Revolving Paint Dream, Vollwert Records, Whaam! Records | No Comments
February 11th, 2010
If you are a fan of Creation Records or enjoy a great cover track, as I do, then the new album by The Painted Word ( www.myspace.com/thepaintedword ) is an absolute must. “Not Yet Saved” (VWR 07) was just released on the ever fabulous Vollwert Records in Berlin.
The Painted Word is mainly the work of Arash Torabi along with an assortment of fine musicians and friends, and also features the wonderful talents of Phil Wilson (The June Brides) and Dave Morgan (The Weather Prophets / The Loft / Rockingbirds), as special guests on a few of the tracks. So this is the first reason any Creation collector will pay attention, as Phil released some fine releases on the label and was there when it all happened and especially since Dave Morgan played on or with about half of the early Creation releases and along with the bands mentioned above, he also played with Biff Bang Pow, Revolving Paint Dream, The Jazz Butcher and more.
The second reason that fans of Creation Records may want this release in their collection is that Arash and friends have put together 9 amazing renditions of classic songs (in my opinion) that were originally released on Creation, or by bands who recorded for Creation Records or bands who inspired the label. Let me provide some more details:
The album kicks off with a very upbeat and modernized version of the song “The Painted Word” which was originally by the Television Personalities, and it has a great groove, as well as still maintaining it’s original psychedlic flavour. This is such a great version, we are also going to include it on volume 3 of the TVP tribute which hopefully should be released soon. The second song, and one of my favourites from the album, is beautiful version of The Times “Confiance”, which is quite different from the original (if you don’t own the original, you should get yourself a copy – it can be found on “Pink Ball, Brown Ball, Ed Ball” CD and you can watch it here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s3pERBj3P8 ) in sound, yet strangely very similar in feel. It’s a great song and Phil Wilson adds some mighty fine banjo playing, making it the “bluegrass” version. Edward Ball is such a great song writer, so why are there not more covers of his songs, hopefully we will help to correct that soon. A cover of The Weather Prophets “Sleep” follows and Peter Astor is another that deserves more praise and attention, and I hope The Social Icons carry out their threat to record his “Naked As The Day I Was Born”. Song 4 and 5 are two more fine covers of Edward Ball tunes – maybe this wil be the start of an Edward Ball / The Times Revival and certainly an inspiration to our Edward Ball tribute. A cover of Felt’s “Penelope Tree follows with the fabulous Phil Wilson again showing off his banjo and mandolin skills. This is a song I have always enjoyed and this version really does the original justice, with some fine playing and vocals. A cover of The Revolving Paint Dream’s “Green Sea Blue” is brilliant – another great choice for a cover and I don’t need to tell you how much I really like this band and song, as I already did in an earlier post. What makes this cover even more special is the fact that Dave Morgan, the original drummer on this track has assisted Arash in creating a refreshing and melodic tribute to a POP classic. The album closes off with 2 covers ofTelevision Personalities tracks “Someone To Share My Life With” and “Scream Quietly” and I don’t think I need to tell you how amazing these songs and covers are. The TVP’s are the inspiration for Creation Records and Alan McGee still speaks very highly of them.
Thanks Arash for these inspiring covers and all the best with this album, it’s a great listen from start to finish.
ps - Arash also tells me he is currently working on Phil Wilson’s album, as well as with Jim Jasmine and The Granite Shore - Some very exciting projects!
Categories: 2009 Favourites, Great Music |
Tags: Creation Records, Dave Morgan, Felt, Jim Jasmine, Phil Wilson, television personalities, The Granite Shore, The Painted Word, The Revolving Paint Dream, the times, The Weather Prophets, Vollwert Records | No Comments
January 28th, 2010
I have to admit I am a bit late in announcing the release of TV21’s album “Forever 22”, as it was released in May 2009 on the Powbeat Records label in Scotland, but somehow I missed it at the time, even though I had been anticipating their return and had heard rumours of a new album quite a while back on their myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/tv21official). Suffice to say I got my copy late in 2009 and have been listening to it regularily since then, even making an extra copy to keep in the car, as well as telling everyone I could about this significant release.
Why so significant you ask? It is an amazing album and features 11 classic tunes, filled with power, passion and soul. It has one of the best album intros I have heard in a long time with “Scunnered” and then kicks in with an exceptional track “One Day In Summertime”, just the way a perfect album, should start. You hear traces of their past, but sounding fresh and current, with Norman Rodger’s voice in fine form and a band that is as tight as ever and even features three of the founding members (Norman Rodger, Ally Palmer and Neil Baldwin). “When Cole Was king” is an update of the great track from Norman’s days in Shame (which is another whole story, with links to Ottawa – more details later) and following that is one of my favourites from the album “Forever 22” and describes the search of a love that just might not exist – ahhhh to be 22 again. The next track “How Did You Get It So Wrong” could very well be the story of the band and how things went terribly wrong for a band with “a fabulous vision and the talent to fly to the future”, a band championed by the late John Peel and featured on the front page of Melody Maker, and had loads of great reviews, so why oh why are TV21 not a houshold name? – so maybe this album will turn back the clock and set a few things straight. The band doesn’t want your pity and that’s clear in “Look To Sun” when they tell us not to “shed a tear” and my favourite line “don’t send me flowers, you know I am allergic” (certainly a sign of the times), these lads are keeping their chin up and smiling as they look to the sun. In many ways this album brings back memories of The Waterboys, The Mighty Wah! and “the Big Music”, and not so much because, they sound like them, but it is the feelings they inspire. “Last Man Standing” is a rocking tune but at times bring back moments of The Comsat Angels and has a steady beat that carries you through. The intro to “In Another World” hints at a U2 or Simple Minds when they were at their peak but then reminds me of David Bowie’s “Heroes” as sung through a TV21 filter as only they could pull off, - Heroes is an all time favourite of mine, making this another highlight of the album for me. “Too Late For Me Now”, kicks in and is a really powerful track that you can sing along with and you quickly realize that it’s not too late to discover what a great band sounds like. “Through Different Eyes” is another great tune with some great guitar riffs, bringing us to an epic closing track, the return of “On The Run”, from the early days and I love how this track steadily builds to a frantic pace, but in a beautiful way, with excellent interplay between the bass, guitar and drums. What a way to cross the finish line.
Finished, you say, but it’s not over and for those who want extra value an added 8 bonus tracks are included and they are not in any way fillers, but all brilliant tracks which could easily be counted among the main tracks. These feature some powerful reworkings of some of our favourite TV21 tracks from days gone by, like “Snakes And Ladders”, “Somethings Wrong”, and “End Of A Dream” (another of my personal favourites that brings back memories of Modern English at their finest), along with several other great tracks, It’s also about time that some of these songs finally get a release as the originals are hard to find and they have been out of print for so long – it’s actually very strange that someone has not yet re-released their first album or compiled all their singles, so here’s to hoping that someone finally has some sense to do this.
Very interestingly, this second album comes “after an astounding gap of 28 years since their first LP “A Thin Red Line” was released on vinyl in1981” states the press release, and it is an amazing story, and things obviously went quite wrong (you can read part of the story on their website - http://www.powbeat.com/biog.htm ). “Forever 22”, however should help to correct a few things as they sound as exciting and as passionate as ever, with songs full of heart and soul, having aged perfectly. Hopefull this new release will introduce a new generation to TV21, who sadly have not been given, their rightful place in the music history books – they should have a chapter and not a footnote.
All that said, that’s not even why this is such a significant release for me, but you will need to stay tuned for part 2 where I will explain further … - In the meantime, you can purchase a copy here - http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tv21 and check it out for yourself.
Categories: 2009 Favourites, Great Music |
Tags: Postpunk, Shake Records, Shame, The Mighty Wah, The Waterboys, TV21 | No Comments
December 3rd, 2009
Today I rec’d an exciting package from This Almighty Pop (http://www.thisalmightypop.com/) - a brilliant UK label and fanzine that I have previously raved about (http://thebeautifulmusic.com/blog/?p=98) - one that could do no wrong. So just like an excited kid with a new present, I rush to a CD player to listen to the latest goodies, although I admit one was a few months old as I missed it at the time. I also thought I better jot down a few words right away, before life catches up with me and I forget to say something, as happened with the Play People ((this almighty pop! 01) and the Phil Wilson (this almighty pop! 04) singles, which were both perfect and completely lived up to the label name. (I do however hope to get back to writing about Phil Wilson’s many releases, as he has been quite active lately, which is keeping me busy tracking down all his releases).
Being, that I like things organized I will start with earlier release by Countryside (www.myspace.com/countysideland) “Summer Is Here” / “Estuary” (this almighty pop! 06), even if it has higher serial number then the others. “Summer Is Here” is a beautiful gem of a song with a hushed female vocals over a very lush combination of sounds, from shoegaze elements to sweeping keyboards, but propelled forwards by a very tight drums and guitar weave, and a piano trickled in the mix, to create a masterpiece that will keep you coming back. The second track “Estuary” is taken from an earlier ep and is a bit more laid back and dreamy with a harder edge when the guitars kick in, also making it a thoroughly enjoyable listen. As with all the Sarah records, the liner notes add to the exquisite experience as you now are left guessing just what The Honeydew Wonders sounded like?
The second single I’m listening to now as I type is by the first Swedish band on the label, Lets Say We Did (www.myspace.com/letssaywedidmusic) with the single “Come On Honey” (this almighty pop! 07). Now I’m not sure what it is about Swedish Pop bands, but they certainly have the style and the flair and the accent just adds to the charm. “Come On Honey” starts with a wonderful guitar intro and settles into a great groove as the singer pleads for the return of his love and I love the line “Our Love Is Like A Well Made Poem” - how can she stay away after listening to this single. “Galaxies” is almost folky and would make a nice soundtrack to watching the “Galaxies Colapsing”.
I am running out of time to write all that I want to say, so I will need to return later to talk about “Streets Of Your Town” compilation single which was given away at the show and features the 3 bands White Town, The Honda Express and Kosmonaut - which would have been quite a show to see.
Categories: 2009 Favourites, Feature 45, Great Music, zUncategorized |
Tags: Countryside, Lets Say We Did, This Almighty Pop! | No Comments
