Here are two completely different songs by two different artist. Both in there own way are utterly fabulous.
The first by Buffalo Springfield is probably one of my favourite Neil Young songs and I have used the line My Mother Told me a Trip was a fall to many time to count. Well it is better than enjoy your trip.
The second was on Robbie Roberson's first solo album and is equally good in a completely different. way.
Do you like Singer/Songwriters/Alt-Country/Americana or Indie-Folk, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
This track from Icelandic band Kaleo, has got the this weeks honour of giving me a High Fidelty moment of asking "who is this?". This four piece are popular in their home country and although I keep on thinking it is a new City and Colour single, they are starting to make a splash in the US with a tour and with Vance Joy and a deal with Atlantic Records.
Here's "Where My Hands Might Go" by Swedish Singer/Songwriter Daniel Skoglunds, a.k.a Songs of Boda. Before you think it being about the fumblings of a 14 year old, it's about playing a guitar -which is perfectly demonstrated with a hypnotic guitar melody that can help reduce the blood pressure. It features on the album, Loophole.
Old Pa:- MewithoutYou - 'Red Cow' (2015)
These guys have been going for sometime but are new to me. I like this one from their new album Pale Horses (2015). Chugs along quite nicely, then you get a change of mood with the violent chorus. Excellent. Look out for Red Cows and Pale Horses I say!
London Scouser:- Jacco Gardner - 'Find Yourself' (2015)
Normally I struggle to find a TOTW as I don't often listen to new music... However thanks to Shellhunter for pointing me in the direction of 'Discover Weekly'. I'm now having to juggle about 7 or 8 tracks!!! Every Monday, Spotify chooses a playlist of 30 tracks based upon my recent listening. It's almost creepy to think that Spotify has been rooting through my bins and hiding in my wardrobe for any hints of tracks it wants to share with me. But if they continue to give me a good weeks listening I don't mind them going through my sock drawer. I was debating over choosing Elbow or The Vaccines, but plumped for this track by an unknown (to me at least) artist from Holland. I couldn't find much about him, he does have a Wikipedia page, but unfortunately my Dutch isn't what it ought to be so I don't have a Scooby what it says!!! It's a nice summery sounding track which helps brighten up my morning as its absolutely rissing down with pain at the moment.
Shell Hunter:- Beck - 'Dreams' (2015)
Isn't it terrible when people know you better than you know yourself? Actually, why is it terrible when they know exactly what floats your boat. Thank you Flycasual for pinging me this one in my inbox, I LOVE IT!!!! It's rocketed straight into Shell Hunter's Best of 2015. This gentle fellow needs no introduction and has featured frequently on TuneDr radio waves. I've always been a big fan and claimed he was a musical genius able to chameleon himself into any style or music genre. This type being my favourite, the 80s! No comments about the "oh, oh, oh" backing sounding like New Kids On The Block though please!
Cor! I've always had a thing for Roisin Murphy, I think it's maybe because she's a bit of a fruit cake which is also reflected in her music. She's also currently my 'Star Pass', a gentlemen's agreement with my wife, that should I meet Roisin shopping at Asda for example, then I would allow her to come home with me for a cup of tea and talk about that dirty bass on her latest track, 'Evil Eyes'. My wife's, interestingly or not, is Martin Clunes, as it reminds her of her Vauxhall Astra driving, older boyfriend who used to work at the local golf club. She's got a good swing out of it at least. Hairless Toys, Roisin's 3rd solo album proper, was released last month, a welcome return after a 7 year hiatus.
Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...
Do you like Singer/Songwriters/Alt-Country/Americana or Indie-Folk, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
Sea Wolf - Young Bodies (2014)
The excellent Sea Wolf, a.k.a. Alex Brown Church has become a bit of favourite of mine over the last few years. All of their material is great, but the Kickstarter funded, Song Spells, No. 1: Cedarsmoke is a bit special. The pay-what-you-want-album, should be looked as a limited edition masterpiece that gives fans (and the unconverted) a singer/songwriter at the top of his game. The only disappointing thing is that you cannot get it on vinyl! Do yourself a favour and download it via the official website.
Being on maternity leave means I'm missing out on exposing myself to new music on the journey to the airport and back so I've starting using the next best thing....bath time! Well until my little one starts objecting to the random playlists and requests One Direction or High School Musical that is, God forbid! This funky song turned my head whilst I was elbow deep in rubber ducks. Its a track from Gene Dudley, a young and very talented one man band- local boy, taken from his second album entitled Zambidoose, I'm loving the reggae flavour of this one and he's been given the Gilles Peterson and Craig Charles Funk-Soul seal of approval. Groovy baby!
Heart FM's 'greater music variety' tag line used really freak me out as they would proceed to play M People's 'Search For The Hero' for the fifth time that day. With breakfast DJ, Jamie Theakston, bringing out the worst in me. Thankfully I don't work in that office anymore so motivation and productivity is up! 'Bad Radio' featuring TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, is taken from Leftfield's long overdue 3rd album, Alternative Light Source. A welcome return after a 16 year hiatus.
SFW:-
The Paper Kites - Electric Indigo (2015)
I cannot work out whether Electric Indigo is trying to be like The War on Drugs or just a homage to the 80s. Either way, I'm loving it. The track features on their album twelvefour, which is a concept album that was written between midnight and four in the morning. For two sleepless months lead singer/guitarist Sam Bentley worked, reversing his sleep patterns and penning 30 songs in his home studio. Rather him than me!
Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...
Need a rumbling Sousaphone in your life? Fancy a mix of Balkan Brass, funk and Hip Hop? Well get a load of Brooklyn's Breakdown Brass, creating a big sound...fresh and fun, especially the top drawer cover of Dr Dre's classic, The Next Episode. The band trumpeting the expletives from the original means you could even play this next time grandma's round for tea, word! Next Episode is taken from their latest single, Monmouth, listen to it here on Spotify....
Would I go over to Bogota for a week and then go to Miami for several days and do a training course for ULD management. I did not have to be asked twice as I had been to neither before.
I was to be met a Bogota Airport on arrival by my contact over there and would be brought to my Hotel. It was a very early arrival about 02:30 in the morning. I arrived and waited for about 30mins or so but no one was there to meet me.
Several dubious characters approached me offering to take me on my journey. I waited another 30 mins but still no one came. I looked around for a 'proper taxi' but there was none. Mine was the last flight of the night.
This was getting a bit scary as I had to make the decision to take a lift from these dubious characters who were eyeing me up like vultures. After all this was Bogota, the kidnap capital of the world. I decided to go with a youngish guy who looked the most reasonable. I struck a deal (I did not know if the price was good or bad) I followed him on foot down a dark alley way and reached his car, an old ramshackle affair. What have I let myself in for?. Would he take me to my Hotel or would sell me off to some gang for ransom. Or even worse. My mind was racing.
The journey was about 30 mins and not one word was spoken between us. Where were we going? Suddenly in the distance I saw the familiar green sign of a Holiday Inn, we arrived and I don't think I have ever felt so relieved as I did then.
Do you like Singer/Songwriters/Alt-Country/Americana or Indie-Folk, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
Bon Iver - Wolves (Act I & II) (2008)
It is a day for sad songs. I was just catching up on "music news" and read that Justin Vernon's Bon Iver will be "winding it down" for an extended break. Whether that is a real breakup or a maybe-we'll-have-a-kiss-around-the-sheds-every-now-and-again ---- it is a sad day for fans of the winter loving maestro. Just in case you've forgot of his genius, give this a spin and you'll be out in the garden building a camp fire sooner than you can say Ray Mears.
Ex's are a tricky subject, particularly tedious when you're wandering around town or listening to old albums and everything reminds you of them, crap ain't it. But this is a gorgeous song which covers said subject and at least makes you feel like you're walking around in velvet pants whilst doing it. 'All Yours' is taken from the Brooklyn duo's latest album of the same name, which was out last month. Check out our guest post concert review from Emma back in 2011, here.
Old Pa's Corner :-
Sleaford Mods - Tarantula Deadly Cargo (2015)
Fresh from their success at this year's Glastonbury, here is a track from the Sleaford Mods new album Key Markets. Flycasual introduced me to these guys last year and I was quite taken with there fresh attitude and original lyrics. Still trying to work out what the guy in the beard is meant to be doing but maybe that is the answer. Brilliant backing here too.
Looking forward to the album and I am just going to watch their set at Glastonbury right now.
Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...
Here are two covers of Down Along the Cove by two different icons of the sixties. the first take is by Davy Graham the guitar virtuoso and is from his album Hat (1969).
The second is by good 'ol Georgie Fame and this can be found on his album Someone Stole My Thunder (2007)
Do you like Singer/Songwriters/Alt-Country/Americana or Indie-Folk, or do you have a unhealthy affection to the sadness, if so you may have a case of the Tuesday Blues!
Josh Rouse - Coat for a pillow (2015)
Josh Rouse is such an underrated songwriter. The Nebraska-born musician has been plugging away for years now and despite gaining a strong fan base, the lack of commercial success must play on the mind (and pocket). The industry has changed so much that unless you have a loop pedal and adolescence on your side, grafting is the only option. Rouse recently was quoted that his latest release, The Embers of Time, "..all kind of had this mid-life theme to them. I’m not 25 anymore. The music business and the entertainment business is tough to age in, ’cause you’re not new and not really old and cool. There’s just this desert in the middle you’ve got to get through.”".
If Josh Rouse is having a Mid-life crisis, what chance do I have?!? As someone in my early 40s, it is something that I can relate to and I'm dreading my next career change as time is not my side. Apart from a lottery win (never tell me the odds), I need to figure it all out or I'll be sleeping on the street.
Jim James' My Morning Jacket feel like they've been around forever. The Kentucky five-pieces- latest release leaves you feeling that you've you've been transported back to 1985 in a Delorean. A hybrid of Kate Bush-meets-Prince, it makes you want to put on your Air Jordans, rekindle your crush with Molly Ringwald and make you wonder why all 80s movies had music and dodgy dancing? This features on the bands latest album 'The Waterfall', which was out in May.
Old Pa's Corner :-
The Skints - This Town (2015)
Here is a track from London's The Skints latest album FM. I just love these guys and although album has been out for a while I am just getting round to have a listen, Cant wait.
Shell Hunter:- Night Engine - 'Wound Up Tight' (2015)
This has actually been my track of the week for a couple weeks now. Its a real grower. For someone who loves the 80s as much as I do, it really satiates me! Its got a kicking beat, deliciously dirty bass line and the essential synths to tick all boxes. I'm glad to hear that they haven't lost what captured me in the first place. Wound Up Tight was released at the beginning of June and launched with a gig at The Black Heart in Camden. It's been a while since I saw these guys live but every time I have, I couldn't help but get infected with their energy. Front man Phil has to be seen to be believed and what a sharp dresser! Could their long awaited album be the coiled spring that has been wound up tight? Come on and give it to us!
London Scouser:- Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 'Riverman' (2015)
Whilst visiting Old Pa in Spain last week I was looking for some new music to add to a playlist to listen to around the BBQ. I saw that the album 'Chasing Yesterday' was on Spotify and have been mightily impressed with what I've heard. There are some great tracks on here that remind me of the great sounds of Oasis in their pomp. This track in particular starts off and I thought for a moment it was 'Wonderwall' with the acoustic intro. It's been 21 years since 'Definitely Maybe' but for me he hasn't lost any of his spark... Here's to the next 21...
Flycasual:- Raury - 'Devil's Whisper' (2015)
With all this heat we have had, you could have easily been mistaken for being in the US's Deep South...well perhaps not but listening to Atlanta's Raury was as close as I was gonna get from my semi detached in Surrey. This cat is pretty special, 'Devil's Whisper' not only effortlessly blends many styles from Gospel to Electro to Folk and Hip Hop, it's craftily structured too. The first verse is sung from Beelzebub's perspective, trying to tempt our Raury with ting, while the second from Raury as he verbally slaps the offer out of the devil's hand with an angry rebuke. Nicely done. 'Devil's Whisper' is taken from his debut EP/Mixtape, Indigo Child, out last month.
You have probably noticed that Old Pa has been quiet for the past few weeks. The main reason is that my brand new Lap Top crashed and Dell in their wisdom do not provide a recovery disc/USB any more. So I have had to arrange to get one but as Shellhunter and London Scouser were visiting with baby Ripley there was no one to send it over to me. I expect to get it next week and hope to be able to catch up and get back to normal. I have not forgotten all my pals. In the meantime here is my latest pathetic attempt in my quest to be a song writer. Well we got to try. (apologise for layout did this from Tablet, could not work it out)
Standing next to our beautiful Flora
ANCIENT LOVE
At the top of the Hill of Fairies We were haunted by the view Brahan Seer keeps it under lock and key No Spirit can ever escape there When 7 bridges cross the River Ness Fire will run through the streets And blood will surely follow
Standing next to our beautiful Flora Gazing down the path of the Ness She helped escape her Bonnie Charlie Disguised him as a spinning maid They landed safe on Portree Haven Away from the Evil Cumberland
Standing on desolate Culloden Moor Jacobite dreams were slaughtered Followed blind the Young Pretender The British Throne his birthright We felt the presence of many a ghost Who never found their peace there
On the Banks of the Caledonian Canal Following the steps of Thomas Telfor He joined the coasts from East to west Provided work for starving thousands Watched in awe at the sailing ships Bringing gold and silk and silver
Chorus
We held each others trembling hand Our bodies close in warm embrace We gazed into each others smiling eyes And we knew why we stood here We had discovered Love
