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Showing posts with label Brian Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brian Wilson. Show all posts

Sunday, 29 March 2015

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 29/3/2015 - Patrick Watson, Brian Wilson, The Four Owls, Kendrick Lamar

Four tracks that had our vote this week....




Shell Hunter:-
Kendrick Lamar - 'King Kunta' (2015)


 I decided to get back into hearing new music by putting my new digital radio in the nursery. Every morning now I stick it on whilst it's feeding time. Yesterday was the first day I thought, "This is excellent, I wonder what it is". I haven't said that for a while it seems! This track is taken from Kendrick Lemar's latest album called To Pimp A Butterfly which was out last week. This isn't normally my thing but it was so good to hear something different and I especially like the little metallic sound which happens every now and then. It's like when a cartoon character gets hit in the head and goes all googly-eyed! Kendrick Lamar is an American Hip Hopster spinning in all the right circles. He has already worked with Godfather of Hip Hop, Dr. Dre so I'm down with some good taste. Word to ya mutha.


Old Pa's Corner :-  
Brian Wilson - Sail Away (2015)


Wow! A new album by one of the true greats Mr Brian Wilson. The new album out soon is called Piers Pressure (2015), and I can't wait to hear it.

I am sitting here in the UK looking out the window watching a couple of squirrels fighting over some nuts and I am listening to this with my cans on. I smile, I am feeling happy, I won't forget the moment. Music you have done it again.

Flycasual:-
The Four Owls - 'Silent Flight' (2014)



"I bumped into my friend the owl the other day and I told him that I had got engaged.....and he said "you twit twoo".Owls, apart from being the recipient of perhaps the best joke in the universe and fierce nocturnal hunters, it's also the name of UK Hip Hop supergroup, The Four Owls (Fliptrix, VerbT, BVA and Leaf Dog). A straight up 'head bobber', the track encapsulates all that is great about the genre, which is sometimes lacking and like Old Skool crews (The Pharcyde, Beasties and Wu-Tang for example), it's the witty lyricism and interplay with the various members of the group, each with their distinct voices that I love. 'Silent Flight', is taken from their 2nd album, Natural Order, out last month (Feb), get your...ehm...talons into it here. UK represent.

High Focus records...

SFW:-
Patrick Watson - Love Songs For Robots (2015)


Montreal's finest has recently released the title track to whet our appetite and I haven't been disappointed. With his 2012 album, Adventures in your own back yard,  still a part of my monthly musical diet, any news of a new album would always be taken with nervous excitement. It follows his familiar format of whispery vocals, piano-led music that can easily put the listener into a sleep-like trance (in a good way!).  Comparisons to Bon Iver with a bass line similar to Air (circa Moon Safari) are not far off the mark.



Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...

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Sunday, 23 November 2014

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 23/11/2014 - Gianna Lauren, Kindness, Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan, Public Service Broadcasting

Four Tracks that diverted the Polar Vortex!



Flycasual:- 
Kindness - 'This Is Not About Us' (2014)


I've been meaning to post this gem for awhile now but for some reason I kept it on the back burner, possibly in case of a Polar Vortex. With a great sentiment and an unmistakable retro 80's feel to it (just check out the video), it transported me back to days of stone washed jeans and neon spandex, albeit briefly. I also love the fact the song borrowed the beat from the Run DMC classic, 'Peter Piper', strong work there Kindness. 'This Is Not About Us', is taken from Adam Bainbridge aka Kindness' second album, Otherness released last month (October).

Kindness official website....

Old Pa's Corner:-
Brian Wilson - Wanderlust (2014)
Bob Dylan - Things we said (2014)



 
The new double set of Paul McCartney songs is rather ambitious and is bound to be full of great moments and lots of duds. It is full of some of the best artists that have ever been, all doing a song written by Sir Paul. I have chosen two by the OLD GUARD which are both fabulous. Brian is at his very harmonious best and. what else would you expect from Dylan's backing band . Even Bobby's vocals are pretty good too. Great stuff!


Shell Hunter:-
Public Service Broadcasting - 'Gagarin' (2014)



The fabulous upcycling duo have caught my attention with this latest single based around the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, who was the first man to enter outer space and orbit the Earth back in 1961. Now this especially ticks lots of boxes in my world, I am a wannabe space cadet. The video is another tick, a lot a suave dance moves and of course the song itself is fun-kay with a capital F. I'm pleased these guys have proved themselves as more than a novelty act as was initially thought. It is definitely worth seeing them too, they put on a good show. It looks like they've hit the Blackpool Tower of concert venues next year for me, they are due to play the Camden Roundhouse! Well done lads, you will be performing amongst the stars!

Sfw:-
Gianna Lauren - Anchor Down (2014)

I am sad.  I missed this a few months ago and was gutted to know that if I picked it up first time round, I would have been able to see her live in Cardiff.  Gianna Lauren originally hails from Alberta and Ontario but now calls Hallifax, Nova Scotia her home.  Anchor Down is infectious, melodic and has a slinky guitar melody that leaves you in a tiz.  A real grower!



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Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Brian Wilson - Love and Mercy/Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

OLD PA'S WEDNESDAY CLUB

THE SUDAN PT 1


 
BRIAN WILSON - Love and Mercy (1988)

I was sent over to the Sudan to support the Cargo Section for Saudia Airlines  cut over to an Automated Cargo System.

I had asked the local guys to find me a cheap Hotel as I hoped to make some money out of the trip as I needed a new stereo System. I knew there would be not a lot to do as it was now a strict Muslim country and they had public floggings for the terrible sin of drinking alcohol. It was 1988.

I was a bit surprised landing in Khartoum at how dark it was compared to landing in Jeddah where it looked like a fourth of July fire work display.

I was picked up by Ali and taken to a Hotel or what looked like a Hotel. It looked very run down and all I remember seeing was the white of eyes of several tall black men giving me the stare. I was ushered to a room and Ali said he would pick me up first thing the next morning and then he was gone. The room was basic there was no lock on the door. I went to what was supposed to be the bathroom and again there was no lock. There was running water, just. It wasn't very clean.

I thought what have I let myself in for here. I wanted cheap. But this. This was down right scary. I did not even have any local Currency. It was pretty late so I tried to get some sleep and I would sort it out tomorrow. I was experiencing the aptly named African Hotel.

I told Ali the next day that really this was not suitable and I wanted something a bit better. He would not hear of it. After all it was his brother's Hotel and he would arrange the best room. He had arranged a good price of $5 US dollars for the weeks. At that price I would suffer it and get that great looking Kenwood stereo I had been after for some time. I had my trusty portable cassette player (all the tracks played on this and the next post featured on this cassette play list I had made especially for the trip) . I was stacked up with Pot noodles, chocolate and nuts. During the day I ate at the Airport Canteen.

The new room was slightly better, there was no window just a shutter tied with wire and it looked on to a small court yard. Locking doors in this Hotel just did not exist. Think Kenwood was the order of the day.

Ali dropped me of the next night and ask do I like a drink. I answered well I have been know to have a little tipple.He said he would pick me up later and we will look for some alcohol.

He came back later and quickly handed me a brown bag and said he would pick me up tomorrow at the same time. In the bag was a bottle of Johnny Walker Scotch. I drank the bottle that night and had some pot noodles and a great music session. I was worried however what to do with the empty bottle and had visions of an International incident and a public flogging.

Part 2 next week
 
NENEH CHERRY - Buffalo Stance (1988)
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Tuesday, 8 November 2011

WEDNESDAY CLUB - BEACH BOYS - Good Vibrations(Smile Sessions Highlights)

MIDWEEK CRISIS, why the long face, come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we've got the Beach Boys and they are going to make you grin from ear to ear.
God Only Knows a Genius

 BEACH BOYS - Good Vibrations(Smile Sessions Highlights)

I feel as if I have to do this post as I believe it is that 'significant' in the 'World of popular Music'.

What could have been, if Hendrix didn't die. If Curtis didn't die, if Cobain didn't die, if Holly didn't die. If I/you, had not taken that different turn. It does not really matter, this is the way it has turned out. It is nothing we can change now.  But it is great to contemplate what may have happened.

With Brian Wilson, who had just been the Genius behind, arguably one of the greatest albums of all time. How could you follow up Pet Sounds? How do you follow up Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, with Blonde on Blonde of course, How do you follow up the Beatle's Revolver, with Sergeant Pepper of course. How do you follow up Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, with Aladdin Sane of course. That kind of expectation, I believe, was more than Brian could deliver. The tragedy is the whole 'thing' was too much for him and he had a complete break down before 'that' follow up was delivered (the competition then, was so fierce, Beatles, Dylan, Stones). He disappeared from the scene for a long, long time (the reasons are well documented). It was as if he had gone for ever. What could have been ?.
Essential!

We knew there was a follow up album there, but why was it never released? The Rumours were there for 40 years (there were of course boots around).

When I heard Brian was releasing an album in 1988, I was so excited, but was ready for the fall. You can't come back after all that time. (They never come back). When I heard the first song, it blew me away (Love and Mercy). This was Brian Wilson, this was Brian Wilson the Genius I remember. The album although good, did not reach these heights. It was no Pet Sounds.

I saw Brian in concert a few years back with Shellhunter and I will honestly say it is in my top 5 concerts of all time, I will write a post about the experience one day.

The fuss is all about the follow up album to Pet Sounds, 'Smile'  it never happened, but now, with these two new 'session' releases (Double CD) and (4CD Set) this is as near as damn it as we will ever get to that long anticipated 'Smile' Album.

My opinion, (for what it's worth) there are some 'brilliant moments, up there with Pet Sounds', but alas! it is no 'Pet Sounds'. sorry!. Maybe things should be left as they are, maybe that's the way it's meant to be. Maybe!

Nevertheless, we all know the magnificent 'Good Vibrations' (is it one of the Best top 10 singles of all time?)  this is part of the 'Smile' sessions, enjoy, this it is fabulous, a great piece of History. 'Wear ear Phones!'

Oh! finally the first time I heard it, I was crossing the new Fourth Road Bridge for the first time in 1966. Just thought I'd tell you that!.

Check out Brian Wilson Live at the Roxy Theatre........it's a good one! 


BEACH BOYS - Good Vibrations(Smile Sessions Highlights)
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