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Saturday, 26 July 2014

Shell Hunter's Best Of Latitude 2014 - Solomon Grey, William Onyeabor Project, Future Islands

Brilliant sunshine and cold cider, pass me the festival bible. Who will make the cut?!

Add a cold cider to this, does it get better?!

deserved to be packed out

Solomon Grey - 'Firechild' (2013)

What do I do? See Bombay Bicycle Club which I probably owe to myself to see or take a chance on a band that has intrigued me recently. Well I decided to leave the group to see Solomon Grey in the tiny Alcove stage in the woods and I wasn't disappointed. Although the tent was a lot less busy than they deserved, they still pounded the stage and belted out their set like they were headlining the Obelisk stage. They started with Firechild which is my favourite song of theirs and that was it, I was glued to the spot!

William Onyeabor - 'Atomic Bomb' (2014)

Not only was this track of the weekend for me as we couldn't stop singing and humming it, but it'll be one of my top tracks of the year! This old wacky album from William Onyeabor from back in the day was performed by Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip, Pat Mahoney from LCD Soundsystem, Money Mark from the Beastie Boys and Scritti Politti to name but a few of this ever changing super group. It was the perfect setting- beautiful sunshine at the Obelisk stage and the whole group were chilled out lapping up the 'party groove'. Even Old Pa forgot about the toilets for 5 minutes!

"a cross between Henry Rollins Ian Curtis of Joy division"

Future Islands - 'Seasons Change (Waiting On You)' (2014)

I've been championing these guys for a few years now and they were up there on my definite list, despite clashing with War On Drugs which was a shame. Front man Samuel T Herring is a mighty intense guy and he can probably lift triple his body weight in anvils with one hand he is so fit. Thanks to The Swede for giving me the heads up about this performance on Letterman, you can see a very tame version of his stage style. Whether you like it or you find it a little scary, you can't deny its full of emotion and mesmerising! When Seasons came on, the crowd went wild and sang along, obviously approving their newer stuff. A short but sweet set on my favourite stage, the iArena, that left me wanting more from them as usual!

sfw Pada 11:04 2 Komentar

Sunday, 6 July 2014

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 06/07/2014 - Ryan Adams, Gabriel Sullivan & Taraf de Tucson, Solomon Grey, Clinton Fearon, Emperor Machine,

Clinton Fearon Emperor Machine Gabriel Sullivan Ryan Adams Solomon Grey Taraf de Tucson Tracks of the Week

Five tracks that saved the day...

Shell Hunter:-
Solomon Grey - 'Electric Baby' (2014)

It's less than 2 weeks til Latitude Festival so I'm trying to cram as much listening as I can. Solomon Grey, the electro duo I featured last year has been the latest group I've been listening to. Grouped in the same category as other greats like LCD Soundsytem and Little Dragon, they'll be ones I'm hoping to see on the tiny Alcove stage. This new track with it's hints of the 80s reminds me a little of Tubular Bells. They haven't yet got an album out but have a few EPs out, one if which was commissioned by the tourist board for Ireland. It's called Dathanna or Sounds Of The Wild Atlantic Way and will whisk you away to the far away landscapes of Ireland. You can download it for free on their website www.solomongrey.net.. It's head spinningly good!

London Scouser:-
Gabriel Sullivan and Taraf de Tucson - 'The Rust, The Knife' (2011)

This week I had the absolute pleasure to meet Howe Gelb at my place of work after telling him how much I liked his work, he told me to check out 2 artists. The first one is Gabriel Sullivan (who Howe Gelb introduced me to) who had opened for Howe on some of his European dates that they were returning home from. During the conversation, I was given the CD of his album 'Gabriel Sullivan &; Taraf de Tucson — None of This Is Mine' and I can tell you on my first play it blew me away. It's difficult to choose a favourite track as they are all winners, but I plumped for this one with it's 'Spaghetti Western' sounds that I could imagine whistling along too whilst driving through the Tucson desert. The album has the Mexican influences that I love from 'Calexico' & 'Mexican Institute of Sound' and his vocals remind me of 'Nick Cave'.

In January this year, he decided to record 1 song per day, which is pretty mind blowing. Check it out here

This is the track he recorded a few hours before I met him

Flycasual:-

Emperor Machine - 'The Point' feat Michelle Bee (2014)
Satisfying, hip thrusting, freaky funk from one time Bizzare Inc (responsible for 90's floor fillers such as 'I'm Gonna Get You' and 'Playing With Knives') member, Andy Meecham. Taken from the UK producer's 4th album, Like a Machine, out last month. Emperor Machine on Southern Fried Records...

Sfw:-
Ryan Adams - Gimme Somthing Good (2014)
Ryan Adams is back. Gimmee Something Good is his first release since 2011's Ashes and Fire and will appear on his self-titled album which is out in September. With it's bluesy, electric sound it may be sign of more electric material, I guess we'll have to wait and See. I love it!

Old Pa's Corner:-
Clinton Fearon - Blame Game (2014)

Don't get stuck in the rut, playing the blame game, that dirty old game! So take heed from these wise words from Mr Clinton Fearon. This is the title track from his excellent album Goodness. There are some real winners on this old school reggae album. I reallly wanted to feature a track called Shadow and it is worth seeking out. Top stuff!

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

sfw Pada 09:48 5 Komentar

Sunday, 27 October 2013

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 27/10/13 - The Band with Bob Dylan, Bahama Soul Club, Seryn, Solomon Grey, Pearl Jam

Bahama Soul Club Bob Dylan Danay Suarez Pearl Jam Seryn Solomon Grey The Band Tracks of the Week

Five tracks that blew us away

Flycasual:-
Bahama Soul Club - 'Malago' feat Danay Suarez (2013)

She's sexy, she's sultry, she can rap and I would still let her buy me a Mojito, needless to say I'm a big fan. I'm also quite partial to Cuban music and found this track on the new release from Bahama Soul Club, the Soul/Funk outfit's second album, The Cuban Tapes.

Bahama Soul Club on Buyu records

London Scouser:-
Pearl Jam - 'Sirens' (2013)

This week I don't have a specific favourite track, more of an album that I can't stop listening to. To choose a preferred track I would liken to a parent choosing a favourite child. Whilst each child has their good bits and some not so good, you tend to love them equally. And I can speak from experience as a father of zero kids !!!

The album in question is Pearl Jam's 10th studio album 'Lightning Bolt' and first since 2009. I've been there for every one, keenly awaiting and seldom disappointed. It's like a greatest hits of all new tracks, what I mean is that every track seems to be similar in style to many of their best tracks. In a previous post I said that 'Mind Your Manners' reminded me of 'Spin The Black Circle' and the titular (I learned that word yesterday !!) track seems so familiar after a couple of plays I could swear that its an oldie. The track I have chosen is the second single released from the album and again it reminds me of one of their slower numbers 'Nothingman'
All I can say is that when it comes to my Top 20 of the year, I'm either going to have to disown some of my (nonexistent) children or choose all 12 tracks from the album.

Old Pa's Corner:-
Ths Band with Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone (2013)

This is taken from the Band's new album Live at the Academy of Music 1971, It contains a set they did with Bob Dylan and this take of Like a Rolling Stone is as good as I have heard for some time. If only Bob's voice was as good as this today. But saying that I wish I had a ticket for his upcoming concerts in the UK. All you lucky beggers.

Shell Hunter:-
Solomon Grey - 'Firechild' (2013)

This is a tuuuunnnneeee! I love the ability songs have to transport you back in time and this one captures the spirit of the 80s very nicely! I hope they aren't offended when I say that the vocals remind me a little of Sydney Youngblood. In my world that's a good thing! This British duo spent 3 years working on their self titled debut album split between a remote lighthouse in Ireland and a family farm in Australia. With those unusual environments as inspiration, I look forward to hearing more unique electro landscapes. All we have to do is Sit And Wait for it's release on Black Butter Records, but for now, Firechild is released on 18th November!

Sfw:-
Seryn - Ivory Black (2013)

As the nights are getting darker this track by Seryn certainly matches my mood. They are a 6 piece from Texas, whose track Ivory Black is my current muse. I've been giving it a lot of listens and I really like the harmonies and how their dynamics rise and gently fall. One word, delightful. However, I do wonder if they know that Seren is Welsh for Star?