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The Blow Monkeys

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What does it sound like?:

If I could have requested an opening to the new Blow Monkeys album then the first 20 seconds of the first track Stranger To Me Now would have been my order. An orchestral, lazy, jazzy, funky intro that is like the first sip of a cold pint on a summer’s day. You’re in, you’re set, all senses tuned in, this is going to be great. The song is gorgeous, the band perfect, Robert’s vocal comfortingly familiar yet more mature. It feels very personal. What a start.

If as the second track suggests Waking Up Is Hard To Do then this slice of pure funk might just be what you need to get yourself up and about. Not for the first time though a Dr Robert song is not what you imagine it to be. This song is about a struggle with a past that wasn’t always easy and I sense a theme developing.

Rope A Dope was the tactic adopted by Mohammad Ali to deal with the monster that was George Foreman. Reeling him in and exhausting him before cutting the man mountain down. Robert pleads with his darling to take a swing at » Continue Reading.

When Dave Met Martin

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I’ve been on one of my occasional Afterword breaks. I’m back to share something for the few fans of The Kane Gang that hang around here…First paragraph here. Link in the box…

Twitter can be a force for good if you curate it carefully, find like-minded souls and keep away from those subjects. At least that’s what I’ve found and so it proved again when, after seeing a tweet from The Kane Gang celebrating 40 years since the release of Small Town Creed, I idly suggested that I would make The Kane Gang my next Toppermost. I tagged singer, songwriter, hat wearer Martin Brammer with the thought that he might like to contribute. To my delight and surprise Martin responded that he’d be happy to and we arranged to chat over the phone. We spent over an hour discussing everything from his early years in Seaham through to writing songs for the likes of Tina Turner. Along the way we discussed a joint Kane Gang top ten. It was fascinating and illuminating and I’d love to share it all with you.

https://www.toppermost.co.uk/the-kane-gang/

Taylor Swift is the subject of a new Toppermost article..

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And I think you might enjoy it…

It’s not for me to discuss sexism to any great depth in this type of article. I do want to introduce you to the music of Taylor Swift and hopefully demonstrate it’s not superficial disposable pop. There’s a craft and a depth that her critics ignore. This is mostly the angry internet: those furious (mostly) men who don’t like anyone but themselves having anything, who rage against films and tv programmes reflecting a diverse society. To these men I say, get over it. The world has changed. And we want more Taylor Swifts and less pale stale males. And it’s not an either/or situation anyway. I can enjoy this, and throw on the Rolling Stones or Van Halen or Led Zeppelin or Queen with the same amount of pleasure and joy.

https://www.toppermost.co.uk/taylor-swift/

In search of new music….

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Dave Amitri on Ricky Wilde and Nina: Scala Hearts

So far in 2024 my search for new music has lead me to the heartfelt, Gen X Americana of Noah Kahan and the theatrical, music hall pop of Barbara. While both are great they are ultimately updated versions of what I already know and love. With that in mind when I saw a tweet from Ricky Wilde, brother of the timeless pop goddess Kim, talking about his new music with someone called Nina I hesitated but somewhere in my subconscious I felt a calling. So my research began.

Ricky as I’m sure you know was the writer of many of Kim’s songs including the brilliant Cambodia and is a highly regarded musician. From Wikipedia I discovered that Nina is

Nina Boldt known mononymously and professionally as NINA (born 29 September 1983) is a German singer-songwriter based in London and Berlin. Her music is a fusion of Pop, New Wave, and Electronic music.

Ricky and Nina have made an album called Scala Hearts. A quick look on Spotify and ss soon as I saw that the album opened with a cover of Dollar’s Videotheque let me tell you dear reader there was no going back. It’s immense. » Continue Reading.

Franz Beckenbauer

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Obituary

Passed away aged 78. My old man who knew his football always swore he was the greatest of his era. Not Pele or Moore. The World Cup quarter final in Mexico was something Dad would always refer to as his finest moment as he single handedly turned the tide against England. Years ahead of his time. RiP

In search of new music….

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Dave Amitri on Noah Kahan – Stick Season

My pre Christmas Del Amitri Advent while lovely got me thinking about how deep my musical rut is. It’s Grand Canyonesque as I continue to just switch between the same bands and albums. So not as a resolution just an acceptance that if I’m lucky enough to get another 20 or 30 years on this planet I’m going to need something else to listen to. It’s no secret I enjoy the process of listening and sharing so here we are.

I decided to listen to Radio 1 on my 30 minute journey to work. It worked for me before, why not now. So Tuesday morning I dived into to a world designed for those 30 – 40 years younger than me. First song out of the 8.30 news was Stick Season by Noah Kahan, nope me neither. Anyway it was clearly by one of those earnest male singer songwriters but it had enough for me to decide, right, I’m in. There was a line in the song referencing covid on planes which piqued my interest further.

There he was on Spotify looking like an extra from Deliverance with his gorgeous German » Continue Reading.

Desperately Seeking Paul

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Dave Amitri on Episode 180 – Paul Weller

About 3 years ago during lockdown one time DJ Dan Jennings started a podcast trying to fulfill his wish to finally interview Paul Weller. Much like our friends Jason and Steven’s Nothing Is Real, Desperately Seeking Paul grew from humble beginnings to be essential listening for thousands of music fans. 179 guests all with connections to Paul Weller. Friends, family, collaborators, journalists and fans sharing their stories, connections to the great man as well as what his music has meant to them. My favourites among many Nick Heyward, Dr Robert and Pete Paphides.

Dan’s style has always been a major part in why it was so listenable. Always allowing guests to tell their stories and giving them plenty of air time. This was Dan’s podcast but it was never about Dan. I’ll admit when I heard that Weller was to be the last episode I was worried how Dan would cope being such a huge fan. I shouldn’t have. This episode is without doubt the best interview I’ve heard with Paul Weller. He’s relaxed, open and clearly, as we were to discover, more content than he’s ever been in his life. » Continue Reading.

The Coral and Iraina Mancini

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Venue:

The Electric Ballroom, Camden

Date: 07/12/2023

The chance to see two artists who’ve made three of my favourite albums this year was too good to pass up. The Electric Ballroom is a great little venue full of history with posters on the walls, plenty of bars and incredibly intimate.

I arrived in time to see and hear Iraina Mancini. She was only on for half an hour. For those like me who know her album Undo The Blue it just confirmed her status as a new upcoming musical force. That voice, that range, those influences. A fantastic three-piece band too. Those who maybe hadn’t come across her and were there for The Coral can’t fail to have been impressed. In fact as her short set went on the bars emptied and her audience swelled. From the jazzy pop beauty of Sugar High, the soaring 60s styling of Under The Blue to the 90’s glam rock punch in the face of Deep End it was a tiumph. Get to see Iraina Mancini in a venue like this soon if you can. The stratosphere can’t be far way for her. A quick footnote. Later I saw her » Continue Reading.

A Del Amitri Advent

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This probably has limited appeal here but I’ve set myself a challenge to post a Del Amitri song every day on my socials (Dave!) in the run up to Christmas along with a very brief synopsis of an imaginary Christmas advert it could accompany.

I’ve found 25 Del Amitri / Justin Currie songs that are perfect for a Del Amitri Advent. Songs full of that festive melancholy that suit Christmas TV ads. Christmas songs that aren’t Christmas songs but work as such.

Day 1. Don’t Come Home Too Soon. As a World Cup song for Scotland 98 it’s unique. Used in my imaginary TV ad as a young soldier leaves his family for his first tour of duty on Christmas eve it beomes something devastatingly poignant.

13 Beatles Albums In 8 years: With The Beatles

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Dave Amitri on With The Beatles

As we approach the 60th anniversary of the release of With The Beatles just eight months after Please Please Me I’ve been listening to not only the album for the first time but also some of the music that came before. Trying to get myself in the mind of a music fan in 1963 which requires me to dismiss everything released in my lifetime and more. As luck would have it our dear friends at Nothing Is Real have a two part podcast looking back, just at November 1963 in Beatles world and it has provided the kind of history lesson I could only dreamed of having at school. It has also helped me understand the unique madness of the original and biggest pop mania. So before I get to the album let me try and set the scene as I see it with absolute acknowledgment that these gems are Steven’s and Jason’s as they microscopically followed a month in the life of The Beatles where they were touring the country in front of 120000 fans, an ever voracious press desperate for any snippet of information and increasing interest from the US.

How can » Continue Reading.

Tell me why?

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I’ve been a bit quiet lately for a wide range of reasons. Nothing serious just a bit of a reboot trying to make sense of the world. That and that recurring feeling that I’ve nothing new to say. A simple 1979 top 20 on Twitter has allowed me to dive into an incredible year for music that was transitional for me in my musical education. The older brother I’ve often talked of bringing incredible records from The Jam, Blondie and others into the house while I was enjoying Racey and The Dooleys.

Anyway, enough of that. I was trying to get my list down to 20 when I Don’t Like Mondays popped up. A song I’ve not really thought about for years. It shook me to my core. I sat in my car transfixed and quite honestly surprised at the effect it had on me. I can only assume that it triggered something of the despair at news from Ukraine and The Middle East and the senseless loss life. Tell me why? Is a question I’ve asked many times recently. Geldof’s delivery accentuating it all over that remarkably sparse production. What a song it is. It certainly caught me » Continue Reading.

A 20 song 1972 playlist you absolutely don’t need but has made me feel 7 again…

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Over on that Twitter or X or whatever the man child is calling it today there’s been a #1972Top20 running. I decided to try and only choose songs that place me back there rather than anything I’ve heard since or that the hip kids might choose. God what a year it was for a young boy with no idea what was “good” and two teenage sisters. My list is here. My request is that you tell us what songs take you back to your 7th journey round the sun?

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Lh1wsevnTqL5lwV2MYVtW?si=GuM2BZg4T_W3YmMsMuCnqQ

Iraina Mancini – Undo The Blue

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What does it sound like?:

What’s this? You ask. Dave Ross reviewing a new album? If the world wasn’t crazy enough already in 2023 this is too much. Let me explain. It’s no secret that as a hobbyist music writer Pete Paphides is the writer I wish I could have been. Fair to say I’m a bit of a fanboy. I mean I’m not about to turn up at his house or turn my living room into a shrine like the guy from Alan Partridge but I love his writing style. His love of ABBA, encyclopaedic music knowledge (he once referenced King’s Taste Of Your Tears as a good thing. I know!) and his general niceness is all the more reason to love him. Broken Greek is the book I wish I could write weaving as it does personal stories with the music of the time. However, full disclosure here. On Twitter he’s been bloody relentless and not a little annoying about Iraina Mancini and her debut album on his Needle Mythology label. Anyway, out of interest as it clearly means a huge amount to Pete I gave it a listen. I mean it must be good if it’s » Continue Reading.

Mick Jagger Is 80 Today

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So share some clips and stories to celebrate that will encourage me to investigate further. Whatever you think of him and his music his legacy and legend is undeniable. Astonishing to think this clip was from the year I was born and he’s still at it….

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xzLD2FVo4Ok&pp=ygUgZ2V0IG9mZiBteSBjbG91ZCByb2xsaW5nIHN0b25lcyA%3D

A 20 Song Cliff Richard Playlist You Didn’t Know You Needed

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I’ve recently returned from a short summer holiday, before the young ones break up from school. After a day on the beach I was prompted to put together a 20 song Cliff Richard playlist you didn’t know you needed. Every one of these is great, honestly. 65 years since Move It. Imagine this set in the legends slot at Glastonbury?

This clip is from 1960. 18 months after Move It was released and two years before Love Me Do. This was all so new and he was right there making it up as he went along. I know, its Cliff, but he was one of the first. I think he’s well overdue reappraisal

During a playback when this popped up on the playlist I literally laughed out loud. 80s lovers will remember The Farmers Boys version but this is absolutely glorious. Cliff nails it, those harmonies on “poor man’s wine”. Bloody hell. As for this video…..

So many great songs to focus our attention on. I included 2 songs from 2018’s Rise » Continue Reading.

Wham! Netflix documentary

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Dave Amitri on Wham!

I watched the Wham! documentary on Netflix last night. It’s a remarkable tale brilliantly told. The use of George’s voice as co narrator is a stroke of genius by producer Simon Halfon.

You forget for a moment that he’s gone and imagine it’s him speaking in 2023. Even if you’re not a fan of Wham! (how that can be I’ll never understand but I’ll never judge either) but you do love music and the industry it’s a fantastic insight into how a band could make it big in the 80s but remain skint.

While it was all a laugh for the uber confident Andrew. It was very different for George. It’s still remarkable to watch him transforming before our very eyes physically and emotionally while trying to hide his sexuality from his fans and the press. Something he clearly struggled with wanting to be honest with his fans but fully understanding the consequences. Different times indeed, thank God we’ve moved on.

Both Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael had a dream and chased it. Wham! was enough for Andrew. George clearly wanted more. While they were active Wham! were and remain a joyous explosion of » Continue Reading.

Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure

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Dave Amitri on For Your Pleasure

I was reminded recently that I was going to write about Roxy Music’s second album For Your Pleasure Having written about their eponymous first album in April last year . I got side-tracked by solo McCartney and never got back to Roxy Music despite listening to For Your Pleasure a lot. So here we are.

I re-read the Roxy Music review and it appears I was really very excited by the album, even for me. It remains a remarkable album that I return to often. For Your Pleasure had its work cut out to match it so let’s find out if there is something in it or if it’s just a remake / remodel with a bitters end. (Enough now Dave, get on with it).

It opens with Do The Strand which is a hell of a start. It must have influenced Sparks and absolutely maintains the standard set by the first album. It’s a romp of a song with Ferry’s warble spitting out some surreal lyrics while competing with an angry sax and manic keyboards for top billing.

There’s a new sensation A fabulous creation A danceable solution To » Continue Reading.

Dear Pep: An apology

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Dear Pep,

Good luck in the Champions League final tonight but I don’t believe you’ll need it. You don’t know me but I’ve been known to be a doubter. Who can forget the time I suggested Steve Bruce could be a success at Manchester City while you would also struggle at Mike Ashley’s Newcastle? I was one of those who sneered at your Barcelona success with Messi, Xavi, Intesa and co. Tsch, anyone would win La Liga with that lot. Bayern? I could manage Bayern to the Bundesliga. Then Manchester City. Now, let’s put aside the money and potential legal issues. Let’s talk football and where my view began to change.

As Chelsea and Man Utd continue to prove spending billions on players doesn’t guarantee success. Where I’ve changed my view is on your ability to see what others don’t even in the very best.

The best examples this season are working out how to get the best out of Haaland. The way de Bruyne gets better, spending 100 million on Grealish ripping his game up and starting again to make him even better. Keeping all those highly paid superstars motivated and only thinking team. Gundogan performing despite » Continue Reading.

Fancy playing a very easy 12 inch 80s guessing game?

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I’ve been enjoying the fascinating Q 90s threads but I just don’t feel qualified to add much to them. The 90s seemed to just pass me by for reasons I’ve often mentioned here before. It’s been fun just lurking and reading though. Lots more listening I need to catch up on but I fear I will just run out of listening time even if I reach 100…

Anyway while you’ve all been reminiscing about the 90s I’ve been thoroughly enjoying a month long #12inch80s on Twitter. It’s been right up my Fairlight. So for a very easy Saturday guessing game which 31 80s 12 inches do you think I’ve chosen?

I was only allowed one per artist.

Band name and song title required for a point.

Guess the version for an extra point.

No YouTubes please as my android gives up after about 5 in one thread.

Checking Twitter is cheating and will make me cry and I will know…. So don’t! Please…

Let’s go…. Ohhhhh…

The Hurting – 40th Anniversary Edition

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Dave Amitri on The Hurting

Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith were born two months apart in 1961. They met by chance as teenagers in Bath, began writing music together, formed a mod band who were huge in Spain and then thanks to a shared interest in the work of American psychologist Arthur Janov and his Primal Therapy, settled on the name Tears For Fears and set about making their debut album The Hurting, combining their childhood experiences with the theories of Janov. All before their 21st birthdays. Nothing new there, great music has always come from young artists. The subject matter however was unusual, especially in the heady, radio, TV and video friendly early 80s. Smith was the only one who went along with Orzabal’s Janov theories. That belief in him gave Orzabal the confidence to use what he’d read and expose his deepest, darkest thoughts on his unusual childhood in an incredibly personal collection of songs. The Hurting was originally released in 1983 (the first single Suffer The Children was released in October 1981)

On 12th May 2023 to celebrate its 40th anniversary, it will be reissued as an Abbey Road Half Speed Mastered vinyl and as a » Continue Reading.

Slough has now turned blue and there’s nothing I can do.

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I live on the borders of the Borough of Slough. It’s my council. They collect my bins and my council tax. It’s Labour, always has been. Hugely high density of immigrant population. Some probably fourth generation or more by now (not actually immigrants Dave, but it is Slough). The local council has been a shit show bordering on criminal for years bankrupting themselves on dodgy property investments. 18 Labour seats lost were inevitable but 16 Conservative gains, in Slough?? There really is no viable alternative for people is there?