Back at the beginning of the year, Junior posted that we should be doing more to review / highlight new music that we have been “grooving” to.
In the spirit of that post, I offer you a couple of tracks that are currently “floating my boat” as they say. Videos will be in the first comment (per the latest Mod directive).
Mark Knopfler / Ahead Of The Game
– immediately recognisable as Mark Knopfler, nothing groundbreaking, no change of direction – just straight ahead standard MK material, But… for some reason , this track has coimpletyt lodged itself in my brain and I find myself humming away to it over and over. Looking forward to the album.
Elbow / Lover’s Leap
– another lead single this time from the much maligned (unfairly in my opinion) Elbow. Loving the horns, seems a bit of a departure from standard Elbow but looking positive for the new album. I’ll post the Graham Norton appearance video (always nicer to see live than a lyric video)
So what new is “floating your boat” ?
Mark Knopfler / Ahead Of The Game
Elbow / Lover’s Leap
Always happy to help.
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to that Vijay Iyer album on a very nice stereo. 😉 Not got to six listens yet but I’m confident it’s a keeper.
I gave it a fourth outing a little earlier today and I’m convinced. The far from new APR 70 from Dictaphone currently taking up head space. The Dead Texan up next.
I’ve only heard one track from the Vijay Iyer album so far, but it sounds very nice indeed. Iyer and Tyshawn Sorey certainly are an ECM dream team. The last time I saw Iyer live in Stockholm, he had some other bloke on the drums. A slight disappointment – I was hoping to see the Big Man!
The three lock in tight and push and pull and against one another sublimely. Nobody is rebuilding a wheel here but they do craft a very good one.
New music arriving from John Surman too which is more than welcome around these here parts.
This is pretty tasty too.
On the subject of brand new music from ECM, I’ve been enjoying “Touch of Time”, the new album by Arve Henriksen (trumpet) and Harmen Fraanje (piano). Does it sound like quite a few other ECM albums? Well, yes … I suppose it does. But it’s still good.
Me too and as you correctly point out it has all the hallmarks of an ECM release. I have absolutely no problem with that. I want ECM releases to sound the way they do. I cherish the reliability. Sometimes that’s exactly what I need.
Surman is a great-value composer and player. A real ear-pleaser.
His new album features the excellent Rob Luft on guitar. Looking forward to hearing it.
Indeed. I was saying to a mutual friend only t’other day that John Surman is one of those musicians whose playing is almost instantly identifiable. I never tire of listening to him.
I do like that Nubya Garcia track – it has an immediacy that grabs you. Shall have to explore the album.
Need to listen to the Vijay Iyer one a few more times. Hasn’t grabbed me yet.
Hopefully this latest cut from Nubya Garcia is in advance of a new album release. Her previous album Source is a gem. The Vijay Iyer was released last Friday. Stellar musicians doing what they do best. I think it is best heard as a part of the whole album rather than isolated from it.
CVC, the last dinner party … There is hope.
Love ’em.
Was going to make the same recommendation. Ti’s a very good listen (based on 2 days ownership, and 2 full listens so far)
i back you up on that, a cracking album
https://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2023/01/sweet-jesus-this-is-so-luscious-my-mind.html
Saw them live twice last week. Absolutely terrific band.
I love the CVC album from last year and see they have an expanded version out at the moment with various newer tracks and few live acoustic ones. The extra tracks are available as a standalone album (B Real) which is nice.
Thanks @Vincent really enjoying checking them out.
I saw them last week; they were very enjoyable, and even had a bunch of young ladies keen on the band in the crowd- always a good sign for popularity beyond the paunched and balding male audiences that comprise my usual gig compadres. Hope CVC do well.
Hazy slight downtempo melodic always a winner.
The SK album I put on my best of 23
Very mellow, very pleasant.
It’s always about *you*, isn’t it, sal?
Not always, HP – only when “I’m” alone in the house and can put the stereo on. Otherwise it’s within “me” with my dainty Sony earbuds.
Do you go for the ‘cans’ on the head or the full woofer/tweeter surroundsoundexperience?
If I can find the energy to give my desktop speakers a reacharound – why are switches always hidden on the back or black-on-black? (an old person writes) – that’s my first resort. Then I generally wander off while something’s playing. I have an excellent set of ear goggles (great quality = cheap out here) which I clamp on if I’m serious about it. MacBudPods, and a Boo Toot (as they’re called here) speaker get frequent use, too. None of this would pass the Fentonsteve Parameters Of Audio Excellence, of course, but I’m not cursed with his ears, and using a suite of graphic equalisers, adjusted for every album, I get results from humble MP3 files that give me great satisfaction.
I think I’m with you – nice as it would be to have the luxury of a full gold plated cable, concrete anchored super speaker system, if music is good, it’ll sound good coming out of a battered old trannie or from a basic mp3 player.
I had my life changed by that battered old trannie (note to Moose: TRANSISTOR RADIO), listened to late at night through a deaf-aid earpiece (flesh-coloured, so nobody could see it). Sound quality wasn’t an issue – I didn’t know what it was. Thanks to Modern Technology and slave labour economy in China, the sound I’m getting now is nearly the best I ever had out of a home set-up.
It’s called a non-binary radio nowadays, Grandad.
*ker-tish!*
I’ve just realised, my joke works on two levels.
Transistor sets receive AM or FM radio signals, which are analogue signals, rather than DAB signals (which are digital, or binary).
Who says Engineers aren’t funny, eh?
These comments are why i keep coming back to T’Afterword like a moth to a flame. Where else would my discreet innuendo prompt in no particular order, a callback to the chief inyourendist, a bit of personal history, a better joke than I could make and some unwanted audio nerdery?
And all as a result of my deliberate misreading of another snub from HP – it’s like I’m not on your Christmas card list any more.
Looks around nervously……
Anyone herd of Nati (fka Nati Dreddd). I know, dreadful name, but, cut her some slack, she’s young. Actually christened Natalie by her Marley loving Dad, henceforth evermore nicknamed Nati, wisely recently dropping the Dreddd, probably for fear of upsetting old codgers like us.
A superstar in Scotland, she swept to the notice of all but us, as lockdown Tik-Tok sensation (no, me neither) Anyhoo, she crept in under my radar this week at Celtic Comnnections. I initially went as she was being supported by Kirsten (daughter of Stuart) Adamson, who is a pretty decent country chantoozie, in the mould of Roseanne (deer of Charlie, niece of Craig) Reid. And, however good was Adamson, and she was, being better suited to a semi-acoustic band than the slightly over-produced album she issued last year, Nati was astonishing.
A fireball of red hair and self-deprecating humour: her publicity describes her as “painfully Scottish”. Her music is, I guess, somewhat indie fare, guitar (hers), bass and drums. Plus piercingly strong and accented vocals, that soar effortlessly over her pure-pop sturm and drang. I left somewhat smitten, even to the extent of apologising to her for my inappropriate demographic, myself and a few other greybeards dragging up the average age of her audience. That I got a hug for muy honesty made me want to go to the back of the (long) queue, and start again.
Stacks of clips on the YT (or the Tik-Tok, as I understand), but this is my favourite, in part the song, and part her delivery. She doesn’t play it live for the reasons quoted, and that she is less of an acoustic folkstrel than it may present her as. But is is a stunning version, oui?https://youtu.be/bhEC3keuBlE
My Edinburgh chums saw her last summer. She’s been on my list to check out since.
I was there the wrong week for your now Glasgow based tall chum’s show, @fentonsteve , but have done a review of his very decent collab, which he was launching, with Jenny Sturgeon, Outliers. Should be up in a day or two, over “At The Barrier”, wink wink.
Yes, I’ve heard the Outliers thing. Not at all what you might expect, and really rather good. Currently number one in the Folk Chart, whatever that means.
Sir enjoyed reading that.
The Smile have a new album called Wall Of Eyes. It’s very good I think.
They’ll go far these lads, I reckon.
Correct answer. This is great.
I think Bending Hectic (which I first heard live last summer) is one of the greatest things Yorke and Greenwood have ever done
It’s up there, I agree.
Agree – although it does make me wonder whether this means the end of Radiohead,
The official video of Friend of a Friend is pretty good – them playing for an audience of primary school kids.
Phil Selway has apparently said there is talk about next Radiohead project. We’ll see
According to the feature I read in Mojo/Uncut, Thom and Jonny write too much and the rest of the Radiohead boys are too busy. Too busy with what, exactly? Surely the day job takes priority?
I have a couple of Phil’s solo albums but they hardly set the charts, or my ears, alight. Colin and Ed seem to do an occasional bit of soundtrack work, but Jonny does most of that, too.
Ed’s been working on a solo album for some time apparently
Am grateful we have these Smile albums if nothing else happens again with all of them
Vera Sola, see review!
Hopefully in the spirit of this thread, as these guys will, most likely, be new to all of you, please allow me to introduce A Sudden Burst of Colour. 3 young men from Motherwell who have been creating what they call ‘expansive rock music’ for some years. I am acquainted with the band but mostly with the bass player, Calum whose dad, ‘Big Farky’ is a very good friend of mine. I wouldn’t have said that I was particularly a fan of what I would call ‘ambient’ music but I have come to enjoy what ASBOC do. I have tried to support them over the last few years (I even bought the T-Shirt!). They are fiercely proud of their Motherwell roots and are inspired by the industrial (steel, mining) history of the area as well as Motherwell fc (‘mon the ‘Well!). Here’s a wee tune from their latest album, Galvanize.
Loving this album – it’s terrific. Thanks for the heads up.
I’ll pass your comments on to the band.
They should be rightly proud of it. Fine tunes played by fine musicians. It’s going on my end of year list.
Oh I say. This is jolly good. I shall be up the eel market for it.
I like it , however, I keep waiting for the vocals to kick in.
Or a nice eighties-style sax solo.
I admit that I added my own at some points. It was more successful in the car than on the train. I am finding the more I listen to it the less inclined I was to do so though.
@Chrisf I love the Knopfler and Elbow tracks too and like you think Elbow are unfairly maligned.
But that is typical behaviour of fans who loved them before they were famous and now dislike them because they dared to be popular.
Nothing better so far this long, long year ..
I thought this was going to be just another slow, weepy Afterword-friendly depression-fest … until the comedy vocals came in! HILARIOUS! This guy is a genius of satire – comedy is not dead. The biggest laugh so far this long, long year …
He’s from Kings Lynn FFS, how else he going to sound?
Kings Lynn the capital of comedy accents! Who knew? Must be non-stop chuckles up there!
I was more thinking “whiny, reedy, why Lynn, why?” kind of voice….
I thought he a wimmin on first listen, it’s true, but have taken to his timbre.
Is there a tribute band called Kings Of Lynn?
They’re on LlynKeding.
I heard that they were Norfolk and good.
*broad wink*
new My Life Story album ‘Loving You is Killing Me’ is released on Friday. the latest single from it is rather good as well, a great taster
Cheekface album No3 came out last week.
Smart indiepop for fans of They Might be Giants/Cake.
It’s by no means amazing and, in a very real sense, not new, but – perhaps because spring is stirring in my loins – I find this perfunctory remix of some almost forty year old chords with some geezer chunnering over it quite moving. Here’s the single mix
(Orbital, David Holmes, Mike Garry – Tonight In Belfast DJ Helen Mix)
Fans of folky pastoral pop might find much to like in the new album by a band called Tapir! They are a bit weird but that’s OK.
Here’s a taster
Kula Shaker’s “Natural Magick” has not left my virtual turntable since it flew in on a moonbeam through the open window.
They have never made a bad record, and they’re supposed to be pretty shit hot live. This is chock full o’ tunes and riffs and positive vibrations, man!
Note: This sets a new internet record for a Kula Shaker review in not mentioning either swastikas or Hayley Mills.
You were doing so well until those last four words…
At least you don’t mention Crispian. For delectation of the name, not of the tousle haired son of the Family Way thesp himself.
There’s a song on the new one called Whistle Down The Wind. Much better than the film.
Gave this a spin this aft. Good solid rock album. I always liked their first one.
Last year’s double concept album is an absolute belter. Maybe the year before.
NewDad have created a bit of a buzz & released their album a week or so ago.
This is great
Thanks Jaygee. There’s a bunch of things there for me to explore. The jazz stuff, CVC, The Smile and despite the name A sudden Burst Of Colour are first in the listening booth.
Your thoughts on ASBOC would be appreciated @Junior-Wells The guys appreciate any kind of feedback.
👍
New Phosphorescent album out in early April.
I honk this is really lovely and a taster for her first ever solo album:
And she’s on tour later in the year.
A very limited tour, UK venue wise……(Boo)
True but hope to make Manchester, I’ll ask my son to get tickets.
Hope they’re cheaper than Ar Tee….
They are but not muchly.
I get a weekly helping of new music thanks to California radio station KCRW who send out a mail with their five favourite tracks of the week. Free of charge! There are always a few interesting surprises.
Such as the very welcome return of Scotland’s wonderful Camera Obscura.
Talking of playlists, here’s one I made earlier..
Maggie Rogers has just today released a new song, album due in April
More country than rock, dance or folk (going backwards through her genre switches), but pleasant enough on the first listen.
Second listen and it’s sinking in nicely, the intro stands out.
Third listen and I’m following the tug of her voice, her pleading, and beginning to notice the instruments..
Mark Knopfler recently sold off 120 guitars from his collection in a sale at Christie’s.
I went to the public viewing a week before. There were some absolute beauties on display in the sale room. All wall mounted. Touching any of them wasn’t permitted, naturally, but you were inches away from them. The ‘Money For Nothing’ Gibson Les Paul had a special room of its own.
My favourite of his included in the sale and up on the wall was his black Schecter Telecaster, used heavily on the Making Movies album and on the subsequent tours during the 80’s. I’d seen it on stage a few times. It sold for £220,000 knicker.
Deeply interesting though it was for a Knopfler spod like me I did note that none of the early guitars were up for grabs (apart from the black Tele). None of the original red Fender or Schecter Strats or the National Steel resonator. Which was fair enough. Those things must be massively important to him.
Fresh.
The entire album is quite something.
Yep.
Cassia have a new e.p. “Home Soon”, a sweet extension of their 2019 whiteboys-go-troppo album “Replica”. Larvely!
There’s a new track from Beth Gibbons (with an album to follow in May)….
The voice still sounds hauntingly beautiful
Sounds like &Rustin Man, part 2.(Which is more than can be said for Rustin Man’s follow-up.)
Apologies @stevet – I missed that you posted this above……
A Monk interpretation from a fine fourth outing on Blue Note from Mr Ross and friends.
Note to self. Don’t post when distracted. Central Park West is of course by Coltrane not Monk. Sheesh.
A gentleman would probably retire to the library with his revolver at this point. But that is very fine, although the bass tested my computer speakers.
I’d just miss and blow a hole in a volume of Julian Barnes.
I know there are some Fergus McCreadie fans here: this is hil latest project, a full om folk jazz combo with Matt Carmichael and members from Session A9 and Heisk:
They are called Skreel.
And for those who don’t know wtf Heisk are, they have a new one too:
Never heard of Heisk. But they sound very promising.
Apparently the “Hottest Folk Act In The World” right now. Always surprises me when the crowd singsalong word perfect to an artist I know nowt about. All sounds fine to me
Perhaps more typical of his output
There’s a very enjoyable interview with him in the Guardian, @Lodestone of Wrongness.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/19/trying-to-be-cool-is-exhausting-noah-kahan-on-anxiety-impostor-syndrome-and-being-folks-new-superstar
He sounds like a very likeable chap. Who else takes their mum to the Grammys?
“At the Grammys the other week, Noah Kahan looked around – at Beyoncé, at Taylor Swift – and thought: “No one’s going to tell me that I belong here.” Never mind that he had been nominated for best new artist, or that his album was riding high in the US and UK charts. The impostor syndrome was strong.
He took his mother, who had a wonderful time. “I was sitting by myself, like: ‘Whoa, I am the least cool guy at the party right now.’ My mom is killing it, everyone around me is killing it.”
Bit late to this, but….
Flight fm by Joy Orbison absolutely slaps. Def song of the year so far.
Also enjoying Stolen Seasons by Hazlett, although it’s so glaringly pretty that it kind of feels like it’ll end up on an ad somewhere.
Beyond that, the Barry Can’t Swim album. Very good.
Isn’t there an a in deaf, or am I being dumb?
There’s an a in Def Jam.
New album from a South African piano veteran:
Abdullah Ibrahim’s new one “3”. Presumably named so because it’s a grand piano/flute/double bass+cello trio and it comes on 3 discs.
There’s a 6-track 45rpm disc of direct-to-tape studio recordings and the rest was recorded live last summer and is spread over 2 normal 33⅓ discs.
On a handful of the tracks Mr. Ibrahim plays unaccompanied and on a few others he barely touches his keyboard, allowing the other two to showcase. The virtuosity of all three is outstanding and it’s beautifully recorded too.
Excellent choice @Mike_H. I ran very briefly into my Jazz Neighbour, Fredrik, last week and he was also waxing very lyrical about this.
I wish I had a Jazz Neighbour!
So you should @mikethep!
Even in our briefest encounters, Fredrik always manages to recommend a new novel or jazz album I should check out.
Such an enhancement to my suburban quality of life!
This is really nice, I think.
Ben Watt out of Everything but the Girl recommended this on social media, and it was also mentioned in the Word in your Ear podcast.
It’s an album called The Room by Fabiano do Nascimento and Sam Gendel.
Fabiano do Nascimento is a Brazilian guy living in L.A. who plays a very classy 7-string acoustic guitar, while Gendel’s soprano saxophone floats along over the top in a suitably ethereal fashion. Lovely.
https://fabianodonascimento.bandcamp.com/album/the-room
The Room is excellent. Thanks @DuCo01.
I googled to see if Fabiano was related to the legendary Milton Nascimento.
He’s not, but he does have quite an impressive back catalogue from the last ten years to dip into.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fabiano-do-nascimento-mn0002461407#biography
He’s also done a Tiny Desk session
And here he is with Sam Gendel back in 2015.
For this gorgeous track he collaborated with the legendary Arthur Verocai. (Legendary in Bagarmossen anyway!)
Releases of De La’s 3 Feet High And Rising are like the proverbial omnibus, you wait twenty years for one and then they all start to arrive. There’s nothing new about this bonus track from the “35th anniversary” release. It ain’t new, it’s FRESH!
First De La Soul track I heard courtesy of John Peel in, er, May 1988. The James Brown sample made it sound more conventional than it was – JB samples were almost tediously inescapable by then. I was actually a bit peeved when it didn’t turn up on th’album.
Overmono x Fred Again x Lil Yachty
🔥