Due to the fact that (a) I’m lazy and (b) rubbish at writing reviews, rather than full blown reviews of these, heres another in my popular series (??) outlining music that is currently being played a lot chez moi and may be of interest to the wider world…..
I know I should probably wait for the Blogger Takeover, but again, I’m lazy, and also find that these clips get lost on the bigger picture of that thread.
Anyway, here goes…..
First up, the new album from Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ has probably been my most played album this past week. This track is fantastic…..
The new album from Little Feat is pretty good. Sure, it will never match the Lowell George heyday, but they are still putting out stuff that’s worth listening to. Here’ s “4 Days of Heaven”…..
(shades of LZ Kashmir ??)
and as an added bonus for those going to see them later in the year, Sigur Ros have just released a live track from their orchestral concerts. Not sure if this means a full live album is due (hope so)….
So, what’s floating your boat this week ?
Didn’t know about that TajMo album – will check it out.
Yesterday I was listening to some old – a boxset of Trojan 12”s and Jah Wobbles Luminosity. A fun afternoon was had.
I wasn’t aware of the Jah Wobble release (Rising Above Bedlam is one of my unmentioned musical blankets)., but this review suggests it’s definitely worth digging into
https://louderthanwar.com/jah-wobble-dark-luminosity-the-21st-century-collection-album-review/
Spotify release radar has been on repeat with the usual can’t stand / don’t mind / love it mix along with Echo Beach ( 40 year anniversary) 22 remixes of the same song – Martha & Muffins, Barenaked Ladies – Inflight Carry on, Almost You the songs of Elvis Costello – Various Artists and Streets of your Town – Josh Rouse.
The new Sparks album. It’s MAD!
This week it’s been.
Arthur Bliss – Clarinet Quintet / String Quartet No.2 – The Maggini Quartet.
Dvořák – Cello Concerto in B minor – Antal Dorati – LSO.
Shostakovich- Symphonies No.6 & No. 6 – Paavo Berglund – The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Tchaikovsky – Symphony No.6 – Riccardo Muti – The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Lars Danielsson & Leszak Możdżer – Pasodoble.
Scriabin – Le Poème de L’ extase – Riccardo Muti – The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Mahler – Symphony No.7 – Bernstein – NYPO.
Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition – Riccardo Muti – The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Agnus Obel – Myopia.
North Sea Radio Orchestra – Special Powers.
Dalbavie – La Source d’un Regard – Ludovic Morlot – The Seattle Symphony.
Erkki – Sven Tüür – Aeris – Olari Elts – Estonian National Symphony.
Cerys Hafana – Edyf
Simple Acoustic Trio – Lullaby for Rosemary.
Belbury Poly – The Gone Away.
Walton – Symphony No.1 – Andre Previn – LSO.
Walton – Concerto for Violin & Orchestra – Philharmonia Orchestra.
Cecilie Strange – Beech.
Gentle Giant – Octopus.
The Necks – Body.
The Necks – Sex.
Thanks @pencilsqueezer for alerting me to the existence of a new North Sea Radio Orchestra album. It’s been a while. Duly purchased.
It’s a most enjoyable album. Craig sent me a download but I think I’ll indulge in a hard copy to keep it company.
@pencilsqueezer
I hope you’ve got some decent kit to listen to all that on.
I’m a purist I only use sheet music nowadays. Humming and tuneless whistling is a severely underated form of musical reproduction imho.
The Singing Detective and Pennies From Heaven cd’s which I bought for my father some years ago. Wonderful stuff.
The new Ben de La Cour is quite a listen. Expecting a reprise of the country gothic noir of 2023’s Anhedonia, a first listen was most baffling and not a little disconcerting. He now has a home studio and a second hand synth, and enjoys playing noisy drums and electric guitars. But it seeps in, listen by listen. I now love it.
Otherwise some old, if new to me: No Grey Faith (aka Ian Matthews sings the Sandy Denny songbook), Red, Green, Gold & Blues(a reggae blues album, curated by newly redundant drummer Zak Starkey).
One listen into the new Matt Berninger and it is disappointing, not a patch on his last. Interestingly he has a new producer, but it is the 3 or so songs that feature Booker T that stand out, he having produced the last one.
Ordered the Ben de La Cour on the strength of your review and how good the previous two were.
It was very hard to find – my normal sources were not showing it as available.
I didn’t think it was released yet. Maybe @retropath2 had a review copy?
Out tomorrow.
@stevet: give at least 3 listens before you bin it. The track I liked least, Stuart Little Killed God, has even bedded in, helped by a most odd video.
I have his previous two albums, played that song 4 times. This time next month I’ll still have just the two albums.
Mostly, but not exclusively, classical this week…
Tubin – Symphony no. 9, Gothenburg SO, N Järvi
Tubin – Symphony no. 3, as above
Bax – Symphony no. 3, RSNO, Lloyd-Jones
Jethro Tull – Aqualung (especially the extras disc from the book set)
Gentle Giant – Live playing the fool (reissue)
Fairport Convention – Full House Live
Alwyn – fantasy waltzes/preludes, John Ogdon
Bruckner – symphony no. 9, RSNO, Tintner
Sibelius – symphony no. 3, Gothenburg SO, N Järvi
Bax – Winter Legends, Bournemouth SO, A Wass, J Judd
And also…
Some live music this week:
John and Yoko – Power to the People EP (RSD)
Wilco – Live (Orange) (new streaming live comp)
Springsteen – Land of Hope and Dreams EP
To be honest, it was mostly last week, with some of Sunday, but I’ve seen the whole of the 4x DVD Live Aid box from 2004, which I picked up for 50p.
Drop the documentaries and preamble, and the Wembley leg would fit on DVD 1. It is mostly as I remember (on the day in 1985 I was off my nut on hospital painkillers, having broken my arm the day before).
Quo, Rats, U2, Bowie, Queen, the ‘Oo, Elt: all as good as I remember. The rest: well, it’s the thought that counts.
Philly drew the short straw – 16 hours of dreck, with the exception of Tom Petty and The Cars. If you thought We Are The World on record was bad, it was even worse live. Thankfully, back in 1985, I’d fallen asleep well before.
This still gives me goosebumps (and painful flashbacks).
16 hours? That would be the whole thing. The Cars were a pretty average live band I thought. I remember enjoying The Beach Boys, Simple Minds, Madonna, Neil Young and a few others from Philadelphia
Watch the whole lot here if you really want to
https://archive.org/details/live-aid-mtv
The whole DVD set is about 10 hours. By and large each act gets two tunes, except Bowie and Queen.
DVD 1 = Wembley (2.5 hours out of 10). DVD2 + 3 = Philly (5 hours out of 16). DVD4 = overseas + documentaries. DVDs2-4 have been a bit of a slog.
I can’t see me watching the whole thing for another 40 years.
Yes I have the DVD set. No Led Zep on it.
Remember it very well. I’d just joined the RAF and watched the whole thing in the ‘common room’ of our accommodation block. I don’t recall anyone joining me. Civilians eh? (Swidt?)
If i recall, it was the first time I ever heard INXS . Think they appeared briefly in an ‘overseas’ section.
INXS are the only act on the DVD from Oz For Africa. Their two songs were very good.
I think Men At Work played if not on DVD
Everything you might possibly want to know, and more, is listed at http://liveaid.free.fr/
Pretty sure one wax “Don’t change” which is still ace. No recollection of the other.
Can’t remember if I tried to get tickets. Was living in London and had been at the stadium a week earlier for Brooooooce. An amazingly beautiful summer’s day. Walked down the street early afternoon to pick some beer up and I could hear the music coming out of every open window. Not sure if David Hepworth has mentioned it, but he was there 😉
Missed a whole load of it, including the start – ‘The Champions’ was on the other side in the one when Craig, Sharon and Richard had to quell a catchment of drugs coming into Swinging London (it seemed more important then, and seems even more important now).
The U.S. bit was awful, the answer with no beef in the game is Queen and U2 isn’t it? Never quite got the bad vibes about U2, don’t get me wrong £1 in my back pocket couldn’t be exchanged for 6 of their albums last week, but that Bono/girl dancing thing did have some sort of resonance about the day that Sainted Dave, the appalling Dire Straits, and the Who completely missed later on.
P.S. What was Paul thinking about? You’re Paul McCartney ffs… get a competent little group around you, no more, and ‘BE’ Paul McCartney. You only have to do it for 20 minutes and, trust me, you’re bigger than anyone else there… by miles.
It was probably the strangest day in his whole life, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he now sees it that way too.
I have been revisiting Everything But The Girl
Those EBTG tracks are all quite superb, @Carl.
I have a very soft spot for their first album, Eden. I love the brass arrangements..
Here’s another fine track..
@Kaisfatdad In her book Bedsit Disco Queen Tracey wrote it was largely their infatuation with The Smiths that led to the radical change in direction for the Love Not Money album.
It did occur to me, in this relistening phase, that it was a shame that this meant that they didn’t further explore the jazzy path of Eden.
Still their Smiths’ love that led to the brilliant Native Land single with non other than Johnny Marr on harmonica.
I agree,@Carl. Another jazzy album would have been welcome.
EBTG became very involved with Red Wedge which also affected their musical style.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/22/red-wedge-bringing-labour-party-politics-to-young-music-fans
I was browsing through their discography. They made very little impact on the charts until they went electronic with Walking Wounded.
I like that album a lot but i suspect they lost a few old fans, but of course gained many more.
I saw them live once at Roskilde in 2000, The tent was packed so i stayed outside sitting on the grass listening.
I love EBTG. My favourite album is Amplified Heart which I think is their masterpiece though they are all excellent. Idlewild has fantastic songs but it’s spoilt by the toy town drum machine. Baby the Stars Shine Bright saw me through a bad emotional drama and listening to it has to be under controlled conditions. It’s superb though. I’m less bothered about the clubby stuff to be honest. Their respective solo albums are excellent too.
This hits a nerve every time too…
Tom Waits – I’m actually “getting what all the fuss is about” this time. Maybe it’s an age thing?
Wow!
It took me a while too. Then I was forced to move into a council flat where some of my new neighbours have a predilection for hitting random bits of metal with a hammer whilst shouting at their ‘wives’ and assorted offspring and I had a Waitsian damascene moment.
Quite a lot of classical this past week (or month) inspired by two recent threads posted by @fitterstoke and regular ‘now playing’ posts on Bluesky by @pencilsqueezer. A lot of solo piano – Mozart / John Field (a new release on DG by Alice Sara Ott)/ Ravel and some new CDs of Shostakovich piano and cello concertos. A visit to the charity shop accross the road bagged copies of Madama Butterfly, Beethoven 5 + 7 and the fantastic Requiem by Verdi. I was always taken by Mozart and JS Bach, but hadn’t strayed too far from those – thanks fellas for nudging me out of the comfort zone.
Other than that, new Alison Krauss sounds good with no radical departures, I’m enjoying Jason Isbell when I wasn’t sure I would, the new Lucius sounds excellent and the new Willie Nelson album of Rodney Crowell songs is excellent.
Older stuff – Listening to Graham Parker / Go-Betweens / Joni’s Travelogue and some Randy Newman.
Ooo I have to ask whose rendition of the Verdi Requiem? And glad to be of service.
It’s on DG cd (447 442-2) a recording from 1953 (!) and released on cd in 1995. RAIS Symphonie Orchester Berlin under Ferenc Fricsay. I know diddly squat about these things but for something recorded more than 70 years ago, the sound quality is remarkable.
I know that one. Classical recordings are usually pretty good even some of the historical recordings are very listenable. Not all of course but a decent percentage and there is something attractive about the tubbiness of some of them if ones in the right mood. I haven’t listened to the Verdi for some time. I may have to dig out my Claudio Abbado version for a wee aural frolic sometime soon.
Frankly, anything conducted by Fricsay is worth hearing…
Agreed.
Listened to his Ninth with the Berliner Phil yesterday. I hadn’t heard it for some time. The greatest performance on record? May well be.
So are his chicken recipes.
Je vous en prie…
Merci encore.
As covered in the Ryan Adams thread ⬇️ I have been immersing myself in some public service listening to his prodigious post-cancellation output. I know he’s a deeply flawed individual but my jaded high opinion of his music has been rejuvenated by some of the many albums he has released in the last 6 years. Here’s my music mag style scoring of the best of them.
Chris 8/10
Prisoner B Sides 8/10
Sword & Stone 7/10
Romeo and Juliet 7/10
Star Sign 9/10
Another one from me…..
An artist that I don’t really know much about, but I came across his latest “Possession” and am really enjoying it. Shades of early Bowie (esp from about 3 min) ?
I’ve been mainly listening to this:
https://richardnorris.bandcamp.com/album/mr-norris-changes-brains
It’s great.
And also the new Pulp album, which sounds like it could have been made 30 years ago. In a good way.
Finally I’ve caught up with Black Classical Music by Yusef Dayes, which is excellent.
Richard Norris? Out of from The Grid Richard Norris? I’ll definitely check that out. The Grid were one of my favourite bands. Electric Head was a great album, as was in a more pop, then dance mode, Evolved and Music for Dancing. Sadly I’ve never heard 456.
Oh. It’s not his music. But a compilation
It’s still good though. And the stuff he’s done with Errol Alkan as Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve is excellent. I strongly recommend their album of remixes, especially this:
Oh, I don’t doubt it, Paul. It just wasn’t what I was expecting from someone with his pedigree. I’ve never listened to Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve – I think I was put off by the Roger’s Profanisaurus-style name. I’m rectifying that by listening to 90 minutes of live recordings from 15 years ago.
Mostly comparing and contrasting Keith Jarrett solo piano concerts from 2016 but also Lodger 2017 remaster versus Lodger Visconti remix.
I haven’t listened to much music this week – I’m waiting for a big pre-order to come through.
But I’ve read a few things, so hopefully this thread hasn’t put off @el-hombre-malo from doing his usual Blogger Takeover!
I was out yesterday so missed the reminder – post now there – thanks for the nudge @Locust
I’ve been listening to lots of female vocal led English folk music for a potential project. It’s actually very difficult to escape the Fairport/Sandy/RT gravitational pull. There’s Steeleye Span of course then…not much. There are plenty of wispy singer songwriter types who are great but I’m after Liege & Lief adjacent hearty folk rock. Ideas welcome!
Trees, Gay & Terry Woods would be two from the same era.
It’s not so much the era as the style. The Eighteenth Day of May are good and more recent (ish)..
G&TW is a good call though.
You might like Green Diesel, who fit the bill, and have just put out a 5th album, Onward The Sun
Also current, if seasoned troupers, The Sandy Denny Project, featuring PJ Wright from Steve Gibbons Band, Dylan Project, Little Johnny England etc etc
Yeah it’s great but I’m Sandy’d out. I need a few other options. The Albion Band might be an option but I’m still exploring. I really like Chris While but a lot of her stuff is quite Americana like which I don’t want.
The other one is Pentangle of course…
GD sound good.
There was Contraband in the seventies, saw them a couple of times.
And you might like Morganway, who even have a touch of prog (I’m told) about them.
Twang, check out Kacy & Clayton. I love all their stuff but Strange Country was the first album of theirs that I heard. It struck me as being very Leige & Lief era folk-rock.
Excellent thanks!
How about Naomi Randall? She’s local to me, and made a proper folk-rock album which remains unreleased (a victim of lockdown). I saw her live in Feb 2020 and was blown away. Here’s a random track:
A random track not from her folk-rock album, btw.
These guys popped up on shuffle just now, @twang, their hereditary, in part, take on the genre near perfect. The Rails.
Of course, and James is from Muswell Hill too.
Good genes of course!
Is it really possible to be all “Sandy’d out”?
Not in life, of course just in this particular project!
Got it! You had me worried there…
For the attention of @Tiggerlion @fitterstoke in particular.
I don’t always see eye to eye with Dave Hurwitz although I don’t doubt for one moment his bona fides or his undoubted passion. We are however definitely singing from the same score when it comes to the troubling matter of young Klaus the classical Ken doll. I laughed a lot at this evisceration.
Yoiks! He doesn’t miss him and hit the wall, does he? I guess he hasn’t taken the Decca shilling and can call it as he sees it!
I think my preference would be for Beecham with the ONRF – never quite bettered IMHO.
It’s fair to say that Dave has his likes and his dislikes and no he doesn’t tend to hold back when something or somebody isn’t to his taste.
I’ve never alighted on a favourite Symphonie Fantastique probably as it’s not something I listen to a great deal. I can’t remember hearing the Beecham but I have the Warner complete stereo recordings box of Sir Tom on pre-order and there is a SF tucked away in that. Possibly the one you mention. I shall investigate when the box arrives hopefully towards the end of this month.
I enjoy his take on Sibelius symphonies 2 & 4 and violin concerto. He seems very popular with certain orchestras, soon to take charge of Chicago’s and, undoubtedly, has a lot to learn. I haven’t heard this Berlioz, which isn’t my favourite of classical pieces.
I haven’t dared to listen to his Stravinsky in case I found it too upsetting. I see he’s made an attempt at Shostakovich too. I won’t be braving that either. We all have differing tastes and each to his own but his Sibelius was more than enough for me. Maybe if I live long enough to hear it he will finally display some chops with some orchestra or another. He’s obviously marketable for his youth and looks. I prefer ability but I understand his appeal to the Decca Execs. Unfortunately trying to ‘sex’ up the classical repertoire is wasted on old gits such as myself. There are more than enough fantastic recordings of the music he’s being allowed to muck up, I’ll stick to those.
Edith :- I’ve just read that he’s following Riccardo Muti at the CPO. 🫣
Loads of music from 1977, I am putting together the last of my 70’s mix series which is out soon. I have missed out loads I would have liked to mix in, it’s not some definitive overview of the year, there were no Steely Dan, The Adverts or ELO, but if they don’t fit don’t force it. The tracklist below is how it’s shaping up and my idea was to play just the music I bought at the time and link it with samples from the films my 15 year old self enjoyed, I’ll share the results next Saturday.
Sex Pistols : Pretty Vacant
Ramones : We’re a Happy Family
Penetration : Don’t Dictate
Blondie : Rip Her To Shreds
Ian Dury : Wake Up and Make Love With Me
Buzzcocks : Orgasm Addict
Wire : 12XU
Radio Stars : Nervous Wreck
Wings : Girls’ School
Suicide : Cheree
Hawkwind : Spirit Of The Age
Be Bop Deluxe : Life In The Air Age (live)
John Martyn : Big Muff
Steve Miller Band : Electro Lux Imbroglio/Sacrifice
Jackson Browne : Cocaine
Peter Gabriel : Moribund the Burgermeister
Talking Heads : I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That
The Clash : Complete Control
Mink DeVille : Spanish Stroll
The Saints : This Perfect Day
The Stranglers : Dead Ringer
David Bowie : Beauty & The Beast
Goblin : Suspiria
Peter Ivers : In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)
Pink Floyd : Pigs (Three Different Ones)
Split Enz : Charlie
Television : See No Evil
Queen : Get Down Make Love
Elvis Costello : Less Than Zero
Bryan Ferry : This Is Tomorrow
Some crackers in there!
some? SOME?!
Err…yes?
Perhaps I should explain that there are some which I haven’t heard…
Some songs don’t need to be heard to be appreciated. In fact, if anything, actually hearing them can sometimes diminish one’s appreciation.
exactly
yer in fer a treat then fitterstoke
The “crackers” I referred to include the songs by:
John Martyn
BeBop Deluxe
Hawkwind
Wire
Ian Dury
Talking Heads
Bowie
The ones I haven’t heard include the songs by:
Split Enz
Peter Ivers
Goblin
The Saints
Jackson Browne
Radio Stars