Another Forgotten Musician

 

Today, Kevin Coyne, an English singer/songwriter, would have turned 82. Reason enough to remember his music once again. Born in Derby in the heart of England in 1944, he developed a passion for painting as well as music in his youth. In the mid-1960's, he first worked as an art therapist in a psychiatric clinic, then as a social worker with drug addicts. They also had a lasting influence on his lyrics, which often deal with outsiders.

Musically, he was rooted in the blues, but in principle it was blunt, technically immature boogie, standardized British blues. What is fascinating about his songs is his falsetto voice, the singing, that howling familiar from Shakespeare's witch scenes, from the wind over the ravaged landscapes of northern England, those cries at night in the madhouse, that bad-tempered creaking that sticks in your head.

As in his music, Coyne also lived excessively in his personal life and paid the price early at the age of sixty.

Kevin Coyne - Marlene

Kevin Coyne - House On The Hill

Kevin Coyne - Eastbourne Ladies

Kevin Coyne - Lunatic

Monday's Long Song

 

During the last days I rediscovered Distractions the latest album by Nottingham's Tindersticks from 2021. Stuart Staples and Tindersticks began their career as Britpop was taking off. Unlike other artists of that era, they wore three-piece suits and cultivated a slow, dark romanticism in their songs.

With their return a few years ago, they are celebrating their return to their roots and have created a monster of a bass-oriented, monotonous piece of music with Man Alone. Despite the monotonous underlying mood, they have succeeded in creating a hypnotic pop song that feels like a sleepless night in which thoughts circle around and never seem to end. 

Tindersticks - Man Alone (Can't Stop The Fading)

New Song On Sunday

 

A few days ago Swedish pop artist Tove Styrke released the first song from her upcoming album later this year. She returned after a four year hiatus with a dancefloor banger. Prayer is characterized by a unique sound palette of analog synthesizers from the 1970s and 1980s, live drums, and electric bass. All of the sounds on the single were recorded live or generated with analog machines. No samples were used. A great bass line and a few bleeps set the rhythm before Tove Styrke begins to sing, her voice soaring to elfin heights. Leftfield pop as it should be.

Down From Dover

 

A few days ago I watched a documentary about Dolly Parton's life and music and I forgot how many great songs she wrote. I am not a fan of country music but I will always find some great songs in this genre. It came that one song of this documentary never got out of my mind and after a little search in the internet I realized that there were released some fantastic cover versions.

Dolly Parton - Down From Dover

Not only because I really like the songs of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra their version of this song is outstanding.

Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra - Down From Dover

Finally the best version comes from Jon Langford and Sally Timms. The way they arranged this song and Sally sings have convinced me that this could be the definitive version.

Jon Langford and Sally Timms - Down From Dover

Whistling Thursday

 

Last weekend, I watched another classic of film history, The Bridge on the River Kwai. The film is about a group of British prisoners of war in early 1943 in a Japanese camp in Burma who are ordered to build a wooden railway bridge. The film glorifies the steadfastness of the British officers and the capabilities of the soldiers, which contrasts with the reality that approximately 20% of the 80,000 British prisoners died due to poor nutrition and the climatic and hygienic conditions. 

What made the film unforgettable was the prisoners' march as they whistled Colonel Bogey March, a military song from the beginning of the last century. 

That inspired me to look for more whistled film scores. Another one is the main theme of  Sergio Leone's masterpiece The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Ennio Morricone made a perfect soundtrack to the last showdown.

In 1979, the Monty Python troupe sparked what was probably the biggest controversy over blasphemy with their film Monty Python's Life of Brian. I loved the film because of its sarcasm. The crucifixion scene remains unforgettable.

For life is quite absurd

An death's the final word

You mus always face the curtain with a bow

Forget about your sin

Give the audience a grin

Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow

So always look on the brigt side of death

And finally a scene from Kill Bill where Deryl Hannah attempts to kill her comatose rival and is ultimately stopped by her lover Bill.

Next follows with songs that feature whistling at some point, whether as an intro, outro, or interlude. Be sure that you won't listen to Klaus Meine whistleing.

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Let's take another journey into the past and listen to classic and forgotten songs.

1968: Love

1973: Stevie Wonder

1967: Spencer Davis Group

1971: Marvin Gaye

1971: Grateful Dead

1973: Elton John

1982: Joan Jet and the Blackhearts

1984: Echo and the Bunnymen

1965: Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders

1965: The Temptations 

1977: Climax Blues Band

1982: Haircut One Hundred

1968: Blue Cheer

1978: Eruption

1970: Creedence Clearwater Revival

2009: The XX

1963: The Cascades

1983: Eurythmics

1967: Cream

Mantras

 

Manchester's music scene is always good for a surprise. The last band to surprise me with their sound was Shaking Hand, a trio that has developed a fascinating conglomerate from their minimalist guitar sound. I hear echoes of Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth and Pavement at their best.

They unite unique reduced guitars with a post-punk anthem and some great hooks that I didn't listen to for a long time. I know that they are new with their first self titled album but they close the gap between new wave and 90's American independent. It is retro, fresh and full of energy and a pleasure to listen to. One of the best albums this year so far.