I found these little gem over at the Austrian music station fm4. I was fascinated by the video (a homage to the Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky so that the music seemed like a soundtrack to me. Listening to the song the second time I have to say that is nothing more or less than a real good synthie-/indiepop song added with some post New Wave guitar licks and a clear voice singing. The band is called We Walk Walls and they are based in Vienna.
In late 80s the American SST-Label was very hip. They released some very good stuff by Hüsker Dü, Meat Puppets, Firehose and Sonic Youth. This label have paved the way for guitar based alternative rock. Beside Soundgarden were Dinosaur Jr. the main successful label artist in this genre. At this time I liked the way J. Masics played his guitar and his sad voice. That he can use a guitar is shown on these few outtakes.
It is time that someone appears in this series which is not to be imagined as not existing. Roy Orbison was also one of those artists that signed to Sun Records. But his bigger success he got years later on different labels. The songs from his Monument days show excellently his tenor and his falsetto which he absolutely knew how to combine to a certain drama. Also characteristic was his long rolling R. I don't want to offer you the often played (and great) 'Pretty Woman'. Instead 'Domino' - a 1 minute and 45 seconds lasting classic tune.
I listened a lot electronic music the recent days and still astonished how many great songs you could find in this genre. One of them is the latest release of Roisin Murphy. Some will remind her as the voice of Moloko back in 1995. A subdued, dark song, a sad, completely unobstrusive song which shines in a maltreated soul. On the sound of a discreet housebeat and in between some Spanish guitars the song gets it's flow. Always done by the miraculous voice of Roisin. Great.
I found this little pop gem a few days before. Boxed In is the name of the project by the Manchester based producer and songwriter Oli Bayston. In his music he combines elements of House, Electronica and a little bit Krautrock: driving bass, looped drums, hypnotic rhythm and keybords.
Looking back to this year in independent music it is torn between regular New Wave and the rise of singer/songwriting or classic soul and some kind of dark wave. It was some kind of transition. More and more styles showed up and opened our ears to sounds long gone by. As an example is Mari Wilson who guided lots of people to classic soul - maybe it's the birth of Northern Soul - I don't know but many artists in this year showed us that there was more than punk/new wave. Anyway, old and new had their place in music and many of us became aware of the new sounds that was played (whys and wherefores could ABC have so many success?).
It's a song released almost 40 years ago by Leonard Cohen. I really like it in the original version. Many years later John Cale made a cover of this song released on a tribute CD to Mr. Cohen. I have ever had a close affinity to him from his early days playing with Velvet Underground. And he made some great record the years after splitting the band. I think this song is like a rock in the days long gone by.
Slow Club is a Sheffield based duo formed by Rebecca Taylor and Charles Watson. They are able to make the balancing act between classic blues inspired songs, easy folk and songs you could dance to. I like them for their songs, their arrangements for several voices and their appearance for me in the later hours of the day.
This song shuffled up recent days and I stopped walking the way to my office and listened to this song from start to end. It's another song about reflection of the life and Joni Mitchell tells us some truth about life and love. You can call it sentimental and I will agree but if you remember the scene in the movie 'Love Actually' when the main actress doesn't get the gift for Christmas she expected and got a Joni Mitchell CD instead it could make you cry. Anyway, Joni has a beautiful and clear voice that touches your soul.
Scotty Moore was known as the leading guitarist in the early backing band of Elvis Presley. He played on many songs his unique guitar. After leaving Elvis he came along with a new band and this instrumental. Way back many well known guitar players like Keith Richards and Eric Clapton named him as a main influence of playing guitar. If nothing last from him - his thump-picking playing will.
Listened to BBC 6 Music the other day and they played this fantastic remix from Jon Hopkins 'I remember' released on RSD. I really like this dubby version with it's little piano parts in it.
Here is some smooth Electro-Indie Pop from Inner Tongue for a relaxed start into Sunday. There were less information about him because he releases informations about the project very thrifty. He's another musician and producer based in Vienna. Maybe this town will grow to the capitol of new electronic based music. The music sounds dreamily, the lyrics partially breathy, with melancholy basses and piano primes, plus a slope to the dramatic.
In 1990 another compilation was released by Red, Hot ... series. This one featured songs by Cole Porter. And one of my favorites is a song by Kristy MacColl and The Pogues (when Shane McGowan was able to sing). It's a short lament about not to be able to join the diner because she was killed by the mob. It is just another song that lives with the voice of Kristy - the rest of the song by the Pogues doesn't mean much to me (even if I love them). Sadly miss her voice on new records.
Sorry mates, that I don't continue my blog the way I used to do. Nowadays my bosses treat me with a lot of work. I've to work for nine to ten hours a day and finally I've got a hard attack on hew fever. When I came home from work I didn't have the power to write on my blog and continue my series. But don't worry - nothing will last for ever and I'll be back the way I used to be. Meanwhile you can listen to Holger Czukay - one of the pioneers in Krautrock and one of the ruling members of Can.
Alien Sex Fiend started their music career with a homage to dark wave and far out dreams of a another life in another planets. Based on electronic and industrial sound they gave us the possibilities to look across the border to a new sound. It's between late past-punk and early industrial music and they were pioneers in this genre. And this is one of my favorites from ASF.
Malcolm Yelvington is another artist signed by Sun Records that failed. One reason might be that Elvis Presley released his first record one week after Yelvingston's first single. And in fact that he hasn't the physical presence on stage he wasn't the next big thing to come. He released some great songs during his career and this one is one of his earliest and best.
Obaro Ejimiwe, better known as Ghostpoet returned with a new album these days. It's a pearl in new releases this year with it's comforting spooky atmosphere. He's the one that combines the best of 80s New Wave and the Tricky-based sound of Bristol. Sometimes I think Linton Kwesi Johnson appeared in a new robe. A good example is his new single. Recorded with the singer Nadine Shah he gives us a reduced and relaxed song with a sad TripHop atmosphere, early dark New-Wave bass and some picked electric guitar to his whispered and spoken words.
I found a copy of their concert played in 2012 on German TV on the tour I saw them live in a town close to me. I really love them for years and this concert shows the abilities they have. Guitar based songs with longer improvisations, an accordion that fits to their sound added sometimes with a fantastic horn section.
All in all 2 minutes and 6 seconds of good guitars, great harmonies and verve. I think power-pop would sound today like this. You can stream the whole album here.
Glad to get some new music from France. I know that there is a bigger scene in indie-rock, electronica and rap but it's hard to get the news from there. Alex & Friends is the band project by Pierre Alexander and he's deep into indie sound. His song have everything you might expect from this genre: massive guitars, good voices a superb bass and a hooks in their songs. Trés bien.
The Artisan Thieves give us earthy Americana with all the ingredients I expect to hear. Slowly picked electric guitars added with some acoustic guitar, a somber voice over an aerial sound. Perfect music when you can drive a rag-top open in summer.
Although I'm not really being a big fan of classical rock I would like to feature this band. The Bon Mots are not typically for this genre. They have better harmonies and songs like many others in this genre. Formed 15 years ago in Chicago they played a lot of gigs and appeared on the 2006 Lollapalooza festival. I think they are all musicians that play for ages and you can hear this on their perfect arranged songs.
I planned this series to feature songs that are outstanding and true classics, songs with a political or emotional background and songs that means a lot to me (in any way). I posted this song a few weeks ago but I will feature this once more. On the one hand because it's sung in German, otherwise because this song is fantastic at all and I listened a few times to it during the last days. Built up as a classic rock song with rough played guitars to the main theme it is a song about a theme that still is a taboo: gay football player. I am sure that there must be a lot out there being afraid to make a coming-out of their sexual preferences and I can understand why they keep this secret. There was a football player in Germany who had his coming out after he finished his career. Thomas Hitzlsperger played for long time in Germany and English teams. He played in the German national team as well. He was one of the few who had the balls to say the way it is. This is a song about the difficulties to stand to yourself and supporting the ones they did it. Thanks to Marcus Wiebusch, the former singer, songwriter and guitarist of Kettcar for writing this song.
And the day will come in we lift all our glasses
By the cover float, with a toast congratulate him
On the first one which manages it, the most courageous of all
The first one which creates it
It will be the day in which we celebrate the love, the freedom and the life
Everybody loves that whom he wants and the rest remains quiet
One day as if one had won
This day will come
This day will come, every progress was always won
Quite all the same how long it lasts,
What the farmer does not know, does not know, it is always rejected first
And on the barricades the thoughts and ideas that the necessary is possible
How freedom and equality,
The fact that nothing is really impossible and is chiselled in stone
To one steps forward: "End now with cowardice"
History is a progress in the consciousness of the freedom
We have the straight way, any more in caves do not live
Not more the clubs swing, people kill
Do not wander around in small cookers
Because people will not remain forever homophobe complete idiots
And the day will come in we lift all our glasses
By the cover float, with a toast congratulate him
On the first one which manages it, the most courageous of all
The first one which creates it
It will be the day in which we celebrate the love, the freedom and the life
Everybody loves that whom he wants and the rest remains quiet
One day as if one had won
This day will come
A-youth achievement class the Wilhelmsburg south
A sworn heap and one makes the difference
With so much more talent and with more will than everybody
"Oh, this becomes sometimes a professional", proudly we knew everybody
U17, U19, Hamburg choice (means the best players round Hamburg in this age)
With almost every home match: Several scouts there
Only ' a matter of time to the offer came
1. League, three years and a dream became true
And in the evening of the deal when we wanted to allow to crash
He confided in us and should change nothing
Since one anticipated it, it was clear to the other long ago
Some already knew it, it made no difference to us to all
It was perfect to us no matter whether he straight or was gay
We played together since the F-youth football
A way, a team, "You'll never walk alone"
Thus it was taught, was made thus we now, my son
Then sloshed tears and the big relief
Oh, this day comes for exactly same reason:
Because we do not value people after whom they love
Their sex her thing is and they do not earn it
To be judged by the silly of the silly
To be judged by the silly ones of the silly
To be condemned by them then
And he took his dream, moved in the foreign town
And we kept his secret, stayed behind and in contact
And the day will come in we lift all our glasses
By the cover float, with a toast congratulate him
On the first one which managed it, the most courageous of all
The first one which creates it
It will be the day in which we celebrate the love, the freedom and the life
Everybody loves that whom he wants and the rest remains quiet
One day as if one had won
This day will come
Not the appearance wake in the big costume
Agencies put the girlfriend and procure the facade
The put holiday snaps and the public appearance
Waiting, until the whole shit flies up
Do not wake the appearance, on the field play harder
Ten yellow, two red maps and they also earn
"You know me, I never was an unfair player
And now I am valid as a 'Vinnie the axe' of the league"
"You do not know like this is one always a mask when carries
Always must pay attention who is one as one lives
Constantly, actually, all the time fear
And you play in the dung then virtually you are able"
"And the ardent wish and the question, as it would be
To be more different here, now with this career
If I could change it, this sad life
For my feeling never decided and thus it is level"
We were together in stadia, approx. 20 years ago
When they have pelted coloured players with bananas
Then the simian sounds, with every ball touch
These times are over and no happy chance
But progress, change, we are on the way
Foreign ministers, popstars, rugby players show that it goes
Earlier inconceivable, today normally, I bet 90% it makes no difference
And then reminds you of the relief as it was out
How your heart shattered when the words came out
They find two weeks exciting and the haunting has disappeared
And you would have found your peace
"No association wants the bustle, no team the alarm
And the contract which I have goes as fast as he came
The fact that nobody can refrain if the storm breaks out
And the storm will come whether one wants or not"
"Then you are the first, the homo, the freak
Then there is nobody who sees only the footballer in you
But, yes, it becomes better and the day is by view
One will create it, but I am not it"
It is your decision, quite all the same who says what
With the resignation whispered: "With hope in your heart"
Still unity achieves that the day will come
And the next home match is probably won
On the homebound way, this one thought
And if a smile already touches
All her homophobe complete idiot, all her silly Hater
All her forum-writers, all her desk culprit
To all her rotten small minds with growth pains
All her bible-quoters with your hatred in the heart
All her officials with the common denominator
To all her hard gregarious animals, all her real men
Gathers and forms a front
And then see to what comes
And the day will come in we lift all our glasses
By the cover float, with 'nem toast congratulate him
On the first one which packs it, the most courageous of all
The first one which creates it
It will be the day in which we celebrate the love, the freedom and the life
Everybody loves that whom he wants and the rest remains quiet
Another forgotten rockabilly singer/guitarist from Tennessee was Don Willis. He played audition to Sam Philips of Sun Records but got no contract. He later signed to Satellite Records and denied a contract to Mercury a far bigger label. So it's another great single that might be a classic if it was released on a bigger label with more abilities to promote them. Here is his first single 'Boppin' High School Baby' backed with 'Warrior Sam'. Both classics in this genre.
It is very long that I have visited a festival which has lasted several days. I could not endure in the end the crowds of people any more. Everywhere drunk, swearing youngsters, dirty toilets and too expensive drinks. But I will give myself another chance. My youngest brother told me about a festival in the town he lives. So I followed throughout the last weeks the main page of the organizers. And almost every day they announced a new act. There a no big headliners but the one's signed makes me looking forward to see them live. Mogwai, José Gonzáles, Allah Lah's, Mew and all the other new (electronic) bands that will show up. So take time and listen to Mogwai live at Roskilde in 2014 and maybe you can imagine why I'm looking forward:
Something new for Eastern Sunday: 'Hopeless' is the newest release by Lea Santee, a project by the Vienna based duo Lea Stöger and Hosp. Their sound is a clever mixture of electropop and R&B. It's not a groundbreaking sound but a superb single about pain and getting lost sung by Lea with her fantastic and clear voice.
1981 was the year independent music changed his face. During the last years a lot of bands became highly rinsed playing short guitar based songs with a lot of verve. Now it seems that pop and the spirit of singer/songwriter get a foot in the door of new music. Fantastic bands like Haircut 100, Aztec Camera appeared on the scene as well as acts like Flock of Seagulls or Hazel O'Conner. I don't want to wail - it was a very good thing that happened to new music - they enriched us with their music. Now I could spread my musical spectrum to even this music.
In my hometown the first so called 'punk bands' showed up in some locations. Absolutely a few years too late but they had the power and the spirit in it. I remember a few concerts where there was for one hour totally weirdness listening to some young fellows playing mostly cover versions of their heroes. Still in 1981 the mainstream ruled my little town. The jazz purists refused to listen to this kind of music, the Deadheads were still smoking pot and the rest was listening to Phil Collins, Journey or Pat Benatar but the scene grew the more we outdistanced from them. I remember one of the first concerts by Fido and the Insects (one of the first local punk bands) in a very small club playing in front of 80 people watching them. Listening to them crudely sound wasn't fun at all but we loved their power and enthusiasm. A few month ago I watched them after more than 30 years when they played a reunion gig. Everyone's got older (and maybe wiser), the dudes learned how to play their instruments and the crowd was happy for another evening to remember these days.
Against the weather forecast for today the sun is shining in a cloudless sky. Stormy and rainy April showers were prophesied. Now I'm sitting on my balcony with a cup of coffee typing these words. So I tried to offer you a song with sun in it's title.
These days a song by Lone Justice shuffled up on my mobil phone on the way to work. Listening to their songs after a longer time made me smile again. Later this day I looked in my records for more songs by Maria McKee and found her album from 1983 'You Gotta Sin To Get Saved' again. Lone Justice was a band that was maybe the missing link between country and punk. Played with a lot of verve, enthusiasm and fun. Some of their songs are classics in this genre and absolutely timeless. With her second album she impressed me much. It was the time you could stand to country and traditional country at all. The years before the rock and new wave inspired ears wouldn't give a listen to this kind of music. Maria McKee transported the best of country (songs about the classic themes like loneliness, separation and lost chances mostly sung with a very somber tone) into nowadays music. I like her voice much because I feel that she stands behind every word she sings and she sings the songs with a lot of emotions. Maybe it's sentimental - but sometimes it should be this way.
