A Firmer Hand

 

Hamish Hawk was one of the discoveries of the last few years when he released two excellent albums. Today he is releasing his new album and after listening to it for the first time, it can be said that he has once again delivered an album that is far above the average for singer-songwriters. Hawk has always had a penchant for dark and personal songs and continues to do so, moving more into the indie-rock vein in some songs. He also doesn't shy away from the dance floor in Big Cat Tattoos, which reminds me of Heaven 17 from the 80's. All in all, an album that is varied and catchy at the same time and will definitely be on my year-end list.

Music Of Quality And Destinction

 

According to yesterdays post I have to continue with the project B.E.R., the so called British Electronic Foundation formed by members of Heaven 17. Their first album is not that good as the ones by Heaven 17 but certainly full of great and sometimes forgotten songs. The best thing they did was to hire artist that had their best times long gone by. And for me are the re-interpretations by Gary Glitter and Tina Turner made this album worth to be remembered.

Gary Glitter - Suspicious Mind 

Tina Turner - Ball Of Confusion

Penthouse, Pavement And More

 

Back in 1981 Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, former members of Human League formed in Sheffield together with Glenn Gregory on vocals Heaven 17, one of the pioneers of new electronic synth pop. They came up with the first wave of new wave bands and brought back funk into music. It was new and irritating to the guitar based music that was released at this time but you couldn't detract from the groove and funky sound of (We Don't Need) This Fascist Groove Thang that was played in every good discotheque in the 80's. It was also a political statement because the single's condemnation of the political leaders Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan proved an ill-fated move. And also these meaning made it an hit here in Germany.

Heaven 17 - (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang

The song was originally wrote for the B.E.R.-project and was also released on their debut album Penthouse and Pavement which became a classic in electronic music. How great the song on this album are is shown by a remix of Play To Win by New York DJ's Martinez Brothers who had a big success in Ibiza.

Heaven 17 - Play To Win (Martinez Brothers Edid)

On their second album they created on of the best songs from 1982. Let Me Go is still one of those songs I return from time to time and I think it is a perfect track. Sometimes it is simple to create a great song when you have a bubbly bassline, dubby drums and the chopping up of the lyrics.

Heaven 17 - Let Me Go

Lost 80's

 

A few weeks ago a compilation came to my ears that brought me back to forgotten songs of the 80's. Not that they are necessary or groundbreaking but this compilation by Gary Crowley brought back memories of a decade I almost forgot. Most of the songs are not the well known songs by the artists but reflecting these songs showed the way artists stepped into a new era. Mostly influenced by new wave they were not able to arrive in the upcoming electronic decade. Anyway, listening to these songs brought back memories and inspired me to listen to other songs of these era.

The Polecats - Make A Circuit With Me

Heaven 17 - Play To Win

Special AKA - Jungle Music

Theater Of Hate - The Hop

New Germany

The election in Germany is over and our darkest fears were confirmed. AFD, the self called Alternative for Germany won more than 13% at all. Almost 90 of them will take place in our parliament for the next four years. During the last weeks I discussed a lot with friends, fellows and other people about this fascist base party. Now we have a lot of representatives of them in our parliament. I can't agree with a party that is built on hatred of any foreign people and fears poke around the putatively suppressed to pay court to. It is a party that denies the crimes of German Wehrmacht in WWII and tells me that I should be proud of our soldiers almost 80 years ago. I can't stand it and feeling a little helpless. Now I can understand much more the people in USA that was surprised by the election of Donald Trump. It seems like I have to fight against them and their ideas for the next years. But I will never give up looking forward to brighter days.

Heaven 17 - We Don't Need This Fascist Groove Thang
Billy Bragg - All Your Fascists
Woody Guthrie - I ain't got no home in this world anymore

Let me go

Back in the early 1980s Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh formed after they left The Human League together with Glenn Gregory Heaven 17 in Sheffield. They didn't only formed the band they also formed the producing company British Electronic Foundation (BEF). Like Human League the only used synthesisers and programmed drum machines to create their own sound. Other musicians were added when necessary. One of their first recordings '(We don't need that) fascist groove thang' with it's explicit left-wing political lyrics where banned from BBC. Without Heaven 17 and their new electric music dance music might not be like it is today. Lots of people joined that new electronic sound and danced to. This record is from 1982 and probably their most successful one.

So enjoy weekend and dance (a very special greeting to Drew over at Accross The Kitchen Table)

Heaven 17 - Let me go