May

 

The First of May is known as Labor Day, Workers' Day or May Day. Over the past few years, I have written here about the importance of this day, but I have decided not to do so anymore, as the idea of solidarity and cohesion in society seems to be becoming obsolete.

It's more important to me to feature a song on this day that has May in the title but has nothing to do with the month that is beginning. The first song that came to my mind is a song by an artist is love for ages. John Martyn released May You Never in 1973 on his legendary album Solid Air. 

May You Never is a gentle folk song that expresses a heartfelt wish for a friend’s well-being and happiness. The lyrics convey a sense of warmth, care, and friendship. Martyn's soothing vocals and delicate guitar work create an intimate and comforting atmosphere. The song's gentle melody and heartfelt message of support and protection have never sounded more sincere.

October

 

It is now October and once again I realize how quickly the has year has gone by. Three more month until the turn of the year and two of them filled with work at the office until I can go on vacation again in December. Like another nine months until I retire. Everything moves fast and what was important this year is mostly arbitrary in retrospect. Things come and go and you should be happy about here and now. For example that VfB Stuttgart is in second place in the Bundesliga after six days, after the supporters had to suffer for years, were only bland football was offered and hat to experience two relegations to second division. Autumn will ever be the time for me when I pick out some classic folk music because I think that fits to the season when the leaves are starting to fall. While I was thinking bout a song with October in its title I remembered a song by Roy Harper form his debut album The Sophisticated Beggar. Released in 1966 after Harper stopped travelling around Europe and North Africa to force his musical career. Harper is a member of the 60's folk-rock triumvirate beside John Martyn and Nick Drake. Listening to this song again after a long time I think that this kind of music is timeless and could be played to every time.

Roy Harper - October Twelfth

Much More Than Retro Folk Rock

Primrose Green by Ryley Walker was one of the best albums from 2015. Not only because I saw him live at these days I really liked him because he came across the same cosmic folk vein as Tim Buckley or John Martyn. Now he is back with his latest album Course In Faible recorded and produced in his hometown Chicago by John McEntire a former member of Tortoise and The Sea and Cake. This album is stamped by Walker's own unique voice and combines his eclectic influences like Nick Drake, John Martyn and Bert Jansch with a massive touch of prog-rock. It is not the album you can listen to every day but if you find the time to get into this record you might find the beauty in it. I guess this will be an overlooked highlight and someday a classic.

24 Hour Party People

Last weekend I watched 24 Hour Party People the comedy-drama biopic about the rise of Mancester's popular music scene especially Factory Records once again on television. I think I don't have to say much about Factory Records because a lot of was already said by Adam over the last years. What I can say is that it is always fun to watch Michael Winterbottom's movie because he convey the spirit of music from the first Sex Pistols concert into rave and DJ culture. And it is also a tribute to Tony Wilson without him this probably didn't happened the way it did. The development of this music was the road in music that I decided for me. There are so many bands and songs in this movie that makes me grab out my old records and listen to them once again with a smile on my face.

Monday's Long Song

It was in 1977 when punk broke up usual listening and lead me to a new kind of music I use to listen until now when an album was released that was totally different to the new kind of music and traditional mass music as well. John Martyn released One World an outstanding album under a lot of great albums he recorded in almost 40 year career. With this record he said goodbye to many rules in music business and created his very universe of experimental works with futuristic atmospheres reggae influenced rhythms free-flowing jazzy arrangements. When he made this album he might not have thought that his soundscapes should get a heavy influence into today's ambient sounds. My first thought was to present his collaboration with Lee Perry but this was featured many times before so here is the last track of the album.

John Martyn - Small Hours

Psychedelic Folk On Sunday

A few days ago I poked in bandcamps releases of the last weeks and I found a band I never heard before. Their music made me investigate for more. Olden Yolk is a project by Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer and they released their first album a few weeks ago. It would be another good folk album with tight vocal harmonies over motorik rhythms and spry hooks if they didn't absorbed their parents music. They add to their songs the best of the late 60's psychedelic bands. You can hear a fuzzy guitar on one song and Jefferson Airplane-like guitar-passages that takes you back to these days. It is a long time ago that a band reminds me to artists like John Martyn and the early Pink Floyd on one record. Absolute amazing.

Laid-back Sunday

Now summer is certainly gone and autumn is coming to take over. Temperature dropped about 15 degrees and more relaxed days will come. More time to read the books I wanted to read for several weeks and even more time to listen to music. During the past week I listened a lot to John Martyn again. I still like the way he picks the strings of his guitar and the way he uses his voice as an instrument. Solid Air, his record from back in 1973, is still a monument and I can't get tired playing it from time to time. This record is named by many people for his best one but for is Glasgow Walker from 2000 on the same level. Maybe because there are a lot of melancholic, soft and intimate songs on it. If you deal with John Martyn you ought to take a look on some edits and remixes of his songs. There you can see that a lot of his songs are timeless. Unfortunately I've never seen him live.

John Martyn - Over the hill

From The In-Box

A couple of new artists arrived throughout the last weeks that are worth to named in this series. Let's start on this rainy Sunday with Ryan David Orr. He's an American singer/songwriter based in Lakeside, Arizona. Learned to play fiddle and guitar in his youngest days. After some experiments in grunge music he returned to his folk roots. Rootstime Magazine, Holland describes his music this way: "Ryan David Orr has a warm, beautiful voice with which he intimates feelings of sorrow or joy...similar to that of Chris Martin (Coldplay), Damien Rice, or Ryan Adams." And I agree.

Ryan David Orr - Margaret
Ryan David Orr - Lucky Is Enough

London based LAZYFLUX showed up with their self called Alternative Trip Rock. They name Pink Floyd as their influence and right - on some songs they try to do it in this way. I'm not into long organ parts and that's what they should use it less. But Zanzibar Bazaar is a great song. Starting with a bubbling guitar they move more to the times when bands like Red Guitars were famous.

LAZYFLUX - Zanzibar Bazaar

The House The Old is the project of Imran Siddiqui, a singer/songwriter from Virginia. Nothing more or less a very good arranged rock song that should be played on classic rock stations. 'Missing' takes a stand against violence on women - a campaign he started over his homepage.

The House The Old - Missing

Meditative Jam is the way Jim Dennis describes his music. Located in California you may think it's inspired by the westcoast sound. But it's different. Based on blues pattern he plays longer improvisations on them. In the back there were drums that oscillate between early The Doors and zappaesc drumming. Worth to listen to.

Jim Dennis - Illumine The Reflection
Jim Dennis - Penetrating Light

Let's finish for today with Eddy Bayes. Like many other singer/songwriters he used to play in pubs in London in his earlier days. Since moving stateside he developed his very own style. Torn between the influences of John Martyn, Beck and Tracy Chapman he found his music home. His fine songs were supplemented by the cello played by Abi Loutoo.

Eddy Bayes - Sail On
Eddy Bayes - Roads

Small Hours

Lovely sunday afternoon. Just came back home from a Turkish brunch at our local Turkish pub. Alladin did all well and served us a unbelievable mix of Turkish and continental brunch. Our bellies are filled and we need to a little rest. Therefor I grabbed out John Martyn's classical record 'One World'. Easy and superb tunes just to relax. Probably one of the best records ever - sadly less placed in someones Top. But anyway - enjoy your Sunday. Working week is ahead tomorrow.

John Martyn - Small World

Sunshine's better

Another busy day ahead and no spring in sight. I've more than enough from cold and snow. Wish I could be back at a place where I could take a drink under palm trees. Therefore a very relaxed tune from John Martyn in a remix by Talvin Singh. He's also good in mixing not only playing in his band Cornershop. I do not know If they still working as a band but I remember well when they played live in the late 90s. 

John Martyn - Sunshine's better (Talvin Singh mix)

Friday again

Thank god it's Friday and I can leave work behind me until next week. This week was very quiet on account of the fact that many colleagues have used the school holidays in the carnival time and have taken vacation. That's why I have used the opportunity to do duties which I already move over since weeks before myself. But finally it's done and I can enjoy weekend.

I am also glad, that carnival season is over right now. It is good for the eyes to have to see no more people who dress up partly infantile manner. And it is good for the ears not to have to hear simple-minded carnival music on every corner. In fact that I live in southern Germany I don't have to complain. If I would live in Cologne or Düsseldorf - this is the hell. I know what I am talking about. I had to stand this for ten years with my former wife.

Now I am in a sentimental mood, because C.'s coming back tomorrow and I listen to quiet tunes. Today's gift is a song from John Martyn - one of the best British folk/jazz singer over many decades. It's wonderful to hear him again after a long time.

So enjoy and have a great weekend
John Martyn - Fine lines