Love

 

Today Kevin Rowland releases the latest album by Dexys Midnight Runner Love. As far as I know it will be his last. I only know a few songs from this album and I pre-ordered it months ago. Not only he was one of the few artists I follow more than 45 years ago.

The soul of Dexys Midnight Runners were always a place I come back from time to time and it was always a joy. During the last decades his releases turned more and more introspective and he continues on this album that could describe his story of life. Kevin's whiny voice is still phenomenal 's and fits perfect to the songs. David Holmes produced this and he has laid down a soft, springy tapestry of soul. A warm and conciliatory late-career work.

Monday's Long Song

 

I can hardly believe it's been 12 years since Kevin Rowland and the Dexy's appeared on stage again with a great album. To be honest, I loved them since they released their debut Searching For The Young Soul Rebels. Rowland was the one that brought us back soul music in times where new wave ruled the sound. Classic songwriting and superb brass section was their style. And of course Rowland gambled with styles and outfits. From New York dock workers to ragged Irishmen, everything was there.

After two albums he kicked out the brass section to play more introverted songs. The fans couldn't follow this good music and he vanished in the darkness of the music scene to return in 2012 with a brilliant comeback album One Day I'm Going To Soar. The horns and especially Mick Talbot are back and Roland wrote songs about love, self-analysis and self-acceptance. Many of his words seemed to be pathetic but for me they were true and full of wisdom

Dexy's - Now

The Feminine Divine

 

Kevin Rowland is back with Dexys after one decade with a new album. Since he appeared with the Midnight Runners in the 80s I followed him and his music through almost 40 years. Rowland brought back (Northern) soul to my ears and I am grateful about it. One Day I'M Going To Soar was a highlight in 2012 and often played at my place. Now he brought a new album filled with nothing new old fashioned sounds. Rousing pop and soul are popular, with wonderfully brass-heavy instrumented, perfectly arrayed pieces, such as the rightly decoupled single I'm Going To Get Free or the similarly intense northern soul piece Coming Home. For me an excellent album that will surely will appear in my years end list.

Happy Endings

 

A few weeks ago Scottish producer and musician Sean Dickinson aka HiFi Sean released his first album with his longer time collaboration with British singer David McAlmont Happy Ending. I got this album when it was released, listened once and forgot about it. During the last days I rediscovered this album and listened a few times to it and I have to admit that it grows the more I listen to it. I enjoy their music whatever the musical press would say. It is an album that I will call timeless because this songs were far away from any popular genres today. Songs that lives because of McAlmont's mighty and also easy voice, well arranged with orchestra and strings. Sometimes it remembers me on the music Marc Almont did ages ago and Kevin Rowland would be proud to sing. A little highlight this year so far. 

The Return Of A Giant

There are only a few voices during the last decades that I could listen to to mostly every time and made a relaxed feeling to me. One was Kevin Rowland and the other was Marc Almond. Both were the ones that made me feel like every word of suffering came true out of their mouth. I always listened to him from the early days of Soft Cell until now. And I have to say I am pleased that he released a new album after long time. It is a record filled with classic songs from the last 30 years. He covered them in his very unique sound and arranged with strings and sometimes horns. Based on the Bacharach sound it is a record that is timeless and I am sure this record will be played at my place often. It shows all the quality Marc has as a crooner. Never thought that anyone could make a cover of Still I'm Sad by The Yardbirds. It is like a journey back in the early 60's when great vocalists were the next big thing. Of course totally retro but if you're in the mood for this, I am sure you can enjoy this.

Marc Almond - Still I'm Sad
Marc Almond - How Can I Be Sure
Marc Almond - I Know You Love Me Not

Geno

These days I found the live record of Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band in my collection. After putting the record on my turntable Geno and his music hit me like he did before in decades. It was like he didn't left me during the years. It is still making fun to listen to him and his kind of soul he was able to give to us all. Most of the songs are standards and you've heard them often enough. But I can't get rid of his kind of interpreting this songs. Seldom heard more soul in these songs than he did. He was a giant - and I understand why Kevin Rowland got addicted to him on the first Dexy's. Listen to them in a row and you might understand what I mean.

Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - Things Getting Better
Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - Who's Fooling Who
Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - I Can't Turn You Loose
Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - Get Down With It
Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - I'm A Roadrunner

If you have time enough you can see him live in the early 60s live in the Marquee Club, Liverpool, together with The Who and Jimi Hendrix.

Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Kevin

I don't have lo loose many words about Mr. Rowland except that he was a trained hairdresser. First recognized him as the lead singer of the Killjoys (a band who started with the punk explosion in 1977) who made a brilliant single 'Johnny won't get to heaven'. Disillusioned from punk rock, he immersed himself into vintage soul music, particularly the records of Geno Washington. In 1978 he founded Dexy's Midnight Runners together with Kevin Archer the former lead guitarist of The Killjoys. The hit the scene with a brilliant album. Every song of the record is a killer and it got on a very heavy rotation on my player. I still don't know what impressed me more the music or the lyrics at this time. Playing vintage soul with a punk attitude and telling stories about very true things. I got old with this record and it was always a good friend to me. Saw him once live a couple of years later when he promoted the following album Too-Rye-Ay where he added Celtic Folk to his understanding of Soul music. The record was a big seller and 'Come on Eileen' is still played in every dance party in my place. After releasing the their third album Dexy's Midnight Runners break up. They changed their style and music again but the listeners wouldn't follow him and it was a commercial failure.

He did one solo album throughout the years what I never listened but he returned last year with the reunion of Dexys and a monument of record 'One day I'm going to soar'. There he showed me that he never forgot what made him worth listen to. Perfect songs that grow the more times you listen to and lyrics full of wisdom and truth. Some of his words I agree to 100%. A great artist can celebrate today his 60th birthday.

Go on and stay well Kevin.
Cheers

Dexys - It's O.K. John Joe