Mondays Long Song

English-French avantgarde rock duo Stereolab is one of those bands that are hardly to characterize. They combine influences of krautrock, lounge, 60's pop on one hand and funk, jazz and dub on the other hand to a very unique sound. Not always easy to listen but if you sink into the music you get requited to the beauty of their music. I couldn't decide which song to present at this place so here is one song from Empereor Tomato Ketchup and one from Dots and Loops to show their abilities in making fantastic music.

Stereolab - Metronomic Underground
Stereolab - Refractions in the Plastic Pulse

Automatic

Automatic is a new fascinating all female post-punk trio from Los Angeles and they made me listen to their debut album several times during the last days. Their roots and influence are in the early 80's best shown by singer Lola Dompé because she's the daughter of Kevin Haskins, the former drummer of Bauhaus and Love and Rocket. They borrowed their name from a song by the Go-Go's but their sound combines more than catchy vocals. They create a compelling sound over an anxious mood filled with slow driving beats and New Order-like basslines

Bandstand

A few days ago I was out with a couple of fellows after we moved in into our new building for a few beers to check out the locations around. We found a fine little pub and the music from the radio wasn't too bad. In the background they played a mixture of mass compatible 80's rock sound and I have to agree that we didn't listen much to this because we were all in good conversations. But as I heard the opening of one the worst songs I know I started to listen. I don't like Mike Oldfield's Shadow On The Wall because he tried heavy accords but failed. The only thing this song has a right to exist is the voice of Roger Chapman. When I came home this evening I started to listen to Bandstand, Family's sixth regular album. Family were a progressive rock band from Leicester and had their time for seven years from 1966 on. I liked their sound because it was not only heavy music and they combined other genres like folk, psychedelia and jazz fusion into their sound. But the main ingredient  and trademark was the fabulous voice of Chappo. Something between a shouter for heavy songs but also able to make ballads great with his raspy voice. A good rediscovery for me after ages.

Family - Burlesque
Family - Glove
Family - My Friend The Sun

Tracks On Wax

In the days punk and new wave changed my personal music taste completely two guys held up the flag of pub rock constantly. Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe were the keeper of classic Rock 'n' Roll and during the second half of the 70's they released a few classic albums. I was always a fan of how Edmunds used to play his guitar. He wasn't the best guitar player in his time but he knows how to get a great sound out of his instrument. He was able to play the twangy sound as well as fast riffs. A few days ago I found his albums in my collection and thought by myself to take a trip back to the days I listened often to them. It was Tracks On Wax 4 from 1977 that still impresses me. Filled with covers of forgotten gems from the past and a song from his buddy Nick Lowe. Even if times and taste changed these songs are great and it made me happy to hear them once again.

In the afternoon I will go to support Stuttgart in their game against When Wiesbaden. We are at the top of the table (were we belong) and they are a promoted team and it should be a safe win but I didn't saw my team playing constantly well during 90 minutes. But anyway, it will be fun to see some friends again watching this game.

Dave Edmunds - Deborah
Dave Edmunds - Trouble Boys
Dave Edmunds - Heart of the City

Back To The Days Of Glam

A few days ago some songs from decades ago shuffled up from my mobile phone on my way to work that I didn't listened for a very long time. Songs by Gary Glitter and T.Rex that brought me back to my very young days. Songs that brought back memories when life was easy and I didn't thought about future. It made me thought about all the songs from the early 70's that lead me into music and made the base to explore music from the past and the future and I decided to feature these songs/artists in a new series. Glam was a very British phenomenon in the early 70's. Many were bored of the arty and heavy bands and looked out for something new. Then some bands appeared on the scene that were different, especially the way they used to act in new styles and gambling with non gender attitudes manifesting itself in outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots. Glam is most noted for its sexual and gender ambiguity and representations of androgyny, beside extensive use of theatrics.. But the greatest gift they gave me that they brought back simple and native music. I was well informed by the music of the 60's by older friends but the first music that was close to me was Glam. I remember when I first saw Marc Bolan on TV I was speechless. New saw an artist before that was that kind of different to all other artists. He played just in front of his band with his curly hair and glitter in his face. From this time on I was addicted to music. And probably Glam prepared the way to punk.

Dance Alone

During the last years I often thought most of the best albums of the year will be released from August until October. Now by Shari Vari is one of those that will be in the list of my favorite albums from this year. Shari Vari is the common project of Baltimore born Sophia Kennedy and Helena Ratka. Both living in Hamburg and their gloomy, catchy and groovy sound is filled with ingredients from the last decades. It seems like Psychobilly, Suicide, Art of Noise, Anne Clark and Gun Club went together into an experimental Techno-Club filled with tribal beats.
 

Monday's Long Song

Many artists tried to combine classical and modern music and nearly everyone failed. One of those who is able to overcome the gap between classic and electronic music is Hamburg born pianist and composer Nils Frahm. His music stretches from almost classical to massive percussive and electronic elements. Live he use beside a classic piano, Fender Rhodes and synths and combines them with loops and samplings. It was a great and unforgettable experience to see him live. This one is from his latest EP Encores 3 and all the EP's will be released as a complete album next month.

Nils Frahm - All Armed