New Song On Sunday

 

A major heatwave has been spreading across southern Germany for several days and 37 degrees is expected today. It looks like summer has arrived in full force. As every year, the newspapers try to present us with the ultimate summer hit, but these songs usually don't appeal to my taste.

My suggestion would be the new song by RAYE, a London-based R&B/soul singer and songwriter who has been on my radar for a while, but I haven't found the time to feature her here yet. Together with Mark Ronson, a British producer, she has now released a song that is convincing in its nonchalance and laid-back soul. The subtle use of horns allows RAYE's wonderful voice to shine.

The first few notes immediately make you think of Amy Winehouse in her prime, but that's probably down to Mark Ronson, who produced Amy back then. Nevertheless, it's a soul-pop classic from this year.

Rewind

 

 First of all, it's good to know that The Feelies are still around and that they haven't lost the desire to release new material. It was unexpected to hear that they released a new album full of cover versions the recorded during the last decades until now. 

All songs have the typical touch of the band: fast played twangy guitars over a hectic drums ans inspired by The Velvets and Lou Reed. I loved them from the first time I listened to Crazy Rhythms a ground breaking album back in 1980.

Now they covered songs by Patti Smith, Neil Young and Iggy Pop and made them sound like one of them. Some may say who needs another couple of cover versions and I say probably only me and other nostalgics who have always liked this sound.

Appear Disappear

 

Swiss industrial band The Young Gods are back with a new album. To be honest, I forgot them although I always liked them in their early days around the mid eighties. I expected nothing but the same dense sound carried by massive guitars, which they characterized at the time.

However, it is surprising that the album is so diverse. Powerful drums set the pace and industrial guitars run riot. Samples and electronic sounds also blend harmoniously into their sound. Perhaps the best album in this genre this year.

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Welcome to another journey to well-known, long-forgotten and classic songs from the last 40 years.

1967: Pink Floyd

1978: Jackson Browne

1963: The Kingsmen

1971: Bill Withers

1971: The Who

1976: Blondie

1978: The Clash

1971: Rolling Stones

1970: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1970: The Knack

1984: Nick Cave

1973: David Bowie

1989: The B-52's

1975: Elton John

1989: Indigo Girls

Very Human Features

 

Last year The Bug Club appeared on my radar on the recommendation of JC, sadly too late for my year's end list. I enjoyed their album On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System because this Welsh duo brought back the lightness of indie songs in a time when everything has to be perfect.

Now they return with a new album and they are still searching for the perfect melody. Their sound is a symbiosis of driving guitars, pointed rhythms and lyrics that look at the everyday with subtle irony. 

The Bug Club deliver a record that doesn't give a damn about conventions. Garage rock meets lo-fi indie, punk pop meets anti-folk. I've rarely heard anything so charming this year.

Monday's Long Song

 

A few days back I came back to an album that I didn't listen to without any reason for many years. The Lonesome Crowded West was the second album by Modest Mouse before they signed to a big company. Modest Mouse were at these days an typical American band somewhere between the Pixies, Meat Puppets and early Pavement. Their songs cannot be assigned to any particular style. Too many musical influences can be recognized without any particular one dominating. Trucker Atlas is one of them. A rolling bass and simple drums form the basis for guitar riffs and screamed vocals. The song progresses constantly and inexorably until a break occurs and the speed is suddenly reduced and the focus is on improvisation. Probably one of the songs I would play if I were driving through America's West in a convertible.

Modest Mouse - Truckers Atlas

New Song On Sunday

 

These days Leeds based record label Paisley Dark Records release a new song by Jay-Son, a DJ from whom I never heard before and some research has not made me any smarter. Anyway, it's a kind of chugging, slow shuffle for a late night dancefloors. Added with some breaks, acid electronics and spoken words he created a hypnotic mood. Surely not the next big thing but far too good to be overlooked.