A few good times in my life
A few month ago I featured Gulp, a Scottish/Welsh band with Wildflower, which was a superb song for warm summer days. Now Richard Norris took this song and made an excellent remix that brings back the summer into autumn. A great bass-line opens the song until the piano starts playing. Still a very good song.
In 1995, there was a battle between two Britpop bands that was incomprehensible to me as an outsider. Both released singles at the same time, Blur's Country House and Oasis' Roll With It. Not that I don't appreciate both bands, but at the time, the hype surrounding so-called supremacy got on my nerves. Country House is one of the greatest songs Blur ever released and deserves to be played again.
Another week with charted singles, pop and rock songs from various decades for your pleasure
1983: Rolling Stones
1973: Billy Joel
1955: The Platters
1972: Carly Simon
1972: Lou Reed
A few weeks ago, I switched my internet provider because I got a very good deal on a new fiber optic connection. So far, so good. The connection was activated yesterday, but my former provider had already cut off my connection on Saturday night. So I got to enjoy almost two days without internet access except on my mobile phone. Basically, it was a good experience to be disconnected from the internet for once and to devote myself to a good book and go for long walks again. I'm considering whether I should spend one day a week offline in the future.
Last year Justin Robertson released under his alias Five Green Moons one of the most impressive albums for me. Now he's back and has announced his second album for the end of November. Apart from a first song that was released last week, there is hardly any information on the web. He remains true to his style and picks up where he left off last year.
He continues on the path of post-punk and PIL-inspired, dark, hypnotic dub. He was able to get Brix Smith on board for some songs, who adds another mystical touch with her chants. I'm looking forward to the album.
Australian singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett returned last week with a new single. This time less lyrical and reserved, but with edgy riffs and a great bass line. You can still hear her love for Patti Smith, early grunge, and her passion for playing. It's great to have her back.
At the end of this short series, I must mention a club where I experienced some of my most memorable concerts. The Wagenburg Tunnel connects two districts in the north of Stuttgart. In 1985, a club called “Die Röhre” (The Tube) opened in a side arm of the tunnel. It was a long tube with a large bar on the left-hand side. Initially, it was used almost exclusively for parties at the weekend and occasional concerts. It was not until the late 1980s that concerts began to be held there regularly.
A defining experience was a double concert in 1989, when Spacemen 3 and The Wedding Present performed. The latter impressed with their indie guitar sound, but were able to keep up with the psychedelic-tinged guitar feedback, as a bootleg shows.
Our journey around the houses today begins with a song by The Doors. Released on their fifth album Morrison Hotel they returned to their roots and played a powerful blues-rock on this song. I didn't listen to this song for a long time and I'm amazed at how fresh it still sounds today.
