Another song in this series, which has been running for over 50 years. The Allman Brothers Band released Jessica on their forth album Brothers and Sisters back in 1973. This song is atypical for the band, which has made a name for itself with its blues-infused Southern rock and often improvised jams. Lead guitarist Dickey Betts saw it as a tribute to Django Reinhardt, who popularized gypsy jazz 90 years ago with his guitar playing. Jessica is a timeless work that is unrivalled in its virtuosity, melody and build-up of tension.
To be honest, I’m not sure whether to write about the music video or the song. On the one hand, the video is the most breathtaking I’ve seen in a long time; on the other hand, whenever I hear the song, the images from the video always spring to mind.
Romain Gavras, the son of French director Constantin Costa Gavras (“Z”, “Missing”), also makes films and, from time to time, music videos. Gavras has now directed the video for “Storm” by GENER8ION, a project by musician, producer and DJ Benoit Heitz, who also goes by the name Surkin. At the heart of the video/song is Swedish rapper Yung Lean, who plays a school bully in the ‘Storm Class of 2034’. In the first half of the clip, all hell breaks loose at the school, after which choreographer Damien Jalet takes over, and the whole package is bloody impressive, with associations raining down on the audience (Dead Poets Society, The Wall, A Clockwork Orange). Despite the setting, nothing feels like the future; in fact, it’s just business as usual at an English school with a few lads who just want to be lads.
The music complements the video. Aggressive synths, most reminiscent of Underworld, a rumbling bassline and Yung Lean’s voice blend seamlessly with the images on screen.
A few weeks ago a new album by Broken Chanter was released. It is the stage name of David MacGregor, former principal songwriter of the fabulous indie band Kid Canaveral. Once again, it’s clear just how much musical potential Scotland has to offer. *This Could be Us, You, Or Anybody Else* is a classic indie rock album featuring top-notch tracks that could easily have been released 30 years ago. Sparkling guitar riffs and a band that really drives the rhythm forward are its hallmarks. Occasionally, the songs have a funky edge, which suits them down to the ground. I’ve only recently discovered this band, but I intend to delve deeper into their catalogue.
Welcome to the last round of featuring songs that didn't leave out the harmonica. Let's start with an old song by Ewan MacCall which has been covered by many artists over the years. One of the finest versions is by The Pogues.
At the start of his career, there was hardly a single photo of Neil Young in which he wasn’t seen playing a harmonica.
It’s hard to believe that ‘Tangled Up In Blue’ is already 50 years old and still sounds as fresh as it did back then.
I’ve never really been into Canned Heat’s blues rock/boogie, but this song had to be included in this series.
The same goes for the pop-rockers Supertramp.
Next week will probably feature a series focusing on hand clapping.
In the early 90's, grunge reached its peak. A lot of new bands appeared and many of them wanted to sound like Nirvana or Pearl Jam. Really good new and innovative bands were hard to find. Fortunately, after releasing a few EP's, Pavement put out their debut album, Slanted and Enchanted, in 1992.
Originally, Pavement was just another garage band from California, but Stephen Malkmus, the band's frontman, had bigger plans. He had a knack for hiding brilliant melodies behind a massive wall of noise. The guitars cut through the songs, the bass rumbles, and you’d think Moe Tucker was playing the drums. At first listen, it all sounds discordant, and Malkmus’ lyrics are so cryptic that I still don’t understand them to this day. But anyone who gives the music a chance will realize that this is a band that has far more to offer than just noise.
When you’re browsing social media, it’s inevitable that you’ll eventually come across clips that try to make that orange-haired and, unfortunately, dangerous lunatic from America look ridiculous. Most of them are AI-generated and generally not worth mentioning. I recently came across one such clip and would have long since forgotten it if it hadn’t been set to a song I’ve liked since I was young.
It was recorded 60 years ago by Jerry Samuels, an American singer-songwriter performing under the pseudonym Napoleon XIV. In the song, he narrates in the first person how he is slowly losing his mind because his love has left him, and how he is looking forward to being admitted to a psychiatric hospital. To top it all off, he reveals at the end that it wasn’t a woman but his dog. As if that weren't crazy enough, he had the same song pressed on the B-side of his single, but it plays completely backward.
That same year, Bryna Raeburn, an American radio actress, released a response as Josephine XIV.
I know it's total nonsense, but the mix of a thumping snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, and siren still works and rightly became a one-hit wonder.
Regular visitors to this site probably know that I have a soft spot for Nottingham's Coyote. Timm Sure and Richard Hampson, the DJ's and producers behind this project, have been consistently releasing new takes on the Balearic sound for years. They recently released another six-track EP titled The Higher The Sky, The Deeper The Ocean. On this EP, they expand their signature sound with psychedelic elements, celebrating an almost meditative downbeat sound and ambient house. On this EP, they expand their signature sound with psychedelic elements, celebrating an almost meditative downbeat vibe, dubby bass lines, and ambient house. There are few artists today who create music as relaxed and beautiful as these two.
