That's What It Sounded Like When He Started

 

In the early 1970's, as the hippie and psychedelic era was drawing to a close, music began to shift towards heavy blues, glam and, to some extent, the electrified folk of singer-songwriters. It was around this time that John Prine released his self-titled debut album.

Born in 1946 into a working-class family, he grew up in a suburb of Chicago. By the age of 14, he was playing the guitar and writing his first songs; to earn some pocket money, he delivered newspapers. After finishing school, he was called up for military service. He was lucky and was allowed to serve as a mechanic at a base in Stuttgart. Nevertheless, he naturally witnessed how inexperienced young people like himself ended up in Vietnam and returned as adults broken both mentally and physically.

And it is precisely this keen eye for detail that runs through many of his songs, which deal with loneliness in old age, Vietnam veterans and the lives of ordinary people. Musically, he draws on the traditions of folk, country and a touch of R&B. His voice was not particularly appealing: it was rough, nasal, gruff and unpolished. 

John Prine - Hello In There

John Prine - Sam Stone

John Prine - Angel From Montgomery

John Prine - Paradise

P Stands For Paddy

 

During the last weekend I found time I decided to have a look through my inbox full of promotional emails and delete most of them. As always, there was a surprise to be found. London’s Heavenly Recordings label seems to have a knack for releasing great new music at the moment. Just recently, they announced the new – and presumably final – LP by Dexy’s Midnight Runners and released the fantastic album by The Orielles. 

With the release of their debut album, they have made a complete musical turnaround and introduce us to Absolute Lilt. An Irish vocal duo comprising Lisa Canny and Niamh Hinchy, who breathe new life into the traditional Irish singing tradition within a modern framework. Two voices move in close, circling motion, creating something hypnotic, playful and deeply Irish, situated somewhere between folk, gently pulsating club music and vocal experimentation.

Another song that, once you’ve heard it, you just can’t get out of your head.

New Song On Sunday

 

Rostam Batmanglij is an American producer of Iranian descent. Some may still know him as a co-founder of Vampire Weekend, which he left after their third album in order to focus more on producing. He recently released a new album, American Stories, in which he blends Americana with Persian instruments. On his latest single, Hardy, he has replaced the pedal steel guitar with strings. 

Sampled strings feature prominently throughout, appearing regularly in the song and lending it a cheerful feel. Alongside violins, the cello and piano can also be heard, giving the song an organic sound. The song is named after the French icon Françoise Hardy – only the artist knows why. A beautifully arranged pop song that really sticks in your head.

Sixty Seven

 

Time flies, and once again a year has gone by far too quickly. Looking back, I have to say that the past year has given me far more wonderful moments than I could ever have hoped for. At 67, I continue to look forward to the years ahead with confidence and am eager to see what lies in store for me.

Charles Aznavour would have turned 102 today. He was an Armenian-French chansonnier, lyricist, composer and film actor, and I’ve always had a soft spot for his songs, which often featured poignant lyrics and made a real impact thanks to his distinctive voice.

On their third album, the Hamburg punk band Abwärts took a more laid-back approach and delivered a superb cover of Aznavour’s song.

Clap Your Hands

 

Clap your hands for a new round of songs and the good news that I’ve found a new flat since yesterday, right across the street from where I’ve been living. The seemingly endless search for affordable accommodation looks set to come to an end once I finalise the arrangements on Saturday.. Stealers Wheel was a band formed by Gerry Refferty in the early seventies. They performed as a British version of CSN&Y and reached the charts with Stuck In The Middle OF You that later became a torture scene in Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino’s debut film.

The legacy of Gil Scott-Heron was his last album I'm New Here, a spoken word document how that would sound today. A man in the prime of his life who still had something to say

In 1977 Meat Loaf released his first album Bat Out Of Hell, An album overproduced by Jim Steinmann, whose sound is reminiscent of Phil Spector. But he clearly struck a chord with this fine record.

THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE WHEN SHE STARTED

It doesn’t matter how you approach Patti Smith’s Horses – whether through the lyrics, the iconic cover artwork or simply the sonic experience. All paths lead to a magnificent album that embodies the spirit of 1975 in New York.

Patti Smith spent a lot of time in small, trendy clubs reciting her poems, which were mainly inspired by the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, who was all the rage at the time. Over time, she began accompanying her poems on the guitar, and it was only a matter of time before she recorded an album. 

The honorable task of producing this fell to John Cale, who knew how to offer something fresh in contrast to the FM West Coast sound that dominated at the time. Musically, she often draws on the old rock greats like the Velvet Underground, but her lyrics go further: using simple words, Patti Smith conjures up powerful images in the listener’s mind. Images of sex, anarchy, suicide, aliens. Her voice has neither a wide range nor a beautiful tone – but it exudes a kind of uncanny charm.

The album is often cited as a precursor to punk, which is a bit of a stretch. But it makes a statement about what is musically possible, and in that sense, it is indeed punk.

Patti Smith - Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)

Patti Smith - Redondo Beach

Patti Smith - Kimberley

Patti Smith - Horses/Land of a Thousend Dances/La Mer Dances

Kinetik

 

One of the most interesting albums was released a few weeks ago by Lines Of Silence, the project led by David Little, a musician from West Yorkshire. He has already produced several albums, and on his latest release he makes effective use of Andrea Parra’s voice. 

The sound isn’t new, but the way Little incorporates his influences from Kraftwerk and Neu! is exceptionally good. Motorik drums and percussion keep the structure tight, whilst synthesizers weave their way around the underlying layers of guitar. Psychedelic drone music as it should be.