¡Adelante, Amigos!

 

I recently received an email from the Oslo-based label Jansen Records. It featured the latest album by Los Plantronics.  Los Plantronics are a four-piece band from Oslo who have been active since 1996 and have released several albums.

I’ve no idea whether people surf in Oslo – or, if so, where – but this band celebrates surf/guitar rock with a rare enthusiasm. They describe themselves as ‘ambassadors of trash and twang (& other delights)’ and characterize their music as ‘Mariachi Death Surf’. And that’s exactly what you can hear on this album. A surf instrumental that stands out from the usual surf tracks.

In 2007, they recorded 'Rancho Notorious', a great album featuring their take on surf and garage music, which I’ve only just discovered myself. Alongside some high-energy stompers, Los Plantronics aren’t afraid to give a Ramones classic a surf makeover. Another band I’ve come across far too late.

Same Sun Same Sky

 

This week we saw the return of The Darling Buds, a power pop band formed in 1986. They could no longer be classified as part of the C86 generation, as they recorded their debut album too late, nor could they be considered part of the britpop scene, as the band had split up before then. Despite all that, they had released a handful of great songs in the nineties. 

A few years ago, the Welsh singer Andrea Lewis revived the band. Their music has hardly changed since the nineties: The Darling Buds play guitar-driven pop that ranges from upbeat to bittersweet melancholy, incorporating elements of soul, dream pop and 60's beat.

Surely not a fantastic album but one that carries the spirit of glorious guitar pop into the here and now.

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Clap Your Hands

 

1981 The Clash released Sandinista a triple album on which they explored the full spectrum of their musical influences. On The Magnificent Seven, they incorporated rap, which was just coming into fashion at the time. The funky bass loop is still absolutely brilliant.

From there, it’s only a short step to the Sugarhill Gang, who made rap mainstream with Rapper’s Delight in 1979. 

One of Yussuf’s biggest hits from back when he was still known as Cat Stevens.

Sabotage

 

In 1994 Beastie Boys released their fourth album Ill Communication. A hard-hitting return to their roots. Far fewer samples, but instead crashing guitars, a touch of jazz and funk. The lead single was ‘Sabotage’, a reckoning with their impatient producer, who accused them of failing to produce any results. The result was one of the best songs of the year and a video reminiscent of American police films from the 1970's.

Cari Cari they are one of the most exciting bands to come out of Austria in recent years. To mark the 25th anniversary of the radio station FM4, they recorded a live studio session. Among other tracks, they performed a version of the first song ever played on that station.

The tempo of ‘Sabotage’ has been slowed down, the rock guitars have been replaced by an Americana-style guitar, and the focus has been placed on the song’s rhythmic power. A worthy interpretation of a song that seemed impossible to cover.

Monday's Long Song

 

It’s already August and I have to move into a smaller flat in the next few weeks. I had most of my furniture moved last week. Now I just need to sort out the items that I won’t have room for in my new flat. The good thing is that my new home is just across the road; the bad thing is that I find it hard to part with things that have been with me all my life. But these are simply the challenges of life that I have to face up to.

There’s still a lot to do before the final move, time is running out, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep updating this blog as usual over the next few weeks. But I’ll do my best.

Today’s track is taken from Michael Rohter’s first solo LP, released after he left NEU!. Flammende Herzen is a masterpiece of meditative guitar sound – warm yet ethereal. 

Michael Rother - Zyklodrom

New Song On Sunday

 

Today's song is not new, it's a contemporary interpretation of a forgotten song from 1984. The first single by David Sylvian was released on his debut album Brilliant Trees after his band split up. On this album, he turned his back on the sound of Japan and, together with the Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, embraced a more jazzy sound without compromising his own style. The result was a veritable hit in the charts at the time.

More than 40 years later Kent's based electronic duo Puerto Montt City Orchestra transformed this song into a Balearic tune. The press release describes the song as follows: A 'Balearic Beat' that's now much more Mike Francis. The keys are rolling. The B-line roots reggae. The fretwork matching jazzy, cool and breezy electric with strummed acoustic. Sexy, spoken Spanish baritone narration countering Maya Blandy's ethereal lead vocal. It is rare enough for this description to apply.

And as a bonus the beautiful original, directed by Anton Corbijn.

Too Little, Too Late

 

To round off the month, here’s a little foray into country music. Orville Peck, the South African singer-songwriter with the fringed mask, is drawing attention to his upcoming album with his latest single. It’s not exactly classic country, but more of a mix of Buddy Holly, rockabilly and doo-wop. A driving rhythm and his distinctive baritone simply make this a track that makes you want to tap your feet.