Monday's Long Song

A couple of days ago I met my oldest friend from my schooldays for a beer He told me that his eldest brother has been diagnosed with incurable lung cancer and is thought to have only a few months left to live. He was the one who showed us that, 50 years ago, there was more to music than just glam rock. We often visited him at home and he’d play us music that was new and exciting to us. Without him, I wouldn’t have discovered Jimi Hendrix, The Crusaders and Captain Beefheart’s crazy blues rock until much later.

Another band he introduced to us was Chicago Transit Authority, one of the first bands who incorporated a full brass section into their music and also drew on elements of hard rock, pop and jazz. As well as producing catchy songs that quickly became hits, they also ventured into experimental sounds. For example, in 1969, their guitarist Terry Kath recorded a track called ‘Free Form Guitar’, which consisted almost entirely of feedback. 

This song is a classic that used to be played in every club back then. A rhythmic staccato on the drums paired with extraordinary guitar passages and a great hook. It’s a shame that they changed their name to Chicago shortly afterwards and, apart from a good live album, became increasingly bland.

Chicago Transit Authority - I'm A Man

New Song On Sunday

 

Summer 2026. One heatwave follows another. You find it hard to get any work done, and lethargy sets in. Summer blues are a distinct possibility. This is exactly what The Linda Lindas sing about in their new song, Burning Out. The Linda Lindas’ melodic punk rock sounds like a modern take on the riot grrrl sound of the 90's. Surf punk guitars dominate their sound, which has a laid-back feel to it. A fine song by the American women’s quartet.

Clap Your Hands

 

Today's edition of clapping hands starts with song by Simon and Garfunkel. Released in 1970 Cecilia, a song about a couple having sex in the afternoon was rather unusual for Duo. Despite this, the groovy track managed to reach the top of the charts.

A classic by Gang Of Four. Early 80's post-punk with sharp guitars and soul-funk at their side.

To finish off, a bit of garage rock from The Sonics. Raw rhythm 'n' blues of a kind rarely played in America in the early sixties.

That's What It Sounded Like When They Started

 

While putting together this series, I realized that Interpol had never featured on these pages before. Time to change that.

In 1997, Paul Banks and Daniel Kessler, two students at New York University, formed Interpol, a band which, contrary to the conventions of the time, did not draw on garage and indie rock. Their musical influences are far more evident in the post-punk bands of the early 1980's. They were soon signed to Matator Records, which also had acts such as Pavement and Yo La Tengo on its roster. With their debut LP, Turn On The Bright Lights, they heralded a post-punk revival.

Intense, brooding melancholy hangs over the ruins of British post-punk, clinging enigmatically to the melodies, whilst an Ian Curtis lookalike sings, in a stylishly broken voice, of the tribulations of human relationships. The songs are fully arranged, feature stoic drumming and a solid bass line, whilst the guitars float above all the tracks, which nevertheless have a lo-fi sound. An album that evokes the past yet feels firmly rooted in the here and now, featuring wonderful songs – the only one that comes too close to Johnny Marr and The Smiths is Say Hello To The Angels.

Interpol - Obstacle 1

Interpol - NYC

Interpol - PDA

Interpol - Say Hello To The Angles

Monday's Long Song

 

In 1995 Sonic Youth released The Washing Machine, their probably last great studio album. It shows all I like about them. Not just because they’ve once again conjured up wondrous melodies out of thin air, only to destroy them towards the end in a sea of noise and feedback. What’s more, Thurston Moore is once again redefining the art of playing the electric guitar. For me, the best example of this is the final track on this album: an almost twenty-minute journey through harmony, tranquillity and expressive guitar noise. If you take the time to embark on this journey, you’ll realise what a monster of a track they’ve created.

Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea

New Song On Sunday

 

A few weeks ago Boards Of Canada released their latest album Inferno after a hiatus of 13 years. BOC are the Scottish brothers Marcus Eoin and Michael Sandison who started their musical project almost 30 years ago when they started adding music to their own Super 8 videos. Ever since then, their music has oscillated between guitar tracks and tracks featuring only synthesizer sounds. Yet they always manage to create a distinctive, fluid sound. 

In doing so, they consistently rely on tried-and-tested elements: drawn-out melodies, fragmented rhythms, vocals that sound as though they’ve been taken from archive footage, mixed with a touch of gloom. This is an album that should be listened to in its entirety, as you’ll keep discovering new nuances in their music.

North Sixteen

 

Jo Bartlett, a British singer/songwriter released her latest album a couple of days ago. She's active in the music scene for more than 40 years, got critical acclaim but still isn't on the main radar. Her music could be described as indie-folk with occasional outings into electronica. The album is a collaboration with guitarist Neil Haydock. The result is ten laid-back tracks, based on acoustic instruments and accented by the occasional electric guitar.