The German Correspondent Returns

 

Years ago, this page featured a long-running series entitled The Foreign Correspondent. It's intention was to draw attention to German bands that caused a stir and provided inspiration, particularly in the 1980's. From time to time, I have revived the series under the title The German Correspondent Returns, and I intend to continue doing so at irregular intervals in future.

Get Well Soon is the project of German singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Konstantin Gropper. He recorded his first albums on his own in his bedroom, as he couldn’t afford a studio. His debut album, which was well received by the critics, depicts village life during his youth. Get Well Soon are nothing less than the German equivalent – in terms of introspection and sensibility – of Conor Oberst, the anti-hero of the American Midwest. 

A few months ago, he released his latest album, Minus The Magic, and – having spent years composing film scores – recorded an album with a band for the first time. The result is a classic indie rock album, featuring powerful guitar riffs and brilliant melodies that can certainly hold their own against The Editors. All the tracks were recorded live in the studio and perfectly capture the indie spirit of the early 21st century.

Clap Your Hands

 

Another episode in this series begins in 1969. Norman Greenbaum wrote this psychedelic-style hit. Handclaps are a key element of the track’s driving, gospel-style rhythm and were added in the studio alongside backing vocals from the Oakland-based gospel trio, the Stovall Sisters.

Mott The Hoople released several good, albeit unsuccessful, albums in the late 1960's and early 1970's, and were on the verge of splitting up in 1972. One of their fans was David Bowie, who wrote and produced All The Young Dudes for them, turning it into a glam rock classic.

‘Dog Days Are Over’ is the opening track on Florence + The Machine’s debut album from 2009. On this album, Florence Welsh has achieved a remarkably successful blend of alternative, art-pop and soul.

From the ashes of the doo-wop group Dion and the Belmonts, their lead singer rose to unprecedented heights as a solo artist and had several hits. Something for those with a nostalgic streak.

Netbacks

 

Every month, Duncan Grey releases a new track on his tici taci label. This month it’s Netbacks, a rather uncharacteristic track for him. He’s clearly found his niche in funk. A catchy bassline forms the backbone, to which several guitars are then layered and enhanced with a whole host of effects. A brilliant piece of music that really sticks in your head.

Monday's Long Song

 

The British electronic duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, better known as Underworld, launched a project in 2019 and released a song or video every Thursday for a year. They named the collection of all these releases Drift. A year later, they released Drift 2 under the title Atom. 

Underworld skillfully alternate between functional techno and clever electronica, straightforward rave and ambient passages, as well as dub. Whilst remaining deeply rooted in the 1990's, they continue to evolve. Perhaps no other track of theirs from that era captures this better than the nearly 15-minute Threat Of Rain, a 15-minute journey through ambient-infused techno.

Underworld - Threat In Rain

New Song On Sunday

 

Today’s song is by a band that got together at a university in Manchester just over two years ago. To date, Westside Cowboy have released an EP and recently announced their debut album. Earlier this week, they released the first single from this album, Kick Stones (The Boys). 

Musically, with their jangly guitar sound, brilliant melodies and harmonized vocals, they somehow straddle the genres of surf punk, Americana and early Pavement and The Feelies. I can already tell this is set to be the next big thing, but this four-piece band has much more to offer. As far as I’m concerned, Westside Cowboy aren’t reinventing guitar rock, but they’re adding a brilliant new take on it.

Another highlight is the video for their latest single, in which they feature alongside FC United of Manchester – a football club from their home city of Manchester. The band describes the video as a declaration of love for the football club and its special sense of community. The club was originally founded by disillusioned fans in protest against Malcolm Glazer’s controversial takeover of Manchester United.  The band particularly values the club’s social and community-oriented values. These include affordable ticket prices, events surrounding home matches and close links to social projects.

And as a bonus a song from their last EP

Clap Your Hands

 

Not all handclaps are real; some are generated synthetically. A good example is a song by New Order that is mentioned far too rarely.

The Talking Heads also made use of this stylistic device in 1983.

To round things off, here’s a song where the rhythm is created by clapping, which acts as the perfect counterpoint to Hope Sandoval’s ethereal voice.

That's What It Sounded Like When They Started

 

Today, Ian Kevin Curtis would have celebrated his 60th birthday. He was the lead singer and creative force behind Joy Division. One of rock music’s all-time greatest cult bands, they released just two albums, never really sold many records, and never played in stadiums, but they went on to influence entire generations of musicians. A small, slight man who worked at Manchester City Council by day, was a devoted family man by night, and transformed into a rock provocateur at the weekends.

Curtis didn’t just sing about loneliness, depression and self-doubt – he actually experienced these feelings first-hand. They were triggered by the conflict between his family life and his life as a musician, an affair that destroyed his marriage, and his fragile health, which was marked by epileptic seizures. These became increasingly severe as Joy Division grew more successful.

One of my biggest mistakes was holding Joy Division’s first EP, An Ideal For Living, in my hands at my favorite record shop and not buying it, because I thought the cover featured too much Nazi symbolism. Even after almost 50 years, this EP is still well worth a listen. Songs that are unrivalled in their blend of emotion and rebellion.

Joy Division - No Love Lost

Joy Division - Leaders Of Men

Joy Division - Warsaw