Demos

When I was on my way to the office yesterday Spotify brought new songs to my ears that was released during the last weeks. There were a few songs I will investigate for more and many I skipped after a few chords. Suddenly Teach Your Children appeared and I asked myself what is new on this song I know for ages? It was not the version I knew by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - it was a stripped down version by Graham Nash. After a few clicks on the internet I realised that Graham Nash released a best-of album this days with an additional disk with demos of their successful songs. CSN&Y was a band I used to listen often in my very younger days and I am still impressed about their harmony singing. I have to admit that I haven't any record by Graham Nash and I think that he is and underrated member of this quartet. Listening to this songs brings back memories of the past and according to  Brian's words yesterday it is like an old friend coming. There should be no discussion if the original or the demos are better. Listening to songs that are reduced to the limit you will often see the beauty and potential of the songs.

Graham Nash - Teach Your Children
Graham Nash - Marrakesh Express
Graham Nash - Right Between The Eyes

Another Great Re-Release

Now, finally, it is a fact that Germany is not the unbeatable team during a tournament which all the same as badly they play, they will get into the next round. This team didn't show me everything I expect from them: playing a fast and inspired football and the will to win. Too many players that won most of the titles they could win and not able and willing to give all to succeed. Anyway, this World Cup is over and I am glad that better teams can show what they are able to play. Now I am looking forward what the English and Belgium teams will show in this tournament.

Sometimes it happens that I read the news that an old album was released a long time after it's first release and I ask myself why I had forgotten this record. This happened by the re-release of Red Devil Dawn by Crooked Fingers. It was first  released back in 2003 as the third record by the North Carolina based indie-rock band. It was a record that was played often at my place almost 15 years ago and I remember that I was fascinated by their very unique sound. This crude mixture of Americana, combined with bluesy and melancholy mood made this record worth listening. Sometimes between Springsteen and Waits they create their own kind of music. Listening to this album makes me think that this could be a forgotten classic.

Crooked Fingers - Big Darkness
Crooked Fingers - You Can Never Leave
Crooked Fingers - Bad Man Coming
Crooked Fingers - You Through A Spark

House Again

Sadly saw Island playing their last game at the WC. They were so much better in the first half and they had to make a few goals. But they lost against Croatia. I really loved this team because they showed to me everything that means football to me: passion, volition to win, faith in their abilities and never giving up. For me it is the team of the tournament.

As you might know, my musical taste changes from time to time. I am into every kind of genre that was published throughout the last decades. At this time I feel save with some electronic music and I can't tell you the reason why it is this way. Sometimes an artist release a new record that is out of my radar in new music but listening to it it gives me some kind of thrill. This happened to me when I listened to the new album by Martijn Dejikers aka Martyn, a Dutch producer and DJ. He started working on a drum and bass sound and included techno and jungle to his sound. Last year he almost suffered a near-fatal heart attack. His latest album Voids is the essence of his work. Songs with a warm and also rainy-day atmosphere and moody drums. It is not the music for every day but it works fine for me at this time.

Massolit

It is always a surprise when Sir Weatherall presents his monthly mix on NTS-Radio and I am sure Adam will post the whole show soon. It is a song based on electric beats by Spanish producer Manuel Chachero aka JackWasFaster. This mixture of obscure Balearic, dark disco and raw house is almost perfect and unique. Another gift he gave to us and something more to explore. Got it on tape for the rest of summer.

Glamabilly?

Another small and new band that made a few songs that accompany me during the last days. Kolars are a two piece band from Los Angeles. I don't know much about them but their live shows were highly recommended. They describe their music as Desert Disco and Glamabilly but for me it is a perfect mixture 70's glamrock and twangy country played over steady drums.

Gold Rush

Today is a day to rest after a long evening watching the German team play against Sweden. We can praise to god that we have another chance to slip into the next round. I don't know the reason why they play an uninspired football these days. There are more teams in the tournament that will win the championship a few weeks ago. Here is the latest track by Death Cab For Cutie - not a band I know very well but Gold Rush is just good pop song for a Sunday morning

At the end of the month I am invited to a 50th birthday to a long friend of mine. There will be no DJ around playing this evening, so she asked the friends to compile a playlist from whatever we want. The only rule was that this list should be compatible for many people. Creating this list I remembered Nadine Shah, her beautiful voice and her outstanding record from last year. I asked myself why I didn't gave her a feature on this little place in internet yet. It is a question I can't answer but it it not necessary because most of you will know her songs. If not - take this for a chance to enter to her music. I am sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

Nadine Shah - Place Like This
Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination

Babelsberg

Studio Babelsberg in Berlin/Potsdam is the oldest big studio film studio of the world and the biggest film studio of Europe. It is also the title of the latest album by Gruff Rhys, the Welsh multi talented musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author. But the title has nothing to do with film studio in Potsdam it is a synonym for building the Tower of Babel. He delighted me during the last years with timeless albums with timeless music. American Interior from 2014 was played often when I was at home. So I was excited to listen to his new record and I wasn't disappointed. He wrote great songs again and recorded them with the 72-piece BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The more I listen to the songs I think he moves more and more to a nowadays edition of Lee Hazlewood and he can't deny the influences of Ray Davis and The Kinks. For me, Babelsberg is one of the nicest records released this year.

Teenage Drama

During the last weeks I was absent from music because their were too many other things I had to do. First a few friends from Sri Lanka were at my place to spent their days off at my place; then I had to finish some new codings at my office and then I enjoyed some days off without any duties. Now my hiatus is over and I can start regular postings during the next weeks. Sometimes I thought about new inspirations outside of new releases and I didn't find any solution. Then a few days ago it happened that a very old song shuffled up on my mobile phone while I was on the way to my office. It is almost 40 years ago when The Knack appeared on the scene. Nothing more than a band that made the music for masses at the right time. But You're Number Or You're Name is one of these songs that transports the feelings of young people and I can remember how it felt at these days. I am not sure if it will be a small series of songs that tell us the dilemmas of very young people but it could happen. Anyway a great pop song - sadly forgotten.

Saw your face from a window

Now I can't let it go

But I don't know your number or your name

If I only could phone you

I could say what I want to

When I'm trying to catch your eye

You'r stepping out of view

The Knack - You're Number Or You're Name

Thank You Drew

This morning started with the horrible news that Drew over at Across The Kitchen Table made his last post. He is a friend of mine and a huge inspiration of this blog. I used to watch the news he posted during long years and often he inspired me with some new and also old music. It is sad that he completed his work (but I hope he will only have a sabbatical) but Drew was one of them that gave a lot of inspirations in a lot of kind of music during the last years. I can really understand the reasons why he chosen this road because I feel sometimes burned out as well. That is the reason why I took a hiatus from bloging. This song is for you Drew - hope you come back in any way you want. All the best to you mate and your Aidrieonians - I will miss you on this little piece of the world.

The Pale Fountains - Just A Girl

Stone Tumbling Stream

It was a year ago when I got connected with Spotify. The main reason was that they got almost any good record in their offer and a lot of new releases are available. During  the time I built up a library of a lot of albums there from the last decades. That makes me free not to copy any album on my mobile phone when I would like to listen to away from home. When I listen to music this way in the background they work on my profile and identify my musical preferences. Every week on Friday they provide new releases according to my musical preferences. So I can check out on my one hour train ride to my office what's new. To be honest, not everything new fits to me and I skip to the next one. But a few are worth to investigate for more. One of those was Mark Lanegans new single from my yesterday post. The other is a new one by Jon Langford. Together with his long time companion Martin Bramah he recorded a few songs in Budapest a couple of years ago. Stone Tumbling Stream is a song that is reduced to a simple electric guitar and two voices chanting their lyrics. This might be the reason why I choose my old Three John's records when I came home from work.

Save Me

Mark Lanegan announced a new album for August. It will be another collaboration with Duke Garwood who also played on Mark's superb album Gargoyle. The first single was out these days and it makes me want to listen more of this reduced guitar based sound. It has a dark mood and I can see walking him over the graveyard round midnight howling his songs.