Red Hot And Blue

 

Red Hot + Blue is a compilation album from 1990, which was conceived as a tribute to Cole Porter and on which well-known musicians recorded contemporary cover versions of songs by the famous Broadway and film composer.

The album is the first in a series of benefit albums released by the Red Hot Organization in support of AIDS relief projects in various countries.

I also bought the album back then and was amazed at what great songs Cole Porter wrote and how they could be interpreted in a contemporary way. When I listened to the album again recently, I had the idea of creating a series of songs with red, hot and blue in the title. Stay tuned to see what comes in the next few weeks.

Monday's Long Song

 

In the mid-seventies, when music threatened to become boring, the German music magazine Sounds discovered reggae for itself and featured it extensively. This is how I became aware of Jamaican music and started to immerse myself more deeply in this sound.

To start with, it was the soundtrack to The Harder They Come, which then led me to classic roots reggae. One of the first ragga records I bought was Heart of the Congos by The Congos in 1977. From the very beginning I was impressed by the clarity and beauty of the songs, also because there were great singers at work who were able to use their tenor, falsetto and baritone exquisitely.

What I didn't know at the time and only noticed as a side note was that Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry produced this album in his Black Ark Studio. I now realize why this album became an early masterpiece of roots reggae.

The Congos - Congoman

New Song On Sunday

 

A major heatwave has been spreading across southern Germany for several days and 37 degrees is expected today. It looks like summer has arrived in full force. As every year, the newspapers try to present us with the ultimate summer hit, but these songs usually don't appeal to my taste.

My suggestion would be the new song by RAYE, a London-based R&B/soul singer and songwriter who has been on my radar for a while, but I haven't found the time to feature her here yet. Together with Mark Ronson, a British producer, she has now released a song that is convincing in its nonchalance and laid-back soul. The subtle use of horns allows RAYE's wonderful voice to shine.

The first few notes immediately make you think of Amy Winehouse in her prime, but that's probably down to Mark Ronson, who produced Amy back then. Nevertheless, it's a soul-pop classic from this year.

Rewind

 

 First of all, it's good to know that The Feelies are still around and that they haven't lost the desire to release new material. It was unexpected to hear that they released a new album full of cover versions the recorded during the last decades until now. 

All songs have the typical touch of the band: fast played twangy guitars over a hectic drums ans inspired by The Velvets and Lou Reed. I loved them from the first time I listened to Crazy Rhythms a ground breaking album back in 1980.

Now they covered songs by Patti Smith, Neil Young and Iggy Pop and made them sound like one of them. Some may say who needs another couple of cover versions and I say probably only me and other nostalgics who have always liked this sound.

Appear Disappear

 

Swiss industrial band The Young Gods are back with a new album. To be honest, I forgot them although I always liked them in their early days around the mid eighties. I expected nothing but the same dense sound carried by massive guitars, which they characterized at the time.

However, it is surprising that the album is so diverse. Powerful drums set the pace and industrial guitars run riot. Samples and electronic sounds also blend harmoniously into their sound. Perhaps the best album in this genre this year.

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Welcome to another journey to well-known, long-forgotten and classic songs from the last 40 years.

1967: Pink Floyd

1978: Jackson Browne

1963: The Kingsmen

1971: Bill Withers

1971: The Who

1976: Blondie

1978: The Clash

1971: Rolling Stones

1970: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1970: The Knack

1984: Nick Cave

1973: David Bowie

1989: The B-52's

1975: Elton John

1989: Indigo Girls

Very Human Features

 

Last year The Bug Club appeared on my radar on the recommendation of JC, sadly too late for my year's end list. I enjoyed their album On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System because this Welsh duo brought back the lightness of indie songs in a time when everything has to be perfect.

Now they return with a new album and they are still searching for the perfect melody. Their sound is a symbiosis of driving guitars, pointed rhythms and lyrics that look at the everyday with subtle irony. 

The Bug Club deliver a record that doesn't give a damn about conventions. Garage rock meets lo-fi indie, punk pop meets anti-folk. I've rarely heard anything so charming this year.

Monday's Long Song

 

A few days back I came back to an album that I didn't listen to without any reason for many years. The Lonesome Crowded West was the second album by Modest Mouse before they signed to a big company. Modest Mouse were at these days an typical American band somewhere between the Pixies, Meat Puppets and early Pavement. Their songs cannot be assigned to any particular style. Too many musical influences can be recognized without any particular one dominating. Trucker Atlas is one of them. A rolling bass and simple drums form the basis for guitar riffs and screamed vocals. The song progresses constantly and inexorably until a break occurs and the speed is suddenly reduced and the focus is on improvisation. Probably one of the songs I would play if I were driving through America's West in a convertible.

Modest Mouse - Truckers Atlas

New Song On Sunday

 

These days Leeds based record label Paisley Dark Records release a new song by Jay-Son, a DJ from whom I never heard before and some research has not made me any smarter. Anyway, it's a kind of chugging, slow shuffle for a late night dancefloors. Added with some breaks, acid electronics and spoken words he created a hypnotic mood. Surely not the next big thing but far too good to be overlooked.

Little Kind

 

In a week where it feels like a music legend has died every day, it's good to look at newly released music again. A few days ago Hugo Nicolson, a British music producer and DJ, who worked together with Andrew Weatherall on Primal Scream's Screamadelica and also with Julian Cope, David Holmes and Shack released a new EP Black Stick. 

On three songs and one edit he takes us to a journey with layered with acid synths, deep basslines, and emotive melodies. A little tour de force on prog-house and kosmische motorik beats but always with a warm sound.

Brian Wilson

 

Yesterday the sad news arrived that Brian Wilson died at the age of 82. Music lost with Wilson and Sly Stone two fantastic artists in only one week - what a mess. Brian Wilson was the head of the Beach Boys which was famous in the sixties and gave us unforgettable surf songs in the 60's. 

As a composer and arranger he was always looking for the perfect pop song and back in time the Beach Boys were competitors with the Beatles. Presumably this competitive pressure led him into drugs and depression, from which he did not emerge for a long time.

His legacy is that he wrote songs with godlike harmonies and songs that are very close to a perfect pop song. No he can sing together with his brothers Dennis and Carl in heaven.

Rest in peace, Brian

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Welcome to another journey through the time and various musical styles.

1960: Johnny Kidd and the Pirates

1965: James Brown

1982: The Clash

1971: Janis Joplin

1984: The Bluebells

1970: The Kinks

1981: The Specials

1981: The Go-Go's

1969: The Cambers Brothers

1975: Janis Ian

1975: Jim Croce

1979: The Cure

Boomerang

 

Last year French producer and DJ Antoine Harispuru aka Golden Bug released his last album Piscolabis II, a weird mixture of disco-dub, electronica and psychedelic. During this year he released step by step remixes of the songs from this album.

The last one is the rework by Froid and it makes the song darker and a bit more flutes and spaced out than the original without leaving the guitar work by Lionel Limiñanas and the distorted grooves too far behind.

Monday's Long Song

 

This weeks song comes from Babe Ruth, a band from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. A band named after one of the earliest baseball idols in US. A left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who was famous for more than 700 homeruns. 

They released their first album First Base in 1972 and it was a hybrid of late 60's blues-rock and prog with often long lasting improvisations. They didn't have success in their homeland but get well known across the ocean and Germany. They didn't had any hit but their well known song was The Mexican a song where they pick up some Ennio Morricone tunes and a sparkling guitar. Joke is another example that prog could be worth a listen.

Babe Ruth - Joker

Back From Bristol

 

Last Thursday around midnight I returned from my trip to Bristol for BlogCon 25. While the start on Monday was more than bumpy after my flight was postponed to the next day because KLM booked another plane with a lower capacity, I had a wonderful time with great people. I really enjoyed hanging around with you for a couple of days, having great conversations and exploring Bristol with all of it's highlights and pubs. Thanks to all of you bloggers for welcome me with open arms. You are fantastic. And thanks C, Alyson & Roddy and John for the gifts. Finally some songs from our youth you might remember.

Off to Bristol

 

This early morning I am moving to #BlogCon25 a gathering of bloggers you might know well. For me it is another blind date of meeting mates I know from the blogosphere during the last years. I am sure we will have a great time in Bristol and for me it would be a highlight of the year. There will be no more posts until next weekend and here are some videos of artists from this place. Enjoy and have also a great time until next week.