Clap Your Hands

 

In 1983, Katrina and the Waves released one of the best pop songs of the early 1980's. It was written and composed by Kimberley Rew, who had already shown a knack for such songs whilst with the Soft Boys, although none of them were ever as successful as this one. 

There’s not much more to be said about the Boomtown Rats’ biggest hit and what inspired it. It’s sad enough that, even nearly 50 years later, pupils are still killing people with semi-automatic weapons in American schools.

In 1978, Chic released one of the biggest disco hits of the time, featuring a sensational guitar riff. The story behind its creation is also fascinating. Wiki tells 

On 30 December 1977, the two musicians Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers received a phone call from the singer Grace Jones, who asked them if they wanted to meet her at the New Year’s Eve party at Studio 54 in New York, where Jones was performing. When the two arrived at the club’s backstage door, the bouncer didn’t believe them and turned them away, saying, ‘Fuck off.’

Annoyed, they returned to Rodgers’ flat, which was very close to Studio 54. They let off steam during an impromptu jam session, singing “Fuck off – Fuck Studio 54” over an improvised riff. As they immediately liked the sound and the melody, they changed the lyrics and turned it into “Ah, freak out – Le freak, c’est chic”. The lyrics also include the line “just come on down to 54, find a spot out on the floor” as a reference to the song’s origins.

Another Rediscovery

 

Whilst packing away my records, I came across an album by Ducks Deluxe. DD were formed in the early seventies by Sean Tyla, Nick Garvey and Martin Belmont, and were one of the last pub rock bands. Despite having many good songs, they never achieved commercial success, which was perhaps because glam rock and the relics of a bygone musical era were still calling the shots at the time. Robert Christgau once said about them The music is pure rock and roll, maybe too pure, combining the Rumour's spirited intensity and the Motors' cheerful manipulation at a more primitive stage. There is nothing more to add to that.

Ducks Deluxe - Daddy Put The Bomp

Ducks Deluxe - Here Comes The NIght

Ducks Deluxe - Coast To Coast

Monday's Long Song

 

Whilst I was packing my record collection into boxes in preparation for the upcoming move, I came across a record that I hadn’t listened to in ages. A Dead Horse is the fourth album by The Golden Palominos from 1989. They aren’t a band per se, but rather a project by Anton Fier, the former drummer of The Feelies. The only permanent members were Bill Laswell on bass and Nicky Skopelitis on guitar. Apart from that, Fier regularly brought together leading figures from the New York nu-wave/nu-jazz scene to create his own blend of alternative, country and electronic music. 

The Golden Palominos - A Letter Back

New Song On Sunday

 

This isn’t the first time that Panda Bear and Sonic Boom have been featured on these pages. The collaboration between the two Portugal-based musicians continues and reaches another high point with their recently released album, A ? Of When. With this album, they have taken a big step towards a contemporary revival of the Beach Boys. Pete Kember crafts psychedelic fragments on the guitar, and Noah Lennox harmoniously weaves them together in the studio with flutes and alarm sirens. The result is a minor masterpiece of pop history that is simply a joy to listen to, thanks to its positive vibes.

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

Monday's Long Song

 

A few days ago Acid Jazz Records who are always good for a surprise – a remix by The Fatback Band. The Fatback Band or later only Fatback were probably one of the last disco bands from NYC. In the mid seventies the got critical acclaim for their funk inspired songs. 

Now Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell, a Brooklyn based producer and DJ made a remix of their most successful single (Do The) Spanish Hustle. Claussell retains the rhythmic structure and trumpets of the original, but replaces the disco groove with a pumping bass, kick drums and a Latin flair. A thoroughly successful reinterpretation of a fine but forgotten song.

New Song On Sunday

A couple of years ago Alewya Demisse, a British singer/songwriter, producer, artist and model, released some remarkable songs. Now she's back with her first album Zero in which she celebrates her musical diversity and ethnic heritage. Having grown up in Sudan as the daughter of an Egyptian father and an Ethiopian mother, fragments of this background can be found in her songs. She can best be compared to M.I.A., without, however, adopting her rebellious stance.

Her songs sound more like a fusion of Afro-electronic rhythms, Arabic soundscapes and urban pop aesthetics. Above all, it is her versatile voice that lends the songs a special sparkle. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were to become the next big thing.

From Mont Ventoux To Todmorden

 

In 2023, the Nuremberg-based band Konformer released one of the best LPs of the year with their debut album. After a three-year hiatus, they have now released their second album, which they have simply titled Konformer II. 

Not much has changed. The three members continue to play instrumental music whose driving sound is a direct nod to krautrock, before drifting off into psychedelic realms. But these days, it’s quite something to maintain the standard you set on your debut. 

They do have one unique selling point. I don’t know of any other band that has written a song named after the town – Todmorden – where they’re due to play in two months’ time.

Clap Your Hands

 

Today’s episode delves largely into the world of hip hop and dancehall. We start with Missy Elliott, who was probably the first woman to take on a leading role in hip hop at the turn of the millennium. Rarely has a singer and producer pulled so many rhythmic masterpieces out of her sleeve as she has.  

In 2003, the Jamaican dancehall singer Sean Paul scored a global hit with Get Busy, which could be heard on every radio station in Germany at the time.

The Cure, too, couldn’t resist using handclaps in their songs during their more upbeat phase.

That's What It Sounded Like When He Started

 

In 1979, at a time when punk had turned the entire British music scene on its head and DIY was all the rage, a student from the Midlands took to the stage. Joe Jackson, who had until then been studying classical composition in London, did not fit in at all with the zeitgeist of the time.

By combining catchy power-pop melodies with punk-inspired, reggae-influenced energy, he has released a new wave classic with his debut album. Few albums from that era have stood the test of time as well as Look Sharp. The lyrics strike a balance between cynical, self-deprecating humor and a surprising degree of vulnerability. Rather than simply venting his anger, Jackson dissects the banalities of superficial romances and the media with a sharp, articulate eye for detail, culminating in one of the best lines of all time Pretty women out walking with gorillas my street. From my window out staring while my coffee goes cold.

Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him

Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers

Joe Jackson - Fools In Love

Joe Jackson - One More Time

The Harder They Come

 

Just over 50 years ago, the German music magazine Sounds began promoting reggae more actively. I still remember a series by Teja Schwaner in which he explained the origins of reggae to German readers, going far beyond Bob Marley. Ska, and its gradual slowing down over several hot summers in Jamaica, evolved into rocksteady, characterized by it's dominant bass lines. 

This series also featured a film that depicted the era and the music scene in Jamaica quite realistically. The Harder They Come tells the story of Ivan Martin, a poor young man from rural Jamaica who seeks musical success in the big city and ultimately meets a violent end.

In these times it was impossible to watch the movie at my place and so I got the soundtrack instead. This soundtrack was my gateway to classic reggae and to Jimmy Cliff (who also plays the lead role in the film), The Slickers, many others, and later to dub. The soundtrack was released 54 years ago, and it’s time to revisit it.

Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come

The Slickers - Johnny Too Bad

Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross

Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want It

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.