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.
There were times when everyone told us that vinyl is going to die and the only media in the future is will be a compact disk. Like many others (and of course you could find less new records on vinyl) I started buying records on this format. I am thankful that times like this are over and nearly every new record will be released on vinyl as well. Sometimes good things come back. I found this track recently in my collection when I was sorting my CD-collection again. Neneh Cherry's second album Homebrew from 1992 is an underrated album because it is far away from the style the mass expected. A hybrid of jazz, hip-hop and rock music seldom made better. Trout is the best example that old fashioned music could be transformed into today's music. Based on the guitar lines of Steppenwolf's The Pusher and Led Zeppelin's When Levee Breaks Neneh collected it as a piece of her own. A forgotten classic.
Good news: Neneh Cherry is back and she announced the release of her new album. The first single Kong is out now and as hoped for nothing big has changed. For this song she has obliged two dimensions of the electronic music as producers: Kieran Hebden alias Four Tet who already primed "Blank Project" with his impressionistic Electronica and Robert "3D" Del Naja, Well, one of the foundation members of the TripHop institution Massive Attack. Together they have created a hypnotic night music in downtempo about which Neneh can spread out her voice - which still gets under skin. Also the text touches; a difficult balancing act between empathy and fury about the European refugee crisis.
Love forsaken, risk worth taking
Spearmint flavors, all my palate shudders
I’m a member of shattered illusions
And am I needless to say?
Another song, this is nothing new
But love is big in every man
Every nation seeks its friends in France and Italy
2014 is gone and many list about the best albums/songs were made. During the last weeks I had plenty of time to listen to music - especially records that was released last year. I have to admit that it was a very good year for music. Lot's of new good bands appeared on the scene and old heroes came back with great music. So I decided to name 14 records that impressed me much in 2014. The list is in no real order and so let's go ...
Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit: Fierce postal punk's bass; functional, insignificant beats, now and then cheap keyboard reef and apathetical guitars.
Aphex Twin - Syro: He's back with more piano parts. Hope we don't have to wait another 13 years for his next record.
Caribou - Our love: An avant-garde, electronic, living album with soul and R&B for body and soul.
Jungle - Jungle: Future Pop? J and T mix the best of the last 40 years into a great record. Compatible to a lot of listeners.
Neneh Cherry - Blank Project: An economically orchestrated album - intimate and directly
Lost on the River - The new basement tapes: Old songs discovered again by Elvis Costello
Jamie T. -: Astonishing comeback. The former rage in favour to quieter songs is given way
Holly Cook - Twice: My record from last summer. Perfect reggae based songs.
Jane Weaver - The Silver Globe: A crystal clear voice and psych-folk. Awesome.
Pete Molinari - Theosophy: Molinari pushes his music into the swirling space of the psychedelic 60s
The Ravonettes - Pe'ahi: Lastes release by the underrated Danish indie-rock duo.
Slow Club - Complete Surrender: Maybe the greatest surprise this year. A record full of fantastic songs. Pure 60s soul for 2014.
The Amazing Snakeheads - Amphetamine Ballads: Another band from Glasgow - and they made a well-worn fusion of late punk and raw Rock and Roll.
Ellis Island Sound - Regions: One of the albums I listened most last year. An intensive mix of African-influenced guitar lines, a steady percussive background added with dub effects and wailing trombone. Nearly meditative and often making an atmospheric mood.
Got a link from my brother to the new single by Neneh Cherry. Seems like she made a new record after almost 20 years. Listened to Soundcloud and think it's worth to post it right now. A phenomenal remix with looped and hypnotic percussions added with some organs and snare drums. Looking forward to her upcoming record.
