A few good times in my life
Another Wednesday and another journey through music history with songs that were famous at the time or that were simply part of my musical development.
1974: Golden Earring
1971: Carole King
1982: Africa Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force
1983: Tears For Fears
1965: Otis Redding
1966: The Troggs
1970: Neil Young & Crazy Horse
1962: Dick Dale and the Deltones
Back in 1990 Bristol's The Aeroplanes released in my opinion their masterpiece Swagger, an album of jangly guitar sound with mostly spoken lyrics. I don't really know if they were in UK as big as in Germany these days but you could hear this music in almost every pub. Seldom before and after I listened to a guitar-rock album with pure joy (except Sugar's Copper Blue). Swagger is a guitar-led album somewhere between guitar-driven bands like Big Country and the upcoming shoe-gaze like Ride. The guitar carries catchy melodies and not the voice. Something unusual for the time. Sure an album that stood the test of times.
The Blue Aeroplanes - What It Is
Let's start this small review with a new band to me. Brown Spirits are from Melbourne, Australia and celebrate a fusion of krautrock and a d-i-y punk attitude with drums, bass and guitar/keyboard. They have learned by many but make a sound of their own.
Bristol's Blue Aeroplanes also appeared with a sing of life and gave us with Culture Guns this year's trademark in jangly guitar sound. Seems like the songs work well live as well.
Belle and Sebastian, one of Glasgow's pop-bands released Late Developers, another album by them that is very good and full of great songs with hooks. Seems like they are very close to a perfect pop/rock song
It seems like Julian Cope has too many ideas in his mind to release them all on vinyl. This year he surprised us with Robin Hood another album full of weird ideas. But after all he made another great record (if only the ones which are huge fans).
HiFi Sean and David McAlmont finished their long time collaboration this year with their first album Happy Endings. And the title is programm: they collect a lot of influences and create their own space. An album full of great songs often added with strings but never overproduced. An album I came back from time to time with joy.
Back then in 1990 Bristol's The Blue Aeroplanes released their fourth album Swagger a little Masterpiece of guitar dominated sound you heard seldom before and after. They created a sound for a summer that made us feel end and timeless. On And Stones they made a unique combination guitar drive and dance beat. This song was played at our place in every good club and after all the decades that passed me by it is an album I will always come back with great joy. Timeless and superb music that wasn't made these days but I am sure this kind of revival will come soon.
The Blue Aeroplanes - And Stones
