Monday's Long Song

 

Vini Reilly aka The Durutti Column were always a band to which I have always felt drawn. He was around in 1978 when Tony Wilson formed the first post-punk band to sign for Factory Records. He was also there when the great Manchester bands where on their peak. There was music galore around but his music was always different to them all. Mostly instrumentals with his guitar and a lot of reverb, sometimes added by a piano. In 1989 he released an album called Vini Reilly and listening to it for the first time I thought now he's got educated. The songs were more composed and included more piano passages and some kind of vocals in the back. It is different but for me a classic album from the late 80's.

The Durutti Column - Finding The Sea. 

Monday's Long Song

 

In 1981 Vini Reilly released as The Durutti Column one of the best post-punk albums ever. LC means Lotta Continua and is the Italian translation of continuous struggle and this album is one of my all time favorites. Vini's songs are so different to everything else that was released in the early 80's. An album full of guitar dominated sounds inspired by punk but also jazz, folk, rock and classical. He was one of the first artists who played at the Factory Club and signed by Tony Wilson for Factory records. That was the time when he got close to Joy Division and it is no surprise that he recorded The Missing Boy after Ian Curtis committed suicide. 

The Durutti Column - The Missing Boy

Innerland

Three years ago English musician, producer and songwriter Mark Peters released his first album Innerland his interpretation of a native or resident of Lancashire. Eight instrumentals I can't more than describe them as beautiful tracks somehow between late Talk Talk, The Durutti Column and minimal Brian Eno. I got aware of him because of his collaborations with Ulrich Schnauss and found this record on my hard drive a few days ago. It is one of those records you owe, listen, enjoy and forget until the time has come to see the beauty in the songs.

Mark Peters - May Mill

2019 he released a remix version of the album called New Routes Out Of Innerland showing that this songs work on a funky or Balearic style as well.

Mark Peters - Twenty Bridges (Andi Otto Remix)

Monday's Long Song

Obey The Time, Durutti Culumn's album from 1989 was re-released in a so called deluxe edition. I always had a favor for this album but the additional material shows Vini Reily at his best performing live in Manchester in 1980. It is always a pleasure listening to him and his acid guitar. Simply a masterpiece.

The Durutti Column - Finding The Sea

Domo Arigato

A few days ago a re-release of Vini Riley's Domo Arigato album from 1985 is available in the record stores. It was the original release plus an live recording (and also as a DVD) from a concert in Japan. It is still a pleasure listening to Riley at the top of his musical career. He played his guitar like never before and the funky sound added with trumpet and violin is still one that makes me shiver whenever I listen to it. I know a lot of folks that listened to cross-over jazz and funk at this time but Vini beat them all.

The Durutti Column - Sketch For A Dawn
The Durutti Column - The Missing Boy