Monday's Long Song

 

During the last days I rediscovered Distractions the latest album by Nottingham's Tindersticks from 2021. Stuart Staples and Tindersticks began their career as Britpop was taking off. Unlike other artists of that era, they wore three-piece suits and cultivated a slow, dark romanticism in their songs.

With their return a few years ago, they are celebrating their return to their roots and have created a monster of a bass-oriented, monotonous piece of music with Man Alone. Despite the monotonous underlying mood, they have succeeded in creating a hypnotic pop song that feels like a sleepless night in which thoughts circle around and never seem to end. 

Tindersticks - Man Alone (Can't Stop The Fading)

When We Were Beautiful And Young

 

Last week Mick Harvey, former co-founder of the Birthday Party and member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds announced a new album after almost a decade. His latest sign of life was when he released a couple of months ago a cover version of Marlene Dietrich's A Suitcase in Berlin which will also appear on his new album. I liked this version but forgot to write about it. Now he released When We Were Beautiful And Young another song from this album. And it one of those songs that you listen once and repeat it several times. The track is ethereal and haunting – a powerful reflection of the past delivered with moving grace and presence. The arrangements recall something from Burt Bacharach with a touch of Tindersticks: dramatic and melodic, the lyrics evocative and reflective. Weeping, sweeping strings augment the dramatic scenery and makes me looking forward to the full album.

2021 Long 2/2

 

Part two of my personal review of albums that impressed me much this year. When I look at the list it seems that my taste in music reduced speed and turned into more ambient. But this is not the truth. It is only because less complete albums made me feel to listen completely for several times. Anyway, a list I can agree and I hope there were some inspirations for you all.

Liminanas / Laurent Garnier - Le Pelicula

Saint Etienne - I've Been Trying To Tell You

The Vendetta Suite - The Kempe Stone Portal

Richard Norris - Hypnotic Response

Daniel Avery - Together In Static

The Grid / Robert Fripp - Leviathan

Tindersticks - Distractions

Late Night Tales - Version Excursion with Don Letts

Coyote - The Mystery Light

Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark

Monday's Long Song

 

Stuart Staples announced from Nottingham based band Tindersticks the release of a new album called Distraction. The album will contain a few new songs and some cover versions from Neil Young and Television Personalities. The leading song Man Alone is the longest song Tindersticks ever recorded as far as I know and I only can say it is a beautiful one (for one that isn't a huge fan of the band). With a throbbing and repetitive bassline, there's an almost trance-like vibe to it, dark and hypnotic. Sometimes it sounds like a journey through a dark and rainy night and full of ideas and breaks. Certainly one of the best songs this year and one I never expected from this band.