Back In Time For Tea

This is the title of a compilation by a band formed in 1978 and played their very own kind of post-punk. They were more an art-school band because they tried to combine classic punk writing with art experiences and they didn't mind wrong chords and mistakes in their songs. I got aware of this new compilation by suggestion from a friend. Their songs are not the ones that got critical acclaim but for they were true and great by a band I never heard before.

The Tea Set - On Them
The Tea Set - Flaccid Pot
The Tea Set - Grey Starling

Monday's Long Song

In 1998 Massive Attack released one of the best albums close to the end of a decade. Mezzanine is still one those albums I come back from time to time. I can't explain the reason why but probably because the record coherent in its dark and gloomy atmosphere. Every song works well after all the decades and the songs make me still happy since I heard them the first time.

Massive Attack - Group Four
Massive Attack - Group Four (Security Forces Dub)

Pictures On My Wall

A few days ago Echo & The Bunnymen released a compilation of songs they played during various John Peel sessions. Peel was one of those who supported them from the beginning and Will Sergeant told once 'Without John Peel sessions, Echo & The Bunnymen in my opinion, would not exist! It's that simple. The band got so much support from him and his producer John Walters. Recording a Peel session was essential to the development of our songwriting skills while at the same time giving us amazing exposure and self-belief'. And you can listen to many of their songs in rare and stripped versions. It is every time a pleasure to me listening to one of the best bands in the early 80's again.

Echo & The Bunnymen - Pictures On My Wall
Echo & The Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here
Echo & The Bunnymen - Turquoise Days

Cult Hero

The last days I listened often to the new album by purist Acid duo Paranoid London. It is not the music I listening most but this tracks grabbed me from the first time they came to my ears. Probably it is the collaboration with other musicians playing on various tracks. Also the artists are very different from A Certain Ratio's Simon Topping to the final vocal performance by Alan Vega. Often a mixture of singing/speaking over forward-moving beats and adventurous rhythms make these tracks very special and fits completely to my ears at this time.

Dub Sex

Another forgotten band from the late 90's are Dub Sex from Manchester. Raised in the tradition of the late punk/new wave scene they brought back the sound of post punk. A few weeks ago they released an retrospective of their works and it sound still fine and brought me back to those times when this sound was great at this time. Sadly they didn't got the got favor they should have got back lots of years ago.

Dub Sex - Tripwire
Dub Sex - Swerfe
Dub Sex - Snapper (Peel Session)

Monday's Long Song

Tim Gane, former co-founding member of Stereolab released since 2013 several records under the moniker Cavern of anti-matter. Together with German synth artist he released his first record called Void Beats/Invocation Trex a deeply based creature of Krautrock and a post-punk guitar. Neu! and Harmonica couldn't sound better today. I was glad to see them live a few years ago and I have to admit that I seldom listened to more inspired musicians.

Cavern of Anti-Matter Tardis Cymbals

Throw It Back

I was very surprised to hear that Missy Elliott is going to release a couple of new songs after 13 years of absence. Although Throw it back hasn't the quality of many songs from Supa Dupa Fly it shows what pioneer work she did for HipHop. combining gloomy minimalist beats with unconventional breaks and samples. Fresh and old-school at the same time.