Little Kind

 

In a week where it feels like a music legend has died every day, it's good to look at newly released music again. A few days ago Hugo Nicolson, a British music producer and DJ, who worked together with Andrew Weatherall on Primal Scream's Screamadelica and also with Julian Cope, David Holmes and Shack released a new EP Black Stick. 

On three songs and one edit he takes us to a journey with layered with acid synths, deep basslines, and emotive melodies. A little tour de force on prog-house and kosmische motorik beats but always with a warm sound.

Brian Wilson

 

Yesterday the sad news arrived that Brian Wilson died at the age of 82. Music lost with Wilson and Sly Stone two fantastic artists in only one week - what a mess. Brian Wilson was the head of the Beach Boys which was famous in the sixties and gave us unforgettable surf songs in the 60's. 

As a composer and arranger he was always looking for the perfect pop song and back in time the Beach Boys were competitors with the Beatles. Presumably this competitive pressure led him into drugs and depression, from which he did not emerge for a long time.

His legacy is that he wrote songs with godlike harmonies and songs that are very close to a perfect pop song. No he can sing together with his brothers Dennis and Carl in heaven.

Rest in peace, Brian

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Welcome to another journey through the time and various musical styles.

1960: Johnny Kidd and the Pirates

1965: James Brown

1982: The Clash

1971: Janis Joplin

1984: The Bluebells

1970: The Kinks

1981: The Specials

1981: The Go-Go's

1969: The Cambers Brothers

1975: Janis Ian

1975: Jim Croce

1979: The Cure

Boomerang

 

Last year French producer and DJ Antoine Harispuru aka Golden Bug released his last album Piscolabis II, a weird mixture of disco-dub, electronica and psychedelic. During this year he released step by step remixes of the songs from this album.

The last one is the rework by Froid and it makes the song darker and a bit more flutes and spaced out than the original without leaving the guitar work by Lionel Limiñanas and the distorted grooves too far behind.

Monday's Long Song

 

This weeks song comes from Babe Ruth, a band from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. A band named after one of the earliest baseball idols in US. A left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who was famous for more than 700 homeruns. 

They released their first album First Base in 1972 and it was a hybrid of late 60's blues-rock and prog with often long lasting improvisations. They didn't have success in their homeland but get well known across the ocean and Germany. They didn't had any hit but their well known song was The Mexican a song where they pick up some Ennio Morricone tunes and a sparkling guitar. Joke is another example that prog could be worth a listen.

Babe Ruth - Joker

Back From Bristol

 

Last Thursday around midnight I returned from my trip to Bristol for BlogCon 25. While the start on Monday was more than bumpy after my flight was postponed to the next day because KLM booked another plane with a lower capacity, I had a wonderful time with great people. I really enjoyed hanging around with you for a couple of days, having great conversations and exploring Bristol with all of it's highlights and pubs. Thanks to all of you bloggers for welcome me with open arms. You are fantastic. And thanks C, Alyson & Roddy and John for the gifts. Finally some songs from our youth you might remember.

Off to Bristol

 

This early morning I am moving to #BlogCon25 a gathering of bloggers you might know well. For me it is another blind date of meeting mates I know from the blogosphere during the last years. I am sure we will have a great time in Bristol and for me it would be a highlight of the year. There will be no more posts until next weekend and here are some videos of artists from this place. Enjoy and have also a great time until next week.