American Storyteller

Can't believe but it is true that is 44 years ago when I first heard from Bruce Springsteen as one of the best new artists around. I bought his first two records and really enjoyed them because they were new, fresh and different to all the other stuff from across the ocean. There was one person telling me stories from the unknown places in NYC and I absorbed it to me. At these days I never left Germany for longer times, except for little trips to Austria with my parents. In times were music was boring and I waited for something new to come Springsteen appeared on the scene with great songs and pure enthusiasm. At this time he was rough, pure and full of energy. Far beyond the things he did later with the overproduced things on Born To Run. Not that they are bad, but he lost the ground on his feet. I still love some of his later songs until now and I saw him a several times live during the last decades and every concert astonished me about acting live on stage. To be frankly I will always return to him and his songs from the early days.

When Ohio Joins San Pedro

One thing I really love about the blogs I constantly visit is that sometimes you are surprised about a post you didn't expected and your musical fondness changes rapidly. This happened when Brian posted about fIREHOSE last week. When Minutemen appeared on the scene nothing was like before. I played Double Nickles On The Dime at these days very often and was deeply sad when I heard about D.Boon's deadly accident and thought by myself that another band will vanish in history. The more I was surprised when fIREHOSE revived from the fragments of Minutemen. Ragin', Full On was a highlight in 1986 but for me they're second record If'n means more to me. Moving away from the tradition of Minutemen to more extensive song. This album is more different than their first and showed their mellow side and their heavy side as well. I think that Mike Watt was the leading figure in this band at this time. He wrote most of the songs and the way he played the bass was extraordinary. I spent the last days for hours listening to their old output and never got tired listening to them. Great band, great songs, great fun.

fIREHOSE - Something
fIREHOSE -  Windmilling
fIREHOSE - For The Singer Of REM
fIREHOSE - In Memory Of Elisabeth Cotton

Some Australian Psychedelic For Your Pleasure

Listening to new songs/sounds the recent days the more I think that young kids stepping backwards with knowing the psychedelic sounds of the late 60's. One example are Brisbane's Sacred Shrines. Torn between the sound of acid inspired flower power culture and Dream Sydincate's Days Of Wine And Roses they make a great unique sound of their own. If you are a bit into these sound so you should give them a listen.



Another band following these origins is Melbourne based The Black Heart Death Cult.. Learned by various psych-rock legends they combine their sound with ingredients of Brit-pop. It is like Oasis experimenting with My Bloody Valentine. I know this is namedropping but it is new, fresh and bracing.

Bonus Posting Tears In Rain

A few days ago Blade Runner 2049 started at the cinema. I didn't had the chance right now to see the movie right now but today German TV presented the original right now. It is still a stunning movie. All the atmosphere, the decoration and the story is still ahead of time. Sitting here and watching it makes great fun. Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer were at the hight of their levels.

Tinseltown Swimming In Blood

It is not the first time I feature Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Bejar aka Destroyer at this place. I saw him last year on the festival in Mannheim and listened often to his first record since then because he made great songs that I could relax to. Now he offers another song from his upcoming album KEN. As always it is a multitude of overlapping monologues and dialogues in his way of singing. He still has a beautiful saxophone in his song but now he is adding electronics to his sound that reminds me to early 80's synth-pop hymns. Perfect to start into this Sunday. I'll go and get me another cup of coffee.

Swerve

Their is a record compilation out now I thinking about to buy. Manchester North Of England shows on seven CD's the musical evolution of this city from the early Buzzcocks to Oasis. Filled with bands from the independent era of the mid 70's to the end of the 80's. Many of them are new to me, others I didn't heard before. One of them I remember well because they were played often in various locations in my hometown. Dub Sex was another brilliant and sadly forgotten Manchester band playing alongside with Happy Mondays and Stone Roses when the came through. I still can enjoy their rough industrial sound. Probably one of the essences that made punk great.



The band reunited a few years ago and I found a footage from gig they played in December 2014. Great stuff.

Four Lost Souls

Since the first time I heard Where Were You I was a fan of The Mekons and Jon Langford. I saw them a lot of times live and had a wonderful conversation before and after a concert with Sally Timms and Jon Langford. I don't want to lose many words about The Mekons right now and focus to the solo escapades by Jon Langford. His side project The Three Johns made fun long times ago and he was the first one that made a tribute to Johnny Cash when no one around had him on the list. Since the Welsh musician moved to the USA he combined his punk roots with contemporary American (folk) music. Of course his output during the last years were new or groundbreaking but always fresh and individual. Now he released a new record Four Lost Souls. He was invited to make his record in the famous Muscle Shoals studios. The result was a perfect combination of British influenced country music on a Southern soul base. It is true that he can't make any worse record and so I like his songs and the way that make me smile. I will offer you this songs until DMCA will contact me to delete. Until then enjoy these tunes.

Jon Langford - Snake Behind Glass
Jon Langford - Natchez Trace
Jon Langford - In Oxford Mississppi