It's not every week we get the wild contrast between artists like Meg Omen and Asbestos Worker, Emancipator and Bruce Springsteen. We are all over the place this week and that is a great thing, so thanks to Ogglypoogly, Tim London, Ancient Champion, Tim Sparks, Toon Traveller & Jay Lewis for filing their reports.
SINGLES
JOHANNA WARREN - Tooth for a Tooth (Wax Nine/Carpark Records)
by Ogglypoogly
There’s nothing wrong with the song, but there’s nothing exceptionally right about it. Tooth for a Tooth covers old ground, without any diversions. I can’t listen to it without thinking of Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl, maybe listen to them instead.
PITBULL - Mamasota (Mr 305 Records)
ZERO s
by Tim London
A dog singing a song titled after a sexist insult. How appropriate. All the machines involved in the production should be thoroughly ashamed. Fuckin A.I.
ASBESTOS WORKER - This Is Hell ( Learning Curve Records)
by Ancient Champion
Taken from the imminent full length LP, The Seperation, on Learning Curve Records, This Is Hell is a cast iron cosh to that spot right behind the ear. Prepare to be brained. And why not? This is music from and about and for people valued little by... Society. I would say it takes one to know one apparently. Mandatory listening for every home.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) (Columbia )
by Jay Lewis
Bruce Springsteen has spent much of the last half of a century focussing on the 'songwriter' part of his 'singer-singwriter' job description. Sure, we know of the desperate characters in dead-end jobs that he creates but, do we ever listen to Springsteen to just marvel at his voice? The first release from his forthcoming album of soul covers (Only the Strong Survive) shows just how much passion the 73 year old singer can exude. His take on the Northern Soul gem 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)', achieves those two great things: an affectionate tribute to the original and an example of how of he actually can make a version that is his! It's pure class.
SPAIN - Her Used To Been (Shimmy Disc)
by Ancient Champion
Who doesn't love the sheer warmth of Spain and so a new record is a giant welcome surprise. In 1995, their daring and delightful debut, The Blue Moods of Spain - was rarely out of my CD multichanger. Eventually Johnny Cash covered their most popular track, Spiritual, and most of the rest is quite ancient history. In pop years, that is. Her Used To Been is from a forthcoming LP, World of Blue which consists of previously unreleased tracks unearthed from a 1994 recording session that preceded the band's 1995 Blue Moods release. The collection has been remixed by Kramer for Shimmy Disc and he's made the video too. If you're still fond of that old Tindersticks sound... World of Blue is a gift from God.
DJ YODA - Feel Like Home ft. House Gospel Choir (Lewis Records)
by Ancient Champion
Since I like talking about me, I'll say, I'm currently working neatly with my musical pals, way more musical than me, to deconstruct a Pavement meets the Pointer Sisters sound. Vibe. This is unlikely but true. This is risky but true. This is a digression. Meanwhile DJ Yoda hires the House Gospel Choir for Feel Like Home, from the forthcoming Prom Nite all-star cavalcade, and in an instant this mixture soars like the late 60s/70s Sweet Inspirations with the King or, oh this is very very beautiful and withstands many many spins as I heat up the streamers' webservers. Oh-My-God. I love this so much it is worth sacrificing the planet for.
POPPY - FYB (UMG)
by Tim London
BYOB! OMG! Your 13 year old daughter has just been commissioned to appear in an advert as a 13 year-old daughter who has suddenly become a little rebel. She listens to this to get in the mood. No, YOU make her listen to this. She’d rather watch Fresh Prince of Bel Air memes on Tiktok. You’re a bad dad.
CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS - Rien Dire (Because Music)
by Tim London
As consequential as a tickle with a synthetic boa. Did I really just listen to something? Can’t remember.
THE FOXIES - Good Try (Independant)
by Tim Sparks
Trio's are always interesting as they tend to be more efficient with their music making and The Foxies don't disappoint here with their track "Good Try". A guitar focused track, it's a cool vibe and mix with Julia's vocal performance sitting very nicely up front whilst the drums and Bass stay tight and keep the engine running, the overall production is spot on. I read they are due to support Billy idol which can only be good news, so check them out.
TEARING UP - Running (Unknown)
by Toon Traveller
There's some pedigree behind this but that's not our concern nor should it be yours. Is it any good? This sounds very much like a lot of stuff I get to listen to, angry, but well played post-punk, nu-wave, open eared music. Running opens with a great guitar intro. A load of 'shopping list' lyrics, (usually an invite to tune out, and turn off) BUT this sounds like a ' New York New York, Lou Reed' meets Madchester sounds. It's got a few slurred vocals vocals for effect. A tipped hat to Iggy Pop, follows and dash of ye olde Stone Roses. None of this should work as a song, but amazingly it does, and the chanted, "turning" chorus is great prelude to the end. This is great slab of rock that starts like a stadium belter by a band that have honed their craft.
THE BACKSTREET LOVERS - Growing / Dying (Capitol Records)
by Tim Sparks
First time hearing The Backstreet Lovers it gave me a sense of Blur style intro, a sort of discordant guitar with a slightly rambling vocal, not my normal style really but it has something appealing that made me listen more, and I'm glad I did. The chord structure and arrangement throughout are somewhat unusual as well, which makes it more interesting than the usual standards, and the outro meanders into nothing short of a racket in a nice way! The video (by Kohana Wilson) is a montage of sketch book style images which keeps our attention and complements the song well.
JOEY MACPHAIL - Fun & Games (Independent)
by Ogglypoogly
It’s always been a delight to see Joey perform, with a stage presence that leaves an audience enraptured she was one of the strongest performers on the Sheffield scene till she left us for the big smoke a few years ago. It makes perfect sense that her debut single is a live recording, I can’t hear her in my minds ear without the backing of an obviously enthusiastic crowd. Fun & Games might be “.. a song about making poor life choices” but it’s self awareness sung with a knowing smile over a riff so catchy you can’t help but tap your feet and break out in a head bobbing grin. Fun & Games is available to stream in all the usual places, but I’d strongly recommend following her on social media @joeymacmusic/@joeymacmusique to keep ahead of future releases and live shows.
THE GO! TEAM - Divebomb (Memphis Industries)
by Tim London
I’m such a sucker for Go! Team’s make believe 1970. Saturated, compressed to buggery, too rich to listen to more than once a year. A big bag of sherbert.
TROPICAL FUCK STORM - Moonburn (Joyful Noise Recordings)
by Ogglypoogly
Transitioning from a laid back, filthy smoking lounge into a screaming riot and back again ‘Moonburn’ is, to my ears, the sound of a song that’s meant to be played upright but has been covered in treacle and pressed very hard against a smooth floor. In an alternate universe, the Pixies were good and this is what they sounded like, in this one - this is Tropical Fuck Storm - and I love it.
DAVE ROWNTREE - Devils island (Parolophone)
by Tim London
When he became a Labour councillor for Norwich City Council the ex-Blur drummer didn’t want to talk about Blur. Now he’s an ex-councillor and back to making music I’d like to ask him his views on singing the national anthem at conference. Just to be annoying. He sings in an English accent, similar to his ex-band’s singer, actually. And the song has a similar, wry, lyrical quality, observing the English with a ‘tut’, and a ‘hmmm’ that Damien All Bran has in some of his.
KARMA BOY - Feel Lifted (Modern English Records)
by Ancient Champion
Feel Lifted is new from Karma Boy, which is the band of the astonishing Tabla Jedi, the classically trained tabla player, Dalbir Singh Rattan and Danny Ladwa, Pippo De Palma. They've been playing together for a while. But one thing and another means at last there's a new single with an experimental discipline... See our Tabla Jedi interview here »»
EPs
MEG OMEN - Neighbourhood Ghost (4202312 Records)
by Ancient Champion
Meg Omen is a pretty cool, understated and unique writer and singer. What's so great here? Lyrically Meg grabs the essence and rapidly shifting tide of self-lacerating younger person emotions. Then the story gets a ukulele backdrop. "I would go out tonight but I haven't got a stitch to wear..." would merely scratch the surface of Megan's lyrical, lyrically lilting examinations. All inverse of braggadocio, Ted Talk on introspection. The only act you'll hear this week that would make a good addition to NPR's Tiny Desk... enabling them to get smaller desk. The dare of acknowledging, I Like you is right here on Buzzcut, a great, great piece of poetry from the EP. Avoiding the obvious by a wide berth, "You'll kiss me on the head, Buy me eggs..." When the lyrics are Lena Dunham well observed, (Yay I do know what you know) well then they should be sung. Reminds of the entire and entirely brilliant Netflix series, Love, with Gus and Mickey. I loved that show and I love this. Fab. (Oh and you really must hear Meg's Walk on the Wildside...)
BILLY IDOL - Cage (Dark Horse)
by Tim London
Billy is back and it is like he has been away. Tim London tells you precisely why in his review right here »».
LPs
EMANCIPATOR X LAPA - 11th Orbit (Loci)
by Ogglypoogly
Usually the very thought of House music makes me anxious, it doesn’t really go anywhere and spends far too long fooling you into thinking it might. That didn’t stop me getting over excited about the release of ‘11th Orbit’. The collaboration between Emancipator & Lapa is 45 minutes of aural delight. This is not background music whilst you go about your day, this is an album to lose yourself to, surrendering to the steady flow of the music as it bends, stretches and bounces around like oil dropped into water.
THE HOUSE OF LOVE - A State of Grace (Cherry Red)
by Jay Lewis
The first album by The House of Love in nine years opens, uncharacteristically, with a blast of harmonica before settling into a five-minute long woozy, intoxicating blue number. 'Sweet Loser' is a beautiful, if startling, way to be welcomed back into Guy Chadwick's newly refurbished House.
There are more surprises to come. First up is the banjo and female backing vocals (and more harmonica!) on the folk-pop of the 'Light Of The Morning'. It's a song of love and loss and Chadwick's droll delivery adds a humourous tone. Those hungry for the more traditional HoL fare may delight at the sweetly melodic 'Hey Babe' the swirling drama of 'Medody Rose' and the nod to the Stone Roses' 'Love Spreads' on the glorious stomp of the single 'Clouds.'
This is one of Guy Chadwick's broadest and bravest records. A very fine return.
THE RAKERS - The Morality Of Heart Transplants (Full Tilt Records)
by Ancient Champion
Track by Track of the new Rakers LP, can be found right here »».
Essential Info
Main image on this page... Meg Omen snatched from Facebook.
