Thursday, 3 July 2025

A Song Has To Change To Stay Alive

I've been sitting on the Covers EP* by Lykke Li since it came out on 13th June, as it wasn't quite the right time to post about it. 

However, following Ernie's musings yesterday on the purchase of a Swedish Pop Music CD in a charity shop, and Swiss Adam's comment that he likes Lykke Li a lot (me too, Adam, me too), that time is now!

The Covers EP features Lykke's singular takes on songs by Ben E. KingNick Cave & The Bad Seeds and The Everly Brothers. Into My Arms seems to be the one getting all the attention in promoland, but they're all hauntingly wonderful, as you might expect from Ms. Li.

Of course, Lykke's got plenty of form in this regard so, in case you haven't heard them previously, I've added five more cover versions that she's released into the world in the last decade and a half.

And, another prime example that every day is a learning day, I've only just discovered that Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash was itself a cover version. I knew that Johnny's wife June Carter co-wrote the song with Merle Kilgore, but not that it was first recorded by June's younger sister, Anita Carter. You can listen to the original here.

1) Stand By Me (Cover of Ben E. King) (2025)
2) Into My Arms (Cover of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) (2025)
3) Love Hurts (Cover of The Everly Brothers) (2025)
4) Ring Of Fire (Cover of 'Love's Ring Of Fire' by Anita Carter) (2024)
5) I WIll Survive (Cover of Gloria Gaynor) (2020)
6) Unchained Melody (Cover of The Righteous Brothers) (2017)
7) Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (Cover of The Shirelles) (2009)
8) Knocked Up (Cover of Kings Of Leon) (2009)

* not literally, it's digital!

And to prove that Lykke Li is a formidable songwriter in her own right, I've reposted a link to the 48-minute Dubhed selection that I created in November 2021.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

Hard To Pin It Down

In late January, temperamental tech put paid to my efforts to create an Edwyn Collins selection. I had to make do with writing about his then-new single Knowledge instead

Five months later, here at last is a (lucky) 13-song compilation for your listening pleasure.

I didn't keep a note of the aborted track list but I suspect that this newly created selection bears little resemblance to what I originally had in mind. 

Not least, the release of Edwyn's tenth solo album, Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation, in March and which I've been enjoying ever since. As well as Knowledge, I've also previously posted about The Bridge Hotel, so both of them have made the cut for today's mixtape.

I've also gone back four decades for a couple of singles from the Orange Juice back catalogue, interspersed with album tracks, B-sides and rarities, spanning an incredible and at times inconceivable career in music.

Edwyn's music has been with me since my early teens and the fact that, despite everything, he's come out with another brilliant album in 2025 is a testament to his songwriting prowess and drive to make music.

In response to January's post about the new single and forthcoming album, Mike hoped that Edwyn may also tour in 2025.

"Much as I'd love to think so, I suspect it's unlikely" I replied.

Ahead of the release of Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation, Edwyn announced "The Testimonial Tour: A Last Lap Around The UK". I will be cheering him on at Komedia in Bath on 30th September. 

In the meantime, that noise you can hear is the sound of me eating my hat.

Bless you, Edwyn!

1) The Popstar: Edwyn Collins (2002)
2) The Magic Piper (Of Love) (Edit): Edwyn Collins (1997)
3) Two Hearts Together (Single Version): Orange Juice (1982)
4) The Bridge HotelEdwyn Collins (2025)
5) GraciouslyEdwyn Collins (1990)
6) For The Rest Of My LifeEdwyn Collins (1997)
7) Come Tomorrow, Come Today: Edwyn Collins ft. Johnny Marr (2010)
8) Ghost Of A ChanceEdwyn Collins (1989)
9) Simply Thrilled Honey (Single Version): Orange Juice (1980)
10) You've Grown A BeardEdwyn Collins (1996)
11) KnowledgeEdwyn Collins (2025)
12) Queer FishEdwyn Collins (1987)
13) In A NutshellEdwyn Collins ft. Bernard Butler (1995)

1980: Simply Thrilled Honey EP: 9
1982: Two Hearts Together EP: 3
1987: Don't Shilly Shally EP: 12
1989: Hope And Despair: 8
1990: Hellbent On Compromise: 5
1995: Volume Thirteen: 13
1996: Keep On Burning EP: 10
1997: I'm Not Following You: 6
2002: A Casual Introduction 1981-2001: 2
2002: Johnny Teardrop EP: 1
2010: Losing Sleep: 7
2025: Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation: 4, 11

Hard To Pin It Down (47:43) (Mega)

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

For Alyson

Finally, here's the actual Bee Gees!

A dozen songs from 1965 to 1973, i.e. before Barry, Maurice and Robin discovered disco and conquered the world. Again. 

A few of their smash hits from the Sixties included, but just as many left out in favour of singles and album tracks that you may be less familiar with.

Today's selection is dedicated to Alyson. creator of the excellent What's It All About? blog. i had the immense pleasure of meeting Alyson and Mr. WIAA for the first time last month, a highlight of 2025.

1) I Started A Joke (1968)
2) Paper Mache, Cabbages And Kings (1972)
3) I've Gotta Get A Message To You (1968)
4) Holiday (1967)
5) Melody Fair (1969)
6) How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (1971)
7) To Love Somebody (1967)
8) Butterfly (1966)
9) World (1967)
10) I Was A Lover, A Leader Of Men (1965)
11) Bury Me Down By The River (1970)
12) My Life Has Been A Song (1973)

1965: The Bee Gee's Sing & Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs: 10
1967: Bee Gees' 1st: 4, 7
1968: Horizontal: 9
1968: Idea: 1
1968: I've Gotta Get A Message To You EP: 3
1969: Odessa: 5
1970: Cucumber Castle: 11
1970: Inception / Nostalgia: 8
1971: Trafalgar:: 6
1972: To Whom It May Concern: 2
1973: Life In A Tin Can: 12

Hey, Hey, We're The Bee Gees (42:19) (Mega)

Monday, 30 June 2025

The Other Bee, Bee And Gee (And Still No Bee Gees To Be Seen)

The Other Bee, Bee And Gee being, as any On The Buses aficionado will know, Stanley 'Stan' BUTLER (Reg Varney), Cyril 'Blakey' BLAKE (Stephen Lewis) and Jack Harper (Bob GRANT). left to right in the above picture.

Which got me thinking about an alternative Butler, Blake & Grant selection, leading to today's motley crew...though no Mötley Crüe, you may be relieved (or disappointed) to hear.

There are some familiar names: John Grant; Richard Butler (The Psychedelic Furs); Grant Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo); Grant Hart (Hüsker Dü). 

As for some of the rest:
Nigel Butler is better known as a producer, credits including System 7, theaudience and Cher.
Blake Baxter is a foundational figure in the Detroit techno scene of the late 80s/early 90s.
Howard Blake is a composer for film & TV, including THe Duellists (1977), Flash Gordon (1980), The Snowman (1982), 
Butler Kiev is an anagram of Luke Vibert, his more well known aliases including Wagon Christ and Plug.

Given the random and eclectic nature of it's inception and creation, I think this 56-minute selection is a lot more cohesive than it should be, and it's been a pleasure to rediscover some music tucked away on compilations or digital folders that I haven't heard in quite a few years.

With thanks to Dubhed regular Mike, whose sharing of a similarly themed social media pic provided the spark of an idea and got my arse in gear to finish writing the review of the actual Butler, Blake & Grant gig!

1) On & On & On & On: Nigel Butler (2024)
2) Pursuit Of Happiness: Blake Baxter (1995)
3) Diet Gum: John Grant (2018)
4) Second To Second: Richard Butler (2006)
5) An Elephant Called Slowly / The Leopard: Howard Blake (1970)
6) So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) (Cover of R.E.M.): Grant Lee Phillips (2006)
7) She's Got Me Singing: Billy Butler (1976)
8) Sandriam: Perry Blake (1999)
9) House Of Bamboo: Earl Grant (1960)
10) Rewind Selecta (Cylob vs. Artful Dodger ft. Craig David): Butler Kiev (2000)
11) Metro Logic: Tim Blake (1977)
12) She Can't See The Angels Coming: Grant Hart (1989)

1960: House Of Bamboo EP: 9
1976: She's Got Me Singing EP: 7
1977: Crystal Machine: 11
1989: Intolerance: 12
1995: Trance Atlantic 2: 2
1998: David Holmes: Essential Mix 98/01: 5
1999: Still Life: 8
2000: µ Allstars: Criminal EP: 10
2006: Nineteeneighties: 6
2006: Richard Butler: 4
2018: Love Is Magic: 3
2024: Tales From The Infinite Loop Or What Goes Around Comes Around: 1

The Other Bee, Bee And Gee (And Still No Bee Gees To Be Seen) (55:57) (Mega)

Sunday, 29 June 2025

The Present Bee, Bee And Gee (Still No Bee Gees, But I Don't Mean To Be Mean)

Nearly three weeks ago (!), I had the pleasure of seeing Butler, Blake & Grant perform live in concert at St. George's in Bristol. 

Tucked away on a side street near the top of Park Street, the St. Geroge's website succinctly describes the venue as "580-seat concert hall was converted from a 200-year-old Georgian church, and [...] a truly special space". With the emphasis on "truly special".

Amazingly, it was the first time I had been inside St. George's full stop, let alone to see a concert, so I was already excited to be there. I was literally sitting in the back row, though in real terms, I was only a few dozen metres from the stage.

It wasn't long before support artist Charlie Noordewier took position at the microphone and started playing. I wasn't familiar with Charlie's music, though this was less of a surprise when he shared that he'd released his first single, Moonlight Hotel, a couple of weeks beforehand.

Charlie was previously in The Native, who also passed me by but produced a truckload of raucous, anthemic tunes. Charlie's one person, one guitar (at a time) and occasional harmonica set up was a different proposition altogether.

Steeped in folk - no surprise perhaps, given that Charlie has lived between Devon and Cornwall - what really made the set stand out were the interesting arrangements, some lovely playing and a voice full of character and emotion that the sympathetic acoustics of the venue allowed to take flight and soar.

Moonlight Hotel is a great song but honestly, it doesn't do him justice. Go see Charlie Noordewier performing live for the full experience, if you can.

A strong start, but even so, the best was yet to come. Entering from the left - Butler, Blake & Grant in that order - the three took their seats, twiddled their guitars and prepared to entertain. 

"We just heard the news that Brian Wilson has died," said James. "As a mark of respect, we are not going to play any of his songs".

And that kind of self-deprecating wit and easy humour with the audience and each other was evident throughout the night. But no mistake, these were three consummate artists playing together like they'd been doing so for decades. 

With the exception of one (instrumental) song, the debut album was performed in full, although not in sequence, starting with One And One Is Two and opener Bring An End reserved for the penultimate song of the night.

The rest of the 16-song set was made up of cover versions, of their own and other artists. Teenage Fanclub got just the one, Planets from 1997's Songs From Northern Britain, and a Norman Blake co-write. As a (very) latecomer to the TFC catalogue, I may be stating the obvious by saying it's one of their finest records,

That album includes a song called Winter, but it was it's namesake, a 1991 single by Love And Money, that was performed, one of two by James Grant's band. I didn't particularly follow them back in the 1980s but have come to appreciate them, particularly this song and it's parent album Dogs in The Traffic, thanks to it's re-release on Past Night From Glasgow. Winter has become a favourite since, so it was wonderful to hear it in a live setting.

Two songs also from Bernard Butler's ouevre: People Move On, the title track of his 1998 solo debut, and his UK Top 10 hit from thirty years ago, Yes. Bearing in mind that the original was sung by then-partner, the peerless David McAlmont, a daunting prospect, perhaps. If so, it didn't seem like it, Yes recast as a rootsy acoustic number with Bernard's earthy vocals facing down any suggestion of comparison.

The first wave of covers was rounded off with a surprise: Me And Magdelena, which appeared on The Monkees' 2016 swansong Good Times! and was written by Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. I've never heard the original, but as a tribute to both the songwriter and the band, the trio pulled a blinder.

Which pretty much typified the night, an intimate setting with three incredible musicians, completely at ease with each other and exuding the sheer pleasure of performing music, amplified by the venue and the general joy felt by the audience (though sadly, not a full house, an indictment of the sad times we're living in).

Far too soon, we were at the final encore and, maybe less surprising, a cover of Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young & Crazy Horse. I would have been quite happy with an 18-minute version of the song. I think it was closer to the three minutes or so of the original, but a satisfying end to a truly wonderful show.

But it didn't end there. Post-show, James, Norman and Bernard were staffing the merch stall, so of course I joined the queue and bought the limited edition gold splatter vinyl, which I asked them to sign. When I unsealed the album at home, I realised that there was also a signed print inside...! 

We had a brief chat, I shared my appreciation of the incredible show I had just experienced and of course they were all lovely blokes. But, there was a queue behind me, more merch to sell and more chat and photo opps to satisfy and, as Bernard sang earlier, people move on. 

In my case, the five-minute walk back to the car park and subsequent drive home. I think most of it was levitating, and I've still not quite come down, nearly three weeks later.

If Butler, Blake & Grant are playing anywhere near you, then run, don't walk to get a ticket. Opportunities like this don't come around very often, so grab it while you can. In the meantime, buy the album from their website (vinyl & CD) or Bandcamp (vinyl & digital).

Photo credits (all from the Bristol show, apart from the LP, taken in my back garden):
1, 2, 3 & 7: Me!
4, 5: Paul Duckett
6: Richard Prescott

Saturday, 28 June 2025

The Original Bee, Bee And Gee (But No Bee Gees, If You Know What I Mean)

One of the highlights in a year of great albums has been the debut by Butler, Blake & Grant.

Their debut as a trio perhaps, but these are legends in their own right: 

Bernard Butler, Suede, McAlmont & Butler, über producer
Norman Blake, Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits
James Grant, Love And Money, Friends Again

...as well as numerous solo ventures and collaborations over the decades.

I'll come back to Butler, Blake & Grant as a recording and performing threesome another time. Today's selection plucks four gems from each artist's extensive catalogue to present 47 minutes of deep cuts and should-have-been smash hits.

What a talented trio. And lovely blokes, too. But that's a story for another time.

1) Let's Go Away: Bernard Butler (1999)
2) Groovy Good Luck Friend (Janice Long Session): BMX Bandits (1986)
3) Winter '89: Love And Money (1989)
4) A Change Of Heart (Single Version): Bernard Butler (1998)
5) God Knows It's True: Teenage Fanclub (1990)
6) State Of Art (The Spiral Tribe Edition): Friends Again (1995)
7) The Patron Saint Of The Lost Cause (Album Version): Catherine Anne Davies & Bernard Butler (2020)
8) Baby Lee: Teenage Fanclub (2010)
9) Hubcap To Blue Town: Love And Money (1991)
10) My Dark Star: Suede (1994)
11) Golden Shower: The Boy Hairdressers (1987)
12) Wanderlust II: Love And Money (1988)

1986: Janice Long Session, BBC Radio 1, 8th June 1986: 2
1987: Golden Shower EP: 11
1988: Halleluiah Man EP: 12
1990: God Knows It's True EP: 5
1991: Winter EP: 3
1991: Wishing Waters EP: 9
1994: Stay Together EP: 10
1995: Spiral Tribe Volume 1: 6
1998: A Change Of Heart EP: 4
1999: Friends And Lovers: 1
2010: Shadows: 8
2020: In Memory Of My Feelings: 7

The Original Bee, Bee And Gee (But No Bee Gees, If You Know What I Mean) (47:15) (Mega)

Friday, 27 June 2025

It's Party Time In Oblivion

Happy birthday to Lisa Germano, born 27th June 1958.

A supremely talented artist, whose music first came to me via the Inconsiderate Bitch EP on 4AD in 1994, then back to her previous and subsequent albums, up to No Elephants in 2013.

Criminally underrated as a storyteller and songwriter, her raw narratives can make for challenging and uncomfortable listening, whilst often wrapped up in the most delicate, beautiful melodies. 

The 4AD albums are essential listening but, if you start, don't stop there. Slush, Lisa's 1997 collaboration with OP8 aka Giant Sand aka Howe Gelb and Calexico, is wonderful and you can find her latter albums scattered but available on Bandcamp.

Sending love and best wishes, Lisa.

1) Dark Irie (1991)
2) The Prince Of Plati (2009)
3) Into Oblivion (ft. Johnny Marr) (2006)
4) We Suck (1996)
5) Cracklin' Water: OP8 ft. The Ilk Of Lisa Germano (1997)
6) Happiness (Remixed By Ivo Watts-Russell & John Fryer) (1994)
7) Tomorrowing (1998)
8) Puppet (US Album Version By Malcolm Burn & Wayne Lorenz) (1993)
9) Sexy Little Girl Princess (Album Version) (1994)
10) Apathy And The Devil (2013)
11) It's Party Time (2002) 

1991: On The Way Down From The Moon Palace: 1
1993: Happiness (USA): 8
1994: Inconsiderate Bitch EP: 6
1994: Geek The Girl: 9
1996: Excerpts From A Love Circus: 4
1997: Slush: 5
1998: Slide: 7
2002: Lullaby For Liquid Pig: 11
2006: In The Maybe World: 3
2009: Magic Neighbor: 2
2013: No Elephants: 10

It's Party Time In Oblivion (45:55) (Mega)

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Balearica Discodelica

For no other reason than it's Thursday when I thought it was Friday, a six-song selection of choice Cosmodelica cuts, courtesy of Colleen Murphy.

The half dozen versions span one of her earliest excursions in 2009 through to a red hot remix of a 70s classic, released a couple of weeks ago, touching on multiple points of excellence along the way. 

I haven't yet heard Colleen's take on The Cure from their recently released Mixes From A Lost World album, but I'm confident that it will have turned Robert Smith's frown upside down!

1) Stop Apologising (Cosmodelica Extended Mix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (2024)
2) God Gets A Little Busy Sometimes (Cosmodelica Remix): Izo FitzRoy (2023)
3) Holiday Romance (Cosmodelica Holiday Drama Mix): Detachments (2010)
4) I Wanna Get Over (Cosmodelica Remix): Street People (2025)
5) When The Rain Falls (Cosmodelica Remix): Horace Andy & Ashley Beedle (2009)
6) Berlin (Cosmodelica Remix): A Certain Ratio (2021)

Balearica Discodelica (45:14) (Mega)


The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that the usual second link to KrakenFiles is absent. This is what happened when I tried to log in this morning:


I will look for an alternative: Box has been a pain in the arse previously and other blogging buddies seem to lean towards GoogleDrive or DropBox, so I will have a secondary link up and running from the weekend.

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

What Is It To Have Artistic Credibility?

As a palette cleanser after yesterday's thick A.I. milkshake, how about some SPRINTS?

Refreshing, isn't it?

Album All That Is Over and tour incoming.


Vanity is the curse of culture
A cyanide for the soul
Tip the tightrope delicately around ego
Don't let either side take hold

What is it to have artistic credibility
For am I not just a man?
I seek to take aim at commentary
I speak so therefore I understand

Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
How do you heal a tortured heart?
Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
We have love and we have art

Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
How do you heal a tortured heart?
Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
We have love and we have art

I count the dead leaves on the trees
I count the seconds between my breath
All's fair in love and war
But what if I've nothing more than war left?

Take my sanity
Take my sanctimony
Call me pious, call this holy matrimony
Call this anything you want from me

Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
How do you heal a tortured heart?
Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
We have love and we have art

Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
How do you heal a tortured heart?
Descartes, Descartes, 
Discord, discard
We have love and we have art

Disillusion, hate, anxiety
Pleasure, pain, ecstasy
Tell me lord, how can I be
Better than I was born to be?

Disillusion, hate, anxiety
Pleasure, pain, ecstasy
Tell me lord, how can I be
Better than I was born to be?

Disillusion, hate, anxiety
Pleasure, pain, ecstasy
Tell me lord, how can I be
Better than I was born to be?

Vanity is the curse of culture
Ignorance becomes the death of us
Privilege without acknowledgement is murder
The world is burning right in front of us

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

AI? AI? Oh!

Having dug up a couple of classics by M aka Robin Scott at the weekend, I was a little surprised that there was in fact a new single released a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of an album, The FAQs Of Life, on 11th July.

Topically titled AI? Robin writes that "(t)he point of the song is to open up the conversation and controversy surrounding around Artificial Intelligence. 

In the creative world it could be a real asset. I know people are concerned about copyrights and so on but I think it’s basically because it’s in very early stages - I hope that all those questions can be answered to give artists security of mind.
 
I’m not advocating that it’s good or bad I just think it’s something that we ought to face up to because like it or not it’s here to stay."
 
Robin goes on to write that "(t)he video brilliantly uses the renaissance artwork we chose for the sleeve. I wanted the juxtaposition between that and the use of AI to be clear and thought provoking. Isn’t it incredible that we now view works of art with different eyes? I still marvel at the fact they were created by the human hand..!"

It's an interesting take, in as much as, of the 1,200 or so views (at the time of posting), I don't think there will be anyone experiencing the song or video and having a revelatory moment. I think it's fair to say that the conversation and controversy surrounding (or around) A.I. was well and truly open some years ago, so this song feels somewhat dated already.

And, having listened to the song a few times, I'd say that the meaning of the song as described in the promo blurb - A.I. is neither good nor bad, but it's here to stay so deal with it - is almost entirely lost in the lyrical narrative.

As for the video, yes, on one level it's impressive and I get Robin's point about the juxtaposition of human- and A.I.-created art. On the other hand, it (and the proliferation of A.I. music videos) feels somewhat bland and predictable. 

After a couple of views, I switched to audio only. And then started to question whether the music and lyrics were also A.I. assisted. Still, it could be much worse, as Martin from New Amusements has discovered and written about brilliantly.

So, it was nice to find that Robin is still creating M music nearly half a century after Pop Muzik - and his voice sounds great - but on the strength of AI? I'll pass on The FAQs Of Life.



Welcome to this world
From whence have you come?
We’re working on it 
But we’re still not done
Homo Sapiens are losing control
Destroying one another, mind, body and soul

We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI 
Let me introduce you to
AI 
God doesn’t have a clue
AI 
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!

I was knocking on my neighbours door
My new friend defies Newton’s law
Drag yourself away from the breaking news
This guy’s got the remedy for blues

We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI 
Let me introduce you to
AI 
God doesn’t have a clue
AI 
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!

We couldn’t see them, but they could see us
In the fourth dimension we’re a speck of dust
Tempted by the apple, I have sinned
I’ll be blown away by the solar wind

We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI 
Let me introduce you to
AI 
God doesn’t have a clue
AI 
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!

Given all the stars in our galaxy
Why would you pick on humanity?
Basically we’re flawed, we have to admit
Earth could be heaven, but now we’re in the shit

We thought we were alone, drifting through space
Are you here to rescue a hopeless case?
Are you the answer to the human race?
AI 
Let me introduce you to
AI 
God doesn’t have a clue
AI 
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!

AI 
Let me introduce you to
AI 
God doesn’t have a clue
AI 
Let the aliens through…
Let the aliens through!