Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Fish And Chips

Hot Chip (twice) and The Other Two (once), to be precise.

New music from Hot Chip is always a cause for celebration but the lads have really pushed the boat out for this one. Devotion is the precursor for an upcoming greatest hits compilation, Joy In Repetition, and it's an absolute delight. 

And the video, as you might expect from Hot Chip, is utterly brilliant.

If a three or four minute song goes on repeat, whilst reaching for your record collection or creating a playlist by the artist, then it's done it's work. Devotion excels in this regard, and I shall be listening to Hot Chip for the rest of this week (at least).

Even if you've only visited this blog a few times, you'll have sussed that I'm an advocate for the 'there's no such thing as a bad idea' approach to creating posts.

So when I was immediately inspired to post Hot Chip, the idea of a 'fish and chips' theme almost immediately followed. Rather than dismiss it as lazy, barrel scraping or indicative of a dried out husk of creativity, I leaned into it and well, here we are.

Rest assured, as quickly as the thought popped into my head, I just as quickly dismissed any thought of featuring Derek Dick aka Fish, either solo or in his Marillion days, somewhat contradicting my  'there's no such thing as a bad idea' mantra. Did I also mention that I'm inconsistent?

For me, there was only really one contender, a slice of joyous pop, like a distant relative of Devotion from thirty four years ago. After seeing Bernard and Hooky do their own thing with Electronic and Revenge, the other two from New Order (aka Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris) decided to take a bite from the cherry as The Other Two. Or, in this case, a Tasty Fish.

And rather conveniently, in 2015 Hot Chip remixed Tutti Frutti by New Order for a single release. The 12" features a vinyl edit at a smidge under nine minutes, but CD and digital formats contain the full length, eleven minute forty five second version, which is the must-have.

For added entertainment, I found an upload of Tutti Frutti (Hot Chip Remix) on YouTube that includes a still image of penguins. Thanks, vit3xxx!

And all cheaper than an actual portion of fish and chips these days. Now, isn't that satisfying? 

Tuesday, 8 July 2025

Thirty Five Years, Eight Songs, One Bald Alien

Moby has a new single out, a collaboration with two Brits: producer Goddard. and singer Lovelle.

Stereo is a frentic blast of drum 'n' bass, coming in at under two and a half minutes, with minimal lyrics and a video to match, Goddard. conspicuous by his absence and seemingly replaced by a ripped dancer in shades and sprayed on vest.

All in all, it sounds like a spruced out outtake from 1995, when Moby first dabbled with drum 'n' bass. I'm guessing that there will be a slew of remixes incoming that may get the pulse racing a little more, but this one left me rather cold.

However, it did inspire me to take a leap back, five years at a time, through Moby's back catalogue, landing with his infamous single, Go. First released in 1990, it was a global smash the following year when Moby was prompted to add the Twin Peaks theme tune sample.

Musically, it's been up and down in those three and a half decades, likewise the videos. But when it's good, it's very, very good.

1) Stereo: Moby & Goddard. ft. Lovelle (2025)
2) Power Is Taken: Moby ft. D.H. Peligro (2020)
3) Almost Home: Moby ft. Damien Jurado (2015)
4) Wait For Me: Moby (2010)
5) Spiders: Moby (2005)
6) Natural Blues: Moby (video ft. Christina Ricci) (2000)
7) Into The Blue: Moby ft. Mimi Goese (1995)
8) Go: Moby (1991)

 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, 7 July 2025

In Faith And Folly(foot)

Big Special feel like they've never been away, yet here they are with a new single, God Save The Pony.

I was properly introduced to their heady cocktail of beats and rhymes and humour and social commentary when they opened for John Grant's gig in Bristol back in February. If I had to be reductive, I'd describe them as one quarter Sleaford Mods, Pop Will Eat Itself, The Streets and Madness, but really they're entirely their own thing.

Their debut album, Postindustrial Hometown Blues, has been a staple ever since that February gig and wryly titled follow up National Average (released last Friday) will be no different.

Available in all the usual places, including the Big Special website, will some lovely fried egg-themed merch to splash your cash on.

Big Special are performing at a few festivals over the summer, with a headline UK tour following in February 2026. Go!


Note: If you're not as old as me and the post title means nothing to you, in keeping with the horse theme of Big Special's video, I've adapted a line of their chorus as a nod to a popular kids' TV show from the early 1970s.



Go!
In faith and folly
God Save The Pony! 
I hope you’re never tired
I hope you’re never lonely

Go!
In faith and folly
God Save The Pony! 
I hope you’re never tired
I hope you’re never lonely

Every band is a big band to someone
Even if its just the cunts that are in one 
To reach the top of the slop
Ya stop when you drop
Begin again
The sun is low
England is balmy
Another step toward the unknown 
Half full of flat whites
And a gentrified bacon sarnie 
Wah wah wah
It’s all potholes and the price of fish 
And how a conservative therapist off wish 
Saved me £13.66 from my electricity bill
And taught me to praise the rich  
And fake knowledge and happiness at will
Erm, Is that a dog or bitch?
It don’t matter mate,
It’ll still bite ya fuckin' arm off
It’s as soaking wet and pissed off as I am
And twice as bored
Move on and thank your lord 
For not smiting you for being such 
a vague creation 

Go!
In faith and folly
God Save The Pony! 
I hope you’re never tired
I hope you’re never lonely
Go!
 
I gotta say
I am fuckin' flabbergasted
Barely passed minimum wage
And I’m a rock 'n' roll cliche 
If I’m honest I can’t believe how long 
It’s already lasted  
Stub my ciggy out in a crème brule
I wanna do a backflip at a French sex party 
Sacre Bleu! the boy’s so arty 
 
Catch your eye as I step back from the edge 
I’m Just cooking the veg 
Hope ya don’t mind the smell
Turn your heels and raise hell
He’s stoned in a hammock
Baffled like the fly
We’re only here for a weekend, kid
Cheat, steal and lie
Forget your pride and being dutiful
You’ve got the box, now lift the lid 
You’ve been beaten into something beautiful  
 
Go!
In faith and folly
God Save The Pony! 
I hope you’re never tired
I hope you’re never lonely

Go!
In faith and folly
God Save The Pony! 
I hope you’re never tired
I hope you’re never lonely
Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go

Sunday, 6 July 2025

Does Everything Reflect The Time You Spend?

I didn't need to look far for the inspiration for today's Talk Talk selection... I was wearing the T-shirt!

This ten-song compilation spans their early demos with Jimmy Miller in 1981, through to their final statement as a band, with Laughing Stock in 1991, but leans most on the 1984-1986 period and the albums It's My Life and The Colour Of Spring.

I've tried to navigate the incredible evolution of the band in just four albums without being a stickler for chronology. So the freeform jazz stylings of Ascension Day are sandwiched between the 'poppier' moments of Dum Dum Girl and ?, the B-side of Talk Talk's eponymous single.

Eden, the only song here from my favourite Talk Talk album, Spirit Of Eden, sits more comfortably between the opening and closing songs from The Colour Of Spring. The selection itself ends with one of their best known singles and one of their best B-sides.

The thing that binds them all together is the core of Mark Hollis, Paul Webb and Lee Harris. Much is written about Mark's lyrics and unique vocal performances, but it's Paul and Lee that provide the foundation, the feeling, the humanity through through their incredible musicianship. And that's not to dismiss the contributions of Simon Brenner and especially Tim Friese-Greene.

Talk Talk was an astonishing band, no matter which album or single you happen to be listening to, and one that rewards on each return visit.

1) Living In Another World (U.S. Remix By Gavin MacKillop) (1986)
2) Dum Dum Girl (Single Version By Tim Friese-Greene) (1984)
3) Ascension Day (Album Version By Tim Friese-Greene & Phill Brown) (Single Edit) (1991)
4) ? (Single Version By Colin Thurston) (1982)
5) Candy (Demo Version By Jimmy Miller) (1981)
6) Happiness Is Easy (Album Version By Tim Friese-Greene) (1986)
7) Eden (Album Version By Tim Friese-Greene) (1988)
8) Time It's Time (Album Version By Tim Friese-Greene) (1986)
9) Today (Album Version By Mike Robinson) (1982)
10) Again, A Game...Again (Single Version By Tim Friese-Greene) (1983)

1982: Talk Talk: 4
1982: The Party's Over: 9
1984: Dum Dum Girl EP: 2
1984: Such A Shame EP (limited edition 2x 7"): 5, 10
1986: Living In Another World EP: 1
1986: The Colour Of Spring: 6, 8
1988: Spirit Of Eden: 7
1991: Ascension Day EP: 3

Does Everything Reflect The Time You Spend? (56:05) (GD) (M)


Post script: 

I've reactivated links to a couple of Talk Talk selections I posted previously:

Saturday, 5 July 2025

DeathMetalDiscoClubMeetsTheGuv'nor

After a few days of my amateur efforts, time for Andrew Weatherall's 65-minute master class in the art of the mix. A true professional.

Andrew recorded this mix for Amsterdam-based blog deathmetaldiscoclub in 2013 and it's a heady mix of beats and bass, as you might expect. Then new and unreleased music is threaded through, from his still-thrilling remixes of Emilíana Torrini and Craig Bratley, to choice cuts by Joe's Bakery (the heavyweight opener), Avanti and Duncan Gray.

The Femi Kuti remix dates from 2009, but got a fresh release in 2013 on 10" vinyl, courtesy of the Magic Feet label. Ewan Pearson also turns in a gorgeous dub remix of Out Cold aka Simon Aldred aka Cherry Ghost. 

Things wrap up suitably with an exclusive remix of The Asphodells aka Andrew and Timothy J. Fairplay. Skwatch originally appeared on their debut album Ruled By Passion, Destroyed By Lust in 2012. Black Merlin's rework was a preview of the The Asphodells Remixed album which was released a couple of months after Andrew's mix for deathmetaldiscoclub.

This is one of many, many DJ mixes that I missed first time around, but I came to after Andrew Weatherall's untimely passing in 2020, thanks to The Flightpath Estate and their incredible WeatherDrive archive.

Keeping the dream alive, news came out this week that the follow up to last year's Sounds From The Flightpath Estate will arrive at the end of August. 

Volume Two includes an exclusive remix of The Sabres of Paradise, plus contributions from Dicky Continental, Unit 14, Richard Fearless, David Harrow, Red Snapper, A Certain Ratio vs. Number, Bedford Falls Players and Sleaford Mods covering Two Lone Swordsmen. You can listen to a 25-minute promo mix by Rude Audio over at The Flightpath Estate Mixcloud site. Bloody hell! 

I was completely floored by Volume One and I know that Volume Two will have a similar effect. There may be tears. 

Limited to 1,500 copies on double vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve, Sounds From The Flightpath Estate Volume Two is available for pre-order. now. I got in quick; I'd strongly recommend you do the same. 

1) Mamba Gasgoine: Joe's Bakery (2013)
2) One Two (Garth Trinidad's Fiyah Dubb): Femi Kuti vs. KCRW Soundclash! (2009)
3) Speed Of Dark (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Emilíana Torrini (2013)
4) Waiting Game (Craig Bratley Remix): Kalidasa (2013)
5) Obsession (Asphodells Remix By Andrew Weatherall & Timothy J. Fairplay): Craig Bratley (2013)
6) All I Want (Ewan Pearson Dub Remix): Out Cold (2013)
7) Cabezaurio: Avanti (2013)
8) Peach: Duncan Gray (2013)
9) Keep It Up (The Cosmologist 2013 Soul Reconstruction By Laurie Keith): The Cosmologist (2013)
10) Skwatch (Black Merlin's Reel To Reel Remix By George Thompson): The Asphodells (2013) 

Deathmetaldiscoclub #020 (1:05:31) (GD) (Mega)

Friday, 4 July 2025

Staring Into Air

Time for another round up of tunes and beats that have been lodged in my brain this year.

A brisk run through of seven songs in forty-four minutes, some tracks featured previously albeit in different mixes, some more recently purchased, all pressing my buttons.

If you like what you hear, go buy! Links below.

Happy Friday, everyone!

1) Little Fluffy Clouds (Ambience Of Coconut Mix): The Orb (Feed Your Head! The Second Course: 15 Mind Altering Classics (Mojo magazine promo CD))
2) Like Fire (The Machine Soul Morning Chord Mix By Robert Folkesson): Airsine (Like Fire EP)
3) KGLW (GIFT Remix) Pt. 3: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (KGLW (GIFT Extended Rave Remix) EP)
4) Field Of Dreams (Rude Audio Remix By Mark Ratcliff): Hugo Nicolson (Field Of Dreams EP)
5) Mystery (Dub Mix): Kapote ft. Guinny (Mystery EP)
6) Love Filter (Strings Of Love): Kito Jempere (New Life EP)
7) Lazy Arc One (Rework By Gaudi): Roedelius, Story, Gaudi (Lazy Arc One EP)

Staring Into Air (44:17) (Mega)

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)