25 For 25, Part Two

Following up from last week's first half, today's 13-song selection rounds out the 25 For 25 highlights of the year so far. 

 

I've been fortunate enough to see two of these artists live on stage in the last couple of months, and with any luck by the time year end comes around, I'll have seen another two, also for the very first time.

 

I had an opportunity to see another this summer, with tickets for a "secret", "intimate" 5k capacity gig in Bristol, which I thought Lady K might be interested in going to. When I broached the subject, she gave me a withering look and said that they were "stuck in the 2010s".

 

I don't know what made me feel older: Lady K's reference to the 2010s - which I consider to be yesterday - as ancient history, or Mrs. K suggestion that a middle-aged man going on his own to a show with potentially a predominantly teen audience might draw attention for all the wrong reasons. I didn't go.

 

I leave you to hazard a guess at the opportunity that I passed up. 

 

Speaking of older, I've previously seen three other of today's featured artists, all who crashed into the public consciousness in the 1980s and/or 1990s. and have released great new music in the past 12 months.

 

Things change over time and my enthusiasm for certain things in my youth may have waned somewhat in passing decades, but my passion for music remains undimmed. 

1) Waiting: Yvonne Lyon & Boo Hewerdine (Things Found In Books)

2) Slow Emotion Replayed: The The (Slow Emotion Replayed EP)

3) Monday Murder: YUNGBLUD (Idols)

4) Rubber Inner Tube: Mark Rae ft. Heidi Haswell (New Town Ghosts)

5) Space Station Mantra: Andy Bell (Pinball Wanderer)

6) Metrosexual Man: Davey Woodward (Mumbo In The Jumbo)

7) Kicking Up Dust: F.O. Machete (Mother Of A Thousand)

8) On The Missing: Later Youth ft. Lissie (Living History)

9) Being Baptised (Piano Version): Manic Street Preachers (Critical Thinking (Deluxe Edition))

10) Portland Town: Heavenly (Portland Town EP)

11) pond song: Wet Leg (moisturizer)

12) Fuckboy: Billy Nomates (Mary And The Hyenas OST)

13) Moonlight Hotel: Charlie Noordewier (Moonlight Hotel EP)

Side Two (45:21) (GD) (M)

Conformity Stinks, Creativity's Free

So sings Amelia Fletcher on Heavenly's first single in 29 years, the rather wonderful Portland Town.

Not only available digitally right now, but you can also order a proper 7" vinyl single, with a proper B-side, Someone Who Cares, which is really rather good. 

Better still, get yourself down to Islington Assembly Hall in that there London town on Saturday 19th July to see Heavenly live in concert and pick up a signed copy of the 7" single.

Just don't forget to purchase a ticket and the single in advance....

I’m hiding out in the trees once again

Lost in the leaves, close my eyes and pretend

I’m in a place, full of misfits like me

A place I can be just who I want to be.

Take me down to Portland Town

Hide in plain sight, no one turning an eye

I could play the game right, but I don’t want to try

There must be folks think the same way as me

Conformity stinks, creativity's free

I don’t have to be where people love me

They don’t have to care where I’ve been

I just want to be where no one stares at me

I just want to feel I fit in.

I know a place I’d know how to behave

I’d be out on the streets, I would not be afraid.

People who get me, and more, I get them

No pressure to be a man amongst men.