Sumptuous

Yesterday's post about new music from Emma Pollock became an itch that I had to scratch so, as a companion piece, here's a 10-song, 40-minute selection.

Bearing in mind that I've been a relative latecomer to Emma's solo music and benefitted from additional signposting and recommendations from the blogging luminaries such as Charity Chic Music, The Vinyl Villain and 27 Leggies, this features a couple of songs from third album In Search Of Harpersfield and a varied trio from The Delgados. The rest are other artists who had the incredibly good sense to work with Emma, their songs all the better for the collaboration.

It always feels more by luck than judgement, given how quickly I cobble these selections together, but I'm really happy that the two 'sides' both run to a smidge under 20 minutes each and also seem to flow as a cohesive listening experience.

I can't take too much credit for that though, Emma and co. did all the heavy lifting here!

Please click on the additional links below to buy more music. There's another Bandcamp Friday coming up on 5th September, if you want your pennies to benefit even more.

Side One

1) No Danger: The Delgados (2000)

2) Size Nine And A Half (Cover of Ivor Cutler): Citizen Bravo ft. Emma Pollock (2020)

3) Parks And Recreation: Emma Pollock (2016)

4) A Certain Compulsion (Remixed By White Label): The Grand Gestures ft. Emma Pollock (2016)

5) Thirteen Gliding Principles (Mark Radcliffe Session): The Delgados (1996)

Side Two

1) The Actress: The Delgados (1998)

2) Dark Skies: Emma Pollock (2016)

3) Ears (Single Version): Cinerama ft. Emma Pollock (1998)

4) Nuada: King Of Woolworths ft. Emma Pollock (2003)

5) Paper (ToffoBean Remix): Starless ft. Emma Pollock (2020)

1997: BBC Sessions: A5

1998: Peloton: B1

1998: Va Va Voom: B3

2000: The Great Eastern: A1

2003: L'Illustration Musicale: B4

2016: In Search Of Harperfield: A3, B2

2016: The Grand Gestures Remixed: A4

2020: Paper EP: B5

2020: Return To Y'Hup: The World Of Ivor Cutler: A2

Side One (19:57) (GD) (M)

Side Two (19:35) (GD) (M)

I've included links above to the albums (or, in the case of the BBC Sessions, the closest equivalent) that can be purchased via Bandcamp. 

And, as if you need reminding, Emma's fourth album, Begging The Night To Take Hold, is also available to pre-order now.

Unwrapped

After 2021's inaugural Boxing Day themed selection and 2022's even more tenuous link to gifts, I'm stretching credulity (and your patience) to the limit, with 14 wrap songs. That's wrap, not rap. And no, I've not hit the Harvey's Bristol Cream yet.

 

There are a couple of actual Christmassy songs in this selection, starting with Saint Etienne and a song from their fabulous festive album, A Glimpse Of Stocking. Randy Travis also makes a brief appearance, before Barry Adamson takes him around the back and duffs him up.

 

There's a bit of leftover mash (up) from Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions - apart from The Police and Elvis Costello, how many other artists can you pick out? There's disco, Northern Soul, calypso (from O.M.D. no less), techno pop (for all you Amelia Fletcher fans out there) and some beautiful noise from The Delgados.

Green Gartside shares the mic with Annie Lennox, Idha (at least I think it's her) does the same with Edward Ball, whilst Gang Of Four clearly aren't sharing with anybody. There's a rare B-side from Sharkboy and to, ahem, wrap things up the single-that-nearly-was from XTC.

 

No refunds!

 

1) Unwrap Me: Saint Etienne (2010)

2) Shrinkwrapped: Gang Of Four (1995)

3) Wrap It Up: Eurythmics ft. Green Gartside (1982)

4) Wrapped Detective: Go Home Productions (2004)

5) Wrap My Arms Around Him: Amelia Fletcher (1991)

6) Wrap Your Arms Around Me: KC & The Sunshine Band (1976)

7) How Do I Wrap My Heart Up For Christmas: Randy Travis (1988)

8) Under Wraps: Barry Adamson (1989)

9) Gold Wrapper: Sharkboy (1993)

10) Wrapped, Tied And Tangled: LaVern Baker (1968)

11) All Wrapped Up: O.M.D. (1984)

12) Wrapped Up In Lonesome Blues: Edward Ball (1996)

13) Under Canvas Under Wraps: The Delgados (1996)

14) Wrapped In Grey: XTC (1992) 

 

Unwrapped (47:25) (KF) (Mega)

 

If you're a glutton for punishment, then click on the links at the top of the post for the previous selections from 2021 and 2022.