Start Anew

Welcome to 2026!

A new year brings a new selection of 26 songs for '26, all featuring a new something or other.

99 minutes of top tunes, starting with Beady Eye, Liam's better-than-Oasis band.

There are a handful of '70s and '80s artists, including The Undertones, The Adverts, Breathless, Beastie Boys and Asleep At The Wheel covering Huey Lewis & The News.

A fistful of '90s fun (well, depending on your definition of fun) comes courtesy of Arab Strap, Epic Soundtracks, The Magnetic Fields and Martin Stephenson & The Daintees.

It's mostly 21st century music though, some old, some new, something for everyone from The Isley Brothers ft. De La Soul to Tokyo Police Club, BANKS to Beverly Kills.

A couple of 2025 highlights from Xan Tyler & Dusty Stray and Bedford Falls Players and, to wrap things up, Billy sings Billy, that is, Billy Nomates sings Billy Bragg.

Fingers crossed, this year's going to be a good one.

1) Start Anew (Remix Of 'Dreaming Of Some Space' By JC Of RKID003): Beady Eye (2014)

2) New Moon: Bedford Falls Players (2025)

3) Happy New Year Next Year: Violent Femmes (2015)

4) New Church: The Adverts (1978)

5) A New Chapter: Breathless (1984)

6) New Birds: Arab Strap (1998)

7) Window Shopping For New Clothes: The Undertones (1983)

8) Something New Under The Sun: Epic Soundtracks (1994)

9) New New Song: Tokyo Police Club (2008)

10) Your New Normal: Nine Inch Nails (2020)

11) I Think I Need A New Heart: The Magnetic Fields (1999)

12) I Want A New Drug (Cover of Huey Lewis & The News): Asleep At The Wheel (1987)

13) Big Sky New Light: Martin Stephenson & The Daintees (1992)

14) New Berlin: Beverly Kills (2022)

15) It's The New Style (Vocal) (Remix By Rick Rubin): Beastie Boys (1986)

16) The End Of A New Beginning: Xan Tyler & Dusty Stray (2025)

17) I've Found A New Way To Love Her: Julian Cope (2005)

18) Kinda New (Album Version): Spektrum (2004)

19) New Brat In Town (Unreleased Version By Steve Albini): The Auteurs (1996)

20) New Years (Cover of Asobi Seksu): Boris (2012)

21) Someone New (Album Version): BANKS (2014)

22) New Love Cassette (Album Version): Angel Olsen (2019)

23) A New Chance (Tanlines Remix): The Tough Alliance (2007)

24) Feels Like A New Morning: The Blow Monkeys (2013)

25) It's A New Thing (It's Your Thing) (D-Nat & Onda Reconstruction): The Isley Brothers ft. De La Soul (2004)

26) New Ingland (Demo) (Cover of Billy Bragg): Billy Nomates (2024)

1978: Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts: 4

1983: Chain Of Love EP: 7

1984: Ageless EP: 5

1986: It's The New Style EP: 15

1987: 10: 12

1992: The Boy's Heart: 13

1994: Sleeping Star: 8

1998: Philophobia: 6

1999: 69 Love Songs: 11

2004: Enter The...Spektrum: 18

2004: ...Taken To The Next Phase: 25

2005: Dark Orgasm: 17

2005: Luke Haines Is Dead: 19

2007: A New Chance EP: 23

2008: Elephant Shell / Extras (ltd 2x CD): 9

2012: Asobi Seksu x Boris Split EP: 20

2013: Feels Like A New Morning: 24

2014: Flick Of The Finger RKID003 EP: 1

2014: Goddess: 21

2015: Happy New Year EP: 3

2019: All Mirrors: 22

2020: Ghosts VI: Locusts: 10

2022: Kaleido: 14

2024: New Ingland EP: 26

2025: Home: 16

2025: New Moon EP: 2

Start Anew (1:39:26) (GD) (M)

If you're feeling nostalgic, check out my previous New Year's Day posts from 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Double Entrendre

or, How To Get Away With Two "25 From 25" Albums Lists Whilst Pretending That Wasn't Your Intention All Along.

Looking back on 2025 so far, I think I bought more albums than ever, a mix of physical and digital. The latter was ably supported by a further year's subscription to the excellent Last Night From Glasgow label, which accounts for about a quarter of today’s and tomorrow’s featured artists.

A few were purchased at merch stalls following a headline or support slot gig, others on the recommendation of others, including you lovely people out there in the blogging community.

So, I've got two lists, loosely separated into artists that I'm familiar with and already owned albums by, the second compiling artists who, regardless of whether they'd been around for ages or just started out, were new to me. So, it's a hodge podge of debut albums and artists that I really only delved into properly with their latest long player. I'm posting the first list today, the second on New Year's Eve.

There are a shed load that I just haven't got around to buying yet and I haven't yet succumbed to streaming so I can't sneak them in on the technicality of having heard them. Apologies therefore include Pulp, Syd Minsky Sargeant, Death In Vegas, Mogwai and Water From Your Eyes, all of whom have released albums that I want to get (and said as much in previous posts), but who remain on my shopping list.

An honourable mention also to those that I did buy but who didn't make onto either list because, well, I had to stop at 25, right? A tip of the hat then to Manic Street Preachers, The Supernaturals, Julian Cope, Gareth Sager and Scanner.

I've listed them alphabetically, rather than in order of greatness, but I may reveal my favourite at the end...if I can decide on one by the end of this post!

25 From 25 - Old Favourites

(click on the links to buy these albums...and more!)

1) Let The Horse Run Free / Rodeo Disco: 100 Poems

2) The Collapse Of Everything: Adrian Sherwood

3) Pinball Wanderer: Andy Bell

4) Dead Souls: Armory Show

5) Metalhorse / Mary And The Hyenas OST: Billy Nomates

6) Mumbo In The Jumbo: Davey Woodward

7) Wise Music In Dub: Dennis Bovell

8) Subconsciousology: Dot Allison

9) Lay Low: Eddie Chacon

10) Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation: Edwyn Collins

11) Rats In Paradise: Emily Breeze

12) Begging The Night To Take Hold: Emma Pollock

13) Twilight: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont

14) Songs For Nina And Johanna: James Yorkston & Friends

15) Junk System EP 1&2: Junk System

16) Lotus: Little Simz

17) New Town Ghosts: Mark Rae

18) Lake Deep Memory: Pye Corner Audio

19) Barb And Feather: Red Snapper

20) Strawberries: Robert Forster

21) International: Saint Etienne

22) MAD!: Sparks

23) Faultline: The Cowboy Mouth

24) moisturiser: Wet Leg

25) Home: Xan Tyler & Dusty Stray

I have loved each and every one of these albums but my #1 of 2025 has to be Billy Nomates.

Not just because Metalhorse is a fantastic album, taking her music to another level, but also because she somehow found the time to write, record and release another album. The soundtrack to Mary And The Hyenas may have been relatively overlooked compared to Metalhorse, but it's every bit an equal. Astonishing to think that Tor Maries was also releasing one-off songs in between both of these. 

Finally getting to see Billy Nomates live in concert for the first time in September, with an excellent band and songs that took on a life of their own on stage, was an unforgettable experience and the push over the line to secure my #1 in a year of varied but brilliant albums.

Under Dub Covers

I love reggae and dub and I love cover versions and it's been a while since I've posted either, so I've mashed them up in one (nearly) hour-long selection.

A 15-track compendium, mostly 21st Century, but with a clutch of 1970s classics thrown in for good measure. I couldn't decide between two Nicky Thomas covers so they both went in!

Nicky's in good company: Rhoda Dakar, 15 16 17, Hollie Cook, Brown Sugar, Xan Tyler, Earl 16, Dr. Israel, LSK, Peter Tosh, Suggs, Little Roy, Prince Fatty, Mad Professor and Adrian Sherwood.

Proof of concept, if needed, that every song should have a mandatory reggae version.
 

1) Everyday Is Like Sunday (Cover of Morrissey): Rhoda Dakar (2021)

2) Brain Damage (Cover of Pink Floyd): Easy Star All-Stars ft. Dr. Israel (2003)

3) Lola (Cover of The Kinks): Nicky Thomas (1974)

4) Love Will Tear Us Apart (Single Version) (Cover of Joy Division): Capitol 1212 ft. Earl Sixteen (2020)

5) Space Oddity (Dubmix) (Cover of David Bowie): Adrian Sherwood ft. LSK aka Leigh Kenny (2012) 

6) Here Comes The Sun (Single Version) (Cover of The Beatles): Peter Tosh & The Wailers (1971)

7) Lets Go Crazy (Cover of Prince & The Revolution): Radio Riddler ft. Suggs (2014)

8) Emotion (Album Version By Castro Brown & Dennis Bovell) (Cover of Samantha Sang): 15 16 17 (1978)

9) Lithium (Album Version By Prince Fatty) (Cover of Nirvana): Little Roy (2011)

10) And The Beat Goes On (Dub) (Cover of The Whispers): Prince Fatty & Hollie Cook (2012)

11) Guns Of Brixton (Manasseh Dub 5) (Remix By Nick Raphael) (Cover of The Clash): Dub Spencer & Trance Hill (2020)

12) Lay Lady Lay / In The Midnight Hour (Medley) (Cover of Bob Dylan / Wilson Pickett): Nicky Thomas (1972)

13) Hello Stranger (Cover of Barbara Lewis): Brown Sugar (1977)

14) Be Here To Love Me (Cover of Townes Van Zandt): Xan Tyler & Mad Professor (2021)

15) Master Blaster (Vocal Version) (Cover of Stevie Wonder): Dubby Wonder ft. Eugene Tambourine (2022) 

1971: Here Comes The Sun EP: 6

1972: Tell It Like It Is: 12

1974: Lola EP: 3

1977: Hello Stranger EP: 13

2003: Dub Side Of The Moon: 2

2005: Magic Touch: 8

2011: Battle For Seattle: 9

2012: Prince Fatty Presents Hollie Cook In Dub: 10

2012: Space Oddity EP: 5

2014: Purple Reggae: 7

2020: Guns Of Brixton EP: 11

2020: Love Will Tear Us Apart EP: 4

2021: Clarion Call: 14

2021: Everyday Is Like Sunday EP: 1

2022: Master Blaster EP: 15

Under Dub Covers (58:56) (GD) (M)

When You Don't Have Anything Left, She's Got The Music

Almost a month through 2025 already and although there's a lot of incoming new music to be excited about, I'm still immersing myself in the albums and singles that I bought last year.

Today's selection therefore is wall-to-wall 2024 and back-to-back female voices. So many to choose from, I did an entire selection as part of my end of year round up and here are 11 more.

I got the albums by Jane Weaver and Beth Gibbons relatively late in the day, so I'm continuing to discover more about them on each listen. Others, like Ibibio Sound Machine, Xan Tyler and Jo Bartlett, I've had for some while and played and played and played them.

Isobel Campbell delivered two for the price of one, with Bow To Love available on shiny disc with a French language counterpart, Place à l'Amour. I can't choose between them, I love them both.

Of the tons of great singles and EPs out last year, the Blueprints Revisited EP by Ammonite aka Amy Spencer was a welcome discovery via a remix she did for David Holmes. David reciprocates on the EP, though I've opted here for a lovely remix by South Korean duo Salamanda aka Uman (Jimin Sung) and Yetsuby (Yejin Jang).

Anzu by C.A.R. was already a favourite in both its original version and GLOK remix by Andy Bell. Then Sean Johnston came along and delivered a couple of Hardway Bros remixes that blew the bloody doors off.

There were also a couple of international musical pairings for one-off singles that grabbed my attention. Björk (Iceland) teamed up with Rosalía (Spain) for Oral, remixed by Olof Dreijer (Sweden). Meanwhile, Tanya Donelly (USA) collaborated with Gabi Lima (Brazil) on the rousing Golden Cut. 

I've been listening to a lot of Tanya's music since I posted about her last August, revisiting her back catalogue and catching up with her 21st century music. She really is an incredible songwriter and performer.

If any of these take your fancy, click on the album/single title and buy, buy, buy!

1) Motif: Jane Weaver (Love In Constant Spectacle)

2) When You Don't (Salamanda Remix): Ammonite (Blueprints Revisited EP)

3) Reste Calme, Suis Ta Voie: Isobel Campbell (Bow To Love/Place à l'Amour (ltd 2x CD))

4) Golden Cut: Tanya Donelly & Gabi Lima (Golden Cut EP)

5) She's Got The Music: Jo Bartlett (Ghost Tapes 1 To 9)

6) Ziggy: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)

7) Anzu (Hardway Bros Remix): C.A.R. (Anzu EP)

8) Dejalo: Charlotte & Reinhard (Guardian Of Sleep EP)

9) Oral (Olof Dreijer Remix): Björk ft. Rosalía (Oral EP)

10) Touch The Ceiling: Ibibio Sound Machine (Pull The Rope)

11) Lost Changes: Beth Gibbons (Lives Outgrown)

When You Don't Have Anything Left, She's Got The Music (45:30) (KF) (Mega)

An A-Z Of 2024

The last three days of 2024 will feature more reflections and selections from what has been a really good year for music.

 

Today's selection is exactly what the post title suggests: 26 songs over 98 minutes, listed alphabetically by artist (ignoring 'A' or 'The' prefixes).

I've picked up lots of recommendations, mostly from fellow bloggers and, more recently, Bluesky, though rarely from music magazines these days. Thanks then to @marksmusic1977.bsky.social and Ernie Goggins for introducing me to Ana Lua Caiano and The Zawose Queens respectively. 

 

Mark posted Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado by Ana Lua Caiano as a contender for Album Of The Year and it's easy to hear why. Ana Lua Caiano’s debut album "melds rural Portuguese music traditions with layered vocals, synthesizers, insistent beats and field recordings", but it hits hard, takes some unexpected twists and turns, and packs a hell of a lot into less than half an hour.

As a paying Last Night From Glasgow member for the second consecutive year, I've received another steady stream of quality new releases and reissues on gorgeous vinyl, frequently in a variety of unexpected colours and hues, as well as access to dozens of albums via their digital vault.

Included in my vinyl package was Holding Up Half The Sky by Xan Tyler. Xan's got previous on this blog, notably Clarion Call, her collaborative album with Mad Professor in 2021. Holding Up Half The Sky is produced by Boo Hewerdine and immerses the listener in the "life stories of some incredible women [...] a journey shaped by adversity and challenges [and] arriving at a place they were seemingly destined for." The songcraft is superlative and a big hit with Mrs. K too.

 

I first heard Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996), the second album by Billy Reeves, via the LNFG digital vault shortly after it was released in the spring. I enjoyed Billy's first album very much, but this one had an immediate impact on my and over the course of the year, I have become obsessed with the album. Definitely one of my most played. 

 

The vinyl album wasn't included in my LNFG membership so of course I had to buy it. I kept meaning to write about Steve, but I procrastinated so much that Billy released two further albums since, a live set with Gavin Laird and, in November, his third solo album. I've heard the former - it's great - and the latter is on order.

 

There have been many triumphant returns for artists this year, including China Crisis and The Blow Monkeys (both also on LNFG), The The (their first album in a quarter of a century) and Ultravox, albeit via a deluxe 40th anniversary reissue of Lament and decent remixes by Steven Wilson and Moby. 

Some comebacks were a complete surprise, and exceeded all reasonable expectations. Gavin Friday's album Ecce Homo is produced by Dave Ball and is supercharged music for the heads and the hedonists. Why slow down at 65? As good as any of Gavin's previous albums, which were frankly brilliant.

 

Fluke's return seemingly came out of nowhere, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier joined on this new adventure by the stunning vocals of Leah Cleaver. Two singles - Insanely Beautiful and Real Magnificient - and a standalone song (Jack) that are up there with their best material. The world is a better place with Fluke's music in it.

I knew of Lisa Moorish in the 1990s, though more for the pop press and tabloid features than her music. Drawn in by a David Holmes remix, the single Sylvia is a statement of intent and then some. A song about poet Sylvia Plath, set to urgent rhythms with a sublime vocal and hooky lyrics ("where do I end and you begin?"), it got my attention and Lisa's album Divine Chaos is equally worth your attention (and money). A powerful and very welcome return.

Less comeback and more career change, Dan Wainwright released the first of two solo albums this year. I was familiar with Dan's psychedelic electronica/dance/dub music and remixes. I'd also picked up on social media that he'd decided to turn away from that, learn to play the ukelele and write songs drawn deep from the soul and his lived experience. I reviewed Dan's debut back in February and I stand by every word. A shock if you're familiar with Dan's previous work, but stick with it and the songs reward with each play.

Creativity seemed to be in overdrive this year, with an astonishing quantity of quality music from Richard Norris and A Certain Ratio. Hifi Sean and David McAlmont recorded enough music for two (themed) albums and that's exactly what they've done. The first of these, Daylight, was out in August and is packed with poptastic tunes, including the anthemic Celebrate. The follow up, Twilight, is out February 2025 and, if preview single Star is anything to go by, will be as good as if not better. Truly a perfect musical partnership.

Ghost Tapes 1 To 9 by Jo Bartlett is another album that I've played repeatedly all year and it just gets better with each listen. When I posted about the album in April, I reflected on "the soundscapes that Jo has created, not least the bringing together of electronics, acoustics and voice resulting in an album that feels organic, human and warm." The songs were infused with the spirit of Jayne Casey and Nina Walsh, whilst holding their own with contemporaries Tor Maries (Billy Nomates) and Angel Olsen. In other words, right up my street.

 

I've written previously and above about the formidable talents of female artists, and today's selection includes further examples by Jane Weaver, Emily Breeze, Katy J Pearson, Eno Williams (Ibibio Sound Machine), Samantha Morton, John Glacier and Yaya Bey.

 

Producers have also, er. produced some incredible music this year. Cruelly missing from today's selection are Hugo Nicholson and David Harrow's Revolvalution or CTRL+S EDITS 2024, an album of excellent edits by Neil Parnell aka Tronik Youth.

Joe Thornally, son of legendary producer Phil, released his 5th (or 6th) album as Vegyn, The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions, in the spring. I came to Tales From The Infinite Loop or What Goes Around Comes Around by Nigel Butler via a recommendation from former bandmate and founder of theaudience, Billy Reeves. Both albums are very, very good and the latter is going on Bandcamp at the ridiculous price of 50p!

 

The Woodentops came back with a bang last year, the superb single Ride A Cloud, with a brilliant video and remixes and the promise of an album to follow. Another April release, Fruits Of The Deep, delivered far beyond the promise of the lead single, as I wrote about at the time.

I've not yet mentioned DJ Helen's inspired fusion of David Holmes' remix of Orbital's Belfast and Mike Garry's updated recording of his poem Tonight. The 4-minute version tells you what you need to know but you really need to go for the full 12-minute monty with this one. 

 

And a highlight of my many new dub purchases this year has been The Mood EP by French punnilinguists Prince François Far I and ShaYaman, available in 5 flavours, including a remix by Owl Trackers and all in tribute to Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

 

Then it's back to LNFG for Amelia Lironi and Naomi Mackay aka Quad 90, the '90' presumably referencing the year that advance single Anodyne calls to mind, not least a lost single by New Order. Not included simply to fill that difficult 'Q', I'm looking forward to their debut album in 2025.

 

Oh, and I nearly forgot Metronomy! Suffice to say, I love the Loose EP and the short, snappy, poppy collaborations, encapsulated brilliantly by Pan Amsterdam's spoken word vocals on Nice Town.

 

Finally, a very special mention for Ernie's African Odyssey over at his 27 Leggies blog, with concluded on 13th December after over 60 posts, 57 countries, 550 artists, 350 songs and 200 videos. The majority of music and artists were completely new to me, including sisters Leah and Pendo, aka The Zawose Queens, who featured when Ernie visited Tanzania in October. Maisha ("Life") is the title track of their debut album and a joyous close to today's selection. 

Note on Sunday: 

 

If you were here earlier this morning, you will have read that the majority of the above sleevenotes were to follow later, as my usual blog writing routine flexed to accommodate an extended Clan K over the festive period. 

 

Various family members left this morning, giving me some time to return to the keyboard and finish off this post. Of course, that kitchen full of dirty pans, crockery and cutlery isn't going to wash itself, so I will sign off now and be back here on Monday with another reflection on some great music this year. 

 

Casa K is well and truly back to it's chaotic norm!, and so is this blog! Thanks for sticking with me xx

 

 

1) De Cabeça Colada Ao Chão: Ana Lua Caiano (Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado)

2) I Know Who Trashed The Blue Peter Garden (Part II): Billy Reeves (Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996))

3) Where You Coming From (Jane Weaver Rework): A Certain Ratio (Christmasville UK EP)

4) Big Boss Man: Dan Wainwright (Dan Wainwright)

5) 1997 (Single Version): Emily Breeze (Second Rodeo EP)

6) Real Magnificent (Single Version): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver (Real Magnificent EP)

7) Cabarotica: Gavin Friday (Ecce Homo)

8) The Show: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (Daylight)

9) Black Notes: Ibibio Sound Machine (The Black Notes EP)

10) One In A Hundred: Jo Bartlett (Ghost Tapes 1 To 9)

11) Long Range Driver: Katy J Pearson (Someday, Now)

12) Sylvia (Radio Edit): Lisa Moorish (Sylvia EP)

13) Nice Town: Metronomy x Pan Amsterdam (Posse EP Volume 2)

14) Beginningless: Nigel Butler (Tales From The Infinite Loop or What Goes Around Comes Around)

15) Tonight In Belfast (Edit): Orbital ft. DJ Helen, David Holmes & Mike Garry (Tonight In Belfast EP)

16) The Mood (Owl Trackers Remix): Prince François Far I & ShaYaman (The Mood EP)

17) Anodyne (Radio Edit): Quad 90 (Anodyne EP)

18) A Field In Dub: Richard Norris (Oracle Sound Volume Three)

19) Broxtowe Girl: Sam Morton ft. Ali Campbell & Alabaster DePlume (Daffodils & Dirt)

20) Linoleum Smooth To The Stockinged Foot (Album Version): The The (Ensoulment)

21) Lament (Moby Remix): Ultravox (Lament (Deluxe Edition))

22) A Dream Goes On Forever: Vegyn ft. John Glacier (The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions)

23) Dream On (Album Version): The Woodentops (Fruits Of The Deep)

24) You're My Muse: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)

25) A Survivor's Guilt: Yaya Bey (TRAИƧA)

26) Maisha: The Zawose Queens (Maisha)

An A-Z Of 2024 (1:38:18) (KF) (Mega)

A Song For You

Another selection of 2024 highlights, the theme being names in song titles.

 

Many of the usual suspects - Barry Adamson, Momus, Julian Cope, HANN - and a couple appearing here for the first time, with 100 Poems (aka Mike Wilson) and Mat Ducasse (best known to me for his work with Skylab). 

 

A Man Called Adam originally released Estelle in 1998 and it reappeared again this year with some new versions and contemporary remixes that had been gathering dust in a box for decades. I've included the traditional 7" version here, a reminder of summers past and the summer that never quite materialised here in 2024.

Another 'comeback' of sorts was China Crisis, who revisited their back catalogue with lush orchestral arrangements, a common practice these days perhaps, but not always successful. No such worry here though, China Greatness is a delight. A second CD supplied alternative mixes of the album tracks, including Christian, which closes today's selection.

I'll be coming back to some of the artists featured here over the next week, to wax lyrical about their respective albums. Gosh, it's been a good year, musically speaking.

 

1) Amen White Jesus: Barry Adamson (Cut To Black)

2) Trump: Momus (20 Frisky Whiskies)

3) Iris: Future Islands (People Who Aren’t There Anymore)

4) Estelle (7 Inch Edit): A Man Called Adam (Estelle EP)

5) Four Jehovahs In A Volvo Estate: Julian Cope (Friar Tuck)

6) Song For Claire (Your Life Is Your Life) (Album Version): 100 Poems (Balearic As A System Of Belief)

7) Rebecca's Desk: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)

8) Reka: Kito Jempere ft. Moral Kiosk & LINAMARI (Part Time Chaos Part Time Calmness)

9) Steve: Billy Reeves (Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996))

10) This Is Liam: HANN (Forever In A Glance)

11) Song For David (Single Version): Mat Ducasse (Song For David EP)

12) Christian (WW1 Mix): China Crisis (China Greatness)

A Song For You (47:30) (KF) (Mega)

Growing In My Backyard

Sun is shining, bass is booming, rhythm is rocksteady...must be be another Sunday reggae and dub session.

Hometown rockers Talisman get things off to a superb start with the 11-minute 12" mix of Dole Age, originally a vinyl side in 1981, introduced to a whole new audience (me included) with the excellent 2011 compilation The Bristol Reggae Explosion 1978-1983. An essential purchase.

From there, it's a mix of 20th and 21st century sounds. The latter is represented by all-female combo Tight Spot with an unreleased song discovered and released by Happy People Records on 7" vinyl in 2021. An album highlight of the same year was Clarion Call by Xan Tyler and Mad Professor, delivering sharp lyrics with sweet rhythms. Rhoda Dakar delivers a David Bowie classic with aplomb, offering up a dubbed out version on the flipside. And three legends come together, with Horace Andy teaming up with Sly & Robbie for a modern dub colossus.

There's a brief stop in the 1990s to witness Benjamin Zephaniah and The Hazardous Dub Company with a cautionary tale that sadly resonates three decades later.

Back then to the 1970s and 1980s, a veritable who's who of reggae, lovers rock and dub legends, with Bob Marley & The Wailers versus a pre-'Scratch' Lee Perry, Louisa Mark, Tapper Zukie, Sylvia Tella and King Tubby dubbing up Yabby You. 

 

In 2021, Happy People also offered up a deep cut vinyl 7" by G.T. Moore & The Reggae Guitars. Remembered as the first white group to attempt an authentic reggae sound on record, their self-titled debut in 1974 closed with a version of Bob Dylan's Knocking On Heaven's Door. Sound familiar? Well, this guy had a hit with an 'inspired' version less than a year later...

Ending the selection the only way possible, Black Uhuru sing the praises of Sinsemilla, the title track of their third album from 1980 and the record that crossed over to a global audience. Michael Rose, Sharon 'Puma' Jones and Derrick 'Duckie' Simpson telling it how it is, Sly & Robbie laying it down. It doesn't get much better than this.

 

1) Dole Age (12" Mix By Talisman & UK Scientist aka Richard Grassby-Lewis): Talisman (1981)

2) Air Tight (Version By Spero Anthony): Tight Spot (2003)

3) Like Birds: Xan Tyler & Mad Professor (2021)

4) Spell (Album Version By Lloyd Charmers & Maxi Million): Sylvia Tella (1981)

5) The Man Who Dubbed The World (Cover of David Bowie): Rhoda Dakar (2022)

6) I'm Alive Dub: Horace Andy + Sly & Robbie (2006)

7) Allies (Album Version By Dr. Love & Dennis Rootical): Benjamin Zephaniah & The Hazardous Dub Company (1995)

8) Firey Dub (Version By King Tubby): Yabby You (1977)

9) Rush I Some Dub: Tapper Zukie (1977)

10) Sun Is Shining (Dub) (Version By Bob Marley & Lee Perry): Bob Marley & The Wailers (1971)

11) Keep It Like It Is (Album Version By Clement 'Bush Ranger' Bushay): Louisa Mark (1981)

12) People (Who Killed People) (Album Version By Gerald Thomas Moore & Tony Braunagel): G.T. Moore & The Reggae Guitars (1975)

13) Sinsemilla (Album Version By Sly & Robbie): Black Uhuru (1980)

1971: Soul Revolution Part II ('Rhythm' Version): 10

1975: Reggae Blue: 12

1977: King Tubby Meet Vivian Jackson (Yabby You): 8

1977: Tapper Zukie In Dub: 9

1980: Sinsemilla: 13

1981: Breakout: 11

1981: Dole Age EP: 1

1981: Spell: 4 

1995: Back To Roots: 7 

2006: Dubbin' It Up: 6

2021: Clarion Call: 3

2021: Time Heals Everything EP: 2

2022: The Man Who Sold The World EP: 5

Growing In My Backyard (57:45) (GD) (M)

The Night After Last Night From Last Night From Glasgow

More from Last Night From Glasgow with another selection of new and old classics. Even with two volumes and twenty songs in total, there's tons of good music that I've had to skip over.

As well as the lovingly crafted sleeves, the majority of LNFG albums also come in a delightful array of coloured vinyl. Part of the joy of opening up the latest package is the reveal of what's inside: pink, blue, green, yellow, white, mottled, speckled, clear, classic black; placing the needle to hear the first seconds of the opening song is another tangible pleasure.

As a paid up member, you are also granted access to the LNFG Digital Vault, which goes back to 2016 and includes a mind-boggling amount of artists, albums, singles and one-offs. Two years in and I'm still working my way through the treasures. 

 

Some of the choices on these two volumes weren't included in my vinyl membership so to say that you get value for money is an understatement. And that's before you take into account membership discounts on other purchases and, if you can get there, access to LNFG artist gigs in Glasgow.

A final thank you to JC at The Vinyl Villain, whose frequent posts about LNFG artists caught my attention and convinced me to give it a try in the first place. No regrets!

 

1) Said Too Much (New Version): The Blow Monkeys (2023)

2) Give It Time (John Peel Session): Autumn 1904 (1984)

3) Nothing Left But This: Starless ft. Marie Claire Lee (2024)

4) Jack Data Dracula: Gareth Sager (2023)

5) Miniature Oceans: Xan Tyler (2023)

6) Grey Will Fade: Charlotte Hatherley (2004)

7) Long Time Coming: Air In The Lungs (2023)

8) Snow: Popup (2022)

9) The Barbery Bop: The Kingfishers (2023)

10) Apostle Spoons: The Blue Aeroplanes (2023)

2004: Grey Will Fade: 6

2022: Promise: 8

2023: Air In The Lungs: 7

2023: Culture Gun: 10

2023: Maelstrom In The Bare Garden: 4

2023: Reflections In A Silver Sound: 9

2023: Time Storm: Greatest Hits Vol. 2: 1

2024: Holding Up Half The Sky: 5

2024: Returning Home: 3

2024: Tales Of Innocence: 2

Volume Two (40:23) (KF) (Mega)