One Evening And Another Morning

I think of many of the albums on today's selection as recent, but they're all from 2004. Hard to believe that they - and the ears listening to them - are twenty years older.

One of the things I love about posting a daily blog is that it inspires me to seek out new music as well as diving back into my collection, dusting off and (re)discovering albums, EPs and songs that I haven't heard in a long while. All of the selections today have been languishing too long and their parent albums and singles will be added to the Casa K playlist where I can enjoy them all over again.

 

1) This Is That New Song: Badly Drawn Boy (One Plus One Is One)

2) Hummingbird: Wilco (A Ghost Is Born)

3) Another Morning: American Music Club (Love Songs For Patriots)

4) Knees: Pony Club (Family Business)

5) Nimrod's Son (Cover of Pixies): Frank Black ft. Two Pale Boys (Frank Black Francis)

6) You Do (Cover of McAlmont & Butler): Claudia Brücken & Andrew Poppy (Another Language)

7) One Evening: Feist (Let It Die)

8) Stay Out Of Trouble: Kings Of Convenience (Riot On An Empty Street)

9) Cherry Blossom Girl (Cover of Air): Hope Sandoval (Cherry Blossom Girl EP)

10) Stop, Look & Listen: Belle & Sebastian (I'm A Cuckoo EP)

11) Sleepy California (Super Furry Animals Remix): Her Space Holiday (The Young Machines Remixed)

12) He Gave Us The Wine To Taste: Jonathan Richman (Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love)

One Evening And Another Morning (44:56) (KF) (Mega)

You're Savagely Imperfect But I Love Your Style

As we fall into another weekend, some comforting mid-tempo beats to cushion your landing, sixty-two minutes of electronic gems from the last 18 months.  All highly recommended if you're making a shopping list for the next Bandcamp Friday - links below.

Happy Friday, everyone!

 

1) 20HZ Sous La Mer (Blasé Remix): Timothée Joly (2024)

2) Live With Me: Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s (2023)

3) 100 Years On Pause: Matt Gunn (2023)

4) Loved: Four Tet (2024)

5) A Night In Siolim (Keith Forrester Remix): H​ö​gt I Tak (2023)

6) Flow (Ian Vale Breakmix): Malia Nima (2024)

7) G.E.M.: O.M.D. (2023)

8) Yeah x 3 (Sonic Boom & Panda Bear Reset Remix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (2023)

9) Straßenbahn (Jakob From Earth Remix): Die Zimmermänner (2023)

10) Bibbles (Baubles & Beads Mix By Jezebell aka Jesse Fahnestock & Darren Bell): Andres y Xavi (2024)

11) Sundown (Gigi Masin Remix): Eddie Chacon (2023)

 

2023: A Night In Siolim EP: 5 

2023: Bauhaus Staircase: 7

2023: Die Zimmermänner In Dub! EP: 9

2023: Mostly Fiction: 3

2023: One Lone Rider EP: 2 

2023: Sundown EP: 11

2023: Yeah X3 EP: 8 

2024: Bibbles EP: 10

2024: Flow EP: 6

2024: Three: 4

2024: UA+: 20HZ Sous La Mer EP: 1

Savagely Imperfect (1:02:00) (KF) (Mega)

Fly Away From The Apocalypse

Not that he's ever really been away, but Moby is back with a new single, Dark Days, featuring the husky tones of Lady Blackbird.

 

Don't expect deep lyrical meaning here: there are references to Shangri La, the apocalypse and "going down below", bridged with lots of mmmms. That said, a little mmmm from Lady Blackbird goes a long way.

 

Musically, it follows the classic Moby template: strong female vocals, an infectious, groovy bassline and emotive synth strings. If you like Moby's music, it'll hit the spot. If you're unmoved or unfamiliar, it's unlikely to convert you. 

 

Dark Days is in fact the fifth single (at least) in the past 18 months to be lifted from forthcoming album Always Centred At Night. This may give a faint whiff of 1999 album Play, which saw multiple singles and every one of it's 17 tracks licensed for use in other media. 

 

One of the main differences here appears to be that whilst Play was heavy on sampled vocals and, let's face it, instrumental tracks that felt a little like unfinished ideas or sketches, Always Centred At Night features guest vocals on all but one of its 13 tracks.

 

The roster is impressive. In addition to US born, UK based Lady Blackbird, there's Aynzli Jones, previously featured on 2008 single Alice and who operates between London, Los Angeles and Kingston, Jamaica. Artist Gaidaa is Dutch born and of Sudanese heritage. JP (Jean Patrick) Bimeni was born in Burundi, a refugee teenager and student in Camarthen, now based in London and fronting The Black Belts. And there's an appearance from "Refugee Boy" author and legendary poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, who sadly passed in December last year.

 

Including the singles, a total of eight songs from Always Centred At Night are available ahead of the album release in June, including an intriguing cover of Cream's 1967 song We're Going Wrong, featuring another previous Moby collaborator Brie O'Banion.

 

Here's a live version of the original, sung by Jack Bruce and first featured halfway through side 2 of Cream's second album Disraeli Gears.

If that's not enough new Moby music for you, last month he also released a standalone single on the Defected label. You & Me is a team up with Italian electronic artist Anfisa Letyago. It's another understated minimal techno rumbler, released as a 4-track EP with remixes from Deetron, Girls Of The Internet and the self-described "bald alien" himself.

 

I Can Change The World Without Changing Myself

Last year, Cleo Sol delivered not one but two albums, to my obvious delight.

 

Self is the opening song of album #3 (Heaven), a loping, groovy reflection on faith (lower and upper case) and love. 

A couple of weeks ago, French DJ and producer Janeret aka Mickael Jeanneret released a gorgeous jungle remix that stretches the song out to five minutes whilst retaining the easy, comforting groove of the original. Like the 1990s never ended, but in a good way.

 

 

Mickael has been releasing music since 2011, mainly as Janeret, but with an EP as Zorg and various collaborations added to his CV. I can honestly say that I was completely ignorant of his work until coming across his remix of Cleo Sol but having checked out his Bandcamp and Soundcloud pages, I will be digging deeper.

Someone Needs A Shower

Underworld x Kettama kicked off March with Fen Violet, their second collaboration in the past six months. It's a pummeling slab of classic Underworld beats and esoteric lyrics, pierced with precision tooled piano stabs. Currently available in a four-minute full length version and two-minute fifty-two edit, this one's crying out for an eight, nine, twelve-minute and is easy to imagine tearing the place apart in a live setting.

The first fruits of Underworld aka Rick Smith and Karl Hyde and Kettama aka Evan Campbell in the studio emerged in December 2023 with G-Town Euphoria (Luna).

As the sub-title suggests, G-Town Euphoria (Luna) is a reworking of the Underworld track Denver Luna, released a couple of months previously. 

Up to then, I'd never heard of Kettama, who hails from Galway and has gained a formidable reputation via Soundcloud and live DJ sets. I can hear his influence on the Underworld collaborations and there's a compelling energy to the tracks and mixes I've heard so far. Heady stuff.

Dancing In The Shadow Of Love

The Chemical Brothers' current album, For That Beautiful Feeling, came out nearly six months ago but I've somehow managed to miss it until now despite enthusing about lead single No Reason this time last year.

Anyway, the album release coincided with a another single, Skipping Like A Stone, this time featuring Beck, who Ed and Tom last collaborated with (on Wide Open) way back in 2015.

Don't look for deep meaning in the lyrics but the video really runs away with the concept. Great stuff.

 

 

 

I'm dancing, I'm dancing
In the shadows of love

 

When you feel like nothing really matters
When you feel alone
When you feel like all your life is shattered
And you can't go home

 

I'll come skipping like a stone
I'll come skipping like a stone
I'll come skipping like a stone
I'll come skipping like a stone

 

I wanna go where no one goes
I wanna go where no one goes

 

I don't want to let you go
I don't want to lose your love
I don't want to let you go
I don't want to lose your love

 

When you feel like nothing really matters
When you feel alone
When you feel like all your life is shattered
And you can't go home

 

I'll come skipping like a stone
I'll come skipping like a stone
I'll come skipping like a stone
I'll come skipping like a stone

 

Ooh, she changes people now
She changes people now
Ooh, she changes people now
She changes people now

 

I, I'm dancing in the shadow of love
I, I'm dancing in the shadow of love
I, I'm dancing in the shadow of love
I, I'm dancing in the shadow of love

 

Na na na na na

Na na na na na

Na na na na na

Na na na na na

  

Ooh, she changes people now
She changes people now
Ooh, she changes people now
She changes people now

 

I, I, I see the sun now
I, I, I see the sun now
I, I, I see the sun now
I, I, I see the sun now

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

Fancy a coffee? Take a seat and relax whilst I put some music on.

For someone who was born and grew up in Bristol, I've seen relatively few reggae acts live in concert and the vast majority of these will have been at either the St. Pauls Carnival or Ashton Court Festival in the 1980s and 1990s, the latter now sadly long gone. The former thankfully returned in 2023 as a bi-annual event and fundraising for 2025 is underway; you can donate here.

Over the years, I've amassed a modest collection of live concerts, some officially released, others bootleg recordings of variable quality but made more accessible via t'internet. Here's a 45-minute selection featuring some of my favourite performances.

Misty In Roots are first up with Ghetto Of The City from their debut album, Live At The Counter Eurovision 79. As the title suggests, this was a recording of a show in Belgium and is quite rightly lauded as not just one of the greatest live reggae albums of all time, but one of the greatest live albums, full stop. You'll see this happening a few times in this brief Dubhed selection and I will not be arguing to the contrary.

 

Talisman are from my birthplace, so it's very likely that I saw them at one of the aforementioned live events. Unfortunately, as I was generally under the influence and these happenings were ticketless, I have no idea if I did or not. A shame as they were clearly on fire, as this extract from 1981 shows. I picked up the excellent 2011 compilation The Bristol Reggae Explosion 1978-1983 on CD which features Wicked Dem. It's now available on Bandcamp and is highly recommended, as is pretty much everything on Bristol Archive Records, to be honest.

What can I say about Bob Marley & The Wailers that hasn't already been said and more eloquently? One of the greatest songs of all time from one of the greatest artists of all time from one of the greatest albums of all time, Bob Marley & The Wailers Live! (or Live! At The Lyceum, if you're scrutinising the vinyl label). 

 

No Woman No Cry is credited to Bob's friend Vincent Ford, but is believed to be a pseudonym that Bob used in order to evade his publishing company at the time. Clearly, the courts agreed as Marley's estate gained control of these compositions in 1987 and successfully resisted a counter claim by the label in 2014.

Speaking of Bob, the Performing Arts Center in Montego Bay, Jamaica was dedicated to him and 18 months after his death, Black Uhuru performed there as part of the Jamaica World Music Festival. The quality of this 1982 bootleg recording is a bit ropey to say the least but the quality of the music shines through.

Another bootleg of slightly better quality is UB40 with a 'short' version of Madam Medusa, their damning indictment of Margaret Thatcher and a reminder of how very good they were in their early years. This was originally featured in the seminal music film, Urgh! A Music War. The version here is a rip from the VHS release that I found online. Incredibly, UB40 didn't make the cut for the vinyl album release, itself a must-have in any record collection.

Staying with another legendary reggae band from Birmingham, Steel Pulse are up next with Makka Splaff. The song originally featured (as Macka Splaff) on their debut Handsworth Revolution. The version here appeared on the legendary Short Circuit: Live At The Electric Circus album, released on 10" vinyl with a limited edition bonus 7". A copy on Discogs will set you back (I think a rather reasonable) £29.00, less if you're not bothered about the 7".

Another contender for greatest (live) album of all time is Aswad with 1983's Live And Direct, recorded at that summer's Notting Hill Carnival in London. I remember seeing a full-page ad in Smash Hits at the time, priced as a mini-album at £2.99. At 9 tracks (10 if you split the 2-song Rockers Melody) and 45 minutes in length, there's no 'mini' about it and the sound is as fresh and crisp now as it was three decades ago.

Closing today's selection is Matumbi, whose theme tune to the BBC TV series Empire Road was also included on the 1978 compilation Don't Walk, Boogie nestled in my parent's record collection. Both the TV show and the song made a big impression on me and - unknown to me at the time - introduced me to the genius of Dennis Bovell.

After Tonight is another classic from the Matumbi catalogue, which Dennis has revisited and re-recorded several times throughout his career, most recently in 2022 with Winston Reedy. This live version was recorded on day 2 of the Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea in December 1979. A fund-raiser for victims of the conflict in Cambodia, it was a mammoth 4-day event at the Hammersmith Odeon, kicking off with Queen, ending with Paul McCartney and Wings and featuring The Pretenders, The Specials, The Who and Elvis Costello & The Attractions.

The day 2 line-up was Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Matumbi, Dennis and other bandmates bolstering the former's line-up, followed by The Clash. What a night that must have been. You needn't wonder: with another name check for the Albums That Should Exist blog, you can find collated selections from all four days posted last summer. Zip file links are still live, though I had to close down multiple pop-ups and revisit the initial link page to eventually get the download. Well worth the effort though, as all three acts are on top form.

All that yakking and I need another brew! Let me just stick this selection on repeat...

 

1) Ghetto Of The City: Misty In Roots (1979)

2) Wicked Dem: Talisman (1981)

3) No Woman No Cry: Bob Marley & The Wailers (1975)

4) Guess Who's Coming To Dinner: Black Uhuru (1982)

5) Madame Medusa: UB40 (1980)

6) Makka Splaff (The Colly Man): Steel Pulse (1977)

7) African Children: Aswad (1983)

8) After Tonight: Matumbi (1979)

 

18 July 1975: The Lyceum, London, England: 3

02 October 1977: Electric Circus, Manchester, England: 6

31 March 1979: Cirque Royal/Koninklijk Circus, Brussels, Belgium: 1

27 December 1979: Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea, Hammersmith Odeon, London, England: 8

28 August 1980: Arènes De Frejus, Fréjus, France: 5

28 July 1981: Bath Pavilion, Bath, England: 2

26 November 1982: Jamaica World Music Festival, Bob Marley Performing Arts Center, Montego Bay, Jamaica: 4

26 August 1983: Meanwhile Gardens, Notting Hill Carnival, London, England: 7

 

Everything's Gonna Be Alright (45:08) (KF) (Mega)

Our Children Shall Rise Up Against Us Because We Are The Ones To Blame

Don't worry, there hasn't been a revolt at Casa K. Instead, here's some agit from the late 1970s, embracing punk, post-punk, post-modern, post-Mott and stick-it-in-your-pipe-and-smoke-it sounds from 15 of the best.

British Lions formed from the ashes of Mott The Hoople (via Mott) with John Fiddler (Medicine Head) taking front of stage. One More Chance To Run was their debut single and the opening track of their eponymous first album.

Quite a few self-titled debut albums featured here, now that I think about it, taking in The Clash, Tubeway Army, Squeeze, The B-52's, The Pretenders and (almost) Public Image Ltd. and Talking Heads.

 

A first appearance here for Sham 69 with - what else? - Hersham Boys and inevitable returns from Siouxsie & The Banshees, Magazine, Associates and The Jam. 

The closing song - and inspiration for today's post title - is We Are All Prostitutes, the blistering debut single by Bristol's own The Pop Group. 

 

It's been nearly a year since Mark Stewart tragically left us, so much to say in 1979 and so much still to say when he passed on in 2023. This one's for Mark and anyone who has spoken up and called out wrong doing.

Even so, our children shall rise up against us because we are the ones to blame.

 

1) One More Chance To Run: British Lions (1977)

2) What's My Name: The Clash (1977)

3) Hersham Boys (Long Version By Jimmy Pursey & Peter Wilson): Sham 69 (1979)

4) Poppy Day (John Peel Session): Siouxsie & The Banshees (1979) 

5) My Shadow In Vain: Tubeway Army (1978)

6) Attack: Public Image Ltd. (1978)

7) The Light Pours Out Of Me (Album Version By John Leckie): Magazine (1978)

8) Boys Keep Swinging (Cover of David Bowie): Associates (1979)

9) Sex Master: Squeeze (1978)

10) Marooned: Wire (1978)

11) Don't Worry About The Government: Talking Heads (1977)

12) 6060-842: The B-52's (1979)

13) News Of The World: The Jam (1978)

14) Brass In Pocket: The Pretenders (1979)

15) We Are All Prostitutes (Single Version By Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1979) 

 

We Are The Ones To Blame (46:05) (KF) (Mega)

 

We Are All Prostitutes

We are all prostitutes
Everyone has their price
We are all prostitutes
Everyone has their price
Everyone
 
And you too will learn to live the lie
And you too will learn to live the lie
And you too will learn to live the lie
Everyone has their price
 
Aggression
Competition
Ambition
Consumer fascism
Consumer fascism
 
We are all prostitutes
Everyone has their price
We are all prostitutes
Everyone has their price
Everyone
 
Capitalism is the most barbaric of all religions
 
Department stores are our new cathedrals
Department stores are our new cathedrals
Our cars are martyrs to the cause
Our cars are martyrs to the cause
 
Our children shall rise up against us
Our children shall rise up against us
Because
Because we are the ones to blame
Because we are the ones to blame
Because
Because
They will give us a new name, we shall be
Hypocrites

Hypocrites

Hypocrites

Hypocrites

Hypocrites

Hypocrites

No Games

It feels like an age since I've posted an 80s 12" mixtape inspired selection on a Friday. I haven't checked, it's probably been a couple of weeks but what the heck, repetition celebrates and devalues!

I've kept my sights firmly on 1982 and 1983 for today's deadly eight, so expect some of the emerging 'big' sounds, stuttering edits and extended breaks that the 12" format was playing with at the time. 

The only two I owned at the time were the cassette version of the Talking Heads album Speaking In Tongues, which featured exclusive extended versions of several tracks including Slippery People, and the 12" of Our Lips Are Sealed by Fun Boy Three, the 'Special Remix Version' incorporating a spoken word second half that at the time was quite a surprise but which I quickly grew to love.

I also owned Seven Singles Deep, the mini-LP collection of extended A-sides by The Icicle Works, although the version of Birds Fly is a remix that featured on the 12" single in the USA. The version of Paper House by Associates featured on the re-release of The Affectionate Punch, which was remixed and repackaged in the wake of Party Fears Two and the album Sulk. Elvis Costello & The Attractions and The Beat were very belated acquisitions in the 21st century and worth the price of admission alone, in my opinion.

 

China was a B-side on the very first 12" single release of Dance Hall Days in 1982 back when Wang Chung were called Huang Chung. Sadly, Wang Chuang were cruelly denied a place in SWC's current Rock's Greatest W series over at the frankly essential No Badger Required. Should I have the privilege of participating in a future Rock's Greatest H, I am poised to nominate...

Rounding off today's selection is The Last Film by the wonderful Kissing The Pink, whose hugely enjoyable Anthology 5CD box set was propelled through the letter box at Casa K a couple of weeks ago. They were bonkers to say the least and the three 1980s albums included are markedly different in style and sound but all the better for it. To many, The Last Film is their 'one hit wonder', a reminder of a time when quite out there pop could also be a hit.

 

1) Let Them All Talk (Extended 12" Remix By Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley): Elvis Costello & The Attractions ft. The TKO Horns (1983)

2) China (American Extended Remix By Roger Bechirian): Huang Chung (1982)

3) Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) (Extended Club Remix By Steve Thompson): The Icicle Works (1983)

4) Paper House (Remix By Associates & Mark Arthurworrey): Associates (1982)

5) Slippery People (Cassette Mix By Talking Heads & Alex Sadkin): Talking Heads (1983)

6) Save It For Later (Extended Remix By Bob Sargent): The Beat (1982)

7) Our Lips Are Sealed (Special Remix Version By Fun Boy Three & Jeremy Green): Fun Boy Three (1983) 

8) The Last Film (Hymn Version - Extended By Kissing The Pink, David King & Neil Richmond): Kissing The Pink (1983) 

 

No Games (44:10) (KF) (Mega)

Lady, You Shot Me

Barry Adamson releases a new single today, titled The Last Words Of Sam Cooke. In the wake of the Oscars, it seems fitting that the man responsible for a vast body of real and imaginary film soundtracks should return with a rousing blast of cinematic pop.

Over to the promo blurb:

 

Set in the Haçienda Motel in South Central Los Angeles, 11 December 1964, we glide straight into the head of the great singer, as he makes his fatal date with destiny, flashing his cash and picking up Elisa Boyer and ending up getting shot by Motel manager Bertha Franklin.

 

A tragedy set within blissful soul sounds, high on swirling gospel organ and a stomping beat, with a chorus that echoes Sam Cooke’s reported last words: “Lady, you shot me!”.

  

Or, in plainer words, another 'hit' from Mr. Adamson. I love it.

Cut To Black, which I think is Barry's tenth album and first in nearly 8 years, is out in May with a tour of the UK and Europe following hot on its heels.

 

 

I was high when I met her
I really should have known better
She was wild and licentious
Love by the hour’s unpretentious
She was hankering for attention
Neon drug store blessing
I was young and adventurous
With a buck to buy some brand new shoes

The stars they were fading
The high that I am still chasing
At the midnight Hacienda Blue
All my dreams had come true
Ahh lady, you shot me
Lady, you shot me

I’m a man and salvation is here
Temptation’s calling me loud and clear
She light me up and blow me away
King of lost souls on my knees and I pray
Cupid’s bullet loaded in her gun
Conquest feels like redemption
Angel singing a devil’s song
Don’t wait for heaven, 'cos here I come

That bad apple that tastes so sweet
Back seat girl knocked me off my feet
At the midnight Hacienda Blue
All of my love won’t save you
Ahh lady, you shot me
Lady, you shot me

Blood moon bathed in cheap champagne
Sunset strip swallowed my soul once again
At the midnight Hacienda Blue
All my dreams faded from view
Lady, you shot me