November 2011
13 posts
7 tags
What the folk is going on? →
Now I like a mix as much as the next human being. Actually I probably like a mix more than many. One of my all time favourites is The KLF’s seminal ‘Chill Out’. It’s about as good as it gets. On the off chance you’ve never heard it try to imagine a mythical night-time rail journey up the US Gulf Coast, from Texas into Louisiana, whilst Elvis Presley, Fleetwood...
4 tags
Stephen Stills vs. Punk Rock →
What did Stephen Stills do that made some punk bands hate him so much?
It was all down to a series in Rolling Stone magazine called Rock Star Rate-A-Record. Simple concept: sit a musician down with a handful of current releases and let them give mini-reviews. Nothing illustrated the chasm between punk and the older rock establishment better than the Rate-A-Record session with Stills on 4th June...
11 tags
Calling all NME readers of the 1980s →
Did you read the NME in the 1980s? Do you remember the compilation tapes they used to produce?
Now, though the wonders of the internet, you can relieve them all here.
This was one of the earliest I remember:
And of course the legendary C86:
This was the first one, which I can still remember clearly:
I’m looking forward to hearing these after so many years. I can’t remember...
8 tags
My best albums of 2011 →
So having confirmed there’s nothing else coming out in 2011 that I think is likely to influence my decision, here is my top ten albums of 2011 (and a few honourable mentions underneath):
1. Luke Haines - Nine And A Half Psychedelic Meditations On British Wrestling Of The 1970s And Early ’80s
Unquestionably my favourite album of 2011. This review does it full justice.
Luke Haines...
The Fall, Concorde 2, Brighton - 17 November 2011 →
The Fall were on good form last night. Not quite as intense as I’ve known them but still pretty damn good.
MES looked sober and by the end seemed to be really enjoying himself, and they played a wonderful 80 minute set that was full of personal favourites….
Nate
Taking Off
Taking Off
Psykick Dancehall
Strychnine
I’ve Seen Them Come
Age Of Chang
I’ve Been Duped
Laptop...
7 tags
The Fall, Concorde 2, Brighton - 17 November 2011 →
Hopefully we’re going to get something like this…
I’m really enjoying this…
Last time I saw The Fall, at the End Of The Road Festival, they put in set that was the nearest I’ve seen them come to their Greatest Hits. By which I mean they played quite a few tracks that have already been recorded. During ’Bury Pts 1+3’ Mark E Smith turned up the...
10 tags
George Harrison: Living In The Material World →
Just watched this stunning documentary by Martin Scorsese. At the time of writing it’s available to view on iPlayer.
I really, really enjoyed it. Three hours and forty minutes of George Harrison might sound like too much but the time flew by for me. The scale is massive. Childhood, The Beatles, George as a solo artist and all the key moments post-The Beatles….
- the success...
3 tags
The Trip Beyond →
One of the best mixes I’ve ever heard. Made with a kaleidoscopic combination of original Psych, Rock, Folk, Children’s Records, Spoken Word Vinyl, Prog, and Instructional LPs. Apparently it took THE GAFF about 120 hours to create this mix and the good news is he’s working on the follow up - Beyond The Trip Beyond. Keep an eye on his Soundcloud page and his website.
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The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye →
I jokingly remarked, off the back of a recent Throbbing Gristle interview on the Guardian’s Music Weekly podcast, that Psychic TV were the band Throbbing Gristle could have been. If I’m honest I generally prefer the idea of Throbbing Gristle to the reality.
As is often the way, thinking about Psychic TV, sent me back to a few of their tunes, which still sound pretty marvellous....
1 tag
Another Greg Wilson masterpiece →
Here’s a Greg Wilson mash-up. Sugardaddy & DJ Bone ‘Whatever Happened To The Soul?’. Greg is a legend and, in my opinion, this is one of his very best edits/mash-ups. Not only does Greg share some wonderful stuff via Soundcloud, he also takes the trouble to describe the evolution of his work. It’s a wonderful world.
The best review yet of my favourite album of 2011. →
I do keep mentioning the latest Luke Haines album. With good reason though. I have been thrilling to this album since buying it a few weeks ago. This is a review by Garry Mulholland - who is always worth reading. It’s the best review yet of my favourite album of 2011…
Luke Haines
‘9 1/2 Psychedelic Meditations on British Wrestling of the 1970s and Early...
