With a title that names someone’s funeral this new song from Brooklyn’s Hand Gestures was never going to be a supremely happy musical ride, but in many ways it is. I have always seen a funeral as a celebration of someone’s life. I believe that the titular Justin’s life is being celebrated and is particularly clear in the line “I guess that Justin gets to crowd surf for one more night“. The framing of “teenage moments that shaped me” gives it a narrative quality that many listeners can relate to, especially if they have their own past regrets or pivotal adolescent experiences. This is a delicate and gorgeously ambient lo-fi track which took me back to some of the softer moments from Mark Everett.
This is the latest single from their forthcoming self titled album which is out on 31st October on Campers’ Rule Records. On the strength of this one song, and a sneaky listen to some of their other stuff I now count myself as a fan of Hand Gestures.
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Back in July Eileen Wattam, front woman and lead singer of fabulous Huddersfield band Fishing 4 Compliments sent me the bands new album, ‘Lost In Good Intentions’. I have listened to it quite a bit and it gets better every time. We featured the band in the Mayhem Virgins series in August, check that out here. It was released officially earlier this month and the world is a better place as a result. I have heard them described as a folk band, while they use some folk styling they are so much more than that. In fact they would be hard to place firmly into any specific genre box. Album opener “Hard To Please” has a Buckingham Nicks later Fleetwood Mac vibe to it with Wattam sounding like Jacqui Abbott at times. This is a wonderful pop rock song with hooks and harmonies aplenty. “Empty Eyes” also has a Fleetwood Mac feel, but adds a vocal which reminded me of Eddie Reader. Eileen seems to be able to draw on every emotion with her gorgeous voice.
There is an ardent and earnest folk rock feel to “Ghosts” with a vein of psychedelia that Traffic used to do so well. This is a song that genuinely haunts your head, but in a good way. Probably my favourite track at the moment. “If I Had” showcases the clarity of the Dunwells production perfectly. It has some infectious jangly guitar and a really emotive performance from Eileen Wattam. If you like an acoustic led ballad then “Secret Room” might be perfect for you. The lyrics are quite dark and might relate to toxic relationships. The light acoustic sound is slowly built up with strings which give it a cinematic feel. If Clare Grogan had fronted Aztec Camera back in the 80s they might have created a song like the magnificent “Make A Million”. Try and listen to this song and not sing, or at least hum along to it. The rock side of the band is strong on “Feeling Lucky” which leaves me with a smile every time I hear it.
The instrumentation is quite sparse on “Hand To Reach You” and the guitar sound is wonderfully Knopfleresque. Wattam sounds at her most vulnerable of this moody, brooding masterpiece. “Listen More” and “How You Amaze Me” round of a great album really well with some strong folk channels swinging through both. ‘Lost In Good Intentions’ really is a great album and the title is quite apt in my opinion as the band state their intent with passion and fire. If you love good music then get your ears around Fishing 4 Compliments right now! I can’t wait to see them live now!
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Punk icon Charlie Harper published a long awaited autobiography last month on Earth Island Books. The rather excellent foreword is by Lars Frederiksen (of Rancid), and the cover art is by Steve Dann. It details his long and colourful life against a supremely well put together social history of the UK music scene and the formation and development of punk rock. Even if you are not a UK Subs fan, but simply a music fan or punk fan you will love this book. Charlie regularly fires both barrels and rarely pulls his punches this memoir is often brutally honest. The details of so many UK Subs gigs are included. If there is anything missing it is perhaps more information about the UK Subs songs and how they were created, maybe he has saved that for another book.
Charlie is not a music historian but he knows his own story intimately and all the many things that were happening around him. The birth of rock ‘n’ roll, the sixties, the rise of punk (and its continued development) are all stars of the book. There are some wonderful vignettes, I particularly loved the piece on Rod Stewart giving Charlie a harmonica lesson in a London club in the sixties. Harper gives a fantastic and at times forensic insight into the UK Subs history. Studio stories, gig tales, highs and sometimes rather deep lows. The carousel of UK Subs members is extensively detailed. Charlie’s early life and memories of Britain’s cultural history starting at the tail end of World War Two help to explain to a small degree how punk came to be. I believe that Charlie being older than many of his punk peers makes him more authentic, he really does “mean it, man!”
The book includes many previously unseen photographs from Charlie’s life. This adds even more authenticity, which enhances the volume perfectly. There is no definitive or strict timeline to the UK Subs gigs that are covered, but for me this adds to the charm of the book. It stands at just shy of 480 pages, although mostly doesn’t feel too long. This is helped by having some really short chapters, there are nearly 140. Some might say it could be edited a little more, but then it wouldn’t capture the ragged edges of punk, the UK Subs and Charlie nearly so well. Treat yourself to this tale of a life well lived!
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The second single from Ava Renn’s debut album ‘Lightning Child’ is called “None The Wiser” and is a glorious dark, bluesy, garage, warped pop song. In simple terms the phrase ‘none the wiser’ means “to not understand something, even though it has been explained.” But as far as Ava Renn’s new song goes I completely understand that it is an absolute cracker of a song and deserves to be heard. To my ears there are elements of Meredith Brooks and Alannah Myles in Renn’s delivery. But this is a million miles from any kind of copy, Ava Renn will become a musical force to be reckoned with after her album is released in November! Get on the Ava Renn journey now, you will not regret it!
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“Girls With Gills” is a masterpiece of weird electro pop from American singer-songwriter Chloe Moriondo. If Lady Gaga had a secret daughter then she might well be Chloe Moriondo. Back in the days when the pop charts really mattered this song would be number one for weeks!
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Celeste received the Rising Star of 2020 Brit Award five years ago. Since then she has cut a wonderfully original furrow in the music world. She has the vocal dexterity and range of Ella Fitzgerald and the open-hearted emotional soul that Amy Winehouse had. “Woman Of Faces” makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The orchestration is expansive, cinematic and heavenly. This song is the title of her new album which is due out in November, based on this track it will be stunning!
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If you like Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright then I think that you will declare undying love for Nick Hudson’s new single “A Comet For Joshua”. Nick is also known as the front man of the Academy Of The Sun, but his solo work, including the new song, is impeccable and sublime.
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Teenage Tom Petties return with a great new single, “Hotmail”, out now on Safe Suburban Home Records. It is classic Teenage Tom Petties lo-fi garage rock that feels like Beck Hansen took over the controls of Weezer and made a song. I am off to listen to this again while I check my Hotmail inbox! Forget your emails and check out this great song!
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“I Never Miss Him Anymore” oozes perfect old school soul and blues heartbreak. Think “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Chicken Shack from 1969 which featured Christine Perfect (later Christine McVie) on vocals. The emotionally charged voices of Decker and Stone on this beautiful track show clearly that they are in denial and in fact really do miss the titular him! This sophisticated and classy tune was written by Johan Fransson, Audra Mae, and Caroline Watkins. This performance is a perfect blend of emotionally charged soul and heartbreaking country vibes. This is how soul should sound!
Decker had this to say about the partnership, “I grew up listening to Joss’s records, and I’ll never forget watching her perform barefoot at the Grammy’s, thinking she was the coolest and had such a powerful voice. I remember telling myself, ‘One day I’d love to sing with her.’ She’s as real as it gets, and working with her has been such a joy. She’s truly a talent, and this experience proves that if you manifest something, it really can come true. I manifested us working together—and here we are.” Meanwhile Stone said “I met Jessie on a plane randomly. I had no idea she had such a lovely voice at the time. I just knew she had a light, Jessie was so warm and welcoming. My husband finally clued me into the fact that she can seriously sing. We kept in touch and now we get to collab on this song. What a blessing. I love these moments of magic we get to have in this life. Goes to show if your door is open then goodness can come flooding in.” I reckon this is one of the best songs of the year so far.
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“Los Angeles” by Big Thief is a stunning and soulful stream of consciousness which made me think of R.E.M and Bran Van 3000. In fact Big Thief’s new release would segue perfectly with Bran Van 3000’s 1997 smash, “Drinking In L.A.” Check out “Los Angeles” today, you won’t regret it!
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