On January 26th, 1975, the Alan Yentob-directed documentary of David Bowie’s weird travels and travails in America was shown on BBC TV in the UK. It was filmed when Bowie was at the height of his cocaine addiction and magnified his paranoia and probably very fragile mental state. But, for me and many Bowie fans, it remains one of the best documentaries about the former David Robert Jones ever. Another piece of Bowie’s history took place on that date but in 1967. It was the day that he began recording one of his best-loved tunes, “The Laughing Gnome”. 😉
Meanwhile, on January 26th, 1961, Elvis Presley was number one in the UK singles chart with his sixth UK chart-topper, “Are You Lonesome Tonight”. It also hit number 2 in the UK when it was reissued in 2005. It was an old song written in 1926 by Roy Turk and Lou Handman. The Blue Barron Orchestra took the song to the US Billboard Top 20 in 1950. Apparently, Elvis recorded the song following a suggestion made by his manager Colonel Tom Parker. Marie Mott, Parker’s wife had said it was one of her favourite songs. Posting this piece also gives me a chance to once again share the laughing version of “Are You Lonesome Tonight”
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KMFDM are lining up their 23rd studio album, ‘Let Go’ for release and they are most definitely not stale. The new single “Airhead” comes just days after the previous one “Let Go”. It has a fabulous 80s and 90s rock vibe which reminded me of both Joan Jett and Garbage. If the rest of the album is as good as these two tracks it will be very special indeed. KMFDM was originally named Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, which was loosely translated by the band as “no pity for the majority” They are a multinational industrial rock band from Hamburg led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance art project in Paris. The current line-up includes Sascha “Käpt’n K” Konietzko (on Bass, Beats, Synths & Vocals), Lucia Cifarelli (on vox), Andy Selway (Drums) and Andee Blacksugar (Guitars). Lucia provides the voice on “Airhead” and gives it her best Shirley Manson. This is a great single and I am most definitely looking forward to the album! The video is a splendid journey down memory lane and so are the lyrics, especially the opening lines, “Born the year of the Chia pet – Blondes were in, but I’m brunette – Vietnam and Donkey Kong – I was busy getting high with Cheech & Chong.” Check out this fabulous song, you will love it, I certainly do!
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Following the success of their 2022 Christmas tune “It’s Christmas In Ukraine” Afro Neat returns with “Save the Children / Tuwaokoe Watoto” and all proceeds will be going to the charity Save The Children. It is a jaunty tune with a great message and Afro Neat, who I think are a collective of musical talents are fronted by Kenyan Producer J Nana and Lano Msanii, also from Kenya. The song was written by Frank Robinson. There is a mini-album/ EP of the tune, also called “Save The Children / Tuwaokoe Watoto” which contains seven different versions of the song including instrumentals and Swahili versions. Give this track a spin, it is a nifty little tune and you will be raising money for a great cause too!
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Line Beauclair has just released her first single, “Soft”. It is a gorgeous concoction of love, emotion, fragility, and an almost transcendent and succulently sultry vocal. It is the kind of song that comes along very rarely that can open your heart and step right in, the hair on the back of my neck stood up throughout every play. The minimalist instrumentation helps create a perfect backdrop for lyrics that describe that point in time in a relationship where both parties are completely vulnerable with each other. Line said of “Soft” “I think this song captures the universal feeling letting go and being truly ourselves with another person, something that becomes harder every day in a society where appearances carry such weight.” She also said that it is “A song that I hope helps people be more open and vulnerable – something to remind you that putting up a front can sometimes be very detrimental and that we all need to be gentle with ourselves and others from time to time.” I love the lyrics, particularly the lines “And the world was rough. It scarred us. So we built our own. We don’t need to be tough. Just needed us. To have a home“
Line was born in northern France, her mother is French and her father is American. She appears to draw influences from both countries with shades of Jane Birkin and Lana Del Ray. Line lives in Paris and adds French cool and style to sublime US balladry and songcraft. Line describes her influences as ““Growing up I was surrounded by 60s French music and was heavily influenced by their ability to craft intelligent songs with deeper meaning all while creating a magnetic vibe and atmosphere. It really helped me integrate the idea that lyrics do not need to sacrifice melody or energy. I was able to understand that further thanks to American artists like Lana Del Rey or Taylor Swift, that are able to brilliantly combine both to create true pop anthems. I am now based in Paris but have lived all over France, which has inspired me greatly, and writing in places such as St Tropez and New York City have truly helped me refine my musical style.” Take a listen, if you love great music, you will adore this track.
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On this day, 24th January 2005, country singer Lynn Anderson was caught stealing a Harry Potter DVD from a Taos, New Mexico supermarket and arrested. She punched a police officer during the arrest process. She was charged with shoplifting, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer. The assault charge was later dropped and so was the shoplifting charge. However, the latter was conditional on her not committing any further offences. She was 57 at the time and had a drinking problem. Thirty-five years earlier she had a huge hit with “(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden” a song written by Joe South. Sadly Lynn passed away in 2015. Incidentally “Rose Garden” was a favorite of my Mum and Dad. Anderson was a hugely successful recording artist and in her younger years won several equestrian events.
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This was one of several shows to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the fabulous Fulford Arms. Only three years until the venue becomes a teenager! The poster above shows JUKU as a headliner supported by special guests. Sadly, no thanks to that bastard Covid-19, JUKU could not play. Which left us with Special Guests, who are Special Guests? Are they a band, no, but that might make a good name, right? There were three special guests; No Como Crees, Speedreaders, and new headliners PERCY.
So first up it was No Como Crees. We got two-thirds of a punky trio forced into an acoustic set thanks to drummer Dave getting the back door trots, or as Roxy Music once said, both ends burning! Did this stop No Como Crees? No, they were absolutely ace with a towering display of slacker rock! Their original tunes were fabulous and their cover of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” was stunningly spectacular and supremely sublime. Vinnie and Harrison, you fucking rock! I am sure Dave rocks too when he doesn’t have the Dehli belly!
Speedreaders were next with a kind of drone-driven indie sound. Sometimes it sounded like shoegaze on speed, and I do mean that in a good way. The harmonies were mostly perfect. There is a definite Velvet Underground influence with Speedreaders. The particular highlights for me were “Little Things” and “Nobody Died” and the wild wig out on the closing number was full-on psychedelic.
When JUKU had to pull out PERCY, those West Yorkshire Super Heroes, pulled on the number twelve shirt and headlined. They have a new album coming out later this year and their set was pretty much that whole album. They opened with what is now a solid PERCY classic, “What Les Said.” “Blackout” is brilliant and in my opinion owes a small debt to Ian Dury. I really love “Thinking Of Jacking It All In Again” and this was the first time that song had ever been played in York. It has a weird and mesmerising fairground-style rhythm to it. Introduced as a song for autistics who are not really autistic it was “Do You Think I’m On The Spectrum?” This is the kind of song that probably only PERCY could write. The same could be said of the wonderful and very dark “I Can Hear Orgies” which reminded me a little of Public Image Limited at their finest. ”It’s Not About The Money” (at least that is what I think it is called) is definitely a future PERCY classic. they closed with the modern ghost story in a song that is “Last Train To Selby”, a truly epic track. So many of the new songs have a classy and more punky edge and for me, this bodes very well indeed for the new album. This was another brilliant set from one of York’s finest bands as they enter their 28th year!
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Earthquake Lights hail from New York and are based in Brooklyn. The production, harmonies, and orchestration on their new single “Heartbeat” is sublime. They have been referred to as alt-rock, but on this song alone they are just an awesome band. The emotion in this track is palpable and the sadness, sorrow, and ultimately hope is clear in the gorgeous understated vocals and cinematic feel of the tune. At one point the kick-drum and bass poignantly mimic the sound of a heart murmur. The song is inspired by the loss of a vulnerable family member, who it feels was really, really loved. Singer Myles Rodenhouse says of the track “It’s about that moment before the end – when you know it will end but do not know when exactly.” It is a truly beautiful song on par with Elton John’s “Song For Guy”. The song is dedicated to the Mikel sisters. I love it! The band has appeared on these pages once before, back in March 2019 when we reviewed their song “The Eight-One“.
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After a five-year hiatus, Georgia Reed has not released new music until late last year. The Australian singer-songwriter has relocated to the UK and is returning to her music in a huge way. Her single, “Haunted” issued last November was the first of four songs lined up for release in the coming months. Following hot on the heels of the haunting and dancey “Haunted” comes the new track “Back In Time”. It has an ethereal hymn-like feel with its heavenly, echoey, counterpoint backing vocals. Meanwhile, Georgia’s voice is stunning in this dark ballad which contains a hopeful vibe. There is a yearning emotion in the vocal and it is hard not to be moved by her voice. There are some incredible lyrics on show, I particularly love the line “I think god gives me lemons just to see what I create”. Take a listen to Georgia Reed, I love her stuff and I think that you will too.
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On 19th January 1980, the first independent record charts were published in the UK. Those charts became a huge success and all the “inkies” used to include them in their publication every week. On that first week 44 years ago “Where’s Captain Kirk? by Spizzenergi was the best-selling indie single and a pre-fame Adams and the Ants had the number one indie album with ‘Dirk Wears White Sox’. I still love that album!
To be included in the indie chart, a record had to be distributed independently of the major record companies’ corporate framework; the music genre was irrelevant. This is why “Save Your Love” by Renée and Renato made it to number one in the indie charts in December 1982 and Black Lace was atop of the Indie charts in August 1984 with “Agadoo”. Strangely those two never seem to appear on Indie compilations, do they?
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The esteemed Louder Than War referred to POLEVAULTER as “Sleaford Mods without the cringe”. Perhaps a bit harsh on Sleaford Mods, but probably true. POLEVAULTER is the perfect example of dance-punk done brilliantly well. Yes, there are some Sleaford Mods in their sound, plus the Prodigy, and the Shamen. It is impossible not to move to new single “Violently Ill”. This is a sonic attack on an industrial scale. If this track had any more power it would leave a mushroom cloud above the dance floor, it is incendiary in the way it hits you. Listening to this tune did not make me violently ill, in fact, it made me ecstatically happy. The electro beats and synth hooks pummel you into submission. This track is made to be shouted across festival fields across the world. I know that this is a dark sound, but if you want to cure your ills and make your life better, then listen to “Violently Ill” by POLEVAULTER. The video which accompanies the track is deep, dark, disturbing, delightful, and DIY. It was directed by Jon Franz and shot and edited by Lucie Armstrong. The band’s debut album hits the streets on 26th January and last week they performed the album on repeat for 8 hours straight from 4pm to midnight on 13th January via a live stream to raise funds for the Gaza Sunbirds, a para-cycling team based in the Gaza Strip. The team is currently providing emergency food parcels and aid to families sheltering around the Gaza Strip. For more info and to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/polevaulterforgazasunbirds
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