With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

The Mayhem Charts – May 2025 June 19, 2025

Filed under: Mayhem Monthly Chart,Mayhem Top 20 Chart — justwilliam1959 @ 7:48 pm
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Here is the Mayhem chart for May 2025, rather late (just like last month) I know, but better late than never right? Regular readers know the chart is based on my streaming listening habits. These are gathered over the last month by obscurify.com. My taste in music remains 99% more obscure than the rest of the UK! The chart remains contemporary-ish (but if a classic artist releases something new they might feature in the chart). However, last month’s top three “Legacy” artists were David Bowie, the Sweet and the Wombles! What? The Wombles I hear you say. Well yes I interacted with the legendary Mike Batt via his autobiography and an interview. Obscurify also suggests the most obscure artists I have listened to for March and they are Ace Hansel Jr, Dead Rat Society and Kindelan. Bowie, Dead Rat Society and Kindelan have retained their positions from last month.

Dead Rat Society are the top artist for May up from number four in April. Dead Rat Society are one of four acts that remain in the artist chart from last month, along with Millie Manders and the Shutup, Lexi Jones and Greentea Peng. Four artists feature in both the artist chart and the song chart; Dead Rat Society (#1 Artist, #1 and #5 Song), Sparks (#2 Artist and #2 Song), Getdown Services (#3 Artist, #3 Song) and Bruce Springsteen #6 Artist, #4 Song). Robbie Williams makes his first ever appearance in the Mayhem Chart at number 7 in the artist chart. Yes I am now finally a fan! So without further ado here are those charts in full! Click on the Spotify link below to listen to the famous (or infamous) five! Twenty one minutes of great music!

Mayhem Artist Chart May 2025

1 Dead Rat Society
2 Sparks
3 Getdown Services
4 Greentea Peng
5 Ace Hansel Jr.
6 Bruce Springsteen
7 Robbie Williams
8 Millie Manders and the Shutup
9 Kindelan
10 Lexi Jones

Mayhem Song Chart May 2025

1 Come With Me On A Spaceship – Dead Rat Society
2 A Little Bit Of Light Banter – Sparks
3 Chrysalis – Getdown Services
4 Land Of Hope And Dreams (Live In Manchester) – Bruce Springsteen
5 The Night – Dead Rat Society

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The Mayhem Charts – February 2025 March 12, 2025

Filed under: Mayhem Monthly Chart,Mayhem Top 20 Chart — justwilliam1959 @ 8:20 pm
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Here is the Mayhem chart for February 2025. Regular readers know the chart is based on my streaming listening habits. These are gathered over the last month by obscurify.com. After a slight blip last month my taste in music remains 99% more obscure than the rest of the UK! The chart remains contemporary-ish (but if a classic artist releases something new they might feature in the chart). However, last month’s top three “Legacy” artists were Gene, Roy Wood and Kate Bush. Obscurify also suggests the most obscure artists I have listened to for January and they are Liz Davinci, Not Now Norman and Kindelan. After being in the chart for months Delilah Bon dropped out last month, but she returned in February at number 9 in the artist chart.

An artist who featured in our latest Mayhem Virgins post, abs, sits at number 10. Top of the artist chart for February is a great favourite here at Mayhem Towers and a band we have championed for a long while. It is the wonderfully original and uber talented Jellybricks. Only one artist in the artist chart remains from last month and that is herorangecoat. Sitting at number two in the artist chart is my favourite living band, Avalanche Party. They are one of two artists to appear in the artist chart and the song chart. The other is the Last Of The Fallen Angels. Kindelan was number one in the song chart last month. She stayed in the chart for February, dropping to number 5. Push Puppets hit the top of the song chart with the stunning track “All Together On 3”. So without further ado here are those charts in full! Click on the Spotify link below to listen to the famous (or infamous) five! Nearly twenty minutes of great tunes!

Mayhem Artist Chart February 2025

1 Jellybricks
2 Avalanche Party
3 Antony Szmierek
4 Bowling For Soup
5 Rumer
6 The Last Of The Fallen Angels
7 Kendrick Lamar
8 Herorangecoat
9 Delilah Bon
10 abs

Mayhem Song Chart February 2025

1 All Together On 3 – Push Puppets
2 John Coltrane’s Moscow Skyscraper – Avalanche Party
3 BLOW – Kety Fusco
4 Amsterdam Flight – The Last Of The Fallen Angels
5 Drowning The Killer – Kindelan

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The Mayhem Charts – December 2024 January 1, 2025

Filed under: Mayhem Monthly Chart,Mayhem Top 20 Chart — justwilliam1959 @ 5:49 pm
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Here is the Mayhem chart for December 2024. Regular readers know the chart is based on my Spotify listening habits. These are gathered over the last month by obscurify.com. Apparently, my tastes have fallen by four points to 92% more obscure than the rest of the UK! It must be all the Christmas standards I have listened to last month. Incidentally no Christmas songs are included in the chart. But the most popular Chrimbo tune was Mr. Strange with “Santa Clause Hates The Poor”. The chart remains contemporary-ish (but if a classic artist releases something new they might feature in the chart). However, last month’s top three “Legacy” artists were David Bowie, Cat Stevens and Wham! Obscurify also suggests the most obscure artists I have listened to for November: Liz Davinci, Sleuth Gang and Carol Hodge. Carol also appears in the artist chart and the song chart. There is a top ten artists chart and a top 5 songs chart. There is the usual eclectic mix of artists, including three that were in the top ten last month. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds went up from number 2 to number 1. Herorangecoat is staying at number 7. Delilah Bon is staying at number 9. Delilah has been in the artist charts now for 13 months! Two artists appear in both lists for December: Delilah Bon and Carol Hodge. The number one song comes from HANDSHAKE IN SPACE. So without further ado here are those charts in full! Click on the Spotify link below to listen to the famous (or infamous) five!

Mayhem Artist Chart December 2024

1 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
2 Carol Hodge
3 Cassyette
4 Taylor Swift
5 Lana Del Ray
6 Du Blonde
7 HerOrangeCoat
8 Mannequin Pussy
9 Delilah Bon
10 Bobbie Dazzle

Mayhem Song Chart December 2024

1 Let’s Control It – HANDSHAKE IN SPACE
2 Not The President – Delilah Bon
3 Shake The Slack – Avalanche Party
4 Hunt You Down – ALT BLK ERA
5 Manoeuvres – Carol Hodge

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The Mayhem Charts – November 2024 December 5, 2024

Filed under: Mayhem Monthly Chart,Mayhem Top 20 Chart — justwilliam1959 @ 11:11 pm
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Here is the Mayhem chart for November 2024. Regular and constant readers know that the chart is based on my Spotify listening habits over the last month gathered by obscurify.com. Apparently, my tastes have fallen one point to 96% more obscure than the rest of the UK! The chart remains contemporary-ish (but if a classic artist releases something new they might feature in the chart). However, last month’s top three “Legacy” artists were David Bowie, U2 and the Four Tops. Obscurify also suggests the most obscure artists I have listened to for November: Liz Davinci, Vaquelin, and Sleuth Gang. There is a top ten artists chart and a top 5 songs chart. There is the usual eclectic mix of artists, including two that were in the top ten last month; Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Up from number 10 to number 2), and Delilah Bon (falling from number 8 to number 9). Delilah has been in the artist charts now for a whole year! Three artists appear in both lists for November: ALT BLK ERA, Joshua Idehan and the artist chart toppers Sleuth Gang. The number one song is “Age Of Stupid” by the Jellybricks. So without further ado here are those charts in full! Click on the Spotify link below to listen to the famous (or infamous) five!

Mayhem Artist Chart November 2024

1 Sleuth Gang
2 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
3 Joshua Idehen
4 Stress Dolls
5 Blue Violet
6 ALT BLK ERA
7 HerOrangeCoat
8 tiLLie
9 Delilah Bon
10 Not Now Norman

Mayhem Song Chart November 2024

1 Age Of Stupid – Jellybricks
2 Falling – Apollo Junction
3 Pity Party – Sleuth Gang
4 My Drummer’s Girlfriend – ALT BLK ERA (featuring Wheatus)
5 Mum Does The Washing – Joshua Idehan

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“Adamas” – Liz Davinci October 4, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:21 pm
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Liz Davinci’s elegantly resplendent new single “Adamas” is out now. It is a gorgeous and deep Baroque Pop piano ballad that draws on some Tori Amos influences and an undercurrent of Kate Bush. The piano coda at around 4 minutes 30 seconds has some sublime similarities to the piano sound on Kate Bush’s breakthrough hit “Wuthering Heights” from 1978. The lyrics are potentially dark and yet uplifting too. I particularly love the lines “She never gives in. Even if it means. She has to sin“

I believe the song is about being invincible or unconquerable as Adamas in Greek Mythology Adamas means unconquerable (Ancient Greek: Ἀδάμαντα’). Adamas was a Phrygian participant during the Trojan War. He was the son of the Phrygian leader Asius, King Dymas’s son, and Phaenops’s brother. Adamas was killed by Meriones. It is a haunting tune that slowly infects you, making you want to hear it repeatedly.

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Wow That’s What I Call Mayhem – Volume 3 September 17, 2024

Filed under: Now That's What I Call Mayhem! — justwilliam1959 @ 8:38 pm
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With humble apologies to the creators of the iconic NOW series of compilations that began in 1983, I posted and compiled the first WOW That’s What I Call Mayhem collection back in March, with volume 2 following just a few weeks ago. So are you ready for volume 3? I certainly hope so, because here it is! This includes the third 20 singles we reviewed in 2024 in another maniacal eclectic playlist for your listening pleasure! With 70 minutes of music, click here and lose yourself in the music!

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The Mayhem Charts – March 2024 April 2, 2024

Filed under: Mayhem Top 20 Chart — justwilliam1959 @ 8:47 am
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Here is the Mayhem chart for March 2024. Regular readers know that the chart is based on my Spotify listening habits over the last month. The chart remains contemporary-ish, rather than just an oldies chart However, the top three “Legacy” artists are Kate Bush, David Bowie, and Steve Harley/ Cockney Rebel. David Bowie returns to the chart after missing out for three months. Obscurify also suggests the most obscure artists I have listened to and for March those are Liz Davinci, The Apocalypse Disco and The Chinaskis. There is a top ten artists chart and a top 5 songs chart. There is the usual eclectic mix of artists, including four that were in the top ten last month (Crawlers, Bambi Thug, Delilah Bon, and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes). Four of the artists in the artist’s chart also appear in the song’s chart. Delilah Bon has been in the artist charts for four consecutive months and now she tops the song chart with the mighty “Maverick”. Drunk Mums crash straight to the top of the artist chart! So without further ado here are those charts in full! Click on the header of the song chart for the playlist on Spotify.

MAYHEM ARTIST CHART MARCH 2024

1 Drunk Mums
2 Caity Baser
3 James
4 Crawlers
5 Delilah Bon
6 SAHRA
7 Bambi Thug
8 Scene Queen
9 Mortimer Nyx
10 Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes

MAYHEM SONG CHART MARCH 2024

1 Maverick – Delilah Bon
2 Wailing Night – Mortimer Nyx
3 Life’s A Fucking Miracle – James
4 Finger – Scene Queen
5 Celestial – Dying Habit

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“Dynamite” – Liz Davinci March 27, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:40 pm
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Liz Davinci’s new single “Dynamite” showcases everything that she is good at. It is a pure slice of piano-led baroque pop with a happy melody and a dark feel in the lyrics. Vocally Liz pulls off a sound so gorgeous it not only makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end it keeps them in that position for long after the song has ended. The Tori Amos influence is in there as is the invisible, unconscious Kate Bush stylings, but this time around I also felt Lene Lovich, Hazel O’Connor, and even a softer Toyah Wilcox. This track is perhaps the best Liz Davinci track to date. The B-Side “Underscore” is sublime and sultry and feels almost Stygian in its dark, deep depths. Liz is no stranger to these pages, and we love her music over here at Mayhem Towers. As a harbinger of her new album, these tracks herald something that will be damned good!

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Mayhem Albums Of The Year 2023 December 10, 2023

Filed under: Mayhem Top 20 Chart — justwilliam1959 @ 9:29 pm
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I know a lot of people don’t like the end-of-the-year list craze, but I do, so the Mayhem Albums Of The Year feature is back for 2023! I tried to keep it to a top ten, but I failed miserably, so it is a top twenty. Is your favourite included, or conversely, is your least favourite one of my favourites? There are a lot of big artists on the list, because whilst I focus on newer and smaller artists, I still listen to the big ones, what can I say, I just bloody love good music! I am not going to write a piece on every album and artist included, but I would love to hear your choices for 2023. So here it comes, the Mayhem top 20 albums of 2023!

  1. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
  2. Black Rainbows – Corinne Bailey Rae
  3. Heavy Heavy – Young Fathers
  4. Chaos For The Fly – Grian Chatten
  5. Drop Cherries – Billie Marten
  6. The Ballad of Darren – Blur
  7. Seven Psalms – Paul Simon
  8. UK GRIM – Sleaford Mods
  9. Smile – Skindred
  10. Fata Morgan – Liz Davinci
  11. The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons – The Hives
  12. Vertiginous Drops – Carol Hodge
  13. Venom – WARGASM
  14. Chronicles of a Diamond – Black Pumas
  15. Black Classical Music – Yussef Dayes
  16.  1989 (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
  17. Things Lost – Suncharms
  18. Stories From a Rock n Roll Heart – Lucinda Williams
  19. CACTI – Billy Nomates
  20. 10,000 gecs – 100 gecs

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The WJAHOM Interview Podcast – Liz Davinci! June 4, 2023

Filed under: Interview,Podcast — justwilliam1959 @ 3:30 pm
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Last week I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the incredibly talented musician Liz Davinci. Listen to what Liz says about music (including her own, especially the new album), jazz, classical, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Marilyn Monroe, and many other things! Click here to listen to the complete interview and click here to check out Liz’s fabulous new album ‘Fata Morgana’ on Spotify.

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