Yeah Hup

Best Aussie punk band? The answer to that question will always be a toss-up between the Saints and these guys. "There's gonna be a new race, kids are gonna start it up..." Cool concept or what?

Radio Birdman - New Race

El Salvador

If you're even remotely interested in reggae music, pick up Lloyd Bradley's indispensable book Bass Culture. Guy knows what he's talking about. Here's he is on Lee Perry's dub masterpiece Super Ape for instance: "...a jungle of a soundscape so thick you need a machete to hack through the undergrowth, while the vines and creepers continually swing back and hit you in the face. Like nothing else at the time, it shows how far roots reggae could have gone, as it explores roots both thematically as well as musically, Rastafari, righteousness and repatriation from a perspective so skewed it comes back into line as the absolutely spiritual. This man is the Salvador Dalí of dub."

Scratch & The Upsetters - Croaking Lizard

Bill & Gil

Some more jazz? Why not. Gil plays Monk, featuring Johnny Coles on trumpet. Now that's a warm bath alright. Meanwhile, his namesake Bill sure knows what to do with a Gershwin standard.

Gil Evans - Straight No Chaser
Bill Evans - My Man's Gone Now

Lucky Strike

Calling all reggae lovers to hail the relatively new King Spinna label, which is more or less a successor to the legendary, much lamented Blood & Fire imprint. Its latest output is a sparkling sampler of rare roots tracks supervised by the one and only Bunny 'Striker' Lee. Here's an example in fine style, by underrated vocalist Cornell Campbell. And in case your Jamaican patois is a bit rusty, let mr. Lee explain what a ginegog is exactly: "See di man dah a ginegog, that mean seh like you are the champion, that you inna the t'ing longtime. Some a ginegog, some a hooligan..." Seen?

Cornell Campbell - Gorgon A The Ginegog

Givin' Praise

"Well... the only words I said today are beer and thank you..." A delicious country-style taster of the new Bill Callahan album is what's in store this Saturday. That mr. Smog just keeps getting better and better I tell you. And you? You never had it so good. Beer. Thank you. Cheers.

Bill Callahan - The Sing

In Bloom

I tend to regard Jeff Koons as a bit of a charlatan actually, but contemplating his flowering puppy in the Basque city of Bilbao is something I can recommend to any art lover with a sense of humour. Not so cuddly aside: shortly before Puppy was to be inaugurated in 1997 by the Spanish royal couple, three ETA members, disguised as gardeners, were discovered carrying flowerpots containing remote controlled grenades. They shot and killed a police officer when trying to flee the scene.

Thee Headcoats - Shouldn't Happen To A Dog

Now's The Time

I'm back, and the clock says jazz. Dig it?

Dexter Gordon - Three O'Clock In The Morning
Lester Young & Harry Edison - One O'Clock Jump

Seem To Be Lonely

"Just call my name and say that I'm your lover man..." Got a two pack of exquisite lonely lovers from the Island for you today. Two entirely different songs mind, but the message remains the same. Meanwhile, I'll be away for a week, but I guess this duo will keep you plenty satisfied 'til my return. Laster sortu!

The Sensations - Lonely Lover
Gregory Isaacs - Lonely Lover

It's A Love Song

A rare goodie from the email inbox: pastoral sounds from Wilder Maker, pop craftsmen from Brooklyn, NY. Their Year Of Endless Light album is out now, in a sleeve to die for. Might be just what you were waiting for, my amigos da musica.

Wilder Maker - Slow Life

Watching Waiting

"Listen to the voice of Buddha, saying stop your sericulture..." The Human League in their adventurous early days, before the back-up singers and the hits came, were much more than just a guilty pleasure. I saw Phil Oakey and co open for Iggy back in 1978, and they were a sight to see.

The Human League - Being Boiled

I Know

Just scored tickets to see the mighty Willis Earl Beal live on stage later this month. Can't wait, as his out-of-nowhere lofi debut Acousmatic Sorcery hit me right between the eyes last year. And judging from the couple of tracks I've heard so far, his new offering Nobody Knows ain't too shabby either. My name is nobody.

Willis Earl Beal - Too Dry To Cry