Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Hit The Band













Just got the sad news that keyboard master Bernie Worrell has left us. The highly influential Wizard of Woo, best known as a key member of George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic gang but also a de facto member of Talking Heads in the eighties, was 72. Miss him.

Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child)

Stop press: just heard that Winfield Scott Moore III, better known as Scotty Moore, passed away yesterday. The guitar great, best known for his revolutionary work with Elvis during the early years of the Memphis Flash and especially on the legendary Sun Sessions, was 84. Miss him, too.

Elvis Presley - You're A Heartbreaker

Monday, June 27, 2016

Awaiting Reverence

















From an intense 1971 Peel session, here's Christa Päffgen, better known as Nico. Sometimes I wonder where that battered harmonium full of cigarette burns of hers ended up after the underground diva passed away in '88.

Nico - Secret Side

Friday, June 24, 2016

Snow White Wings















Just got the sad news that Ralph Stanley has passed away. The Appalachian bluegrass legend was 89. He was the man alright. Miss him.

Stanley Brothers - Angel Band
Ralph Stanley - I Am The Man, Thomas

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

See The Sun





















The psychedelic nova tropicália of Brazil's Boogarins makes for a most excellent summer soundtrack. Here's your guia livre de dissolução dos sonhos, which translates as a free guide to the dissolution of dreams.

Boogarins - Avalanche

Monday, June 20, 2016

Never Let It Die





















Harlan Perry Howard (1927-2002) was one of the finest songwriters in country music. His definition of what makes a great country song is priceless: three chords and the truth. Amen to that, folks. Let's put on the style with a trio of his songs as performed by the honky tonk pride of Bakersville, Buck Owens.

Buck Owens - Let's Agree To Disagree
Buck Owens - Above And Beyond
Buck Owens - Pick Me Up On The Way Down

Friday, June 17, 2016

Brought Me Up






















With only five albums under his belt since his classic 1995 debut The Blue Moods Of Spain, Josh Haden can hardly be called a prolific musician. Which is cool of course. Take your time, my friend. His latest offering, called Carolina, has less noir and more of an Americana feel about it. I guess you'll like it. I know I do.

Spain - Tennessee

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Never Sold Out













Old gets a new life with two examples of Scott Walker magic, from the lush Scott 4 and the ruthless Tilt respectively. Left of center crooning never goes out of style, my amigos da musica.

Scott Walker - Boy Child
Scott Walker - Patriot (A Single)

Monday, June 13, 2016

Losing My Mind





















Finally found the time to check out Sturgill Simpson's new Sailor's Guide To Earth. Eagerly awaited, as its nouveau outlaw predecessor Metamodern Sounds In Country Music really got my juices a-flowin'. This time around though, I soon got lost in an overkill of strings and synths, while a totally misguided cover of Nirvana's In Bloom didn't help things either. Damn, bud! Here's the best of the bunch.

Sturgill Simpson - Breakers Roar

Friday, June 10, 2016

Modern Lovers





















A delightful track from my fave Eno album, the poppy and whimsical Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) from 1974. "Use a certain ratio..." In the early eighties, a group of funk-minded Manchester post-punks would take his word for it.

Brian Eno - The True Wheel
A Certain Ratio - Flight

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

On My Mind





















Legendary indeed. A deep gem from 1965, recorded shortly after the Mississippi master was rediscovered by a trio of blues enthusiasts in Rochester, NY, of all places.

Son House - Louise McGhee

Monday, June 6, 2016

Except For You





















That huge new Grateful Dead covers collection for the Red Hot Organisation sure is a lot to take in. Here's one of the stand-out tracks for me so far, featuring a remarkably mellow Bonnie Billy in a lesser-known song from the Dead canon.

Bonnie Prince Billy & Friends - Rubin And Cherise

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Keep On Riding





















Sure could use another troubadour, so I'm off to church tonite to catch Jonathan Wilson in solo acoustic mode. Laurel Canyon calling, dude.

Jonathan Wilson - Moses Pain

Before attending the house of prayer though, I'll raise a glass to those who left us: Fairport fiddling great Dave Swarbrick (75) and boxing icon Muhammad Ali (74). Miss them.

Fairport Convention - Come All Ye
Tom Russell - Muhammad Ali
Derrick Morgan - Black Superman (Muhammad Ali)

Friday, June 3, 2016

Bein' Alive





















If some would-be Nostradamus had predicted back in '66 that Bob Dylan, voice of the counterculture and all that jazz, would one day release two albums filled with pop standards made famous by Frank Sinatra, he would have been laughed right out of the joint. The second tasteful volume, called Fallen Angels, is out right now however. Fairytales can come true, folks.

Bob Dylan - Young At Heart

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

I'm Sorry






















Hopelessness finds Anohni - formerly known as Antony, of Johnsons fame - in angry mode. Soundscapes are provided by heavy duty electronica merchants Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never, an unexpected collaboration to say the least. Sometimes it works a treat. Not my usual cup of tea, but I fell hard for this one.

Anohni - Crisis