Howard & Henry

Or Elvis and T Bone, anno 1985. Still goes down a treat.

The Coward Brothers - The People's Limousine
The Coward Brothers - They'll Never Take Her Love From Me

Movin' & Groovin'

And funk is the preacher. 'Nuff said. An absolute classic from the early eighties. Take it away, James.

James Blood Ulmer - Jazz Is The Teacher

Look At Her Run

This one goes out to someone special. "Layin' 'round doing nothing like all my friends, play it cool, don't get angry, count up to ten..." Per molts anys, amic.

Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen
The Heptones - Only Sixteen
Buzzcocks - Sixteen Again

From The Crystal Ship

More sounds from the land of the rising sun? Why not indeed. Here's a lovely dreamscape by psychmasters Suishou No Fune. Are they still going?

Suishou No Fune - Your Tears Drop From The Sky

Oh! Kikagaku

Sitars go wild in Tokyo tonight. Been enjoying last year's acclaimed House In The Tall Grass by Kikagaku Moyo so much I just had to look for more of their stuff. Cue Forest Of Lost Children, the second effort by these über-heads from Japan. A heavier affair for sure, but just as trippy and hypnotizing. I really need to see these guys live.

Kikagaku Moyo - Streets Of Calcutta

Like A Dream

Went digging here in town recently and stumbled upon this flamenco beauty by Fernanda and Bernarda, legendary singing gitano sisters from the fair town of Utrera. Deep stuff: ¡Lo Puro!

Fernanda De Utrera - Fandangos
Fernanda y Bernarda De Utrera - Bulerías Cané

Piano In Play

This just in from the newsdesk: the mighty Howe Gelb is coming to town this March. And with a piano trio at that, having - temporarily? - disbanded Giant Sand, his desert-rocking band of choice since the mid-eighties. I'm guessing he'll play a lot of songs from his jazzy and intimate Future Standards album, and that's cool with me. Can't wait.

Howe Gelb - Mad Man At Large

So Alone

"With all the dreams I own..." Presenting a lonely six pack for your listening pleasure. Artwork - as usual with this kind of thing - by the mighty Tinca. Enjoy, my amigos da musica.

Moon Mullican - I'll Sail My Ship Alone
Esther Phillips - Living Alone (We're Gonna Make It)
The Bush - To Die Alone
Marijata - I Walk Alone
Johnny Thunders - Leave Me Alone
Colin Newman - Alone

Greetings From Morón

Straight from the frontier, straight from the heart.

Son De La Frontera - Bulería Del Corazón

Taste The Taste

Virginian Matthew E. White met British singer Flo Morrissey at some Lee Hazelwood tribute show, and things apparently clicked so well they decided to record a duet cover album together. And a fine match they are. Not every song does it for me to be honest, but the soulful overall sound of Gentlewoman, Ruby Man, with no small thanks to master arranger White, is a pleasure to behold.

Flo Morrissey & Matthew E. White - Look At What The Light Did Now

Glory Down The Glen

Our fave Scottish folkie is back with a band and a bang, and that's some good news. The Downward Road is a rollicking taster in ye olde Fairport mode for a new album called Pangs, which will come out late February on Chicago's renowned Drag City label. Can't wait.

Alasdair Roberts - The Downward Road

Two Kind Favors

Ever since Rallizes mastermind Takashi Mizutani disappeared completely from the public eye, his rival Keiji Haino has been the undisputed king of the Japanese guitar avant-garde. Here he riffs on a Blind Lemon Jefferson classic in two very distinct ways. Black blues indeed, so prepare for some uneasy listening.

Keiji Haino - See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (soft version)
Keiji Haino - See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (violent version)