Travelin' Man

Louisiana blues legend leaves his baby, just because. Intense? You bet.

Robert Pete Williams - Freight-Train Blues

Cold And Clear

Had all but forgotten the lovely ladies of Malaria! until I saw some fine footage of them in an otherwise so-so documentary about West Berlin in the eighties. Riot grrrls way avant-la-lettre. Achtung Achtung!

Malaria! - Kaltes Klares Wasser
Malaria! - Geld

No Consolation

It's starting to look more and more like the obituaries here alas. Not having even remotely recovered from the loss of the Starman, I got the sad news that Otis Clay passed away last Friday. The Arkansas Yardbird, one of the finest southern soul singers ever, was 73. Miss him.

Otis Clay - I Die A Little Each Day

I'll Be Free

Just got the sad news that we've lost one of the true greats of popular music yesterday. I'm stunned. David Robert Jones, 8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016. Miss him.

David Bowie - Lazarus

Nothing New

"Nada de novo existe nesse planeta..." If you like your Brazilian pop both jazzy and baroque, try on Milton Nascimento, the master from Minas Gerais.

Milton Nascimento - Saudade Dos Aviões Da Panair (Conversando No Bar)

Adios Maestro

And while we're on the subject of flamenco, I just got the sad news that Manuel De Los Santos Pastor, better known as El Agujetas or El Agujeta de Jerez, passed away a couple of weeks back. The master with the raw voice was 76 years old. Miss him.

Manuel El Agujeta - Entranas De Mi Cuerpo

Por Fandangos

And the flamenco album of the year, you ask? Just has to be this attractive live recording made in Madrid's Círculo Flamenco. Singing his heart out is Antonio Reyes, a rising vocal star from Chiclana. He's accompanied by virtuoso guitarist Diego Del Morao, who once again proves himself a worthy successor to his late great father Moraíto. Here's hoping this duo will be together for years to come.

Antonio Reyes y Diego Del Morao - Fandangos

Seventually

And here's that inevitable list again, mi amigos da musica. Presenting the toppermost of the poppermost of 2015: seven heavenly albums one shouldn't be without.

1. Phil Cook - Southland Mission
Phil Cook - Sitting On A Fence
2. Ryley Walker - Primrose Green
Ryley Walker - Love Can Be Cruel
3. Meg Baird - Don't Weigh Down The Light
Meg Baird - Mosquito Hawks
4. Giant Sand - Heartbreak Pass
Giant Sand - Heaventually
5. Calexico - Edge Of The Sun
Calexico - Tapping On The Line
6. Simon Joyner - Grass, Branch & Bone
Simon Joyner - In My Drinking Dream
7. Dave Rawlings Machine - Nashville Obsolete
Dave Rawlings Machine - The Last Pharaoh

Over The Edge

Patience, people... The famous For The Sake Of The Song end-of-year list will be revealed shortly, but let's start with the best of the oldies-but-goldies bunch released during 2015. Don't you dare miss 'em.
 

1. Bob Dylan - The Cutting Edge '65-'66 - The Bootleg Series Vol. 12

Bob Dylan - Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again (Take 13 Alternate)

2. Miles Davis - Miles Davis At Newport '55-'75 - The Bootleg Series Vol. 4

Miles Davis - Directions

3. various artists - Ork Records: New York, New York

Richard Lloyd - (I Thought) You Wanted To Know

4. various artists - Punk 45: Extermination Nights In The Sixth City - Cleveland, Ohio

Pressler-Morgan One Plus One - You're Gonna Watch Me

 
And talking about oldies but goldies, I just got the sad news that Lemmy has passed away. The Motörhead frontman was 70. Miss him.

Motörhead - Love Me Like A Reptile

Y Nada Más

Cuba calling. I've loved these guys ever since their Ry Cooder produced eponymous smash appeared out of nowhere back in '97, although it soon got a little tiring hearing it in every restaurant, bar or chiringuito you found yourself in. But that was then and this is now, and there's a new compilation called Lost And Found to be enjoyed. A bit of a ramshackle collection of live tracks, outtakes and rest material it may be, but listen closely and you'll unearthen some real gems for sure. Take the infectuous Tiene Sabor for instance, sung by the wonderful Omara Portuondo. Tastes good, huh?

Buena Vista Social Club - Tiene Sabor

Howling In

As it's officially winter as we speak, relatively high temperatures notwithstanding, here goes with a fitting song. I never had much time for Lindisfarne's particular take on folkrock to be honest, but this baby's quite pretty. "Or do you pull the bed-clothes higher, dream of summertime instead?"

Lindisfarne - Winter Song