After hours grooving with the dons of sound…
KAREN:
Blue Wing – Dave Alvin
The voice of Dave Alvin singing this song by Tom Russell is rich and expressive, a beautiful heartbreaking song about a U.S. state prisoner. It’s a folk tale or sorts.
Los Angeles – X
The harmonies of Exene and John are magical. I went to one of their Christmas shows at The Wiltern in L.A. in 2009 and it was the first time I had seen then since the early 80’s. They were just as powerful and fabulous as you would expect. I bow to them.
River – Joni Mitchell
This song and the album Blue were my companions when I first moved to London and was living in bedsit land by myself. I do like a good song that plucks the heart strings. I could relate to its longing and the perspective of distance – on the other side of the Atlantic to the USA.
Andy Warhol – David Bowie
I really love the acoustic guitar in this and the playful lyrics. It rocks my world as does this whole album. One of my all time favourites -Hunky Dory.
FRED:
Velvet Underground – Sister Ray (Live 1969 bootleg)
One of the best versions of Sister Ray. could have picked anything by them. Album wise no song is the same… there’s a theme gonna be developing here!
Public Image Limited – Public Image (1978)
As a kid l’d only been faintly aware of punk from top of the the pops, and radio one sunday night chart countdown. I was mainly listening to Bryan Ferry and the Stones! but I had liked holidays in the sun, and when I saw this on TOTP it just blew me away. I’d never heard anything like it and nothing would be the same again. Cue cramming of 30 years alternative music into 18 months. and I mean everything, Gram, MC5, Iggy, Dead, Airplane, Velvets,Dolls, Mott, Ska, Nuggets, Mr Mojo Risin, Thin White Duke, Can, etc.
Young MC – Know How (1989)
God, could’ve picked anything from P.E. to De La Soul which blew my head off when I first head 3 Feet High, to any Tribe stuff. But the guys at Delicious Vinyl had a really fun vibe about them, and a legit geekiness as well. Viz Marvin Young M.C. my brother was working at Island Records on the 4th and Broadway imprint and worked for all of these guys. Tone Loc literally spoke bass. there was a really good vibe in hip hop around this time, which was all to very sour. Much as I love Biggie, this was the golden age. Now it’s like prog rock before punk.
Beenie Man – Nuff Gal (1996)
Here’s the joker! Always loved reggae. It’s the only music I’ve ever felt a physical relationship with, the bass in mi belly. Which is why I must have dug P.I.L. that first time. Around the time we were doing the first album was driving up for a session, stuck at hammersmith roundabout and heard “Nuff Gal” for the first time on whichever pirate was in tune. Blew my head off! “many moods of moses” came out the next year and kept that mash up vibe going on in an album style. Country and reggae blessins. Mix it all up all the time!
PATRICK:
David Sylvian – Darkest Dreaming
Well I seem only to have room for one tune! Which is fine as I endorse all the above especially X, Joni, TG and PiL. I worship David Sylvian. My older brother was into Japan in the 80s and they were really creative pop stars. I think I got my first girlfriend by impressively identifying ‘The Other Side Of Life’ wafting from her room. Sylvian’s solo career is full of beautiful music but he always moves forward and no more so than in the last decade. If I was being more ascetic and purist I might have picked ‘Small Metal Gods’ from his last album, but he is a romantic and this is my favourite last-record-of-the-night.
‘R.O.C’ (Metal Postcard Records)
On September 22nd cult connoisseurs’ choice R.O.C reissue their critically-acclaimed, groundbreaking debut album on Metal Postcard records; ‘R.O.C’ which precedes the release of a brand new EP, due for release later this year. Every track lives on its own fully-formed planet; from the panoramic gloaming lullaby ‘Desert Wind’, the agitated stomp of ‘Excised’, to the celestial reflection of ‘God Willing’ and onwards ‘R.O.C’ is an eventful aural ride across changing landscapes and terrain, from rough to smooth. Surprises come at every corner, with ‘Hey You Chick’ offering a more ebullient and lusty mood over growling bass, bouncy beats and wah wah. If The Field didn’t hear ‘Balloon’ growing up, he should check it out asap, as they nail the ever-evolving, skywards climbing sound with confidence and panache. Every piece is a highlight, and despite their bricolage approach, tracks sound engrossing, arranged, fully-formed and far more than mere sonic tinkering. The dubbed-out experimental echoes of ‘Gold Bug’ and the prism-like ambience into space R.O.Ck of ‘Ascension’ contrast brilliantly with ’Dear Nicky’ and ‘Clouds’, which demonstrate their deft and at times camouflaged knack for songwriting, whilst ‘Plastic Jesus’ is a characteristically leftfield cover choice – of the song performed by Paul Newman in ‘Cool Hand Luke’. For writers of a certain vintage ‘R.O.C’ will mark the welcome return of a best kept secret, and for a new generation of scribes and fans alike, R.O.C will wow. It has stood the test of time, sounding freshly inspirational – standing up against its peers’ records from back then and recent releases in equal measures.
‘R.O.C’ on Metal Postcard Records out September 22nd 2014
