At times of stress or distress, I always turn to Cocteau Twins. For the last week or so I’ve listened to virtually nothing else. On Twitter I said that they was keeping me on an even keel. ‘But they make me soar,’ said somebody. Me too, but more than that, I know the songs so … More Song for Saturday: ‘Fotzepolitic’ by Cocteau Twins
With all eyes on Newport for the next week, here’s a lovely but unsentimental view of my hometown from some people who really know it.
One to put a smile on your face for the weekend. Altogether: ‘Ah-ah-ah!’ You can listen below or follow the link to buy it. Here’s the Gilliam-esque video:
There’s nothing like a week off for catching up on the books and music that fall by the wayside during busy times. Here, then, is a quick round-up of recent reading and listening that, if you’re looking for ideas, I can strongly recommend. Reading Hubert Selby Jr, ‘Last Exit to Brooklyn.’ As brutal and brilliant as … More Recent recommendations
Near the end of ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah,’ Bob Stanley writes that, …the modern pop era was as long as the jazz era; there’s enough in those five decades to spend a lifetime digging through, and even then you’ll never hear all of it. In this book he distills the lifetime that he’s spent digging through … More ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah’ by Bob Stanley
It’s that time of year again. I’ve posted my top 20 albums, now it’s time for the songs and even by my standards they’re a downbeat bunch this year. But glorious. 20. The Besnard Lakes: People of the Sticks 19. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Returning 18. Cut Ribbons: Luna 17. Ana Calvi: Tristan Marvellous melodrama. 16. Manic Street Preachers: … More Top 20 songs 2013
Here are the twenty albums released this year which I’ve enjoyed the most. They’re in no particular order. The albums I’ve listened to obsessively are those by Yo La Tengo, Nick Cave and Waxahatchee. Joy Formidable - Wolf’s Law Yo La Tengo - Fade Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away … More Top 20 albums 2013
Following her success last year in obtaining a set list for Elizabeth Fraser’s Bath gig, Mrs M outdid herself when we went to see Leonard Cohen in Cardiff last week. It’s pretty much as performed apart from ‘Sisters of Mercy’ and I don’t think any of the alternatives listed on the bottom left featured at … More Leonard Cohen set list: Cardiff, September 3 2013
Sometimes I’m surprised by my own record collection. I just came across this 12″ ‘Shotgun’ by Bleach. I don’t remember buying it and have no recollection of the music itself. It’s rather good, in my favoured genre of fuzzy guitar and female vocal but with a real edge. It dates from 1991 but they don’t … More ‘Shotgun’ by Bleach
