Month: February 2014

Oh for the normality of proceedings to be restored! Another head bender which actually required more preparation than I am normally used to/prepared to put in. The title sums up the majority of my choices but did take the opportunity to run out a few tracks  from some greatest hits albums that would otherwise gather more dust.  So here we go pop-pickers:

1. This Mortal Coil –Song to the Siren.

From 1984’s ‘it’ll end in tears’. I’m conscious this album was on its way to DRC once, but never made it for reasons I forget. Obviously a Tim Buckley cover, but one of the few covers that I would willingly agree improves upon original. A precious little jewel in my collection which is only allowed out when I feel it is appropriate to share the emotions it screams (but very quietly). Changed my view of what music was meant to be about. I could actually sense the track quivering in its sleeve that it had to be let out in same company as Jello Biafra. However, all this welling up of emotion can be quickly dispelled by laughter when you clock Robin Guthrie’s hair in the extremely 80’s video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUmdR69nbM

Rob listened: We’ve established that I don’t know Tim Buckley. I also had a block on This Mortal Coil despite following several of their label mates and parent bands. They were too 4AD, if you know what I mean. I knew this, and it’s lovely, a gauzy bed for Liz Fraser’s luminous voice. Not knowing the original must, I imagine, lessen the impact.

Tom listened: Obviously fantastic, possibly better than the original, this must be one of the most identifiable covers of the 80s; one of those rare events where the song becomes owned by the magpie.

Nick listened: I’ve owned this record for years but barely ever listened to it; this is really good, but, like the Tim Buckley original, after having it hyped for so many years I eventually found it a little underwhelming.

2. T Rex – 20th Century Boy.

Failed a late fitness test for singles world cup but this track from greatest hits album deserved an airing. What a riff, followed by an increasing wall of sound approach. Interesting artist who spanned mercurial talent, to hosting his own children’s TV show.

Rob listened: I’ve been troubled by Bolan at various times in the past. My flatmate Clive used gleefully to play some awful nonsense of his about Unicorns and mermaids and other such bollocks. This was sufficient to stop me ever going beyond the standard radio play singles. All of which counts for shit as soon as this crunching riff stomps in and the song begins its rockin’ rollin’ boogie.

Tom listened: I like Marc Bolan well enough and always enjoy hearing his hits whenever they occasionally crop up on 6 music or desert islands discs or whatever…but I do find the singles a bit indistinguishable. It’s all more or less the same song but that song happens to be a good one.

Nick listened: Just a great pop single by a great pop star.

3. The Who – Baba O’Riley.

Time to get  ‘Back with another of those cock rockin’ beats’. Innovative, creative and we used it to open the 2012 Olympics, 41 years after first release. Stands the test of time, though the fact Mr McCartney closed the ceremonies, does weaken that argument. Spent many years believing the title referred to an Irish baby, really proves research pays off.

Rob listened: The Who are another almost total blindspot. I’ve seen Tommy and own Quadrophenia, but before I got to either of these my feelings were shaped as an impressionable young lad by seeing Roger Daltrey shilling for American Express. I love loads of bands who credit The Who pretty heavily, but for whatever reason, they leave me pretty cold. I get why you’d like Baba O’Riley but I just don’t.

Tom listened: I’ve been on the verge of buying Who’s Next on numerous occasions, I’ve even walked up to pay for it but put it back when something in the rack caught my eye on the way to the checkout. Of course, Baba and Won’t Get Fooled Again are pretty much ubiquitous and I am not sure they quite live up to their reputation but, that said, this is still a great song that I always enjoy hearing.

Nick listened: Perfect single; crazy synth loop, crazy drums, crazy violin solo. Great fun. Loved it for years.

4. REM – Begin the Begin.

Simply, before ‘Green’ when it all started to go horribly wrong. Their fourth album and they weren’t afraid to play with a more powerful/muscular sound  and a vocal talent coming to the fore.

Rob listened: Perfect. I finally got to see REM play in Cardiff a couple of years before they hung it up ‘These Days’ the song that follows this on Life’s Rich Pageant hit me so hard, had such an irresistible undertow pulling me back to younger days that I cried my eyes out. ‘Begin the Begin’ is everything that was great about mid-80s REM. Forceful, beguiling, nagging, sensual and packed with oblique hooks. It gets no better in my view.

Tom listened: Life’s Rich Pageant is my favourite REM album, yet it is one of the few early records I don’t actually own. I had LRP on a cassette whilst at university and spent many a happy hour wandering the streets of Sheffield with this blasting on my walkman. Hard to pick a favourite from the record, it’s a shame Graham didn’t save it and play the whole thing at a later meeting.

Nick listened: It’s alright, I guess. Maybe you had to be a certain age at that time? I was 7, so, y’know.

5. Roachford – Cuddly Toy (a la Alanpartridge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ei0-wq9AqQ)

Since I saw the film I have not been able to get this song out of my mind. To rediscover that I owned the album with the track on came as a joyous surprise.

Rob listened: Alan Partridge is a scholar of rock the likes of whom we at DRC can only (and often attempt to) aspire regularly.

I present exhibit A:

“’Sunday Bloody Sunday’. What a great song. It really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday, doesn’t it? You wake up in the morning, you’ve got to read all the Sunday papers, the kids are running round, you’ve got to mow the lawn, wash the car, and you think ‘Sunday, bloody Sunday!”

Tom listened: I liked Alan Partridge for a series or two but feel somewhat bewildered by the esteem he is held in by my fellow DRC members. Unfortunately, if you don’t find Partridge all that funny, all you’re left with is Roachford!

Nick listened: This is great urban pop; way better than REM!

6. Paul Weller – Broken Stones

The Modfather has had barely a mention at DRC as far as I can recall. Played this track from Stanley Road because I liked it, even the others didn’t.

Rob listened: I gave my future wife a copy of this album on our first date. Not because I liked it, but because she mentioned Weller, I had a review copy, and I was massively allergic to it. I remain so.

Tom listened: I’ve never quite worked out what my problem is with Paul Weller…but for some reason he makes my skin crawl. He does look like an afghan hound but I don’t think that’s the main sticking point.

Nick listened: He’s clearly very talented, but there’s just something a bit ‘heritage railway’ about how he writes songs and records them, post The Style Council. It’s like ‘artisan bread’ when you just want Mighty White.

7. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Sidewalking

1. 20^th Century Boy reinvented for the mid 80’s, loud and scary. Sits menacingly on the Barbed Wire Kisses compilation.

Rob listened: I still remember the first time John Peel played this and was so struck by it that he dragged the needle right back to the start and played it again. I was blown away not only by the song but perhaps even more so by the notion that music, this sort of music, could affect someone so very much. I love Sidewalking and I loved the Mary Chain but this song’s most lasting effect on me was caused by Peel’s reaction to it. I’ve been looking for those moments ever since.

Tom listened: The last great Mary Chain song. Sidewalking is undeniably wonderful and should have heralded a bright new direction, but instead we were treated to the turgid heap of crap that was Automatic. One of the most disappointing albums ever!

Nick listened: Never heard this before, but it was great. Might pick this compilation up. Or just download this one tune…

After 60 rounds I thought it was time for a change. The idea was to bring songs from albums that you had no intention of playing either because they were inconsistent in quality or too long. Many has been the time that I have reached for a long lost but cherished record in order to check it out for DRC purposes only to discover that what I thought was unparalleled magnificence actually amounts to a couple of killer tracks, a bunch of OK stuff and a clunker or two.

In the event I played 6 songs from albums that are way too long to come in under our 1 hour limit; three from albums I wouldn’t bring because they are only sporadically brilliant, two from albums I like all the way through but don’t think I’ll play at record club and one ‘joker’ for which I was allowed to bend the rules (thank you, oh gracious leader) from an album I have wanted to play ever since we started the club but seriously overuns. Let’s just say that I was well and truly Jelloed by this point and couldn’t bear to miss the opportunity.

Here they are:

Song 1: Red House Painters – Katy Song (from Red House Painters (Rollercoaster))

The only Red House Painters’ album I own is a bit of a curiosity – two near faultless sides of vinyl (1 and 3) and two others that, to my mind, are each marred by harrowing and a tad indulgent 10 minute long dirges. So whilst the highs are very very high indeed, the lows stop Rollercoaster from being the classic it so nearly is. Although I love Grace Cathedral Park, Mistress (both versions), Dragonflies, Down Through and New Jersey it’s always been Katy Song that takes the breath away. Rarely has melancholia been rendered so sweet yet Mark Kozalek manages to maintain a heroic resolution throughout the song’s 8 minutes ensuring that it never strays into self-pitying singer songwriter nonsense. Exquisite.

Rob listened: Beautiful. I have even worse tunnel vision than Tom when it comes to this, one of the 3 Red House Painters albums I own and probably the one I know least well. Because I can never get past ‘Katy Song’. I barely know the rest of the album. There’s something utterly beguiling about Mark Kozelek’s approach and delivery which circumvents the easy jibes you could throw his way. His songs, like his voice, are trapped as if in thick honey, sitting in front of you almost stationary but progressing, forming something. ‘Katy Song’ is never less than intoxicating.

Nick listened: Never heard this before, but it was lovely, and I shall be seeking it out to listen to again.

Graham listened: As Tom’s choices all followed Jello, there was a fair degree of ‘light and shade’ going on each time Tom played a track. I recall relaxing and enjoying this track.

Song 2: Tim Buckley – The Earth is Broken (from the Dream Letter compilation)

When I started collecting music more seriously during my time at university, it seemed as though Tim Buckley’s star shone brightly out of every corner of the music press. Each week interviews or album reviews mentioned Buckley’s music, especially (no doubt helped by This Mortal Coil’s go at Song to the Siren – more on this to come!) the album Starsailor. So when Dream Letter was released I immediately purchased it, excited by the prospect of what lay within.

Well…it was certainly good value for money housing, as it does, almost 2 hours of folk songs, polite applause and (very) plummy introductions. But the trouble is that Buckley, at times, seems to find it impossible to rein himself in and, curiously, when his amazing voice goes too big it loses its power to astonish and just becomes a bit of a chore. However, about 2/3 of the album is great and although Buzzin’ Fly is pretty much undeniable, the intimacy and the vocal gymnastics of The Earth is Broken is as astonishing as the title of the song is prescient.

Rob listened: We’ve discussed the pre-punk 70s before. As well you know, they did not exist for me until a time when Tim Buckley’s records were breathtakingly unavailable, a time after I’d been badly scarred by the death of his prodigiously talented son. So, apart from the odd snatch here and there, this is the first time i’ve sat down and listened to one of his songs. It was lovely. There’s something mesmerising about one person simultaneously exerting bewildering control over a guitar and a voice, and like John Martyn and Joni Mitchell, who I’d like to blithely assume were his great mates, Tim Buckley clearly has the magic.

Nick listened: I remember once bonding with some old guys in a pub who were deep in conversation about the album this is from. This ins’t one of the tunes I remember the most (I’ve not listened to it in a dozen years, probably), but it’s pretty gob-smacking as a performance document front-to-back, and this was lovely to hear again after so long.

Graham listened: Enjoyed listening to this and left DRC far more up to speed on Mr Buckley than when I arrived.

Song 3: Joanna Newsom – Good Intentions Paving Co (from Have One On Me)

Question: How can an album of 124 (!) minutes length be amazing from front to back?

Answer: It Can’t!

We talked a lot about this on the night (well for about the seven minutes that the song was playing) but, for me, Newsom could have had a stone cold classic on her hands if someone had been around to tell her to ditch about half the material from Have One On Me. There are some songs on this album that are tedious beyond belief. There is also music as incredible as anything I’ve ever heard. Good Intentions Paving Company falls squarely into the latter category, a complex beast that works perfectly as it segues through its many guises but, crucially, remains compelling and downright beautiful throughout its stay. An incredible song – please can we have more of this sort of thing on the new album Joanna?

Rob listened: Tom may be technically correct, but the way he phrased this question on the night was ‘Can a triple album ever be amazing front to back?’ The answer to this slightly different question is of course ‘Yes’ as we refer you to ‘The Seer’ by Swans. I’d argue that last year’s Knife album had a pretty good go too although ‘Shaking the Habitual’ was much more deliberately eclectic and challenging, less apt from listening right through from soup to nuts. Neither were 124 minutes though. so that’s one to you, for the time being. I love Joanna Newsom, and whilst I love ‘Have One On Me’ pretty hard – just the fact of its existence brings a rare smile to my face – I have to confess that I often leap straight to ‘Good Intentions Paving Co.’ It’s a wonderful song, one which at one point i’d convinced myself was a Pynchonesque romp through 200 years of American history, before I lost my grip on it once more, never to be regained. My view is that without the wild, ungraspable variety, Newsom’s moment of pure sweetness would not be so effecting, so I have no problem with the rest of the record, but I was delighted to sit and listen to GIPC all the same.

Nick listened: Love the idea of Joanna Newsom, but seldom listen to her, because, y’know, 17-minute songs about *insert token mention of ‘spelunking monkeys’*. Very glad she exists, etcetera, etcetera.

Graham listened: Bit like Nick, I know she is well regarded etc., but just not for me really.

Song 4: Sufjan Stevens – I Want To Be Well (from The Age Of Adz)

Although (unfairly) maligned by some, Sufjan pulled out all of the stops in 2010 and released an album that, unless I am missing something, is his masterpiece. Gone is the whimsy and meanderings of some of the weaker moments of Michigan and Illinoise, much more ambitious and far-reaching than Seven Swans and not really fey at all, The Age Of Adz is an album to wallow in – as Bobby Gillespie espoused: don’t fight it, feel it! I like all of The Age Of Adz, I don’t really hear any of the flaws that some commentators have suggested are present and I would have liked to have played the album at record club…but it’s 74 minutes long. Luckily, I Want To Be Well distills what the album is about into 6 and a half minutes of sonic exploration, electronic assault, sweet vocals…and invective! Don’t believe the naysayers, this is brilliant music.

Rob listened: I clearly parted company with Sufjan Stevens just at the point where he was off to do more interesting things. I liked ‘Illinoise’ and ‘Michigan’ well enough, although not as much as I was told to, but equally there were things in each that really got my hackles up. This sounded much more opaque and that’s a good thing by my reckoning.

Nick listened: Don’t quite get Sufjan, bar some of his Christmas songs. I own this album and it’s… busy, and opaque. Perhaps more time is needed.

Graham listened: Another unknown for me but really enjoyed this one.

Song 5: Underworld – Dirty Epic (from Dubnobasswithmyheadman)

20+ years on, this album just shouldn’t work. And for a long, long time I assumed it didn’t. But in the last couple years Dubno has been a fairly regular feature on  my turntable, its breezy grooves and indie dance crossover (crucially, always a little bit more dance than indie) landscapes wearing much better than many of Underworld’s contemporaries from this time. Unlike some of the other albums I chose on the night, Dubno holds up pretty well throughout its 74 minutes playing time, the peaks (Hmmm Skyscaper I Love You, Cowgirl, Spoonman, M.E and Dirty Epic) being just that little bit better than the rest. In the end my choice came down to a toss of a coin (actually, I got my nine year old son to choose) between the gargantuan Hmmm Skyscraper and the slightly more colourful and engorged Dirty Epic. But in actuality I could have selected any of the above 5 songs and been equally happy and excited with my choice.

Rob listened: I had a friend at the time who lurched from being a 4AD collecting purist into a rabid Aphex/Warp collector. ‘Dubnobassiwithmyheadman’ was his gateway drug and I thought he’s lost his mind. Even after I’d come around I never quite got with Underworld. There’s something disconnected about them. Neither weird enough to be intriguing or forceful enough to be transportational. Still, this was good to hear after many years and by the time it wound its way to the final couple of minutes it had built up a head of steam behind a sly little melody line.

Nick listened: This album should work, and it does work, and it’s brilliant, and techno full-lengths from the mid-90s are one of my favourite things in the world (and all, pretty much, too long to play at record club). This is brilliant and I love it, etcetera, etcetera.

Graham listened: Underworld are the only band of that genre and era that I have any connection with. This is because ‘born slippy’ mentions Romford, nearby where I was dragged up. Because of the depth of this connection, I feel disqualified from venturing any opinions on this.

Song 6: The Minute Men – It’s Expected I’m Gone (from Double Nickels On The Dime)

I didn’t intend to play this at the start of the evening but a combination of Jello Biafra’s D Boon-like vocals and having a sliver of time left from my 40 minute allocation led me into the murky world of rule breaking . You see, I fully intend to play DNOTD at the club at some point as it’s amazing. But it’s also very very long, hard to grasp on any one of your first 100 listens, exhausting, bewildering, funny and many other adjectives. In a way I wish I had been patient as, in isolation, It’s Expected I’m Gone makes as much sense as a smoked kipper on a ski lift.

Rob listened: I’ve spent time looking for this and never found it and so have avoided catching up with in on Spotify, preferring to be deferring. It was great, everything I would have looked for in a record 20 years ago, punky, shouty, jazzy, wrong and right. Let’s face it, some tastes never change. A winner.

Nick listened: Never heard this before; it wasn’t quite what I expected. Can’t quite remember what it was like though; should have written this up earlier… Think I enjoyed it…