Bruce Foxton joined Paul Weller on stage last night at the Albert Hall (which was also Weller’s birthday). The first time together on stage since 1982. The clip above isn’t the best quality, and it may just be my imagination but seeing the pair of them onstage, Foxton doing his instantly recognisable moves alongside Paul, I got a huge rush of excitement. I can only imagine the audience wetting themselves being there in person. Steve Craddock probably fainted!
When the weather gets too hot I can’t sleep. I don’t mind, because being outside as the night cools is one of my favourite things. Especially where we are, it’s so quiet and the sky is so clear that you can empty your mind of everything and drift away.
And drifting away to the Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble Mix of Oasis’ Falling Down. It’s Oasis doing The Beatles, only completely over the top and immense. 22 minutes of psych madness, one of those lovely Noel sung melodies, covered in sitars and massive chemical drums produced by The Amorphous Androgynous. Who, I’ve only just found out, are Future Sound Of London. Well, they were always complete space cadets.
If you missed this when it came out you have to hear it. Clear a space in your day for it.
I’m obsessed.
(it’s a big file, so be patient…)
My little fella’s a year old today. We’re grooving to Alton Ellis after an afternoon in the park eating cake!
🙂
Well nobody got what they wanted out of the election then. Not those who voted Tory, not those who voted Labour – and definitely not those who went the way of the Lib Dems. A vote for Lib Dems will keep the Tories out eh?
I have to admit to finding the whole thing fascinating. Especially interesting is the press. The Left leaning press seem to be trying to accept it, possibly thinking that the presence of the Lib Dems in government will hold back the more extreme Tory policies; but the undercurrent of the Right leaning papers is anger. The minute Cameron drops the ball they’re going to be on him like a pack of wolves.
I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. I can believe the Tories doing anything to get back in power, so I wasn’t really surprised. Seriously disappointed, but I didn’t really believe my vote would count for much. I’m just relieved I went with my heart and not with head. First time in my life where being a loser didn’t feel that bad.
So, back to 1986 for a cracking piece of jagged rock ‘n’ roll.
A lovely little bit of techno-r’n’b-sleaze from North London’s Taio Cruz, featuring Kesha. I love this, but then I’ve always been partial to a bit of dirty bass and Prince-esque sleaze.
Remind me to tell you of the time….
…Before bedtime…
Just read a piece by Gary Younge from the Guardian explaining how he hates Tories and why. You can read it here
Top quote from it is this:
“As a young man Cameron looked out on the social carnage of pit closures and mass unemployment, looked at Margaret Thatcher’s government and thought, these are my people. When all the debating is done, that is really all I need to know.”
I’m off to bed now, and if I wake up to a Blue Britain I might just take the day off work.
Sleep tight.
One of the albums I’m loving lately is the new Kate Nash, My Best Friend Is You. I was a big fan of the first album, which despite the lazy Lily Allen comparisons in the press, was actually a lovely slice of Regina Spektor influenced quirky pop. In places it reminded me too of Madness (or even Ian Dury…), and their – here’s that word again – quirky, very English pop music. There was a nice lyrical touch, veering between poetry and ordinariness, slang and song.
In other words if Kate Nash had been around 30 years ago she would have been on Stiff Records. Now, she could possibly be a Kirsty Maccoll for the 21st Century. With less cover versions…
The latest album is lot more ‘Indie’ than the first, although it still has a pop edge. There’s the girl group pop of Do Wah Doo which could be the Pipettes, I Just Love You More’s almost Sonic Youth sound and the Cockney Patti Smithisms of Mansion Song.
The Indie side of the album is really reminiscent of the early 90s, with Riot Grrrl influences all over the place, and Bernard Butler producing.
I’m also very much reminded of The Wonder Stuff, especially on Take Me To A Higher Plane, where the violin riffing is so Hup or Never Loved Elvis that it’s scary. Meanwhile Later On, which sounded like a weak track on first listen is now one of my favourite things.
I know there are people who haven’t really got time for Kate out there, but she really does fit in with the sort of stuff I post here. And she means it man….
The Songs That People Sing 