My first week back in what seemed like forever (well 5 weeks actually), due to a rather lengthy stay in hospital to have my gallbladder removed. A big thank you to everyone at Phoenix and listeners who sent me get well wishes and for Gary Casserley and the others (sorry I forgot who) who covered my show while I’ve been off.
Having had enough of just sitting at home not being able to do much, (there’s only so many depressing daytime antiques shows you can watch before you start wanting to bash your head into things!) so was very glad to get back to the very fine business of music.
One thing that lots of resting time gave me was the opportunity to listen to some bands I’ve heard very little by, fall back in love with some old favourites and delve into something new.
Something from the former category first up with some music from some classic horror movies of the 70’s and 80’s. I’ve always been a big fan of horror movies and Dawn Of The Dead (the Romero version of course) is one of my favourites, including the soundtrack, which is performed by Italian prog-rock band Goblin. I also spent some time delving into the synths of John Carpenter, after picking up the reissued vinyl soundtracks of Halloween 2 and 3, which have been re-relased on some stunning coloured vinyl by Death Waltz Recording Co. Their website is very much worth checking out as they have some exceptionally good soundtrack reissues which include plenty of John Carpenter works. https://www.deathwaltzrecordingcompany.com/
From the old favourites section I picked some music from Sisters Of Mercy, after a period of feeling very old when I found out that their second album Floodland is 25 years old, I still remember seeing them on Top Of The Tops playing (well, miming along to) Lucretia My Reflection. Also we had some Super Furry Animals, some live Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr (there is never ever ever a bad time for noisy guitars), and to top it all off some Dead Kennedys.
And from the something new section a new and quite possibly final track from Wu Lyf, with frontman Ellery Roberts taking to Youtube to announce his departure from the band along with a new song entitled Triumph. Foals have announced a new album due in February 2013 called Holy Fire and along with it a rather excellent preceeding single called Inhaler, which has got rather a lot of listens since release and certainly whets the appetite for the new album. They were one of the highlights of Latitude 2011 so if you get the chance to see them live, then you really should. Sam Willis (one half of duo Walls) released his debut solo album Winterval recently, highlight of the album is the gorgeous Foxglissandro which was an obvious choice for the playlist.
This week I also had the marvellous pleasure of seeing The Lovely Eggs perform live in Southend, they have a new album Wildlife which is out now and you all should invest some of your hard cash into purchasing.
On the way home from that gig I bumped into Howling Black Soul (who had been playing a gig just down the road) who pressed a newly recorded EP into my sweaty palms. If you can get along to one of their shows you can purchase the EP for the ludicrously low price of £2! You can find out some more about them on their Facebook page which is here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Howling-Black-Soul/132895193387297?fref=ts
Finally, a special mention to Hüsker Dü, particulary the Land Speed Record live album, which kept me entertained for large periods of my recovery, and is just an absolutely ferocious record, so good I in fact ordered it five minutes into my first listen on Spotify.
Time for more rest and recuperation, playlist below, see you next week!
01 – Goblin – L’alba dei morti viventi (Zombi – 1978)
02 – Grizzly Bear – Yet Again (Shields – 2012)
03 – Super Furry Animals – Guacamole (Outspaced – 1998)
04 – The Lovely Eggs – Have You Heard A Digital Accordion (Cob Dominos – 2011)
05 – Mogwai – Rano Pano (Klad Hest RMX) (A Wrenched Virile Lore – 2012)
06 – The Sisters Of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection (Floodland – 1987)
07 – Dinosaur Jr – The Lung (Chocamel Daze – 2012)
08 – Sonic Youth – Death Valley ’69 (Live At Smart Bar, Chicago 1985 – 2012)
09 – Wu Lyf – Triumph (Single – 2012)
10 – Foals – Inhaler (Holy Fire – 2013)
11 – Howling Black Soul – Soul To Lay (EP – 2012)
12 – Zombie Zombie – Driving This Road Until Death Sets You Free (A Land For Renegades – 2008)
13 – John Carpenter & Alan Howarth – First Chase (Halloween 3 – 1982)
14 – Sam Willis – Foxglissandro (Winterval – 2012)
15 – Dead Kennedys – Stealing Peoples Mail (Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables – 1980)
16 – Beak – Egg Dog (>> – 2012)
17 – Husker Du – Land Speed Record Side 2 (Bricklayer/Tired of Doing Things/You’re Naive/Strange Week/Do the Bee/Big Sky/Ultracore/Let’s Go Die/Data Control) (Land Speed Record – 1982)