Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
bigflower ‘piggybird’
Single – Released last month by the artist
There is something strangely bewitching and beautiful about “Piggybird”; it’s all echoing vocals, subtle psych organ and a rather wonderful twangy guitar playing a rather sweet riff. Imagine Duane Eddy slowly waltzing with Hank Marvin through the gates of heaven whilst God looks on and gently flicks popcorn at the stars.
The Conspiracy ‘Trollied’
EP (Metal Postcard Records) 4th July 2025
I have written about The Conspiracy a number of times over the last few years or so, and with justification, as they are bloody marvellous. Bloody marvellous in such a British eccentric way; in a way that they can be lumped together or in fact tied in a ribbon in a heavenly way with the likes of Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd, The Kinks and Julian Cope and XTC and The Fall and Billy Childish and even The Libertines/Babyshambles.
Yes, indeed, The Conspiracy make art shaped sculptured pop songs that don’t really get played on mainstream radio but instead will bow down and kiss the feet of the plodding Oasis of rock n roll that is Oasis. The tragedy of this that the eccentricity, the soul and intelligence of The Conspiracy are not getting the rightful acclaim they deserve from both the radio and the press/blogs and the general public.
Tony Jay ‘Faithless’
Album – 13th June 2025
I love the music of Tony Jay. I love the gentle caress of the lo-fi-ness; the simple drum machine; the tape hiss; the occasional fret buzz of the guitar; the handheld percussion; the beautiful dreaminess of the JAMC and MBV influences – two bands I think may mean a lot to Tony Jay. “Familia Dreams” is a stunningly beautiful ballad; a duet featuring the vocals of Kati Mashikian, and probably worth getting the album alone for.
The rest of the album is also rather good, indeed; all sonic heavenly softly strummed guitars and slightly distorted throbbing bass and whispered vocals. An album that lays gentle on your soul, one of those albums to soundtrack falling in and out of love to.
The Kirkbys ‘It’s A Crime: The Complete Recordings’
Comp-Album (Think Like A Key) 13th June 2025
I don’t normally go to the trouble and expense of buying an album so I can review it, but there is something quite magical about this compilation of the complete works of The Kirkbys, who of course were Jimmy Campbells first band, and takes us back to the early days of Merseybeat up to the point where he formed the psych wonder that was the 23rd Turnoff, and in fact includes a demo of ‘Michael Angelo’ recorded by the Kirkbys before it became The Turnoff’s debut (and only single), and of course now rightly regarded as a psych classic.
‘Michael Angelo’ is not the only classic song Jimmy Campbell wrote, as this album shows. ‘Bless You’ and ‘Don’t You Want Me Anymore’ have a complete 60’s beat charm that both The Beatles and The Byrds would have been proud of, and that lost wonder ‘Keep Me Warm {Til The Sun Shines}’ is truly a 60’s gem. ‘It’s A Crime’ is the sound of one of rock n rolls true lost poets in his early years singing songs of beauty and bittersweet magic; what’s really a crime is that Jimmy never ever tasted even a whiff of success in his lifetime, and now nearly twenty years after his death, is still only known by a few. Maybe one day a car advert will use one of his songs and will be propelled Nick Drake like to the covers of Mojo and the like. Link to release can be found here…
The Noisy ‘Twos’
Single – (Audio Antihero) Release last month.
‘Twos’ is a rather fine and dandy pop song, all 50s like pop melody and all sweetly sung and swung. In fact, as soon as I started listening to it, I started to smell candyfloss (I kid you not). Maybe pop supremacy is airborne and taking hold of music lovers’ nostrils…yes, what we have here is a song to fill your vape with a song to smoke and sniff.
Kevin Robertson ‘Yellow Painted Moon’
Album – 11th July 2025
Kevin Robertson is back. Yes, the Scottish Roger McGuinn has released his brand-new album just in time to soundtrack the Summer; and it’s an album that would not sound out of place in that Summer of 67. Kevin has done what he does best and released an album of 12 string laced beauty. Folk-rock, the psychedelic and 60’s pop are melded together with his usual style and grace. Yellow Painted Moon is the kind of album I get sent by the cartload – the number of bands and artists who are in thrall to the 60’s has to been seen/heard to be believed – but Kevin Robertson does it better than most and has an obvious love of the love generation, and his love shines through in his art he produces.
Scotch Funeral ‘Weak At The Knees’
Track taken from the upcoming album Ever & Ever, released this summer by the artist
A teaser track from the forthcoming album by Scotch Funeral, who are a rather fine musical extravagance hailing from the mighty Rhyl, a place I spent many great days in the 70s (I wonder if the Black cat amusement arcade is still there?). Scotch Funeral here supply us with a rather rambunctious kick in the nether’s with a punk pop romp of supreme guitar gnarl and fortitude that makes one indeed weak at the knees as all good kick in the nether’s should.
Soft Hearted Scientists ‘Hello Hello’
Single – (The Hip Replacement) 11th July 2025
The Welsh psychedelic collective The Soft Hearted Scientists are back with a bang. Well actually, more of a chime – a chime of the 12-string guitar variety. Yes, ‘Hello Hello’ is a song so good they had to name it twice; all 60s love and melody pure pop magnificence.
Spotless Souls ‘In The Heat’
Single (Soliti) 11th July 2025
The Spotless Souls debut single is a fine post punk piece of jangly pop; a song that comes over like a slightly artier Sundays, and has a lovely undercurrent of darkness that I find very appealing indeed.
Marc Teamaker ‘Teas n Seas’
Album – 8th August 2025
Teas n Seas is a rather lovely and flowing album of warm sounding enriching songs of love and remembrance. If 70s Beach Boys/Fleetwood Mac/ Todd Rundgren and the beautiful bountiful radio candyfloss MOR/AOR rock pop with an occasional country rock tinge magic is your thing, then this album could well be for you. Certainly, a perfect album to soundtrack sitting on the Beach soaking up the sun and sipping a cup of tea to whilst watching the incoming tide. Yes, an album to soundtrack your summer.
If you’ve enjoyed this selection, the writing, or been led down a rabbit hole into new musical terrains of aural pleasure, and if you can, then you can now show your appreciation by keeping the Monolith Cocktail afloat by donating via Ko-Fi.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions
ALL ENTRIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Tristan Armstrong ‘Lonely Avenue’
Album (Self Release) Already Out There On Bandcamp
Power Pop, Power Pop, Power Pop…I get sent so much power pop that I despair. Not that I don’t like power pop: I do. But only when it has a touch of adventure and thrill, and songwriting talent, and so much of it is so bloody average. They all know how to make power pop records; they just forget to write good songs: it’s all shit lyrics and borrowed melodies and crunchy guitars.
But this album by Tristan Armstrong succeeds where so many other fail, as he has the crunchy guitars but he has also songwriting talent and remembered that music is an artform and there is more to life than The Beatles, Big Star and Bad Finger. Tristen adds Americana, and I can hear just as much influence of Gram Parsons and Whiskeytown and Wilco than the usual three B’s, and so this has a lovely subtle urge of mild experimental warmth and texture that lesser artists would not consider. And when he does venture into the Big Star territory with “Queen Of Diamonds”, he does it with a natural flowing charm.
Yes indeed “Lonely Avenue” is a fine pop rock album and one that I would recommend to both power pop lovers and those who just love and enjoy a bloody good album.
Fran Ashcroft ‘Box Harry Day’
Album 30th May 2025
Box Harry Day is the third album from Fran Ashcroft, and anyone who has been lucky enough to enjoy his last two gems will indeed enjoy this his third foray into his own whimsical and darkly dour comical view on life and the characters he comes across in this not-so-Great Britain.
The twelve tracks on this album are split between six wonderful written vignettes and six beautiful orchestral instrumentals composed by Fran using AI, but in this case Fran being an extremely talented producer and musician has composed some rather beautiful pieces of music and they fit in well with his more lo-fi lyrical gems, and proving in the right creative hands AI can be used to make some quite beautiful art. Box Harry Day is an album of warmth, beauty and songs of lyrical accuracy of everyday British life that stands alongside the works of Coward, Davies, Dury and Haines.
bigflower ‘Something Appears’
Single – Already Out There On Bandcamp
Bigflower is back with his usual blast of monthly excellence, this time with a sonic endeavour of synth excellence. Yes indeed, “Something Appears” is a monster of a track, part Giorgio Moroder part Manchester rave; a track so buoyant that if Shelly Winters had this on her iPod in The Poseidon Adventure she would not have drowned and would have lived to swim another day: you could say she was raving not drowning.
Cody Brant & Diumal Burdens ‘A Panacea Nurtured Gurgles’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) Already Out There On Bandcamp
An aural montage of madness is maybe how one can describe this mixture of found sounds, drumbeats and samples. For “A Panacea Nurtured Gurgles” and albums of this ilk are really works of aural art best enjoyed when trying to escape the mundanities of life; finding escape in the subtle humour and the strategic placing and overlaying of sounds to create a painting of sound: a painting you can close your eyes and lose yourself in.
Fir Cone Children ‘Gearshifting’
Album (Blackjack Illuminist Records) Already Out There On Bandcamp
This album is very good – now there’s a review for you. But I’m not lying, it is very good. It sounds like the Shop Assistants, Ride and the Olivia Tremor Control getting together to gatecrash the local school indie disco to impress nobody but themselves. It has melody, charm and a not so deadly danger. It has what everyone wants from their indie album: pop suss, experimental joy mixed in with the usual post punk bass extravagancies and chiming flange melodious guitar with some rather fetching vocal harmonies – and I can even hint a subtle influence of Syd’s Pink Floyd in the mix. Can I say anymore to convince you to give this fine album a listen… if not, then bugger you. It’s your loss.
Mama Oh No ‘The Mutant’
Single Already Out There
I have more than a soft spot for 60’s Garage Rock, so this wonderful blast of riffery is indeed a blessing to the ears; a track that could have walked off any of those wonderful 60’s garage rock compilations I used to spend my teenage years rifling through in the old Prope Records in Button Street in Liverpool in the 80’s. Yes indeed, ‘The Mutant’ is blessed with a rather wonderful walking bass riff, fuzz guitars and an organ sound that would make the organist from the Fuzztones weep with joy. As you will need not telling, I await the album.
òrain ‘Hanging Fruit’
EP (Practise Music) Already Out There
This four-track EP is a rather lovely warm sounding thing of indie pop splendour; an EP of wonderfully written songs that has one’s head spinning in a slow like carousel waltz of melancholy and pure bliss. Songs that lovers of Belle And Sebastian and the Sundays will grab and hold to their hearts and play until they are paisley etched shadows of forgotten dreams and half remembered fantasy wishes.
St Johns Wood Affair ‘2’
Album 23rd May 2025
The swinging sounds of the 60’s are plundered and rediscovered in this gem of psych tinged poptitude; all original songs all steeped in the love of all things 60s pop. “Center Of Your Universe” the opening track is all “Last Train To Clarksville” guitar jangle and tells you what to expect from the rest of the album: all in your mind’s eye lyrics and the spirit and love of 1967. If an album was made to come with a cardboard cutout Kaftan, it was the St Johns Wood Affair’s 2.
Byrds like harmonies and backward guitars abound on “Hoping On The Train In Vain”, and “Magic Carpet Ride” haunted by the ghosts of the memory of late 60’s Small Faces. My favourite track, the lovely “Secret Garden”, is a kiss of pure psych pop bliss.
2 is an enjoyable and fun listen, especially for us who are still in love with the 60s sound and the 60s dream that will never fade.
Sister Wives ‘YnCanu’
Single (Libertino) Already Ou There
There is something rather beautiful about the Welsh language, and this fine single “YnCanu” by Sister Wives is a rather dark and gothic psych-Grunge gem sang in their native language. Imagine if you will The Feminine Complex being transported twenty years into the future to Seattle and told to make their mark on the local rock scene. If you can imagine that you may have some idea what this single may sound like. If you can’t imagine that just give it a listen…you will not be disappointed.
Smashing Red ‘Dark Eyed Girl’
Single (Metal Postcard Records) Already Out There
The ‘Dark Eyed Girl’ is a 60’s tinged guitar pop song that could have appeared any time over the last 50 years. It could have been performed equally by The Honeycombs (have you heard their stunning flop single “Eyes”, a forgotten dark masterpiece), The House Of Love or even Luke Haines’s Auteurs in a less narky moment. Yes, the ‘Dark Eyed Girl’ is indeed a fine guitar pop song, one that weaves a sensual sinister magic that is strangely attractive like a 60’s Mick Jagger in a floral dress.
Hi, my name is Dominic Valvona and I’m the Founder of the music/culture blog monolithcocktail.com For the last ten years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Our Daily Bread 636: Eamon The Destroyer, Cats Of Transnistria, John Howard, Yellow Belly…
February 4, 2025
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
bigflower ‘trip d’
Single Released on the 31st January 2025
‘Trip D’ by bigflower is a cavernous atmospheric journey of yearning and sadness; three plus minutes of guitar solitude with a quite wonderful nagging riff. Once again Ivor Perry showing us why he is rated one of the finest guitarists to emerge from the 80’s Manchester scene.
Cats Of Transnistria ‘Horror’
Single (Soliti Recordings) Available Now
Horror is anything but horrible, but an atmospheric gem of Goth-y dream pop, awash with succulent 80’s keyboards and dreamy vocals. It’s as if the last 40 years been nothing but a dip in the shower with the Man From Atlantis.
Chaos Emeralds ‘Passed Away’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 21st February 2025
Not to be confused with the Nashville Pop duo of the same name as this, Chaos Emeralds are anything but a pop duo but a rather excellent lo-fi sludge Indie rock duo with the occasional stray into both shoegaze and goth. “Count Me Out” reminds me of very early Psychedelic Furs before they went all Hollywood on us and polished up their prettiness in pink. At other times it reminds me of early 80’s Cure and Smashing Orange, which is not to be confused with smashing an orange, which is a messy and pointless exercise and The Chaos Emeralds are anything but pointless and messy, they are a fine band with a rather wonderful atmospheric sound.
The Conspiracy ‘White Winter Coats’
Single (Metal Postcard Records) 21st January 2025
I am a fan of The Conspiracy. I love their Englishness, and this excellent track really does not disappoint, it’s all seventies Bowie and Mid 80’s Julian Cope and what Syd Barrett might have sounded like if he was not a troubled soul. This is a taster to their forthcoming album, an album I will no doubt tell you all about in the coming weeks.
Eamon The Destroyer ‘Radio Sessions’
EP (Bearsuit Records) Released 21st January 2025
What we have here is an acoustic six track EP of songs recorded for two radio sessions in 2024: and mighty fine they are as well. The songs work well in acoustic form – is there such a genre of folktronica (ED: yes, there is), because if not Eamon The Destroyer has discovered it.
The Wickerman soundtrack, Momus and Leonard Cohen collide in a not so frenzy-like pleasure of subtle sly nods and winks whilst feeding Bagpuss illicit halogenic expressions of drugs gone by whilst showing thumbnail sketches of could and should have Beens. This really is a stunning six track EP of pure epic beauty.
John Howard ‘For Those that Wander By’
Album (Think Like A Key) 14th February 2025
“For Those That Wander By” is an album of sublime eloquence, an album that is steeped in songwriting craft and God-given talent. An album that features eight songs co-written by John Howard and poet Robert Cochrane, set to be released on Valentines Day, which by accident or design is extremely apt. For the album is quite a beautiful thing indeed. It is steeped in a lush wave of warmth, sadness and melancholy.
This is an album that draws on the experience of life and the passing of time; a dream world of haunting memories and ghosts from your past that caress and comfort you in the knowledge, as the old saying goes, that it is better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all, and the skeletons in your closet are taken out daily and slow danced with under a full and rich moon.
John Howard is, as we all should know, one of England’s great musical hidden treasures, and this album coming exactly 50 years after his debut, the quite marvellous “Kid In A Big world”, goes to show that John has not lost any of his vocal capabilities. If anything, he is singing better now than he ever has, producing an album that Elton John would sell his children to be able to produce. An album of pure magic.
The Men ‘Po Box 96’
Single (Fuzz Club) Available Now
Fuzzy punk grunge with wah-wah guitar solo all in less than two minutes. If you like the sound of that give it a listen, if not give it a listen anyway: it takes longer to open a can of corn beef.
The Model Workers ‘Disaster Punk’
Album – Released 28th January 2025
I really know very little about the Model Workers apart from they are a pretty good three-piece punk band, or pop punk to be more precise: more early Green Day but with a bit more balls than say the Sex Pistols, a band that took me back to the days when my then 15 year old daughter used to text me every Tuesday to remind me to pick up that week’s copy of Kerrang and at the time that mag and its accompanying tv channel was filled with bands of this ilk and like. The Model Workers are indeed very good and I can quite easily imagine “Red Rose” or the extremely catchy “Sorry Again” popping up on the channel or the wonderful Dead Kennedy’s like “Surf Storm”, which is my favourite track on this mighty enjoyable seven-track mini album.
Occult Character ‘Next Year’s Model’
EP (Metal Postcard Records) Released 21st January 2025
Next Year’s Model is sadly not a reworking of the genius Elvis Costello and The Attractions album from 1978, although it does have a 16 second track called Elvis Costello among the seven extremely short tracks that make up this release. Occult Character is of course someone I write about very often in this blog as I like him very much, and he releases an awful lot of music, and this is another off the cuff experimental dementia music ridden foray into the diseased mind of the good old USA. And I love it.
PS: Occult Character ‘Next Year’s Model’ made last month’s choice selection of releases.
Salem Trials ‘Heavenly Bodies Under The Ground’
Album (Metal Postcard Records) Released 24th January 2025
Any album that kicks off with a track that sounds like Magazine covering Television Personalities, How I Learned To Love The Bomb soundtracking Russ spewing juicy gossip to a man he can only see whilst standing in one of the only remaining red telephone boxes left in The UK. And not even a nice part of Britain…we will say the red telephone box by the town hall in St Helens, it stinks of piss and decay but has a lost nostalgic beauty; a one-off memory of exciting times and rushed conversations, which is the perfect description of this wonderful post-punk album.
“Heavenly Bodies Under The Ground” could well be the Salem Trials best album yet, which is pretty much high praise as all The Trials many albums are pretty good indeed. One day Cherry Red Records will release a CD boxset of The Salem Trials and it will be hailed as the complete collection of one of Britain’s finest guitar bands.
Yellow Belly ‘Ghostwriter’
Album (Cruel Nature Records) 21st February 2025
The shimmering glisten of the beautiful awakening of the first summer steps of the handwritten rhyme. The melody of the clouds casting dark shadows of the night pulling dream like caricatures of memories past. The haunting bewitching soundtrack to the forever young in your mind. Yellow Belly dives deep into the subconscious and slowly teases the sadness and delight, offering the hope of the gentle and the meek, being the beacon of light that slowly emits the slow electronic drumbeats of yesterday, the vocals encapsulating the art that is found in all great pop music, the heart rendering yearning of the modern songbird or the memories of Julee Cruise floating through the speaker of your old radio kidnapping your beating heart and holding ransom to the melancholic wishes of yesterday. Yellow Belly’s Ghostwriter is an album touched with the dark hand of beautiful heartache and a bewitching stillness that is totally entrancing.
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
PHOTO IMAGE: THE TULIPS
In Alphabertical Order::::
Armstrong ‘Future In The Present Tense’
Single (Self-Release)
Armstrong usually deal in producing quite beautiful pastoral pop, and to be honest Julian Pitt (aka Armstrong) has a god given talent for writing quite sublime melodies, and “Future In The Present Tense” has all the usual heavenly pop wonder he usually releases. But this time he has swapped the acoustic guitar for a synth and instead released a sublime synth pop single, one you could imagine buzzing around the charts in the early to mid 80’s. Once again naggingly catchy and rather beautiful.
Aiden Baker/Jack Chuter/Ryan Durfee ‘Laika World’
Album (Cruel Nature Records)
“Laika World” was made as a tribute to Laika the soviet Space dog, the first animal to ever orbit the earth, on November the 3rd 1957. How many other animals have since orbited the earth I do not know: I suppose if you have the burning need, just Google it.
This album is a strange sonic but relaxing adventure of floating in space ambiance, a totally relaxing and dreamlike set of instrumentals that is all reverb guitars and floating soothing synths and the far in the distance echoes of drums and tinkling keyboards with the occasional treated and cut up vocal, which on “Night Capsule Demand” sounds like a countdown to entering heaven.
“Laika World” is an excellent and rewarding listen, and is the ideal accompaniment for when you need that time to yourself to drift off into semi consciousness and enjoy your own thoughts.
bigflower ‘The King’
Single (Self-Release)
Another new track from bigflower; there really is no stopping the man. “The King” is a sonic escapade of ambient guitar and swamp jazz, a song that deals with having a dream of entering Graceland and finding Elvis dead on the floor; an atmospheric musical tale of ethereal sorrow and tragedy set in a mist like state of transient bliss and soft focus solitude.
Bloom De Wilde ‘The Circular Being’
Album
I love the muse and the music of Bloom de Wilde. It has a tender all-consuming innocence and hope that calmly plays Rock Paper Scissors with a wistful sadness and melancholy.
Bloom writes songs that offer hope against all the odds; songs that embrace the eccentrics and outsiders, all the underdogs in life. Maybe that is why I feel a connection to her music and at times find myself totally engrossed with her beautiful tapestry of pop, jazz, folk and psychedelia, which she has woven with great love and skill to make great art.
Bloom is a fine songwriter, which may sometimes be overlooked due to the wonderful eccentricities of her personality and is a quite an accomplished and original lyricist, as this fascinating eleven song album of love, hope and magic shows.
Empty Cut ‘Allens Cross’
Album (Cruel Nature Records)
Allens Cross is a leftfield album of derision and distorted beauty, music that incorporates electronica, hardcore, dub, jazz and industrial shoegaze and punk rock to quite magnificent affect. At times reminding me of the latter work of the Godlike genius of Scott Walker, and at other times like Throbbing Gristle – sometimes difficult to listen to but ultimately always rewarding.
There is a darkness and granite slab graininess that celebrates the everyday mundane life but fascinating in its unique perspective on their childhood growing up in Birmingham that inspires this fine album. “Fidget” is Black Sabbath like in its heaviness and desolateness, and “Spleen” is a sludge heavy dose of modern-day psychedelia with whirring synths and cut up spoken samples. All eight tracks on Allens Cross take you on a fascinating aural trip, and it really is a journey worth taking.
Ex-Vöid ‘Swansea’
Single (Tapete Records)
What we have here is another enjoyable romp of indie guitar rock. Yes, more of it. But unlike a lot of the indie guitar rock I’m hearing lately “Swansea” has a melody and fine Dinosaur Jnr like guitars, quite lovely male female vocals, which are almost folk-like but not in a way of old tin whistles and feeding the whippet the last of the bacon kind of way. I suppose this just gives it something slightly different feel to the other 1001 indie rock tracks I’ve heard this week. One that floats to the top like a becoming jellyfish with a sting in its tale. [if Jellyfish had tales].
Fun Facts ‘Apartment Rock’
Album 22nd November 2024
There is a lovely warm heavenly wonkiness to this album I very much appreciate, it has a certain dreamy like pop/psych experimental charm that comes on like Stereolab discovering the age of Aquarius in the local bar where hipsters hang out. Yes, it has the same slightly off kilter but straight-ahead pop that I so admire the great Schizo Fun Addict for. They have the same love of melody, and supply music that could soundtrack an angel licking ice cream from a cone whilst you wait in the dying embers of the day for your future true love to walk by and catch the glint in your eye and return it with honey wrapped heartfelt kisses. A fine album of pure blissful pop music.
Jamison Field Murphy ‘It Has To End’
Album (Tomato Flower) 11th November 2024
Ah yes this is more like it. At last, an album with warmth, soul experiment and beauty. Just when I was beginning to think that it was a thing of the past James Field Murphy turns up with this home recorded gem, an album that combines all the things I love about the magic of music: songs with melody, “That Boy” could well be an outtake from The Beach Boys Smiley Smile album, and “It has To End” has a wonderful bonkers McCartney feel to it [remember McCartney was the most experimental of all the Beatles], and this track combines pop with experimental to a beautifully short and wistful degree. “Hate” is another beautiful song; yes indeed, a hate that is alright to love and love it I do. I love the tape pops in the background: you really cannot beat recording on tape.
It Has To End is a rare thing, an album you do not want to end. It’s an album I will be returning to on a regular basis over the coming months as James manages to balance off pop/psych beauty with experimentation perfectly.
John Howard ‘If There’s A Star/ Little Prince’
Single 8th November 2024
I love the music of John Howard as it is just so elegant and eloquent. There is a timelessness to his songs; he writes songs that could have graced the stage in the days of Coward and Berlin, or, in the days of Ray Davies or even McCartney in his genius Ram days, or, in even more recent times, Neil Hannon who waved a stylish wand over the lads and birds debauched Brit Pop era whist arching his eyebrow and sipping a dry sherry.
John Howard has the same qualities of all these genius composers and with this fine single he supplies us with two short and sweet pop songs of baroque poptitude that most of us really do not deserve. If only life was like a John Howard piano ballad.
Humdrum ‘Every Heaven’
Album (Slumberland Records)
Humdrum must have a death wish, or a band with a massive amount of confidence. I mean, fancy calling yourselves Humdrum and then making an album of out and out pure jangle. Yes, need I say more. We all know what it sounds like, nothing that really steps out of the indie pop jangle. But it is a fine jangle album, at times reminding me of a jangly Cure but without the uniqueness of Robert Smiths voice: actually, the instrumental “Every Heaven” could well be a Cure backing track.
Yes, the usual influences; I’m sure every member of Humdrum have the complete collection of Sarah Records 7-inch singles and every edition of the C86 Boxset and own a Pastels badge. But that is what we love about jangle bands, their out and out passion for jangle. And this album I’d recommended for all those jangly guitar fiends.
Neon Kittens ‘Trick’
EP
The Neon Kittens are back with a 4-track EP to celebrate Halloween with four horror themed songs. The EP is called “Trick” and it is actually a bit of a treat for myself and the ever growing army of Neon Kittens fans. The obstreperous guitar wizardry once again all tangent shapes of misguided ridicule and delight taunt and encourage the ice cool aloofness of the no wave Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward into some quite deliciously salacious tales of horror and misadventure.
The Neon Kittens are not just a band worthy to write home about but are actually worthy enough to leave home just so you can write home about them.
Occult Character ‘Don’t Come To Mars’
EP (Metal Postcard Records)
The second October-released EP from Occult Character is here, and as I wrote in the review of their earlier Swifties EP, he is not always the easiest of artists to listen to but always fascinating. Once again these three tracks are not just fascinating but also highly enjoyable, especially the dark comedic and spot on lyrically “Cyber Cult” and “Jupiter Cellphone Survey”. All three tracks on this EP capture all the madness and darkness of modern life. Occult Character is an artist I recommend that you the listener get acquainted with.
The Tulips ‘Stars Dream Of You’
Single
“Stars Dream Of You” is a rather beautiful little pop song; a lovely sedate musical stroll down the winding paths of the totally besotted. Yes, a song that captures the first throes of love and yearning; a song that will remind you what it is like to feel that special feeling once again.
Author of this spread, Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea and his lo fi cult maverick band, have recently released a clutch of “Lo Fi Misses” , via Metal Postcard Records, on both Bandcamp and Spotify.
Our Daily Bread 626: JAMC, Dar Disku, Moreish Idols, Brevity…
September 18, 2024
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
bigflower ‘Criminal ii’
SINGLE (Self-Release)
There are things we can always rely on a weekly/monthly basis, such as Everton being shit, and on a brighter note, a new track by bigflower. This new instalment is called “Criminal ii” and is an upbeat harmonic drone of a gem, a song with a spring in its step, a song with subtle guitar whiz etched over its grinning face.
Beauty Stab ‘Words (b/w ‘Avé Maria’)’
SINGLE (Self-Release)
Another new single from Beauty Stab [this time Bandcamp only], again taken from their forthcoming album, and only coming a few weeks after the Synth pop dance romp that was “Bring Me The Boy”. “Words” is a different affair altogether, much darker, a synth goth track that will appeal to fans of their old band Vukovar, one that is more Black Celebration era Depeche Mode than Bronski Beat.
As good as “Words” is, the real gem is the B-side, a cover of the Roland S Howard song “Ava Maria”. A beautiful stroll through the 50’s Film Noir soundtrack, coming all reverb breezy guitar and Roy Orbison come early Elvis Sun Session era vocals; a track so sublime that if David Lynch heard it I’m sure he would be tempted to make a new film just to include it. How this band has no record deal is a great musical mystery.
Brevity ‘Home Is Where Your Dog Is’
ALBUM (Think Like A Key)
The wonderfully named “Home Is Where your Dog Is” is the unreleased album, plus some demo recordings, by late the 60’s early 70’s Chicago rock band Brevity, a band who never actually got to release anything at the time but had interest and encouragement from both Island Records and Frank Zappa’s Bizarre/Straight Records. Truth be told, released here for the first time by Think Like A Key Records, it is indeed a bit of a lost and now found musical treasure.
There is a bit of the Bill Fays about the songs – again another artist who spent years in obscurity -, and of course touches of all the usual suspects: The Zombies/Beatles, especially on the gem of the song “Come See Paris In The Fall” and the equally beautiful “Lullaby”, which has a rather fetching harpsichord chiming away in the background, and “Cakewalk” could have easily fitted on the proto punk sounding Pink Fairies debut “Never Never Land”.
“Home Is Where Your Dog Is” is one of those rare lost albums that actually deserves to be labelled a lost classic, and the added demos actually have an indie/post punk feel to them that reminded me strangely of very early Pulp in their more acoustic like days. Yes, one of my favourite albums I have had the pleasure to listen to this year: a true Gem of an album.
Dar Disku ‘Sabir (Feat. Billur Battal)’
SINGLE (Soundway Records)
Now then I do like this, it is damn funky in fact. It has a lovely 70’s vibe; part psychedelic part let’s get down and boogie funk and disco. Baccara and Funkadelic join forces to make the feel-good summer disco swaggabond hit of 2024. A gem of a single.
Derrero ‘Breezing Up’
ALBUM (Recordiau Prin)
“Breezing Up” is Derrero‘s 6th album and is indeed another fine collection of pop songs. Songs with a beautiful 70’s MOR/AOR feel; the opening track “Ride On Rider” could have easily stepped off one of The Beach Boys early to mid 70’s masterpieces, and also “The Drive Home” and “A Line In Space” have a lovely laidback 70’s vibe. The title track “Breezing Up” is a Hawkwind like instrumental, and the lovely “Cosmic Shift” successfully mines the same terrain as Mercury Rev. The whole album is a wonderful relaxing laid back pop triumph of a listen.
I Do You Do Karate ‘Peanut Carter’
SINGLE (Half A Cow Records)
I Do You Do Karate rewrite Ash’s “Girl From Mars” and call it “Peanut Carter”. And it’s not a bad little power pop /alt pop guitar jangle. For all lovers of Teenage Fanclub and the already mentioned Ash and other bands of that ilk and such will no doubt enjoy the little slice of guitar pop fun.
J Pump And The Bulldozers ‘The Mudshark Incident Presents: In Memory Of Duncan Black’ ALBUM (link2wales)
What we have here is a tribute to the late Duncan Black an extremely talented guitarist who sadly passed away in August – all the money raised will go The End Of Life Palliative Care Team. And this is his last performance, recorded live at the Skerries in Bangor in 2023.
It is a fine recording as well. J Pump and The Bulldozers are in fine form offering songs of psych folk and folk punk. “Fishing For Cats” and “My Head Is Full Of Rats” are unhinged gems of songs and gems of performances when it comes down to it. The latter wouldn’t sound out of place on the Monks “Black Monk Time” album, which of course is high praise indeed. As I have already said, this is a really fine album and is for an extremely good cause. So please check it out.
The Jesus And Mary Chain ‘Pop Seeds’
SINGLE
The brand-new song single from the JAMC is upon us and is actually pretty good. A commercial tuneful Mary Chain like pop song, a sweet nostalgic melodious look back at their beginnings and their love of music and defiantly a step up from the all-round averageness of their last album.
The legless Crabs ‘Piercings and Tattoos’
SINGLE (Metal Postcard Records)
The rock ‘n’ roll extravagance of split back fury is back and shinning to the lamplight of the ghost of Mark E Smith, and the rumblings of John Peel trying to dig his way out of the coffin so he can give The Legless Crabs a radio session. Yes, the power of the crabs, powerful enough to resurrect your favourite dead DJ … Scratch, scratch, scratch…can you hear him? He is coming for the Crabs, I tell thee.
Moreish Idols ‘Pale Blue Dot’
SINGLE (Speedy Wunderground)
Speedy Wunderground have reached their landmark 50th single release, which in this day and age, and with the current state of the music industry, is some feat. So congratulations to them. What is the 50th single, and what is it like I hear you all cry. Well, it is a rather fetching catchy indie rock number by the Moreish Idols, and is a fine Pavement like slice of misadventure, a song with a bee in its bonnet, but a laid-back pleasant Bee with only good intentions.
Neon Kittens ‘Lika Like’
SINGLE (Metal Postcard Records)
A new single from the Neon Kittens and I Lika Like a lot. A track that reminds me of what a soundtrack of 60’s spy film might sound like if Joseph K had laid their mighty jangle all over it. Both sexy and beguiling and one I feel the need to get my black polo neck jumper on and climb through a neighbours bedroom window holding a box of Milk Tray chocolates after listening to the short gem of angular velocity. The power of the Neon Kittens should not be underestimated.
The New Tigers ‘Saba’
SINGLE (Soliti)
Now this is a bizarre one. If I spoke Finnish, it may make sense, but as I don’t it really does not. This track “Saba” is by the Finnish band The New Tigers and has a spoken in Finnish monologue running all the way through it. Instrumentally it reminded me of the mighty Orange Juice in the latter end of their existence with a smooth layer of indie jangle funk. So imagine if you will the Chef out of the Muppets being backed by Edwyn and his gang of merry mischief makers: defiantly worth a listen.
Rogers & Butler ‘Studio 3’
ALBUM (Think Like A Key Records)
“Studio 3” is so named in tribute to the studio where it was recorded, in probably the most famous recording studio in the world: Abbey Road. Recorded live in two days, trying to capture the magic of bygone days and the music the famous walls have no doubt soaked up, Rogers & Butler indeed succeed in their mission, with twelve well written and performed songs, each recalling memories and celebrating the art of the crafted melody and pithy lyrics. Songs that recall the golden days of 60’s “Soho Beat” or the Stones like 70s pub rockery of “Jigsaw Puzzle”, which could easily have been a lost track from an early Graham Parker & Rumour album. Or the excellent Ray Davies like “Teddy Boys”.
None of this album is cutting edge or tries to be current, and that is the charm and beauty of it. This is an album that sounds like an album and not a selection of singles thrown together like a Spotify play list. It sounds like an album to be played on a record/cd player and not on a smart phone at full volume by some spotty teenager trying to get the attention of the boy/girl they fancy sat at the other end of the bus. “Studio 3” is a gracefully crafted album which could have been recorded anytime in the last 50 or so years and is good fun and a good listen.
SIB ‘Swelling Itching Brain’
ALBUM (Other Voices)
If post-industrial synth cosmic gothic madness is your thing, then this is indeedy the album for you. An album to help you as you eagerly await the coming new Cure album. Although this sounds nothing like the Cure except in the parts when it does. “Swelling Itchy Brain” is an enjoyable cool and cold slab of alternative eastern European metallic industrial magic, an album that fans of Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly will no doubt cherish and hold close to the sledgehammer beats of their hearts.
Various ‘Tales Of A Kitchen Porter: A Tribute To The Cleaners From Venus’
COMPILATION (Dandy Boy Records)
I adore the songs of Mr “Cleaners From Venus” Martin Newell so this album is a bit of a godsend to my ears. For what we have here is fifteen covers of Newell’s songs by fifteen extremely wonderful bedroom pop bands.
Tales Of A Kitchen Porter is a bit of a rarity, for normally on albums like this there is normally a hot potch of tracks differing in quality. But all the tracks on this comp are of the highest quality, which both tells of just not the quality of the songs but also of the quality of the bands performing them, from the power pop of The Sob Stories version of “Victoria Grey” to the excellent almost Bay City Rollers sounding “He’s Going Out With Marilyn” by Inflatable Men and the lo-fi beauty of the Flowertown‘s version of “Clara Bow”. All in all, fifteen tracks of pop seduction and melodious delight.
Our Daily Bread 621: New Starts, Neon Kittens, The Legless Crabs, The Sad Eyed Beatniks…
July 16, 2024
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP FOR JULY – INSTANT REACTIONS
UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE ALL RELEASES CAN BE PURCHASED RIGHT NOW.
Bigflower ‘Strange Days’
Single (Self-Released)
“Strange Days” is an atmospheric gem of a beauty, a tune in search of a movie. As I’ve said many times before about bigflower, they have a cinematic elegance, a widescreen view of musicality. There really aren’t that many artists making music like bigflower. They have their own sound, an echoing cavernous emptiness that is both enriching and steeped in a melancholy that is thought provokingly wonderful.
Comet Gain ‘Only Happy When I’m Sad/ Dreams Of A Working Girl’
Single (Spinout Nuggets)
What else can you expect from one of the finest guitar bands from the last thirty years or so, but a splendid slice of summery pop. Two songs that whistle and breezes, so full of summer goodness you will have to take hay fever medication after hopefully hearing them drift from the radio in the coming months. The phrase Pop gems was invented for this fine double sided delight of a single.
The Legless Crabs ‘No Condoms Just Satan’
Album (Metal Postcard Records)
The sound of rock ‘n’ roll future and past collide in this nineteen track beauty of anger and attitude: songs that deal with the strangeness of living in this world today.
From the Cramps like “I Catfished My Brother” and the sonic escapades of “Rope Bunny”, to the heaviness and sludge-rock dark humour of “Shark Lover” this is an album that should be all over alternative radio, and once again, has to compete with far less talented and easier and blander beige alternative rock.
The legless Crabs over the years have become one of those bands that never disappoints and takes from punk, electro and indie pop grunge and mashes it all into a strange kind of Alternative musicality with fine lyrics shouted/whispered /spoken or sang over.
They’re are one of the most important bands in the current underground musical scene and this album should be heard and loved by all as darkness, humour and danger really does need to make a comeback into mainstream music as an alternative to the current worship of pleasant but far to healthy and clean and wholesome pop that currently filling the Ticketmaster friendly airwaves today.
Neon Kittens ‘Minutes Of Fun’
EP (Metal Postcard Records)
This brand new four track EP is as good as you would expect it to be, depending on how much you love the kittens. And I adore them, so of course I love this EP. As angular sexy as no-wave and avant-garde as always – and really would we have it anyway else -, the sound of Miss Kitten bitching to a friend on her smartphone whilst the Fire Engines rehearse in the same room is pure bliss.
New Starts ‘Asbestos Roof’
Single (Fika Recordings)
I have always liked the songwriting of Darren Hayman. I love his pinpoint accuracy in the details of relationships gone right or wrong in his lyric writing. And once again he has supplied us with another gem, which has me looking forward to the forthcoming debut album from this his brand new band.
Red Tory Yellow Tory ‘Omni–Party’
Album (Highest Common Denominator)
Its all very nice all very good, it’s new music, it’s the future, it is no longer important it is a model of your greatest fancy sculptured out of Spam – the kind you used to get on rations in the good old days when we were getting bombed by Nazi Germany. This is the kind of album people who employ friends to clean their house would hate. It has no jangly guitars or songs about being broken hearted because the girls of your dreams are just a figment of your imagination. No, this is an album that takes the beats of late 80s early 90s chill dance music and indie with sampled vocal layers of synth and repetitive yearnings of art that reminds one of Throbbing Gristle or Add N To X or the KLF in their more mellow moments. This is an album that will appeal to those who used to enjoy listening to John Peel and now try and catch every show on Dandelion Radio at least once every month. This album is fun it has a sense of humour and an enjoyability that I find humorous and enjoyable.
Kevin Robertson ‘The Call Of The Sea’
Album
“The Call Of The Sea” is the fourth solo album from Kevin Robertson, a man who is also one of the vocalists/guitarists from Scottish guitar band The Vapour Trails. And here we have him once again showering us with sublime melodies. Melodies that are wrapped in Byrdsian like guitar jangle and vocal harmonies that have just stepped from scratched vinyl copies of ye olde mid-sixties beat boom collectables stopped for a cup of the finest Earl Grey with late 80’s early 90’s Scottish indie guitar wunderkinds’ Teenage Fanclub and Superstar while scribbling on postcards to send their love to those old scouse reprobates Shack and The La’s and the Coral. I will be honest, I get sent loads and loads of albums to review all showing these very same influences but the main difference here being Kevin is a very good songwriter with a gift for melody that would have had him stood head-to-head, shoulder to shoulder with his influencers. And if was performing in the 1960’s would no doubt have been a regular on Shindig and Ready Steady Go, and signed to Decca or Fontana or Pye.
The Sad Eyed Beatniks ‘Ten Brocades’
Album (Meritorio Records)
The sound of The Velvet Underground, The Pastels, The Go Betweens, the question is, if I was asking a question, would be do you like them? If the answer is in the affirmative, no doubt this album would be right up your street as it’s full of the things you associate with the said bands: the lovely jangling guitars, the raise of the arched eyebrow – like if Roger Moore was the Beatnik James Bond -, the blissful melodies, the soundtrack to wearing a black polo neck jumper. Yes indeed this album is the sound of the local music scene, the sound of youth and the still wonder you can find from the strumming of the electric guitar.
The Sad Eyed Beatniks will indeed bring tears to your eyes. But they will be tears of memories of romance and yearning and failed romantic dalliances and the memories of the guitar chord playing British Bulldog with your heart.
Vinyl Kings ‘Big New Life’
Album
Now I was not expecting this. For some reason I was expecting just another power pop album, but no, this is an album of 70s radio friendly pop rock tracks that had me hurling back to my preteen days of having the transistor radio glued to my ear; the days of me wearing flared jeans and T-shirt’s with the Silver Surfer on them while my older brother looked resplendent in Star Tank Tops and flared cords.
Yes this is one of those albums of pure perfect pop, just like they used to make: 70s Cliff wrestling with the sound of ELO, David Cassidy singing the songs of Harry Nilsson. “Smoke Rings For Renee” is an example of drop dead gorgeous pop songwriting. McCartney/Billy Joel like ballads, “So Easily Fooled”, rubbing shoulders with guitar tones that have not been heard since the days of the Grange Hill Theme. This is a beautiful album of pop finery that should be treasured by all.
Our Daily Bread 610: BMX Bandits, Flowertown, The Children’s Hour…
February 6, 2024
A ROUNDUP OF NEW MUSIC REVIEWS BY CULT INSTIGATOR OF THE NO-FI, AND SIBLING BAND MEMBER OF THE BORDELLOS, BRIAN SHEA.
___/SINGLES\___
BMX Bandits ‘Time To Get Away’
(Tapete Records)
The sweet and swaying beauty of ‘Time To Get Away’ is a lovely little thing; a pop song that swirls and floats and promises to leave sweet flowering whispers of love in your ear whilst reminding you that the pop song is indeed a magical thing that prods you into believing that Spring is just around the corner.
Daay ‘Follower’
Oh my lord have I been transported back to the 80s and watching a garish edition of Top Of The Pops with rah rah skirts and shiny blouses, with members of the audience dancing whilst trying to get the attention of the cameraman as he attempts to zoom up some poor young ladies skirt. “Follower” by Daay brings this all back with a rather fetching, very 80s sounding pop song – can you imagine if Tubeway Army and Kajagoogoo had joined forces and let loose on the pop public? It may well sound something like this, all whooshing synth and funky pop bass and stabbing guitars: A fine pop single.
bigflower ‘Lighthouse’
The latest free to download from bigflower is upon us; another dark and dense monster beauty of a track, a haunting drone that sucks one in and completely engulfs you, and has you feeling that you’ve just gone 15 rounds with a Xiu Xiu boxset: leaving you battered tired but triumphant. This is a real haunting beauty of a song.
Sleap-e ‘Leave My Bum Alone’
(Bronson Records)
“Leave My Bum Alone” is a fine pop song; beautiful jazzy chords played with a throwaway indie pop punk abandon. It’s catchy. It’s fun. It’s slightly Lo-fi. It’s what pop music is all about.
The Pheromoans ‘Downtown’
(Upset The Rhythm)
I really like this single. It reminds me of both early Go Betweens and Sebadoh, which is fine by me, as I love both those bands. This is one of those short and sweet tracks that leaves you wanting more; so once again I shall make a mental note to keep a listen out for their forthcoming album which I think is forthcoming early March.
The Children’s Hour ‘Dance With Me’
(Drag City)
Charming indie folk jangle that is what this single by The Children’s Hour is: nothing more and nothing less. And that is fine and dandy, for there is always a place for charming indie folk jangle in my life and in lots of other music lovers I suspect. In fact it reminded me of a slightly rawer Sundays – not that it takes much to be rawer than the Sundays as they where hardly the Cramps. So the single by the Children’s Hour is rawer then the Sundays but not the Cramps.
____/ALBUMS\____
Salem Trials ‘View From Another Window’
(Metal Postcard Records)
The Salem Trials are clinically rambunctious. They are never further than being an arms length away from genius. They have their own sound: their own model of post-punk if you like. They take all the usual subjects (The Fall, Wire, Gang Of Four, the Blue Orchids and Subway Army) and mix them with a no wave sound coming from the streets of New York in the late 70s early 80s. They release albums constantly – this is actually the first of 2024 though, and fits in nicely with the army of there previously released albums.
Andy still being the inspired guitarist that he is, riffing like a cross between Keith Richards, Tom Verlaine and Brix Smith with a army of admirers gathering in her Dis guarded nightwear, and Russ still being the nutter on the bus wearing the splatter ballistic cop t-shirt and spitting feathers at the naked chickens queuing up outside to be the first in line for the latest modern contraption while he is creating art at its best out of the fuzzy felt of yesteryears clowns hats. You really have to love the Salem Trials.
Flowertown ‘Tourist Language’
(Paisley Shirt Records)
I love Flowertown, they have a lovely lo-fi romantic rain soaked essence, a perfumed decadence that offers images of tattered dog eared well loved and read books cluttering the shelves of bedsit land: a soundtrack to alternative bars and local music scene adventure. If The JAMC where not two squabbling brothers but two lovelorn lovers they might well sound like Flowertown. There is a soft dynamic between the two members of Flowertown that I find quite beguiling: the whispered vocals, the simple drum machine and hand held percussion, and the softly strummed jangle that occasionally dissolves into the safety and comfort of a thin blanket of feedback. Flowertown are pretty much perfect.
Legless Crabs ‘Golden Chowders’
(Metal Postcard Records)
The Legless Crabs are a rock ‘n’ roll band the same way that the Fall were a rock ‘n’ roll band, and the same way that Pussy Galore were a rock ‘n’ roll band. If the Legless Crabs had released music in the 60s they would have been rediscovered in the 80s and fawned over, and be a constant inclusion on the wonderful garage rock compilations such as Nuggets or Pebbles. Not that The Legless Crabs sound like a 60s garage band, they just carry the same spirit the same anger and tensions. They are unhappy with living in the USA today and they vent their spleen in these marvellously short punk rock vignettes: not punk rock in a 70s kind of cabaret way with store bought ripped jeans and shirts with the ironic God Save The Queen slogan but in a “I’m pissed off and going to spit all the bile and art inherited from the ghost of Roky Erickson” way. The Legless Crabs should be on the cover of Rolling Stone. They are a band that could and should inspire a musical revolution. They are a band that speaks out for all the souls who think themselves a non-entity. In a short: a blast of thrown-away punk rock bliss the Legless Crabs prove there is still anger beauty and revolution in Rock ‘n’ roll.
Our Daily Bread 595: Axis: Sova, Daiistar, Simon Waldram, A Savage…
October 10, 2023
THE INIMITABLE BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA DELIVERS HIS VERDICT ON A NEW HAUL OF RELEASES FROM THE LAST MONTH – all releases available now unless stated otherwise
___/SINGLES\___
Daiistar ‘Parallel’
(Fuzz Club)
Daiistar is sadly pronounced as DayStar and not Dai Star, as how good would that be to have a psychedelic Welsh Elvis to come and lead us Pied Piper style to the dangers of rock ‘n’ roll. But what we have instead is a rather fetching journey back to the halcyon days of the early 90s, with baggy beats and The Darkside type guitar riffs [hands up those who remember the Darkside?]. In fact, watching this video made me think of Sunday evenings and Snuff TV.
Once again a fine track that fills me with a sense of nostalgia from those good eggs at Fuzz Club Records. I do not hold a grudge, but they turned down the chance to release The Bordellos ‘Bring Me The Head Of Justin Beiber’ single: I bet it keeps them awake at night.
Axis: Sova ‘I’m A Ghost’
(Drag City)
I like this single because it reminds me of The Cars. The funny thing about that, being I am not actually much of a Cars fan. So why do I like this? Maybe because it has a drum solo of sorts, which you do not hear much these days; not that I am a fan of drum solos or drums even, but I still find it appealing in this short foray into the American new wave sound of the early eighties.
Twin Coast ‘Wake Up Older (We Will)’
Twin Coast, a young noise/shoegaze band from Chicago, has just offered up this two-track download single. And very good it is too, all melody and feedback and performed with a joyous abandon that I also enjoyed and found very heartwarming. And which took me back when I was young and had an abandon that was joyous. In fact it took me back to the days when I used to enjoy a bit of shoegaze and would annoy my fellow record shop workmates with my playing of Smashing Orange and Ultra Vivid Scene and the first Mercury Rev album. Yes indeed, fine days. And Twin Coast seems to be a fine band/duo.
Simon Waldram ‘Mary Magdalene (Walton-on-the-Hill)’
A brand new single from Simon Waldram, who is a fine singer-songwriter. Over the years he’s released a number of fine albums, and this, the excellent beautiful ‘Mary Magdelene’, is no different; a lovely psych folk ballad that is worthy of Stephen Duffy in his Lilac Time guise: and there can be no higher compliment believe me. A song and a songwriter to hold close and cherish.
bigflower ‘The Right Way’
There is something cinematic about the widescreen outpourings of bigflower. They are just really suited to be featured on some blockbuster or another, and I am sure in time a director will stumble over the bigflower Bandcamp page and have a field day. ‘The Right Way’ is no different; another excellent dark slice of moody guitar alt rock from Ivor.
A Savage ‘David’s Dead’
(Rough Trade Records)
I really like this single by A Savage. It’s like a lo-fi-ish Brit pop song, with elements of Blur and the old mid nineties shenanigans and suchlike: a song that explores the past both lyrically and musically in a very English way. You can almost hear the rain on the pavement as the music plays, and Mr A Savage sadly bemoan to himself how he misses the days of sitting in the cafe [which is now a vape shop] reading the music weeklies and wondering what the weekend ahead brings. A nostalgic treat.
__/THE ALBUM\__
Snowcrushed ‘Snowcrush’
Snowcrushed’s A Frightened Man debut album was one of my fave albums of 2021; an album of beguiling atmospheric found sounds ambient gems. But on Snowcrush he’s gone on an alternative music journey of post-punk, Goth and Darkwave, and on occasion lo-fi folk – the excellent ‘Cowardice’ sounding like someone has taken Kurt Cobain’s tortured soul and spread it on Johnny Cash’s toast, which he ate before recording the American Recordings series of albums: A truly dark wonderful song. Although nothing else on the album quite matches up to the brilliance of ‘Cowardice’, which is no slight as not many other tracks I have heard this year matches up to it, the rest of the album is still full of unsettling dark gems.
Our Daily Bread 576: Vieira and The Silvers, Tony Valentino, Fossil Beach, The Budos Band…
June 2, 2023
The idiosyncratic Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea rummages through another month of new and upcoming releases. (Unless stated otherwise, all releases are already available to buy).
SINGLES
Vieira and The Silvers ‘The Judge’
(Catch 21 Records)
There is something very Liverpool about this track; I was sure they would have been from Liverpool as they have the same Scouse pop feel that the Coral and the many bands from the Bandit era have. Maybe they take the same drugs and listen to the same records, either way this track is very good.
It starts off all Captain Beefheart and ends with the kind of Gospel inflections that Booby Gillespie would sell his favourite battered egg to have included on the much over-rated Screamadelica album; a good album, but not all as it is made up to be, unlike this single, which is pretty spiffing and yes spiffing is indeed pretty, and my word of the day. As is this single is my song of the day.
The Budos Band ‘Frontiers Edge’
(Diamond West Records)
I love this track; a sexy shimmy of spy Bond glamour with a hint of 60s hip swinging jazz in a spaghetti western type of way. The kind of track you want your night out on the town to be like – all glittered mini dresses bouffant hair and neon lights offering temptation and seduction. Yes indeed, just the kind of track to paint your evening. A hip swinging triumph.
Josienne Clarke ‘Anyone But Me’
“Anyone But Me” is a dark and bewitching folk song filled with both a sadness and relief that the affair is over, and I am quite taken with how Josienne sings the line, “how can you love anyone but me”. But that is the magic of song, a few brief seconds can transport one back to the dim and distant past and remember not so happy times. A beautiful song and an excellent video to go with it.
Beach Fossils ‘Dare Me’
(Bayonet) 2nd June 2023
Modern indie radio friendly guitar pop normally bores the pants off me: it does. I normally end up taking off my pants and wandering around the house with my them on my head, pulled over my ears whilst wondering how long the kettle is going to take to boil and what would come first: the boiling kettle or the end of the soulless dirge that someone has sent for me to review? Or the soulless dirge that BBC 6 music is forcing upon their daytime listeners, who I think have probably given up on life. But saying that, for some strange reason this song by Beach Fossil does not have that effect on me, even though it has all the lack of qualities that modern produced indie guitar pop has; the soulless production and the spray on radio BBC6 music sheen. But for some reason I like this. Why? Answers on a postcard.
bigflower ‘The Event’
The event by name, an Event by nature, we have a fine slab of mellow dance solitude that is both funky and slinky and electronic-like. And at just over three minutes long is far too short for its own good; double it and you have an ideal floor filler: yes, a floor filled with fine Manchester musicality. This could and should be a 12”, and reminds me a touch of Fatima Mansions in its dark outer grooves. How many times do I need to say, come on record labels sign this man up.
ALBUMS/EPS
Tony Valentino ‘Dirty Water Revisited’
(Big Stir Records) 26th May 2023
Tony Valentino was of course the lead vocalist with the 60s garage punk legends The Standells, and this, the Dirty Water Revisited album, is where he revisits his past with an album of reworkings of some the band’s classics, and some new songs too. And the reworkings of the classics are fun as all 60s garage songs should indeed be. “Good Guys Don’t Always Wear White” was always one of my fave garage rock songs and this version does not really take anything away from the original, as does none of the reworkings. And lets be honest, garage rock bands have been including these classics in their sets for years so why should Tony not revisit and pay respect to his own past. On the whole he has made an enjoyable romp of 60s garage punk/pop reworkings. And with last years new song single, “I’m A Sexy Punk Rocker”, included reminding us all where Iggy might have got some of his pop from.
Armstrong ‘Summer Is Here EP’
Summer is on its way, so what better way to celebrate than to listen to this 4-track beauty of pop overthrow; a quartet of summer breeze pop; an EP of pure jangle and sci-fi synths; a 4-track treasure of shadows of yesterday’s delights. But what else can one expect when it is the latest release from Armstrong, everybody’s favourite pop picker songs that has one thinking back to when Aztec Camera and Prefab Sprout would occasionally sneak into the top 40 and the internet was only something Leeds Utd supporters used to shout at three o clock on a Saturday afternoon. Sublime pop indeed and Summer Is Here is so summer sounding it has brought on my hay fever.
Cat Box Room Bois ‘Tinder Vittles’
(Metal Postcard Records)
Ah the lovely subtleties of American shambolic rock ‘n’ roll spews forth from this magical album featuring a member from the genius Legless Crabs. So it being shambolic rock ‘n’ roll is indeed nothing to be surprised at. And indeed, it is pure undiluted rock ‘n’ roll, with traces of the DNA of The Modern Lovers, Neil Young, The Marychain, the Velvet Underground and The Stooges in a loose and casual way that gives casual a new looseness.
It is the sound of a party in your pants. It is raunchy. It is sexy. It is funny. It actually sounds like a band rehearsing in your neighbour’s shed whilst the singer juggles extravagances in a cartoon denim and leather clad clown like way. Whilst the guitarist shows off his fretboard prowess imagining he was once a member of Red-Hot Chilli Peppers but was thrown out for being good and having lo-fi punk attitude. So if Lo-fi rock ‘n’ roll is your thing and you want an album that sounds like one of the most out of it bands from your neighbourhood jamming wildly on a summers day with the essence of weed and alcohol slowly drifting on a gentle summer breeze, or, The Beach Boys Party album but made by drug addled stoners brought up on a soundtrack of 70s Fm Rock and early 80s American punk , this album is for you. This a gem of an album.
Our Daily Bread 566: Swans, Halo Maud, Night Noise Team, The Mary Onettes, Heartworms
March 27, 2023
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Picks
/SINGLES/
Swans ‘Paradise Is Mine’
(Mute)
The taster track of the new Swans album is upon us and is a track of longitude, going on for nine minutes. Maybe going on is the wrong description. Maybe gently floating, drifting like a thought on the edge of a maelstrom of seduction and unease; a song that in noway outstays its welcome. In fact it kindly invites you in for tea and biscuits, offers you a choice of what you want to watch and then twiddles its moustache in a Dick Dastardly way when your back is turned. Yes, “Paradise Is Mine” is a crafty little bugger of a song. I wonder, have the Swans pieces of high quality art been described as “a crafty bugger”? Probably not. I would not describe it like that to their faces as they are a bit scary; as in fact is this seduction of unease.
Halo Maud ‘Catch The Wave’
(Heavenly Records) Available Now
‘Catch The Wave’ is a rather beautiful song, especially the Dawn Version, which is the same beautiful song with mostly just vocals and guitar and without the aural sugar coating of synths and vocal effects. The gift without the wrapping dear friends as Halo Maud really does not need any wrapping or enhancing: it is like putting eyeliner on the Mona Lisa, she really does not need it. She’s perfect as she is.
Night Noise Team ‘Little Shocks’
17th March 2023
‘Little Shocks’ is a delightfully beautiful slice of well-written electro pop; intelligent lyrics and beautiful melody with quirky catchy synth lines, which nowadays is indeed a bit of a rare thing. Yes indeed this in fact a song (did you notice I said song and not a track) that is worthy to be released and not dropped, which is sadly the modern way; in my old days the only experience of being dropped by a record label was when I was being kicked off their roster. But this is a lovely little release, and I expect if the Night Noise Team releases an album it will be equally as lovely.
Ghosts On TV ‘Sunshine’
(Soliti) Available Now
A palette wash of sonic endeavor; a throw away memory caught in the wish of a recurring dream, Ghosts On TV supply us with a brief glimpse of daylight in these dark times with the appropriately titled “Sunshine”. A Flying Saucer Attack like pop covered chocolate delight of sadness and hope; a whispered sweet nothing sound-tracked by heavenly feedback, this is a lesson in how to write alternative pop.
The Mary Onettes ‘Pearl Machine’
(Welfare Sounds) Available Now
The Mary Onettes have just released a new track and it is indeed a bit of a gem, a pearl in fact. Maybe it is why they have titled this Cure like stroll of instrumental solitude “Pearl Machine”, a work of beauty and retreat that promises great things for their forthcoming album.
bigflower ‘Anything’
(Self-Release) Available Now
Another month another slab of hypnotic dark dense guitar beauty from bigflower, and “Anything” is indeed a thing of great beauty; the sound of sinking hope; a soundtrack of loss and remembrance that once again screams out to be included in some movie blockbuster. For Ivor makes music that has such a wide cinemascope to it, that completely engulfs you, and leaves you in a state of blissed out bohemia.
Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys ‘Howl’
(Unique Records) Available Now
I love this track. It’s an unhinged point of no return of a song. A track that is adventurous, sexy and is willing to argue its own point of view; song that takes great pleasure in poking you with a phallus shaped slice of no wave glamour. A track that will bewitch you and entice you into its lair, before happily hacking you to little bits with its pure originality and individuality. A gem.
Man/Woman/Chainsaw ‘Backburden’
(Big Richard Records) Available Now
Another blast of jerky punk rock: yes another. There seems to be a deluge of jerky punk rock coming my way lately, and 90% of it is very good. And this is one of the 90%, so I will indeed take the time out and cast my appraisal. Not that anyone really cares what I think. And why on earth should they, as everyone has their own musical taste, and me saying that I like it a great deal does not mean that you will. But I enjoyed Daisy Chainsaw and Elastica and The Slits and this is in the same ballpark – as an American would say. But with myself being British I will say Cricket ground. And this is very British and very quirky and lovely and punky, and I love it.
//ALBUMS-EPS//
Heartworms ‘A Comforting Notion EP’
(Speedy Wunderground) 24th March 2023
Have you ever watched a cat admire itself in a mirror and slowly become freaked out and scared of its own reflection, backing off as slinkily as possible, giving an air of nonchalant sexiness, purring seductively as it turns and leaves the room to go and make a kill in the cold and wintery back garden. You can do nothing but admire the blackness and beauty of nature unfurling its wonderous inner self; leaving itself naked and open. Well this four track EP is an aural equivalent; it’s dark, bewitching and beautiful, and leaves an uneasy tingling in your soul. The sound of Portishead visiting itself in an insane asylum, wonderfully unhinged, and unhingedly beautiful.
LMNOP (aka dONW7) ‘LMNO3’
Available Now
Everybody needs some lo-fi power pop in their lives. Well they do when it is simply as life affirming as this album is. 22 tracks of analogue tape beauty; songs that dazzle and twirl and make you remember the joy of a pop melody and the classic guitar riff, be it the “Heatwave” break of “Semi Circular”, or the Thin Lizzy like soloing on “Y”, or the Big Star worthiness of “Wanna Write A Letter To You”, truly a pop gem, and believe me this album is full of pop gems including the wannabe rock stardom of the excellent “Garbage”. LMNOP are truly a marvel of pop.
Smashing Red ‘II’ EP
(Metal Postcard Records) Available Now
Now when an EP is kicked off with a track that borrows a hybrid riff off Ringo’s “Back Off Boogaloo”, Warrants “Cherry Pie” and “Number 1 Dominator” by Top (remember them? An unsuccessful band from Liverpool once tipped for great things) you know it is going to be good. And indeed it is; five tracks that dip their toes in indie, folk and pop, at times making one think of the excellent Comet Gain, especially on “I Luv U” – a rather fetching song about trying to make in the music industry. And at other times, a mellow Kinks “Magic Garden” and the Ray Davies tribute “He’s No Angel”. So if you are looking for five well-written songs about life …please look no further.
$t33d$_uv_LUV ‘Ballads For Bros’
(Metal Postcard Records) Available Now
$t33d$_uv_LUV is maybe the worst band name I have ever come across. In fact, is not even a good password. Well, it is a good password safety wise, but one you have no chance in remembering and most bands want to be remembered; it’s not a name that will slip off the tongue of any alt DJs out there, and in fact could well put off blog writers writing about you as you really do not want to be typing that out in a review. Luckily I’m of sterner stuff and do not mind typing it out on occasion, and that is a shame, as Ballads For Bros is a good album and could actually gain some attention.
It’s an album I’ve listened to a number of times and is as strange as the band name. It’s not often an album starts with a AOR ballad; ‘Next To Me’ is quite lovely and is something that Lennon might have recorded for his Plastic Ono Band album if he had had a happy childhood, or something Todd Rundgren might have released in the early 70s. It’s a bit of a stunner.
The next track ‘Rock (Your City) Tonight’ is a delight of Royal Trux madness. It’s funny and it rocks. And those two stunners are the best two tracks on the album.
The third track ‘Brothers In Arms (Pt.2)’ thankfully does not sound like Dire Striates or have anything to do with their tastefully plucked guitars. But saying that, the track does actually have tastefully plucked guitars, and is another well-written ballad. Then the album gets a bit strange with music that could be lift music from Dr Who (‘D2TD’), and Add N To X like porn music for computers (‘Zoom On The Can’). So a strange and enjoyable listen overall and if they went down the AOR path further could be the next Journey or Chicago.
A word about the Author of these reviews::
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea joined the Monolith Cocktail team in January 2019. The cult leader of the infamous lo fi gods, The Bordellos, has released countless recordings over the decades with his family band of hapless unfortunates, and is the owner of a most self-deprecating sound-off style blog. Far too many projects, asides and oddities to mention, but his latest album is Songs For Cilla Black (released on Think Like A Key Music) threatened to trouble some online alternative chart for a week on Amazon – so things must be looking up.
Each week we send a mountain of new releases to the self-depreciating maverick to see what sticks. In his own idiosyncratic style and turn-of-phrase, pontificating aloud and reviewing with scrutiny an eclectic deluge of releases.
Monolith Cocktail Blog 