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 624: August Darula, Beauty Stab, Neon Kittens…
September 3, 2024
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS.
Beauty Stab ‘Bring Me The Boy (MAX EMRG REMIX)’
Single (Self-Release)
The new single from the art dance duo Beauty Stab is now upon us, and what a tune, what a banger -as you can see, I have slipped into modern terminology hoping that the kids of today may take notice of it. Along with Man /Woman Chainsaw and Bridget Calls Me Baby, Beauty Stab could be one of the new breed of Alt pop to actually drag the music from the underground into the mainstream.
‘Bring Me the Boy’ is a dance floor gem. It is the ghosts of Bronski Beat, Soft Cell, The Associates and Dead Or Alive all getting together to dance, party and talk teary eyed nostalgia about when singles with glamour, sex and seduction would light up daytime radio. And this is where this single belongs, on daytime radio blasting out pure joy bringing a smile to one’s lips and a thrust to one’s hips.
August Darula ‘What I Live Without’
Single (Self-Release) 13th September 2024
“What I Live Without” is a beautiful and sad touch of melancholy, an alt pop/folk Lo-fi ballad with a great deal of heart and soul and quite touchingly refreshingly fine lyrics: “Just wanna get stoned and be alone, scroll on my mobile phone/ Just wanna say I love you, and hear it back/ Just wanna keep the knife in my hand, and not in my back”. Alt folk poetry at its best. A song that could have strolled off the wonderful Micah P Hinson And The Gospel Of Progress album from way back in 2004: and that is high praise indeed, believe me.
Neon Kittens ‘Those Damned Dirty Tapes’
EP (Metal Postcard Records)
This is a special release and not just because it is the latest in a long line of releases by the prolific Neon Kittens, but because it is the record label Metal Postcard Records 500th release. Yes, 500 releases and still going strong.
It is probably apt that the 500th release is by the Neon Kittens as it captures what Metal Postcard is all about: releasing strange yet commercial and rewarding art that deserves to sell and be heard by the masses but are only heard by the lucky few. This is mostly down to the lack of adventure from the music industry in its current state. But if bands like the Neon Kittens keeping making music with art in mind and not commerce and labels like Metal Postcard are still willing to release it there is still hope.
The Phantom Handshakes ‘Sirens At Golden Hour’
Album (Self-Release)
The Phantom Handshakes are a Dream Pop band or duo, but whatever they are they are dream pop. And as Dream Pop music goes it is very good: all the normal shimmering reverb guitars and soft lilting female vocals. All very nice and Dream Poppy; all very mellow Cocteau Twins like with a touch of The Sundays and The Pale Saints; and all very Dream Pop. If you are a fan of Dream Pop this will be right up your shimmering glaze of succinctness.
Trust Fund ‘ ‘Leaving The Party Early’
Single (Tapete Records)
“Leaving The Party Early” is a rather beautiful jazzy acoustic blessing of a song, a lovely nip and tuck into the art of breezy pop writing; a song I have become rather attached to over the last few hours, a stroll into the psyche of nostalgic bliss in fact. A summer awakening of longing that also reminds me a touch of Momus in his acoustic days: without the darkness and filth, which is both a good and bad thing, but I have room for both in my life.
Wings Of Desire ‘Shut Up & Listen’
EP (WMD Recordings)
In the mid to late 80’s I used to work in a record store that was a chart return store, and this EP by Wings Of Desire reminds me of the kind of bands record reps used to turn up with trying to sell and get into the charts by offering free copies to the store so they could sell them cheap, or, by offering bribes to the manager. They were always released on a major record label offshoot that was pretending to be an Indie and would very often sound like this, well produced and anthemic alt rock, a bit like Simple Minds and U2. Who remembers Then Jericho and Cactus World News out there? Two prime examples of the airbrushed alt rock brigade. But this is actually quite good: in a shiny alt rock 80’s kind of way. And the third track, “Same Old Place I Used to Know” is a pretty good song, quite JAMC like in fact.
The Monthly Playlist For August 2024
August 30, 2024
CHOICE MUSIC FROM THE LAST MONTH ON THE MONOLITH COCKTAIL: TEAM EFFORT
The Monthly Revue for August 2024: Thirty-eight choice tracks chosen by Dominic Valvona, Matt ‘Rap Control’ Oliver and Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea from the last month. Features a real shake up and mix of tracks we’ve both covered in our review columns and articles. We’ve also added a smattering of tracks that we either didn’t get the room to feature or missed at the time. Covering many bases, expect to hear and discover new sounds, new artists. Consider this playlist the blog’s very own ideal radio show: no chatter, no gaps, no cosy nepotism. An Oasis free zone.
TrAcKliSt
Zack Clarke ‘Alternativefacts’
Leif Maine/Jackson Mathod/J. Scienide ‘Volte-Face’
OldBoy Rhymes/Mr. Lif/Sage Francis ‘American Pyramids’
boycalledcrow ‘magic medicine’
Dead Players ‘Gasoline Sazerac’
J Littles & Kong The Artisan ‘Do The Job’
Flat Worms ‘Diver’
Fast Execution ‘Total Bitch’
The Mining Co. ‘Time Wasted’
Tucker Zimmerman/Big Thief/Iiji/Twain ‘Burial At Sea’
Alessandra Leao & Sapopemba ‘Exu Ajuo’
Randy Mason ‘Wallet Phone Keys’
L.I.F.E. Long/Noam Chopski/Elohem Star ‘Cross Ponds’
Jacob Wick Ensemble ‘Rough And Ready’
Silas J. Dirge ‘Running From Myself’
Kayla Silverman ‘Maybe’
Hohnen Ford ‘Another Lifetime’
Sans Soucis ‘Brave’
Sweeney ‘School Life’
Chinese American Bear ‘Take Me To Beijing’
Tony Jay ‘Doubtfully Yours’
The Soundcarriers ‘Sonya’s Lament’
Henna Emilia Hietamaki ‘Maan alle’
Drew Mulholland & Garden Gate ‘Tumulus’
Tetsuo ii ‘Heart of the Oak’
Xqui & Agnieszka Iwanek ‘Echoes of Serenity 10b’
Poeji ‘Whoo’
Camille Baziadoly ‘Fading Pressure’
Petrolio ‘La Fine Della Linea Retta’
Fiorella 16 & Asteroide ‘PRIMAvera’
Michele Bokanowski ‘Andante’
Jan Esbra ‘Returning’
Nicole Mitchell & Ballake Sissoko ‘Kanu’
Jasik Ft. Frankie Jax No Mad ‘Atako (Pass The Champagne)’ Apollo Brown & CRIMEAPPLE ‘Coke with Ice’
Verb T/Malek Winter/BVA ‘Rubble’
Ivan the Tolerable ‘Floating Palm’
Pauli Lyytinen ‘Lehto II’
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEW SECOND REVIEWS ROUNDUP OF MAY – INSTANT REACTIONS.
Credit: Eleanor Petry
Chinese American Bear ‘Yummy Yummy Yummy’
SINGLE
There is something quite psychotically wonderful about this throwaway piece of indie pop fluff, a charming jangly little song about the joys of eating noodle soup. And why on earth not find pleasure in the simple small things, and the bigger problems in life do not seem so bad.
Silas J Dirge ‘Swan Songs’
ALBUM
I normally give music that’s described in the press release in the release as Americana a miss, like I do music that is described as Shoegaze or if Joy Division is mentioned as an influence. Not that I don’t like all three. I just normally don’t like the artist that is normally described as such by the unimaginative PR company.
But there is always an exception to the rule, and this is it. Swan Songs is rather fine in a dark rootsy way: I can imagine Silas J Dirge wearing a train driver’s hat and chewing a matchstick in the side of his mouth and calling ladies ma’am; I can picture him sat in a field next to a blazing fire singing songs to whoever will listen, and singing songs of darkness and lost love with a profound knowledge of both. I like Silas J Dirge and his deep knowledge of the darkness of life.
Ex Norwegian ‘Sketch (Extra Sketch Edition)’
ALBUM
This is the life. The sun is shining and I’m listening to the reissued second album from the quite excellent poptastic Ex Norwegian, a band that takes the beauty of melody and twists it into sublime songs of love and loss; a band that at times reminds me of the wonderful and underrated Jellyfish who share those two things with Ex Norwegian, who are also wonderful and underrated.
Yes indeed, any fans of alt guitar pop/power pop and have not yet indulged in the magic of Ex Norwegian should do so. They will love the Big Star like “Sky Diving”, and the quirky acoustic sexiness of “Your Elastic Over Me”, which is quite beautifully eccentric. And that is what puts them a notch above 99 per cent of the other bands, as they take their influences and mould them into the image of Ex Norwegian: a little like The Beatles did so well.
Fast Execution ‘Menses Music’
EP (DandyBoy Records)
What we have here is simply a six track EP/mini LP of straight ahead alternative guitar Riot Girl punk rock ala Hole circa “Live Through This”. And if you like Hole, or a slightly scuzzier Best Coast, you will indeed enjoy this. For there is nothing not to like and plenty to enjoy, for Fast Execution are very good at what they do.
Hohnen Ford ‘I Wish I Had A God’
EP (Young Poet)
“I Wish I Had A God” is a rather beautiful thing, a wonderfully written jazzy pop piano ballad that is filled with a breezy melancholy – something you do not come across everyday. And what I love most about this track is that Hohnen Ford has a beautiful voice and does not at all feel the need to over sing the beauty, letting the melody and sadness seep from the speakers and cover you in a blanket of love.
Neil Gardner ‘Said The Blackbird’
ALBUM (Half A Cow Records)
As you, the normal readers of my roundups, know, I really only write about new music and give reissues a miss. But there is always an exception to the rule and “Said The Blackbird” by Neil Gardner is such an exception, as it was barely released in the first place. It was originally released in 1972 on the small Tasmanian record label Spectangle and there were only 50 copies pressed: so hardly a major release.
So this is the first reissue and is a rather fetching psych/folk album; an album that captures the mood and times of the late 60’s early 70’s beautifully. Neil Gardner is a talented songwriter and guitarist, and it’s really quite a surprise that he is not better known, and at times reminds me of the wonderful and equally ignored Liverpool late 60’s folk singer Mike Hart who released the excellent Mike Hart Bleeds on John Peels Dandelion Records label in the late 60’s. They both have a rather beautiful way of writing beautiful songs that combine a real-life melancholy and sadness with a touch of dark humour.
I am sure the second time round “Said The Blackbird” will garner the success and plaudits it deserved on first time of release. Better late than never…so they say.
Tony Jay ‘Knife Is But A Dream’
ALBUM (Galaxy Train (Japan), Paisley Shirt Records)
Knife Is But A Dream is a beautiful album of sonic escapades and lo-fi balladry, a mixture of ambient instrumentals and the JAMC with a hangover feeling of the sentimental and melancholy, and expressing their feelings into a lo-fi recording device. Another example how beautiful and rewarding for the heart and soul it can be to make and listen to music recorded in a home setting. An album to close one eyes to and drift off to a more relaxing and safe heavenly moment.
Martial Arts ‘Friends For Fools’
SINGLE
This is quite a catchy little number, a bit of a toe tapper. That’s what they used to say back in the days of good old pop music. Back in the days when milkmen used to whistle a merry old tune, in fact, the days when they had milkmen. This is a song full of nostalgia. A song performed by a band who probably know a great deal about pop music. A band whose eyes will probably turn moist when “Up The Junction” magically appears on the radio. Martial Arts are a band that mine the same pop gold as “Mozart Go-Kart” and “Novelty Island” and that is certainly not a bad thing.
Kayla Silverman ‘Heaven Can Wait’
SINGLE
A lovely little pop song catchy that is slightly saucy. A song that I can imagine appealing to the part of your musical sensibility that lets you enjoy the pop suss of Taylor Swift. I’m sure that I’m not the target audience of young Kayla Silverman, but this ageing buffoon was young once and I’m sure had hormones and testosterone racing around his now depilated body, and can still appreciate a good melody and the magic of a radio and young person’s exuberance.
The Soundcarriers ‘Already Over’
SINGLE (Phosphonic)
The sweet 60’s jazzy beatnik cool swagger of the Soundcarriers is once again with us. The sound of Matt Helm loading his pistol whilst casting glances at his mini skirt clad partner. Yes, the sound and the fantasy romance of the hip swinging 60’s is alive and well and flourishing on the grooves of “Already Over”.
The Monthly Playlist For July 2024
July 30, 2024
CHOICE MUSIC FROM THE LAST MONTH ON THE MONOLITH COCKTAIL:TEAM EFFORT
The Monthly Revue for July 2024: forty choice tracks chosen by Dominic Valvona, Matt ‘Rap Control’ Oliver and Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea. Features a real shake up and mix of tracks we’ve both covered in our reviews, and those we either didn’t get the room to feature or missed at the time.
____/THOSE TRACKS IN FULL ARE::::::
Penza Penza ‘Much Sharper, More Focused’
Party Dozen ‘Money & The Drugs’
Red Tory Yellow Tory ‘I Hate The Internet’
Kount Fif Ft. Pawz One & Jimmi Da Grunt ‘Cronos’
YUNGMORPHEUS & Alexander Spit ‘A Working Man’
Nicole Faux Naiv & Sunday’s Child 9 ‘Ocenas’
Dyr Faser ‘Are You Out There’
Hannah Mohan Ft. Lady Lamb ‘Hell’
New Starts ‘A Little Stone’
Cuuterz & Dubbul O ‘More Hype’
Lupe Fiasco ‘Til Eternity’
Pataka Boys (PAV4N, Sonnyjim, Kartik) ‘Brown Sauce’
Black Diamond ‘Lost Motion’
Ivan The Tolerable ‘A Hitch, A Scratch’
Dillion & Batsauce ‘Make History’
Previous Industries (Open Mike Eagle, Video Dave, STILL RIFT) ‘Montgomery Ward’
Doctor Zygote & Jam Baxter ‘All Air’
Mr. Key & Illinformed ‘All Right OK’
Common & Pete Rock ‘Lonesome’
Blu & Evidence ‘The Land’
Kid Acne ”95 Wild (Kista Remix)’
Fliptrix & Illinformed ‘Making Waves’
Luke Elliott ‘Land Soft’
Passepartout Duo & INOYAMALAND ‘Xiloteca’
Damian Dalla Torre ‘I Can Feel My Dreams’
Enrique Pinilla ‘Prisma’
Cumsleg Borenail ‘jˈuː fˈʌkɪn lˈa͡ɪ͡ɚ’
Society Of The Silver Cross ‘When You Know’
Myles Cochran Ft. Michelle Packman ‘The Stories We Tell Ourselves’
John Howard ‘I Am Not Gone’
Kevin Robertson ‘Subway Hold’
Rəhman Məmmədli ‘Uca Dağlar Başında’
The Legless Crabs ‘A Real True Man’
The Good Ones ‘Umuhoza, The Worst Days Are Over’
Bhutan Balladeers ‘The Day You Were Born’
Cody Yantis ‘Midland’
Floating World Pictures ‘Hearts Gates (Single Version)’
Miles Otto ‘SQ1 & Avalaunch Run’
Modern Silent Cinema ‘A Life Of Constant Aberration’
Jeff Bird Ft. Sam Cino ‘Peace Today, Peace Tomorrow’
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.
The Monthly Playlist For June 2024
June 28, 2024
CHOICE TRACKS FROM THE LAST MONTH, CHOSEN BY DOMINIC VALVONA/MATT OLIVER/BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA
That was the month that was: June 2024. Representing the last 30 days’ worth of reviews and recommendations on the Monolith Cocktail, the Monthly Playlist is our chance to take stock and pause as we remind our readers and followers of all the great music we’ve shared – with some choice tracks we didn’t get room or time to feature but added anyway. Thanks to Dominic Valvona for curating, and for choices from Matt ‘Rap Control’ Oliver and Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea.
Homeboy Sandman ‘Win Win’
Pastense & Uncommon Nasa ‘The Ills’
Party Dozen ‘Wake In Might’
The Lazy Jesus ‘Smok’
Sis ‘Mother’s Grace’
Yea-Ming And The Rumours ‘Ruby’
Neutrals ‘The Iron That Never Swung’
Hungrytown ‘Another Year’
Herald ‘Hydrogen Tide’
PAV4N, Sonnyjim, Kartik, M.O.N.G.O., Pataka Boys ‘Bappi Lahiri’
Sans Soucis ‘If I Let A White Man Cut My Hair’
Fat Francis ‘BCMW’
The Bordellos ‘Tastes Like Summer’
Swiftumz ‘Fall Apart’
SCHOOL ‘N.S.M.L.Y.D’
E.L. Heath ‘Cambrian’
Beak> ‘The Seal’
Jennifer Touch ‘Shiver (Robert Johnson)’
Ocelot ‘Sun Silmillia’
L’etrangleuse ‘Les Pins’
QOA ‘LIPPIA ALBA’
Mark Trecka ‘Spirit Moves In An Arc’
Cas One ‘No Deer Hunter’
Bill Shakes ‘Don’t Be A Menace To Blackburn While Drinking White Lightning On A Council Estate’
Guilty Simpson, The Alchemist & Kong The Artisan ‘Giants Of The Fall’
Depf & JClean ‘Wasted’
Ivan The Tolerable ‘Cedars’
Charlie Kohlhase’s Explorers Club ‘Tetraktys’
Staple Jr. Singers ‘Walk Around Heaven’
Head Shoppe ‘Parque De Chapultepec’
The Nausea ‘Nil Inultum Remanebit’
Saccata Quartet ‘Oh OK’
Simon McCorry & Wodwo ‘By Spores’
Neuro…No Neuro ‘Story Time’
Cumsleg Borenail ‘Todays Facade For New Environment’
Joey Valence & Brae Ft. Danny Brown ‘PACKAPUNCH’
NightjaR Ft. Pruven, Vast Aire & Burgundy Blood ‘Piano Heights’
Your Old Droog ‘Roll Out’
Conway The Machine, Method Man, SK Da King & Flee Lord ‘Meth Back!’
Our Daily Bread 620: John Howard, SWIFTUMZ, MAbH…
June 21, 2024
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEW SECOND REVIEWS ROUNDUP OF MAY – INSTANT REACTIONS.
UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE ALL RELEASES CAN BE PURCHASED RIGHT NOW
SCHØØL ‘N.S.M.L.Y.D’
(Géographie)
Baggy drumbeats from the late eighties and shoegaze guitars, are we watching Snub TV? No it seems that the past is once again the present in this ever-evolving circle of not evolving at all. N.S.M.L.Y.D is actually a pretty catchy little number with a nagging keyboard riff that elevates it from the good to the quite good stakes. If this was the late eighties/early 90s it would have a good chance to making the bottom end of the top 40 and a fleeting appearance on the Chart Show.
John Howard ‘Currently/ I am Not Gone’
5th July 2024
The new single from John Howard is a beautiful thing. Two songs that take you back to the days when songwriters used to write simple melodic songs that would appear magically on the radio and brighten your day. The days when you could pick up the song you heard on the radio from your local record shop, or the record department from one of the bigger stores like Boots or Woolworths, on 7-inch vinyl; and you would not have to sell your grandma’s China to be able to afford it. Ah those where the days we of a certain age remember with a tear in our eye. And why am I babbling on about memories from old you may ask, and not writing beautiful prose about the new John Howard single? Well I am, because that is the beauty and magic John has, the power to weave with his music. He has the bewitchery to take one back on a melancholic magic carpet ride to the days of record store dust and memories of old friends and lovers and celebrate the bittersweet beauty of still being alive and finding wonder in the simple everyday things we in younger years would not have noticed. Hopefully people of all ages will find the simple pleasure and wonder in these two rather touching ballads.
Yea-Ming and The Rumours ‘I Can’t Have It All’
(Dandy Boy Records)
For some reason I thought I had already reviewed this fine album, but I have not; it must be the latter stages of middle age setting in. Either way this album by Yea-Ming and The Rumours [not to be confused with Graham Parker and The Rumours] is quite a lovely steeped-in-summer indie pop album with beautifully constructed pop songs all lushly strummed acoustics and some quite lovely twangy guitar lead lines. Lovers of the Gentle Waves and bands of that ilk will indeed find this album extremely appealing: as do I.
Neutrals ‘New Town Dream’
This is splendid stuff, an album of supreme guitar jangle, of well written and catchy songs about life in a small town that at times musically reminds me of early Wedding Present and The Pastels with such wonderfully British lyrics; although I wonder when “Travel Agents Window’s” was written as he mentions buying a bag of chips for 50p, when was the last time you managed to buy a bag of chips for 50p? Maybe life in this small town isn’t as bad as the Neutrals think. I do love this album though. I love the romance of everyday life songs, like little mini Kitchen sink dramas filmed in grainy black and white. This is quite a gem of an album.
SWIFTUMZ ‘Simply The Best’
(Empty Cellar) 14th June 2024
I recently had the misfortune to hear the new Jesus and Mary Chain album; an album that lacked their normal magic: in fact it was quite dull. It was missing what this album has in troves, which is sparkling guitar pop songs, songs that jangle and chime with a wild abandon and ballads that are sincere and quite beautiful, like ‘Second Take’, a Sparklehorse like treasure of a track, or the Alex Chilton like ‘For Bucher’.
Simply The Best is a prime example of the magic that can be achieved when making Bedroom Pop. It has a warmth and invention, which when done well cannot not be matched for heart and soul, and SWIFTUMZ does it very well indeedy.
MAbH (Mortuus Auris & the Black Hand) ‘Wolves, Windows And Curtains’
(Cruel Nature Records) 28th June 2024
From your mother’s cunt to the coffin is an experience we all have. An experience filled with laughter, tears, love and heartbreak; of times of pure and utter despair to times of great happiness. And if we are lucky, the good will outweigh the bad.
In times when we are living, or at least surviving, through the bad, the good times can seem like they have never happened: just a brief dream someone else has told you about. It’s like they have never happened to you, and sometimes the happy memories just drive the nail into your skull, into your heart kicking you between the legs, telling you, taunting you just how shit life is at this time. We have all been there: if you haven’t, then you have never experienced life in its all so tragically naked beauty. MAbH has experienced this, and through this dark work of spoken word tonal poems lets you into the black precipice he currently resides.
Score ‘Temporary Arrangement’
(Cruel Nature Records) 28th June 2024
This is an enjoyable instrumental romp through the sounds of a distance past. Instrumental tracks that bring to mind the drunken early mornings of watching Ceefax and job finder, awaiting for the oncoming treat of sleep or to the soundtrack to some straight to video bad movie. This fine album captures all that is magical from the instrumental glory that is a cheap Casio keyboard, guitar, bass and a fertile imagination.
Brian Bordello and The Bordellos newest album compilation, The Lo-Fi Psych Sounds Of The Bordellos, is available now on Bandcamp and Spotify, via Metal Postcard Records.
Bandcamp Link
The Monthly Playlist For May 2024
May 31, 2024
CHOICE TRACKS FROM THE LAST MONTH, CHOSEN BY DOMINIC VALVONA/MATT OLIVER/BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA
Representing the last 31 days’ worth of reviews and recommendations on the Monolith Cocktail, the Monthly Playlist is our chance to take stock and pause as we remind our readers and flowers of all the great music we’ve shared – with some choice tracks we didn’t get room or time to feature but added anyway.
Virgin Vacation ‘RED’
The Johnny Halifax Invocation ‘Thank You’
Chris Corsano ‘The Full-Measure Wash Down’
Essa/Pitch 92 Ft. Kyza, Klashnekoff, Tony D., Reveal, Doc Brown, Perisa, Devise, Nay Loco ‘Heavyweight$’
Hus KingPin ‘Tical’
Nana Budjei ‘Asobrachie’
Amy Rigby ‘Dylan In Dubuque’
The Garrys ‘Cakewalk’
La Luz ‘Always In Love’
Bloom De Wilde ‘Ride With The Fishes’
El Khat ‘Tislami Tislami’
Gabriel Abedi ‘Bra Fie’
Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly ‘TURBULENCIA’
Red Hot Org, Laraaji, Kronos Quartet, Sun Ra ‘Daddy’s Gonna Tell You No Lie’ (THIS MONTH’S COVER ART)
King Kashmere, Alecs DeLarge, HPBLK, Booda French, Ash The Author ‘Astro Children (Remix)’
Oddisee ‘Live From The DMV’
Amy Aileen Wood ‘Time For Everything’
Low Leaf ‘Innersound Oddity’
Jake Long ‘Celestial Soup’
Jonathan Backstrom Quartet ‘Street Dog’
Gordan ‘Sara’
Cuntroaches ‘III’
Morgan Garrett ‘Alive’
Cadillac Face ‘I Am The Monster’
Tucker Zimmerman ‘Advertisement For Amerika’
Poppycock ‘Magic Mothers’
Little Miss Echo ‘Hit Parade’
Olivier Rocabois ‘Stained Glass Lena’
Ward White ‘Slow Sickness’
Lightheaded ‘Always Sideways’
The Tearless Life w/ Band Of Joy ‘The Leaving-Light’
Michal Gutman ‘I’m The Walker’
Malini Sridharan ‘Beam’
Micha Volders & Miet Warlop ‘Hey There Turn’
Copywrite, Swab ‘Vibe Injection’
Napoleon Da Legend, DJ Rhettmatic ‘The King Walk’
Dabbla, JaySun, DJ Kermit ‘No Plan’
Gyedu-Blay Ambolly ‘Apple’
Brother Ali, unJUST ‘Cadillac’
Hometown Heros, DJ Yoda, Edo. G, Brad Baloo ‘What You Wanna Do’
Cities Aviv ‘Style Council’
Illangelo ‘The Escape’
Mofongo ‘Manglillo’
Aquaserge ‘Sommets’
Xqui, David Ness ‘The Confessions Of Isobel Gowdie’
Conrad Schnitzler ‘Slow Motion 2’
Noemi Buchi ‘Window Display Of The Year’
Hi, my name is Dominic Valvona and I’m the Founder of the music/culture blog monolithcocktail.com For the last ten years I’ve featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world 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. 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 buy us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail to say cheers for spreading the word, then that would be much appreciated.
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEW SECOND REVIEWS ROUNDUP OF MAY – INSTANT REACTIONS.
_____UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, ALL RELEASES CAN BE PURCHASED RIGHT NOW
___/THE SINGLES\___
Bloom De Wilde ‘Ride With The Fishes’
Bloom De Wilde is back with this lovely taster single “Ride With The Fishes”, taken from her forthcoming album, which is due out later in the year. “Ride with The Fishes” is a jaunty pop gem that has a faint jazzy charm that will seduce and then abandon you only to then return without warning many times during the day and night, and each time will seduce you and then abandon you each time, once more leaving you in the height of tenterhooks awaiting the magical all too brief tuneful seduction.
Schizo Fun Addict ‘Elevation Versus Sabotage’
As any regular reader of my Monolith Cocktail new releases round ups will already know, I adore Schizo Fun Addict: a band that never disappoints and one I would hold up in comparison to any of the greats from the musical past.
They have a rare quality, a soulful heavenly innocence and belief in the healing power of music that really cannot be faked. And with this, their brand new single, they once again do not disappoint.
The A-side “Elevation Versus Sabotage” is a sublime jumble of post-punk guitar jangle – imagine The Byrds replacing Gene Clark and David Crosby with the girls from The B52’s and stumbling upon Delia Derbyshire high on E and trying to invent Acid-house. And the B –side, which really should be Double A-Side, is equally bewitching. “Coming To You” is a blissful reawakening of hope, melancholy and peace that once again draws you into what was all to briefly special from the Manchester music scene of the late 80’s before it became Madchester – if only the second Stone Roses album was as beautiful as this.
Johnny Halifax Invocation ‘Thank You’
This is rather wonderful in all its stompin glory. There is something quite Jimi Hendrix Experience-like about it. It both rocks and rolls in equal measure, and is darn sexy (darn sexy is a much underused review phrase). Have I tripped (in the falling sense) and banged my head and gone back to the splendour of 1968, I wonder… Darn Sexy.
___/THE ALBUMS-EPS\___
Eamon The Destroyer ‘Alternate Piranhas EP’
(Bearsuit Records) 31st May 2024
If entertaining electro psychedelica is your apple tree then this bunch of grapes is just what you want to enlighten your garden of delight. Imagine Dr Frankenstein as a mad music creator instead of the twisted misguided do gooder with a god complex, this EP could well be his creation, with parts taken from various musical genres and stitched together to make this a monster of a release.
Psych, indie, electro, folk, rock and shoegaze are all dabbled and twisted with, creating tracks with a healthy dose of originality and darkness and fortitude, with a underlying healthy dose of anger. Alternate Piranhas is a fine EP.
Little Miss Echo ‘S-T’
7th June 2024
Little Miss Echo are no fools. They have decided to self release their self-titled debut at the beginning of the summer, as this wonderful pop album is the perfect summer album. And so those in the know will be able to soundtrack their summer with this album of supreme popitude.
The late sixties and early 70s Beach Boys and Jellyfish collide with Stereolab and Saint Etienne and Air to create an album of wonky pure pop bliss. This is music you want playing from your car radio as you drive around town, or to soundtrack your night out. This is music with beauty and melody, written with great style and songwriting ability. It really needs and deserves to reach a large audience.
Al Hotchkiss ‘The Best & Bratwurst Of W.A. Hotchkiss – Volume None’
(Howling Moon Records)
Is Al Hotchkiss the Scottish Billy Childish, a man who over the last twenty years or so released music constantly under various guises. Here we have a fourteen-track compilation of some of those songs and guises: and an excellent compilation it is too. Psychedelic 60s influenced Garage rock mingles with blues and country influenced songs of wonder.
Al really deserves to be better known and is crying out to be discovered by a wider audience. It’s quite a mystery why he has not as he is head and shoulders above 99 percent of the artists who release music influenced by 60s rock ‘n’ roll and Garage Psych.
This album is a must have for all Garage rock enthusiasts, and really Al Hotchkiss should have a copy of Shindig magazine dedicated to the great man and his music.
Michal Gutman ‘Never Coming Home’
(Cruel Nature Records)
“Never Coming Home” is a darkly beautiful album; an album of twisted musical discovery, with songs worthy to fall from the lips and the pen of the great Dory Previn; songs that pull you into a strange and beguiling solitude place, where you only have memories and fears and regrets for company. Musically stark and bewitching like an unused broken fairground ride: a bass guitar has never sounded so much like the faded remnants of an old lover’s final kiss. “Never Coming Home” is quite simply stunning.
Pork Tapeworm ‘Taenia Solium EP’
This EP is made up of seven songs in less than six minutes and really does not give you chance to get bored. Six minutes of spiky guitar punk rock with short and sweet melodies. Imagine early Nirvana with the post punk artiness of Elastic. A really enjoyable listen.
Lightheaded ‘Combustible Gems’
(Slumberland)
“Combustible Gems” by the Lightheaded actually lives up to its name, as the album is indeed full of gems. Whether they are combustible or not is open to question – has anyone ever tried setting fire to twee indie-pop songs? I know lots of people who would love to, but me, well I’m rather fond of the jangly guitar and odes of love gone both wrong or right, and the Lightheaded have perfected the magic of the jangly guitar cheap keyboard and tuneful melody down to the tee (or should that be twee). This is an album for all those aficionados of C86 to lap up enjoy and add to their collection.
Hungrytown ‘Circus For Sale’
(Big Stir Records) 21st June 2024
This is the fourth album from Hungrytown, but the first I have had the pleasure of hearing, and indeed it is a pleasure as psych folk with more than a hint of baroque pop is right up my street. There is a beauty and calmness to it that one can lose themself in and ignore and forget briefly the day-to-day turmoil that surrounds them. Vocalist Rebbecca Hall is blessed with a magically sweet innocent voice that floats and weaves its way through the musical sea of melodious tranquility that wraps itself around the listener: pure bliss.
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