BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA DELIVERS THE VERDICTS ON A NEW HAUL OF RELEASES FROM THE LAST MONTH – all releases available now unless stated otherwise
THE SINGLES & EPS
Aoife Nessa Frances ‘Fantasy’
(Partisan)
‘Fantasy’ is a rather lovely thing indeed. A song of baroque darkness, this has a magical bewitching almost Beach Boys quality; a McCartney circa Ram quality I really like. Aoife Nessa Frances has a beautiful voice and is a fine songwriter, and ‘Fantasy’ is a fine song, which makes me want to hear more of the ladies quite wonderful music.
Neon Kittens ‘Sunburn On My Legs EP’
(Metal Postcard)
Just what this rain filled summer needs is a splash of post-punk sunshine from everybody’s favourite feline named act: the Neon Kittens. And of course the Neon Kittens do not disappoint. This three-track EP has all the sultry seedy glamour one expects from a Kittens release, all discordant guitars that have been wooed away from Bowie’s Scary Monsters album, offered the chance of a salacious dalliance with a younger and newer model, and will cast away all memories of the tat Bowie released in the eighties post Scary Monsters. Yes a three track EP that will not just put hairs on your chest but will also wax the parts that need waxing, leaving you all slinky and sexy for the sunbed that lies ahead.
Crystal Teardrop ‘By The River’
15th September 2023
The Crystal Teardrop‘s new single “By The River” is a bit of a psychedelic treat: all Bangles like harmonies and 1967 vibes. And could easily slip onto the Pandoras classic 1984 debut album Its About Time and no one would blink an eyelid. I love modern day psych when it is done well, and this is done very well indeed.
Juppe ‘Teardrops On Used Vinyl’
(Soliti)
There is something slinky and slightly sleazy about this song, which I enjoy. It’s pop music after all, and pop music should have at least one of the following S’s: slinkiness, sleaziness, sensuality and sprightliness. And this has two, maybe 3 of those. I can imagine being dressed like a Tiger and patrolling the house to this, which believe me can only be a good thing: like a young Elvis walking like a cat.
Charlie Kaplan ‘Gas Station Bathroom’
I have chosen to write about this track so obviously I like it, as I do not write about music that does not appeal, unless it is Oasis or post Syd Barrett Pink Floyd as they deserve all the public humiliation that can be heaped on them for their placid soggy lumpen pretence at rock ‘n’ roll. But this is not about them. This is about Charlie Kaplan and his rather lovely slice of Alt country; a slice from the same country pie Bob Dylan sang about on Nashville Skyline. But who cares, certainly not me. Anyway this is a rather fine single so give it a listen.
Novelistme ‘I Need New Music’
A song and subject matter that very much appeals to my good self, or bad self even – I am not as heavenly as I appear to be. Yes indeed, a rambunctious assault of melody that encapsulates all I love about indie/alternative guitar music: jerky, pointed, full of catchiness and charm. Novelistme are breath of fresh air in this current heatwave of smugness and ineptitude that currently resides in my email review pile. I indeed need new music like Novelistme. So please Jimmy can u fix for me to hear an album sometime [have I been cancelled yet?].
ALBUMS
Legless Crabs ‘American Russ’
(Metal Postcard)
What if Joan Jett was telling lies and she did not love Rock ‘n’ roll at all, and she was just playing at it to make her millions, and really she loved nothing better than to listen to the old sequence dance compilations – the Swing And Sway series say – or was really a closet Pat Boone fan and preferred his version of Long Tall Sally and not in a ironic way, and did not believe in the old adage that the devil had all the best tunes (which to be truthful is not true, as Cliff Richards Jesus single was one of the finest singles of the 1970s). If Joan Jett was indeed a fake I am sure The Legless Crabs could and would turn the leather panted one to the dark side. And I don’t mean the Dark Side Of The Moon as that is as rock ‘n’ roll as a defrosted box of Fish Fingers. I mean the dark side of rock ‘n’ roll, the side filled with feedback and Cramps like guitar riffs and both sexual frustration and sexual exploitation (in a seedy 70s porn like way). See, that is what I like about the Legless Crabs, they are rock ‘n’ roll in a seedy 70s porn like way.
Tony Jay ‘Perfect Worlds’
(Slumberlands) 15th September 2023
If you go to San Francisco be sure to wear dead flowers in your hair, for San Franciscan Tony Jay’s Perfect Worlds is a lovely dark album of lo-fi songs of loneliness and rejection and heartbreak; an album that will appeal to those who love the music of Sparklehorse or early Jesus And Marychain in their quieter moments. And will appeal to those among us who love to wile away the hours watching the sun set from your bedroom window, as people pass by unaware that music of great beauty is happening just above their heads; that concealed behind the walls there are people writing listening, getting it on, soundtracking the sadness and gladness in their lives. Perfect Worlds is the perfect album to soundtrack a not so just perfect life.
Graham Parker ‘Last Chance To Learn The Twist’
(Big Stir Records)
I wonder how many reviews Graham Parker has had over the years. I bet it must run into the thousands. I wonder if he collects them in a scrapbook? But how in these day of online blogs does one collect them together. He must have to print them off on his printer and then stick them in his scrapbook. That is the question that he should be asked in one of the thousands of interviews Graham Parker must still do. Just how much does he spend on printer ink and paper, as we know the price of printer ink is ridiculously high. Maybe he has it in part of the deal he does with the record label, that they must supply ink for his printer to print off the reviews. And just how big must Graham Parkers house be to hold all these volumes of review scrapbooks; unless he keeps them in storage. The mind boggles. And in all these reviews he has received over the years I wonder how many are good reviews. I expect a good 90 per cent will be good as Graham Parker is a fine songwriter, has always has been and no doubt always will be. And I think Last Chance To Learn The Twist is his 25th album. And after 25 albums we all know what you get with a Graham Parker album; a good mixture of soul, rock, pop, blues and well written and performed songs. And Last Chance To Learn The Twist is certainly no different, and fans of the man will not be disappointed. As an aside note, my old friend John who was a mod had a Parka and he used to call his coat Graham…always amused me.
Semiwestern ‘Semiwestern’
(Spirit Goth/ AudioSport) 13th September 2023
I like this album, even though I was slightly disappointed when discovering that the band did not live up to their name and was not a band with country influences. I was there all sat with my tasseled jacket and Flying Burrito Brothers suit trying my best to restage the album cover of the In The Gilded Palace Of Sin with my wife and two cats, and have you ever tried to dress a cat in Gilded Palace Sin suit, it is not easy believe me. But luckily my disappointment soon faded when the subtle My Bloody Valentine like grace of the opening track ‘I Never Mean What I Say’ started to drift from my laptop speakers. And the on further listen throughs, the following tracks took me on an alternative music journey; a journey that took in the sights and sounds of Granddaddy and The Cure and Ride and the sort of music you would hear from an American alt radio station in the early noughties. But sadly not a yee haw or round ‘em up partner, but one can not have everything.
rOZZ ‘United’
(Nub Music)
This is an enjoyable album. It has all the things I like about DIY music; it has a looseness, a poetic charm, a melancholy a fragility, and at times it sounds like it’s going to all come crashing down to floor in a paperweight frenzy of artistic endeavor.
rOZZ is an artist who I feel makes music because she has a burning need to. Not because it will make her look cool and be featured in a music blog. It has simply strummed guitars and an easy to play keyboards style, plus she has a quite lovely voice – like a Belgian Cerys Matthews -, and the songs have beautiful melodies. On the whole, this is a quite beautiful album.
The Monthly Playlist: Choice Music From August 2023: GOAT, Ramson Badbonez, Jaimie Branch, Part Bat, Dave Meder ..
August 30, 2023
PLAYLIST/TEAM EFFORT
A summary of the last month on the Monolith Cocktail site
Each month Dominic Valvona curates an eclectic musical journey from all the choice releases featured on the Monolith Cocktail, with records selected from reviews by Dominic, Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea and Andrew C. Kidd. Plus Matt Oliver’s essential hip-hop revue and a smattering of tracks we didn’t get the chance to write about for a lack of time and space.
_____TRACKLIST_____
Ramson Badbonez ‘Weight’
FRSHRZ X Tom Caruna Ft. Essa, Phill Most Chill, Clencha, Frisco Boogie, YU, Jehst, Homeboy Sandman, Willie Evans Jr., Dr Syntax, Doc Brown, Wizdom (Green Jade), Chill aka Greenzilla, Jaz Kahina, Mas Law, Koba Kane, Blade, Pavan, Seanie T, Michie One, Graziella, Watusi87, K9, Si Philli, Apex Zero, Genesis Elijah, Longusto, Nutty P, Tubby Boy, LeeN, Skillit, F-Dot-1, SKANDOUZ, Dray, Artcha, Georgious Lazakis, Dekay, Dee Lush, Briti$h, Anyway tha God, Quartz Crystallius, Lemzi, BREIS, Leo Coltrane, Jugg GTB, Slippy Skillz, Scorzayzee, Obi Joe, El Da Sensei, Whirlwind D, Dillon, Cuts From Jazz T ‘BARS 50MC – Remix’
Azalu ‘Fleshbite’
Lunch Money Life ‘Love Won’t Hide Your Fears (The Bishop And The Bunsen Burner)’
GOAT ‘Unemployment Office’
Flat Worms ‘Suburban Swans’
Part Bat ‘Okay’
Group O ‘The Answer Machine’
Black Milk ‘Downs Get Up’
Apollo Brown ‘Three Piece’
Open Mike Eagle ‘We Should Have Made Otherground A Thing’
Raw Poetic, Damu The Fudgemunk ‘The Speed Of Power’
Stik Figa, Blu ‘Uknowhut? (The Expert Remix)’
Jaimie Branch ‘Bolinko Bass’
Trademarc, Mopes, SUBSTANCE810 ‘No Huddle’
Joell Ortiz, L’ Orange ‘In My Feelings’
Kut One, Jamal Gasol ‘Stay Sucker Free’
Belbury Poly ‘The Path’
Hydroplane ‘Stars (Twilight Mix)’
Slow Pulp ‘Broadview’
Yann Tiersen ‘Nivlenn’
Rojin Sharafi ‘dbkkk’
Andrew Hung ‘Find Out’
Misya Sinista, ILL BILL, Vinnie Paz, DJ Eclipse ‘Verbal Assualt’
Verbz, Nelson Dialect, Mr. Slipz ‘Edge Of Oblivion’
Koralle, Kid Abstrakt ‘Mission’
Rhinoceros Funk, Rico James ‘Pump This’
Sa-Roc ‘Talk To Me Nice’
Elisapie ‘Isumagijunnaitaungituq (The Unforgiven)’
MacArthur Maze, DJ D Sharp, Blvck Achilles, Champ Green, D. Bledsoe ‘Switching Lanes’
Bixiga 70 ‘Malungu’
Gibralter Drakus ‘Exode Ritual’
Dave Meder ‘Modern Gothic’
Knoel Scott, Marshall Allen ‘Les Funambules’
Vitamin G, Illinformed ‘Big Spender’
NC Lives ‘Cycle’ Candid Faces ‘Coming Home’
The Legless Crabs ‘Unstoppable’
Neon Kittens ‘Sunburn On My Legs’
En Fer ‘Mon Travail, Mon Honneur Et Ma Perseverance’
Craig Fortnam ‘All Dogs Are Robots’
Liraz ‘Bia Bia – JM Version’
Galun ‘Mirror’
Exit Rituals ‘A Fluid Portrait’
Dot Allison ‘220Hz’
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.
Monthly Playlist: April 2023: Circe, Micall Parknsun, Suki Sou, Carla Boregas, Ammar 808…
April 27, 2023
CHOICE MUSIC FROM THE LAST MONTH: TEAM EFFORT
The Monthly Revue playlist of 2023; a choice selection of tracks from the last month on the blog. Curated by Dominic Valvona with Matt Oliver on the Rap Control once more, and music from reviews by our latest recruit Gillian Stone plus Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea, Graham Domain and a returning Andrew C. Kidd. Expect to hear the unexpected as we leave you with this 45 track selection before we go off on a May sabbatical (well half of May, be back around the 15th with a packed schedule of choice music).
TRACKLIST//
Altın Gün ‘Çıt Çıt Çedene’
Ammar 808 Ft. Belhassen Mihoub ‘Yarima’
Les Abranis ‘Achethkhi’
Orti, Mayorga y Chiriboga ‘Muñequita Blanca’
Tuzeint ‘Mujer Divina’
United Grind Ft. Gamechangers ‘Doin This All Night’
King Kashmere & Alecs DeLarge ‘Most Blunted’
Neon Kittens ‘Loving Your Neighbour’s Wife’
Opus Kink ‘1:18’
Gabrielle Ornate ‘Delirium’
H. Hawkline ‘Plastic Man’
Land Of OOO ‘Matthew’
African Head Charge ‘A Bad Attitude’
Swans ‘Paradise Is Mine’
The Oldest Voice In The World ‘Talysh Mountain Border’
La Faute ‘The Crown’
fhae ‘Love You’
Alice ‘Triste et tout seul’
foil ‘Don’t Look’
Ali Murray ‘Spirit Of Unknowing’
Khotin ‘Lovely’
MultiTraction Orchestra ‘Reactor One’
Tobias Meinhart ‘Luna Park’
Deca & Ol’ Burger Beats ‘Blight’
Prastense & Shortrock Ft. Uncommon Nasa ‘A Broken Letter’
Micall Parknsun ‘Back’
Your Old Droog ‘Pronouns’
Illinformed Ft. Eric The Red ‘Doctor’
Silver Moth ‘Sedna’
Escupemetralla ‘Several specimens of ruminant animals with large udders chewing grass in a Cambridge meadow’
Sweeney ‘High School Damage’
Ale Hop & Laura Robles ‘Son de los diablos’
Cornelius Corvidae ‘Silver Flower’
James Howard ‘The Reckoning’
Draag ‘Mitsuwa’
Mike Cale ‘Slow Club’
Suki Sou ‘Petrichor’
Issei Herr ‘Aria’
Carla Boregas ‘A Cidade doe Outros’
Simon McCorry ‘Halcyon Fire’
CIEL ‘Somebody’
Tomato Flower ‘Destroyer’
Cindy ‘Earthly Belonging’
Circe ‘Riot Of Sunlight’
Chloe Gallardo ‘Bloodline’
Our Daily Bread 569: Ali Murray & Cornelius Corvidae, Foil, Conrad Schnitzler & Ken Montgomery, Silver Moth…
April 7, 2023
GRAHAM DOMAIN’S REVIEWS SUITE
__SINGLES/EPS__
Ali Murray and Cornelius Corvidae ‘Split EP’
(Dead Forest Records)
As the name suggests this is an EP split between two artists playing two songs each.
Ali Murray hails from the beautiful windswept Isle of Lewis and vocally sounds like a cross between Elliott Smith and Andy Shauf. On some of his other releases he harnesses a shoegaze-like sonic template. Here he adopts a stripped-back sound of acoustic and electric guitar and organ. Standout track is the beautiful ‘Wish the Bones Away’ with its poetic lyrics and melancholic gothic strangeness. ‘Spirit of Unknowing’ meanwhile, uses acoustic guitar to great effect on an atmospheric ballad that combines the phrasing of John Grant with the sadness of Elliot Smith. Two songs of beauty and wonder!
Cornelius Corvidae hails from Minnesota, USA and inhabits two songs of cosmic Americana. ‘Silver Flower (Kali’s Invitation)’ employs acoustic picked guitar on a bleak ballad, all dark imagery and campfire ghost-story shadow. ‘Shiva in the Blood Orchard’ meanwhile, uses picked acoustic guitar set against Tudor-like keyboard melodies (reminiscent of the Moody Blues) on a dark folk ballad. Two artists, four great songs!
Foil ‘Portal’
(Jolt Music)
Foil (AKA singer and producer Helly Manson) releases her new single this month. Taken from the upcoming album On the Wing, the song begins like Steeleye Span with multi tracked folkish female vocals before a synth plays the same pattern over and over again accompanied by a cowbell rhythm! It lasts just 1 minute and 33 seconds and sounds like a demo for a song not finished and barely started! Still, there’s nothing else quite like it!
Juppe ‘Fade’
(Soliti)
Juppe hails from Helsinki in Finland (the happiest country in the world)! Of the singles theme he says ‘it’s very hard to get a place to rent here in Helsinki if you don’t have good credit! It’s very easy to fade away.’ With two fingers up to the Man – Juppe looks like Bob Mortimer and harnesses the sound of the Devils music Jamiroquai!
Bitter Defeat ‘Terrific Effort EP’
(Bandcamp)
This is the second EP from the New Zealand indie rock band following last years Minor Victory EP. Comprising 4 songs of guitar pop-rock that sit somewhere between the Lemon Heads and late-period Buzzcocks! Lead song ‘Sugar Blind’ is a catchy guitar driven pop song complete with Cure-like background vocal refrain! ‘Falling Down’, meanwhile has shades of the Charlatans with its driving organ sound! One to watch!
Nivis ‘Into the Void’ EP
(6415 Records)
The EP features 4 songs of pop-rock from the German indie-pop band. Lead track ‘Rain on a Funeral March’ is a catchy pop song that resonates more with each play. All four songs are well-produced, commercial pop-rock that remind me of people like Cyndi Lauper or Nena (of 99 Red Balloons fame). It’s the sort of music that was popular in the mid 1980’s! Shiny but not new!
Neon Kittens ‘Loving Your Neighbours Wife’ b/w ‘Marilyn Mansion (Where Horror Lives)
(Metal Postcard Records)
The new single from Neon Kittens, combines the white funk bass-lines of A Certain Ratio with Eno / Byrnes My Life in the Bush of Ghosts to produce K-Funk – the crunchy funk sound of biscuits out of their packet! With these hot cheesy bread rhythms, even Lego figures with botox can learn to smile again! Set to produce a water slide of elastic-legged banana dancing up and down the country!
B-side ‘Marilyn Mansion’ employs the sound of Early Gang of Four with the attack of Wire and a deadpan female Einar (Sugarcubes) on a twisted tale of non murder locations and funking in cars!
Draag ‘Mitsuwa’
A wonderful summery single from the LA Electro-Shoegaze band, taken from their forthcoming album Dark Fire Heresy. Acoustic guitars and subtle synths give way to chiming guitars and organ with multi-tracked harmonic female vocals! It reminds me very much of Lush in their prime! One to watch!
_____ALBUMS_____
Conrad Schnitzler & Ken Montgomery ‘CAS-CON 11 Konzert in der Erloserkirche, Ost-Berlin, 3.9.1986’
(Bureau B) 12th May 2023
This is a live concert recorded in East Germany on 3.9.1986 where the music of German electronic experimental musician Conrad Schnitzler was mixed live by American collaborator Ken Montgomery. This was at a time when the Berlin Wall still stood and the GDR required the issuing of a special state permit for a live concert. This concert was promoted locally by word of mouth and went ahead illegally (without permit), where it was recorded and issued by an East German underground label on cassette.
Now fully restored, the concert has been issued for the first time on CD, Vinyl and as a Digital Download! Consisting of 6 tracks of austere serious yet playful experimental electronic music, it leaves little impression on first listen. With repeat plays however, the charms of the music reveal themselves, not so much in melody but in atmosphere and approach. It encapsulates the icy chill and drama of Delia Derbyshire, Bowie, Eno, Tomita, Cluster and early Popol Vuh! An interesting suite of music – one that becomes an essential listen the more you hear it!
FFO: Delia Derbyshire, Cluster, Popol Vuh, Tangerine Dream, Bowie, Tomita.
Volatile Youth ‘Post Falls, Idaho’
(Rummage Sale Records – Bandcamp)
The album begins with the song ‘California’ sounding like a strung-out Lou Reed if produced by Jesus and Mary Chain! ‘Love Like A Thousand Guns’ is superb low-fi Psychedelia with the backward vocal effect, once favoured by Siouxsie, that you don’t hear anymore since the onset of Digital! ‘She’s Starting to See the Flame’ is a country-tinged song sounding like Nick Drake if he had fronted the Byrds after they turned country-rock!
Overall, this is a fine album that is perhaps a touch too low-fi for its lofty ambitions! The songs are commercial and remind me of various bands and artists – among them Lou Reed, the Only Ones, the Byrds in their Gram Parsons era, Dennis Wilson and the gothic feel of Mazzy Star.
If it had been made by someone with a higher profile, say Bright Eyes, and recorded on decent sound equipment, it would undoubtedly have gained a wide audience. Hopefully it will be heard by many and receive the recognition it deserves.
Fhae ‘Sombre Thorax’
(4000 Records)
This is a wonderful album of ethereal, ambient, dream-folk-pop that ebbs and flows like the tides and inhabits its own world of subtle beauty. Sometimes, mists of the sea seem to creep into the music and the edges of reality become blurred, the music shape shifting into another dimension!
Fhae (20 year old Australian Ellena Ramsay) produces music in the vein of Julianna Barwick or Grouper – some of it lovely with multi tracked harmonies (like Barwick) and some of it (such as ‘Drain’ and ‘Man’) obscure in its strangeness (like Grouper)! There are some really beautiful and compelling tracks on the album, such as ‘Earth’, ‘Emergency’, ‘Love You’, ‘Comb’ and ‘Stuck’. A fantastic debut album, I can’t wait to hear more!
Stanley J. Zappa & Simo Laihonen with Suvadeep Das ‘Dance of the Moving Goal Posts’
(Ramble Records)
US saxophonist Stanley J Zappa (nephew of Frank Zappa) and Finnish drummer and percussionist Simo Laihonen recorded this album of 7 pieces of free improvised jazz live in Helsinki in 2018. The final track features Suvadeep Das on darbuka adding an extra percussive element!
It’s a lively set with the Sax sparring with the percussion throughout. If you enjoy free improv jazz, you may well enjoy this lively concert – give it a listen!
Nico Paulo ‘Nico Paulo’
(Forward Music Group)
This is a wonderful summery album of Bacharach-like melodies by the Portuguese-Canadian singer. A truly remarkable debut of ten self-composed wonderful songs that sound like standards.
Her voice is a bewitching combination of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell and Natalie Mering (Weyes Blood). Musically it covers a wide spectrum of Tropicalia, Folk, Americana, Jazz and Pop. Her voice conveys real emotion and depth that is bounced off the beautiful melodies and lyrics.
There are so many fantastic songs on here that it’s hard to single out the standout tracks, but they include ‘Time’, ‘Lock Me Inside’, ‘The Master’, ‘Learning My Ways’, ‘Now or Never’.
A future classic that will undoubtedly have a far-reaching influence on stars not yet born! Is it too early to award it – Debut Album of the Year?
FFO: Weyes Blood, Aldous Harding, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Beach House, Rumer.
Silver Moth ‘Black Bay’
(Bella Union) 21st April 2023
Silver Moth are a one-off ‘band-experiment’ made up of 7 members from various bands drawn together post-lockdown by a strong desire to make music again and see what happens! The band include Mogwai guitarist Stuart Braithwaite, Elisabeth Elektra, Evi Vine and Ben Roberts.
The first track ‘Henry’ is 7 minutes of atmospheric shoegaze guitar music with a girl singer whose cracked voice here sounds like Beth Gibbons at her emotional best!
‘The Eternal’ follows, not the Joy Division song, but a bleak winter hymnal resonating like sacred music for the End of Times!
‘Mother Tongue’ follows suite with its cinematic drama and pagan prayer-like plea for reconciliation and survival.
Final track ‘Sedna’ has the same sacred vibe – like Dead Can Dance played by Fields of The Nephilim.
Cinematic tracks full of atmosphere and grandeur! 45 minutes of Bliss! It may become the holy grail of lost albums in future years – if it slips under the radar!
FFO: Slowdive, Pale Saints, Howling Bells, Daughter, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Fields of the Nephilim.
A Little About The Writer:
Manchester-based musician and artist Graham Domain joined the team in 2022. The offspring of Scott Walker and David Slyvian, Graham has charmed us with his plaintive adroit music for years; releasing music for the iconic cult multinational platform Metal Postcard Records.
Monthly Playlist Revue Of February 2023: Moonlight Benjamin, Von Pea, Philip Selway, Pussy Riot…
February 28, 2023
The Monolith Cocktail’s Monthly Playlist Of Choice Music
Picked By Dominic Valvona, Matt Oliver, Brian ‘Bordello’, Gillian Stone, Graham Domain
Four hours of choice music from February, the Monolith Cocktail Revue features tunes from our reviews and columns, plus the tracks we didn’t get room to feature. This month’s selection is courtesy of Dominic Valvona, Matt Oliver, Brian ‘Bordello’ She, Graham Domain and Gillian Stone.
.:TRACK LIST IN FULL:.
Moonlight Benjamin ‘Wayo’
Lunar Bird ‘Creatures’
Von Pea ‘Ode To Slick Rick’
Champion Poundcake ‘RAGS ANYMORE’
Spectacular Diagnostics ‘The Played List (Ft. Sonnyjim and Kid Acne)’
The Go! Team ‘Whammy-O’
Rogue Jones ‘Fffachlwch Bach (Bach)’
the clickBAITERS ‘Rear Ended’
Lucy & The Drill Holes ‘A Mouse’
Langkamer ‘Sing At Dawn’
First Day Of Spring ‘Normal Person (Love You Forever)’
SUO ‘Blue Evening’
Bondo ‘Instrument’
Mary Ocher ‘Love Is Not A Place (Ft. Your Government)’
Novelistme ‘Make Nothing’
Benjamin Benedict ‘Furlough Blues’
Za!/Tarta Relena/La TransMegaCobla ‘El Sweep The Lehelan’
Seljuk Rustum ‘Desi Bunny’
La Tene ‘La Taillée’
Imaad Wasif ‘Mr. Fear So Long (Money Mark Rework)’
Efeks ‘As Good As It Gets (Ft. The Strange Neighbour)’
The God Fahim ‘Man Of Steel’
Fliptrix ‘OCD With The LOVE (Ft. Coops And Verb T)’
Brainorchestra ‘Thin Patience’
Flying Monk & Wz (Corrupted Monk) ‘AF1’s’
Room Of Wires ‘Welcome To The End Game’
ANKHLEJOHN & LOOK DAMIEN! ‘CELINE AT THE MET GALA’
Pussy Riot ‘Putin’s Ashes’
Geeker-Natsumi ‘A Sheep That Never Gets Lost’
ASSASSUN ‘At Gunpoint’
Neon Kittens ‘Portable Fire’
Demikhov/Norda ‘Science! Science! Science!’
Antti Lötjönen ‘Circus/Citadel Pt. III’
Saint Abdullah ‘Divine Timing Is Intuitive’
Tachycardie ‘Collision Au Sens Strict’
Kety Fusco ‘Starless’
Polobi & The Gwo Ka Masters ‘Kawmélito’
Seaming To ‘Blessing’
Lisel ‘Immature’
Sly Moon ‘The Ghosts Comin’’
FUZ ‘First light’
Lavar The Star & Shabazz Palaces ‘Glass Top Roof (The One)’
Mecánica Clásica ‘Mantra De Felpa’
Kalia Vandever ‘Temper The Wound’
Xqui & Kaiho Zion ‘Agori Quitonie’
Stereo Hypnosis & Roedelius ‘VÍK I’
Philip Selway ‘Strange Dance’
The Good Ones ‘This Amazing Love Has Stayed With Me’
NO(w) Beauty ‘Atonia’
Floral Portrait ‘Winter Isolation’
Hawk Percival And Friends ‘The Mountain’
The Mining Co. ‘Wake Up’
Steve Stoeckel ‘Just One Kiss’
Chris Plum ‘As Long As The Sun’
Total Refreshment Centre ‘Black (Ft. Brother Portrait)’
Anteek Recipes ‘NY Fatcap’
Verb T & Illinformed ‘Bogus Journey’
Hus KingPin ‘Tony (Ft. Sagelnfinite)’ Copywrite/AWOL One & Kount Fif ‘Word From Our Sponsor’
Our Daily Bread 556: Guided By Voices, Schizo Fun Addict, Maple Mars, Neon Kittens…
January 26, 2023
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Column
Singles/Tracks/Videos
Exclusive Video:-
Schizo Fun Addict ‘Forever Before’
(Fruits Der Mer Records)
Well how apt a few days after David Crosby the king of Laurel Canyon died we are sent the latest video by Schizo Fun Addict [an exclusive in fact]. Yes my dear readers you are the first people to cast your eyes and ears over this beautiful Laurel Cannyon Autumnal breeze-like guitar song, a song that is possessed by the magic of 1967 Byrds with the slight tinkerings of space rock synth.
“Forever Before” is a song one can imagine gracing and being a highlight from the debut album by the mythical band or should that be group the Kelly Affair from the movie Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls. A song dipped in the serendipity of pure magic.
“Forever Before” is a teaser from their forthcoming album released in March on Fruits Der Mer Records, and I for one cannot wait.
Benedict Benjamin ‘Furlough Blues’
February 3rd 2023
If post-punk folk with a hint of psychedelicised Byrds is your thing then this rather excellent single needs to be gracing your listening device. The first track taken from a forthcoming album Tunnel, which if ‘Furlough Blues’ is anything to go by, is going to be a bit of a stunner.
Maple Mars ‘Anchors Aweigh’
(Big Stir Records)
It is nice to see and hear in fact that there are still songs like this being made and released. ‘Anchors Away’ is a well written and performed guitar pop/rock song, a track with no edginess no quirkiness just a straight-ahead song with melodies and guitar solo; the kind of song one might nod their head to and tap their foot whilst considering another pint or, if it’s time to venture out into the cold night and risk a dodgy take out from the Flaming Duck. The kind of song one would imagine being played in a bar in America in the mid 80s on some TV show, when the lead character was some handsome private detective who always had the women throwing themselves at him: although he was far too old for them. Yes indeed a leather jacker [new and polished] and a seductive moustache, which he never seemed to get beer froth on. A handsome devil indeed, and this would be the music of his choice, well played guitar bar roomish type of rock…he might occasionally drive a motorbike.
Bigflower ‘Hope There’s Someone’
The Mighty bigflower kicks off the New Year where they left of the last with a song of atmospheric beauty. ‘Hope There’s Someone’ is of course a cover of the Anthony And The Johnsons gem, but the gem is polished and covered in layers of Ivor Perry’s magical guitar to produce a track of soul and heartache. One day a label is going to gather these monthly slices of guitar perfection and release an album of artistic triumph.
The Wot Nots ‘Oi’
(Metal Postcard Records)
Old style punk-rock or punk-rock old style, I will let you decide, but either way we have a catchy short blast of rock ‘n’ roll, part early Fall part Alternative TV. The aural equivalent of stumbling over some Sniffin Glue fanzines and getting teary nostalgic for the days when you used to nick coal from the back of the coal lorry or graffiti ‘never mind the bollocks here are the Sex Pistols’ on your neighbor’s shed. The Wot Nots ARE PUNKTASTIC.
Albums/EPs
Guided By Voices ‘La La Land’
(GBV Inc)
Another album from GBV (Guided By Voices). Yes everybody’s favourite lo-fi guitar wheeling merchants; a band that is often mentioned in the same sentence when reviewing my band The Bordellos, although we sound nothing like them: lazy journalism at its finest. But what we do have in common is we both write tuneful quite often short songs of perfection, and this album La La Land is indeed full of them.
What I love best about GBV (Great British Virgins) is their shorter songs. My least favourite are their longer songs: ‘Slowly On The Wheel’ is a bit dull to be honest at six minutes long. But their tunefulness and fine lyricism, heartfelt and snide-y at the same time words filled with a vim and vigour, should be injected into everybody’s record collection. See GBV (George Benson Versus – versus who I do not know; maybe Gene Vincent and the guns of Sunset arrival) are on the whole a fine band but you really don’t need me to tell you that and this on the whole this is a fine album: but you really do not need me to tell you that.
Panthervision ‘Now In 3-D’
(Kool Kat) 3rd February 2023
If one misses and longs for the days when The Primitives and The Darling Buds and such punk indie pop guitar led female vocal fronted bands ruled the airwaves, you could well enjoy Now In 3-D. For the little blighter is jam packed with melody led guitar frenzy, with just the right amount of cheeky sass.
Panthervision have the fine art of guitar pop perfected, or should that be purrfected. They know what they are good at so they never stray from their lane, sticking fine and true on the road of straight ahead guitar pop.
Neon Kittens ‘Van Goghs’s Ear EP’
(Metal Postcard Records)
The soundtrack to Lydia having her Lunch, a seductive strut through the streets of a post-punk apocalypse, a place where hi-brow sleeziness and dancing like Thurma and Travolta is compulsory, the sound of Neon Kittens is one of sex seduction and the flashing neon light offering sex to the music of your choice an elicit affair with the cool kids record collection. It is a place where the Velvet Underground and the Flying Lizards meet up for black coffee and talk art. The Neon Kittens are cool motherfuckers.
The Conspiracy ‘New Years Day EP’
(Metal Postcard Records)
The New Years Day EP is a fine way musically to start off 2023. Although listening to The Conspiracy you could be starting off 1990, as this is an EP that takes one back to the late 80s early 90s, for there are songs on here that weave the same magic as the much underrated Wonky Alice, a fine band that never got the success they deserved, a band that I hear has recently reformed, but enough about the fine Wonky Alice and more about the Conspiracy. As I said, they weave a guitar based magic with a hint of art –pop; a band that sounds very British, like the way the Kinks or the Smiths or the great Billy Childish sounds British: an arrogance of melodious melancholy that tips a hat to politics, sexual or otherwise.
New Years Day is indeed a fine way musically to start this New Year.
Tim Cross and TV Smith ‘Words And Music’
This album is a collection of unreleased tracks by Tim Cross and TV Smith, two former members of the legendary punk band The Adverts who of course where much more than your everyday punk band as they took punk into an almost spikey bubble-gum prog direction with their classic second album Casts Of Thousands.
The late Tim Cross also worked with the likes of Mike Oldfield, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates and many others as well as playing on many excellent albums by the punk troubadour TV Smith. This album has a wonderful lo-fi quality about it as the songs are mostly demos and the odd live recording, and contains some quite wonderful early 80s sounding synth pop – ‘Lucky Us’ being a complete poptastic gem and a track one can imagine gracing the charts of the day. And ‘The Lion And The Lamb’ being a typically beautifully written piece of folk punk, whilst ‘Driver Or Passenger’ coming across like Dire Straits being fronted or indeed affronted by a snarking Luke Haines.
All in all Words And Music is a gem of an album and one again that shows TV Smith and indeed Tim Cross really have never got the acclaim and success they truly deserve.
Meadow Argus ‘Dancing Through a Slow Apocalypse’
This seven-track EP or mini album is rather fantastic. Seven tracks that explore the strange world of folk psychedelia and Krautrock, at times reminding me both of the Beta Band and Broadcast but with a poppier more commercial pop edge. ‘House Husband’ even has a twangy Fender guitar sound Buddy Holly would have been more than pleased with.
Dancing Through a Slow Apocalypse is an album of pure musical adventure genre hopping with a fluid style and ease that cannot be anything else but admired.
Monthly Playlist: November 2022: Cities Aviv, Mui Zyu, Edrix Puzzle, Juga-Naut, Illogic, Arthur King…
November 30, 2022
CHOICE MUSIC FROM THE LAST MONTH
CURATED BY DOMINIC VALVONA
The very last monthly playlist of 2022 is a bumper edition of eclectic choice music from the last month, with a smattering of tracks from upcoming December releases too.
This month’s picks have been collected from Dominic Valvona, Matt Oliver, Brian ‘Shea’ Bordello and Graham Domain. The full track list can be found below the Spotify link.
The monthly will be back in the New Year. Until then absorb this behemoth of a selection, and next month, ponder and peruse the blog’s 140 plus albums of 2022 features.
TRACK LIST IN FULL
Black Market Karma/Tess Parks ‘The Sky Was All Diseased’
Enter Laughing ‘Met Me When I landed’
Salem Trials ‘Man From Atlantis Is Dead’
Humour ‘Jeans’
Cities Aviv ‘Funktion’
Vlimmer ‘Mathematik’
Gabrielle Ornate ‘Phantasm’
Dead Horses ‘Can’t Talk, Can’t Sleep’
Lunar Bird ‘Driven By The Light’
Mui Zyu ‘Rotten Bun’
Thank You Lord For Satan ‘When We Dance’
Pozi ‘Slightly Shaking Cells’
My Friend Peter ‘When I Was’
U.S. Girls ‘Bless This Mess’
Sofie Royer ‘Feeling Bad Forsyth Street’
Surya Botofasina ‘Beloved California Temple’
Edrix Puzzle ‘Shadow of Phobe’
Let Spin ‘Waveform Guru’
Etceteral ‘Gologlavka’
Juga-Naut ‘Camel Walk’
The Pyramids ‘Queens Of The Spirits Part 1’
Illogic ‘Nowhere Fast’
Planet Asia/Snowgoons/Flash ‘Metabolism’
Dabbla/alone ‘Adept’
Karu ‘Spears Of Leaves’
Neon Kittens ‘Nil By Vein’
Renelle 893/King Kashmere ‘My Demons’
Mount Kimbie/Don Maker/Kai Campos Ft. Slowthai ‘Kissing’
Homeboy Sandman/Deca ‘Satellite’
Uusi Aika ‘S-T’
Gillian Stone ‘The Throne’
Raw Poetic/Damu The Fudgemunk ‘A Mile In My Head’
Boldy James/Futurewave ‘Mortemir Milestone’
Arthur King ‘Dig Precious Things’
Tom Skinner ‘Voices (Of The Past)’
Trans Zimmer & The DJs ‘Wind Quintet No. 3 In E Major, Second Movement’
George T ‘Dub On, King’s Cross’
The Dark Jazz Project ‘Great Skies’
Noémi Büchi ‘Measuring All Possibilities’
Russ Spence ‘Spectrum’
Seez Mics/Aupheus ‘Cancel The Guillotine’
Dezron Douglas ‘J Bird’
Fliptrix/Illinformed ‘Eden’
Apollo Brown/Philmore Greene ‘This Is Me’
Illogic ‘She Didn’t Write’
Milc/Televangel Ft. AJ Suede ‘Ronald Reagan’
Vincent/The Owl/Nick Catchdubs ‘Fade 2 Black’
Shirt/Jack Splash ‘Cancel Culture’
Clouds In A Headlock/ASM/Daylight Robbery ‘3D Maze’
The Strange Neighbour/Leolex/Bobby Slice Ft. DJ Sixkay ‘Keep Your Head Straight’
Kormac Ft. Loah & Jafaris ‘Bottom Of The Ocean’
A. O. Gerber ‘Walk In The Dark’
Ben Pagano ‘Hot Capital’
Hög Sjö ‘Love Is A Gamble’
Kinked ‘Introduzione Alla Fabula’
Årabrot ‘Going Up’
Old Fire Ft. Julia Holter ‘Window Without A World’
Meg Baird ‘Star Hill Song’
Susanna/Stina Stjern/Delphine Dora ‘Elevation’
Rita Braga ‘Nothing Came From Nowhere’
Orchid Mantis ‘Endless Life’
The Zew ‘Come On Down’
Ocelot ‘Santa Ana’
LINN ‘Okay, Sister’
Sanfeliu ‘Grassy Patch’
Young Ritual ‘Ages’
Yermot ‘Leaning To Lie’
Monolith Cocktail Blog 