The cult leader of the infamous lo fi gods, The Bordellos, Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea 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. His most recent releases include The Bordellos beautifully despondent pains-of-the-heart and mockery of clique “hipsters” ode to Liverpool, the diatribe ‘Boris Johnson Massacre’ and just in the last couple of months, both The King Of No-Fi album, and a collaborative derangement with the Texas miscreant Occult Character, Heart To Heart. He has also released, under the Idiot Blur Fanboy moniker, a stripped down classic album of resignation and Gallagher brothers’ polemics.
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, here Brian’s latest batch of recommendations.
The Singles/Videos/Tracks Section:
Ålesund ‘Lightning’
26th February 2021
This is quite a bewitching little commercial pop ditty, one I enjoyed listening to, which is the point to music I suppose: to enjoy it, I think. Ålesund might make a interesting pop star as she looks a bit out-of-her-tree, away with the Fairies, but also looks like she has a depth to her, which is only a good thing: anyone who has the away with the fairies’ factor and depth is to me one big plus point. When commercial pop is now at a point of becoming irrelevant to life, we need new young pop starlets to pop up and make pop life interesting again.
Hooveriii ‘Control’
Out Right Now
I like this, it reminds me of the first Dandy Warhols album and it has a rather fetching organ/keyboard riff that the Stranglers would be overjoyed to have grace one of their fine songs. All in all a fine catchy single and the first track taken from their forthcoming debut album, an album I will have to make a mental note to check out when released, as this is indeed a rather nifty single.
The Albums/EPs Section:
Spam Javelin ‘Three Chords Of The Apocalypse’
(Self-Released) 29th January 2021
Spam Javelin, the near legendary north wales punk trio, are back with tales of modern day living on the Three Chords of the Apocalypse album; an album full of humour, disgust, and alienation, and what more can you ask from punk rock. It has everything one could want, and the everything one can want comes wrapped in such wonderfully rock n roll guitar and bass riffs you really could not ask for more. ‘Cogged Off’ is almost Fall like (my fave track on the album I may add) and the riff on ‘Super Twat’ is worthy of The Cramps, and that is what pushes Spam Javelin up to the upper echelons of punk rockery, their wonderful mastery of the punk rock riff.
This is an album to play loud and annoy your neighbours with, unless of course your neighbours enjoy a bit of punk rock and in that case an album to bring your community together, and what more could you ask for.
Cherry Fez ‘…and other stories’
(Self-Released) 30th January 2021
Cherry Fez have given us an album of lovingly written and performed jangly guitar pop songs that at times reminds me of a poppy Felt. They have soaked in the spirit of C86 and mid 60s beat bands. They even do a pretty good cover of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, all beautiful melodies and open guitar chords. Often, this album drifts into Baroque territory, especially on the lovely ballad ‘Mary Pays’.
… and other stories is an album that many will enjoy, as well written guitar songs never go out of fashion and this album is far superior to many I get to hear. Available to download on a pay what you want basis or even for free so all you readers out there who need a bit of jangle in your life as those hip cats say: “Check it out”.
BOYA ‘Momentary Moments’
(Metal Postcard Records) 7th February 2021
An atmospheric journey into the netherworld of somebody you do not know, muffled voices join in a floating aural mist of softly plucked guitar strings and echoes of places from your past, vinyl records crackle and poetry cling together in a quiet slow dance of sadness and hope. Yes, this mini album is an atmospheric delight of empathy. It’s like eavesdropping on a lost soul as he potters around his house alone, his daily life filled with stained shadows of the past and the cracked hope of the future; an album that any lovers of the excellent strange music Wormhole World records release would lap up for breakfast, dinner and tea. A truly beautiful release.
Seth Martin & The Dish Boys ‘The Golden Book Of Favourite Songs’
(Self-Released) 26th February 2021
I don’t really get to write about alt country much, which is a shame as I’m a lover of country music. So listening to this makes a welcome change. The Golden Book Of Favourite Songs is a 30 track (yes 30!) tracks retrospective of the so far seven albums Seth Martin & The Dish Boys have released, and this I find is more country-tinged alternative rather than pure country, and has a Rocky Ericson feel about it or the Meat Puppets or even Mudhoney or even Demented Are Go, so not even country at Tom T hall. So let’s call it a slightly country tinged grunge punk delight.
Yes it may not be what I was expecting but it is very welcome and is a great point to discover the wonderfully strange world of the Dish Boys. It is a world where country, punk and psych collide to form an aural sculpture of obscene delight; a Mars bar touched by the inner thigh of a young Marianne Faithful; the last swill of whiskey to swirl on the lips of Hank Williams; an album that engulfs the hidden treasure of rock n roll past to celebrate the present in all its unhealthy glory. “Howie Gelb Said” is a country psych delight that rocks like a mother fucker who likes to rock and “Heartworn Highways ” is a song touching in the same way a Towns Van Zandt songs touches you, and TVZ is even name checked in the lyrics.
This 30-track mammoth of a release is well recommended to country and rock music fans alike, and as I’ve said, an ideal way to discover this fine band.
Air Hunger ‘F-I-X-E-R’
(Shore Dive Records) 26th February 2021
Anybody who knows me knows I have a thing for lo-fi music, so when this arrived in my inbox and I read it was recorded on an iPhone there was no possibility that I wouldn’t give it a fair hearing. And how glad I did, as it is a beautiful album. An album with much going on. An album full of texture and softness.
Whispered vocals softly strummed acoustic and electric guitars and layers of atmospheres, an aural flotation tank of pureness. At times reminding me of The Red House Painters, at other times reminding me just how beautiful life and music can be. This is an album to lie back relax and enjoy. I’m glad that somebody has done something worthwhile with an iPhone [as once again anybody who knows me knows of my hate of the mobile/smart/iPhone or phones in general in fact], so well done Air Hunger. This album is available as a very ltd cd and at the time of writing there is only 4 copies left, so if I were you I would go and snap one up, you will not be sorry.
Reviews/Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Salem Trials ‘Do Something Dangerous’
(Metal Postcard Records) Album/5th July 2020
This is the label debut LP from one of the bands of 2020 – a fact I’ve previously mentioned in reviewing their first two singles, both of which are featured on this wonderful album; the Captain Beefheart meets the Buzzcocks ‘Head On Rong’ and whip frenzy Wire like pop gem ‘Pictures Of Skin’. The rest of the tracks are no slouches either; mining their influences from late 70s early 80s post punk but without just being a post punk photo fit band, the influences are there but they add their own unique twist adding a beautiful wash of pop melody and some simply stunning guitar playing – especially on the beautifully dark but life enhancing ‘No Light Escapes’.
Andy Goz is one of the most inspiring guitarists I’ve heard in a very long time and is obviously not just an extremely talented musician but must also have a great knowledge and understanding of what makes great rock n roll as the pre punk spirit of the Stooges, MC5 and The Pink Fairies are not just captured but hoisted on flag stands and waived as a taunting warning to all the other many less inspired guitar bands that there are new kids on the block and this simply fine album is the benchmark that they probably have not a hope in hell of reaching. A simply stunning debut.
Japanese Television ‘Bee Cage’
(Tip Top Recordings) Single ahead of a new EP, released 4th September 2020
I like this, it’s a short blast of wonky keyboard organ led heavy bass Sci-fi surf frenzy: Just what one wants to pickle an egg. Dick Dale goes for a moonwalk with Joe Meek whilst wondering what goodness lies beneath the waves of yesterday. Summer sweet sensation, a joyride for the bequiffed buffoon that lies deep within all men of a certain age. A Deeley Bopper of a single.
Various ‘A Picture Of Good Health Compilations’
(Wormhole World) Albums/Volumes 3.1 & 3.2 14th July 2020
What we have here is the latest comps from the experimental Wormhole World Records; two albums full of experimental genre hopping music with something for everyone; from the beautiful almost David Lynch soundtrack like Goodparley to the experimental mellow dance sounds of Gnaarf and DXII, to the crazy mad world of Toxic Chicken, to the poetic Crumpsall Riddle, and any fans collectors of 80s synth pop will be interested to find a new track by Blancmange – the beautiful synth instrumental ‘This Is The Moment I Have Been Waiting For’.
In all, this is a massive musical project and all tracks believe me are worthy of investigation: a great way to soundtrack a Sunday afternoon as I’ve discovered to my great pleasure.
There are in all thirty-nine tracks spread over two limited edition CDs 3.1 and 3.2 or two downloads from the Wormhole Bandcamp and is well worth a explore; and if you buy both CDs at the same time you save yourself a £1, so go and treat yourself.
Twisted Ankle ‘A Bag of Pasta’
(Breakfast Records) Single/19th June 2020
A bag of fall and Captain Beefheart discordance shaken up and let lose to breed and corrupt the inner workings of a Daily Mail readers fan club convention; a disconcerting eyelash flutter at the conventional tale of Siegfried and his lust for finding the ideal companion for apple bobbin. Yes a loose cannon of a single.
The Top Boost ‘Tell Me That Your Mine’
(You Are The Cosmos Records) Single/22nd June 2020
The sound of the Byrds going through their country phase is brought to mind with this fine blast of summer jangle. At the moment there seems to be a lot of jangle about and that cannot be a bad thing when it is performed with such style and panache. Two more tracks of 60s influenced guitar pop for you dear readers to soundtrack you sunning yourselves with.
Renaissance Grrl ‘Happy When I’m Sad’
Single/5th June 2020
This is a lovely sad well-performed song of melancholy by the 18-year-old Alannah Jackson. Alone with her guitar, nothing more nothing less, just a simple moment of purity, which should be cherished and held close; proving once again that keeping it simple is sometimes best especially when you are blessed with such a fine voice and songwriting talent.
The Icebergs ‘Add Vice’
(Imaginator Records) Album/17th July 2020
Beautifully strange is the only way to describe this marvelous album of pure poetic bliss. What grabs me from the off are the wonderful lyrics (an art form much ignored in the music biz today). Lyrical streams of them flowing weaving beautiful, frightening heart-breaking images throughout, bringing the early works of Patti Smith and PJ Harvey in a mellow mood to mind and musically reminding me of Nick Cave’s band of merry men the Bad Seeds rockabilly, folk, the Velvet’s guitar pop and the sounds of late Seventies no-wave, all merging to form a canvas for the poet Jane LeCroy to paint beautifully vivid pictures with her wonderful prose and wonderful voice.
bigflower ‘hunneh’
Single/27th June 2020
The Monolith Cocktail continue in their quest of promoting the under-the-radar beguiling guitar power of bigflower, who once again releases a beautiful sublime slab of free to download aural magic with this wondrous instrumental. When oh when will a record label get their act together and compile an album of the wonders bigflower is releasing on a monthly basis?
Spam Javelin ‘Fuck You/Cogged Off’
Single/20th June 2020
This is a double jab in the eye of pure punk rock old style; two tracks that both last around the 1 min 30 mark and come charging into your life, rattles a few of your remaining brain cells and then pisses off again: which all good punk rock songs should do. Both have rather marvelous guitar riffs especially ‘Cogged Off ‘, which has a wonderful Fall like guitar riff running throughout.
Beaulieu Porch ‘Vivit Sumus’
(Carmite Records) Album/7th June 2020
The lonely world of home-recorded psych can be a beautiful cathartic thing. It can be a thing filled with beauty, magic and soul, and the music of Beaulieu Porch has all three of those ingredients. Mid 70s Lennon and the wayward beauty of the Flaming Lips and the lost music of late 60s early 70s psych folk and Baroque pop collide in a thrilling mismatch of wanton musical adventure. Beaulieu Porch make such beautiful music it deserves to be heard by all instead of by the lucky few in the know; yes once again a musical underground musical maverick who deserves more is becoming quite a feature in these review round ups nowadays, so if you have not heard the music of Beaulieu Porch before do yourself a huge favour and give this fine album a listen; and if you have heard them no doubt this cd will already be in your collection. One of the undergrounds finest.
The Vapour Trails ‘Golden Sunshine’
(Futureman Records) Album/19th June 2020
Sometimes a bit of 60s inspired guitar jangle is what one needs in their life. And if you need that dose of sunshine in your life currently, one could do a lot worse than give this album a listen.
Hailing from Scotland The Vapour Trails are yet another band who wear their love of all things guitar very much on their sleeves: although I’m very sure The Teenage Fanclub influence is there it’s not as prominent as a lot of bands I have been sent music to review over the last 18 months. The opening track ‘Golden Sunshine’ had me thinking of the excellent and much underrated Spirea X [remember them] and a few tracks on this album have the early 90s guitar band feel of The La’s [especially on ‘Different Girl’] and the Cotton Mather; but that comes with them in turn having the same 60s influences (Beatles Byrds and such), and I’m sure the Shack’s masterpiece Waterpistol had more than a few airings in The Vapour Trails rehearsal space.
This is a fine album full of melody catchy guitar lines and is steeped in an obvious love and understanding of what makes great 60s inspired guitar music and what makes 60s inspired guitar music great.
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. His most recent releases include The Bordellos beautifully despondent pains-of-the-heart and mockery of clique “hipsters” ode to Liverpool, and the diatribe ‘Boris Johnson Massacre’. He has also released, under the Idiot Blur Fanboy moniker, a stripped down classic album of resignation and Gallagher brothers’ polemics.
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, here Brian’s latest batch of recommendations
Our Daily Bread 335: Stereo Total, Spam Javelin, Bloome de Wilde, Skyjelly, Krause, Goa Express…
June 28, 2019
REVIEWS
Words: Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Proving a highly popular roundup from the idiosyncratic Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea, the cult leader of St. Helens dysfunctional geniuses The Bordellos, this regular splurge of advice/critique and pontificating is doing a roaring trade with our readers. We even love the constant self-publicising – God knows he needs it -; a constant reminder that the Bordellos have been gnawing away at the coalface equivalent of the music industry for decades without success, knocking out albums at a rate that even makes The Fall seem fucking slack – though they have lost their titan figurehead leader in recent years and grinded to a halt, that might be an unfair comparison to make. You can find a tiny portion of that back catalogue here… A new album – which Brain has aggrandised as one of the best albums ever made, period -, Bordello And Clarke, is due out next month.
Skyjelly ‘We Pull The Stars Over Our Heads Like Covers’
(I Heart Noise) 25th May 2019
This is a slandered youth of an LP, a jab in the eye with a rusty nail, a rewound coil waiting to spring the bejesus out of a waiting catholic mass of persuasion.
Slaughtered guitars and hyperactive bass makes light with the idea of topping the hit parade with reverb littered witterings of your off-the-head-neighbour trying to make sense of the backward spinning of the Brianjonestown Massacre after overdosing on the best tea served in the china cup, after being retrieved from Carol Deckers vagina.
Skyjelly are the type of band you would take home to meet your parents if they were dead or blissfully unaware of any situation; the type of boy I would love my daughter to bring home as it would mean she would be enjoying her youth and hanging out with people with a outsider view on life and art: A band that sticks two fingers up to the bland and monotone; a band with an attitude that can only be admired, and an LP that should be enjoyed by all.
Stereo Total ‘Ah! Que! Cinema’
(Tapete Records) 12th July 2019
This LP is bloody genius. Any LP that kicks off with a track that sounds like The Prodigy but played on a Bontempi organ is not going to go very wrong, and then carries on with the pure blissfulness of French lo-fi garage pop.
‘Ich Bin Cool’ lives up to its name – if only all pop could be as glorious as this I would actually walk about with a smile instead of my constant unbecoming frown.
There are melodies that could melt the heart of the sternest of motherfuckers: Tin pot drum machine twangy guitars wonderful sexy French female vocals dripping with drop dead Sandie Shaw like shoeless beauty, and when the ballad ‘Methadrine’ kicks in, has there been a better song recorded this year? A beautiful offbeat ballad of sadness and humour and drugs: “nine days a week we were so high”.
This LP is so good it has pissed me off a little. I thought I had made the album of the year with the Bordello and Clark Atlantic Crossing LP, but this has knocked it into a cocked hat. But don’t mind, especially when there are bands capable of making records of such beauty; when bands can come on like Stereolab one minute and a French Velvet Underground the next – ‘Brezil Says’ is a track worthy of the Velvets at their finest: pure pop heaven.
I think the playing of Ah! Quel Cinema may become a daily event this year; an LP to lose yourself in the pure beauty of perfect lo fi pop.
Spam Javelin ‘Fake News’
(link2wales Records) 7th June 2019
In these days of blandness and political correctness I’m happy to report that there is something of an underground renaissance of the guitar band; the kind of band that actually have something to say and to bring back the feeling of ‘oh fuck off you cunts, Buddy Holly did not die so you could pitch tune the hell out of this smartphone friendly soulless money making piece of fluff.’
Leading this charge are the North Wales non stop gigging machine Spam Javelin, who have just released a fine piece of punk rock fuck offery in the shape of Fake News. Three minutes of pure rock ’n’ roll, nothing more nothing less: Do you need anything more than three minutes of pure rock ’n’ roll? If the answer is yes you do, then you are dead from the waist down and the neck up. You are nothing but a chest with arms. I look forward to the LP, The Crack Whores Of Betws Garmon, and so should you.
Bloome De Wilde ‘Soul Siren’
8th July 2019
There is beauty in life and there is life in beauty, and this single by Bloome de Wilde is brimming with both; a wonderful shimmering haze of early summer evenings wrapped in a chocolate box wish; a slow dance to the long forgotten hits of Sergio Mendes; the rapture of your first long lingering kiss, this song in under four minutes captures the magic of all this.
This lovely chime of aural pop art is the first single taken from Bloome de Wilde’s debut solo LP, which going off the loveliness of ‘Soul Siren’ could well be this years “Shoegaze Bossa Nova” – which of course was last year’s submergence in blissful if onlys by Schizo Fun Addict. If Bloome de Wilde’s debut is half as good, then we are truly in for a summer of love.
Listen download and enjoy.
Krause ‘The Ecstasy Of Infinite Sterility’
(Riot Season) 5th July 2019
Rock ’n’ roll sludge, but good rock ’n’ roll sludge.
The Goa Express ‘The Day’
5th July 2019
I like this: It has a wonderful old early 80s post-punk feel about it, like the Teardrop Explodes before they signed with a major. It’s like a ramshackle polyphonic Spree; a band erupting out of the rehearsal rooms with a willingness to share their love of pop music with the garage psych subtleties of a young Syd preferring to do lasting damage to his brain than spend time in the company of geography teachers. I look forward to the LP.
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