End of the Year Revue For 2025: Part One: A to M
December 11, 2025
Choice Highlights From The Last Year
I said I wasn’t going to do it this year. And this may be the last. But here is the first part of a comprehensive revue listing of choice albums (some extended EPs too) from 2025 that we returned to the most, enjoyed or rated highly. See it as a sort of random highlights package if you will.
As usual a most diverse mix of releases, listed alphabetically – numerical orderings make no sense to me unless it is down to a vote, otherwise what qualifies the placing of an album? What makes the 25th place album better than the 26th and so on…
Whilst there is the odd smattering of Hip-Hop releases here and there, our resident selector and expert Matt Oliver has compiled a special 25 for 25 revue of his own, which will go out next week.
Without further ado….the first half of that selected works revue:
A.
A Journey Of Giraffes ‘Emperor Deco’ (Somewherecold Records)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Alien Eyelid ‘Vinegar Hill’ (Tall Texan)
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Allen, Marshall ‘New Dawn’ (Week-End Records)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Armstrong ‘Handicrafts’
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Audio Obscura ‘As Long As Gravity Persists On Holding Me to This Earth’
Review by Dominic Valvona
Aus ‘Eau’ (Flau)
Review by Dominic Valvona
B..
Balloonist, The ‘Dreamland’ (Wayside & Woodland)
Review/Piece by Dominic Valvona
Barman, MC Paul ‘Tectonic Texts’
Picked by Dominic Valvona
Bedd ‘Do Not Be Afraid’
Review by Dominic Valvona
Bird, Jeff ‘Ordo Virtutum: Jeff Bird Plays Hildegard von Bingen, Vol 2’
(Six Degrees Records) Review by Dominic Valvona
Blanco Teta ‘‘La Debacle las Divas’ (Bongo Joe)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Bordellos (with Dee Claw)/Neon Kittens, The ‘Half Man Half Kitten’
(Cruel Nature Records) Review by Dominic Valvona
Braxton, Anthony ‘Quartet (England) 1985’ (Burning Ambulance)
Picked by Dominic Valvona
Brody, Jonah ‘Brotherhood’ (IL Records)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Brother Ali ‘Satisfied Soul’ (Mello Music Group)
Picked by Dominic Valvona
Burning Books ‘Taller Than God’ (Ingrown Records)
Reviewed by Dominic Valvona
C…
Cindy ‘Saw It All Demos’ (Paisley Shirt Records)
Reviewed by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea here
Craig, Kai ‘A Time Once Forgotten’ (Whirlwind Recordings)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Crayola Lectern ‘Disasternoon’ (Onomatopoeia)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Cross, Theon ‘Affirmations: Live at Blue Note New York’ (New Soil)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Cubillos, Julian ‘S-T’ (Ruination Record Co.)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Cumsleg Borenail ‘10mg Citalopram’ (Cruel Nature Recordings)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Joel Cusumano ‘Waxworld’ (Dandyboy Records)
Review by Dominic Valvona
D….
Dammann Sextet, Christopher ‘If I Could Time Travel I Would Mend Your Broken Heart aka Why Did The Protests Stop’ (Out of Your Head Records) Review by Dominic Valvona
Darko The Super ‘Then I Turned Into A Perfect Smile’
Picked by Dominic Valvona
Dyr Faser ‘Falling Stereos’
Picked by Dominic Valvona
E…..
Eamon The Destroyer ‘The Maker’s Quilt’ (Bearsuit Records)
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Expose ‘ETC’ (Qunidi)
Reviewed by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea here
F……
Farrugia, Robert ‘Natura Maltija’ (Phantom Limb/Kewn Records)
Reviewed by Dominic Valvona here
Fir Cone Children ‘Gearshifting’ (Blackjack Illuminist Records)
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Fortunato Durutti Marinetti ‘Bitter Sweet, Sweet Bitter’ (Quindi Records/We Are Time)
Review by Dominic Valvona
G…….
Goldman, Ike ‘Kiki Goldman In How I Learned To Sing For Statler And Waldorf’
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Good Ones, The ‘Rwanda Sings With Strings’(Glitterbeat Records)
Review by Dominic Valvona
H……..
Haas & Brian g Skol, Andy ‘The Honeybee Twist’
Review by Dominic Valvona
Howard, John ‘For Those that Wander By’(Think Like A Key)
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
I………
Ishibashi, Eiko ‘Antigone’ (Drag City)
Picked by Dominic Valvona
iyatraQuartet ‘Wild Green’
Review by Dominic Valvona
J……….
Jay, Tony ‘Faithless’
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Johanna, John ‘New Moon Pangs’(Faith & Industry)
Review by Dominic Valvona
K………..
Kheir , Amira ‘Black Diamonds’(Sterns Music/Contro Culture Music)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Khodja, Freh ‘Ken Andi Habib’(WEWANTSOUNDS)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Kweli, Talib & J Rawls ‘The Confidence Of Knowing’
Picked by DV
L…………
Lassy Trio, Timo ‘Live In Helsinki’ (We Jazz)
Picked by Dominic Valvona
Last Of The Lovely Days, The ‘No Public House Talk’(Gare du Nord)
Review by Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea
Lt. Headtrip & Steel Tipped Dove ‘Hostile Engineering’ (Fused Arrow Records)
Review by Dominic Valvona
LIUN + The Science Fiction Band ‘Does It Make You Love Your Life?’
(Heartcore Records) Review by Dominic Valvona
Locks, Damon ‘List Of Demands’ (International Anthem)
Reviewed by Dominic Valvona here
M………….
Mikesell, Emily & Kate Campbell Strauss ‘Give Way’ (Ears & Eyes Records)
Reviewed by Dominic Valvona here
Mirrored Daughters ‘S/T’ (Fike Recordings)
Review by Dominic Valvona
Mohanna, Nickolas ‘Speakers Rotations’ (AKP Recordings)
Review by Dominic Valvona
If you’ve enjoyed following and reading the Monolith Cocktail in 2025, and if you can, then please show your appreciation by donating to our Ko-Fi account. The micro donation site has been vital in keeping us afloat this year.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Our Monthly Playlist selection of choice music and Choice Releases list from the last month.
We decided at the start of the year to change things a little with a reminder of not only our favourite tracks from the last month, but also a list of choice albums too. This list includes both those releases we managed to feature and review on the site and those we just didn’t get the time or room for – time restraints and the sheer volume of submissions each month mean there are always those releases that miss out on receiving a full review, and so we have added a number to both our playlist and list.
All entries in the Choice Releases list are displayed alphabetically. Meanwhile, our Monthly Playlist continues as normal with all the choice tracks from July taken either from reviews and pieces written by me – that’s Dominic Valvona – , Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea, and this month, Kalporz writer Samuel Conficoni. Our resident Hip-Hop expert Matt Oliver has also put forward a smattering of crucial and highlighted tracks from the rap arena.
CHOICE RELEASES FROM THE LAST MONTH OR SO:
Blanco Teta ‘‘La Debacle las Divas’
(Bongo Joe) Review
Lukas Cresswell-Rost ‘Weight Away’
(Wayside & Woodland Recordings) Review
Theon Cross ‘Affirmations: Live at Blue Note New York’
(New Soil) Review
Cumsleg Borenail ‘10mg Citalopram’
(Cruel Nature Recordings) Review
Exploding Star Orchestra ‘Holy Mountains’
Fortunato Durutti Marinetti ‘Bitter Sweet, Sweet Bitter’
(Quindi Records/We Are Time) Review
Tony Jay ‘Faithless’
Review
Freh Khodja ‘Ken Andi Habib’
(WEWANTSOUNDS) Review
The Lancashire Hustlers ‘Here But Not Here’
(Steep Hill) Review
Kevin Robertson ‘Yellow Painted Moon’
Review
Maria Elena Silva ‘Wise Men Never Try’
Review
Sol Messiah ‘War of the Gods’
THE PLAYLIST::
Blanco Teta ‘Subiduki’
Scotch Funeral ‘Weak at the Knees’
Freh Khodja ‘Aich Sar Bina Koulili’
Brickwork Lizards ‘All the We Are – Reworked by Sebastian Reynolds’
Natural Information Society ‘Sound Talisman’
Sol Messiah Ft. Sa-Roc ‘Auset’
Raekwon Ft. Ghostface Killah & Method Man ‘600 School’
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire ‘Y.O.Utopia’
Open Mike Eagle ‘ok but I’m the phone screen’
Nicholas Craven & Boldy James Ft. C Dell & Nick Bruno ‘At&T’
Clipse, Pusha T & Malice Ft. Ab Liva ‘Inglorious Bastards’
Estee Nack & V Don Ft. Al-Doe ‘EZBRED’
Rachel Eckroth ‘Yin Yang’
Theon Cross Ft. Isaiah Collier, Nikos Ziarkas & James Russel Sims ‘We Go Again – Live at the Blue Note, NYC’
Peter Evans (Being & Becoming) ‘Malibu’
Homeboy Sandman & Sonnyjim ‘Can’t Stop Me’
Apollo Brown & Bronze Nazareth ‘Wheel Of Misfortune’
Ramson Badbonez & Leaf Dog ‘Celestial Bodies’
Max Schreiber ‘Layla Mistakel’
The Conspiracy ‘Salisbury Road’
SUO ‘Big Star’
Fortunato Durutti Marinetti ‘Beware’
Jeff Tweedy ‘Out in the Dark’
Kevin Robertson ‘Yellow Painted Moon’
Soft Hearted Scientists ‘Hello Hello’
Whitney ‘Dandelions’
The Lancashire Hustlers ‘Perhaps’
Ali Murray ‘ Toby’
Alex G ‘June Guitar’
Spotless Souls ‘In the Heart’
The Noisy ‘Twos’
Wolfgang Perez ‘So Ouco’
Eve Goodman & SERA ‘Blodyn Gwylly’
Joe Harvey-Whyte & Paul Cousins ‘lift’
Sirom ‘For You, This Eve, the Wolves Will Be Enchantingly Forsaken’
Austistici & Jacek Doroszenko ‘After Water Formed A Shape’
Cumsleg Borenail ‘You Mean Something To Me’
Cecil Taylor & Tony Oxley ‘Encore 1’
Exploding Star Orchestra ‘Afterburn (Parable 400)’.
If you’ve enjoyed this selection, the writing, or been led down a rabbit hole into new musical terrains of aural pleasure, and if you can, then you can now show your appreciation by keeping the Monolith Cocktail afloat by donating via Ko-Fi.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
Brian ‘Bordello’ Shea’s Reviews Roundup – Instant Reactions. All entries in alphabetical order.
bigflower ‘piggybird’
Single – Released last month by the artist
There is something strangely bewitching and beautiful about “Piggybird”; it’s all echoing vocals, subtle psych organ and a rather wonderful twangy guitar playing a rather sweet riff. Imagine Duane Eddy slowly waltzing with Hank Marvin through the gates of heaven whilst God looks on and gently flicks popcorn at the stars.
The Conspiracy ‘Trollied’
EP (Metal Postcard Records) 4th July 2025
I have written about The Conspiracy a number of times over the last few years or so, and with justification, as they are bloody marvellous. Bloody marvellous in such a British eccentric way; in a way that they can be lumped together or in fact tied in a ribbon in a heavenly way with the likes of Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd, The Kinks and Julian Cope and XTC and The Fall and Billy Childish and even The Libertines/Babyshambles.
Yes, indeed, The Conspiracy make art shaped sculptured pop songs that don’t really get played on mainstream radio but instead will bow down and kiss the feet of the plodding Oasis of rock n roll that is Oasis. The tragedy of this that the eccentricity, the soul and intelligence of The Conspiracy are not getting the rightful acclaim they deserve from both the radio and the press/blogs and the general public.
Tony Jay ‘Faithless’
Album – 13th June 2025
I love the music of Tony Jay. I love the gentle caress of the lo-fi-ness; the simple drum machine; the tape hiss; the occasional fret buzz of the guitar; the handheld percussion; the beautiful dreaminess of the JAMC and MBV influences – two bands I think may mean a lot to Tony Jay. “Familia Dreams” is a stunningly beautiful ballad; a duet featuring the vocals of Kati Mashikian, and probably worth getting the album alone for.
The rest of the album is also rather good, indeed; all sonic heavenly softly strummed guitars and slightly distorted throbbing bass and whispered vocals. An album that lays gentle on your soul, one of those albums to soundtrack falling in and out of love to.
The Kirkbys ‘It’s A Crime: The Complete Recordings’
Comp-Album (Think Like A Key) 13th June 2025
I don’t normally go to the trouble and expense of buying an album so I can review it, but there is something quite magical about this compilation of the complete works of The Kirkbys, who of course were Jimmy Campbells first band, and takes us back to the early days of Merseybeat up to the point where he formed the psych wonder that was the 23rd Turnoff, and in fact includes a demo of ‘Michael Angelo’ recorded by the Kirkbys before it became The Turnoff’s debut (and only single), and of course now rightly regarded as a psych classic.
‘Michael Angelo’ is not the only classic song Jimmy Campbell wrote, as this album shows. ‘Bless You’ and ‘Don’t You Want Me Anymore’ have a complete 60’s beat charm that both The Beatles and The Byrds would have been proud of, and that lost wonder ‘Keep Me Warm {Til The Sun Shines}’ is truly a 60’s gem. ‘It’s A Crime’ is the sound of one of rock n rolls true lost poets in his early years singing songs of beauty and bittersweet magic; what’s really a crime is that Jimmy never ever tasted even a whiff of success in his lifetime, and now nearly twenty years after his death, is still only known by a few. Maybe one day a car advert will use one of his songs and will be propelled Nick Drake like to the covers of Mojo and the like. Link to release can be found here…
The Noisy ‘Twos’
Single – (Audio Antihero) Release last month.
‘Twos’ is a rather fine and dandy pop song, all 50s like pop melody and all sweetly sung and swung. In fact, as soon as I started listening to it, I started to smell candyfloss (I kid you not). Maybe pop supremacy is airborne and taking hold of music lovers’ nostrils…yes, what we have here is a song to fill your vape with a song to smoke and sniff.
Kevin Robertson ‘Yellow Painted Moon’
Album – 11th July 2025
Kevin Robertson is back. Yes, the Scottish Roger McGuinn has released his brand-new album just in time to soundtrack the Summer; and it’s an album that would not sound out of place in that Summer of 67. Kevin has done what he does best and released an album of 12 string laced beauty. Folk-rock, the psychedelic and 60’s pop are melded together with his usual style and grace. Yellow Painted Moon is the kind of album I get sent by the cartload – the number of bands and artists who are in thrall to the 60’s has to been seen/heard to be believed – but Kevin Robertson does it better than most and has an obvious love of the love generation, and his love shines through in his art he produces.
Scotch Funeral ‘Weak At The Knees’
Track taken from the upcoming album Ever & Ever, released this summer by the artist
A teaser track from the forthcoming album by Scotch Funeral, who are a rather fine musical extravagance hailing from the mighty Rhyl, a place I spent many great days in the 70s (I wonder if the Black cat amusement arcade is still there?). Scotch Funeral here supply us with a rather rambunctious kick in the nether’s with a punk pop romp of supreme guitar gnarl and fortitude that makes one indeed weak at the knees as all good kick in the nether’s should.
Soft Hearted Scientists ‘Hello Hello’
Single – (The Hip Replacement) 11th July 2025
The Welsh psychedelic collective The Soft Hearted Scientists are back with a bang. Well actually, more of a chime – a chime of the 12-string guitar variety. Yes, ‘Hello Hello’ is a song so good they had to name it twice; all 60s love and melody pure pop magnificence.
Spotless Souls ‘In The Heat’
Single (Soliti) 11th July 2025
The Spotless Souls debut single is a fine post punk piece of jangly pop; a song that comes over like a slightly artier Sundays, and has a lovely undercurrent of darkness that I find very appealing indeed.
Marc Teamaker ‘Teas n Seas’
Album – 8th August 2025
Teas n Seas is a rather lovely and flowing album of warm sounding enriching songs of love and remembrance. If 70s Beach Boys/Fleetwood Mac/ Todd Rundgren and the beautiful bountiful radio candyfloss MOR/AOR rock pop with an occasional country rock tinge magic is your thing, then this album could well be for you. Certainly, a perfect album to soundtrack sitting on the Beach soaking up the sun and sipping a cup of tea to whilst watching the incoming tide. Yes, an album to soundtrack your summer.
If you’ve enjoyed this selection, the writing, or been led down a rabbit hole into new musical terrains of aural pleasure, and if you can, then you can now show your appreciation by keeping the Monolith Cocktail afloat by donating via Ko-Fi.
For the last 15 years both me and the MC team have featured and supported music, musicians and labels we love across genres from around the world: ones that we think you’ll want to know about. No content on the site is paid for or sponsored, and we only feature artists we have genuine respect for /love or interest in. If you enjoy our reviews (and we often write long, thoughtful ones), found a new artist you admire or if we have featured you or artists you represent and would like to say thanks or show support, than you can now buy us a coffee or donate via https://ko-fi.com/monolithcocktail
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”.
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.
Monolith Cocktail Blog 