LET'S GET PHYSICAL

I went back to a gym today for the first time since the end of October 2006. Four long months.

And it showed.

10 mins on a x-country trainer, 35 minutes on a treadmill and 10 mins on an exercise bike as well as all sorts of stretching manoeuvres and sit-ups.

I know I'm going to pay the price tomorrow and the day after. But I had to do it as I really am, again, ridiculously out of shape.

Here's a few songs that relate to my lunchtime efforts:-

mp3 : Carter U.S.M. - Surfin' USM
mp3 : Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner
mp3 : Spandau Ballet - Musclebound
mp3 : Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Breathless
mp3 : Ballboy - Olympic Cyclist (acoustic version)
mp3 : Dinosaur Jr - Feel The Pain

More nonsense tomorrow, assuming I'm able to get out of bed. If not I'll get Mrs Villain to post up a song by The Charlatans.

PS : I know the Jonathan Richman song is not actually about running as such. But it's a good song that was long overdue an appearance on TVV.

IF YOU ONLY BUY ONE RECORD IN 2007.....

.....MAKE SURE IT'S THIS ONE!!!!!

Just back from an in-store appearance by the fabulous Malcolm Middleton at Fopp Records in Glasgow. There were maybe around 50 of us there to hear him play some new tracks from his new release - A Brighter Beat - that has just come out on the Full Time Hobby label.

Regular visitors will hopefully recall that around four weeks ago, I put up an mp3 when I bought Malcolm's latest single on vinyl. The posting contained the following, which were Malcolm's own words taken from his website:-

‘If I was forced to describe it, I'd probably say it’s a pop album for people who hate pop music. Or maybe I’d describe it as love songs for depressed people who find it hard leaving the house sometimes and worry too much about dying and the consequences of their daily actions and thoughts to be able to enjoy life fully.’

My own observations were that the LP sounds like an early contender for album of the year and a more than worthy follow-up to the near-perfect Into The Woods.

Guess what.......it is.

This is a truly magnificent bit of work. It's impossible to pin it down. It's happy, sad, melancholic, uplifting, witty, self-deprecating, whimsical, ironic and plain bloody brilliant all in one.

There's songs with seemingly depressing titles and subject matters such as the opener, We're All Going To Die, that come dressed in a foot-tapping tune and sing-a-long chorus. There's great pop songs - Fight Like The Night - that arena bands would love to be able to write. There's at least one slow number - Somebody Loves Me - that if it was covered by any of the MOR artists it would surely be a million-plus seller. There's even something approaching an epic - the near 7 minutes of Superhero Songwriters.

And then there's this, which he played live at Fopp tonight:-

mp3 : Malcolm Middleton - Fuck It, I Love You

Marvellous. As I said, happy, sad, melancholic, uplifting, witty, self-deprecating, whimsical, ironic and plain bloody brilliant - and that's just a description of your mp3 tune.

Back in 2005, Malcolm Middleton released Into The Woods which I think is one of the best ever albums to come out of Scotland. Lots of critics agreed, as it featured highly in many end of year polls. But the critical acclaim didn't materialise into mega-sales. Surely this time...

In my book, Malcolm Middleton is every bit as talented and unique a songwriter as the likes of Nick Cave or Edwyn Collins. At times, he writes songs every bit as gorgeous as the ballads of Billy Bragg. I just wish a few others would realise this to be the case.

Please visit Fopp records and buy this album. Click here.

And while you're there, pick up Into The Woods and Malcolm's debut LP - 5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine - that came out in 2003.

Here's another couple of songs that were aired tonight:-

mp3 : Malcolm Middleton - Devastation
mp3 : Malcolm Middleton - Devil and The Angel

It was a really special 35 minutes that was way way way above average. Roll on Saturday 24th March when Malcolm brings a band to Glasgow for a full gig. Buy tickets here.

Oh and the official website is here. And the video to his last single is here

NO SURPRISES

Sunday saw a solo trip through to Edinburgh to meet up with Jacques The Kipper, and his good lady, for the joy of The Fratellis at the Corn Exchange.

I'll be upfront about things. This gig probably came too soon after the Martin Stephenson thing, and it's totally unfair to compare the events.

Apart from anything else, I really detest the Corn Exchange, and find it difficult to really enjoy myself. It's a dreadful shape (long and narrow) and awkward to get to being on the outskirts of the city, but more than anything the acoustics are dreadful as there's all sorts of walls that the sound bounces off.

The support act was Figure 5 who might very well go on to bigger things going by the crowd's reaction to them. They did nothing for me though.

Every song started with four or five seconds of lead guitar, followed by a nano-pause, and then the bass, drums and rhythm guitar kicked-in. Loudly.

Every song had the same 95mph speed; it was all verse, shouty chorus, verse. The sort of thing you've heard a thousand times before and will hear again. The lead singer reminded me of early 80s darts player Keith Deller (look him up on google).

The band had a collective swagger, and it's clear they're a tight unit. They're no better or no worse than the likes of Kaiser Chiefs or The Automatic, but without, to my ears, a killer record that radio will love and play to death. But the kids will no doubt take them to their hearts.

I've given Costello Music, the debut LP by The Fratellis a few listens. There are a few songs that are rather good, but too many that are ordinary. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by how many great live reviews they had been picking up and was keen to see for myself.

Sadly, it was all just too predictable. They opened with a good single - Henrietta - before giving us maybe 40 minutes of stuff that was largely b-sides or the lesser-loved LP tracks (but throwing in a crowd favourite every 3 or 4 songs to stop interest from completely waning) before the killer finish of the real chant-a-long stuff at the end. I won't dispute that the last 10 minutes or so got the crowd at fever pitch, but even then, it didn't lead to mass hysteria and screams for an encore.

I've said it before, and so have other folk like Mike over at Manic Pop Thrills. What is with crowds at the larger venues nowadays who applaud at the end of the gig and wait for the encore without trying to raise the roof. Maybe they're all a bit more cynical nowadays, or maybe the growth of the internet and the widespread publication of the set-lists means everyone knows what's coming next. In other words, all the excitement and anticipation of live concerts has been removed from the way it was a couple of decades ago. The Fratellis duly came on after maybe two minutes, played two more songs and the lights came up. Just after 10pm and time to go home.

It wasn't the worst gig I've ever been to - it was merely very average.

There were times that the band reminded me of Supergrass when they first started out - a singer who enjoys the limelight, a drummer who is extremely charismatic and a third person who just seems to be there to balance things. At other times, the tunes were so bombastic and chant-along they sounded like early-period Green Day (not a compliment in my book).

The Fratellis have got to the top just a bit too soon. There was no sense of show about the gig. It's inevitably hard, if not impossible, to make a true occasion out of things on the back of one album and a handful of catchy singles, and maybe I'm old fashioned, but I expect more than 60 minutes worth from my headline act when the tickets are £18 including your booking fee.

Here's a song to sum up my overall feeling of the night:-

mp3 : Electronic - Disappointment

Available to buy here.

SIMPLY THRILLED HONEY

A month or so back, I was down at the Tickets Scotland office in Glasgow to buy my entry visas to The Decemberists and Jarvis gigs (see previous reviews). While I was in there, I saw that one of my old favourites, Martin Stephenson, was playing a local gig - in a tennis and bowling club in one of the posher parts of the city. Intrigued, I bought two tickets.

When I say that Martin is an old favourite, I really mean that. Back in the mid-80s, he was someone that I used to go and see all the time in Glasgow when he was with The Daintees. When myself and Mrs Villain got together in 1990, one of the first bands I introduced her to was Martin Stephenson and The Daintees, and together we went off to see them in various venues across Scotland.

The band split in 1993, and while we've bought some of the solo albums as well as a live DVD, we had stopped going to see Martin in concert. No real explanation for it. There had been a couple of near misses - times when we intended to go but other things got in the way - but last night was the first in the flesh experience in 14 years.

And...it turned out to be a gig like no other I've ever been to in all my 43 years on this planet.

The venue was the Woodend Tennis & Bowling Club, a lovely old pavilion in the hugely expensive Jordanhill area over in the West End of Glasgow. It's been one of a number of venues utilised by a local promoter called Alan Hendry to put on intimate gigs, usually acoustic in style. Alan's company is called Sounds In The Suburbs, and in his own words:-

My gigs are somewhat different as I use halls in sports clubs in the west end of Glasgow, which is great because families can come and the atmosphere works really well. It isn't Royston Vasey but there is a big element of "local music for local people!!" Its a huge and welcomed alternative to the standard gig and a place for genuine music fans.

We arrived at 8pm, just as the doors opened, and just as Martin was finishing his soundcheck. It looked as if there were seats from maybe 200 folk all at tables. There was no stage as such, but there was an impressive and very professional PA. There were a dozen or so young kids in the hall and a handful of adults, and at this point I wasn't sure how busy it was going to be.

The first huge surprise was the costs of the drink at the venue. It's a members' club, and I suppose technically by purchasing a ticket for the gig, we became temporary members. But it was something in the region of just over £3 for a vodka, a soft drink and a little 1/3 size bottle of white wine. And it was nice quality plonk as well.

The next surprise was just how relaxed it all was. There was a lot of percussion set-up in a corner of the room, and the big burly bloke who was going to be playing it (more on him later) was totally at ease about letting some of the kids muck about with it. It was just a fantastically, friendly, care-free atmosphere.

By 9pm, the place was packed. All the seats were taken and there were some folk standing round the sides of the hall. At 9.15pm, promoter Alan came on to apologise for the delay - Martin had got lost en route to and from his B&B following the soundcheck. There were no boos or heckles at this news, everyone just carried on talking, while some (like me) went up to the bar to stock up for the gig.

In the audience was another performer that Alan sometimes has on his bills - Vinnie James- and he took to the 'stage' and sang a couple of songs. Vinnie's style isn't entirely my cup of tea - it's best described as acoustic-soul, but by gawd, the boy has an incredible range and voice that he employed to full effect. It was a fine start to the musical part of the evening.

Martin began his set around 9.30pm. He introduced his band for the evening - percussionist Fin McArdle (someone Martin has worked with on numerous occasions) and on saxophone/trombone/clarinet, a hugely talented man called Bruce Michie (who Martin met for the first ever time when he arrived at the venue). I mistakingly thought Bruce had asked to be part of the night and Martin had agreed - but I've since learned that Martin, being aware of Bruce's talents, had in fact invited him to be part of the night!! You can see that I'm not kidding when I say that this was unlike any other gig I'd ever been to......

The basic facts are this. Martin Stephenson went on to perform for the next 2 hours and 50 minutes, bar a 10 minutes break somewhere in the middle when he asked Vinnie James to come back on to do a couple of songs. His set consisted of his own songs from throughout his career, including a surprisingly substantial number from the Daintees-era and a handful of cover versions. He told stories in between (including a great tale about The Bluebells and a chance meeting in a London guitar shop), he was continually smiling and laughing, but the most amazing thing of all, as Mrs Villain pointed out afterwards, he never broke sweat and made it all so effortless.

There were also a number of guest artistes throughout the night that just helped add to the occasion.

The first to join Martin, Fin and Bruce was Anita Camera, a singer/songwriter/poet now living in the north of Scotland. Anita came on very early in the set - from recollection, it was after just two songs from Martin. Anita then performed four of her own songs backed by the boys before leaving the stage to very generous and deserved applause.

An hour or so into the gig, a local man named Hugh Currie was asked to join the boys and he fronted the event for two songs - a Daintees song and then a cover version of Are Ready To Be Heartbroken? The crowd went crazy - and Martin said afterwards, it was the first time he's ever played a Lloyd Cole song.

It was clear there was a lot of improvisation going on......but it was all incredibly professional with not a bum note in sight. I have no idea how Bruce in particular did it, but his playing all night was exemplary, and his sax work on Left Us To Burn was jaw-dropping.

The next guest on stage was someone invited up by Fin. It was one of the young kids who had been playing with the percussion pre-gig, and she had spent the time since sitting in the centre at the very front swaying to the music and clapping along to the more upbeat numbers. This young girl couldn't have been anymore than 11 or 12 years of age (but having no kids of our own, Mrs Villain and myself have an awful time trying to guess kid's ages - we always get it miles wrong and if we have in this case......sorry).

It turned out her her name was Sally Hendry - the daughter of promoter Allan - and was someone who had been to countless Martin Stephenson gigs in recent years, so no wonder she knew all the songs. She became the second percussionist for the last hour or so of the gig, and she was a total natural who helped make the hall an even happier place to be.

The final guest of the evening was another local in the crowd - singer Monica Queen who was asked by Martin to provide backing vocals on Wholly Humble Heart. She was another amazing talent, and Martin then improvised further by dragging Vinnie James back up to also sing vocals on a song that the latter was hearing for the first time. It defied belief in many ways - here you had six folk on stage, only two of who had worked together before, and yet they were producing a flawless and beautiful bit of work.

What I've just mentioned are the highlights of a set when Martin was joined by others. There were plenty of other great moments - Martin and Bruce improvising (again) on Scott Joplin's The Entertainer; Martin's solo cover of Leonard Cohen's Suzanne; and the closing jam in which Martin somehow worked in the lyrics of Cruel by Prefab Sprout, as well as namechecking loads of great Glasgow/Scottish acts including all the Postcard acts and the Jazzateers!!

There was no way I went along and intended to write such a long and gushing review of what happened last night. But it was just so truly magical and special that I'm finding it difficult to stop. A bit like Martin himself. For the icing on the cake afterwards was catching a quick word with him. He said he hadn't realised that he had played for so long, it was just a night where he was having such fun that he didn't want to stop.

And he then made Mrs Villain's night by telling her she had the most gorgeous smile and he thanked us for coming along again after so many years!!! A genuinely nice human being with no airs or graces about him.

The upshot is that we now intend to get along to further gigs under the auspices of Sounds In The Suburbs. It will more than likely be impossible for any of them to match the heights and emotions of last night's event, but we're willing to go along and find out.

The other upshot is that we are determined to get back and see Martin Stephenson in action again far sooner than 14 years. There's plenty of gigs up and coming all over Scotland. Can't wait.

Here's four songs that featured last night:-

mp3 : Martin Stephenson : Little Red Bottle
mp3 : Martin Stephenson & The Daintees : Wholly Humble Heart
mp3 : Martin Stephenson & The Daintees : Left Us To Burn
mp3 : Martin Stephenson with John & Issac Sutherland : Mountainous Spring

Martin's myspace page, in which you can find the full details of upcoming gigs, can be found here, while you can buy his CDs right here

The myspace page for Sounds In The Suburbs is here. The next gig is on Friday 23 March.

The webpage for Vinnie James is here.

I've another gig on tonight.....and it's something of a contrast to that of last night. I'll spout off some nonsense about it in due course.

If you've read every word of this effort.....thanks.

PUT THE MESSAGE ON THE BLOG..

I don't know if it's got anything to do with the moon or the tides or maybe it's just the tail-end of winter blues, but many of my favourite bloggers seem to be a bit down about things just now.

This is for all of you. You know who you are.

mp3 : Edwyn Collins - Take Care Of Yourself

It's a song I posted a few months back, and it's one of many favourites that the great man has released in his solo career. It's from Hellbent On Compromise that was released back in 1990.

And thank you Jacques the Kipper for the update on Edwyn's health. I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping he's soon able to get back on stage.

Here's the song that sort of inspired the title of this particular posting. Came on the i-pod earlier today - I had forgotten how wonderful it is.

mp3 : World Party- Message In A Box

Also released in 1990 on the LP Jumbo Party.

Buy them both here.

Ain't No Sunshine (take this rain away)

-

I'm not really in the mood for many words and time is slipping away but I did want to post two fairly bleak photographs and two beautiful songs (just for you).

-

1) The Submarines - 'Hope' MP3 (3.56)

-

Buy: the album here (and) Visit: Website / Myspace

-

And, this one, well, this is seeing the light of a very grey kind of day just because I'm missing what might have been... and, as you know, I like everything to do with those funny wee Sarah Field Mice types... and have a good weekend everyone...

-

2) The Field Mice - 'Let's Kiss and Make Up' (Live Recording) MP3 (5.55)

-

NB: it's a crowd/non-soundboard etc recording but it's still pretty decent.

-

Sigh away the weekend...

SONGS THAT WERE WASTED ON THE B-SIDE (Part 4)

Back in early 1992, much of the UK music press were getting hugely excited over the emergence of Suede. They remain (I believe) the only act ever to grace the cover of a weekly paper - in this case the now defunct Melody Maker, before they had released any records.

Strangely enough, the debut single - The Drowners - was a comparative flop, barely scraping into the Top 50 in May 1992.

But give credit to the band, and in particular the song-writing team of Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler, for they took the disappointment on the chin and went away having learned a few lessons.

The follow-up singles and debut album sold in massive numbers. And the band went from playing in small-to-medium sized venues (I recall seeing them at the now demolished Plaza Ballroom in Glasgow early on) to the largest venues across towns and cities in the UK.

They were a hard-working band, but not the easiest to fall in love with as Anderson did come across as a preening prima-donna. But for a while, they were good value. And even after Butler left the band in 1994, they continued to churn out a bundle of more than useful singles.

What I particularly enjoyed was the fact that each of the early singles was great value. You always got three songs on the CD, and more often than not, the b-sides were every bit as good, if not better, than the single itself.

There's no better illustration than Track 3 on the debut single.

mp3 : Suede - My Insatiable One

A band totally at ease with itself and full of confidence that the world was theirs to take. I don't think they made a better record than this. But what a strange lyric.....

'On the high wire, dressed in a leotard
There wobbles one hell of a retard
On the escalator, we shit paracetamol
As the ridiculous world goes by'

Anyone care to offer an explanation?

Available on Sci-Fi Lullabies, a collection of all the b-sides recorded by Suede. You can buy it right here. It's a great value at just £8 for 27 tracks over 2 CDs.

STOP PRESS............................

Some of you might recall that I said last week my own musical Holy Grail(s) were 2 x Rough Trade CDs of 'Strangeways' and 'Rank' by The Smiths.

They have now been acquired courtesy of e-bay. Hallelujah.

EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRLS

Despite my best efforts, I didn’t always pick up on great records from 2006 until the year itself had come and gone. As such, I am willing to admit that my so-called best of the year, put on the blog last December, is sadly lacking – but it’s still a more than adequate 70 plus minutes of stuff.

And while it is perhaps acceptable that I missed some lesser-known works by the likes of King Creosote and The Victorian English Gentlemen’s Club, I have no excuse for ignoring the phenomena that was The Fratellis who just last week won best new act at The Brits.

I also failed to pay enough attention to recommendations from other bloggers, including my sparring partner Colin, about the joy that could be obtained by listening to an all-girl band from Canada called The Organ.

All of the artistes I’ve just mentioned were picked-up on after I downloaded mp3s that came with various postings. If I liked the stuff, I would track down the record locally, failing which I’d send off for it by e-mail.

Thus I came to own, in mid-January 2007, The Organ’s Grab That Gun LP that I believed had come out on Too Pure Records the best part of 12 months earlier.

There’s all sorts of great 80s influences throughout its 11 tracks. Some cynics might say there’s nothing new on offer and that it’s simply a re-hash of the sounds that appeared on records by the likes of The Smiths, New Order and The Cure, fronted by someone doing a great take on the Debbie Harry delivery.

Maybe so. And while it’s not an LP that threatens to change the way anyone would ever feel about music, it’s the sort of record that I’m a bit of a sucker for. It’s not pure pop and it’s not pure rock. It’s catchy, melodic and right away it gets your feet tapping along in time. It’s one of those records that once you know the lyrics, you’ll find yourself singing along inside your head (or embarrassingly, out loud on public transport as you wear your i-pod). Trust me, you will:-

mp3 : The Organ – Basement Band Song
mp3 : The Organ – Brother

I was looking forward to finding out more about The Organ and hopefully catching them on tour over here at some point.

So you can guess my disappointment at discovering they had in fact already split up.

It turns out that the band had been together since 2001, and that the LP had in fact originally been recorded and released in Canada as far back as 2004. It was one of those records that seemingly grew in popularity without any huge promotion other than the band’s tours (including over here in the UK) and a couple of low-key released singles. The full story of The Organ can be found in an informative article over at wikipedia right here.

So I missed out on them. Shame – for me, and on me. So much for me trying to stay hip, trendy and with-it…..

I’d be as well getting my tickets for The Police and The Jam and forgetting about everything else.

Make me feel better. Go and buy Grab That Gun. You can do it here if you’re so inclined.

NOT QUITE DIFFERENT CLASS

Jarvis Cocker gig last night at Glasgow ABC.

And I'm afraid the verdict is the same as it was on his debut LP. Patchy.

The plus points - Jarvis still has a great stage presence. He banters with the crowd, he throws shapes while singing, and he gives it everything.

The minus points - the material he is performing isn't all that special, and his backing band, which included ex-Pulp bassist Steve Mackey, were dull but worthy.

The gig occasionally smouldered but never really caught fire. The set consisted entirely of solo material until the final song of the night which was a cover of Sidewalking by the Jesus and Mary Chain. There was no real tempo to the gig. And it was only something like 13 or 14 songs long including a couple of b-sides only available on 7" vinyl.

Yet the sold-out audience didn't seem to mind. There were no anguished cries for Pulp songs. And he got a terrific reception. But I felt it was more out of reverance than genuine affection for the live show on the night.

I was trying to think of a comparison. I felt it was like a great TV or film actor who no longer gets top billing, and goes back to his roots in touring productions. Someone whose name will always attract an audience, no matter what the play. And the audience will always give him a really generous reception simply because they know how great he truly was in the past. They'll also forgive the sub-standard material they've just seen, because just occasionally, the true class and genius of the main attraction shone through.

Does that make sense?? I hope so.....

The highlight was easily the encore of Running The World, but its constant use of the c-word (funny as it is) can be offensive to some, so it doesn't get aired here. For instance, I've a close friend - and an occasional visitor to TVV - who swears like a trooper but draws the line at that word, and I'm thinking of folk like her.

So instead here's his latest single :-

mp3 : Jarvis - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Buy the LP here. It's only £6.99

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT????

If you look closely, you'll see that the picture only has Rick Buckler on drums and Bruce Foxton on bass.

But it seems that's the way it's gonna be.......

Mod-rockers The Jam are to reform and tour but without frontman Paul Weller.
Bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler have not toured together in 25 years but will play a 20-date tour from 2 May, beginning in Oxford.
The Jam sold over 14 million albums worldwide before their 1982 split. The new tour will feature a mix of old hits and new material.
Paul Weller, who has had a successful solo career, has been invited to join the tour but has not commented.
Foxton said: "This tour is deliberately intimate and something of a warm-up to our own material to launch later.
"The plan is for us to get close to the fans, have some fun and then follow with a larger tour in the autumn."
Buckler added: "Paul Weller has a fantastic solo career and is one of the UK's most talented songwriters.
"Paul is always welcome to join us for the reunion, but until then, we've got a tour and a new album to do!"
The tour will take in venues across the UK such as Aberdeen, Nottingham, Liverpool and Guildford, before ending in Portsmouth on 27 May.
The album is planned for release in the autumn.

(Taken from the BBC web pages on Monday 19th February)

I will, I'm afraid be treating this with disdain. Friends who went along to see The Undertones without Fergal Sharkey and The Stranglers without Hugh Cornwell were left bitterly disappointed. I'm not risking it.

You should always stick with the original and not any inferior copy.

Talking of which.

This is the original 1987 recording. And totally different from that which appears on the 1988 LP The Eight Legged Groove Machine.

mp3 : The Wonder Stuff - Unbearable (original version)

Appropriate song for today's posting methinks.

VOTING ENDS SOON

Readers of old will know that I've given regular plugs to a fabulous website called Jock'n'Roll.

Basically, it's two blokes - The Cat & Dave - who are trying to establish, once and for all, the most popular singles ever recorded by Scottish singers and bands. They're doing this by asking everyone to submit a list of their personal Top 10, and the chart is compiled on the basis of the votes cast. The one proviso is that you can't put more than one single by the same act in your Top 10. Oh, and they also ask that you nominate your choice for the worst Scottish single of all time.

If you care to delve into the archives of TVV at the beginning of November 2006, you'll find a series of postings over 5 successive days detailing the Top 10s of myself and Jacques The Kipper. Both of us chose an Orange Juice track as our No.1, but different songs. The only song that appeared in both of our Top 10s was Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat.

The poll is going to close on Wednesday 28 February. If you haven't voted already, I'd urge you to do so. You can get loads of help by clicking on the A-Z section of singers and bands. If nothing else, it will demonstrate just how many great and talented acts have come out of this small bit of land on Planet Earth.

I agonised for days before finalising my list. And here's some acts who didn't make the cut.....Belle & Sebastian, Lloyd Cole (with & without the Commotions), Edwyn Collins, Idlewild, James Yorkston, The Jazzateers, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group, Aztec Camera, Franz Ferdinand, Aberfeldy, Foil, Cocteau Twins, Ballboy, Teenage Fanclub, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, Jesus and Mary Chain, Idlewild, Paul Haig, Love & Money, Billy MacKenzie and Primal Scream. I didn't even find room for Edwyn Collins as a solo recording star. (I hang my head in shame)

Or this lot who released some brilliant singles in the early to mid 80s.

mp3 : Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love

In all its 12" glory.

And there's a clip of Clare and the boys giving it their all on TOTP over at The Video Villain.


PS : Happy Birthday to my little brother Stevie over there in Orlando, Florida.

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN (1)

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were in existence from 1991 until 2005.

Like other bands from their native land who were around at the same time, such as Super Furry Animals and (to a lesser extent) Catatonia, they took great pride in their roots and many of their lyrics were written in their native Welsh rather than in English.

It's actually quite difficult to categorise the band. You'll find prog-rock influences in some songs, loads of alt-country/folk sounds with a heavy dependency on the violin, while a number of tunes were almost perfect pop bordering on the twee.

I didn't pick up on the band from the outset - my introduction was via a song called Miss Trudy that appeared the 1995 compilation NME : Singles of The Week. And to be honest, I wasn't that fond of it. But a couple of years later I saw the band playing live on Later with Jools Holland when they were promoting their 1997 LP Barafundle. And that's when I went out and purchased some of their CDs.

I still reckon that their LPs are a bit patchy - there are some really beautiful moments alongside some other things that are a bit turgid and self-indulgent (a bit like this blog I suppose.....).

But nevertheless, the band did record a lot of great tunes, of which I particularly like these three:-

mp3 : Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Diamond Dew
mp3 : Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Young Girls & Happy Endings
mp3 : Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Fresher Than The Sweetness In Water

The first track is from the afore-mentioned 1997 LP Barafundle, the second track is a fantastic single from 1997 that isn't on the album, while the final track is from the 2000 LP The Blue Trees.

Buy their stuff here.

AND NOW A NEWS UPDATE......

Despite me increasing the amount of bandwith, it looks as if (based on traffic over the weekend) that I'm going to run out once again before the end of the month.

I'm therefore going to have to further curtail the length of time that songs remain on the blog after the initial posting.

It used to be an indefinite period of time, then I reduced it to a month. I'm afraid that it's now just 14 days.

But if anyone does visit and wants an old song re-posted, feel free to say so via the comments pages or by an e-mail. I'll do my best to meet all requests.

Sorry if this spoils anybody's enjoyment of the blog.

A LITTLE BIT OF TIDYING-UP

I've just spent a couple of hours sorting out a few things on the blog.

The main thing was to take some action to try and prevent the bandwith problems that occurred the other day. I've splashed out some more cash to provide an increase, but I'm still not sure if I've got enough. And..........I'm sorry to say that from now on, I will have to take some drastic action and remove a lot of the older mp3s that are on file den.

So it is with much regret that I have to announce that songs will only be available for a maximum of one calendar month.

I've also added a few more links at the side. I'd like to think that all of these blogs will provide you with hours of entertainment....and please spend some time reading what everyone has to say and not simply go in for the music. And I would always encourage the posting of comments, observations and views. All of the bloogers (dear oh dear, what a shocking spelling mistake - ed) themselves are thoroughly nice, decent and helpful people.

Two songs on offer today, both of which were originally introduced to me by Jacques The Kipper in those far off days when homemade compilation tapes were the best way to discover new music:-

mp3 : The June Brides - Sick, Tired & Drunk
mp3 : The Wonder Stuff - Astley In The Noose

More nonsense tomorrow. And some music for those folk, rude or otherwise, who pop by for one thing only.

WELLER, WELLER, WELLER, OOOOOH (tell me more)

In one of my earliest entries on TVV, I wrote at length about my love for The Jam, and how they remain the only band I’ve ever camped for overnight so that I could get concert tickets.

I didn’t go in a huff with Paul Weller when he broke the band up, and indeed I was soon more than happy to be buying records by The Style Council and going along to watch his new band playing live.

But somehow, I’ve never got into the solo stuff by the so called Modfather. I’ve just found most of it rather dull and dreary. Everyone tells me that his LP Stanley Road is one of the best of the 90s. I’ve tried listening to it a few times and it just bores me. There’s just nothing original about it.

I’m also a bit bemused by the re-writing of history when it comes to Paul Weller. He did not have a period in the wilderness from demise of The Style Council at the end of the 80s to his solo comeback in the mid 90s when the Britpop movement, and in particular Noel Gallagher, paid homage to him. There were a few attempts at re-igniting his career in-between, including this single from 1991:-

mp3 : Paul Weller Movement – Into Tomorrow

If you have a listen, you’ll hear that it’s not much different from the stuff he would go on to release to great critical acclaim a few years later. It just wasn’t fashionable back in 1991……

Oh there is one Paul Weller solo single that I adore. If he had gone down this sort of route rather than re-hashing his love of the 60s, I might have remained a fan:-

mp3 : Paul Weller - Wild Wood

Buy his solo stuff here. But if you want the 12" single of Into Tomorrow, you'll need to try e-bay. Or make me an offer I can't refuse.

Hit me dog-face one more time

-
Woah... talk about a blast from the Scottish/Amsterdam past... it does not get more angular, tortured or spikey anarcho-punk than the 'feckin Dog Faced Hermans! Does anyone else remember them about the Edinburgh scene in the late 80's? From what little I can remember the gigs were, er, eventful...?
-
Dog Faced Hermans - 'Incineration' MP3 (2.44)
-
Just discovered on this wonderful 2005 compilation album.
-
DFH's on the web (!!!)
-
EDIT... and here is a live performance of the song from YouTube (ah'm all exclaimed out now, so I am!)

NOTHING ACHIEVING

Now that the lovey-dovey stuff has passed on for another 12 months, it’s time to start afresh here at TVV.

You’ll probably have noticed that The Police are the latest band from days of old to bless us with news that they are to reform and go on tour. I’m happy to admit that this was the main band on stage at my first major concert at the Glasgow Apollo back in May 1979, and I subsequently saw them on a couple more occasions in later years. But I’m afraid that I will not be joining the throngs who will be sitting nervously by their PCs, credit cards at the ready, the day that the tickets for the world tour become available. For this has to be just about the most pointless band reunion imaginable.

It’s not that I’m adverse to going along and watching old bands who have come back together – Lloyd Cole & The Commotions was a great event a couple of years back, and I’m looking forward to seeing James when they come to Glasgow in a couple of months time. I’ve also enjoyed recent gigs by Echo & The Bunnymen and The Wedding Present. And I’ll be near the front of the queue if Matt Johnston takes any version of The The back out on the road.

Lawrence Donegan, the bass player with the Commotions, is now an established journalist, and writing in a Scottish newspaper yesterday, he made no bones about it – bands reform for one reason alone, and that’s to make money. John Lydon et al said much the same when they dubbed the Sex Pistols reunion as the Filthy Lucre tour.

There’s nothing wrong with that. If I still enjoy a band, and the songs still mean something to me, I’m happy to shell-out and see my former heroes in action.

As far as the Commotions, and for that matter James, are concerned, these are bands that were never hugely successful for a sustained period of time. Yes, they had hits in the UK and Europe, but they never cracked the world-market in any meaningful way. As such, they never made enough of a living out of music to simply quit and live a life of leisure in complete luxury. Indeed, most of Commotions now hold down full-time jobs outside of the music industry - in other words, they have employment that pays a wage or salary. So they’re not that different from most of the rest of us (except for having quite a bit of musical talent I suppose). And if they can ride a wave of nostalgia that helps bring in some extra cash that pays a few more bills, then good luck to them.

But Sting and co are minted. And guitarist Andy Summers, at the age of 64, just about qualifies for his free bus pass and other sundry benefits. They surely can’t be doing it for the money.

So, if it’s not cash, then it can only be ego. It’s all about expecting tens of thousands of lemmings to come along to a big shed, and wave their arms in the air while singing ‘yo, yo, yo, yo.’ Walking On The Moon?? Only if you can get a gravity-defying zimmer frame…..

Count Me Out.

Anyone willing to bet that the set list doesn't include these two tracks:-

mp3 : The Police - Fall Out
mp3 : The Police - Landlord

But then again, Sting might insist on them just to show that the band hasn't lost touch with its new wave roots. Wanker.

You’ll find CDs by The Police everywhere. But don’t rush out and buy any of the music. Spend your money instead on more deserving bands such as any of these, all of whom were reviewed live back on 23 October 2006. It's in the archives under Reasons To Be Cheerful - 1,2,3..-

mp3 : The View - Posh Boys
mp3 : The Grates - Science Is Golden
mp3 : The Young Knives - Loughborough Suicide

Here endeth the sermon.

WELL I TRY, I DO, I REALLY TRY

One of my favourite cover-versions of one of my favourite songs. I've been saving this especially for today.

mp3 : My Ruin - Do You Love Me?

There will be enough romantic nonsense written in all sorts of places today. But given he's now finally on the mend, I'm taking the opportunity to send special greetings on Wednesday 14th February 2007 to the great man:-

mp3 : Edwyn Collins - Now That It's Love

If today's the sort of celebration that gets on your tits, have a peek here. You're sure to find something that makes you laugh.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE ...................

Although I upgraded my file-hosting account just three weeks ago to take account of increased traffic here at TVV, I've underestimated how many times folk would choose to listen to the songs. So my bandwith limit for the month has been exceeded. The result is....no access to the files and thus no songs.

It will take a few hours to sort this out (I need to dig out the acoustic guitar and busk for funds for the additional costs), so bear with me while the service is temporarily reduced.

Thanks

JC

PS : Only joking about the busking. It's just that I'll need to wait till I get back home from work....

And now for a second update a few hours later......

Problem now fully sorted out

Normal service - i.e. access to old files, has now been resumed.

FROM UNDER THE COVERS (11)

Please don’t feel that I’m short-changing you this week just because today’s posting bears a resemblance to that of 48 hours ago.

Once again, I’m offering up a tune you can groove to when the original was anything but. It has the letters L.O.V.E. within the title. Oh and it involves them cuddly Canadians one more time.

So if you think I’m no longer providing good value in this over-crowded blog-market, then I’ll very willingly cancel your subscription and return any outstanding sums of monies owed.

I used to hate Neil Young (see entry of 48 hours ago for an explanation). But I don’t anymore.

I’ve always liked St Etienne. Back in the 70s, they were one of the most exciting teams in football, and they played in a shirt (see above) that was a shade of green you just didn’t get anywhere here in the UK. It had a cool collar that was red, white and blue in colour. Their best player was an exciting and charismatic winger called Dominique Rocheteau – surely the most French sounding player of all time. Throw into the mix their appearance in a major European final right here in Glasgow in May 1976 and you’ll understand why an impressionable 12 year-old boy was mesmerised.

So when I read many years later, at a time when the football side was in the doldrums, that a pop band had taken the very same name, I became intrigued. I genuinely bought their debut single for the name alone. I was delighted that when I played it and thus heard it for the first time, it turned out to be a great little song.

It was actually one of the first CD singles I ever bought and I played it constantly on what then passed as a portable CD player. It was a Xmas present courtesy of Mrs Villain. It cost a fortune to buy and a fortune to run as it was powered by six batteries which, if you were lucky, gave you three hours worth of listening – i.e I needed new batteries every day on my daily commute to and from Edinburgh. I still have that CD player sitting in a corner slowly turning into an antique. It’s about three times the size (and was ten times the cost) of the smallest ones now on the market, and it’s hard to believe it was once at the cutting edge of technology.

I bought St Etienne’s follow-up single and was confused because the vocalist sounded different. I was also disappointed because I didn’t like it all that much. Indeed, as it turned out, I never liked any of their subsequent singles as much as I liked their debut. And I maintain that the vocalist on the debut single was more talented than the lady who sang on the hits.

Enough of the ramblings. I know you’re only here for the mp3s:-

mp3 : Neil Young – Only Love Can Break Your Heart
mp3 : St Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart

The original came out in 1970 and is on the LP, After The Goldrush.

The cover-version, which featured Moira Lambert, as opposed to the more famous Sarah Cracknell on vocals, came out in 1990 and can be found on the LP Foxbase Alpha. Both are widely available, such as right here.

Tomorrow will see a song for wide-eyed romantics everywhere.

Clue : it will not be Easy Lover by Phil Collins & Philip Bailey.

NOWADAYS, SHE'D SEND A TEXT MESSAGE....

Up top is is an aerial image of Verona, Italy. On the right is one of its most famous tourist attractions - Juliet's Balcony.

For Verona is the city in which Shakespeare set his tragic love story...and to this day, there are many who claim that it is the most romantic spot on earth.

But I don't think that somehow it's the place that one of the best romantic songwriters of the late 20th century (and early 21st century) had in mind when he penned this:-

mp3 : Billy Bragg - Lover's Town (Peel Session)

Sting once said....If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free. The Ad Men now say...If You Love Somebody, Make Sure You Spend Fortunes On Daft Gestures this week.

This has been a public service announcement on behalf of forgetful husbands/boyfriends the world over.

FROM UNDER THE COVERS (10)

Here's another record that I hadn't heard for years until the recent gift of the USB Turntable. Something that you can shake your snake-hips to with a bit of style - a dance tune from the from the pen of Leonard Cohen? Surely some mistake...

To be fair, this cover version by Ian McCulloch bears almost no resemblance to the original which had come out in 1974 on New Skin For The Old Ceremony. Instead, Bunnymac, with the help of producer Henry Priestman (ex It's Immaterial and The Christians) and mixer Mark Stent (who went on to find huge fame and fortune with Oasis) turned it into a great indie-disco track. Especially on this 12" version known as The India Dawn Remix.

This is one of eight solo singles released by BunnyMac, and I was surprised to learn that in reaching No.47 in the charts in 1992 that this was his biggest seller.

mp3 : Ian McCulloch : Lover, Lover, Lover (Indian Dawn Remix)

I remember being 11 years old and being at parties in school-friends houses and getting hacked off when the big brother of the household would come in from the pub just after 10pm and take over the record-player. Off would go Gary Glitter, Sweet, Slade and the Bay City Rollers. On would come either a Leonard Cohen or Neil Young record. If we were really unlucky, the big brother and his mates would get out their acoustic guitars and play along. As such, I had a hatred of Canadian born singer-songwriters for quite a few years.

And then when I was at university and listening to new wave/post-punk, it was trendy to sneer at the hippies who still listened to the acoustic muck from the 70s.

But I'm glad to say that around the end of the 80s, I gave both Mr Cohen and Mr Young another chance and as George Michael might have put it, I Listened Without Prejudice. And now I have quite a few of their records in the collection.

mp3 : Leonard Cohen : Lover, Lover, Lover

More Valentine's Day related songs to come tomorrow.

THE THIEVING MAGPIE

It's often the case that when I read other folk's blogs that I think to myself....'I wish I had thought of that'.

And so, without feeling in the least bit creative this morning, I'm now going to steal from a couple of friends. I'm sure neither of them will mind.

Mike over at Manic Pop Thrills posted a really appalling cover version of the Echo & The Bunnymen song Rescue. The perpetrators were the usually reliable Idlewild. It's truly awful.

I'll freely admit that I'm no singer, as anyone who has heard me dismember Sweet Caroline at a karaoke evening will testify, but I reckon I could make a better fist of it than Roddy Woomble's effort. Go in and listen if you dare.

And here's what I think is the most lumpen cover version of one of my favourite songs of all time. The shocking thing is that it's from a normally listenable band:-

mp3 : Buffalo Tom - Going Underground

Meanwhile, Simon over at Spoilt Victorian Child has decided to try and take 11 and a bit minutes away from everyone's precious time by asking that you listen to Street Life by The Crusaders. He says its his guilty pleasure. He also wants the rest of us to admit our own guilty pleasures.

Now I could start typing a few things here that might lead to my eventual arrest and incarceration, so instead I'll stay with music.

Go on laugh at me for liking this bit of cack from the 80s.

mp3 : Spandau Ballet - Communication

Just be grateful I don't like Dido. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

GREAT UNACKNOWLEDGED ALBUMS OF OUR TIME (Part 4)

It might be kind of strange to heap praise on an LP that has is disliked by its creator as is the case with the 1983 release Rhythm of Life by Paul Haig. But it’s my blog, and I’ll say what I want. If the artist in question or indeed anyone in general, thinks that what I'm spouting nonsense, then that’s why there’s the chance to offer comments....

Paul Haig first came to prominence in 1980 as the singer and principal songwriter in Josef K, one of just four bands who recorded on Postcard Records – the others being Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Go-Betweens.

Josef K only released a handful of singles and one LP before breaking-up and never enjoyed any sort of commercial success. Critically, they have often been seen, like The Las were a few years later, as a band that would have been massive if they had stuck at it.

Their sound and style, while I wouldn’t say was entirely distinctive, was unusual enough to continue to have had an impact since their demise, culminating with the emergence of Franz Ferdinand who could in some ways be described as a Josef K tribute band made good. FF fans don’t be offended – I mean that as praise.

Paul was tipped to have a massive solo career. He was quoted extensively in the music press that his solo stuff wouldn’t be Josef K Mk II, but instead have far more of a dance-feel and be a really polished production in keeping with the times.

So, having signed a deal that was backed by Island Records, Paul flew to New York to work with some of the world’s best session musicians and record his debut solo record under the guidance of hip and trendy mixer/producer Alex Sadkin, who had previous experience of producing, among others, Bob Marley, Grace Jones, Robert Palmer and Duran Duran.

What emerged a few months later is an album that I truly adored on its release. It was never off my cassette deck. Oh…that’s right, I never actually got round to buying it in those student days when money was tight. I made do with a home-recording copy on one-side of a Memorex C90.

A few weeks back, I saw that the LP was now available, by mail-order, on CD and so I sent off for it.

And do you know something – I still think it’s a fantastic piece of work. Yes, it has all the hallmarks of the 80s in that much of the production is superficial. You’ll find drum machines, synthesizers and electronic percussion all over the place and at times it might be just to be too much to take in.

But ignore all of that and you’ll find a fabulous pop/dance/electro record, packed with great tracks that will get you on your feet within seconds.

The full song listing for Rhythm Of Life is:-

01 Heaven Sent
02 Never Give Up (Party Party)
03 Adoration
04 Stolen Love
05 Don’t Rush In
06 Blue For You
07 In The World
08 Justice
09 Work Together

A couple of the songs actually dated from the Josef K days, and perhaps this is where the problems began in terms of the lack of acclaim for this record.

Despite Paul warning everyone about his change of direction, the incredibly polished sound on opening single Heaven Sent – one of the old Josef K songs – was too much for the purists who wanted guitars, guitars and more guitars – and the janglier the better. This fantastic piece of dance music died on its arse.

The sleeve notes that come with the CD give examples of the types of review the release received – there’s a really scathing one from the NME.

Rhythm Of Life came out at a time when ‘dance’ and ‘disco music’ were swear words as far as the music press was concerned.

The subsequent singles – Never Give Up, Blue For You and Justice – also bombed. As for the LP – forget it.

I don’t know why radio stations failed to pick up on the singles – maybe the record pluggers were piss-poor at their job. Or maybe Paul himself was disillusioned by the whole experience. Again the notes in the CD release are revealing, as they quote Paul as saying a few years later:-

The main thing was that I didn’t want to be centre of it all. The initial idea was just to keep working with different people… It all went a bit funny when I signed to Island…..who wanted a pop image to sell and they didn’t get one.

And so Paul Haig’s dreams of superstardom on the world stage were quickly dashed.

He continued to record and release albums in the remainder of the 80s and 90s, both as a solo artist and with the likes of Billy Mackenzie. Indeed, his second solo album, The Warp Of Pure Fun (the title of which is surely a dig at everyone at Island Records) from 1985 is another great pop/dance/electro piece of class.

For what its worth, I think his first two solo LPs came out just a few years too soon to achieve popular or critical acclaim. By 1988, dance and disco music was trendy again. Aside from being really upbeat and joyous records, there’s some really mellow stuff that would have fitted in perfectly with the Ibiza scene as captured by the likes of The Sun Rising by The Beloved.

I’m delighted to at long last own a proper copy of The Rhythm Of Life. It’s gone straight on to the i-pod, and its keeping me company on the journey to and from work right now.

I wonder if I can still dance the same way. Oh shit…my hamstring’s popped.

mp3 : Paul Haig : Heaven Sent
mp3 : Paul Haig : Justice
mp3 : Paul Haig - In The World

Buy this LP on mail order right here. You’ll also find it’s a site with loads of other great ‘lost’ albums from the 80s, some of which will some day be reviewed at TVV.

Oh, and if you got this far, thanks for sticking with such a long and rambling post. I must learn the meaning of the word concise.

BACK TO MY ROOTS (VOLUME 5)

I'm up late cos I can't sleep. I never can when Mrs Villain is working away overnight. Right now she's in Manchester on behalf of her company for a presentation to an important client just 24 hours after a previous presentation to a would-be client here in Glasgow who are likely to turn her down. Bastards.

So I thought I'd end my five days of postings from the original vinyl with the one song that always make me think of her.

There we were at a Carter USM gig at Barrowlands, Glasgow in the early 90s - me, Mrs Villain and Jacques The Kipper. Us blokes being experienced moshers felt it was just a bit too crazy with all those young folk being awfully lively down the front, so we were strategically placed just left-of-centre maybe halfway back.

Then the opening notes of today's song came through the speakers.

DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH-DAAAAAAAH.

And before the same notes were repeated prior to the crashing guitars, Mrs Villain had gone....right down into the melee. I was gobsmacked. But I left her to it - we hadn't long drawn up wills leaving all our possessions to one another.

5 and a bit minutes later she came back, drenched in sweat but with the most fantastic grin on her face.

So this is her song.

mp3 : Carter USM - Bloodsport For All

And now to the song from the Archives.

A little-known song by a little-known Scottish band. A particular favourite of Jacques the Kipper as you can see if you go back to the original posting on 6th November 2006 under the heading 'Jock'nRoll (Part Four)'

mp3 : Foil - Reviver Gene

More Scottish stuff to come later today.

BACK TO MY ROOTS (VOLUME 4)

Here’s another immense piece of vinyl of which I would have known nothing if it wasn’t for Jacques The Kipper.

So many things were going on in my life at the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s that I wasn’t able to keep up with much new music. Jacques was aware of my fondness for what became known as Madchester, and periodically would throw in my direction a rectangular box containing a cassette tape (young people – activate your google search now). Said cassette tape contained 90 minutes worth of songs, many of which I became very fond, not least today’s offering.

I don’t think it's right for me to wax on about Paris Angels, not when there’s a fantastic entry about them on my space, clearly penned by a knowledgeable fan who is still bitter, and with every justification, about they way the band was dumped by Virgin Records/EMI. Click here for the full story.

For years, I had to rely on the cassette tape and a CD compilation to listen to the band’s debut single. And then a short while back, a work colleague, on learning that I had started the blog, handed over around 15-20 records that he no longer wanted. Tucked away in the middle of the pile was the Sheer Joy release of 1990 (this was their original independent label prior to signing to Virgin and that’s what was given a spin on the USB Turntable not more than 15 minutes ago.

Thanks Paul. Hope this brings back memories of your clubbing days.

mp3 : Paris Angels : All On You (Perfume)

Try e-bay for this single. You might get lucky.

And keeping up the Madchester theme of the posting, the song from the archives is a b-side originally posted on Sunday 22 October under the title of 'From Under The Covers (2)':-

mp3 : James - Sunday Morning

More vinyl coming your way tomorrow.

BACK TO MY ROOTS (VOLUME 3)

Most of the vinyl that lies in the cupboard isn’t all that valuable as it’s mostly 7” and 12” bits of plastic that were purchased by loads of others, or if they didn’t sell in large quantities, then there wasn’t an original or subsequent demand for it.

But there are some records that have given me something of an ‘Antiques Roadshow’ moment. By that I mean I’ve picked something up for next to nothing, and the true value of the artifact only became clearer much later on.

Back in 1992, I bought a 12” single from a clearance/bargain bin in a record shop in Edinburgh for 99p. It was by Blur – and at the time, all that I knew about them, as I was going through a phase of not buying music papers or magazines, was that I had quite enjoyed There’s No Other Way, their hit single from a few months previously. The single I purchased that day was called Popscene.

Years pass, and this bit of vinyl has now become something of a Holy Grail among Blur fans and is coveted by a fair number of record collectors. While it did reach No.32 in the charts, it was a record that was deleted shortly afterwards, never to appear again. It wasn’t included on the 1993 LP Modern Life Is Rubbish, nor was it included on the CD of the Greatest Hits package that Blur released in 2000. Bizarrely enough, it did appear on the Greatest Hits DVD, and it was played live on the Greatest Hits tour when the set-list consisted of all the singles played in the sequence they were released.

Incidentally, I was at the Edinburgh gig of that tour which was the opening night of the Corn Exchange venue. It was a strange one – aside from hating the layout and acoustic of that venue (a view I hold to this very day), it was odd knowing precisely which song the band was going to launch into next. It took away all of the anticipation of wondering about what may or may not be on the set-list that night.

But back to Popscene.

I’ve no idea why the band have made it so difficult to get a copy of this record. Perhaps it’s their way of rewarding all the long-term fans who were around prior to the success of ‘Modern Life’ and the phenomena that was Parklife. All I know is that you can look on e-bay and the CD single is going for nothing less than £10, but I’ve no idea what folk would pay for the 12” vinyl version. But then again, I’m not really in the business of selling unless it was to a Blur fan who had everything bar it….and at that I’d more likely give it away than extract its true worth.

As for the song itself, I think it’s one of the band’s best. It was more frantic and less poppy than the stuff that appeared on the debut album, and was an indication of the sort of sounds that would come out on the next LP, which I reckon was one of the best released in the 1990s.

mp3 : Blur - Popscene

Incidentally, my own personal Holy Grail(s) are 2 CDs by The Smiths on Rough Trade.

I didn’t own a CD player back in 1988 when Rough Trade decided to issue the albums on CD, so I didn’t see the point in buying them. It was also the fact that I didn’t really have the money at the time….

Eventually, I did begin to buy them once a month (always just after pay-day) but before long, the WEA deal had happened, and the Rough Trade CDs were no longer available.

And so now I have The Smiths, Hatful of Hollow, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead and The World Won’t Listen on Rough Trade CD. But my copies of Strangeways Here We Come and Rank are WEA CDs.

So if anyone has catalogue numbers Rough CD 106 (Strangeways) and/or Rough CD 126 (Rank), I’d be interested in hearing from you…….

BACK TO MY ROOTS (VOLUME 2)

Delighted that Colin aka Dr Tristesse is back and blogging with some style again, both here at TVV and over at And Before The First Kiss. Must say, his comeback song at TVV caught me by surprise. Didn't think I knew the song at all and then when I played it, realised that I had heard it quite a bit on radio and probably telly a couple of decades ago. Couldn't have told you what is was or who the band was. Not sure if I'm all that keen on it.....but then again I don't expect too many folk to love my own offering today. The thing was...I was looking in the vinyl cupboard for something to show that there’s more than just twee-pop bands and the collective works of lesser-known Scottish geniuses living in there.

And I found a cracking 12” single by Senser.

I remember being really excited by this band when I first heard them, on tape courtesy of Jacques the Kipper, at the beginning of the 1990s. Their angry, incendiary mix of rap and metal, along with a very clear alternative political stance, seemed to be quite different.

At a time when alternative lifestyles were the subject of a brutal clampdown by the police on the back of a hysterical tabloid press, here was a band that seemed to capture the moment.

Senser looked as if they lived like new-age travellers, going from town-to-town across the UK seeking-out the next big party or rave. And while they might have been mistaken in a police line-up as being in The Levellers, early-days The Wonder Stuff or Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, they couldn’t have sounded any more different.

Here was a band that was loud, confrontational and challenging – but with a sound that was listenable. They weren’t ever going to settle for mere cult-status.

The front man – Heitham Al-Sayed - was of Middle-Eastern descent which was, and still is even almost 15 years later, exceedingly rare. The backing vocalist – Kerstin Haigh - was a classically-trained flautist, while their sound engineer – who went by the great name of Haggis – was seen as every bit as important as the drummer, guitarist and bass player.

Thanks to an incredible work ethic in which they backed many up and coming bands as well as appear way down on the bill at every outdoor festival or show that took place, Senser began to build up quite a following. Every live show was a loud, explosive spectacle in which every member of the band gave their all.

In 1993, they signed to a UK independent label – Ultimate – and released a handful of fantastic singles as well as a debut LP that went Top 10 in the charts the following year.

The initial success probably took most of the band by surprise, and when the time came to fulfil the contractual obligation of the 2nd LP, half of the original members left citing musical differences.

To be honest, I never kept up with what happened to Senser after that initial burst onto the scene. I’ve got all the early singles, the debut LP and a VHS of a great live performance, but nothing after 1994.

A bit of research has show that the band are still on the go, writing and performing, and indeed the original line-up got back together back in 2003/4. All sorts of information can be found over at a very good official website here.

But I suppose as I’ve got older and my tastes have mellowed, I’d find it hard to go back and revisit Senser in 2007. I’ll stick with my memories of the mid-90s and in particular their debut single, but I've decided, in the true spirit of TVV, to supply a fantastic remix version that was available only on the reverse side of the 12" single.

mp3 : Senser – Eject (Over Zealous Mix)

And here’s some more stuff from the archives – and it keeps the ‘rap with a meaningful message’ theme going.

Originally posted at TVV back on 25 October 2006, under the entry ‘Beat The Clock’, here’s one of the best records ever released:-

mp3 :

Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy – Television, The Drug Of The Nation

Go to amazon and track down records by these and other great bands.