Showing posts with label Gwenno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gwenno. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Desperate To Disappear And Still Be Someone

Continuing with the A-Z of artist releases from 2025 that I haven't yet bought, but are on the shopping (long) list for this Bandcamp Friday.

Yesterday covered A to F; today, it's my picks of artists from G to M, specifically

Gwenno remixed by Cornelius
Horizontals aka Leo Zero
KLOUDs
MAN2.0 remixed by Tronik Youth

Gwenno's fourth album Utopia came out in July, her first predominantly in English, with previous albums in Welsh or Cornish. What's not changed is Gwenno's way with a song and this carries through into the Utopia Remixes EP, released last week. Versions by QUINQUIS and Stone Club both recommended, but I've opted here for the unexpected and delightful remix from Japanese legend Cornelius. 

Leo Zero has been a busy man this year and it's been hard to keep up with everything he's put out there, including two excellent EPs as Junk System (there's a third to come), 20-track disco monster Nebulon Systems Vol. 1, plus a ton of edits, remixes and one-offs.

Wild Light by Horizontals is Leo's ambient/balearic project, 10 tracks of on-the-nose bliss, including this one. 

I was a bit slow on the uptake with Ibibio Sound Machine, but I'm now all in, so the arrival last week of a new EP, Anyone Like You, is very good news indeed. In addition to three versions of the title song is the "cosmic funk" of Jagaban, featured here. The title is from Hausa, a widely spoken language in Nigeria, and translates as "leader of warriors". 

When Jah Wobble drops an album called Dub Volume One, you know what you're going to get, and you know it's going to be great. And of course it is.

Written, performed, and recorded entirely solo by Jah Wobble, mastered by Anthony Chapman (Collapsed Lung) and issued on Dimple Discs, the indie label founded in 2018 by Damian O'Neill (The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion) and Brian O'Neill (not related).

I could have chosen any of the eight tracks, opting here for the wonderfully titled Tragic Slav Dub.

KLOUDs is a collaboration between Ukrainian-born Sam Levin aka Zullah, and Israel's Itay Menashe aka Fistuk. I can't say that I've heard of either of them, but I really like this 2-track single, pairing PALMS and Côte D'Ivoire. Released in August on the Stereo MC's label called - what else? - Connected, it's a welcome ray of sunshine and recollection of summer in this damp, dark English winter.

I have loved Little Annie, since I first discovered her music in the early 1990s, courtesy of Adrian Sherwood / ON-U Sound. As the title suggests, With is an 8-song collection of 21st century collaborations with like-minded artists. 

The album opens with a rousing 2008 live version of Yesterday When I Was Young with Marc Almond and ends with Some Things We Do, from Swans' 2014 album To Be Kind. Included in between are team ups with Coil, Kid Congo Powers, Paul Wallfisch and Larsen.

I've gone for State Of Grace, the title track of the 2012 album by Little Annie & Baby Dee, featuring Bonnie "Prince" Billy.

Last but not least is MAN2.0's latest, on the ever dependable NEIN Records label. I'm a big fan of MAN2.0's previous music and mixes and this 5-track EP from July offers up two versions of CTRL ALT DEL (with Precious Blood) and three of Nightmare Walking.

All five tracks mean business, including this stunning remix by NEIN label boss Tronik Youth.

More tomorrow.

Friday, 11 July 2025

So Much Music, So Little Time

After yesterday's nod to Wet Leg, whose second album Moisturizer is out today, I have to give a shout out to five other albums out NOW!

One or two previews each from Gwenno, Bronski Beat, Gina Birch, Allo Darlin' and Emily Breeze.

I will hopefully come back to most, if not all, of these in standalone posts before 2025 is over and done, but all are great contenders for your hard earned cash.

A pretty good week in a pretty good year, in other words...

Utopia: Gwenno

 

Forbidden Fruit: The Age of Consent Remixed: Bronski Beat


Trouble: Gina Birch

 

Bright Nights: Allo Darlin'

 

Rats In Paradise: Emily Breeze

 

Saturday, 26 October 2024

Fifth Strike


Way back in October 2021, picking up on a loose theme of "gigs I got tickets for, but never made it to", I reflected that John Grant is the artist that I've missed the most times. Four attempts since 2011, three times with tickets purchased in advance.
 
After breaking down the tragic circumstances for each and noting that the last three missed opportunities had all been at the same venue, I closed by saying,
 
"Fingers crossed, I will get to see John Grant perform live on stage one day. 
Given my track record so far, I might have to choose a venue other than Bath Forum..."
 
So, with a new album The Art Of The Lie and UK dates to support, I was determined that this would finally be my chance to break my run of bad luck and see the great (Grant) man.
 
I took no risks and avoided all possible jinxes. Avoid The Forum in Bath? No sweat. This time, the location was the Bristol Beacon. Tickets in my name? Uh uh. Mike came to the rescue, buying tickets (I paid him after) so no part of the transaction even featured my name. Work crisis stranding me miles from the gig? No siree. I based myself in Stroud. Okay, my car might have broken down and they may have cancelled all train services to Bristol. But what are the odds?

Nope. I was on it. Friday 25th October 2024 would be marked in history as the day I finally got to see John Grant live in concert.

And then Mike emailed me at 3.15pm yesterday.

Obviously, I'm sorry and concerned for John Grant and I hope he makes a full recovery soon.

But my first, honest reaction?

FFS!!!!!

Yet...once I stopped thinking about Franz Ferdinand/Sparks, I regrouped and reflected that maybe Friday 25th October 2024 wasn't the right time after all and the moment, when it comes, will be magical.

So, what's a John Grant fan to do in the meantime?

Well, I'd held off buying or listening to The Art Of The Lie as I wanted to hear the songs for the first time as performed live on stage. Therefore, the next best thing is to curate a brand new 12-track Dubhed selection on the fly and repost my previous two efforts.

This one's named Fifth Strike (what else?) and it just about manages to cover each of JG's four previous studio albums, a couple from the superb Live In Concert double album with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, another live performance recorded in Iceland for KEXP, a Nick Drake cover and a couple of remixes, one bootleg, one official. And of course, every single one is a gem. 
 
Quite happy with this one, considering I was blinking back tears as I compiled it...

More gig action on Sunday, but not what you might be expecting. Hope to see you here.
 
1) Fireflies (Album Version) (2010)
2) Tempest (Album Version) (2018)
3) Marz (Live @ KEX Hostel, Reykjavík, Iceland) (2013)
4) Snug Slacks (Album Version) (2015)
5) Black Belt (Say Hooo! Edit) (2013)
6) Day Is Done (Cover of Nick Drake) (2023)
7) Where Dreams Go To Die (Live @ BBC Radio 6 Music, Media City, Salford ft. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra) (2014)
8) Voodoo Doll (Gwenno vs. Peski Kid Remix) (2016)
9) Why Don't You Love Me Anymore (Album Version ft. Sinéad O'Connor) (2013)
10) Outer Space (Album Version) (2010)
11) It Doesn't Matter To Him (Live @ BBC Radio 6 Music, Media City, Salford ft. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra) (2014)
12) The Cruise Room (Album Version) (2021)
 
2010: Queen Of Denmark (ltd 2x CD): 1, 10
2013: Black Belt EP: 5
2013: Live On KEXP EP: 3 
2013: Pale Green Ghosts: 9
2014: Live In Concert: 7, 11
2015: Grey Tickles, Black Pressure: 4
2016: Voodoo Doll EP: 8
2018: Love Is Magic: 2 
2021: Boy From Michigan: 12
2023: The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs Of Nick Drake: 6

Fifth Strike (1:03:40) (KF) (Mega)
 
And if you want even more JG Dubhed action...