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

Ibibio Sound Machine

Jah Wobble

KLOUDs

Little Annie & Baby Dee ft. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

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.

You're Welcome Here

A dip into my shopping bag from last week's Bandcamp Friday bonanza, a mix of new releases and 'catch up' purchases.

Heavy Heavy was the first album by Young Fathers that I bought, and I really liked it. I also got to see them perform live (kind of) when they joined Massive Attack on stage for three songs at last year's ACT 1.5 concert in Bristol.

Second album White Men Are Black Men Too has been made available as Name Your Price, so it was straight in the bag on Friday. Get Started is the closing song.

Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation, the 10th album - and first in six years - by Edwyn Collins, was out in March. I enjoyed the singles that preceded it, but this is also a primer for seeing Edwyn live in concert for the first - and last - time in September.

The Bridge Hotel appears two thirds of the way through, a wonderful paean to the real-life guest house in Helmsdale.

For one day only, most of Ibibio Sound Machine's digital catalogue was available as Name Your Price, which was an opportunity for me to plug the gaps in my collection, including the second studio album, Uyai.

I previously had the excellent Richard Norris remixes of side one closer Joy (Idaresit), and the album version is a welcome addition to my collection.

I've been a fan of Los Angeles-based Black Market, with their dub reimagining of iconic artists and music. In my bag this time were EPs by The Clash and Talking Heads and, going back to my entry point, the Thin White Dub EP. 

Posing the question, "What if David Bowie spent the summer of 1975 in Kingston, Jamaica with King Tubby instead of Philadelphia?", the EP recreates four songs: Young Americans, Modern Love, Station To Station and TVC15. 

The attention to detail is impeccable and the dub-infused versions are completely believable.

Another delightful discovery, also hailing from Scotland and released in March, is Things Found In Books by Yvonne Lyon and Boo Hewerdine. 

I'll admit that I was very familiar with Boo, having been a fan of his music since first hearing Graceland and Mahalia by The Bible nearly 40 years ago, but I knew next to nothing about Yvonne. 

It's a brisk album - 15 songs in 36 minutes - but does exactly what it set out to do. Vocally, Yvonne and Boo are a great pairing, with delicate acoustic chords and wistful horn elements providing an effective backdrop to their vignettes of imagined lives.

When You Don't Have Anything Left, She's Got The Music

Almost a month through 2025 already and although there's a lot of incoming new music to be excited about, I'm still immersing myself in the albums and singles that I bought last year.

Today's selection therefore is wall-to-wall 2024 and back-to-back female voices. So many to choose from, I did an entire selection as part of my end of year round up and here are 11 more.

I got the albums by Jane Weaver and Beth Gibbons relatively late in the day, so I'm continuing to discover more about them on each listen. Others, like Ibibio Sound Machine, Xan Tyler and Jo Bartlett, I've had for some while and played and played and played them.

Isobel Campbell delivered two for the price of one, with Bow To Love available on shiny disc with a French language counterpart, Place à l'Amour. I can't choose between them, I love them both.

Of the tons of great singles and EPs out last year, the Blueprints Revisited EP by Ammonite aka Amy Spencer was a welcome discovery via a remix she did for David Holmes. David reciprocates on the EP, though I've opted here for a lovely remix by South Korean duo Salamanda aka Uman (Jimin Sung) and Yetsuby (Yejin Jang).

Anzu by C.A.R. was already a favourite in both its original version and GLOK remix by Andy Bell. Then Sean Johnston came along and delivered a couple of Hardway Bros remixes that blew the bloody doors off.

There were also a couple of international musical pairings for one-off singles that grabbed my attention. Björk (Iceland) teamed up with Rosalía (Spain) for Oral, remixed by Olof Dreijer (Sweden). Meanwhile, Tanya Donelly (USA) collaborated with Gabi Lima (Brazil) on the rousing Golden Cut. 

I've been listening to a lot of Tanya's music since I posted about her last August, revisiting her back catalogue and catching up with her 21st century music. She really is an incredible songwriter and performer.

If any of these take your fancy, click on the album/single title and buy, buy, buy!

1) Motif: Jane Weaver (Love In Constant Spectacle)

2) When You Don't (Salamanda Remix): Ammonite (Blueprints Revisited EP)

3) Reste Calme, Suis Ta Voie: Isobel Campbell (Bow To Love/Place à l'Amour (ltd 2x CD))

4) Golden Cut: Tanya Donelly & Gabi Lima (Golden Cut EP)

5) She's Got The Music: Jo Bartlett (Ghost Tapes 1 To 9)

6) Ziggy: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)

7) Anzu (Hardway Bros Remix): C.A.R. (Anzu EP)

8) Dejalo: Charlotte & Reinhard (Guardian Of Sleep EP)

9) Oral (Olof Dreijer Remix): Björk ft. Rosalía (Oral EP)

10) Touch The Ceiling: Ibibio Sound Machine (Pull The Rope)

11) Lost Changes: Beth Gibbons (Lives Outgrown)

When You Don't Have Anything Left, She's Got The Music (45:30) (KF) (Mega)

Up Close And Personal

Compared to the last ten years, I've seen a lot of live music this year: 17 gigs, 32 artists, countless memories of a great night out (or day, in some cases).

 

I've also missed a record number, tickets purchased but a last minute crisis or other convergence has meant not making it to the gig (though I have had a positive experience reselling tickets via Tixel).

 

And there have been a fair few, particularly those involving Clan K in whole or part, where I've missed the support act. 

 

But the gigs I've been to have all been wonderful in different ways and impossible to rank, they're all favourites to me.

Click on the individual links to read my reflections. In most cases, there was a bespoke Dubhed selection to accompany and I've reactivated the links to all, including additional selections that were linked from the original post.

January

The Clientele / Ead Wood

February

Ladyhawke / Flavia

Emily Breeze / Mumble Tide

 

March

O.M.D.

 

May

Fatoumata Diawara

A Certain Ratio / Ellen Beth Abdi

Barry Adamson / Nadine Khouri

 

July

Nile Rodgers & Chic / Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Future Islands

 

August

Massive Attack / Killer Mike / Lankum / Sam Morton / DJ Milo

 

September

Lloyd Cole (Set One & Set Two)

Ride / Junodream

Marc Almond

 

October

Misty In Roots / The Ruts DC

African Head Charge / Ink Project ft. Coreysan

Humanist

 

November 

Ibibio Sound Machine

 

 

I'd underestimated the size of the task when I started this post but, if I haven't messed up along the way, you can tap into 25 Dubhed selection and over a day's worth of continuous listening. One for Boxing Day, perhaps...?

I'm not sure that I'll be able to make it to as many gigs in 2025, though I have a couple lined up already, including John Grant in February, rescheduled from this year due to illness. 

 

The wish list is already very, very long and I'll share my experiences here, one by one.

 

This blog never sleeps, so drop by here tomorrow if you're tired of tinsel and turkey. I'm making this up as I go along, and I'll be as surprised as you are to find out what the Christmas Day post is all about...!

Electrical Urges, Rhythmic Surges

I was at SWX in Bristol again last Friday (8th), my second visit to the venue this year and the first time I've seen Ibibio Sound Machine live on stage. 

 

It's no spoiler to say that, over a week later, I'm still aching from dancing so much. It was one of the most intense, euphoric, overwhelming, energetic, uplifting and downright funky gigs I have ever been to. The band was on fire and the audience were fired up, which all made for a terrific night out.  

 

It's always a logistical challenge to get from work to Bristol in good time for a weekday gig and this was no exception. After a quick change at home, drive to the city and parking, I made my way with some bemusement through the vibrant Christmas market (on 8th November?!) to the venue.

 

The support had been listed as 'TBC', but I fully expected to miss them anyway as I went through the doors just before 8.00pm. As it happened, I don't think there was anyone preceding the tour DJ, who was still playing as I queued at the bar for my £3 soft drink. 

 

The show was advertised with a strict curfew of 10.00pm, common practice these days to turf out the gig goers and get the clubbers in until the wee hours of the next day. After what seemed like an interminable wait, although in truth barely half an hour, Ibibio Sound Machine took to the stage.

Even that takes a little bit of time, given that there are eight of them. From left to right from the audience, Afla Sackey (percussion), Derrick McIntyre (bass), Jose Joyette (drums), Max Grunhard (sax), Tony Hayden (trombone, keys), Scott Baylis (trumpet, keys) and Alfred Kari Bannerman (guitar) all take their places.

And then Eno Williams makes her entrance, sending the already ecstatic crowd into a paroxysm of pleasure. I get the impression that I'm in the minority as a first timer here.

 

Resplendent in striking yellow and black costume and headdress, with an accessorised cape with rigid edge enabling her to sweep and twirl it like a flag, Eno launches into Electricity, the title track of Ibibio Sound Machine's fourth studio album and my proper entry point, thanks to an irresistible review by Jez at A History Of Dubious Taste in 2022.

In fact, the bulk of the set is split fairly evenly between this album and their current offering, Pull The Rope. I haven't yet caught up with their first three studio albums, so it means that the majority of the songs played tonight are familiar to me. 

 

Not that it really matters. By the time Eno introduces Fire, the first song to be performed from the current album, I've already surrendered to the groove and am giving it everything, although in a way that means that I'm respecting everyone else's personal space and not flailing carelessly everywhere. In my mind, I'm dancing like a pro; in reality, to the people next to me, it probably looks like someone's emptied a packet of itching powder down the back of my T-shirt. 

Every time a song ends, the cheering and applause washes back and forth like waves hitting a cliff face; Eno and the band are clearly moved by the outpouring of love and enthusiasm for their performance. It's justified. Even when Ibibio Sound Machine deliver an extended work out, such as I Need You To Be Sweet Like Sugar (Nnge Nte Suka), it's tight.

 

Eno's performance is the attention grabber, but every member of the band is really into it, with Afla and Kari holding their own on either side of the stage. Eno frequently engages with all of the band members, with Max Grunhard stepping to the fore on several occasions. I'm often left cold by sax showcases in a live show, but the brass kicking in on Protection From Evil sounds huge in this setting.

In fact, all of the songs are transformed in their live incarnation. Whereas the studio versions sound fantastic, they are rooted in electronica; a much different proposition on stage, which gives the music an energy and heft that grabs the audience and refuses to let go.

 
After a rousing rendition of Let's Dance, it's suddenly all over, Eno giving her thanks and goodbyes as she and the band head back stage.

There are a few minutes of sustained cheers, calls and applause before Afla comes back to ask us if we really want more. We're clearly not making ourselves heard! Afla takes position again behind the bongos and treats us to a powerful display of his prowess on percussion. It could be minutes or hours, it keeps the energy going until finally his band mates rejoin him.

There's just one more song to go, Pull The Rope of course. Again, it's a song that gains stature and weight from this live performance. It's over far too soon, of course, and once more we're clapping and cheering as Eno tries to express her appreciation for the reception from the Bristol crowd tonight. I couldn't hear a word of it, some way back, as yells and screams from a delighted audience filled my ears.

And then, it really was over. I didn't hang around at the merch stall afterwards, though Eno was apparently there, signing records and chatting with fans. For me, it was back outside into the city centre, through the Christmas market and the smell of gluhwein and bratwurst and back to the car park, at which point I realised that it still wasn't yet 10.00pm!

Ibibio Sound Machine played for about 70 minutes and I reckon they played roughly 11 songs. Unfortunately I was too busy having a great time to take photos or make a note of each song played. Judging by the minimal activity on social media and Setlist, I'm guessing the same for my fellow audience members!

For today's selection, I looked to the US dates Ibibio Sound Machine played in September and October and whilst the number of songs played/listed varies, there is consistency in the running order of songs. I've opted for the lengthiest set listed, performed at The Music Hall at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on 24th September. 

You therefore get 15 songs, coming in at roughly 70 minutes, not all played at Bristol, but what the heck. Album versions for the most part, plus remixes and a couple of radio edits. I've also included a trio of their earlier songs, taken from their 2020 album Live At Earth. It's as close an approximation of what I experienced last Friday as you can get and is an essential purchase if you're a fan of their music...or have become one, after listening to this selection.

Only a few dates left on the current UK tour: Edinburgh (Mon), Nottingham (Tue), Newcastle (Fri) and Bethesda near Bangor (Sat) with a handful more dates early next year. If you haven't seen Ibibio Sound Machine before, get there if you can.

1) Electricity (Album Version) (2022)

2) Talking Fish (Titeknots Remix) (2015)

3) The Chant (Iquo Isang) (Live @ EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), London) (2019)

4) Fire (Album Version) (2024)

5) Political Incorrect (Album Version) (2024)

6) Protection From Evil (Album Version) (2022)

7) Wanna See Your Face Again (Album Version) (2022)

8) Them Say (Album Version) (2024)

9) I Need You To Be Sweet Like Sugar (Nnge Nte Suka) (Live @ EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), London) (2019)

10) All That You Want (Joe Goddard Remix) (2022)

11) Give Me A Reason (Radio Edit) (2017)

12) Power Of 3 (Live @ EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), London) (2019)

13) Got To Be Who U Are (Vanguard Remix) (2024)

14) Let's Dance (Faze Action Radio Edit) (2015)

15) Pull The Rope (Captain Planet Remix) (2024)

 

2015: Remixes EP: 2, 14

2017: Give Me A Reason EP: 11

2020: Live At Earth: 3, 9, 12 

2022: All That You Want EP: 10 

2022: Electricity: 1, 6, 7

2024: Pull The Rope: 4, 5, 8

2024: The Black Notes EP: 13, 15

Electrical Urges, Rhythmic Surges (1:09:31) (KF) (Mega)

Trust Me, I'll Follow You On Tuesday

 

Summer has been a little stop-start-stop-start round here, but Joe Goddard's delivered the cure with Follow You.

 

Four minutes and twenty four seconds of chiming synths, full fat bass and mellow vocal harmonies, this will probably be smashing it in the Balearics (no euphemism intended). I'll have to make do with the depths of the Forest of Dean and the heart of the Cotswolds this week, but frankly this should give you a lift wherever you experience it.

This is the third release from forthcoming album, Harmonics, out in a couple of weeks and another album to go on the impossibly long shopping list.

Follow You got me in the mood for more Joe, so here's a selection of Joe remixing and being remixed, going all the way back to his debut solo release in 2009.

 

Let's Go Back (Joe Goddard Remix): Kraak & Smaak ft. Romanthony (2023)
All That You Want (Joe Goddard Remix): Ibibio Sound Machine (2022)
Starseeds (Joe Goddard Remix): Seahawks (2020)
Happyface (Joe Goddard Remix): ALASKALASKA (2019)
Children (Hercules & Love Affair Remix): Joe Goddard (2017)
Gabriel (Soulwax Remix): Joe Goddard ft. Valentina (2012)
Apple Bobbing (Four Tet Remix):Joe Goddard (2009)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together We Hope

Ibibio Sound Machine are back with their fifth album in May called Pull The Rope. The title track - and opening song - was released as a single earlier this month and I have been obsessed with it ever since. That bassline! That voice!

 

It was Jez from A History Of Dubious Taste whose review of 2022's fourth album Electricity properly introduced me to the band and prompted me to give it a try. It turned out to be one of my favourites of the year and I've been looking forward to the follow up.

Got To Be Who U Are provided the first taster at the end of January and a couple of weeks later I got tickets for their UK tour, starting in May and continuing in November.

As a taster of what to expect, here's a live performance for KEXP, filmed at the Hackney Wick in London five years ago.

Ibibio Sound Machine recorded a follow up 4-song session for KEXP in Seattle to promote the Electricity album in 2022.

And as an encore, here's All That You Want performed live at the BBC 6 Music Festival, also in 2022.

Pull The Rope is available to order from all the usual places as well as your friendly neighbourhood record store, ahead of its official release date of 3rd May.

Acts Of God And Politics Collide

Continuing with my pick of 2022's musical highlights, here is a selection of my most played songs of the year so far. 

 

Generally speaking, anything released post-September should be at a disadvantage simply because they've been available for repeated listens for relatively less time. Emily Breeze's single Ordinary Life was released at the end of September, which indicates how much I love this song.

Some rules apply: only one song per artist, to avoid the final selection being limited to two or three albums (if you're asking, that would be Andy Bell, Confidence Man and Katy J Pearson). Last year, I struggled to whittle down the selection to an even dozen, so I've avoided that altogether and gone for 18 songs, coming in at just under an hour and a half.

 

The selection is loosely divided into two halves: the first is a bit indie/pop; the second detours to the dance and chillout tents.

Aside from the artists mentioned above Momus, Andres Y Xavi and Mr. Oizo & Phra make a return visit, whilst Ibibio Sound Machine, The Anchoress and Trentemøller finally get a look in. Some of my favourite remixes of the year (and not featured on Tuesday) reappear by Max Essa, Cosmosolar, Horse Meat Disco and Lee 'Scratch' Perry (RIP). There's a nod to Paisley Dark Records' superb Shelter Me compilation via Richard Sen and in a year of top notch releases with Darren Bell as Jezebell, Jesse Fahnestock also found the time to share new music as 10:40.

 

And then there is Hifi Sean and David McAlmont. Although I've not gone with scores and ranking for my selections, The Skin I'm In is something else altogether. A perfect combination of words and music, pop and politics from two artists at the very top of their game. Single of the year for me.

We've reached the penultimate day of 2022 and my penultimate highlights selection. To pinch the album title of today's opening artist Los Bitchos, Let The Festivities Begin! Well, from 7.00pm onwards, when I get home from work...!

 

(One) more tomorrow.

 

1) Pista (Fresh Start): Los Bitchos (Let The Festivities Begin!)

2) Ordinary Life (Radio Edit): Emily Breeze (Ordinary Life EP / Rapture)

3) Sidewinder (Album Version): Andy Bell (Flicker)

4) The Skin I'm In: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (The Skin I'm In EP / Happy Ending)

5) Stop The Body: Momus (Smudger)

6) Sweetness Follows (Cover of R.E.M.): The Anchoress (Versions/EP 2)

7) Freedom: Ibibio Sound Machine (Electricity)

8) Alligator: Katy J Pearson (Sound Of The Morning)

9) Love Died In Our Arms (Lee 'Scratch' Perry Remix): Dot Allison (The Entangled Remix EP)

10) Lata Mangeshkar: Richard Sen (Shelter Me: various artists)

11) Fight Your Enemy (Cosmosolar Remix By Alejandro Gamba): Mundo D (Your Enemy EP)

12) Hits Me (Album Version): Mr. Oizo & Phra (Voilá)

13) Luvin U Is Easy (Album Version): Confidence Man (Tilt)

14) What Do You See In Me (Max Essa Extended Vocal Mix): Andres Y Xavi ft. Rolo McGinty (What Do You See In Me EP)

15) Adama (Yuksek Remix): Omri Smadar (Phase Of Motion EP)

16) Iz Um: 10:40 (Iz Um EP / 10:40's Advent Calendar)

17) Mother's Been A Bad Girl (Horse Meat Disco Remix): Unloved (Mother's Been A Bad Girl EP)

18) Glow: Trentemøller (Memoria)

Acts Of God And Politics Collide (1:29:10) (Box) (Mega)

Thinking About All That Sunlight

Bringing the beats back home for the weekend with (just under) an hour of electronic grooves from 2022 that have got me shuffling around and throwing shapes. 

 

First up we have Steady State aka Dublin-based DJ and producer Eric Whelan with the title track (in German) of the excellent Shelter Me compilation. Out on the Paisley Dark Records label for six weeks only in May, all profits from album sales went to national housing and homelessness chariy, Shelter. A reliably brilliant selection featuring Jezebell, Richard Sen, Matt Gunn, Pete Bones and Bedford Falls Players amongst others, Beschütze Mich was the opening song and a highlight.

 

Cosmosolar is Alejandro Gamba from Argentina, who I first heard in June via his remix of Mundo D's Fight Your Enemy, which I've featured in a previous selection. I picked up Cosmosolar's All The Reasons EP on Bandcamp Friday in September, a four track feast with the title track featuring here. Another release on Nein Records, like Paisley Dark, a label that's relatively new to me that's fast become a go to for quality music.

 

Omri Smadar featured in the same selection as the Mundo D/Cosmosolar remix in July and this is another track from the rather special Phase Of Motion EP. Yuksek was on remix duties last time; this time around it's Omri himself with neighbour Obas Nenor aka Ronen Sabo.

 

I've been a fan and follower of Luxxury's music for a loooong time, initially coming via remixes and re-edits of the likes of Health, Led Zeppelin, Donna Summer, Little Boots and David Bowie. Blake Robin has also been producing his own music since the mid-2000s. Third album, Alright, came out in July and continues the theme of 1980s-inspired pop/dance tunes, drenched in Californian sunshine. 

 

A Mountain Of One also released their third album in 2022, Stars Planets Dust Me, emerging in early May. It completely passed me by until Swiss Adam highlighted the clutch of remixes accompanying second single Star over at Bagging Area in August. All highly recommended. For this selection, I've gone for the laidback grooves of Dublin DJ and producer Arveene Juthan. As an aside, today's photo/album cover is a cheeky, remixed nod to Swiss Adam's original holiday photo accompanying his post.

 

What Do You See In Me by Andres Y Xavi featuring Rolo McGinty (The Woodentops) had been out in 2021 but in March a remix package was released, including three sublime Balearic classics from Max Essa. I've previously selected the vocal mix; I've gone for the instrumental here which despite Rolo's absence is still a wonderful, blissful 8 minutes.

 

Ibibio Sound Machine released their fourth studio album Electricity in March and I completely missed it. Luckily, Jez over at A History Of Dubious Taste came to the rescue by posting a review a couple of weeks later and I immediately purchased the album in April. Produced by Hot Chip, the album is chock full of tunes that you can't help but move to. The album is still on heavy rotation, six months later.

 

You may have guessed from my review of last Saturday's Blancmange gig that (a) I like them a lot; (b) I like the post-reformation/Neil Arthur 'solo' Blancmange a lot; and (c) I like current album Private View, released at the end of September, a lot. Everything Is Connected, track seven of ten on the album, is one of the reasons why.

 

Franc Moody were completely unknown to me until I bought the 100-track EarthPercent x Earth Day Compilation Album, a digital behemoth that spawned a Dubhed Selection in early September. From what I can gather, Franc Moody are a London-based six-piece formed by Ned Franc and Jon Moody, performing a contemporary update of 70s/80s pop funk. Perhaps inevitably, they've also remixed Jamiroquai. The instrumental song featured here isn't entirely representative of the other songs I've heard but I was sufficiently intrigued to check out Franc Moody on YouTube and I'd recommend a peek.

 

The selection closes with Al Mackenzie (D:Ream, Field Of Dreams) and Sail On, his tribute to the greatly missed Andrew Weatherall. It's a beautiful song tinged with melancholy and optimism, Al's one-take vocal of the title all that needs to be said, really. The song is still available as a free/name your price download on Bandcamp, with all profit from sales going to I'm Homeless, get Me Out Of Here!, a Birmingham-based homeless charity that Al supports. Do the right thing.

 

It was only when writing the sleeve notes that I realised the link between the first and last songs, which feels even more pertinent with the departure of KamiKwasi, the return of Jeremy Hunt (if that's not Cockney rhyming slang by now, it should be) and the continued downward spiral of our un-Truss-tworthy PM. When I worked for Shelter many years ago, the aspiration was working towards a day when there was no longer a housing crisis and Shelter and other like-minded charities would no longer be needed. We're continuing to accelerate in completely the opposite direction, so thank goodness there are people and charities out there every day, trying to help and make a difference.

 

1) Beschütze Mich (from Shelter Me): Steady State

2) All The Reasons (from the eponymous EP): Cosmosolar

3) Smolyan (Night Mix) (from the Phase Of Motion EP): Omri Smadar

4) Midnight Special (Edit) (from Alright (Deluxx)): Luxxury

5) Star (Arveene Remix) (from the eponymous EP): A Mountain Of One

6) What Do You See In Me (Max Essa Extended Instrumental Mix) (from the eponymous EP): Andres Y Xavi

7) Casio (Yak Nda Nda) (from Electricity): Ibibio Sound Machine

8) Everything Is Connected (from Private View): Blancmange

9) Water (Instrumental) (from EarthPercent x Earth Day Compilation Album): Franc Moody

10) Sail On (from the eponymous single): Al Mackenzie

 

Thinking About All That Sunlight (57:00)

Flowers Don't Get Old...At Least, Not The Ones You Sent Me

Sticking with last week's Bandcamp Friday haul, this is a 45-minute selection of remixes from one-off singles and EPs, including a couple from last year that I missed first time around. 

in celebration of Liz Truss being confirmed as Prime Minister (this immediately sprang to mind), I've dropped a few Truss-isms into the mix.

More BF goodies tomorrow.

1) All That You Want (Joe Goddard Remix): Ibibio Sound Machine (2022)

2) "Cheesy Truss" (2014)

3) Looking At Your Pager (Solomun Remix): KH aka Kieran Hebden (2022)

4) "Literate Truss" (2013)

5) Flat Strings (Tronik Youth Remix): Cosmosolar (2022)

6) Sub Spacial (A Space Age Freak Out Dark Paisley Mix): From Beyond (2021)

7) Red Shift (Jezebell's Inner Child Mix): MAN2.0 (2022)

8) Safesurfer (The Machine Soul Innerworld Dub): Julian Cope (2021)

9) Cherokee (Dennis Bovell Remix): Animal Collective (2022)

10) "Awkward Truss" (2022)

Flowers Don't Get Old (45:42)

You Brightened Up My Scene With Images Stolen From My Dreams

An all-female vocal selection for this Sunday, featuring several highlights from this year, sprinkled with choice songs from the depths of my collection. 

The selection starts with the song that triggered the idea for this post, dusted off when I was sorting through some CD singles in the attic. Sweetest Child was a one-off single that reached #45 in the UK in August 1992. The song was a collaboration between Youth (DJ, producer & Killing Joke) and Maria McKee (Lone Justice and Top Gun movie chanteuse). The Official Chart Company lists the song as a solo McKee but in fact the sleeve states "featuring Maria McKee" and doesn't actually name the act as Sweetest Child. I've gone with the latter eponymous title for simplicity's sake. I've gone for the effects-adorned accapella here, but I'll showcase one of the other mixes one day, featuring some guitar shredding from the much-missed Robert 'Throb' Young of Primal Scream.

There are a clutch of superlative remixes: Lee 'Scratch' Perry's final creative work for Dot Allison is a winner; Märtini Brös lend an indie edge to fellow Germans Toktok vs. Soffy O.; Kate Simko's beats and strings washes Bishi Bhattacharya's sweet vocals; Scotland is the last stop on the musical tour, White Label remixing a highlight from Jan Burnett's collaborative project, The Grand Gestures, featuring the wonderful voice of Emma Pollock, formerly of The Delgados.

 

A couple of cover versions are featured: Hayley Richman hails from Montreal, Canada and delivers a striking cover of Talk Talk's Life's What You Make It. Catherine Anne Davies, a Welsh artist who records as The Anchoress, similarly has a bold attempt at The Cure's Friday I'm In Love, and I love it. 

 

The selection is mostly downtempo, but includes a few more upbeat numbers. Katy J Pearson hails from my birthplace Bristol, is on the Heavenly label and drops her second album (three, if you count her lockdown mini-album of field recordings) in July. I've pre-ordered on the strength of the three singles released so far, including today's selection Alligator.

Jez from A History Of Dubious Taste recommended Ibibio Sound Machine's latest album, Electricity, and he's right, it's an absolute corker. Eno Williams is a compelling voice and frontperson and with Hot Chip on production duties, it's a winner from start to finish. 

 

I've enthused previously about Yuksek's album, Nosso Ritmo, and this is a standout track featuring Queen Rose. Parental warning: you can probably decipher the song title/acronym G.F.Y. and the F-bomb is dropped liberally throughout. 

 

I had to include a few of my other favourite female artists. Martina Topley-Bird returned last year with a fantastic album, Forever I Wait; for this selection, I've dipped back into her back catalogue for a more obscure B-side from 2003, but no less beautiful. 

 

Lisa Germano first came to my attention via the Inconsiderate Bitch EP on 4AD and Puppet was a standout song. The version featured here is from the earlier US album before Ivo & John Fryer signed up Germano and remixed several songs for the release of Happiness in the UK. 

Last, but by no means least, is Billie Ray Martin with a song from the sublime 4 Ambient Tales EP, produced by The Grid. It was one of her first releases after the demise of Electribe 101 and what's proved to be a substantive and fascinating solo career.

Today's manipulated cover image is a photo of "American left-wing political essayist, journalist, activist, feminist, and pop music critic" Ellen Willis, which I've been wanting to use for a while and seemed spot on as a accompaniment for this selection.

1) Accapella Sweetest Child (Remix By Youth): Sweetest Child ft. Maria McKee (1992)

2) Love Died In Our Arms (Lee 'Scratch' Perry Remix): Dot Allison (2022)

3) Modern Woman: Erin Rae (2021)

4) Missy Queen's Gonna Die (Märtini Brös) (Remix By Clemens Kahlcke & Michael Pagliosa): Toktok vs. Soffy O. (2002)

5) Alligator: Katy J Pearson (2022)

6) G.F.Y. (Album Version): Yuksek ft. Queen Rose (2019)

7) 17 18 19: Ibibio Sound Machine (2022)

8) Reflektions (Reworking III) (Remix By Kate Simko): Bishi (2022)

9) Life's What You Make It (Cover of Talk Talk): Hayley Richman (2015)

10) Skyscraper: Martina Topley-Bird (2003)

11) Puppet (Original US Album Version): Lisa Germano (1993)

12) This Road: Denise Sherwood (2022)

13) Friday I'm In Love (Cover of The Cure): The Anchoress (2022)

14) Hearts (Single Version By The Grid aka Dave Ball & Richard Norris): Billie Ray Martin (1993)

15) A Certain Compulsion (Remixed By White Label aka Steve Aungle, Anth Brown & Tom Doyle): The Grand Gestures ft. Emma Pollock (2016)

 

1992: Sweetest Child EP: 1

1993: 4 Ambient Tales EP: 14

1993: Happiness (USA): 11

2002: Missy Queen's Gonna Die EP: 4 

2003: Anything EP: 10

2015: Life's What You Make It EP: 9 

2016: The Grand Gestures Remixed: 15

2019: Nosso Ritmo: 6

2021: Lighten Up: 3 

2022: Electricity: 7

2022: Friday I'm In Love EP: 13

2022: Pay It All Back Vol. 8: 12

2022: Reflektions EP: 8

2022: Sound Of The Morning: 5

2022: The Entangled Remix EP: 2

Images Stolen From My Dreams (57:18)

In researching this post, I ended up revisiting (or in some cases, discovering) the official videos for several songs on YouTube. They're far too good to keep to myself so, following the track list sequencing, here are Sweetest Child ft. Maria McKee, Erin Rae, Toktok vs. Soffy O., Katy J Pearson, Yuksek ft. Queen Rose, Bishi, Hayley Richman and a very unsettling promo for Lisa Germano's Puppet. 

 

If you only have time to watch a couple, then the videos for Erin Rae and Katy J Pearson are recommended.