Month: April 2021

JAMES TAYLOR – Third LP ‘MUD SLIDE SLIM AND THE BLUE HORIZON’ Released 50 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

6 April 2021

Artist: JAMES TAYLOR (Boston, US)
Active since 1964 & still going / 22 albums (so far)
including his 2020 album American Standard.

Album: MUD SLIDE SLIM AND THE BLUE HORIZON – 3rd LP
Released: 6 April 1971 – 50 years ago

Rolling Stone wrote at the time: “Once the melodies begin to sink in, and
the LP’s raison d’etre is discovered, the album’s subtle tensions begin to appear.
And while the album at this point makes for pleasant, absorbing listening, there
is a terrible weariness to it which is part of its artistic statement.”

Taylor included his cover of the world-famous Carole King
hit ‘You’ve Got A Friend‘ on this LP and released it as a single…

Full album…

JAMES TAYLOR: Facebook

THE ISLEY BROTHERS Have Fun With SNOOPY DOGG

Posted on by JL

6 April 2021

The legendary Isley Brothers (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored one of their greatest and most famous hits with their classic 1959 debut single Shout and they’re still alive and singing after 67 years (with 2 of the 3 brothers).

Last weekend they went on American TV with their video clip for brand
new single FRIENDS & FAMILY. They invited rap icon, Snoop Dogg, to
sing along in the studio.

Imagine you’re on a hot summer holiday, on
a beach with a Piña Colada left and right,
swaying to this beat…

THE ISLEY BROTHERS/ Facebook

DAVE GROHL – His First Book THE STORYTELLER: TALES OF LIFE AND MUSIC Coming Up

Posted on by JL

6 April 2021

Dave Grohl, former drummer of Nirvana and frontman/guitarist/gentleman of his own mega successful band Foo Fighters (who celebrate their 25th year of making noise this very year) publishes his first book, titled THE STORYTELLER: TALES OF LIFE AND MUSIC on 5 October 2021 via Day Street Books.

With lots of time on his hand, because of the tour-canceling-coronavirus, he started the @davetruestories Instagram account, sharing stories and anecdotes, which led eventually to this book.

Publisher Day Street Books says the book includes “spectacular stories about Nirvana,
Foo Fighters, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, Paul McCartney, playing drums for Tom Petty
on Saturday Night Live, performing at the White House, and even swing dancing with AC/DC.”

Dave Grohl about the project: “It’s a collection of memories of a life lived loud. From my
early days growing up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, to hitting the road at the age of 18, and all the music that followed, I can now share these adventures with the world, as seen and heard from behind the microphone. Turn it up!”.

More info here.

Early Foo days…

Golden New Wave Stars In Belgium This Summer At The 4-Days W-FESTIVAL

Posted on by JL

Top acts/singles from the past…

6 April 2021

This summer – last days of August – Belgium’s renowned W-FESTIVAL ,
celebrates the golden decades (70s/80s) of new W-ave music for the fifth
time. The major event will take place on the beach in Ostend, the queen
of our native country’s seaside town, on 26-27-28-29 August 2021.

Over 4 days a series of new wave icons will boost the adrenalin-production
of thousands of die-hard fans with massive hits from their glorious past.

All info, tickets and COVID-19 measures right here.

To warm up Turn Up The Volume picked one
act per day with one of their classic crackers.

Let’s roll…

THE BOOMTOWN RATS (Bob Geldof’s band)
with ‘Looking After Number One‘ (26 August)

THE HUMAN LEAGUE with (of course) ‘Don’t You Want Me (27 Aug)

OMD with ‘Enola Gay’ (28 August)

THE HOUSE OF LOVE with ‘Shine On‘ (29 August)

W-FESTIVAL: Facebook

The Soundtrack For The Coming Apocalypse Party By VELVET KILLS & FRIENDS

Posted on by JL

New sonic impulses…

6 April 2021

Band: VELVET KILLS
Featuring Harris Iveson And Su Eko from Lissabon, Portugal

Who: A modern and urban endeavour, speaking directly to today’s society – with
all its anxieties, addictions, destructiveness as well as exhilaration. You’ll find in their driving beats raw emotion, and a terrific darkness. The sound is complex, almost
abstract – a combination of cinematic textures, gritty guitars, and potent vocals.​

EP: BODHI LABYRINTH RE-IMAGINED

Info: Last year the duo released an impressive 6-track record titled Bodhi Labyrinth
with this key message: “Awakening the labyrinth of our minds to be freed from hate, greed
and ego this album brings us to the reality of our actual society.”. Now Velvet Kills shared a
re-imagined version of the original EP with a choice selection of carefully crafted remixes by some of their friends.

Score: Imagine Sisters Of Mercy going techno on Bitch Face, British DJ Goldie joining the party with a jungle vibe injection of Cash And Move, another mix of Bitch Face doing your head in with doomed bass drones and Noise, a speedy pitch-dark wave banger, making your head spin like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. Get the sonic picture? If this is what will blast out of the devil’s speakers on Doomsday you hope that the Apocalypse party is coming
very soon.

Open the gates of hell here…


.
Bitch Face – original version/clip…

The striking artwork (below) of Labyrinth Re-imagined. Stream/buy the EP here.

VELVET KILLS: Facebook

ST. VINCENT Inflames Saturday Night Live Show

Posted on by JL

6 April 2021

ST. VINCENT will reveal another side of herself with
her sixth album DADDY’S HOME, landing on 14 May.

Via a press statement, some weeks ago, we got this info about the new record:
“St. Vincent is back with a record of all-new songs. Warm Wurlitzers and wit, glistening
guitars and grit, with sleaze and style for days. Taking you from uptown to downtown
with the artist who makes you expect the unexpected. So sit back, light up, and by all
means have that bourbon waiting, because … DADDY’S HOME.”

Last weekend she appeared on American’s big Saturday Night Live show performing
the two singles she shared so far. The sensual mid-tempo groove of THE MELTING
OF THE SUN and Bowie‘s Fame-echoing disco turn-on PAY YOUR WAY IN PAIN.

Listen, watch, and get excited…

– PAY YOUR WAY IN PAIN –

– THE MELTING OF THE SUN –

ST. VINCENT: Facebook

BOOK THIS!

Posted on by JL

5 April 2021

SIREN RISING

Bio: PJ Harvey
Auteur: James R Blandford
Published: 2009

Amazon info: Polly Jean Harvey has won worldwide recognition for her raw, bluesy
music while remaining one of rock’s most enigmatic and private figures. Starting out
as PJ Harvey, the first female artist to win the prestigious Mercury Music Prize has
spent more than a decade creating a series of scorching albums. This groundbreaking biography traces Harvey’s personal and artistic development from her childhood in
a small Dorset village right up to her headlining World Tour of 2004.

PJ HARVEY: Facebook – Discography

When Sade Dates Prefab Sprout – Dream Away To The New Starry-Eyed LP ‘SAND’ By BALTHAZAR

Posted on by JL

5 April 2021

Band: BALTHAZAR (Belgium)
Who: One of the most complete pop groups in Europe.

Album: SAND – 5th LP
Released: 26 February 2021 – Order info here

Turn Up The Volume: This is what happens when pop, soul, rock, R & B,
and synths meet in the studio and fall in love. Final result: sensuous grooves
(Moment / On A Roll / Hourglass / Halfway), trippy dance (Losers), romantic balladry
(You Won’t Come Around). Imagine the jazzy soul warmth of Sade embracing the
starry-eyed pop of Prefab Sprout.

First-class songwriting. Great tunes, great vibes,
great singer, great harmonies, great record.

Singles/clips: On A Roll / Losers / Halfway / You Don’t Come Around

– ON A ROLL –

– LOSERS –

– HALFWAY –

– YOU WON’T COME AROUND –

Full album…

.
BALTHAZAR: Facebook


(pic by Turn Up The Volume!)

Finnish Noise Motherrockers Do Your Head In With Nasty Hangover Killer ‘SHOTS’

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries…

5 April 2021


(photo by Jarkko Pietarinnen via FB band))

Band: THROAT
Who: Finnish 4-piece producing
bad vibes since 2009.

Pick: SMILE LESS – lead-single from new,
upcoming, third longplayer Smile Less.

Score: Oh my, oh my! Wanna get rid of your nasty hangover?
Here’s the head-splitting painkiller you need. With this hell-
raising bastinado you’ll headbang yourself unconscious
against your booze-smelly bedroom wall.

Problem solved, right? In only 2.53 minutes of riff-insane and
bad-ass rack and ruin tumult you are cured. Let’s fucking drink
to that.

Right here, right now…

THROAT: Facebook

SMILE LESS album out 15th May. Order info here