London‘s legendary folk songsmith RICHARD THOMPSON‘s
career exceeds more than 5 decades. He turns 75 on April 3.
So far he recorded/released 19 LPs and #20 is coming up.
It’s called Ship To Shore and will arrive on 31 May.
Thompson on the first single named SINGAPORE SADIE: “I have been playing
this live over the past year or so and it has become a favorite.We recorded it really
quickly in two or three takes and David Mansfield is featured on the fiddle.”
It’s a jaunty little tune.
You can sing/hum/whistle along.
In doing so, he aims to reassert the Floyd’s historic creative path from three-minute
pop fantastias and cosmic-progressive freak-outs to the transitional epiphanies that
led to The Dark Side Of The Moon. Uncut digs into it all.
Also features on Beach Boys, Adrienne Lenker, Townes Van Zandt,
Wayne Kramer, REM, The Jesus And Mary Chain and more.
This month’s free CD contains 15 tracks of the month’s best new music.
You can purchase a copy and let it be sent to your home address. Info HERE.
Kasabian‘s general Serge Pizzorno is a master in writing sing/scream-along stadium/festival belters. And the lead single of new, upcoming longplayer Happiness Bastards, is another ecstatic call to arms.
2. ‘Welcome To Your New Future’ by LEG PUPPY 2.0 (UK)
If you’re a party animal and you don’t know the self-proclaimed best Techno/EBM act in
the world LEG PUPPY, it’s about time you will because a new LP is coming up, baptized ‘Humanity 2.0’, and will signify a totally new beginning for you and them.
Welcome to your new future, all you survivors out there.
These fast up-and-coming indies from Leeds (UK) fronted by wonderful
voice Lily Fontaine prove their huge talent once more with this new pearl.
R&B is another wayward slice of ET pop intensity. It starts a bit like a Dry Cleaning
song with a rigid bass riff and Fontaine‘s spoken word vocals, but turns quickly into
a strenuous stunner fueled by schizo guitar frenzy and jittery percussion.
Lily Fontaine, Brugge, Belgium, 13 February – photo by TUTV)
4. ‘I Don’t Understand What Any Of You Are Doing’ by DEAD ANYWAY (UK)
This British duo combine the dark lyricism of vocalist Kate Arnold
with music and soundscapes of Marc Symonds.
Their new album, Partially Eaten By Animals is the best indie one of the month
in TUTV’s book, with trip-hop thrills all the way. Think Massive Attack, Arab Strap
and Portishead. I know big names, but my trained ears told me what they heard.
‘I Don’t Understand What Any Of You Are Doing’ will draw your aural attention on the spot.
Yokophono is a Finnish duo that hit the scene in 2020. Their music consists of energetic
dance-punk/indie rock songs. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys and even Queens Of The Stone Age. Consisting of just drums and guitar they also rely on their catchy melodies.
Their new single Red a is wham bloody wham bam disco-punk juggernaut.
This Finnish tandem make you jump around like a kangaroo on acid. Distorted guitars
and banging percussion work close together to create a filthy disco-punk juggernaut.
Red triggers your limbs’ actions from the kick-off until the final beat. Inbetween you
can go berserk every single time the clamorous chorus hits your greedy speakers.
After 3 albums the Canadian post-rock-noise project of seasoned Canadian singer-songwritter-guitarist Laura Lee Schultz, backed by a tremendous bass/drum tandem return with this scorching Herculean shocker from their new, upcoming EP, titled Dirt,
out on May 3.
The heaviest parts of this quiet/Loud/quiet/Loud uppercut resonate like if British blues rock turbo Royal Blood having a fierce sonic fight with post-industrial-punk legends Killing Joke.
These 4 young Irish bullpits take you on a tempestuous ride with this new blazing blast.
Just like their countrymen Gilla Band, they look like 4 regular guys from around the block. But when they open the gates for Dead Sound they become 4 not-regular guys storming fast forward. A bumpy bass riff takes the haymaker on its back throughout the full course of its speedy rush.
The vocalist spits and sneers like Mark E Smith did his whole jarring career. The clamourus chorus is one that’ll start mospiths and when a psychotic guitar works its way to the front we get pandemonium. It’s also a loud and clear harbinger of an out-of-your-fucking head finale. Bingo master’s breakout.
Molly Horses left their basements only a year ago.
They produce elements of post-punk, krautrock, and Albini-esque noise rock.
With King Dundalk they take you on a dazzling rollercoaster.
All burners, all cylinders on. No rest for the bad man. Hefty.
You really need to check out these maddening motherrockers.
This fresh 4-piece outfit from the North Wales nail
it right away with their first cut Mourning Sickness.
What a superb debut. It’s a slow-progressing psych guitar jam rotating around an intoxicating riff that creeps under your skin without asking. Think of early Radiohead
days. Engrossing and riveting.
There’s an eerie vocal and electrifying tension in the air that makes you wonder when
the song’s intensity will explode. But it moves on like a serpent on a mission until the last second.
The reincarnated Ramones are back among us as 4 Ramonas fronted led by Australian songwriter (now living in Los Angeles) and musician Romy Hoffman. They make schizo, synthy, paranoid, post-punk with a dash of dysmorphic desire.
An absolute standout piece from the L.A.’s psych-pop gem from their brand new
full-length Loss Of Live. It features Christine and the Queens and turns out to be
a match in heaven.
Portland‘s dark-dance-wave trio say about their new single Impetus: “While creating this track, we all pushed our creative boundaries to write a song that reflects our desire to grow
as artists and people. This song encourages the listener to reflect inward. We hope to inspire ourselves and others to stop hiding. Stop waiting. Take one small step toward your goals, then another, and another. The time is NOW. Stop hiding your gifts. The world needs your passion.”
Impetus is a sensual mid-tempo electro-pop tease. Seductive,
flirtatious and tempting. Dim the light and move in mysterious
ways.
Sukie Smith is a songstress from London who has collaborated widely with artists, musicians and writers creating cross-disciplinary sonic work, exhibiting and performing internationally. She has released three critically acclaimed albums with her band Madam and toured throughout the UK and Europe.
Into The Light is a new compostion from her upcoming 4th album, named ‘The Glass Dress
and a Ringing Bell’ and will land on 8 March via Smith’s own label Shillingboy Records.
A song about leaving a turbulent relationship Smith found herself trapped in during lockdown, as Smith succinctly says, “I wrote this, then escaped,” with its focus a celebration of the jubilation felt in newfound freedom and the liberation found in the enlightening processes of recovery.
Into The Light grooves and moves pushed by dynamic eurythmics from the get-go, and keeps on cruising throughout its ablaze 3.07-minute duration. Glowing jingle-jangle guitar play, rock-solid drumming and Smith‘s impassioned vocals combine for a striking stroke.
The iconic Jamaican pioneer of dub reggae passed away in 2021, aged 85.
His final album, titled King Perry is now posthumously released. It features
vocal guest performances from Greentea Peng, Shaun Ryder, Tricky, Marta, Rose Waite
and Fifi Rong.
The musical project of Bo Barringer and Reuben Bettsak, have since their project’s inception in 2020, surfacing through the haze of a global pandemic and illuminated by the city’s darkest corners, produced steady and prolific beats across underground dance floors.
Their 3rd album, called A Kiss of the Mind,
is waiting in the pipeline for its imminent release.
First new shared piece Spiral Down is vintage synth-pop pulsation. Utterly infectious. There’s a shadowy side to it, but its bootylicious vibes, its subtle guitar riff, its shiny electronic waves and moony vocals combine for a spot-on EBM thrill.
Common Culture is a rousing, fiddle-driven alternative folk band from Barnsley, England.
They fuse traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic
sound, their songs are full of catchy hooks, infectious rhythms and a party spirit.
The song serves as a poignant lament for the Earth’s dwindling natural beauty and a stirring call to action in the face of greed and injustice destroying the planet. It’s five to twelve, indeed. The majority of political leaders look the other way when these world-crushing issues come up. Some even don’t believe that our climate is changing drastically. More red-alert songs like this one are always welcome.
Bad Ritual is a Polish trio formed at the beginning of 2020 by three architects.
They play songs immersed in a dark and unsettling atmosphere. Their music is
a blend of indie-folk, swampy blues, and rock ‘n’ roll. It often evokes associations
with David Lynch‘s films, spaghetti westerns, and film noir.
They have their arresting self-titled debut album out now. Stream it here.
Standout track On The Road gets you in Bad Ritual‘s sonic/cinematic world. Its melancholic timbre and shiny guitar sparks, make me think of romantic glam legend Chris Isaak. Bad Ritual‘s idol David Lynch directed Isaak‘s Wicked Game video that featured flashes from
his 1990 Wild At Heart movie).
Leonardo: “I wrote this song after reading Nick Cave‘s reply (note: read below) to some of
his fans, who had asked him why he was about to attend the coronation of the UK’s king as
part of the Australian delegation. I love most of Nick Cave’s records and I consider him one
of the greatest songwriters ever.
I’m also a long-time Nick Cave fan. A truly remarkable artist. But attending King Charles‘ coronation? Disgusting. That guy nor his late mother never ever had something done to earn their status, they were born that way, they didn’t pay taxes for many years etc… It’s just as disgusting as Johnny ‘Rotten’ Lydon (the Sex Pistols‘ album the best punk one ever, in my book) voting for natural-born charlatan Trump. What is wrong with those millionaire artists?
That said Nicholas Palace is an infectious groove, a jagged jam, driven by an addictive riff with Leonardo‘s augmenting the funeral vibe of the song, think The Velvet Underground on a rainy day. Around the 1.30 min mark aggressive guitar play accentuates the ultimate end of Cave‘s birthday party.
Supreme songsmith Jack Antonoff
and his Bleachers release their self-titled
4th LP on March 8.
And he also curated the soundtrack for Apple TV+’s
new thrilling drama series The New Look.
One of the tracks is Nick Cave‘s cover, in English, of legendary
French chanteuse Edith Piaf‘s (19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963)
self-composed classic La Vie En Rose (covered by many artists over
the years). It’s officially online now.
But today we learn that it’s actually the title track of
their new, 8th album. It’ll hit your speakers on 19 April.
Album artwork
Along with the news, we get another appetizer.
Dylan Baldi (frontman) about RUN THROUGH THE CAMPUS: “I run through a college campus near my house just about every day. Occasionally, it’s after dark when I end up there, and the emptiness of it at night stands in stark contrast to the hectic and crowded early mornings. “Running through the Campus” is about an intrusive thought I can have on those late-night runs, about whether or not it’s slightly depressing that I’m out running around alone while everyone else is gone and actually doing something, probably with other people. The song describes my mindset at the start of my run, goes into a reckoning with and acceptance of the late night loneliness, and ends on a positive note about just doing the things that make you feel good and not getting bogged down in comparisons.”
In the song’s video clip the trio is playing the song in a
series of everyday locations like vans and living rooms.
Atlanta‘s notorious rock ramblers BLACKBERRY SMOKE have their new 8th LP,
titled BE RIGHT HERE out and the vivacious gang are in the middle of a tour now
to share the album on stage with the world.
Press info: “Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell), Be Right Here is a timely reminder to be present and live authentically. Across these ten tracks—a collection of their signature rock and roll anthems, Americana-leaning ballads and country rock jams—the band celebrates the simple joys of life, the fleeting moments and the little bits of luck found along the way.”
Charlie Starr (vocals/guitar): “We always track live together, but this time we had all
our amps and drums and everything in the same room. It’s just as natural and as real as possible. The last album was very raw too, but with this one I remember different times I
would say, ‘I think we should redo that,’ and Dave was like, ‘No, leave it that way. That
way it’s magical.’”
TUTV: The imperishable cliché ‘all killers, no fillers‘ is 100% accurate here.
Blackberry Smoke have cemented Southern blues rock for eternity with this new
top-tier record. Expect a tsunami of roaring riffs, sharp-cutting hooks and lusty licks.
Retro? So what? Daily, for decades now, people listen to ZZ TOP, The Beatles, The Stones, David Bowie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and tons of other timeless stars, for one and only one reason: stellar music has no expiration date whatsoever.
My ears don’t know the word retro. They only know and care about great
music that makes them vibrate, old and new, whatever, as long as it’s ace.
BS released 4 roasting singles (Azalea, Hammer And The Nail, Little Bit Crazy,
Dig A Hole) ahead of the LP’s release, but there are at least a couple more
with boogie-woogie groove Don’t Mind If A Do and reflective psych gem Be So Lucky with its pop-melodic sonority.
– HAMMER AND THE NAIL –
– DIG A HOLE –
Emotive ballads Watch Know Good, Other Side Of The Light
and Barefoot Angel have an Eagles‘ tequila sunrise glow.
And Starr‘s genuine, passionate, wholehearted Americana voice, gospel-like
back harmonies and some warm organs here and there complete the sonic
canvas perfectly.
In these restless times Blackberry Smoke look/play on the bright side of life.
Let’s join them, there’s always a light at the end of the rock tunnel.
Don’t forget ‘all killers, no fillers’. I really wonder if The Black Crowes can
top this triumphant longplayer with their new, upcoming full-length.
Last week Nashville famous family rockers KINGS OF LEON announced details of the birth of their 9th longplayer. It’s named Can We Please Have Fun and will see the day of light on May 10.
Along with the news came lead single MUSTANG.
A roasting crackerjack turning up the sweaty fever
when the hefty chorus shows up.
Last night, they played it on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Mute and Spoon Records present the next instalment of the curated CAN live concert series, with LIVE IN PARIS 1973 , the first in the series to feature vocals by Damo Suzuki, who was the band’s vocalist between 1970-1973. He passed away on February 9, aged 1974.
R.I.P.
The series was overseen by founding member Irmin Schmidt and producer/engineer René Tinner, who delicately worked on restoring the archival recordings to the best quality for current modern technology. This record captures the band’s 1973 show in Paris and features Irmin Schmidt on keyboard and synths, Jaki Liebezeit on drums, Michael Karoli on guitars, Holger Czukay on bass, and Damo Suzuki on vocals for one of his final concerts with the band.
Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones was born on 28 February 1942,
in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. He would have
celebrated his 82th birthday today.
Jones was the founder (in 1962) of one of the biggest rock groups of all time.
He also came up with the band’s name. I wonder if there’s any soul on this
planet who has never heard of The Rolling Stones.
Jones was a multi-instrumentalist, always hungry for new musical ideas and
also the creative stone who wanted the band to take a more adventurous way.
Like the other Stones, except for Charlie Watts, he also was a busy womanizer.
Unfortunately, he lost himself in a destructive amount of drugs and alcohol.
He drowned, under the influence of damaging stuff, in his pool in 1969. He
was only 27.
– PAINT IT BLACK –
With Jones on sitar
– AROUND AND AROUND – Jones playing his iconic VOX Teardrop Guitar
