Daily noise that works faster than a stream of caffeine
9 August 2024
Legendary British queer dance-pop act BRONSKI BEAT‘s keyboardist/percussionist Larry Steinbachek passed away in 2017, and Steve Bronski, the group’s cofounder in
2021, leaves the now 63-year old Jimmy Sommerville as the one original member.
Original sleeve artwork
The band’s biggest hit is, definitely, Smalltown Boy (almost 400 million streams on Spotify) but they had some more top crackers like the irresistibly swirling disco stomper WHY?
On September 14 it will be 40 years since that timeless gem was released.
Original sleeve artwork
For the occasion, the song is remixed by DJ/Producer/Remixer
Superchumbo and features Pet Shop Boys‘ voice Neil Tennant.
Sommerville about the remix and Tennant‘s vocals: “I’ve known Tom [Stephan, aka Superchumbo] for a good few years now, and when I asked him if he’d like to do a remix of “Why?,” he said yes straight away. The song is a part of his story. I was so moved when he shared that story with me. The lyric is our shared experience, as it is for so many others… And forty years later, the lyric still tells the story of LGBTQi+…. the hate, the violence, the discrimination, the imprisonment and state-sanctioned murder of those who dare to be their true selves, and it’s happening somewhere right now as I write this…
I was fucking whooping like a banshee round my kitchen when Tom told me Neil would like to contribute! To speak the lyrics of “Why?” and to hear Tom’s musical reworking of the track is fucking mind-blowing. So to hear Neil, one of our greatest pop lyricists, speaking my words… It brings it into the here and now and also retains its history with my original vocal. I genuinely felt moved.”
Wake up people,
and let’s wonder WHY
there are still so many
homophobic idiots
around after 40 years.
Half of London‘s synth-pop giants Pet Shop Boys and their crystal clear voice NEIL TENNANT was born on 10 July 1954 in North Shields, Northumberland,
England.
Happy 70!
PSB have released 15 albums so far, with Nonetheless as their
most recent one. It came out last April. Here’s single Loneliness.
In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.
Check the 10 new rad cuts just
added to this rad 2024 playlist.
ALL TOGETHER
. TRACK BY TRACK
Photo credit: Isaac Watson
Band: BROADSHEETS (UK) Who: Bristol-based unit conceived in 2022. They combine the starkness and
emotional intensity of Slowcore bands like Duster and Movietone with the seductive soundscapes and nocturnal moods of vintage Trip-hop acts Portishead and Massive
Attack.
Track: PORTABLE DOOR
First single from their upcoming 23rd LP, weirdly
named ‘=1′ on July 19.
TUTV: The Purple still sound like they did in the 60s/70s. As hard as concrete,
as ebullient as if they were still in their 20s and Ian Gillan still has iron pipes.
TUTV: Tremendously catchy, jangly and vibey pop earworm, balancing between Scottish heroes Teenage Fanclub and 60s harmony legends The Byrds. Frolicsome
and frisky. Makes your day on the spot.
TUTV: PSB do what they do best. Writing/creating hum/whistle/sway
along tunes. Join them on the dance floor, because they feel alone
a bit in the disco on this one.
Artist: CUSTIE Who: Emerging alternative pop artist hailing from London, Ontario. His distinct sound explores pop music as it intersects with singer-songwriter, R&B and alternative music.
“‘E’ is an attempt to stylize and leave much of the song up to listener interpretation. By giving things concrete names, it makes everything very topical. I always like to find a way to have my listeners move with me by presenting a song with a certain kind of allure in mystery. Hence the ‘E’ – it stands for anything you’d like. ”
TUTV: A smooth, mid-tempo, richly orchestrated, sonically
and vocally, pop reverie. Close your eyes, and dream away.
After 4 decades, British synth-pop experts THE PET SHOP BOYS, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe still transfer their fans to a Utopian
place where you can dance and dream carelessly.
Clash Magazine (London): “Taken as a whole, this is an utterly brilliant,
dependably polished listen, and one that is unquestionably up there with
the best moments in this duo’s storied career.” Full review here: here.
TUTV: I’m not as enthusiastic as most of the critics are on this one. Yes, PSB
still are starry-eyed synth-pop experts and know all it takes to write titillating
tunes, upbeat as well as downbeat.
But after more than 40 years and 15 LPs, you can’t surprise anymore like you
used to do when you operate in this musical genre. Mind you they still shine
brightly but the déja vu and déjà entendu feel is unavoidable.
Then again, Tennant‘s stories are always compelling and drawn from life experiences as well as from daydreaming. Songs about Oscar Wilde, homophobic thugs, useless tyrants, fighting loneliness and isolation by dancing on and on aren’t your average pop content. And Tennant silky voice still is an important key to the duo’s satiny sound. PSB fans are aurally pleased once again, no doubt about that. Key tracks: Nonetheless, Why Am I Dancing?, New London Boy, and The Schlager Hit Parade.
British synth-pop champions THE PET SHOP BOYS – Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe – make people dancing in the free world for 43 years now,
and they are still buzzing.
With NONETHELESS they have canned their 15th LP.
It’ll be launched on 26 April. More info here.
The album is the duo’s first with producer James Ford, who has previously worked with artists including Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Blur, Gorillaz and Simian Mobile Disco. The album also sees the duo return to Parlophone, the label which released their iconic and massively successful material spanning 1985 – 2012.
After sprightly first single Loneliness the synth-pop duo
come up with a glossy mid-tempo tune, titled DANCING STAR.
In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.
Check the 10 new rad cuts just
added to this rad 2024 playlist.
The iconic Jamaican record producer/composer/singer and
pioneer of the dub music genre passed away in 2021, aged 85.
Last week his final album, recorded during Covid-19 lockdown, named King Perry
was posthumously released. It features several guest vocalists. Happy Monday’s
Shaun Ryder is one of them.
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 just released their arresting self-titled debut album. Stream it here.
Standout track On The Road gets you in Bad Ritual‘s sonic/cinematic world. It’s 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).
Lato is a three-piece act from Italy that brings together different influences blending them into an original form of rock. Vocals, guitars and rhythm section carefully entwine with a touch of electronica, and ethnic vibes go hand in hand with a natural propensity for psychedelia.
Stars Spangling is a piece from their new, upcoming album Karisma, out on 29 February.
It’s an impassioned guitar-pop gem. Arousing, transfixing, and anthemic. Top-tier score.
They Travel At Night – Lou Scanlon and Chuck Howard– want to be in the business of creating moments in music. That noise you weren’t expecting, that dynamic buildup, that blissful transition, that moment of discomfort before things even out again.
They have a brand new 5-track EP out, named Entropy.
Opening track Go On sets the tone for a 16-minute sonic mind massage.
A Talking Heads tribute album, titled Everyone’s Getting Involved:
A Tribute To Talking Heads is on its way. It will feature artists such
as Blondshell, the Cavemen, girl in red, Jean Dawson, Kevin Abstract,
the Linda Lindas, Lorde, Miley Cyrus, and the National.
First taster is Paramore’s take on 1983 corker Burning Down The House.
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 tease that creeps under your skin
without asking. Seductive, flirtatious and tempting. Dim the light and move
in mysterious ways.
Quarry is the moniker of Vittorio Tolomeo, an Italian born-British adopted musician,
singer-songwriter. He has already 3 albums on his résumé. You can check them out on Spotify.
With his new 4-track EP Renaissance evokes strong feelings of new beginnings, healing, and the need to flee to a better (ideal) place. The multi-instrumentalist indie rock singer-songwriter masterfully combines guitar sounds—suggestive ambient and clattering distorted ones- with captivating pop hooks, thumping, tribal drums and running bass.
Wild New Start is the buzzing and fuzzing opener. Ty Segall is just around the corner.
With NONETHELESS they have recorded their 15th LP.
It’ll be launched on 26 April. More info here.
Album artwork
The album is the duo’s first with producer James Ford, who has previously worked with artists including Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Blur, Gorillaz and Simian Mobile Disco. The album also sees the duo return to Parlophone, the label which released their iconic and massively successful material spanning 1985 – 2012‘Nonetheless’ features 10 brand new tracks, recorded and mixed in London last year, primarily at James Ford’s studio in East London. The orchestra and backing vocals were recorded at The Church studio in North London.
The first single LONELINESS was, just like the whole album, written during lockdown
and that says it all about the song’s issue. Sonically, it’s vintage melodic PSB glamour.
