HALF TERM REPORT

BEEN A bit idiosyncratic of late. More obsessed with the Benin bronzes and Arthur Russell than horizontal tunage. I'm, however, now quite a few pages into my notebook, listing pristine records and sleeves collected without records or sleeves. They were either binned or left with the seller, and only one tick to signify a successful match up. It was a good idea at the time. 

What a year for reissues. Suzanne Menzel's Goodbyes and Beginnings is the pick of the crop and on many a want list. Detractors say 'Enya' and 'one song.' I say 'so what', and 'what a song.' To get this for less than twenty quid is a steal. Basso, whilst releasing an Eleventeen Eston vinyl album (no mean feat), has also reissued on his label, Senora, a self-titled bomb and another big want that just kept going up in price. Whilst I like sourcing original records I am not going to find it easy paying loads more for them if there are tasty reissues on the shelf. 

Similarly, compilations can be amazing. Gumba Fire on Soundway is magnificent (check trumpet media for my high praise), as are the Spacetalk compiling skills of maverick Charles Bals and his incredible Club Meduse. It both feels and looks great, which is always my main bugbear with compilations, coz they generally look crap and so accounts as the main reason I try to source originals. The music holds together superbly well and is of the palm tree swaying and bare leg variety. Perfect for the desert island. My desert island anyway, with only me on it.

Some great things also come in threes, not twos . Leolyxxx's Plastic Inners 3 cassette and Welcome To Paradise (Italian Dream House 90-94) for example. Both sound necessary and surpass the quality of their former releases. Although I owned a few tracks off the latter, it's Deep Choice's Children Trip and Cosmic Galaxy's Walkin' on the Moon that steal the show. Amazing music that just really takes you away. The former is full of flavour and is best left to dance to rather than sourcing, unless you have deep pockets.

Lunaria's epic cassette Ascension Now is less organic than the mighty All Is Dream but still subtly arresting. Like a cold bath after a boiling hot day. Not that subtle then. After being teased with an Aficionado Tommy twelve, I was a little sad to hear it may not be happening. As the releases mushroom in scale, it makes buyers a little more discerning and they apply more filters before purchase. This sadly stops band development as they have to sell to a label the sale thereafter of at least 500 copies or finance it themselves. I like hearing the transition between difficult fifth and sixth release but if getting it off the ground is so difficult, then it's my tough cheese. 

Begin gets around this by making 4 contrasting songs that aren't difficult in the slightest, to get Love International's label up and running. Into The Fun is absolutely class, replete with his trademark really brilliant sample. After watching the world cup final, the big screen suddenly transformed into decks and after spinning the house records for a while, we finally cajoled Jim to play some tunes for his 3rd day running. Needless to say, he is the best one eye open, one eye shut DJ of all time. Even when he was outside, his records sounded truly amazing. Is it just me or does everyone's own records sound a bit shit for a few days after a great night out?

I love Kennedy magazine coz like Begin; it goes from strength to strength without really trying too hard. Check Chris Kontos's Romance for relatable reading and a moving piece of journalism. Then the remarkable Ted and Eugene Bafaloukos by the same writer. (Doffs cap.) This move away from my heroes (Lawrence, Thurston, Wevvers), has actually made for an even better read. Cedric Bardawil's equally captivating piece on Mark Sanders is great too. Love Dazed and Confused coz it stirred a hitherto dormant passion for art and so to get under the skin of it is a rare treat.

My whole life has been punctuated by the influence of popular culture and not the influence of parents and teachers. Has this made me any less malleable? Probably not. With this innocuous realization reverberating around my head, I will amble off in search of some much needed seven inch goodness.   

10. JOYA AZUL

By Rem Gow

for Sock Free Hideaway

MASSIV THANKS to Rem for this epic mix that  encompasses every aspect of a musical journey par excellence. I was only listening to All Around The Globe's brilliant Madchester mix that elevated all the right people on Thursday and then got a message shortly after to say the mix was complete. Prolific isn't the half of it. Without overloading Facebook with youTube clips he always shares massively  interesting records that I either cherish or investigate further. You know the drill by now, take off your socks, relax, and float downstream... 

https://www.mixcloud.com/david7322/rem-gow-mix-for-sock-free-hideaway/

In his own words:

Rem Gow surprises you with beautiful and amazing sounds from all corners of the world wonderfully worked into a seamless tapestry of organic sounds, avantgarde, amazing vintage electronics, ambient, experimental, obscure (synth)wave, leftfield pop/folk, oriental bliss, tribal & tropical treasures. 

At parties he is good for a bag full of rare disco, danceable world, afro & wave.

Rem Gow is a vinyl collector, dj and radio host based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He hosts three monthly radio music shows, ‘All Around The Globe’ for Red Light Radio (Amsterdam) and two shows for Operator (Rotterdam). Currently he also has a monthly guest mix residency for Balearic Social Radio, Leeds (UK). 

https://www.mixcloud.com/RemGow

http://redlightradio.net/residents/all-around-the-globe

https://www.mixcloud.com/RedLightRadio/playlists/all-around-the-globe

https://www.operator-radio.com/artists/rem-gow

SONGS THEY NEVER PLAY ON THE RADIO

2. Matt Deighton:  Snow Bunker Classics, Vol 68

PART 1

MATT DEIGHTON'S Doubtless Dauntless LP has a great back story, but, as ever, for me to get inside a record, I have to work it into my own. My father also suffered a heart attack but died. Unfortunately, I was too immersed in music mythology to mourn his passing or even try to understand him, preferring instead to nick an Andrew Innes quote about the passing of River Phoenix and mumble stupidly 'lightweight' whenever I was asked about him. 

A few breakdowns later, older than his death age, and, with a loving missus I am now able to disconnect from the pantheon of rock and recognize my true connection to both him and small northern mill-towns, which means I can listen to this album from a more honest place and with better perspective than when I listened to his earliest work. 

His music always sounds earthy and timeless,  with varying degrees of cosmic, depending on the supporting cast. His weakest album, the incredible The Common Good,  had the largest supporting cast and this album's on a similar scale but fares better. Accomplished string arranger Ben Trigg works well with him and tempers the songs respectfully and a small ensemble all add some lovely, soulful flourishes. Yes, this album has buckets of soul.

As seems unique to his albums, the opener gets overlooked by me and it's the remaining tracks that shine brighter. I'm sure Gary Carpenter's nordic lyre evokes the wicker man vibes to please many ears. I'm more at home on Each Time You Find Out, a radio staple in a perfect world. A song of experience that restrains its knowing-ness perfectly. As with all his solo offerings, it's the fragility and warmth that captivates and May You Give it All Away is as fragile and warm as anything he's done. A truly beautiful song. 

swirly green vinyl

Lyrically, Need Never Be illustrates why he's out on his own. A lot of artists would shy away from bare sentiment, preferring instead to hide behind concept and metaphor. Uncannily, he's asking the questions I ask, and I suspect, we all ask. More importantly, he attempts to find answers. Lyrics in some earlier songs appear like afterthoughts, but here they pour out profoundly, actually spilling out of the inner sleeve, adding a certain gravitas. That's what makes him a seer, I guess.

Side one closer Rite is far more successful at evoking the wicker man vibes with its pastoral elegance. If a hip young band delivered this side of music, it would be instantly hailed a masterpiece and if they touched upon this level of lyrical philosophy, they'd be hailed as geniuses. A simple fact.

PART 2

IT'S THEN, when putting on side two, that you notice the cover. He could've opted for neo-folky artwork, but he's already done that in the nineties, so I'm sensing that it's about now laying things bare without any need for artifice. It soon becomes apparent just how upbeat the mood is on this side. Both Hymn After Hymn and Dreamstate are dizzying. Drenched in positive vibes, even.

The wholly unique Linda Lewis is a perfect vocal foil and you realize what a distinct voice he has still. Probably the most distinct English voice since Steve Marriott. How Do We Show our  Love? again finds answers to universal questions with a perfect pop tempo. Such sensibility, I guess, is yet another musical gift, and it's what helps make his solo work so captivating. With just piano accompaniment, it's the most exposed he's sounded in years. The title track closes the album with him fully laid bare. A song wrote and performed by him alone. Emphasizing the importance of Trigg's contribution as it's the only track that evokes the lo-fi production of his last great effort Wake Up The Moths. 

For the disciples, a long wait is over. It's a breathtakingly honest album, full of warmth that has been  further intensified by the freezing weather outside. Dare I say, a force of nature in itself? I'm just very fortunate to be aware of this guy's music and even though it represents in part, the ghost of my own father I would still encourage anyone with an ear for timeless beauty, who hasn't already, to buy on sight. 

ME IS NEARLY FIVE

BIT OF a confession to make: I've not been preoccupied by SFH of late. No mixes, no live action, and not that many horizontal purchases either. Enough to mention here, but the bulk of my tunage has been more heavy load of late. However, thanks to Martin Brew i got well into Hamjam's a/s/l? album. Really accomplished loafer indie music. The title track is great and there are some really fine songs throughout. The closer Sippin Rose All Alone is a socks off classic. 

Another album that I've been a bit obsessed with is the sunstone released vinyl copy of Pellets by The Lords Of Thyme. The trad openers are proper fresh and signal the equally pastoral originals that follow. The Bird it Sang is a delightful listen. Side 2 is heavier, and hell, I even rock my head to Coming Down and Keep On Travelling. The songs are more than a pastiche and have a charm and whimsy of their own. And the vinyl is much better than the CD.     

4 cassettes just landed out of the blue. The last, a celebration of Archeo recordings 2014-17. Some gems for sure and great for imaginary parties. Laraaji's Vision Songs has been another obsession. A live recording, it has served as a great precursor for numero groups vinyl reissue of the original recording. Everyone should hear Cosmic Joe at least twice. 

Altars Altars Before We Dive is another gem. 9 songs from 2016 that really take you away. The theme is the deep and it is both beauty and wonder that drives it. Lastly, Karel & Eiji Takamatsu deserve a mention coz Some Backland Plaza is sensational. Wishbones sets the tone but is eclipsed by One Wheel On My Dragon. A majestic tune.

I'm sitting back celebrating my five years by celebrating aficionados 20. Firstly by attending the John Stammers full band show and then by luxuriating in Moments in Time some more. Moonboots has always been ahead of the game and  mentioned the Begin track ages ago. He's right, it's pure  class. What I'm mega happy about more than anything, though is the fact that there is nothing to buy hereafter.  His last comp created an urge to chase down the vinyl and some of it was unsurprisingly pricey. This means my holiday pot remains intact. My first holiday since 1984, in fact. That deserves a toast.