BEATS OF LOVE 

118. Hai-Donan by Shigharu Mukai-Morning Flight     

IS IT Balearic are spinning off in a variety of musical directions that highlight their depth of talent. The Marius Circus twelve has unsurprisingly been the pick, but Wrekin Havoc's Camino is also brilliant and representative of what they do best. Soulful Italo influenced goodness.

If the Delia Recordings sampler is anything to go by, three brilliant LPs are just around the corner by Shrinkwrap, Torn Sail and Brown Fang. Three unique acts that instantly scream quality. Add to that Jim's remix package that includes a sun-drenched Begin interpretation of Still River Flow with its subtle keys, with a more dizzying, floor-friendly X-Press 2 remix of Phoenix and you have a Midlands set on musical fire.

I had to mention that, but this week I've been obsessed with this colourful masterpiece. It was either Basso or Moonboots who first introduced me to Japanese jazz-fusion with its ridiculous attention to detail and resplendent touches that work against the American orthodoxy to produce something more sanitized yet more magical. When I searched for some online info about trombone virtuoso Shigeharu Mukai, I not only discovered he'd lived in New York before forming his group back in Japan, but also learned of his blood group. Note the ridiculous attention to detail.

More noted for the powerful Miracle of Tungus that elevates his trombone to the next level boogie machine, this album opener leaves me drenched in steel band percussive fairy dust. With reggae man Pecker sprinkling the magic as the trombone soothes, whilst I ask myself, 'is it Balearic?'

BEATS OF LOVE 

117. Last Night I Had a Dream by Randy Newman

I'VE ALWAYS been fatalistic and superstitious. And with just cause. My father suffered a heart attack on Friday the 13th, then suffered a fatal one thirteen days later. 

My mother spent a full six months of tests and anxiety after a bleed led her GP to fear the worst, only to be given the all clear. Less than a month later, she was dead after tripping over her hair drier.

Quite a few friends attended Buddhist retreats in their twenties and despite me not biting, the undeniable change in them left an indelible mark on my senses.  I vividly recall the torpor of an unmonitored cold turkey withdrawal from Librium in my aunt's back bedroom where she thought I'd gone full, Syd Barrett. Only when I prayed did I feel any relief and at just that point, a massiv bolt of light shone through the window. I woke up less agitated, reasoning it was just coincidental that the streetlights came on. But I wasn't certain coz I began praying more regularly.

Despite turning back to my faith, I still catastrophize too easily, worrying about all the bad or strange stuff that might happen. What my faith and music do is give me introspective time to reflect on all the good stuff that has actually happened. And continues to happen. These reflections feed into me imaginary others, which sounds a little schizophrenic, yet who've actually helped me to stop smoking and to regulate my alcohol intake. Not before helping me challenge myself to stop partaking in unwanted behaviour patterns.

Little wonder I'm able to call these my other friends. Friends that enter my subconscious more and more, strengthening my faith while making me a little less fatalistic and superstitious. Hallelujah! 

BEATS OF LOVE

116. Sworn by Dream Boys

MUST SAY, it's great to have Horsebeach's Pure Shores spinning on the turntable. Ryan has made the song his own with his inimitable charm and colourful way around a song. 

Wanting to know what made him tick led me to discover this LA/Scottish band whose name creates a google nightmare. Their sole LP was a steal and has been played constantly since it arrived. Their songs are awash with a fiery fragility that sound like they could collapse at any time but miraculously don't. 

The chiming guitars glide over rich harmonies that never sound fey and keep a certain suspense. A suspense that's missing in most songs. Even songs made with guitars in 1986. 

This song is short but packs a real punch with its subtly crafted breaks and soaring fallen angel voices. A band should sound like one person, albeit a superhuman one, so Horsebeach has a distinct advantage, as do bands comprising siblings, and in this song, the trans-Atlantic Dream Boys truly do sound as one. No mean feat.

There's nothing greater than hearing a short blast of perfect guitar pop. It's arguably the only enduring gift left to give that commerce and media styling hasn't tainted. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/2Ehm3s5f2OQF9bYGeqBJnD