Let's Fold Scarves

“Running Up That Hill” live

Awesome – well Kate is – the drumming is metronomic and the bassist has such 80s hair. Thanks a lot David!

From The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball (1987).

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I couldn’t take a bigger bite of you

Nina, originally uploaded by grange85.

I’m not a big concert goer partly because the experience of being at a gig is generally poor for a woman of average height, partly because not everyone is there to listen with the same devotion as I am and partly because they often don’t offer me anything more than I get from the music at home.

However, I was happy enough to go to Brighton for Andy’s birthday for a Fatcat night at the Theatre Royal (particularly since they were circle seats). Silje Nes was excellent but she didn’t have the same stage presence to go with her amazing music. Frightened Rabbit were a huge contrast and not quite my thing. However, when The Twilight Sad came on with their angsty singer (angsty about what though? I didn’t understand a word) who didn’t need that microphone stand I wanted the Rabbits back. Apologies to all fans but…they ain’t no Nina.

Nina Nastasia came on and I’m pretty sure she gave the best live performance that I have ever seen. At first, with the acoustic guitar and no sign of an accompanist and no sign of foot operated technical wizardry as Silje Nes had demonstrated I was fearful of a performance I would fall asleep to. She asked for requests and I, unbelievably, shouted out (for “Stormy Weather”) and she didn’t hear me so I had to pluck up my courage and do it again. Then she started and got a bit unravelled on the guitar playing and swore and it just didn’t seem promising. However, she then proceeded to sing and play guitar almost impeccably for the rest of a very long but magical night. She was only supposed to play for forty minutes but an hour and a half later (or more) she had to definitely come to a halt when the theatre staff put the house lights up permanently.

I’m rubbish at titles (except “Stormy Weather” obviously) but she definitely sung that, “This Is What It Is”, “Oh My Stars”, “Brad Haunts A Party”, and “You Her and Me” and many, many others in a truly mesmerising, absorbing way.

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Album covers

This is a rather pointless post on album covers.

I had never listened to Electrelane before, despite several albums in the house, but when I saw No Shouts No Calls, I was struck by the great cover and gave them a go and now I like them (just as they go on hiatus…).

All these albums are in our collection and only include music I regularly listen to so
there will be no reference to Blind Faith’s Blind Faith (eww) or to Luna’s The Days of Our Nights.

Covers that work for me:

Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls – I like the simple colours and the fact it looks like a badge.

Espers – II – This cover in no way misleads as to the content of the album.

Aimee Mann – Lost in Space – Aimee’s covers are usually unenticing and this I suppose for many would be no exception but the songs on the album are gloomy and you get what you pay for. Pylons are oddly beautiful, I think.

Audrey – Visible Forms – This is pretty.

Nina Nastasia – On Leaving – I like images of black and white trees a lot.

Mirah – Advisory Committee – To be honest, this cover makes me feel a little uncomfortable and yet it is intriguing.

Laura Veirs – Carbon Glacier – Another black and white image which I find arresting. If I was flicking through the racks in a record shop I would definitely stop at this.

Paula Frazer & Tarnation – Now It’s Time – Aww, this is so beautiful.

Covers that don’t work for me:

Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther – Wtf were they thinking? It must have been fun to dress up like that but how many casual sales did they lose?

Kate Bush – Aerial – Kate Bush’s sleeves are generally naff (except The Dreaming) but this is plain horrible. I bought Aerial regardless but I think this is dated and ugly. Kate, take at look at any Espers album cover, that’s what your music is like.

Bat for Lashes – Fur & Gold – Flipping heck, thank goodness Natasha Khan’s music is in better taste than her costumes and artwork.

Kristin Hersh – Hips & Makers – This is actually not that bad for a work of art. I can imagine it on my wall but in miniature on a CD case (or LP sleeve) its too messy and dirty looking.

Au Revoir Simone – The Bird of Music – Snore.

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It’s that time of year

It’s the time of year when everyone is trotting out their lists of their favourite albums and songs from the previous year. Well, I’m going to be different mainly because I can’t do the new album thing convincingly and because my favourite music from this year isn’t necessarily from this year e.g. Lida Husik, Aroah, Mirah, and even Bat for Lashes. So this is a list of the albums and songs that I have listed to the most in 2007.

Albums I have enjoyed include:

• Now It’s Time by Paula Frazer & Tarnation
• Marry Me by St Vincent (who was extraordinary live)
• Fur and Gold by Bat for Lashes (from 2006 but she came to my attention while watching Glastonbury on tv)
• Share This Place: Stories and Observations by Mirah and Spectratone International (it’s about insects – how awesomely geeky is that?)
• You Follow Me by Nina Nastasia & Jim White (the album that made me realise I was too mean about On Leaving last year)
• Star Lit Sunken Ship by Lovers (from 2002)
• The Last Laugh by Aroah (from 2004)

The songs I have listened to an awful lot this year include:

• “Another Day” and “Bitter Rose” by Paula Frazer & Tarnation – the former has a simple piano based refrain which I find utterly endearing while in the latter Paula manages to make the line “my love is deeper than the deep blue sea” sound like the most profound statement ever
• “Ginger” by Lovers which is one of those songs that instantly hook you in with a splendid strings arrangement followed by Carolyn Berk’s fragile and tremendously sad voice
• any version of “La Familia” by Mirah with its catchy chorus and a line like “makes me want a little sugar in my bowl” is irresistible
• “Now, Now” by St Vincent is inventively orchestrated and shows off Annie Clark’s charismatic vocals, the line “you don’t mean that, say you’re sorry” is hypnotic and it builds up to a bonkers finish
• “Long Shot” by Aimee Mann is rock pure and simple with Aimee’s weary vocals summed up in the word “whatever”
• “Easy to be Around” by Diane Cluck has (I assume) sumptuously double tracked vocals by a woman I know nothing about except her voice is stunning on this track
• “Horse and I” and “What’s a Girl to Do” by Bat for Lashes – I have not been this excited about a middle class posh woman from the south east of England since Kate Bush – her work is full of interesting sounds and arrangements particularly the percussion and her voice is indeed lovely
• “Mother Richard” by Lida Husik is an odd thing because her voice is almost flat but it flows over the bass like chocolate
• “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” by The Smiths – I wasn’t a fan when I was a younger – however, I love them now and I adore this song with its hilarious lyrics and delightful guitar sound
• the first time I heard “Captain of Your Ship” by Reparata & the Delrons I loved it – from the ship’s horn to the twangy thingy to the falsetto “you’re going to lose a good thing” it is huge fun
• “I Insist” by Barbara Manning & the Go-Luckys is yet another classy song by a little known songwriter – her vocals are sombre but arresting and the guitar is rich
• the start of “Mansfield and Cyclops” by Espers is so utterly gorgeous that it usually stops me in my tracks and that’s before Meg Baird’s vocals even begin – if you don’t adore this song by 1.45 then psychedelic folk isn’t for you!
• “An Orchid is a Flower That Thrives on Neglect” by Aroah – guitar, drums and a humming thing and Aroah’s understated vocals make this a perfect opening track

There are a handful of tracks that I never skip when I’m listening to music randomly (which I do a lot) which include “Red Vines” and “Ghost World” by Aimee Mann, “Little Black Egg”, “There’s Someone” and “The Well” by Tarnation (Paula Frazer) and “Almost” by Sarah Harmer.

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Drummer, do your thing, Drummer, drummer, do your thing, Drummer, drummer, drummer

How totally cool is it to see Honey Lantree banging the drums in this clip from Pop Gear aka Go Go Mania? It’s 1964 folks! The Honeycombs were produced by Joe Meek who was barking.

Following on: Meg White, Karen Carpenter, Moe Tucker, Debbi Peterson, Georgia Hubley, Janet Weiss, Lindy Morrison, Kate Schellenbach, and, of course, loads of other artists I am ignorant of. I would be really interested to hear of any other female drummers not in all-women bands.

Posted in Female thinking, Music | 4 Comments »

I’ll Never Find Another You

There is always someone
For each of us they say
And you’ll be my someone
For ever and a day
I could search the whole world over
Until my life is through
But I know I’ll never find another you

(Tom Springfield)

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You Don’t Own Me

Before yesterday, I knew one song by Lesley Gore, “It’s My Party” (and that was mainly because it was covered by Barbara Gaskin and Dave Stewart in the 80s) and it has commonplace boo-hoo lyrics like “I’ll Cry Instead”. So I wasn’t impressed when on The T.A.M.I. Show from 1964 she first sang “Maybe I Know” with the lyrics:

Maybe I know that he’s been a cheating
Maybe I know that he’s been untrue
But what can I do?

but the next song “You Don’t Own Me” was a revelation (and a real grower).

You don’t own me, I’m not just one of your many toys
You don’t own me, don’t say I can’t go with other boys

And don’t tell me what to do
And don’t tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don’t put me on display, ’cause

You don’t own me, don’t try to change me in any way
You don’t own me, don’t tie me down ’cause I’d never stay

Oh, I don’t tell you what to say
I don’t tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That’s all I ask of you

I’m young and I love to be young
I’m free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please

Written by John Madara and David White.

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“You’re going to lose a good thing”

Reparata & The Delrons – Captain Of Your Ship

I am lucky that sometimes I get to watch things at work that some people watch for pleasure. Working through a compilation of pop songs taken from various programmes of the 60s, 70s and 80s, it was with great delight that I came across this gem. I vaguely knew the song but it was this delightful, albeit lip-synced, rendition that made me go wow!

Reparata & the Delrons were never really famous like the Shangri-Las and this wasn’t even a hit in the USA but it was a top twenty success over here in 1968. 1968! It sounds more like a song from the late 70s.

It was sampled by Betty Boo for her pop classic from 1990, “Doin’ the Do“. Watch out for the superb use of the “you’re” from the line “You’re going to lose a good thing”.

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Basking in reflected glory

I highly recommend a very readable book by David Jennings called Net, Blogs and Rock ‘n’ Roll. It is a look at how people use the Internet to listen to music, to find new music and to make new friends.

Andy, my husband/partner/spouse, gets a mention several times including a chapter that begins with his name. I’m feeling warm from all that glory. Seriously, he should be proud of what he has done over the years, I know that I am. David has posted this rather wonderful post profiling Andy and A Head Full of Wishes.

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A visit to the Dome

Aimee Mann at Indigo2

The Dome was a mass of humanity particularly along Entertainment Avenue. It was like Blade Runner but without the rain: thoroughly depressing. The Scissor Sisters were also playing in the Arena and there was a disappointing lack of outrageous clothing and campiness.

Aimee Mann was as accomplished as all the live performances I have downloaded suggested she would be. She was pleasantly rude about Posh and Becks, charmingly forgot her lyrics and concluded with the “I have never played this live before”, Superball. The sound was superb and yet the venue was lifeless. It might have been different in the stalls but up in gods it was lacking in any atmosphere. There was no excitement, no anticipation, no squeals of recognition when a song began, just polite applause. There is no way I’d go there again. No amount of being able to see properly makes up for the thrill of feeling the atmosphere of Espers at the Bush Hall even though I couldn’t see Meg and Helena at all.

So sadly, the highlight of my evening wasn’t Aimee but the journey back to Waterloo on a catamaran. It was drizzling, it was chilly, it was fabulous: racing down the Thames watching commerce and history go by. The boat was full to capacity and buzzing with excitement unlike the O2.

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