61. Ela Minus: DÍA

 

Released: 17 January 2025

Chosen by: Paul

Comments - 

Dean: I'm 50 f---ing 8 and wish that I was still navigating my late teens. That's actually a lie, however, if I were, I could do a lot worse than pay homage to Eva's musical offerings.

On the weight of it, I should enjoy it more but that's just the point. Delve into the sentiment behind those lyrics is to find comfort in youthful resistance.

I could stick there and something tells me I should but, there is, as yet, no seducing, nuanced monologue to challenge me.

One to watch perhaps? The more I listen the less interested I become. It'll be a while until I return to get my ears tickled and my brain embalmed.

Paul: It's not entirely what I'd hoped for but at the same time I quite like it. I certainly wasn't expecting some sort of ambient opener for instance. Similarly, I don't know a lot of Björk but IDK sounds a bit Björky.

What I'm here for is the upbeat tracks. Like when Broken gets going and Idols. They are more my thing but I'm really into the bass sounds of Onwards and I'm blown away by Upwards. I don't think I've heard a better new song this year. It makes me want to dance like Christopher Walken in the Weapon of Choice video. This is unusual. Am I having a breakdown? 

While I don't love the slower numbers I feel Combat is a great way to close the album. It calms everything down after the excitement of Upwards. I agree with Dean's 'one to watch' statement. It's not a star album but I think she's 100% got star potential.

Stu: I’ve given this 2 listens this morning and part of it is jarring, probably due to time of day!

First up, more than a little surprised to get this selection from Peej, no part of this registers as a like in his perceived mind.

Secondly, I do not like the voice and the effects. Yes, the uptempo numbers have some energetic appeal BUT my overall experience in one of being underwhelming. At no point did a whole song engage my cerebellum, I’ve gathered lots of snippets very much like a scrapbook. Having gorged on my favourites in the van to and from Edinburgh, 795 miles, 16 hours at the wheel, this just slips away in to oblivion, never to be heard again and dismissed rather like a old ---- tissue. Nice try Peej, but I have over 100 LPS that do this far better!!

Paul: Good for you

Ben: Ive listened to it 3 times now and I do like some of it, probably the same bits as Paul. I get what Stu says about parts being jarring, I sometimes struggle to connect with synthesised music. Apart from mishearing Idols as Eyeballs I dont really have much to add, it doesnt quite float my boat.

60. Belle & Sebastian: If You're Feeling Sinister

Released: 18 November 1996

Chosen By: Stu

Comments - 

Dean: What a folky ambient record. I've heard Belle and Sebastian before but passed it over, labelling it ‘too banal', ‘not stimulating enough’. But this reminds me of the Vince Guaraldi Trio and in particular a much loved Peanuts refrain, Linus and Lucy.

It has a a playful, innocence that, on this listen, accomplished a reaction within me akin to being charmed and that is not a frequent condition. I found the lyrics simple, honest and yet, as the title suggests, a little sinister. Perhaps that combination of child-like sentiment and themes of an adult nature meet one another in a disturbing and intriguing way. I think this was for me the biggest selling point. Thanks Stu. Never really heard that combination before and I enjoyed it immensely.

I've been keeping a lot of the group’s recommendations in my music library lately. As I'm sure you all know, the group's name came from a book about the adventures and relationship between a boy and his dog. The authoress was French. It was first animated in Japan. Seems all to make a lot of sense 🌟

Paul: I sometimes wonder about the difference between songs and poems (and rap and spoken word for that matter.) Where does poem end and song start? This album has made me think about that again.

The upbeat songs sound like songs I'll grant you and I like those better. The title track and Judy and the Dream of Horses for example. They are slightly more memorable. The slower ones are more like poems with music behind. And I don't really dig them. 

There are some good rhymes in here - yes, 'discus' and 'Widnes',  'sinister' and 'minister' for instance but I could have read them in a book. I sense the poetry in some of this but I really don't feel the music. 

Ben: I really like Dear Catastrophe Waitress but I struggle to like this album. I can appreciate the voice but the instrumentation is too harsh for my taste, it lacks warmth, it’s too raw. Maybe it’s too downbeat, are there any bangers? I saw one commentator comparing b and s to the smiths but I dont see that.

Where’s the energy, the fun, the singability, the toe-tapability? Nah, it’s not for me. I’m fast forwarding 6 years to Dear Catastrophe Waitress, it’s sooo much better. Yes, there are two slowys on that album but they fit in nicely and I can appreciate them when they are contrasted with the upbeat songs.

Stu:  Like many bands, B&S hooked me right at the very start and have kept me company right up to this day, purchasing each record upon release day and thankfully never disappointing. Straight off the bat I feel in love with Stuart Murdoch, band leader and enigmatic. A Poetical, university educated foppish lad with 6 other art school kids making beautiful music. The Smiths reference comes from the style of the record covers, the literature they read and the song titles and the attention to deal of the artistic side. When you witness them play live the whole thing just falls in to place. Between 10 and 15 members on a rotating basis with all manner of instruments make it a complete joy. I witnessed them at Glastonbury and it was by far and away the best performance of the week! They always invite about 10 fans up on stage to dance around. Please go check out their other LPS and particularly their single LAZY JANE PAINTER. Also, please check out Isobel Campbell who left after the first few records to go solo. PLUS, another band in a similar style is CAMERA OBSCURA, which I visited yesterday at the foot of the castle. Finally, do check out THE DELGADOS! I’m here, home of Postcard Records and spending a week in this city perfectly illustrates all these wonderful bands!! B&S 🌟

It’s burnished on the 4 chambers of my beating heart.

59. Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks

Released: 20 January 1975

Chosen by: Ben

Comments - 

Ben: Tangled up in blue - I could take 51 minutes of that song on its own - what a tune and what great lyrics and vocals - the way he uses volume, intonation and varying pace to make the song more interesting and attractive are superb - The only thing that I knew how to do was keep on keeping on…. just magic and then on to A simple twist of fate - omg another Dylan banger. 

You’re a big girl now mellows things down a bit, and I’m still not convinced about the harmonica but it does provide variation at least. Idiot Wind is back on the same level as the openers - 8 minutes ha - You’re an idiot babe it’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe - we all know one of them. The lyrics are almost spat out with disdain, ouch! Brilliant. Onto the next, lonesome, a simpler ditty which still entertains well, a great middle 8 and the line ‘youre gonna make me give myself a good talking to’.  Meet me in the morning - a nice enough blues song. While it’s on I’ll just write that this album seems to have simpler stories of romance than some of his others which can be difficult to decipher the meaning of. 

Jack of Hearts is probably my least favourite on the album, it’s too simple to go on for 8 minutes imo - I guess if you’re following the story it could be interesting but good luck with that. If you see her say hello - a nice slowy, more vocal gymnastics. I can imagine this one going down well live - in the twentieth century maybe but these days it would be more of a mumble. Dylan banger alert - Shelter from the storm - is anyone else seeing the stand out tracks the same as me? - it seems so obvious that tracks 1,2,4 and 9 are next level stuff. But maybe that’s just my taste, I dont know. Last track, buckets of rain, is enjoyable enough, some nice guitar pickin’! 

Overall a big ⭐ from me. Godlike Genius stuff.

Paul: I gave this a couple of listens. First time round I went in blind. I thought it made a good start but got less interesting until the closer, Buckets of Rain. Second time I had Ben's review to guide me. Tangled Up in Blue is certainly a highlight, it's very well constructed. 

I didn't get the same reaction from Simple Twist of Fate or 'Big Girl', whatever is going on here doesn't engage me. I can see merit in Idiot Wind but I don't think I need eight minutes of it. I think Lonesome deserves a shout out for its more upbeat delivery. And it comes in at less than three minutes!

I don't think Meet Me in the Morning adds a lot and I certainly agree with Ben on Jack of Hearts. I drifted off during 'If you See Her' but certainly paid more attention to Shelter from the Storm this time round but it's another one that could be wrapped up sooner. There's a kind of calmness to Buckets of Rain that makes it a decent closer.

All in all, mildly diverting at best but I don't get genius.

Dean: I don't get genius either until the sun shines and he cuts loose on the harmonica.

It's a ⭐ album for me and I can even forgive jack of hearts. It's 'If you see her' that inspires little in me.

I'm loving 'Your a big girl now' and 'Idiot wind'. I must confess that I have often heard most of the tracks in various versions so I have acquired an 'ear' for Dylan.

Thoroughly enjoyed re- engaging and yet I had little enthusiasm at the start. Maybe this review would look very different if May hadn't brought the desired backdrop. Bob is a man of the moment and we never shared that time. Perhaps  we might never have endulged had there not been such a closely celebrated and sometimes controversial documentary.

We are products of the history that affected generations before hand.

Stu: Evening guys ❤️❤️ DYLAN, a lovely lady at the National Trust donated here husbands record collection to me, including the entire DYLAN COLLECTION! A confession, I have not played an LP of his ever! That’s rude I feel!! This record then. Upon starting I half wished that it was TANGLED UP IN BLUE by the BRILLIANT CORNERS!

As an opening track it’s great and it defines my knowledge of Dylan from soundtracks, singles on the radio etc; I do love the harmonica and it’s really played nice and simple unlike STEELY DAN!

From here until Jack of Hearts it’s more laid back, with gorgeous harmonica and that Hammond organ ❤️ I love his voice it’s so clear and you can really hear the stories. I get it now after 50 years! He sings stories and I guess that was his strength and appeal at that time! No verse, verse, chorus, just full on story telling. Jack of Hearts is a joy and crackles along wonderfully ❤️

Shelter from the storm is bloody magnificent ❤️❤️ there’s so many words that rhyme with Storm!! It’s really rather wonderful and I’m falling in love with BOB DYLAN ❤️ so rather than just knowing Mr Tambourine Man and the Travelling Willberies I can now stretch my wings and dig out those donated records!

⭐ all the way. A good friend called Derek Butler opened a record store called BLOOD ON THE TRACKS, I now know why! Based on this and his longevity I can see genius in there

58. Philip Glass: Glassworks

 

Released: 1982

Chosen By: Dean

Comments - 

Ben:  Just spent a lovely 40 minutes listening to Glassworks. In our lovely garden room, with Henry snoozing on my lap and a nice cup of coffee clutched to my chest, I was hypnotised by the repeating phrases and beautiful sounds. It was very much like a meditation, with the music triggering a constant stream of colours, shapes and thoughts, each instantly washed away and replaced by the next. The first pieces reminded me of Disney music, Fantasia and Bambi of all things, but these conscious thoughts were soon washed away. Fair play Dean, I started listening with a bit of scepticism but ended up really enjoying the experience.

Paul: I was familiar with some Philip Glass' music from the soundtrack of the film Koyaanisqatsi which occasionally blared out from the cassette player of my Triumph 1500TC. This is from a similar time and even features music that didn't make the cut for the film (Facades - the fifth track.)

It is more accessible and that's no bad thing. I particularly like the piano of Opening and the rhythmic patterns throughout never become overwhelming. Top pick for me though is the fourth movement - Rubric. The music seems to get into me and connect in a way I don't understand and can't explain. Damn fine choice Dean.

Dean: Wonderful responses. Here is what I hear:

1 Opening, the repetitiveness of life - beautiful and therefore abstruse?

2 Floe, scary unrelenting progression of time and development. No taming this despot, the end is apparent.

3 Islands, something small but unrelenting begins. Destiny has long reaching and sensitive fingers.

4 Rubric, magic, a balance act. Connections, what has been and what will emerge. And it's on the march.

5 Facades, melancholy doubt. A plaintive voice inherits the void.

6 Closing, optimism grapples with despair. We have arrived.

Can't think of a better way to spend time with a grandchild. I simply think it was perfect. Glad you liked it Paul- I'll now go watch Koyaanisqatsi. I'm sure it will not disappoint.

Not sure about the order of things but all engage 🌟

Stu: PHILLIP GLASS ❤️❤️❤️❤️ whilst I’m chilling listening to old LPS, back to this beauty! He plays more notes in one song than Jon Hopkins did on his entire LP! Gorgeous piano on the opener weaving beautifully patterns and melodies, frantic yet hypnotic. Next up change of instruments and another frantic display slowed down and punctuated with some horn. Glass is all genius, eccentric, virtuoso and fun 🤩

Fascinated to discover that he attended the Juilliard School of Music along with Steve Reich! Please go check him out and enjoy his music!

There is a lot of repetition which is cut and pasted exceptionally well. It’s a task for the ears to take it all in but the repetition really does keep you invested in the music. 🌟

57. Paul & Linda McCartney: Ram

Released: 17 May 1971

Chosen By: Paul

Comments - 

Paul: I didn't know what to expect from this but I largely got what I was expecting. Let me explain. I haven't heard a non-Beatles McCartney album before but I found this not far removed from his late-Beatles writing.

There are the rocky ones, the quirky ones, that ones that don't do a lot, the ones that go on too long, the ones where it sounds like not much time has been spent on the lyrics... it's kind of more predictable than I imagined but that doesn't mean I don't like it. 

Album opener Too Many People (a pop at John and Yoko) is a belter, I also thoroughly enjoy Smile Away, and Monkberry Moon Delight is great fun too. Ben might be able to say more about the musicality and arrangements but everything seems in the right place to me.

On the whole, well worth a listen but I doubt I shall return to it.

Dean: RAM - what a jaunty chap that McCartney is. I really had no appreciation of his later post Beatles work and, to be brutally honest, I have not been a Beatles fan so,  I was genuinely surprised by this optimistic and, yes, I'm going to say it, pleasant offering.

I am glad I heard it. His virtuosity is impressive. His relevance less so. I enjoyed listening a few times but was not inspired to listen further. I was thinking that many bands, once they find their sound, lay back on their lack of heterogenousness and the project loses some poignance. I've been feeling this a lot lately.

PM does not do that. He is searching. Raise a glass

Ben: After an initially disappointing listen I warmed to this record. There are positives - some good tunes and interesting approaches to the music. Also it sounds like they had a lot of fun writing and making the record. The choice of instrumentation is also interesting - it’s stripped back with a lot of acoustics at a time when prog, hard rock and glam were getting off the ground. 

I dont hear much in the way of progression from the Beatles to Wings in the record. I guess it also shows just what a strong influence he was over the Beatles sound, especially in the later years. The excellent documentary, Get Back, also showed this, with all 3 of the others seeming to take a back seat to McCartney’s drive and creativity.

The negative? I am a little conflicted with my admiration though as this is the man who inflicted? the frog chorus, mull of kintyre and some pretty dull collabs on us. Overall though I enjoyed this record, Dean’s ‘jaunty’ adjective sums things up nicely.

Stu: First up I must mention my love of the Beatles. I remember spending hours and hours listening to the RED and the BLUE LPS! Stuffed full of classics with the lyrics included! Then cemented more by the WHITE ALBUM & SGT PEPPERS! The HOUSE OF LOVE speculated that you either loved the Beatles or the Stones. I love both!! Before listening to this LP, a first, I can’t possibly do so without acknowledging the weight of McCartneys musical history up to this point. I remember WINGS, never bought a record and his early singles Temporary Secretary and Coming Up. Ben has already mentioned sings that would send you running for the hills! Having also acknowledged the heavy weight contributions from Lennon, Harrison and Starr I mused for days until such time as I could give this record my ears. I did indeed conjure up a sound in my head that I was expecting only to be mistaken. I can hear some Beatles and I’m pleased that there’s no frog chorus!! Overall an enjoyable listen. I like Uncle Albert and Smile Away and I like the wig out tracks. He has an ear for a tune. Some tracks lacked a kick up the ass. I waited for songs to kick on. I like the fact that he’s still hard at it making music. I listened twice today whilst driving to Northampton and I was humming away freely.  I’m sure with a couple more great tracks this would be near a star!!

56. Jon Hopkins: Ritual

Released: 30 Aug 2024

Chosen by: Stu

Comments - 

Paul: This type of recording will always start on the backfoot with me. I don't listen to music through headphones and I don't use music to relax. Not that this is relaxing. It puts me on edge as I wait for something to happen that might surprise me, catch me off guard.

But nothing happens. Certainly not anything of note. Maybe the pitch of the drone changes slightly, maybe the speed of a background throb might have imperceptibly changed but even if it has does it matter? Perhaps it would make sense as a suspense film soundtrack. The last track at least has some sort of tune so I feel rewarded for making it to the end. I won't be doing it twice.

Dean: Interesting choice Stu. I can't say that it wasn't stimulating. It has a brevity and contacts on a level worthy of endurance and perseverance. I'm not at that point where I can appreciate it's relevance but I found it interesting. I'm going to give it another listen. His name is familiar to me.

Ben: Ive listened to it a few times. Most of the time the minimalist approach had me searching for variations like trying to appreciate a small meal - ooh thats an interesting pea, and a juicy prawn etc. There are a couple of occasions where the crescendoes were so intense that it was a relief when they stopped. Apart from that I quite enjoyed the bassy sounds. Overall though I fear the album was little more than an interesting diversion.

Stu: I’m a huge fan of Jon Hopkins ❤️❤️

I have his last 6 LPS and he’s a musical chameleon 😎😎 I love his ability to move between different genres and keep me engaged

This particular LP is very special to me. I’ve used it to go to sleep and to relax in the evenings. A condition of mine is a hot wired brain that is free wheeling constantly.

This soothes me greatly

This LP starts off with a singular drone and throughout the record it builds at a very subtle level, adding additional sounds very softly. My favourite is the chime that starts about a minute in, drops in and out and then drives the next sequence. It then adds lots of levels whilst never reaching a true crescendo. I love the ending with the deep drops. As a huge fan of headphones this really does deliver. I guess you guys won’t listen to this LP agaim but I would recommend IMMUNITY & SINGULARITY 🌟

55. Fontaines D.C.: Romance

Released: 23 August 2024

Chosen by: Ben

Comments - 

Paul: Funny one Fontaines D.C. I love Dogrel (Big is one of my favourite songs of the last ten years - and Too Real can't be too far behind) but nothing I heard of the second and third albums made me want to get involved. The singles seemed less immediate, more repetitive.

But Romance took less than six minutes to dispel those feelings. The Jim Morrison-like gloom of the title track followed by the early-Kasabian feel to Starburster got my attention. Not listening to the second and third albums means I don't know if they've been trending this way but the different style of tracks and musicality of the band seem to bring out more nuance and versatility with Grian's vocal.

There are a couple of tracks that don't grab me but that's a minor quibble. It finishes as well as it starts with the marvellous grungy Death Kink and then off the back of that pulls out a surprise in the jangle-pop of Favourite. ⭐ album - no question.

Dean: Well you are right Ben. It has some beautiful musical passages. It is well made. It's also inventive and sensitive. Not what I expected and I can't begrudge FDC that. It's to be admired. It's like circumnavigating a cemetery at twilight under an alcoholic haze - what's not to love?

I really loved Dogrel. Played it so many times and wore furrows in my memory. Too deep engrained for Romance to make an impression on. Those furrows were full of thoughtful fury and these latest songs are more like skid marks. I was going to say in pants but that would be disingenuous. These skid marks are full of sophistication; of development; of blah blah blah, blah...

Getting little excitement from this album and I don't doubt that that is the view from where I'm standing right now. 'I'm living too long, I'm living too late' (MES)

Ben: So, I can appreciate the songsmithery, the musicality and the melodies. Looking at the album that way is a nice way to spend some time, but it does leave me a bit cold. Even though Ive listened to it a few times now I dont have much of a fondness for it and cant imagine that I’ll play it much more. Is it too mainstream, too smooth, too normal to be interesting in its own right?

Death Kink grabs me a bit more than the rest.

Stu: Picking up on these guys around the same time as IDLES, good energy, spiky lyrics, good guitar rock band!! The debut DOGREL was a killer, straight on vinyl in my collection as this one is!!!

STARBURSTER is my banger! Great melody, great drive, cracking lyrics, well delivered! I really appreciated the lyrics as I’m writing my own rhyming books

Over harder than a turned-up challenger

I wanna keep all of your charm in a canister

Do you inspire like the same did Salinger?

I'm the pig on the Chinese calendar

I got a shadow like a .58 Caliber

I wanna move like a new Salamander

I love the carrion who's a real Scavenger

I’ve always liked an Irish 🇮🇪 vocal

The tracks continue to roll out and deliver in all aspects! I’ve played this 6 times now and it’s been a daily listen all week!! I also love the cover art which would have drawn me to it if I didn’t already know the band

A nice combination of pace and volume with so strummed tracks that glide on nice melodies with more grit on some tracks! A solid LP from start to finish! 🌟