Mountain, Balmy

On hot nights like these
I long for the cool breeze of
Balmy mountain air

White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground will always be associated with Andy Warhol, but he was only the producer for the first album and had been booted out by Lou Reed for this album. The result is a hugely influential blast of noise and surreal lyricism that didn’t stand a chance of ever being played on the radio. This was also the last Velvet’s album to feature John Cale and his lilting Welsh voice on The Gift is a highlight as he narrates a story of a jealous boyfriend with one hell of a twist at the end.

This album is very much the dark side of the sixties - the heroin binge to Sergeant Pepper’s LSD trip. The use of feedback and distortion in the sound makes for an abrasive experience for anyone wanting a mellow vibe, but in retrospect it really hits the spot, especially on the epic Sister Ray although the repeated references to sucking on his ding-dong make this very much a not safe for work listen!

Ding-dong-tastic!

Solstice

Longest / shortest day
Depending on hemisphere
Polar opposites

Grazing, Rime

The rime has melted
Grass glistening in the sun
Sheep may safely graze

Mild

I'm quite partial to
A pint of Abbeydale Mild
When it is on tap

Mothership Connection by Parliament

There’s something about this album that is so funky, it’s like how much more funky could this be? And the answer is none. None more funky. Seriously, this has been beamed directly from the planet Funk in the year funky five million in an Afro-future so funky it completely funks up the space-time continuum.

When Parliament went on tour to play this album live they had a huge mothership UFO complete with disco balls that would fly in and land on the stage half way through the show. That is literally how funky they were. Seriously, have a look on YouTube for Parliament summoning the mothership and prepare to get funked.

Anyway, don’t mind me. I’m just about to listen to this amazing album again.

Funk-tastic!

Maple, Fox

Fox in the hen house

As sly as sin, swift as steel

Crimson as maple