Fresh Peach

Old tree stands alone
Bearing a single fresh peach
Object of wonder

Live in Japan by Deep Purple

As much as I like Deep Purple, I’m not really sure why this album is on the list. It’s notable for being a raw, live recording, straight from the mixing desk to a basic eight track recorder with no overdubs or post production polishing, so it should be as close to what the crowd of fans in Tokyo and Osaka heard on the night as it’s possible to get.

What they got was a blistering live set from virtuoso musicians playing at the top of their game as if they were being paid by the note. The downside is that the songs are dragged out in quite a self indulgent way - just seven songs on a seventy minute double album, with the closing Space Truckin’ filling 20 minutes on side 4.

One for the fans and completists I think.

Fading Light, Fresh Water

Summer light fading
Fresh rain water fills the butts
Garden green again

Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space by Spiritualized

I’d been looking forward to this one since hearing Spacemen 3 on this list recently. This was effectively Jason Pierce’s solo project after his previous band broke up, featuring various musicians as the band evolved. His girlfriend at the time was keyboard player Kate Radley and they were in the middle of a relationship breakdown during the recording, which is reflected in several of the songs.

Musically, this continues the 60s psychedelic space rock feel with nods to the 90s Manchester sound. Notably, they were the last band to play at the famous Hacienda club before it closed. The effect is the classic humungous wall of sound, with swirling guitars, gospel choirs and electronica thrown in. The highlight for me is the 17 minute album closer Cop Shoot Cop with a close second for the title track which riffs off of Elvis Presley’s I Can’t Help Falling in Love.

Zero-G-tastic!

Corn Husk, Bonfire

Shucking corn by hand
Silky husks piled on the floor
Fuel for the bonfire

The Chronic by Dr Dre

Yo Dre, got something to say
Surprised to see, same age as me
Your lyrics are trite, your rhymes are shite
Crass misogyny, just ain't for me
Guns and gold, soon got old
Sure Compton was rough, now I've had enough
Gangsta rap, load of old crap

Come Down by The Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols are probably best known for their infuriatingly ubiquitous ear worm of a hit Bohemian Like You, but fortunately this album from 1997 is a different kettle of fish. Much more towards the psychedelic stoner rock end of the spectrum than I was expecting, I enjoyed it rather a lot.

Top marks also for the song Cool as Kim Deal which I can relate too. I’m something of a Johnny come lately Pixies fan since starting listening to this list and it’s nice to hear that the Dandies are too.