Quill, Barley

Sharpen your quill, write
Of wind that shakes the barley
Rebels on the march

Twilight, Late Snow

Due to a typo
The Twilight News anchor had
Been booked on the Late Snow

Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain

Ever since John Lennon accidentally leaned his guitar against an amp in 1964 and fell for the sound, feedback and distortion have been a vital part of rock music. That distinctive high-pitched squeal really makes the electric guitar stand out from everything else.

Musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Lou Reed took things even further – Lou Reed’s notorious Metal Machine album is almost entirely made of hypnotic feedback loops, almost (but not quite) to the point of unlistenability.

For me, it arrived at just the right moment in the 80s, sweeping away all of that overproduced, plastic dance music with a brilliant blend of classic 60s tunes hidden in a glorious wall of noise. A friend once said that playing it loud enough felt like standing on a cliff in a storm – buffeted by the wind but coming out feeling wonderfully alive.

I’m a bit more careful with my ears these days, but it still brings back great memories and sounds just as good 40 years on.

Tinnitus-tastic!

Leaky, Full Moon

Drawing down the moon
Raking the radiant ripples
On a leaky pond

Timeless by Goldie

UK people of a certain vintage will associate the name “Goldie” as belonging to one of the iconic Blue Peter kids tv pets of the 1970s, which is why I was slightly surprised to find today that Mr Goldie was the same age as me so would have presumably grown up watching the show as well. Maybe he just likes Golden Retrievers?

Anyhoo, this album is a wildly ambitious debut that mostly lands. Mostly. Drum ‘n’ bass is something of an acquired musical taste, with a lot of similarities with the complex mathematical patterns of Steve Reich or the manic high energy drumming of hard bop jazz. Goldie (with production by Rob Playford) also layers in some lush electronica and vocals from Diane Charlemagne and Lorna Harris.

The overall effect ranges from hypnotic to being overwhelming in places, but always intriguing.

Dappled, First Blossom

Beneath the old oak
Basking in dappled sunlight
Their first love blossoms

Bright Flight by Silver Jews

The only problem with an ambiguous and/or jokey band name is the expectations that it sets. For this album I thought it might be some sort of Weird Al style polka or maybe arty New York hip-hop, but it actually turned out to be a low key country album recorded in Nashville.

It took a song or two to get its hooks into me, but lines like “A kitten from Great Britain sleeps behind the drapes” and the idea of moving to Nashville to make a living out of writing sad songs and getting paid by the tear are strong images. I think this is the sort of album that will really repay repeated listens.

Finally, just to be on the safe side, I checked their Wikipedia page and front man David Berman is actually Jewish, so the band name is ok after all. Phew!

Mazel-tastic!