The World of Dust: new album "A Parallel Universe Inside - Live at De Groeverij"

When Stefan Breuer played at record store De Groeverij in Houten, The Netherlands on September 17 to promote the release of Gaman, the latest album by his The World of Dust project, he wasn't aware that he performance was recorded. Not on the cheap mind, but properly by the staff of the store. They had no intention to share it or release, but just wanted to get a good recording for their archives to listen to every now and then.

Enter the arrival of the photos that Ab al Tamimi had made that night, with one them having "album cover material" written all over. Breuer loved the photos and the recording and the folks at the shop were keen on releasing something on vinyl for the very first time.

Vanity Mirror: Tuesday's News

Vanity Mirror, a retro-baroque pop duo, bring back the Sixties on their debut single, Tuesday's News. Singer Brent Randall (Gentle Brent, Electric Looking Glass) and percussionist Johnny Toomey (The Turns, Electric Looking Glass) have put melody first, closely followed by gently wailing guitar and tight drums. It sounds uncannily familiar, but there nothing wrong with hearing a bit of optimistic pop in the midst of Winter. Fans of George Harrison's guitar tone will love it.

It is a track from their forthcoming debut album PUFF, which will be released on May 12 (vinyl, digital) via We Are Busy Bodies.

John Cale: Leipzig 2023/02/26 setlist

photo: Marlene Marino

John Cale performed at Hauss Auensee, Leipzig, Germany - February 26, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. The Endless Plain of Fortune
3. Chinese Envoy
4. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
5. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
6. Mercy
7. Night Crawling
8. Ghost Story
9. Out Your Window
10. Helen of Troy
11. Half Past France
12. Hanky Panky Nohow
13. Villa Albani
14. E: Heartbreak Hotel

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Phish 2023 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Cancun 2023/02/26

Official Mexico 2023 poster by Josh Noom

Phish
2023/02/26
Moon Palace, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Set 1:

1. Sigma Oasis
2. David Bowie
3. Wolfman's Brother
4. Tube[1] >
5. Prince Caspian
6. Mull >
7. Ghost
8. The Squirming Coil

John Cale: Hamburg 2023/02/25 setlist

photo: Madeleine McManus

John Cale performed at Kampnagel, Hamburg, Germany - February 25, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. The Endless Plain of Fortune
3. Chinese Envoy
4. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
5. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
6. Mercy
7. Night Crawling
8. Ghost Story
9. Out Your Window
10. Helen of Troy
11. Half Past France
12. Hanky Panky Nohow
13. Villa Albani
14. E: Pablo Picasso > Mary Lou

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Phish 2023 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Cancun 2023/02/25

Official Mexico 2023 poster by Josh Noom

Phish
2023/02/25
Moon Palace, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Set 1:

1. Gotta Jibboo
2. No Men In No Man's Land
3. Steam
4. Poor Heart0
5. Halley's Comet ->
6. Saw It Again
7. Theme From the Bottom >
8. Maze
9. About to Run
10. Most Events Aren't Planned

Words about music (678): Paul Cook

There was no Pistols manifesto or anything, but we did go out to shake things up and we weren’t happy with what was going on. But I don’t think in our wildest dreams we realized just how much we would influence people and their lives and everything. Right across the board as well, not just music but people from all walks of life. I prefer ‘inspire people’. I don’t like to say we changed people’s lives, it sounds a bit dramatic, but it was an inspiration for a lot of people I think

Paul Cook

Johnny Dowd: Johnny's tunes for Special Occasions

photo: Kat Dalton

Johnny Dowd has rounded up 5 of his recent singles for an EP. Johnny's tunes for Special Occasions will offer comfort to anyone who has fucked up in a relationship or otherwise.

These five warts and all recordings were captured on a shoestring budget, but they hit the spot. His dark sense of humour - "I offered a glass of water to a woman who was about to drown, but the best of my good intentions came back and bit me like a dog" - will be a red flag for the narrowminded, but there is no denying that sarcasm is great way to stay sane when the shit hits the fan.

Phish 2023 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Cancun 2023/02/24

Official Mexico 2023 poster by Josh Noom

Phish
2023/02/24
Moon Palace, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Set 1:

1. Dinner and a Movie
2. Loving Cup
3. A Wave of Hope
4. Stash
5. Heavy Things
6. 555 >
7. Axilla (Part II) >
8. Joy
9. Split Open and Melt

Steve Stoeckel: The Power Of And

Nobody has to tell Steve Stoeckel how to write a catchy song. As the singer and bassist for the long-running power pop band The Spongetones he knows what will work to capture the listener's attention. On his debut solo album The Power Of And he hits the ground running with the upbeat rocker Laura Lynn followed by Birds and If/Then. Like a seasoned Maître d' he sets the table for a full course meal of electric and acoustic tracks. It sounds familiar, but after closer inspection it turns out that he as added a little extra to spice things up in all of the songs, like using a distorted guitar for The Emerald Sea, a modern day Irish sea-shanty.

Listening to The Power Of And is a crash course for coming up to speed with the various guises of power-pop from the '60s until .... well, today really. Love is the main theme, which is no surprise, but Stoeckel manages to keep it fresh by avoiding over-used angles and insert some righteous anger in the putdown rocker Christine. He fondly remembers The Monsters Under My Bed from his childhood days, who promised him that he would never grow up as long as he believed in them. His curiosity and need to create are in full-force, and as long as he has those he will be Whistling Past Graveyards for a couple more decades for sure. Sparks fans will love the art-pop rhythm and vocal delivery of that one.

John Cale: Antwerp 2023/02/23 setlist

John Cale performed at De Roma in Antwerp, Belgium - February 23, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. The Endless Plain of Fortune
3. Chinese Envoy
4. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
5. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
6. Mercy
7. Night Crawling
8. Ghost Story
9. Out Your Window
10. Helen of Troy
11. Half Past France
12. Hanky Panky Nohow
13. Villa Albani
14. E: Heartbreak Hotel

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Phish 2023 Mexico run SBD + torrents: Cancun 2023/02/23

Official Mexico 2023 poster by Josh Noom

Phish
2023/02/23
Moon Palace, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Set 1:

1. Harry Hood
2. The Moma Dance
3. Back on the Train ->
4. My Friend, My Friend
5. Sand >
6. Sample in a Jar
7. Ya Mar
8. Roggae
9. Cars Trucks Buses
10. Blaze On >
11. Twist >
12. Bouncing Around the Room
13. Free

Encore:

1. 46 Days

Notes from phish.net:
Moma Dance contained a Shipwreck quote.

» Buy the official LivePhish 2023/02/23 release

Audience sources can be found on bt.etree.org.

Declan Welsh & The Decadent West: King Of My Head

Glaswegian quartet Declan Welsh & The Decadent West go for a fuzzy psych rock mood on their new single King Of My Head, a song about trying to regain control over one's thoughts. It is a track from their forthcoming second album, named rather unimaginatively named 2, due for release in September 22. The video was directed by Daniel Blake.

King Of My Head is available on all the usual digital outlets.

» dwdw.co.uk

John Cale: Amsterdam 2023/02/22 setlist

John Cale performed at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands - February 22, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Wasteland
7. Guts
8. Noise of You
9. Cable Hogue
10. Half Past France
11. Out Your Window
12. Villa Albani
13. E: Heartbreak Hotel

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Johnny Dowd: tour dates

Musical maverick Johnny Dowd has a couple of gigs lined up. Be prepared for some new songs and reinvented old ones. He will be playing Michael Edmondson on guitar and his sister Jif Dowd on drums.

Live dates:

• 03/03 Ithaca, NY @ The Downstairs
• 06/xx Washington, DC @ Lucky Penny (exact date TBA)
• 06/21 Hector, NY @ Stone Cat Cafe
• 07/16 Ithaca, NY @ Music at the Market

» johnnydowd.com

HCTF review of Homemade Pie.

John Cale: performing at the Loaded Festival in Oslo

John Cale will perform @ Loaded Festival in Oslo, Norway on June 8.

» john-cale.com
» John Cale tour dates

mui zyu: Talk to Death

photo: Celia Tang

Hong Kong British artist mui zyu, nom-de-plume of Eva Liu, captures the nearly unsufferable boredom when you are stuck in one-sided converation you can't walk away from, in the video for her new single, Talk to Death. It is a metaphor for a relationship that has hit rock bottom. Taking elements of both jazz and avant-pop as the musical backing for this seemingly sad tale. It all ends well however, with some kind of catharsis by proxy.

Nausicaa: Moth to Flame

Australian dreampop duo Nausicaa go for repetition on on their second single, Moth to Flame. By playing the same notes over and over again Dave Haack created a transcedent tapestry for singer Kristen Hodgson to fall back on, as she glides through the lyrics, slowly making her way to her destination. The video was made by their friend Jo, who came up with a stylish play of light and shade.

John Cale: Dudelange 2023/02/20 setlist

photo: Chantal Anderson

John Cale performed at Opderschmelz, Dudelange, Luxembourg - February 20, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Wasteland
7. Guts
8. Noise of You
9. Half Past France
10. Out Your Window
11. Villa Albani
12. E: Heartbreak Hotel

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Phish: Live Webcast of 4-Night Run in Riviera Maya, Mexico

The Phish shows of the 4-night run (02/23-26) in Riviera Maya, Mexico will be offered as pay-per-view webcasts.

» livephish.com

Ariel Skye: Meanstreak

Los Angeles based singer Ariel Skye tackles thorny subjects like love and lust on her new EP Meanstreak. She looks back on one-night stands and the trouble she got into as a consequence. Skye navigates between rock and easy-on-the-ears jazz, but no matter what genre she picks for a song, her vocal delivery is always smack in the middle of the mix. They are all originals, although the intro Bang Bang might get the listener on the wrong foot, but Venus in Furs has zero musical similarities with The Velvet Underground classic.

Meanstreak is an EP about getting even, or preferable getting the upper hand. Casual sex can be fulfilling, but it did get her nowhere in the long run. Regret, anger, and lust are competing for place in the spotlights as the main emotion. Skye has taken a scalpel to her emotions to uncover some meaning in it all. Was it all worth it? That's a good question, but the jury is still out on that one. In the meantime, she has tapped into a well of adventures that will keep on giving for more songs in the similar vein, which might be bad news for the people she slept with, but good news for fans of melodic songs that pack a punch.

John Cale: Frankfurt 2023/02/19 setlist

John Cale performed at Batschkapp, Frankfurt, Germany - February 19, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Wasteland
7. Guts
8. Noise of You
9. Cable Hogue
10. Half Past France
11. Out Your Window
12. Villa Albani
13. E: I'm Waiting for the Man

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Motörhead: "The Löst Tapes Vol. 4 (Live In Heilbronn 1984)" for Record Store Day

Another Motörhead live show will be released as a 2LP (2250 copies) for Record Store Day (April 22). The Löst Tapes Vol. 4 (Live In Heilbronn 1984) was recorded at the Christmas Metal Meeting, Heilbronn in 1984. It features the lineup of Lemmy , Wurzel , Phil Campbell & Pete Gill . The show became available last year as a digital release.

Side A:
1. Iron Fist / 2. Stay Clean / 3. Heart of Stone 4. The Hammer / 5. Metropolis

Side B:
1. Shoot You in the Back / 2. Jailbait / 3. Killed By Death / 4. Ace of Spades

Side C:
1. Steal Your Face / 2. Nothing Up My Sleeve / 3. Road Crew Introduction / 4. (We Are) The Road Crew / 5. Bite the Bullet / 6. The Chase Is Better Than the Catch

Side D:
1. No Class / 2. Motörhead / 3. Bomber / 4. Overkill

» imotorhead.com

Ubiquitous Meh!: the Love Pseudomorph

At long last the members of off-kilter lo-fi band Ubiquitous Meh! were able to set up shop as a trio in the same to record the music for their new album the Love Pseudomorph. The band's songwriter Luke Richards guided his bandmates Jodie Saunders and Michael Dugdale through the sessions, using a basic 4-track set-up and a couple of mics. Richards added the vocals in the basement of his new home in Lipson Vale, Plymouth, bouncing the sound of the rock beneath his abode.

The signature cheap organ is once again all over the album, as a joyous counterpoint for Richards's lyrics about alcoholism (Brainwater) and mental health issues (Love Pseudomorph). He is perfectly able to poke fun at both of them, however, taking the troubles he might get into because of them as a launch pad for an ace tune. He keeps an open mind throughout. He can sing about the highly unlikely (I Identified The UFO) and closer to home events (Night-Trip, When You Talk I'm Listening) as well.

Words about music (677): Steve Jones

I still like to play the guitar, but I rarely have anything to do with the music business these days. I mean, there is no music business anymore, is there?

Steve Jones

Hallan: Unwomanly Face Of War

photo: Will Hutchinson

Portsmouth post-punk quartet Hallan were inspired by Svetlana Alexievich's debut novel for their fast-paced new single Unwomanly Face Of War, in which she describes the horrors women were facing in the Second World War when they were called up to fight. It is a piece of history that might repeat self, and the song serves as a stern warning that it might happen again if the powers that be get desperate enough.

Tape Op "DISCussion" Episode 30: Josh Bonati

Tape Op has posted a new episode of their DISCussion podcast series. They get on the phone with an artist or producer to discuss an album they love. In episode 30 mastering engineer Josh Bonati talks about Saâda Bonaire's self-titled album.

» tapeop.com

John Cale: Geneva 2023/02/17 setlist

photo: Marlene Marino

John Cale performed at Théâtre de l'Alhambra, Geneva, Switzerland - February 17, 2023. Cable Hogue was not played due to Dustin Boyer's amp (and toys and everything) malfunctioning. He switched to John Cale's guitar amp for awhile, who couldn't play guitar as a consequence.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Pretty People
7. Wasteland
8. Guts
9. Noise of You
10. Half Past France
11. Villa Albani
12. E: (I Keep a) Close Watch

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Geminga: Nu & dan

Dutch electronic downtempo jazz duo Geminga have once again added a bit of funk to their musical vocabulary on their new single Nu & dan ("every now and then"). Jean-Paul Pino and Claudia Cathérine are trying to find out what the other party is up to, carefully navigating emotions and opportunities. Fully committing to another can be quite scary. And since of none of it is set in stone, the inherent uncertainties make for captivating listening.

HCTF premiere - Cosmic Bull: Guest List In Heaven

Chicago based singer and guitarist Mark Vickery goes for a late night jazz mood on Guest List In Heaven, the new single by Cosmic Bull project. A lonesome harmonica, swirling synths and whispering drums accompany his lament about loss and trying to find his bearings. It is a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist/arranger/producer Paul Von Mertens as part of the new 6-track EP Hangin' in the I.P., a collection of songs about social duress and environmental concerns.

Hangin' in the I.P. is available here.

John Cale: Karlsruhe 2023/02/16 setlist

photo: Madeleine McManus

John Cale performed at Kulturzentrum Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany - February 16, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Pretty People
7. Wasteland
8. Guts
9. Noise of You
10. Cable Hogue
11. Half Past France
12. Villa Albani
13. E: Heartbreak Hotel

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

HCTF premiere - Ace Of Wands: Black Bird, Black Heart

Canadian dream pop trio Ace Of Wands sing about a bird flying over the rooftops as a metaphor for regaining freedom on their new single Black Bird, Black Heart. Lee Rose (vocals, violin, guitar synth-bass foot pedals), Anna Mernieks (guitar) and Jody Brumell (drums) have managed to create a powerful song about being insecure. It sounds quite smooth, but it packs a punch. The video was made by Samuel Scott.

Phish: Summer tour dates

Phish have announced their Summer tour dates, including a 7-night stand at Madison Square Garden in New York:

Summer Tour kicks off with two nights (and Phish’s debut) at Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, AL and includes stops in Alpharetta, Wilmington, Burgettstown, Syracuse, and Philadelphia.

A ticket request period is currently underway at tickets.phish.com, ending Monday, February 27th at Noon ET. Tickets go on sale to the public beginning Friday, March 3rd at 10AM ET. Specific ticketing information for each show is available at phish.com/tours. A discounted 7-show ticket will be available for the Madison Square Garden shows.

Dez Dare: Bozo

Darren Smallman takes a ride with a bunch of killer otters who are chasing Bozo, the new single by his one-man band Dez Dare. The punkish garage track could well serve as the soundtrack for a horror Sci-fi B-movie. Most likely all VU-meters were in the red when he recorded it. He embraced the fact that his vocals were buried in the mix as a consequence. The resultant lo-fi, garage noise was by design, and the song should be played at top volume.

Steven Wilson & Tim Bowness: The Album Years 1995

English musicians and music geeks extraordinaire Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness have posted a new episode of their podcast The Album Years. They talk about 1995, discussing album by Tricky, Goldie, Radiohead, David Bowie, Tears for Fears, Scott Walker, Blur, Oasis, Pulp, and a whole lot more.

John Cale: Paris 2023/02/14 setlist

John Cale performed at Salle Pleyel, Paris, France - February 14, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Pretty People
7. Wasteland
8. Guts
9. Noise of You
10. Cable Hogue
11. Half Past France
12. Villa Albani
13. E: Heartbreak Hotel

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Triggerfinger: bass player Mr. Paul calls it quits

Mr. Paul is calling it quits after being the bass player for Belgian powertrio Triggerfinger for 20 years. A mesage from the band's website:

After 20 years of guarding the deepest rumble of the band, recording multiple albums, widespread tours ranging from Norway to South-Africa, from Zichem to Tokyo, from Canada to Los Angeles, Monsieur Paul made the difficult decision to take a different path.

Time for change, for new adventures and challenges.

We all cherish being part of this extraordinary story, playing, recording and traveling. Discussing, ranting and laughing over gallons of coffee while trying to make sense of the (music)world around us and to preserve and expand the core idea of what our band is all about.

Tony Valentino: I'm a Sexy Punk Rocker

Tony Valentino, the guitarist for LA based garage rock band The Standells, is working on revisited version of that band's classic Dirty Water album. After three songs from that album it was time for a change of pace. The raw new original I'm a Sexy Punk Rocker finds him tapping into the energy of the late '70s, with bass player Gary Kaluza stepping up to the mike for a snarling vocal performance. Valentino is quite pleased with how to the track came out: "People have been calling me The Godfather Of Punk for a long time now, because of how much my guitar sound influenced those early punks, in LA and all over the world. Writing and recording this song was my chance to prove it."

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: "Push the Sky Away" 10th Anniversary

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the release of their Push the Sky Away album Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds offer (for a limited time) a live stream of their show at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on February 21. The movie was directed by Directed by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard. They performed the album in full in the first set, followed by a set of live favourites. A reissue of the album with this show on Blu-ray as an extra would be nice, but that's not happening.

First Set:

1. We No Who U R
2. 2Wide Lovely Eyes
3. Water’s Edge
4. Jubilee Street
5. Mermaids
6. We Real Cool
7. Finishing Jubilee Street
8. Higgs Boson Blues
9. Push the Sky Away

Second Set:

1. From Her to Eternity
2. O Children
3. The Ship Song
4. Jack the Ripper
5. Red Right Hand
6. Deanna
7. Love Letter
8. The Mercy Seat
9. Encore: Stagger Lee

» nickcave.com

John Cale: Cambridge 2023/02/12 setlist

photo: Marlene Marino

John Cale performed at Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge, UK - February 12, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Pretty People
7. Wasteland
8. Guts
9. Noise of You
10. Cable Hogue
11. Half Past France
12. Out Your Window
13. Villa Albani

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Emmecosta: Effort

photo: Haval Mulla Nazar

Italian Emmecosta are a post-dream pop trio who relocated to Sweden. Some of the Scandinavian mainstream pop sensibilities can be heard on their new single Effort. After a gentle acoustic intro, they dive into ambient territory, with a few shards of triphop rhythms to give it an edge. The harmonised vocals are spot-on and it is the perfect comedown song after a memorable night on the town.

John Cale: Birmingham 2023/02/11 setlist

John Cale performed at Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, UK - February 11, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Wasteland
7. Guts
8. Noise of You
9. Cable Hogue
10. Half Past France
11. Out Your Window
12. Villa Albani
13. E: (I Keep A) Close Watch

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Words about music (676): Jimi Hendrix

Music is a safe kind of high.

Jimi Hendrix

John Cale: Bexhill 2023/02/10 setlist

photo: Madeleine McManus

John Cale performed at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, UK - February 10, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. The Endless Plain of Fortune
3. Chinese Envoy
4. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
5. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
6. Mercy
7. Night Crawling
8. Noise of You
9. Ship of Fools
10. Pablo Picasso
11. Villa Albani

» John Cale on Facebook
» John Cale setlists

Jupe Jupe: All the Little Lies

Seattle based quartet Jupe Jupe go back to the early '80s with their new single All the Little Lies, serving up a mix of New Wave and art-rock. Driven by pulsating rhythm and quite bit of echo on the crooning vocals, they come close dark wave, albeit with the belief that a happy ending might be hiding around the corner. It is the lead single from their forthcoming new album Midnight Waits for No One, due for release on April 14.

Freyr: Abandoned Places

Swedish/Icelandic musician Freyr captures the push-and-pull of where to go next in a relationship - and whether they should take it to the next level - on his new single Abandoned Places. Making possibly life changing decisions is never easy and it is no wonder that he remains undediced throughout the track. It is a gentle folk pop song that might offer some sort of solace to those are sharing this kind of predicament.

The Who: Baba O’Riley live @ Wembley video

The Who have shared a video of Baba O’Riley, a track from their forthcoming live album The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley. Isobel Griffiths nailed the violin part. The album - recorded on July 6, 2019 - is available for pre-order (3LP set, triple black vinyl, 1 CD and a 2CD / Blu-ray set which features the audio remixed in Dolby Atmos / 5.1). Release date: March 31.

Live dates:

• 06/14 Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
• 06/17 Florence, Italy @ Firenze Rocks - Visarno Arena
• 06/20 Berlin, Germany @ Waldbühne
• 06/23 Paris, France @ La Défense Arena
• 07/06 Hull, UK @ Sewell Group Craven Park
• 07/08 Edinburgh, UK @ Edinburgh Castle
• 07/09 Edinburgh, UK @ Edinburgh Castle
• 07/12 London, UK @ The O2
• 07/14 Derby, UK @ Incora County Ground
• 07/16 Bristol, UK @ Badminton Estate
• 07/19 Durham, UK @ Seat Unique Riverside
• 07/21 St Helens, UK @ Totally Wicked Stadium
• 07/23 Brighton, UK @ 1st Central Cricket Ground

» thewho.com

Chalk: Static

Belfast alternative rock trio Chalk sound like Jarvis Cocker and Bauhaus after a memorable night at the pub on their single Static. Being stuck can be a pain and sometimes shouting at the heavens on top of an unrelenting guitar riff can offer some kind of release. Ross Cullen (vocals), Benedict Goddard (guitar, synths) and Luke Niblock (drums) have managed to bottle their anger and turn into a banger that will be appreciated by Goths and ravers.

LIJO: "Spell" a cappela live video

Dutch avant-pop singer LIJO celebrates the one-year anniversary of her single Spell by sharing an a cappela version that was recorded live @ Theaterhuis de Berenkuil in Utrecht. She was joined by the voices of Desirée Coumans, Shanna Nicó, Marlon Penn, Mirthe de Jonge, Femke Bun, and Siebe Palmen. The video was filmed by Jesse Immanuel Bom.

» thisislijo.com

HCTF review of Spell.

John Cale: London 2023/02/08 setlist

John Cale performed at London Palladium, London, UK - February 8, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Pretty People
7. Wasteland
8. Guts
9. Noise of You
10. Cable Hogue
11. Half Past France
12. Out Your Window
13. Villa Albani
14. E: Heartbreak Hotel

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Silk Cut: Our Place in the Stars

Auckland indie pop band Silk Cut sound they have been sitting on the shelf in a controlled environment. Their first full-length Our Place in the Stars mixes the sound of the late '60s and early '70s psych-pop with a bit of '90s shoegaze. They take it easy, relying on jangling guitars to carry the weight of the melody, propped up by a tight rhythm section. This works best when they stretch out a bit, like they do with the melancholic Try and Find a Time We Belong, which includes a lengthy instrumental break, and the haunting Forever Unknown, a pocket horror story told by sparse lyrics and progressive guitar motifs.

The quartet are quite comfortable in their niche. They are decades late to trouble the charts, but word-of-mouth will get them worldwide recognition anyway, albeit in small numbers. They should consider releasing Our Place in the Stars on vinyl. Serious music lovers will want to own this album in a tangible format. Recommended if you like It's Karma, It's Cool and The Foreign Films,

Alexa Dark: Villain

Spanish/American multi-instrumentalist and singer Alexa Dark goes for an old school crime movie vibe on her new single Villain. In the carefully orchestrated track she chooses the dark side, wondering if her lover can handle the fact that she is not the heroine but the bad girl in this story, which is actually refreshing and a lot cooler. The video was directed by Mateo Márquez.

Nightingale Vocal Ensemble: Composition Sped Up

What happens when you put a bunch of classically trained opera singers in a room and set them free to create improvised music on the spot? The Nightingale Vocal Ensemble explores the possibilities of the human voice on their Composition Sped Up album, a collection of a cappela pieces that go through hills and valleys, peruse call-and-response, but first and foremost celebrate foregoing true-and-tried patterns to convey a message, describe a piece of art or tell a tale. No notes, no score, but only setting things up in the studio properly to capture the moment.

Singers Nicholas Ford, Nathan Halbur, Rose Hegele, Barbara Allen Hill, Lysander Jaffe, Benjamin Perry, Juan Suarez and Angela Yam have listened carefully to each other and have created a treasure trove of moods and sounds, with the world's oldest musical instrument - the human voice - taking centre stage. Inspired by the 2021 opera …(Iphigenia) by Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding which ended by a free-for-all vocals only coda they decided that they wanted to take this concept a step further and record a full album. They named it after Shorter's famous quip that "Improvisation is just composition sped up". Some of the tracks are mere snippets (Night Air), while others easily break the ten minute mark without running out of steam. The visuals arts are the main source of inspiration. The pastoral Rosé Wine and the undulating Hot were both inspired by posters drawn Swiss artist Jérôme Bizien.

John Cale: Liverpool 2023/02/06 setlist

John Cale performed at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, UK - February 6, 2023.

The band:
John Cale: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
Dustin Boyer: lead guitar, samples
Joey Maramba: bass
Alex Thomas: drums, synths

Setlist:

1. Jumbo in tha Modernworld
2. Moonstruck (Nico's Song)
3. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
4. Mercy
5. Night Crawling
6. Pretty People
7. Wasteland
8. Guts
9. Noise of You
10. Cable Hogue
11. Half Past France
12. Out Your Window
13. Villa Albani

» John Cale on Facebook
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State Street: Ocean Blonde

NY trio State Street call themselves a New-Wave Revival act, but labeling them as melodic AOR is more accurate. Their debut single Ocean Blonde covers all the bases (and basics) of a rock anthem. They have managed to make it sound big on a shoestring budget, which is no mean feat. Matt Wikstrom (guitar) and Bobby Gioiosa (lead vocals) were members of the like-minded outfit Start The Week Over. With Stephen Dorris on drums they take another stab at stardom.

Live date:

• 02/17 New York, NY @ The Bowery Electric
  (w/ Family Dinner, Latewaves, Heavy Hex, Claire Ozmun)

» State Street on Instagram

L.T. Leif: Come Back To Me, But Lightly

Canadian musician L.T. Leif feels at home in Scotland. After being a member of orchestral pop band The Consonant C., making a racket with Bug Incision, going punk with OK JAZZ, and playing the drums for a couple of slacker rock acts, she took a sharp left and was welcomed into the DIY scene in Glasgow. Her new album Come Back To Me, But Lightly is filled with dreamy songs about walking through the hills and appreciating the wonders of nature, getting away from a world wherein consumerism reigns supreme.

Leif is in control, using her impressive vocal range as the focal point, guiding her musical collaborators Clea Anaïs, Bill Wells, Matt Swann, Clarissa Cheong and Bart Owl (eagleowls ), Faith Eliott and Mark Hamilton (Woodpigeon) through her meandering compositions. It is an amalgam of avant-folk, dream pop and a touch of tinkling synth pop, creating a tapestry of sounds that show their colours in a relaxed and captivating way.

Peter Gabriel: The Court (Dark​-​Side Mix)

Peter Gabriel has released the second new single from his new album i/o. The Court has a dystopian feel, harking back to the sound of his third and fourth solo albums, when rhythm became the main force of his songs.

I had this idea for ‘the court will rise’ chorus, so it became a free-form, impressionistic lyric that connected to justice, but there’s a sense of urgency there. A lot of life is a struggle between order and chaos and in some senses the justice or legal system is something that we impose to try and bring some element of order to the chaos. That’s often abused, it’s often unfair and discriminatory but at the same time it’s probably an essential part of a civilised society. But we do need to think sometimes about how that is actually realised and employed.

The Court (Dark-Side Mix) is released via Real World Records.

Mylar: Hobby Horse

photo: Holly Whitaker

Bossa nova meets art-pop on Hobby Horse, the new single by London based Mylar quartet. The slick production serves as a blanket for a song about obsession, teetering on the brink of something innocent into something unsound. Mixed emotions are always a fertile launchpad for creating something out of the ordinary. It will make it clear which people are actually willing to look beyond the packaging and listen to the words.

Hobby Horse is a track from their forthcoming new EP, Human Statues, due for release on March 30th via Blue Flowers.

Words about music (675): Ludwig Wittgenstein

It is so characteristic, that just when the mechanics of reproduction are so vastly improved, there are fewer and fewer people who know how the music should be played.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Cover Me: Pablo Picasso > Love Me Two Times

Watch John Cale tackle the Modern Lovers' Pablo Picasso and The Doors' Love Me Two Times. Broadcasted live on German TV as part of the long running series Rockpalast @ Grugahalle in Essen, Germany - October 14, 1984. The show was released in 2010 in multiple formats.

» john-cale.com

Showdog: Tumbleweed

Dutch indie band Showdog released a well received EP in 2007 and a full-length in 2009, before dropping off the radar almost entirely with the occasional single as a sign of life. Fast forward to 2023 and they are back as a recording unit.

Now down to a duo Gijs Kerkhoven and Sander van Munster came up with five adventurous, psych-tinged pop songs for the new Tumbleweed EP. It is a showcase for old school craftsmanship while using modern technology. Melody always comes first, but is never served up in easily digestible bits. There is always something extra added to the mix: a sound effect or a subtle change of rhythm that will make the listener press play again to try to find out what just happened. It is like a seamless jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are there, but is hard to find out how they are connected. Just enjoy it as a whole and follow their lead.