Inspired (slightly) by the Wu Tang/Beatles mash-up featured the other day, I figured I should go on a hunt and dig a load of Beatle tracks as not performed by The Fabs. There's a lot of good cover versions out there... and this playlist includes just some of them (as there's millions to wade through).
So who to expect? Well, Sandie Shaw (pictured), Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Deep Purple and... kicking off things... Bill Cosby?
Strut Records are going all roots on us with a three part series looking at the underground South African music of the '60s and '70s... and the exploration kicks off with 'Next Stop... Soweto'.
Continue reading "Album review: Next Stop... Soweto (Various Artists)" »
Like all humans, I'm prone to nostalgia. Sometimes, it's a very bad thing. Harking back to a time before you were born can drive you mental. However, sometimes nostalgia is a wonderful thing. Which brings me to Tony Palmer's docu-film, 'The Wigan Casino'.
Continue reading "DVD Review: Tony Palmer's 'The Wigan Casino'" »
They're not quite punk and not quite indie. In fact, they're Post Punk Gems and they're our latest Spotify Playlist.
Yes, 25 of them (although there could have been many more), everyone from Public Image Limited and Killing Joke to less obvious selections like the Au Pairs, Josef K (above), Scritti Politti and Tuxedomoon.
Want to hear them? Just crank open your Spotify and enjoy.
Post Punk Gems Spotify Playlist
Mute is reissuing the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds albums, with some of the early ones being a bit 'take it or leave it'. But now we've hot three of the finest, each getting the double-disc treatment on April 5th 2010 - 1988's Tender Prey, 1990's The Good Son, and 1992's Henry's Dream.
Each new reissue offers up the re-mastered stereo album, a new 'surround' mix, a specially commissioned short film by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, B-sides from the singles, videos and exclusive sleeve notes.
Want the details of all the releases? See over the page.
Continue reading "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds albums get deluxe reissue treatment" »
Actually, not one, but two Bob Dylan art exhibitions are taking place at London's Halcyon Gallery - Bob Dylan Graphics and Bob Dylan on Canvas.
Both kick off from 13th February, with the first being an exhibition of limited edition graphics from The Drawn Blank Series by Bob Dylan, which are available to buy. The last collections have sold out quickly, so get in while you can.
The second selection is an exclusive exhibition of Bob Dylan’s first paintings on canvas, based on drawings and sketches made while on the road during the period of 1989 - 1992 - the 'grand finale' of The Drawn Blank Series. No word if these are available to buy, but if you've got cash to burn, it can't hurt to ask? More on the website.
Halcyon Gallery website
Nothing clever here, just a simple Spotify playlist of bands who have played at the legendary New York Club CBGB in its heyday - or influenced those that did.
Which means everything from the Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls through to the B-52s and Devo. Ramones of course. Something for (almost) everyone.
Check it out now and let us know what you think.
CBGB Spotify playlist
The Marc Wilkinson soundtrack was a sought-after item until Trunk Records reissued it, now the DVD of Blood on Satan's Claw is back on the market, Odeon reissuing this Tigon classic.
If the movie has passed you by, this eerie '71 flick is set in an isolated rural community in 18th century Britain, with the devil taking over the village's youngsters, using the body parts of the local teenagers to manifest itself. It's dark, it's creepy and it's like nothing else. Well, except maybe Witchfinder General.
Starring Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden, Barry Andrews and Michele Dotrice, the movie gets that DVD issue on 22nd March 2010, with a brand new HD transfer in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, complete with Dolby Digital 5.1 remixed and original mono soundtracks, newly-written liner notes, a still gallery and the original theatrical trailer. It sells officially for £14.99, but Amazon should be doing a deal nearer the release date. You can check out that trailer below:
Find out more about the DVD at the Amazon website
Like the Talking Heads? Need a reusable bag for your 'big shop'? Well that means you're an ideal customer for this Talking Heads tote bag by Rose Blake.
Yes, get some knowing looks in the supermarket as you shoow your love for Byrne and co., shown here with the big suit, leaving the other band members with just a name check.
What more can we say? Well, it's made of cotton and you can also get a t-shirt in the same design. Oh yes - it sells online for £10.
Rose Blake website
Good news for anyone pining for some live New Order, the next best thing is touring the UK - Bad Lieutenant.
Yes, Bernard Sumner's latest adventure is stopping off at various small venues around the country to support a new single, 'Twist Of Fate', on March 22nd. Those dates are:
Sheffield Leadmill (March 15)
Glasgow Garage (16)
London Electric Ballroom (18)
Preston 53 Degrees (20)
Liverpool Masque (21)
The website no doubt has more details.
I bet that headline made you feel old. Yes, The Charlatans' Some Friendly album is 20 years old and rather than celebrate in their Manchester backyard, the band has announced a one-off London show to play it in its entirety. Hoodies and bowl haircut optional, but appreciated.
The gig takes place on May 31st at The Roundhouse, where you can enjoy vintage gems such as 'Then', 'Sproston Green' and 'The Only One I Know' (the latter because it was tagged onto later reissues). Talking of reissues, the album is coming back out too around the same time - no doubt with an extra or two.
Tickets go on sale at 9am Friday 5th February from gigsandtours.com.
Manchester's Green Room plays host to an interesting new concept with some interesting characters in March - Close-Up.
Hosted by author and DJ Dave Haslam, the night claims to get 'up close and personal with musicians, poets, artists and actors' discussing their life and work. All of which could be a little dull with the wrong people. But Haslam has booked a couple of gems to kick things off - Kevin Rowland and Mark E. Smith.
Whether it was a joke, a way of getting out of a contract or the first step to industrial noise, no one really knows. But what we didn't expect was Lou Reed going back to his 1975 controversial Metal Machine Music album for inspiration for a live tour.
It's not actually the album played live (you'll probably be relieved to hear), but Reed fronting the Metal Machine Trio for 'a night of deep noise' alongside Ulrich Krieger (tenor sax & live-electronics), and Sarth Calhoun (live processing & continuum fingerboard). Forget Perfect Day and Walk on the Wild Side, expect 'entirely new unique music, noise and soundscapes'.
If you just want the original album, Reed is releasing a newly re-mastered edition of the original 1975 album on 180 gram double gatefold vinyl, audio DVD & Blu-ray, each format features a stereo reproduction of the original quadraphonic master, playable on home theatre systems. Make sure you have the Nurofen handy. Tour dates over the page.
Continue reading "Lou Reed takes Metal Machine Music on the road" »
Never judge a book by its cover (or a DVD by its sleeve) - This, That And The Other looks like a typical Stanley Long / Derek Ford exploitation flick, but the end result is very different. In fact, it's probably the strangest movie I've seen in a long, long time. Oh yes - it's also got a soundtrack by lost psych/pop band Scrugg. Nice.
This Odeon reissue is being pitched as a Dennis Waterman vehicle, the ex-Sweeney and Minder man on the front in his best 60s clobber. But Waterman only appears in one segment of this three-part compendium - and it's also the weakest of a movie that goes from cheesy wannabe sex comedy to mad psychedelic dreamworld in the space of 78 minutes.
Continue reading "DVD Review: This, That And The Other (1969)" »
Right on cue. Here comes a '90s revival. As synthpop starts to shuffle away apologetically with the new Hot Chip album, here comes the sound of noisy, brash indie music. Think Dinosaur Jr and Husker Du and Teenage Fanclub... the fuzzjangle period is upon us, starting with I Was A King.
