Dandy In The Underworld

 

R JOHN WEBB - THE INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN DANDY THE VANDAL AND THE GODFORSAKEN SWEETHEARTS

Birmingham singer-songwriter R John Webb is a man of many faces. For 10 years he was the rabble-rousing preacher at the front of cowpunk gospel favourites Rhino And The Ranters, before releasing a solo EP "The Bridge" with a more introspective feel, which I reviewed here.

He then briefly rebranded himself as R John The Revelator, a psychedelic messiah who was around just long enough for a live-streamed lockdown show with migraine-inducing visuals. I might try to persuade him to resurrect this persona, it would be well suited to a night such as Sensateria.

The latest incarnation is his most ambitious project to date. Dandy The Vandal is a time-travelling glam rocker who witnessed the 1970s winter of discontent and the country's subsequent ruin during the Thatcher years. He has now materialised in the 21st century on a mission to save us from Brexit. R John Webb's first full-length solo release could almost be called a concept album, using elements from all eras of popular music to help us learn from the past and hopefully not repeat the same mistakes.

The short intro piece "Toast Gown" sets the political tone, with the sampled voice of Margaret Thatcher bringing to mind Test Dept's sonic experiments, although I doubt they were a conscious influence on Dandy The Vandal. The title, however, is clearly a spoonerised reference to the Specials, as the social problems described by the Coventry band in 1981 are still prevalent today.

The album kicks off properly with the title track. With its Ziggy Stardust/T Rex vibe, this is the most obviously glam rock number on the album but the spirits of Bowie and Bolan will continue to permeate as we progress through the tracks. Our time traveller arrives in the present day and is clearly baffled by what he finds here. The obsessions with celebrity  - "They all love him, he don't wanna know" - and social media - "Don't need a like for him to get high" - are alien concepts to him. This leads straight into a familiar song, "We Are the Subterraneans", which was previously heard on "The Bridge" but it's presented in a different form here. Rather than the piano of the EP version, this is a soul-funk piece that could have come from Bowie's "Young Americans" album. Here we see how the style in which a song is played can give it a new meaning. The original version hinted at outcasts banding together in a desperate attempt to survive but here they are a clandestine group plotting to undermine what we have come to take for granted.

Next up is "Small Island", which has definite hints of Bruce Springsteen. Listeners with more modern tastes might think of Arcade Fire, but let's not forget that they were influenced by Springsteen, another reminder that musical history, and perhaps time itself, is not linear but a continuous loop. At first the lyrics seem at odds with Bruce's love of cars, starting off with a criticism of driveways packed with Audis and BMWs. But it's an attack on consumer culture in general, and the urge to put on a show just to outdo the neighbours. This is not too far removed from Bruce and his working class values, and I'm also reminded of the "status symbol land" that the Monkees longed to escape in "Pleasant Valley Sunday".

"Do Juan Don" is an oddity, with a melody taken straight from "Blame It On The Boogie" but the stream of consciousness lyrics put a dark slant on it, simply because it's almost impossible to imagine what the time traveller could be talking about. But that may well be the point - the line "signifying nothing, written on a bootstrap" neatly sums up much of today's throwaway pop music.

With its 1950s rhythm and do-wop backing vocals, "Coup Coup Collider" is the closest in style to a Rhino And The Ranters track but lyrically we're still in surreal territory. There are references to Covid and the "call for isolation, moral degradation" of living in lockdown, with a strong implication that Dandy The Vandal, rather than our hapless government, would be the best candidate to lead us out of our current malaise.

"We Belong To Her" has an eastern vibe, which many have done before in a contrived hipster way (remember Kula Shaker?) but this feels more authentic. At the same time this could be a dig at those who use mystic imagery with no understanding of its origins. Who is the mysterious character "shrouded in the charts and she speaks in astrology" ? The message here is to abandon your new age beliefs and follow the common sense advice of the Vandal.

Bowie resurfaces on "Feel The Madness" but we have now left the 1970s and "Let's Dance" is directly referenced in the lyrics, suggesting that the only way to escape the madness is to immerse ourselves in music. Another reference point is Talking Heads and I'm sure I can detect a hint of Peter Gabriel's 1980s work, which makes me think that these songs would lend themselves to animated videos.

Closing song "The Moment You Love Me" brings us up to date, starting with a delicate guitar intro that could be from one of Radiohead's more accessible tunes before developing into a neo-folk piece that I can imagine being played in one of our smaller venues such as Kitchen Garden Cafe or Tower Of Song. The time traveller tells us "the moment you love me, I'm gone" before a choral rendition of "Land Of Hope And Glory" disintegrates into the same cacophony of looped voices that started the album, creating a TARDIS-like effect as our hero is transported back to his own time zone. Maybe he feels his work here is done, but it's more likely that after just 40 minutes in the present day he's realised that society is screwed and there's nothing more he can do for us. Whatever, I don't think this is the last we will see of Dandy The Vandal.

With so many direct references to classic artists you might accuse the album of being derivative but that couldn't be further from the truth. It's a cleverly constructed piece of work that shows us how it's important to learn from and be inspired by the past without blindly copying. To quote the title track, "Bohemian chic of the charity store, they all imitate but they don't know the score." I've been listening to music for long enough to know that it's almost impossible to find something completely new, but it's refreshing to hear an album that takes those charity store finds and uses them in an innovative way.

"Dandy The Vandal And The Godforsaken Sweethearts" is released on 28th July and can be pre-ordered from Catch The Buzz records on Bandcamp:
https://catchthebuzz.bandcamp.com/album/the-ingenious-gentleman-dandy-the-vandal-the-godforsaken-sweethearts

There will be a launch gig on the same day at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Birmingham/Hare-And-Hounds/R-John-Webbs-Dandy-The-Vandal-Album-Launch/36040628/

Cool With A Capital C

 

GARETH JONES 1980 - 2022 / MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE 1996 - 2022

The Birmingham music community was thrown into shock and grief last week when it was announced that Gareth Jones, a.k.a. Grandmaster Gareth, mastermind of cult Brummie band Misty's Big Adventure, had passed away at his home on Sunday 15th May. The previous night the band had played a rousing set at the Hare And Hounds in Kings Heath, their first hometown show in over two years. They had been very productive during lockdown and I counted at least six new songs in the 90-minute set alongside the usual live favourites plus a few surprises. Future dates were planned and the band members were clearly looking forward to these.

Misty's Big Adventure's last gig, Hare And Hounds, Saturday 14th May 2022

I spoke to Gareth briefly at the end of the show, just to ask for the set list which he had quickly stuffed into his pocket as soon as the last song was over. I would never have believed this would be the last time I'd see him. 

Set list from final Misty's Big Adventure gig, Saturday 14th May 2022

I can't claim to have known him well and speaking to gig-going friends this week I was surprised to find many said the same thing. Gareth was a very private person and I rarely saw him out, except at his own gigs and occasionally those by his friends The Nature Centre. My interactions with him were limited to telling him I'd enjoyed a gig and him thanking me for attending. I don't mean he was unfriendly, he just had no rock star aspirations, preferring his small group of friends and no-frills lifestyle. I've heard stories, though, of him re-arranging gigs to fit in with fans' birthdays and helping at sessions for adults with learning difficulties. The few who knew him well say he was one of the most easy-going people on our local music scene.

Grandmaster Gareth onstage, Saturday 14th May 2022

Gareth put together Misty's Big Adventure with a few friends in the mid-1990s, when he was still a teenager. The line-up soon stabilised to the one we know today with Jon Kedge on guitar, Lucy Baines on sax, Hannah Baines on trumpet, Matt Jones on bass, Sam Minnear on drums and Lucy Bassett on keyboards. Their live sets were augmented by Tom Baines as Erotic Volvo, a red and blue dancing alien with hands all over his body. As with many of our talented local acts, the sound of Misty's is hard to define as it takes in so many influences. The first time I heard them I immediately thought of Julian Cope, particularly his early '80s work before he discovered space rock and stone circles, so I was pleased to hear Gareth confirm that Cope was indeed an inspiration. Other reference points include '60s and '70s pop, and the brass section hints at the Midlands' 2 Tone scene. But what really defines Misty's is the striking contrast between the upbeat music and Gareth's deadpan vocal delivery. Combining this with the witty lyrics, most of which were written solely by Gareth, Misty's went far deeper than their light-hearted appearance would lead you to expect. Gareth's glum stage persona was, I suspect, an exaggeration of his true character and I was surprised to learn that he was a good few years younger than me. I'm not suggesting that he looked old, just that he had a great deal of wisdom for one so young and this is particularly apparent in his lyrics.

I don't imagine there are many reading this who are not already familiar with Misty's but in case you've been living under a rock (or outside of Birmingham) I'll give you a quick run-through that will hopefully inspire you to give them a listen. If you're in a hurry, the double vinyl compilation "The Young Person's Guide to Misty's Big Adventure" will provide you with their career highlights but for completists like myself, I recommend working through their five main albums in sequence. All of these can be found on their Bandcamp site mistysbigadventure.bandcamp.com/ 

Let's take a quick look at each of them:

After years of gigging and a couple of singles, debut album "...And Their Place In The Solar Hi-Fi System" finally arrived in 2004. This is the perfect starting point for a Misty's novice as it clearly lays out their philosophy in the space of 45 minutes. "Night Time Better Than The Daytime" in particular is a song that defined Misty's from the very beginning.

The follow-up "The Black Hole"  (2005) was apparently knocked out in just ten days and I would imagine many Misty's aficionados would cite it as their favourite. In fact if I ever get round to writing the list of ten essential Birmingham albums, this one would definitely be in the running. "Never Stops Never Rests Never Sleeps", "The Story Of Love" and "Smart Guys Wear Ties" are long-standing staples of their live shows. The album also includes my own personal favourites "Elevator Escalator Stairs" (perhaps the most Julian Cope-like they've ever sounded) and "She Fills The Spaces".

"Funny Times" (2007) shows the band progressing lyrically with songs such as "Serious Thing", "How Did You Manage To Get Inside My Head?" and another live favourite "I Can't Bring The Time Back".   

The next album "Television's People" (2008) is a bit of an oddity in their catalogue. A concept album of sorts, it's cleverly constructed but few of the songs featured in their live sets. At times it resembles their Jug Of Ale contemporaries Pram and Broadcast. It's definitely worth a listen but requires perseverance to fully appreciate it.

Final album "The Family Amusement Centre" (2011) sees them back in familiar territory although these are some of the most introspective songs Gareth wrote. As I worked through all the records in the light of last week's news, the lyrics to this album in particular took on a new, poignant meaning. Songs such as "I See A Cloud", "Still Haunted By The Same Ghost" and especially "Just Another Day" made me quite emotional when taken in this new context so perhaps it was a bit too soon to revisit the album.

It's also worth mentioning the 2006 single "Fashion Parade", the closest they ever came to a hit, with a guest appearance from Noddy Holder:

Gareth's solo work, also found on Bandcamp, shows his more experimental side. Although much of it feels like him larking about at home, it's worth noting that some of these pieces were used in TV shows and computer games, most notably a theme tune for Dave Gorman.

In this time of sadness it's encouraging to see people coming together to support each other, with many fans and friends posting their memories of Gareth. This sense of community is one of the defining elements of Birmingham's music scene and I remember similar outpourings of love when we lost Simon Maragh (Dog Food) in 2019 and Trish Keenan (Broadcast) in 2011. Those two musicians are still fondly remembered as I know Gareth will be in years to come.

The future of the band has yet to be announced. It seems unlikely, to me at least, that Misty's would feel right with a different singer but that of course is for the band members to decide. What I do know is that there are six talented musicians (and one talented alien) who will certainly bounce back with musical projects of some kind. In the meantime, I'm trying to take some comfort in the 25 years' worth of musical legacy that Gareth has left for us.

Howling At The Moon

 

LOW RED MOON - Compañeros

"Compañeros" is the debut release from Low Red Moon, a local collective who describe themselves as "psy-fi Americana". If you've come here hoping to understand what that means, I'm not sure I can help you. Their mysterious world is akin to being in a David Lynch film and despite attending more gigs by them than any other band over the past few years, I am still baffled by their very existence. They are a constantly evolving entity, in both sound and physical manifestation. It started as a live solo project for Texan Brummie Kaytee Thompson-DeWolfe, formerly of Bi-Polar Baby and The Dark Retreat, and she soon recruited a second guitarist. After toying with names such as The Great Giraffe Conspiracy, they settled on Low Red Moon (after a song from Belly's classic debut album) and the band expanded to include bass and drums. Over the next three years the band started to resemble a religious cult with members being assimilated into the ranks without a full understanding of what they were committing themselves to. There can now be anything up to eight people on stage. It's alleged that even your humble reviewer has taken part in a private performance, playing an arcane instrument known as a flexatone, but thankfully no footage of this exists.

The rate of membership growth is such that I'm not certain of the full list of contributors to the album. I believe that alongside Kaytee it features Olly Pilsworth, Andrew Wilson, Paris Moon Fennell, Beth Walsh, Angela Cross, Gary Charles and Sean Thompson-DeWolfe. However Paris has now been replaced by Faisal Rashid on bass for live shows.

The musical style is impossible to describe as it takes in so many influences. The driving guitar is, not surprisingly, reminiscent of Belly but lead single "Fluid" has a pulsing krautrock beat distinct from anything else on the album. Elsewhere there are subtle hints of flute that hark back to Birmingham's classic "we brought our friends" scene of the late '90s and spaghetti western guitar permeates many of the tracks. "Full Wolf Moon" features spoken word from local poet Sean Thompson-DeWolfe, who often opens their live shows with his heartfelt rants on modern life.

The lyrics are suitably oblique, the kind I like best as you can easily apply them to your own situation, but the moon is a common reference and there is a prominent theme of nature throughout. This is no doubt inspired by Kaytee's upbringing on a Navajo reservation. Wolves, mockingbirds and magpies all make an appearance in the songs. Owls and other creatures can be seen in the cover art and in Kaytee's paintings, which can be found in many bars and venues around the city. If you pay close attention at their live shows, you might spot penguins and even giraffes lurking in the fringes.

The album closes with "Doldrums", which encompasses several different styles and slowly mutates in the same way the band themselves have. It starts with gentle guitar and Mazzy Star-like vocals but after seven minutes it has become a prog workout including spooky theremin effects. I see the manifold elements on offer here as a representation of our city's musical diversity. While cities such as Liverpool and Manchester are known for having their own sound, Birmingham has never been defined by one "scene". This makes me feel grateful for the wide range of talent and experimental leanings that surround us. 

"Compañeros" is available to download on Bandcamp now, with a vinyl release coming later in the year.

https://lowredmoonuk.bandcamp.com/album/compa-eros

My Ranting Days Are Over

 

R JOHN WEBB - THE BRIDGE

Fans of live music, particularly in Birmingham but also at festivals around the country, will almost certainly have encountered Rhino And The Ranters with their unique brand of gospel cowpunk blues. Although best known for raucous live shows with the full band, frontman Ryan John Webb has been known to play the occasional solo gig. Indeed, one of my favourite performances of last year was his busking set on the streets of Kings Heath for Record Store Day. After ten frantic years the Ranters have finally called it a day, going out on a high with a farewell gig at the Hare & Hounds in August. They will be greatly missed but their manic singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist is still very much in action with the imminent release of this four-track solo EP. 

 

Although retaining the blend of traditional styles and surreal stories for which he's known, the mood here is more introspective and this is apparent even before the music starts, simply from the artist's decision to rebrand himself. While "Rhino" was an evangelising preacher, always winning over the room with his fired-up sermons, the name R John Webb suggests a loner roaming the wild west. Having rejected his alter ego, the former preacher is on a quest to discover his true self.

The journey starts off in familiar territory with the gypsy-tinged "Guajira", a song that regularly featured in the band's live set. While still relatively upbeat, without the full band the sparse instrumentation means R John's voice takes on a plaintive tone, the sound of a man desperate to flee from his past but unsure where to run.

Next up comes something of a surprise in the form of "We Are The Subterraneans". A quick glance at the setlists I've picked up at recent shows suggests this is the only song here that I've not heard before. The jaunty piano is reminiscent of Bowie circa "Hunky Dory" and then the gravelly vocals kick in. This is the voice of an outcast, feeling at odds with society but at the same time taking comfort in the fact that there are other misfits who will outnumber and outlive the "normal" folk. The outsider theme continues on "Deadlands", a great slice of Americana that brings to mind the film "Deliverance".

Part of the beauty of this EP is the way the running order has been sequenced. There's a natural progression between the tracks that is the exact opposite of a Ranters gig. Unlike the live shows, which would build to a ferocious climax, over the course of four songs the mood gets gradually more maudlin and finishes on an emotional low (but musical peak) with "These Strings Of The Old Guitar". It opens with a lonesome harmonica, then the most impassioned vocals we have yet heard from our storyteller as he finally accepts that his past life and former friends are gone for good. As that harmonica draws the story to a close, we're left with a vague sense of hope that R John will now be able to turn his life around.

It goes without saying that this EP is a must for anyone who has enjoyed the Ranters' live shows. It will also be of interest to fans of Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Woodie Guthrie, in fact songwriters from any decade of the 20th century. "The Bridge" is released on October 14th through iTunes, Spotify and other digital platforms. R John Webb plays at JW Evans Silver Factory in the Jewellery Quarter on October 10th with more shows planned later in the year. To keep up to date with his activities, you can follow him on Facebook and on Twitter.

The Best Of 2016

As we reach the end of another year, it hardly seems necessary for me to say that 2016 was a bad one for deaths and world events in general. This is reflected in the lyrical themes of some of the year's releases but what's more noticeable is that many of us have sought comfort in music and perhaps even used it to shut ourselves off from the horrors around us. I wouldn't have thought it possible this time last year but I've listened to even more new music than I did in 2015 and that has made compiling this year's listing an almost impossible task. I did consider making it a top 30 instead due to the large number of albums that didn't quite make the cut. For example, I expect many of you will be concerned by the absence of PJ Harvey. "The Hope Six Demolition Project" was in my first draft of the chart but then I realised that I'd left out Kristin Hersh so positions had to be shuffled, which meant that poor Polly Jean was bumped out of the top 20. To make us all feel better about it, let's consider her to be joint 20th, which just means she doesn't get her photo on the wall above.

Other notable omissions include Savages, the Besnard Lakes, the first album in over 15 years from the Violent Femmes, an excellent film soundtrack from Scott Walker and the last ever album (although Michael Gira has promised/threatened that more than once in the past) from Swans. As in previous years, an honourable mention should go to my good friend Steve Lawson, who misses out simply because he's released so much new music recently that it's difficult to pick one.


20 CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER - Void Beats/Invocation Trex
Tim Gane and Joe Dilworth collaborate with members of Deerhunter, Spacemen 3 and Mouse On Mars for a triple album that replicates the best of Stereolab with added sci-fi weirdness.

19 JENNY HVAL - Blood Bitch
The only artist from last year's chart who also features this year. While some might find an album about menstruation unnerving, the music is serene enough that you find yourself forgetting the overall theme and the lyrics could be interpreted as being about emotional loss, vampires or whatever you choose.

18 THOUGHT FORMS - Songs About Drowning
The Bristol trio have been getting some well-deserved press this year, with support slots for the likes of Bob Mould. Live, they blew me away with fury that called to mind early Sonic Youth. On record, their musical ability comes to the fore and with the more minimal approach on a couple of tracks it becomes apparent just how much vocalist Charlie Romijn sounds like Kim Gordon.

17 STEVE GUNN - Eyes On The Lines
It's easy to be fooled by Gunn's voice and think that you're in for an album of classic '70s rock but then you notice the technical intricacies of the playing. The best comparison I can come up with is a mix of Richard Thompson and recent Thurston Moore works, and I've tied my brain in knots trying to work out how many guitars are layered on top of each other.

16 WYMOND MILES - Call By Night
The Fresh & Onlys' guitarist has released three solo records but I'd never encountered him until he cropped up on a Sacred Bones label sampler that came with Jenny Hval's album. Baroque pop that will appeal to fans of Scott Walker's '60s work.

15 LINDA GUILALA - Psiconáutica
Foreign language albums are difficult to get my head round if I'm not sure what the songs are about but this Spanish mix of swirling keyboards and shimmering guitars inspired me to put in a bit of effort. While many would have been content just to enjoy the ethereal melodies, I spent an evening running the lyrics through Google Translate and discovered that this is a concept album of sorts about someone going through various stages of addiction and psychological trauma.

14 THE WOLFHOUNDS - Untied Kingdom (...Or How To Come To Terms With Your Culture)
Although usually lumped in with jangly C86 bands, from their second album onwards the Wolfhounds were more abrasive and socially aware, and "Untied Kingdom" picks up where 1990's "Attitude" left off. The lyrics, including racist jokes from the 1970s and mentions of "the stupid poor getting what they deserve", come uncomfortably close to the truth at times - an indie equivalent of Frankie Boyle.

13 KRISTIN HERSH - Wyatt At The Coyote Palace
Kristin Hersh rarely releases albums in a conventional format these days; this 24-song epic comes in a book with stories, poems and even a recipe. While the boundaries between her solo and Throwing Muses output have become increasingly blurred of late, many tracks here hark back to works such as 2001's "Sunny Border Blue".

12 PSYCHIC ILLS - Inner Journey Out
The third Sacred Bones release in this year's chart. The hazy melodies bring to mind Mazzy Star so it's no surprise that there is a guest appearance from Hope Sandoval, whose own album narrowly missed the top 20.

11 ANOHNI - Hopelessness
I was slow to catch on to the fact that Antony Hegarty was recording under a new name but snapped up this album as soon as I learned who it was. There are more electronic elements and a more political slant than on Antony And The Johnsons' releases, but the haunting voice is still unmistakable.

10 GONG - Rejoice! I'm Dead!
Purists will no doubt claim that Gong without Daevid Allen is unimaginable and with Kavus Torabi now at the helm, I must confess that on first listen this came across as a Knifeworld album. But on closer inspection, the underlying music comes closer to the classic jazzy Gong sound than anything they've released this century, particularly with Steve Hillage's contribution to the title track. Featuring lyrics written by Allen taking a self-deprecating look at his impending death, these songs provide some reassurance in a year when we've lost so many great artists.

9 SUEDE - Night Thoughts
Friends have expressed surprise that I listen to Suede as they were apparently a "Britpop" band - a scene I strove to avoid. I don't agree with them being categorised this way; let's not forget that "Dog Man Star" was one of the most complex albums of that period and 20 years later they have finally matched it with a record so sweepingly dramatic that it's almost prog at times. I still don't fully understand the accompanying film though.

8 BIRDEATSBABY - Tanta Furia
Despite several singles (including a Muse cover) suggesting Birdeatsbaby were developing a harder edge, this album features plenty of their trademark cabaret sound. The weekend I spent with Mishkin Fitzgerald was one of the high points of my year and after she bravely opened up in this article about her ongoing battle with depression, the introspective lyrics make perfect sense.

7 PIXIES - Head Carrier
Many fans had written them off after the departure of Kim Deal but we finally have a worthy successor to "Doolittle". Full review here.

6 PIANO MAGIC - Closure
Piano Magic, and also frontman Glen Johnson's other projects, have featured heavily in this blog since I started it and I think it's accurate to say that they are the one band who have provided a constant soundtrack for almost half of my life. So I'm saddened that they've decided to bring things to a close 20 years to the day since their first ever gig, but they go out in style with a final album that echoes the brooding melancholy of their 2005 masterpiece "Disaffected".

5 JOSEFIN ÖHRN + THE LIBERATION - Mirage
My greatest discovery of the year when I saw her at an excellent psych event in Manchester, coming across like Patti Smith fronting Suicide. I was worried that the album wouldn't live up to my expectations but it has exceeded them, with the drive of the live show augmented by hints of Silver Apples and Broadcast.

4 RADIOHEAD - A Moon Shaped Pool
This album has perplexed and even infuriated me - the grammatical error in the title, the inclusion of tracks that the band have been playing live for many years, the barely legible "secondary" lyrics on the vinyl packaging and most of all the release schedule, which meant I had to go against my usual instinct and listen to the download months before I had the physical release. But it's still Radiohead at their finest and hangs together more cohesively than previous effort "King Of Limbs".

3 NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - Skeleton Tree
A Nick Cave album is always an emotional experience and you can expect themes of death to crop up but after the untimely loss of his son, this one was bound to be unsettlingly realistic. On the first listen I assumed every song was written as a tribute but then Cave revealed that, amazingly, some of the lyrics were penned before the tragic event. Regardless of what he did/didn't intend the songs to be about, this is possibly the most moving release in his 30-plus years as an artist.

2 DAVID BOWIE - ★
Many would have expected this to top my chart and if I'm honest, one of the reasons it didn't is simply that I've found it emotionally draining to revisit the album. In case you didn't read it, here's what I wrote at the time. I don't think there's any more that needs to be said.

1 KNIFEWORLD - Bottled Out Of Eden
If you've read this far then you're probably wondering a couple of things: Just who is this Kavus Torabi guy and why is he so special that not only does he get into the top 10 twice but also snatch the number one spot from odds-on favourite Bowie? And if the album is so great, why has a full review not appeared in this blog already? It's amazing that between taking on the unenviable task of fronting Gong and co-hosting a radio show with Steve "Interesting" Davis, Kavus has found time to create something that's alternately uplifting and poignant. But while the man himself gets most of the writing credits, let's not forget the other seven members who contribute elements such as clarinet, sax and bassoon to give the record such a frenetic sound. As for the lack of a review when it came out - well, I've started to write about it several times but it's such a diverse record that it's impossible to describe it accurately. To call it "prog" or "psych" is just lazy. I still haven't reached a full interpretation of what this album means to me on a personal level but the idea of leaving Eden for hell sums up the past year. Add to that the repeated theme of dreams and I get the feeling that this album is not intended to be understood, and that's what has kept me hooked. I would like to think that in 10, 20 years' time, if I'm asked to name a record that has stuck with me then "Bottled Out Of Eden" will be one of the first that comes to mind.

Death Disco

 

VICTORIES AT SEA - Birmingham Sunflower Lounge

When you go to a gig, what do you expect from it? Do you just want the band to replicate the sound of the record note for note? Many fans would be perplexed if they saw a band live for the first time and got something different from what they're used to. But to a regular gig-goer it can seem pointless if the live show is totally predictable. However, I admit that I sometimes find myself in the reverse situation - coming away from a gig with a record only to discover that it doesn't capture the live sound. This was the case with Birmingham band Victories At Sea and their album "Everything Forever", released on Static Caravan in 2015. I bought the album after seeing them support Moon Duo back in July and on first listen it seemed to be dominated by synths, its polished production a million miles from the intensity of the live shows I'd seen from them up to that point.

Closer inspection revealed that live and on record, the same influences prevail - most notably early Factory Records bands and other electronic post-punk acts. It's just that Victories Of Sea use different aspects of those influences depending on the situation. Most reviews I've seen of the record make reference to New Order and if asked which album in particular springs to mind when I hear "Everything Forever", it would have to be the disco hedonism of "Technique". But there is nothing about Victories At Sea's live set that comes anywhere close to disco. Occasional nods to New Order can still be spotted but it's to their earlier, more introverted work. There are also hints at Section 25's debut LP and even abrasive textures reminiscent of early Cabaret Voltaire.

I've recently written about how the style in which a song is delivered can change the listener's interpretation. Although the lyrics could relate to a recent heartbreak, the overall feel of the album is one of optimism. Many of the songs suggest picking yourself up, making the most of the good things in life to help you move on. The lead track "Bloom", with its refrain of "So hold on..." and advice to "bury yourself in good times", could be played while getting ready for a night out with a group of friends who have convinced you that a spot of clubbing is what you need to lift your spirits. But when heard live, secondary lyrics such as "Keeping up appearances but falling down" dominate, highlighting the distinctions between expectation and reality - in relationships or life in general.

This theme crops up again on the Depeche Mode-like "Up". Opening line "Just give me air, the rush, the beat, the sound" suggests the joys of clubbing, but live there is something more menacing about it. I suddenly notice the "cruelty, despair, with no one else around", a reminder of how claustrophobic the nightclub experience can actually be. Everyone seems to be having a good time except you, it's too loud to have a meaningful conversation and you wish you'd stayed at home to work on your blog instead. This outsider feeling, the reluctance to conform with what is considered a "good night out" radiates from the band's onstage demeanour. It's clear that a lot of planning went into the record to get all the components to fit together neatly but free of the confines of the studio, the band members all seem keen to do their own thing. They barely acknowledge each other during the set and it seems that just by sheer chance the three elements coalesce to form a glorious chaotic whole. It's difficult for the audience to decide which of the musicians to focus on but at first, all attention is on frontman John-Paul White. For the majority of the set he is thrashing all flavours of hell out of his guitar, a guitar that barely gets a look-in under the slick production of the record. It also becomes clear what a powerful voice he has, sometimes hitting high notes that suggest traumas a man of his youthful age should not have experienced. His melodious delivery on the album reminds me of Stockholm Monsters' early singles on Factory but on stage there is more than a hint of Mark Burgess of The Chameleons.

The credits on the album don't make it clear who plays what and you could be forgiven for thinking that the beats are from a drum machine, or whatever the equivalent technology is called these days. But extra intensity is generated by having live percussion alongside programmed rhythms. With their regular drummer on holiday, Martin Cleveley has been drafted in from a band called Repeat Of Last Week, another act I clearly need to check out. Martin's energy reminds me of a young Stephen Morris and his performance in the classic "Transmission" video in particular.

Steven Edgehill's simultaneous handling of bass and synths has a feel of other current post-punk/disco hybrids such as Factory Floor, but also recalls much earlier innovators. This is most apparent in the pulsing krautrock rhythms of "Swim", the song on the album that has always struck me as coming closest to the live sound. Up to this point the lyrical themes could be linked to personal relationships, but there is now a realisation that much worse things are happening to the world as a whole. Although written two years ago, "We are the people lost at sea, we are the people who have lost our way" seems to have foretold the current state of both the UK and US. With society itself falling apart, attempts at either repairing or moving on from a failed relationship seem trivial and I suspect Victories At Sea may soon move into this darker territory on record as well as live.

After seven songs from "Everything Forever" and two from the EP "In Memory Of..." JP announces that this will be the band's last show for a while as they are heading back to the studio. They close the set with a new number, shown as "Aldous" on the set list. This is, I'm sure, a reference to "Brave New World" - a book I imagine to have a very bleak outlook but I must confess to never having read it. It's always a bold move to end on a new song, doubly so in this case when it's different from everything that has preceded it. "Aldous" sounds as desolate as anything on Joy Division's final album but with another 36 years of suffering thrown in.

Having seen the band live several times then listened closely to the lyrics on the album, the live set makes more sense this time around. When I mention this to JP after the show, he thanks me for reading the words as many people don't bother to do this. I know this should not come as a surprise and I realise that everyone appreciates music in their own way but with a band such as Victories At Sea, it's vital to become familiar with their many facets to get the full effect of the songs. With downloads and streaming making music so disposable, many consumers don't take the time to find the full story and I feel they are missing out. Things come full circle when I get home and play the album again, and notice that some of the anger witnessed tonight is actually present within its grooves and the guitars are actually there if you listen out for them. I only see this now the optimistic bubble has been burst. With 2016 having been such a terrible year for us all, I'm eager to see how this will inspire Victories At Sea's next set of recordings. Based on tonight's performance and the tone of the new song, I'm not expecting their second album to be a cheery affair but I'm sure it will be stunning nevertheless.

In My Motorcycle Mirror I Think About The Life I've Led

 

PIXIES - HEAD CARRIER

I've been a little slow off the mark writing about this album. I've had it for a month and by now, those of you with any interest in the Pixies will have played it to death and formed your own opinions. Then there are those who have made a conscious decision to avoid it. I understand your reasons for doing that and I doubt that anything I say will persuade you otherwise.

For a lot of music fans, once they hit their mid-30s their listening will be based around nostalgia to a greater or lesser extent. Even for those such as myself who still consume a huge amount of new music, we often claim that the most important bands are those we listened to in our formative years. We all have songs that are tied in with key moments in our past and as we get older we experience fewer life changes, making it harder to find something in our minds to attach the music to. So if a favourite band reforms, we approach with trepidation, especially if there is new material that's likely to trample all over their legacy. But if we're honest, maybe we also want to leave the classic songs in the past. If we hear them played live now, we might have to admit that we're in a different place in our lives and the music will lose the meaning it once held.

There are also acts who have what is considered a classic line-up and if a reformation is lacking just one original member then fans will not think of it as the same band. The 21st century version of the Pixies has fallen foul of all the issues described here, with many listeners turned off by the awkward mess found on the three EPs that made up 2014's "Indie Cindy". Add to that the departure of iconic bassist Kim Deal and the result is apathy from much of their original fan base. "No Kim, no deal" as one friend put it when I asked if he would be going to any of the forthcoming live shows.

It will take a lot to win back my faith after "Indie Cindy" but as this is the Pixies, I'm willing to give them a chance. It's clear from the outset that they've learnt from recent mistakes. Black Francis opens the album with his trademark barked vocals, reminiscent of 1989's "Tame", and new bassist Paz Lenchantin proves that she's a more than adequate replacement for Kim Deal. This might lose me a few friends but I don't agree with those who say that the bass is an integral part of the Pixies' style. Although Deal undoubtedly provided a solid backbone for the songs, I've always felt that their classic sound was built around a contrast of melody and ferocity, with the savage vocals set against Joey Santiago's surf guitar. That balance was lacking on "Indie Cindy" and it took its cues from "Trompe Le Monde", their last and weakest album of the '90s. But with the guitar back at the forefront, this album has the feel of summer that I always associated with the band. Something else that the last album lacked was memorable songs, but here we see a return to the accessible yet still edgy style of "Doolittle" and after just one play, "Oona", "Classic Masher" and "Might As Well Be Gone" are already stuck in my head. Although the overall vibe picks up where "Doolittle" left off, there are also hints at the first mini-LP "Come On Pilgrim". The standout track is ‘Um Chagga Lagga’, effortlessly tearing the last 20-odd years to shreds and coming across like the bastard son of "Nimrod's Son". (Which I guess makes it "Nimrod's Grandson".)

When listening to a record for the first time, I pay great attention to the lyrics. Those who have read my album reviews might say that I put too much effort into finding meanings that were not intended by the artist or twisting the lyrical themes to fit whichever personal trauma I'm having on the day of writing. But with the Pixies' songs, I've never been able to do this. In my mind, the band have always been inextricably linked with David Lynch although as far as I'm aware the only connection is that they once covered the song "In Heaven" from "Eraserhead". I like to think that their albums have several stories going on beneath the surface, interlocked in a way that we can never hope to understand. The back cover artwork of "Head Carrier" includes a list of characters and places, most of which feature in the lyrics although some are only referred to obliquely. This could easily be the cast list of a Lynch movie. Be honest, can anyone really explain the plot of "Mulholland Drive"? This record is equally unfathomable and much of the enjoyment is based around convincing yourself that there is something happening just out of sight. I imagine the "head carrier" or "cephalaphore" of the title to be something like the otherworldly Bob in "Twin Peaks" and with a new series of that show imminent, the timing couldn't have been better for this release.

Despite the Lynchian mystery, there are some moments of personal reflection and self-analysis, more so than on any previous Pixies release. I see these as being like the romantic relationships that attempt to add some semblance of normality to a Lynch film. I can't be alone in thinking that Francis is referring to the whole of the previous album when he sings the line "What a waste of talent", and this is emphasised by Santiago letting rip immediately afterwards with possibly his greatest solo ever, just to highlight what was missing. Not surprisingly, there is some reminiscing about the original incarnation of the band. "Might As Well Be Gone" seems to lament a failed attempt to recreate past glories, while the most unsettling moment comes in the form of "All I Think About Now", a song which seems somehow out of place with the rest of the album. I can't quite get to grips with Paz Lenchantin singing words that were apparently written by Black Francis as a thank you/apology to Kim Deal. Up to this point everything has seemed natural but suddenly they seem to be trying too hard to sound like the "old" Pixies, and the result is a bit too close to "Where Is My Mind?" for comfort. The song, particularly the line "I try to think about tomorrow but I always think about the past", leaves a feeling of intense sadness. I can't decide whether this is simply disappointment at the song's blatant attempt to ape past triumphs, or because it reminds me of my own past - leaving school and the life decisions I had to make at the time "Doolittle" came out. Despite being in two minds over whether the album would be better without it, I find myself going back to this song more than the others, in the same way that I churn over past events in my head. "If I could go to the beginning, then for sure I would be another way."
 
I imagine that at some point in the near future there will be more new material but I actually feel that "Head Carrier" would be the ideal point to put the Pixies into retirement and leave their legacy intact. Apart from the minor misgivings over one or two songs, on the whole I feel they have produced a worthy follow-up to "Doolittle", finally paid off the 25-year debt. In early December I will keep my side of the bargain and finally see them live for the first time. Then maybe we can all move on with our lives.