I first came across Steve Tilston at the Castle pub in Bradford. Not because he was playing but via an excellent cover performed by Bella Gaffney (who insists that her phrasing is the correct one! I must admit I always hear her version not matter who is playing it.) It has been widely covered, with […]
Alizee – Discography
Some lively music for a wet, weary Wednesday. Let me introuce you to Alizee. Alizée Jacotey, known professionally as Alizée, is a French singer, dancer and musician. She was born and raised in Corsica. She was discovered by Mylene Farmer, following her winning performance in the talent show ‘Graines de Star’ in 1999. Alizée is […]
Rhiannon Giddens – At the Puchaser’s Option
I was introduced to both Rhiannon Giddens and to this song in particular by my good friends Lynne O’Malley and Steve Chapman Smith (Hazjak), who do a very respectable version themsleves. As she says in her introduction the song describes the situation of a woman being offered for sale, whose child can also be bought […]
Our Shining Days – There Is No Conflict |n Music
Our Shining Hope is a 2017 Chinese coming of age musical film set in a fictitious music school, the students of Chinese and Classical music don’t get along with each other. They call each other “tacky” and “pretentious“. Chen Jing, a quirky but talented student, initially doesn’t care about the rivalry, until she falls for […]
House Gospel Choir – Don’t Stop Movin’
I wanted to get you on your feet and dancing this Sunday morning. So what could be better than the House Gospel Choir and a selection of their lockdown videos. The late great Frankie Knuckles once called house music: “church for people that have fallen from grace.” Anyone who has been caught up in the […]
Tom Lehrer – The Elements Song
The 1960’s witnessed the rise of satire, which the dictionary defines as ‘the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.’ Not that satire was exactly new, being able to trace its origins from Horace and Juvenal, […]
Kaz Mills – Fever
Today I want to take you back to the beginnings of YouTube. The platform first launched inthe USA in 2005 and quickly became the vehicle of choice for those who wanted to showcase their talents. In these early days the site was full of hopeful singers performing in their homes for the world to see. […]
GreenMatthews – The Motor Car (Wind in the Windows)
If the lockdown has any positive side effects, it is that it has brought some excellent performers into our living room. These are folk that we might not otherwise have encountered. Such a act are GreenMatthews who via several lockdown shows including the inventive ‘Keeping It Local’ tour, during which they went on tour in […]
BabyMetal – Gimme Chocolate
And now, in a complete change of pace. Question: ‘What would happen if you mixed Jpop and Heavy Metal? And the answer is: BabyMetal. BabyMetal are a Japanese ‘kawaii metal’ band. The band consists of Suzuka Nakamoto as “Su-metal” (Vocal and Dance) Moa Kikuchi as “Moametal” (Scream and Dance)and Yui Mizuno as “Yuimetal” (Scream and […]
Avalon Jazz Band – Ménilmontant
I thought this morning that it was time for some hot jazz and so I turned to the music of the Avalon Jazz Band. The band was formed in New York in 2014 by vocalist Tatiana Eva-Marie and violinist Adrien Chevalier. Their musical style is inspired by the sort of jazz played in Paris in […]