Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
reviews
revie
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2017
review
IVE NEVER dONE AN
HONEST dAYS WORk!
LcD
SOUNDSYSTEM
I kNEW WE WERE bETTER!
75
30
bEST
ALbUmS
bEST REISSUES
bEST bOOkS & FILmS FATHER
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MISTY
I HAd 52 LOST
WEEkENdS IN A ROW!
THE RETURN OF
STEELY DAN
FATS DOMINO
R.I.P.
THE WEATHER
STATION
HURRAY FOR
THE RIFF RAFF
THE STAPLE SINGERS
NICO
ST VINCENT
NUMBER 1 FOR EXCLUSIVE BAND MERCHANDISE
visit us at
emp.co.uk
The night is dark but the sidewalks bright/And lined with the light of the living
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The UlTim
A
s ever at this time of year, Ive spent more hours than are some tantalising bits of his next album (he also sends me a special hello,
necessarily healthy fumbling with a spreadsheet in order to which is sweet). LCD soundsystems James Murphy reveals some valuable
rank the Uncut writers Albums Of The Year. Forty-four parenting tips how not to remove a babys arm with a machete on a hinge
contributors voted this time round, for 421 different new seems key. And I spend an emotional night in the company of Donald Fagen
releases and 191 reissues. Thats a lot of good records, and its and the steely Dan organisation, creatively coming to terms with the loss of
heartening to see the range and quality of new music still being made in our Walter Becker.
world; rock, once again, is not exactly the spent force the naysayers claim it to A huge thank you, finally, for all your encouragement, insight and support
be. Its been fun, too, to discover a few albums which had previously eluded through 2017. Were very lucky to have such a loyal and engaged readership,
me these past 12 months, like Chuck Johnsons Balsams, a set of ambient and are always keen to hear from you about how were doing. Please never
meditations for pedal-steel guitar that helped us through a few hairy hesitate to get in touch with us at uncut_feedback@timeinc.com; you could
moments in the production process this month. start by letting us know your personal favourites of the year. Im sure weve
If theres one striking fact about our completed 2017 chart, though, its that probably missed something
half of the Top 30 albums were made by women. Three of the Top 10 figure Thanks again,
prominently in these pages Hurray For The Riff Raff, st Vincent and The
Weather station alongside Mavis staples, and the mastermind behind our
Album Of The Month, Bjrk.
What else? stephen Deusner takes a long and deep trip into the world of
Bruce springsteen, and learns the sobering news that, At this stage in your
life, you give up your dreams of immortality. Jaan Uhelszki returns to Laurel
Canyon to look back on a momentous year with Father John Misty, and hears John Mulvey, Editor. Follow me on Twitter @JohnRMulvey
contents
4 Instant Karma!
Fats Domino RIP, Chris Gantry,
REVIEWof 2017 92 Staple Singers
The making of Ill Take You There
Nico, The B-52s Cindy Wilson,
Joshua Abrams
56 Father John Misty 96 Live
The divisive superstar invites us to his
Steely Dan, St Vincent
hideway to talk fame and decadence
12 New Albums
Including: Bjrk, Hans Chew, 62 Albums Of The Year 109 Books No Future, Bruce Dickinson
Dan Michaelson, Jim James, The 75 best records of 2017
Noel Gallagher
70 James Murphy 110 Films
The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, Happy End,
Audience with the lCd soundsystem man
30 The Archive The Florida Project
Including: Wilco, Bob Dylan, 74 Hurray For The Riff Raff
King Crimson, The Rolling Album by Album with Alynda segarra 112 DVD & Blu-ray
Stones, Grandaddy Monterey Pop, Bottle Rocket
76 Reissues Of The Year
44 Bruce Springsteen 80 The Weather Station 114 Not Fade Away Obituaries
The Boss moves in on Broadway! poetic songwriter Tamara lindeman
Uncut follows the long road from the 116 Letters Plus the Uncut crossword
Jersey Shore via Maxs Kansas City and 88 Films Of The Year
the White House to the Walter Kerr 90 Books Of The Year 118 My Life In Music
Theatre. Is his latest show a final bow? Richard Dawson
save
The perfecT gifT for
up to chrisTmas from jusT 17.49*
45% subscribe online at www.uncutsubs.co.uk/bAJ7
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for more information, visit page 86
Aint that
a shame
fATs domiNo | 1928-2017
A
ntoine Domino Jr was female fans who thronged the
just starting to play stage at his concerts.
around new orleans in Son of Haitian plantation
the 1940s whe bandleader Billy workers, Domino was also
Diamond christened him Fats. ambitious and wildly talented at
the nickname not only stuck, synthesising Creole and second
but informed his career-making line traditions into smooth big-
first single, the Fat Man", in beat grooves. im Walkin, a
1949. Derived from an old tune smash single in 1957, opens with
by the local boogie-woogie a syncopated kickdrum and
player Champion Jack Dupree some excitable handclaps, and
except without all the original his band builds a simple yet
references to reefer the song infectious dance tune that
made Dominos weight a part sounds like it might chug along
of his brand. They call me the forever. its not hard to imagine
Fat Man cos I weigh 200lbs, him drawing the groove out from
Domino sings by way of the stage, where Domino truly
introduction. All the girls excelled. Perhaps more than
any pre-rock act, he managed
to attract white as well as black
teenagers to his shows, even
Domino was boycotting venues that
notoriously segregated audiences or banned
black fans from dancing. on the
shy around his other hand, his shows were
female fans often volatile, erupting in racial
violence that only fuelled early
critics of this crass new form
they love me cosI know my of music.
way around. Domino didnt invent
theres a wink in his voice, a rocknroll, which developed
bit of humour in his delivery, but over years rather than springing
the assertive lyrics arent even forth fully formed, but he did
the main draw. Dominos left translate the jumping rhythm
hand plays a rollicking, rolling and blues of the 1940s into the
bassline while his right hand wildly popular reeling and
pounds out a steady rhythm of rocking of the 1950s. Most first-
excitable chords. When it comes and second-generation rock
time to solo, he scat-sings a high- stars cited Domino as a
pitched waaah waaah waaah. formative influence: elvis
Hes a one-man band giving a Presley bemoaned that he could
ABC Photo ArChives/ABC viA Getty imAGes
T
mid 1960s he charted more HE great thing about the world fusion trio Oregon, who
than 50 hits on the US R&B late 60s and the early counted among their membership
charts and more than 60 70s, country singer- legendary guitarist Ralph Towner.
on the pop charts, a staggering songwriter Chris Gantry recalls, I had successfully fit into the
number that suggests a was that nobody co-wrote songs country music mould for many
crossover success on par with with each other, everybody was years, Gantry remembers, and
Presley. His biggest may have their own individual master of their then I started to say to myself, look,
been Blueberry Hill, an old own individual art. Tony Joe White, I just have to start to be who I am,
tune recorded previously by Bobbie Gentry, Kris Kristofferson, and be the Allen Ginsberg or the
white musicians ranging from Vince Matthews, Eddie Rabbitt, Lee Jack Kerouac that I want to be, and
swinging bandleader Glenn Clayton, Billie Swan, Donnie put that into my songs, and recite
Miller to singing cowboy Gene Fritz Everybody made their own poetry. The resultant album is a
Autry. But Domino made it his music, and had their own style. surrealist masterpiece that plunges
own by giving it a breezy sway nobody tried to intrude on each into the observational flair of
and slyly underscoring the others glory. countrys melancholy and hardwires
sexual undercurrent. Its no surprise to have caught If you do good, it with the expansive freedoms of
What should have been a Gantry in reflective mode, thinking psychedelia, jazz and electronics.
great triumph turned out to be back to the community of writers heartfelt work, it Cashs response itself was telling:
his downfall. In 1963, he signed and musicians he was part of, in will get found When John listened to it, a few days
with ABC-Paramount Records, nashville, across the late 1960s and after it was recorded, Gantry says,
which moved him from new early 1970s. It may have taken over ChRis gANTRY laughing, he came up to me and he
Orleans to nashville and 40 years, and some fortuitous said, June and I went into the studio
ousted his longtime circumstance, but the album Gantry But I had to translate that over to last night and listened to that record,
bandleader and songwriter recorded in 1973 in Johnny country music and make it fit. and I gotta be honest with you, Chris
Dave Bartholomew (who had Cashs studio, Chris Gantry Eventually I did, and I had some big I dont even think the drug people
penned The Fat Man and At The House Of Cash, is hits in country music. are gonna understand!
many more of Dominos hits). finally being released on Some of those hits included one of The tapes were lost after Cash sold
He eked out only one Drag City. Its Gantrys Glen Campbells most moving the studio, but recently Cashs son,
successful single, a fairly wildest contribution to the performances, 1968s Dreams Of John Carter, contacted Gantry: [He]
maudlin cover of an old Bing history of country. The Everyday Housewife. Gantry calls me and says, Hey Chris, Ive
Crosby hit, Red Sails In The Gantry had moved to also recorded a number of albums been rummaging around in the
Sunset, before leaving nashville in the 60s from the country-folk-pop crossover of the vault and I see some tapes with your
the label. inner-city new York, same years Introspection; 1970s name on it. I said, Oh my God, that
Even into his seventies and following an inclination more tart Motor must be the record!
eighties Domino continued toward country music that Mouth. But At Those four decades havent
making music, occasionally almost ran counter to his The House Of worn away the boldness
playing around new Orleans family history: My father Cash took and bravery of the album,
but mostly leading a very was a classical pianist, which offers yet another
private life at his home in the and I had listened to angle on nashville in
ninth Ward. The last time he show music all my life, one of its most creative
was in the news was in 2005, so I had a good phases. Its also
when he and his family were background in another lesson in life
rescued from their flooded melodies, and for Gantry himself:
homes following Hurricane a symphonic, Ive learned that if
Katrina. But his final testament classical feel you do good work
may be his 2006 album, Alive for music. and its heartfelt,
And Kickin, whose proceeds he and youre sincere
donated to the local nonprofit about what
Tipitinas Foundation. The title youre creating,
track seemed to sum up his it will get found. It
experience in the flood city, will surface, it will
although he insisted he had come back, and it will
written the song many years find you again.
earlier: All over the country JON DALE
people want to know whatever
happened to Fats Domino, Chris
he sings, still with traces of Gantrys At
youthful bluster in his voice. The House
nAnCy RhODA
Femme fatale
Nico, 1988
Record collection, our
guide explaining how
to buy over 1,500 of
member of nicos band during the greatest albums
the 80s, in his book Nico, Songs of the last 60 years, on
Nico: The End. A new film reconstructs the They Never Play On The Radio. vinyl, right now! Buy
It is a great book, admits these, and many more
singers strange last years in Manchester nicchiarelli. But it is basically of our specials, from
I
the story of James Young and his nme.backstreetmerch.
com/artist/uncut/
n 1980, nico the German singer forties, says nicchiarelli. But I was experiences as a keyboard player, magazines.
born Christa Pffgen relocated also fascinated by the idea of making a while I wanted nico to be my main
to Manchester. Drawn to the city movie about Europe in the 80s in the character and to foreground her A new collection
year before the fall of the Berlin Wall. relationship with Ari. of Leonard cohens
by the thriving drug and music
unpublished work is to
scenes, she assembled a new nicchiarellis research began in Meanwhile, flashbacks of nico be officially released
band and embarked on a series of Manchester, where she met with during her Warhol years are taken next October under the
disastrous overseas tours. As it nicos former manager, Alan Wise, from Jonas Mekas vrit title, The Flame. Cohen
transpired, these tours assumed a who subsequently introduced her to documentaries Scenes From The himself chose and
valedictory quality: nico died in 1988 Ari her son with French actor Alain Life Of Andy Warhol and Walden: ordered the poems in
following an accident in Ibiza. Delon. The relationship between nico I decided to set this dialogue with the book, of which the
This curious third act of nicos life and Ari became a critical part of the audience, says nicchiarelli. overwhelming majority
is the subject of Nico, 1988 a new nicchiarellis story. I show you the real icon and then is new material, report
I show you my film. The Guardian. The
biopic by Italian filmmaker Susanna
book was finished only
nicchiarelli and starring Danish For Dyrholm a one-time Eurovision days before his death,
actress Trine Dyrholm as the singer.
Accompanied by her unruffled
Her son Ari has contestant the route to nico was
through her voice. She has all these
according to Cohens
manager, Robert Kory,
manager (John Gordon Sinclair) and a no resentment. He blue tunes and she doesnt sing well, and will also feature
band comprising a bunch of amateur
junkies, it is a film composed of
says, I thought she she explains. So in the beginning I
was singing too well and we tried to
content drawn from
his notebooks.
on-the-road yarns: the problems was indestructible trash it a little bit! But she was a very A veritable explosion
scoring heroin overseas; encounters complex, contradictory character. She of activity from kevin
with fearsome Soviet-bloc authorities;
sUsANNA NiCChiARElli was asked once whether she had any Shields this month,
a precarious rendezvous with a hotel regrets and she said, Only that I was including his Eno
jazz band. In nicchiarellis film, the I found it very moving, he has no born a woman, not a man. That was a collaboration (see page
tour snakes through Eastern Europe, resentment regarding his mother, big issue for her. She was a beautiful 10), analogue vinyl
she says. His father is a different woman, part of Warhols world where remasters of the first
a setting both star and director agree
two My Bloody Valentine
is puissant. story. But even though nico everyone had an image, but she albums and, best of
nico was born in 38, right before abandoned Ari at one point, his wanted to be much more. all, a corroboration of
the Second World War started, and grandmother even took custody away In the film, nico says, Ive been on rumours theyll release a
she died in 88, one year before the from nico the way he talks about the top, Ive been on the bottom. Both new MBV album in 2018.
Berlin Wall came down, says his mother is incredible. He says, places are empty, says nicchiarelli. We 100 per cent will,
Dyrholm, whose credits include I thought she was indestructible. The point is that the life of an artist is Shields told Pitchfork.
Festen and The Commune for director I thought I was going to die before somewhere in the middle. Its not about The record started off
EMAnuElA SCARPA, VIVO FIlM
Thomas Vinterberg. I think being her. When they got back together success or failure; the point is making as an EP, and I realised
and Ari joined nicos band, they had the art. If I learned anything from it has to be, like, a mini-
German was a big deal for her.
album, as its going to be
She was from a generation that a very strong relationship. She knew making this film, it is how difficult the at least 40 minutes long.
experienced guilt about the war. she had damaged him somehow, and life of an artist is. MICHAEL BONNER So its going to be an
I was fascinated by nico and I was she knew that very well. album... Itll probably be
fascinated by the idea of telling the Part of this story has already been Nico, 1988 is released in the UK seven or eight [tracks],
story of a woman, an artist, in her documented by James Young, a in 2018 by the looks of it.
Thing!
The B-52s cindy Wilson makes
her solo debut. i wanted a kind
of Sgt Pepper flow...
C
indy Wilson sees certain Wilsons status as not
similarities between Change, just a pioneering female
her first solo album, and her musician, but also as
work with Americas foremost someone who helped
purveyors of kitsch, dayGlo post- inspire so much of
punk. i think The B-52s are a Americas weird music over
psychedelic band, she says, and nearly 40 years.
there is definitely psych in the solo yet Change owes its
project, too. There are some strange existence to a childrens
dada moments. its a rather less party several years ago.
aggressively warped take on pop it was when my son kids reached college age, Wilson talks about her
than The B-52s, admittedly she was about 10, and it and Wilson had the time collaborators on the record
was time for a big to take her desire to make Monahan, producer Suny Lyons,
Beatles bash. My music onto a bigger stage. drummer Lemuel Hayes, as well as
husband decorated the A series of Southern dates scores of Athens players adding
The songs are house from top to bottom this year culminated in delicate colour as if shed been in
really pretty and with Beatles decorations, performances at South By the studio with Lennon and
and he hired Ryan Southwest earlier this year, McCartney. Which isnt surprising,
great, and I put Monahans cover band. where Kill Rock Stars stepped given the scale of her ambition for
my soul into it They were all about 23 or in with an offer to put out the Change. i wanted a kind of Sgt
24, and they did all the album. That shocked Pepper flow from one song to
CiNdY wilsoN early Beatles stuff. everybody, Wilson another. And i loved playing with
They were so great. says. it came from different sounds, making it weird
covers the new Colony Sixs Things So we hired them leftfield. So what and echoey and a little trashy.
id Like To Say, one of those over and over again did Kill Rock We live in an age where musicians
gorgeous moments of soft psych to play different Stars see in her of generations past are beginning to
produced when major labels tried to parties. Then, when music? i think get their dues. its time for Cindy
guess what a blown mind sounded Wilson was asked to we charmed Wilson an inspiration to the
like, and got it beautifully wrong. play some local songs people, the songs are thriving Athens scene of the 1980s,
But theres a sense of currency, too. around her hometown really pretty and great, and to subsequent generations of
Wilson was inspired by listening to of Athens, Georgia, and i put my soul into it. musicians who wanted to be
Tame impala (id just gone crazy playing old garage They are so informed different, who would never settle for
listening to them), and the album is numbers, she put the on how to do things dull to get hers. MICHAEL HANN
being released by the Pacific call in to Monahan. they did much more
northwest underground label Kill A couple of EPs than i could have Cindy Wilsons Change is out
Rock Stars, a recognition perhaps of followed. Then her done on my own. now on Kill Rock Stars
the classifieds
This month: Full-on folk fest taken from Melody Maker, November 12, 1966
Sean Dunn ; Lynn GoLDSmith/CorbiS/VCG Via Getty imaGeS
A MASTERPIECE MOJO
LP / CD / DL
PETERPERRETT.COM
UNCUT PLAYLIST
On the stereo this month...
BRIAN ENO WITH
KEVIN SHIELDS
Only Once Away My Son
ADULT SWIM
Society
Jason Pierces rare 93 LP, live
in Hollywood, gets an essential
reissue, complete with original
shiny, psychedelic cover.
B
imperative magically intact.
assist and composer Joshua abrams has terry Riley, La Monte Young and steve Reich were
been making music across a wide range of heavily influenced by John Coltrane and by WET TUNA
genres for more than 30 years. in the late african music. Were trying to make explicit some Livin The Die FEEDING TUBE/CHILD OF MICROTONES
80s, while living in Philadelphia, he played in an of those long-buried connections. This months optimal underground jam,
early incarnation of the Roots. since moving to Helping to solidify the african connection is courtesy of brothers-in-choogle and
Chicago, hes been a key figure in the citys the guimbri, a stringed instrument used by the psych vets Matt Valentine and PG Six.
intermingled jazz, experimental and post-rock Gnawa people of North africa, and one that
scenes, collaborating with jazz luminaries like abrams has made the signature sound of the PRINS THOMAS
Hamid Drake and Matana Roberts as well as Natural information society. i first heard it on an Prins Thomas 5 PRINS THOMAS MUSIKK
guesting with artists as diverse as tortoise, album that Pharoah sanders made with Maleem Influenced by Teenage Fanclub and Pat
Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Will Oldham. Mahmoud Ghania called The Trance Of Seven Metheny, reputedly, but the Nordic DJ/
Hes also written numerous film soundtracks, Colors, says abrams. as a double bass player, producers latest seems still anchored in
including several by the Chicago-based Hoop the guimbri really pulled me in. its a fretless a transporting soundworld of Krautrock,
Dreams filmmaker steve James. instrument, like a bass lute, but with a old Warp 12s and cosmic disco.
Running parallel to all this activity, IM YOUR FAN similar range to a cello. it looks like
since 2010, has been abrams own half a log covered in goat or camel LES FILLES DE
outfit, the Natural information skin, and the neck runs through it. ILLIGHADAD
society. ive explored a lot of different there are three strings, one of them a Eghass Malan SAHEL SOUNDS
areas with different people over the drone string. it also has a metallic
MIKEL AVEry; SNAPSHoT-PHoToGrAPHy/uLLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTy IMAGES
2CD
30 TRACK HIGHLIGHTS COLLECTION
NEW
WAALBUMS
B
JANUARY 2018
TAke 248
1 hANs chew (p16)
2 DAN michAelsoN (p19)
3 Jim JAmes (p20)
4 Noel gAllAgheR (p27)
BJRk
Utopia
oNe liTTle iNDiAN
F
orty years after her gallery and app store rather than for any
eponymous debut album album physically present audience.
was released in Iceland OF THE you wouldnt wish the end of a marriage
when she was just 12 years mONTH on anyone, but though Vulnicura (2015),
old, Bjrk remains peerless.
No other contemporary
8/10 offorensically stitched together in the aftermath
Bjrks break-up with Matthew Barney, was
artist can match her trajectory: cataclysmic for her personally, it brought new
emerging from punk bohemia into indie notoriety urgency and vitality to her art. It feels ghoulish
in the 1980s with the Sugarcubes; erupting to consider, but the human mess and tragedy were
magnificently into the pop mainstream in the 1990s; the necessary engendering grit that her immaculate
and charting her own course, via her own star charts, pearlescent productions require.
through strange 21st-century seas, into a fourth But at what cost to the person behind the art?
decade with matchless exuberance, ambition and A similar soulstorm, as recorded on The Red Shoes,
focus. the hackneyed term pop icon for once seems silenced Kate Bush and sent her into retreat for over
appropriate. She is sui generis, exemplary. a decade. Happily, Bjrk seems to have emerged
Latterly, though, lets admit it, she became emboldened by all accounts after Vulnicura was
a little exhausting. In her filmed performance of complete she went straight on recording the material
Biophilia at Alexandra Palace, released in 2013, the which has now become Utopia. She herself draws
dollying cameras, the repeated another comparison: to Joni
takes, all the stagecraft Mitchell, who found a marriage
paraphernalia involved in of true artistic minds with
creating the 21st-century Jaco Pastorius, a partnership
digital gesamtkunstwerk, that brought us such wonders
utterly distracted from the rare, as Hejira and Don Juans
evanescent magic of the pop Reckless Daughter.
moment. It was so thoroughly Bjrks protg, producer
composed and conceptually and co-writer is Arca, the
overdetermined, you longed Venezuelan electronic auteur,
for some stray moment of whose eponymous third
Santiago Felipe
how to buy...
to the flute, her first instrument, and conjures ambient direction never fully pursued at his self-titled third album this year. An opulent
a charming pastoral sketch that hints at a the time, the soundworld it seeded has S&M work of Catholic devotion, which on its
never-taken career path soundtracking eerie come to full fruition on the more blisstastic most tender moments like Coraje, feels
Nordic animation. moments of Utopia. inescapably like a companion piece to Utopia.
Y
with Bjrk concluding some hard-won oUvE spoken about the cross- Thank you. While I am writing my albums, it
wisdom: We have all suffered/How we generational, cross-Atlantic is usually like solving a murder mystery trying
make up for it defines who we are. musical conversation you had to figure out the theme. On this one it became
Cumulatively, Utopia outstays with Arca. Was there a moment that apparent that the album was a place. Biophilia
its welcome by two or three tracks. felt like a breakthrough, where he was a travelling music school, Vulnicura the
Paradisa and Saint feel like those inspired you to go further, try something healing of a wound. And the most strong way
endless pious cantos of the Paradiso new or rediscover something old? sonically to make one feel like one has arrived
where Beatrice introduces Dante to yet Perhaps it was most surprising when he at a place is hearing birds singing.
more paragons of celestial virtue. By brought up old songs, instrumentals that were I felt the title also had in it both the dream
contrast Sue Me feels too plainly a his favourite of mine and we kinda used it as but also baggage, and I like that. The baggage
quarrel that might have stayed in the a starting point. Songs like Ambergris March. of wanting it too bad, wanting something
divorce courts, with Bjrk comparing her I wanted the album to be like air, so there was air unrealistic, when reality happens having to
tribulations in the legal system with her everywhere, in the lyrics, my voice, and flutes, accommodate it with the fantasy, merge the two
ex-husband to the plight of the mothers and where flutes change into synths and synths together. But like Ive said in the times we are
in the story of the judgement of Solomon. into flutes. And I found an old B-side of mine, living in, there never has been more emergency
There is a sense of a clearing of decks, Batabid, which I used as reference, too. to define our utopia, manifesto. Its our only hope
a need to finally rid herself of all the At one point I found a loop on an old mixtape
bitterness and toxicity. As she sings to her of his and edited it and wrote four harp
daughter, and to her daughters future arrangements all around it and then sent it to
daughters, on Tabula Rasa: No more him. At the time I wasnt aware of it, but I think I
repeating the fuck-ups of the fathers
Make your own fresh mistakes.
was probably taking one of his most celebratory
moments and magnifying it into a song about
A 12-piece flute
Utopia really delivers on the
transcendent promise of its title with the
a kiss. So its like fireworks cyclical around the
mouths of someone who are kissing for the first
section would
closing Future Forever, however, an
invitation to turn off the deadening loops
time. Those sparks that fly off when two mouths
meet. That song is called Arisen My Senses.
meet at my cabin
of history and imagine a better possible
future. Bjrk is at her most ecstatic here. Jonis Hejira and Don Juans reckless in the environmental crisis. We have to insist on
Throughout the album you sense a desire Daughter are inspirational for you. They what future we want.
to emulate Messiaen, the 20th-century were also when she began moving out So there are birds on the album I have never
composer who came through his own of the orbit of pop, folk, etc, into larger heard and sound like techno, and there are also
spiritual and artistic crisis by patiently musical universes. does Utopia feel like Icelandic birds, ravens and himbrimi that live
notating and emulating birdsong, and the start of a similar journey? outside my cabin. So I wanted the birds somehow
here she sounds like shes attempting her Perhaps after the strong narration on Vulnicura, to stand for that sometimes its the craving for
own transfiguration, joining the birds of where my string arrangements and Alejandros the unattainable, sometimes it is affirming that
paradise that are the albums real chorus, electronics were a bit of a backdrop to this you do have what you want. Its that polarity, I
accompanied by the most heavenly heartbreak saga, we were looking forward guess. The light but also the shadow of utopia.
organ. Its a stunning, suitably radiant to this time around it should be about the But Im getting off topic. After hanging out with
showstopper. But longstanding fans of music. And there is in Arisen My Senses and the flute girls, I assembled a 12-piece flute section
this singularly restless artist might already Claimstaker, for example, a refusal of the in Iceland and we would meet at my cabin on
SANTIAGO FELIPE/GETTy IMAGESA
hear it in the minds ear, remixed for the singular narrative and many voices all equal. Fridays for a few months and rehearse and record.
infernos, the fleshpits and the dancefloors Some sort of musicians Utopia where no line is And we were cooking and talking between, such
of the sensual world, all that agape more important than the other. different characters, we were all different ages
harnessed to the eros of a perfectly brutal I feel perhaps my music has always been moving and it was just so nourishing. And the weather
beat. Its in that scaffolding between in and out of the orbit of pop, never settled quite in was all sorts. Sometimes insane blizzards and
sleep and awake, day and night, and yes, it, perhaps not a new thing. I really love listening sometimes just gorgeous with the birds singing
heaven and hell, that Bjrk continues to to pop there is nothing like a pure, passionate all around us. So it just seemed to all belong.
reign supreme. R&B track on a friday night. Perfection! iNTerVieW: STePHeN TrOUSS
A
s hell happily bare song structures. One of Open Seas long-time engineer Jason Meagher, whose
attest, Hans Chews operative texts is Black Dirt studio specialises in recording
reputation is mainly Live At The Fillmore on the hoof.
built on his abilities as East (1970), marked The vintage Fairport references,
a pianist. 2010s terrific by the interplay of specifically the musical rapport between
solo debut, Tennessee Danny Whittens Richard Thompson and Dave swarbrick,
& Other Stories, wove rhythm guitar and are most explicit on Give Up The Ghost
together R&B, blues, gospel, rocknroll Neil Youngs lead, and Freely. The former flits between
and ragtime funk into a ravishing tapestry riffing on themes Band-ish country-blues, roistering rock
of American roots music, with piano as and firing off at and the kind of intuitive give-and-take
its defining texture. successive releases unexpected angles. with Cavallo approximating Thompsons
2014s Life & Love and last years Unknown I wanted to take a spidery modal guitar that hoisted
Sire were further manifestations of the typical Hans Chew Matty Groves and A sailors Life
same free-spirited approach, an extension song and really to fresh heights. similarly, Freely
of his earlier days manning the keys for the expand it, he is nine minutes of gloriously unfettered
late Jack Rose and D Charles speer & The explains. I could folk-blues, its pagan heart enlivened
Isnt it beautiful that there can but I feel she is offering hope or just have fun. I hope people
yster Cult, Poison and Black sabbath), be infinite versions of songs and realisation that we need can relate and enjoy the
country faves (by Willie Nelson, Johnny and endless versions of us all? each other in times of crisis. journey. IntervIew: John LewIs
ANE BRUN compositions that bridge folk, modal Feet, before Invisible Prison That France are,
Leave Me Breathless jazz and desert blues. Chapmans takes things down a notch, introducing quite simply, a band
BALLooN RANgER vintage Kodak Ghosts is reimagined a serious groove speckled with from France reflects
with Banais heartbroken lyrics as proggy traces of acid jazz. That the complexity of
7/10
Angel. soulful Lady, another low-ley funky mood sustains the the trios working
norwegian singer finds smaller bulletin from 1970s Fully Qualified best moments on the rest of the methods. Their latest
pleasures in some very big ballads Survivor, grows whiskers and adopts album, from the epic Rock P Norska album, for instance, was recorded in
A recent romance an Arabic motif. And they truly excel and the panther-like crawl of Turn March 2009, the same day as another,
got the Norwegian on the American Primitive duelling of Around, Face The sun to the dramatic Pau, which sounds almost exactly
singer thinking about This Thing Has No Name and Plain Doors-y The Diamond sutra. the same. With just bass, drums and
the many ballads Old Bobs dancing drones. rob hUghes There are Goat-like moments, but distorted electric hurdy-gurdy, they
that were close to serenity and Meditasjonen take Krautrock and drone aesthetics
her heart but were ERLAND DAhLEN interrupt the party to introduce to a hypnotic limit, jamming on a
very different to the kind she wrote. Clocks a more studied and austere note single chord for almost 50 minutes.
The result of this new interest in hUBRo to proceedings. Credits due for their stamina, but
simplifying or interpreting emotional Peter wAtts though the volume never relents, the
6/10
love songs in my own way, Leave Me controlled, sustained use of feedback
Breathless trumps the usual covers norwegian drummer sets out his FEVER RAY and harmonics ensures there are
collection thanks to Bruns ability to stall to soundtrack major film Plunge mesmerising, albeit gradual changes,
extract moments of grace and beauty Drummer Erland RABID with spacemen 3s suicide an
in songs whose hit versions deployed Dahlen has played obvious point of reference.
8/10
more bombastic methods. Though with dozens of wYnDhAM wALLACe
Foreigners I Want to Know What Love Norwegian artists Perverse, political second from
Is is stubbornly irredeemable, stay, across a range of elder Knife sibling NICK gARRIE
by shakespears sister, and Mariah genres, from Hanne slipped out The Moon & The Village
Careys Hero benefit greatly from Hukkelberg and Madrugada to just in time for TAPETE
Bruns lighter touch. Treatments of jazz luminaries such as Nils Petter Halloween,
7/10
songs by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Molvaer and Eivind Aarset. His third Plunge finds
Nick Cave are less radical but no less solo album, however, showcases an The Knifes Karin Understated loveliness from
lovely. JAson AnDerson enthusiastic multi-instrumentalist Dreijer jolted back orch-pop lifer
making music thats pitched to life as Fever Ray eight years after Nick Garries legend
CAVALIER SoNg somewhere between Mike Oldfields her startling self-titled debut. Where rests on the startling
A Deep Well Tubular Bells and stewart Copelands that record cast her as a kind of album he released
goD UNKNoWN soundtrack to The Equalizer. The title Nordic noir dream-weaver, distant back in 1968, The
track is a riot of syn-drums, theremin and unknowable, here she reframes Nightmare Of JB
8/10
wails and tuned percussion; Bear is the character as a libidinous and Stanislas, one of
earthy prog and bluff a rumbling piece of slow-motion sludge politically charged entity Free the high-water marks of psychedelic
psychogeography from rock; Lizard sounds like a submarine abortions! And clean water! Destroy orchestral pop of its era. On The Moon
Liverpool trio voyage, with distorted sonar bleeps nuclear! Destroy boring! she & The Village, only his third in five
It would be easy to accompanied by aqueous effects, shrieks on This Country, having decades, Garries working a similar
alight on Adams while ship is a cantering piece of announced that perverts define seam, though more reflective in tenor:
Apple and dismiss orientalism mixing Ryuichi sakamoto my fuck history. stranger and songs like Boy soldier and Music
Cavalier song as Fall with Peter Gabriel. John LewIs sillier than anything to be found From A Broken Violin are hushed
copyists. Frontman on Fever Ray, Plunges lurid yet overwhelming. Its gorgeous,
Luke Mawdsleys ELECTRIC EYE psychedelia and crippled calypso and though its 27 minutes may seem
gruff sprechgesang, spat out over From The Poisonous Tree provide the perfect backdrop to slight at first, thats somehow perfect
angular guitars and a gallop of JANSEN Dreijers acid tongue. A reawakening for the songs capture of moments in
drums, certainly shares both spirit to be reckoned with. the life, singing melancholy and joy in
6/10
and intonation with Mark E smith. PIers MArtIn equal measure.
But A Deep Well proves rather more spiralling norwegian prog with Jon DALe
idiosyncratic than first appearances funky underbelly FRANCE
and more rewarding, too. The spindly The second album occitainia hoWE gELB &
guitars and knotty progressions of from Norways AgUIRRE LoNNA KELLY
Insect Fire Dance and Heathen Electric Eye opens Further Standards
explore an unprissy English prog with the infectious 7/10 FIRE
with soil under its fingernails, and the sometimes You Got one album, one track, one note 6/10
trio prove also capable of a desolate To Jump To Lift Your from French drone-rock trio
prettiness; Eborakon (Part One) is ex-giant sand captain continues
a slow trudge through a bleak rural his cabaret reinvention
landscape, set to math-rock picking, The transformation of
brushed drums and wilted strings. Gelb into a jazz-lounge
LoUIs PAttIson singer on 2016s
Future Standards
MIChAEL ChAPMAN felt like an enjoyable
& EhUD BANAI one-off experiment.
EB=MC Yet seemingly not. Like Dylan, hes
NANA DISC warmed to the role of nightclub
crooner and has now re-recorded
8/10
many of the would-be standards he
east meets west in an enthralling wrote for his last album in concert
union of guitar mastery with an enhanced role for fellow
Israeli singer- singer Kelly, whose sultry voice wraps
songwriter Banai itself deliciously around his laconic
has long been a baritone. There are new compositions,
devotee of his English too, liveried in the same smoky retro-
Fully qualified
counterpart, finally collaborators: ism although whether they will last
paying tribute in song Ehud Banai through the ages, as Gelb hopes, to
on 2015s Michael Chapman Was (left) and take their place alongside the songs of
Here. They make an ideal pairing Michael his role models Cole Porter and Hoagy
Chapman
in the studio, each complementing Carmichael is frankly doubtful.
the other on a series of guitar-led nIgeL wILLIAMson
6/10
ANGELICA RoCkNE has semi-mythic narratives. on the narcotic Dr two avant-rock veterans get
prior form as vocalist with John, for instance, shes among voodoo priests together for an afternoon that is
San Franciscos Evil Eyes, a in New orleans French Quarter, where Mac anything but quiet
band that skirted the edges of Rebennacktook me under his wing. And the
shoegaze and psych-rock. on title track, a honky-tonk chugger with a little Recorded over the course
the evidence of Queen Of San twang, is an outlaw tale of boozers, gamblers of an afternoon that
Antonio, however, her true mtier is country, and tough women on the American frontier. the erstwhile This Heat
specifically the cosmic kind patented down the Theres also an experimental feel to her drummer and Sonic
coast by the Flying Burrito Brothers and Gram work. The abstract lyricism of Glitter Rags Youth guitarist spent
Parsons in the late 60s, a nebulous territory complements the psychedelic lead guitar together earlier this
where Bakersfield and LA noir collide. of Blake Severn, with distinct echoes of The year at Londons Lynchmob Studios and
Its an album that serves as an allusive Doors and Jefferson Airplane. Across six- released in a limited vinyl edition of 500
travelogue, Rocknes songs shifting from dirt minutes-plus, Rocknes measured tones bloom copies, the seven unnamed tracks here
roads to border towns, from old West saloons to into a tour de force, Severns guitar rising to are often surprisingly straightforward in
the edge of Canada and on down to Louisiana. meet her. The same impulse drives Baby, a form given the two musicians penchant
Her characters tend to be caught in restless Badlands-like hymn to perilous romance, in for demolishing conventions. That said,
states of transition, looking for solutions to which she occupies a midway point between Charles Haywards gleeful bashing brings
emotional crises in all the wrong places, torn Lucinda Williams and Stevie Nicks. Even at her out a more percussive and driving quality
between wanderlust and settling down. This most forlorn the countrypolitan sadcore of to Thurston Moores shredding, resulting
may nor may not be linked to Rocknes own Smoke When Its Raining; the lonely shuffle in many haphazardly glorious moments
peripatetic life (having frequently shifted of Married By Elvis Rockne sounds resolute, that evoke the sludgy, post-Funhouse
bases across the US, she finally set up home in rather than broken. Queen Of San Antonio mayhem of underappreciated American
Nevada City four or five years ago), but whatever suggests she has genuine staying power. miscreants like Destroy All Monsters
autobiography she brings is often blurred into rOb HugHeS
and Smegma.
JaSOn anDerSOn
americana round-up
JONTI
Almost three years on from Recorded at Nashvilles RCA Tokorats
Edge Of The Sun, calexico Studio A, producer Dave STONES THROW
(right) return in January with Cobb has prompted a change 7/10
The Thread That Keeps Us, out in direction for the country
on City Slang. Their ninth gospel vets, plugging back Mutant psych-rock-hip-hop dreams
album finds them setting up into spiritual hymns and early from Oz-based electronic auteur
shop in northern California (as rocknroll. Lightning Rod label In case you were
opposed to Arizona), where head Logan Rogers adds: wondering, a tokorat
singer/guitarist Joey Burns Everyone has heard the Boys is that supernatural
and drummer John sing gospel, but nobody has creature in the mirror, a
Convertino gathered heard it quite like this. multi-coloured weirdo
together a bunch of friends Those searching for live gigs mutant composed of
IAN FuENzALIDA, JAIRo zAvALA
and injected a little more chaos and noise are best directed to rhiannon Giddens all the elements of your story and all
in the mix than weve done in the past. (supported by highly promising newcomer the complexities of your character,
Burns is keen to stress that the nature of the Kaia Kater), who starts her Freedom according to Jonti Danilewitz. The musical
music, a response to troubled social and Highway tour at Shepherds Bush Empire on Frankenstein which emerges abseils
political times, is in keeping with Calexicos November 17 and winds up at the Sage in wildly from cosmic hip-hop (Island
idea to always keep on trying new things. Gateshead. Also on the road in the latter Rose) to Earth, Wind & Fire inter-
The as-yet unnamed new effort from The half of November are Jim white, chuck planetary soul (Animah) via dream-hop
oak ridge boys is due that month too. prophet and Tom russell. rOb HugHeS world-beat (Papaya Brothers) and
JON LANGfORD
four Lost Souls
BLOODSHOT
7/10
Prolific Mekon and friends head
South
For a fuller
appreciation of
idiomatic Southern
styles, Jon Langford
migrated to Muscle
Shoals in Alabama,
hooking up his fellow Lost Souls
guitarist John Szymanski, plus
vocalists Bethany Thomas and
ethereal psych-harmonies that conjure and the alien arias of Heart 2 Tape and Tonal Bath For Bubbles Tawny Newsome with Swampers
Cluster jamming with The Beach Boys sound particularly sweet. But positively glow, layering shimmering David Hood and Randy McCormick,
(Misto on The Moon). Five years in scouring the dub-scorched craters of keyboard washes, ringing chimes alongside assorted guests. The
the making seems like a long time for Spiderwebs and Concrete Void for and raga-like melodies to create a resulting confluence of country, soul,
an hours worth of music, but Jonti meaning seems futile best just revel sense of blissful stasis. gospel and R&B (produced by Elvis
clearly had plenty of fun along the way. in her queasiness. PierS Martin LOuiS PattiSOn old bassist, Norbert Putnam) is a
nigeL WiLLiaMSOn delight, Langfords originals imbued
kAUkOLAMPI NICHOLAS kRGOVICH with a keen sense of time and place.
THE JUST JOANS 1 In An Open field Weighted equally between twangy
You Might Be Smiling Now SVARP TIN ANGEL vigour and folkish delicacy, the songs
fIkA often cut deep, particularly the hymnal
7/10 7/10
beauty of I Thought He Was Dead.
6/10 Solo excursion into kosmische Lush introspection from Vancouver rOb HugHeS
Melancholy midlife metapop from techno by Finlands K-X-P frontman pop master
glasgow indie lifers The first solo effort Nicholas krgovich is LANTERNS ON THE
over the past decade by k-X-Ps Timo a classy songwriter LAkE WITH THE ROYAL
Glasgows Just Joans kaukolampi, 1 is whose recent trilogy NORTHERN SINfONIA
have documented the hardly the years only of albums inspired Live In Concert
romantic pratfalls of electronic album by the allure of BELLA UNION
a generation of indie that could pass for a Hollywood, delivered
7/10
kids with sardonic wit throbbing and thickly layered synth in creamy R&B and languid 80s pop,
and a shambling musical style where score for a dimly remembered 80s did little to dispel the notion that hes Cinematic folk-rock with strings
Stephin Merritt lies down with The science-fiction movie. But as is the case a man out of time. Nor, happily, will In attached
Vaselines. Now theyre feeling the chill with his bands startling fusions of An Open Field, which even contains In February 2016,
of middle age, when a night on the sofa space rock, doomy metal and motorik a blue-eyed shimmer called Do It Lanterns on The
with an M&S ready-meal holds more grooves on its four albums, there are Again and flows with casual Lake played a
appeal than feeling like an auntie at many surprising developments here elegance through yearning chamber one-off hometown
the church-hall disco (I only Smoke too, especially when the surging pop (The World Tonight, Now) show at the Sage in
When I Drink, No Longer Young momentum of the early tracks and lighthearted blues (Country Boy, Gateshead backed by
Enough), and the wisecracks are dissipates into the more ominous on The Main Drag). Whereas his the 40-piece Royal Northern Sinfonia.
harder to pull off. Theyre at their best abstraction of Public Execution of trilogy was written mostly in on this stirring souvenir of that night,
on Big Blue Moon, katie Popes voice The Nodding Lotus Eater, a 10-minute character, here krgovich reflects wryly the bands natural gift for widescreen
soaring above bathos like the stars closer better suited to Twin Peaks: The on his own situation, the perennial atmospherics and melodramatic
coming out over Sauchiehall Street. Return than Blade Runner 2049. underdog whose day might be just melancholy is heightened rather
StePHen trOuSS JaSOn anDerSOn around the corner. than transformed by the orchestral
PierS Martin backing. Ill Stall Them is thrillingly
SILVIA kASTEL GREGG kOWALSkY
ALLAN WHYTE, MIKE KoSINSKI
RoCHeMAN
Rocheman
NX
7/10
A muted but sonically rich and finely
Mike Love eDWARD PeNFoLD like Ashursts Beacon suggest an crafted debt.
Unleash The Love Denny isle Drive idyllic upbringing. Theatre composer
BMG SToLeN BoDY WYNDHAM WALLACE and sound designer
Jordan Mallory-
3/10 6/10
kARiNe PoLWART Skinner is clearly
Pickin up bad vibrations Kooky English folk from Bristol A Pocket of Wind not aiming for West
Mike Love has been songwriter Resistance End melodrama
perhaps unfairly A member of the busy HUDSoN with his recording-artist side project
cast as a villain in Bristol scene, Edward Rocheman. This eponymous debut is
7/10
The Beach Boys Penfolds second solo an understated but mostly enchanting
story, but lately LP has him sounding Award-winning folkies theatrical collection of avant-lounge chansons
he seems to be old beyond his years collaboration tempered with offbeat electronic
embracing that role. First was the as he croons very A collaboration with textures and musique concrte
preening memoir that gave him English and eccentric songs with a sound designer rumbles. Celebrant sounds like a
too much credit for the bands Syd Barrett edge. Penfold also plays Pippa Murphy, light dinner-jazz orchestra playing
accomplishments, and now comes in Taos Humm, a great experimental originally staged underwater, Thrum a lightly
an unctuous solo album mixing psych three-piece, but his solo work at the Edinburgh mechanised carnival swirl of melting
flaccid new songs with slick retreads is from the weird folk tradition, as he International voices and lysergic shimmers. There
of classics. The harmonies can still calls in colleagues to provide support Festival in 2016, Polwarts half- are hints of Broadcasts woozy drone-
be moving, as on Getcha Back, with a range of instrument while spoken, half-sung reflection on life, pop here, plus supple arrangements
but Loves vocals are so heavily oozing a strange mix of intimacy motherhood and migrating geese and a grainy vocal timbre that
Auto-Tuned that he often sounds like and dislocation. Spring Parade establishes her as a trad PJ Harvey. recall vintage solo David Sylvian.
a cyborg rusting in the surf. Worst sounds like Arthur-era Kinks, while The arrangements are light and Occasional bouts of listless wafting
is Ram Raj, a vaguely Eastern Grasshopper has a genteel sway and percussive, and Polwarts singing aside, Rocheman is a charming debut,
number that ends with an offensive Bullfrog is a gorgeous nest of strings. is bell-like. The spoken-word parts its watercolour shadings pleasingly
stereotype inviting us all out for Amid the lysergic haze, a fascination might limit the albums appeal, but counterpointed with wonky sonic
curry. STEPHEN DEUSNER with nature holds things together. the singer adds new textures to old oddness. STEPHEN DALTON
PETER WATTS standards. The Robert Burns song
JULiN MAeSo Now Westlin Winds is incorporated ToM RoGeRSoN
Somewhere, Somehow MARk PeTeRS into Tyrannic Mans Dominion, WiTH BRiAN eNo
SoNY LeGACY iNNeRLAND while the droning ballad Sphagnum Finding Shore
SoNiC CATHeDRAL Mass For A Dead Queen is delicate DeAD oCeANS
6/10
and ornithologically astute.
Atmospheric and varied blues 7/10 6/10
ALASTAIR McKAY
soul on Spanish organ aces third Engineers co-founder revisits his Well-travelled Suffolk pianist goes
solo outing (musical) youth PUGWASH solo with help from a famous friend
Perfectly placed to Much as James Silverlake Rogersons CV
add his own signature Brooks Land LoJiNX includes studying
and outsider Observations under Harrison
6/10
freshness to well- construct Birtwistle at the Royal
worn genres, Maeso psychogeographic More pop classicism, assisted by Academy, being
is a veteran stalwart maps of, for instance, famous old friend one-third of the jazzy,
of his nations music scene. Respected Roman roads, Mark Peters attempts Dublin-based noisy Three Trapped Tigers, playing
enough to have served time with US the same for childhood haunts with hookmeister lounge piano in a dilapidated hotel
soul queens Irma Thomas and Betty this dreamy, instrumental mini- and melodicist and a chance meeting with Brian Eno
Harris, he has a canny and engaging album. Comparisons dont end there: extraordinaire outside the toilets after a gig. That
presence whether mastering the Brooks work may be sparser, but this Thomas Walsh has encounter led to his debut solo album,
snaky and percolating Tom Waits debut shares his fondness for simple been fashioning on which he uses a Moog Piano Bar
in the Crescent City vibe of Watery guitar melodies. That said, aside from impossibly catchy records under to transform his keyboard improvs
Grave, or taking a pleasantly off-piste the first minutes of opener Twenty into a Midi signal, which Eno then
reggae accented on I Wonder, I Bridges, Peters are cocooned in manipulates with his usual binary
Wonder. Stellar musical chops from richer arrangements somewhere karine mix of navety and sophistication.
Polwart
Maeso and a band blowing a suitable between former band Engineers, and The result is an impressionistic and
slamming and textured storm ensures occasional bandmate/collaborator intriguing set of instrumentals that
PAUL HEARTFIELD
any can Spanish men play the blues? Ulrich Schnauss, if lighter on draw on an eclectic set of influences
queries are resolutely answered in the synths. Despite the subdued from the obvious (Satie and Glass)
the affirmative. urgency of Windy Arbour, to the surprising (gamelan and
GAVIN MARTIN however, the sweet tones of tracks Robert Miles). NIGEL WILLIAMSON
Advantages growing and the Velvets-alike Eyeballs. the and affinity for dirges and drones
talent as they singing is another matter: Savages are suggestive of John Fahey, Karen
deliver 10 seemingly monotonous bark remains a taste not Dalton and other icons of avant-folk, Turnpike
effortless Americana easily acquired. ANDREW MUELLER the loveliest moments here like Troubadours
diScovered
searching
g out the best a
albums new to Uncut
While You Can is a Stax-styled
belter co-written by Auerbach
with John Prine, on which Finleys
soulful bark slices through an
insistent guitar hook and blaring
horns; while Medicine Woman
is a thumping soul-blues that
recalls Bobby Blands Aint No
Love In The Heart of The City.
If You Forget My Love is lighter
fare, with a Motown beat and
cooing female backing vocals.
Three Jumpers is a stonking
blues workout of which Buddy Guy
might have been proud. Then, as
the yearning Honey Let Me Stay
The Night gives way to the jug-
band stomp of You Dont Have
To Do right, Auerbachs master
plan is revealed. No two tracks are
stylistically the same and yet
there is a clear sense of cohesion.
If Marvin Gaye had been a blues
singer, the results might have
sounded something like
ROBERT FINLEY
and spent the next four decades Complications; real Love Is
constructing timber-framed Like Hard Time is a delightfully
houses, during which time music hammy, old-fashioned swamp-
Goin Platinum! was nothing more than a hobby.
It might have stayed that way if
rocker co-written by Auerbach and
Nick Lowe on which Finley sounds
EAsY EYE/NONEsUCH
he hadnt lost his eyesight, which like the mature Tom Jones; while
8/10 meant he could no longer work.
With time on his hands again, he
Empty Arms is a classy soul
ballad. The album closes with the
A Southern resurrection. By Nigel Williamson was discovered playing on the reflective Holy Wine, on which
sidewalk for tips by the Music Finley unleashes an extraordinary,
For Dan Convinced he had discovered Maker relief Foundation, and beseeching falsetto, something
Auerbach, one of the greatest singers Ive with the organisations assistance, hed apparently never attempted
growing up in ever heard, Auerbach invited he recorded his 2016 debut LP, Age until Auerbach suggested it in
Akron, ohio, Finley to sing on the soundtrack he Dont Mean A Thing, at 64. the studio.
a touchstone was putting together for a graphic For the follow-up, Auerbach has In a year in which weve lost
in his musical novel by his friend Gabe Soria. That put him in his Easy Eye Sound Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones,
development went so well that he then offered studio with Duane Eddy and a it seems fitting that robert Finley
was a set of rattlingly great records to write and produce an entire solo crack team of veteran sessioners should emerge to keep vintage
on the Fat Possum label, which album, Goin Platinum!. He has whose credits include backing Southern soul, deep-fried r&B
captured the vintage sound of that magnetic hugeness about his Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and roots and classic blues power
the last of the great undiscovered voice and just knows where to put it Bobby Womack. opener Get It alive and kicking.
Southern bluesmen: Junior in the pocket, Auerbach enthused.
Kimbrough, rL Burnside, T-Model
Ford and robert Belfour, all now
Having grown up in a tiny
sawmill outpost on the Louisiana- Q&A
long gone but who were finally Arkansas frontier, Finley began
afforded some recognition at the playing aged 11, when his father Robert Finley I was having rock stars. At this age I feel Im more
end of their lives. gave him some money to buy new to break new bounds sincere and take things more serious.
Auerbach covered songs by shoes. He instead spent the dollars I feel every shot I shoot needs to be
both Kimbrough and Burnside on on a second-hand guitar. Although what was the music that my best shot because it could be my
influenced you and shaped last shot.
The Black Keys debut, and then the devils music was banned your own vision?
signed to Fat Possum, recording in his gospel-only family home, Everybody from James Brown to BB Has working with Dan changed
two albums for the imprint on he learnt to copy the blues and King, Bobby Bland, The Temptations your sound and approach?
the way to Grammy-winning r&B records he heard in the local I wasnt allowed to play it at home, I was definitely having to break new
superstardom. When a video of juke joint. At 17 he joined the US so basically what was playing on the bounds, so it was a great challenge,
the 64-year-old Louisiana blues Army and, posted to Germany, he jukeboxes down the street. but I enjoyed it. It was something
singer robert Finley performing became the guitarist in the army that you dont know you can do until
on a street corner reached band and spent the next three Does it feel strange, getting youre put into a situation with the
Auerbach last year, though, he years playing throughout Europe. this recognition late in life? opportunity to do it. All the songs
Its overwhelming even to be that Dan wrote had great meaning
ALYSSE GAfKJEn
was immediately struck by the on his return home he played considered. You go from kicking it to them, so it wasnt hard. It comes
parallels with the Fat Possum solo around the Louisiana on the sidewalk and singing in the natural when its something you
veterans who had so inspired him boondocks, but unable to make church choir and the next thing always wanted to do.
20 years earlier. a living, he took up carpentry you know, youre hanging out with INTERVIEW: NIGEL WILLIAMSON
U2 surroundings. A 21-minute opener, nicotine-voiced torch songs. once If The B-52s were
songs Of Experience Birch Polygon, sets the tone, flowing again his debts to Leonard Cohen the quintessential
IsLAND together experimental electronics and Lee Hazlewood weigh heavily, Saturday-night party
and avant-garde jazz, with searching especially when trading sardonic band, Cindy Wilsons
6/10
blasts of sax and Alice Merida richards lines with girlfriend and co-vocalist first-ever solo LP
Life lessons lack elevation reciting spoken word somewhere Sylvie Kreusch on the post-coital evokes the wee small
It may prove not to within the haze. And theres a gem trip-hop smoocher Dangerous. In hours between the partys end and
be U2s smartest call, in the shape of Yesterdays Guest, general, Devoldere sounds like he Sunday morning. The more laidback
releasing the much- a finely crafted electropop miniature is playing the role of a world-weary counterpoint to B-52s singers Fred
delayed Songs Of with shades of Broadcast. LOUIS PATTISON romantic playboy, not living it. That Schneider and Kate Pierson, Wilson,
Experience right after said, the angst-ridden confessional now 60, reveals a flair for conjuring
taking The Joshua WARHAUs Mad World and the agreeably sloppy up moods on songs that suggest the
Tree on an acclaimed 30th-birthday Warhaus PIAs Everybody show flickers of deadpan languorous drift from winding down
tour. Though their 14th studio album humour behind the sharp-suited (Stand Back Time) to sleeping in
6/10
isnt worthy of direct comparison, it dandy pose. Slight and derivative, but (Sunrise). Her breathy alto glides
contains fleeting proof of a band still Croonsome Cohen-ish stylish when it works. STEPhEN DALTON over synth-driven arrangements that
capable of making sparks fly. Billed confessionals from Belgium reference Gary Numans Cars on
as a collection of reflective letters Barely a year after CINDY WILsON Mystic, Daft Punks Get Lucky on
addressed to Bonos loved ones, the releasing his Warhaus Change the silky No one Can Tell You and
heat-haze pop of Summer of Love, debut, Belgian KILL ROCK sTARs 60s girl groups on a wistful cover of
slap-bass 80s throwback red Flag alt.pop crooner New Colony Sixs Things Id Like
7/10
Day and How To Be A rock Star stomp Maarten Devoldere To Say. BUD SCOPPA
of The Showman are terrific, while returns with a Wafting mid-tempo nocturnes
The Landlady positively oozes second collection of jazzy, louche, from B-52s alumna and her trio XENOULA
loveliness. Most of the rest, alas, is a Xenoula
revelations
soupy mix of reheated riffs, bolted-on WEIRD WORLD
choruses and faux-profound vaguery.
6/10
GRAEME ThOMSON
Well-connected newcomers
VARIOUs ARTIsTs crepuscular cyber-pop
Pop Ambient 2018 KOMPAKT If Xenoulas curdled
synth-pop sounds
7/10
familiar, it could be
Reliably relaxing roundup makes because her debut
it to adulthood album was produced
The demure sibling by Sam Dust, aka LA
among Kompakts Priest and one half of Soft Hair with
generally rowdy Connan Mockasin, who rolls out the
family, this long- velvety funk for these songs written
running series finally by his better half, romy Xeno. Pitched
comes of age with as an ethereal, space-age entity in the
its 18th collection of lush serenity. As vein of The Man Who Fell To Earth,
always, muffled beats and swaddling Xenoula nevertheless addresses
swathes of synths dominate, the more earthy pursuits on the excellent
latter especially evident on Kaitos Luna Man and Caramello, the
Travelled Between Souls, Yui bestexamples of her absinthe-
onoderas Prism and Max Wrden soaked neon folk. Things become
and Thore Pfeiffers Panorama. more perverse with the corroded
But though surprises are limited, exotica of Deer ron and Leyline
and subtle when they come, theyre ogres, though her weirdness is most
nonetheless rewarding. Pfeiffers
collaboration with Leandro Fresco,
Splinter, is full of random, secretive
VIRGINIA WING/XAM DUO becoming. PIERS MARTIN
ZOMBIE ZOMBIE
rustling, while strings wax and wane Christopher Duffin on two acts playing a bit of tugowar Livity
cautiously on Kenneth James Gibsons VERsATILE
Disinclined To Vacate. The orb also omorrows Gift, camomile-and-honey tea.
contribute the playful Skys Falling,
and T raumschmiere the grandiose
T the new collaborative
album from south
Two days of recording were
taken away and stitched
8/10
Seasoned Paris pairs seductively
Eterna. WYNDhAM WALLACE Londons Virginia Wing and together, with a friend, Misha uptempo giallo disco
Leeds XAM Duo, is a deeply Hering of Holy Mountain True to their name,
VIRGINIA WING/ blissed-out improvisation Studios, doing a final Zombie Zombie have
XAM DUO channelling the astral jazz mixdown. Misha loved the been roaming the
Tomorrows Gift FIRE of Pharoah Sanders and concept His work on the same patch of ancient
the devotional music of record is as much a part of musical ground for
8/10 Alice Coltrane. Its also the record as the four of ours. a decade, devouring
UK DIY duos collude in feat of a demonstration of just The two bands are pretty the mouldy flesh of Krautrock and
cosmic transcendence how far great music can similar, adds Duffin, except 70s horror soundtracks with gusto.
recorded over a transport you. I would that Virginia Wing will take Livity, Etienne Jaumet and Cosmic
weekend in a space in love to say we created a their influences and hammer, Nemans third full-length following
Bradfords industrial tranquil ashram vibe, says sculpt and shape them into two soundtrack commissions, is a
district at the dawn Christopher Duffin of XAM a pop-song format, whereas friskier beast than usual, its cinematic
of 2017, Tomorrows Duo. But in reality, we were XAM Duo stretch a lot of the qualities liberally pimped with sturdy
Gift should by rights in my windowless practice same influences out over kicks and driving bass by I:Cube,
feel a fairly desolate undertaking. space in Bradford steadily 20-minute-long improvised the DJ and producer who mixed the
But this collaborative record zoning out from the jams. We thought it would be album. For an act consumed by the
between two groups South London oppressive heat of two interesting to see what existential notion of fear, Livity is very
(now Manchester-based) DIY pop portable heaters and one by would happen if we played much Zombie Zombies party record,
duo Virginia Wing and Yorkshire one getting ill, surviving on a bit of tugowar with those the likes of Acera, Looose and
kosmische experimentalists XAM Asda layered salads and styles LOUIS PATTISON Hippocampe hitting that sweet
Duo somehow works something spot between John Carpenter, James
bordering on sublime from its humble Chance and Vitalic. PIERS MARTIN
JANUARY
NU
N 20
2018
TAke
ke 248
2
1 bob dYlAN (p34)
2 kiNg CRimsoN (p36)
3 gRANdAddY (p39)
4 THe RolliNg sToNes (p40)
5 YeAH YeAH YeAHs (p42)
WilCo
Am (special edition)
being There (special edition)
RHiNo
A
few years ago, around the Steinbeck with the splattered urgency of punk.
time of Sky Blue Sky, Uncut reissue It had started out as farrars band, but Tweedy
asked Jeff Tweedy for his OF THe made a vital contribution. The fact that his
thoughts on Americana. MONTH input was growing in significance may have
He had a few. Ive never had 7/10 been a factor in the split, just as the group seemed
the fuckin slightest clue as 9/10 poised to make a commercial breakthrough.
to what it means, he replied. what, then, would wilco sound like? There
Ive been a reluctant participant at best, and a violent was some continuity of personnel. Tweedy took
contrarian more often, to that label. Tweedy said much drummer Ken Coomer, bassist John Stirratt and multi-
more in that vein, before suggesting that: Americana is instrumentalist (dobro, fiddle, mandolin player) Max
just a fundamentalist reactionary stance to the modern Johnston with him, as well as offering a guest slot to steel
world. Its imagining some pure, altruistic past that does guitar player Lloyd Maines, who had played on Uncle
not exist. Its a desperate grasp for authenticity, that you Tupelos swansong, Anodyne. The other guest player,
either have or you dont have. Ultimately, its either a good Brian Henneman (of The Bottle Rockets) pulled the sound
song or its a bad song. Or: That guy can sing, and when in another direction, bringing a more straightforward
he sings, it makes me feel great. rocknroll energy. At the time of its release, AM was seen
AM, wilcos first album, can be seen as an argument as a continuation of the work done in Uncle Tupelo, and
about Americana. that was how it was designed. It is a conservative
It was recorded record, made in
Ken Weingart/Michael Ochs archives/getty iMages
HOw TO BUy...
The opening track of Uncle Produced by Peter Buck, this John Stirratt and Max Johnston
Tupelos second album, mix of coal-dust standards to the Uncle Tupelo lineup
Still Feel Gone, is Tweedys and grimy originals has Brian adds versatility and disturbs
Gun, a ferocious, grungey Hennemann stepping up to the groups balance of
kiss-off song that announced him as a play mandolin, bouzouki, banjo and slide. An power, encouraging Tweedy to explore
serious writer, rivalling group leader Jay acoustic album in the era of Nevermind new fields in his writing. The Long Cut
Farrar for attention. Brian Hennemann and proved a commercial misstep. Tweedys aired on Conan OBriens talk show, Acuff-
The Jayhawks Gary Louris guest on a layered contributions Wait Up, Black Eye and Rose pays tribute to the country songwriters,
album that also includes the pop thrash of Fatal Wound show him expanding his and New Madrid with Tweedys romantic
Nothing and the proto-grunge ballad If ambitions, and theres a lovely stab at the mishaps unfurling over Johnstons playful
Thats Alright . trad I Wish My Baby Was Gone. banjo is a highlight.
W
hat do you remember and hed still be overdubbing something.
about AM? than Uncle Tupelo had been? If you wanted to be part of the late-night
I remember a lot. Right at the Yes. There was a gathering there in the stuff you had to figure out how to stay up.
demise of Uncle Tupelo, Jeff came to all studio, at Easley, like, This is a band, Id always pass out.
of us and said, I want to keep going, were all in it, one for all. That changed.
I enjoy this, this is what I do. We all I dont have to go into the details, but I Is it true you all played the
grouped together at Tony the managers think someone got in Jeffs ear and said, wrong instruments on
place in St Louis and started just running Yeah, but youre the one writing all Misunderstood?
songs and song ideas. Maybe less than the songs. I get that. In the AM touring Yes Jay always wanted Jeff on the
a month later, we went to Memphis to period wed all wind up in somebodys drums, which was fun. Hes like a bad
record at Easley [McCain] studios the hotel room. One of the best days was drummer in the best way possible.
old Bar-Kays place and it was hot as when our manager Tony called up or Some of my favourite drummers are
hell. We were playing basketball outside came out on one of the dates and said, bad drummers. I can picture him back
all the time in this ghetto basketball From here on, boys, youre getting your there now, looking like a 12-year-old with
court, and making music. We brought in own rooms. That was just like wahoo! the sticks and the cigarettes hanging
Brian Henneman, who we all knew from But still, because of the whole family out of his mouth, banging away. And
The Bottle Rockets, a great guitarist, and thing, and because it was all against I would just jump on guitar and do
Lloyd Maines. It was like a big pop affair, one, we would all hole up in one room my Sonic Youth impersonation. That
that session. I think Lloyd could sense after wed played, and be getting high. became Misunderstood. I remember
that we were all uptight. I remember just I didnt really drink, and neither did Jeff, Jay got interviewed for some guitar
looking at him, sitting there with the but wed smoke a lot of weed and wed eat magazine: Howd do you get that sound
pedal steel which was right back with on Misunderstood? He was like, You
the drums, and he just looked up at me gotta ask our drummer. I can play
and he went, Its OK, relax. He had enough to be dangerous, but on that
such a calming presence anyway man,
hes an amazing player. He settled us all Jay [Bennett] brought one I was just trying to make it wrong,
and it came out right. Thats a band
down and at that point it was all just one
big happy family. My fantasy was always
to be out on the road in a van making
more than a lot to that experimenting. John was on keys. Jeff
was just screaming and singing.
music. And we toured a lot. After AM we And Being There starts out with
were gone, man. We were getting fat on that chaotic noise!
the road, marriages were breaking up,
relationships were breaking up, we were
on top of soul. You Im pretty sure that was on purpose Jeff
saying, OK, you think you know who we
eating at Waffle House at 2am and you
could see the pounds just going on. We
cant fake that thing are? How about this?
INTERVIEW: ALASTAIR McKAY
claims to have been visited by Jesus Christ. In fact, Dylans fascination with Sinatra
BoB DYlAN Soon Dylan converted to a particularly
evangelical strain of Christianity, even
has dwarfed his Christian output in both
duration and output. With each year and
Trouble No More: engaging in an intense three-month course
at the Association Of Vineyard Churches.
each new album it becomes more and
more difficult to reconstruct this moment,
The Bootleg Series Over the next three years he transformed when fans and critics alike wondered if
his concerts into tent revivals and churned Dylan was actually serious and how long it
Vol 13 (1979-1981)
ColUMBiA legACY
out three gospel-rock records. He cast would last. That makes Dylans Christian
himself as a fire-and-brimstone preacher period more fitting not less for an entry
cheering the glory of God and warning in his remarkable Bootleg series. If theres
7/10 of His almighty wrath. Its not just one of any phase that need a hearty defence and
Gonna change my way of thinking: the weirder chapters of his career, but demands explication, its the late 1970s.
Dylans gospel years. By Stephen Deusner
O
one of the most unexpected plot twists in One of the most exhaustive instalments
rock history. in the series 100 previously unreleased
nly God knows whos Forty years later live and studio cuts gathered on nine
responsible for Bob its been written CDs, plus a DVD of a feature-length film
Dylans conversion to so deeply into the Trouble No More does a fine job with
Christianity. He had narrative of his the task, arguing with varying degrees
already been touring career that it seems of persuasiveness that the era wasnt
most of the year when like a momentary entirely a washout. It was, though, a low
he rolled into San distraction in point for his songwriting. Gone are the
Diego in november 1978, physically and retrospect, a tangles of metaphor and allusion, the
creatively weary from the road. Toward waystation on a haunted American backdrop, the thickly
the end of the show, an unidentified longer spiritual veiled social and political commentary,
fan lobbed a small silver cross onstage. quest, a new guise and the ambiguity that compelled his
Dylan picked up and kept it, even wearing adopted by a listeners to engage actively with his
it around his neck at later shows. In mercurial artist. songs. Suddenly, Dylan was writing with
December, he debuted two new songs And its such a emphatic, disconcerting certainty. Slow
with overtly Christian lyrics and short era as well. Train Coming, released in 1978, remains his
AtoZ
Saving Dylans vocal, as he conveys not only the
songs in his hardship, but the joy in belief. His
lost period,
circa 1979 backup singers are a near-constant
Fred Tackett, presence on these songs, almost
left
as prominent as the man himself
and for good reason: Dylan dated
two of them and married the third a
A CeRTAiN RATio
few years later. To each (reissue, 1981)
What truly saves these songs, MUTe
however, is Dylans band, which 8/10
includes guitarist Fred Tackett,
Cult punk funkateers launch raft of reissues
keyboard player Spooner Oldham,
Even taking Tony Wilsons
drummer Jim Keltner and,
quixotic mindset into
occasionally, Mark Knopfler. They account, the fact that Factory
turn these songs into elastic rock once imagined A Certain Ratio
jams, turning Slow Train Coming might match Joy Divisions
inside out and injecting some success seems optimistic,
fervour and fury into Dead Man to put it mildly. not because of an inability to
deliver the goods, but because those goods
Dead Man. Dylan cut almost all
were so determinedly idiosyncratic. Their early
of his old material from his set, but sound was characterised by brittle tension,
he still cautioned his generation neurotic cool and a general air of unsettlement,
about letting the counterculture wrought in empty spaces. To Each is ACRs
curdle into complacency, especially first studio lP proper, recorded in new Jersey
on a fiery When you Gonna Wake and produced by Martin Hannett, who,
according to guitarist Martin Moscrop, took
Up. On the rare occasion when he
a lot of the funkiness out. youd never guess
did revisit older songs, they sound it, from the likes of (the unexpectedly light)
wholly different in this new context. My Spirit, loss, which throws back to
Its especially bracing to hear this Bowies Fame, and the tribal Back To The
band rip through a triumphal Start. Heavily percussive and brass-savvy, the
version of Blowin In The Wind tracks source jazz, African and latin rhythms,
and new york disco, and feature disorienting
that might have more to say
cut-ins, echoes and overlaps. Many suggest a
about God than any of his overtly whacked-out Bootsy Collins teaming up with
Christian songs.
SLEEVE NOTES Dylans Christian phase seemed
The Pop Group, but closer Winter Hill is a
monument to the slow-build, clattering groove
Disc 1 & 2: Live to end as abruptly as it began. His and an incantatory wild card. There are also
Disc 3 & 4: Rare attention turned to the Kabbalah, simultaneous reissues of The Graveyard And
and unreleased The Ballroom (1979) and the slicker Force (1986).
and 1983s Infidels addressed that
Disc 5 & 6: extras: none. SHARON OCONNELL
subject, albeit more obliquely. Its
Live in Toronto,
1980 tempting to dismiss this chapter in PeTeR BRoDeRiCK
Disc 7 & 8: Live Dylans career as something akin All Together Again
in Earls Court , to a temporary illness, although eRASeD TAPeS
KiNg CRimsoN
RM 15/4/71 realistic, and often mixed in stereo.
Cd8: Marquee But theres a noticeable drop in quality
Club, 10/08/71 when the 72 gigs start (on disc 10) in
Cd9: Marquee
sailors Tales Club, 10/08/71
Wilmington, Delaware. These are
cassette recordings, very rough and
PANegYRiC Cd10: wilmington
11/2/72 RM
bootleggy. Its the kind of distorted sound
7/10 Cd11: New york that made Crimsons American record
label baulk at releasing Earthbound
12/2/72
The 27-disc, 1970-72 motherlode. By David Cavanagh 1st Show (disc 18), a 72 live album that angered
Cd12: New york and disappointed fans in the UK, even
WHILE other Although the Poseidon, Lizard and 12/2/72 at a budget price. Its possible to get
pioneers of Islands discs all contain bonus tracks 2nd Show used to the sonic sludge, of course, and
progressive rock play and outtakes, the boxsets primary Cd13: detroit appreciate the gigs for their historical
17/2/72 RM
cruise ships, split focus is on live material. Over a dozen value; but several tracks on discs 1016
Cd14: Pittsburgh
into rival factions or concerts from 197172 are included, four 6/3/72 RM
and 2627 cut out unexpectedly, or begin
think about retiring, of which are previously unreleased. The Cd15: Milwaukee in mid-performance, depending on
King Crimson seem remainder have been available over 8/3/72 RM whether the bands soundman has
shockingly active these days. Currently the years through the King Crimson Cd16: Peoria remembered to put a tape in the machine.
touring North America for the second Collectors Club or as downloads via 10/3/72 By the time of that February March US
time this year, theyve released two recent Fripps website. For the majority of Sailors Cd17: Summit tour, Crimson had grown in confidence,
live albums (Live In Chicago and the Tales, then, were in the ribald, raucous Studios 12/3/72 introducing a lewd groove or two into
Japan-only Live In Vienna) as well as an company of singer-bassist Raymond (Boz) remixed their repertoire (Ladies Of The Road)
Cd18: Earthbound
EP (Heroes Live In Europe) and the Burrell, drummer Ian Wallace and sax/ and even inserting a boogie shuffle in
extended &
latest instalment in their ongoing tour flautist Mel Collins. The stage is set for re-mastered
the middle of Cirkus. By April, though,
box series, The Elements Of King Crimson. powerhouse drumming, uncertain jazz, Cd19: Jams & they were defunct, merely three more
Onstage in cities like Raleigh and Newark, thick peasoupers of gothic Mellotron Rehearsals names added by Fripp to the growing
their eight-piece lineup goes deep into the and gales of nervous laughter. Wed Cd20: Unknown ranks of the Crimson departed. Burrell
back catalogue. now like to render In The Court Of The show No 1 (1972) became a stadium rocker with Bad Co.
They play, oddly enough, a lot of the Crimson King, Burrell tells an audience Cd21: Unknown Wallace was hired by Bob Dylan to play
music on Sailors Tales, a lavish-looking in Frankfurt. Render it unconscious with show No 2 (1972) drums on Street-Legal. Collins, after four
27-disc boxset (21CD/2DVD/4Blu-ray) that a severely good kicking, he means. Blu-ray 1: king decades as one of rocks most in-demand
Crimson 1970
focuses on the years 197072. This was a Like a ballet in hobnail boots, this lineup session men, rejoined Crimson in 2013
Blu-ray 2: king
troubled period when Crimson lost crucial of Crimson certainly belched some crude Crimson 1970/1
and has been reacquainting his tenor
personnel, leaving Robert Fripp and masculinity into Fripps cultivated, effete, Blu-ray 3: king sax with Cirkus, Sailors Tale and
lyricist Pete Sinfield with the name, the elaborately English music. Wallace is a Crimson 1971 more. For those listeners who intend to
determination and the vision just about heavy-hitting brute. Burrell, a future co- Blu-ray 4: king go the full distance with Sailors Tales,
to create three albums with ad hoc founder of Bad Company, applies his gruff Crimson 1972 Collins along with Fripp himself will
lineups and guest musicians. In The Wake voice to Sinfields flowery poetry imagine (contains over surely emerge as the boxsets heroic
Of Poseidon, Lizard and Islands rubbed Hawkwind-era Lemmy singing Samuel 120 tracks) figure. The 7172 band is not over-fondly
shoulders with jazz, chamber-rock and Taylor Coleridge while Fripp, playing his dVd1: earthbound remembered by aficionados, perhaps,
extended
the avant-garde (and appear here in their guitar like a demon, doubles on Mellotron but it enabled King Crimson to get from
dVd2: earthbound
200910 Steven Wilson remix versions), to give the illusion of a fifth member. They Reinvented
B to C, and from D to E, and from there to
but were soon forgotten when Fripp, in may not be adept at the musics filigree Plus: bonus wherever they are now.
autumn 72, put together the ferocious, embroidery, but they know how to make downloadable extras: 9/10. 12 box, 40-page booklet
dGM ARCHIve
free-improvising Wetton-Bruford-Muir- a right old racket. The seesawing sturm concert with liner notes from Sid Smith
Cross lineup that made Larks Tongues und drang of Cirkus (from Lizard) is and Jakko Jakszyk, audio notes by
In Aspic. a nightly highlight, as is Sailors Tale David Singleton
How to buy...
JohNNY CAsh Stevens Father And Son. The set budget may mean that, sonically, and New Kid In Town sit alongside
Unearthed (reissue, 2003) sounds even more impressive in this Strange Days is even a superior record earlier Eagles classics including
AmeRiCAN ReCoRdiNgs new vinyl edition, which is packaged to its predecessor, an argument Already Gone, Take It To the
in a box as big as a monument to a supported by the eerie genius of the Limit and One Of These Nights,
9/10
man who was bigger than life. title track and the brilliant psych played with the bands trademark
A posthumous Cash boxset gets extras: None. STEPHEN DEUSNER arrangements on My Eyes Have Seen meticulous perfectionism.
a vinyl release You and Moonlight Drive, two songs NIGEL WILLIAMSON
Originally released The dooRs which had been around in primitive
just two months strange days demo form since 1965. PiNK FLoYd
after his death (50th Anniversary deluxe edition) extras: 6/10. Archive photos and A Collection of great dance
in late 2003, the RhiNo new liner notes. NIGEL WILLIAMSON songs/delicate sound of
massive boxset
9/10 Thunder (reissues, 1981, 1988)
Unearthed was The eAgLes PiNK FLoYd ReCoRds
intended to play as a complement Classic second album gets 50th- hotel California (40th
anniversary deluxe treatment 7/10 / 6/10
to Johnny Cashs celebrated Anniversary expanded edition)
American Recordings albums and Strange days but WARNeRs Curios available again on vinyl
as a commemoration of his 10 years prolific ones. The It could be argued
9/10
working with producer Rick Rubin. Doors first two that Dance
Featuring outtakes, live tracks, albums were released 40th-anniversary deluxe edition Songs was Floyds
hymns and a handful of album cuts within eight months expanded excessively (natch) ironic response to
comprising a greatest hits of the of each other in Underneath the their elevation to
series (not to mention extremely 1967, making this the second 50th- super-smooth mainstream pop
poignant liner notes by Sylvie anniversary reissue from the band in harmonies and star status, following the massive
Simmons), it has gradually become 2017. Like the reissue of their debut, the perfectly polished worldwide success of the Another
a testament to the intense creativity new edition of Strange Days includes production of this Brick In The Wall single. Certainly,
and productivity that defined the no bonus tracks or extras, although Grammy-winning, EMI in the UK, and especially
Man In Blacks final years. While its it is a two-disc set, featuring both the 32 million-selling behemoth lies a Columbia in the US, would have
no surprise that Cash is a sensitive original stereo and mono mixes the dark masterpiece that serves as a been chomping at the bit for an
interpreter and an impeccable song latter available on CD for the first requiem for the American dream. On easily marketable greatest hits, but
collector, its still a thrill to hear him time. No problematic second-album Hotel California, the Eagles chronicled the most ground the band would
navigate so gracefully through Merle syndrome here: the songs had broadly a voyage from innocence to decadence concede was this package of five
Travis Dark As a Dungeon, so been written contemporaneously with in which the freewheeling utopianism alternate mixes, plus a new version of
MARk ANd CoLLeeN HAywARd/GeTTy IMAGeS, MICHAeL oCHS ARCHIveS/GeTTy IMAGeS
humorously through Chuck Berrys those on the first album, and although of the Woodstock generation curdled Money with Dave Gilmour playing
Down There By The Train, so Light My Fire and The End had into a drug-addled world of self- every instrument (former American
vehemently through Steve Earles already been cherrypicked, there indulgence, ego and excess. Rolling paymasters Capitol blocking the
anti-gun story-song Devils Right was still a rich stockpile, including Stone dubbed the band the last use of anything in any form from
Hand. He has a blast with Tom Petty the hit single Love Me Two Times tycoons in a lost lotus land and along the cash cow, The Dark Side Of The
on the Merle Haggard classic The and Morrisons 11-minute epic When with Fleetwood Macs Rumours, the Moon). Sequenced chronologically,
Running Kind and harmonises The Musics Over. Indeed, the albums juxtaposition of burnished it hangs together surprisingly well,
tenderly with Fiona Apple on Cat experimentation permitted by a bigger Cali soft-rock set against a seething although longstanding Floyd heads
underbelly of debauchery and may baulk at Shine On You Crazy
disillusionment defined an era, as Diamond being pared down and
The doors Don Henleys songwriting reached an reassembled to a paltry 10 minutes.
reflect in 1967 apocalyptic peak on Life In The Fast Roger Waters now out of the picture,
Lane, The Last Resort and the title Delicate Sound Of Thunder was
track. The 40th-anniversary edition recorded over a five-night stint at the
which arrives somewhat late as the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, with
album was originally released in late Gilmour at the lead vocal mic for every
1976 comes with remastered sound song. Consequently, material from the
plus hi-res stereo and 5.1 mixes. previous years A Momentary Lapse Of
extras: 7/10. A bonus disc featuring Reason dominates, while Gilmour tries
10 live tracks recorded during a three- perhaps a little too hard to add a fresh
night stand at the LA Forum in October lick of paint to the older chestnuts once
1976 and on which the first concert sung by his erstwhile bandmate.
performances of Hotel California extras: None. TERRY STAUNTON
8/10 9/10
Vinyl release of the Brighton wonderfully bittersweet beginnings
outfits 2007 breakthrough for the undervalued Modesto,
compilation California slackers
We were just With Britpop in
pretending to be decline and so-called
Japanese, hisses independent rock
singer David Best assimilated into
on one particularly the mainstream,
infuriatingly catchy Grandaddys 1997
chorus, as if divulging a state secret. debut was enthusiastically embraced
At the release of this 2007 collection by a still vibrant fanzine scene for
of early singles, B-sides and new sounding exactly like what few
tracks, Fujiya & Miyagi were just new bands dared to: one emerging
three guys from Brighton backed by from the underground. Grandaddy
a drumbox, but the fake Japanese were The Flaming Lips without the
persona seemed to fit them as snugly pomp, Pavement without the wilful
as a Superdry T-shirt. The lyrics weirdness, Guided By Voices without
sound like they were generated by the self-sabotaging brevity, and Pixies
Google Translate by someone who without the angular aggression. That
speaks English as a third language, they appeared to have recorded out of
whispered with all the emphases financial necessity in a cupboard a
on the wrong syllables rather style Dave Fridmann had admittedly
like Cans Damo Suzuki. Indeed, employed for several years with
Can are an obvious influence, Mercury Rev and the Lips was as ANgEL OLSEN be viewed as a bridge from here to
as are Kraftwerk (check out the appealing as their songs ability Phases there, as well as a demonstration of
instrumentals Conductor 71 and to overcome this handicap with JAgJAgUWAR artistic continuity. The album collects
Cassettesingle) and Talking Heads ambitious grandeur. Jason Lytles rarities and demos from 2012-16. There
7/10
(the clanging guitars and upside- tremulous vocal was a perfect are outtakes from My Woman, with
down drums on Photocopier, in match for grubby guitars and cheap Raw rarities and demos from the the full band: Fly On Your Wall is
particular), while tracks like Sucker keyboards, lending a heartrending Missourian songwriter a tense spiral of anxiety, Special is
Punch and In One Ear & Out The vulnerability to the strangely cathartic On her last album, like a heartbroken prayer. Less, often,
Other showed that they could Laughing Stock and AM 180, 2016s celebrated is more. The home demo of Sans is
school any number of post-punk with its unforgettable Casiotone My Woman, Angel powerfully raw. All Right Now (from
revivalists in mutant disco. The lyrics hook, while Collective Dreamwish Olsen was at pains 2013) is an almost inaudible strum
can be amusing (Ankle Injuries Of Upperclass Elegance moved in to transcend her brought to life by a gorgeous vocal. The
sounds like a voyage through dimly elegant slow motion, closing with reputation for 2015 demo of How Many Disasters is
remembered adolescence, like subdued stabs of Motown guitars. lo-fi introspection and put aside her among the loveliest things Olsen has
pixelated scraps of jazz mags in Even the joy of Summer Here Kids, own fears of being viewed as a sad recorded, and she really lets herself
your head) but frustratingly opaque, which borrowed Nirvanas by-now cartoon country singer. In hindsight, sing on California(released as a
which is probably why F&M are overfamiliar dynamics, was undercut the record didnt smash Olsens 7-inch in 2013). Well-chosen covers
still playing small clubs rather than by a tangible melancholy. songwriting template so much as clean of Roky Ericksons For You and
the arenas they perhaps deserve Extras: 7/10. Coloured vinyl, with it up. Lately, Olsen has been talking Springsteens Tougher Than The Rest
to be headlining. second disc offering eight unreleased about making a stripped-down record show how powerful Olsen can be when
Extras: None. demos, plus liner notes by Super Furry in the vein of Springsteens Nebraska. wedded to a strong melody.
JOhN LEwIS Animals Gruff Rhys. wYNDhAM wALLACE Perhaps this rarities collection can ALASTAIR McKAY
How to buy...
grandaddy
GrANdAddY
transmission
improbable
THE ROLLING
STONES
On Air
POLYDOR
8/10
The Stones early-60s BBC
radio sessions reveal a band
in motion, says Michael Bonner
Bill Wymans bass, too, is a revelation: heavy, Yeah Yeah, 30/08/65 13. Oh! Baby (We Got 18/04/64 Saturday Club, 18/04/64
thudding notes played nonetheless with quick, 5. Cops And Robbers A Good Thing Goin) 3. Im Moving On Joe 11. Crackin Up Top
dextrous precision. Blues In Rhythm, Saturday Club, 18/09/65 Loss Pop Show, 10/04/64 Gear, 23/07/64
What the BBC engineers at Broadcasting House 09/05/64 14. Around And Around 4. If You Need Me Joe 12. I Cant Be Satisfied
6. Its All Over Now Top Gear, 23/07/64 Loss Pop Show, 17/07/64 Top Gear, 23/07/64
made of Keith Richards Gibson Maestro fuzzbox
The Joe Loss Pop Show, 15. Hi Heel Sneakers - 5. Walking The Dog 13. I Just Want To Make
when he plugged in on August 20, 1965 is, sadly, 17/07/64 Saturday Club, 18/04/64 Saturday Club, 08/02/64 Love To You Saturday
lost in the mists of time. As it is, that version of 7. Route 66 Blues In 16. Fannie Mae 6. Confessin The Blues Club, 18/04/64
(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction, broadcast a month Rhythm, 09/05/64 Saturday Club, 18/09/65 Joe Loss Pop Show, 14. 2120 South Michigan
later, proves particularly strong on guitars. There 8. Memphis, Tennessee 17. You Better Move On 17/07/64 Avenue Rhythm And
is an enhanced physicality to Richards demonic Saturday Club, 26/10/63 Blues In Rhythm, 7. Everybody Needs Blues, 31/10/64
HHHHH HHHH
THIS INCREDIBLE THE MOST
MUSICAL JUST FUN SINCE
TAKES YOUR SUNNY
BREATH AWAY AFTERNOON
Daily Record Daily Mail
Featu
THE SMring the hits of
AL
inc L FACES
LAZY luding
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TIN SO UNDAY
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L I M I T E D S E A S O N 6 F E B R U A RY 1 1 M A R C H
allornothingmusical.com
ARCHIVE
the
e specialist
sp
pecialist PHAROAH SANDERS
Tauhid/Jewels Of Thought/
Summun Bukmun Umyun
Deaf Dumb Blind
ANTHOLOGY
9/10
Three masterpieces of cosmic jazz
return to vinyl
It seems churlish to find
fault with three such
extraordinary albums being
re-pressed, with such care.
Still, the omission here
makes this compendium
a slightly curious introduction to the great
saxophonists solo career. Anthologys three-
disc vinyl box justifiably skips Sanders rather
straight 64 debut, and opens with 1966s
incantatory Tauhid. Its here that the 26-year-
old Sanders, on leave from John Coltranes
band, first articulates his extravagantly
devotional brand of Afro-futurism and
eclectic faith: Side Ones Upper Egypt
And Lower Egypt, with Sonny Sharrocks
scrabbling guitar to the fore, remains one of
his most transporting pieces. 1969 follow-up
Karma, often highlighted as the strongest
early Sanders album, is oddly missing from
YEAH YEAH YEAHS the set, but its absence does deservedly
push the same years undervalued Jewels
Of Thought and 1970s Summun Bukmun
Fever To Tell (Deluxe) Umyun into the spotlight. The formers first
INTERSCOPE
side is consumed by Hum-Allah-Hum-
9/10 Allah-Hum-Allah; a sequel to Karmas
foundational The Creator Has A Master Plan
NYC scenesters grimy, glorious debut, redux that again showcases Lonnie Liston Smith
on piano and the yodelling co-writer, Leon
Thomas. Passages of free playing are often
YEAH Yeah Yeahs must have so off the glittery cuff. These lo-fi demos pull the rapturously unhinged, but Sanders always
felt like seasoned veterans by curtain back on the trios creative process, and finds a way of leading his collaborators to a
the time they released their perhaps the biggest surprise is hearing Karen O place of melodic and spiritual serenity, most
full-length debut in April 2003. write out her vocals the way she writes out her heroically on the 28-minute flip of Jewels Of
Karen O(rzolek) had refined an lyrics. On rough home recordings of Date With Thought, Sun In Aquarius.
outrageous and unpredictable The Night and Black Tongue, she maps out Extras: 6/10. 16-page zine, hand-assembled
stage presence on stages around the boroughs, every shriek and squeal, every grunt and groan. and screenprinted slipcase. Albums all
while guitarist Nick Zinner and drummer Compared to the controlled chaos of those available separately, too.
Brian Chase teased more sound out of their two songs, the albums finale sounds all the more JOHN MULVEY
instruments than most bands get out of a full surprising in its tenderness and candour, as
orchestra. On the strength of word-of-mouth live Karen O sings love songs to the city as though YASUAKI SHIMIZU
shows and a scuzzy-sounding EP, they graced it were a flesh-and-blood lover. I wish I could Kakashi (reissue, 1982)
the covers of major music magazines, signed a buy back the woman you stole, she declares PALTO FLATS
flashy record deal and then suffered a backlash on Y Control, yet she remains in thrall to its
8/10
all before they had a proper album to their name. not-quite-benign energy: Wait they dont
Nearly 15 years later, when the dust has settled love you like I love you. That simple declaration Sublime Japanese new-wave/jazz fusion
and the era has been oral-historyed in Lizzy from Maps effectively recontextualises every from 1982 reissued on vinyl
Goodmans Meet Me In The Bathroom, Yeah Yeah riff, every rhythm, and every screech that came High times for the
Yeahs gritty, grimy, mischievous full-length before. In 2017, Fever To Tell remains as visceral, adventurous Japanese
debut can be heard without the stigma of scene as exciting, as confounding as ever. composer Yasuaki Shimizu,
politics. These songs arent just about New York Extras: 8/10. Seventeen demos, B-sides now 63, who this season
City. They are of New York City: cobbled together and outtakes, most never released, plus a finds two gems from his
from debris picked out of gutters and vacant lots, documentary chronicling the bands history, an 40-year catalogue reissued:
pieced together on street corners and in back iron-on patch and other goodies, all wrapped up Music For Commercials, his 1987 album
alleys, held togetherr by the ceaseless
ceaselless thrum iin red
ed fishnets.
fishn STEPHEN DEUSNER
SNERR of b bite-size computer pop for Crammed
of the city, the hot sick smellll of the
th subwa
subway,
a Discs, and 1982s Kakashi, a terrific blend of
D
the grime that settles o on your
ur skin.n. Talking
l Heads-ish new wave and electronic
Each tune is its own glorious mess, ess ambience tied loosely together with freestyle
with Zinner riffing like Jimmy Page,P saxophone,
ax Shimizus primary instrument.
Chase playing like threee w whole Kakashi
Kak k is released by the New York label
rhythm sections, and Karen O Palto Flats, which recently reissued another
Pal
contorting her vocalsals into
n wild,
wi d, Shimizu production, Mariahs 1983 outsider
Shi
weird shapes. disco
dis s touchstone Utakata No Hibi, beyond
Few acts associated e its home
h territory for the first time. Like the
with that New York Mariaha record, Kakashi (meaning scarecrow)
scene managed is ccheerful and unpretentious and captures
to sound quite so Shimizu and pals playing around in the
spontaneous as Yeah ah sstudio, switching effortlessly between
Yeah Yeahs, but thiss styles.
y The sounds I hear inside me, what
massive new reissuee shows do tthey feel like outside? he asks in the
just how much thought ght and liner notes and, responds with music that
line
care went into sounding ng iiss w
warm, sensual and humorous. Opening
vE never held an honest job in my entire life.Bruce work. ive never worked nine to five. ive never done any hard labour.
Springsteen is halfway through Growin Up when he He waits a beat before delivering the punchline: And yet its all ive
suddenly steps away from the mic stand and walks to the foot written about. That subject matter has taken him from the Jersey
of the stage, surveying the small crowd gathered at the Walter Shore to the Great White Way. i thank you very much.
Kerr Theatre in New York. its a rockstar move, but this is not a The audience responds with laughter and applause, but everybody
rock concert. This is Springsteen On Broadway, an intimate at the Kerr the 960 seated fans, the small crew working the lights
one-man show, an acoustic autobiography in song, arguably and sound, the guitar tech tuning Springsteens guitars offstage, and
the biggest live show of the year, certainly the hardest ticket to especially his wife patti Scialfa, who will join him later in the evening
buy without getting very lucky or mortgaging your home. for two songs knows that Bruce is being hard on himself. His rep for
Capping an intensely retrospective period for Springsteen perfectionism, for exactitude, for long days in the studio, for endless
which includes a reissue of The River and subsequent tour as weeks on the road earned him the nickname The Boss, which was
well as an autobiography and accompanying hits compilation only half affectionate. And besides, this right here is a real job. The
this residency in one of the citys great theatres provides an Kerr will be his office for the next few months as he plays five shows a
opportunity for him to tell his story in week through the end of February 2018. Hes
more vivid detail than ever before. had longer runs on the road and more
Springsteens is a story of ambition and demanding schedules, but never at the same
self-determination; traits that take him time, the same place, and with the same setlist.
from the clubs along the Jersey shore to its a nice office, of course. With its elaborate
legendary residencies at the Bottom italian renaissance dcor and fresco of pan, the
Line and Maxs Kansas City, from the 100-year-old Kerr is one of the most prestigious
Newark Draft Board to Madison venues on Broadway, debuting more pulitzer-
Square Garden. And he gets to tell and Tony-winning productions that any other
it all in the quiet, contemplative surrounds of theatre in town. The Kerr is an unusual setting
the Kerr Theatre. for Springsteen, whose native environment has
The show is a reflection of whats on his been the arena or concert hall venues where
mind right now, says Jon Landau, thousands of people can shout and scream and
Springsteens friend and manager for more dance along with him and the E Street Band. At
than 40 years. You could look at it as a review the Kerr, however, one of the greatest rocknroll
of the past. The show distills the past and boils showmen shushes the crowd as they try to clap
DAViD gAhr/getty iMAges
it down to its fundamentals. The essence of his along; he does not ad lib or go off script; he
lifes work is on that stage. doesnt vary his setlist from one night to the
This Kerr is so intimate, in fact, that next. He takes Broadway seriously, but its
Springsteen can address the audience doubtful the cast of Waitress or Kinky Boots
unamplified. He continues his mid-song see the crowd pumping fists when they come
monologue: ive never done an honest days onstage, much less shouting, Bruuuuuuuuce!
S
sound design allows you to hear the fine grain in Springsteens 4 The Wish priNGSTEEN has been planning this show for only nine
5 Thunder Road months, which is a staggeringly short time for Broadway,
voice and the crisp click of fingers against frets. For most of the
6 Promised land
two hours there is only one man onstage. Says Landau, Bruce where productions often take years to go from conception
7 Born In The USA
is the writer and director of this show. Hes also the composer, to opening night. And it started not on the Great White Way, but
8 Tenth Avenue
librettist, the entire pit orchestra, and of course the lead actor Freeze-out at the White House. in January 2017, just three months after
who has no understudy. Not an easy job. 9 Tougher Than awarding Springsteen the presidential Medal Of Freedom and
Springsteen recites passages from his recent memoir Born To The Rest just two days after addressing the nation for the last time,
Run and sings strategically chosen songs some nearly 50 (ft Patti Scialfa) president Obama hosted the New Jersey singer-songwriter at
years old, others barely 10 that coalesce into something like 10 Brilliant disguise the White House. Setting up in the East room, Springsteen
the story of his life. He plays a moving version of The Wish for (ft Patti Scialfa) played for about 250 people, regaling them with acoustic
his mother Adele and eulogises his father Douglas with My 11 long Walk Home versions of familiar songs and telling stories largely off the cuff.
Fathers House. He rhapsodises about Freehold, New Jersey, 12 The Rising it was Obamas way of saying thank you and goodbye to his
where he was born and raised, on My Hometown. He offers a 13 dancing In The key staff, says Landau. i had no idea how he was going to use
dark
fond remembrance of Clarence Clemons with Tenth Avenue this time on behalf of the president, and when patti [Scialfa]
14 land of Hope
Freeze-Out. As the show progresses, his scope widens, until And dreams and i saw him give this very intimate performance, we both had
hes not singing or speaking about his own personal 15 Born To Run the same reaction, which was This is his next show. it was
experiences anymore. instead, hes talking about our collective a subtle toast to the outgoing president and his staff, as well as
experiences on Long Walk Home and Dancing in The Dark a call to arms against the regime taking over the White House.
and nearly every other tune in the setlist. Springsteen is the rare artist This train, dreams will not be thwarted, Springsteen sang. This
who understands his music belongs as much to us as to him. train, faith will be rewarded. The setlist was expanded for Broadway,
it belongs to people like Amiel Weisfogel, an artist from New York but generally matches the arc of the White House show.
City who paints California landscapes and counts himself a lifelong Something about that format stuck with Springsteen. perhaps he
fan. My brother and i grew up listening to Bruce, so he embodies my felt that the access the crowd had to him gave him deeper access to
youth. He embodies my childhood. My brother has since passed the songs. He and Landau began discussing how to turn this one
away, but i come to shows as a tribute to him. performance into something bigger. One option was a solo acoustic
Another longtime devotee and a nonprofit fund-raiser, Lisa Keogh tour, which he has done in the 1990s and the 2000s although the
tried to convince her son to join her on the train ride idea extends even further back in Springsteens career.
from West Chester, pennsylvania. He was like, No, in the early 1980s, he followed up The River with an
i want to go to a real Bruce Springsteen concert! i told album that pared his songs down to their barest bones.
him it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He plays
The essence He made the recordings for Nebraska on a cheap four-
XXXXX
guitar and would enjoy it, but he bagged on me. track recorder at home, intending the E Street Band to
instead, she invited her friend Laura ramsey, a
business performance adviser who makes her own of Bruces lifes flesh them out. But the more he lived with these lo-fi
renditions, the more he and Landau appreciated the
work is on
rocknroll-inspired jewellery. (Shes sporting a bracelet way the mood of the music matched the mood of the
with a Grateful Dead guitar pick for this trip to New lyrics, how the characters and their tribulations sound
that stage
York.) Of course i wanted to come along! Laura that much louder, that much direr in that darker
laughs. im a rocknroller. im a concert girl. musical setting. renowned for the brazen maximalism
These stories suggest the fine balancing act and high of his early albums, Springsteen proved his songs
stakes at play in Springsteen On Broadway on the part JoN lANdAU could stand up on their own, and Nebraska remains
of both the artist and his audience. After he pleads one of his most highly regarded albums.
S
pringsteen On Broadway is only the latest of course. When springsteen was struggling to
chapter in the long history of the Walter Kerr make it in the city, the ritz hosted a new rock
theatre, which was built in the 20s and formerly opera called Soon, about a rock band struggling
known as the ritz. After some booms and busts to make it in the city. starring a young richard
during the roaring twenties and great Depression, in gere and featuring songs composed by scott
Ken MurrAy/ny DAiLy neWs ViA getty iMAges
the late 1930s the theatre hosted what were known Fagan (father of stephin Merritt), it only lasted
as living newspapers: multimedia productions that three performances before closing permanently.
deployed live actors, film clips, music, and even even in those early performances, springsteen
puppets to give voice to ordinary people and to was already proving much more durable.
dramatise their responses to contemporary issues. Around the time he released Lucky Town and
When springsteen was born in 1949, the ritz was a Human Touch in 1990, it reopened as the Walter
radio and television theatre. When he first watched Kerr theatre, named in honor of the New York
the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the Times theatre critic. its first show was August
ritz was home to tV game show The Price Is Right. Wilsons the piano Lesson. since then, it has
When he was gigging around Jersey with steel Mill hosted productions of tony Kushners Angels in
and the Castiles, it hosted musicals, adult films, and America, John patrick shanleys Doubt and, most
eventually childrens fare not at the same time, recently, Arthur Millers the Crucible.
I
Instead, Springsteen presented himself not COME from a boardwalk town where
as a bandleader but as a modern-day Dustbowl troubadour: almost everything is tinged with
an heir to Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger. a bit of fraud, Springsteen tells the
Taking the White House show on the road didnt hold audience at the Kerr, in a voice that might be best
a
much appeal for Springsteen. We could have done described as theatrically colloquial. So am I if you
d
something similar to what had been done in the past with havent figured that out yet. In 1972 I wasnt any
h
the Devils & Dust and Ghost Of Tom Joad acoustic tours, racecar-driving rebel or any street punk. I was a guitar
ra
says Landau, but this needed to be something different. It player on the streets of Asbury Park. That was pretty
p
needed to be Broadway. For one thing, Broadway had much all I knew.
m
smaller venues. When Springsteen played New York, he Forty-five years on, he still keeps the guitar and New
usually played Madison Square Garden (which Jersey at the centre of his story. The fact Springsteen On
Je
seats 19,000) or the Beacon Theatre (3,000). Most Broadway is such a different show for him is refreshing,
B
Broadway theatres seat around 1,000. as it not only puts his music in a new setting, but
a
Another reason is what Landau calls the attempts to puncture some of the legend surrounding him.
customs of Broadway. Once you enter the theatre, Throughout his 50-year career as a professional, he has
theres a level of quiet that exceeds what youre fashioned himself as the consummate rocknroll showman,
going to get form a venue three times the size. Once delivering epic performances that stretch to three or four
the show starts, theres no moving around. People hours. Every show is different from the one before and the one
dont talk. Its an ideal venue to invite concentration after, often hitting some of the same beats, but usually veering
and involvement. They may be rock songs, but off course for a song or two. Often
Springsteen On Broadway is not a rock show. Springsteen plays a song on a whim a
After considering several Broadway venues, habit that has over time reinforced the
Springsteen and Landau finally settled on the Kerr. adaptability and agility of his backing
According to Jordan roth, president of Jujamcyn band. He hams it up, jokes with the
other musicians, joshes the audience,
preaches and testifies, sermonises
please release me extemporaneously about the wonderful
S
pringsteen unexpected stone, more or less. I wont say its
On Broadway influences. absolutely locked in, says Landau. Bruce has always been a man
coincides with a When will
who can surprise you. The show, as the playbill says, is written and
fresh batch of rumours springsteen release
about his next solo it? Will he release directed by him. So theres a concept here of the written show, which
album, and Bruce has it? Or will the new is more of a Broadway convention. Gone is the jocularity of his live
fanned the flames album end up like shows; he recites his lines, less a rock star and more an intense actor:
by dropping hints in electric nebraska, less Elvis and more Brando up on that stage.
recent interviews. its the notorious full-band By the end of February, Springsteen will have performed this show
been finished for version of his first solo
nearly 100 times. It takes extreme discipline especially for someone
a while now, and acoustic record? Will it
he describes it as suffer the same fate as like him, who even at 68 thrives on the freedom of a raucous rock
a very different the rumoured hip-hop show to pull that off night after night, to learn your lines, hit your
kind of record that album from the 1990s? marks, tell your story with dynamism and precision. Still muscular
plays to his pop Landau hints that there and bedecked in tight T-shirts and bracelets, he certainly doesnt look
side perhaps a may be even more lost like a man approaching 70. Maybe his hair has receded a bit, turning
change of pace albums out there.
a bit greyer in the years since Wrecking Ball. And maybe there is new
getyt imAges; dAvid redfern/redferns
E
vErYBODY has a love-hate relationship with daring
d you to write on it.
their hometown, Springsteen says after he Springsteens quest to fill that black page took him out of
strikes the final chords of Growin Up. Its Freehold and over to Asbury Park, then out of New
just built into the equation. Take me. Im Mr Born To Jersey and up to New York. The city is less than an
run, Mr Thunder road. Growing up in Freehold, he hours drive north of the Jersey Shore, but for much of
dreamed only of escape, getting out, seeing the world,
changing his fate. I gotta hit the highway. I got white- In 1972, Springsteens youth it must have seemed as far away as
the moon. I dont know why we didnt end up there
line fever. I had to run run run And then, the
punchline: I live 10 minutes from my hometown. I wasnt any more, says David Sancious, the classically trained
keyboardist who played in early iterations of the E
Springsteen evokes his childhood in Freehold Street Band. Its not that much of a schlep to get from
vividly: climbing the tree in his front yard, gathering
the wedding rice on the steps of the church next door,
racecar- the Jersey Shore into the city, so I dont know why we
didnt do more gigs there early on. We definitely did
smelling coffee grounds wafting from the local Nescaf
plant. He talks about the good and the bad, the long
driving rebel play in the city, but it wasnt a mainstay for us.
After Springsteen had built a reputation as one of the
or street punk
rOBert demArtin
walks to his mothers office and the violent clashes most dynamic performers on the New Jersey circuit,
over civil rights that afflicted his and similar towns in his manager at the time, Mike Appel, wrangled him an
the 1960s. He struggles not to make it mythical. BRUCe spRiNGsTeeN audition with John Hammond, who had signed Billie
Instead, it becomes universal: Freehold is everyones Holiday, Count Basie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan to
Columbia Records. In Hammonds office Springsteen shed that singer-songwriter image in the
Springsteen played Its Hard To Be A Saint In The studio, bringing in what became known as the E Street
City and Growin Up and many more original Band to play on Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey in
compositions, enough to secure a record contract early 1973 and The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
and, later, a residency at Maxs Kansas City. in late 1973. Both were flops, barely registering beyond the
The club had only been open for about six years boardwalk circuit in his home state. Columbia still had faith
when Springsteen played his first residency there in him and patience. He worked long days and nights
in the early 1970s, but it was already a hangout for getting his third album just right, to the extent that he
artists, musicians and sundry scene misfits. The would fall asleep face first on the soundboard. And he
Velvet Underground has played there often in the continued touring, expanding his circuit but returning
late 1960s, and their manager/producer Andy to Maxs for additional residencies, this time with the
Warhol often held court with a coterie of hangers- E Street Band in tow.
on. It would eventually become a hub of the US glam We played Maxs a few times, Sancious recalls. We
scene as it mutated into the punk scene, hosting played there once, and Bob Marley And The Wailers were
formative shows by the New York Dolls, Wayne on the same bill. It was one of their first shows in the
County, Alice Cooper and the Patti Smith Group. States. That was a feature of the scene at that time, too.
Springsteen was only a marginal figure in that scene; Music was a lot less compartmentalised. You would have
by the time he played Maxs, he was a bit further along all kinds of acts on the same bill.
in his career, an actual recording and touring artist Just before the release of Born To Run, he played a
instead of an upstart, yet he must have seemed series of residencies at the Bottom Line, which had
provincial to the city-dwelling acts around him. After opened recently in Greenwich Village. The place held
shows hed quickly pack up his guitar, race to the Port fewer than 500 people, mostly at tables and booths
Authority, catch the last bus back home to New Jersey. not quite as cozy as Maxs, but still close quarters.
I remember seeing him at Maxs, which was only 150 During his 1974 residency Springsteen talked to the
people, says Lenny Kaye, who was at the time playing audience at length between early versions of Thunder
in Patti Smiths band and writing concert reviews for Road and Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out as well as
a few local outlets. It was crowded. It was not even
a standing-room club. They had tables, like a jazz bar. At Maxs he covers of The Crystals Then He Kissed Me and
Chuck Berrys No Money Down. The New York Times
It was an intimate setting. He wasnt appearing with described him as looking like a Sha-Na-Na reject,
a band, which disappointed me. I had seen him on the
Jersey Shore when he was with Child, and he was an
reminded me complete with a vaguely 1950s hair-do, shades and a
dark T-shirt, its short sleeves rolled up to the shoulder.
a little bit of
daVid GahR/GEtty imaGES
incredible performer and player. I remember they did When Springsteen played the Bottom Line a year
a 10-minute version of Season Of The Witch. At Maxs, later, after presumably updating his wardrobe, the
though, he was playing piano and acoustic guitar, and
he reminded me a little bit of Van Morrison.
Van Morrison same paper was much more effusive, stating that his
shows will rank among the great rock experiences of
What impressed Kaye most of all was Springsteens LeNNY KAYe those lucky enough to get in. Mr Springsteen has it all
dense, evocative songwriting. he is a great lyricist and songwriter, he is a wonderful
H
OW many times has Springsteen sung Thunder Road?
How many times has he called for Mary to take that long
walk from her front porch to his front seat? How many
times has Roy Orbison been singing for the lonely? It must be
thousands of times, tens of thousands even. On Broadway he
revives it once more, playing it on guitar instead of piano, his
voice sturdy and tender with nostalgia.
Just as the ghosts of every previous production haunt the Kerr,
With Clarence
the ghost of every previous Thunder Road haunts this version,
Clemons during which becomes an old mans song. The lyrics, once specific to a
a residency at young mans quest for escape, become more ruminative as
the Bottom Line,
New York City, Springsteen throws aside regret and vows to make good use of
August 1975 however little time is left: We got one last chance to make it real.
Its a remarkable performance, especially when he sings the
coda and turns that triumphant finale into something gentle
and bittersweet as though there is more weighing on him
singer, guitarist, and piano player, he has one of the now than at any other point in his life.
best rock bands anyones ever heard, and he is as Born In The USA gets a different type of makeover,
charismatic a stage figure as rock has produced. one that strips away all the rousing bombast that made
Playing the Bottom Line was very exciting, the album version so misunderstood and reproduces
very electric, says Sancious. The place was the scrappy blues of the Nebraska-era demo.
packed every single night. I mean, packed. You Springsteen recalls reading Ron Kovics memoir Born
could not even get in the place. Everybody came On The Fourth Of July and relates his own story of
down: record industry people, fans. It was five reporting to the Newark Draft Board in 1969, scared
nights in a row of really amazing stuff. I think it shitless he would be conscripted and sent to Vietnam to
certainly was good experience. The more you do that die. When I go to Washington, Im glad that Mad Dogs or
kind of thing, the better you get. Bruce was the master Little Vinis or my name isnt up on that wall, he confesses to
of connecting with an audience. the audience. But I do sometimes wonder who went in my
These New York residencies were formative for place. Because somebody did.
Springsteen, giving him an opportunity to gauge his Springsteen calls Born In The USA my soldiers story.
songs in front of new crowds and to spin elaborate It is a protest song. It is a GI blues. And it sounds rawer
stories about their origins. They became, in other after that introduction, as he riffs on a detuned guitar that
words, an early template for Springsteen On sounds like a zitar. He works a slide up and down the frets,
Broadway, in both the format of the show and the echoing the frantic intensity of combat and its frazzled
intimacy of the setting. Perhaps this new production memory. The song is less about the horrors of war than the
is an unconscious attempt to re-create those settings, horrors of coming home, looking for a job, trying to get
which makes it not merely a look back to old songs or your life back again. Uprooted from the Vietnam War, it
old places, but to old ways of playing that were sounds just as prescient and damning now as it did
effectively eradicated by the success of Born To Run. during the Reagan administration, and its as explicitly
Maybe thats why Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out political as Springsteen On Broadway ever gets.
works so well in this context. Sitting at the piano, Its not too far removed from the subject and tone of
RiChaRd E. aaRon/REdFERnS
Springsteen gives a shout-out to the members of the Springsteens new song, Freedom Cadence, which
E Street Band, who are not only his powerhouse, but he recorded for the film Thank You For Your Service. Starring Miles
his link to this particular time, pre-celebrity, when he was still Teller and Amy Schumer, the drama chronicles the hardships faced
chasing his rocknroll dreams, when he could still connect to an by Iraq War veterans returning to civilian life, so Springsteen based
audience on a such an intimate level. Nobody captured my the song on a cadence soldiers would sing in boot camp. Although it
audiences imagination like Clarence, Springsteen declares, halfway might initially sound jingoistic (I say freedom is won through the
through the song. Clarence was a figure out of a rocknroll barrel of a gun), Springsteen transforms the song into a similar
NO MONEY DOWN
O
modified a few lines to refer to New York City and included it on 2002s nce we were on a enthusiastic in Texas, and that
The Rising, his first album with the E Street Band in more than 15 record label, they was the beginning of the long
years. Nearly two decades later, it plays like it was commissioned by were sending us out, concerts. We would play way
getting work for us. Wed still be past regular stage time, but the
the city, although it is not a grim or jingoistic album. Instead, the
playing places in new Jersey, people would not leave. We came
songs recognise the joy and comfort people might find in each other but they were bigger places. We back out for encore after encore
an impression strengthened by his performance of The Rising on would play new York and Boston after encore. Youd have to turn on
Broadway. Unlike other songs in the show, he doesnt say much about and connecticut. I liked Boston all the lights full blast to get people
The Rising, but trusts the local crowd to understand the reference. a lot. We played a club called to finally leave.
And here is where the show veers away from straight autobiography Joes Place. And then we started We also got out to california.
making trips to the Midwest, and We did the cBS convention one
and becomes something different. The second half of Springsteen On
eventually we got out to Texas [in year, and they flew us out for that.
Broadway is not about Bruce the flesh-and-blood human being. Its 1974]. All our other trips were by It was fun, but when they flew us
not even about Bruce the rock star. He alludes to the impact his music car, but this time back home, it was
has had on the people in this theatre and millions more around the we took a train really turbulent.
KevIn MAzur/GeTTY IMAGeS; Jeff KrAvITz/fIlMMAGIc
world, and by doing so he argues convincingly for the power of music from new York We were all pretty
to define us individually as well as collectively, in good and bad times. to Houston, then nervous, white-
Dallas and Austin. knuckle-gripping
I
I remember we the seats. After
WANTED to rock your very soul, Springsteen says by way played a place we got back on
of introducing Dancing In The Dark, that it would in Austin called the ground, we
strengthen and help make sense of your life, your story, and Armadillo World made a decision
the story of the times that we shared. I hope Ive done that and I hope Headquarters. that the e Street
Ive been a good traveling companion. As Joe Strummer said, the Bruce wasnt Band wasnt flying
internationally any more. Of
future is not yet written. When things look darkest, lace up your
huge at the course, when you
dancing shoes. Still upbeat and carefree, the song that follows time, but he had With David
got successful,
Sancious
sounds wholly transformed in this setting. Once a lovers seduction, a big fanbase. you have to fly
it becomes an artists explication of his craft and an argument for its They were so everywhere.
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Am I
an asshole?
I dont know At the end of a momentous year, FATHER JOHN MISTY invites Uncut
to confession in his Laurel Canyon hideaway. There, Jaan Uhelszki
hears how 2017s most divisive superstar has come to terms with
fame and infamy, with decadence and abstinence, with LA benders
and New York exile. There is, too, a first listen to his next heartache
album Mr Tillman, Please Exit The Lobby!
Photo by GUY LOWNDES
Temptation was
everywhere: Josh
Tillman, aka Father
John Misty, on life
after the release of
his third solo album,
Pure Comedy,
earlier this year
Tillmans lysergic
performance on
Saturday Night
Live, March 4, 2017
W
in your head its not that hard to learn. hen I was about six Ecocline van with a black 1999 Jaguar XJ8. Essentially,
I play the piano all day, every day, and or so, I remember Tillman became a rakish rou. His jackets were
its crazy too, as an adult, to see myself my mom saying, like now fine and cut close to his lean body, silk shirts
make progress on a musical instrument really kind of sternly, Some of unbuttoned down to there, and he sported a new
that two years ago I didnt play at all. Its the mothers at school are always loutish insouciance onstage in the persona of an outr
telling me that their kids want to
really incredible, isnt it? he enthuses. lounge-lizard type that felt at times a little forced, yet
be friends with you and you dont
The typed pages of a finished novel seem interested. I remember not strangely believable.
are neatly stacked in the corner of a knowing what she was talking He started making the rounds of talk shows and
wooden desk, pushed up against the about. Being so kind of oblivious going to all the right restaurants. He and Emma were
panelled window in the small, womb- to it. But I think Ive always been spotted having late dinners with famous friends at
like room, painted a warm lipstick red, well-liked. OK, popular. Caf Stella, poolside at the Chateau Marmont, or
In sophomore year, at the
where he works. In earlier incarnations sipping $20 Greyhounds in the lobby bar. Tillman was
beginning of the school year
of the 70-year-old house, it mightve when everyone is figuring out photographed on a smoking break with famous-for-
been a childs nursery or maybe a who theyre going to be in class being-famous Alexa Chung, a photo that made the
sewing room, but since May, when the with, twice in one day I walked rounds of the gossip mags, signifying that he had
Tillmans moved in, its functioned as a into a class and people cheered arrived, geographically if not socially. One female
think tank, music room and smoking because I was in the class. reporter in Detroit coyly told him that since listening to
Those two-and-a-half years
chamber. Most surfaces are covered the record she has had more sex toPure Comedythan
at the public high school was the
with open books Tillman is reading. most socially happy I had ever any other record in my sexually active adulthood.
There are several notepads cribbed been. But I remember my ability to The story delights Tillman, and he tells it often. He was
from the Chateau Marmont Hotel socialise was really limited by how invited everywhere, fted and given complete licence
scattered around, scribbled with lyrics kind of oppressive my parents to behave badly.
and notes to himself. Its mostly all were and how sceptical they Maybe fame hasnt affected my temperament, but it
were of anyone I was friends with.
scratched-out lines, he says. And then definitely fucked with my expectations of everything
I was really only allowed to do
there are these little words that are in things outside of school that were that comes with it. Certain things were offered.
Duffy-MarIe arnOulT/WIreIMage
the margins, and those are the lyrics. church-related. Flattery. Temptation was everywhere. Suddenly its
The trouble with me is I want to live like I remember on my 15th like, wow, these people are all so nice, and theyre all so
an artist and work like an accountant. birthday, five or six of the My So- fun. And you start to believe the things theyre saying.
Thats really my ideal. Called Life girls kind of alternative Until, of course, you dont. Fame doesnt usually
girls at school came to my house.
As Tillman explains, hes been in a make such a late arrival. Tillman had just turned 36,
They sang happy Birthday to me
writing frenzy. Its like the words are in the rain on the front step, and but nonetheless he let himself indulge in some of the
tumbling out of me. I think Im going my mom sent them away. I was spoils, carousing at all hours with Wilson, his partner
to make an album a year for the next mortified. Beyond mortified. in crime, whom he has been close to since he first
With his wife Emma straits, he explains. I was living in a hotel for two
Elizabeth Tillman, months. Its kind of about yeah misadventure, he
the photographer,
in NYC, April 4, 2017 says haltingly. The words were just pouring out of
me. Its really rooted in something that happened last
year that was well, my life blew up. I think music
essentially serves the purpose of making the painful
and the isolating less painful and less isolating. But in
short, its a heartache album.
But whose? Tillman stubbornly wont say. As for
Emma Tillman, she let Albert Camus do the talking
on her Tumblr: Blessed are the hearts that bend; they
shall never be broken.
I think I instinctually understood that if I blew
everything up, I could put it back together better than
This next it was, Tillman says, but its not clear whom hes
trying to convince. But look, I dont want to talk
M
going on in Tillmans psyche. The music is unlike uCh has been made in collaborator on Pure Comedy. Did it prove to be
anything hes ever done. There are dangerous guitars, the press about the feud accurate? No, not quite. Hes satirising the character
between Josh Tillman
an eccentric percussive sound hes playing all the of a soulful douche. Its a bit complicated, because
and members of his former band,
drums and his voice isnt afraid to skip out of range to but the reality is a little different. Josh is a bit of an asshole sometimes, as I think he
make an emotional point. Dum Dum Blues is part when Fear Fun was released would freely admit. There are times that he comes
Randy Newman, part Dylan insinuation, bashing there a review that said that it uncomfortably close to being the thing he is trying to
a generation raised on the internet/You say the was an alliterative reference to satirise but I suppose thats all part of the game. But
smallest thing and these kids get so upset. fleet foxes, sighs an exasperated the way I really see Josh: an open-hearted little boy, a
Tillman. a crackpot conspiracy
fragile romantic of precocious intelligence, searching
T
like the Paul is dead shit. This is
ILLMAN seems to say a lot of things to upset a relationship that I would like to the world for beauty, wanting to be transported, and
people. Last year he harangued fans at a radio mend and the music press seems being bitterly disappointed again and again by all the
show outside Philadelphia, berating them with intent on exacerbating what I see vulgarity and noise.
an improvised speech in place of a scheduled as being like a very superficial Karen Elson, whose recent Double Roses LP features
50-minute performance at Phillys XPoNential Music difference, trying to make Tillman on drums, has an equally charitable view. He
something worse that I would
Festival two days after Donald Trump had secured the was very supportive of the record and really gave me
like to make better. and he did.
Republican nomination for president. Tillman stood at when they released their third good advice about not being afraid, she says. He also
the edge of the stage and aggressively smoked a album, Crack Up, he tweeted: brought a lot of abstract conversation, a nihilistic
cigarette, telling the audience: Maybe just take a Congratulations to my friends worldview with good humour sprinkled on top for
moment to be really, fucking profoundly sad. today, an incredible album. good measure. The same thing he brings to a party.
What people remembered after his outburst my official statement is just I talk to a lot of my fans after the shows, says
what I said in that tweet, confirms
concluded was that Tillman never got around to Tillman. What I get is Im articulating the things they
Tillman. I love those guys. Theyre
playing any Father John Misty songs, but instead made a big part of my life. I have not wish they were able to say, so they relate to me. Though
up something on the spot about the festival, following cryogenically frozen the problems its carnivalesque and a little grotesque, its kind of the
it up with a cover of Leonard Cohens Bird On A Wire that we had when I quit that band. perfect combination of a person who is successful and
requested by an audience member. All in all, he was everyone has moved on. That famous and this is going to look terrible in print, but
onstage a total of 20 minutes. being said, I wouldve gladly gone quotation marks around all these things yet his
and played on the record. Im not
I knew that once Trump got the nomination that the concerns and troubles are the same as mine.
the best drummer in the world,
train had left the station. And it disgusted me the next but I think I can translate Robin. Do you think I dont realise the religious implications
day to be at a music festival playing in front of a sea of That was part of the fun of being in choosing that name? continues Tillman wearily.
white people in lawn chairs drinking white wine, in that band. There were times At the time, I just liked how it sounded.
wendy RedfeRn/RedfeRns
listening to folk rock. And I couldnt do it, you know? when Robins would say, I want it Now?
he says without apology. to sound like youre skiing. It was Im into being my own foil. I dont see any conflict in
fun to try to do. It was fun as a
Musician-artist John Lurie texted and told him he it. Its not like someone pointed that out to me and
drummer and as a singer to test
was proud of him, while fans have posted that it was the limits of what a four-piece I was like, Ah, got me! If anything, I got myself.
one of the more meaningful things to occur in rock in drum kit can do; the snare was
at least 30 years. One fan compared it to the Sex Pistols like contraband. Pure Comedy is available on Bella Union
49
69 sParKs Hippopotamus MICHael HeaD
BMG
anD THe reD
68 FlOaTInG POInTs elasTIC BanD Very much following The Austin quartets ninth,
Reflections Mojave Desert Adios Seor Pussycat the trajectory of their co-produced by Dave Fridmann,
PLUTO VIOLETTE old friends Tame was again remarkable for refining
67 THe MaGneTIC FIelDs While the Impala (whose Kevin Spoons long-nurtured USPs:
50 Song Memoir NONESUCH bandnames The Parker produced The concision, groove and unwavering
Pale Fountains, Weather), Perths Pond moved away focus. Notable too was a poignant
66 CresCenT Resin Shack, The Strands from heavier jams towards a shinier influence coming more than ever to
Pockets GEOGRAPHIC changed over the kind of pop music for their seventh the fore. As Britt Daniel told Uncut,
65 real esTaTe In Mind last four decades, much about Mick and most successful album. The Bowie is, to put it bluntly, the guy
DOMINO Heads music remained heroically psychedelic otherness remained, Ive ripped off the most.
consistent. His first album in 11 though, not least on the two-part
44
64 BlanCK Mass World years was another beauty, all epic Edge Of The World, which JaKe XerXes
Eater SACRED BONES
hallucinatory social realism and tackled Australian colonial privilege FUssell
63 KeVIn MOrBY City ringing jangles in the great tradition while channelling the apocalyptic What In The Natural
Music DEAD OCEANS of The Byrds and Love. Another grandeur of Diamond Dogs. World PARADISE OF BACHELORS
useful piece of evidence, in fact, to At once scholarly
62 MarK eITZel
Hey Mr Ferryman DECOR
61 lana Del reY Lust For
argue that this Liverpool street poet
is one of the eras finest British
singer-songwriters.
46 BrOKen sOCIal
sCene
Hug Of Thunder CITY SLANG
and swinging,
Fussells second
album was a
Life INTERSCOPE A good year for the roistering
60 BITCHIn BaJas Bajas
Fresh DRAG CITY 48 lInDsTrM
Its All Right
Between Us As It Is
extended Broken
Social Scene family
also saw Feists
investigation of the traditions of
the south-eastern States. The son
of folklorists, Fussells song
59 JOHn MaUs Screen SMALLTOWN SUPERSOUND Pleasure charting in selections were compelling: the
Memories RIBBON MUSIC Last spotted our Top 75. Bigger plaudits, though, Child Ballads, Duke Ellington
58 wanD Plum DRAG CITY collaborating with were directed to BSS themselves, tunes, an obscure, absurdist
Todd Rundgren on as Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning country blues called Have You Ever
57 rOllInG BlaCKOUTs 2015s Runddans, and their myriad collaborators Seen Peaches Growing On A Sweet
COasTal FeVer The Hans-Peter reconvened for a first album in Potato Vine?. Easygoing virtuosity
French Press SUB-POP
Lindstrms fourth solo album seven years. As the title suggested, co-conspirators included Nathan
56 HOUse anD lanD, showcased the Norwegian a rousing communitarian spirit Salsburg and Nathan Bowles
Horse And Land THRILL JOCKEY maestros ability to keep stretching dominated and one whose and an idiosyncratic character
55 MOOnlanDInGZ - the parameters of electro-disco. warmth contrasted sharply with ensured, too, that everything felt
Interplanetary Class Amidst the pop bangers and prog the ironies attempted in 2017 by much more like a party than a
Classics TRANSGRESSIVE extrapolations of techno, there was the most famous of BSS historical re-enactment.
also a creepy extra dimension descendants, Arcade Fire.
43
54 TInarIwen Elwan ANTI- manifested on Bungl (Like A TrIO Da
53 sZa Ctrl TOP DAWG
ENTERTAINMENT
Ghost). Jenny Hval, whose own
Blood Bitch featured prominently
in the 2016 Uncut Albums Of The
45
MATADOR
sPOOn
Hot Thoughts
KalI &
KrOnOs QUarTeT
Ladilikan WORLD CIRCUIT
52 CHrIs FOrsYTH & THe Year list, provided the necessarily Another North As Africa Express
sOlar MOTel BanD
Dreaming In The Non- uncanny vocals. American indie-rock take on In C and
John Johnson
42THUnDerCaT
Drunk BRAINFEEDER
A formidable jazz
Microphones before
renaming himself
Mount Eerie, Phil Elverums art was
bassist, Stephen given a tragic new imperative when
Thundercat Bruner his wife Genevive died from
is also an eclectic pancreatic cancer in 2016. He King Gizzard &
collaborator. One of responded with this devastated, The Lizard
Wizard: now
his old associates, Kendrick Lamar, cathartic album, recorded in the with moments
turned up on this slick, freaky and room where she died, mostly using of melodic calm
inventive display of virtuosity, as her instruments. An unflinching
did Pharrell Williams, electronica document of love and grief,
auteur Flying Lotus and Bruners
actual cat. Surreal pride of place,
though, went to Michael McDonald
comparable in some ways to Sufjan
Stevens Carrie & Lowell. 38 rOBYn
HITCHCOCK
Robyn Hitchcock YEP ROC
36FOUr TeT
New Energy TEXT
2017 turned out to be
and Kenny Loggins, honeyed tones
intact, on the outstanding soft-rock
jam Let Me Show You.
39arCa
Arca XL
Keen students of
Nashvilles a very
good place to make
a psychedelic
a strong year for the
brainy, eclectic,
often psychedelic
record label small rock album, subset of electronica
41FleeT FOXes
Crack-Up NONESUCH
Back from hiatus at
print would already
have been familiar
with Alejandro Arca
the irrepressible
Hitchcock told Uncut this year, and
his current home along with
spearheaded by Kieran Four Tet
Hebden. While James Holden and
Floating Points stretched out on
Columbia University, Ghersi, a Venezuelan producer producer Brendan Benson, from full band jams, and Caribou (in
Robin Pecknold whos worked with Bjrk, Kanye The Raconteurs inspired him to his Daphni guise) focused on
reactivated Fleet West and FKA Twigs. But for his make one of his loudest sets in the dancefloor, Hebdens own
Foxes; now, an third solo album, the baroque decades. Recent acoustic ninth album played to his long-
open-hearted corrective to the digital abstractions were preferences were downplayed, nurtured strengths, stitching
antics of their former drummer, augmented, for the first time, by replaced by a fried sound much global acoustic samples into the
Father John Misty. Time away had Arcas sensual vocals: raw closer in spirit to his classic 70s gorgeous undulating soundscapes.
not dimmed Pecknolds ear for a incantations, in Spanish, that band, The Soft Boys. There was Folktronica, it seemed, was back on
ravishing harmony. It had, though, navigated a path between the less surrealist whimsy, too save the agenda.
widened his scope and ambition, industrial and the sepulchral, and the odd reference to telepathy, and
as multi-part songs give I Am at the same time between genders. an Earth ruled by cats
35 KInG GIZZarD
& THe lIZarD
37rIDe
Weather Diaries
WICHITA RECORDINGS
wIZarD
Flying Microtonal Banana
HEAVENLY
A clutch of vintage Having promised
shoegazers and five albums in the
buzzpoppers might year, the sprawling
have been working Aussie garage-psych
the reunion circuit collective have only
for the past few years, but 2017 managed three at time of writing.
was the year they reasserted Hardly a failure, not least because
themselves artistically. Alongside this first of them was a match for
Jamie wdziekonski; shawn brackbill
33 OH SEES
Orc CASTLE FACE
Like his similarly
Named after the
Staple Singers
anthem, Giddens
productive acolytes second solo album
King Gizzard, John was designed, she
Dwyer managed told Uncut, to show different
three albums in 2017, aspects of African-American
beginning with an electro-punk Enos Reflections were the key British folks fully experience, from a long time ago to
solo set as Damaged Bug and ending ambient albums of 2017. Wolfgang qualified survivor not that long ago. A commanding
with chamber pop under the new Vogts return to his fted Gas celebrated an ornery singer with folk, theatrical and
OCS brand name. In between, he project for the first time in 17 years half-century in the gospel chops aplenty, the former
released what he claimed would be was not always an easy listen, game with one of his Carolina Chocolate Drop imbued
the last Oh Sees LP, one final hit of however, its looming clouds of best albums in decades: a full band new songs with the gravity of
hypnotic garage ramalam, laced orchestrated noise often more electric set, cooked up with a bunch traditionals, and highlighted
with jazzier and quasi-ambient unnerving than meditative. One of young American fans led by Steve old injustices that were still,
passages that testified to Dwyers to file alongside the Tim Hecker Gunn. Im constantly amazed that scandalously, relevant in 2017.
ever-expanding artistic range. albums reviewed so warmly by these Americans bothered to find
32 SLEAFORD MODS
Uncut in recent years. out about me, Chapman told
Uncut. All my American friends 25ROBERT PLANT
Carry Fire NONESUCH
ROUGH TRADE
English Tapas
2017 saw the
30 SUSANNE
SUNDFR
Music For People In
came out with great records last
year William Tyler, Hiss Golden
Messenger, Nathan Bowles, Steve
Powering towards
his 70th birthday, the
eternally questing
underground Trouble BELLA UNION It seems like its my turn now. Plant and his
agitators on After having Sensational Shape
unfamiliar new
stages not least
supporting The Stone Roses at
become a
Scandinavian
dance-pop star
28
The Kid
KAITLYN
AURELIA SMITH
WESTERN VINYL
Shifters continued to map spiritual
affinities between Celtic mysticism,
American roots, North African
Wembley Stadium. Their music, with 2015s Ten A cosmic New Age trance, West Country trip-hop and
though, stayed just as antagonistic Love Songs, Sundfr took an record about the life more. The attitude and delivery may
and uncompromising towards the unexpected turn for her fifth solo cycle, inspired in have evolved over the last 50 years,
mainstream. English Tapas (a pub album. Reconnecting with the part by David but Plants knack for a heroic
meal of half a scotch egg, a cup of folkier textures of her early career, Attenborough? That posture remained potent as did
chips, a bit of pickle, Jason Music For People In Trouble also was the latest album by Smith, an his sentimental streak, represented
Williamson told Uncut) continued showcased a mournful sense LA master of vintage modular synth by a duet on Bluebirds Over The
their vital mission: social critique in of theatre, with stark piano the Buchla Music Easel. Like the Mountains with Chrissie Hynde.
which the grimness is accompanied settings that aligned her to work of Bjrk and 2015s Album Of
by rabble-rousing power electronics
and a scabrous wit.
the work of a notable duetting
partner on the album, John Grant.
A key role in the BBC Proms Scott
The Year winner, Julia Holter, The
Kid was at once experimental and
surprisingly accessible; imbued
24MARGO
THIRD MAN
PRICE
All American Made
31 GAS
Narkopop KOMPAKT
A somewhat less
Walker tribute confirmed a new,
critically garlanded phase of an
intriguing career.
with an organic sense of wonder, in
spite of the retro-futuristic tools with
which it was made.
No hanging around
for Margo Price,
insurgent queen of
aggressive take on Nashvilles awkward
29 MICHAEL
27 HISS GOLDEN
mads perch
23CHUCK JOHNSON
Balsams VDSQ
A quieter year for
sixth album was a
typically wise,
elegant discursion
New American on the theme of what truly liberates
Primitives, perhaps, women and what doesnt. Virgil
with honourable and Rilke were referenced but, as
mentions to House ever, the gifted singer-songwriter
And Land, James Elkington, Bill carried her erudition lightly.
Mackay and the Gunn-Truscinski Meanwhile, a broadening range Grizzly Bear:
have stealthy
Duo. But Oaklands Chuck Johnson and the innovations of producer chamber pop
epitomised and transcended the Blake Mills (also behind the fine all wrapped up
adventurous spirit of the scene, Perfume Genius album) brought
Balsams being a solo pedal steel a stealthy funk to tracks like the
record with an ambient bent outstanding Soothing. the songs accumulated emotional Masseduction (the two shared
that made it as close to Daniel heft with each listen. a producer, Jack Antonoff).
Lanois work on Enos Apollo
Soundtracks as it did any notional
folk tradition.
20GRIZZLY BEAR
Painted Ruins RCA
How can a truly 19 THE CLIENTELE
Music For The Age 17 JUANA MOLINA
Halo CRAMMED DISCS
democratic band Of Miracles TAPETE The uncanny,
22 TY SEGALL
Ty Segall DRAG CITY
If anyone found
work cohesively
when its four
members disperse
A late-career high
from one of Londons
most underrated
looping music of
Argentine Molina
has long been a
Segalls 2016 album, across a nation? That was the bands. The stop-start discreet pleasure
Emotional Mugger, challenge faced by Grizzly Bear, career of Alasdair for the lucky few whove stumbled
something of a Devo- once quintessentially of New York, MacLeans Clientele began in the upon it. Her seventh album,
infatuated misstep, on their fifth and long-awaited early 90s, gradually attracting however, found her uprooted from
the garage rock mavens second album. Painted Ruins, nevertheless, more acclaim in the States than her lush Buenos Aires garden to an
self-titled album was a reassuring turned out to be an object lesson in in the Britain they captured so Arizona studio, and in the process
retrenchment, of sorts. As with creative collaboration: stealthy poetically in song. Their eighth gathering a little more of the acclaim
2012s Slaughterhouse, the vibe chamber-pop, meticulously album again revolved around shes deserved for years. Imagine a
often suggested The Beatles turning pieced together by Messrs Droste, a delicate beat-group vibe, tropiclia take on Animal Collective
up on Sub Pop in the late 80s, Rossen, Taylor and Bear, where augmented this time by an old at their most electronically adjusted,
friend and his santoor an Indian and youre close to the distinct and
hammered dulcimer that brought shimmering effect of Halo.
Margo Price:
yet more chiming resonance to
16JANE
outspoken
country act already jangling affairs. WEAVER
anticipating
Modern Kosmology
18LORDE
a backlash
FIRE
Melodrama LAVA Weavers two-decade
If Lordes breakout career on the
hit, Royals (2013), margins of British
raised an arch indie gained new
eyebrow at the momentum in 2014
excesses of the pop with the release of The Silver Globe,
world, her second album found the an entrancing patchwork of retro-
young New Zealander subverting electronica, psych and folk. The
the business from within. Grand follow-up, Modern Kosmology,
Kate Bush-like ballads (check built on that, locating a kind of
Writer In The Dark, especially) pagan, Anglicised Krautrock state,
angelina castillo
11slowdIVe
Nixon CITY SLANg Olsen, even Joni Mitchell, were Its testimony to her
2001 ryan adams keen, and apt. Slowdive DEAD OCEANS singleminded vision
gold LOST HIgHWAY Shoegazing had that Annie Clarks
2002 tHe FlamIng lIPs
Yoshimi Battles The Pink
Robots WARNER BROS
13 FatHer JoHn mIsty
Pure Comedy
BELLA UNION
become a ridiculed
genre at the time of
Slowdives split in
journey, from indie
guitar shredder on
the Polyphonic Spree/Sufjan scene
2003 warren ZeVon The title, perhaps, 1995, but two to international artpop superstar,
The Wind ARTEMIS/RYKO was a joke. But as subsequent decades have given this has seemed so logical. her fifth LP
with so much of Josh most ethereal of indie subsets a was a full-force sensory assault,
2004 BrIan wIlson Tillmans work, the deserved cultural cachet. Like My a seemingly arch fantasia of high-
Smile NONESUCH
lines between satire Bloody Valentines mbv in 2013, the concept sound that positioned her
2005 arcade FIre and heartfelt confession were Reading bands reunion album was as this decades most plausible new
Funeral ROUgH TRADE constantly shifting on this third the perfect articulation of that gauzy Bowie. Just beneath the brilliant
2006 BoB dylan album in his FJM guise. no other aesthetic; so much so, that the surface, though, was Clarks most
Modern Times COLUMBIA 2017 artist proved so divisive, as effects-laden washes of sound came personal work; a reflection on lost
2007 lcd soundsystem Tillmans determined perversities together into what might well have love that gave an already multi-
Sound Of Silver DFA/EMI flourished in the mainstream. been the best work of their career. dimensional work even greater
Still, even the detractors had to layers of import and meaning.
10
2008 PortIsHead admire his craftsmanship, and Hurray For tHe
8
Third ISLAND
how his epic barbed narratives rIFF raFF courtney Barnett
2009 anImal could be accommodated as The Navigator & Kurt VIle
ATO
collectIVe Merriweather gorgeous piano ballads that Lotta Sea Lice
If Alynda Segarra MATADOR
Post Pavilion DOMINO recalled peak elton and nilsson. had spent much of A season or two of
2010 Joanna newsom her adult life on the bumping into each
Have One On Me DRAg CITY
2011 PJ HarVey
Let England Shake ISLAND
12
Won
Peter Perrett
How The West Was
DOMINO
run, first as a train-
hopping hobo and
then as a righteous folk singer in
other at festivals
resulted in 2017s
most serendipitous
I feel full of life, new Orleans, her sixth hFTRR hook-up, as two deceptively
2012 leonard coHen
Old Ideas COLUMBIA Perrett told Uncut on album represented a return to her lackadaisical talents colluded on
the eve of the years roots; amidst the Puerto Rican new songs, old ones and a few
2013 my Bloody most heartening community in new York. Traces artfully chosen covers (Bellys
ValentIne comeback. At 65, of Dylan and The Band still Untogether; the superb Fear
m b v MY BLOODY VALENTINE
the former Only One finally put a remained, joined now by echoes Is Like A Forest by Jen Cloher,
2014 tHe war on drugs messy life and sporadic career in of Latin music, Patti Smith and Barnetts partner). As with much
Lost In The Dream SECRETLY CANADIAN order. he recruited his children as (on the showstopping Palante) of their individual work, Viles
2015 JulIa Holter backing band, and wrote a batch nina Simone, but the identity especially, a project that seemed
Have You In My Wilderness of spindly new songs that were as behind The Navigators politically slight was actually warm,
DOMINO rueful and unsparing about his charged, vividly realised song innovative and immensely
Nedda afsari
2016 daVId BowIe own former addictions as they cycle was proudly that of Segarra satisfying; as if a friendly
H ISO/RCA/COLUMBIA/SONY were about contemporary celebrity a singular talent, finally being woodshedding session accidentally
culture. At heart, though, was an given a platform. turned out a modern classic.
6 rIcHard
Peasant
dawson
WEIRD WORLD/
Rihanna, even U2) for a more pop-
friendly, streamlined set. As ever,
1
is a true maverick; an meditations on fame, faith and all
lcd soundsystem
avant-garde denizen, points in between were more often
schooled in Captain introverted and dappled with
Beefheart and amniotic FX than obvious anthems.
nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who now (hUMBLe a rousing exception). A
American Dream
DFA/COLUMBIA
makes highly individual but rapper blessed with a flow, nuance
communally rousing folk music, of a
kind. Peasant was his best and most
accessible album yet remarkable,
and unostentatious authority that
currently feels unparalleled. W hen LCD Soundsystems
second album, Sound Of
Silver, was anointed as Uncut
perhaps, given it being a study of Album Of The Year a decade ago,
various medieval archetypes and the accompanying citation
myths herald, Prostitute, etc. concluded, An essential record
A magic-realist bard essaying his for anyone with a great record
own, surreal Canterbury Tales. collection, a faintly messy past,
and a desire to grow old, if not
5 Joan
Joan sHelley
Shelley NO QUARTER
Jeff Tweedy released
quite gracefully, then at least with
the strength to laugh at their own
flaws. Ten years on, and 10 years
his own spare, Lamar: older, much of this still seems salient to James Murphy and his remarkable
acoustic set in 2017 streamlined band. But in the interim, LCD Soundsystem became mainstream stars,
(Together At Last), ostentatiously retired at Madison Square Garden, and then reformed
but it was another many thought cynically for a lucrative summer or two on the festival
one that he produced in Wilcos
Chicago Loft that became one of the
years best. Shelley, from Louisville,
2 tHe war on drugs
A Deeper
Understanding ATLANTIC
circuit. Another masterpiece was not widely assumed to be on the cards.
American Dream, though, turned out to be precisely that. It found
Murphy fully invested with the business of being middle-aged, even
was blessed with a voice of clarity An agonisingly close witness to the deaths of heroes who became associates; Bowie, who
and emotional maturity (think call for Adam tapped Murphy to produce Blackstar, was memorialised on the closing
Linda Thompson), fine guitar skills, Granduciel, who just Black Screen. Were hitting a very difficult age for the people that
an adept sparring partner (nathan missed becoming the invented the music that means the most to me, Murphy told Uncut. And
Salsburg, also on acoustic) and a third artist (after theyre not being replaced.
songwriting style that was graceful, Dylan and The Flaming Lips) to There was still humour on American Dream, and a reluctance to give up
unfussy and profoundly moving. score two Uncut Albums Of The the partying and the snarking (cf Tonite, emotional haircut, Other
her fourth, and best, album. Year. Granduciel and cos sequel to Voices). But it was also a denser, heavier album: haunted by mortality;
Lost In The Dream further refined augmenting the usual shameless nods to Bowie and Talking heads with
4 tHe weatHer
statIon
The Weather Station
their formula, meticulously layering
the motorik rhythms, antique
synths and imperishable signifiers
gothic allusions to The Cure and Joy Division. There was, too, retribution,
in the shape of a staggering and vicious exorcism of an old friendship,
how Do You Sleep?
PARADISE OF BACHELORS of heartland rock into a hugely And above it all, it felt as if LCD Soundsystem were asserting themselves
not unlike Joan rewarding whole. Granduciel gave self-confidently as an authentically great band, one whose mastery of the
Shelley, Torontos the impression that he had almost rock and dance canon meant that they werent just studying their heroes,
Tamara Lindeman worried his major label to death; A they were also learning from their own early albums. The old guys are
deftly moved her Deeper Understanding made explicit frightened and frightening to behold, Murphy declaimed in Call The
career as The how all the effort was, in the end, Police. In 2017, in many ways, it seemed as if they had the last laugh.
Weather Station into a new phase entirely worthwhile.
the xx
i see you
courtney
barnett &
kurt vile thundercat
lotta sea lice drunk
st. vincent
masseduction sampha
process
grizzly bear
painted ruins
bonobo
migration
alt-j
relaxer
arcade fire
everything now
wolf alice
visions of
a life
s
fleet foxe
crack-up
goldfrapp
silver eye
jane weaver
modern
kosmology
father john
misty
pure comedy
the nationa
l
sleep well
beast
run the jewels
run the jewels 3
idles
brutalism
london
grammar
truth is a
beautiful thing
fopp stores
stormzy oh sees
gang signs orc
bristol college green
& prayer cambridge sidney st
edinburgh rose st
glasgow union st & byres rd
london covent garden
manchester brown st
nottingham broadmarsh
shopping centre
oxford gloucester green
70 UNCUT JANUARY 2018
lcd soundsystem review
of 2017
I wouldnt come
back unless I knew
we were better
AN AUDiENCE WiTh JAMES MURPhY
J
AMES Murphy is giving Uncut
a tour of his dressing room in Currently touring this years Whats the best piece of advice
David Bowie gave you?
Atlanta, Georgia, via a video
conferencing call. Heres a
triumphant reunion album, Emma Berry, Southampton
You should get a Supro Dual Tone, its
wardrobe, he says, waving his
iPad in the direction of a large trunk.
the LCD Soundsystem what Link Wray played. He had two Supro
Dual Tone guitars and he was very proud
People sometimes like different sneakers frontman covers everything of them. He had an amazing ability to be
to play in, like show shoes. Then theres childishly excited by things. When we
a bunch of food back there, and theres from Bowies guitar tips to were doing Blackstar, hed played sax
a little couch. Oh, and some wine.
Murphys band, LCD Soundsystem, sharing a rider with his son on the demo. Were working with Donny
McCaslin, who is arguably one of the
have just begun the US leg of their tour best young living sax players, and David
supporting American Dream Uncuts interview by michael bonner said, Are we leaving my sax in? Tony
Album Of The Year that is Visconti said, Yeah, totally. And David
also the bands first new expensive gear, and not really was like, I played sax on a record with
material since their reunion. being into it, I think makes a bad Donny McCaslin! It was very genuine.
It has, admits Murphy, been comeback. For me, I wouldnt But, yes, he was very excited by the Dual
an unexpectedly protracted come back unless I knew we Tones. So I bought and one and played it
comeback. This hasnt gone were better. I realise I might not on Emotional Haircut on the new album
to plan, not at all, he admits. write another Losing My Edge and love it. So I took his advice and bought
I was supposed to be done or All My Friends, songs that two 1950s Link Wray-style Dual Tones.
with the record before we captured some sort of zeitgeist
played Coachella in 2016. I was and therefore have a place in the Do you mind people still banging
slower making the record than I culture. But Im not Lou Reed, on about Losing My Edge?
wanted. But Im happy. We tour Im not going to get a headless Jon McCrea, Dublin
well. As you saw theres lots of Steinberger and do a Honda No, Im super proud of it. Theres great
wine, and theres a guy down scooter ad. I think Lou Reed footage of Pulp playing Glastonbury and
the hall who makes espresso. was quite fearless: Jarvis says, The next song were going
The band like being with each Above: debut I dont give a shit. to play might be the only song were
other, the crew has been with us LCD SS single I didnt give a shit remembered for but I dont care, because
since the olden days. But its tough Losing My Edge; then, I dont give a its a fucking good song. And they play
Bowie playing
four of us have kids. one of his Supro shit now, I just think Common People. I feel that way, too.
And with that, Murphy piles Dual Tone work. He almost I saw some interviews with John Lydon
guitars in 2003
into your questions on a range of wilfully ignored where hes complaining about how hes
subjects ranging from real-estate thezeitgeistness of been in PiL for 30 years but people just
tips to soft play recommendations some of his songs. bang on about the Pistols. I love PiL, I
and working with Britney Spears. I just watched a Yes think PiL are a superior band, but you
Im happy right now, he says documentary, and cant complain about how important
chewing on a handful of peanuts. though I love Yes, there your teenage punk band was. If people
TabaTha Fireman/redFerns
Im super lucky. comes a time when you really care until they die about your
have to think, Dude, to ramblings as a 19-year-old, thats a lucky
What makes a good thine own self be true. break, because most people dont fucking
comeback? And a bad one? Youve got to know care about anything anybody does.
Colin Yorke, Reading what is not a good
Being good at it. Being a shadow record and what Whats the rarest/coolest record
of your former self with less is a good record. you own? Luke Spencer, London
Britney said, Yeah! And just went for it Mick Goodwin, East London or East Village?
in front of us. I thought, I dont know how Cheam Sheena Roberts, Oxford
to fucking deal with a person like this. Ive never been to a soft-play place. When Top: Murphy DJing I dont spend much time in the East Village
We tried to write lyrics. I thought we could my child was not yet crawling,my wife with his rare records right now, but I do spend a lot of time in
in 2008 (dark-wave
play her some music and see how she and I had a play mat on our floor. I realised tapes not pictured) East London. My wife was living in London
responded. So we were playing Suicide: that on one side of this mat, if he were when we met. She has a little council
Does any of this surprise or excite you? able to crawl, the first object he wouldve estate flat she bought and we kept it. Its a
She was very professional and, I felt, encountered was one of those giant paper tiny, tiny place, but I deeply love it. I dont
she was immune to a certain degree to have fucking tens of thousands of records
manythings we played. So it was a day there, so I can just be a guy in a little place.
of fucking around. Then she went away I also partly worked on American Dream
tolunch and never came back. My wife was living in in London. We did some work at Paul
Epworths church in Crouch End and in
Tell us a funny Steve Albini story. London when we met. She one of the rooms at the Strongrooms in
Charlie Gershowitz, Chicago Shoreditch. We spent most of the time in a
Hes not a funny story guy. But Im very has a little council estate flat place Al and Felix from Hot Chip have.
close to Bob Weston. Steve and I know
each other and were polite to each other
she bought I deeply love it American Dream is on DfA/Columbia
ll &
rhiannon jason isbe
giddens 400 un it
the
freedom the nashville
highway sound
nadine shah
holiday
richard destination
dawson
peasant
aimee mann
mental illness
broken social
scene
hug of thunder
lorde
melodrama
t
ghostpoe
dark days gorillaz
+ canapes humanz
the
horrors
v
bicep
bicep
fopp stores
bristol college green
the fopp list cambridge sidney st
edinburgh rose st
the see our complete top 100 albums of the year in this
glasgow union st & byres rd
fopp months edition of the fopp list or online at fopp.com
london covent garden
manchester brown st
100 while stocks last
nottingham broadmarsh
shopping centre
oxford gloucester green
review album by album
of 2017
Hurray For
Alynda
Segara
looking
thoughtful
in 2013
I
FEEL like I woke up one day and it was like, Where did the past
17 years of my life go? Im in the middle of Nebraska, walking
because we cant get a ride
After leaving New York and escaping her roots in the mid-
2000s, Alynda Segarra left the hobo lifestyle to settle in New
Orleans, where she learnt to write songs as leader and lynchpin of Hurray For
The Riff Raff. As she takes Uncut through her six albums to date, it becomes
clear that the story of the group is also the story of Segarras personal
evolution, growing in confidence and ambition, and embracing her identity
as a politicised Puerto Rican woman.
This is my role, she explains, Im supposed to travel the world and teach
people about what Puerto Rico is Were not talking about subservient
maids, were talking about radical, revolutionary people who are not dealing
with this shit anymore.
Along the way, shes also been deeply inspired by her many heroes, from
Patti Smith and Rodriguez to John Lennon and Bob Dylan. I wanna write
songs where people are like, Oh my God, she didnt hide anything Each
step is getting deeper into the tunnel of songwriting. TOM PiNNOck
IT DONT MEAN I DONT YOUNG BLOOD BLUES people and people who have on a persona, and experience a little
LOVE YOU SELF-RELEASED, 2010 suffered from trauma. We recorded bit more joy in life. So a lot of that
SELF-RELEASED, 2008 With fiddle player Yosi Perlstein at the Living Room Studios, which influenced Look Out Mama, as well
Segarras overdub-heavy debut, on-board, Segarra attempts to was my first time in a real studio. It as hanging out with Sam, obviously.
inspired by her early time in the create her own On The Beach used to be a church, and its on the With Look Out Mama there was a lot
Big Easy Aubrey and west bank of New Orleans, so we got more focus on arranging things into
This was the Shae left the to ride the ferry over every day. I had a production, especially with things
start of me really group, and I just met Sam Doores, so that was a like Ode To John And Yoko. But it
putting down needed to really really big change in my life. was very collaborative in the studio,
roots in New refocus. I had that was the first time I had fun
Orleans. I first met Yosi LOOK OUT MAMA recording I felt a bit more secure,
decided, OK, [Perlstein] LOOSE/BORN TO WIN, 2012 and I was having ideas and not being
Im gonna focus years before when I was travelling. Hooking up with Alabama Shakes afraid to say them.
on writing songs before that, I was We rode trains together from producer Andrija Tokic, the band
with a hobo band, Dead Mans Street Minneapolis to Seattle, but Id make this strong, Beatles-inspired LP MY DEAREST DARKEST
Orchestra, travelling, playing banjo always heard about him he was After Young NEIGHBOR
and washboard on the street, like this mythic person, a tough, Blood Blues we MOD MOBILIAN RECORDS/THIS IS AMERICAN MUSIC,
making money with Dixieland jazz cool, trans fiddle player who was went on this 2013
bands. But my life was moving away always riding trains all over the huge two- For this low-key covers set, Segarra
from the hobo lifestyle, and that was country. Young Blood Blues was a lot month tour. I delved into the work of her favourite
when I met [multi-instrumentalist] about me trying to convince myself I bought a van writers, including Gillian Welch and
Walt McClements. This was recorded could do this, trying to believe in and Sam got a Joni Mitchell
at a home studio, that Aubrey myself. It was really ambitious at band together, which is now The It was so fun
[Freeman], the bass player on the LP, the time I was so obsessed by Neil Deslondes, and we hit the road for getting into The
and his wife Shae, who played the Young, and that was my first dive two months, doing the entire Beatles at this
saw and loads of other instruments, into a songwriter like that. I d read country. We all almost died, it was so time, and Dylan
had in the Bywater in New Orleans, Shakey, I listened to all of his albums. heavy, but on that tour was where we and Townes Van
during the summer. We did it in a I wanted to make Young Blood Blues met Andrija [Tokic], because we Zandt. And that
week I lived down the block, so it my On The Beach! I Know You is played at the Five Spot in Nashville was all thanks
was a walk or bike ride away. It was a such a perfect example of why I and he was our sound guy. After that to Sam [Doores], because growing up
year or two after [Katrina], things started writing songs, this very crazy tour I was trying to write a ton I was into punk, and I was listening
were cheap and everything was in confessional, healing, feminist of songs I got into Townes Van to Bikini Kill, the Dead Kennedys
flux. In the Bywater, there were still songwriting that I was focused on Zandt and got really obsessed with and also Ani DiFranco when no-one
these huge signs people had painted doing. I wanted to be vulnerable, The Beatles. I was trying to write was around! And then as I got older I
during the storm that said, HELP or and to make songs that were like songs that felt a bit more energetic. I got focused on trying to listen to
food and water need now, SOS. I affirmations that was my whole think at that time I wanted to be female musicians, the blues women,
was still very much learning about mission as a songwriter, to write someone else for a while, too, I felt like Bessie Smith. And this was my
what it meant to live in New Orleans. music for women and for queer tired of being myself, I wanted to try first time letting in some guys OK,
and proudly
confident in 2016
what do you have to so I feel very free in that I can rip producer I was like, How is this
say? And it turned out, people like The Beatles off and itll British man from the Isle Of Wight
it was a lot. This album sound different! gonna understand this concept
was also made with album about a Puerto Rican girl
Andrija, and it was THE NAVIGATOR travelling through time-saving
really nice to dive into ATO, 2017 people from gentrification? But
these classic songs, For her acclaimed, punchier sixth thats Paul Butler, he transcends all
and try and figure out record, Segarra returned to New of those ideas of -isms and identities.
what makes a great, York for a bildungsroman-esque When The Beatles saw Elvis and
long-lasting song. I concept album they were like, Thats what I wanna
wanted to have the The common do, for me, it was when I saw Patti
physical experience of thread between Smith perform live at Electric Lady
playing the chords and all the previous for the 40th anniversary of Horses,
feel what it felt like to albums is that and then I heard Rodriguez, and
play these songs. It Im in New those two together, I was like,
was research, Orleans with Thats it, I can do that. Thats who I
definitely. UNCUT this world of am. It felt like a return to me, like I
CLASSIC for this. The album cover people Ive known since I was 19, went on this journey. Small Town
SMALL TOWN says it all. I just wanted to and feeling very supported or Heroes was like this really long
HEROES create this universe, at the claustrophobic. But I call The roadtrip, and then I went back
ATO, 2014 crossroads of all these genres, Navigator my Saturn returns record: home to the city kid, street poet,
With Segarra fully taking over all these travels that wed done as in astrology they talk about the ages underground world. It felt like I was
production duties, the Riff Raffs a band, but also the crossroads of of 27 to 30 as this very serious time, finally stepping into my role fully.
excellent fifth album brought old- being in New Orleans, where youre where you enter a new phase in your The Navigator was this very
time styles into the present day like What country am I in? What life. I was living in Nashville, and I important journey of me getting in
This was when I really decided to time period am I in? So that was hadnt felt that alone since I was in touch with my ancestors, and
take control of my life. I felt like Id really the focus of this album, to 7th grade, but it forced me to once getting in touch with this very
grown so much as a person and as a take you on a journey. I always felt again really take charge of what I ancient power of where my people
songwriter. I always had a vision, that I had been writing political was doing. Paul Butler was the come from.
thats what I realised throughout my songs from a feminist perspective
songwriting I always heard the that idea that the personal is
whole band in my head when I was political but writing St Roch
writing, but whether I felt like it was Blues and The Body Electric This is my role. Im supposed to travel
OK to say my idea I think I was just was a big step in me saying, This
the world and teach people about what
sarrah danziger
29 The
rePlaceMeNTs
For Sale: Live at Maxwells
revered as an avant-garde superstar,
and this previously unreleased
soundtrack performance was
1986 RHINO greeted as a holy grail of
A characteristically minimalism: an unyielding
messy phase in 90-minute violin drone, reminiscent
the Mats career The Smiths: of Conrads collaboration with
just after the some indie Faust, Outside The Dream Syndicate.
bands were
breakthrough of Tim,
21
bigger than
just before Bob Stinson was fired others MiDOri TaKaDa
was revisited on this evocative live Through The
set. Westerberg and cos attempt to Looking Glass PALTO FLATS/
play Sweets Fox On The Run Eno cemented his reputation; this all of them. Here was reliably WRWTFWW
a song they clearly did not know second, from 1981, also featuring encyclopaedic evidence, the Another minimalist
captured the unruly spirit of kindred spirits Daniel Lanois and original prog-disco marvels gem unearthed in
proceedings; a masterclass in Michael Brook. Reissue the pre-Eno augmented by a deluxe boxload 2017, the Japanese
turning rocknroll sloppiness into albums next, please! of remixes. composers Through
something romantic and even noble. The Looking Glass
28 raMONes
Leave Home: 40th
26 liFT TO
eXPerieNce
The Texas-Jerusalem
24The
The sMiThs
Queen Is Dead
WARNER BROS
was a more approachable work than
that of Conrad: a polyrhythmic
Asian response to Steve Reich and
Anniversary Deluxe Crossroads MUTE With Morrisseys Terry Riley, on which Takada
Edition RHINO Reuniting just in time latest comeback a overdubbed herself playing
Rhinos ongoing, for the apocalypse familiar combination everything from a marimba to
exhaustive Ramones they predicted back of average music and a Coke bottle. The missing link
project again in 2001, perhaps, problematic politics, between Olivier Messiaen and
rendered one of their Texas Lift To it was a comfort to return to the third Boards Of Canada?
brisk classics into an Experience restaged their sole Smiths album, now complemented
unlikely epic hence a remastered
version and a thunderous new mix
of the whole album, plus extra discs
album at shows in 2016, prefacing
this deluxe reissue. Critically, the
whole Biblical space-rock
by a hearty 1986 concert (Craig
Gannon on second guitar), B-sides
and demos, plus the unedited
20 variOUs arTisTs
Running The
Voodoo Down:
featuring outtakes and a 77 CBGBs masterpiece was remixed to the version of the still-thrilling title Explorations In
show. Glue, mental illness, horror greater satisfaction of Josh Pearson track. All those people, all those Psychrockfunksouljazz
movies were par for the course, but and his bandmates. A debut album lives/Where are they now? 1967-80 FESTIVAL
here was where Joeys cute, romantic and fiery Peel session completed Named after a Miles
streak came to the fore, too. the tale of a band whose time,
finally, was now. 23 variOUs arTisTs
Soul Of A Nation
Davis track, this
mind-expanding
27 JON hassell
Fourth World
Volume Two: Dream 25 UNDerWOrlD
Beaucoup Fish UMC
SOUL JAZZ
As usual with Soul
Jazz comps, the
compilation
examined how a
generation of African-American
Theory In Malaya TAK:TIL Overshadowed subtitle told the musicians reclaimed rock
Hassells heavily a little by its whole story: imperatives as the 60s rolled into
processed trumpet predecessors Afro-Centric the 70s. An adventurous cast
tone became a signal Second Toughest Visions In The Age Of Black Power: crystallised around a core quartet
of the exotic and In The Infants and Underground Jazz, Street Funk & of Miles, George Clinton, Sly Stone
unearthly through Dubnobasswithmyheadman on The Roots of Rap 1964-79. And as and Jimi Hendrix. My soul, as
the late 70s and 80s, as he took on release in 1999, the third album ever, their superb curatorial skills The Chambers Brothers pertinently
lawrence watson
a role as the art/ambient scenes of Underworlds techno phase mixed canonical picks (Gil Scott- observed in 1968, has been
Miles Davis. Two albums with Brian may well have aged the best of Herons The Revolution Will Not psychedelicized!
18 Beach BOYs
1967 Sunshine
the fearless Krautrock era, but a
prankster who would note, They
dont wear pants in the hoolah-
12hsKer D
Savage Young D
NUMERO GROUP
sparkling remaster
pointed up the craftsmanship of
Smiths work on the original LP,
Tomorrow CAPITOL hoolah dance, in the midst of one When this while CD2 showcased his discreet
Brian Wilsons late single. The whole singles story incendiary round-up live virtuosity, and uncovered a
endless tour of Pet exposed an even wilder and dafter of the Minneapolis clutch of demos and unreleased
Sounds returned band than many realised. trios early work was songs, notably the gorgeous I
to Britain in the streamed online a Figured You Out, subsequently
summer, but this
time a few rarities had entered the 14 JOhNNY cash
The Original Sun
few days before Grant Harts death,
one hopes he was able to appreciate
gifted to Mary Lou Lord.
17 aceTONe
1992-2001
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
forgotten until Cash re-recorded
the song 48 years later with Rick
Rubin completed a foundational
If a 20th-anniversary
revamp of OK
Computer werent
especially on an ecstatic Scarlet
Begonias/Fire On The Mountain.
Other May 77 shows were just as
Fans of Spiritualized, slab of 20th-century culture, finally enough, Radiohead good, though (see: the night after,
The Verve and restored to order. also chose to unveil in Buffalo), as evinced by vast
Oasis might have boxset Get Shown The Light,
encountered an released simultaneously.
understated support
act in the mid-90s; a Californian
trio whose dreamy, fractured
recalibration of rock was one of
8 Purple
PriNce
RHINO
Rain Deluxe
the decades secret pleasures. The Prince
Light In The Attic endowed them motherlode did not
with a deserved retrospective, a quite materialise in
testament to an act that kindred 2017 Deliverance,
spirit Hope Sandoval called one an EP of tracks from
of my all-time favourite bands. 2006-2008, was quickly suppressed
by his estate in April. An official
16The Necessaries
Event Horizon BE WITH
Obscure in his
campaign began, though, with
a deluxe Purple Rain, featuring
a remaster overseen by Prince
lifetime, the past 15 himself, a live show, and a bonus
years or so have seen disc of previously unreleased
the work of late New Radiohead: material. Fantastic in itself, but
giving fans
York composer and a Lift, 20 almost unbearably exciting when
producer Arthur Russell elevated to years on one imagined what still remained
the status of godhead. Among all the in The Vault.
danny clinch
1
2014 MUTE my own time [when there was a
Neil YOuNG
As Cave, improbably, break in Blackstar], without Davids
turned 2016s knowledge, Tony Visconti told
Skeleton Tree into an Uncut. When I had five mixes done,
Hitchhiker
arena-rock spectacle, I played it to him. He absolutely
REPRISE
a delayed survey of loved it and gave it the green light.
his post-Birthday Party career
arrived as back-up. Typical of 2017s
marquee reissues, Lovely Creatures 3 alice cOlTraNe
The Ecstatic Music
O N August 5, the image of a
filing cabinet drawer appeared
on the website neilyoungarchives.
told the Cave saga in a variety of Of Alice Coltrane com. A typewritten page from the
iterations; most satisfactory was the Turiyasangitananda proprietor promised, Every single,
3CD/DVD version, with an intimate LUAKA BOP recorded track or album I have
256-page hardcover book thrown in When John produced is represented. Taped to
for good measure. Coltranes widow the front of the drawer, a note read,
retreated from her OPENING SOON.
5 The BeaTles
Sgt Peppers Lonely
Hearts Club Band
own exceptional jazz
career to an ashram
in LA, her music making did not
2017 saw relatively little new Neil
Young activity in the public eye.
Live shows were scarce, and only
Super Deluxe Edition stop. Instead, she and a choir of one new song (Children Of Destiny) had surfaced at time of writing. A
APPLE CORPS LTD/UNIVERSAL fellow Hindu devotees recorded Bridge School benefit show was not staged for the first time in 30 years,
The first deep devotional chants over swooshing and the Pono streaming service quietly slipped out of business. Could
archaeological primitive synths, releasing them Young have spent the year engaged with the momentous project that had
survey of the Fabs on cassettes via New Age shops. been sidelined since 2009 the second volume of Archives, scheduled to
archives since the Praise, then, to Luaka Bop for finally cover the profusion of unreleased albums Young recorded in the 70s ?
Anthology series 22 introducing a broader world to some Initial signs were promising, as Hitchhiker arrived in the early autumn.
years ago, Sgt Pepper Super Deluxe of the most uplifting spiritual music A focused solo acoustic session from August 11, 1976, Hitchhikers
condensed 300 revolutionary hours of the last 40 years. existence was unknown until Young mentioned it in his second memoir,
Special Deluxe. There, he alluded to pausing only for weed, beer, or coke
Waterson siblings itself in radically different forms. Pride of place, though, went to the
1972 magnum opus two brilliant unreleased songs: Give Me Strength, intermittently
see-sawed between blackened folk revived at live shows, and the completely unknown Hawaii.
ballads and a carnivalesque take As a trailer for Archives Volume Two, it could not have been more
on post-Beatles pop. The original tantalising. But on release, Young already appeared to have moved on,
album with the uncanny tones of with Lukas Nelson confirming that Promise Of The Real had completed
Lal and Mike backed by a cadre of another record with him and planned to tour through 2018. Just when he
Fabs redux:
being for the folk-rock all-stars now came seemed to be fully engaged with the past, Neil Young had once again, it
benefit of all accompanied, too, by a cluster of seemed, been heroically distracted by the future.
powerfully starker demos.
depeche
mode slowdive
spirit slowdive
neil young
the jesus & hitchhiker
mary chain
damage & joy
ray davies
americana
roger waters
is this the life
we really want?
paul weller
a kind
revolution
ass
blanck m
r
world eate steven
wilson
omd
to the bone
the
punishment
of luxury
badbadnotgood
late night
tales
fopp stores
bristol college green
the fopp list cambridge sidney st
edinburgh rose st
the glasgow union st & byres rd
see our complete top 100 albums of the year in this
fopp months edition of the fopp list or online at fopp.com
london covent garden
manchester brown st
100 while stocks last
nottingham broadmarsh
shopping centre
oxford gloucester green
review the WeAtheR StAtION
of 2017
The
quiet storm
Alongside LCD Soundsystem,
The War On Drugs and Kendrick
Lamar, THE WEATHER STATION
are the surprise package at the
top of Uncuts Albums Of The Year
list. But who is Tamara Lindeman,
the brilliant and poetic singer-
songwriter at the eye of a gentle
hurricane? Jason Anderson combs
the clubs of Toronto to file the
essential Weather report.
Photo by PERRY SHIMON
I
ts a cool time for weird
women, says tamara
Lindeman, the creative force
behind the Weather station.
there are a lot of hostile
feelings to express and were in a
place now where the catharsis is
happening. thats different than
it was five or 10 years ago, where
it didnt feel like there was a critical mass or safe place
it was better to just be pretty and make pretty music.
Were standing in the hall outside the southern
Cross, a small, stage-less room in a venue called the
tranzac in Lindemans hometown of toronto. Its a
homey, familiar place that suits the intimacy of her
performances. But she knows theyre not all like that.
Unless youre doing good and people are coming to
a show to see you, she says, youre walking into a
situation where anything can happen.Ive done a lot
of shows as support. On many occasions youre just
stepping out to a cold room and you have to try to turn it
around and Ive just never been that good at that. A lot
of people know how to pull in the crowd and get them
singing along and stomping their feet well, I dont
have any songs that are like that, so I cant! Youre
walking into what can feel like a hostile situation and
somehow find a way to sing very vulnerable songs in
front of people who might wish you werent there.
Yet that situation is changing as more listeners
discover the subtle wonders at hand. Lindemans
fourth album under the moniker she chose for herself
back in 2006, The Weather Station is an arresting
showcase for her gifts. After several albums of
thoughtful, crystalline chamber folk, Lindemans
latest is a bolder demonstration of her talent and of the
Home on the range:
turbulence thats always threatening to overwhelm Tamara Lindeman aka
the more placid kind of beauty in her songs. The Weather Station
Feeling at
home: She
has a quiet
intensity
O
Lindeman mostly plays with a band these days as veR the course of a few days, Lindeman
she must to capture the force of the new album. But meets Uncut in several favoured local spots.
even with her own players alongside her, she still
exudes the air of stillness and conviction she cultivated
My child- At present, were in an ethiopian restaurant
just around the corner from her rehearsal space, a
during the earlier, rather lonelier sets she mentioned
like a formative spate for her friend Afie Jurvanens hood was converted garage in Torontos west end. Tearing into
a piece of injera bread from a vegetarian platter, she
band Bahamas. I did a couple tours when they were
just starting to take off, she says. It would seem like about being notes how this part of the city has changed. This
restaurant is a cheery vestige of one of the many
this crazy thing to walk out there to their fans like a
lamb to slaughter with my little guitar. But it wound up alone outside overlapping immigrant communities that thrived in
here despite the sketchier conditions than youll find
being cool to do I had to just figure out how to rely on now. Lindeman recalls coming to a friends place
myself and make the situation work no matter what. tamara lindeman near her many years before and finding the bloody
She has a quiet intensity thats pretty evident in aftermath of a stabbing in the nearest subway station.
everything she does, Jurvanen tells Uncut. Though she feels a deep connection to Toronto, it
Shes not a bombastic, overdramatic performer, transpires that she grew up on a farm two hours north.
says Basia Bulat, another friend and sometime tour- My childhood was about being outside, and being
mate. But theres something so powerful that draws people alone outside, she says. Yet Lindeman also discovered an
in when Tamara starts to play and sing these songs of steel. affinity for performing at an early age. When she was 11, her choir
Since The Weather Station has ventured further from the at a community theatre in Orangeville landed a regular gig during
tiny Toronto rooms where the project began, more people a Toronto production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor
have discovered the power of these carefully wrought and Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond. By her teens, she was
sometimes unnervingly intimate songs. Says Haley Fohr of working regularly as an actor in film and Tv under the stage name
Circuit Des Yeux, Her voice is special in that it lifts you up, of Tamara Hope. She played Tilda Swintons daughter in one
paul sargeant; united archives gmbh/alamy stock photo
but is also so thin and clear, you can still see through to the movie, Susan Sarandons in another. It all seems oddly showbizzy
other side of her ideas. Dave Hartley of The War for a self-professed introvert, but she believes
On Drugs was similarly struck when he first heard being on camera was actually very conducive
her. I thought, Oh wow, this is a cut above. This to my personality a lot of my success as an
is an original voice, this is poise and confidence. actor was just because I was so serious.
And musical confidence has nothing to do with Though she decided she didnt want to be an
bravado its an inward thing, a comfort with the actor by the time when she was 20, it made sense
self. Tamara has that and its obvious. to keep up the gig. Instead of coming home from
Standing at the side of the stage with his wife a tour and working at a bar, she says, I would do
when The Weather Station opened for his band in a few auditions and get a weird part in a Tv drama
a theatre in Pennsylvania, he was startled by her With Susan for a week and get paid enough to last me six
Sarandon in
ability to quiet a room. The real sorcery, he says, Shall We months. Shes happy to be done with it now.
is bringing them into your world instead of trying Dance?, 2008 Music became Lindemans focus in the wake of
to meet them in theirs. a tragedy. At 19, she fell in love with a promising
buyers guide
S
ometimes, Lindeman wonders if her songs Lindeman gradually took the reins herself. We did
contain too much, too many details shed rather somepre-production and i went to the initial tracking
keep to herself. shes been anxious about the new Tamara Lindeman on sessions, Jurvanen explains. i was just sitting on the
albums reception though she admits to feeling more The Weather Stations couch and listening. she and the band would come
relaxed today. shes been busying herself with inspirations into the control room after a take and look at me and id
preparations for her tour with her band: Ben Whiteley, DION say, that was great! Cos it was! shedoesnt need a
the bassist she shares with Bulat, her drummer and DiMUCCI producer as all the raw materials come from her and
boyfriend ian Kehoe, and second guitarist Will I was really stoked they were all just bubbling, waiting to come to life. All
Kidman, a former member of Lindemans beloved on Dion & The she needed was to be reminded of that.
Constantines. shes not expecting things to be too Wanderers. Ive it was really a positive thing and kind of him to
wild, joking that her band will be happier about the tried to get into his know when to walk away, says Lindeman.
stuff with the Belmonts, but theres
riders request for kombucha than the one for beer. something about the way hes others noted Lindemans confidence as she deployed
tamara was like our tour mom, says Bulat of their singing that I connect to so strongly friends and players like Ryan Driver on new songs that
time on the road last year, when the Weather station on this one record that he made expanded the soft, sombre mode of Loyalty to include
would open shows before joining Bulat for her sets, too. but never came out [Norton finally edgier elements. Haley Fohr recalls meeting the singer
she was the one drivingwith a straw hat on and issued the 1965 record this year]. after she rolled up on her bicycle to a show Fohr played
making sure everyones needs were met. she gave with Ryley Walker, whose keyboardist Ben Boye also
me a lot of tough love when i was late for things!
WEYES plays on The Weather Station. she was coming from
BLOOD
Bulat also got the chance to hear Lindeman develop Front Row Seat the studio, having finished the basic tracks, she says.
the songs for The Weather Station. one was thirty, To Earth just i remember her saying, its a rock album. And its
an astonishing, newly aggressive song with a torrent of destroyed me. feeling really good. she was poised in a vibrant way
lyrics that sharply convey feelings of exhilaration and I was telling i rarely find in musicians when so deep into a record.
bewilderment, of her anxiousness as she and her everyone, This is the best record she was so sure of herself and what was about to
of the past five years!
friends leave their twenties, and of being so alive to the happen that i couldnt help but believe her, too.
world around her I fucking noticed everything. JENNIFER Nevertheless, Lindeman admits the content of some
i got to hear thirty as she was working on it night CASTLE songs leave her feeling too exposed. theres lots of
after night, says Bulat. i was so blown away so was Shes so important things here that make me go, Why did i have to say
everyone in the band. she had that air of not being sure to me. She has a that?! But theres a remarkable amount of courage
about it yet, but we were like, oh holy shit, the song is new album next in that vulnerability, further evidence of the quiet
year, but I just
good. the content was so much about what a lot of wish someone in the States would intensity and boldness she shares with other artists
people around me are experiencing now. put out Pink City. Thats one of the exploring similar terrain, like Haley Fohr with Circuit
the songs one of many on the new album that refer best records that ever came out Des Yeux, Weyes Bloods Natalie mering or Us Girls, the
to something equally personal: a serious spell of of Toronto I feel like Im a pale moniker for Lindemans friend and fellow torontonian
depression that Lindeman experienced four years ago. shadow of that. meghan Remy. As she sits at the piano in her rehearsal
once you realise you have that tendency and that space, it strikes her that her musics may be another
youve always had it, it feels like it explains a lot of
KURT VILE element of what she calls the Joni connection.
I was totally
aspects of your life, says Lindeman. its the monster influenced by i cant even handle that aspect when i listen to her,
in the closet. But if you can open the closet door every blieve Im goin she admits.ill be like, Why are you putting yourself
morning and be like, Hey, youre still there nothing down. He talks out there, falling in love with all these shitty dudes?
has really changed, but im going to accept you. that about being crazy Just find a nice guy whos going to take care of you!
was the way through it for me as that fear of being a lot and I thought that was actually she laughs at her rather sensible reaction.
empowering. When I heard Pretty
shervvin lainez
KRONOS QUARTET k.d. lang YO-YO MA, CHRIS THILE & EDGAR MEYER THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
FOLK SONGS INGNUE (25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) BACH TRIOS 50 SONG MEMOIR
fRoots Mojo Daily Telegraph Independent
Songlines Record Collector The Times Q
ROBERT PLANT ROSTAM CHRIS THILE CHRIS THILE & BRAD MEHLDAU
CARRY FIRE HALF-LIGHT THANKS FOR LISTENING CHRIS THILE & BRAD MEHLDAU
Observer Evening Standard BBC Music Magazine BBC Music Magazine
Q Q Uncut Jazzwise
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18 the BeguileD
DIR: SOFIA COPPOLA
A genre exercise from
the film was about the
relationship between blocked poet
Javier Bardem and his devoted wife,
Kaurismkis torn-from-the-
headlines immediacy soon gave
way to some typically droll antics,
Kenneth Lonergans
film had the same
qualities as an early
Sofia Coppola, adapting Jennifer Lawrence. As it transpired, as Khaled befriended Wikstrm Springsteen song a
Thomas Cullinans Civil the film escalated into a darkly comic (Sakari Kuosmanen), a Finn who blue-collar narrative
War-set novel about a blend of home-invasion nightmare won a dilapidated restaurant called filled with a haunting,
wounded Yankee given and eco-parable. It felt like the The Golden Pint in a game of poker. pervasive sadness. Events circled
sanctuary at a girls culmination of Aronofskys major around Casey Affleck, returning
boarding school in rural Virginia.
Less of a Gothic horror than Don
Siegels 1971 version, Coppolas
obsessions executed with the kind of
stomach-churning quantum leaps
into madness familiar from Pi,
1320th
Women
century
DIR: mIKE mILLS
to his hometown after a family
upheaval, where he was forced to
confront a horrible mistake in
interests lay in the destabilising Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain After his Oscar-winner, the past. Affleck offered a strong,
influence of an intrusive male and Black Swan. Beginners, Mike Mills committed performance see
presence among a tight-knit group drama was ostensibly also his other key work this year,
of women. Colin Farrell and Nicole
Kidman co-starred. 15call
name
me By your
DIR: LUCA GUADAGNINO
the study of a parent
and child bond enacted
against a late-70s
in A Ghost Story as did Michelle
Williams, as his fiery ex-wife.
17 toni erDmann
DIR: mAREN ADE
The news that
At 89, James Ivory was
the oldest filmmaker
to appear in our
cultural backdrop. Besides jokes
about Black Flag, the main attraction
was a fine role for Annette Bening as
10laDy macBeth
DIR: WILLIAm OLDROYD
Set in rural England,
Hollywood was countdown. In his guise a single mother who recruited Greta 1865, Oldroyds film
remaking Maren Ades as sympathetic adaptor Gerwig and Elle Fanning to help found 17-year-old
German Oscar of other writers wise up her adolescent son. How do Katherine (Florence
contender with Jack material, he took on Andr Acimans you be a good man? was the central Pugh) trapped in a
Nicholson in the lead 2007 novel a romantic, coming-of- question; there was much humour loveless marriage to
came as no surprise. As with About age drama about a 17-year-old and warmth finding the answer. a much older man and who began
9 Detroit
DIR: KATHRYN BIGELOW
As a filmmaker, Bigelow
plotlines and tricksy temporal
progression, Nolans harrowing,
immersive experience depicted the
Ben Safdie, Good Time
harked back to murky
afterhours NYC movies
drew the film back to Last Exit To
Brooklyn and Rush other works
about lost souls on the fringes.
has long excelled at British retreat from northern France
creating tension in close from the perspective of Tom Hardys
Hypnotising:
quarters a biker bar in staunch Spitfire pilot, Harry Styles Daniel
Near Dark or a Pakistan lowly Tommy and others. Kaluuya in
Get Out
compound in Zero Dark
Thirty. Detroit confined its dramas
to the hallway of the citys Algiers
Motel during the July, 1967 riots,
5 the floriDa
project
DIR: SEAN BAKER
where protracted scenes of captivity, Bakers film showed us
terror, torture and murder endured. life on welfare in a
Bigelows film had relevance and housing block through
power but by finding the storys the eyes of Moonee,
heart in the music of one of the citys (Brooklynn Prince),
many soul bands, she created a six-year-old living
humanity among the anguish. on the edges of Walt Disney World
in a rundown motel called the Magic
8 moonlight
DIR: BARRY JENKINS
Castle. At times evocative of Andrea
Arnolds American Honey, The film Of THe YeAr
1 get out
A coming-of-age story Florida Project subverted the
about Chiron, a young, American trailer-park stereotype
gay black man from an without drifting into poverty porn.
impoverished Miami DIRECTOR: JORDAN PEELE
neighbourhood,
Moonlight tackled, on
an intimate level, universal themes
4 the meyeroWitz
stories
DIR: NOAH BAUmBACH A LTHOUGH 2017 was bookended by two
returning masters Martin Scorsese with
such as families and the ties that A welcome return to his Silence in January and Paul Thomas Anderson
bind. Focusing on three key stages old stomping ground for with Phantom Thread in December much of
of Chirons life, Jenkins found love Baumbach the travails what happened in between focused on a
and friendship from a tale of conflict of a once-storied younger generation of filmmakers asserting
and hardship, with former athlete intellectual family in their creative vision. Breakthrough films from
Trevante Rhodes carrying much of decline recalled his the Safdie brothers, Sean Baker and Jordan
the films emotional weight in his debut The Squid And The Whale Peele proved as distinctive as the work done
third-act appearance. this was also the filmmakers first for elsewhere this year by more established indie-
Netflix. Benefiting from a typically spirited directors like Noah Baumbach or Mike
7 la la lanD
DIR: DAmIEN CHAZELLE
A blissful love letter
strong cast Dustin Hoffman, Adam
Sandler, Ben Stiller it provided
much humour as well as a heartfelt
Mills. Along with It Comes At Night, A Ghost
Story and Personal Shopper, Peeles Get Out signalled a new type of horror
film one predicated less around conventional shocks and instead
to a golden age of solidity while exploring the following a more extraordinary, exploratory path.
Hollywood, Damien difficulties inherent in family life. Part of the appeal of this clutch of post-horror movies was the way they
Chazelles follow-up moved fluidly between genres Get Out began as a race satire like Guess
to Whiplash was full
of big emotions and
unselfconsciously joyous romantic
3 BlaDe runner 2049
DIR: DENIS VILLENEUVE
Two long-awaited
Whos Coming To Dinner? and ended up as something like The Wicker
Man spliced with the postmodern body horror of Nicolas Winding Refns
The Neon Demon. It was a formula that proved particularly successful for
ideals. The film pivoted around a sequels appeared this Peele Get Out took $253 million globally from a budget of $4.5 million.
will-they-wont-they? love story year, Trainspotting 2 Peele, a comedian turned filmmaker, looked at the experience of Chris,
between Ryan Gosling and Emma and Blade Runner 2049, a young black man played by Daniel Kaluuya, who is introduced to the
Stone, who fizzed like a Hawks both of which worked parents of his white girlfriend, Rose, played by Allison Williams. It would
double act. For all its bounce, hard to expand on be indiscreet to disclose what followed suffice to say, it revealed an
Chazelle took a shrewd view of themes seeded in their predecessors. extraordinary relationship between Roses family and their all-black staff.
nostalgia: quoting Rebel Without Here, Villeneuve fresh from his For all its jolts, Peeles film had yet another strength that elevates it
A Cause, Casablanca, Notorious and sci-fi encounter movie Arrival beyond a straightforward genre picture. In the era of Donald Trump and
Bringing Up Baby, this was gutsy revisited the core question of Ridley Black Lives Matter, it tapped into Americas racial tensions with quiet,
and purposeful filmmaking, full of Scotts 1982 original: what makes us discomforting exactitude.
dynamic thrills. human? There was plenty of
9 FoLk soNG IN
ENGLAND
Steve Roud
Joe Hagan
CANONGATE
Anointed by
Ryan Adams out to dry. The Sixties.
5
A complex friendship:
a colourfully evocative work of ART sEX MUsIC Robert Forster (left) and
Grant McLennan with
social history. Cosey Fanni Tutti The Go-Betweens, 1987
FABER
8 MUTE: A VIsUAL
DoCUMENT FRoM
1978 -> ToMoRRoW
Performance artist,
pornographic actor
and founding BOOK OF THe YeAr
Terry Burrows with
1
member of
GRANT & I:
Daniel Miller Throbbing Gristle,
THAMES & HUDSON Christine Newbys
A beautifully
crafted
uncompromising
career straddled INsIDE AND
celebration of
the accidental
strip joints, auspicious rock venues
and elite art galleries, not without oUTsIDE THE
label that
brought us Nick
pain and struggle. Art Sex Music
was her fearless and frequently Go-bETWEENs
Cave And The eye-popping account of it all.
Bad Seeds
Robert Forster OMNIBUS
and Depeche Mode, among other
notables. Mute embraced both
the margins and the mainstream
4 LoU REED: A LIFE
Anthony De Curtis
JOHN MURRAY
T HE Go-Betweens were a band to treasure, and Robert Forster
wrote a memoir worthy not just of their music, but of the complex
friendship between the author and his partner, Grant McLennan,
while maintaining a genuinely An even-handed, which underpinned it. Grant & I was a poignant, thoughtful and
adventurous identity. It was all scholarly study of elegantly written account of Forsters staid upbringing; his search for
tony MottraM/Getty iMaGes
here, in words and pictures. Reeds life and art, identity within a band clinging to the coat-tails of the music business;
assembled with and above all, his efforts to fathom McLennans mercurial nature. As
7 THE bYRDs:
REQUIEM FoR THE
TIMELEss, VoLUME 2
insight by a writer
who knew him well.
Drawing on an
Forster settled into something approaching midlife stability, he watched
in sadness and exasperation as his friend took the wrong road, ending
in his premature death in 2006. A brave and beautiful attempt to
Johnny Rogan impressive cast of comprehend the incomprehensible. graeme thomson
ROGAN HOUSE contributors, De Curtis went deep
UNCUT
A chandelier made
of strobe lights
DAZED AND CONFUSED
A powerful, brooding,
enveloping return
CLASH
Delicate minimalism
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PERE UBU
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OCTOBER 2017 No 471 4.40
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Follow us on:
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Ill Take You
There
Forty-five years ago, the singing family produced an uplifting hit in just
by Staple Singers
one hour in the studio: It still raises the roof today, says Mavis Staples
Michael Ochs archives/Getty iMaGes; chris strOnG; erika GOldrinG/Getty
iMaGes fOr PilGriMaGe Music & cultural festival lucky seven recOrds
W
e didnt spend sing in, but God just blessed me. I can hear key players or pies for dessert, and everybody would
more than what a band are doing and I know where to eat, laugh, tell jokes and have fun.
an hour, place my voice. But it was all very clean, of course
remembers Written and produced by Al Bell they were a religious group to begin with,
bassist David but heavily inspired by a Jamaican and therefore wanted to spread good
Hood, and I bet we did eight or nine instrumental the Stax honcho had brought feeling and good news to the world.
songs that day Yet, in that hour, the back from the Caribbean the track was I dont get offstage now without singing
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the recorded in Alabamas Muscle Shoals Ill Take You There, says Mavis Staples.
Staple Singers produced a US No 1 single: Sound Studio, then taken back to Ardent Mavis staples People still wanna hear it, its just like the
a vibrant, loose and grooving song that in Memphis to be sweetened by engineer lead vocals song is new. We havent been to Muscle
simultaneously tipped its hat to God, to the and multi-instrumentalist Terry Manning. Shoals since the 70s, but it was big fun. It
Civil Rights movement and to Jamaicas Mavis especially is just so outgoing and was really big fun back then!
new sounds. loving and there for a good time, says TOM PINNOCK
Ill Take You There was almost 50 Manning, recalling the original Muscle
years ago, says Mavis Staples today. Its Shoals sessions. I call those parties MAVIS STAPLES: I was right there with
amazing that it still sounds so good! I dont instead of recording sessions, because the the musicians at Muscle Shoals when
know music, I dont even know what key I Staples would bring in buckets of chicken they put the track down. Me, Pops and
David Hood my sisters. At one period of our time, we
Bass
would just sing to tracks we wouldnt
even see the musicians. But I like it better
when the band are there together, its not
so mechanical.
DAVID HOOD: We would be hearing these
songs for the first time, and a lot of the time
the Staples would be hearing them for the
Terry Manning first time, too.
Guitar, TERRY MANNING: I went down with Al
harmonica, Bell to Muscle Shoals when they were
engineering tracking [1972s] Be Altitude: Respect
Yourself, but I completely stayed out of it
because they do their thing their way, and
they were fantastic at it. Al was a brilliant
producer. Oh, gosh, the Staples were the
most fun of any artist to ever work with
just beautiful people, inside and out, just
lovely souls and of happy demeanour.
STAPLES: Yes, its true we would bring
pies! It was a family affair, because all
The Staple Singers of those guys were family men, and we
in their heyday: It
was really big fun would go to their houses for dinner and
back then meet their wives and their parents. And
we would really have fun, because all you song, so we wrote that together. Al knew
could do in Muscle Shoals was record, it
was just a bunch of studios there. But we No producer has told me what he wanted to hear, but he didnt have
to tell us what to do. When you know how
would have a wonderful time.
HOOD: Wed struck up a good rapport with
how to sing a song we you feel a song, you just sing it your way.
HOOD: We had recorded with Jimmy
the Staple Singers, Pops and Mavis and always rehearsed our Cliff Chris Blackwell brought him to
everybody, and we really enjoyed working Muscle Shoals this was before reggae
with them, so it was a very comfortable songs at home MAVIS STAPLES was very popular in the United States, and
situation. They really just let us get on with he wanted us to take his songs and make
whatever we wanted to do. them more like American R&B soul songs.
STAPLES: Al Bell was good to work with and he was saying, Weve got to get So we would try to take the Jamaica
but hes not a music man like Jeff Tweedy something that has this feel to it. out of some of the songs, and I hated to
or Curtis Mayfield or Prince. Those guys HOOD: I remember Al brought back a dub do that. But the real reggae influence [for
are big-time producers, but Al more or of Harry J All Stars Liquidator, and if the Swampers] came from touring with
less left it up to us. He wasnt a producer you listen to that youll hear that its very, Traffic [in 1972] every night over the
who was like do this or do that, he just very similar to Ill Take You There. Its sound system they would play Bob Marley
pushed you on, to give you moral support. just an instrumental, but Al told us he & The Wailers Catch A Fire. So that idea
No producer Ive ever been with has wanted something similar to that song. just got drilled into our brains.
told me how to sing a song, because my Many years later I read an article about STAPLES: It didnt take us long to record.
family and I would always rehearse our that song and they said its a direct copy We had rehearsed it at home, before we
songs at home. of the Harry J All Stars recording and I went to Muscle Shoals. My father taught
MANNING: Al wrote Ill Take You There, said, What? I dont remember that! us you dont go to the recording studio to
and partly because of that he had a huge And then I started thinking about it and I rehearse, you know what youre gonna do
interest in it, and felt it would be the did remember him bringing in that little when you get there. Most of the time Id do
single but we all had an interest in it, recording. So it is in fact a copy, more or one take and Im satisfied, because I know
because it was different. It didnt sound less, of the instrumental, Liquidator. But I have studied my song.
like R&B at the time. Al had just made we thought it was a demo [at the time], as HOOD: This was probably a first or second
a trip partly a vacation, partly music we were often recording from songwriters take, we did things pretty quickly. We
research to the Caribbean. In Jamaica demos we didnt know it was somebodys would work out our parts in advance prior
he heard reggae and just loved that. He actual commercial recording. to turning on the red light, so it was all
brought back a couple records, with that STAPLES: Al wrote the lyrics to Ill Take pretty quick. With Ill Take You There,
sort of skip-jump early Jamaican feel, You There, and I wrote the rest of the theres not much song there, really. If
The only thing that was rehearsed was position: UK 20; I would say the overdubs on Ill Take there!
the verse, but all of that other stuff that US 1 You There probably took two or three
Im doing just came to me in the studio. nights of experimentation, if you added Mavis Staples If All I Was Was Black is
It wasnt written down, it all comes from together the increments of time. Mavis out now on Anti-
time line
1968 The Staple Singers Swingers, produced by 1972 Recording takes There, at Alabamas Hood and Roger Hawkins;
sign to Al Bells Stax Bell himself, becomes place for Be Altitude: Muscle Shoals Sound the album goes on to be
Records their first commercial Respect Yourself, Studio, owned by the Staples most
1971 Their LP The Staple success at Stax including Ill Take You Swampers such as David successful ever
FLEET FOXES
CRACK-UP
OUT NOW
Q Financial Times
NME Drowned In Sound
DIY The Quietus
Independent Dork
Observer Record Collector
Binker & Moses - Journey To The Mountain Of Forever Butcher Brown - Live at Vagabond
Nitin Sawhney - Live at Ronnie Scotts Wild Ponies - Galax
T
He deceased, one road, the Steely Dan touring project these
suspects, would not past 20 years has been dedicated in large
have appreciated part to playing songs on stage that were
sentimentality, and explicitly designed for the studio. But
Donald Fagen is not fixating on an idea of perfection tends
about to dishonour an old to detract from the process of trial, error,
friend. Were the Steely error, error, error and chance that went
Dan organisation, he says. Were a little into the creation of records like Aja, and
different from what we were a few months makes these songs into such swinging
ago, but I gotta live with that. As if to live entities. At the heart of Steely Dan is a
emphasise the change, Fagen launches trust in malleable virtuosity, in a matrix of
into New Frontier, a song that marked groove and possibilities. It doesnt matter a
his original liberation from the company huge deal whos playing tenor saxophone,
of Walter Becker in the early 80s. Becker for instance, as long as they can improvise
himself, dead eight weeks, is never their way through the rhythmic peaks and
mentioned. Allusion, irony and a fragile troughs of Aja itself as Walt Weiskopf
air of emotional detachment remain Steely does brilliantly tonight. He may not have
Dans key coping strategies, even as they quite the measure of Wayne Shorter, but he
enter the final phase of their suitably clearly has a similar understanding of how
complex career. Steely Dan demand a fiendish balance of
Their career is something of a discipline and creativity.
misnomer, of course. This is notionally While Wilson and his band have worked
Fagens career now, a place where the assiduously at recreating the exact sound
distinct legacies of Steely Dan and his solo of Pet Sounds, Smile et al, Steely Dan
effectively work back from the pristine
finished songs to something more open-
ended. Theres a jazz imperative being
At the heart reclaimed at these gigs, so that Herington
doesnt try to reconstruct, note for note,
goofy cartoon hipster, mooching about often closer to jazz than to rock, and who of David Palmer, that job goes to the
the stage with shades and a melodica. knew that a spirit of improvisation would EncorE Danettes, three female backing singers
15 reelin in the
The idea of Fagen as rocks alpha droll allow their canon of songs to be endlessly years
who smartly reclaim it as a country-soul
technocrat might work in theory, but the reinvented. Steely Dan never go anywhere 16 the slow-burner.) His voice is a little strained
reality is pleasingly more human. as free and chaotic as the Dead, but there Untouchables and pinched on Time Out Of Mind
As, to a degree, is the music. Like the are glimpses of how their songs can be and My Old School, but his apparent
parallel return of Brian Wilson to the stretched and reshaped right from the off, joy and engagement seems at odds with
ST VINCENT SETLIST
1
2
marry me
now, now
and-blood maximalism of the new
album is bafflingly at odds with this flat,
theatrically brittle and disengaged live
Brixton Academy, London, 3
4
The stranger
actor Out Of
staging. Clarks richly expressive voice
is on great form, but the songs seem
October 17, 2017 5
Work
cruel anaesthetised somehow, and theres no
6 cheerleader evidence of her wicked sense of humour.
Massreduction! Annie Clarks tantalising, 7 strange mercy Despite its gesturing toward flashiness
frustrating solo turn 8 Digital Witness and fun, the show is low on energy and
A
9 rattlesnake oddly joyless.
10 Birth in reverse There are tantalising glimpses of
S introductions go, props, to match the thrilling dynamics and 11 Hang On me what might have been: Hang On Me,
its an A-grade tease. saturated colour of her new songs? 12 Pills
which opens the second set after a brief
Before the house lights But when Clark finally edges her way to 13 masseduction
costume-change break, sees Clark on a
14 sugarboy
are fully down, the the centre of an empty stage and launches dais in a silver micro-dress, unspooling
15 Los ageless
curtain draws back just into Actor Out Of Work, with its mix 16 Happy Birthday the lustrous, wounded beauty of her
a few feet, revealing of detailed prog picking and Fripp-ish Johnny voice while moody electronic hisses,
St Vincent stage right, shredding, the penny drops. This will be a 17 savior rattles and drones swirl around the room.
stood still in a fuchsia-pink bodysuit. solo show just Clark and guitar, playing 18 new York Sugarboy moves with a strong, EBM
Grasping the mic with both hands, she a set of earlier material in chronological 19 Fear The Future strut. And despite the fact that a backside
launches into Marry Me, the title track order, followed by Masseduction in full, all 20 Young Lover wrapped in bright pink and leopard
from her debut album a touchingly soft with pre-recorded backing. 21 slow Disco
interlude
print, as on the albums sleeve hoves
rendition that has something of Marilyn The lack of a dramatic reveal seems to 22 slow Disco into magnified view onscreen during
Monroe about it. Then, shes handed a suck the energy out of the packed room 23 smoking New York, the song hits its yearning
pink guitar and the curtain is nudged in an instant, allowing disappointment section and regret-filled target.
aside by increments, first for the slo-mo, to rush in. A swift adjustment of These, though, are compensatory
to-and-fro motion of Now, Now, and expectation settles the air, but the feeling moments. Clarks heroes, Bowie and
again for the Bjrk-meets-Broadway- that a dazzling spectacle has failed to Prince, never flew entirely solo at their
musical pizzazz of The Strangers, with manifest lingers, and the rest of Clarks peaks, and neither have Minnelli,
strobes. So far, so intriguing. performance does little to dispel it. Its Madonna or Lady Gaga, whose
Anticipation runs high for the Fear not that theres nothing to see: her prone appreciation of high-end razzmatazz
The Future tour after all, thanks to the figure in a spotlight, singing Strange Clark shares, even if her interpretation is
brilliance of new LP Masseduction, Annie Mercy from the foetal position, is the different. Theres an argument to be made
Clark is now the patron saint of supra- disquieting centrepiece of the first set. And that no performer is responsible for their
Brian rasic/Wireimage
emotional, wittily postmodern pop and in the second, video backdrops, some with audiences expectations or obliged to
so the crowd cranes its neck as one, keen Godley & Creme overtones, screen garish satisfy them. But whatever anyone
to see what lies behind that curtain. Her vignettes of a mostly deadpan existential might have presumed this St Vincent
crack band, is the obvious assumption. nature starring Clark herself feeding show would be, lacklustre was almost
Or, if theyre stationed discreetly in the sheets of orange paper printed with NO certainly not it.
wings, then maybe some extravagant into a shredder, for instance. SHARON OCONNELL
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40th Anniversary
ANNIVERSArY DELUXE EDITION
Includes:
The Original Album
Ten Previously-Unreleased Live Recordings
From The Los Angeles Forum in 1976
Blu Ray Audio Disc With HD,
PCM Stereo and 5.1 Surround Mixes
44-Page Book With Rare Photos
And Memorabilia
20-Page Hotel California Tour Book
Three Posters
E
veryone is sick of REvIEWED barricades. He recognises, too, that the 40 years, Dickinson has turned his hand
the old way, Johnny THIS mONTH really important stuff came in its wake. to competitive fencing, commercial
rotten told Caroline Musical criticism often takes a back piloting, writing bawdy farces and
Coon in 1976. Were seat to ideological discussion, but the brewing his own beer. He spends two
just one alternative. author knows his All Mod Cons from his 20 decades developing a film about Aleister
There should be several. In Matthew Jazz Funk Greats, and debunks the myth Crowley starring Simon Callow, and
Worleys No Future, punk is unshackled that punk enacted cultural patricide; plays a concert in Sarajevo at the height
from historys innate desire to order and The Clash may have declared, No Elvis, of the early-90s hostilities. Diagnosed
anthologise, and presented as nothing Beatles or Rolling Stones, but although with cancer in 2015 a grim interlude
but a series of alternatives, its fluid punk appeared to reject what rock had recounted here with admirable candour
oppositional stances as attractive to become, it did not thereby reject its past. he makes a swift and full recovery.
far-right hoodlums as left-wing idealists, Shunning hindsight also illuminates Little wonder that when he joins Iron
to retro-rockers and conceptual futurists, NO FUTURE: PUNK, some choice facts: before the music press Maiden, having served his dues in
to straight and queer. The one thing they POLITICS AND eventually settled on punk as their Samson (two years of madness), he
all had in common, claims Worley, was BRITISH YOUTH branding of choice, various alternatives swiftly transforms them into the biggest
CULTURE 1976-
a youthful urge to confront orthodoxies. 1984 were posited, among them Kids rock; Brit metal band and brand of the past
Worley a professor of Modern History MATTHEW WORLEY S rock and ? rock. 40 years. At a German festival he urinates
at the University of reading laments CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY on the mixing desk and inserted my dick
PRESS, 17.99
that punk has been reduced to but The title of Bruce Dickinsons What in the singer [of Quiet Riots] ear, but in
7/10
another touchstone in pops rich tapestry. Does This Button Do? acknowledges general Dickinson prefers a handy Swiss
He seeks here to re-establish its broader the endearing-cum-irritating tendency Army Knife to the Hammer of The Gods.
culture, its inherent contradictions, its of the Iron Maiden singer to act first and He eschews drugs and is coy about sex.
vagrant energy and its protean, complex ask questions later. His evident need to In the absence of rocknroll misbehaviour
legacy. His aim is not to write a narrative write himself into a series of Boys own and much musical insight, theres lots
history of punk as remembered, but to adventures appears rooted in an unhappy of tech talk about Fokkers and 747s,
understand the various ways by which childhood. raised by his formidable alongside some knowing Spinal Tap-
punk was constructed, understood and six-foot grandmother while his wasted isms. on one tour the great clawed
utilised as a cultural medium. parents were travelling the country in a hand of eddie, their mascot, ends up
He does a decent job. only occasionally performing-dog act, Dickinson is bullied malfunctioning, managing only to give
lapsing into the pitfalls of dry academia at boarding school and finally expelled the finger to the audience.
there are over 100 pages of notes in a book WHAT DOES for pissing in a pot of par-boiled runner Dickinson writes with a blokey
THIS BUTTON
of 400 pages he strips events down to DO? BRUCE beans intended for the prefects. breeziness: jovial but emotionally distant.
contemporary accounts of myriad grass- DICKINSON AN He emerges from the chaos as a high- His executive decision not to mention
roots movements, ordered thematically AUTOBIOGRAPHY achiever determined to do pretty much births, marriages and divorces leaves
HARPER COLLINS, 20
rather than chronologically. He shows everything. Apart from shrieking like a hole at the heart of the book. Significant
6/10
how punks explosion of sound and style an air-raid siren in Maiden for almost Daddy issues are hinted at but left
was deeply interconnected with shifts in unexplored, and without the balancing
party politics, personal politics, the music context of a personal life, his endless high
RichaRd E. aaRon/REdfERns
T
he KiLLinG oF A sACred
deer Yorgos Lanthimos
has earned his reputation
as a purveyor of deadpan,
absurdist stories. His
earliest films, Dogtooth and
Alps, were scalp-prickling
black comedies where dark mysteries lay
behind glossy middle-class veneers of
respectability. But his previous film, The
Lobster, took a swerve into more eccentric
territory: single adults were obliged to find a
marriage partner before a specified deadline
or else be turned into animals and packed
off to the wild. How do you follow that?
Unlike the fanciful dystopias of Alps or The
Lobster, The Killing Of A Sacred Deer is set in
what we initially recognise as the present Willem Lanthimos macabre tragedy unfolds. They tattoos who sees Moonees curiosity and
day. Colin Farrell plays a successful heart Dafoe takes are both comprehensively trumped, though, energy as something to be cherished. After
a forgiving
surgeon, Steven Murphy, Nicole Kidman his stance in by Keoghans Martin an intense, wicked all, the reality of life at The Magic Castle
decorous wife, Anna. They exist in a world of The Florida augur of doom. is hard: Halley and her daughter take free
Project
high-end professionalism: black tie events, handouts from a nearby diner or bread from a
expensive watches, big house. Tangential to the FLoridA ProJeCt Somewhere near charity food van. To further make ends meet,
all that, Steven has an unusual friendship to Disneys The Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Halley sells on cheap perfume to tourists at
with a 16-year-old boy, Martin (Barry Florida, just off Seven Dwarfs Lane, there a nearby golf club. While the lengths Halley
Keoghan). As the nature of this relationship lies a less auspicious palace of enchantment. will go to in order to pay the rent are initially
becomes apparent, the film shifts tone, as This is The Magic Castle a rundown social enterprising, her predicament only worsens
if somehow Murphy and his family have housing block painted a lurid shade of as the film progresses.
unwittingly strayed into a mysterious purple. It is where, during the holidays, six Bakers previous film, Tangerine, was shot
space beyond everyday reality. Camera year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and entirely on iPhones. The Florida Project has
angles become dizzyingly acute. Dissonant her friends run wild. Its only the second the same fire and energy, though evidently
bursts of noise erupt on the soundtrack. A week of summer and theres already been a hes stepped up to a whole new level here.
supernatural curse is invoked. dead fish in the swimming pool, grumbles This is a compassionate film about the
As with Michael Haneke, Lanthimos the blocks exasperated manager, Bobby conditions of working-class America, where
carefully deconstructs his protagonists (Willem Dafoe). But to Moonee, The Magic the next knock on the door might well be
comfortable middle-class existence. These Castle and its environs a sea of car parks, from a child welfare agency.
are people who are in control of their fast food outlets, scrubland and dumpsters
lives what will it take to disturb them? are a playground of the imagination. There hAPPY end Followers of Michael Haneke
Pinteresque conversations loop back on are raucous adventures to be had, even if it will be delighted to learn that his latest opens
themselves, characters speak in a detached, involves turning off the power to the motel with mobile phone footage, taken secretly,
robotic fashion. Everything seems freighted or accidentally setting fire to a row of derelict of a woman as she goes about her nighttime
with inexplicable unease. Working again condos. Theyre good kids, most of the ablutions. The sequence feels like a
with Lanthimos after The Lobster, Farrell is time, sighs Bobby. contemporary update on Hanekes 2005 film
terrific as the shifty Murphy, unable to admit Bobby is one of the few adults who feature Cach, about a Parisian family who receive
his own faults even as his world collapses substantially in Sean Bakers film. The other videotapes of the outside of their house.
around him. Kidmans Anna, meanwhile, is Halley (Bria Vinaite) Moonees mother, We learn that this phone footage was shot
brings some desperately needed sanity as a woman with a short temper and many by Eve (Fantine Harduin), shortly before she
7/10
Fireworks! Swearing! Tears! The Sabs
farewell gig in full
Birmingham, February
4, 2017: the show that
closed the unholy book
on this most durable of
bands. This is essentially
asouvenir: a last hurrah
for all the big numbers
from 50 years of doom-
laden, lumbering riffage.
It looks good, it sounds good, and Ozzy is
game but the dextrous, dangerously
cool Tony Iommi is the star, as perhaps he
always was.
Extras: 7/10. Blu-ray/DVD and CD double
BoTTlE RoCKET:
package, bundled with The Angelic
Sessionson CD; Deluxe box includes books,
pin, plectrums and tour laminate.
Heist jinks:
(lr) Robert
Musgrave,
SPECiAl EdiTioN
luke and The CriTerion ColleCTion
MARK BENTLEY owen Wilson
in Bottle 8/10
lAMF Rocket
live At The Bowery Electric Wes Andersons likeable crime-
JUnGle
caper debut. By Damon Wise
6/10 CEliNE ANd JUliE
New York supergroup salutes the Go BoATiNG THE popular image of Wes Anderson is that
ragged spirit of 77 BFi BlU-rAy of the perfectionist, taking a tape measure
Forty years after The to check the width of his fashionably
7/10
Heartbreakers only unfashionable beige cord lapels or
album, sole survivor Complex, unsettling fantasy from 1974 holding up a colour swatch to make sure
Walter Lure gathered Jacques Rivettes his morning coffee has been made just so.
a bunch of names sprawling (194-minute) The cool, animated menu for this Criterion
The Replacements theatrical indulgence reissue-slash-restoration of his directing
Tommy Stinson, Blondie inspired Desperately debut raises high hopes, then, but sadly
drummer Clem Burke, Seeking Susan, but the film itself looking better than it ever did is the best part
MC5 guitar hero Wayne is considerably more of this package. The Making Of, for example, by sometime
Kramer to perform LAMF in New York. complex. The plot Anderson associate Barry Braverman (whose 1978 short
Cue a packed house and suitably pungent throws a Nouvelle Murita Cycles is also puzzlingly included), is scrappy and even,
versions of Born To Lose, Chinese Rocks Vague murder-mystery gasp, amateurish, with low-quality sound and cast and crew
et al. And while none of them can claim to be weekend down a Parisian rabbit hole. It reminiscences interrupted by dogs barking and traffic noise.
natural frontmen, theyre too busy enjoying follows librarian Julie (Dominique Labourier) This tantalising, fragmented narrative how three kids from
themselves to care. and magician Cline (Juliet Berto) as they Texas (Anderson, plus Owen and Luke Wilson) made a cult
Extras: 5/10. Interviews with all four conspire to inhabit a murder mystery in the movie against the odds, including a test audience that scrawled
protagonists, plus guest vocalist Jesse Malin. haunted house of their imaginations, though THIS IS SHIT on a reaction card comes out a little more clearly
ROB HUGHES Rivettes focus is more on the outer limits of in the relaxed commentary by Owen Wilson and Anderson,
dramatic invention. which adds in some interesting detail about the chaotic nature of
lYdiA loVElESS Extras: 8/10. Commentary, shorts, booklet. the shoot, which developed over two years and had to be hacked
Who is lydia loveless? ALASTAIR McKAY down to 90 minutes. The excess footage, 11 scenes of which are
MVC included, suggests that producer Polly Platt was right to wield the
7/10
YEllo scissors after the director initially refused to budge.
live in Berlin The main feature itself, however, has actually improved with
In-depth doc captures endearing UniVerSAl age, and what seems surprising on reflection is how much of a
country girl on the come-up piece it is with Andersons later films, even though the premise
7/10
The rock documentary is a clearly comic derivation of Reservoir Dogs is like nothing he
typically reserved for acts Long-overdue live debut captured has made since. Now 21 years old, Bottle Rocket seems initially
grappling with the onset Making your official startling if only because its cast seem so impossibly young.
of success. Who Is Lydia live debut at 71 is an Similarly, its odd to be reminded that Luke Wilson is actually the
Loveless? is a little different. unorthodox career move, lead, playing the depressive Anthony, sprung from hospital by
Director Gorman Bechards but Swiss techno-pop his excitable friend Dignan (Owen Wilson with a Dolph Lundgren
study of Loveless a former surrealists Yello have buzz-cut, having yet to settle on his default stoner shtick).
farm girl and alternative always written their own Though the story is one of Andersons most generic, the
country musician signed rules. Launching their seeds of his now-familiar style are there, in the colours, the
to Bloodshot Records takes a different excellent 13th album framing and deadpan sincerity of the comedy, which reaches
route, homing in on the travails that face Toy late last year with its heights when the wannabe criminal Dignan gets himself
independent musicians in that hinterland four full-band mega-shows at a disused and his friends entangled with local crime kingpin Mr Henry
between stardom and obscurity. Loveless Berlin power station, Dieter Meier and Boris (a hilarious turn by James Caan, who didnt really know what
straight-talking style is endearing, and Blank combine arena-sized performance kind of movie was making). For comparison, the disc includes
Bechards roving lens captures a few with deluxe cinematic visuals, although the the 13-minute, black-and-white short of the same name, made
universal truths about camaraderie, lengthy stretches of polished electro-lounge by the same team in 1994. Scrappy and talky, anticipating the
hardship and the music business. latin-jazz become tedious in places. Meiers slacker wave unleashed by Kevin Smiths Clerks the same year,
Extras: 7/10. Directors commentary, old-school playboy charisma, half Bryan it shows just how far Anderson has come in the years since.
acoustic performances, music videos. Ferry, half Salvador Dal, still shines. Extras: 7/10. Commentaries, Making Of, deleted scenes,
LOUIS PATTISON Extras: None. STEPHEN DALTON restored hi-def, short films.
george young
Easybeats songwriter and AC/DC producer
(1946-2017)
A
C/DC have been quick to acknowledge the debt owed to George
Young. Without his help and guidance, there would not
have been an AC/DC, the band said in a statement. Together
with songwriting partner Harry Vanda, Young produced the
first five AC/DC albums, from 1975s High Voltage through to
Powerage (1978), as well as live effort, If You Want Blood Youve Got It. The
older brother of AC/DC stalwarts Angus and Malcolm, Young returned in
2000 to oversee Stiff Upper Lip. Hed first made his name as rhythm guitarist
for The Easybeats, the quintet he co-founded in Sydney in 1964. Sparking
the kind of fan hysteria that drew comparisons to Beatlemania (Easyfever,
as the Australian press called it), the band enjoyed a succession of national
hits as Young and vocalist Stevie Wright emerged as chief songwriters. But
it was Youngs creative partnership with lead guitarist Vanda that broke
them internationally, co-writing Friday On My Mind later covered by
Bowie, Springsteen and others in 1966. He and Vanda continued their
George Young association after The Easybeats split, producing Rose Tattoo and The Angels,
(right) with The
Easybeats in co-authoring John Paul Youngs global hit Love Is In The Air, and forming
Germany, 1968 studio-only project Flash And The Pan, whose Waiting For A Train was a
UK Top 10 hit in 1982.
PHIL MILLER with the formers management Nighthawk, ending a decade- The Southern Appalachian
Canterbury scene guitarist team and a deal with Columbia, long association in 1963, before Mountains, on Jac Holzmans newly
(1949-2017) who released debut Songs For beginning a late-career resurgence minted Elektra label. Aside from
Swingin Survivors in 1965. Softleys in the 90s with Feel Like Doin playing on nine Ramblers albums
Robert Wyatt once declared that bold mix of protest songs and Something Wrong. up to 1962, Paley also performed
Phil Miller would rather play love-torn ballads failed to find a with Jean Ritchie, Eric Weissberg
a wrong note than a note that commercial audience, however, TOM PALEY and Peggy Seeger, as well as
somebody else had ever played. and his subsequent output either String-band musician teaching guitar to Jerry Garcia
Millers singular talents as a solo or with Mac MacLeod as Soft (1928-2017) and the young Ry Cooder.
guitarist, fusing elements of blues, Cloud was sporadic.
jazz and prog, made him a mainstay In his 2004 memoir, Chronicles: EAMONN CAMPBELL
of the Canterbury scene, beginning MIKE CARR Volume One, Bob Dylan cited the Dubliners guitarist
with Delivery in 1966 and, in the Jazz keys player New Lost City Ramblers as a key (1946-2017)
early 70s, DC & The MBs (with (1937-2017) influence, writing that all their
Judy Dyble and Lol Coxhill) and songs vibrated with some dizzy, Guitarist Eamonn Campbell had
Wyatts Matching Mole. His two- Jazz organist Mike Carr founded the portentous truth. The string already enjoyed chart-topping
year tenure with Hatfield And The EmCee Five, whose ranks included band was founded in 1958 by success in Ireland with Dermot
North resulted in a couple of free- older brother and trumpeter Ian, Mike Seeger, John Cohen and OBrien & The Clubmen when he
ranging albums, containing key in Newcastle at the turn of the banjoist/guitar player Tom Paley, first met The Dubliners in 1967.
Miller compositions like Calyx, 60s. Relocating to London led to whod already made his mark five He eventually joined them 20
before he moved onto National a residency at the Marimba Club, years earlier with Folk Songs Of years later, after years of session
gunter Zint/k & k uLF kruger oHg/redFernS, Brian SHueL/redFernS
T
HE development of the live British music scene owes so much
to Harold Pendleton. In April 1958, the former chartered
accountant from Southport launched Jazz At The Marquee, a
regular series of themed nights in the basement of the Academy
Cinema on Londons Oxford Street. As secretary of the National
Jazz Federation, in collaboration with Chris Barber, Pendleton had already
begun to promote gigs around the capital, but the Marquee provided a
base for homegrown and visiting musicians alike. He and Barber brought
Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters to London for the first time, expanding the
venues reach by offering a residency to Alexis Korners Blues Incorporated
in 1962 and thereby signalling the R&B boom. The next few years saw the
Marquee host a slew of young British talent, from The Yardbirds and The
Who to The Rolling Stones and David Jones, who performed there for the Live-music
first time as David Bowie in October 65. Pendleton also inaugurated the pioneer
annual National Jazz Festival, which debuted in 1961 in the grounds of the Harold
Pendleton
Richmond Athletic Association. He oversaw its transition to Windsor five in 2004
years later, when Cream played their first major live show, and the festivals
final switch to Reading in 1971.
work, upon which he also became some ways that reminded me of ALVIN DEGUZMAN Modal Rounders), as banjoist with
their regular producer. It was at reading and listening to Leonard The Icarus Line guitarist MacGrundys Old-Timey Wool
Campbells suggestion that The Cohen or Robertson Davies. In (1978-2017) Thumpers. He went on to play
Dubliners hooked up with The addition to 13 big-selling studio bagpipes and fiddle with string-
Pogues for their biggest hit, The albums with The Tragically Lead singer Joe Cardamone band collective Golden Toad,
Irish Rover. Hip, Downie, who has died from credited guitarist Alvin before finally recording a solo
brain cancer, collaborated with DeGuzman as the agent of The album in 1971. Initially released as
JERRY ROSS The Sadies, Buck 65 and City Icarus Lines success, a selfless a private pressing, Fiddle found a
Hit songwriter/producer And Colour, and released half a dynamo who drove the post- wider audience when Tompkins
(1933-2017) dozen solo works, the latest being hardcore band forward from Square reissued it three years ago.
Introduce Yerself. their inception in 1998. The
After a stint as booth announcer confrontational Los Angeles GRADY TATE
on American Bandstand, Jerry LOU GARE outfit released eight studio Jazz drummer/singer
Ross started up Ross Associates Free-jazz saxophonist albums, the last 2015s All (1932-2017)
in Philadelphia and signed the (1939-2017) Things Under Heaven coinciding
teenage Kenny Gamble, with with the news that DeGuzman Revered for his crisp timing and
whom he co-wrote Im Gonna Alongside guitarist Keith Rowe had been diagnosed with cancer. subtle inflections, jazz drummer
Make You Love Me, a huge hit and drummer Eddie Prvost, They split soon afterwards. Grady Tate was an in-demand
for Diana Ross & The Supremes tenor sax player Lou Gare was sideman from the 60s onwards,
with The Temptations. Ross also co-founder of free improv trio BUNNY SIGLER playing with high-calibre artists
produced Bobby Hebbs Sunny AMM, who emerged from Philly Sound pioneer Charles Mingus, Jimmy Smith,
(1966) and, alongside Robbie Van workshop sessions at Londons (1941-2017) Nat Adderley, Wes Montgomery,
Leeuwen, Shocking Blues 1969 Royal College Of Art in 1965. Bill Evans, Quincy Jones and many
classic, Venus. Cornelius Cardew and Lawrence Together with Kenny Gamble and more. He was also a fine baritone
Sheaff had joined by the following Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler helped singer, issuing a number of albums
GORD DOWNIE years Elektra debut AMMMusic, shape the Philly Sound. His first as leader in a career that spanned
The Tragically Hip singer with Gare remaining through major hit, Let the Good Times Roll five decades.
(1964-2017) several lineup variations until 1976. & Feel So Good, landed in 1967,
He later joined Synchronicity. followed by a number of successes AUGUSTIN
Such was The Tragically Hips through the 70s. In his MAWANGU MINGIEDI
popularity in their native Canada role as writer/producer, Konono No 1 bandleader
that they became cultural Gord he worked with Billy
Downie (1961-2017)
touchstones, receiving the Order live in Paul, Harold Melvin &
Of Canada in 2013 and appearing Ottawa, The Blue Notes, Patti Mingiedi Mawangus death in 2015
July 2015
on their own set of postage stamps. LaBelle, Curtis Mayfield ceded control of Konono No 1, the
Mark Horton/WireiMage, geoFF SWaine/LFi
Much of their reputation was and more. Congolese band he founded in 1966,
founded on the thematic concerns to his son and lead likemb player,
of lead singer and lyricist Gord SMOKE Augustin. The latter, who has died
Downie, a social activist who DAWSON aged 56, continued his fathers
loaded the bands songs with Fiddle player work, leading the group further
references to national identity and (1935-2017) from their traditional roots. Last
history. Bruce Dickinson, who years Konono No 1 Meets Batida,
signed them to MCA in 1987, placed George Smoke for instance, was an effects-laden
Downie in the tradition of great Dawson started out in dance collaboration with the famed
Canadian poets. There can be a 1960, alongside Pete Portuguese producer.
certain darkness in the lyrics, in Stampfel (pre-The Holy ROB HUGHES
said, Thats because were the only bill, but he seemed as remote as the
ones old enough. He then went on country he was there to help.
to recall how bad the band had been The real star was Kurt Bloch,
at both Knebworth gigs, and why someone I didnt know about and
they should never have happened. researched at once, checking out
So I asked him, If you were so bad The Minus 5 and The Yes Masters.
can I get my money back? His He put on a dynamic show, leaping
reply, What would that be then, around as if at Madison Square
like, two and six? Garden, and jumped over to bellow
Anyway, the tickets for Knebworth Rocknroll! in my face.
No Uncut cover
were actually 7.50, but regardless, The other star was Steve Wynn, for mark E Smith:
no refund is likely to be forthcoming. who bashfully told me how proud he totally weird?
The word that stood out in the article was of the new Dream Syndicate
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
show a picture of the late Cliff Burton,
when in fact it was taken sometime TAKE 248 | JANUARY 2018
after the great bassist had died in Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, 161 Marsh Wall,
9 10 London E14 9AP
a coach crash and was Cliffs
Tel: 020 3148 6982 www.uncut.co.uk
replacement Jason Newsted. I believe
Jason is still with us, although no Editor John Mulvey
Associate Editor (Features) Michael Bonner
longer a member of Metallica. 11 12 13 Associate Editor (One-shots) John Robinson
Reviews Editor Tom Pinnock
Paul Howarth, Huddersfield Art Editor Marc Jones
14
Senior Designer Michael Chapman
production Editor Mick Meikleham
Sorry to moan about the Ultimate 15 16 17 21 Senior Sub Editor Mike Johnson
Music Guide: Prince, but it has picture Editor Phil King
Editor At large Allan Jones
Prince production jobs and so on, 18 19
THIS lAND IS 31 32
Cover photograph: Bryan Derballa/Kintzing.com
EVERYONES lAND 33 34
photographers: Sean Dunn, Lynn Goldsmith,
Robert DeMartin, David Gahr, Kevin Mazur,
How beautiful to read a rich piece on Guy Lowndes, Lawrence Watson, Perry Shimon,
Paul Sargeant, Shervin Lainez
Woody Guthries life and legacy Thanks to: Lora Findlay
HOW TO ENTER
[Uncut, November 2017], particularly
on the heels of catching in El Paso The letters in the shaded squares form an anagram of a song by Bruce Springsteen. When DISplAY ADVERTISINg
one of the last dates of the refugee- youve worked out what it is, send your answer to: Uncut January 2018 Xword Comp, Regional Sales Oliver Scull 0161 872 2152
Basement 2, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Steet, London SE1 0SU. The first correct Ad production Barry Skinner 020 3148 2538
fundraising Lampedusa tour, entry picked at random will win a prize. Closing date: Wednesday, December 20, 2017. Email all ad copy to barry.skinner@timeinc.com
helmed by folk legends from Joan Digital business Directors Andrew Sanders,
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2017 Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. No Part Of This Magazine
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Punches, 8 Verve, 10 1 Redemption Song, 2 Limbo,
Musicians: Good, Donald Trump/ HIDDEN ANSWER Your
Damaged, 12 Lifes, 13 3+11A Wages Day, 4 Teddy
Brexit: Bad camp. However, Ive Mother Should Know
Moods, 17 Truth, 20 ABC, Picker, 5 Troy, 6 Evil, 7 Feast,
never been a triumphalist, so I wont. 22 Incredible, 23 Olias, 24 9 Refusal, 16 Haim, 18 XWORD COmpIlED bY:
John Barlass, Warwick Sense, 26 Wood, 27+28D Universal, 19+15D His N Trevor Hungerford
SUN RA SOPHIE
Atlantis 1969 BIPP (B-side to Nothing More To Say) 2013
I could have picked any number of Sun Ra As you get older, it becomes harder and
albums, but recently weve been listening to harder to get that feeling of total excitement
this one on tour. To me, it teaches something and bewilderment from music. But I was so
about how to play free music: you dont have confounded by this record, and continue to
to be wild, you can just be very spacious be its a really amazing approach to sound.
and loose. It almost sounds like an odd little It always threatens to kick in, but it never
wooden puzzle Its helped us in many does Its so wonderful, I love it. It gives
a rainy traffic jam, it just keeps your momentum up. Im totally into the me the illusion that Im maintaining some kind of handle on what young
myths, too he wasnt human, he didnt identify as such, and he has good people are listening to, which Im not! Just to hear dance music or pop
reasons not to do so. To me, hes the cornerstone of all music. music that is also really an amazing painting in its own right is great.
full feeling, its really amazing. If that bass about the production. It covers house and
was perfectly in tune and on the nose, the techno, but its quite fluid and melodious in
record wouldnt sound half as good. When places. It has this spacey, circus-ish feeling
everything isnt quite fitting together, then things have to bleed over the to it, a garishness, thats slightly deranged. In our living room, were pretty
edges of everything else, and it makes for a really interesting sound. Its also far away from the speakers, but there would be times when a sound would
got one of my favourite guitar solos its almost like a little tweeting bird. just emerge from the air in front of us, over our lentil soup.
The i HHHH
English Tapas
(Album of the Week)
The Guardian HHHH Q HHHH
(Album of the Week) MOJO HHHH
The Times HHHH Loud & Quiet 9/10
(Album of the Week) Uncut 8/10
Witness
For more wonderful Rough Trade releases Next year watch out for; Starcrawler,
from this year see; Sun Kil Moon, Anohni, Goat Girl and The Honey Hahs.
Pantha Du Prince, Elastica, Josienne
Clarke & Ben Walker, PicaPica and Mark
Kozelek with Ben Boye and Jim White.