Peter Hammill - Fool's Mate

Charisma CASCD1037. 1971

Another NF introduction - cheers buddy.

He sounds a bit posh, but has a pleasant voice none the less. I heard this long before I'd heard any VdGG, so had no idea who he was.

It was the crazy drums at the start of Imperial Zeppelin that grabbed me from the off. Unfortunately, a lot of the rest of the album shifts into much more straight-forward singer-songwriter territory after the, frankly, crackers start.

I don't have a great deal to compare this to, as there's not much else on my shelves that sound quite like it.

The only real low-point is the dreadful Vikings. Cack.

"Aaaaah - it's so imperial!"

"And I don't feel quite like dying......"

Herbie Hancock - Man-Child

Columbia CB741. 1975 (1992)

That's just too much funk for one album.

Starts off at a blistering pace with the crazy Hang Up Your Hangups, gets all slinky (and, eventually, a bit samey), then cracks on nicely again on the last track, Heartbeat.

I prefer this over Headhunters.

The Hives - Your New Favourite Band

Telstar Records MC5055CD. 2002

I'm currently enjoying a renewed enthusiasm for garagey rock type stuff, so this is timely.

And rawkously good fun. Might even stick it on the 'pod for gym listening.

Brings back memories of a splendid summer in my big new office, nicely settled in, doing bits and pieces of layout for Get Rhythm music magazine based upstairs.

Horizon 222 - The Three of Swans

Charrm CD18. 1994

Though the restraint issue had been addressed by now, this still shifts dramatically from light to dark, cheery to brooding.

The opener proper (after a minute of seagull samples mixed with the Birmingham Six on the steps of the Old Bailey upon release), Walking On The Air, could be top of the list for feel-good, summer barbeque soundtrack, with its jolly Lee Perry vocal sample and bouncing beats.

Most of the rest of this concentrates on atmosphere rather than bouncy niceness, and slips into frowny mode most of the time. Not that it isn't good, it just doesn't logically follow the opener. I'll mention The Orb again (second time today), as One Small Dot could sit on Ultraworld and not feel out of place. See David Holmes post regarding too much speechy sample stuff in between tunes.

I certain I had something to do with putting the sleeve artwork together. The CD itself looks very familiar. 'Tis entirely feasible, as I'm sure it was around this time I helped with some CD reissues of some :z*f: stuff, as well as Ingleton Falls (nice artwork, shite tunes) and the Off The Map compilation.

Overall, canny. Still never liked one of the Andys though.

Horizon 222 - Through The Round Window

DOVe CD222/39100252. 1992

Careful now, that's a friend of mine. Watch your mouth babe, you're outta line.

When I first forced my presence up the :zoviet*france: chaps all those years ago, probably my second or third visit to the large house in the West End of Newcastle, they were busy scrutinising the films of the artwork for this album. I remember it was only spot colour separations, and didn't include the photos, which were to be added later, somewhere, somehow.

Not all that interesting, I know, but true.

A lot of this stands the test of time quite nicely. Though overly-festooned with layer upon layer of sampled hooks in places, when the tunes are allowed to speak for themselves they're enjoyable and stand up to repeated listening. I remember being very taken with the slowly building, eventually intense rhythms of the epic opener, Touch, with its belching, baritone throat-singing samples and chirpy synth licks. Into mellow dub territory on Heart, then off into trance-ville on Spirit Level, possibly their stab (though I'm certain they'd deny it) at commercial success (and possibly the best use of the sound of the Tardis outside the Dr Who titles).

I only have two problems with this album. I can't think of an occasion when I'd want to listen to it in its entirity. There's so much variation in pace and mood from track to track that something isn't going to sit right, depending how you feel. And restraint, or lack of. In many places less could have been so much more.

And for the record, I never did like one of the Andys - can't remember which one now, but he was a twat.

David Holmes - Lets Get Killed

Go! Beat 539 100-2. 1997

Nicely crafted funky shit. Still, when I put on some music I want to hear music, not a minute, possibly two, of someone talking before the tunes kick in. The street recordings etc on here do fit in nicely with the music at times, but there's just too much of it and it just isn't necessary. The guy can makes tunes.

David Holmes - Bow Down To The Exit Sign

Go Beat 543 713-2. 2000

I'm just not in the mood; this is getting on my nerves. Bobby Gillespie's tuneless warbling contributions are grating at my earwax, redeemed only by Martina (that bird on some Tricky records) getting all sultry on my ass, and the super-sweet tune 69 Police.

Enough for today, I think, otherwise I may start being unfair.

Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade

SST CD027. 1984

Much better. They were still in hardcore mode when they recorded this, though it branches out into previously unexplored skies and keeps things a bit more interesting than another record of 2 minute, full speed thrash and yellers.

Highlights: great instrumental Dreams Reoccurring, Hare Krshna, Reoccurring Dreams (another great instrumental)

John Lee Hooker - The Best Of

Music Club MCCD020. 1991

Now I'm really sick. Not really his fault, but why have I got three 'best of's?

John Lee Hooker - Boogie Chillum

Tring GRF023.

And 28 tracks on top of the previous 16, a lot of them the same, is just stupid.

John Lee Hooker - 16 Greatest Hits

Route 16 CD9004. 1988

I mean, it's alright and all, but it gets a bit samey.

Ok in small doses.

He Said Omala - Matching Crosses

World Domination Recordings WDM10095-2. 1998

Not nearly as good as I remember. Starts off a cross between Jimi Tenor and Barry Adamson, goes a bit mainstream and dull, peaks with the brilliant Troubled Mind (consisting mostly of a sample from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou), ending with a couple of electronic drone tracks, the last of which is pretty damn good.

Not much more to say really, other than I forgot to type up the last couple of Heads albums.

And my head hurts from all the wine.

The Heads - Under Sided

Sweet Nothing SNCD011. 2002

Relentless psychedelic sonic onslaught from Bristol's finest underrated acid freaks. Heavy as a bad trip, sweet as a good one.

I don't know where they find the energy, though Simon Price doesn't expend too much with his spoken vocals. Lazy, but they fit nicely.

I'm worn out.

The Hafler Trio and The Sons Of God - Resurrection

Touch TO:22. 1993

Might have been a bit more interesting to have been at the performance this was recorded at - 2 actors, 6 cookers, 6 baths. Where have all the Dada-ists gone?

After a slowish start it gets cracking and is a worthwhile listen, though don't bother to dust off the dancing pumps.

I saw Zbigniew Karkowski play in France a few years back, at a venue in Mulhouse. I'd been drinking wheat beer. The PA caught fire due to the extreme frequencies he was pumping through it at high volume. I'd not witnessed that before. Most amusing.

The Hafler Trio - Four Ways Of Saying Five

Soleilmoon KUT4. 1995

First track is a lengthy (48min) edit of lectures given in the Netherlands in the 80s, on the theories and writings of Robert Spridgeon. Though embelished with Hafler Trio drones and clickety-clacks, not exactly recreational listening. The subject matter is a bit too indepth to really grasp by listening, so I don't really see the point.

Second and final track is a montage of snippets of installation soundtracks and performances, and is easier (????) on the ear.

Difficult.

The Hafler Trio - Play The Hafler Trio

Staalplaat SPCD031. 1991

I've always had a lot of time for the work of Andrew McKenzie, though I'd stop short of the hero worship and labelling of 'genius' that some arseholes bestow all too lightly.

That was until he let myself and a colleague down badly by pulling out of a performance at the 11th hour, making us look shit and costing us a four-figure sum on non-refundable airfares, hotel bookings and publicity material. For no good reason. Twat.

This is THT in typical slow-building drone loop mode. No surprises, but very listenable.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven!

Kranky KRANK043. 2000

A great big dose of epic.

There's a few bits where it gets a bit dramatic (I prefer the slow building loveliness rather than the in-your-face onslaught bits), but on the whole jolly super.

I seem to remember they were good live.

Grandaddy - The Broken Down Comforter Collection

Big Cat ABB1005692. 1999

Comprising the Machines Are Not She and A Pretty Mess By This One Band eps.

I prefer early Grandaddy like this and ...Freeway. It can't be just me that thinks everything they've done in the last five years sounds like one long boring record.

Nothing much to say really. Sorry. Not in a writing mood. Too much to do. I'll stop now.

Girls Against Boys - **House of GVSB**

Touch and Go TG149CD. 1996

Better, but nothing really stands out. It's all a bit samey. Yawn.

Girls Against Boys - Nineties vs Eighties

Adult Swim AS3CD. 1990

First three are canny (side A of orig. 12"). 4-6 suffer from eighties-itis. Annoying crappy samples. Could be deliberate (hence the name?), but why spoil what could have been perfectly decent songs?