7th - 27th October - Acquisitions #6

So, after three weeks, here I am back with my weekly thoughts on the music I’ve listened to/purchased. What can I say, I wasn’t in the mood for writing, but I’m (nearly) over it now, so, proverbial pen on virtual paper, here goes. This includes, Prefab Sprout vs. Tindersticks, Van Morrison ‘Moondance – Expanded’, a Tears for Fears deluxe edition, a Matthew E White special edition and another HMV 4 for a tenner deal, involving, Ian McCulloch, Massive Attack, Olympic Closing Ceremony compilation and a Talk Talk tribute thingy. And a diversion in Nicole Atkins.

So, from the top, two bands (well, one band and one “band”) revisiting their past in different ways. Firstly Prefab Sprout with ‘Crimson/Red’, in essence a Paddy McAloon solo record (written/performed/produced…) in the style of his bands heyday, a self serve Stars In Their Eyes. And for the record, it works. Ok,  so it’s not up there with the classic Sprout albums but it is (in places) a mere heartbeat away. I do hope Paddy can keep his shit together and stay healthy and bless us with more songs soon because this is a welcome return to a sound of quality from the past.

Tindersticks on the other hand revisit their past in a more literal sense, revisiting songs from their 20 year history that they feel that they can perform better now with the benefit of age, wisdom and experience. Recorded at Abbey Road it’s a strange one, some album tracks get the treatment, some songs from Stuart Staples tentative solo projects and most definetley not a best of. However, a Tindersticks at Abbey Road album was never gonna be a failure, and though some songs are barely different at all from the originals the band have crafted yet another fine album. Standout for me is the cover of Odysseys disco ballad ‘If You’re Looking For A Way Out’, originally from 1999’s fourth album ‘Simple Pleasures’, here sounding even more soulful, plush and heartfelt than ever.

What can you say about Van Morrison’s ‘Moodance’? By far my most favourite Van the Man album, this is a standard deluxe re-issue, a subtle re-mastering that does improve the long available standard CD edition, and a bonus disc of alternate takes and out-takes. I went for the two disc version with an 11 track 2^nd disc. I found it really interesting to hear the works in progress and unreleased songs, and I have, ahem, ‘acquired’ the two extra discs from the mega expensive version with even more alternate takes. But what you really need to know, if you don’t already, is that ‘Moondance’ is a nearly unparalleled work of exquisite genius. The man himself, Van, may be aghast at this re-issue but as a fan I love it. Sorry Van. The Man.

The Tears for Fears Deluxe reissue of debut album ‘The Hurting’ fell into my hands more by accident than design. It was there in the store, fairly reasonably priced, I was pissed off and needed something and the money was in my pocket. I’m glad I bought it. The album sounds better than ever, a very decent re-mastering job, the music really leaps out at you. Early versions, b-sides and extended versions are all swooped up on the 2^nd disc, including a long time fave of mine, the extended mix of the hit version of ‘Pale Shelter’. I’m well pleased I picked this up, this a great album; I now prefer it to ‘Songs From The Big Chair’.

Matthew E White hasn’t waited long to make critics fave ‘Big Inner’ available as a special edition, following on 9 months after its original UK release in January. No remixes or alternative versions though, simply 5 new tracks on a 2^nd CD (‘Outer Face’). This is a critic’s fave in much the same way Josh T Pearson was a couple of years back. This isn’t gonna spawn any worldwide hits, but it’s smooth, well produced and recorded, an intriguing listen. It’s kind of old school soul but it has an alternative slant, quite low key in fact. It kind of demands you sit down and listen to it, it’s not driving or background stuff, you gotta pay attention. I feel quite pleased I didn’t buy it upon release as now I have the extra stuff without having to buy the main album again. Record companies really should stop fleecing fans, no wonder people do dodgy downloads.

I also managed to find another 4 albums in HMV’s 4 for a tenner bargain bucket. Ian McCulloch’s ‘Slideling’ is his third solo album and first after re-starting Echo & The Bunnymen. The version I picked up was the recent Edsel re-issue. It’s not very good. It’s very bad either, just too safe and uninspiring. To think that the guy who wrote the words to ‘The Cutter’ or ‘The Back Of Love’ etc could end up writing this stuff is just a little sad, but that’s the way it goes, we all get older and mellow out, don’t we? Massive Attack’s ‘Blue Lines’, their debut from 1991 was given a remix/re-master work out in 2012 and this is the version I picked up. It was, still is and will always be a great album. The new version doesn’t depart radically (it’s more of a re-master, less of a remix) from the original though does sound a little less of its time, well worth the £2.50 I effectively paid for it. The ‘A Symphony of British Music – Music for the Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony’ double CD is notable for some new versions of established acts great tracks. Elbow’s ‘Open Arms’ and ‘One Day Like This’ sound great here, I even like Russell Brands take on ‘Pure Imagination/I Am The Walrus’ but the Who’s new version of ‘My Generation’ is excrement. Worth it for the good stuff though. Finally the Talk Talk tribute album is a real mixed bag. Nothing I’ve listened to on it yet was terrible, some of it even pretty good. Not many well known names though, but again, at £2.50 worth a punt.

I’ve also had a relisten to the two Nicole Atkins albums so far released. Bloody great they are too. If you’ve not heard her, check them out. Great vocalist and great songs. This led me to hunt down anything else she may have sung but not put on an official album. This includes ‘Daytrotter’ session versions, EP tracks, songs given to tribute albums, and guest appearances. This resulted in a home produced CD of this stuff. Here’s what I made.

Next week, Arcade Fire’s new album, a live Laura Marling EP and who knows what else?

30th September – 6th October – Acquisitions #5

I only received a couple of low key new releases this week, Agnes Obel’s 2^nd LP ‘Aventine’ and a John Harle CD, ‘Art Music’ that I only purchased because it featured vocals on two tracks by Marc Almond. My week musically got beefed up by a Monday visit to HMV in Basildon where I picked up in their 4 for £10 deal, The Clash ‘Cut The Crap’, The Futureheads ‘Chaos’, The Velvet Underground & Nico “Andy Warhol” 2012 2CD re-issue and a 6 disc Motörhead ‘Classic Album Selection’; that’s 6 Motörhead albums on CD for £2.50! More of that later…. Also as a bonus a quick splash of Kylie Minogue sings Prefab Sprout.

Agnes Obel’s 2010 album ‘Philharmonics’ was a low key discovery that grew on me well over time. I only really investigated it because of the striking portrait of Agnes on the cover, and probably that her name was Agnes too, it sounded like an unlikely name for a recording artist, even a Danish one. So I awaited her second release, ‘Aventine’ with surprising expectation. Unfortunately after a couple of listens I find it a mild disappointment. She is described as a folk/classical artist, and both albums have a delicacy that sets her apart from the rock or indie scene. This album is more instrumental than its predecessor and bearing in mind how the debut LP grew on me I feel confident that I’m gonna end up liking this more over time. Maybe because it’s her second I feel there’s less originality about this set, I can hear some Björk and Tori Amos in particular in there, the first album brought no-one else to mind. If you like a bit of quirky, delicate, quiet and sophisticated stuff at times though I’d urge you to investigate, there’s very little else like this out there.

My only other new release purchase of the week was a John Harle CD called ‘Art Music’, a set of music inspired by the paintings of Lucian Freud, David Hockney, Francis Bacon, John O’Connor and John Craxton. It was Marc Almond’s involvement on two of these recordings that tweaked my interest. Marc’s ‘songs’ are based on Hockney’s ‘3 January’ and ’30 March’ with words taken from or inspired by William Blake. If you’re thinking somewhat sarcastically, ‘sounds like a laugh’ then you’d not be wrong. However it’s decent sober and sombre stuff, a bit loftier in concept than my average purchase, but I is well educated. For an Essex boy, innit.

 

And so onto my bargains of the week from HMV, 10 discs for £10! I’ve mentioned the Clash a bit in recent weeks. Not having ‘Cut The Crap’ on CD the chance to get it for £2.50 could not be passed up. I’ve not listened to this album since its release, so on a nice drive to Southgate & on it went…and, though still awful it was not as bad as I remembered it being. There is some variation musically and the constant terrace style chanting backing vocals at least try to summon up the ghost of Mick Jones recently departed at the time the album was made. To be clear, another nearly 30 years could easily pass before I listen to it again, but if you consider it more of a debut Strummer solo album (as such it probably would’ve been greeted with much less negativity) then at least it can lose its skid mark on a career tag.

The Futureheads ‘Chaos’, their 2010 4^th album is pretty much the same album as the preceding three. I saw them supporting the Pixies at the Alexandra Palace in support of their debut album in the mid noughties. Their career feels like a bit of a wasted opportunity, but if truth be told ‘Chaos’ is sharp, well formed and very listenable, even it does reference Orville the duck (it doesn’t, IT DOES). The Velvet Underground and Nico’s self/untitled (or ‘Warhol/Banana’) LP is well known by any rock music fan of inquisitive nature. This 2012 deluxe issue sounds great but the bonus tracks add little to the legend. However, for £2.50, I’ll have some of that.

 

And so onto Motörhead’s early career. The ‘Classic Album Selection’, 41.6p per disc, is a trawl through Lemmyworld and beyond. Their classic 2^nd – 6^th albums and 1981’s ‘No Sleep Til’ Hammersmith’ (their first 6 of 7 for Bronze) are included here, and I’ve listened to the lot, this week. So, Lemmy’s mantra for life appears to be – sleep with as many chicks as possible. If possible, don’t ask them their names. If you can get two chicks in bed at the same time, even better (no guide as to whether or not you ask for names). If the chicks happen to be in their teens even more betterer (Motörhead seem to be decent upstanding chaps, so I presume they mean over 16, legal, late teens chicks). Also, gamble, drink heavily, and be an individual that is at odds with the normal world. And have a job in a road crew if you can. Having said that though, Motörhead’s classics are classic. ‘Overkill’ is like the Damned on speed and doesn’t know when to stop, surviving two false finishes. ‘Bomber’ is a bomber, ‘Ace Of Spades’ needs no introduction; I’ll think I’ll watch that Lemmy DVD that’s sat idle on my shelf for a couple of years now.

And so finally Kylie sings Prefab Sprout. Not sure how this eluded me all these years. Recorded in a part of her career when no-one really paid that much attention ‘If You Don’t Love Me’ was one the Sprouts most commercial moments, appearing on their first 'Best Of' as a new track. Kylie makes it a ballad in the vein of last year’s ‘Abbey Road’ recordings, eventually resurrecting the song on the Aphrodite tour. It’s a Prefab Sprout classic, not a Kylie classic, but I need no excuse to listen to either.

And talking of Prefab Sprout, next week ‘Crimson/Red’ is out. The 10^th official Sprout album, magazine reviews have been great, and what I’ve heard suggests this to be true. So fingers crossed, a classic should be landing on my doormat on Monday. I’ll let you know next week.