six from four

These six tracks were indeed all featured in John Peel's Festive Fifty in the early eighties, but I'm not doing this as a John Peel post per se, just fancied sharing some great music wih you, as it makes it from the vinyl to the iPod.

Is there such a thing as the best best-of ever? The Jam's Snap! must surely be a contender...

The Jam - 'Going Underground.' mp3

One of my many, many planned posts for the future is one Pete Wylie and the 7,000 faces of Wah!

Wah! Heat -'Better Scream.' mp3

It's odd to think that goth was once tagged 'positive punk' in NME, and that the tag was only applied to music (there were certainly gothic sounding music long before that, as far back as Mozart's Requiem, IMHO). So often it seems ot be used as a tag of insult or abuse, erroneously as far as I'm concerned. Certainly, many bands who came out of punk seemed to have a foot in the goth camp, to say nothing of a following.

The Damned's Machine Gun Etiquette is where they started to get gothic, and where this track comes from, though The Black Album was surprise, surprise, even more so...

The Damned -Love Song.' mp3

The curious-sounding 'Hong Kong Garden' with its' wonderful eastern overtones was a great debut single, even if the lyrics seem a little close to novelty at times.* But it was on their albums that the dark heart of this particularly gorgeous and mesmerising creature lurked, as shown on these tracks from The Scream and Join Hands. Then two years later there was Juju...

Siouxsie and the Banshees -'Switch.' mp3 (from The Scream)

Siouxsie and the Banshees -'Jigsaw feeling.' mp3

Siouxsie and the Banshees -'Icon.' mp3

Enjoy, folks...

xx


* Oh come on: 'Chicken Chou-mein and chop suey...Hong Kong Garden Takeaway.'

More Peel, Vicar?

Just a quick post today, before watching Doctor Who on Catch-up TV. Mrs. 17 Seconds is watching Britain's next Top Model and I am taking the opportunity to root around for stuff I still need to complete those Peel playlists. So with my emusic subscription renewed, why not share a few of the slightly more obscure tracks I've located?

Bongwater -'Nick Cave Dolls.' mp3 (1991 Festive Fifty no.50)

Buffalo Tom -'Tail Lights Fade.' mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty no.45)

Field Mice -'Missing the Moon.' mp3 (1991 Festive Fifty no.45)

Mercury Rev -'Car Wash Hair.' mp3 (1991 Festive Fifty no.49)

Therapy? -'Teethgrinder.' mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty no.33 )

Tuscadero -'Angel In A Half Shirt.' mp3 (1994 Festive Fifty no.49)

And as always, as I promised him I wouldn't put him out of business, check out Teenage Kicks for Steve's excellent insight into it all!

See you soon, Ed

Gig review: Jamie Lidell

Jamie Lidell, Edinburgh Liquid Rooms, April 26, 2008

Two days before the release of his new LP Jim, Jamie Lidell bought his show to Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms. In the space of less than an hour, this absolute genius and his band unveiled a show that demonstrates why it is time for the public to come forward and take him to their hearts.

As with Jim, the set started with 'Another Day.' It feels like the gentlest call of arms you will ever hear on vinyl. However, live with the help of his band the song is reinvented. Particularly with the aid of his saxophonist who appears to be playing two saxophones at once (and yes, I was stone cold sober). Though the album was two days from being officially released (how much currency does that phrase still have in this age of internet leaks?), it was interesting to see and hear how different it was from the album versions.

He is clearly hugely excited to be touring with a band, though a different set-up from that which he recorded Jim with, and it's clear just how much fun the band are having. Talking to him backstage a few hours earlier, though he was still shatered from the rpevious night's gig in Glasgow, and concerned about his voice, there was no mistaking how much enthusiasm he has for this current project.

Nor should it be assumed, though, that he has forgotten his background in electronic music. There is an 'electronic workout' (where the band take off into the crowd as Lidell is left onstage alone, sampling his own voice and turning the atmosphere from seventies soul revue into a contemporary club setting. Staggering and amazing moth in terms of watching and hearing.

Whilst the album is respectful in its doffing of an aesthetic cap to soul giants like Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes and most of all, Stevie Wonder, live with his band, Jamie Lidell clearly demonstartes the funk in a way reminiscent of Parliament-Funkadelic. Impressive for anyone (but has been commented to the point of boredom, as a Caucasian Englishman, this feat is something else. Especially given that he sounds nothing like Jamiroquai or Simply Red).

Encoring with a version of 'Multiply' the title track of his break-through LP from 2005, the song is much quicker than on record, and yet just as effective. Jamie Lidell is an astonishing musician and performer. This is certainly the best gig I have been to this year, and if this really is the last Triptych, the organisers were wise to book him.

*****

Jamie Lidell -'Another Day.' mp3

Jamie Lidell -'Wait For Me.' mp3

Keep it tuned to 17 Seconds

...not that I have figured out how to do podcasts yet...but I will

It's been a busy 48 hours here at 17 Seconds towers. Trying to work my way through all the music I've been sent to review (hence the three reviews yesterday). Interviewing Jamie Lidell (lovely gent) - which will hopefully appear here soon, along with the long-promised Amplifico and Rosie Taylor Project interviews. Going to Jamie Lidell's excellent gig at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh (review will also appear here soon). Involved with choir competition with Mrs. 17 Seconds and friends (we're through to the next round!) Trying to keep up with everything else that needs doing, including sleep. Oh, and preparing for school

So don't abandon me, I will be back very soon.

Oh, and I got sent this mp3 from One Little Indian records, Alabama 3 covering Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. Enjoy!

Alabama 3 -'Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover).' mp3

Doing It For the Kids

A few months ago I got an email from a reader called Sandy Fyfe, who was putting together a compilation of bands to raise money for the Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow. His daughter Tallie Isabelle (named after the two Go-Betweens albums Tallulah and Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express) was ill there and he wanted to raise money to help others. She is now on the road to recovery.

It's an impressive tracklisting of artists, including many favourites of 17 Seconds such as Ballboy, Wake The President (above), Ed Harcourt, De Rosa, Crash My Model Car...see this link for details of all 66 artists. There are a lot of scottish artists involved, so for those of my readers who like hearing about the scottish music scene, take a look.

For obvious reasons, I am not going to post music from it here (it's a charity CD) but you can download all 66 tracks here for £6.49

The myspace site is here

Yorkhill Children's Foundation

Album Review: Matthew Ryan

Matthew Ryan -'Vs. the Silver State.' (One Little Indian)

'Vs. The Silver State is one of those albums that takes a while to grow on you, but it's worth making the effort to pay attention to.

Having been sent this a couple of weeks ago, it's now had quite a few plays and I've enjoyed listening to it more and more. The band (also including Brian Bequette, Doug Lancio, and Steve Latanation) conceived it as a pure Rock n Roll record. What that what constitute is anyone's guess (as always, ask X people and you'll get X=1 answers!), but I think they succeeded.

In a way, this reminds me a little of Ryan Adams' Gold album from 2001. It's rock'n' roll, as understood by the Americans, who after all invented in the 1950s. It's rootsy, and I guess in the UK might even be understood as 'Americana' with country-ish influences. We don't look to this music for sonic innovation, but we do look to it for classic feaures. It's a good, solid record with old-fashioned quality songwriting. Final track 'Closing In' is perhaps the standout track, with it's beautiful, dreamy feel it makes a perfect coda to the album.

***1/2

Matthew Ryan's official website

Album Review: Alan Wilkis

Alan Wilkis -'Babies Dream Big' (Wilcassettes)

...in which the debate about what constitutes 'pop' and what constitutes 'indie' and 'electronica' gets ever more confused...

Alan Wilkis album, Babies Dream Big is the debut release from this Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist. Conceived and recorded mostly in his home studio over the course of a year, the album blends together the soul, R&B, classic rock, and electronic music of the 70’s and 80’s. On paper (and I'm quoting the above from his MySpace page) no doubt many 'indie kids' will be asking themselves: 'Is this cool? Am I allowed to like this?'

Well, more bloody fool you if you're having to ask yourself because this is a fantastic album. A whole array of influences that stretch from Van Halen to Johnny Cash, Hall and Oates to the hipper-than -thou electronica of Air, Aphex Twin and Boards Of Canada, this album is gorgeous. Like the soundtrack to a summer that we're still waiting for (perhaps fruitlessly, here in Scotland), this album has tunes, attitude, and a lot of fun. The joy of pop, the freewill of the honest music lover.

Why deny yourself the pleasure, of this infectious retro-pop? Surrender now.

****

Alan Wilkis -'Milk and Cookies.' mp3

Alan Wilkis' mySpace is here with more tunes.

Album Review: Jason McNiff

Jason McNiff -'In My Time' (Snowstorm)

Jason McNiff has been described as one of the UK's best-kept secrets-and I'm going to try and expose that secret. I was sent this CD a few weeks ago by his PR; I've played this several times and am absolutely loving it.

In My Time is a mixture of compilation of old stuff and new songs, and originally intended for release overseas but now released in the UK as well. Over the course of twelve songs and fifty minutes, he utterly wins you over with his songs, voice and guitar playing.

Born of Polish/Irish descent, he has released 3 albums on London-based independent labels. He follows in a line of troubadours from the British folk blues of people like Bert Jansch, Richard Thompson and Nick Drake to the great American singer songwriters like Bob Dylan, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Leonard Cohen. Listening to this compilation is to be utterly won over by his work.

McNiff has spent time travelling in Italy, which has hugely influenced songs on this album like 'Pilgrim Soul' 'Hills Of Rome' and a cover of the Italian folk song 'Bella Ciao.' This anti-fascist folk song was an anthem during the second world War, though he notes in his sleevenotes to the album that it has earlier origins as a work song of the rice pickers of northern Italy. Consider it a cousin of Leonard Cohen recording of 'The Partisan.' I learned 'Bella Ciao' from teaching English to Italian students; he learned it from touring with the Modena City Ramblers. As for the gorgeous 'Woody's Annie Hall' and 'Pilgrim Soul' these songs should be considered classics.

Listening to this album also encouraged me to look through the vinyl, and pick ut Michelle Shocked's classic debut The Texas Campfire Tapes. In his sleevenotes to that album in 1986, Pete Lawrence -the man who held the tape recorder- speaks of meeting a young woman who's spending a lot of time travelling, who has' a gift with words and a turn of phrase unmatched since early Dylan.' In 2008, I feel this applied just as equally to Jason McNiff.

It is time for Jason McNiff to be picked up by the British public and for the critical acclaim to translate into sales and recognition.

*****

Jason McNiff -'Woody's Annie Hall.' mp3

Jason McNiff -'Pilgrim Soul.' mp3

As a bonus, this is from his website, is not on the album but I thought you should hear it anyway:

Jason McNiff -'Nobody's Son.' mp3

Jason McNiff website/Jason McNiff MySpace

Peel Slowly and see...part 2

A mixed bag of stuff today, from eMusic, the record collection AND wondeful readers.

This was from 1992, the year when the Weddoes made twelve chart appearances in the UK. (That's the official Top 40, not just the Festive Fifty)

Wedding Present -'Sticky.' mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty no.41)

As I continue with my massive task of collecting all the Festive Fifty stuff, I inevitably come across those bands I'd heard of but not heard. Until now...

Transglobal Underground -'Sirius B.' mp3 (1993 Festive Fifty no.49)

Transglobal Underground -'Taal Zaman.' mp3 (1994 Festive Fifty no.50)

yesterday I asked if anyone had it...within a very short space of time two readers pointed me in the direction of this track. Thank you!

Pavement -'Circa 1762 (Peel session).' mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty no.42)

And from one of the debut LPs of the decade (Slanted and Enchanted), a band like many other people I first heard courtesy of John Peel:

Pavement -'Here.' mp3 (1992 Festive Fifty no.10)

There is more coming. Much more. Watch this space. Tell your friends etc..

A Peel-related rummage

A very quick post tonight, but three tracks I have copied from the vinyl to the iPod for my listening pleasure, which I thought I would share:

Cocteau Twins -'From The Flagstones.' mp3 (1983 festive Fifty no.16)

Cocteau Twins -'Peppermint Pig.' mp3 (1983 Festive Fifty no.28)

Pavement -'Summer Babe (Winter Version).' mp3 (1991 Festive Fifty no.34, 1992 Festive Fifty no.37)

Oh, does anyone have a Pavement track called 1762? please let me know if you do!

Album Review: Jesse Malin

Jesse Malin -'On Your Sleeve.' (One Little Indian)

Oh dear God. Listening to this album from start to finish has seemed like a waste of an evening.

I should be honest: I don't have a problem with covers albums per se, and as someone who posts a fair amount of covers nor should I. Hell, I even like Siouxsie and the Banshees' Through The Looking Glass album.

There isn't anything wrong with Malin's voice which is pleasant enough, aiming as it does for Ryan Adams but sounding like the poor man's David Gray. The songs he has selected here include utter classics that I enjoy in their original form, though if you are going to cover the likes of Lou Reed's 'Walk On the Wildside', The Clash's 'Gates Of the West,' and Paul Simon's 'Me and Julio Down By the School Yard' you need to do them justice, and you need to rework them. Instead, the end result feels bland and unexciting.

This album would be fine if he were playing live in a bar performing covers, where you'd probably sing along and think how great he was. But as an artist who's already released several albums, this feels like an utter waste of time.

**

Jesse Malin's website

Presenting...Dom DeLuca

More amazing music which turned up in my inbox.

A couple of days ago I got a second email from Dom DeLuca. I had received an email from him a little while ago, which had joined the pile of stuff to be reviewed (a slight case of 'be careful what you wish for,' I think. I used to dream of getting sent stuff, now it seems every day another CD, CD-R or mp3 turns up and it takes me ages to deal with it). His second email spurred me into action, and i'm glad i did, because I think these three tracks are absolutely gorgeous.

Dom DeLuca seems to be filed under folk. He is based in Toronto, Canada and his album is available on iTunes and emusic in the UK, though I couldn't find a listing at Amazon.

See what you make of these...

Dom DeLuca -'Birds Of Worry.' mp3

Dom DeLuca -'It's A Sad, Sad Day.' mp3

Dom DeLuca -'Toronto.' mp3

Make friends with Dom at Myspace then buy the album if you like these.

Ed

The Sisters Of Mercy

Continuing with ripping stuff from the vinyl to complete those Peel playlists. The first two made the Festive Fifty in 1983.

Many thanks to Bynar who provided the second two tracks here.

The Sisters Of Mercy -'Alice.' mp3

The Sisters Of Mercy -'Temple Of Love.' mp3

The Sisters of Mercy - 'Jolene.' mp3 (Dolly Parton cover)

The Sisters of Mercy -Emma(1984 Peel session).' mp3 (Hot Chocolate cover)

Will post a wants list soon...

Edx

Presenting...Santogold

There is a real buzz building about Santi White, better known as Santogold, and it's utterly, utterly deserved.

Tracks are starting to zoom around the net, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of her album. According to her MySpace:

" Santogold is a survivor of a half-century worth of living along musical evolution’s most cutting edges. The only live act that can boast of having out-aged Barbara Bush, having outlived Mr. Miyagi and out-styled Liberace, Santogold is here with future flavor.

Already receiving weighty club rotation and airplay in urban Afghanistan and downtown Beirut, Santogold is the first act of the century to boast a post-war following on the International Space Station Mir. Following a live performance broadcast from three thousand miles off the Cape of Good Hope last June, inmates at Leavenworth Penitentiary received Santogold with a celebratory confetti parade. Just another first for the modern super group that knows no bound."

Whether this is exaggerated or not (read the above again and make your own mind up), not only does it make great copy, but her songs are just fantastic. As cool as Kelis, sassy as Beyonce, as innovative as M.I.A, (all favourites round this blog)?

You better believe it.

Santogold -'L.E.S. Artistes.' mp3

Santogold -'My Superman.' mp3

Santogold's debut album will be released in the UK on May 12 (lucky Americans get it two weeks previously). On this evidence, it will be taking up permanent residence in a stereo or mp3 player near you shortly thereafter.

...and finally

I've done four posts here today. Still, I did say I was going to try and catch up with everything.

Amongst the pleas I have made for stuff have been a couple of cover versions by the Sisters of Mercy (singer Andrew Eldritch above) of things I had heard over the years, so many thanks to both Simon and Bynar who sent me this:

The Sisters Of Mercy -'He's Got The Whole World In His Hands.' mp3

Bless you all...

Presenting...Red Light Company

Red Light Company are a five piece act from London. Their three track demo arrived in my inbox today, and as a break from marking (and posting yet more old stuff here) I gave it a listen.

And then I played one of the songs again.

Look, I know the Arcade Fire are kinda becoming a sacred cow that bloggers love (and I do like them, it's just that bloggers seem to keep going on about them)...but I really do reckon these guys might be the British answer.

Melodies that worm your way into your brain after only a listen, more atmosphere than bands have had for years...and 'With Lights Out' is soon to be a single.

I can't say you heard them here first, 'cos that wouldn't be true...

Red Light Company -'With Lights Out.' mp3

and give these demos a listen:

Red Light Company demos (zip file).

Red Light Company Myspace

Still Keeping It Peel

Bizarre confession time...

Like many bloggers (and indeed many non-bloggers), I own an iPod. And like many iPod owning folks, the concept of the Playlist on it has replaced the idea of making compilation tapes for yourself. Face it, takes less time, can be changed, not constrained by the time limitations, though 'Nanny In Manhattan' by the Lilys was a song that completed many side ones of C90s because it was very short.

No, the confession is that I'm currently in the process of assembling Playlists for all of John Peel's Festive Fifties from 1976 to 2004.

Hell, I never said I was cool. But I'm not the only the devotee of Peel out there. It's time consuming, but fun listening back to it all, as they gradually grow.

Much of it I have on CD and therefore on the iPod. But I'm now utilising the wedding gift of the USB turntable that Mrs. 17 Seconds and I got last year to start filling some of those gaps. Quite a few don't seem to be on either iTunes or emusic either...

...So why not share some of those songs with you?

Their debut single from 1985, and the first of many entries they would have, from one of the years the festive Fifty was more than fifty songs long.

That Petrol Emotion -'Keen.' mp3(1985 Festive Fifty no.70)

Question for people with too much time on their hands; In the 1984 Festive Fifty, two three track singles had all of their tracks in the Festive Fift. One was the Cocteau Twins 'The Spangle Maker' -most famous track 'Pearly Dewdrops' drops (and I'm posting the other two tracks here)....but what was the other?

Cocteau Twins -'The Spangle Maker.' mp3 (1984 Festive Fifty no.4)

Cocteau Twins -'Pepper-tree.' mp3 (1984 Festive Fifty no.49)

Finally, the Soup Dragons, like a fair few other bands, had entries in the Festive Fifty only when they weren't commercially successive. IMHO, this is a hundred times better than their cover of 'I'm Free.'

Soup Dragons -'Hang Ten!' (1986 Festive Fifty no.17)

Finally, if you need more Festive Fifty fixes, try Fades In Slowly and Teenage Kicks

Oh, and to anyone who's sent me music and wonders why I haven't commented on it...please hold on, I'll get there in time!

Album Review: Box Social

Box Social -'Get Going' (No Karma).

Although this album was released in September last year, it's profile seems to have been quite low so far. I was sent a couple of mp3s a month or so ago which I liked, posted and have now been sent the entire album to review.

Having played this several times and considered it, I have to conclude that it's fun, if not lifechanging. 'Big T,' one of the mp3s I previously posted, is probably the standout track. In some ways, the Box Social are rather like an old-fashioned rock band, to these ears it's more reminiscent of say Weezer or Vampire Weekend (if the latter had spent more time listening to emo-type stuff rather than Paul Simon's Graceland). Whether or not the band are 'emo' or not is a question that you might be better asking a fourteen year old than a thirty one year old... but you get my drift. Songs to sing along with, punch the air to, rather than listening to when in despair.

On positive reflection, though, it's a summery kind of indie rock album, and could yet prove itself to be a sleeper hit.

***1/2

The Box Social -'Big T.'

An undiscovered scots' treasure

The lady in the photo above is one Frances McKee, perhaps best known to a genration of indie fans as the lady who was in the Vaselines (Kurt Cobain's favourite band etc..etc..).

Having posted on the Vaselines a couple of weeks back, I thought I'd post a couple of songs by her band from the early part of the decade, Suckle. These two tracks appeared on compilations on the seminal Chemikal Underground label, which may well be your best place of sourcing them to buy, gievn that they are not on either iTunes or emusic in the UK.

By the way, I knew Kurt Cobain loved their music, but I hadn't realised that his and Courtney Love's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was named after her.

Suckle - 'To Be King.' mp3

Suckle -'Saturn.' mp3

Frances McKee's Myspace

Some Covers For Saturday Part VI

Just as it says on the tin...

Was never into boy bands of the nineties, just represented everything I couldn't stand then or now...so what was it about this tune?

Wedding Present - Back For Good.' mp3 (Take That cover, obviously)

The Breeders cover of The Who's So Sad About Us may well have been a dig at the fact that the Pixies (this was 1992) were about to call it a day for a decade, as it were.

The Breeders -'So Sad About Us.' mp3 (The Who cover)

I'm not sure where I picked up this mp3, but it's a Pavement song done by Cat Power. Hooray!

Cat Power -'We Dance.' mp3(Pavement cover)

The Pet Shop Boys are geniuses. Carter USM knew this too:

Carter USM -'Rent.' mp3 (Pet Shop Boys cover)

Is the original artist or the cover the guiltier pleasure here? Discuss...Oh, and if anyone can send me the cover of Hot Chocolate's Emma done by The Sisters Of Mercy (yes, you DID read that correctly), the address is on the top right hand side of this blog).

Cud -'You Sexy Thing.' mp3 (Hot Chocolate cover)

And finally, something completely different...

Grace Jones -'La Vie En Rose.' mp3 (Edith Piaf cover) (and yes, that's Grace Jones at the top)

See you tomorrow...

UPDATE: thanks to all the readers who sent me the Sisters of Mercy's cover of Emma, especially Craig who sent it to be three times. Here it is:

Sisters Of Mercy -'Emma.' mp3(Hot Chocolate cover)

...and in the unlikely event that anyone can help with sourcing a copy of the Sisters of Mercy playing 'He's Got the Whole World In His Hands' (someone I knew had this years ago on a cassette, supposedly from the 1987 Glastonbury festival but I could have misunderstood that) please let me know.