No Tall Order

One of the highlights of the fabulous Nuits Botanique bill this year is the presence on May 20th of Kristian Matsson, the man hiding behind the pseudo The Tallest Man on Earth.
This Swedish singer-songwriter is responsible for 2 good albums: Shallow Grave in 2007 and The Whild Hunt this year. It won't be his first show at the Bota, a venue that loves seeing its artist grow.

Matsson went through Jools Holland's studio and recorded this lovely Dylan-esque version of "Loving All"




So will I see you on the 20th? come ooon

A baby's breath before the Apocalypse.

Another old favourite of mine is coming back to the fore: Bill Callahan, aka Smog.

Next week, he'll release 'Apocalypse', his 4th album under his own name, after 11 outputs as Smog.

Last week, he gave us a taste of things to come with a wonderful single 'Baby's Breath'

The lyrics are so precise and utterly moving, his dead pan delivery giving them even more strength. I've always found intriguing how his dispassionate voice can be so potent and emotional. If the rest of the album is a good as Baby's Breath, we're in for a treat ladies and gentlemen.

If you're not familiar with Callahan's music, I would recommend Red Apple Falls, his Smog album from 1997. It's the same deep voice, lo-fi music, slightly cerebral approach to the singer-songwriter job as today, but maybe more naive.

ATTENTION: Bill Callahan will be present at the Nuits Botanique this year, on May 17th @ Théâtre 140 !

Demons creeping me up with pleasure

Looking a the list of upcoming concerts in Brussels, one might feel overwhelmed with so many (on paper) fabulous gigs to go to. One I don't want to miss is Timber Timber on 22nd of April at the AB

The Canadians's untitled first album was haunted, melodic, beautiful and Taylor Kirk has a voice and delivery so particular that you recognise him instantly. They sing dark tales lit by candlelight, ghostly stories of human feelings. They will release a new album early April, it will bear the title of 'Creep on Creepin'on' a title that suggests a continued musical voyage in troubled waters. And that my friends, is good news indeed!

Here's an old stripped down version of "Until The Night is Over" for NPR

and their superb first single Demon Host

This should whet your appetites for the couple of weeks that separate us from the release of Creep on Creeping On.

Now I'd better get my tickets for the gig or I'll cry tears of blood...

Alex Turner, naked and submarine

I do like the Arctic Monkeys, I'm yearning for a new Last Shadow Puppets album and yes, I do rate Alex Turner as a brilliant lyricist. His voice has also morphed over the past few years, the lad has now the confidence to play with it a bit more, I'm sure he'll surprise us with his range in the future.

This week, the Monkeys have announced a new album for June and 5 songs by Turner as a solo artist have turned up on youtube. This EP will serve as soundtracks for a film called Submarine.

It's absolutely stunning in simplicity: voice + acoustic guitar

If like me you're hungover today, this will soothe you and make you feel better, I promise!

At the moment we are being force-fed so many female songstress, whether they have talent or not, it's ironic to find musical solace in the male voices of old favourites and new ones too.

Thank you gents!

Oh Mark...I'm burning!

So, after his usual collaborations Mark Lanegan has gone back in a studio to record solo material. Happy news indeed! The first taste of his upcoming album is Burning Jacob's Lader, a track used on a video game' soundtrack which is why we can download this great desert rock piece for FREE. Yup! and I have the link for you.

or you can just listen now:

I'm really excited to hear Lanegan in such fine rock form. I will always remember the first time I heard his voice, on a tape in the train between Saint-Ghislain and Mons.

I had read an article in the magazine Actuel (RIP) about a musical genre called grunge that would soon reach Europe and they mentioned a few bands like Mudhoney and Screaming Trees. I loved the description of their music and decided Screaming Trees would be my favourite band. It even got me an introduction to the cool music gang at school, they were impressed I knew and loved such a fine band. So I went to the Mediathèque, found 2 albums and prayed for the music to be good. I recorded the albums on a tape and bravely pressed Play on my walkman in the train.

I sat there shivering and short of breath, I had instantly fallen in love with Lanegan's voice. Today, some 20 years later I still get the same butterflies in my tummy when I hear him sing songs as good as that Burning Jacob's Ladder.

I can't wait to hear the full album and see him play live again.I hope he takes better care of himself than in the past because we need more good music from the man.

Have a good weekend!

After the storm...

OK, I've calmed down and the best way to feel better after a disappointment is cuddle music.

For that, I give you Summer Fiction with "Throw Your Arms Around Me", told you it was cuddle music...

The video is cleverly made from cuts of 'Vivre Pour Vivre' a French film from 1967 and soooo deliciously vintage, right up my street ;-)

So Summer Fiction then, it's a band from Philadelphia led by singer/songwriter Bill Ricchini, it does indeed echo 60s folk pop with more than a hint of Elliott Smith.

It's just very pretty music and there is nothing wrong with pretty, I like pretty! This song makes me want to snuggle up in the arms of my loved one.

If you're curious and want to listen to more music, the full self titled album is streaming on the band's website

Happy cuddles, kids

The end of the affair?

Oh Polly what have you become?

A few months ago I wrote you a love letter on this blog, but like many other relationships our was not to last. We stayed together for 19 years, not bad all things considered.

Yesterday you played Le Cirque Royal for the second night in a row. It was rubbish. Yes you can still sing, yes the sound was good and the band tight but where has the feeling gone? The fire? The personality?

Wearing a silly hat and costume, playing a ridiculous autoharp and singing like a demented child do not make you original or entertaining. It makes us sad however.

A few old tracks thrown at us like bread at pigeons did not blind me enough to think I had a great night.

If you choose not to speak to your adoring public, at least make some sort of effort to fill the gaps...the silence between the tracks made you look like you don't care so enthralled are you with yourself. It smacked of musical masturbation and you forgot the first rule entertainment: yup you're doing all of this for your AUDIENCE and even if some saw you live for the first time, I'm sure the memory won't last long on the collective memories.

Yet I have many memories that I will cherish and I will forever keep your 4 albums from the 90s close to my heart and my ears. When you were a woman consumed by her emotions, it's what's always seduced me about your music and it's what's lacking so much today.

Gone are the songs written with your heart and tripes, in favor of more intellectual musings.

These are not for me.

One last comment about last night's gig: you also seem to have forgotten what a wonderful vocal range you possess, favoring that nasal high pitch that actually hurts the ears.

Talking of ears, a musician such as you must hear the difference between your previous work and its passion and the dull, steril sound of your recent outputs. Don't be too proud Polly, everybody's allowed to be wrong, just come back stronger soon, please.

I wish you all the best and thanks for the past 19 years.

with love,

Sophie.

PS: if you ever come back, I'll welcome you with open arms....you remember this?

Another Day Full of Dread

This live version of the classic Bonnie 'Prince' Billy track has recently surfaced on Youtube. It's taken from an Aussie TV show back in 1999, and is therefore quite a rare treat.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure

Have a good weekend!