Evlkeith's Festive 50 - 40 to 31

Welcome back to the next instalment in my Festive 50. Tonight we'll go through 40 to 31. Let's crack on.

40. Cut Down All the Trees and Name the Streets After Them - The Fall of Troy -  Manipulator

Shame they’ve had their rough edges knocked off them, but this one’s not too bad. Still a bit too commercial for my liking.

39. These Are The Reasons - Angie Stone - The Art Of Love & War

One for all you soulful types out there. Great backing vocals and a nice bit of distorted guitar in the ending. Smooth.

38. Thinktank - Airiel - The Battle Of Sealand

Free download from Last.fm. Quite a catchy little number, this one. I’ve listened to snippets from the rest of the album and I can’t say that I’m that keen on getting it. I might have to give it a chance next year based on the strength of this song. A bit of shoegazing is always a treat. A full album? I’m not sure.

http://www.last.fm/music/Airiel/The+Battle+Of+Sealand

37. Resolutions - Entertainment For The Braindead - Entertainment for the braindead - Hydrophobia Ep

Free download from Last.fm. This reminds me of The Wicker Man. Very folky and it’s got some of the loudest fretboard squeaks you’ll ever hear. Supposedly just the work of Julia Kotowski from Cologne, Germany. She’s a bit like Phil Collins. With hair. And talent.

http://www.last.fm/music/Entertainment+For+The+Braindead/Entertainment+for+the+braindead+-+Hydrophobia+EP

36. Jubilee (Demo) - Warpaint - Demos

This one starts of quite relaxing with a simple guitar line and Bontempi drums. It doesn’t really intensify that much, but it is surprisingly enjoyable.

35. Things I Can’t Remember - Bit Funk - Love Scientific

Free download from Last.fm. Quite laid back and undemanding, this one. Enjoyable background music if ever I heard it.

http://www.last.fm/music/Bit+Funk/Love+Scientific

34. Lazarus - Muchy - Galenteria

Free download from Last.fm. Hailing from Poland, this one sounds like something that might have made the proper Festive 50 in 1985. Quite catchy, and there’s a jingle-jangle distorted guitar.

http://www.last.fm/music/Muchy/Galanteria

33. Die Electro Voice - The Low Frequency in Stereo - The Low Frequency in Stereo

Free download from Last.fm. An instrumental from Norway for a bit of a change, starts off quite gentle and builds to being, well... not quite so gentle. There’s even a touch of distortion in the guitars for a treat.

http://www.last.fm/music/The%2520Low%2520Frequency%2520in%2520Stereo/The%2520Low%2520Frequency%2520In%2520Stereo?ac=the%20low%20frequency%20in%20ster

32. Arise, Watch - Buffalo Tom - Skins

From their latest album and it’s more of the same really. The start contains some gorgeous chords. The demo version, contained on the album, is also pretty cool.

31. Inside A Boy - My Brightest Diamond - A Thousand Shark’s Teeth

From the Happy Shopper version of PJ Harvey comes the best track of an otherwise dirgesome album. At least it’s better than the real PJ Harvey track this year.

That's it for another evening's festivities. Hopefully, the tracks should be getting better (Doccortex normally thinks the opposite). See you tomorrow for numbers 30 to 21.

evlkeith

Evlkeith's Festive 50 - 50 to 41

Here's the first instalment in my Festive 50, inspired by John Peel's listener chart of the same name. It consists of my 50 favourite songs of the year. To qualify, I have to have listened to the track for the first time this year. It doesn't matter if it was released years ago. To keep things vaguely varied, I've only allowed myself one track from each album I've bought. The tracks are labelled with the track name, artist and finally, the album title. So here we go, and with great predictability let's kick off with number 50.

50. Let England Shake - PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

There is a rule of thumb that there is one good song on every PJ Harvey album. Only just on this one. The worst album she’s done with far too many repetitions of the word ‘England’. Total dirge.

49. Sombrero - Cheese People - Well Well Well

Free download from Last.fm. Cheese by name, cheesy by nature. Russian cheese at that. Enough said.



48. Summer Nights - Florrie - Introduction

Free download from Last.fm. Cheap and cheerful. That’s the best way to describe this one.

http://www.last.fm/music/Florrie/Introduction?ac=florrie

47. Fragments - Bob Holroyd - Afterglow

Minimalist and full of emotion. Strings always have that effect on me. One track like this is good, a whole album is pushing it.

46. Shine - Younger Brother - Vaccine

I still haven’t got over the disappointment I felt when I heard this album. I had to restrain myself from making this number 50 just out of spite. This track is okayish. At best. Easy listening at its worst.

45. Smile - Maya-Rose - Maya-Rose

Free download from Last.fm. Maya-Rose is a 16 year old from South Africa and this song has the dubious honour of being one of the only songs that I play at work that other people actually like. Some of her other stuff on Last.fm is very rough around the edges to say the least.

http://www.last.fm/music/Maya-Rose/Maya-Rose

44. Em Construção - Zander - Em Construção

Free download from Last.fm. Can’t find out much about these guys but they sound distinctly similar to Noção de Nada. Quite enjoyable in a not completely fantastic kind of way.

http://www.last.fm/music/Zander/Em+Construção

43. The Hand That Feeds (Black and Hollow Mix) - Halo33 - NIN Remixes

Free download from Last.fm. I’ve got a suspicion that I’ve heard another version of this before but I can’t remember where from. This mix is quite enjoyable. It’s been a while since I’ve listen to any NIN. I might have to investigate further next year...

http://www.last.fm/music/Halo33/NIN+Remixes

42. The Hill Of Thieves - Lament For Johnny - Cara Dillon - Live At The Grand Opera House

Doccortex had a Cara Dillon song as his number one a couple of years ago, so when I saw I could download this for free from the Society of Sound, I thought I’d give it a go (you have to buy some B&W speakers to get three free albums, so it’s not strictly free). I can’t say I’m massively keen but I like the ending to this one.

41. Dust Bowl Dance - Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

This album was lent to me and I can’t say that I was looking forward to it from the look of them on the front cover. Initial listenings proved me correct. I ranted for ages. But I gave it a chance and I actually started to quite like it. This one's the best because it builds throughout and I like the line about 'going out back and getting your gun'.

There you go then. That's the chaff over with. Join us again tomorrow for 40 to 31.

evlkeith

Mesh - An Alternative Solution LP 2011

A remixed version of Mesh's 2009 classic album 'A Perfect Solution' sounds like a mouth watering proposition especially when you've heard the Alien 6 Remix of 'Only Better' as featured as a classic track on Into the Valley...

Unfortunately all doesn't quite go to plan. All the remixes are decent enough, but admittedly are not up to the standard of Alien 6 version which is omitted for some reason. It's just that none of the remixing and noodle-doodling with the tracks actually improves or adds anything to them. A Perfect Solution was such a quality offering that I find myself wanting to listen to the original versions rather than the remixes.

There's really nothing to choose between the tracks with possibly 'Is it so hard?' causing least damage to the original. If you like Mesh, then this is an interesting collector's item, but in no way an essential purchase. If I were you, I'd stick with 'A Perfect Solution' and save your cash for one of the rarer and more expensive Mesh albums.

Sa Dingding - Harmony LP 2010

Chinese folk/electronic crossover diva Sa Dingding produced one of my favourite albums of the year in 'Harmony'. An engaging and distinctive global take on electronic music, but incorporating flashes beautiful Chinese instrumentation, possibly the guzheng or the matouqin, (look them up Chinese instrument fans.)

Largely sung in Chinese this collection is haunting, but at the same time harmonic and with a high degree of sing-a-long-ability even if, like me, you understand not a jot of Chinese. Her voice is smooth, crystal clear and you can imagine if she really went for it she could hit notes that only dogs can hear.

It's the kind of album that takes you on a journey into the heart of Mongolia or Tibet and back again. I particularly liked the whispered beauty of 'Yun Yun Nan Nan', the Asian party vibe of 'Xi Carnival' and the multi-layered traditionalism of 'Girl in a Green Dress'. Best of all is the breathless, anthemic genius of 'Hua' which combines cinematic and pop sensibilities in bite-sized chunk of World music perfection.

If you want something different yet accessible, with an intense Chinese flavour and catchy pop hooks, then click the Amazon link below and stick Sa Dingding on the car stereo.

Bob Dylan - The Times they are A-Changin' LP 1964

I guess there comes a time in everyone's life when you've got to listen to a Bob Dylan album. I was convinced of this by Simon Armitage in his book 'Gig', so I decided to give 'The Times they are A-Changin'" a go, for no other reason than I heard the title track on the opening of the Watchmen film. Who knows if this is the optimum entry level LP?

Initially it takes a bit of getting used to. His voice is the kind of nasally, whining, finger in the ear warbling that spoils an awful lot of folk music and the regular bursts of harmonica do not add anything to the music but irritation. After a few listens however, you can begin to understand what all the fuss is about.
The lyrics were probably shocking and too close to communism for comfort in 1960's USA and even today they are relevant, profound and sometimes funny. The fact that these songs were picked up and used as peace anthems says it all really. I quite like the sparse strumming of his understated guitar work and the atmosphere the whole album creates is of a cultural importance that pop music can only dream about these days.

I particularly liked 'Boots of Spanish Leather', 'With God on Our Side' but my favourite by a country mile is the melancholy slow burning 'Ballad of Hollis Brown'.

I'm glad I've dipped my toe in the Dylan ocean, but I'm doubtful that I'll return soon. I can hear his influence in so much of today's music and respect his contribution, but I suppose you just had to be there to understand fully. Armitage's book is well worth a read though!

Various - Logical Progression Level 2 1996

What is it?

This is is a 2-disc Drum ‘n’ Bass affair from a variety of artists: Disc 1 is mixed by Blame with vocals added by MC Conrad and DRS, Disc 2 is different tracks, unmixed with no added extras.

Why should you listen?

I had this in my Walkman (it was 1996) for a full year and I listened to it every day on my way to work. I still listen to it from time to time and it’s still great. One of my top albums of all time. 

What’s it like?

If you like a bit of Drum ‘n’ Bass, then you’ll probably enjoy this. I’m going to mainly review Disc 1, as Disc 2 isn’t that great (apart from the excellent ‘Atlantis (I Need You)’ by LTJ Bukem). On my iTunes ratings the highest any of the tracks get is 3/5, but I can’t say I ever just listen to any individual track. Listened to as a whole, the album shines. It all gets off to a good start with ‘Visions of Mars’ by Blame himself. You get a variety of styles in the middle - all tied together by a clean, melodic sound - that slowly builds to Blu Mar Ten’s ‘Global Access’. The drums and bass drop out leaving you with some swirly pads and my favourite vocal passage of the album. Everything then kicks back in with Blame’s ‘Cuban Lynx’. I can’t overstate the difference that the vocals make to this album, without them it would be distinctly average.

What’s the best track?

From the two discs it would have to be the aforementioned ‘Atlantis (I Need You)’. A premium quality hook at the start that disappears for vast swathes of time in the middle, before punching back in. If you’ve got the time though (roughly an hour), it would have to be the whole of Disc 1.

Who does it sound like?

Because this is by various artists, I’ll just list a few of the artists included: Odyssey, Artemis, Intense and Tayla.

evlkeith

Elliott Smith - From a Basement on a Hill LP 2004

I really liked Elliott's 2004 album 'Figure 8' and was hoping for more of the same from 'A Basement on a Hill', but for whatever reason I'm not as impressed. Don't get me wrong, there is some inspired song writing throughout, but there just seems to be a lack of a spark in this selection.

The guitar is fragile, the vocals are subdued and reedy and the production decidedly lo-fi, but that's basically the sound of Elliott Smith. The songs that have stuck in my brain in 'earworm' fashion are the haunting fragility of 'Twilight', the jangling 'Pretty (ugly before),  and more haunting fragility from 'Let's Get Lost'.

If you like Elliott Smith or you have a secret liking for hauntingly fragile indie-folk then this is the perfect CD for you. If you like anything harder than Belle and Sebastian then I'd look elsewhere.

Infected Mushroom Feat. Perry Farrell - Killing Time the Remixes 2010

Remix CD's are always hard work for me as it's like listening to the same track over and over again, and to be honest, this one is no different. But if you like all things Infected Mushroom then this is a tasty little stocking filler.

There's a range of mixes at a variety of bpm's with Paul Oakenfold's lush Perfecto style mix, John '00' Fleming's percussion based workout and a bonkers but brilliant Infected Trance mix; all decent enough offerings. I've got to say, I still prefer the original album mix though, even if  it's slower, chunkier and less trance based, I just like the singalongability of the vocal.

If you're new to the Mushroom's work, I'd buy the 'Legend of the Black Shawarma' LP instead of this if I were you.

The Do - A Mouthful LP 2008

This is a French/Finnish combo indie act producing something approaching a slightly quirkier and better version of the Cardigans. The vocals are the key, with Olivia Merilahti warbling, squawking and crooning in a Bjork-lite style, but with purpose and a sense of indie conventions. She's the star of the show and it's strange to think that so many other average female singers with little originality to offer are above her in the pecking order.

The songs are a varied bunch with the hypnotic 'On my Shoulders' the pick of the bunch, but honourable mentions need also go out to the chugging 'At Last', the haunting 'Song for Lovers' and the bonkers raptastic classic that is 'Queen Dot Kong'.

Apparently they're big in France, which is excellent news if you are French. Perhaps they should think of entering the X-Factor if they want to make it big in Britain. I'm sure with Louie Walsh as their mentor The Do would soon be playing to packed stadiums and selling CD's by the cartload, rather than taking centre stage at Into the Valley...

Incidentally, have you ever wondered what happens to X-Factor finalists when they go out of the show? Well, I witnessed last week's evictee Sophie Habibis at the Don Valley Stadium 'After Dark' firework display singing cover versions to a disinterested crowd of firework fans. One minute you're at those film premieres and the next you're in a seedy car park in Sheffield being outshone by a Catherine wheel and a couple of Roman candles. Be careful what you wish for.

Songlines - Top of the World 78 Compilation 2011

The weakest of the Top of the World CD's I've received with my annual subscription to Songlines magazine, but still a wholesome treat for World music fans.

The highlights are as follows;

Various Artists - Meadows of Dan; A jaunty little jig with sweet vocals and neat fiddling.

Sondorgo - Opa Cupa; evoking images of Taraf de Haidouks with female vocals.

Khyam Allami - Tawazon 1; chilled plucking of some Eastern stringed instrument in bewitching fashion.

The Wilders - This Old Town; strangely catchy and gets lodged in your brain. Alt-Country with decent lyrics and lovely atmosphere. (See quality live video below!)

JuJu - Nightwalk; A bouncing African rock-out with fiddles. Who could ask for more?

I'm not so keen on the guest picker's (Shlomo the beatboxer) selections, but the rest of the compilation is great. If you're into world music you seriously need a Songlines subscription - write to Santa now.