Sunday 24 February 2013

Sparklehorse - Sick Of Goodbyes

I think I put a Sparklehorse 7" up a while back and it got taken down, although it might have been a Rapidshare file which just expired. Well, hopefully it was the second, so this will be around for you to enjoy. If not, get in quick!

The single has one of my favourite introductions, and it's a superb song all round. 'Happy Place' is a nice quiet one, with that classic Sparklehorse drum sound. It's a really, really good song, and would have fitted perfectly on an album. Isn't that the sign of a great band/songwriter?

Second b-side is a full version of that one on the LP which kind of cuts in and out. Killer. Love it. And it's off Radio One back in the day, which will mean something to someone. Maybe only me.

1. Sick Of Goodbyes
2. Happy Place
3. Happy Pig (BBC Radio One Evening Session)

H'yar.

Wednesday 13 February 2013

The Wedding Present - Radio 1 Sessions CDS

Not strictly a single, I guess, but it's by a great band, and it has four tracks on a CD. Good enough for me.

Three Gedge tracks, and a Gang Of Four cover, and in proper collectors' style the CD comes with very precise details of original broadcast (although, strangely, not which show the session was for. Peel?)

Recorded 20th April 1986, broadcast 15th May 1986. And here's to Barry Andrews and Ted De Bono, who produced and engineered this session. Hope they're still doing it!

Nice choice of songs on this, which I'm sure you know. And the cover's great! If you don't know them then this is a good introduction to the band, the early stuff at least. Then try Cinerema. And they're back together, so you can go and watch them too.

1. Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft!
2. Shatner
3. My Favourite Dress
4. I Found That Essence Rare

Here.

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Tricky - Tricky Kid


So, eventually, I'm back. Sorry for the delay. Also moved over to Zippyshare, which seems like good timing considering Mediafire have sent me my first 'Strike' today (which also includes a big thanks for using their service. Sweet.)

Tricky's from Bristol, as am I. Admittedly he's from an estate that no-one wants to go to, and they periodically cut bus services because they get attacked, while I'm from a quiet, white, middle-class neighbourhood. But it's the same town. We Bristolians stick together.

This track's off the second Tricky album, 'Pre-Millenium Tension', which is, I think, as good as the first LP. It's quite different, and not as commercial as 'Maxinquaye', but really very, very good. This is, to be honest, a mental choice for a single. Great, but really nuts.

First b-side is good, really chilled in comparison to the single. Possibly a little repetetive. The second b-side is great, really reverb-y live sound. This could have been an album track, easy.

The live version of 'Suffocated Love' (off Joolz Holland's show) is brilliant. Really, really good. This is a find. Properly A Find. Completely different to the LP version. I won't tell you why. Listen.

1. Tricky Kid
2. Devil's Helper
3. Smoking Beagles
4. Suffocated Love (live)

Here you go.