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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Album Review: Midge Ure - Fragile


It might seem strange to begin a review of Midge Ure's latest album by pointing out that I have been heavily into David Bowie lately. As usual, I have a point, albeit a somewhat convoluted one. It started when I recently picked up the double CD of the Reality Tour from 2003 and like I usually do I ended up reading a lot and listening to a lot, in particular the Reality album from 2003 which for some reason I had never really listened to before. This morning I pulled out a few discs for the car including a compilation of Bowie covers. The first track I played was Midge Ure's cover of The Man Who Sold The World, which I observed definately sounds dated with it's heavy 80's production and excessive length.

That being said, my next thought was to ignore all the albums I had piled onto my passenger seat and play a couple of tracks from Midge Ure's latest album which I had downloaded through Rhapsody at least a couple of months ago.

As a lifelong Ultravox fan, I then spent the rest of my car journey wondering why it was that for all the excitement over the Ultravox reunion a couple of years ago, I immediately liked the new solo record much more than the last Ultravox one, which to this day I don't think I have played all the way through, and certainly not in one sitting. The new album is incredibly listenable, and is sonically much more diverse than I would have expected. To describe the album in one word? Elegaic. The vocals might be more muted, occasionally dropping to a whisper, but the intimacy is welcome on what comes across as a powerful artistic statement. From the first track, I Survived, which strikes a note of triumph, the album is replete with washes of keyboards and melodies that chime and soar in equal measure. By the time Dark, Dark Night came around with, of all things, a stunning guitar solo, I was hooked. In a note of irony, besides skipping impatiently through the last 30 seconds or so of Let It Rise, the tracks melded brilliantly into one another, ending with the impressive title track, and I was surprised to notice that I had set the album on shuffle play which had the benefit of sequencing album highlight Are We Connected about half way through instead on track two where is appears on the record. Either way, this is clearly an album that builds on itself and begs your attention.

I suppose whereas the last Ultravox record, with its one word titles, might have seemed like an exercise in dynamics and reclaiming their unique sound, the new album has something to say and feels like a work of depth and import.

Very highly recommended.


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Green Pajamas - The Carolers' Song





I recently discovered Seattle artist Jeff Kelly and finally heard some stuff from his longtime band The Green Pajamas this morning.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Kirsty MacColl - Children of the Revolution (1991)

Some more Kirsty. A great track from Electric Landlady, 1991. As you may be able to tell, Johnny Marr also had his hands all over this one.


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Tasmin Archer - Hero (1992)



A lesser known track from a lesser known album from a lesser known artist, these days. Unless you are of an age and remember when she had a Number One record. It's still a great track.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Perfect Alibi - Not At Home To Heartache (1988)

I've posted this before but it's a great track with no sign of any official release yet.

Malcolm Burn - Redemption

Once I tweeted that I had found a copy of Redemption by Malcolm Burn on CD, I suppose it was inevitable that I would get pleas to post it. New wave collectors will know this is a tough find as it was released on Anthem Records in Canada in limited quantities.

Malcolm Burn was in the excellent Canadian new wave band Boys Brigade, but really found his feet as a producer. Much more info at www.malcolmburn.com

Malcolm Burn - Redemption (1988)

1. Walk, Don't Run
2. Gravity
3. Indian Summer
4. House of Glass
5. Losing You
6. Crashing
7. Humans Can Talk
8. The X-Roads
9. Josephine The Singer
10. Ball of Flame

Download

Even More From His Latest Flame

To celebrate seven years of posting on this not-quite-defunct blog, and having just updated the link to His Latest Flame's very popular 1989 album In The Neighbourhood, here are a couple of extra tracks I have had kicking around for a while. They came from a 12" single I found at the wonderful Haggle Vinyl in Islington.

His Latest Flame - It's Getting Dark

His Latest Flame - The Travel Song

Friday, July 11, 2014