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Saint Etienne - Relocate
Pop sensibly
It must be about 15 years since I first heard Saint Etienne's Only Love Can Break Your Heart and felt it was one of lifes lyrical truisms. Later records such as Nothing Can Stop Us Now also reflected on that feeling of 'this is my life right now'. I forgot about them in about 1993 as Foxbase Alpha vanished from my collection.
Then five years later I was working on Creation Record's website and I ended up in posession of a large amount of their back catalogue and started listening to it again. It felt more like background music then, music that didn't cause offence but also felt good. The records got filed into my collection and left for a while.
Then Angie started playing them. I remember the songs, but not really the lyrics. When I noticed they were going to play at the Barbican's Only Connect series this year I thought I'd buy tickets for Angie and I to go along. I was interested more in the Film they were presenting, about London's Lea Valley, and new Angie would enjoy the music.
The week before I though "I wonder what they've been doing lately", so bought their latest album Tales From Turnpike House and gave it a few listens. What struck me most wasn't the music, which is as pleasant and un-intrusive as always, but the lyrics. Or rather the lyrical content. It seems that Saint Etienne has grown up with me.
The concert was, as you'd imagine, full of 30 something Guardian readers. I was one of them. Their film, "What did you do today Mervyn Day?" was great. It was interesting, beautiful, emotional and inspiring. It was story and documentary. See it if you get a chance.
Which is what this song is.
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Psapp - About Fun
Take me to the park.
Today's song is from the lovely Galia and Carim aka Psapp. It's About Fun. It's taken from their debut album releases last year on Arable/The Leaf Label called Tiger, My Friend. And it's lovely. I look forward to their next album with much anticipation.
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The Beach Boys - Busy Doin' Nothin'
First heard on Mingo-go's Exotik Cocktail Music Vol. II (compiled by DJ Mingo-go) this track always brings some sunshine to the darkest day.
It's taken from The Beach Boys album 'Friends'
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Susanna And The Magical Orchestra.
Susanna was the highlight of last nights Rune Grammofon showcase at Cargo, having the audience totally wrapped around her finger, the room filled with anticipation from the audience with her every utterance. The video clips below don't do her justice.
She was followed by In The Country who were disappointing. Whilst there was the chance of them really working, especially given Morten Qvenild's performance with Susanna (he's the Magical Orchestra) they simply failed to gel and really 'do it'. The music seemed a bit too tired and predictable, save for odd moments where it came together.
Last up were Supersilent who I had great hopes for, and did at points really live up to them. There performance rose into some really amazing crescendos, some real tightness and the improvisation going on was strong, but at times it felt flat in between.
Overall an excellent night, only faulted by the incredible noise the bar staff managed to make over the intimate performance of susanna. Cargo really isn't a venue I rated highly, and each time it seems a little bit worse.
And (a small Plug) you can buy all these artists releases via PostEverything's Rune Grammofon page
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