Tuna Day

The Bothy Band – The Kesh Jig

h4num4n — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:43:40 +0000

Echo and the Bunnymen with Billy Bragg – Run Run Run

h4num4n — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:33:46 +0000

Back in 1985 BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test did an all-nighter show called Rock Around The Clock. It was hosted by Word Magazine’s Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, with a bit of help from Andy Kershaw.

I remember staying up and seeing Echo and the Bunnymen joining up with Billy Bragg to play a rather shambolic version of The Velvet Underground’s Run, Run, Run at about 3 in the morning. I’d just discovered The Velvet Underground for myself and it felt like being a member of an exclusive club. In a pre-Amazon and MP3 world, just getting hold of their records was a challenge. To see two of my favourite acts teaming on a Velvet’s cover was tremendously exciting.

I hadn’t seen or heard it again in nearly 25 years until I found this on YouTube. In the intervening time I had thought about this version, and being a bit of a guitar geek, I remembered distinctly that Billy Bragg was playing a Telecaster f hole Thinline and that Will Sargent of the Bunnymen was playing a Bond Electraglide. A very 80s high tech guitar, made with carbon fibre with digital controls and readouts and a stepped rather than fretted fretboard. Very much of it’s time and technology in a guitar that never really caught on. Mick Jones played one in Big Audio Dynamite. The Edge probably played one too.

Dan Walsh – Every Day Is A Better Day

h4num4n — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:41:18 +0000

A few weeks ago Dan Walsh played at the Hare and Hounds on one of @moseleyfolk’s Lunar Society events. I heard he was great but I missed it as I was at Symphony Hall for the excellent Transatlantic Sessions.

Last night though I caught some of his fine banjo playing, accompanied by Will Pound on harmonica on Moseley’s own, Janice Long’s, Radio 2 show. It’s available on iPlayer for a week the next week.
During the show they let slip that they will be playing at the Moseley Folk Festival in September. Hardly surprising, but good news. First sneak peak at any of the line-up I’ve been able to glean.

This is my favourite track from his quite excellent album, Tomorrow’s Still To Come.

Cabaret Voltaire – Nag Nag Nag

h4num4n — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:00:52 +0000

I didn’t post a track two days ago so did a bit of a catch up last night. Two for the price of one. I should have posted some Cabaret Voltaire which is what I was listening to that day, inspired by a tweet from @eight8all. When I was about 14 or 15 they were my favourite band. I’ve got this on 7″.

Landscape – Einstein a Go Go

h4num4n — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:02:42 +0000

UNKLE – Eye for an Eye

h4num4n — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:38:46 +0000

Man! this was from 2003. Where did 7 years go?

Chemical Brothers – Galvanize

h4num4n — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:48:32 +0000

I really like the strings on this. I can’t quite place them. They have a bollywood feel although the tuning feels more middle eastern.
Q Tip delivers a fairly tidy vocal too.

Field Music – Them That Do Nothing

h4num4n — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:19:20 +0000

Sometimes you pick up on a track or an album, purely on it’s own musical merits with no knowledge of who the band are, or what they are about. The recent album by Field Music, Measure, is one such occasion. I know nothing about this band or what they’ve done before. I just know that I’m enjoying getting into this album. I may go take a listen at some of their earlier stuff, but for now let’s see how I get on with this.

Madness – We are London

h4num4n — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:15:49 +0000

One of my favourite albums of 2009 that I’m still going back to was the Liberty of Norton Folgate by Madness. Yes, Madness, the nutty boys from way back, Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, all that. Well years after the initial success they’ve put out this album that seems to have circulated and built by word of mouth.

I won’t use the word concept album, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Remember I do like prog, but there is a theme running through this album. Norton Folgate isn’t a person as you might first think, it’s a place in the City of London. A liberty was an old administrative unit, like a parish. It comes from the same ancient system of division as phrases such as hundreds which was a subdivision of a shire or county. So this album is a tribute of sorts to an old London. It has glimpses of music hall and also a multicultural vibe about it. And it’s bloody good. Go listen, you’ll like it.

David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust

h4num4n — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:08:10 +0000

Ziggy played guitar.

Something simple today. My mind can’t take anything too challenging. Whenever I listen to this I’m throwing Ronsonic shapes with an imaginary Les Paul. This goes beyond air guitar. You wouldn’t know I’m doing it. The movements are imperceptible.