WoMu 53 April 4th 2022,
Music that wanders from Canada to Ukraine to New Zealand via Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland and even Manchester, with genres from Punk to Folk from Psych to Deep House, the sounds of four continents and songs of love loss, excitement and pure pleasure.
A link to the Spotify playlist for this weeks selection https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2mlwm7ZuO0tRGFdNVGczK5?si=gQ3x8ncjSueoDlNs7iXG0Q&utm_source=copy-link
Kyiv Calling (2022)
By BETON
Single and download.
Given the full blessing by the 3 surviving members of the Clash, this punk anthem has been reimagined as a call to arms by this Ukrainian punk/hard-core trio with passion and spirit, profits go to Aid appeal. Never have Strummer’s words and sentiments wrung more truthfully than this.
Further Listening: Traktor, Borsch
Bloody mother fucking asshole (2005) MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
From the EP of the same name.
Martha is sister to Rufus and daughter of Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, very much a unique musical dynasty. This song was written in frustration at her fathers failure to communicate and his tendency to write his family and feelings into songs such as “Hitting you” and “ I would rather be lonely”
Further Listening: Rufus Wainwright, Kate and Anna McGarrigle The Roaches
Satanic Slumber Party (2022)
By TROPICAL FUCK STORM/KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZZARD WIZARD
From the EP of the same name.
A pure blast of psychrock from two of Australia’s most interesting bands, swirling “paint it black” era, Stones style guitar, pounding drums and feverish chants provide almost 6 minutes of mind bending bliss
Further Listening Gong, Moses Gunn Collective, Kikagaku Moyo.
The Mainline song/The Lockdown song(2022)
By SPIRITUALISED
From the album: Everything was Beautiful.
A welcome return for the Warwickshire Space Rockers, with a pulsing melody and earworm chorus, Jason Pierce has hit another fertile seam of hooks,melody and lyrics.
Further Listening: Spacemen 3, Stereolab, Mercury Rev
Village ghetto land(1976)
By STEVIE WONDER
From the album Songs in the key of life.
One of Stevie’s more direct songs, tackling poverty, racism and oppression head on, in very few words he paints the underclass life in vivid colour. Beautiful and thought provoking.
Further Listening: Anything by Stevie Wonder especially Talking Book.
Hey like a Child(2022)
By KURT VILE.
From the album: Watch my Moves.
With classic Vile spaced, detached vocals and twangy, pitch bending guitar hook this lazy, groggy, mesmeric song is from Kurt Vile’s upcoming new album which was written across lockdown, perfect for Sunday Hangovers, lazy afternoons or chilled relaxation.
Further Listening: War on Drugs, Ty Segall, Traffic.
Shenzhou V.(2022)
By YIN YIN.
From the album :The age of Aquarius.
Hailing from Maastricht, the Dutch four piece skirt the no mans land between paying respect and cultural appropriation, but no more so than blue eyed soul bands or English Blues. The track named for the first Chinese manned space flight in 2003 bleeps, blurps and blaps its jolly way along, all tied together by an“Isaac Hayesesque” reverb guitar.
Further Listening: Yellow Magic Orchestra, Kraftwerk, Takeshi’s Cashew.
Blackbird(2018)
By LISA O’NEILL
From the album: Heard a long gone song.
Lisa is Dublin based and grounded in the Irish folk tradition, born in Ballyhaise, County Claven she moved to Dublin aged 18, championed by David Gray she opened for him across America and Canada in 2011.
Blackbird a plaintive cry about a love that overwhelms also nods to Kerry philosopher and poet John Moriarty, his reference to “shorten the road” in her lyric asking for someone to ease the journey to her love. Recently featured in Peaky Blinders.
Further Listening: Lankum, Cinder Well,
Happy Jack(1966)
By THE WHO
From the album : A Quick One.
The Who’s first US chart entry a quirky, short song about a man who lets nothing get him down, but owing it origins to a darker story of children tormenting a homeless, beach dwelling man that Townend recalls from his summer holidays. Listen out for Townsend shouting “ I saw you” near the end as he spots Keith Moon trying to sneak on vocal mic to join in the chorus.
Further Listening: the kinks, small faces.
They shoot horses don’t they? (1977) by RACING CARS.
Welsh one hit wonders Racing Cars were expected by their label (Chrysalis) to be a major signing, but sadly this, their debut single stalled at 14 and was their only hit. Inspired by the 1969 movie of the same name which focussed on the depression era fad for dance marathons.
Further listening: Man, Clifford T Ward.
Kinky Reggae(1973)
By BOB MARLEY
From the album: Catch a Fire.
A song thats has sparked much conversation, is it sexual, “ she had brown sugar, all over her Booga wooga” is it drugs, “he had a candy tar all over his candy bar” candy tar being slang for cocaine, Marley himself refused to be drawn on the meaning, but revels in the sound and poetry of each word. This is the longer, more laid back Jamacian version and shows the Wailers at their peak.
Further Listening: Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Buju Banton
Modern Job (2022)
By SPRINTS
From the A modern job EP.
Dublin four piece noise/garage/punk band very much in the manner of Fontaines D C. Guitar driven hooks with cutting lyrics taken it seems directly from vocalist Karla Chubb’s day to day existence.
Further listening: Fontaines DC, Savages.
Warm Chris(2022)
By ALDOUS HARDING
From the album of the same name.
Hannah Sian Topp, or Aldous Harding as she is known is a “NEW FOLK” singer/songwriter from New Zealand.
Aldous has an intense, unique, range busting voice, that seems to bend to the will of the song rather than the other way around, this little gem has many twists and surprises, who is Chris?, why are they warm?, which paper planes are burning? A song to listen to over and over.
Further Listening: Nadia Reid, Big Thief, this is the kit
Endless time(2022)
By THE WEATHER STATION
From the album: how is it that I should look at stars.
Taken from the Canadian band’s latest album and a showcase for Tamara Lindeman’s incredible voice and songwriting, this is a plaintive, romantic song featuring only piano and voice. Evocative and yet cinematic, this is a haunting beautiful song that will touch the hardest heart.
Further Listening: Cate Le Bon, Jane Weaver.
Make this right(2021)
By LOVESCENE WITH RUF DUG
From the album of the same name.
An uplifting deep house/neo soul track from the modern Manchester scene, featuring DJ/producer artist Ruf Dug and modern soul band LOVESCENE helmed by Pops Roberts with throbbing bass you feel in your chest, driving drum patterns and swelling pads, is this Manchester or Detroit? Either way get out the glowsticks and DANCE.
Further Listening: Children of Zeus, Todd Terry, Ben Watt.
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