May has been a tough month for me. Juggling work commitments; ever approaching final exams, and the spectre of assessment feedback made for a tense four weeks. Nonetheless I emerge victorious. As you can imagine, the music which got me through this month has had to be fairly nondescript yet brilliant at the same time. I tried to listen to Radio 3 but there is only so much one can handle. So I turned to more generally appealing music.
I remembered listening to Bonobo when I was in Vilnius, Lithuania last year. I don’t know why that occurred to me mid exam prep. But then again few things make sense when a group of balding people decide the best way they can assess your intelligence and capacity is by absurd, glorified memory tests.
Throughout the course of May, I must have listened to the entire Bonobo repertoire. Each of his albums are outstanding but this one was particularly good. Bonobo (Simon Green) originated from sunny Brighton. He has graced us with 6 studio albums. His latest, Migration, reached Number 5 in the UK Charts.
Heading as far back as 1999, to the imposing breakbeats of “Scuba” and the cinematic subtleties of the “The Scillian”–originally released in limited numbers on vinyl only–it charts his musical progress from unknown to ad agency and chillout favourite. Found Sounds
The reason I chose One Offs… Remixes & B-Sides for album of the month is because it contains reworked versions of songs from his first studio album; Animal Magic. These add a layer of complexity to his otherwise masterful work. Songs which really stick out are Four Ton Mantis – Amon Tobin (Bonobo Mix); The Shark and Dinosaurs.
I am deeply impressed by the catalogue of Simon Green’s vast work over the last 20 years. This album contains something special which comprises the spirit of his work as well as a pertinent retrospective look into Bonobo’s very core.
This album is perfect for revision and certainly pulled me through agonising hours in the cesspit of learning that is Warwick Library. But I was tormented with choices this month. Hence I’d like to direct you to an album which is deservedly in second place: Samba Esquema Novo (New Style Samba), by Jorge Ben. I was first put onto Jorge Ben by my Fox Hunting podcast producer; Charlotte. Ever grateful for her astounding taste in music, I thought I’d put this masterpiece in also, as a tribute of my great admiration for Charlotte.
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Especially Track 2, which I hum maniacally in my spare time to frighten passers by.
Once again I found myself in a rut. So many great albums with so little time. One album really stood out from start to finish. This four sided record is nothing short of a masterpiece. I’ve been listening to Sparks’ albums for a while. Last month my formula for picking an album was to look at the producer. I applied this again.
Sparks’ debut album (Halfnelson) completely blew me away. I thought it would be AOTM but then I looked at its producer. Halfnelson was of course produced by Todd Rundgren. I did my research and found myself listening to Something/Anything.
“Others had recorded one-man albums before, most notably Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney, but Rundgren — without borrowing musically from either artist — captured the homemade ambience of McCartney with the visionary feel of Music of My Mind, adding an encyclopedic knowledge of pop music from Gilbert & Sullivan through Jimi Hendrix, plus the crazed zeal of a pioneer.”
There are 33 tracks on this album so forgive me if I don’t go into too much detail telling you about each one in turn. Personal highlights were: I Saw the Light; It Takes Two To Tango; Breathless; Saving Grace; The Day the Carousel Burned Down; Black Maria and of course the showstopping Hello It’s Me. Rundgren produced and played each instrument on 3/4 sides of this LP. The entire album is a “mind altering trip” and does leave you breathless. One of the best albums I have heard. IT alters my perception of what good music is.
“The first side is “a bouquet of ear-catching melodies”; side two is “the cerebral side”; on side three “the kid gets heavy”; side four is his mock pop operetta, recorded with a full band including the Sales brothers.”
Something/Anything is one of those albums which make you self aware. It shows every side of Rundgren’s highly distinguished musical capacities. So many genres of music are covered. Now I shall leave you to make up your own minds about this album. I was moved and so too shall you be. In which direction remains for you to decide.
Deny it as we may, the great works of Stock, Aitken and Waterman have been a part of my generation’s lives since before we were born. Producing such megastars as Mel & Kim; Kylie Minogue; Jason Donovan and this month’s glorious AOTM group: Dead or Alive.
This was once more a month of agonising and overwhelming choice musically. I considered such albums as Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove; A Flock of Seagulls’ debut album and Scritti Politti’s Absolute. Nothing compares to the all encompassing brilliance of Youthquake. Interestingly, the word “youthquake” made the word of 2017 by the Oxford Dictionary.
I had a bit of a tragic history with this record. I ordered it from Amazon hoping I’d be able to listen to it in a few days. The post comes and a fold in the protective cardboard is immediately noticeable. Fearing the worst, I open the package to find the record had indeed been separated into two pieces.
Crestfallen, I took it upon myself to go from a few days’ delivery to “instant delivery” as Ian at Vinyl Destination economically put it. If you don’t recall the last three words from the Queen’s 2017 Christmas speech, you’re disloyal.
Finally the vinyl is in my possession. They way it was intended to be heard. And what a sound.
You’ll all recognise the first song “You Spin me Right Round”, but what you might not know is that Pete Waterman knew it would be a No1 hit as soon as he heard it. And it stayed atop the charts for 5 weeks! Stock; Aitken and Waterman’s first of 13 UK number 1 singles in 3 years. But as usual, to really understand an artist one must listen to the whole album. This one is a powerhouse. Each track seems driven by some unseen force to divine perfection.
My Heart Goes Bang is perhaps my favourite. Closely followed by It’s Been a Long Time. The seamless combination of Pete Burns’ angelic voice and more instruments than I ever thought I would hear at once make for an auditory experience quite beyond anything I have heard before.
This album encapsulates for me the essence of that time one was a child and uncovered something beautiful which he had not considered could exist before. It is an exciting discovery and has cast me into a mine of late 1980’s gold hitherto unnoticed by your humble Suggestor.
Listen for yourselves the mad and frankly beautiful amalgamation of sound in Youthquake. It truly sent me to another dimension.
Vinyl Destination is situated in the heart of Coventry Market (Stall 93). I was so impressed by the pun in it’s nomenclature that I knew I had to buy something from them. Ian runs the joint. What he doesn’t know about music isn’t worth knowing.
Over the last few months, I have visited his shop numerous times. Ian does not only sell vinyl; he also runs a secret underground business of cleaning vinyls. I brought him two copies of my Album of the Year. Both skipped at the same place: Side two, track two Aqua. He cleaned my record with a special machine to remove any specs of dust then looked at it with a microscope. All Free of charge. Ian is as kind as he is knowledgeable.
They played beautifully from then on. I came back and bought every record by the Eurythmics that Ian had. I came back again for The Tourists’ debut album (pre Eurythmics Annie Lenox & co). Each one was wonderful and saw me using my dancing shoes.
Ian doesn’t just sell vinyl; cds. He sells joy. He is competitively priced and centrally located.
There are hundreds of vinyls to chose from. I’m not sure how many record shops the reader frequents, but allow me to tell you they are not normally as well arranged and indicated as Vinyl Destination.
I recommend it as the place to go to get that record you have been after but don’t want to pay the amazon premium price for. He stocks all kinds of music from all time periods. Equally, to avoid the worry of the neanderthals at Royal Mail mishandling your vinyl and crushing it in transit, Ian’s seemingly novel “Instant Delivery” system, available in all high street shops if one could be bothered to leave one’s homes and get out into the real world, is available for all.
Make Vinyl Destination your primal destination in Coventry Market. Ian will take care of all your vinyl needs.
February has been a discovery month of great and deeply moving music. With so much choice, it was difficult to choose only one album to laud. However, needs must. Hollie Cook deserves all the praise in the world for her masterful second album TWICE, originally released in May 2014.
Combining new reggae, dub and violins creates a seamlessly rich soundscape. The balance of bass, percussion and strings in reggae style makes for a listening experience which goes beyond anything I have experienced before. When you listen to Twice, you will be overwhelmed by the imaginative but subtle blend of intruments and music styles.
If you love Grace Jones and Sly & Robbie (ex Black Uhuru) as much as I do, you’ll notice how heavily Hollie Cook has been influenced by them. This of course shows her to be a woman of exceptional taste. Listening to track 3 (Desdemona) and Track 6 (Looking for Real Love), one can immediately hear aspects from Jones’ Nightclubbing (at 1.43). Of course, this is part of the reason why Hollie Cook’s Twice has made album of the month.
Another more personal reason is to honour my father (he helped me to build Cedric Suggests, styled its appearance and even helped me to name it. I am beyond grateful for his instrumental role in making this, once but a pipe dream, become a reality. And sharpish. He came to visit me in Warwick a few weeks ago to see Hollie Cook live at the Birmingham 02 Academy earlier this month.
Holly is as stunning LIVE as she is on vinyl. Backed by a wonderfully hard-working ultra-synchronised band (they even backed up the guest artists before Holly came on) she completely blew us away. Hers is the kind of music which leaves one in a trance state of pure joy.
TWICE is a masterful compilation of tracks which leave one desperately wanting more. I couldn’t recommend it enough. Listen and listen well to the rich combinations of sound in Cook’s work. They will mesmerise and astound.
Hollie Cook’s new album; Vessel of Love is available to buy from her website. Listen, too, to her new single, Angel Fire.
That’s the Way of the World was released in 1975 and is Earth, Wind & Fire’s sixth studio album. It’s my firm belief that the world’s greatest music was created between 1974 and 1989.
Earth, Wind & Fire’s name originated using their founder, Maurice White’s, astrological sign. It has primary elemental quality of Fire and the seasonal qualities of Earth and Air.
I’d like to say it speaks for itself but then I’d have nothing to write about. Honestly if you want to have a serious boogie, listen to this album. I’ve listened to it in every situation: on vinyl; driving around; in my headphones when I work on various projects. I’m currently listening to it on my record player now, as it happens.
This album provides some excellent pieces of advice in lyrical form; for example:
“Talking to yourself is fine, it will make you feel much better”
“You’re a shining star, no matter who you are. Shine bright to see, who you can truly be”
“Feel the power of the hour, every moment, that you’re living…”
When listening to That’s the Way of the World, it feels as though each song promotes the mastery of a different instrument. Yearnin’ Learnin’ has exquisite piano; Happy Feelin’ is all about the versatility of Maurice White’s voice and Reasons showcases the bass guitar skills of Verdine White.
Each time I listen to this album, I am awed by the strength of the combined power of this band to deliver a crisp, outstanding funk sound. The sequencing is wonderful, the tracks are exactly where they should be. The album artwork is not as strong as some other funk giants of the same time, like Funkadelic, but one must not judge a record by its sleeve. All round, this is a slid 10/10 album. I won’t give you the tracks in order of my own preference this month, because each one is made of gold.
Have a listen to the whole album, you won’t be disappointed.
