Listening Post – May 2022

Words: Andy Hughes

Sunrise, sunset. The year is moving at light speed, the start of 2022 a mere blip in the rearview. To settle your stomach a bit, we’ve got your usual fill of good music right here.

From our favourite baritone vocalist of the 60s to an 80s Japanese pop star, Belgium dance to African blues, contemporary alt-country to math-rock and even a star from the big screen!

Strap on your ear goggles, tell your mates and settle in.

Lee Hazlewood – It Was a Very Good Year
(Forty)

That cover with that album title. Forty was clearly a very good year for our Lee Hazlewood. The frequent collaborator of Nancy Sinatra borrowed one from her old man for his birthday album, adding a lot more pizzazz to the affair. Our favourite moustachioed man.

Alex Cameron – Oxy Music
(Oxy Music)

Like many works of art, ‘Oxy Music‘ – the latest release from quirky Aussie hitmaker Alex Cameron – took a number of listens to fully sink in. Peeling back the many layers, one finds pop bangers first and foremost, with discovery of side-splitting gags within, all underpinned by a lot of heartache. Featuring a turn from Sleaford Mods own Jason Williamson, the title track from Cameron’s latest record treads the highs and lows of addiction, packed full of exceedingly humorous lines (“I’m cooking up a codeine ragu“) whilst building to such a poignant ending.

Moon Diagrams – End of Heartache
(Lifetime of Love)

The solo project of Deerhunter co-founder/drummer Moses Archuleta, Moon Diagrams comes rooted in an 80s nostalgic sound. The dreamy ‘End of Heartache‘ is super hypnotic, captivating in its repetition as it swirls round and around your nut.

Taeko Onuki – Les Aventures de TINTIN
(Copine)

Bloody hell this is catchy stuff. Like Kate NV ahead of her, in 1985, Japanese artist Taeko Onuki crafted such wonderfully captivating wonky pop, ‘Les Aventures de TINTIN‘ very much rocking that it-is-1985 pop sound. Complete with a bass part so daft it sounds like something from a Tim and Eric sketch…

Charlotte Adigéry – Paténipat
(Zandoli)

“If in life you feel tired and hopeless, throw out all the stuff that don’t matter in the end. Dance until you’re dizzy. Be your naked and uncompromising self.“

That’s how Belgian-Caribbean artist Charlotte Adigéry set out the stall for her 2018 single ‘Paténipat‘, a proper sultry number that gets right under your skin.

Warmduscher – Lady Eggs
(Khaki Tears)

In the year of our lord 2022, the bodacious Warmduscher made their Bella Union debut with latest album ‘At The Hotspot‘. We were at their most recent Northern date (naturally) to hear it IRL and whilst there we couldn’t get enough of one of their earlier cuts, the haunted house thud that comes from ‘Lady Eggs‘.

Deerhoof – Your Dystopic Creation Doesn’t Fear You
(Mountain Moves)

Featuring Awkwafina?! Really?! The ‘Crazy Rich Asians‘ star lends a hand to Deerhoof, 20+ years into their being at the time of releasing ‘Mountain Moves‘. ‘Your Dystopic Creation Doesn’t Fear You‘ is a proper shapeshifter, moving from Steely Dan-esque yacht rock to a Missy Elliott style rap at the drop of a hat.

Caution – Hand That Looks Like Mine
(Arcola)

From tastemakers Born Yesterday (Café Racer, Stuck) comes the debut album from two-piece Caution. Lead single ‘Hand That Looks Like Mine‘ pulls together that surf-rock meets shoegaze vibe in sun-soaked, delightful fashion as your heart tries to keep up with the drum machine beat.

Andy Pickett – Paid
(Andy Pickett)

BIG tune from White Denim collaborator Andy Pickett and his 2017 self-titled album. The driving ‘Paid‘ is such a total vibe. We’re talking driving at night, eyes on the clock, somewhere to be – all wrapped up in such a swish package.

Donna Thompson – Matchstick
(Something True)

Known for her drumming chops and working alongside Falle Nioke, as well as collaborations as part of influential DIY music space Total Refreshment Centre (home to the manic Snapped Ankles), Donna Thompson has now self-recorded and produced her solo debut EP. Lead single ‘Matchstick‘ flows through dreamy cinematic jazz as Thompson speaks of daily life and taking things for granted.

MJ Lenderman – You Have Bought Yourself A Boat
(Boat Songs)

From an album that’s said to be built around songs that “chase fulfilment and happiness”, the warming ‘You Have Bought Yourself A Boat‘ has become a real earworm of late, bringing a country twang to a Dylan-meets-Whitney sound. Strong visions of stretching out on the porch and letting Lenderman’s voice wash over.

Gustaf – Best Behaviour
(Audio Drag For Ego Slobs)

Yes, Gustaf are from New York. Can you tell? ‘Best Behaviour‘ is a brilliant, snarky bit of dancey post-punk that calls to mind their hometown contemporaries Bodega and Public Practice. Love that just about holding it together vocal as Lydia Gammill unconvincingly lets us know that everything’s peachy.

Oldboy – Big Balls
(Bloody)

HOO! HAH! “They didn’t want to be a two piece – lightning bolt have that covered” – Love that from the press release for newcomers Oldboy. The raging ‘Big Balls‘ comes from their Jonah Falco produced debut album ‘Bloody‘, out early May on Agitated Records, with the raw attack of their first single very much in our wheelhouse.

Oumou Sangaré – Wassulu Don
(Timbuktu)

Released to coincide with International Women’s Day just gone, Oumou Sangaré’s ‘Wassulu Don‘ is a proper blues-y arse-shaker, fronted with a powerhouse vocal that gets the head nodding no doubt. From the album ‘Timbuktu‘, it marks her first new material since 2017’s ‘Mogoya‘.

A-Tota-So – Squirrel Bait
(Lights Out)

Featuring a number of guest vocalists from the UK and Irish music scene, ‘Lights Out‘ sees Nottingham trio a-tota-so add another dimension to their instrumental sound. Kieran Hayes of Irish trio We Come In Pieces offers a hand on the raging ‘Squirrel Bait‘, bringing a further sense of urgency to the math-rock noodling.

Tyler Messick – I’ve Been Away
(Sun’s Gonna Rise)

Absolute stunner of a ditty from Nova Scotia’s Tyler Messick, dreamily singing of leaving and not coming back, letting the grass grow and the shutters stay down. That chorus is heaven, the type that has you singing it halfway through your first listen, like you’ve known it all your life.

Meat Wave – Honest Living

Following their 2021 EP ‘Volcano Park‘, Chicago trio Meat Wave return in explosive fashion via the full-pelt ‘Honest Living‘, their first for Swami Records (run by Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes bod Swami John Reis). With a full LP to be announced later this year, we’re putting this on again and again, vibing off their don’t-stop-not-even-once mentality.

Simon Love – Me and You
(Love, Sex and Death Etc)

A proper earworm this, so it is, ‘Me and You‘ is a love letter to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and romantic ditties of old. The only song in the playlist that references a “local borough council“, the brass and chimes elevate this Simon Love number to dizzying heights.

From the same album, Simon Love very recently took us on a nostalgic trip with ‘L-O-T-H-A-R-I-O‘, which you can read about here.

Ty Segall – Hello, Hi
(Hello, Hi)

Well Hello and Hi to Ty Segall, who’s just announced the release of a new album pencilled in for this summer! Hot on the heels of ‘Harmonizer‘ from last year, we’re told that for the new record, Ty has cooked up a collection of songs that are a nod of the head to the sound last heard on the likes of ‘Goodbye Bread‘. On title track ‘Hello, Hi‘, he brings that sun-soaked, fuzzy guitar attack we’ve come to adore. Well on for this! 

Ibibio Sound Machine – 17 18 19
(Electricity)

From their latest album, the Hot Chip produced ‘Electricity‘, the wild ‘17 18 19‘ is such an energetic dance-floor filler from Ibibio Sound Machine. Elevated as ever by the striking vocal of Eno Williams, she brings it down in parts – like it’s just you and her in the room – to stress the points of not breaking a promise (“it’s like breaking a mirror“), before letting loose as the band turn up the heat!

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Listening Post – November 2021

Words: Andy Hughes

As regular as my dog barking me awake every day before 9AM, Birthday Cake For Breakfast has your NEW monthly playlist to tuck into! First of the month, like clockwork.

Featuring everything that’s been tickling our fancy this past month, within these 20 tracks you’ll find new and old, loud and quiet, hard and soft and everything in between. Do yourself a favour – give it a like so you remember it each month and share it with your friends so they can do the same!

Jonathan Richman – You Can’t Talk To The Dude
(I, Jonathan)

‘No he don’t taste the food, he’s just shovelling it down.’ Yet another wonderful ditty from the ever brilliant Jonathan Richman, rhyming up a storm as is his wont. Continuing our lifelong Richman trip.

Nation of Language – This Fractured Mind
(A Way Forward)

Don’t look forward, look backward! Glittering nostalgic joy on offer from Nation of Language out of Brooklyn, NYC. ‘This Fractured Mind‘ is an energetic delight, calling to mind The Human League and ‘Johnny and Mary‘. Perfect pop.

Mr Ben & the Bens – How Do I Get To You?
(Melody Shed)

Wonderful Autumnal feeling on offer from the latest out of Lancaster’s finest, Mr Ben & the Bens. Crunchy leaves, wrapping up tight, crisp air. Rocking a bit of a timeless feel, one loves those brass bursts!

Wednesday – Handsome Man
(Twin Plagues)

Total slacker jam from North Carolina outfit Wednesday. Brings to mind the feelings we first felt when we fell in love with Milk Teeth all them years ago (before Josh left…) A spine-tingler no doubt, turn this one right up, kid!

Wombo – Dreamsickle
(Keesh Mountain)

Really swish stuff from Kentucky’s own Wombo, the trio letting rip on ‘Dreamsickle‘. The almost dreamlike vocal of Sydney Chadwick compliments the post-punk-ish instrumental perfectly. Joy Division one minute, The Strokes the next, then Omni the next.

Cate Le Bon – Running Away
(Pompeii)

Further Bowie vibes on the latest from the brilliant Cate Le Bon, from her forthcoming new record ‘Pompeii‘. Luscious and warm, ‘Running Away‘ is a welcome return, one which builds upon the splendour of the untouchable album ‘Reward‘.

Tall Ships – Gallop
(Everything Touching)

Lump in the throat territory from a pivotal album in the early days of Birthday Cake For Breakfast, a mid-October morning was sound-tracked quite wonderfully by the fantastic debut album from Tall Ships (RIP). ‘Gallop‘ sounds a lot more relevant almost a decade on from when we first heard it…

We Are Scientists – Contact High
(Huffy)

Boy oh boy, We Are Scientists know how to write a bloody catchy chorus. Whilst they’ve been waffling on about bringing back the bridge ahead of the release of ‘Huffy‘, there’s no denying their knack for penning an anthemic, sing-a-long refrain. Hearts set to burst.

Kit Sebastian – Senden Başka
(Mantra Moderne)

Satisfyingly 60’s sounding cucumber cool number from London formed duo Kit Martin and Merve Erdem, the pair bringing Turkish and French influences to the table. Martin perfectly sets you up for the knockout vocal of Erdem.

Delta 5 – Mind Your Own Business

Leeds lot Delta 5 sounding box fresh in the year 2021, despite ‘Mind Your Own Business‘ coming out forty years ago! Hypnotic bass line make no mistake, this is such a rager.

Metronomy x Biig Piig – 405
(Posse EP Volume 1)

From an EP we’ve been positively rinsing since its release a month or two back, this sultry, 80’s sounding piece featuring the vocals of the brilliantly named Biig Piig has been swirling round my brainbox almost as much as the undeniable collab with Folly Group and Brian Nasty. The fact that Metronomy have now followed it up with the ludicrously catchy ‘It’s Good to be Back‘ is testament to them!

BODEGA – DOERS
(Broken Equipment)

Dynamite lead single from the forthcoming BODEGA record, ‘DOERS‘ takes about 40 seconds before you know you’re in good hands. An anthem for the 2021 pandemic crowd, the refrain of ‘Bitter, Harder, Fatter, Stressed Out‘ feels very relatable!

The Limiñanas – Migas 2000
(Down Underground)

Rocking shoulder-shuffler from French duo The Limiñanas, with a garage-rock vibe that makes you want to whack on a pair of black shades and light one up. Much in the same way that BODEGA sound like they’re from New York, The Limiñanas most definitely sound like they’re from France (the vocal helps…)

Spill Tab – Anybody Else

As heard on that latest Metronomy EP, LA based French-Korean artist Claire Chicha creates perfect wonky pop as Spill Tab, with ‘Anybody Else‘ very much hitting the spot.

Future Islands – Peach

We’re still vibing off the latest record from Future Islands at Birthday Cake For Breakfast HQ, so it was a treat recently to discover this standalone single. I’ve always said they sound best when they’re moving at a clip and ‘Peach‘ is very much that brand from the quartet out of Baltimore.

SASAMI – Sorry Entertainer
(Squeeze)

Nails double-peddle nastiness from LA artist SASAMI and her newly announced album ‘Squeeze‘. Discovered here via the involvement of Patti Harrison (the star of multiple scenes in I Think You Should Leave), ‘Sorry Entertainer‘ is a ripper, a metal blast from the past that sounds gnarly as you like.

Mitski – Why Didn’t You Stop Me?
(Be The Cowboy)

Recent Mitski news resulted in some looking back to 2018’s ‘Be The Cowboy‘ and the terrific, hypnotising dance-y bop ‘Why Didn’t You Stop Me?‘. Love how much it builds and builds, leading to that fist in the air crescendo!

Ibibio Sound Machine – Electricity

Last month we were bigging up Ibibio Sound Machine and we find ourselves doing so once again this month off the back of their latest single, ‘Electricity‘. Recorded at the studio of Hot Chip, the collective were so keen on it that they wanted the world to know and we’re chuffed they did – yet another arse-shaker from the outfit.

The Gun Club – Death Party
(Death Party)

Raging garage punk banger from Yank lot The Gun Club. Love that yelped, almost unhinged vocal delivery from Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Proper sinks its teeth in this one, its repetition working you up so much you’re begging for another verse at its end.

Pigeon – Yagana
(Yagana)

Absolute disco-dance delight this, the work of Falle Nioke and members of SAULT, Soma World and Michael Kiwanuka’s band. The story goes the quintet got together in Margate after a visit to the pub, setting up an impromptu jam sesh that eventually led them to the business of ‘Yagana‘ (which translates to ‘It’s been a while‘), which was recorded in just one weekend. You’ll note Nioke has previously been seen round these parts, the vocalist moving to the UK from West Africa back in 2018 and coming to our attention through collaborations with sir Was and Ghost Culture.

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Falle Nioke and sir Was share new single ‘Wonama yo ema’ from the Marasi EP

Words: Andy Hughes (Photo Credit: Charlotte Player)

It was around this time last year that I first heard the wonderful tones of Falle Nioke, the track ‘Loneliness‘ from his ‘Youkounkoun‘ collaboration with producer Ghost Culture reminding us at times of the soundtrack to Tekken 2 (a good thing). Funnily enough, i’d had a further draft sat in my emails about Falle Nioke and what a life he’d led in his short time on this earth – which accidentally remained a draft unedited for an entire year because, you know, pandemic…

Originally from Guinea Conakry in West Africa, but now living in Margate, Nioke is a Guinean vocalist/percussionist, known to play a range of African instruments and sing in a number of languages. Now 34 years old, following a period travelling around West Africa singing with a troupe of musicians and learning all manner of different cultural rhythms, Nioke arrived in the UK three years ago, making music with a number of producers.

Recent single ‘Rain‘ features vocals in Malinké and Fulani, whilst the latest single is sang in Susu, just three of the seven languages spoken by Falle. ‘Wonama yo ema‘ (meaning “do not look down on people“) is just transcendent – lifting one up with the head-spinning vocals of Nioke and the building, euphoric instrumentation. It marks the first collaboration between Nioke and Swedish producer Joel Wästberg a.k.a. sir Was. Wästberg himself no slouch, having gotten into music at 6 years old, learning the piano, bass, guitar and drums from the tiny village of Frillesås on the western coast of Sweden, an hour or so from Gothenburg.

The story goes that the two musicians knew little about each other when they met at PRAH Studios in Margate, Wästberg having heard just a 30 second snippet of Falle’s vocals through a phone speaker. Pleasantries out of the way, they got to work and magic followed – the fruits available this week, taken from the forthcoming ‘Marasi‘ EP out April 30th on PRAH Recordings.

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Listening Post – July 2020

Words: Andy Hughes

That’s June out of the way then? It’s been a mad couple of months and an even stranger year. To help ease matters somewhat and perhaps take your mind off things for an hour, we’ve put together another NEW monthly playlist for your aural pleasure. 20 tunes, old and new – Listen to it here or via that handy little playlist below. Why not give it a like and a share too!

One thing to note before you tuck in. As we’ve seen posted elsewhere, remember: Black lives still matter even if your feed is back to normal. There’s more learning to be done.

*UPDATE – Our playlist only sticks about for ONE MONTH before we move on. No regrets. You can listen to the latest playlist below!*

—

Jockstrap – The City
(Wicked City)

I was drawn into this by the artwork and given the name of the band, one wouldn’t be too off the mark to think this would be some hardcore or metal release, right? Way off. Very much a tale of two halves, the song starts on a stop you in your tracks solo vocal performance from Georgia Ellery with just a piano backing, before the eccie kicks in and you’re sent completely off track into harsh, headspinning electronics with warped voices coming from each direction. Maybe you’re on a bad one? We had this on the other morning and my partner had to turn it off, having forgotten about the second half…

Max Bloom – To Be Alone
(Perfume)

When we spoke with Max Bloom about his debut solo album, he talked of ‘Mind Games‘ and post-Beatles solo efforts as listening points and influences. Funnily enough, first listen to ‘Perfume‘ and my thoughts went right to the solo work of John Lennon – opener ‘To Be Alone‘ sounds very Lennon in its grand style and instrumentation.

Public Practice – Compromised
(Gentle Grip)

In all the excitement of COVID-19, I completely forgot cucumber cool NYC outfit Public Practice were releasing their debut album! We were all over ‘Distance is a Mirror‘ at the start of last year, so it was a more than welcome discovery. ‘Compromised‘ is hella catchy and loads of fun, with a rock hard chorus.

Priests – Appropriate
(Nothing Feels Natural)

More on COVID-19 and i’ve been leafing through the record collection a lot as of late (and adding to it at a worrying rate…) ‘Nothing Feels Natural‘ was given another spin and mate, it more than stands up. ‘Appropriate‘ is just as thrilling as the first time I heard it, with a pulverising rhythm and a no-fucks-given vocal performance from vocalist Katie Alice Greer. Solid.

(Photo Credit: Chan Kim)

Caroline – Dark Blue
(Dark Blue)

New Rough Trade signees Caroline are still a bit of a mystery, with ‘Dark Blue‘ out at the start of this year being the first I heard of them with not much movement since (though more is apparently on the way). Starting out as a trio, the London based band – having spent a year and a half playing in private without a name – soon evolved and expanded their numbers before playing their debut show as Caroline in 2018. ‘Dark Blue‘ is an incredibly moving piece of music, citing influences from classical to midwestern emo.

Clarence Carter – Slip Away
(This Is Clarence Carter)

Full disclosure, I first discovered Clarence Carter via the hilarious and incredibly NSFW song ‘Strokin‘ (I suggest you give that a listen, whilst we’re here…) Having worked my way back to find the good stuff, ‘Slip Away‘ is a fantastic 60’s cut, featuring his delectably soulful voice that is enough to tug at the heartstrings.

Steve Lacy – Playground
(Apollo XXI)

Mesmerising, sun-soaked drop of hypnotic goodness from Steve Lacy. I kept seeing Lacy’s name pop up again and again – a Thundercat collab here, a Vampire Weekend collab there – but only recently got onto his solo debut. It’s no surprise to learn he’s Thundercat’s mate and that definitely comes across on ‘Playground‘, a proper funky bop.

POZI – The Nightmare
(176)

More on point unhinged post-punk from LDN trio POZI, with violinist Rosa Brook stealing the show with her infectious ‘ooh-ooh’s. Taken from an EP out this month named after a London bus route. Like it.

Cafe Racer – Zenith
(Shadow Talk)

A new discovery for us from the label that brought us the Stuck debut we talked about last month. On ‘Zenith‘, fellow Chicago bods Cafe Racer remind us of Corridor and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever in that sort of sun-soaked, jangly post-punk that moves at a clip.

XTC – Love At First Sight
(Black Sea)

No word of a lie, i’ve been smashing this album relentlessly over the past few months. Loved putting together a catchy chorus those XTC lads.

Fucked Up – Dose Your Dreams
(Dose Your Dreams)

As highlighted in our recent interview, Jade Hairpins (Jonah Falco and Mike Haliechuk of Fucked Up) “evolved from an impulse” during the creation of the ‘Dose Your Dreams‘ album. Listening back to the title track, it definitely comes across. Love the video on this one too, Falco and Haliechuk bopping about in various guises.

Gang Of Four – Love Like Anthrax
(Entertainment!)

B-Side to ‘Damaged Goods‘ and closer from their seminal debut album, ‘Love Like Anthrax‘ comes into being following a lengthy stab of screeching and whirring feedback, the late Andy Gill working his guitar chops against that hypnotic bass part.

(Photo Credit: Guy Bolongaro)

Falle Nioke/Ghost Culture – Loneliness
(Youkounkoun)

Mega dance effort from Falle Nioke and Ghost Culture. At times it sounds like the soundtrack to Tekken 2, at others it calls to mind that amazing Goatman album on Rocket Recordings we were so fond of a few years back. Nioke is a singer/percussionist from Guinea Conakry, West Africa, mixing it up with Ghost Culture, whose self titled LP was received very favourably back in 2015.

LA Priest – Rubber Sky
(GENE)

More in the dance stakes here from LA Priest, with ‘Rubber Sky‘ wasting little time moving from hazy, bleary-eyed wonky-pop to arse-shaking funk and anthemic dance, similar in a way to that last Unknown Mortal Orchestra record.

Primo! – Perfect Paper
(Sogni)

From a record put together across various home studios throughout Melbourne, Primo! are relatively new to me, though their numbers include 2/4 of Aussie favourites Terry and you can find them on tastemaker label Upset The Rhythm. That’s a thumbs up from us even before hearing their bright and breezy take on post-punk.

Vintage Crop – Gridlock
(Serve To Serve Again)

More from Australia and Upset The Rhythm now with the introduction of Vintage Crop. Snarling rapid paced post-punk similar to another new discovery this year – our favourites, Aussie post-punk outfit GONZO. As GONZO haven’t had an album out since 2019, this will do for the foreseeable!

Narrow Head – Night Tryst
(12th House Rock)

Alright cool, so maybe Narrow Head have been listening to a lot of early Smashing Pumpkins (hammering ‘Jellybelly‘ again and again), but ‘Night Tryst‘ still makes for an absolute ripper of a throwback. New LP out on Holy Roar later this year!

Widowspeak – Money
(Plum)

Hypnotising stuff from songwriting pair Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas, a.k.a. Widowspeak. Take one look at the duo and you’ll get a flavour for why ‘Money‘, latest single from their forthcoming fifth album, sounds so warm and throwback in its production.

Fenne Lily – Alapathy
(BREACH)

A new discovery following our recent review of the new Phoebe Bridgers record. Fenne Lily’s second album comes out on the same label (Dead Oceans), similar in that moving at a pace vibe expertly executed by Rolling Blackouts/Cafe Racer, completed with that vocal that raises hairs on the back of your neck. Proper catchy.

Lianne La Havas – Bittersweet
(Lianne La Havas)

Having popped back up on our radar via her recently released Radiohead cover (‘Weird Fishes‘), ‘Bittersweet‘ is the first new material in five years from La Havas and the opener from her forthcoming record. A delight to have her back, the single showcases that powerful soulful voice we fell for way back when.

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