This will end up as a non-linear piece. Mainly when I have a written thing in mind it gestates for a day or so, or appears fully formed at the moment of it’s birth pretty much without any critical capacity getting involved. A little like throwing fruit at a wall, some of it sticks and looks pretty, some of it drops into the dust.
I’ve mentioned in several previous posts my admiration for Six.By Seven. Their new album (Love and Peace and Sympathy) is a great record. Chris Olleys enthusiasm for the project has been immense and in no small part inspired by getting drummer Steve Hewitt from Placebo on board. Seeing them live brings sense to this enthusiasm.
But, skipping back an hour or so….
One of things that I’ve noticed and noted in previous ‘review’ posts is that even though I’ve turned out for the main event the starters have been surprising and impressive. From WTATDR & Variety Lights, there are a lot of really committed bands playing support the ticket sellers.
The SIx.By Seven gig had three openers but sadly I only arrived in time to catch Grey Hairs. As they came out to check their equipment I had made some tiny preconceptions which where shortly trampled into sticky mush by their utterly clear mission to leave the audience shaken by commitment and volume. I looked them up when I got home and found their website here Both available recordings are worth a look. I’m particularly impressed by any band that can pull off a fresh cover of a Pere Ubu classic.
Listen to their take on Final Solution here….
Six.By Seven played the new album Love and Peace and Sympathy. Chris Olley wore a hat that made me think of Fields of the Nephelim which is odd because I never saw them and don’t really recall any of their material. At a push I would wear a hat like that but would probably opt for something more Sam Spade given the choice. The Rescue Rooms have really invested in their sound system in recent years and don’t seem to have acquiesced to any H&S policies when it comes to volume (this being a good thing).
The set falls under awesome for filing. The band gave it their all, they had some great material that has a solid fingerprint but a good level of variation, and they are very skilled.
One of the stand out tracks on the album is Truce. I managed to film that one, and its here…………
This is the album version of the song…
Above all, a great night out. There is real music in the world and it’s nearer than you think.
Epilog
In a brave late night decision making style Chris Olley kindly agreed to a Twitter interview. The full text is included below. I think you’ll find it both incisive and informative.
@ChrisOlley1 Did you get the video to work eventfully? I need more words for the post. How about a twitter interview. I’ll be Richard Maddely.
@adrian4acn yeah, Truce, looks great. Who’s Richard Maddely?
@ChrisOlley1 Only someone totally committed to something other than idiocy could ask that. Well done. Interview has started.
@adrian4acn Is he part of Operation Yewtree?
@ChrisOlley1 That’s yet to suggested so let’s move on. @rescuerooms has really sorted its sound system out. So, tell us about the hat?
@adrian4acn @rescuerooms The hat is a Stetson I found on Brokeback Mountain.
@adrian4acn @rescuerooms Rescue Rooms was best venue of tour, best venue in UK I’d say! Amazing room, dressing room and PA soundman etc.
@ChrisOlley1 @rescuerooms Are you just saying that because you might bump into them in the Market Square? #Nottingham is a tight city.
@adrian4acn @rescuerooms No, we all thought that. Rock City is best venue in UK, I’ve always said that, to watch bands I mean, and play!!
@ChrisOlley1 @rescuerooms I agree. The National Trust has a preservation order on the carpet apparently….
@ChrisOlley1 Moving on, the new album has an iconic front cover. Is there a Beatles reference relating to the inner spread?
@adrian4acn No, it had all the lyrics on it but we used invisible ink. It was a fuck up but great for signing autographs on the tour!
@ChrisOlley1 The band is really well rehearsed and slay the songs. How did you meet Steve the drummer and does he come with a H&S policy?
@adrian4acn Knew him from Placebo days, touring with them, he’s a hard living man!
@ChrisOlley1 He certainly gave me a day & 1/2 of tintinitus. The tours over now, will you be doing more gigs soon, here or in other lands?
@adrian4acn Hopefully a bigger tour in November. We will also be playing in Poland in October.
@ChrisOlley1 Last question. You speak German. Is there a possibility that you could do a Helden and record Waffenstillstand?
@adrian4acn Waffenstillstand?
@ChrisOlley1 it’s the closest Google translate could get to ‘Truce’ It’s a shapely looking word.
@adrian4acn Oh yeah! Truce is Waffenstillstand. In the context of this song though it’s probably more like ‘Ruhe’.
@ChrisOlley1 That would better in the context of the song as well.
@ChrisOlley1 So on that note, Chris Olley, thank you and good night!
@adrian4acn Goodnight Adrian 🙂
adrian4 
The Best of 2013
So, where does a year go? As we march tiredly towards the season of the Santa I offer below my year in music. Rather than doing a top ten this year it’s a chronology of the new music that crossed my radar. I struggle with lists by preference as I tend to appreciate the latest discovery or release more (a bit like having children!). In some cases they actually raised their heads during different months, sometimes in response to gigs and sometimes because I found them on This Is My Jam, which is one of the best places to find new bands and rediscover songs long forgotten. Hopefully the You Tube links will be stable for a little while but catch them while you can and my apologies for any regional restrictions encountered. Take your time, it’s all worth checking out.
01 – Jan – La Busta Gialla – Il Sogno Del Marinaio
Featuring Mike Watt, bass player with the Stooges, fIREhOSE, J Mascis and the marvelous Minutemen I caught Il Sogno Del Marinaio at a tiny venue in Leicester. A very individual album, more of a song cycle than a set of songs and with wide ranging references. I blogged a little about it here.
Partisan Song by Il Sogno del Marinaio
02 – Jan – Lady From Shanghai – Pere Ubu
I saw Pere Ubu many years ago in London and they are one of those mythic bands that drift into memory. I was surprised to see that they were playing at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham and not knowing their recent (and consistently strange) output over recent years was intrigued to take a look. David Thomas is an idiosyncratic artist. Well worth reading more about if you like your artists focused on the process and not the audience. Real grumpy as well. The gig was 90% new material form the current record.
414 Seconds by Pere Ubu
03 – Feb – m.b.v – My Bloody Valentine
A lot has been written about m.b.v. Snook out after 14 years in production via their website one Sunday night in February it was universally well received. But you know all this. If I was scoring them this would be in the upper reaches.
New You by My Bloody Valentine
04 – Feb – Push the Sky Away – NCATBS
Nick Cave is one of my favourite artists and this is a beautiful album. A fairly small set of Bad Seeds used on this but to great effect. An artist so far ahead of the pack and I suspect still heading to the top of game (to mix a few metaphors). This album features one the greatest opening song lyrics ever committed – see Mermaids. Bad man….
Jubilee Street by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
05 – Feb – AMOK – Atoms For Peace
Tom Yorke and his ‘super group’ Atoms for Peace. An expansion of his previous solo album and another diverse mix of styles and references. As with all super groups the end doesn’t always equal the sum of the parts but engaging and original non the less.
Amok by Atoms for Peace
06 – Feb – The Raven That Refused to Sing and Other Stories – Steven Wilson
An artist new to me and discovered through TIMJ. It’s probably been used but think contemporary Mike Oldfield. Keeping the prog flag flying.
The Raven That Refused to Sing by Steve Wilson
07 – March – Next Day – David Bowie
Another artist sneaking a new project out with ut warning after extended leave. He followed up ‘Where Are We Now’ with the brilliant ‘Next Day’ album. Still milking the franchise with an ‘extra’ edition somewhat cynically but the original song set was an impressive return. This was my favourite track and has a great video.
The Stars Are Out Tonight by David Bowie
08 – March – Chelsea Light Moving – Chelsea Light Moving
Thurston Moore, after quitting Sonic Youth and splitting with Kim Gordon released his contribution to the new projects from Lee Renaldo and Gordon. Still very ‘Youth’. Would have loved to see them live but the tour was cursory in the UK.
Burroughs by Chelsea Light Moving
09 – March – The Invisible Way – Low
Low first came to my attention when Robert Plant covered a couple of their songs and since then I’ve amassed quite a few of their many albums. They all have a different character and the Invisible Way is quite subtle in many ways. Managed to see them in November and they give good gig. Their mastery of the quite / loud dynamic is black belt standard.
Plastic Cup by Low
10 – May – More Light – Primal Scream
I played this album to death when it came out. A massive double album with some impressive material. The song below is probably one of the more low key tracks but the mixed up second half really makes it work. The album also featured a slightly cleaned up version of the Grinderman ‘Worm Tamer’ track which was a surprise.
River of Pain by Primal Scream
11 – June – Tomorrows Harvest – Boards of Canada
One of those bands I had heard about but not really experimented with. In many ways they have become a softer experience and I prefer the earlier ‘left field’ albums. Still an interesting record when taken at the appropriate time.
Reach for the Dead by Boards of Canada
12 – July – Peace, Love & Sympathy – Six By.Seven
A new Six By.Seven album from Chris Olley. I know Chris a little bit and he is a committed and prolific artist. Along with his solo and electro beat music he got the band back together with a brilliant and dynamic new drummer for this album. Their homecoming gig in Nottingham was huge and really enjoyable. More about that here including a live version of this track.
Sympathy by Six By.Seven
13 – July – Slow Focus – Fuck Buttons
Like the Boards of Canada I was encouraged to try this record. Sonic terrorists with flashing lights. Unfortunately I missed their local gig but I’ve very much enjoyed discovering their material.
Brainfreeze by Fuck Buttons
14 – July – The Big Dream – David Lynch
Just incredible. David Lynch makes unique music. This is darker than Crazy Clown Time and features Lynch on some very distorted guitar and heavily processed vocals. There is nothing else like it. He post released an additional track ‘Bad the John Boy’ which is so dark it sucks light out the room.
Star Dream Girl by David Lynch
15 – Aug – Civil Wars – Civil Wars
Nu-Folk but done well (think, completely unlike Mumford & Sons). It was however pretty much this track that I bought the album for. A cover of the Smashing Pumpkins epic, Disarm.
Disarm by Civil Wars
16 – Aug – The Bootleg Series Vol. 10 – Another Self Portrait (1969–1971) – Bob Dylan
The Bobcat came out with Vol 10 of the Bootleg series and a real curve ball choice. Featuring material from Self Portrait & New Morning as well as the Isle of Wight concert in 1970 it was probably the lowest down most Dylanites list of preferred re-issues. It does however sound fresh and alive and proves Dylans history isn’t just his presumed classics.
Pretty Saro by Bob Dylan
17 – Sept – And I’ll Scratch Yours – Various – Peter Gabriel
Completing his ‘Scratch my Back’ project, this compilation of Gabriel songs features a number of artists covering his songs. A mixed bag but with some highlights. This being the highest even before the poignancy of Lou’s demise.
Solsbury Hill – Lou Reed
18– Sept – Dream River – Bill Callahan
Another highlight. I became aware of Bill/Smog through I Break Horses a couple of years ago. His album though is very high up the list of memorable 2013 issues. Lyrically and musically individual. Another sadly brief number of UK shows, maybe next time.
Javelin UnLanding by Bill Callahan
19 – Sept – Man & Myth – Roy Harper
And another artist steeping out of retirement with a solid return. I was never the biggest Harper fan but he does have moments of genius. Unfortunately his year went downhill but the jury is still out.
The Exile by Roy Harper
20 – Oct – Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam
Eddie and the Lightening Rods flashing around again. Not peak era Pearl Jam but good for a blast. Maybe they are just too big now.
Sirens by Pearl Jam
21 – Oct – Last Night on Earth – Lee Ranaldo & the Dust
More ex-Sonic Youth output. Of all of them this is my favourite and it’s been hammered in the car. With Youth drummer Steve Shelly included it has some huge songs and great guitar work outs. Another band very high on the ‘wltm’ list.
The Rising Tide by Lee Ranaldo & the Dust
22 – Oct – Birmingham (Live) – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
As a long standing fan of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel I don’t know why I missed the live shows but at least the double album release of Human Menagerie & Psychomodo turned out well. Exhuberant performances of some timeless songs.
Tumbling Down by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
23 – Nov – Sweet Summer Sun, Hyde Park 2013 – Rolling Stones
Yep. The Stones got it back together and they are still breathing and on good form. I wasn’t there. I don’t like crowds…..
Miss You by the Rolling Stones
24 – Dec – Live from KCRW – NCATBS
A possibly opportunistic live release of some material from Push The Sky Away and a few other tracks. However, its completely brilliant, especially Higgs Boson Blues (absolutely the best song of the year) and an evil version of Jack The Ripper.
Mercy Seat by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
25 – Dec – Live from the Cellar Door – Neil Young
Cheating slightly here because at the time of writing this hasn’t been released. I have heard about half of it though and I’m really looking forward to it.
Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young
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Tagged as AMOK, Another Self Portrait, Atoms For Peace, Bill Callahan, Boards of Canada, Bob Dylan, Bowie, Chelsea Light Moving, Civil Wars, Crazy Clown Time, David Lynch, Fuck Buttons, il sogno del marinaio, Invisible Way, Lee Ranaldo, Lou Reed, Low, Lynch, M.B.V., My Bloody Valentine, NCATBS, Neil Young, Next Day, Nick Cave, Pearl Jam, Pere Ubu, Peter Gabriel, Primal Scream, Rolling Stones, Roy Harper, Six By Seven, Sonic Youth, Steve Harley, Steve Wilson, Steven Wilson, Thurston Moore