Cannonball

Trust Me #57

30-years ago #6

Cannonball by The Breeders

Released 30-years ago, Cannonball by The Breeders is super infectious and outrageously cool. As a debut single, it must be up with the very best.

Beginning with what sounds like a fun soundcheck, there is a roll of drumsticks, a bass kicking into life, beats, a playful guitar riff and then a wonderful distorted, chugging one. 

Kim Deal, fresh from her Pixies break up, is in no rush to sing, allowing the delightful groove to run until 49 seconds before singing;

Spitting in a wishing well

Blown to hell, crash

I'm the last splash

Deal sounds super sweet during the verses, then she is deliciously distorted in the bridge to the chorus hook. And oh, what a hook?! I imagine that anyone reading this who is even remotely familiar with the song will be singing it right now.

In the shade

In the shade

Cannonball is an incredibly leftfield pop song, but Deal knows the benefits/pop trick of repeating lyrics and she uses the lines I know you little libertine, I know you're a cannonball after the first verse and then to start the second verse. Deal then goes on to sing the brilliant seductive but bonkers line;

I'll be your whatever-you-want

The bong in this reggae song

Spike Jonez directed the video which features the band in a rehearsal studio, interspersed with a cannonball rolling down streets and Deal sticking her head under water for the waa ooo ooo section.

But it's the sun kissed in the shade, in the shade hook that gets me every time I listen to this song. Cannonball is a perfect slice of energetic garage punk pop. It just has absolutely everything, I can play it 7-times in a row and it still feels fresh.

Cannonball is added to my Trust Me playlist on Spotify. You can find a list of all the songs on it to date below, along with links to the blogs.

Search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE

Official video

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

Introducing Starboard Hazes

Reflected Sunlight (instrumental) (100 second clip)

For a few decades I had an imaginary band. 

I wrote loads of songs as a teenager and into my early 20's, but other than the odd occasional open mic and the creation of a MySpace page, I never did anything with them. I never formed a band, other than in my head.

Anyway, last year I found folders of my old songs up in my Mums loft. I enjoyed looking through the lyrics; some were terrible, some were real teenage angst, others were OK. There were loads about dreaming, some even had chords I had written down and as I poured through the songs I found myself remembering some of them. Some were actually alright!

I dug out my guitar and recorded some very rough demos. I really enjoyed playing, it was fun and something to do during lockdown. It was escapism. After a while I sent a few of the demos to my friend James. I was delighted that he like them and we booked a rehearsal room to jam them out. 

I talked about combining acoustic guitar with electric, like The Lemonheads did so well with their It's A Shame About Ray and Come On Feel albums. James introduced me to Strung Out In Heaven by Brian Jonestown Massacre. He totally got the sound I was looking for and was amazed I hadn't heard the album.

We had 3 very sporadic sessions over 18-months before regrouping in January for one final rehearsal, then we went into a studio to record an EP.

I think I might have formed a band! I have formed a band! We're called Starboard Hazes.

Read on for more details.

Kicking Our Heels (excerpt)

Personnel - Murray Easton & James Barker + whoever we can rope in. 

So far that has included Callum Muir (drums), Annmarie Lochrie (vocals) + Norman Blake (backing vocals).

Sounds like - Warm, melodic garage guitar pop & psychedelia. Dreams, memories, fantasies, regrets, musings, teenage angst, love, loss, heartache, heartbreak & falling in love. (Hopefully!). The Lemonheads are a big influence on how I want the band to sound. 

How did Starboard Hazes form? - As above, I started playing old songs I had written up to 30-years ago! I really enjoyed playing, working out some chords and melodies to go with lyrics, combining half finished songs and recording some very rough Garage Band demos. 

After a while I was confident enough to send them to my friend James who I've known for 20-years or so. We used to work together at Abbey National, in the big office at the top of St Vincent Street. James was someone I knew was into the same music as me through his mod style haircut, Fred Perry bag and his jacket. James and I met up a few times to jam on them. 

And it was great fun. Actually it was more than that. I felt pretty elated after meeting up to play guitars and talk music, especially as we couldn't go and see bands. So we were forming one! After decades of being a music fan, following bands, writing about bands, managing bands and putting on bands ... I decided I wanted to be in one. It's my lockdown/midlife crisis! Or awakening!

Recordings? - I booked La Chunky studio in the Hidden Lane, Glasgow.  The first session at the end of January (2022) was immensely energising and great fun. We recorded the instrumental sections for 4 songs. James played lead guitar, I was on rhythm and our friend Callum was on drums. James overdubbed bass afterwards and I added some acoustic.

The 2 main songs (Kicking Our Heels and Keep On Dreaming) were recorded in 2 or 3 takes. Then we recorded 2 instrumentals completely live and unrehearsed which was great fun. One (Out Of My Mind) has lyrics that were then recorded in February , the other (Reflected Sunlight) is a psychedelic freakout instrumental - see above.

I invited my friend Annmarie down to the studio when I was recording vocals at the start of February and asked if she would sing on Kicking Our Heels. I was very much going for a Lemonheads (Evan & Juliana) vibe. Annmarie kindly came down and asked if a friend could pop in later on as they were going out for drinks. I was pretty amazed when Norman Blake showed up!

Norman hung out and offered some ideas on Annmarie's harmonies. She improvised something really nice over the instrumental section as she was warming up that I loved. So Norman got up and sang harmonies with Annmarie. Amazing! If I hadn't asked Annmarie (and I only gave her 3 days notice!) and it hadn't been that specific night, then Norman wouldn't have been on the song. Fate!

Annmarie also added some lovely touches to Keep On Dreaming. In just a couple of hours she made a big difference.

Influences - The Lemonheads, Teenage Fanclub, The Velvet Underground, The Jesus and Mary Chain (and loads more) 

Songs - 4-songs recorded; Kicking Our Heels, Keep On Dreaming, Reflected Sunlight (instrumental), Out Of My Mind. Recorded at La Chunky, Hidden Lane, Glasgow on 29th January & 9th February 2022.

Plans - We'll release Kicking Our Heels to introduce the band to everyone. And see what the reaction is! Our main goal is to play a gig! Even if we just release a single, EP and play a gig I'll be pretty happy! Things I have always wanted to do. 

Having said that I've really loved the whole recording experience and I've earmarked another few songs to work on with James and go back into the studio. So we might do it all again.

Find us on Twitter / Facebook 

Never Ending Mixtape part 51

Hi

How are you?

Thanks for checking in on the latest additions to my Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify, now with 1,568 songs and over 104 hours of music for you to enjoy.

I'm a sucker for lists of bands and songs, so this is a blog I really look forward to writing every month.

I add songs to the Mixtape as I go, with no thought behind band / song / style, so somehow everything flows;  rock n roll from the 50's, 60's beat and psychedelia, Motown, Northern Soul, disco, house, indie, pop, electro .... it's all in there.

You can scroll down to near the end for the songs listed below, or play from the start, or just click on shuffle. Enjoy, and please let me know if you find a song you love - whether it is a blast from the past or one you have never heard before.

Loads of songs this month, including;

JUST OUT - Songs by Supercrush, Taylor Swift, the debut single by Birds of Pandaemonium that I discovered via the Lauren Laverne show (it's so good I have also added the remix), Carla J Easton's new single and a song from the latest Emi James EP (blog to follow soon) and a beauty by The Flaming Lips

RECENT DISCOVERIES - Playlists from the team behind the Heavenly Social, I'm working my way through them and songs like Art - The Meters / Car on a Hill - Joni Mitchell / Life on Mars - Dexter Wansel / Brother, Where Are You? - Johnny Rivers / Big Chief - Dr. John / Stop Bajon - Tullio De Piscopo have been discovered through the playlists

REDISCOVERIES - The Beta Band, the instrumental version of Association by Teenage Fanclub, Nick Drake and I'm going through a big Velvet Underground phase just now

Read on for the full list. Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or click below.

<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/6zNl4sM1ln4AUOWwftBE0g" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>

I Don't Want To Be Sad Anymore - Supercrush

I Know - The Beta Band

She's The One - The Beta Band

Sweet Young Thing - The Chocolate Watchband

Love To You - The Charlatans

Sexuality - Billy Bragg

Everybody's Happy Nowadays - Buzzcocks

Association (instrumental) - Teenage Fanclub

If Ever I Was A Child - Wilco

The Wind - Yusuf

Time Of No Reply - Nick Drake

Northern Sky - Nick Drake

Be Here Now - George Harrison

Moonshadow - Many Moore

Carey - Joni Mitchell

California - Joni Mitchell

Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell

Dreaming - Blondie

Sometimes I Don't Need To Believe In Anything - Teenage Fanclub

Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot

I Am ... I Said - Neil Diamond

Nowhere To Run - Laura Nyro

Monkey Time / Dancing In The Streets - Laura Nyro

It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers

Express Yourself - Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band

Here Comes The Meter Man - The Meters

These Things Will Keep Me Loving You Dear - The Velvettes

Never Knew You - Carla J Easton

Float Through Wires - Emi James

Bubble Gun - Honeyblood

B + A - The Beta Band

Smokey Joe's La La - Lance Ferguson

The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields

Cherry- coloured Funk - The Cocteau Twins

Asleep From Day - Chemical Brothers

Pale Blue Eyes - Velvet Underground

Here She Comes Now - Velvet Underground

exile - Taylor Swift w/ Bon Iver

Under Control - The Strokes

Art - The Meters

Car on a Hill - Joni Mitchell

Life on Mars - Dexter Wansel

Brother, Where Are You? - Johnny Rivers

Big Chief - Dr. John

Stop Bajon - Tullio De Piscopo

Days Go By - Birds of Pandaemonium

Days Go By (Bryan Mette remix) - Birds of Pandaemonium

You N Me Sellin' Weed - The Flaming Lips

Never Ending Mixtape part 45

Hi

Thanks for visiting my blog and the most recent additions to my Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify, now sitting at 1,346 songs, 89 hours and 31 minutes of music.

Dig into a couple of Beatles classics and marvel at McCartney's driving and flowing Paperback Writer. I recently discovered Weller's beautiful Instrumental Pt 1 and rediscovered Say Something by James. Elsewhere we have euphoric pop by Belinda Carlisle, stunning soul from Baby Huey and also from The Fantastic Four and incredible guitar pop from The Bluebells and from Echo and the Bunnymen. And much, much more including a gem I just discovered by Candi Staton.

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape or click below where you'll also find a list of the latest additions. Dig in and enjoy.

Paperback Writer - The Beatles
Instrumental Pt 1 - Paul Weller
Say Something - James
Day Tripper - The Beatles
Ike's Mood 1 - Isaac Hayes
Caught In The Middle - Cerys Matthews
Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle
California Dreamin' - Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters
Mighty Mighty - Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted? - The Fantastic Four
I Touch Myself - Scala and Kolacny Brothers
I Can Change - LCD Soundsystem

Circling The Sun - Jonny
It Helped - Yakima
The Ship Song - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I'm On Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Why Does It Always Rain On Me? - Travis
Driftwood - Travis
Writing To Reach You - Travis
All of the Time - Alex Chilton
Can't Seem To Make You Mine - The Seeds
Blue Moon - Big Star
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Medicated Goo - P.P. Arnold
Standing By Love - Eula Cooper
Hallelujah Anyway (Larse Vocal) - Candi Staton
We've Gotta Find A Way Back To Love - Freda Payne
Everybody's Somebody's Fool - The Bluebells
Seven Seas - Echo and the Bunnymen

T T T Technicolour Melodies

Sometime earlier this year I vowed to write shorter snapshot blogs on albums I enjoy. This hasn't happened! I still set out to write feature length blogs and end up with half written blogs sitting in my drafts box for months on end - many stay there!

And this one has been unfinished for a couple of months - I originally intended to finish and publish it back in April. With Super 8 planning the follow up in the summer, I thought I'd better get this one out there!

Read on for a review and interview.

T-T-T-Technicolour Melodies by Super 8 is an album I stumbled across earlier this year. The modern art/psychedelic cover art was captivating in its own way, but delving into the album brought great reward. It's homemade, warm, melodic and lovely and all the work of one person - who goes under the guise of Trip.

The home recorded album is full of warmth, from the opening Tomorrow's Just Another Day through to closer My Sweet Baby Jane. There are all kinds of instruments, loads of melodies, unexpected breaks and a lot of love.

Opener Tomorrow's Just Another Day has one of the unexpected breaks mentioned above and also a stunning little add on at the end, just when you think the song is about to finish it takes a glorious turn.

I need you in my life

Yeah I need you in my life

You in my life to make it alright

Catsuit is a favourite of mine. It reminds me of The Lemonheads/Evan Dando in the way it is written and flows so naturally.

Renting a lighthouse for you

Taking a right hook for you

Sticking my neck out for you

Saving my last smoke for you

Even at only 2 minutes 23 seconds, there is still time for Trip to add on a little refrain, he has an uncanny knack for being able to find an extra little melody and hook.

Last Final Cigarette and To Morocco are two more brilliant examples of how naturally talented Trip is. Acoustic guitars, melodies, stories, thoughts and dreams pour out of him.

The title track has a bit of the Beta Band to it. Homemade groove based psychedelic pop. Then we have the simply gorgeous Just A Serenade. This is a gem. Trip's voice is raw and pure as he pours his heart out.

S.K.Y (Stop Killing Yourself) was a title that immediately grabbed my attention and a dreamy intro leads to a gorgeous song and I love the line pick yourself up off the ceiling. 

You can stream and buy the album below from the Super 8 bandcamp page. Read on for an interview with Trip - the man behind Super 8.

1. Who are Super 8? Ha! Ha! Who indeed? Just Me, Myself and I!

2. What have you released to date? Just the one album … so far! I’m currently busy working on the next one.

3. How did you find the label you have released your latest album on? I didn’t - they found me as it turned out! They heard my cover of Serious Drugs and got in touch. When they heard my own original songs, they wanted to get involved.*

4. Do you have any plans for the album or touring? No real master plan as such. I guess I’d just like as many folk as possible to hear this music I make. Of course, I realise that touring helps to promote music but I recorded this entire album at home on my own. It would be pretty hard to try & recreate it in a ‘one-man-band’ style I’d imagine. That said, I’m not completely ruling the idea out, I’m just saying it would be difficult! I’d need to keep an eye out for one of those bass drums you strap to your back for starters plus I’d need some cymbals, a cello and a trumpet that I could somehow operate with my feet whilst simultaneously strumming guitar blowing on a harmonica. That should do it!  

5. What influenced the album? Well, I’d been playing stripped-back acoustic versions of my songs at open mic nights through in Edinburgh but, whilst playing them acoustically, I was hearing them in a more ‘symphonic’ way inside my head & needed to find a way of recording these definitive versions. After a few botched attempts in so-called professional studios, I finally realised that the way to do these songs justice was to go into self-imposed exile, batten down the hatches & just record everything myself at home … using a battered old portastudio. After much blood, sweat and tears, the finished result you hear on “T-T-T-Technicolour Melodies!” is the closest I’ve been able to get to how this particular batch of songs plays inside my head.

6. How do you write? Does it vary from song to song?  I tend to start off with my old faithful acoustic guitar. It could be a chord progression or a riff then, off the back of that, I’ll hope that what I’m doing reveals some kind of vocal melody that I’ll jam over the top with. If it does I’ll press record then, on playback, try to find any seeds of an idea that I can begin to work up into a finished, realised song.    

Never Ending Mixtape Part 23

More tunes for your ears.

We have newbies from The Go! Team and Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip, a classic from AC/DC, one from Dusty Springfield that I hadn't heard before and a cover of Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself by The Donna's to kick things off!

We then go on a trip with David Holmes, Liquid Liquid, LCD Soundsystem and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, before heading back to the 90's with classics from Massive Attack, the euphoric Yes by McAlmont and Butler and the Super Furries.

Liverpool offers us gems from Echo and the Bunnymen and Bill Ryder Jones, Shirley Bassey is included and some weirdly cool offerings from Jeffrey Lewis (from the brilliantly named album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane and other favorites), Yamasuki Singers (a song my friend Ben stuck on a mixtape for me years ago), Steve Mason in his King Biscuit Time disguise and a track I discovered by an act called The Bongolian!

Throw in a few others including some northern gems and the stunning power pop of Open My Eyes by Nazz and you have another eclectic selection of tunes added to the Never Ending Mixtape.

Search for the Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE.

Enjoy.

The Only Thing New Is U Finding Out About It - The Go! Team
Oh Baby - Alexis Taylor
Touch Too Much - AC/DC
Haunted - Dusty Springfield
Dancing With Myself - The Donnas
Don't Die Just Yet - David Holmes
Cavern - Liquid Liquid
You Can't Hide/Shame On You (live) - LCD Soundsystem
Bellbottoms - The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Teardrop - Massive Attack
Yes - McAlmont and Butler
Play It Cool - Super Furry Animals
The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
Are You My Love - Kelley Stoltz
I Can Only Give You Everything - Them
Jezahel - Shirley Bassey
You Can't Hide A Light With The Dark - Bill Ryder Jones
Good Fortune - PJ Harvey
The East River - Jeffrey Lewis
Yanamoto Kakapote - Yamasuki Singers
I Walk The Earth - King Biscuit Time
Googa Mama - The Bongolian
If I Could Only Be Sure - Nolan Porter
In Orbit - Joy Lovejoy
Tailor Made - The Lemon Twigs
Open My Eyes (alternate take) - Nazz

Never Ending Mixtape Part 18

Welcome to the latest additions to The Never Ending Mixtape, which smashes the 400 song barrier without breaking sweat as a whole heap of songs are added to my Spotify Playlist.

We start with the sublime Rocket Man by Elton John, leading into a Dylan song that reminds me of the magical time I saw him at the Barrowland Ballroom. we have two sublime covers by The Fuzzy Bunnies and The Icypoles, the smooth seductive sound of Barry White, a Donovan song that I thought was a lost Belle and Sebastian number when I first heard it, the majestic Carole King, fantastic indie guitar from Guided By Voices and The Replacements, a beautiful Lennon song sung by Yoko, some gems from The Boo Radleys Giant Steps album and a couple of tracks by Royksopp that reminds me (pardon the pun) of dating my wife back in 2001/2 and going clubbing. Their Melody AM album was a post club favourite.

There is also 3 gems from New Order, including 2 from their Technique LP, we have Stevie Wonder covering The Byrds/Dylan, 2 from The Supremes, a beauty from Martha Reeves, a masterclass in songwriting from Gordon Lightfoot and 3 timeless pieces of rock n roll from Eddie Cochran.

You can search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or simply check it out below. You'll need to scroll to near the end for the latest additions (listed below). Or just press shuffle and enjoy. New additions are added and blogged about monthly.

Enjoy!

Rocket Man - Elton John

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - Bob Dylan

Love Hurts - Gram Parsons

I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better - The Byrds

Wasn't Born To Follow - The Byrds

Blue Boy - Orange Juice

L.O.V.E. Love - Orange Juice

The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore - The Fuzzy Bunnies

Love Thy Will Be Done - The Icypoles

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right - The Mayberry Movement

Let The Music Use You (12-inch) The Nightwriters

It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me - Barry White

Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Donovan

It's Too Late - Carole King

Glad Girls - Guided By Voices

Swinging Party - The Replacements

The Joker - Steve Miller Band

Time Of The Season - The Zombies

Remember Love - John Lennon and Yoko Ono

You Are Here - John Lennon

Take It All In - St Etienne

Wish I Was Skinny - The Boo Radleys

Lazarus - The Boo Radleys

I Don't Know Why I Love You - The House of Love

Eple - Royksopp

Remind Me - Royksopp
Age Of Consent - New Order

All The Way - New Order
Run - New Order
Disappointed - Electronic
Mr. Tambourine Man - Stevie Wonder
Bad Weather - The Supremes
Love Child - The Supremes
I Can't Dance To The Music You're Playing - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
C'Mon Everybody - Eddie Cochran
Somethin' Else - Eddie Cochran

Pii 2

2016 was a good year for albums, I had a number of contenders vying for the 'accolade' of my favourite album of the year - in the end it was Pii by Stephen Solo that won through. An eclectic eccentric album recorded on an iPhone 6 taking in sublime Albarn-esque melodies, Boards of Canada soundscapes, a song that was like a Limmy sketch, imagination and experiments.

Pii 2 has also been recorded completely on an iPhone and it is a psychedelic, melodic, imaginative, crazy, melancholic beauty.

Check it out for yourself on Spotify.

The freedom of being able to record on the hop, not having to book or finance a recording studio and having a supportive label that has a ready made audience and is as interested in the people they work with as the music they release, allows experimentation and creativity - something sadly lacking from a lot of music these days.

Songs were recorded in the work car park, the living room, the laundry cupboard and one - the stunning No Pill For What I've Got in the bath.

Other standouts for me include LocoCoco, the sublime Think Strange, the fragile Secrets You Keep and the glorious flowing Slipstream. Then the closing quartet of David Bowie Never Had To (more on this later), iPhone psychedelia on Can't Wait, the aforementioned No Pill For What I've Got and the beautiful touching Bye Bye Song featuring Stephen's son.

Pii was written around the birth of Stephen's first son, Pii 2 around the birth of his second. This isn't a pattern he sees continuing, but he did take a unique approach to recording the 'difficult' second album - recording that, ditching it and then writing and recording the joyous 3rd 'comeback' album.

The debut album was released on a USB credit card, the follow up is out today on a USB cassette tape! You can also download from iTunes or stream on Spotify. If you like it, then buy a super cool USB cassette via www.lastnightfromglasgow.com

Internet Song starts off with a mood of clever insanity before verging off into dreamy gorgeousness. Solo (real name Farrell) can seemingly pluck a melody from thin air and when the chorus comes in it can take you somewhere special.

Feel like I'm glowing

When you're downloading

Feel like I'm floating

When I'm uploading

How does he do it? LocoCoco captures attention immediately, the melody, the voice, the backing vocals, the hooks - it does all seem effortless. Check the switch into this section of the song - sensational!!!!!

I'm tired

From feeling that I got nobody to talk to

I'm wired

From punching the clock cause it never stops

It never stops at all

A psychedelic guitar riff picked out over lush warm synth ushers in Think Strange. It is a gem. All of Stephen Solo's material is interesting and imaginative, but when it all really comes together it is incredibly special.

For a fleeting second I think of the bands selling their souls without a hope in hell of producing anything as gorgeous at this....and I laugh.... cause this guy is producing something as good as this on his iPhone 6! I've just listened to it 4 times in a row.

It's hard to admit when you're wrong about somebody

A dreamer in love with the dark

Hoping it will never come back

Farrell's love of being able to freely experiment when he has a moment to himself with his phone is joyfully expressed throughout the album. Mini Metal Girl is one of those moments where you think what goes on in this guys head? But in a good way.

I mentioned that Secrets You Keep is a highlight; Stephen singing over an acoustic guitar with just the odd little synth bubbling in the background is just gorgeous. And when he harmonises with himself it is pure Beatles.

I love you more with every secret you keep

I love you more with every cut that goes deep

David Bowie Never Had To is madcap genius. Farrell takes us into his world by comparing it to David Bowie's. I laughed out loud on first listen and then promptly listened a further 6 times to appreciate the humour, imagination, reality, songwriting and melodies.

David Bowie never had to carry a washing machine up 3 flights of stairs

David Bowie never had to downgrade his home entertainment package because he's on a zero hours contract

David Bowie never had to consider using his keys as a weapon at a dodgy bus stop

Don't want my own universe

But I'd be happy in my own little world

The song has a great twist at the end where Bowie joins in the conversation from the other side. Just listen to this - please. It is genius.

Can't Wait is home made psychedelia and then Farrell introduces another one of those magical moments from 2-minutes onwards. Flowing melodies and harmonies - sheer beauty.

I have friends who I always trust when it comes to music. So when my friend Craig asked me if I had heard Stephen's song No Pill For What I've Got then I knew it was going to be special. And it is. Recorded from the bath (which you can hear at the start). It has a sleep, dreamy, melancholy vibe with a beautiful melody and soulful reflective lyrics.

The album closes with Solo playing ukulele and singing to his eldest son about the colours of the planets of the solar system. It is a captivating insight into how music plays such a part of his life and evidence of how he can just come up with ideas and melodies with ease.

Order the incredibly cool cassette USB album from the online store (click just the album) or head to iTunes to download or Spotify to stream. Enjoy.

Saint Etienne and The Pastels at the Art School

Last night The Pastels and Saint Etienne clearly nailed their REMAIN EU colours to the mast and they were all too aware that they were playing a show as voting around the UK came to a close. Sadly that flag is flying at half-mast today.

Things were running late as Saint Etienne’s train up to Scotland had been hugely delayed, meaning they only arrived into Central Station at 6pm. Load-in, soundcheck.....

The Pastels took to the stage to cheers and Stephen Pastel was quick to thank people for coming and then voice that the referendum results were weighing heavily on his mind.

The 6-piece line-up (two guitars, bass, drums, keys and flute) started with the (largely) instrumental Slow Summits, the title track from their latest album. The contemplative and reflective song was a perfect opener, certainly giving the audience a chance to think about the night and decision ahead as The Pastels weaved their magic.

Songs from the album made up the majority of the set, Night Time Made Us was a particular highlight with the band gelling together to create something quite gorgeous.

The 6-piece became an 8-piece when they were joined by an extra guitarist and Tracy Anne from Camera Obscura for a delicious romp through Nothing To Be Done. The pace quickened and it sounded sublime.

When I was young

I used to sing

I didn’t care for anything

Tracy Anne departed and Stephen strapped his guitar back on (after a little mis-hap) and the 7-piece line-up of The Pastels had 3 guitars creating a wonderful Velvets meets Spector wall of sound for a stunning version of Baby Honey. Originally released in 1984, the song zips with zest and an electric energy. It was great to see the band play again.

Saint Etienne were a 7-piece for the night. Pete and Bob were set up behind banks of equipment at the back, someone on keys was at one side of the stage, then there was someone on viola, a backing singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. And then the gorgeous Sarah Cracknell on vocals.

Nothing Can Stop Us opened the show and the band were sounding good. There was a slight technical glitch afterwards, Sarah engaged with the audience but as it dragged on she ended up in fits of giggles before we were back on the way.

The set mixed classic singles with some new(er) album cuts and singles. The audience lapped it up as the band showcased their fantastic mix of pure, melodic, catchy, clubby and cinematic pop.

You’re In A Bad Way was the very first Saint Etienne 7-inch record that I bought, away back in 1993. It still sounds fresh, fun and joyous.  Tonight was a highlight from later day Saint Etienne that will definitely see me delving into some of their more recent albums. It was glorious.

The acidic pop of Like A Motorway was probably my highlight of the night, bubbling synths, beats and a dreamy Sarah Cracknell vocal - sublime.

The Saint Etienne cover version of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart (that I previously blogged about here) was just perfect, the old synth sounds still sound timeless, futuristic and Young’s lyrics will always ring true.

The encore started with a beautiful rendition of Hobart Paving, with Sarah Cracknell in fine voice. The poetic lyrics paint picture and it was a stunning performance with Sarah really shining.

Pete and Bob came back on and then it was on to pure pop with He’s On The Phone with the seemingly never-ending chorus that flowed and flowed and flowed, as we all danced, sung and raised our hands in the air. The blissful pop removing the referendum result from our minds.....for a while...

Someone That Loves You

20 odd years ago I regularly tuned into the Radio 1 Evening Session hosted by Steve Lamaq and Jo Whiley - 2 enthusiastic music fans who easily transferred their knowledge and passion to the airwaves, subsequently turning me on to all kinds of music.

Lamaq is now on 6music’s drivetime slot and Jo Whiley has a few nights a week on Radio 2. I tend to listen to Jo’s show on the way to play 7-a-side football on a Wednesday night. It’s a late night kick-off at 9pm, so I sometimes leave the house with plenty of time to spare and take a leisurely drive over whilst listening to Jo’s show.

Last week she played this gem - Someone That Loves You by HONNE and Izzy Bizu. I fell for it immediately, the chorus was instant, the way the song flows, the feel, the vocals - all sublime.

Someone That Loves You is equally dreamy and euphoric, combining pop, soul and electro with ease - sounding modern, yet familiar - just perfect. The male and female voices combine superbly to tell a tale of love and lust with Izzy lifting things for the chorus.

Don’t touch me

Boy I want you

Not allowed to

You have someone that loves you

I’m waiting 

And I’m patient

I’m deluded

You have someone that loves you

Honne play King Tut’s in Glasgow on Tuesday 22nd October.

Forty Songs

To celebrate turning 40 I have selected 40 of my favourite songs pretty much off the top of my head.

I could easily do another 40 featuring the likes of Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr, The Doors, Bowie, Velvet Underground, The Lemonheads, Orange Juice..... Deelite's Groove Is In The Heart and Van Halen's Jump....but for now.....

I hope you enjoy them. You can get them all in a handy playlist HERE or select them individually below if you want to check out a specific song.

Going Back To My Roots - Ritchie Havens
I always play it whenever I DJ, it always gets a positive reaction.

Temptation - New Order

Does it get any better? This is the original raw version - sublime.

Come Together - Primal Scream
I love the Weatherall mix, I especially love the Farley mix but this version from the Screamadelica tour is the best. Euphoric!

You Set The Scene - Love

I was lucky enough to see Arthur Lee live half a dozen times. The first time I saw him at King Tut's you could have heard a pin drop when he played this.

Don't Let Me Down - The Beatles

Lennon is so in love that he shouts 4 words rather than whisper 3.

Getting Away With It - Electronic

Sumner, Tennant and Marr combine to create something glorious. I love the line 'I've been walking in the rain just to get wet on purpose'

One To Another - The Charlatans

One of my all-time faves from one of my favourite bands. Raw, soulful and powerful.

Everything Flows - Teenage Fanclub
Difficult to choose just one from Teenage Fanclub but as the blog is named after it! This still gets me pogo-ing when they play it live, the guitars are glorious.

She Bangs The Drums - Stone Roses
Pop perfection, just sublime.

Don't Leave Me This Way - Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
Another one I tend to always play when I DJ - builds and builds and is just sensational from start to finish.

Silent Sigh - Badly Drawn Boy
This guy could pluck a beautiful melody from a rubber band. Beautiful.

Since I Left You - The Avalanches

Incredible feel-good pop from the album of the same name.

La Femme D'Argent - Air
Blissful opening track from their classic Moon Safari album. This was a huge post-club album back in the days when I went clubbing.

Looking for You - Garnett Mimms
One of my favourite soul songs since discovering it on a compilation back in 2001. Yearning heartfelt vocals.

It's A Motherf**ker - Eels
Heartbreakingly beautiful, E says it all about the loss of his Mum in just over 2-minutes.

Waitin' For A Superman - Flaming Lips
Love this band, their whole fun psychedelic punk attitude is so refreshing and when they hit these kind of heights it leaves me with a huge smile on my face.

Thinkin' Of You - Sister Sledge
Nile Rogers at his very best. Sublime, uplifting, such a groove.

Together In Electric Dreams - Human League
What a tune! The ambition, craft and performance in this song is mind blowing. I caught the Human League live back in 2009 and this lifted me to somewhere out of this world.

Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield
Do I need to say anything here? Music doesn't get much better than this.

And I Was A Boy From School - Hot Chip
Stumbled across Hot Chip in a tent in Benicassim back in 2005 and fell in love with them. Bought this on 7-inch and played it when I dj's at Edinburgh School of Art for my sister and loads of people came up to ask who it was - always a good sign.

All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
Possibly my favourite band since the turn of the century. This is just amazing. Another song I tend to play when I DJ.

Sit Down - James
This song means a lot to me, reminds me of one of my best friends and also of United lifting the Treble in Camp Nou back in 1999 when I was fortunate enough to get a ticket.

Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
I think I could listen to Hope Sandoval all night. What a voice. And I used to fancy her like mad!

Sometimes Always - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Hope Sandoval with the Mary Chain - brilliant guitar pop duet that flows from the off.

Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
One of the first times I went to a gig on my own was when I bagged a last minute ticket for The Verve at the Barrowlands just after this was released. Mind blowing.

Stop The Clocks - Miaoux Miaoux
Julian Corrie is a very talented guy and this remains my favourite song of his. Takes it to another level when he and his band play it live. Gorgeous at the start before taking you off on an uplifting trip.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross (Marvin and Tammi version isn't on YouTube)
Sublime, stunning vocals and arrangement.

All Our Dreams Are Coming True - Gene Page
I asked Lynn to walk down the aisle with her Dad to this superb instrumental when we got married. She was under strict instructions to stay at the door and let everyone look at her until the beat came in!

Stoned Love - The Supremes
Bad Weather and Love Child are pipped by this, largely because it reminds me of the Stone Roses, but also because it is a belter.

You Got The Love - Candi Staton
This has featured in many a crazy night out over the years - well not so much these days. A real hands in the air, hug your mates anthem.

I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
Pure raw pop at its very best. Listen to Michael's voice!

Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
Experimental pop at its very best. Clever, playful, interesting and a song that I still find something new in - always grabs me whenever it is played.

Golden Path - The Chemical Brothers
Man, I wish Wayne Coyne and The Chemical Brothers had recorded more songs together. This is psychedelic electro brilliance that always leaves me wanting more. Genius!

If Everybody Looked The Same - Groove Armada
I was working behind the bar at O'Henry's in Glasgow (now the Yes bar) when a fellow member of the bar team put this on. I immediately had to find out who it was and then I must have played it 6 times in a row. Groove Armada have an exceptional back catalogue but this remains my favourite although a special mention must go to the gorgeous At The River which closed many a club night back in the day.

You - Spanky Wilson
Outrageous, uplifting and euphoric soul. I love buying compilation albums and when I heard this on Living In The Streets I feel for it immediately. I was lucky enough to catch Spanky Wilson live at The Arches.

California Soul - Marlena Shaw
Aw this playlist isn't in any real order, otherwise this would be up near the top. Just pure brilliance on vinyl - the song, performance and vocals are class. I have seen Marlena Shaw live a few times, the first time was when the Renfrew Ferry was over the other side of the Clyde and after she played this there was an ovation and cheering for what felt like 10-minutes - it probably was.

Nowhere To Run - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Raw Detroit soul from Motown. I once danced on stage with Martha at Oran Mor!

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher - Frankie Wilson
Ooooft - when a DJ played this at Barraloadasoul back in May last year everyone ran to the dance floor to dance, sing and punch the air in delight. Special.

Slide Away - Oasis
Between 1994-1996 Oasis meant the world to me. They backed up my love and faith with an incredible run of songs and shows culminating in Knebworth. Slide Away remains my favourite Oasis song; Noel's words, Liam's voice....brilliant.

Dry The Rain - Beta Band
My sister and I went to the last ever Beta Band show at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh. The crowd just kept on singing the refrain to this song for long after the band had finished playing it. Original and brilliant.

For the time being I can't think of a better song to finish this mix.

If there's something inside that you wanna say

Say it out loud, it'll be OK

I will be your light

I will be your light

I will be your light

I will be your light

I need love

I need love

And then the one more tune....well there would be two, two that used to close a few post club nights back in the day.

Rez - Underworld
Just incredible - powerful and soothing.

Belfast - Orbital
Beautiful, soundtracked the end to quite a few nights back in the noughties. Sublime, pure, uplifting...gorgeous.