Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 29

Welcome to my 29th 60(ish) minute mix of songs that I can imagine playing in pubs like McChuills or The Variety Bar in Glasgow. They very much have an Anything Goes and Everything Flows policy and that's what I try and do with my playlists or when I occasionally venture out to DJ.

For this mix, I combined 2 playlists that I was working on. Both were getting somewhere, but not really going where I wanted them. So, in the same way Lennon and McCartney spliced a couple of songs together for A Day In The Life, I've spliced together 2 mixes.

The first section is very soul influenced, kicking off with an old gem but then going modern with Edinburgh's Joseph Malik, the incredible Michael Kiwanuka, Gabriels mixed by Greg Wilson, SAULT and a sensational cover by Niki & The Dove.

Moloko's smash hit The Time Is Now keeps the soulful flavour, but hints at a change in pace. Lou Hayter's sublime Time Out Of Mind eases things forward before we delve into all kinds of electronic goodness with the legendary Mr.Fingers, Underworld and The Chemical Brothers. Felix Da Housecat and Orbital with Mike Garry.

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 29 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Music by Gloria Ann Taylor

I Quit My 9 to 5 by Joseph Malik, Niki King and Chris Greive

You Ain't The Problem by Michael Kiwanuka

Love and Hate in a Different Time by Gabriels (Greg Wilson mix)

I Just Want To Dance by SAULT

Galvanize by Niki and the Dove

The Time Is Now by Moloko

Tim Out Of Mind by Lou Hayter

Stars by Mr.Fingers

Cups by Underworld

No Geography by The Chemical Brothers

Ready 2 Wear by Felix Da Housecat

Tonight In Belfast by Orbital w/ Mike Garry (David Holmes mix) 

Gruff Rhys at Saint Lukes

Photo by Alan Clarke

Spring was in the air in Glasgow yesterday, Monday 19th February. The day felt lighter and brighter, perhaps it was just a co-incidence that Gruff Rhys was in town, but then again, I imagine that he brings a warm glow wherever he goes.

Gruff was playing Saint Luke's to promote Sadness Sets Me Free, the 25th album of his remarkable career, taking in Super Furry Animals, collaborations, side projects and his solo material. There is no sign, or danger, that Rhys is going to slow down. 

The sold out Saint Luke's basked in Gruff's warm glow, marvelling at his natural creative energy, inventive way with lyrics, ideas, stories and melodies coupled with his beautiful voice. 

Backed by a crack 4-piece; drums (nicely positioned side on - the drummer was sensational), double bass/bass, keyboards/electric piano and synth/mellotron, Gruff switched between a couple of acoustics and an electric guitar, dressed in a GR logistics lab coat. 

Although we're only in February, I can safely say that Sadness Sets Me Free will be one of my albums of the year. Recorded in only 3-days in a studio on the outskirts of Paris, the timescale (almost 'forced' upon Gruff when his friend let him know he had time available) ensures that there is a lovely warm feel throughout. 

Rhys is aided by his crack band of Osian Gwynedd (piano), V Williams (double bass) and Kilph Sturrock (drums). Kate Stables from This Is The Kit added backing vocals and the wonderful strings and orchestration was added back in Wales. BOOM!

Photo by Alan Clarke

Opening with album closer I'll Keep Singing, title track Sadness Sets Me Free and latest single Bad Friend, highlighted the confidence and belief that Rhys has in his new songs. He even stopped and started Bad Friend, highlighting the way he just changes how he plays the same chords for different sections.

When Gruff sings in his native Welsh it only highlights his way with melodies and knack for a pop hook. Pang! was delightful, everyone was smiling - onstage and in the crowd.

I Tendered My Resignation is Gruff singing about his regret of cutting off a relationship too early, seemingly just because he was too young. I love how unique Gruff's songwriting is. Rhys really just lets his mind and imagination wander, resulting in dreamy psychedelic lyrics and melodies. His tight rhythm section allowed the rest of the band to flourish and I got lost in some of Gruff's guitar riffs.

Sometimes doing the right thing

Is the opposite of doing the right thing

Sometimes it's the wrong thing

And doing the right thing isn't doing the right thing

Earlier on I spoke of Gruff having a warm glow and in his new song They Sold My Home To Build A Skyscraper he sings keep on glowing in the dark in a refrain at the end. Good advice. This is one of my favourites on the album, the opening line (the title) is just so off the cuff, slightly bizarre, beautifully unique ... and everything just flows from there. I particularly love Gruff's voice and melody on this as he comments on how everything is being built on, or modernised - including the fact that there is now a luxury development on the site of the dancefloor where he met a love.

They're building malls up to the moon

But even space ran out of room

Towards the end, Gruff's drummer paused proceedings to come to centre stage to announce that Gruff would shred all the emotional worries that people wrote down and put in a box at the merch stand before the show. It was typically offbeat humour with a warm edge (glow).

Photo by Lorna Templeton

Gruff's Babelsberg album is a big favourite of mine, so I was delighted that he played Negative Vibes towards the end of the show (setlist below - my friend Lorna got). There was no time for an encore, Gruff and co kept playing, with Rhys having time to hold up signs for applause, tax the rich, sadness sets me free and more.

What a brilliant night. Rhys is a wonderful singer, songwriter and performer and his band are magnificent. I hope they will be back in Glasgow again before the end of the year.

Photo by Lorna Templeton

Anything

Trust me #66
Anything by Adrianne Lenker

Tuesday 13th February 2024 was a sunny day. I was due to drive to the outskirts of Edinburgh, so I jumped in my car and was deciding what playlist to put on when 6Music started playing a delicate acoustic song with a gentle psychedelic tinge to the guitar and vocals. The melody flowed effortlessly and I just sat for a moment, utterly transfixed on the song.

It was Adrianne Lenker. So instead of a playlist I just played Adrianne Lenker and fell for her charms. 

I had no idea who Adrianne Lenker was. Despite many friends shouting about the band Big Thief, I have to confess that I've never really taken the time to properly check them out. Weird, considering it is so easy to check bands out these days! Sometimes, just maybe, it is too easy.

Lenker is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist in Big Thief who have released 5 albums since their debut in 2016. Lenker has also released a number of solo albums, dating back to 2006, 10-years before Big Thief's debut. New album Bright Future is due in March.

Back to Anything. It's just acoustic guitar and some delightfully fuzzy psychedelic effects. Lenker's voice sounds raw and pure as she sings about hanging in the sunshine, scoring drugs, mundane family life and being hopelessly in love.

This is songwriting of the highest order. Flowing so naturally in a gorgeous melody, telling so much in such a short space of time over a repetitive riff. Gorgeous, I must have played this 20 times in 5-days. 

Staring down the barrel of the hot sun

Shining with the sheen of a shotgun

Carol has a little if we need some

Joyous rays, we wanna come

Hanging your jeans with a clothes pin

Skin still wet, still on my skin

Mango in your mouth, juice dripping

Shoulder of your shirtsleeve slipping

Christmas Eve with your mother and sis

Don't wanna fight, but your mother insists

Dog's white teeth slice right into my fist

Drive to the ER, and you put me on my wrist

Grocery store list, now you get this

Brunch, had calls and messages

I don't wanna be the owner of your fantasy

I just wanna be a part of your family

And I don't wanna talk about anything

I don't wanna talk about anything

I wanna kiss, kiss your eyes again

Wanna witness your eyes looking

I don't wanna talk about anyone

I don't wanna talk about anyone

I wanna sleep in your car while you're driving

Lay on your lap whеn I'm crying

Circle of pine and riddle

Circlе of moss and fire smoke

Fan on the ceiling like a wheel spoke

Push the clutch in, and I pull the choke

Wanna listen to the sound of you blinking

Wanna listen to your hands soothe

Listen to your heart beating

Listen to the way you move

And I don't wanna talk about anything

I don't wanna talk about anything

I wanna kiss, kiss your eyes again

Wanna witness your eyes looking

I don't wanna talk about anyone

I don't wanna talk about anyone

Wanna sleep in your car while you're driving

Lay in your lap when I'm crying

Weren't we the stars in Heaven?

Weren't we the salt in the sea?

Dragging the newborn mountain

Didn't you believe in me?

Yeah, you held me the whole way through

When I couldn't say the words like you

I was scared indigo, but I wanted to

I was scared indigo, but I wanted to

I don't wanna talk about anything

I don't wanna talk about anything

I wanna kiss, kiss your eyes again

Wanna witness your eyes looking

I don't wanna talk about anyone

I don't wanna talk about anyone

I wanna sleep in your car while you're driving

Lay in your lap when I'm crying, ooh

Anything (live)

Anything is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

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

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

Tonight In Belfast

I wanna hold you up so high, you're gonna need a space suit

Trust me #65

Tonight In Belfast - Orbital, David Holmes and Mike Garry

I originally wrote about Belfast back in April 2021, but it has been nice to write about it again following the release of a new version involving David Holmes and the poet Mike Garry..

Belfast is one of the most blissful and sublime electronic songs that I am aware of. Warm synths, bubbling synths, funky cool beats (never overpowering) and a sample of soprano Emily Van Evera performing O Euchari are all blended together to create something truly magical. 

And, oh, what about those heavenly chords that have helped thousands of dancers and ravers put their hands in the air over the years?! Swoon!

The layers of the song are utterly gorgeous and the way things slow down to sheer bliss towards the end is like ecstasy on record. Belfast is spine tinglingly incredible. It gives me all the feels.

David Holmes booked Orbital to play the Art College in Belfast after falling for their debut single Chime. The Hartnoll brothers left a demo tape of a new song which they subsequently named Belfast after enjoying themselves so much in the city.

Many years later, Orbital invited their old friend David Holmes to remix Belfast for their hits/compilation album 30 Something to mark 3 decades since their debut single.

Holmes treats it with the tender love and care you would imagine, stretching it out to 12-minutes, allowing even more time to get lost in the synths, grooves and beats. I get tingles and rushes listening to this.

Is it just me, or do I hear Holmes hinting at Joy Divisions's Atmosphere at times? I can imagine this being mixed in perfectly.

Belfast is still inspiring and now the song has taken on another direction after DJ Helen suggested to the poet Mike Garry (who previously  came to my attention with his poem An Ode to Anthony H Wilson) that his poem Tonight would sit perfectly over Holmes remix.

Top suggestion! It fits like a glove!

Garry's Mancunian soul pours out over the top of Holmes and the Hartnoll brothers electronic magic, coming in just after 2-minutes with the opening verse.

Tonight, I just wanna paint pictures of you

Write poems and songs and novels, all about you

I wanna hold you up so high, you're gonna need a space suit

Mike (and DJ Helen) know when to let the music take hold, letting everything go at 3 minutes 45 seconds into sheer bliss before beats kick back in. Then when Garry comes back in a minute late, he sounds as lost in the music as I have been many, many times.

And we can build new mountains for us to climb is my favourite line. Garry sounds beautifully loved up (he originally wrote the poem to read at his wedding)

Tonight, you're gonna need a space suit

I wanna hold you up so high, you're gonna need a space suit

What a romantic genius! What a brilliant collaboration.

Enjoy!

Tonight In Belfast (official video)

Tonight In Belfast is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

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

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

It Must Be Love

 

Cover version of the month #95 
Madness cover Labi Siffre

One of Scotland's most beloved musicians is Bobby Bluebell of The Bluebells. I really enjoy following Bobby on X/Twitter where he regularly posts about his love of music, political beliefs (right on!), Celtic and Glasgow sunsets. 

Towards the end of 2023, Bobby retweeted a black and white video, stating that this was a performance by 'the most overlooked British songwriter ever'.

Naturally, I had to check it out! Who was it? What was the song?

I was surprised to find that it was a performance of the song It Must Be Love and the original tweet stated; December 11th 1971, this little piece of magic was climbing the charts at no.17.

Hang on a second! Isn't It Must Be Love a Madness song?! 1971?!?! 

Well, It Must Be Love is yet another example of me thinking a cover was an original. Labi Siffre is the artist that Bobby was proclaiming to be the most overlooked British songwriter ever.

Siffre released It Must Be Love as a single in 1971 (peaking at 14 in the charts in January 1972) and then on his 1972 album Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying. Madness released their version 10-years after the original in late-1981. Siffre makes a cameo appearance as a violin player in typically brilliant Madness video.

It's pretty easy to hear why Madness were attracted to the song. And after listening to a couple of Siffre's albums, it's clear to hear why Bobby declared Siffre the most overlooked British songwriter ever.

Siffre's melody and song are immediately captivating. The song starts with a countdown into a kind of skiffle groove with that incredible vocal melody over the top. Siffre is heartbroken, pining for a lost love and recognising how much he needs her. It's the classic - don't know what you've got 'til it's gone song!

I never thought I'd miss you

Half as much as I do

And I never thought I'd feel this way

The way I feel

About you

A gentle beat and horns come in for the bridge which underlines how much Siffre has woken up and recognised how head over heels he was. The chorus is simple and extremely effective

It must be love, love, love

It must be love, love, love

Nothing more, nothing less

Love is the best

There is another short verse, bridge, chorus, bridge and chorus. That's it. Siffre keeps it beautifully simple. he is never rushed, just hits the sweet spot and flows. There is a lovely freshness to the song.

Madness take Siffre's melody and just put their own unique stamp on it. Piano replaces the skiffle riff, Suggs accent is quintessentially English and the video is quite poppy - white room with the band predominantly in black, saxaphone and guitar solos in a swimming pool. And Suggs (at least going by the start of the video) is singing to someone who has died. 

Madness don't really stray too far from the original ... yet they don't really appear to have ever truly highlight that they didn't actually write the song.

I guess you could say they made it their own ... Their version definitely stands out and is very memorable, but having now discovered the original, I definitely prefer it.

Labi Siffre - Top of the Pops

Madness (official video)

Siffre's original and the Madness cover version are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 

8. Sound and Vision 

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus 

11. Guiding Star

12. You’ll Never Walk Alone

13. Hurt

14. This Guy's In Love With You

15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine

16. California Soul

18. Wonder wall 

19. Dancing In The Dark

20. Always On My Mind

21. Ceremony

22. Heroes

23. Different Drum

24. Wild Horses

25. Respect

26. Mr Tambourine Man

27. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

28. Superstar

29. Twist and Shout

30. Purple Rain

31. Baker Street

32. Not Fade Away

33. Stop Your Sobbing

34. I Don't Want To Grow Up

35. Serious Drugs

36. Dancing With Myself

37. How Does It Feel To Feel?

38. Love Buzz

39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash

41. Discoland

42. Varshons 2 by The Lemonheads

43. The Langley Schools Music Project
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down 
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday 
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U

56. Hey Jude

57. Seven Days Too Long

58. L.O.V.E Love

59. Into Your Arms

60. Heart Of Glass

61. Take Me To The River

62. We Can Work It Out 

63. Talking In My Sleep

64. Lola

65. Lost In Music

66. My Little Red Book

67. Isn't It A Pity

68. Walk On By

69. Walk Away Renee

70. Tainted Love

71. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

72. Listen The Snow Is Falling

73. Mrs Robinson

74. He's Gonna Step On You Again

75. In My Life

76. Caravan Of Love

77. The Only Way Is Up

78. Dancin' Round & Round

79. With A Little Help From My Friends

80. Killing Me Softly

81. Ain't No Mountain High Enough

82. Drop

83. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay

84. Sympathy For The Devil

85. I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor

86. Love Will Tear Us Apart

87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire

88. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

89. Love The One You're With

90. Cum On Feel The Noize

91. Addicted To Love

92. Valerie

93. Ride On Time

94. Let's Dance

One million views

THANK YOU!!!

Hello everyone

Rather amazingly, Everything Flows Glasgow has now broken 1,000,000 all-time views! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit. 

As always, I hope you discover an amazing song, album, band or artist that you have never heard before. Or that you rediscover an old favourite.

Some of my musings are viewed thousands of times, most (even for new/breaking bands) are viewed a couple of hundred or so. It really depends on what I am writing about and interest levels.

I don't tend to worry about views - I just enjoy writing and only wish I had the time to write a little more.

Back in October 2022, I published my 1,000th blog and reflected back on a number of things, including; the Scottish blogging community, favourite bands, local bands, reviews and interviews.

I'll continue to blog for as long as I enjoy writing. 

Thanks and take care

Murray

Andrew Wasylyk and Gerard Love

On Tuesday 30th January I drove into Maryhill in the west of Glasgow to see Andrew Wasylyk and Gerard Love playing for Celtic Connections. The artists were performing in the beautiful Mackintosh Queens Cross on Gascube Road, the only church in the world designed by the great Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I first caught Andrew and his band playing in this wonderful venue back in 2018 when they supported The Pastels. 

Andrew is an immensely intelligent musician who takes inspiration from landscapes, people and stories to create his mesmerising, cinematic soundscapes. He is naturally curious about things, while his prolific nature that has led to him releasing 7 albums since his debut in 2015 -  1 per year since The Paralian in 2019. 

Watching Andrew playing the piano with his 7 piece band was a joy and this performance was enhanced by films playing on a large screen behind them. With strings, horns, additional keys, a solid bass underpinning everything and funky, playful and at times jazzy beats, Wasylyk and co conjured up something really special. 

As Andrew's music is almost completely instrumental, I have to confess that I'm not great at knowing the names of his songs! I do know that he closed with the sublime Last Sunbeams of Childhood, a favourite from his last album. I just enjoyed being immersed in the experience. Andrew also shouted Free Palestine before beginning his finale, generating a number of cheers in the audience.

There were definitely a number of songs from his Hearing the Water before Seeing the Falls album including a mesmerising The Life Of Time. Andrew explained that photographer Thomas Joshua Cooper was the inspiration behind the album. Thomas talks of life over a beautiful piece of music.

Wasylyk and co also played Truant In Gossamer which was possibly their most psychedelic song of the night, they really got into it and created something very special. I would highly recommend going to see Andrew and his band next time they play - especially if they have the visuals accompanying them. 

Towards the end of his show Andrew thanked his band, the production team, Tommy Perman for the visuals and support for the night - Gerard Love. The way Andrew spoke of discovering Teenage Fanclub around the same time as me really struck a chord. Andrew rightly called Gerry 'one of the greats' and I think everyone wholeheartedly agreed.

Gerry himself is exceptionally modest, but his body of work with Teenage Fanclub and Lightships really does inspire people. It's been a joy to watch Gerry playing various venues in and around Glasgow over the last couple of years; playing songs from his back catalogue and occasionally testing out new ones.

Backed by Noel O'Donnell on guitar/drums and the exceptionally talented Tom Crossley on keyboards/flute/xylophone, Gerry played a wonderful set. Don't Look Back had a beautiful church choir singing along gently.

The new songs sounded fantastic. One in particular has a warm flowing melody and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like when the album comes out.

Sometimes I have to close my eyes

When I look 

for you

Closing with Ain't That Enough, Love highlighted how blown away he was by the venue and turned around to his band to say 'we should play here again sometime'.

I hope they do.

Never Ending Mixtape part 88

Hey

How are you?

Welcome to the first update on my Never Ending Mixtape of 2024. 

Thanks so much if you take the time to check it out and SPECIAL thanks if you are one of the 343 people who follow my playlist. It's now approaching 4,000 songs! There are 3,761 at the time of writing.

Dig in and I hope you find something amazing that you have never heard before or that you rediscover an old favourite.

Here are some of the songs I've been enjoying since I last updated the blog.

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

Recent discoveries

Find My Way - Paul McCartney w/ Beck - Macca and Beck, they should do more together.

That F**king Feeling - Sean Lennon

Cat People (Putting Out A Fire) - David Bowie - this Bowie song had completely passed me by, but I've been playing it a lot following the recent Bowie night at The Admiral Woods.

Patience Wearing Thin - Ducks Ltd. - a VERY recent discovery. I'll be checking out more of their work.

New music

Crazy Again - Gossip - Really enjoyed hearing this on 6Music. New single that caused me to go back and check out the classic Standing In The Way Of Control. What a voice!

Blue - NewDad - Terrible band name (I can be a band name snob at times), good song

Quite a few from the new Bill Ryder-Jones album - it is SUBLIME!

Old favourites

Loving Cup - The Rolling Stones

Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan

Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

If Not For You - George Harrison

Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

20/20 - Gaz Coombes 

Falling - Ben Kweller - sublime songwriting