Anxious

 

I only discovered Nell and her music in mid-December last year and wrote about that in this blog.​ In a unique and slightly surreal way, I have been looking forward to this album, but also dreading it. I kind of knew it would be good (and it is!) and I also kind of knew the sense of heartbreak that it would bring.

Smith tragically died in a car accident in October 2024. Nell was only 17 years old. I can only imagine the songs she would have gone on to write and sing, the shows she would play and the joy she would bring to people, the kids she would inspire.

However, like Nell's family, friends and record label, those that discover her music and talent have to cherish the fact that she did get to record some wonderful songs and that this album has been released.

Posthumous albums often carry a heavy emotional weight, but Anxious, the debut from 17-year-old Nell Smith, is uniquely devastating. Released on April 11, 2025, via Bella Union, the album offers a luminous glimpse into a young artist whose voice was silenced far too early.

Nell's 2021 collaboration with The Flaming Lips, Where The Viaduct Looms, reimagined Nick Cave’s songs through her youthful lens. With Anxious, she steps into her own spotlight, revealing a songwriting voice and talent that’s both playful and profound. Anxious is Nell's real debut album. Released on April 11, 2025, via Bella Union, the album offers a luminous glimpse into a young artist whose voice was silenced far too early.

A young Nell with Wayne Coyne

The album was produced by Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles, who worked closely with Nell in Brighton. Some of the songs date back to when she was just 12 years old. The sessions were fueled by Doritos, fizzy sweets, Coca-Cola, and the thrill of sneaking into local gigs for inspiration. The result is a psychedelic indie-pop record that captures the emotional turbulence of adolescence with startling clarity.​

The title track, Anxious sets the tone with a whimsical yet raw take on teenage angst, reflecting on the isolation of growing up during a pandemic. Bubba finds joy in grief, while Boy in a Bubble is a slice of psychedelic pop, a thank you note to mentor Wayne Coyne.

Billions of People (my immediate and current favourite) and Daisy Fields shimmer with inventive pop experimentation.

The chorus into the bridge on Billions of People is devastatingly emotional. Oooft! 7.92 billion people and I'd choose you - now that's a line!

And if I was in a room full of people I'd never met, I'd look for you

And if I was feeling blue and upset, I'd call out for you

7.92 billion people and I'd choose you

Three tracks were co-written with Canadian folk band Shred Kelly during cozy winter evenings in her hometown of Fernie, British Columbia, in 2022. These collaborations, later completed in Brighton, add warmth and intimacy to the album’s sonic palette.

A few words of praise from other reviews;

​AllMusic called it “a poignant, eloquent peek into teenage girlhood” 

Consequence described it as “an upbeat slice of psych-pop in which Smith expresses her love of music as a way to cope with anxiety.” 

Spin noted the album’s “bright, ‘Why not?’ energy of experimentation,” likening it to “Regina Spektor fronting The Flaming Lips.” ​

 I've donated $20 to the Nell Smith Memorial Fund, established by her family in memory of Nell to support emerging musicians. The fund,  aims to raise $100,000, awarding $10,000 annually over ten years, with profits from Anxious contributing directly to this initiative. 

Nell Smith and Anxious will leave a mark and her life, music and talent will be celebrated and discovered by many for a long, long time to come.

Race for the Prize and Waitin' for a Superman

 

Trust me #90
Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips
Trust me #91
Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips are one of the best bands I have ever seen. Their live show is a truly heart warming, spine tingling, life affirming experience! 

I remember the first time I caught them at The Barrowland, singer Wayne Coyne was setting up his own equipment on stage. Dressed in a linen suit, he'd later be covered in fake blood, singing his heart out, leading the audience on a trip. One other memorable show was at the Academy around the release of their collaboration with The Chemical Brothers and they played a blinding version of The Golden Path, it was sensational. Then ... there was the time Coyne rode a unicorn around the Barrowland! Check my blog on that HERE

Coyne is a fearless psychedelic punk warrior. A heartfelt leader and singer, full of empathy and soul, constantly pushing and breaking boundaries, challenging himself and his band.

The Lips formed way back in 1983 and had released 8 albums before their breakthrough with 1999's The Soft Bulletin. What a truly heartfelt and beautiful album.

I remember reading about their previous album, 1997's Zaireeka in the music weeklies. The band held an event with Ghetto Blasters playing each of the four CD's that made the album so they would produce a harmonic or juxtaposed sound. 

At one stage the band conducted a series of Parking Lot Experiments with 40 cassette tapes. Each person/car who attended was given a tape with instructions on when to press play. The result was a 20-minute sound composition. The Lips were out there, far out there.

The Flaming Lips somehow transitioned to a major label in Warners, a label who believed in them and invested in their madcap ideas. This was largely on the success of 1993's single She Don't Use Jelly.

Six years later, The Soft Bulletin, stands as a testament to the band's evolution, blending lush orchestration with introspective lyrics. For me, this is The Lips masterpiece. I do have two favourite songs ... two songs that the band obviously rated particularly highly as well as they both feature twice! 

Race for the Prize and Waitin' for a Superman were both remixed (to my untrained ear it was mainly softening the drums - probably for radio and promotion) and these Mokran Mixes were added on to the CD album which I bought.

Race for the Prize

Album opener, and also usually their opening song when playing live, Race for the Prize is a wonderful, weird and wild whirlwind, telling the story of two scientists locked in heated battle for the cure that is their prize. 

Live, Wayne Coyne fires confetti cannons, flashes lights and conjures an Alice in Wonderland type scene as the orchestral score swirls around him. It's a sensory explosion with crashing drums, cinematic strings and Coyne's voice beautifully strained is achingly fragile ... it connects. 

Two scientists are racing for the good of all man-kind

Both of them side by side

So determined

The emotion is heightened when almost everything drops out, leaving Coyne singing over heart tugging strings and gentle beats;

Theirs is to win, if it kills them

They're just humans, with wives and children

The beats kick back in hard, the strings soar with beautiful flourishes over the top. Race for the Prize is a kaleidoscope of emotions; joy, despair, hope, determination, describing two scientists pushing themselves to the limit for the good of all man-kind. Coyne's voice is captivating, pure, raw and vulnerable. He seems locked in the story, in awe of the scientists.

Waitin' for a Superman

Coyne and his band are on fire across The Soft Bulletin, telling stories, reflecting on love, life, death and the universe and doing so in their own unique lysergic tinged style with soul, warmth, empathy, love and care. Coyne melts my heart, especially on this song as he urges people to hold on the best they can.

There are a couple of excellent hooks in Waitin' for a Superman, particularly when Coyne asks the question is it getting heavy? and then comes back to it just a couple of lines later, with an answer. It's so clever, so catchy and effective.

I asked you a question

I didn't need you to reply

Is it getting heavy?

But then I realised

Is it getting heavy?

Well I thought it was already as heavy as can be

There are only a couple of verses, each ending with a similar bridge that leads to a chorus;

Tell everybody, waitin' for Superman

That they should hold on, the best they can

He hasn't dropped them, forgot them, or anything

It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Oooffttt, it packs a punch. Things are pretty f**king heavy right now. Too heavy, even for Superman, but we've all got to hold on the best we can.

Hang in there folks, stay positive, believe in the light side of the force and look out for family and friends in these troubled times we are living in. 

In the end, cowards are those who follow the dark side - Yoda 

Both Race for the Prize and Waitin' for a Superman are 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

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

Nell Smith

On Saturday morning I fancied listening to The Flaming Lips in the shower! Too much info perhaps! I selected Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1 and sang along, thinking that I really should get tickets to go and see them in Edinburgh in May.

Spotify algorithms kicked in and afterwards I heard a song that I had never heard before. It sounded really beautiful; haunting piano over warm chords, a vocal that was dreamy and wracked with emotion, drenched in reverb and just sounding supremely cool. I picked up my phone and discovered this was a singer called Nell Smith who had recorded and released an album, Where The Viaduct Looms, in collaboration with The Flaming Lips. The song was Into My Arms.

Nell Smith & The Flaming Lips - Into My Arms (video)

I immediately sent the song to my sister who also checked it out and sent a one word reply simply saying - gorgeous. I didn't get a chance to listen to the album that day, but returned to it on Sunday morning and decided to find out who Nell Smith was and how this collaboration came about. The album completely passed me by at the time. This kind of thing can happen with The Flaming Lips who are pretty prolific and some of their releases can fly under the radar.

My heart broke as I scrolled down and read 'Nell was a singer songwriter based in Fernie, BC. She was tragically killed in a car accident on October 6 2024.'

I was moved to tears as Nell's music played and I learned that she was only 17.  

FUCK!

I learned that Nell had fallen for The Flaming Lips and ended up meeting the band. Wayne became friends with Nell and her family, eventually suggesting she record some Nick Cave songs, as she had never heard his music, so had no pre-conceived ideas as to how to sing the songs.

Nell Smith & The Flaming Lips - The Ship Song (video)

Where The Viaduct Looms is the result of that recording. It's truly gorgeous and beautifully cool. A  posthumous album will be released next year. 

Please find some further information about Nell from Bella Union and her own website.

What a tragic loss. Thoughts go out to Nell's family and friends.

From Nell's website

Nell was listening to music before she was born.

Born in Leeds, UK, in 2007, Nell listened to music in utero following her mother’s plan which was to give her familiar sounds once she was born to aid her to settle more easily.

As she grew, she was attracted to music and quickly developed an interest in artists including Herman Dune, Arcade Fire, Metronomy, The Flaming Lips, David Bowie, The Fleet Foxes, and MGMT. Attending festivals with her family, Nell experienced live music from the age of 2 and grew more and more interested.

After moving to Canada in 2012, Nell gravitated towards The Flaming Lips and eventually saw them in Spokane in 2017 aged 10, bursting into tears of joy when she saw the tickets. She watched the show from the front row with her brother. 

Fast forward to 2018 and Nell was again at a Lips show, tenacious and determined, she managed to get a letter onto the tour bus and her yelling from the side of the stage prior to the show caught the attention of Wayne Coyne who came and said hi. Following Nell’s prompt, he went on the bus and found the letter.

A duet through the space bubble while Wayne sang David Bowie’s Space Oddity created a connection, and Wayne maintained contact with Nell’s parents as she learned to play guitar.

Nell started performing live at the age of 11, playing alongside established musicians and writing her own songs.

In 2020 Nell recorded an album of Nick Cave cover versions under the tutelage of Wayne Coyne.

Where the Viaduct Looms was released on November 26, 2021 on Bella Union and can be ordered here.

This work will be followed by an album release worked on in conjunction with Penelope Isles with some songs co-written with Shred Kelly.

The album is due out in Spring 2025 and sadly is a posthumous release following Nell’s untimely death in a car accident on October 6 2024.

Nell’s memory will live on through a memorial fund set up in her name. To contribute please purchase her upcoming album, donate to the fund’s Gofundme or purchase something from the shop.

From the Bella Union website

This inspiring and heartwarming story begin when Smith first met Wayne Coyne at the age of 12 at The Flaming Lips’ headline show at the Sled Island Festival, Calgary, in 2018 with her family. Nell had already attended several Lips shows and was a regular at the front of the stage, dressed in a parrot costume and screaming out the band’s songs. Coyne soon began to notice the kid in the parrot suit and sang a David Bowie cover directly to her at the show in Calgary, with Nell singing every word back.

A musical bond formed with Coyne staying in contact with Nell and her father Jude as she learned to play guitar, while their creative relationship began to flourish when she started to write her own songs.

When a planned trip to record with the band in Oklahoma had to be cancelled due to covid Coyne suggested Nell record some Nick Cave songs and email them to Oklahoma to be backed by the band. Coyne chose Nick Cave because Nell didn’t know him and wouldn’t have preconceived notions as to how to sing the songs.

My albums of 2020

Despite lockdowns, restrictions and all kinds of challenges, artists and labels across the world kept releasing music right throughout 2020. And oh how it helped to get lost in an album, to escape reality for a while. In the words of ABBA; thank you for the music.

Working from home and the fact that there were no gigs meant that I probably listened to more newly released music than normal, certainly way more than last year.

I think I've appreciated music more than ever through this strange year. I've bonded with people with similar taste on social media and appreciated that sense of (virtual) community and connections. I've enjoyed a number of Tim Burgess' listening parties. I've arrange zoom calls for fellow fans of Teenage Fanclub which has been brilliant for socialising and I've been able to get lost in music when I've needed to, or even when I haven't. 

#timstwitterlisteningparties

6 Music has been on most days while working from home and although I've massively missed gigs and all the socialising that goes with them, in some ways I feel closer to music. Strange, huh?!

I always like to point out that there are always albums I discover after writing my Albums of the Year blogs. For example there was a trio of albums released in 2019 that I only discovered this year; I really love the Erland Cooper, Callum Easter and Better Oblivion Community Centre albums. 

So no doubt I'll discover a gem from 2020 next year, indeed I'm only just getting into the SAULT albums. 

I'm not going to name an album of the year for 2020. It's been such a strange and shit year in so many ways, but in terms of new music, it has been excellent and there are a number of albums I keep returning to.

Andrew Wasylyk's is just beautifully crafted music to get lost in, I fell for the talent of Phoebe Bridgers in a big way, The Flaming Lips moved me to tears with their vision, ambition and psychedelic pop, my sister Carla J Easton moved forwards with a defiant, powerful, melodic and emotional heart on sleeve pop record, the Whyte Horses album just oozes great taste and has such a good feel to it, Andy Bell delivered an exceptional debut album of psychedelic pop and grooves, and Dua Lipa released an exceptional pop album that is loved by everyone in our house.

So read on for my 10 favourite albums of 2020 plus 2 incredible compilation albums released by Last Night From Glasgow and Olive Grove Records, also a little on the LNFG reissue of Sisters by The Bluebells and the fast moving novel The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong.

Fugitive Light And Themes Of Consolation by Andrew Wasylyk

Label - Athens Of The North

Andrew Wasylyk is an incredible talent who I've been following since his second album Themes for Buildings and Spaces was released back in 2017. Now on album number 4, Wasylyk creates beautiful grooves, dreamy landscapes and majestic layers to get lost in. David Axelrod is a name that sprung to mind when I first hear the album and it was interesting to hear Andrew mention him in an interview on BBC Radio Scotland. That is the kind of talent and ambition we are talking about.

Last Sunbeams of Childhood is utterly sublime and then Wasylyk actually has a song called Everywhere Something Sublime which totally is .... something sublime!  

Awoke in the Early Days of a Better World is a song I've played a lot. It has a kind of beautiful mellow stoned groove. It somehow has the ability to feel like there is a lot going on, but at the same time there isn't. 

Andrew Wasylyk creates and captures something really incredible with this album.

American Head by The Flaming Lips

Label - Bella Union

When they are on form you sure can get lost in an album by The Flaming Lips. American Head moved me to tears on first listen. Headphones on, glass of red and Wayne Coyne singing from the bottom of his heart and the far reaches of his mind. It's a melodic, soulful, psychedelic trip as song titles like You N Me Sellin' Weed and When We Die When We're High might suggest. 

The sonic vision and ambition of The Flaming Lips never fails to amaze and they go really widescreen with opener Will You Return/When You Come Down which is almost 6-minutes of wonderful psychedelic pop. Mother I've Taken LSD is all kinds of self realisation and empathy; now I see the sadness in the world, I'm sorry I didn't see it before. Hopefully we will see Wayne back riding around the Barrowland Ballroom on a unicorn again before too long!

The View From Halfway Down by Andy Bell

Label - Sonic Cathedral

Andy Bell is someone who feels refreshed and revitalised. Ride are a shining example of how a comeback can work out and Bell seems to have a tremendous sense of urgency and freedom to create outwith that.

His debut album, at the age of 50, sounds fresh, inventive, timeless and fun, full of grooves, twists and turns. The way Skywalker develops on a bass groove for a further 3-minutes just when you think it is about to end is surprising and glorious, while Cherry Cola is just super cool, melodic sunshine on record.

Andy very kindly gave an extensive interview back in August that you can READ HERE

Weirdo by Carla J Easton

Label - Olive Grove Records

My sisters second album under her own name is escapism, realisation, reflection, defiance and at times, a big F**K YOU, like on the absolute anger Over You. Get Lost is Carly Rae Jepsen fronting New Order escapism, Never Knew You is Taylor Swift style realisation and self therapy with the brilliant when I was up I was up, and when I was down you were never around hook, Thorns is a stunning synth ballad, Waves That Fall marries Chic style guitars with Scottish Hip Hop with a blitz by guest Solareye from Stanley Odd while the title track celebrates all that is good about being weird. 

I'm a rollercoaster rolling

The first edition of Weirdo sold out in pre-sales which was incredible for Carla and Lloyd from Olive Grove Records. I think at first that was going to be that, after all, it is quite cool to sell out your pressing. But there was a real demand for a repress and it was no ordinary repress as the artist Jim Lambie designed new artwork.

I look forward to hearing these songs being blasted out live and Carla is a rollercoaster rolling. 2021 will see TeenCanteen release their very first recordings and Carla has a number of new songs written for her next solo album and also for a new band she is forming with Simon Liddell. They are looking for a band name; check this tweet if you have any suggestions!

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

Label - Warner Records

I can only imagine how massive Dua Lipa would have been in a non COVID world. She would have been everywhere with her catchy, clever and euphoric pop. 

The kids kept asking about Dua Lipa songs after discovering her via Tik Tok and they soon got me into Dua Lipa too, but not Tik Tok!

Hallucinate is my personal favourite, its so catchy, the chorus flows so easily. Don't Start Now was the first song I heard off the album and it is brilliant pop music, the whole album is. Physical is totally euphoric, Levitating is ridiculously catchy, while Break My Heart asks the brilliant question am I falling in love with the one that could break my heart?

A genius pop album by a brilliant pop star. We watched Dua Lipa's Studio 2054 online show at the end of November and I really hope to take the kids to see her in person at the Hydro when she eventually plays. 

My feel good album of the year. My kids album of the year. Stick it on and make room to dance.

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

Label - Dead Oceans

I fell for Phoebe Bridgers big time after hearing Kyoto on 6Music, reading various reviews and then buying her album and checking her back catalogue. 

Bridgers seems effortlessly talented and ridiculously prolific, full of creative energy that can come bursting out in melodic pop like Kyoto or in more mellow, subdued and reflective ways like the beautiful Garden Song.

I've enjoyed exploring her discography; her EP/mini-album with boygenius and her album with Conor Oberst as Better Oblivion Community Center are both excellent. I can't wait to hear what she does next.

The New Abnormal by The Strokes

Label - RCA Records

The New Abnormal somehow has a sense of urgency along with a sense of don't give a flying f**k and as a result The Strokes sound glorious. The twin guitars of Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr entwine beautifully, even when it sounds like it shouldn't work ... it does. There are keyboards/synths, vocal effects and lazy punky flowing melodies, delivered in Julian Casablancas cool New York drawl. 

I thought The Strokes had disappeared and split a long time ago. This album really was a pleasant surprise. Sure some songs are a little long (and there are only 9 of them) but there are cracking guitar riffs (Why Are Sundays So Depressing), moments of  sheer brilliance like the dive into the flowing chorus of The Adults Are Talking and times, like Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus where everything somehow crashes together to sound magnificent just after it sounds like it could all far apart

I was reminded what a stunning band The Strokes can be, what a stunning band they are ... if they are in the mood.

2021 will be the 20th anniversary of their vital debut album Is This It? That was then, this is now.

Hard Times by The Whyte Horses

Label - CRC Records

This album was released away back in January, it feels like ages ago, so much has happened since then. This is kind of a compilation album but it is a covers album. Whyte Horses display impeccable taste in songs and in guests with La Roux, John Grant, Badly Drawn Boy and Traceyanne Campbell included.

Their faithful version of Red Lady by Phil Cordell opens proceedings, sunshine psych, all round good vibes, beautiful vocals. And you're into the world of Whyte Horses where they romp through Ca Plane Pour Moi and sound like they've gone back to their rehearsal room after being down the pub with Badly Drawn Boy to knock out a lovely rough n raw version of Lou Reed's Satellite Of Love.

I was really looking forward to Whyte Horses coming up to play the CCA in Glasgow, I hope they make it in 2021. 

Working Men's Club by Working Men's Club

Label - Heavenly Recordings

The first time I heard Working Men's Club was on the radio but I had missed the intro, so I was really wondering who this was. There were echoes of both Joy Division and New Order, with a hint of Ian Curtis or Alex Turner on vocals.

Yet another stunning addition to the Heavenly Recordings family. This album is full of glorious synths and beats, playful guitars, moments of euphoria and loads of grooves.

John Cooper Clarke, Valleys and Tomorrow are particular favourites. Another band I can't wait to see live when possible. I can imagine they'll be chomping at the bit to get out there and in some ways the absence of gigs might work in their favour as the buzz around the band and album might catapult them to larger venues.

Hether Blether by Erland Cooper

Label - Phases

I only discovered Erland's 2019 album Sule Skerry via the SAY Award. Thankfully that ensured I was immediately on to his swift follow up.

Hether Blether is Cooper's third and final album in a trilogy of releases shaped by the islands where he grew up. Hailing from the archipelago of Orkney in Scotland, Cooper is inspired by the sights and sounds of his home to create magic music.

Skreever is majestically beautiful, the sound of the Orkney wind over gentle strings. It's rather beautiful, a real favourite. Elsewhere Kathryn Joseph sings on 3 tracks, including Longhope, which starts with strings, a thumping beat and spoken word samples from islanders, building until Joseph's atmospheric vocal sounds like she is whispering a secret fairytale story directly to you. 

An extremely beautiful and moving album. 

Compilations

Isolation Sessions by Last Night From Glasgow

Always full of ideas and burning with creative energy and a sense of purpose, LNFG acted swiftly when lockdown was announced, inspiring to their artists covering each other from their own homes for a compilation album, Isolation Sessions, that was quickly put on sale with proceeds going to venues across the city to help them (hopefully) make it through lockdown. At the time of writing, proceeds from November onwards are going to my favourite music bar McChuills. I think this is a fascinating document of the times, married with LNFG photographer Brian Sweeney's documentation of artists and label members in their own homes. Find out more and order a copy HERE

LNFG's development has been staggering and I fully expect them to not only it the ground running, but full on sprinting when things open up again in 2021 (fingers crossed).

Get Into The Grove, 10-years of Olive Grove Records

Lloyd Meredith who runs Olive Grove Records had big plans for the tenth anniversary of the label in 2020. Hopefully live plans will happen next year, but in the meantime check out the wonderful Get Into The Grove compilation album. You can order the vinyl online now for a January delivery and you'll immediately be able to download and stream the album from Bandcamp.

Running a DIY label for 10-years isn't easy, but just listen to the variety and quality across this record. The purity of moonsoup who I want to hear and see a lot more of in 2021, Jo Mango with The Madrigirls is exquisite and beautiful, while Call To Mind conjure all kinds of emotion with Recovery. The Olive Grove artists have done the label proud. 

Reissue

Last Night From Glasgow have set up Past Night From Glasgow to focus on reissues and oh my, what a way to launch the label with the Sisters LP by The Bluebells, originally released in 1984 and long out of print.

Past Night From Glasgow has some incredible plans for 2021, with BMX Bandits Star Wars album appropriately set for a May 4th release and the past has a bright future going by the quality of artists, albums and physical product that is being reissued with love and care.

Sisters by The Bluebells

Label - Past Night From Glasgow

Look out for a feature blog on The Bluebells Sisters album over the festive season. 

Book of the Year - The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong

Get lost in the world of a Young Team in Airdrie; gangs, fights, drugs, alcohol, dance music, escapism, isolation, the older ones ... a debut novel that lets rip at a ferocious pace, introducing brilliant characters and storylines. Ripe for a film. The 2020's Trainspotting.

The Soft Bulletin

On Wednesday night, 8th April, I poured myself a large glass of red wine and went to bed with my headphones on to listen to The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin which was a feature album for Tim Burgess twitter listening party that night.

The Soft Bulletin is an album I've owned and loved for a long time. Yet it must have been years since I listened to it from start to finish.

Revisiting, the album blew me away, it had been a while, too long. The Soft Bulletin is an album with absolutely no barriers, no guard up, beautifully emotional and 100% pure.

Flowing superbly, lyrics took on greater meaning given the times we are living in. It was emotional. Tears filled my eyes on a few occasions.

The euphoric opener The Race For The Prize talks of scientists racing for the good of all man-kind, reminding us that they're just humans, with wives and children

Songs are sung from the bottom of Wayne Coyne's heart, emotion floods out, this is 100% real, 100% surreal at times, but the lyrics hit the mark all the time. Even when Wayne is singing about bugs, it seems to mean something in a super catchy psychedelic pop kind of way.

Coyne's vocals are strained, soulful and pure. The arrangements, production and imagination in the songs is utterly sublime.

Love is the greatest thing a heart can know

But the hole that it leaves in its absence can make you feel low

The sound they made was love

Suddenly everything has changed

Life without death is just impossible

Waitin' For A Superman is probably my favourite Flaming Lips song; emotion, imagery, melody ... it's a psychedelic power ballad that moves me to tears.

Is it getting heavy

Well I thought it was already as heavy

As can be

The Flaming Lips are life affirming; on record and live. I really hope that they will return to Glasgow once we get through all this. Their August 2017 show at the Barrowland was just insane - an utter celebration that had Wayne riding through the crowd on a unicorn at one point!

Until they do, find some time, grab your headphones, get your CD, record or get ready to stream and go and lose yourself in the world of The Flaming Lips. It's a real magical, mystery tour.

Chemical Brothers collaborations

I was driving around the other day with my Never Ending Mixtape on shuffle and all of a sudden Wide Open by The Chemical Brothers with Beck came blasting out of my car speakers.

I marvelled at the song and, not for the first time in relation to a Chemical Brothers collaboration, questioned 'what if?'

What if Beck and The Chemical Brothers had got together for an album?

It is something I have thought about many times in relation to Chemical collaborations, particularly in relation to the mesmerising, pulsating, modern psychedelic masterpiece The Golden Path, their work with The Flaming Lips from their Singles 93-03 compilation in 2003.

What if some bright spark had suggested - that really is incredible, lets get together for a week or so and see what we can come up with? I suppose at that time that both the Chems and the Lips were riding high and touring constantly on the back of their success, so that option never materialised. What if?

A full list of Chemical Brothers collaborations is listed below. Here are my own top 5;

1. The Golden Path
Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips takes on lead vocals with bandmate Steve Drozd on backing vocals. The song flows superbly and takes the listener on a trip, much like the dreary office worker living in a grey world and dreaming in technicolour glory. Coyne and Drozd apparently sent the Chems a demo thinking they would get another chance to improve on it, but the Chems called them back ecstatic - and that was that.

2. Life Is Sweet
Tim Burgess was into the Chemical Brothers from the off, partying at the Heavenly Social and getting them to remix and produce some Charlatans tunes; Patrol, Nine Acre Court and the Time For Livin' cover being those I remember off the top of my head.

Life Is Sweet is a match made in heaven. The beats and groove suit Burgess, his vocals, melody and style are perfect for The Chemicals. The beats, synths and bass combine in a funky flowing way

I'm driving in the sun

It's a hell of a way down south

Bring me back my love

3. Out Of Control
Bernard Sumner is someone who responds very well to opportunities to work with others. He is a bit of a studio boffin and I love his work with Electronic and more recently a collaboration with Hot Chip on the brilliant Didn't Know What Love Was - check the video to that HERE.

As for Out Of Control, it surges, soars, floats - the guitar break is pure New Order with fizzing laser synth sounds - and then it surges some more. Sumner is in great form and he's joined by Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie on backing vocals.

Maybe I'm just scared of losin' you

Or maybe it's the things you make me do

4. Where Do I Begin?
Beth Orton was crowned the 'comedown Queen' back in the day. She collaborated with the Chems on a number of occasions and I was torn between this and the glorious The State We're In, but this just wins for me.

It really is a comedown tune. A lovely riff is picked out with all kinds of psychedelic effects in the background. Orion's voice is whispery and gorgeous.

Sunday morning I'm waking up

Can't even focus on a coffee cup

Don't even know whose bed I'm in

Where do I stop, where do I begin

And then the beats come in and it all kicks off in a typically frantic and glorious Chemical Brothers fashion. The video below is an edited version. You can check the full 7-minute album version HERE.

5. Wide Open
The song that prompted this blog. It's sublime, it really is outstanding. The beat that comes in with the synth bass is instantly cool, Beck's vocal is one of his best.

I'm wide open

But don't I please you anymore?

You're slipping away from me

You're drifting away from me

If you haven't heard it then stick your headphones on and drift away in a song that flows superbly. There are little twists and turns along the way; the one day just gonna see me section is stunning, the bass really kick in at one point and the song just keeps flowing and building.

Chemical collaborations

Life Is Sweet - Tim Burgess (Charlatans)
Alive Alone - Beth Orton
Setting Sun - Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
Where Do I Begin? - Beth Orton
Out Of Control - Bernard Sumner (New Order)
Let Forever Be - Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
Asleep from Day - Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)
Dream On - Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev)
The State We're In - Beth Orton
The Test - Richard Ashcroft (The Verve)
Galvanize - Q-Tip
The Boxer - Tim Burgess (Charlatans)
Believe - Kele Okereke (Bloc Party)
Hold Tight London - Anna-Lynne Williams
Left Right - Anwar Superstar
Close Your Eyes - The Magic Numbers
No Path to Follow - Willy Mason
All Rights Reversed - Klaxons and Lightspeed Champion
Do It Again - Ali Love
The Salmon Dance - Fatlip
Battle Scars - Willy Mason
The Pills Won't Help You - Tim Smith (Midlake)
Wide Open - Beck
Born in the Echoes - Cate Le Bon
Neon Lights - Annie Clark
EML Ritual - Ali Love
Go - Q-Tip
The Golden Path - The Flaming Lips

Flaming Lips at Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom

L I F E   A F F I R M I N G

Ah the Barrowland roar, I don't hear it as often as I once did as corporate venues like the Academy and the ABC have infiltrated the Glasgow gig scene. The ABC isn't a bad venue....but the Academy is a soulless, shi**hole of a venue on the southern side of Glasgow that I only venture to when absolutely necessary. The fact that I haven't bought a ticket for The Charlatans, one of my all-time fave bands, in December speaks volumes. I hate the Academy, any band that books it over the Barrowland has a soulless or greedy booking agent.....or one that has never experienced the best venue in the world. Mix that with the best crowd and you have something unique.

Of course bands need to make money, but I think of the bands that have broken through over the last decade or so that haven't experienced the Barrowland Ballroom.... it is their loss.

On to Tuesday 15th August 2017, an incredible 13-years since The Flaming Lips had last played our fair city. Oh how they made up for lost time.

Opening with Race For The Prize in a blaze of technicolour glory, confetti cannons, lights and smoke, they poured their heart and soul into song and performance and they were matched by the crowd.

Yoshimi was next, singer Wayne Coyne stretched for the high notes, willed on by the Barras crowd who were behind him from the off. This 56-year old was riding a unicorn round the legendary ballroom by the third song in, his lysergic pop and vision for a show was being lapped up, audience and band were one.

There is nothing like a Barrowland roar. Any band lucky enough to experience it will never forget it, there were several tonight and The Flaming Lips were quick to acknowledge it, stating that this would go down as a legendary show.

There were plenty of reasons for the Glasgow crowd to be responding in voice; Coyne is a frontman who wears his heart on his sleeve and songs from the seminal Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi albums have melted hearts worldwide. Throw in acidic pop like the Yeah Yeah Yeah Song and new song How? amongst others with a light and stage show like no other then you had something truly remarkable and special taking place on a Tuesday night in Glasgow. This was no show, it was a happening, a celebration; punk, pop, acid....these freaks were out to party.

Their cover of Bowie's Space Oddity was one of many highlights with Coyne encased in an inflatable bubble for the start of the song before climbing out over the audience to a small stage in the middle. It was memorable and euphoric. The crowd were already on Coyne's side, now they were ready to go to war.

A Spoonful Weighs A Ton was nothing less than mesmerising but the encore was something else. A piano rendition of personal fave Waitin' For A Superman was heart wrenching but the closer of Do You Realize? brought tears to many eyes as people hugged friends and punched the air in life affirming delight.

What a special f**ked up band. You don't get 'em like that these days.