Something Bizarre...

Something Old...

In homage to Britain’s bizarre weather that has had been blathering on about as “an Indian Summer”, which roughly translated means “it’s pretty hot for September” this weeks ‘Something Old’ comes from one of the bands that shaped my youth.

 

Kula Shaker are a British psychedelic rock band led by outspoken front man Crispian Mills. They came to prominence during the post Britpop era of the late 90’s and had great commercial success with the brilliant ‘Tattya’, ‘Hey Dude and an awesome indie-spin cover of Deep Purple’s ‘Hush’ all from their 1996 album ‘K’.

 

But, of course you already knew I would choose ‘Govinda’, drawing inspiration from traditional Indian music, culture and mysticism and even includes lyrics from the Hindu sacred language, Sanskrit. The band's interest in all things Indian was inspired by a pilgrimage to India born out of a love for the Indian influences present in the music of The Beatles...

 

 

Something New...

I know what your thinking, this isn’t exactly brand new but this weeks ‘Something New...’ comes as special request of my aspiring DJ mate @yourlastrolo. As a tribute to one of his heroes, the musical genius that is the bear-esque Joe Goddard best known for his alternative dance work but he is now making a name for himself on the mainstream dance club circuit as a solo artist.

His work with Indie-tronica outfit Hot Chip on the albums ‘Coming on Strong’, ‘The Warning’, ‘Made in the Dark’ and ‘One Life Stand’  including a string of massive tracks such as ’I was a boy at School, ‘One life Stand’  and the massive smashes ‘Ready for the Floor’ and ‘Over and Over’.

He then moved on to his collaborative project The 2 Bears with Raf Rundell and amalgamates aspects of 2 step, house, hip hop and soul, this was the debut single released from there album this year ‘Bearhug EP’, this is ‘Bear Hug’ as released in June, enjoy....

 

Something Borrowed...

Following the dance theme, the Essex dance outfit the Prodigy also known as Liam Howlett, Keith Flint and Maxim; Along with Fatboy Slim and the Chemical brothers shaped dance music for me and I fell in love with big beat and realised dance wasn’t just industrial noise with a women moaning repetitive vocals over the top that was enjoyed by gurning chavs. Drawing influence from the rave and techno scene they packaged it in an intelligent structured form.

 

As I’m sure you already know some of their best tracks include ‘Charly’, ‘Out of Space’ and ‘No Good’ from their earliest two albums ‘Experience’ and ‘Jilted Generation’. This was then followed by there biggest hits such as ‘Voodoo People’, ‘Poison’, ‘Firestarter’, ‘Breathe’, the controversial  ‘Smack my Bitch up’ from there best known album ‘Phat of the Land’.

I was lucky enough to see them in 98 at Reading that was the beginning of there reunion that produced ‘Baby’s got a temper’ and the album ‘Always outnumbered’ that includes the brilliant ‘Girls’, ‘Spitfire’ and my other halves favorite dance track ‘Hot ride’.

Which brings us full circle to their last album ‘Invader’s must die’ that includes the title track alongside the brilliant ‘Omen’, ‘Warrior’s Dance’ and a track ‘Run with the Wolves’ that features the Foo’s frontman Dave Grohl on drums and tediously links us into this. Prodigy’s brand spanking new, absolutely awesome remix of ‘White Limo’ taken from the Foo Fighters last album ‘Wasting Light’....

 

Something Blue...

I hear a lot of people whinging at me recently “why are banging on about hip hop and dance music over the last few weeks we all know your a metal head at heart”, praise be, your calls have been answered and normal service will be resumed from next week on, well actually...starting now!

Up there with my greatest albums of all time alongside Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side’ and Led Zepplin ‘IV’ is this masterpiece, Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ from 1970. The first side of which includes the brilliant title track and the legendry ‘Iron Man’ alongside the truely epic, 8 minute of genius that is ‘War Pigs’. Written as an anti-war song in protest to Vietnam, G’wan Ozzy, stick it to the man...