2020 - An Overview

 

2020 - An Overview

by Pete Clemons

People do not need me reminding them that 2020 has had its extraordinary difficulties. And live music was especially hard hit. Clubs closed and tours cancelled. Will life ever go back to the way it was. I am not convinced. The virus is certainly here to stay. So we will need to adapt in order to live with it. But I am certain we will. That said it has not all been doom and gloom. Remarkably, and despite the problems it has encountered, the music world has still managed to give us many positives. Listed below are a selection of the positives I have come across. Of course, this is a very narrow view and, with music being such a vast ocean, there will have, I'm sure, been many positives in other areas of music. Massive thanks to all for keeping our spirits high..............

 Albums

 

Gazpacho – Fireworker: each Gazpacho album takes you on some kind of a journey. And this release is no exception. With Fireworker you are taken on an immersive exploration to the depths of your mind as they question why we react the way we do in certain situations and why we think the way we do.

 

Colin Edwin and Robert Peck – Infinite Regress: Infinite regress, as I understand, is a statement that needs to be supported by another, and so on. So in that sense these ten songs support each other. Heavy bass and lyrics based around how memories hold up over time.

 

The Pineapple Thief – Versions of the Truth: the growth of the internet has been both a benefit and a curse. Here Bruce Soord delves into how the magnification of the digital age has enabled truth to have been twisted to suit certain agendas and aims.

 

Lunatic Soul – Through Shaded Woods: This is the seventh album from multi instrumentalist Mariusz Duda. Here, Mariusz found his inspiration for the album from his childhood home, an area of Poland known for its forests and lakes. Musical soundscapes guide you through the local folklore.

 

Dyble Longdon – Between a Breath and a Breath: An accompanying postcard, that came with the album, and signed in one corner by David Longdon just spoke volumes. There seemed to be this large gaping void that was yearning for another name. Of course, it was that of Judy Dyble who is no longer with us. But what a way to bow out.

 

Sanguine Hum – A Trace of Memory: Sanguine Hum have been going about their musical business for 20 years now. Quietly releasing a series of really good albums. And still they have the capability of turning one out as engaging as this one.

 

Iamthemorning EP – Counting the Ghosts: As if to prove that the pandemic was indeed worldwide, this Russian pair vented their frustrations. 'All I wanted lately was to scream aimlessly into space but instead I recorded a Christmas song'.

 

Tim Bowness – Late Night Laments: Very much an album to be heard under the headphones. This a very inward looking and a self examination of an album. Brooding and, at times, quite dark.

 

Jack Hues – Primitif: it was the Syd Arthur connection that drew me toward this album. Before then, to my knowledge, I hadn't been aware of Jack Hues. Yet here he is at the age of 60, with time on his hands, writing a set of wonderful songs of reflections and relationships spread across a double CD release.

 

Steven Wilson EP's – Eminent Sleaze & 12 Things I Forgot: Steven's latest album has been ready to go for a number of months. But the pandemic, along with the chaos it has caused, has resulted in its delay to the wider world. But the intervening time has seen Steven release a series of tasters in the form of EP's.

 

Nektar – The Other Side: This was a very pleasant surprise. Following the passing of Roye Albrighton in 2016 the new Nektar began work on a new album. As I understand some of the songs on this release were based on ideas from 1978. Those ideas were reworked on and readapted to produce this beauty.

 

Judy Dyble and the Band of Perfect Strangers - Weavings of a Silver Magic: Recorded live at St Barnabus Church, Cambridge complete with full band and strings. I am proud of the CD and want to blush a bit with joy – Judy Dyble.

 

Airbag – A Day at the Beach: Their music is smooth and sophisticated. It is rich and creates atmosphere's. At times though I do struggle with the rawness of the lyrics. But it is with the music where this band excel.

Locally released music

 

Voodoo Kings – Rollin: this dynamic rockabilly trio completed their album just prior to lockdown. Released during October 'Rollin' contains a mix of highly original and imaginative reinventions of standards and classic foot tapping tunes.

 

The Session: as ridiculous as it sounds, The Session could quite rightly claim that 2020 was the most successful in their two decade history. Tunes like 'Denver Hill', 'The Fear' and 'Ravages of Time' have ensured that the accompanying videos have received thousands of hits and visits.

 

Crokodile Tears – Hoi Polloi: in the continuing tradition of any Croks release this album is piled high with musical quirks and is choc full of joy.

 

Fresh Maggots – Waiting For the Sun: Almost fifty years after the release of their first studio album, during October 1971, Fresh Maggots released a new album. But do not expect a follow up to that debut. Equally as enjoyable, this album represents the duo today.

 

Barnabus – Beginning to Unwind:all good things come to those who wait. And this album, that sat in the vaults for years, at last saw the light of day. Rise Above Records/Relics, led by Coventry born Lee Dorrian, pulled out all the stops in giving this record the most tasteful of releases.

 

Alternative Sounds – Compilation: Volume 4 of an ongoing series that showcases the best of what Coventry offers.

 https://alternativesounds.bandcamp.com/album/alternative-sounds-volume-iii

Re-issued albums

 

Medicine Head – Old Bottles, New Medicine: Fiftieth anniversary release of Medicine Head's debut album. Comes with unreleased tunes and live material recorded at the Marquee Club.

Brian Davidson – Every Which Way: A vastly under promoted album when first released. Now available on CD this is an excellent album by a band that received little recognition at the time.

Crystalline – Axe Music: One of those long lost albums revamped and produced onto CD-Rs by Steve Giles of Dark.

The Classic 1970 Album - fully endorsed by Steve Gordon, drummer from AXE - which is now available again.

 

Live music

 

Sadly live music for 2020 was decimated by the pandemic so not much to report on. What there was of it though, particularly during the lockdown and restricted times, was a huge tonic. Grateful thanks to those who led the way in pioneering these gigs and who had to jump many hurdles, following the ever changing rules, to ensure they were all run safely.

 

Pre Lockdown Gigs

 

Glen Matlock and Earl Slick – Robin 2, Bilston

Kafkadiva / Andy Nixon – Duffy's Bar, Leicester

 

Post Lockdown Socially Distanced Gigs

 

Voodoo Kings – Gatehouse Tavern

Roddy Radiation - Arches

Blues2Go - Arches

Stone Foundation – Queens Hall, Nuneaton

 

On Line Gigs

 

Bruce Soord – 5 sessions

Soft Machine – 2 sessions

 

Losses during 2020 included amongst many others..........

 

Neil Peart

Kenny Rogers

Bill Rieflin

Neil Landon

Bill Withers

Little Richard

Florian Schneider

Dave Greenfield

Phil May

Judy Dyble

Peter Green

Wayne Fontana

Pete Way

Lee Kerslake

Johnny Nash

Brian Locking

Dave Munden

Spencer Davis

Charlie Pride

Eddie Van Halen

Leslie West

 

There are moments in all lives when the world turns slightly on its axis, a death, a birth, a shocking of the soul coming from nowhere to change the reality of the days . And there is no going back. There is no returning to how it used to be.

So we go forward into the unknown future, with no real understanding of how or why. But knowing that the universe has turned and changed forever – quote borrowed from Judy Dyble

 

Alternative Sounds

 Alternative Sounds

by Pete Clemons

Alternative Sounds is back with a brand new compilation and, given the year we have all had, it is indeed a remarkable feat. The statistics around this series of releases are equally impressive. 4 CDs released over the last three to four years, containing 84 tracks by 82 different acts. And incredibly work is continuing on further releases that include a fifth volume along with one dedicated to Ska and reggae.

The original idea for the Alternative Sounds fanzines was the brainchild of Martin Bowes who has himself, over the last 40 years, regularly released records with his own Attrition project. And the spirit of that fanzine has been revived and faithfully restored in the modern digital age. In fact AS4, and the previous release AS3, came complete with a souped up version of the AS fanzine last seen during the very early 1980s.

Together, the Alternative Sounds team, have collected some exclusive tracks from their favourite artists and talent that Coventry and Warwickshire is well known for nurturing.

The CDs are instantly recognisable by their distinctive sleeves that feature full colour images of different music venues around the city.  And the contents are totally dedicated to what the county and city has to offer past and present. For me, AS4 had a couple of big hitters to draw you in, but those tracks were only a pre curser to what follows. And, as you move through the album, you cannot fail to be impressed by the talent and skill of these artists.

It doesn't take long before all of the tracks make themselves known. And despite the different styles and genres there are no fillers, and no intervals. So this whole compilation is perfectly designed to keep your interest throughout.

Alternative Sounds is without doubt a series of releases that continues to push the distinctive sound that has made the Coventry and Warwickshire music scene what it is today. It also reflects the huge steps that the team, who have clearly worked so hard to keep the releases coming, have taken over the years. AS4 follows the philosophy of previous releases in that it gives new talent a platform, alongside some of the more established names.

Over four glorious packed to the brim CDs, several now fully sold out, Alternative Sounds investigates the sounds of Coventry and Warwickshire. Whether it be rock, punk, acoustic or even electro along with a plethora of sub-genres. Its all here.

This limited run of releases is available from the 2 tone village, Vinyl Destination in the market and other outlets.

 

Hoi Polloi - Crokodile Tears

 Hoi Polloi - Crokodile Tears

by Pete Clemons

Hoi Polloi is a term that, apparently, originated in Greece and was used to refer to the masses or the people. Over here, in the UK, the phrase was claimed by the elitist and used as a reference towards the commoners in a negative way.

And now, here in Coventry, the term Hoi Polloi has been turned completely on it's head. It has been applied in a positive way and has been used to showcase the latest series of songs by fabled troubadour Christopher Sidwell. And along with the freewheelin' Jerry Richards and the free spirited Alf Hardy, collectively known as Crokodile Tears, those songs have been turned into an album.

Titled Hoi Polloi, the album celebrates the ordinary folk as several songs within it have been written for some of the people in, principle songwriter, Christopher Sidwell's life. Of course this is nothing new. Real life subjects have been immortalised in song before. Included amongst them include Suzanne, a girlfriend of Leonard Cohen, 'Layla' a song written by Eric Clapton for similar reasons and Bob Dylan who was captured in song by David Bowie amongst many others.

The parodies are not taking aim at anyone in a nasty way, they are not a mockery. They are simply a social commentary. They are creative and articulate. The songs are funny but poignant, silly but, at the same time, deep. Where parodies can quite often be a sense of ridicule or criticism these are light and humorous.

The album itself contains sixteen songs and runs in at just under forty minutes. It is bookended by the Croks latest hit Momus Boulevard and, in terms of recording and production, is clearly a team effort.

Finally, Hoi Polloi is dedicated to Kosmic Ken Ingram who was a leading light of the festival scene and who sadly passed away earlier in this most dreadful of years.

Everyone deserves a bit of sunshine right now and this album has been created in order to add a bit of light to this most dark of years. And things will pick up, that I am certain about. 

Porcupine Tree in Coventry 1993

 Porcupine Tree in Coventry 1993

by Pete Clemons

The latest Future Bites session, by Steven Wilson, saw him revive one of his earliest solo recordings. This being a version of Voyage 34. Despite it being a solo effort, Voyage 34 was released first released under the name Porcupine Tree way back in 1992, and was one of the longest singles ever released clocking in at over 30 minutes long.

This particular session was released onto the internet on December 11 2020 and, while on my daily walk that day, a series of coincidences began to occur to me. It suddenly struck me that Porcupine Tree had played in Coventry on December 11, but 27 years earlier, in 1993. Even more coincidental was that Voyage 34 had played a major part of that gig.

The first half of December 1993 had been a busy time for the recently formed Porcupine Tree as a live unit. There had been a weeks rehearsals followed by their first gig, at the Nags Head High Wycombe, on the 4th. A trip to Manchester for a session on the Mark Radcliffe show followed on the 6th. Another gig on the 7th, at the Borderline in London, and then onto Coventry on the 11th to round the year off.

The Coventry gig was held at Antics nightclub formerly known as the Tic Toc. More recently this popular venue was known as The Colly and most recently Kasbah. It was not the first time Steven Wilson had played the venue. He had performed there around 18 months earlier with his other band No-man. But what was significant about this gig was that it was the only time Porcupine Tree, during its existence, performed as a trio. Keyboard player Richard Barbieri was unavailable for this date due, as I understand, to a previously arranged engagement.

Steve Ashwell, one of the organisers of the event, remembers it well: 'I know that when we first received and loved the initial recordings, Steven had no live band, because we spoke to him about gigging him here. I hope therefore that we played a small part in him getting one together! '

At that time Saturday evenings at Antics/Tic Toc were normally reserved for blues nights but dance/trance nights, as opposed to a band, were beginning to prove to be popular. Ultramarine had appeared there a few weeks earlier and that had been very well received. So this was the perfect foil for the three piece who were heavily reliant on Richard's keyboards that, for this gig, had apparently been pre-recorded.

A more truncated version of Voyage 34 had been performed a week earlier at the Nags Head. But this particular audience was treated to the full version, possibly more, as I honestly cannot remember anything else being performed during the entire night. And the attendees, who had also been provided with a DJ who had been providing music without a traditional verse/chorus structure, lapped it all up.

With trance being mostly a layered instrumental music, characterised by a repetitive melodic beat, that includes peaks and drops and Voyage 34 fitted the bill perfectly. In all honesty nobody, at that time, had really heard of Porcupine Tree and fewer still would even realise Richard Babieri was absent.

The event had coincided with the build up toward the Christmas period and the atmosphere was 'joyous' to say the least. The evening which on the face of it, had the potential to be an absolute disaster, actually proved to be an total success if measured in terms of a happy and receptive crowd. A perfect combination in fact.