SINGLES
KING TUBBY - Dub My World ft. Johnny Clarke, The Ring Craft Posse (Patate Records)
by Ancient Champion
King Tubby so gorgeously melodic here. Taking everything easy. I could listen all day. I don't know what the Ring Craft Posse do but they're doing it well and Johnny Clarke. Oh man.
MANNEQUIN PUSSY - I Got Heaven (Epitaph)
by Alan Rider
In a lean week where I was desperately trawling for anything in the release pile that didn't bore me senseless, this one stood out as being a bit sweary and unhinged with a sniggery band name. You have to take your fun where you can find it I guess. At least this managed to challenge the delicate sensibilities of BBC 6Music last night when they played it, to the extent that they felt compelled to shorten the bands name to 'Mannequin P' for fear of offending their gentle listeners who may well faint away at the merest hint of a double entendre. Extra heart awarded for offending the BBC then. Shouting a lot over guitars may well be the US punk equivalent of the earnest croon, quirky joke song, or alt rock dirge preferred by other acts and currently cluttering up the release schedules, but at least this lot look like they might get drunk and upset someone straight laced who deserves it. Play loud through an open window whilst shouting "Mannequin PUSSYYYYY!!!" at the top of your voice so all can hear.
KID CONVENTIONAL - Rambling Roses (Independent)
by Ogglypoogly
After a Summer dominated by local heroes roaring victory laps round our aural circuits, it’s an absolute delight to have filled my ears with the latest release from another of Sheffield's finest, Kid Conventional. If you’re hurtling into Autumn in a state of discombobulation, Rambling Roses is a musical panacea, slowing the spin of the earth whilst you regain your senses. A welcome reminder that it’s not all about big bands and bright lights, sometimes simplicity is more than enough. A gently picked melody, beneath a vocal as warm and soothing as an open fire - I cannot recommend this highly enough, and strongly urge you to listen to this (and his other releases). (Artwork by Jack Weston, based on adaptation of an original photo by T.Kiya from Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
LEATHERETTE - Ronaldo (Bronson)
by Ancient Champion
Leatherette are from Bologna, which is interesting enough. But everyone is most likely from somewhere. Oh boy do Leatherette deliver the angst like an inferiority complex splaying out all over their music. They got the sounds like they got a bit of a bad attitude. Sung I suspect in English. Weighing in in under three minutes and still squeezing in an grungy saxophone. Worth your time once or so.
HURRICANE - Under Pressure (Deko Entertainment)
by Alan Rider
Ancient US Raaawk band Hurricane reformed in 2020 and three years later release a squawky cover version of an old Queen/David Bowie song, tarting it up with a few meaningful visual references to the Ukraine war. That's about the sum of it.
GHOST WOMAN - Alright Alright (Full Time Hobby)
by LamontPaul
I think John Peel once described a piece of music as mean, moody and magnificent. Ghost Woman's Alright Alright could wear that imprimatur well. Latter day guitar swamp small gods with a constant mesmerising and very satisfying thump going on at the bottom. You can't imagine them telling a joke. Oh well. Can't do everything well. At least we'll have the music.
THE SORCERERS - Exit Athens (ATO Records)
by Ancient Champion
Ethiopian jazz approximations from Leeds. High drama for your ears. From ATO Records a high watermark for quality soul for sure.
AL GREEN - Perfect Day (Fat Possum)
by Ancient Champion
Your favorite singer sings your favorite song. What could possibly go wrong?
JOHN METCALFE - Root to Leaf (Part One) (Real World Records)
by Alan Rider
We sure get some odd releases here at Outsideleft. 'Root To Leaf' is the third single taken from composer, arranger and viola-player for The Durutti Column, John Metcalf's new concept album about twenty-four hours in the life of a tree. If that sounds dull, it isn't completely, but is, I have to say, a tad predictable. This piece is too long for a typical single so is split into two, with the second part to follow later if you are still around/awake. It is all swelling strings and portentous sounding chords slowly building to signify growth I guess. As I said, a bit predictable. There is a way of doing these sorts of concept-y soundtrack albums. The classical route (this) or the more avant garde and electronic. I veer very much towards the latter, the former having played itself out many moons ago with pieces like The Planets Suite, good though that is. The fact that there is a tangential link to a contemporary band (sort of) like The Durutti Column doesn't make it sound any the less dated on this unfortunately.
FUTURE ISLANDS - Deep In The Night (4AD)
by Ancient Champion
Strong sentiments. This is probably a grower. On some island. Not this one. In a week where our man Jay Lewis spends days investigating the lesser known pages of David Sylvian's career, Future Islands come up with some Japan/Simple Minds 80s ballad cosplay. I like these guys as bands go, there's something about their dogged workadayness. I never want to hear this again though.
JAWS - Are My Friends Alright? (Streaming platforms -you know them)
by Alan Rider
The name Jaws makes them sound a lot more dangerous and exciting than this lot actually are. This is goofy dream pop by a goofy dream pop band. Bland, singalong stuff. Dull, basically. They've also employed that annoying gargly effect on the vocals first abused by Cher and thereafter by a procession of pop warblers. If any of you out there are thinking of using that on your next track, please don't, or I just may have to hunt you down.
TEEN IDLE - Saccharine (H1 Massive)
by Lee Paul
Unsure why big record labels are not giving Teen Idle the big push. Everything that gets released is wonderfully understated, idiosyncratic and creative. The lives shows are exceptional. Saccharine keeps the quality quotient. Here's a star flying mainly beneath the radar.
BLACK PUMAS - More Than A Love Song (ATO Records)
by Ancient Champion
It's a return of sorts for Black Pumas and oh wow is it! It's a cliche but true, Eric Burton could sing the phone book and the world would swoon (although the national anthem at the World Series game - less so). The video features extensive line drying action which of course I have in the past written about extensively, and could go on about here maybe, because some of the extremis psychedelic soul Black Pumas promise is so so muted. The only mild criticism I have though - truly it's okay for dudes to hang out the laundry and could even do that while singing at the same time instead of being tasked with mesmerising dogs. I can do it.
EYESORE AND THE JINX - Nocturnal Athletes (Ode to Bruno) (Own Label)
by Alan Rider
Describing themselves as "a fidgety trio" there is a lot of the classic postpunk sound of the mid 80s about Eyesore and The Jinx. Think Gang of Four, think Swell Maps, think The Fall. Look those up if you have to. I'm sure Eyesore and The Jinx know them. Its a cool set of comparisons though. The scratchy guitar, muscle flexing bass with a hint of funk, rattling drums that sound as if they are out in the garage to avoid annoying the neighbours, all topped off with yelping half spoken vocals. Its perfectly done (those of you with longish memories may recall we also gave a glowing review to their previous single 'An Ideas Man'). E&TJ (yes, I'm being lazy now!) were clearly born out of their time. In a previous decade they'd have been huge.
KENDRA MORRIS - Dominoes (Cole Mine)
by Hamilton High
Kendra Morris has some nice high stepping beats going on at the outset but the after a bit I am wondering about these superbly well played and put together soul pastiches... Everything is so perfect, so what? I never ever want to say that really. Maybe it isn't so perfectly well constructed after all. And those lovely drums are wallowing all over like mud by the end. Making it less spare and less lovely. Like waking up with last night's dinner dishes.
WOODS - Little Black Flowers (Woodsist)
by Ancient Champion
Woods. Redolent of James in their heyday. Vaguely hippy-dippy. Packed with hummable melody. Little Black Flowers is just one part of a double single alongside Day Moving On. available ahead of the new LP Perennial. If its music this page talks to then Woods are something to feel vaguely optimistic about. A broom closet ELO. Believe me it's the broom closet that you're looking for, the broom closet what matters.
LPs
CHé AIMEE DORVAL - The Crowned (Icons Creating Evil Art)
by Alan Rider
The third outing by Canadian Ché Aimee Dorval, 'The Crowned' see her mixing things up, dipping into the ever expanding set of musical sub genres we have to choose from these days (folktronica, alternative rock, dream pop and trip hop). Previously she has also collaborated with Prog star Devin Townsend as a duo called Casualties of Cool. Pointless fact 1: I own a reverb pedal apparently designed by Dev Townsend called the Ocean Machine. Now you know. Pointless fact 2: Her promo pic features her lying on the floor in her knickers for no reason other than to elicit mild titillation. She lost a heart off the score for thinking that was a good idea! You have been warned. She certainly has a pair of lungs on her though, belting out track after track in the upper (warbly) range. There isn't a huge amount of originality on show here though and this could be any number of other earnest sounding singers I've heard down the years, but its a popular, if formulaic, sound so I guess will do well enough.
AUGUSTUS MULLER - Cellulosed Bodies (Original Score) (Nude Club)
by Alan Rider
Augustus Muller's Cellulosed Bodies gets a great review from Alan Rider, right over here.
STEVEN WILSON - Economies of scale (Virgin)
by Alan Rider
Dreamy and pleasant. Swirling and evolving. At last, an original vocal performance with hints of pop, and a story to tell. Free form dancing on the video too. What's not to like?
ALINE HOMZY - Eclipse (Elastic Records)
by LamontPaul
Aline Homzy has been hailed by none other than Jean-Luc Ponty as "sensitive and musical…original” and here she is with her band Aline’s étoile magique, effortlessly fomenting let' say sensitive magic on her new LP Éclipse. Of course Aline's violin dominates proceedings, leads teh melodies all the way, but come on if you are a value shopper... there's theremin, vibraphone, marimba and way more besides as Aline visits a world way too esoteric for your average rocker. It's breathtaking and joyous and a refreshing musical equiv. of getting yourself off the grid for a few days in a few minutes. That much good.
DAVID SYLVIAN - Do You Know Me Now? (Samadhisound )
by Jay Lewis
Jay spends a whole day listening to the complete Samadhisound recordings of David Sylvian. You can read what he has to say about that, here.
Other Materials
KAYHAN KALHOR & TOUMANI DIABATE - The Sky Is The Same Colour Everywhere (extract) (Real World Records)
by Alan Rider
I challenge you not to be bewitched by this. Played on a Sunday morning first thing whilst you are getting up, you will be set for the day.
Essential information
Main image Black Pumas video screengrab
