Every silver lining’s got a touch of grey:
Tom Verlaine ‘Cover’ - too much of this dude’s solo output remains unavailable. This short & sweet 1984 release is a case in point. We need a mass re-release NOW;
John Cooper Clarke ‘Disguise In Love’ - some of the musical backings to Clarke’s still funny poetry haven’t worn well, but it was good to hear this again after several decades;
Slade ‘In Flame’ - the gritty 1975 film is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and its soundtrack album is equally good. In fact, I don’t believe Slade made a finer LP;
Pink Floyd ‘Ummagumma’ - the live half of which I rate as highly as ‘Made In Japan’ and ‘Live At Leeds’ as a truly classic rock concert recording. And there’s more than just naive charm in the studio half;
The Wedding Present ‘Bizarro’ - David Gedge’s first great album. Was there ever a greater opening line than “This is all because you didn’t like my mam”?
David Bowie ‘Hunky Dory’ - after the detailed immersion of the ‘Divine Symmetry’ box, it’s good to hear the original record again. And what a fine album it remains: the pinnacle of Bowie’s singer-songwriter phase;
Caravan ‘If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You’ - part of my DNA. Nuff said;
Steven Wilson ‘The Overview’ - parts of which I love, and parts of which send me to sleep. But…
Steven Wilson at Newcastle City Hall 15/5/25 - live, ‘The Overview’ is a very different beast, with a fabulous visual backdrop that puts its spoken elements into sharp perspective. Great précis of his solo catalogue in the second half, too. And what a band. Quite a night, I do declare;
Brian Eno ‘Reflection’ app - self perpetuating and ever changing ambient classic that every smartphone user should own;
Hot Chocolate ‘Brother Louie’ 45 - played in memory of my dear mother who loved this record and would’ve been 95 on Friday gone. God bless you, Mam;
Devadip Carlos Santana ‘The Swing Of Delight’ - one of Carlos’ more unsung instrumental albums, with stellar support from fusion legends like Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter;
Grateful Dead ‘In The Dark’ - most long established acts took an artistic downturn in the Eighties. The Dead didn’t. This is a mightily entertaining album, mercifully devoid of the overproduction of its era;
Joe Lovano ‘Homage’ - a beautifully recorded album of, well, not much really. Neither swinging nor creatively abstract, this has left me strangely unmoved. Can’t dig everything, I suppose;
The Dave Brubeck Quartet ‘Interchanges ‘54’ - early Columbia sides from the greatest jazz quartet of all time IMHO;
Haydn: String Quartet in C, Op.54 no.2 (Tatrai Quartet) - the slow movement of which is one of Haydn’s most sublime utterances;
Beethoven: Symphony no.2 (Bremen PO/Hans Knappertsbusch) - talking of slow movements, for Beethoven’s Second this must be a contender for the most protracted ever. Zzzzzz. Best stick to Wagner, Hans;
Beethoven: Symphony no.7 (Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner) - this is much more like it. What a kind & genial man Fritz wasn’t. Mastery of the score achieved by fear and intimidation - and it rocks;
Schubert: Three Pieces, D 946 (Alfred Brendel) - piano music that sings. What Schubert achieved in such a short existence is more than humbling;
Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage, Book 2 ‘Italy’ (Alfred Brendel) - ultra Romantic deliciousness played accordingly;
Ireland: Elegiac Romance (Gerald Brooks) - beautifully lyrical organ piece demonstrating the instrument’s massive tonal range;
I will get by.
Toodleoo
Dave x
