It is World Radio Day and my Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 76 – The New, Found, Remembered edition can now be listened to on mixcloud.
The title is self-explanatory. This programme is a mix of new songs, songs I chanced upon from different songs, some new, some not, and songs I remembered. It’s also another case of one thing leads to another. As a whole the 19 songs from various decades, with emphasis on very recent ones. More about the show here.
Tracklist: 01 – Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt – Orchestra 02 – Alpine Subs – Rely On Me 03 – Attawalpa – Always The Girls 04 – Berkley – Gram Theft Parsons 05 – Born Folk – Seize the Day 06 – Crazy Horse – I Don’t Want to Talk About It 07 – Electric Man – New Wave 08 – Epic Soundtracks feat Robert Wyatt – Jellybabies 09 – Hamish Hawk – Juliet as Epithet 10 – Jude Alderson – Rent Boy 11 – Julian Shah-Tayler – Sufferation 12 – Julien Baker & Torres – Sylvia 13 – Little Barrie & Malcom Catto – Zero Sun 14 – Marlon Williams – Aua Atu Rā 15 – OMIRI – Pé com Pé 16 – The Durutti Column – Love No More 17 – The Gentle Spring – Looking Back At The World 18 – Tunng – Didn’t Know Why 19 – Vanarin – Memories
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 76 – The New, Found, Remembered edition airs Monday 10, 3-4pm (gmt) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com (or on the app).
The title is self-explanatory. This programme is a mix of new songs, songs I chanced upon from different songs, some new, some not, and songs I remembered.
It’s also another case of one thing leads to another. As a whole the 19 songs from various decades, with emphasis on very recent ones, on Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 76 – The New, Found, Remembered edition form a fresh, engaging, beautiful programme.
A friend posted about Robert Wyatt’s 80th birthday, Epic Soundtracks song Jellybabies with Wyatt singing flashed in mind.
Berkley’s Gram Theft Parsons is one of those songs that tell a story, a narrative style often absent in recent songs. Gram Theft Parsons is the story of the final months of Gram Parsons life, told with no sugar coating.
Crazy Horse are better know as Neil Young backing band. I Don’t Want to Talk About It is from their self titled debut album, released in 1971. I Don’t Want to Talk About It was written by Danny Whitten and would become a hit for Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl. Ry Cooder plays pedal steel guitar and slide guitar on Crazy Horse’s original that is produced by Jack Nitzsche.
Marlon Williams’ Aua Atu Rā is the first single from Te Whare Tīwekaweka Williams first album in Māori language. OMIRI’s Pé com Pé mixes of Portuguese traditional music and dance music, resulting in an attractive, strange song.
Love No More comes from The Durutti Column 1989 album Vini Reilly, re-released last year on Record Store Day. Durutti Column Vini Reilly re-released is one of my records of 2024.
Rent Boy, a song by Jude Alderson is from the 1986 documentary Andy The Furniture Maker, about Andrew Marshall, part of the documentary series Six of Hearts, directed by Paul Oremland. I learned of the documentary by reading an article on The Guardian. I liked the documentary and loved the song.
Tracklist: 01 – Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt – Orchestra 02 – Alpine Subs – Rely On Me 03 – Attawalpa – Always The Girls 04 – Berkley – Gram Theft Parsons 05 – Born Folk – Seize the Day 06 – Crazy Horse – I Don’t Want to Talk About It 07 – Electric Man – New Wave 08 – Epic Soundtracks feat Robert Wyatt – Jellybabies 09 – Hamish Hawk – Juliet as Epithet 10 – Jude Alderson – Rent Boy 11 – Julian Shah-Tayler – Sufferation 12 – Julien Baker & Torres – Sylvia 13 – Little Barrie & Malcom Catto – Zero Sun 14 – Marlon Williams – Aua Atu Rā 15 – OMIRI – Pé com Pé 16 – The Durutti Column – Love No More 17 – The Gentle Spring – Looking Back At The World 18 – Tunng – Didn’t Know Why 19 – Vanarin – Memories
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 75 – The A New Season Begins edition airs Monday 27, 3-4pm (gmt) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com (or on the app).
As the name says it’s the start of a new season of shows, as well as an edition filled with new music.
From the Discotheque with Rialto to the Highlands of Scotland with Butler, Blake and Grant, trough journeys and stops various, from different geographic locations.
Sixteen original songs and two excellent covers The Passions’ I’m In Love With a German Film Star by Andy Bell feat. Dot Allison and Michael Rother and José Afonso’s Canção da Paciência (Patience Song) by Um Corpo Estranho supply a musical adventure filled as much with pastoral tones – Sam Amidon, Edith Frost – as angular, or furious guitars – The Jesus Lizard, Bob Mould – and lots of groove too.
Tracklist: 01 – Rialto – No One Leaves This Discotheque Alive 02 – Edwyn Collins – Knowledge 03 – Tom Gunn Nash – Grown 04 – Chioke – Life Could Be This Way 05 – Manic Street Preachers – People Ruin Paintings 06 – Sam Amidon – Golden Willow Tree 07 – Bob Mould – Here We Go Crazy 08 – Edith Frost – Hold On 09 – Andy Bell feat. Dot Allison and Michael Rother – I’m in Love… 10 – The Velveteers – Bound In Leather 11 – Hayden Thorpe – Doom Orchid 12 – The Twist Connection – Concentrate 13 – Um Corpo Estranho – Canção da Paciência 14 – Jesus Lizard – Westside 15 – Ray – Man On Fire 16 – Sehore – Vals 17 – Leatherette – Itchy 18 – Butler, Blake & Grant – Bring An End
The repeat of my Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 18 – The Wintry Songs edition by António Cunha & Raquel Pinheiro airs Monday 13, 3-4pm (gmt) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com (or on the app).
Tracklist: 01 – Bobby Womack – California Dreamin'(John Phillips & Michelle Phillips’ song) (Tó) 02 – Belle & Sebastian – The Fox in the Snow (Raquel) 03 – Clinic – I Can’t Stand The Rain (Tó) 04 – Billy Mackenzie – Winter Academy (Tó) 05 – Pink Floyd – Goodbye Blue Sky (2011 Remastered Version) (Tó) 06 – John Parish – How Animals Move (Raquel) 07 – Taylor Swift – Forever Winter (Taylor’s Version) (Tó) 08 – Zeca Afonso – Canção de Embalar (Raquel) 09 – The Decemberists – January Hymn (Raquel) 10 – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow (Raquel) 11 – Finneas – A Little Closer (Finneas’ Version) (Tó) 12 – Manic Street Preachers – Die in the Summertime (Remastered) (Raquel) 13 – Lianne La Havas – Starry Starry Night (Loving Vincent OST) (Tó) 14 – The Doors – Wintertime Love (Tó) 15 – Zoot Woman – Grey Day (Tó) 16 – The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun (2019 mix) (Raquel)
Tracklist: 01 – The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Raquel) 02 – Dillard and Clark – Don’t Let Me Down (Bill) 03 – George Harrison – My Sweet Lord (Raquel) 04 – Junior Parker – Tomorrow Never Knows (2024 remastered version) (Bill) 05 – Bryan Ferry – Jealous Guy (Raquel) 06 – George Harrison – Try Some Buy Some (2024 mix) (Bill) 07 – Suede – A Day In The Life (MTV intro (Raquel) 08 – The Beatles – You Can’t Do That (Bill)l 09 – John Lennon – Gimme Some Truth (Bill) 10 – Paul McCartney – Waterfalls (Bill) 11 – George Harrison – Wah-Wah (2014 Remaster) (Raquel) 12 – The Beatles – Octopus Garden (Raquel)p 13 – The Carpenters – Ticket To Ride (Bill) 14 – The Beatles – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Raquel) 15 – The Beatles – Yellow Submarine (Raquel) 16 – Robert Wyatt – Love (Bill) 17 – Ringo Starr – It Don’t Come Easy (Bill) 18 – Lucinda Williams – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Raquel)
Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 74 – The Beatles edition by Bill Rivers & Raquel Pinheiro airs Monday 16, 3-4pm (gmt) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com (or on the app).
Amazing Songs & Other Delights # 74 – The Beatles edition is, once more a collaborative programme between me and Bill Rivers. We both love The Beatles. As a child, around Christmas tv would show The Beatles films and I would be taken to see Yellow Submarine on the big screen. Bill and I picked Beatles songs, assorted covers , songs from solo fab four. You can see who picked out on the tracklist below the text. I love to do shows with Bill. He always comes up with songs, covers, I either didn’t knew or had forgotten.
The first record my parents to me dance to was a German Beatles compilation. The Beatles were mum and her sisters band. Like me, mum is partial to George (Harrison), having a special place in her heart for the by all, myself included, beloved Ringo. Bill’s favourite Beatle is also George. Paul comes second for Bill. No wonder there’s so much George being played on the show. 🙂 Solo George, Beatles George. While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles opens the show, While My Guitar Gently Weeps covered by Lucinda Williams closes it. I’ve been fascinated by Lucinda’s version since I heard it a few weeks ago.
Interestingly, my favourite Beatles song is Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) that was written by Lennon. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) wasn’t always by favourite Beatles song. As a child it would be any from the mentioned German compilation. Or from the first album. Or a few from Yellow Submarine that, for years, for me was only an animated film. Rubber Soul ended up become by favourite Beatles album. Bill’s favourite Beatles current album is Magical Mystery Tour.Why is George pretty much everyone favourite Beatle? I don’t know. I always loved George and Ringo. I’m the person who plays bass and forgets Paul McCartney plays bass. I see Paul as a songwriter, which he, of course, is.
Back to George. George brought many Innovations to The Beatles. He was always on the look out for new things. It was George’s idea of having Eric Clapton play the guitar solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps. George has the best solo album of the four Beatles, All Things Must Pass. There’s a great documentary about George as well, George Harrison: Living In The Material World.
Tracklist: 01 – The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Raquel) 02 – Dillard and Clark – Don’t Let Me Down (Bill) 03 – George Harrison – My Sweet Lord (Raquel) 04 – Junior Parker – Tomorrow Never Knows (2024 remastered version) (Bill) 05 – Bryan Ferry – Jealous Guy (Raquel) 06 – George Harrison – Try Some Buy Some (2024 mix) (Bill) 07 – Suede – A Day In The Life (MTV intro (Raquel) 08 – The Beatles – You Can’t Do That (Bill)l 09 – John Lennon – Gimme Some Truth (Bill) 10 – Paul McCartney – Waterfalls (Bill) 11 – George Harrison – Wah-Wah (2014 Remaster) (Raquel) 12 – The Beatles – Octopus Garden (Raquel)p 13 – The Carpenters – Ticket To Ride (Bill) 14 – The Beatles – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Raquel) 15 – The Beatles – Yellow Submarine (Raquel) 16 – Robert Wyatt – Love (Bill) 17 – Ringo Starr – It Don’t Come Easy (Bill) 18 – Lucinda Williams – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Raquel)
words: Paulo Carmona (edited by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota
I knew that Bernard Butler was a guitar genius due to his creativity and originality.
I confess I didn’t knew he was such a communicator. He is very humorous, entertaining and truthful in his discourse, not even shying away from self-deprecation.
His pop rock is of a singular richness and his ease in transposing it on stage is, to say the least, appreciably comforting. I can feel colours from all shades of the rainbow in Butler’s songs, coated in intense, personal and introspective lyrics. It’s not hard to see yourself in one song or the other, and that’s why it’s easy to navigate his world.
In this concert at Casa da Música, Bernard’s first ever in Porto, he presented Good Grief, his new album in 25 years, gave us songs such as Deep Emotions and Pretty D, and obviously iconic songs from People Move On, such as My Domain, and the closing Not Alone.
From his collaborations with other artists he brought songs like Although (McAlmont & Butler) and Shallow The Water (Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler).
A solo concert so intimate, just the man and his guitar(s), that you could talk to the musician and sip the stories from his Gibson ES-355, which, in his hands, almost speaks.
I was delighted by the riffs, sometimes intense, sometimes soft, but all of them imbued with charismatic melodies. Butler is a storyteller and a speaker of the sensations that come from those stories. What’s impressive is the way in which those same sensations fit, in a perfect symbiosis, with the dynamics of his songs. It’s a gift.
words: Paulo Carmona (edited by Raquel Pinheiro); photos Telma Mota
Temples are a band of dreams. The magic feeling is constant throughout the band’s performance. Atmospherically very rich and diverse in the structure of their songs, they take us to rest in meadows that stretch far as the eye can see. An immensity of nostalgia and divine emotions that, in fact, can only be reached in temples of sound in which music is the supreme divinity.
You almost feel a cool breeze on your skin that gives you goose bumps, a constant throughout the concert. In Move With the Seasons I almost levitated, in The Guesser I dreamt and in Fragment’s Light I almost cried. What more could I ask for?
As the songs flowed, bodies moved to the rhythm of the band’s sound, applause was effusive and appropriate for the marvellous setting. The band felt that the audience was with them and James Bagshaw, the band’s singer, ended up saying that this was thee crowd of the tour. I bet it was.
I dare say that Temples are one of the best bands of the last 20 years, for its originality and musical creativity, and that Sun Structures is a masterpiece of musical art.Outside, the city is perfectly suited to what was experienced and witnessed indoors. Perhaps because its the city of temples. I still feel it all very much alive and present in me. Thank you, James, Tom, Adam and Rens. Don’t make us wait another 10 years for your return to Portugal and, in particular, to Porto.
words: Paulo Carmona (edited by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota
The preamble serves to highlight the aesthetic evolution of the band at all levels. Whispering Sons developed well and got a place in their type of European rock.
The band is instrumentally cohesive with a very remarkable and secure well-structured rhythm section. The symbiosis between bass and drums works perfectly. In the melodic section, the guitar delivers sharp, strident and melodic riffs and knows how to respect the silences and dynamics that characterize the songs of Whispering Sons. The keyboards work as a safe network in a nostalgic tone that gives all that fog, at times thick, at times soft, sailing between chilling breezes. Up there, on the trapeze, Fenne Kuppens’ voice, dense, semi-hoarse, deep and disturbing makes the difference and imprints the stamp that characterizes the Belgian quintet.
Whispering Sons’ performance at Hard club presented a growing and coherent setlist starting with Balm, Something Good and Surface, moving on to Walking, Flying and Try Me Again. It was a concert in crescendo that left everyone, myself included, satisfied. The Great Calm, the band’s largest record is to be heard from beginning to end. And it was with a feeling similar to the album title that I set out on my way home.
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #72 – The Ecosystem edition is now on mixcloud.
Of late, I’ve been coming upon the word ecosystem from different sources. Or happen upon lyrics, or otherwise that mention the concept that we’re all one, we’re connected, that we depend on each other.
That concept is part of Body Count’s Comfortably Numb version of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb the song that opens this edition. Ice-T writes and says: “Listen… ’cause I’ve been on both sides of the gun As you stand before me we’re all here as one We gotta come together or our chances are none Maybe I’m just a dreamer, too many obstacles” (full lyrics here)
An ecosystem implies environment and those in it interacting, forging connections, relationships, one thing leading to another. That is how both Mondo and Yé Yé came to be. The longer text about My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #72 – The Ecosystem edition can be read here.
Tracklist: 01: Body Count – Comfortably Numb (feat. David Gilmour) 02: Raveloe – Passing Place 03: 12 Roads – Waiting For JB 04: Rowland S. Howard – Shut Me Down 05: Ned Swarbrick – Somebody, Something, Somewhere Else (live York City FC) 06: Mick Harvey – October Boy 07: Johnny Marr – New Town Velocity 08: The Birthday Party – The Friend Catcher 09: Saint Sappho – Grass is Gold 10: Oh Bobby (Bill Rivers and Simon Hayward) – Are You Still There 11: Sorry Monks – One Rule For Them 12: Paradise Lost – The Last Time 13: Harry Howard And The NDE – Sensitive To The Cold 14: Mark Robin White & Adam Lato – Rabbit Hole (Tranquility mix) 15: The Courettes – Shake! 16: A Resistência – Maré Alta
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 