Start the week with a blast from the past, right here at the Trust The Wizards Podcast.
Yes, this week’s connected tracks both come from that oft mocked decade of the 1980s, but in our book they are both tip top. We’ve got Jim Carroll and his band with my favourite track (that doesn’t mention loads of dead people) from their debut album and the wizards’ favourite New Jersey resident with a song that never fails to move.
What, though, links these two?
There can be few more memorable moments than when the wizards allow the world to hear their full podcasts. So, remember where you were when full podcast number 26 was released. You were right here! (Wherever here is in your world….you get the idea). By the way, that was an introduction to what we are calling The My Space Stars with Bad Geordie Accents podcast … on reflection, not a great one (the introduction that is, the podcast is awesome (although the title might be considered a tad cumbersome.))
We’re Tacocat – the jury – and we’re out
Ever wondered what heavy metal sounded like when it was good? Ever wondered what the present premier power pop punk philosopher sounds like? Ever felt the raw anger of today’s Durham based anti-protectionist faction raging in song? Ever been attacked by a mutant 50ft kebab? Curious? You’re in! Click on here for the latest podcast or do the soundcloud thing below.
The podcast includes a brief interview with the mighty Ballard, which we will be turning into a full podcast special soon, but you can catch this fantastic artist at the Dog and Partridge in Bolton on August Bank Holiday Monday click here for details
Here’s some physicality from the show:
A triple bill of bands took to the stage at Liverpool’s Kazimier on Monday night and the Wizards were there to take it all in.
Hear us talk of pandas, female genitalia and birds of prey in our review right here.
Obligatory poor quality photo below.
Oh and here’s the song that Chorizo was going on about.
Related links:
More photos from the gig – with thanks to Texas Paul
Monday morning feels so bad / Everybody seems to nag me…
And yet, that’s not The Easybeats’ song we have for you today. Sorry. We do, though, have one of Kicker’s favourite gloom-mongers, former Red House Painter, Mark Kozelek with a fantastic track from one of his early solo EPs.
But what, dear listener, connects the two? Please write your answer on the back of a sealed envelope and pop it in the post to us here at Wizard Towers.
I am not really very keen on live albums. Of course, there are one or two that I might go back to from time to time like Live At Leeds, Live At The Counter Eurovision and, er, Jellyfish Reflector, but truth be told they are generally not my go-to listening pleasure.
an exception
Funnily enough, though, I have recently kick-pledge-started future live sets from both Dexys and, more recently Devo, but this has more to do with the fact that both offered the opportunity to get hold of signed albums by a couple of my favourite bands than the need to listen to them ‘live on record’. Of course, the other reason I might be tempted by a live album is if I was there, which brings me round to the album I am supposed to be reviewing, the Live At Crabstock release from Welsh underground psychedelic instrumental stars, Sendelica – out on the Fruits De Mer off-shoot label, Friends Of The Fish next month.
For, yes, I was there, back in April of this year. You can hear a rather off-kilter description of the day of fun that was the Fruits De Mer Psychedelic Festival held in Cardigan right here, but be warned, certain commentators were notably tired and emotional and unable to tell their theremins from their mellotrons. So, it was with great interest that I listened to this recording of what I recall as a blistering headline set from guitarist, Peter Bingham and psychedelic pals. Could it be as viscerally powerful on record as it most certainly was in person, tiny theremin, wailing sax and all?
sendelica
Well, frankly, yes. This is a great live set with a superbly clear rich sound that most certainly does justice to the musicians on show. It kicks off with what appears to be the sound of desperate voices that are soon blasted to smithereens by the giant guitar riff and pummelling rhythm section that is Standing On The Edge. This very quickly gives way to the roaring sound of Manhole Of The Universe (as it does on the studio album The Girl From The Future Who Lit Up The Sky With Golden Worlds, only this is quicker and more intense) and once again, it’s hats off to the Sendelican bass player who keeps things on track while a plethora of spacey sounds fly around in the mid-section before the sax comes in and you really know you’re listening to something special. The last 5 minutes or so of this track, in particular, are just phenomenal. This is followed by Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Buddha, a FDM fan favourite that builds in stately fashion again around a haunting sax and reverb heavy guitar before slapping you across the chops with its killer riff. The next song Motorik Jam pretty much does exactly what it says on the psychedelic tin from the first note, but it is here that Lord Armstrong Sealand, for it is he, on theremin really gets in on the act. I am pretty sure this is the track where the tiny theremin made its entrance. In any case, it’s one funky little number. Things slow down temporarily with the super moody intro to Screaming And Streaming Into The Starlit Night (from the superbly titled Streamedelica, She Sighed As She Hit Rewind On The Dream Mangler Remote LP) and if anything is going to mangle your dream space, it’s this highlight from the Crabstock set that showcases some outrageously moving sax playing along with everything you could wish for from yer man on theremin, oh, and THAT guitar. Next up a debut outing for the band’s mindblowing cover of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain – a FDM B-side (you can check out the A-side below – possibly my favourite FDM cover) – that is dedicated to the label’s head honcho, Keith Jones and must now surely be a regular part of the band’s set.
The band then finish off proceedings with 12 and a half minutes of Spaceman Bubblegum, a fan favourite from their first album, that nearly brings the roof down (do Cellar’s have roofs?) with its magnificent bass line and slinky sax underpinning a furious guitar assault that ensures all minds present are suitably altered for the better.
It’s not the same as being there, but it comes damn close and it’s a trip you should definitely take. You can still get hold of copies through the band’s bandcamp page, although the box set has long gone. There are, as I write, still 8 copies of the limited purple vinyl version, which you really should have. If you’re not quick enough there are CDs and downloads too.
Be there next time.
Way back on podcast number 11, I played the track “Sensitize” by That Petrol Emotion and generally raved about them. This was another in my occasional series of “bands from the 80s / 90s who should’ve been massive but weren’t”.
Now 80% of That Petrol Emotion are about to release their debut album as The Everlasting Yeah.
You can help his happen this by pre-ordering the album here. If you’re feeling particularly generous there are a whole load of other options including having your name in the album credits and going out for a curry with them.
Here’s a little bit of “Tell Me” from their recent gig at the Roundhouse to whet your appetite. If this track is anything to go by, then the album’s going to be worth every penny so get pledging people.
In the meantime, I’ve been getting out my old TPE albums, CD singles and 10″ singles (anyone able to tell me what exactly was the point of that particular format?). I’ve selected 20 of my favourite tracks on this playlist. As is the norm with these things, if I did it again a week later there’d probably be a whole bunch of different TPE songs on there.
The playlist kicks off with “Swamp” because that was my introduction to the band thanks to a short video clip on The Chart Show. I’ve tried to represent some of the different musical styles that the band drew from but that’s not easy because they played so many different types of music so well!
Additional plug…..
You might hear us play some more That Petrol Emotion when we’re DJing at this. You will definitely hear us play a certain song from the O’Neill brothers’ previous band!
Hey there, kids, ready for another brain teaser? Oh.
Well, in any case, try this one out for size – it’s only got a Jonathan Richman all-time classic and perhaps THE best start to a gig ever with Talking Heads.
But what can possibly link these favourite sons of Boston and NYC (or Rhode Island)? Let us know, smarty-pants. (It’s nothing to do with David Byrne being Scottish, by the way.)
And here’s the second part of our monster comeback podcast!
This time round the wizards sing like girls, sing like amphibians and, scariest of all, try to sing like Morrissey (fortunately, not at the same time as discussing his new album). There are passionate discussions about the definitive version of Anarchy In The UK and wrongfully worn T-shirts, some terrible translation from Spanish and the return of Kicker’s Question Time. So what are you waiting for?
1 – 2- 3 – 4 – R.I.P.
All this and much much more can be heard by downloading on these very words or listening to the soundcloud thingy under here.
If you haven’t done so already, check out Part One here.
Some of the physicality mentioned in this half of the show
Yes, it’s that time again.
This week we have a post punk classic from Leeds giants Gang Of Four and an album track from deep within the back catalogue of Dayton, Ohio’s favourite sons, Guided By Voices. All you need to do is get your thinking caps on and tell us what connects these two mighty songs.
I like to start these compilations with an instrumental and I also like to (you are contractually obliged to – TTW Ed) include a Guided By Voices song. So, imagine my excitement at being able to start this month’s musical treat with a Guided By Voices instrumental. It rarely gets this good in my life these days.
Anyway, without further ado, let me tell you what we have lined up this particular month of August.
As all the cool kids will be aware, the most recent GBVLP is Cool Planet and, despite all evidence to the contrary that this is where we live, it is the title track that kicks us off this month, but only after the instrumental B-side (on the Authoritarian Zoo single) of Cool Planet Theme blasts its brass balls way out of your speakers. To be fair, this will only happen if you have bought the single as it’s not on Spotify, but the point still stands. To celebrate the flipside to cool (temperature-wise), these new GBV classics are followed by the summer smash Steal My Sunshine from Len. I was reminded of this great 90s song by our good friends at Alcopop! Records, who recently re-released the song to celebrate their 100th release. I now have the track in the form of a natty pair of sunnies. Cleverly maintaining the Len-link, it’s retro rockers The Len Price 3 up next, again with the title track, from this year’s highly recommended Nobody Knows LP – a must for any fans of the Medway Sound. This is followed by a Texas Paul recommendation, The Growlers, a band at least 2 of the wizards are lined up to see later this month, and who sound mighty fine on this track taken from their Not. Psych! release.
not in anyway cool
Isn’t it great when you pick up a record on spec and find a hidden gem that leaps out at you when the needle hits the groove? Well, I picked up a compilation of local bands last time I was in Liverpool’s newest record shop, Dig Vinyl, on local label Eighties Vinyl Records called, pleasingly, Just Records and featuring a plethora of bands unknown to me. The one that I immediately liked was Sankofa and its their whistletastic song that is on the playlist. However, I’d recommend the whole compilation and the label is definitely one to watch (read: collect obsessively). How about a blast of Rochdale punk? Oh, alright then, it’s Accident On The East Lancs from their Rainy City Punk Vol. 2 collection (on purple vinyl), who ask for some clarity of expression. Another new band to me this year is Kitten Pyramid whose Uh-Oh album has had repeated plays since I first came across their music in an intriguing story about them launching their new album with a tour of psychiatric hospitals. The album did not disappoint and you can expect to see another track in my best of the year list. For now though, here’s the title track (and only track on Spotify) to give you a taste (of tea). Time for a cover version, now, and it’s Generationals take on a Creation song that featured in the film Rushmore. I know all that because it’s on the I Saved Latin! compilation of songs in Wes Anderson films that I bought to get hold of Kristin Hersh’s version of Nick Drakes’s Fly (Rebel Rikkit, your ears should prick up here!). There’s loads of good stuff here.
that is a piss-poor pyramid lads
An old favourite next with Hüsker Dü and my favourite track from the hardcore opera that is Zen Arcade followed by a very silly and very engaging little instrumental from Oddbox Records houseband, Belbury Poly. The track features a whole range of unusual instruments being twanged, boinged and tooted, and appears on a revised edition of the 10″ Farmer’s Angle that I also picked up at Dig Vinyl. A record that I didn’t choose, but was sent to me as part of my Rough Trade Album Club (RTAC) subscription was Wildest Dream’s self-titled new release. Every 2 or 3 months I say to myself that I should really cancel my membership of this club as I rarely, if ever, receive the album that’s in their ten monthly selections that I have on my want list. Instead I get sent something that I would probably never have bought. However, despite some real clunkers in the past (Connan Mockasin, anyone?), I do mostly get to hear some really interesting stuff that otherwise would have passed me by (the 2011 Balam Acab – Wander/Wonder still being a real favourite). This Wildest Dream album definitely finds itself in the ‘glad I heard that’ section. As does, The Moles Record Store Day release Flashbacks And Dream Sequences, which compiles Richard Davies band’s Untune The Sky and Instinct albums and, on CD, the rest of the band’s back catalogue. It is the opening track of the collection, Wires, that I know best and still love the most (you might hear a certain Dayton, Ohio band in this). If you aren’t aware of this seminal band, get this collection into your life sharpish.
wipe out the sun
Another likeable RTAC surprise of recent months was The Rails Fair Warning featuring Richard Thompson’s daughter, Kami and produced by Edwyn Collins. There are certainly elements of RT to be heard on this grower of an LP not least in the guitar work of James Walbourne on this track. Another old favourite follows that slice of new-folk and it’s only that Robyn Hitchcock with a cracking track off one of my favourite albums of his, his debut solo album, Black Snake Diamond Role. The track chosen here gets played a lot as it follows my all-time favourite RH track Brenda’s Iron Sledge and still sounds pretty damn relevant today. Continuing the theme of standing up to the establishment, it’s everybody’s favourite band named after a car, The Cortinas (so much better than The Capris and Rose Royce) with a tip top single from back in the day, Defiant Pose. This is followed by another new track, this one taken from the free to download Not Of Silver Nor Of Coral compilation released by Australian label, Hidden Shoal Recordings (featuring Robert Pollard’s Circus Devils). The chosen track is from [The] Caseworker, who I’ve picked from the strong set, mostly on the grounds of their intriguing use of the square bracket. Classy.
i guess that’s a yes, robyn
A bit of a classic next, with Them and Mystic Eyes, one of the best opening tracks of all-time (The Angry Young Them) and, naturally track 17 on this mix. Oops. Another new one follows with a song the Wizards can well relate to. It’s The Wolfhounds with a great single Middle-Aged Freak that ticks all the right boxes for this particular old fart. One not old enough to remember The Big O in his pomp though, it has to be said. In my head he’s more of a Travelling Wilbury than anything else (apart perhaps from being connected to THAT David Lynch film). Nevertheless, I am confident in saying that the Roy Orbison track Southbound Jericho Parkway sounds like no other in his back catalogue. A real tour de force. But, a bit sad. So, I didn’t want to finish with it and who better to brighten up proceedings than Geordie giants, Milky Wimpshake with my favourite track off their highly recommended Heart And Soul In The Milky Way LP.
Before I go, a quick plug here for a forthcoming event that will see the Wizards spinning records between acts like the fabulous Mean Jean at a celebration of what would have been John Peel’s 75th birthday. He chose a Roy Orison track when he was on Desert Island Discs, you know. It was this one. The big softy.
See you in September.
Those tracks in full:
1. Cool Planet Theme / Cool Planet – Guided By Voices
2. Steal My Sunshine – Len
3. Nobody Knows – The Len Price 3
4. Nobody Owns You – The Growlers
5. Maker’s Mark – Sankofa
6. Tell Me What Ya’ Mean – Accident On The East Lancs
7. Uh-oh – Kitten Pyramid
8. Making Time – Generationals
9. Pink Turns To Blue – Husker Du
10. Your Stories – Belbury Poly
11. She Loves Me Not – Wildest Dream (you can stream the whole album here)
12. Wires – The Moles
13. Breakneck Speed – The Rails
14. Do Policemen Sing? – Robyn Hitchcock
15. Defiant Pose – The Cortinas
16. Dependence Day – [The] Caseworker
17. Mystic Eyes – Them
18. Middle-Aged Freak – The Wolfhounds
19. Southbound Jericho Parkway – Roy Orbison
20. Chemical Spray – Milky Wimpshake
Strangled Discontinuation
Playlist
Previous monthly mixes
All thirteen previous mixes are still available for free! Why not follow us on Spotify to avoid missing out?
Here are a couple of crackers for you this fine Monday.
First up it’s Chris Difford with a song all the wizards can relate to (some more than others) from his impressive solo back catalogue and then we have the Sniffin’ Glue house band, Alternative TV, with a rip-roaring live version of a punk classic.
As always, the question is what connects these unlikely bedfellows? Let us know through semaphore, etc.
I had very low expectations going into the new Dexys film after all it was a film of a concert I had already seen live. Could that stretch to a 2 hour film – I mean what about plot, dialogue and narrative?
Maybe it was just that I had dragged Mrs Rikkit along knowing she would hate it and, well, either way I was full of apprehension.
Still, despite some confusion, the exclusive 7 inch single looked great and there were plenty of others who were willing to give Kevin Rowland and the gang a whirl.
The first thing that struck me was how comforting it was to hear Kevin talk about the history of the group, life and the importance of not compromising.
The second thing was how great the stage, the band and the performance looked. I have no idea what the styles were, but a range of hats, pointed 2 tone shoes and a whole range of brownish, yellowish and orangeish jackets and tops contrasted strikingly against the black dress and deep red lips of the female singer. The range of camera angles gave the performance more urgency and narrative than the live performance had and just really worked.
Brownish, Yellowish, Stylish
The film developed with the story of the band, Kevin’s life and the story of the performance all intertwined and moved the film along so it was never dull. As someone who has been regularly checking for the next Dexys move for the last 26 years, it was fascinating to hear from the horse’s mouth about why the void existed. It was also inspiring to hear how a true artist operates and learn that without the spark nothing happens (how that must be much more frustrating for them than I could ever appreciate), but then how redemption can come and the artist can find themselves come to terms with who they are and make great art once more. Perhaps the most important thing is that this story is real and it’s happening in front of your eyes. Plenty of times during the film I welled up and at other times my spine was tingling, It was a sheer joy.
Also, the live footage of the end of the concert was innovative and breathtaking.
Overall, this is an inspirational film that urges you all to follow your dreams, don’t ever give up, listen to your inner voice and you can find yourself, albeit it might take a few decades.
Mama Mia for the outsiders? I think so!
Go and see this film!!!
Just like lopsided-haircut friend of the pod, Phil Oakey nearly once put it, we’re back, back, yeah, back.
Naturally, after our extended football-focussed hiatus, we have plenty to chew over. So much so in fact, that we will be releasing 2 podcasts over the next few weeks full of the usual vim, vigour and veritable verbosity.
time for a kickerstarter campaign?
After an appropriately jolly start to this first part, we discuss albums that we really should have been all over last year, but weren’t, and are inspired to introduce an unlikely furniture based quiz to proceedings. In the midst of all this we not only take full credit for one of the best releases of this year, but also have an interview with a real musician from a band who we really think are on to something good.
You can download all the hoopla right here and stream the whole of the podcast below.
Look out for Part Two coming your way in a couple of weeks!
Some of the physicality mentioned in this half of the show:
Need a video or two to help you start the working week? How about a conundrum of a connection?
Well, you’re in the right place as we present one of very few songs by The Doors that I like and an 80s band who I still have a soft spot for, Eyeless In Gaza.
So, how are a band from L.A. and Nuneaton’s finest linked? Let us know through all the usual channels.
Isn’t it about time you got one of these right? No excuses now the football’s over…
Yes, here we are again with a presentation of two musical video treats with a goddamn obvious link between them [Really? – TTW Ed]. This week we have the definite article avoiding Descendents with a punky little number and an all time classic stomper from Rufus Thomas. Not only are these two tracks linked in some way, but they both also link to the two videos posted last week.
So, go on, tell us what the fuss is all about, why doncha?
When I read stories about long lost love affairs in the mountain of women’s magazines that I regularly purchase, I am reminded that we have to come to terms with the fact that some things were never meant to be and it’s probably best to accept your lot and move on with your life. “Que se ra se ra” as we used to sing from the terraces and yet never quite knew what we meant. That’s the way I was increasingly feeling about my quest to compile a mix tape of songs written entirely from the perspective of a fly that I was compelled to put into digital print over a year ago.
Maybe the reason that I had not been inundated by suggestions was that not only that such songs didn’t exist, but that the interest in the subject was strange, perverse and weird. I was beginning to feel like a social outcast, a sad loner who had dedicated a life to a mission that was pointless and stupid (like trainspotting, for example).
Then, just when I was at a low ebb and thought that I might give up, my regular monthly search of the whole internet took me to one Joseph R. Coelho, for it was he, at Quincy University on the banks of the great Mississippi River, who published the academic paper “Noninsect Arthropods in Popular Music”.
This paper attempted to list every instance of not only fly, but every insect in popular music. Joe is, of course, a Professor of Biology and the paper goes on to explore our relationship with insects in music. But for me, this was a gold mine and surely my best chance to find a full mix tape (remember a minimum of 8 songs) written from the perspective of a fly.
Just to recap; we already have “Fly on the Wall” by XTC; “I am the Fly” by Wire; “Beatnik Fly” by Johnny and The Hurricanes; “Darling My Darling” by The Handsome Family and “Fly Trapped in a Jar” by Modest Mouse (even Joe missed the last 2). So that’s 5. We just need 3 more and my eyes were immediately drawn to “I’m A Fly” by The Vandals, 1 minute 59 seconds of a fly’s existential crisis set to a throwaway punk backing track. Get in number 6!
Then the most startling discovery! Yoko Ono in 1971 released an album entitled Fly that featured a 22 minute 53 second “song” entitled Fly. On this track she attempts to sing in the voice of a fly. Obviously, I can’t tell what she is actually singing because I can’t speak fly, like she can, but suffice to say anything she is saying in fluent fly must be from the perspective of a fly. So this is number 7, right? Well, I am not sure anyone should be subjected to 23 minutes of Yoko in fly-mode, so I will keep it in reserve. Let’s hope another 2 can be found.
Well, how about Buzzin’ Fly by Tim Buckley, where he sings “Just like a buzzin fly I come into your life”. Now, it could be argued that he is putting himself in the position of a fly thus it’s from the perspective of a fly, but to be fair, it’s not a first person narrative and he clearly states that he is not a fly as he would not be just like a buzzing fly, but would indeed just be a fly. Sorry, Tim. Nice try.
Now then, Sueded Chain, “One Fly’s Wing”. He clearly states over and over that he has one fly’s wing thus if he has a fly’s wing that must mean he is a fly. Although having a fly’s wing seems to indicate ownership not possession.. umm… probably safest to leave it.
What’s this? Sarah Brightman also had an album called Fly released in 1998, a radical departure into rock and pop from this classical singer and, yes, in there are 2 songs “The Fly” and “Fly” which both declare “I don’t know why, I AM A FLY!” and superbly “On Aunt Angelica’s pie, I am a fly”.
There we are, numbers 7 and 8! Only, an unwritten rule of a mix tape is that there should be no more than 1 selection by each artist, add to that that these two songs are in effect the same song with one reprised at the end and we have a problem.
There is then only one answer, come on down Yoko Ono. Here is your number 8, probably best to put it as a closer.
That Playlist in full!
Here’s a timely interruption to your lives.
Yes, it’s a couple of videos with a, oh so obscure, connection between them. This week we have the kings of Canvey Island, the unmatchable Dr Feelgood with a tip top cover version of a classic that they make their own with one of the finest live performances you’re ever likely to see. Yes, they can seem threatening even while wearing what can only be described as flares. Then it’s that bloke from New Jersey, no stranger to immense live performances, who (impossibly) name checks the Wizards back in ’75 in a stand out number from THAT London gig. The future of rock and roll indeed.
Let us know if you can work out the link.
It’s a year since Kicker’s Monthly Mix went public and 20 years since the release of Bee Thousand, the best album ever made. To be accurate, and I know a number of you appreciate our attention to detail, the Guided By Voices classic album was released on 21 June 1994, but that’s near enough for me and should be near enough for you. So, this month’s mix really should just be this:
In fact, I have chosen just one of the fantastic songs from Bee Thousand as part of a mix that in line with tradition kicks off with an instrumental. It’s The Ventures (who else?) with a track from a recently acquired The Ventures In Space LP that start things off and leads in quite neatly to a track from the new Brian Jonestown Massacre album that seems to be in Swedish. There are loads of great tracks on Revelation, but disappointingly only one in Swedish. If, it is, in fact, Swedish (see paragraph 1). A track from the newly formed Split Single next. This is a band built around former Robert Pollard live bassist [as opposed to dead? TTW Ed], Jason Narducy, whose new outfit also features the great John Wurster and him out of Spoon. Fragmented World is a great listen and here is one of the standout numbers. Following that we have an oldie from one of the great forgotten bands of the late 80s/90s and figurehead band of the Dunedin sound, The Chills. I never had a leather jacket I particularly loved, but I did have a baseball jacket (black body/white sleeves) that I was very sad to see go. Let us know about your favourite jackets and better still send us pictures!
about to release the Arctic Monkeys next album
Time for some Motown now and who better than the Queen of Motown herself, Mary Wells with her first hit and a rawer vocal than you might expect. Another former GBV side-man follows in the shape of the great Doug Gillard, who has a new LP out this year called Parade On that is definitely worth checking out. I do hope he works with Robert Pollard again as their Lifeguards collaborations and the phenomenal Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department are amongst my favourite GBV offshoot recordings. A song about broccoli next and, to be frank, there weren’t a lot to choose from. It’s The Association from their self-titled opus and it is, to my mind, the best song about broccoli of all time. Maintaining the food theme, it’s new Bristol band Personal Best, who feature favourite of the pod Caves’ Lou Hanman on drums, with a track from their newish The Lovin’ EP. I’m not sure that broccoli and ice-cream constitute a meal, unlike what I am currently making of this tortuous link.
There are loads of Best Ofs featuring The Animals and you know what you’re going to get with much of the tracklisting. One of their songs though, Outcast, tends to get overlooked and that is a real pity because it is storming. Just as well then that I have failed to overlook it. Halfway through the mix and it’s finally time to reference that football competition that seems to be going on (very much in the background). Yes, it’s Brazilian psychedelia! All the way from just outside Brasilia (possibly), it’s live favourites, Boogarins with a sweet number (ahem!) from their As Plantas Quen Curam LP. Snotty teenagers Shapes follow with another food related classic. This is a track taken from the second in the series of Punk 45 compilations on Soul Jazz called There Is No Such Thing As Society: Get A Job, Get A Car, Get A Bed, Get Drunk! featuring a range of under the radar Brit post-punk bands like Johnny Moped, Swell Maps and, er, The Scabs. There is a third volume out that I am yet to get my hands on, but it is surely only a matter of time. A new record that I have purloined is American Interior by Gruff Rhys, which really is very good indeed. It’s very much a concept album that differs from most concept albums by being really very good indeed. Here is one of many tracks that work in their own right.
gruff plays on despite being eaten by a bear
An old favourite pops up next with the mighty Gang Of Four and, controversially perhaps, what I would consider my second favourite track off Entertainment! Rather less well known, at least to these ears, is the sound of the band Kapetan Snjeska, which I am happy to translate for you as Captain Snjeska. This lot come from Croatia and found their way into my consciousness as part of my researching a song to represent their homeland on our Musical World Cup. Pipped to the post by Denis Katanec (and hello to him!) for that particular honour, theirs is now one of two Croatian songs I like very much. And finally, we get round to playing a track from Bee Thousand. A blog was recently posted elsewhere on the Internet by someone attempting to order the tracks on this album from best to worst. Suffice to say, it was completely wrong. The great thing is that all the songs have their merits and even the ‘lesser’ songs have an important part to play in where they appear in the running order. Juxtaposition is all. If you haven’t already listened to the album in the video at the start, do so now. Then enjoy I Am A Scientist juxtaposed with Start Choppin’ from Dinosaur Jr. This track, taken from their Where You Been album, was one that the future (and current) Mrs O’Elves had a soft spot for back in the day and does show J Mascis at his visceral best with some top high pitched singing.
A track from one of the albums I found in Sound It Records on my recent trip to the North-East is up next. It’s the band The Dots And Stops, a wizard-friendly experimental 5-piece band who make an intriguing sound reminiscent of Red Krayola. Anyway, from the superbly named If I Look Uncomfortable… It’s Only Coz I Need To DO IT!! LP, they ask the very pertinent question What’s Gonna Happen To Us? Who can, say, but if it all goes south, I’m sure Mark Everett will write a song about it. That is not meant as a slight, in fact, I love Eels brand of miserablalism. However, his latest offering The Cautionary Tales Of Mark Oliver Everett has yet to really grab me with only the track included here being particularly memorable. Elsewhere on this blog, I have noted my lack of knowledge of T Rex and my self-imposed determination to catch up with his back catalogue. We can all agree surely that The Slider is a great album (with a massive opening song – see below), but what about the posthumous You Scare Me To Death? Less so, I’d have to admit, but there was one track which I really liked and that is on this month’s playlist. Originally, a Tyrannosaurus Rex demo, I believe, with added instrumentation. See what you think. Then, finally, we end with the up-to-date and very hip, Metronomy with an instrumental slice of quirk from their Love Letters newbie.
See you next month.
Those tracks in full:
1. The Ventures – The Bat
2. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Vad Hande Med Dem?
3. Split Single – Never Look Back
4. The Chills – I Love My Leather Jacket
5. Mary Wells – Bye Bye Baby
6. Doug Gillard – Come Out And Show Me
7. The Association – Broccoli
8. Personal Best – Ice Cream
9. The Animals – Outcast
10. Boogarins – Doce
11. Shapes – Wot’s For Lunch Mum
12. Gruff Rhys – Walk Into The Wilderness
13. Gang Of Four – Damaged Goods
14. Kapetan Snjeska – Monolog Zene S Kozama – download for free from Bandcamp on the link and follow those lyrics in full!
15. Guided By Voices – I Am A Scientist
16. Dinosaur Jr – Start Choppin’
17. The Dots And Stops – What’s Gonna Happen To Us?
18. Eels – Series Of Misunderstandings
19. Marc Bolan – The Perfumed Garden Of Gulliver Smith
20. Metronomy – Boy Racers
Impurities & Evils Yet Unknown
Playlist
Previous monthly mixes
All twelve previous mixes are still available for free! Why not follow us on Spotify to avoid missing out?
Morning.
Yes, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. The TTWPDF (as no-one calls it) brings you two more fantastic tracks and challenges you to tell us how the heck they are connected.
This week we have The Kinks taking us for a ride down Hollywood Boulevard with their oft-overlooked classic Celluloid Heroes and, a big favourite of our own Chorizo Garbanzo, Iron & Wine. The latter part of which, of course, is also regularly a big hit with Rebel Rikkit.
The Wizards decided to drown their sorrows at England’s pitiful performance at the World Cup by eschewing the potential delights of Belgium – Russia and South Korea – Algeria (bad call, that one) and heading out to see New York’s Parquet Courts make their live debut in Liverpool. In making a full day of it, they first head off in the sunshine to the Kazimier Garden for some open air music prior to the gig proper.
Here they meet up with regular contributor to the pod and psych fanatic, Texas Paul, and take in two local bands right up his street. First up, it’s Strange Collective, previously seen here, who put on a decent show for all, including, it appeared, Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson (it was almost certainly her), managing to ignore Rikkit inadvertently calling them shit (he was talking about Arctic Monkeys, lads) and making a terrific noise with an impressive array of pedals.
pedal apocalyptica
After a short break, we were next treated to the stylings of Hooton Tennis Club, who we felt really missed a trick by not fully embracing the tennis theme. Guitarists atop umpire chairs, McEnroe headbands, playing behind a net, etc., etc. Still they made a very pleasant, if rather generically New York indie, sound and warmed us up nicely for the real gig to follow.
good use of ballast, lads
So, indoors we went and beers (with fruit!?) and spec sorted, we readied ourselves for three more bands. Firstly, and seemingly playing only their second gig, it was Ultimate Painting, who really looked the part with their twin Gretsch line-up, floppy fringed bassist and a full set of drainpipes. They could play a bit too. This is perhaps unsurprising when we learn that it’s the Mazes’ Jack Cooper and James Hoare from Veronica Falls up on stage.
insouciant cool
It was after enjoying that set that Rebel Rikkit correctly noted that all the bands we had seen thus far were, in their own ways, trying to play Marquee Moon. The same could not be said for those that came next. Coming on stage to an excerpt from a film (always a nice touch in my view), Bad Breeding looked a rum bunch. Playing what can only be described as thrash punk, the band backed a lead-singer (and I use the term incorrectly) who, frankly, went ape-shit. As entertaining as it was annoying, we had on stage fighting and off-stage aggression. All in less than 20 minutes.
be afraid, be very afraid
And all this led up to the headliners, Parquet Courts, who managed to combine the best of all the acts that preceded them, with a stylishly wild set that encouraged a burgeoning mosh-pit, crowd-surfing and stage diving.
no slacking here
Of course, they also were too cool to play their biggest hit or do an encore, but at the end we all rushed to buy their wares (vinyl only, kids). A fantastic end to a fantastic day and you can hear us reflect on the whole of the proceedings here.
And just to show that the headliners can do slow moody stuff too. Here’s a video taken from just behind the wizards (you might spot Rebel Rikkit’s familiar pate) by Diabolik Danger (who may well be, and very possibly should be, something to do with Bad Breeding). Nice work Diabolik.
So, here we are again then, eh? The World Cup is over for England (after less than 6 days from kick off to elimination), but the much more reliable Trust the Wizards’ Popcorn Double Feature keeps on rolling.
Once more we present two tip top tunes and ask you to find the link between them. This week we have everybody’s favourite slacker rock types Pavement and oft-considered Pavement side-project, but so much more than that, Silver Jews. The link is NOT Mr Malkmoose. So, what is it?
5 days into the World Cup and I bet you’re in need of some musical mystery.
Try to work out the link between Noo Yoik rockers, Nada Surf and singer-songwriter Sally Crewe who is here with her Sudden Moves. It’s easier than making it through the group stages so just let us know and we’ll post you a caipirinha.
Fancy yourself as the next Paul The Octopus?
Why not join us in our World Cup Prediction League?
It’s completely free so even our resident Yorkshireman has signed up!
Sign up right here and then once you’ve made your predictions, click on “Join a Mini League” and select “Trust the Wizards”
Our friends at NightmareSoccer.com will be donating a prize for the winner and there will also be an exclusive and rare Trust the Wizards prize!
Fantasy football with a sense of humour.
If you want, you can also create your own mini-League to play with your real friends.
Never mind all this ‘will England win the World Cup?’ nonsense (they won’t), the burning question in Wizard Towers has been who will win the Musical World Cup?
In order to find out, the wizards were were tasked with finding a song to represent each of the 32 countries. A fellow wizard would then listen to the 4 songs in each group and decide which 2 songs would qualify for the second round.
Jointly, we would then decide who would win in the knock-out stages and ultimately who would win the Musical World Cup. You can hear our discussions [here] as well as the songs that made it from the group stages and the crowned winner.
We chose Death Or Glory by The Clash to represent our home nation of England and you can read all about why just here.
The songs chosen to represent each nation in full were as follows:
Group A (chosen by Kicker)
Group B (chosen by Rebel)
Group C (chosen by Chorizo)
Group D (chosen by Chorizo)
Group E (chosen by Chorizo)
Group F (chosen by Kicker)
Group G (chosen by Kicker)
Group H (chosen by Rebel)
You can hear most of the tracks here:
See if you think the right teams made it through and whether or not you agree with our winner.
But never mind what we think, which song / country do you think should win? Let us know by voting in our World Cup poll:
The last Monday before the World Cup and it is, of course, pissing down. Still, here we have two fine tracks and an easey-peasey lemon-squeezy link between them.
So, if you can tell us what connects everyone’s favourite experimental post-rock electronic indie outfit, Stereolab and, all the way from L.A., James Greer’s great band, DTCV (Détective), which has nothing to do with the broadcasting of Derby County football matches, then get in in touch.
Robert Pollard’s Guide To The Late 60s podcast
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