Montrose beach, end of January this yearI've been on a wander around music lately. I started listening to some Unthanks after hearing them on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (I already have their first 3 albums but I haven't listened to them much lately). They performed this song at the awards ceremony, about a pigeon... by Dave Sudbury):
One of the comments on youtube said the Unthanks stole the Awards show this year with this performance (though they didn't win anything this time) and although I only listened on radio I'd have to agree. There's been lots of argy-bargy about the folk awards this year... which makes a change from argy-bargy about poetry I suppose... and I suppose there probably always will be trouble about awards and prizes in the arts. In so many ways they are all a certain amount of nonsense (of course x isn't this year's "best" singer... just as of course y didn't write this year's "best" poem or book of poems) but at the same time we do all hear about a lot of good music and other arts via the prize systems. I often hear about new music (new to me anyway) via music prizes like the Mercury... maybe I wish I didn't but at this stage of life I just do (though I hear of quite a lot via blogs and radio and facebook as well of course).
Speaking of which I saw on their website that the Unthanks had recently done an album of songs by 2005 Mercury winner Antony & the Johnsons and Robert Wyatt (called Diversions Vol 1) so I went off to one of the free places to give that a try. After a few songs I realised that I'd never really listened to Antony & the Johnsons properly (just not been in the right mood at the right time before) so off I went to listen to him... and ended up spending all my birthday money/vouchers on A&tJ albums. Here's a song from one of the albums I bought (the 2010 album “Swanlights”) called “Thank-you for your love”. It is perhaps an atypically bouncey and cheery song for this artist but it is you-know-what day this week (clue:hearts and flowers):
Also this week former Unthanks pianowoman/songwriter Belinda O'Hooley has a new album out with her O'Hooley & Tidow duo project. I love the music these two make (their first album “Silent June” is one of my favourites of recent years) and the new album is called “the Fragile” (you can find details on their website). The only song from the new album I can find to show you is this one:
I've ordered my copy of “The Fragile” and am very much looking forward to hearing the whole thing. O'Hooley and Tidow are on tour just now too... though sadly nowhere near here.
And then later in the week we listened to some Guns'n'Roses* (ugh), some Thin Lizzy ('ray!), some Janis Joplin, some James Brown... it's been a noisy week.
*I should have made this clear to begin with... we were listening to this band because we have been watching the US comedy series "The Middle" and the eldest son in that is called Axl (after Axl Rose of G'n'R) and so h wanted to hear what they sounded like. She wasn't hugely impressed. Luckily they appeared long after my heavy rock phase (approx 1980-1984) so I missed them altogether first time round. Phew!
x
One of the comments on youtube said the Unthanks stole the Awards show this year with this performance (though they didn't win anything this time) and although I only listened on radio I'd have to agree. There's been lots of argy-bargy about the folk awards this year... which makes a change from argy-bargy about poetry I suppose... and I suppose there probably always will be trouble about awards and prizes in the arts. In so many ways they are all a certain amount of nonsense (of course x isn't this year's "best" singer... just as of course y didn't write this year's "best" poem or book of poems) but at the same time we do all hear about a lot of good music and other arts via the prize systems. I often hear about new music (new to me anyway) via music prizes like the Mercury... maybe I wish I didn't but at this stage of life I just do (though I hear of quite a lot via blogs and radio and facebook as well of course).
Speaking of which I saw on their website that the Unthanks had recently done an album of songs by 2005 Mercury winner Antony & the Johnsons and Robert Wyatt (called Diversions Vol 1) so I went off to one of the free places to give that a try. After a few songs I realised that I'd never really listened to Antony & the Johnsons properly (just not been in the right mood at the right time before) so off I went to listen to him... and ended up spending all my birthday money/vouchers on A&tJ albums. Here's a song from one of the albums I bought (the 2010 album “Swanlights”) called “Thank-you for your love”. It is perhaps an atypically bouncey and cheery song for this artist but it is you-know-what day this week (clue:hearts and flowers):
Also this week former Unthanks pianowoman/songwriter Belinda O'Hooley has a new album out with her O'Hooley & Tidow duo project. I love the music these two make (their first album “Silent June” is one of my favourites of recent years) and the new album is called “the Fragile” (you can find details on their website). The only song from the new album I can find to show you is this one:
I've ordered my copy of “The Fragile” and am very much looking forward to hearing the whole thing. O'Hooley and Tidow are on tour just now too... though sadly nowhere near here.
And then later in the week we listened to some Guns'n'Roses* (ugh), some Thin Lizzy ('ray!), some Janis Joplin, some James Brown... it's been a noisy week.
*I should have made this clear to begin with... we were listening to this band because we have been watching the US comedy series "The Middle" and the eldest son in that is called Axl (after Axl Rose of G'n'R) and so h wanted to hear what they sounded like. She wasn't hugely impressed. Luckily they appeared long after my heavy rock phase (approx 1980-1984) so I missed them altogether first time round. Phew!
x
12 comments:
Thank you for the Guns'n'Roses comment. :)
Music is good for the soul and a battery recharger too. (I've been reading, just not enough time to comment this week...until now).
there is an interview with them and stuart maconie on 6 i meant to tell you about in a happy coincidence to this post. in it they reveal they do singing courses. it has been many years since i sang but the notion of doing some shanties with the unthanks...
I'll pop back for a listen when the internet here speeds up!
Talking of things folky, did you catch Christy Moore on Saturday morning? He was live on Saturday Live (Radio4).
I know Maconie is a big Unthanks fan, Swiss. I've heard them on radio with him before. I do like their voices... sound of something like home for me too, I suppose.
Heard Christy Moore on Cerys Matthews's show on 6 on Sunday morning, Dominic. Hers is one of the best shows on radio just now... but I think I've said that before!
How's your piano playing coming, Hope? We have set up a music space in the house again...
x
I'm with you on arts awards. Waste of time and money, in my opinion. I don't use superlatives anymore. Art is relative, according to Einstein. And deeply subjective, according to... everyone else.
I've heard the Unthanks on Radio Paradise and liked their voices and lyrics. Will give them another listen on youtube. Re A&J, unfortunately, I can't... I mean... really.. I tried my best, but in the end... it was not to be. Maybe the same that happened to you, happened to me, too. I was just not in the mood at that moment for the wailing. Sorry! :-)
Greetings from London.
Don't forget O'Hooley & Tidow either!
x
Love the Unthanks song (I'll go looking for more) AND the O'Hooley & Tidow. Both are right down my alley. The other one was just too repetitive for me - but I have to say I only made it about halfway through it :)
P.S. But Rachel, what if I had wanted a flat in Edinburgh?
Yes, I got three spam comments from them yesterday! And if you do want a flat in Edinburgh... best take to bank robbing... if that is still possible...
x
I heard I could get a flat in Edinburgh here....
Love the Polar bear song....
That song has grown on me. When I first heard it I found it a bit cutesy, in all honesty, but then it was around Xmas time and then can be polar bear overload around then. My cd of the album arrived yesterday and on first listen I found I was singing along with the polar bear song and enjoying it... so yes, xmas to blame!
x
IT can be... must read before click...
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