Quarter 2

It’s that time again. We’re half way through 2015, and what a half! Personally and musically speaking.

A few months ago I wrote about my favourite releases of the first three months of the year in an unprecedented quarterly review. Yes, you’ve all read and heard the annual countdowns and the half year choices of every website and magazine with an interest in all things aural, but I came out with a tri-monthly report on the records that floated my boat because, frankly, there was too much stupendous stuff being put out there that I was just too darn terrified that too many mind blowingly, ball bouncingly brilliant slabs of vinyl and plastic and invisible noughts and one’s were going to come out in the subsequent nine months that I’d forget all about them and not mention them.

Part of the paranoia that consumed me was based on the stature of some of the bands and artists releasing these monolithic records. Most of them were fairly unknown, little heard of groups that were too flippin’ good for me not to blow their trumpet and bang on constantly about on social media till even they were probably sick of the sound of my tweets.

The following three months have been no different. Some from very well-known but absent goliaths of Indie, some from bands on the periphery of the mainstream and some that no one will have heard of but need to.

We’ve also had the pleasure of Record Store Day in April, but I’m loathed to include any re-issues or special picture discs of singles from the 70’s and 80’s. There were some brilliant things that deserve inclusion for being in the spirit of what RSD should be all about. I will mention the We are Scientists 8-track vinyl RSD release of re-workings of songs from their 2014 album “TV en Francais” called “TV en Francais sous la Mer” with every track name having ‘..under the sea’ tacked on the end. It’s a clever and very good reworking of already good songs (the album made the 2014 Best 10 albums) but it’s effectively already been released so it won’t be making the Quarter 2 Top 5 records.

Also, honourable mention must go to the Sufjan Stevens album “Carrie & Lowell” a staggeringly open and honest record about the death of his mother. Heartbreakingly so. This was technically released in March, the 30^th in fact, so it shouldn’t really be included in the April to June list but it did only just come out before the deadline, so I feel duty bound to mention it as it is a great record. Check out the Gold Flake Paint review of it anyway for a brilliant piece of writing about it.

So here’s the list:

Eaves – What Green Feels Like : I said I was anticipating the album of the year from Joseph Lyons, and I think he’s delivered it. The three tracks from his eponymous E.P from last year are re-recorded and given bulk by added instrumentation and backing vocals from Steph Fraser. The strength of songwriting stands out and what surprises are the big, full band tracks that weren’t hinted it before on ‘Timber’ and ‘Spin’ despite the likes of ‘Pylons’ and ‘As Old as the Grave’ being more than just him and his guitar. Latest single ‘Dove in your mouth’ and others such as ‘Hom-a-Gum’ and ‘Purge’ are the sound of a cohesive band recording, born out by their live performance. Added excitement is that he announced in an interview recently (confirmed by responding to one of my endless streams of tweets about him) that an E.P will be released of new songs in October, with a deluxe version of the record due out with the new songs. On tour with Mumford and Sons in Europe right now, his star will rise.

Joanna Gruesome – Peanut Butter: special mention to Alcopop Records here for introducing me to this lot through the Sensible Record Label RSD Compilation vinyl. Packed full of 11 songs from 11 different artists on 11 different independent labels, it showcased a brilliant broad array of styles and sounds. This lot’s “There is no function Stacey”, a Menace Beach exclusive and some great stuff from Tellison, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Alvvays being highlights. The following second L.P from Cardiff’s Joanna Gruesome was a sublime 22 minutes slice of pop. It is without doubt going to soundtrack my summer.

Blur – The Magic Whip: They’re back. AND THEY’RE GREAT!! What a relief. “Go out” took a while to gets its hook in and stay there, but subsequent tracks like “Lonesome Street” and “There are too many of us” confirmed this was going to be a return with form. A balance was struck perfectly between the Blur we all know and love and the slightly more experimental sides of “13” and “Think Tank” coupled with Damon’s huge palette of musical colours.

Stornoway – Bonxie: Under the radar they may well stay, unfortunately, but this, the Oxford band’s 3^rd full length, is such a delight. They’ll never be trendy, or cool; they’re bird watchers for crying out loud. They do make brilliant, brilliant music, especially here. They are folk, but you wouldn’t lump them in with an earnest, political side of the genre, they make happy music about zorbing and procrastinating and they do something most bands would struggle to do; they induce silence in a crowd when they perform their a Capella songs, like this records “Josephine”. Go and find ‘Get Low’, ‘The Road you didn’t take’ and “Love song of the Beta Male”. Joyous.  

Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool: It's sneaked in at the last minute, and the eleventh hour. Mainly as I only ordered it at the end of last week, but it's been spinning for a little while now and I'm writing about in conjunction with this, which will be up in a few days.

So, what's up next? At the end of the month Mark Morriss of The Bluetones releases his third studio album, a covers album which is sounding really good. Editors have teased and poked us with hidden tracks on mixtapes and limited edition 12" vinyl's in Oxfam and the 5th album is ready to go. We just don't know when. The Maccabees 4th record, Marks to Prove It, drops this month and the first two slices are far, far superior to everything but 'Pelican' from 'Given to the Wild'. Eaves has surprised us by announcing the E.P for October and there has been hints regarding Menace Beach releasing an E.P very soon. Desperate Journalist have been tweeting about recording again so hopefully we'll se that before 2015 is out.

Of course, there'll be more I haven't heard of yet appearing on my radar. I just hope I have the funds for all the vinyl my addiction will compel me to buy.

Send help!!