I’ve always felt this is an incredible song, and a stunning vocal performance from Annie Haslam. 

Renaissance - Ocean Gypsy.

leeiro:

Microdisney - Horse Overboard

Now if you follow Leeiro you’ll know he posts a lot of music videos. I don’t watch them all, I occasionally ‘like’ ones that I know I love and like to show that. Sometimes I’ll take a chance on listening to things that I don’t know - and as he posts an awful lot of ‘Microdisney’ who I’d never heard of, I thought i should try them. 

Turns out they were an Irish indie band from the 80s, on Virgin records for a while after John Peel (who else?) sung their praises. There’s certain 80s Indie-pop bands I love (Smiths, Housemartins, etc) and some I shy away from but Microdisney sound strong. Distinctive vocals and a great guitar sound that is very much of the period but, like other looked bands such as Felt, been obscured by bigger names over the years. 

Also, you can’t argue with a band who name their albums with titles like ‘The Clock comes down the stairs’ and ‘We hate you South African bastards’. Can you?

One of the greatest Pink Floyd songs, from any period. ‘High Hopes’ closes the last album. Bells chime off the beat throughout, creating a strangely compelling air of mystery. Given the whole album is pretty much about the split with Waters, I like to think that it signifies the two parties moving in very different ways. Or perhaps that it is the constant thing while Gilmour and co shift and slide around it. I’m better off not analysing it all, in truth…

The opening track from the last Pink Floyd album, a grand work of huge emotion. This sounds better at night. 

While we’re in a ‘not strictly jazz’ frame of mind, something that can no way be classed as jazz but it is a great song nonetheless. Harry Chapin’s folk-rock love/protest songs tell stories of the regular Joes and others, rarely glamourous; W*O*L*D* is about a morning DJ, who is just another regular guy. Chapin was without doubt one of the best songwriters, he passed away too soon.

Haven’t listened to the whole of Santigold’s new album, only odd tracks. I loved Santogold, the album from 4 years ago (Can you believe it??) which just seemed to meld the right amount of offbeat genius, indecipherable lyrics, catchy melodies, sharp rhythms (a la MIA) and all the exposure in hundreds of adverts couldn’t diminish it at all. I am a little afraid that Santigold may be like Lady Gaga for me - the weightless freedom of the first album, followed up by the second, heavily laden with expectation and failing. But perhaps not. 

This track ‘The Keepers’ is pretty catchy, and having heard ‘Pirate in the Water’ and ‘Disperate Youth’ too, I don’t think they’ll disappoint. 

Over-played and yet really you can’t play or hear this enough! Minnie again, with Rotary Connection and a song that says so much. It sounds better loud, by the way…

Would You Like to Fly? Great piece of prog-edged rock!