Just Released - 2013 [Ep.40]

“We chopped a billion trees, to print up eulogies,

 But guys we should have guessed, the girls would say it best:

 Moondog! …”

                       “Moondog” [Prefab Sprout 1990]

Back in 1990, Prefab Sprout released one of the most sophisticated Pop records of the decade, a sprawling double album called ‘Jordan: The Comeback’. A loose concept album dealing with Love, Elvis, Religion and Death, ‘Jordan’ overflowed with bright hooks, lush harmonies and the polished production of Thomas Dolby. In many ways ‘Jordan: The Comeback’ was a near-perfect creation. And outside the UK, it went largely unnoticed. Back then Prefab Sprout was a band, whereas now, it serves as the solo umbrella for lead singer and chief songwriter, Paddy McAloon. After more than a decade of creative hibernation, we caught Paddy McAloon on the Comeback Trail with the Prefab Sprout album ’Crimson//Red’. And you’ll hear what the fuss is about in this edition of JR.

It’s not all that often we feature Syrian Techno music on JR. Okay, so we’ve never featured Syrian Techno - but that all changes in this edition. In Syria, Omar Souleyman is a bit like the Elvis of the Middle East. He’s been bootlegged more than Dylan - mainly from his live performances as a wedding singer (yeah, really) and he’s just released his debut studio album, ‘Wenu Wenu’ (‘Where Is She?’). He’s performed widely in Europe, Australia and the USA. (Admit it you’re a little bit curious about this, aren’t you?)

We also feature a couple of forthright women with careers on the ascendant in Anna Calvi (from England) and Lissie (from America). Both began their professional careers at much the same time and both have just released a second album.

Also in this edition we check out some of the best of new Americana, from Texan songwriting craftsman, Guy Clark (‘My Favorite Picture Of You’) and Patty Griffin, whose album ‘Silver Bell’ was recorded more than a decade ago but is only now seeing its first proper release.

Now that it’s been officially released, we revisit The Arcade Fire’s new album, ‘Reflektor’ and, we acknowledge the newly expanded ‘Deluxe Edition’ of one of the most successful records of the ‘90s: ‘Unplugged’ by Eric Clapton.

  

      

Lissie: “The Habit” (from the album, ‘Back To Forever’)

Anna Calvi: “Suddenly”/”Eliza” (from the album, ‘One Breath’)

Prefab Sprout: “The Best Jewel Thief In The World”/”List Of Impossible Things” (from the album, ‘Crimson//Red’)

Omar Souleyman: “Warni Warni (Come To Me)” (from the album, ‘Wenu Wenu’)

Guy Clark: “My Favorite Picture Of You” (from the album, ‘My Favorite Picture Of You’)

Patty Griffin: “Truth #2” (from the album, ‘Silver Bell’)

Arcade Fire: “Afterlife” (from the album, ‘Reflektor’)

Eric Clapton: “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” (from the album, ‘Unplugged’ [Deluxe Edition])

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 3pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                            Find 'Just Released' here. 

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

  

Just Released - 2013 [Ep.39]

 

“Will you still need me, will you still feed me,

 When I’m 64…”

                       “When I’m 64” [The Beatles 1967]

When Macca recorded that song with The Beatles in December 1966 he was just 24 years old. It was released on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ LP 6 months later and he still hadn’t turned 25. Such is the nature of McCartney’s genius. With varying degrees of success, he tiptoes the fine line between Tin Pan Alley tradition and pure Pop. It’s an artistic gamble which, more often than not, has paid off. When it fails to, even someone of Macca’s obvious skills is prone to fall into nursery rhyme banality. Still, nobody does ‘simple’ quite so effortlessly as Paul McCartney and, as you’ll hear in this edition, his trend toward deeper personal introspection set with ‘Flaming Pie’ (1997) and ‘Chaos And Creation In The Backyard’ (2005) also continues on his latest solo album, ‘New’.

Also with a powerful track record and a great deal left to say in 2013 are Seattle’s Godfathers of Grunge, Pearl Jam. The band has just released its 10^th album (‘Lightning Bolt’) and 22 years on from their celebrated debut (‘Ten’) they sound just as vital and committed as ever.

Other welcome returns in this edition come from English Trip-Hop pioneers, Morcheeba with their second album since original lead singer, Skye Edwards rejoined the band three years ago – and, a noticeably revitalized Alex Lloyd, whose new album ‘Urban Wilderness’ was produced with the help of good friend, Shane Nicholson.

Meanwhile, a couple more Aussie acts with new songs in this edition are Sydney band The Jezabels (whose 2^nd album is due early next year) and Machine Translations (aka J Walker), ahead of a short east coast tour coming in November.

Last time of JR, we scratched the surface of Jonathan Wilson’s new album ‘Fanfare’. Rich in sonic textures and adventurous in scope, we return to Wilson’s just released album in this edition to reveal even more.

  

      

Pearl Jam: “Lightning Bolt” (from the album, ‘Lightning Bolt’)

Morcheeba: “Face Of Danger” (from the album, ‘Head Up High’)

Alex Lloyd: “Good Thing"/”Honestly” (from the album, ‘Urban Wilderness’)

Jonathan Wilson: “Dear Friend” (from the album, ‘Fanfare’)

Paul McCartney: “Queenie Eye”/”Early Days” (from the album, ‘New’)

The Jezabels: “The End” (new single)

Machine Translations: “Perfect Crime” (from the album, ‘The Bright Door’)

Jonathan Wilson: “Cecil Taylor” (from the album, ‘Fanfare’)

Note: Subject to Daylight Saving, some broadcast times have now changed. 

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 3pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 1pm, Wednesdays @ 7pm & Thursdays @ 10am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                                           Find 'Just Released' here. 

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

  

Just Released - 2013 [Ep.38]

                                

“Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar,

 You’re gonna go far…”

                       “Have A Cigar” [Pink Floyd 1975]

There’s more than a little irony in those words. On Pink Floyd’s 1975 album, ‘Wish You Were Here’ those words weren’t sung by Roger Waters, as many still might assume. That song, about “riding the gravy train” of Pop stardom was sung by a friend of the band named Roy Harper. Part of the irony is that, in spite of being one of the most “influential” figures in British Rock, Roy Harper has eked out his own career in the shadows of its periphery. At age 72, Roy Harper is unbowed and now presents us with a new album of his progressive Folk Rock, aptly titled ‘Man & Myth’.

Another septuagenarian spotted on the Comeback Trail this week was American singer/songwriter, Garland Jeffreys with his just released album, ‘Truth Serum’. Jeffreys made his biggest mark back in ’77 with the album, ‘Ghost Writer’ but like Roy Harper, is known by his status as a cult artist.

There’s plenty of the new breed to be heard in this edition including the debut album by Melbourne quartet, World’s End Press (touring in November/December) and Melbourne band, Jimmy Tait (making their Sydney debut later this month with Americana sensation, Caitlin Rose).  Meanwhile, three of Australia’s acclaimed singer/songwriters: Mia Dyson, Liz Stringer and Jen Cloher are also touring heavily, October through December. You’ll hear new songs from Mia and Liz in this edition.

And on the JR Radar, we pick up on London Pop trio, Bear’s Den, touring Australia this month with their just released EP, ‘Without/Within’’.

It may have been 40 years ago when Sopwith Camel released their sublime hippie masterpiece, ‘The Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon’ but it’s influence can still be felt today. American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Jonathan Wilson was all of one year old when that record came out and he includes his own version of its opening track, “Fazon” on his just released 2^nd album, ‘Fanfare’ – a definite highlight of this week’s edition. (Headphones are recommended to pick up every sonic nuance.)

  

      

World’s End Press: “My Salvation” (from the album, ‘World’s End Press’)

Jordie Lane: “Here She Comes” (from the EP, ‘Not Built To Last’)

Bear’s Den: “Writing On The Wall" (preview from the EP, ‘Without/Within’)

Mia Dyson: “Crazy Horse” (from the ‘Dyson Stringer Cloher 2013 Tour EP’)

Liz Stringer: “You Change Me” (from the ‘Dyson Stringer Cloher 2013 Tour EP’)

Garland Jeffreys: “Any Rain”/”Dragons To Slay” (from the album, ‘Truth Serum’)

Jimmy Tait: “All My Friends” (from the album, ‘Golden’)

Caitlin Rose: “Only A Clown” (from the album, ‘The Stand-In’)

Roy Harper: “Time Is Temporary” (from the album, ‘Man & Myth’)

Jonathan Wilson: “Fazon” (from the album, ‘Fanfare’)

Note: Subject to Daylight Saving, some broadcast times have now changed. 

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 3pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 1pm, Wednesdays @ 7pm & Thursdays @ 10am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                                           Find 'Just Released' here. 

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.

Just Released - 2013 [Ep.37]

“Jeux Sans Frontières…”

                       “Games Without Frontiers” [Peter Gabriel 1980]

When Peter Gabriel split ranks with Genesis in the mid-‘70s he embarked on what would soon become a highly successful solo career. He established his Real World studios (and record label), became an early champion for World Music and released a series of acclaimed Rock albums. Along the way, he made plenty of friends. Three years ago, he released ‘Scratch My Back’ his album of songs by other artists and now, we have the album’s natural sequel, ‘And I’ll Scratch Yours’ on which many of the artists covered on the earlier disc have recorded some of Gabriel's best known songs. The results may not always be satisfying but some of the album’s contributors have given the songs the respect they duly deserve. One case in point is The Arcade Fire’s textbook approach to “Games Without Frontiers”, and you’ll hear it in this edition of JR.

Elsewhere this week, it’s a bit of a family affair, with new releases from the Godfrey brothers (Morcheeba), the Followill brothers (Kings Of Leon) and the Haim sisters (Haim).

There’s also the latest psychedelic Indie Pop from Philadelphia band, Dr. Dog. Their 8^th album (‘B-Room’) is named after their newly-built studio and despite their music being slightly more polished than on previous releases and their fusion of ‘60s Pop and ‘90s Rock influences even further pronounced, their approach remains as deceptively shambolic as ever. 

We also hit a couple of (im)perfect tens with some straight-up Southern Rock from the 10th album by Allman Brothers Band offshoot, Gov’t Mule. (Their album ‘Shout!’ comes in two versions. One album features a collection of hard Rock from the band itself. The other, features the same songs interpreted by guest vocalists including Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Toots Hibbert, Steve Winwood – and others.) Another 10th studio album just released comes from Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and features a hard Rock collaboration with the ubiquitous Dave Grohl.

And adding a big splash of local colour to this edition are the Melbourne Soul/Funk collective Saskwatch (back with a new single ahead of an east coast tour next month) and The Living End, paying tribute to one of Melbourne's most formidable bands, Hunters & Collectors. We also check out the anticipated second album from Rockhampton duo, Busby Marou who's ‘Farewell Fitzroy Tour’ is making its way around the country right now.

  

      

Gov’t Mule: “Funny Little Tragedy” (from the album, ‘Shout!’)

Morcheeba: “Give Me Your Love” (preview from the album, ‘Head Up High’)

Arcade Fire: “Games Without Frontiers" (from the album, ‘And I’ll Scratch Yours’)

Kings Of Leon: “Temple” (from the album, ‘Mechanical Bull’)

Haim: “Go Slow” (from the album, ‘Days Are Gone’)

Dr. Dog: “The Truth”/”Rock & Roll” (from the album, ‘B-Room’)

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (featuring Dave Grohl): “Any Weather” from the album, ‘Unvarnished’)

The Living End: “Say Goodbye” from the album, ‘Crucible: The Songs Of Hunters & Collectors’)

Busby Marou: “Luck” (from the album, ‘Farewell Fitzroy’)

Saskwatch: “Hands” (new single)

Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and via the streams of our metropolitan stations on the Gold Coast, in Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.  

You can also listen to JR during the week on ABC Dig Music Mondays @ 2pm, Wednesdays @ 8pm & Thursdays @ 11am (AEDT or AEST) and on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific.

To stream Just Released on demand, simply connect to our web pages via the hot links above. …(or even the shiny beast below): 

                                                           Find 'Just Released' here. 

              ♫

    ♫   {](-_-)[}   ♫         Thanks for listening.