Just Released - 2014 [Ep.19, S.4]

“Got to get back to you, babe,

  You’re the best I ever had…”

                       “Magnolia” – JJ Cale [1971]

On Eric Clapton’s list of inspirations, the late JJ Cale is second only to Robert Johnson. Cale gave the guitarist a couple of the biggest songs of his career: “After Midnight” and “Cocaine”. We don’t need a new version of either - and on Clapton’s new album, an “appreciation” of Cale’s music, we don’t get them. With versions of Cale’s songs by Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, Derek Trucks - and Clapton, “The Breeze: An Appreciation Of JJ Cale” is out at the end of July and in this week’s show, you’ll hear a preview. 

Also wielding a guitar in this edition is American Blues player, Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Bringing his own coterie of guests (Joe Walsh and Ringo Starr among them), Shepherd pays tribute to some of the songs which inspired him in the early days. Meanwhile, we also have entrees to ‘Jack White’s follow-up to his solo debut, ‘Blunderbuss’ with a song from the forthcoming, Lazaretto’ - and an earthy groove from Mia Dyson’s soon to be released ‘Idylllwild’.

With Nikki Lane’s 2nd album, ‘All Or Nothin’’ we veer closer to Americana. Recorded in her adopted hometown of Nashville with in-demand ‘local’ producer, Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Nikki stays true to her Country roots.

You’ll hear Pop music this week from Sydney’s Bertie Blackman with a preview of her album, ‘The Dash’ arriving (wait for it) in October – a single from the self-titled debut by Melbourne quartet, World’s End Press - and some inventive percussion by American Pop experimentalists, tUnE-yArDs, from the duo’s just released 3rd album, ‘Nikki Nack’.

They’ve spent some time on solo street but spotted this week on the Comeback Trail was Angus & Julia Stone (the duo). Their self-titled 3rd album arrives in early August containing the fruits of recent sessions with acclaimed US producer, Rick Rubin. You’ll hear a preview of it this week.

Scoring music for movies, computer games, orchestra and opera along with his own recordings, qualifies Canadian Owen Pallett as a ‘serious’ musician. His 2nd album, ‘In Conflict’ challenges and captivates in equal proportion.   

And the Bastille song? Not so freshly-minted, we’ll admit - but it’s the new single from their current album, ‘Bad Blood’, flagging the band’s imminent Australian tour. Following their brief visit last year, Bastille return in June for a (slightly) more extensive tour. Australian supporters can check their local guides for more details. Except for Adelaide. (As you were, Adelaide).   

         

      

Bastille: “Bad Blood” (new single from the album, ‘Bad Blood’)

The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band: “You Can’t Tell A Book By The Cover” (from the album, ‘Goin’ Home’)

Jack White: “Just One Drink” (preview from the album, ‘Lazaretto’)

Bertie Blackman: “Run For Your Life” (preview from the album, ‘The Dash’)

Angus & Julia Stone: “Heart Beats Slow” (preview from the album, ‘Angus & Julia Stone’)

World’s End Press: “That Was A Loving House” (from the album ‘World’s End Press’)

tUnE-yArDs: “Water Fountain” (from the album, ‘Nikki Nack’)

Owen Pallett: “In Conflict” (from the album, ‘In Conflict’)

Nikki Lane:  “Right Time” (from the album, ‘All Or Nothin’’)

Mia Dyson:  “Crazy Horse” (preview from the album, ‘Idyllwild’)

Eric Clapton & Friends:  “Call Me The Breeze” (preview from the album, ‘The Breeze: An Appreciation Of JJ Cale’)

To stream the show (any time): 'Just Released' 

You can also connect via local web pages at the links below..

Just Released: 

Saturdays around Australia at 9:05pm broadcast on ABC Digital Radio.

Streaming on demand at Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne,

Adelaide and Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.

JR can also be heard on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific. 

              ♫

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

Just Released - 2014 [Ep.18, S.4]

                          

“Stop right there, brother,

  Halt your sweet self for a minute now …”

                       “Come Around With Me” – Bernhoft [2014]

Modern Soul singers have a deep well from which to draw their inspiration. Not many, however, can evoke the sound of greats like Curtis Mayfield or Stevie Wonder. Fewer still emerge from Norway. Ticking both boxes is Neo-Soul singer, Jarle Bernhoft. Already a big name in Europe, Bernhoft now appears ready for the wider world.

English Pop singer, Sam Smith is another emerging talent you’ll hear in this week’s JR. Not long out of his teens, Sam’s voice and songs of unrequited love belie his youth. A recent visitor to Australia, Sam’s debut album is already making a positive impression.

One more newcomer you’ll hear this week is Mississippi Blues guitarist Jarekus Singleton, whose debut album, ‘Refuse To Lose’ lays out his personal manifesto and reveals a powerfully gifted player in the incendiary style of those who inspired him, including Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King.

Displaying a similar dexterity (albeit from a radically different approach) is Australian guitarist and singer, Jeff Lang. He’ll be touring the country in June and July - most likely, visiting a town near you.

Fatboy Slim has had a long affection for the music of Brasil and with the World Cup celebrations in mind he’s displaying that affection through ‘Bem Brasil’, an album of Rave-ready anthems with the help of a few like-minded collaborators. This week you’ll hear a preview from the album featuring the Dutch Remixer, Gregor Salto.  Meanwhile, other previews you’ll hear come from new albums from Passenger (June) and Morrissey (July) and Megan Washington (September).

         

      

Bernhoft: “Come Around With Me” (from the album, ‘Islander’)

Conor Oberst: “Hundreds Of Ways” (from the album, ‘Upside Down Mountain’)

Sam Smith: “I’m Not The Only One”/”Stay With Me” (from the album, ‘In The Lonely Hour’)

Jeff Lang: “Watch Me Go” (from the album, ‘I Live In My Head A Lot These Days’)

Morrissey: “Istanbul” (preview from the album, ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’)

Fatboy Slim Presents Gregor Salto: “Samba Do Mundo” (preview from the album, ‘Fatboy Slim presents Bem Brazil’)

Jarekus Singleton: “I Refuse To Lose”/”Crime Scene” (from the album, ‘Refuse To Lose’)

Washington:  “Limitless” (preview from the album, ‘There There’)

Passenger:  “Bullets” (preview from the album, ‘Whispers’)

To stream the show (any time): 'Just Released' 

You can also connect via local web pages at the links below..

Just Released: 

Saturdays around Australia at 9:05pm broadcast on ABC Digital Radio.

Streaming on demand at Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne,

Adelaide and Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.

JR can also be heard on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific. 

              ♫

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

Just Released - 2014 [Ep.17, S.4]

“Here’s a carrot, Mr. Rabbit, somethin’ for you to chew,

  Get back in the hat, nothing’s magic about you …”

                       “Mr. Rabbit” – Mic Conway’s National Junk Band [2014]

Mic Conway has performed a lot of shows for kids in his lengthy career but his nursery rhymes for grown-ups are much more fun. Witness the lyric above. If you think it’s actually about a furry bunny, then you don’t live in Australia.  Mic Conway’s National Junk Band has just released its first new album in 5 years and you’ll discover how subversively entertaining it is in this week’s JR.

There’s more Aussie music in this edition from Sydney’s Andy Bull with a new single just released in advance of his second album, ‘Sea Of Approval’, set to arrive early in July.

You’ll also hear from two of the most anticipated releases of the year thus far: The Black Keys’ ‘Turn Blue’ and Coldplay’s ‘Ghost Stories’. Both represent a departure from the sound those bands were previously known for - and both were made during dissolving personal relationships of the bands’ key members.

Remixing the past is almost never a good idea. Taking the voices of iconic singers like Billie Holiday and Marvin Gaye and fusing them with the rhythms of 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil is refreshingly different. You’ll hear the surprising results right here from the new compilation, ‘Studio Rio Presents The Brazil Connection’.

In an era of digital recording technology, it seems only fitting that Neil Young would team up with Jack White to make an album recorded with primitive technology, the ‘Voice-o-Graph’. ‘A Letter Home’ is Neil’s love letter to the past and whatever it lacks in sound definition (which is a lot) is made up for in commitment.

As well, we preview forthcoming albums from both Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. ‘Band of Brothers’ is Willie’s first album of (mostly) new songs in almost 2 decades and ‘Shadows In The Night’ is the title of Dylan's next album, due “later this year” - his personal tribute to the songs of Frank Sinatra.

      

Andy Bull: “Talk Too Much ” (preview from the album, ‘Sea Of Approval’)

Coldplay: “A Sky Full Of Stars”/”Ink” (from the album, ‘Ghost Stories’)

Neil Young: “Reason To Believe” (from the album, ‘A Letter Home’)

Willie Nelson: “The Wall” (preview from the album, ‘Band Of Brothers’)

The Black Keys: “Turn Blue”/”Gotta Get Away” (from the album, ‘Turn Blue’)

Billie Holiday: “You’ve Changed” (from the album, ‘Studio Rio Presents The Brazil Connection’)

Marvin Gaye: “Sexual Healing” (from the album, ‘Studio Rio Presents The Brazil Connection’)

Mic Conway’s National Junk Band: “Diagonally Parked In A Parallel Universe”/”Mr. Rabbit” (from the album, Diagonally Parked In A Parallel Universe’)

Bob Dylan: “Full Moon And Empty Arms” (preview from the album, ‘Shadows In The Night’)

To stream the show (any time): 'Just Released' 

You can also connect via local web pages at the links below..

Just Released: 

Saturdays around Australia at 9:05pm on ABC Local Radio.

Replayed Sundays at 4:05pm (AEDST or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio.          

Streaming on demand via Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne,

Adelaide and Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.

JR can also be heard on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific. 

              ♫

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

Just Released - 2014 [Ep.16, S.4]

“A house is a home, even when it’s dark,

  Even when the grass is overgrown in the yard …”

                       “A House Is A Home” – Ben & Ellen Harper [2014]

Ben Harper has previously made records in collaboration with The Blind Boys Of Alabama and Charlie Musselwhite. On his latest, Ben takes the idea of ‘bringing it all back home’ more literally. This time, he’s brought his mum. This week on JR, you’ll hear Ben & Ellen Harper from their just released album, ‘Childhood Home’.

The Harper’s aren’t the only ones in a co-operative mood this week. We also have Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott (formerly of English Pop/Rock band, The Beautiful South), reunited for a new album.

Known for the many (and varied) collaborations in his career, Brian Eno now shares new ideas in Electronica with Underworld singer, Karl Hyde.

And the air of collegiality continues to pervade: On his just released ‘Fly Rasta’ album, Ziggy Marley is joined by veteran Reggae singer, U-Roy while guitar legend, Carlos Santana evokes the spirit of Bob Marley with the help of (wait for it) Ziggy Marley.

The Folk music duo, Luluc was back in Australia three months ago when they toured as support for American Indie band, The National. The former Melbourne duo are now living in Brooklyn, New York and in this edition you’ll hear a preview of their soon to be released second album, ‘Passerby’

Music from decades past continues to reach into the present. And this week in JR you’ll hear the “latest” in ‘50s flavoured Rock ‘n’ Roll from Nick Waterhouse, while ‘60s Soul revivalist, Eli Paperboy Reed shows signs of leaning more toward present day Pop.

When things get “ethereal” this week, you’ll know its music from the new album by Tori Amos. “Selkie” may be the only song about a seal turning into a human that you’ll hear all week.

And in the wake of their recent (and brief) Australian tour, we preview the imminent debut album by emerging UK Electro-Pop band, Glass Animals. 

      

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott: “D.I.Y.” (from the album, ‘What Have We Become’)

Nick Waterhouse: “Ain’t There Something That Money Can’t Buy” (from the album, ‘Holly’)

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed: “Well Alright Now” (from the album, ‘Nights Like This’)

Ziggy Marley: “Fly Rasta (featuring U-Roy)” (from the album, ‘Fly Rasta’)

Santana: “Iron Lion Zion (featuring Ziggy Marley)” (from the album, ‘Corazon’)

Ben & Ellen Harper: “A House Is A Home” (from the album, ‘Childhood Home’)

Luluc: “Without A Face” (from the album, ‘Passerby’)

Tori Amos: “Selkie” (from the album, ‘Unrepentant Geraldines’)

Brian Eno & Karl Hyde: “Daddy’s Car” (from the album, ‘Someday World’)

Glass Animals: “Pools” (preview from the album, ‘ZABA’)

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed: “Nights Like This” (from the album, ‘Nights Like This’)

To stream the show (any time): 'Just Released' 

You can also connect via local web pages at the links below..

Just Released: 

Saturdays around Australia at 9:05pm on ABC Local Radio.

Replayed Sundays at 4:05pm (AEDST or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio.          

Streaming on demand via Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne,

Adelaide and Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.

JR can also be heard on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific. 

              ♫

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

Just Released - 2014 [Ep.15, S.4]

“Layin’ it down out in the alley,

 You know she was the very first mother for ya on electric guitar,

 She taught the King how to shake and moan …”

                                      “Hey Delila” – Big Head Todd & The Monsters [2014]

Blues fans might catch the clues revealing the above lyric as a tribute to the legendary Memphis Minnie, hinting at two of her songs: “Down In The Alley” and “Dirty Mother For Ya”. The song opens ‘Black Beehive’, the latest album of Blues, Rock ‘n’ Boogie from Big Head Todd & The Monsters. The title song pays tribute to another great music innovator, the late Amy Winehouse and you’ll hear some of the album in this week’s JR.

Blues and Americana is also fused in both the theme and title of the latest release from Keb’ Mo’ (‘BluesAmericana’), whilst Ray LaMontagne’s new longplayer (‘Supernova’), produced by Black Keys frontman, Dan Auerbach, takes his version of Americana closer to the psychedelic realm.

Alynda Lee Segarra travelled most of the USA in search of her own Southern Gothic style before settling in New Orleans. The sound of that city infuses the latest album from her band, Hurray For The Riff Raff and we’re serving up some of that music gumbo for you, right here.

Meanwhile, lovers of all things melancholy may rejoice with the release of a new album by Eels (‘The Cautionary Tales Of Mark Oliver Everett’). No-one dwells on the subjects of human frailty, deep loss and unrequited love through such an empathetic lens.

On a much brighter note, we also have some bubbly Electro-Pop from Swedish band, Little Dragon who’s 4^th album ‘Nabuma Rubberband’ is just a couple of weeks away. Also, we get soulful with Paolo Nutini who’s just released album ‘Caustic Love’ is winning praise in many countries including his native England, where it’s now the #1 album.

In breaking news: it’s reported that Prince is restoring his business alliance with a major label - and what better way to announce it than with a new single? You’ll hear his new ballad, “The Breakdown” in this edition of JR.

Another major story was the release of a debut solo album from Damon Albarn. Never restricted by the limitations of Brit-Pop, Damon Albarn has covered many styles through his years with Blur, Gorillaz and any number of collaborations he’s made for film, theatre and opera. His long-awaited solo album finds him ruminating on the world and its near-symbiotic relationship with technology. (No, it’s not as dry as it sounds.)

      

Big Head Todd & The Monsters: “Hey Delila” (from the album, ‘Black Beehive’)

Prince: “The Breakdown” (new single)

Paolo Nutini: “One Day” (from the album, ‘Caustic Love’)

Keb’ Mo’: “The Old Me Better” (from the album, ‘BluesAmericana’)

Hurray For The Riff Raff: “I Know It’s Wrong (But That’s All Right)” (from the album, ‘Small Town Heroes’)

Ray LaMontagne: “Lavender” (from the album, ‘Supernova’)

Eels: “Mistakes Of My Youth” (from the album, ‘The Cautionary Tales Of Mark Oliver Everett’)

Little Dragon: “Paris” (preview from the album, ‘Nabuma Rubberband’)

Damon Albarn: “Everyday Robots”/”Lonely Press Play”/”Mr. Tembo” (from the album, ‘Everyday Robots’)

To stream the show (any time): 'Just Released' 

You can also connect via local web pages at the links below..

Just Released: 

Saturdays around Australia at 9:05pm on ABC Local Radio.

Replayed Sundays at 4:05pm (AEDST or AEST) on ABC Digital Radio.          

Streaming on demand via Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne,

Adelaide and Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Hobart and Darwin.

JR can also be heard on Radio Australia throughout Asia & the Pacific. 

              ♫

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