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.

Just Released - 2014 [Ep.14, S.4]

“I wish that I knew what I know now,

  When I was younger …”

                                      “Ooh La La” – The Faces [1973]

The late Ronnie Lane was a great contributor to British Rock. As a founding member of both the Small Faces and (later) the Faces, he co-wrote some of the best known songs for both, including “Itchycoo Park”, “Tin Soldier” “Lazy Sunday” and “Ooh La La”. On JR this week, we pay tribute to the late Ronnie Lane and his post-Faces gypsy band, Slim Chance with the just released double album ‘Ooh La La: An Island Harvest’.

It was also the aforementioned Faces which helped establish the careers of both Rod Stewart and guitarist, Ron Wood. Ron would soon join The Rolling Stones and Rod went on to become one of the biggest Rock stars and a champion of the mullet haircut. A just released box set serves to remind us how big a star he was and you’ll hear why in this week’s show.

Another Rock journeyman who’s recently re-emerged is guitarist, Andy Summers. Now with sufficient time and distance from his time with The Police, Andy has a new band called Circa Zero. Surprising, then that he’s teamed up with a singer who sounds like a younger version of Sting. You’ll hear music from the band’s debut album right here.

On the Comeback Trail this week, we spotted British Folk singer, Berverley Martyn. Once the muse to former husband John Martyn, Beverley is back with her first new album in more than a decade. And speaking of English Folk musicians, we also have a preview of the new album by Passenger, set to arrive in June.

There’s some fresh Electro-Pop from English bands, Wild Beasts and Wet along with a special Record Store Day release from Sweden’s Little Dragon.

And there’s the weird to compliment the wonderful this week from Canadian, Lindi Ortega with the strangest love song you’ll hear this week. Or any week, come to think of it.

      

Little Dragon: “Winners” (new single ‘bonus’ track)

Jeremy Messersmith: “Ghost” (preview from the album, ‘Heart Murmurs’)

Passenger: “Hearts On Fire” (preview from the album, ‘Whispers’)

Wild Beasts: “A Simple Beautiful Truth” (from the album, ‘Present Tense’)

Wet: “You’re The Best” (from the ‘Wet EP’)

Circa Zero: “Levitation” (from the album, ‘Circus Hero’)

Beverley Martyn: “Levee Breaks” (preview from the album, ‘The Phoenix And The Turtle’)

Lindi Ortega: “Gypsy Child”/”Lived And Died Alone” (from the album, ‘Tin Star’)

Ronnie Lane And Slim Chance: “Ooh La La (Alternate Studio Take)” (from the album, ‘Ooh La La: An Island Harvest’)

Rod Stewart: “Maggie May” (from the 4xCD Box Set, ‘Live 1976-1998: Tonight’s 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.13, S.4]

“Tupelo Joe, went to the show,

  Tupelo Joe, he ain’t no schmo,

  Tupelo Joe, go cat, go…”

                                      “Tupelo Joe” – Chuck E. Weiss [2014]

He’s been name-checked on two albums by Tom Waits (‘Nighthawks At The Diner’ & ‘Small Change’) and inspired Rickie Lee Jones’ biggest hit (“Chuck E.’s In Love”) but in spite of such adulation from his pals, Chuck E. Weiss has largely remained an enigma. On the Comeback Trail® this week, we spotted Chuck E. with his first new album since 2006. Produced by BFF’s Tom Waits and Johnny Depp, ‘Red Beans And Weiss’ is an extraordinary gumbo of Rockabilly Blues Dada or, as Bill succinctly describes it: “unhinged”. Curious? Check it out in this edition of JR.     

And speaking of BFF’s: America’s Janelle Monáe and New Zealand’s Kimbra have buddied-up for a glitzy medley of Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady” and Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” ahead of their shared ‘Golden Electric Tour’ of Australia and New Zealand next month.

We also have fresh sounds this week from the Nigerian/English music collective, Ibibio Sound Machine with a self-titled debut of multi-cultural polyrhythm, built around the vocals of Eno Williams.

There was more movement on the Comeback Trail this week with the welcome return of David Gray. His new album, ‘Mutineers’ isn’t out until June but we do have a preview for you. And also emerging from that dusty thoroughfare was bona-fide legend, Leon Russell. He may look more like Gandalf with each passing year, but he’s still a wizard at the piano, breathing new life into an old Robert Johnson Blues classic from his 37^th album, ‘Life Journey’.

As well, we go back to the Roots in this edition, with new releases from Australia’s Neil Murray, Canada’s Ray Bonneville and America’s Rodney Crowell.

                       Happy ‘International Record Store Day’ everybody!

      

David Gray: “Back In The World” (preview from the album, ‘Mutineers’)

Leon Russell: “Come On In My Kitchen” (from the album, ‘Life Journey’)

Ray Bonneville: “Shake Off My Blues” (from the album, ‘Easy Gone’)

Lake Street Dive: “Bad Self Portraits” (from the album, ‘Bad Self Portraits’)

Neil Murray: “Whispering Casuarina” (from the album, ‘Bring Thunder And Rain’)

Janelle Monáe and Kimbra: “Rock Steady/Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” (new single)

Ibibio Sound Machine: “Let’s Dance (Yak Inek Unek)” (from the album, ‘Ibibio Sound Machine’)

Chuck E. Weiss: “Exile On Main Street Blues”/”Tupelo Joe” (from the album, ‘Red Beans And Weiss’)

Lorde: “Glory & Gore” (from the album, ‘Pure Heroine’)

Rodney Crowell: “The Flyboy & The Kid” (from the album, ‘Tarpaper Sky’)

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.12, S.4]

“Johnny was a schoolboy when he heard his first Beatles’ song,

  “Love Me Do” I think it was, and from there it didn’t take him long …”

                                      “Shooting Star” – Bad Company [1975]

Paul Rodgers has been lauded on many occasions in his career as one of Rock’s greatest singers. From his time with Free and Bad Company in the ‘70s he could rip it up as aggressively as his British contemporaries, Roger Daltrey or Robert Plant. With ‘The Royal Sessions’, Paul Rodgers pays his respects to the music that inspired him to become a singer in the first place. In JR this week, you’ll hear how great that voice still is, reworking Soul classics by Sam & Dave and O.V. Wright.    

We also have a new single from Ed Sheeran. This time, Ed’s teamed up with the ubiquitous Pharrell Williams and has arrived at a completely new sound.

Melbourne’s Chet Faker has just released his long-awaited debut album, ‘Built On Glass’ after building a strong reputation over the past couple of years on a couple of EP’s and a slew of collaborations and remixes. You’ll hear the first sounds from the new album in this edition.

Meanwhile, it’s that time of year in Australia we like to call ‘Festival Season’. Among the many international visitors coming to our shores (or touring already) are Michael Franti & Spearhead, St. Vincent, Morcheeba, Eleanor McEvoy and Hugh Laurie. We have music from all of them in this week’s show.

As well, you’ll hear some great Roots music from expat-American singer, Jenny Queen (now based in Sydney) from her new album, ’Small Town Misfits’, produced by local Roots music champion, Shane Nicholson.

On the Comeback Trail® this week, we spotted former 10,000 Maniacs singer, Natalie Merchant. Next month, she’ll issue her first album of original songs in 13 years and we have a preview of it for you right here.

      

Ed Sheeran: “Sing” (preview from the album, ‘x’)

Natalie Merchant: “Ladybird” (preview from the album, ‘Natalie Merchant’)

Jenny Queen: “Blood Meridian” (preview from the album, ‘Small Town Misfits’)

Paul Rodgers: “I Thank You”/”That’s How Strong My Love Is” (from the album, ‘The Royal Sessions’)

Eleanor McEvoy: “Please Heart You’re Killing Me” (from the album, ‘Stuff’)

Chet Faker: “Release Your Problems” (from the album, ‘Built On Glass’)

St. Vincent: “Prince Johnny” (from the album, ‘St. Vincent’)

Michael Franti & Spearhead: “11:59” (from the album, ‘All People’)

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

Hugh Laurie: “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” (from the album, ‘Didn’t It Rain’)

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.