Welcome to the third instalment of the Electone Records blog. As always we’ll be taking a look at new releases (and old releases that may have passed you by…) , some new musical discoveries and what gigs we recommend. Last but not least the complete low down on the forthcoming Electone Records Club Nights with a full on preview of the double launches in Glasgow and Liverpool this December!
Last time round we were finally creeping up on The Wicked Whispers headline Winter show at The Camp & Furnace wrapping up their 2013 UK tour. The night was extraordinary, with the band pulling out at all stops with a lighting show from Glasgow’s ‘The Minds Eye’ and some great support acts in name of Sankofa and Jimmy and The Revolvers. The Wicked Whispers were also joined onstage for a few selected tracks from the forthcoming LP by Laura McKinlay , Martin Smith and Ray Wooding providing string and brass sections.
On the night, the band showcased some new material (intended for their debut record which is in the pipeline for next year) and brought some interesting changes to the songs fans of the band know well. As a finishing touch, a very emotional cover of The Velvet Undergorund’s ‘Who loves the Sun?’ brought the evenings proceedings to a close for the encore. What a night and what a hangover!
The band would like to thank everyone who turned up and supported the night. There will be some exciting news before Christmas from Electone Records and The Wicked Whispers regards their next Liverpool show as part of the immanent album news on its way! Stay tuned! Regards to the long-awaited Wicked Whispers debut album, Mike Murphy and Steve Powell began mixing last week and its taking incredible shape.
With the end of the year coming to a close, it doesn’t mean we’ve shut shop for the Winter here at Electone Records, instead we’ve got the fantastic Electone Records Club Nights on the horizon, bringing you the absolute best in live local music alongside local vinyl spinners to keep your toes tapping throughout the night.
The club nights make their debut in Glasgow on 15th December, with a very special matinée show kicking off at 1pm, making our home at Broadcast with Red Sands celebrating the release of their debut record, with The Wicked Whispers who will be performing a very special acoustic set. Also on the bill are Scotland’s own The Little Illusions and The Desert Willows, with The Freakbeats Club and Waterpistol spinning some selected 45’s.
Tickets are £5 each advance. Available here via TicketWeb here
After the Glasgow leg of the club nights, Red Sands will then make their way to Merseyside, for the first Liverpool leg of the Electone Records Club Nights, with support on the night in the form of a host of local talent with classic 50s esque rockers The Romleys, the highly anticipated debut show from new local prospects The Grim Fandango, as well as the Merseybeat homage of Thomas McConnell.
Special guest DJs on the night come in the form of The Wicked Whispers. Get your tickets here
Selected limited edition stock from the Electone Records vinyl catalogue will also be available on the nights, and will make perfect stocking fillers!
Other recently announced gigs include Ian Broudie and The Lightning Seeds performing with the Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring special guests for one night only in April of next year.
Broudie and his band will be performing hits from The Lightning Seeds as well as his 2004 solo effort and songs from Broudie’s extensive producer portfolio, which could see Broudie and co. perform songs by the likes of The Coral, The Zutons, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Pale Fountains. Special guests rumoured for the night so far include the likes of The Coral’s Bill Ryder-Jones and Miles Kane. This one off show looks to be an absolute must see.
Off the back of their recent support slot with Electone Records’ The Wicked Whispers, local cosmic rockers Sankofa are to release the highly anticipated follow up to their sold out 7″ Vinyl ‘Siren Song Part 1 & 2’ which was released by Eighties Vinyl Records.
The Zanzibar Club on Seel Street will play host to the release of their 4 track 10″ EP on Saturday 21st December, with a sleeve designed by famous 60s psychedelic poster and album artist John Van Hamersveld, who is best known for providing cover art for the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead and Blondie, amongst others.
Support comes in the form of Manchester rockers Rook &The Ravens on the back of their US Tour, alongside local five piece psych rockers Mohebbi.
If Sankofa’s well-received performance at the Camp & Furnace is anything to go by, this will be a must see in one of the city’s best venues, which will be perfectly tailored to their garage psych sound.
Tickets are £5, and are available from here
The 2nd support act for The Wicked Whispers’ gig at the Camp & Furnace was of course Jimmy & The Revolvers. The four piece release their Sunday Morning EP on New Years Day at The Lomax. Limited tickets available on the door, and support comes in the form of Lomax veteran Alistair Said, Gaffney and Raw City.
This week was a huge week for Red Sands who released their debut self titled album right here on Electone Records. The album has been a long journey for the band going back several years with the band slowly chipping away crafting this emotional body of work. Strangely intentional or otherwise, the LP perfectly sums up the feelings and atmosphere of the journey with subject matter verging on some very home truths, family sentiments and life in general amongst the working class of Glasgow. With almost med evil sounding folk and a tinge of 70’s pych rock the album is a haunting testament to Glasgow’s musical heritage. We will get a few words with frontman Neil Donaldson in the next blog issue.
Other selected listenings this week come in the form of Ray LaMontagne, with his fantastic 2004 debut effort ‘Trouble’ firmly on the playlist this week. The Ethan Johns produced record was very well received, with ‘Jolene’ a firm gem in Ray’s songwriting crown.
The latest cut from Findlay makes the list this week, with the release of her new EP entitled ‘Greasy Love’, the title track as ferocious as ever from the Manchester born, London dwelling front woman, who is one of the best live acts I’ve seen in some time. The four track EP also features the incredible collaboration ‘Black Cloud, Silver Lining’ with former Coral guitarist turned singer/songwriter Bill Ryder-Jones, showcasing the range of both their talents.
You can catch Findlay on their UK tour now.
As featured last week was the sad passing of Lou Reed at the age of 71, but previously unheard track ‘I’m Not A Young Man Anymore’ set to be released on the upcoming Velvet Underground 45th anniversary re-issue of White Light/White Heat. The 30 track collection features outtakes, rarities, new mixes and bonus material. Guitarist John Cale and Reed had worked on the re-issue together before the latter’s death last month.
With the winter closing in, we all know about summer records, but now for some winter ones. Don’t look much further than the classics such as Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ or Bob Dylan’s 1963 breakthrough album ‘Freewheelin’, perhaps recreate the album cover with a partner?
If you’re sick of the classics and love a good Scouse singer/songwriter, pick up Jimmy Campbell’s incredible 1969 record ‘Son Of Anastasia’, with tracks such as ‘Lyanna’ and ‘Another Springtime’s Passed Me By’ make it a solid Liverpool album. There’s a few copies on eBay and it’s of course on iTunes, with Christmas round the corner, it’ll be the perfect stocking filler.
After a few doubts and delays, fans who had invested in the Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band project got their reward, with the EP vinyl arriving in the past week or two, depending on your luck. The limited vinyl copies are brilliant, the trumpets on ‘Newby Street’ are delightful and the song plays out just as you’d like and it’s hard not putting the needle down for another listen.
With the vinyl it’s clear this is the way it was intended to be heard which is how we like it here at Electone Records. You can discover a whole new sound when listening to the black lacquer version. We can confirm Mick Head intended ‘Artorious Revisited’ for vinyl offering CD and download to those who are yet to turn to turntable.
Another album with a similar feel is my personal album of the year which I’ve mentioned a few times, Bill Ryder-Jones’ A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart, the delicateness of the songs really come out when the needle hits the groove. It’s beautiful packaged as well, stunning artwork and the album was recently named in the top 10 of Q Magazine’s albums of the year.
Another new release comes in the form of a new film, entitled ‘Good Ol’ Freda’, a new documentary about Freda Kelly, described as a shy Liverpudllian teenager who became the secretary to The Beatles at the height of their fame, and her involvement with the fan club led to postal vans of fan mail being delivered to her home daily and Freda was in their inner circle so much, that it was once reported she had married Paul McCartney.
For the first time in fifty years, Freda tells her story to the cameras, and the documentary looks to be a fascinating insight into the band’s early days and her role in their rise to fame.
You can pre-order the DVD here
After finally picking up a copy of Shane Meadows’ Made Of Stone’, the documentary following The Stone Roses around after their reformation, and however much of a fan you are, you’ll love it. You’re right there with them, nervous before they go on, ready to cut the tension with a knife and you’re overjoyed for them once they flawlessly pull of gigs and even rehearsals.
The interviews with fans are a highlight too, there’s a wavelength and they’re all on it, a stand out was the bloke willing to trade his house and his car for a wristband to their comeback free fan only gig at Warrington Parr Street Hall, to be fair I’d do nearly anything to hear those first few bass noted of ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ and the last cymbal crash of ‘I Am The Resurrection’.
Shout out goes to Bold Street’s Café Tabac Twitter account for this recent tweet: “Scouting For Girls play Liverpool tonight. Come into Tabac and show us your gig ticket for a permanent ban. We’re that nice. #NoTimeForThat”
Thanks for reading and be sure to get down to one (or both!) of the club nights support some local music, or check out some of the releases mentioned or take a look at some of the past posts. Tune in next time!
To round up we would like to quickly shoot over our picks of the new releases available in independent records stores nationwide to get in those Christmas Stockings including Rough Trade, Piccadilly Records, LoveMusic and Probe Records.
Pyschemagik finally release the vinyl sampler version of the superb compilation ‘Psychemagik Diabolical Synthetic Fantasia’ which has already had a huge influence on their early CD release.
The Oh See’s released another wonderful single collection ‘Singles Collection Volume 3’ this week on Castle Face Records.
Pre-Orders have gone live following Heavenly Records announcement last week that Jimi Goodwin’s debut album ‘Odludek’ is to be released March 24th 2014. Alongside this heavenly also announced their 100th release will be the long-awaited debut album ‘Sun Structures’ by Electone and Wicked Whispers favourites by Temples released 10th February 2014.
Last but not least and not to sound bias but our album of the month and album of 2013 has to be Red Sands self titled 12” debut released last Monday 9th December right here on Electone Records. With only 300 12” pressed for the 1st Edition, downloadable codes (for those who like to listen on the move or without a turntable) and already receiving praise from the likes of Shout4Music, hailing the album ‘a promising debut’, it stand as one of the most haunting and honest folk/rock albums you’ll here in recent times. In addition we cant wait to have them perform live at the coming live Electone Club Nights with a good sing along!
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