MOJO FEBRUARY 2011 REVIEWS: THE MUMMERS, WE ARE THE LILLIES, THE REMO FOUR AND DESMOND SIMMONS

Brighton (terrific stuff), France, Liverpool via Germany and Wire-related post-punk.

INTERVIEW – LEE HAZLEWOOD

The Boots… anniversary seemed like the right time to air this.

Interview here: The Arts Desk Lee Hazlewood Q&A Special

You can’t beat Siw Malmkvist, and here she is with Lee Hazlewood.

REVIEW - I’M KIKI DEE THE FONTANA YEARS 1963-1968

Now, when are all those continental European sides from the same period going to be reissued?

Review here: The Arts Desk: I’m Kiki Dee The Fontana Years 1963-1968

REVIEW - ALEXANDRE DESILETS: LA GARDE

Wouldn’t it be nice if Alexandre Désilets could be more widely known?

Review of his new album here: rockfort Alexandre Desilets

I first came across him by accident at Francofolies de Montréal in 2009. he was great live. Saw him again at La Rochelle in 2010 and he was even better.

Catherine Major was at La Rochelle too, so here they are together on her Valser En Mi Bemol.

REVIEW – THE GO! TEAM: ROLLING BLACKOUTS

Great album, really moves it forward.

Review here: The Arts Desk The Go! Team Rolling Blackouts

And here’s the video for the album’s opening cut.

REVIEW – TRANS MUSICALES DE RENNES 2010 / BARS EN TRANS PART 2

Above: M.I.A. Just about visible through the white light at Trans Musicales 2010 (photo: Nicolas Joubard)

Here’s my MOJO review: MOJO Trans Musicales de Rennes 2010

What I wrote for The Arts Desk can be found via here: Review - Trans Musicales de Rennes 2010 / Bars en Trans Part 1

REVIEW – LUKE HAINES, THE HOXTON PONY, LONDON

It’s certainly the right moment for Luke Haines to reassert his place in the scheme of things.

Review here: The Arts Desk Luke Haines The Hoxton Pony

Setting The Servants aside, it pretty much all started here

OBITUARY DON KIRSHNER

Appreciation here: The Arts Desk RIP Music Mogul Don Kirshner

Here’re a few more great moments from Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.

REVIEW: OH LA LA!: OH LA LA!

Good album this. Issued by PIAS on 24 January.

Review here: rockfort Oh La La!

THE DYNAMITES: YOUNG SOUND R&B ON RPM INTERNATIONAL

It might be called Young Sound R&B, but the sole studio album by Japan’s Dynamites wasn’t really soul or R&B, despite covers of My Girl and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.

Now, it’s the next release on RPM International, out on 21 February.

When, in his book Japrocksampler, Julian Cope said that “The Dynamites had been considered outrageous in 1967 for their Blue Cheer version of Summertime Blues”, he nailed the sonic frenzy The Dynamites’ guitars captured at their wildest. Sadly, they never recorded their take of Summertime Blues, but their classic single Tunnel To Heaven (Tonneru Tengoku) is one of the wildest, most fuzz-drenched, Japanese records from the ‘60s. It’s heard here in both its single and album versions.

Released originally in Japan in May 1968, The Dynamites’ Young Sound R&B was, typically for a Japanese album of the period, bulked out with covers of the hits of the day. But these were no straight covers. John Fred’s Judy In Disguise is suffused with over the top fuzz guitar and a compelling mangling of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy is irresistible.

The Dynamites shone on their own songs. Nobosecha Ikenai is a swinging Stones-a-like and Manatsuno Yoruno Dobutsuen is deranged fuzz-damaged garage punk where they sing about “crazy samba nights”. Their guitarist Fujio Yamaguchi was the future leading light of ‘70s freaks Murahachibu.

This first-ever official reissue of Young Sound R&B outside Japan has been licensed for release by JVC Records and follows RPM International’s reissue of The Mops’ Psychedelic Sounds In Japan, also originally issued by JVC in 1968. The essential Young Sound R&B is supplemented by all The Dynamites’ non-album JVC singles.

Here’s the tracklist:
bonus tracks
1 Tonneru Tengoku (single version,Victor VP-2, 11/67)
2 Koiwa Mou Takusan (single version, Victor VP-2, 11/67)
YOUNG SOUND R&B (Victor SJV-357, 1968)
3 Tonneru Tengoku
4 Massachusetts
5 Daydream Believer
6 Koiwa Mou Takusan
7 Walking The Dog
8 Last Train To Clarksville
9 My Girl
10 Yumega Hoshii (also single, Victor VP-6, 3/68)
11 Judy In Disguise
12 Mercy Mercy Mercy
13 Nobosecha Ikenai
14 Otonano Senso (also single, Victor VP-6, 3/68)
bonus tracks
15 Manatsuno Yoruno Dobutsuen (single, Victor VP-9, 1968)
16 Kegawaninatta Shimauma (single, Victor VP-9, 1968)
17 Koiwa Kuesshon (single, Victor VP-14, 1968)
18 Sekaijuuni Hohoemio Wo (single, Victor VP-14, 1968)
19 Barato Akuma (single, Victor VP-17, 1969)
20 Yumedemo Iisa (single, Victor VP-17, 1969)

REVIEW - TERJE ISUNGSET'S ICE MUSIC, SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON

Unlike anything else. Parked outside the igloo was a trailer for the ice, with an inbuilt freezer. It had been driven from Norway.

Review here: theartsdesk: Ice Music Somerset House

MOJO JANUARY 2011 REVIEWS: THE CINEMA OF JULIETTE GRECO & ROUGH TRADE SHOPS SYNTH WAVE 10

France and all over the place.