REVIEW – THE ARTS DESK NEW MUSIC CDs ROUND-UP 15: SYLVIE VARTAN SOLEIL BLEU AND ALLERTON & ALTON BLACK, WHITE AND BLUEGRASS

Soleil Bleu is a great album.

Review here: The Arts Desk New Music CDs Round-Up 15 - Sylvie Vartan Soliel Bleu

And in contrast, some splendid bluegrass that’s been rediscovered:
The Arts Desk New Music CDs Round-Up 15 - Allerton & Alton

REVIEW - SONIC VISIONS FESTIVAL 2010, LUXEMBOURG

Just went to this.

Lovely to see the effort being put into helping and propagating the music. Scheduling different styles of music on each bill was a fine idea, meaning that Sonic Visions presented audiences with things they might not otherwise have thought they’d want to see.

As usual, space meant not everything could be covered, but German band Untertagen were great, as was Canadian soloist Miracle Fortress who – oddly – conjured aural visions of John Martyn. Fifth time round, I now know I’m never going to get Naive New Beaters. Hal Flavin were a bit great.

Review here: theartsdesk in Luxembourg: The Sonic Visions Festival

MOJO DECEMBER 2010 REVIEWS: JANE BIRKIN & SERGE GAINSBOURG, ESTHER OFARIM, CLOUD NOTHINGS AND PAUL JONES

France, Israel (via Germany), Ohio and peculiar post-Manfred Mann Bowie-isms

DUNGEN: PARADISO, AMSTERDAM, 17 NOVEMBER 2010

MEGA PLATEN AND CD BEURS / UTRECHT RECORD FAIR

As the 34th of these overwhelming fairs has been going on this weekend, here's something I wrote on it a little while ago. Bargains may not fall out of the sky, but pretty much everything you might've ever wanted would be here.

See: Just for the record: Europe's Largest Vinyl Fair

REVIEW – BARBARA: PORTRAIT EN CLAIR-OBSCUR BY VALERIE LEHOUX

Barbara has been new to me this year.

It's glaringly obvious that this is major, important stuff. Although, for example, Brel and Ferré are great and truly significant it's always been a sticking point how hyper-ventilated they can be. Texture and text-wise Barbara is more subtle and the allusiveness offers a counterpoint to some of the other writer's directness.

The book says much more than the above though, and much more than I could say.

Review here: Barabara: Portrait En Clair-Obscur

RENCONTRE AVEC GILLIAN HILLS – PART 2

As it was rather lengthy. the Gillian Hills’ piece was split into two parts. Part 1 is already up and out

Part 2 is now up and out too. See here: Gillian Hills: Beat Girl Pt 2

REVIEW - HJALTALÍN, HOXTON SQUARE BAR AND KITCHEN, LONDON

Wouldn't it be great if Hjaltalín could break through into the mainstream? There's nothing obscure, nothing difficult about this music.

Review here: The Arts Desk Hjaltalín Hoxton Bar and Kitchen

RENCONTRE AVEC GILLIAN HILLS – PART 1

When I wrote this, it originally appeared in Ugly Things in an issue that’s now out of print.

It’s the first time that Gillian’s story has been told in English, and it’s an important story.

Here: Gillian Hills: Beat Girl Pt 1

RÖÖVEL ÖÖBIK: YOUNG GODZ HAVE FUN

I’d never heard of Röövel Ööbik until May this year, when I was given a copy of their most recent album Ringrada (which has amazing cover art).

From Estonia, they have a long history (formed in the late ‘80s, before Estonian independence) that I haven’t figured out yet. Apparently they were a favourite of John Peel.

This though, from Ringrada, is one of the songs of the year. The drums coming in slightly late after the first chorus is inspired. Just wonderful.

REVIEW – ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI, THE GARAGE, LONDON

Boy, this was an odd show. Huge fun too.

Regardless of all the definition fiddle faddle, Mr Pink came over as firmly in the Todd Rundgren and Bobby Conn tradition (this is a good thing).

Review here: The Arts Desk - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, The Garage