What music are you listening to? (2025)

Song #28

Half Man Half Biscuit - Trumpton Riots

Half Man Half Biscuit, either you understand or you don't. The biggest band you have never heard of, no radio play and no TV exposure, just constant new albums and touring. Loved by critics and discerning DJs, Nigel Blackwell is up there with the best lyricists in the country. His blending of social commentry with a shower of popular culture references and sometimes pure silliness soon shut up those who said they were just a novelty band, and their longevity has shown their true worth. The best band to come out of Merseyside, and yes I have seen them more than once.

As Nigel said - There is nothing better in life than writing on the sole of your slipper with a biro

View: https://youtu.be/iiFM23Nb8MU?si=c9Rti5Ii9zhYDvSy
 
Song #29

Nils Frahm - Says

Nils is a self taught pianist and composer from Berlin. I discovered him through my love of Olafur Arnalds, his range through solo work and collaborations runs from sparse single piano works to full trance music. He was of course the other half to the best gig I ever went to at the Louvre.

View: https://youtu.be/NL3BlDYWmRk?si=ittb7WgKwddXlzLo
 
Song #30

Paul Heaton - Happy Hour

The final song of my selection. If there is a thread through the last month it is the number of song writers who work in an identifiable and recognisable style of English composition, influenced by English folk traditions and vauderville encompasing humour and pastoral observation. A line that runs through Ray Davies, Ian Dury, Andy Partridge, Kirsty Maccoll, Billy Bragg, Nigel Blackwell and of course Paul Heaton.
Through the Housemartins, the Beautiful South and now his solo work there are almost 40 years of wonderful songs, all instantly recognisable as Pauls'. In addition Paul is known to be a really decent, generous guy; capping the price of his gig tickets to keep them affordable, and famously leaving a float behind the bar at his favourite pubs to give free drinks out to thousands to celebrate his 60th birthday. Yes, I was a recipient of one of those pints at The Black Horse where his saxaphone player is a regular.
Which of his many glorious songs that I love to choose to go out on? Well the very first of course, here performed last year and reunited with Norman Cook.

View: https://youtu.be/sZytaquhD6s?si=O7rJ36KZ8ogSm6t5
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom