Baxter Dury - Happy Soup

Lyrically the album is littered with promiscuous gems his old man would be proud of. Lead track ‘Isobel’ dives straight into this world proclaiming “I think my mate slept with you when you were in Portugal”. Combine this with a mature sounding Jamie T guitar lick and it’s winner winner chicken dinner time folks.

Trellic is probably the most Blockheads-esque of all tracks on the album but the accompaniment of Madeline Hart on vocals gives the song its own sumptuous identity.

You would be forgiven for thinking that Graham Coxon co-wrote this album with Dury. It has all the hallmarks of his early Blur guitar parts. Catchy enough to pull it into mainstream consciousness but quirky enough to know your not being sold a Menswear.

Without question, the standout track is ‘Claire’. It has a tender fragile feel which gives the impression Dury is making a desperate plea to someone he cares for deeply. It is one of those great songs which is seemingly just a catchy pop song but scratch deeper and you will find something to cling to for a life time.

Anyone lucky enough to get tickets to Pulp at Brixton academy over the bank holiday get there early to see Baxter in full flow!

Male Bonding – Endless Now

All the way from America via the immense Sub Pop label is Male Bonding……..what?.........their from DALSTON!!!!!!!

That’s right folks, a trio from North London are releasing an album (their 3rd) on Sub Pop. Unsure as to how that happened, well so are TT but from the opening riff of ‘Tame The Sun’ its not hard to see why. Embodying Sonic Youth’s ‘Goo’ and Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Upside Down’ the album is an instant hit. I mean melody and distorted guitar sounds, what’s not to like?

Carrying and Seems to Notice have such sumptuous guitar licks it beggars belief that The Drums are even bothering with a 2nd album. the aid back nature of The Drums ‘I Wanna Go Surfing’ is made to look futile with MB’s emphasis on urgency and energy.

Since the emergence of Wavves the renaissance of music similar to Pavement, Sonic Youth and the Mary Chain is becoming more and more prominent. Christ, even Sebadoh are touring again! With a little luck Male Bonding look as though they are about to time their assault of the airwaves to perfection. Plus, with Howler’s debut release round the corner they are the perfect prelude.

PIP PIP!

Introdiction is the first solo effort from the Stanford-le-Hope’s Scroobious Pip and is brimming with his glorious dark and moody delivery. Moving away from his collaborator Dan Le Sac’s love of Electro into an out and out hip hop sound, Pip has managed to create sense of being an outsider fighting for attention.

The Thunderous drum roll into the 2nd verse will have anyone with pent up aggression ready to roar those around them. There is not too much change in style of Pip’s delivery here, which, it being top draw for two albums we are not unhappy about.

He continues his assault on rappers that say “ho” which he began in cult classic Thou Shalt Always Kill much to TT’s delight. We pray to the music gods that Pip casts himself into the public eye as no longer can we bare the tongues up Jay-Z and Kanye’s arseholes because of their production. They have nothing to say and say it far too loudly.

Long Live Pip!

Do You Remember The First Time

Hyde Park was the setting for Sheffield's finest triumphant return to London and not even the corporate muck which looms over the wireless festival like a floater in the toilet is going to spoil it.

With an impressive line-up on the various stages TT brings you the low-down on a monumental comeback.

Clock Opera

In many ways they are like Pulp. They show so much promise in their early days but will 'that hit' materialise. They manage to entice a big crowd from Metromony on the main stage churn out a litter of Friendly Fires indie electro numbers which are tinged with a darker edge. Thankfully their are no pompous scenes of Hawaiian dancers here.

The Horrors

Have they played to a bigger crowd than this? we're not so sure. Two things come to mind during their set. Firstly, they have to win the Mercury Award this year with Skying. Primary Colours was robbed in 2009 by the distinctly average Speech Debelle, and Farris' talent deserves the extra recognition and bigger exposure, which sadly, the mainstream will never give it in the current climate.

Secondly, standing in amongst 20thousand misfits and outsiders restores
TT's faith in mankind. More importantly it restores the faith that bigger and better days are in store for the Horrors of this world. In 1993 nobody thought these fans existed but then Pulp and Suede ruled the airwaves for their next few years.

Foals

What a set! 50minutes of jaw dropping indie played with a passion and drive rarely seen from bands who have already made it. Every second counted in the big top for them this afternoon, was like they still needed that first record deal. Miami is a simply stunning event. It is as if Pink Floyd lost their pomposity and donned a pair skinny jeans.

The intense heat of the big top tent is cooled with the stunning beauty of Spanish Sahara. probably the single of 2010 has this odd age group ranging crowd looking on in awe as the Oxford lads come close to upstaging Cocker's triumphant return.

Pulp

As a 12 year old in 1996 I took on a 356 paper round for the Thurrock Gazette. Armed with my brothers Daiwa Double Bass walkman and my Shine 3 compilation, I set about earning money. The purpose was very clear, I needed cd’s in my life!

Obsessed with Steve Lemacq’s Evening Session and the John Peel Show when I could get away with staying up that late, I had a list of albums I had to have. 2nd after What’s The Story was Pulp’s Different Class and owing to the fact my brother already had What’s The Story… I plumped for Cocker’s masterpiece. At the time it was sheer pop perfection that had me dancing round my bedroom. As a 27year old it is still this but lyrically everything resonates much more powerfully.

Pulp open with ‘Do You Remember The First Time?’ the memories of missing the odd house out on the paper round so I could get back in time for Neighbours came flooding back.

Nostalgia aside, Pulp are as good as anything on the live circuit today. Jarvis sparkles in conversation between songs and even inappropriately dedicates the hit ‘Babies’ to his mum.

Different Class album opener ‘Mis-Shapes stirs the crowd into a frenzy. Amidst the heartless job cuts and sickening blameless culture amongst the banks, thousands upon thousands here today connect with its sentiment more than 15years ago.

Sadly Mis-Shapes and Common People are the type of tracks which bands seem incapable of writing in this narcissistic leather jacket wearing era. Nevertheless, this should not overshadow what was one hell of a comeback. Meany people knock bands reforming, to them TT says do one. this was a special afternoon, a reminder of the little guy can win and he will win again.

We Are The Dogs!

 

What should have been a glowing review of Dogs’ new 7 track album Fly Like Eagles has been soured by the shocking news they have decided to call it day. Travellers Tunes is flying at half mast today and is unsure when the gloom will be lifted sadly.

The new album marked a new chapter in Dogs musical career. Gone were the The Jam meets Queens Of The Stone Ages belters and in came a new lo-fi love of the Pixies and Pavement. The album is free to download on their website http://www.dogsmusic.com/

It feels only right that we mourn this loss in appropriate trip down memory lane. TT first encountered Dogs in the Radio 1 tent at the 2004 Reading Festival .Whilst waiting to see the hotly tipped Bloc Party, Dogs came on and really shook up a hungover Reading crowd.

Tuned To A Different Station will be the one song a generation of bored kids never heard. A rip roaring, life affirming hell raiser. Bands come along like Dogs so rarely it is disgusting to see labels like Universal treat them so badly. They had genuine hits on their 1^st and 2^nd albums, yet a major label (and indie Weekender Records) seemed to lack the knowledge or belief to push them through to daytime radio.

One thing has eaten away at Travellers Tunes more than anything in the past 24 hours. When opening a promotional email from Ticketweb, it had acts such as The Feeling and The Kooks lining up big gigs for the autumn. This crock of bland shit may sell out these venues and people may sing along but they will never be loved. Fans will never put their CD on indoors and jump around the room, posing in the mirror and sing at the top of their voices. When The Kooks play Naive they will receive a ripple of wolf whistles and whoops. Dogs will be on a level with their audience the moment they walk stage. They were gang just like you and me who wanted to make it and disgracefully the gods opted not to take a punt.

So for one last time Dogs fans. Let your hearts beat with a fury of adrenaline…..

Real Time!

The Enemy have returned this week online with the demo of new tune This Is Real. As is to be expected, three chord bliss! It signals a real return to form for the Coventry boys whose 2^nd album was a real hit and miss affair.

Many have called them fakers over the years, but Travellers Tunes has done and will always herald Tom Clarke’s ability to resonate with the average Joe. Its not about class, it never has been with The Enemy. It’s always been about their perception of the working man, love and loss and long may it continue.

Without further ado…

Hear Ye Hear Ye!

Having been stupidly questioned on his Eton past last week Frank must be glad to have his new album out for all to buy. TT is particularly thrilled to have Turner's 4th solo instalment 'England Keep My Bones' booming from the speakers.

Turner's solo career has always been an enigma. Debut Sleep Is For The Weak was littered with songs any outsider could cling to yet no real success. The single Photosynthesis from the follow up Love Song & Ire is a call to arms anthem that should have indie discos jumping through the ceilings every Saturday night. Alas, BBC6, XFM and late night radio one didn’t really pick up on Frank's genius until his 3rd album and only now is he a mainstay of their playlists.

Lead of single 'Peggy Sang The Blues' from EKMB is by no means his best work but the daytime plays on XFM is will win Frank a new set of fans. Why? Well, for one it’s a song about his Nan and how if he beat her at cards she would give whiskey to put him off his stride. More importantly, it displays everything that is great about him. When Turner steps up to the mic he sounds like he is laying down his life. The

ever increasing passion in this crescendo driven tune should have anyone saying 'post-dubstep “its time I re-evaluated my life”.

As with every Turner album there is always one song which is head and shoulders above the rest. I Still Believe is that song here. A simple rock n roll song about, well, rock n roll. These are the songs that, if your in band and not striving to make you should do us all a favour and go play golf and admit your boring.

The final track Glory Hallejuah is the funniest song which is not written by the Morrissey. The jovial chorus 'There Is No God' is delivered and doesn’t failt to raise a wry smile every time. As always with Turner there is always more to his songs than first meet the eye. This is not just an atheisis bash at religion, it is desperate plee for mankind to embrace life as it comes. By some miracle he has managed to pen Orwell's early novel 'Clergyman's Daughter' into 4minutes 35secs of folky rock n roll and remind everyone that life is short so live it now!

Redemption see's Turner in a brutally introspective mood as he examines the nature of his song writing ability. This is without doubt the bravest thing he has ever written. Musically it’s not pushing boundaries for him, but to dig in to the colon of your soul like this can only be admired.

Those who are new to Turner with this helping will be hooked for life. This is the ultimate ‘way in’ for anyone wondering 'who is frank tuner'. Catchy folk tales, rock n roll belters and poignant lyrics , this album has it all for anyone with a steeped sense of English pride