Mod Speed

Janice Graham Band - new single - No Money Honey

2012-02-22T13:04:00.002Z

Following the fantastic response to their debut release this year South Manchester lads Janice Graham Band release their brand new single and live favourite.

No Money Honey is the second release from the band’s concept mini-album It's Not Me to be released a week later on Feb 27^th, 2012 through Acid Jazz Records.

No Money Honey has everything you need to start a party; the band mash up the adrenalised rush of beat, tastes of reggae, the bounce of ska and the urgency of punk with lead singer Joe Jones screaming the lyrics ‘I ain’t got no money honey’ (apparently written about a local prostitute), while playing his bass guitar with precision and attitude.

This mini album is not the band’s first “proper” album, it’s a concept album, a soundtrack to a film screening in the mind of the listener and in the grooves of the record. The album deals with questions and answers on love, life, sex and death. It concerns itself with the harsh brutality of life seen through the eyes of a man whose hedonistic incline leads him down a dark and twisted path of increasingly questionable morality and self –destruction.

Janice Graham Band, Joe Jones (lead vocals/bass), Andy Morton (guitar), Josh Hunt (trumpet and backing vocals) and Tom Scott (drums and backing vocals) - average age a mere 21 - are a true garage band; and could start a party in an empty room.

Released 20^th Feb 2012, Available on 7" vinyl and download.

The Broken Vinyl Club - Diamonds In Her Eyes

2012-02-13T11:58:00.003Z

Hot on the heels from supporting The Stereophonics and the success of the debut seven, The Broken Vinyl Club’s second single, the non-album track Diamonds In Her Eyes is dense with 60s blues riffs and nods towards the trendy-set rock of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and sixties garage greats The Shadows Of Night.

The flip side I Want You Girl is taken from the eponymous debut album, a collection of 12 songs full of melodic charm and skillful harmonies. The Welsh answer to The Hoodoo Gurus and Airhead, wrapped up as one perfect beat-band, have been busy showing off their live swagger to audiences all over Europe and building an ever increasing fan base keen on hearing their modern take on a retro feel.

Available from Acid Jazz Records on seven inch vinyl or digital download.

Jasmine Kara - Blues Ain't Nothing But A Good Woman Gone Bad

2012-01-26T16:09:00.002Z

On ‘Blues Ain’t Nothing But A Good Woman Gone Bad’, Swedish Soul temptress Jasmine Kara takes a unique journey through the less obvious parts of the Chess Records label’s extensive catalogue.

Avoiding direct comparison with the originals through her own distinctive flourishes, she manages to make each track sound fresh to the ear as well as infectious on the dance floor. She incorporates a ska rhythm within Bobby More's ‘Try My Love Again’ turning the song’s original plaintive tone into a party tune.

Her vocal control is impressive. This is evident not only on the more jazz tinged songs such as ‘My Party’ and Terry Callier’s signature tune ‘Ordinary Joe’, both of which demonstrate a vocal sensitivity beyond her years, but also on the up-tempo stormers of which the album’s title track and the two-part ‘In The Basement ’ are prime examples.

The album, originally released by the Swedish Trisound label, is now available through the Acid Jazz Records label.

Track list...

Fire

The Mad Midget

In The Basement - Part 1

Are You Doing Me Wrong

Ain’t No More Room

Try My Love Again

Train Gone Mad

Must I Holler

My Party

My Babe

Ordinary Joe

Midget In A Coal Mine

In The Basement – part 2

Grits Ain’t Groceries

Liberation Conversation

Out February 6th.

The Red Inspectors

2012-01-05T15:32:00.006Z

Lounge-core is a much mis-understood genre, what exactly is the dress code ? Which record labels are championing the tunes ? What bands should one listen to ? The awnser to these questions are ..trousers, Acid Jazz Records and The Red Inspectors.

The Red Inspectors are Miles Chapman, Andy Lewis, Pete Twyman and Alex Richards. Pete, Miles and Andy have been playing together on and off for over 20 years. First with Britpop darlings Pimlico in the mid-90s.Alex Richards used to play keyboard for The Bluetones. Andy Lewis is in Paul Weller’s band, Pete Twyman has played with the Modfather, too.

Are We The Red Inspectors? Are We? was written and recorded earlier in 2011 and it set for release 9th January 2012. It is a mixture of cheeky 21st century Hammond organ, detective TV-theme inspired, easy-listening, porn soundtrack, cocktail lounge, bossa-nova, electro funk pop tunes....put them all together and that spells Lounge-Core, apparently.

There's an album launch party for the lucky London types, The Borderline, 12th January, with The Broken Vinyl Club and The Get Go.

Get it, you won't regret it.

E.P Choice

2011-12-08T12:32:00.000Z

As mentioned in a previous mod-blog, the entire Acid Jazz Records 7x7 Rare Mod E.P Box Set is available on compact disc format in one long groovy audio CD called E.P Choice.

Running order is as follows...

The Richard Kent Style - I'm Out.

Steve Marriott's Moments - You Really Got Me.

The Muleskinners - Need Your Lovin'.

The Clique-.OoH Poo Pah Doo.

Donnie Elbert – This Old Heart Of Mine.

The Richard Kent Style - You Can’t Keep A Man Without Love.

The Fleur De Lys feat. Sharon Tandy - Yeah, I Do Love You (Demo).

JamesPatterson – Silent.

Sharon Tandy - Daughter of The Sun (Demo).

The Clique - Pretty Thing.

The Fleur DeLys feat. Sharon Tandy - Gotta Get Enough Time (Demo).

The Richard Kent Style - Marching Off To War.

Maxine – A Love I Believe In.

Sharon Tandy - Walk From Here To Mexico.

The Clique - See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.

The Muleskinners - Why Don't You Write Back To Me.

Sharon Tandy – Roundabout.

The Fantastics – We Got Good Lovin’

Sharon Tandy - Somebody Speaks Your Name (Demo).

The Muleskinners - Backdoor Man.

The Clique - She Ain’t No Good.

The Fleur De Lys - Circles. (live )

The Muleskinners - Untie me.

Steve Marriott's Moments - You’ll Never Get Away From Me

Like !

The Rare Mod E.P Box Set

2011-11-30T11:25:00.000Z

7 x 7. The Rare Mod E.P Collection. Limited Edition Collectors Box Set from Acid Jazz Records .

Like it says on the lid, featuring all seven of the amazing Rare Mod series of E.Ps in one gloriously lavish box. PLUS a glossy twenty page detailed colour booklet and bonus E.P.

Each vinyl four track record of impossibly rare or previously unreleased recordings, expertly re-mastered and beautifully sleeved, with informative notes and retro design.

Featuring, in order of release, Steve Marriott's Moments, The Fleur De Lys, The Mule Skinners, The Richard Kent Style, Sharon Tandy and The Clique. PLUS the bonus, only available with the box, Hitsville London.

The Box set is available in two versions.

Firstly - All of the EPs and booklet in the box, including Hitsville London.

Secondly - Just the box, booklet and Hitsville London (for those who already have the other records).

For those poor fools who don’t do vinyl and insist on having the compact disc format, the whole lot is available on one CD called EP Choice, but more of that another time.

The press release say's in shops December 11th but it's available now on ebay.

How cool ?

Hitsville London

2011-11-28T11:51:00.005Z

As promised, here's a quick word about the 'bonus' vinyl that comes with the Rare Mod E.P Limited Edition Box Set, due for release on Acid Jazz Records in time for Christmas, Hitsville London.

Previously unreleased, all four tracks were recorded and produced between 1967- 69 by Graham Dee in London England.

As usual the cover is a beautiful replication of a sixties record sleeve, the great man himself blazoned across. The tracks, as on his album The 60s Collection, feature a selection of different artists, starting with the very groovy Maxine Silverburg. Here is a highly edited summary from the sleeve notes.

"Maxine's A Love I Believe In, written in 1967 by Graham with Donnie Elbert who [...] only got as far a laying down a backing track [...] (see Rare Mod Vol.2). Graham revisited the song and recorded a new version at CBS Studios in 1969, the soulful Miss Silverburg on vocals.

Next [...] James Patterson’s 'Silent', [...] a mellow slice of late 60s Soulful pop. Patterson came to England in the 60s with the American air force and left [...] before [...] the tracks [...] could be released.

American soul legend Donnie Elbert’s [...] version of 'This Old Heart of Mine' was released in 1968, the version we feature here, [...] an unreleased backing track, [...] features Polydor’s house band The Fleur de Lys.

The Fantastics were on a tour of England when they were [...] asked to lay down vocals on some tracks [...]. They obliged and the results were two classy tracks, the second of which can be heard on the The Graham Dee Connection - 60s Collection ." Damian Jones (2011).

A1. Maxine – A Love I Believe In.

A2. James Patterson – Silent.

B1. Donnie Elbert – This Old Heart Of Mine.

B2. The Fantastics – We Got Good Lovin’.

Watch this space for Box-Set info...

Maxine - a re-discovered sixties star

2011-11-25T12:26:00.010Z

Graham Dee & Maxine

Anyone who has taken some Mod Speed advice recently and checked out the masterly Graham Dee Connection '60s Collection' will no-doubt be familiar with one of the outstanding moments of the compilation, the soul-tastic 'Who Belongs To You ' by Maxine.

However very few people, if any, will have heard of this enigmatic singer before. Discovered, produced and recorded by Graham Dee and subsequently lost amongst the weight of sixties history, Maxine's recordings have been rediscovered by Graham for inclusion on his very excellent aforementioned, critically acclaimed, compilation album.

Coincidentally, as part of the Rare Mod series, Acid Jazz Records are releasing a very limited edition collectors Box Set containing the previous six Rare Mod E.Ps, plus another E.P, only available with the box, called Hitsville London. The four tracks on this bonus vinyl are also all Graham Dee works and one of them is another long lost soul 'dancer' by Maxine Silverburg.

Graham, Maxine & music

Mod Speed asked Maxine what she remembered of the session ..

"I don't really remember when or where I first met Graham. When I think back he just seems to have appeared in my life from nowhere. The first memory I have, is of him coming to see me singing with a band that I was with at the time. He obviously liked what he heard and asked if he could record me singing one of his songs. Although I had been singing with various bands and touring England and Europe for a few years, it was the first time that I had been in a recording studio and it was very new and exciting for me. I remember that we had a lot of fun and laughed a lot. The songs were never released so it's amazing for me to now see it on record”.

Watch this space for reviews of Hitsville London and the Box Set.

Groovy books

2011-11-09T20:32:00.019Z

Christmas is coming and it's time to start that Xmas list. Mod Speed is proudly giving the gift of printed words this year. Books, like computers but they don't crash.

The former bass player and co-founder of Acid Jazz funksters Corduroy and comedy psych-punk garage-glam band Doctor and The Medics, has two such inky offerings. One a novel, the other a collection of cartoon art.

The Absurdist is a light hearted, science-fictional tale about the illusionary nature of reality, lethal cocktails, hairy heroes, unrequited love and wasp hammers. Rude and irreverent, this funny philosophical caper, about two young scam-artists caught up in unusual events, features the prettiest of girls, silliest of toys, quantum physics and giant space propellers in an adventure of absurd proportions. Now in it's second edition.



'If you are a fan of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett, the chances are you're going to enjoy The Absurdist...... It's a witty whimsical tale of two college friends and the success and failures of various scams and inventions - space burials, purple vodka and the wasp hammer, which fool no-one and everyone. It's an observation on media manipulation, a modern day Emperors New Clothes. Where the answer was 42 in Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, the theme running through The Absurdist is the power of three, we always have 3 choices in life - and as readers of the book, you too have three choices, will you dismiss the book as silly, take a deep philosophical interest, or read it and enjoy its wit and wonderings?"
Jennie Baillie (2011) Double Breasted Magazine.

And for those who prefer to look at the pictures, Sketchistentialism, a collection of cartoon art from the pen of Richard Searle.’

Featuring embarrassed dogs, vengeful fish, pointless super heroes and dubious religious iconography, Sketchistentialism is beautifully drawn, oddly philosophical and blatantly daft.

Get both books here , click on the pictures.... or find them on Amazon or here.

Have a cool yule !

The Broken Vinyl Club

2011-10-18T15:35:00.015+01:00

'The Broken Vinyl Club are amazing live. Somebody should sign them; they would be huge,' thus spake Creation Records boss and cult music 'know-it-all' Alan McGee.

Well someone did sign them, Acid Jazz Records to be exact, who released the single 'One Way Street' to critical acclaim, amidst adamant promises of an epic forthcoming psychedelic album, to be released at the start of the autumn of this year. The album pictured right is that aforementioned album, it is psychedelic, out this very October, and as promised, it's epic.

It is fair to say that these boys, Welsh by the way, have more than a few sixties influences. The sound is a delicious cocktail of Stones swagger, Pretty Things attitude and Monkee's personality, blended with Jim McGuinn guitar sounds, Arthur Lee sentiment and George Harrison harmonies. Then once alcohols added, chilled by Longrider's arrangements and sharpened by the pop hook sensibility of The LAs.

More than just an homage to the member's collective record collections, the album, varied in style structures and 'nods' to classic riffs, showcases the songwriting skills of a band that would make a good album no-matter which decade's shirts they choose to wear.

Just to prove that they aren't retro-headed-Luddites, the album has it's own smartphone app.

The appliance of science.

The Graham Dee Connection – The 60’s Collection.

2011-10-06T13:13:00.007+01:00

Of the millions of pages written about the British music scene in the 1960s, very rarely will one find a reference to Graham Dee. If, however, you were to ask the movers and shakers of those giddy days if they knew him, the answer would be a resounding 'yes'. Known by at least one of his star-crossed contemporaries as Mr. Tin Pan Alley, Graham was a pivotal figure on the London sixties music scene and could be described as one of its missing links.

He was friends with Steve Marriott and, after playing guitar in the last line up of Marriott’s Moments, he went on to play rhythm guitar on The Small Faces first single as a session musician. He played live with bands as diverse as Them, The Gass, The Walker Brothers and even a few dates with Pink Floyd during one of Syd Barrett’s legendary off spells in early 1967.

In spite of the demand for his guitar playing genius, his first loves were song-writing and production and it is this which he will always be best remembered for.

The Acid Jazz Records Rare Mod series continues here with a trip through the Graham Dee archives, producing this amazing secret garden of melodic delights. Dee wrote literally hundreds of songs and produced a whole host more for a diverse collection of artists that he'd spotted from his perch in the A&R department at Polydor. The Graham Dee 60s collection is a compilation of a cross section of styles and artists written or produced by him. Including mod legend Sharon Tandy, freakbeat innovators The Fleur De Lys, cross-over masters The Fantastics, garage groover Waygood Ellis, film orchestrator Jerry Shury, the velvet voiced James Patterson, Dennis Lotis and Tony Rivers. 16 gems in total, from kitch-core easy listening greats, garage pop chart busters and anthemic soulful floor-fillers, every one a lost masterpiece.

Tony And Tandy - Two Can Make It Together

Waygood Ellis – I Like What I’m Trying To Do.

Maxine – Who Belongs To You.

Alexander Stewart - Hey Doesn’t It Grab You.

The Storytellers – In The City (string mix).

Dennis Lotis – Celebration

James Patterson – This Ol’ World

Polydor Pam - Something In The Way (demo)

The Fantastics – Time To Go.

Sharon Tandy – When A Woman Is In Love (Demo)

The Gerry Shurey Orchestra. - Sea Music.

Tony Rivers and The Castaways– Let Me Take You Out Of This World.

Mike Berry – Soul Ride.

John Bromley – Lisa Lies.

Lenny White – Friday Night.

The Fleur De Lys feat. Sharon Tandy – Love Them All.

I’d usually rate this kind of record as ‘essential’ but that word doesn’t capture how urgently you need this album. Released at the end of October on CD and Vinyl, advance copies are available now. Go Get !

Jasmine Kara - In The Basement

2011-10-03T13:57:00.001+01:00

Jasmine Kara is an attractive Iranian lady, brought up in Sweden, who likes to sing the blues. Her ability to bare her soul and purge her lungs is quite extraordinary in one so apparently young. Once this is understood it becomes apparent as to why it wasn’t long before she was brought to the attention of legendary records man Marshall Chess of Chess Records fame.

Mr Chess became Jasmine's mentor and produced her debut album ‘Blues Ain’t Nothing But A Good Woman Gone Bad,’ released through Tri-Sound Records, Marshal's other label.

In colaboration with Tri-Sound, Acid Jazz Records have released a single from this album, a floor-stomping version of the soul classic 'In The Basement ' with the equally dancefloor filling flip-side 'In The Basement. Prt 2.'

The recording captures well her dynamic live performance, energetic, confident, full of lusty life and soulfull skill.

This 7inch vinyl only release preceeds the Acid Jazz release of her album in Feb 2012. I recommend that you check both.

Matt Berry - So Low

2011-09-20T15:24:00.001+01:00

You've heard him on the radio, seen him on the telly, got his album, the single, seen him live and bought a t-shirt...probably.

Next from new-renaissance-man, Matt Berry, is a reworking of arguably his most popular song, So Low.

Worked around a dirty-hooky Fender Rhodes piano riff, the track funks like a gin-whore yet rocks out with the balls of her whiskey riddled dad. With lyrics that yearn for a life more ordinary, it re-writes the classic blues myth. An anthem for the ungrateified, unsatisfied or just plain bored.

With a different musical arrangement to that which features on the album Witchazel, the version was initially recorded for cult TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test, see below, the footage re-discovered only after the album was released.

Bundled together with the whimsical wiccan folk instrumental The Poacher the track is available as a download single from 26th Sept 2011.

Crazy.

Janice Graham Band

2011-09-07T13:58:00.002+01:00

The first time I saw Janice Graham Band (there is no THE) play live, my girlfriend literally pushed my gaping jaw shut as I stood speechless at the sight and sound of the first truly genius band that I've seen in many, MANY, years.

From an estate in Manchester, with an average age of 21 (they actually look about 15) their musical influences are impressive and vast beyond years. An infectious and irresistible ejaculation of Ska/Soul/Jazz/Hip Hop/R&B/Funk and Reggae, that when performed with young upstart passion, somehow manages to sound fresh and dangerous, they are THE garage rock punk band, THE new saviours of rock n' roll, THE new anti-glam-dance-band-manc-rap-chavs. They ARE the MODS!

The lead singer/ bassist, Joe Jones, is the image of the main character from the movie KEZ (Google it), he looks like he's just bunked off from Geography lessons, spitting out Mancunian rhyming slang whilst groping a mail-order catalogue bass guitar, skipping from foot to foot like he's just drank two gallons of Tizer and desperately needs a piss.

To his side stands Josh Hunt, who also sings, again looking like he knows his way around an Xbox 360, who plays trumpet lines that combine the best bits of The Tear Drop Explodes 'Kilimanjaro' album with Miles Davis's 'Bitches Brew', attacking his horn like it's about to hit him back, blowing from the side of his mouth, squinting, like he's sucking the last hot drag from a communal joint.

Andy Mortan, the tallest member, looks like he's already stoned. Grooving to the tunes whilst lovingly hugging his semi-acoustic guitar like it's his only possession, eyes shut and smiling, enjoying the ride.

Be-dredd-locked rapping drummer, Tom Scott, keeps it tight, adding to the mischief, drumming with a maturity that appears at odds to the shopping centre afrontary of a band that your parents most definitely won't like.

Released 12^th of September on Acid Jazz Records, the bands first single, Murder / Assassiner, taken from the debut long player ‘It's Not Me’ (due in Jan 2012).

When asked about the challenging nature of the lyrics a spokesman for the band said 'The LP is a concept album that deals with questions and answers on love, life and sex and death. It deals with the harsh brutality of life through the eyes of a man whose hedonistic incline leads him down a dark and twisted path of increasing questionable morality, self -destruction and ultimately MURDER'.

Bloody kids !

Magnus Carlson

2011-09-01T15:46:00.004+01:00

Magnus Carlson is the former vocalist with the Swedish pop group the Weeping Willows. He later signed a solo deal with Blue Note Records to become Sweden's premier jazz artist. Next he recorded a soul album for Marshall Chess's Swedish Tri-Sound label. A busy boy then, I think you'll agree.

By way of coincidence, Acid Jazz records label boss Mr E Piller, played a track from the aforementioned Tri-sound recording (a label in which he is also involved) on a blog-cast, which caused such a clamour of interest that he decided to release it on the Acid Jazz label in the UK.

The song in question was 'From Now On', a white soul, Style Council-esque, floor- filler and stand-out track from the album. Released on seven inch vinyl with a b-side that should make any sixties music enthusiast smile with approval, a groovy reworking of the Donavan/Jeff Beck collaborative classic 'Barabajagal'.

The limited edition 7” single comes in a cool looking customised Acid Jazz/Tri-Sound house bag and is available from the 5th of September.

The Broken Vinyl Club - sign to Acid Jazz Records

2011-08-24T17:41:00.011+01:00

One of the stand-out tunes on the Acid Jazz compilation Hipsters 2 was from a young Welsh band called The Broken Vinyl Club.

The track in question I Want You Girl was released by See Monkey Do Records, a label that specialises in the best of homegrown Welsh rock groups.

The release of the Hipsters comp coincided with the band playing a coveted live set at the launch party of Liam Gallagher's Pretty Green label, Acid Jazz A&R in attendance, plus the bands mutual departure from See Monkey Do. As a result, impressed by both music and live performance Acid Jazz Records offered them a deal.

The first single on AJ, taken from the BVC debut album due for release in October, is the catchy, twangy guitar drenched One Way Street, see video below. A band partial to tight vocal harmonies, an obvious sixties influence is instantly apparent. The Byrds meet The Flaming Groovies with a hint of The Coral thrown in for good measure.

The B-side Day Too Long is every bit as strong as the title track, possibly even stronger.

A recently penned, mini-indie-masterpiece, that wasn't finished in time to make the album, making this vinyl and download only single essential for fans who usually just wait for the album.

Released Monday 29th August.
Get the record, catch them live, buy the T-Shirt.

Kenny Bernard

2011-08-10T14:34:00.001+01:00

The Acid Jazz Rare Mod series continues with Live ’65 from Kenny Bernard & The Wranglers, an extraordinary historical document found at a car boot sale.

The story goes that the AJ office phone rang one afternoon. On the line was broadcaster Mark Lamarr, TV and Radio personality, record collector and R&B fan. “I’ve dug up an extremely rare acetate… a white label of Kenny Bernard at The Ad Lib Club.”

Kenny was tracked down, living up in East Anglia, who revealed an amazing tale, and one that certainly needs repeating.

Childhood friend of Bill Wyman, bandleader to a young David Bowie (he played sax for the Wranglers at half a dozen mid sixties gigs) and one of a handful of black-British soul singers working the mod circuit.

Trinidad born but South London raised, Kenny was amazed and joyful that the acetate had been uncovered. An early manager stole the recordings and was never seen again. He gladly gave his consent to release this timeless gem.

Recorded at The Ad Lib in Leicester Square some time in late 1965 the album captures Kenny's vibrant performance, his incredible voice and the excellent group of backing musicians that called themselves The Wranglers.

The set mainly consists of cover versions, the staple sixties set for jobbing groups, including a couple of instrumentals that feature the considerable skills of organist Alan Reeves.

In the shops on the 22nd August.

Recommended !

The Clique: 64 Rave Up E.P

2011-07-19T13:27:00.005+01:00

Another long lost and never before heard re-mastered sixties acetate has been released by Acid Jazz Records on they're Rare Mod E.P series – this time with four songs from west London legends The Clique.

They've tracked down the outfits first ever demo session, recorded at Hawkleys Studios in Hampshire on October 25, 1964 and it is this that is presented in the trade mark old school style lacquered sleeve, the sixth waxing in this limited series alongside Steve Marriott, The Fleur De Lys, The Muleskinners, Richard Kent Style, Sharon Tandy and with more to follow.

Managed by the legendary Larry Page, producer of The Troggs, Kinks and Who. The Clique shared the bill with The High Numbers (proto- Who) in Brighton in August ‘64 and headlined over The Small Faces six months later. Their hard, no-nonsense R&B was incubated in the same venues and to the same punters as The Who and The Birds – including a classic gig at The Railway Tavern in Harrow where Keith Moon famously sat in on the set.

The recordings featured on the EP were sufficient to secure the band’s recording contract with PYE Records, who immediately re-recorded ‘She Ain’t No Good’ and released it as the groups debut single.

1.OoH Poo Pah Doo.

2. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.

3. Pretty Thing.
4. She Ain’t No Good.

Ruff, ready and essential.

Released July 25th 2011.

Hipsters 2

2011-06-21T14:51:00.009+01:00

Acid Jazz Records like to release the odd compilation album or two, the Rare Mod and Sugarlumps series particular favorites with this author. Here's another, this time no oldies included, just contemporary garage, psych and beat recordings. Mod looms large on the nation's consciousness at the moment and Hipsters 2 captures the flavour of the scene.

Featuring The Birds with original 60's front man Ali MacKenzie with Matt, Jon, Neil and Dan of The Small Fakers. ‘That’s All I Need You For’ was featured in the cult sixties film ‘The Killer Bees’ but never recorded for release until now.

Bay Of Pigs, who attack 'Tainted Love', boast a pedigree of talent with guitarist Mark Saxby formaly of Arnold and X-Ray Spex, bassist Rob Ariss also from Arnold. Drummer Andy Ireland served his time in Flowered Up and Shane Magowan & The Popes while vocalist Dave Bassey was in Thamesmead’s lost legends Dog before a stint with Dodgy.

Speakeasy contain some heavyweight mod credentials with The Chords’ Brett Ascott, The Purple Heart's Simon Stebbings, Mark Le Gallez from The Risk & Thee Janitors and Mic Stoner, currently the busiest bass player in London.

The Galileo 7 are a 4 piece and hail from Medway. Not surprising then that they contain one Allan Crockford who has been in more influential bands than most. Here he goes all melodic, Pink Floyd and Psychedelic.

Slimshack cover Bo Diddly's 'Who Do You Love' to great effect. The Solomonics, sing of a 'Blanket Of Secrecy' giving no clues to their identity other than that they are rumoured to be members of the elusive Bohemian Underground Movement.

The Crackles are a studio project featuring guitarist Jim Guynan of funsters Smashing Time, one of the fav's from Sugarlumps 1, and features girl group The Duloks on vocals.

Aunt Nelly hail from Kent and feature 3 ex-members of The Clique in Phil Otto, Dom Strickland and Alex Petty. Add in Gavin Davis and Ian Snowball who also plays in The Effectives.

The Universal are a 4-piece from Liverpool, that sound like The Jam, who have spent the past 2 years gigging almost non-stop yet finding time to release a debut album last summer.

The Sonic Jewels are an offspring of the Laurence O'Toole, bass player of feather headed mod glam band Connett and sounds like the bastard child of The Prisoners and Cream.

Female fronted Modus's Blondie-esque pop blaster is cool, as is Harlow's The Feelmores, south London's Dig For Victory and funky Americans The Soulphonics.

The Method sound like a cross between The B52s and The Go Team, they are Welsh and very excellent, as are The Broken Vinyl Club, who sound like The Byrds and have just signed to Acid Jazz Records.

CD out Monday 27th June.
Vinyl out 11th July.

Get Hip !

The Who ... again.

2011-06-15T17:05:00.001+01:00

I love The Who, you love The Who,
we all love The Who.

Here they are, live, on French TV in 1966.

The Best Of Sugarlumps

2011-06-15T16:30:00.006+01:00

The legendary Acid Jazz Record's Sugarlumps series of psychedelic wizardry has reached a natural conclusion with a download only 'Best Of' compilation.

The Best Of Sugarlumps, a choice-cut selection of groovy movers and sweet freakbeat, boasts some of the most whimsical, mad-cap and gland expanding audio-foolery ever to be set down onto eight-track tape.

Featuring twelve mad-sterpieces of wigged out ear nonsence.

Groovy Ruben -The Woeful Tale Of Shakes Magoo.

The James Coburn Cool - Juicer.

Jensen Interceptor - Fetch The Stick.

Templar - Quarter To Now.

Kitchener - The Magic Lounge About.

The Mauve - Safety Lite.

The Runcible Spoon - Hallucination Train.

Thrush - London Zen.

The JugZ - Got Gas.

Action Band - White Elephant.

nut - The Beatle Makes Noise On Wet Grass.

Flying Pudding - Watching The Machine.

Crazy.

Download here ...but watch out for the brown acid.

More from Andy Lewis

2011-06-15T14:08:00.004+01:00

Having recently showcased his mini-album 41, Andy Lewis precedes his third album proper with his new single ‘A Good Soul In Good Times’. Taken from his third and forthcoming album ‘South Herts Symphony’, featuring the vocal acrobatics of soul diva, and sometimes Smoove vocalist, Jess Roberts, the groove based single has already picked up some radio play by XFM’s John Kennedy. The flip side, ‘The Words Ottis Sang’ also featuring Jess Roberts, who collaborated with Andy with the lyrics on both tracks.

Andy played bass in Brit-Poppers Pimlico and perennial Indie favourites Spearmint, as well as carving out a career as a DJ (famously at Wendy May’s Locomotion and Blow Up, and for Blur’s “Parklife” tour), songwriter and producer. In 2005 he released his first solo album “Billion Pound Project”. In 2007, he had a hit single collaborating with Paul Weller- “Are You Trying To Be Lonely” and released his second solo album “You Should Be Hearing Something Now”. Joining Paul’s live band and playing on hit albums “22 Dreams” and “Wake Up The Nation”, Andy’s toured the world and elsewhere since 2008. “South Herts Symphony”, his third full-length solo album will be released this summer.

Out on itunes now. Out on 7 inch vinyl June 20th.

The 13th Floor Elevators

2011-05-25T15:27:00.001+01:00

I love The 13th Floor Elevators, you love The 13th Floor Elevators.

We all love The 13th Floor Elevators.

Here they are at a groovy 60s pool party, You're Gonna Miss Me.

John's Children; a new album.

2011-05-25T12:32:00.002+01:00

John’s Children were, of course, one of the seminal mod bands of the 1960s, bringing anarchy to Europe on their riotous tours with The Who, leading to a shell-shocked young Marc Bolan leaving the band to pursue a less dangerous music career. A chaotic debut album, released in 1966, was the fruit of this white outfitted, Hells Angel protected, Simon Napier Bell managed alliance.

After the break-up of John’s Children, Andy Ellison and drummer Chris Townsend, formed Jet, which later mutated into Radio Stars, all throughout maintaining a well-dressed and well deserved reputation for on-stage mayhem and full-on rock debauchery.

And then they rested.

This new album, Black And White, and the second incarnation of John’s Children, has it's geneses in the corner shop. Andy Ellison had just popped out to get a news paper and Pot Noodle when someone shouted: 'Hey Andy, you were in my favourite band.’

A few beers later, after discovering that Andy’s newly made friend Boz Boorer played with Morrissey and the Polecats, Andy took up Boz’s suggestion that maybe they should give a resurrection of John’s Children a try.

Andy hadn’t played the John’s Children material since 1967, and while the live shows for the reformed band went well, work commitments meant that it took a good few years before the new album was finished.

With Boz on guitar and Chris back on drums, Martin, the bass player from Jet and Radio Stars, was recruited to add bass. The finished product is a mix of new material, including Train In My Head from Sugarlumps 3. Plus recordings of old tunes, some of which were penned by Marc Bolan, Sara Crazy Child, others of a more 'trad' nature, Lazy Sunday and Eleanor Rigby. Stand out track I Got The Buzz is a garage punk fuzz fest that harks back to the 60's line-up at their peak.

File under 'interesting' rather than 'essential' but definitely worth a listen. Released through Acid Jazz Records on June 6th 2011.

The album is dedicated to the memory of Chris Townsend who sadly died in Feb 2008.

The Shadows of Knight

2011-04-28T12:24:00.001+01:00

I love The Shadows Of Knight, you love The Shadows Of Knight.
We all love The Shadows Of Knight.

Here they are in rare live 8mm footage from 1968.
LONG TIME COMIN'