Right Tom Moth has nominated me to talk about the ten (just ten?!) albums that have most influenced me - this is a bit different from other my *favourite* albums lists - it will by neccesity include some really obvious ones: 1. Mary Margaret OHara ∆ Miss America I remember reading a thing with Elvis Costello talking about his favourite album (although I dont remember what it actually was) and he said Every time I listen to it I hear exactly the same thing... Which sounds like him being typically obtuse as loads of people say the opposite regarding their favourite albums, that every time they listen to them they hear something new. Whether he meant it or not that is how I feel about this record. Its such a brilliant series of performances that you do get exactly the same thing from it each time. A proper stunning voice, angular but lovely songs, loads of space. I now dont listen to it too often because I never want to get tired of it. 2. Nick Drake : Bryter Layter No suprise for any Moses fans. Theres not many acoustic guitar acts who havent been compared to Nick Drake at some point and the comparison is usually pretty wide of the mark which is a shame. He isnt fey and wishy washy at all, the guitar parts are complex and precise, the songs melodically strong. Theyre sad and often quiet, but theyre great too. Despite being massively critically acclaimed and famous now I still feel like he belongs to me. 3: Labi Siffre : Labi Siffre Hes a bit overlooked Labi Siffre - apart from (possibly *because* of) the covers of Something Inside So Strong and It Must Be Love (neither on this album) - he doesnt seem to get much of a mention let alone kudos. He should, this album is a lovely acoustic cracker and he still does clever and beautiful poetry today. intothelight.info 4: Nina Simone : ...and Piano! She said this is the one she wanted to be rememebred for so lets do what she said or shell come back and knack us. She was the best at music, Picasso of the piano. This one has covers of Randy Newman, Hoagey Carmichael, Jacques Brel and Jonathan King (!) and is superb. 5. Samantha Brown : Ukulele and Voice Truth be told it was the b-sides that really got me with Smanf but if you only know Stop! please try this too. A pure and overwhelmingly charming human being being pure and overwhelmingly charming. 6. Tom Waits : Rain Dogs Clang bang grumble croak hookers and pirates and xylophones. Whats not to like? I bought Swordfishtrombones when I was 15 and took it back to Woolworths because I thought it was not as good as TPau. We all take our own time to find stuff. I get it now. Not a controversial choice, every music critics concensus is that this is great, I agree. 7. Carolyn Mark : Terrible Hostess The songs! The Heart! The redefining of the word Chutzpah! She is country but she is also unique and brilliant and she adopted me into her travelling boho circus for a Canadian tour I will never forget. If you dont know her, you very should. 8. Throwing Muses : Hunkpapa Not their best but the first one I heard and played again and again on a cassette walkman. Nobody else writes songs like Kristin Hersh (except Tanya Donelly a little bit obviously) Shes a proper poet but means everything she says. And the drums are amazing. 9. Harry Nilsson : Pandemonium Shadow Show I want to be Harry Nilsson. I only found his albums properly about 10 years ago but I had obviously heard bits because they immediately sounded like music that had been in my head forever. All brass and strings and woodwinds and Beatlesyness. Music you can listen to any time, any mood, always works. 10: The Vernon Elliott Ensemble : Clangers Original Television Music Me and Tom Moth made an album called Then I Woke Up And It Was All A Dream loosely based on this beautiful, spooky soundtrack music. Oliver Postgate himself described our album as lovely and delicious and Vernon Elliott s family told me they loved it and thought Vernon would have too. Thatll do for me. Right thats a bloody essay, pretty sure you dont HAVE to bang on as much as I did. I nominate James Partridge Sarah Thirtle and Mark Pinchen !
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 21:02:24 +0000
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