Simple Minds - I Travel

"I Travel" is my favourite song from Simple Minds' album "Empires And Dance" (Zoom Records SPART 1140). 

Nico - All Saints Night From A Polish Motorway

This song was chosen for today's post because it's melancholic enough to suit the sad moods which were spreading around in last few days. It was taken from Nico's live album titled "Behind The Iron Curtain" (Dojo, DOJO LP27) recorded during her concerts in Prague, Budapest and Warsaw in autumn 1986. 

  

Chvrches - The Bones Of What You Believe

Chvrches is one of the new young bands which should achieve a worldwide success in a very short period of time. Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2011by Iain Cook (synthesizers, guitar, bass, vocals) and Martin Doherty (synthesizers, samplers, vocals) and joined by Lauren Mayberry (lead vocals, synthesizers) the band spent next seven or eight months in their basement studio writing their new songs for their first records, a single "Lies" which was available in May 2012 as a free download from the blog of the Neon Gold label and an official debut single "The Mother We Share" (National Anthem Records) released in November 2012. Thanks to these highly acclaimed by music critics issues Chvrches was ranked fifth on the BBC's Sound of 2013 list of the most promising new music talents. The big step forward for the band was signing the contract with an independent record label Glassnote Records. Their next EPs titled "Recover", "Gun" and re-issued "The Mother We Share" entered on the UK Singles Chart peaking respectively at numbers 91, 55 and 38. On 20th September 2013 Chvrches released their debut studio album "The Bones Of What You Believe" which peaked at number 9 the UK Album Chart. Throughout the whole year 2013 the band toured extensively all over Europe. They also supported Depeche Mode during their The Delta Machine Tour in Nimes (July 16th), Milan (July 18th), Prague (July 23th) and Warsaw (July 25th). Personally I think that Chvrches are enormously good when performing live, much better than they work in studio. A classic example is live version their first single "Lies".

Rossetti's Compass - Tear Garden

 

Rossetti's Compass is a music project which was founded in 2010 by Mark Warner, a former member of Sudeten Creche and current member of Touching The Void, both bands playing dark electronic music. In a year 2013 he was joined by next two musicians : Per Aksel Lundgreen and Martin Bowes and working together they released two EPs : "Tear Garden" (No Emb Blanc, NEB012) and "My Beloved" (Sub Culture Records, SUBCULTURE 012). On October 14th 2013 during live session in the Cage Studios (owned by Martin Bowes) they recorded four new songs which are due to release on November 5th 2013 as their next EP "The Cage Sessions, Session 01". The band will donate all profits from this release to The Cancer Research Charity. The preview is available here : http://thecagestudios.bandcamp.com/album/the-cage-sessions-01

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

Gerry Rafferty is the author of the one of the most recognizable songs in rock music history. This song titled "Baker Street" (United Artists Records, UP 36346) was originally released as a single in 1978 and peaked on Number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and Number 2 on Billboard US Hot 100. Composed and written all by Rafferty himself this song has got true magical sound strenghtened by distinctive saxophone solo.

Sixth June - Afraid Of Lies

Sixth June is undoubtedly true and real star of modern dark electronic music. And "Afraid Of Lies" is the best track of their only album "Everytime" (No Emb Blanc, neb002) released in 2010. It should be a HIT!.

Altered Images - Dead Popstars

A new wave Scottish band Altered Images is a fine example what creativity, unique sound and support from one of the most known radio disc jockeys (BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel) can produce and change a provincial tiny group of youngsters into a medium sized pop stars. This band was formed in Glasgow1979 by ex-school friends Clare Grogan (vocals), Johny McElhone (guitar), Gerard McNulty (guitar), Tony McDaid (bass) and Michael Anderson (drums) and in a one year it's got attention enough to play as a support for Siouxsie and the Banshees and to record their first songs with Steve Severin as their producer. Frequent live performances helped them to develop their unique sound which drew attention of aforementioned John Peel, who invited them to record a session for his BBC 1 show in October 1980. The songs from this session sounded very natural, fresh, sharp and good enough to prompt John Peel to help them to sign the contract with major record label Epic.The next three years brought the three successful albums and several singles that reached Top 40 status on the UK Singles Chart, but Altered Images were losing gradually their new wave sound and image, becoming just before their split up in 1984 a mere disco band.