And This One Is Different...

There is something incredibly soothing about Tracey Thorn's singular sounding voice. It just seems so effortless but incredibly affecting in so much of the music she has produced over the last 30 odd years. None more so than the lead off track from 2010's  Love And It's Opposites.

Oh, The Divorces somehow manages to be sad, full of apposite observations like "the afternoon handover by the swings" but is also imbued with moments of wry humour that make you ruefully smile. The subject matter may be depressing to some but will resonate with people of a certain age.

She just has one of those sublime voices that makes anything sound beautiful and is a national treasure.

Haven't We All ?

2 minutes and 39 seconds of pop perfection. Quite simply one of the most relatable love lyrics ever written. We've all been there at some time in our lives with a love not reciprocated and Pete Shelley's lyrics sum it up beautifully. Simple words that pretty much everyone can identify with. Pair that with one of the greatest pop tunes ever written and you are onto a winner.

Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone
You shouldn't have fallen in love with...

Yes indeedy Pete !!

Never Forget.

And I can't help but wonder, no Willie McBride,

Do all those who lie here know why they died?

Did you really believe them when they told you "The Cause?"

Did you really believe that this war would end wars?

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame

The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,

For Willie McBride, it all happened again,

And again, and again, and again, and again.

Green Fields Of France

I'll Follow You Down

Whatever you think of Alan McGee he did sign some mighty fine bands to Creation Records. What other label had the likes of The Mary Chain, Primal Scream, The Loft, The Weather Prophets, Sugar, Teenage Fanclub and many more. He knew a good band when he saw one. Okay maybe not always but his musical radar was pretty spot on most of the time.

It is well known that McGee liked to party as much as the bands that he looked after and just like New Order he may not be the best example of how to run a business but he has played a vital role in British music over the last 30 odd years and has a very entertaining book out that documents his time in the music industry starting from setting up The Living room in London when only 16.

Don't Slip Up
I'll Follow You Down

Splash One...Texas Fever

Every Friday night, back in '86/'87, about half a dozen of us then school kids would get the 18 bus, to escape from the drudgery of East Kilbride, to "the big city" and head to 46 West George Street, home to legendary Glasgow club, Daddy Warbucks, clad in our leather breeks, polo necks, winklepickers and obligatory Raybans.

The nights we went to were called Texas Fever. It might have been Splash One presents Texas Fever but that might not be correct. From what I can recall Splash One had gigs from the likes of The Loft and The Mary Chain. I didn't manage to see any of those infamous gigs so maybe it was called Splash One and then became Texas Fever later on when we started going. Hopefully someone out there who used to go might be able to clarify whether it was called Splash One or Texas Fever at that time. If I had known them how legendary those nights would later be I would have perhaps paid more attention.

It really was a huge musical education for all of us in the days when you had to search for music that was not on the radio. It opened my eyes to the likes of The Stooges, The Velvets, The Byrds and many more bands that have shaped my tastes since.