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Loss & Loneliness. Seb Zukini
Looking back on past posts, I saw that Seb Zukini was first on this blog almost four years ago, together what would become Tramhaus' first 7" single, 'Karen Was A Punk". From that moment onwards the band's lines diverged considerably. Where the Rotterdam band toured around the world a few times, Seb Zukini remained fairly obscure. Listening to Loss & Loneliness the Groningen band certainly deserves more attention. The band's latest song is so full of power. The song has a brilliant build up. The way the bass comes in simply sets the song on fire. That is how to play with dynamics in a song! At the same time this is a different Seb Zukini from before. Frontman Sebastiaan Kusters is surrounded by a new line up, but shines like ever and maybe even a little more. Loss & Loneliness is a very good, 90s influenced rock song.
Usually I don't review singles that are released after the record they are on has been reviewed. To make room for new singles and give them the attention they deserve. There's a special reason, that I do anyway here, besides the fact that an artist making a sympathetic song like Let's Be Loving deserves attention always. It is exactly what this single is. Beth Wimmer has written a warm song about love, "time is precious, so let's be loving now". Beth Wimmer can be as direct as this in her songs, as fans have learned through the past years and this song is no different. Country tinged, thanks to the warm tones of her partner Mike Bischof, the song shows that Beth Wimmer is a singer-songwriter that ought to far better known than she is. This is a great song in its genre. Now, about that good cause. Beth's cat needs a medical treatment and she asks for your support. You can do so here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bethwimmer.
A 7" single by Boston garage rockers Muck and the Mires. Always in fear of becoming a pastiche, the band never does. For that the band takes it music to serious. Even if there's a musical quote hidden somewhere in a song, it is the sound of the band. This single shows two sides of the same coin. Tripping Out On Love represents the rock side of the band. The band rocks like it is the second half of the 60s and sounds like no band could at the time. Little heart shaped pills are all over the video, a nice entendre to another love pill. Let's Kiss And Makeup Tonight shows the other side of a relationship and of Muck and the Mires. This is the more poppy side of the 60s, like 'Glad All Over' was for example. Tough, but pure pop. Muck and the Mires show that it is a band at the top of its game. It always delivers.
Last spring a car stopped in front of our house and from it more instruments, gear and cables were schlept than I ever could imagine one artist to bring with him. After a few hours of putting it all together, a living room show was presented that those present will not easily forget. Arne Leurentop, as the artist behind And They Spoke In Anthems is called in daily life, mesmerised the circa 20 people (and sold many a record afterwards). Recently, he released a mini live album from a benefit show played in 2024. Without the intention to record it. The sound man had any way. You can listen to it for free but are requested to donate to a good cause. This cause closed at the end of last year (I now read), but I'm sure you can think of another good cause. Listening to a recording is not the same as experiencing Arne Leurentop playing up as close as I were lucky to see/hear, but it is definitely second best, because his songs are so beautiful and mesmerising.
'74/75' and Excuse Me are both songs that look back with loads of nostalgia to a time that is long gone. Twenty years for the former, maybe 40 years for the latter. I am not a nostalgic person. Yes, it was fun but it still is today, only different, even doing things I was not able to do, like playing music myself. So, sometimes even better in several ways. Heavenly has reformed and will release an album 'Highway To Heavenly' on 27 February and do an extensive tour. Four original members have come back on board with a new drummer. What I have heard so far, makes me pine for what I may have missed at the time and look forward to what I am about to hear. Excuse Me is a track that is very much alive with a punky attitude and an alternative pop feel. Heavenly compares Excuse Me to the first The Undertones album. I can understand why but have to point out that the age difference is apparent, but that is perfectly okay. Excuse Me is a strong track, with a great beat and feeling for things that came and went. We're all still here and that is something to rejoice for certain.
Made up out of former members of Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum and Social Distortion, it makes it a good guess what the average age of the Ultrabomb members is? It will not be 20, 30 or 40 and most likely not even 50. Whatever the average is exactly, the outcome is an energetic powerpoprock song that lights up these artificial stars the band sings about no little. The band has released a few albums this decennium and will release its new album 'The Bridges That We Burn' in April. Ultrabomb is a trio, Greg Norton, Derek O’Brien and Ryan Smith. You will hear that Smith overdubbed some guitars, but the basis is a powertrio that goes for it in the way powertrios should. Drums and bass are very present and the guitars are everywhere. I always perceive a difference between U.K. and U.S. trios, the latter are somewhat smoother in sound, no matter how much noise they produce. Ultrabomb is no different.
A song named after an artwork by Yoko Ono? Now that is intriguing. I never got further than seeing the outside ad on a museum wall in Frankfurt when driving by in a tram from the train station on route to a project kick off near the old harbour, with no time to have a visit. What I'm listening to is an electronic pop track, that makes me think of 'Are Friends Electric' or 'Cars' by Tubeway Army/Gary Newman. Cut Glass Hammer is only slightly less straitjacketed. The vocals are a little more frivolous or loose, however you prefer to describe it. Memorials, previously members of Electrelane and WIRE, consists of Verity Susman and Matthew Simms and wil release its album ‘All Clouds Bring Not Rain’ on 27 March. It is announced as as a very experimental album, so it must get a lot wilder/weirder than this single. This is gefundenes fressen for lovers of circa 1980 electropop. You are allowed to think The Human League as well.
To think that I, Dutchman, was on the guestlist of Kurt Baker in Tokio in the fall of 2023 by way of Geoff Palmer who than played guitar in Baker's band. Alas, the confirmation never reached me because for some reason I was unable to acces my WoNo account. in Japan. It just wouldn't open, until I got home. I would not have heard this extremely pleasant poprock track, as it didn't exist yet. Undertow Afterglow, besides making me think "undertoad" immediately thanks to 'The World According To Garp', is such a nice song. The positive riffs fly into my ears, not ever wanting to leave again. The vocal melody is totally upbeat. Baker gives me the idea that we are all back in high school pining for our first love, that for some have and for others did not happen. Bittersweet is the right word, were it not that decades later it is taken in as great fun. That is exactly what Undertow Afterglow is. And, mr. Baker, my apologies for not showing up. I would have loved to be there.
A new name to the blog, The Corner Laughers is. Had I been asked to say where the band comes from, I would have said the U.K./England. Wrong, the band is from northern-California. On Rainbow Cardigan it weaves pop with folk and indie. It is totally upbeat from the get go and grabs the listener by way of positive vibes and this positivity shines through for the whole of the musical ride. Although the song has a melancholy side to it, it looks back to a time in the past, it makes the sun come out and puts a pleasant tan on our skin and warms our bones. I had never heard of The Corner Laughers before, but I can assure you more is welcome in the future. Patience until March is called for when 'Concerns Of Wasp and Willow' will be released on Big Stir Records.
Iron & Wine, aka as Sam Bean, is an act that I have passed up on quite often in the past few decades. Bean's music somehow most of the time is just outside of my interest, while his music is quite close to musicians that I do like. Today it's different. In Your Ocean is a positive sounding pop track that appeals to me. Please do not ask why, as it just is. The vocal melody brings U.K. vibes to me, think The Hollies of the 1960s. Iron & Wine has really tapped into a musical vein from long, long ago. With an organ as on 'Marrakesh Express', there is Graham Nash again, and vocals that bring to mind a myriad of bands from long ago. That is more than enough for me to like In Your Ocean, a lot.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
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