Twins. Ty Segall

You can listen to 'Handglams' here.

In 2012 I had already heard two albums by Ty Segall, one with Band, one with White Fence. Both I didn't get around to review. Recently I heard Twins for the first time and I was thinking song after song: who is this? A Jesus and Mary Chain record I hadn't heard before? No, it was Twins by Ty Segall.

Segall is a 25 year old Californian, who already has a prolific list of recordings and musical activities to his name that some artists take a whole lifetime to achieve. It seems like that what is on hand is recorded and released. Three albums in one year is not unheard of, but surely exceptional.

Twins is Segall's latest release and walks a fine line between rock, psychedelia, garage rock, punk(rock) and hard-edged classic rock. Distorted, fuzzy guitars are at the fore of this album and determine the sound and pace. In this he's not afraid of creating contradictions within the context of a song. 'The hill' has this angelic female singing, by Brigid Dawson, and a ripped up, ragged guitar (solo), that shouldn't go together, but do so effortlessly. Somewhere in the noisy surroundings is always a melody to follow, in other words: songs. Songs that may be all shook up, but songs none the less.

Influences seem abundant. From The Kingsmen, to Iggy & The Stooges featuring James Williamson, David Bowie, to late 70s punk, Nirvana and The Beatles. Everything that distorts a guitar in a major way, without letting go of the basis of music. What makes the album better, is the variation in the tempo of songs.The simple arrangements (i.e. loud played music) could create a certain uniformity and are a danger to the record's overall feel. This is taken away by the mention variation. What I also noticed early in, is that I like the album a lot better played over the stereo than on the head phones. This is not always the case.

Another influence that sticks out is the combination of The Velvet Underground & Nico with The Velvet Underground records. Barring the total madness of 'European son' and 'The murder mystery' Twins is an almost perfect fit and could have been made by the 60s cult heroes in their anonymous heyday. Some proof that the influence of the early Lou Reed and, partially, John Cale is still there in 2012, as Twins shoots off in all sorts of directions, just like The VU did.

Having said this, it's time to single out 'Handglams', a song that does sound great on the headset, as it is much more broadly mixed. This slower paced song, really rocks full out, including falsetto vocals by John Dwyer. The almost poppy 'Who are you' represents another extreme of Twins. Sixties garage rock, but the melody could have, believe it or not, been sung by The Supremes. When next an acoustic outing 'Gold on the shore' starts, I'm starting to disbelieve my ears. What's next? Classic? Opera?

In short this album really goes all out in different directions, without losing focus. The overall guitar sound keeps it together in the right places. The distorted, fuzzed guitar sound is the theme of Twins, that Segall hardly strays from, till at the end of the record acoustic guitars take over. Twins may be confusing, but by looking at it as an adventure Twins grows to its intended proportions. An album by an artist that does not want to be stuck in one genre. So what's next, Mr. Segall?

As an afterthought. Listening to Twins again and again, I was also reminded of 'El Camino', The Black Keys' truly breakthrough album. What would happen if Danger Mouse and Ty Segall teamed up? I think a great alternative pop album could be the result, able to shift many numbers. Or would the rough diamond become to polished? Nonetheless and interesting thought.

Wo.

You can order Twins here


or here

The soul sessions, vol. 2. Joss Stone

You can listen to '(For God's sake) Give more power to the people' here.

Ten years ago the world shook on its foundation, it seems, when Joss Stone, 16 years old, debuted on the record market with Volume 1 of the soul sessions. Words were not enough for the predominantly male (probably middle aged) men to raise praise for this album. Almost suspect, I guess. The attention did serve a purpose as the album and Joss Stone were propelled into the charts. She became a star overnight.

What followed were slick albums with her own work that did not have a lot of interest for me personally. I had Vol.1, but it just wasn't really my cup of tea. What I did like was her authentic voice, supple, rough with an edge, more woman than girl. So when LP1 was released in 2011 I was surprised. A change of form that I thought was interesting and listened to regularly. This was followed up with her contributions to Superheavy, the all star band with Jagger, Marley, Stewart and Rahman. Her voice blended superbly with Jagger and Marley.

And in 2012 another album. A revisitation to the concept of her debut album. Classic soul songs in a new version. And people, it swings like crazy. Nothing new under the sun, but vol. 2 almost rocks at certain points as in 'While you're looking for sugar'. The warm organ sound and clear rhythm just takes you away from this grey, wintry morning. This is the main difference with Vol. 1, there's more up-tempo songs. Also Ms. Stone songs more brazen as the woman she now is. To me it's clear she knows what she wants, where ten years ago others knew what she wanted for her.

Vol. 2 allows for some funk, as in 'Play that funky music' guitar sounds, into the mix. Some wah-wah guitar. With 'Teardrop' of the Womacks, she allows a more modern and number 1 hit song to become part of the album. Most other songs I hadn't heard before, as not being a real soul music listener. When the tempo goes down a bit, 'The love we had (stays on my mind)', the music drifts a bit in the Whitney, Mariah direction and becomes less interesting fast. The Pink Floyd like guitar in the intro to 'The high road' makes up for this dip (not to speak of the refrain!). It does make the record more diverse and in that way even a song like 'The love we had ...' works and gets me across to the next one.

It may be said that Vol.2 is nothing else then a retreat to a safe spot in a failing career. Whether it's true or not, this album is a treat of soulful music that fans ought to embrace. If a career is failing here, it's because former fans must have too much wax in their ears. LP1 is a good album, Superheavy a truck load of fun and this album is the icing on the cake as far as Joss Stone goes. The production is superb. Great in sound, clear and forceful. Lush arrangements that occupy my whole brain when listening on the headset and above all else Joss Stone sings in great form here. She lives up to every promise she made in 2003 with Vol. 1. If I were a Joss Stone fan, and I'm not one to be honest here, I would be overjoyed with this album, as I am quite happy with it. Need I say more?

Wo.

You can order The soul sessions, vol. 2 here


or here

The Scene en Van Dik Hout Live

Hollands Glorie

The Scene, Paard, 7 december

Van Dik Hout, Tivoli, 30 december

December, Hollands gloriemaand. De ene band al sinds 1979 actief, de ander sinds 1989. Beiden nog helemaal goed.

The Scene. Photo HareD

The Scene was ik eigenlijk uit het oog verloren, tot ik er afgelopen najaar in een cd-winkel achterkwam dat zij een nieuwe plaat hadden gemaakt, getiteld ‘Code’. Kort daarna zag ik de aankondiging voor hun concert in het Paard. In mijn herinnering was The Scene een grote Nederlandse band, in de categorie De Dijk, Tröckener Kecks of Van Dik Hout. Ik vond het dus opvallend dat ze in de kleine zaal van het Paard stonden geprogrammeerd, terwijl ze eerder op Parkpop en Torhout Werchter speelden. Maar het concert was niet uitverkocht, dus The Lau en zijn vrienden hebben klaarblijkelijk danig aan populariteit ingeboet.

Hoe onterecht. ‘Code’ is namelijk een top-cd. De eerste drie nummers ‘echt’, ‘overal’ en ‘water en vuur’ doen niets onder aan het werk van bijvoorbeeld de topplaten uit de jaren negentig ‘Blauw’ en ‘Open’. Maar ook de andere nummers zijn goed.  De hele plaat is instrumentaal sober en strak, met de immer poëtische teksten en het raspende stemgeluid van Lau.  Bassiste Emilie Blom van Assendelft zingt meer mee dan vroeger het geval was, ook live, maar de eerlijkheid gebiedt te zeggen dat dit niet direct een grote stap vooruit is. Ook The Scene onttrekt zich niet aan de trend om Nederlandse rappers mee te laten doen, dus is Lange Frans te horen op het nummer ‘Stip’. Best aardig overigens.

Het concert was ook een groot feest. Het voordeel van zo’n klein zaaltje is natuurlijk de intieme sfeer en de nabijheid van de band, waarbij het publiek logischerwijs vooral uit diehard-fans bestond die het werk van de band goed kenden. Niet vergeten moet worden dat het ook prima muzikanten zijn, dus hier werd puik vakwerk afgeleverd. Het was een mooie mix van oud en nieuw. Opvallend was de pauze. In de woorden van The Lau: ‘jullie denken toch niet dat ik op mijn leeftijd [hij is inmiddels 60 – HareD] nog een heel concert achter elkaar kan spelen’? Voordat zij met pauze gingen, werd het publiek gevraagd om verzoeknummers uit het eigen oeuvre, die ook prompt werden gespeeld. Grappig was ook de afsluiting, traditiegetrouw met de hit ‘Iedereen is van de Wereld’. Lau kondigde van tevoren namelijk droogjes aan dat ze nu aan het laatste nummer toe waren gekomen. Omwille van de tijdsbesparing zouden ze niet eerst van het podium aflopen en het publiek om de toegift laten vragen, maar het direct beginnen te spelen. Aldus geschiedde!

Van Dik Hout. Photo HareD

Die zorg deelden de jongens van Van Dik Hout duidelijk niet, want zij liepen wel vier keer het podium op en af. Hun traditionele eindejaarsconcert was om verder niet opgehelderde reden deze keer in Tivoli in plaats van Paradiso. Dat mocht de pret zeker niet drukken. Ook voor hen geldt dat zij bij het grote publiek wellicht wat uit beeld zijn geraakt na de grote successen in de jaren negentig, maar dat zij nog steeds veel optreden en ook de laatste jaren prachtige cd’s hebben gemaakt. De meest recente is het mooie,intense en ingetogen Leef! (uit 2011), dat aanstaande maart ook tijdens een theatertour centraal staat. Zanger Martin Buitenhuis kondigde aan dat de band ook bezig is met nieuwe nummers. Het ruim twee uur durende concert was een feest van bekende en minder bekende liedjes, dat vooral uptempo en stevig werd gespeeld. Zoals een van mijn medeconcertgangers het zei: ‘het is grappig en onverwacht om te zien hoeveel power er uit dat tengere mannetje komt’! Een prachtige muzikale afsluiting van 2012.

HareD

Top 10 shows of 2012

The WoNo Magazine logo by Tineke G.

In 2012 I've been to shows from arena size to a one person with a guitar on a small podium show, but most were in the so called Dutch "club circuit". All of them were fun to be at, but these ten stood out for me. To keep up the suspense I'm presenting this top 10 bottom - up.

I made this list the week before Christmas knowing full well that I had one show to go: The Kik in Het Paard van Troje. The Kik rocked really hard and deserves to be in this list. So I'm cheating and doing an ex-aequo here as you will see.

10. The Shakedown 8, Q-Bus Leiden
Supporting Melbourne based The Resignators, The Shakedown 8 laid down an almost perfect show, building the atmosphere up step by step towards a great climax. As I wrote then: "The Shakedown 8 is a Dutch band with one foot cemented so firmly into ska, that it allows them to explore almost everything else, as long as the backbeat is within hearing distance". This sentence really says it all.

9. Blaudzun, Patronaat Haarlem
Looking back I remember this solemn performance, almost churchlike in its seriousness. The songs from breakthrough album 'Heavy flowers' totally shone through, with band members switching instruments all the time to emulate the richness of sounds. Great show. Blaudzun deserves to be heard beyond Dutch borders.

8. Girlyman, Q-Bus Leiden
What a wonder of singing, melody and harmony! Girlyman gave its all and was presented near devotion in return by the audience. A great surprise and treasure to remember.

7. Zita Swoon Group, Patronaat Haarlem
The Belgian - African mix of Zita Swoon Group worked wonderfully well. The almost mathematical rhythms Antwerp based Zita Swoon produces blended the African vibes to a potent danceable mix of jubilation.

6. The Walkabouts, Paradiso Amsterdam
Circa six years after The Walkabouts' last show on Dutch soil, the band returned in glorious form. The new material of the album 'Travels in the dustland' blended in a perfect way with older songs. The audience was caressed softly and rocked hard at the Paradiso as the band showed it's Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jackell sides in a superb and convincing way.

5. The Fudge, Het Paard van Troje Den Haag
Uncanny how well the stops and starts, the intricate rhythms and complex breaks of 'Morning comes again' were reproduced by this young band for far too less people. Perhaps the comparison to System of a Down is justified, at the same time The Fudge knows how to bring in all the right pop elements into its wall of sound.

4.b Tim Christensen and the Damn Crystals, Het Paard van Troje Den Haag
And again another great show by Danish Tim Christensen and band. This man deserves world fame, his songs are fantastic and the live presentation is meticulous. Need I say more! It looks like I have to, but in the mean time I can still see him play from very up close. In February he's in The Netherlands again. Don't miss out!

4.a The Kik, Het Paard van Troje
This was so much fun and so good. The beat music set to Dutch lyrics works wonders. They are easy to sing along with and played very well. So many fun 60s details in the singing and playing that The Kik is a feast of recognition while totally new.

3. Larry and his Flask (first show), Q-Bus Leiden
What a surprise, what fun and what good music! Larry and his Flask came and swept the Q-Bus off its feet in a surge of energy, enthusiasm, punky attitude and awe. Where usually middle aged people sit admiring the music produced on stage, now a mosh pit of jumping kids was created in front of the stage.

2. The Resignators, Q-Bus Leiden
A night of perfect ska. This Australian band was so uncannily tight, 100% professionalism and at the same time very, very good and totally alive. Horns, guitars, organ and a great rhythm section that packed everything together. Surprise shows sometimes are the best.

1. Paul McCartney, Ahoy Rotterdam

Photo, Wo.

Photo, Wo.

An evening in which everything in my life blended together. Early youth, discovering my own music as a teenager and fond memories of people who I've listened to his music with through all these years. At 69 McCartney is still at the top of his game and gave a perfect greatest hits show, which basically touched upon a lot of who and what I am. So easily the best show of 2012 in many ways.

Wo.

2012 top 10 albums

Always a very hard task, putting stripes through albums that I like, enjoyed, even truly like, to come up with a top 10 of the year. At the moment I'm starting this intro, I still have six albums to ditch. It would even have been harder if these four albums, that I've discovered this year, hadn't been released in 2011. All four I've played a lot in 2012. The 'Mannequins' EP by Monster Cat, the Singapore band that I've sadly missed as they played one Dutch show early autumn, where I really could not go to. 'Violeta, Violeta, vol. 2' by Kaizers Orchestra, a true rival for topping 'Maestro' as its best album. 'When the dust settles' by The Parlor Soldiers, this true roots album of great beauty and singer-songwriter Stephanie Fagan's 'Heart thief', that I like so much. All these albums do not qualify for this top 10, but I truly enjoyed playing them this year.

2012 Is not an outstanding year. I haven't heard a 'Dark side of the moon' or 'Searching for the young soul rebels', but perhaps that is unattainable at my age. But then, no 'Suck it and see' either. Having said that, there were some albums that really stood out. Most albums have been reviewed on the blog. If you like to read the review (again) links are provided. If something stands out it's that four different acts from Holland have found their way into my end of year list. A record, I'm sure. With the UK represented in the same way and two US acts.

The song of the year goes to 'Chevy thunder'. So much fun and Spector's album 'Enjoy it while it lasts', only barely did not make this top 10. The same goes for 'Violeta, violeta, vol. 3' by Kaizers Orchestra which will be reviewed on the blog soon. And then there is Jake Bugg. This cd really deserves a spot in this list, but I do not know which one to kick out. If any, then it has to be 'Flying Colors' as symfo is not really my music, but the album really deserves this spot. So I decided to cheat as you'll find out, by putting something old and something very new together in one spot.

Lets take a look at them from 10 to 1.

10. Coexist. The xx
"Quiet desperation is the English way" is a line that popped into my mind starting this mini review of Coexist. The dark, brooding album is majestic in its silences, in the music which isn't there, but perhaps could have been. The xx are on a plain of its own. I am truly curious where this album will lead the band to.

9. 10. Case Mayfield
This album was a surprise to me, as I didn't really like Mayfield's first album of 2012. 10 I like all the more. It has a great combination of more up-tempo songs and ballads, louder numbers and small songs, bare to the core. But all are of a high quality that makes 10 stand out.

8. Flying Colors. Flying Colors
A symfo album in my 2012 list? Yes, I've played this album an awful lot in 2012, so it deserves a spot in this list. From opener 'Blue ocean' all the way to the end, pleasant things are happening on this album, where some veterans of the symfo and hard rock scene are playing together with obvious fun. Fun that struck a cord with me. So yes, symfo in my 2012 year list.

7. Heart in a mason jar. Alex Culbreth & the Dead Country Singers
Alex Culbreth had already taken me in with The Parlor Soldiers this year. In the final weeks of 2012 he packed me in again with Heart in a mason jar. This fine roots rock/country (rock) album, is of the finest quality, without any extras. What you hear is what you get. The album is recorded, not produced in other words. Mr. Culbreth has a fan. Looking forward to hear him play over here in 2013?

6. Heavy flowers. Blaudzun
A big surprise for this year was Heavy flowers by Johannes Sigmond, better know these days as Blaudzun. This fine, complex and multi-layered album just grew and grew for me all through 2012 and ends up on my year list. Varied, serious and playful, bordering on classical music in a serious pop way. Just all good.

5.b Jake Bugg. Jake Bugg
A new star on the horizon. Confident as Alex Turner,  as real as the young Bob and drinking and smoking like there is no tomorrow. Jake Bugg gives his all at 18 to us and that is a lot. From tearjerkers, to fired up blues rock in the best 'Subterranean homesick blues' tradition, Jake Bugg has it all down.

5.a Sunken condos. Donald Fagen
Something new, something old. A great new album by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen. This bluesy, jazzy album shows all that he is capable of when in his best form. At the basis simple songs -or so they seem- are played in intricate layered arrangements which make Sunken condos so much fun to listen to. A gem of an album.

4. Springlevend. The Kik
60s pop played and recorded with somewhat more modern gear. This follow up to Rotterdam's garage rockers The Madd, are one tat more commercial and got a lot of people singing 'Simone' in 2012. Springlevend ('Alive') is filled to the brim with heart rendering, fun and playful pop songs that just beg to be sang along to.

3. I, II, III. Sunday Sun
This new Dutch band delivered three EPs in just a few weeks, that each hold great songs of various influences and great pop. The harmonies are meticulous, inventive and delivered with great pride and joy. Sunday Sun deserves to be heard by a large audience.

2. Django Django. Django Django
The album that surprised me most in 2012. Django Django manages to deliver weird rhythms, song structures, cut ups and still come up with strong melodic songs that latched themselves under my skull. Serious and fun at the same time and full of aural candy.

1. In time to voices. Blood Red Shoes
When all was said and done, this album came out on top. Laura-Mary Carter and Steven Ansell have found their strut and blend their music and singing really well. Some songs went through me like a knife through butter. It's punky, there's attitude and energy galore and some really good melodies to match all that. There's a certain longing in Laura-Mary's voice that keeps me listening to her. Simply the best album of 2012, by far.

Wo.