LA PIVELINA ***

A charming little film about a two-year-old girl found by a circus worker living on the outskirts of Rome. An unpretentious & moving portrait of life in the margins of society.



GIGANTE **

An Uruguayan comedy about a supermarket security guard who becomes obsessed with a late-shift floor cleaner. The film won the grand jury award at the Berlinale along with the first feature film and the Alfred Bauer Prize. A well-made and engaging film although I really don’t understand what all the fuss is about.



BORDER **

A wordless poetic docu-drama that follows life on an Armenian farm through the eyes of a buffalo. The fast editing is a distinct contrast to the slow storyline, but makes the movie digestible.

Into the Heart of Darkness

Yesterday I read an incredible newspaper article about a Belgian journalist who paddled with a kayak through the heart of darkness of Belgium’s former colony the Congo. Afterwards, I checked the website mentioned at the bottom of the article and it turns out that this heroic man has his own website where you can find pictures and a complete account (in Dutch, French and English!) of his savage travels. What a man!


"I bought the animal and set it free"

Music/Sangam - DON CHERRY & LATIF KHAN

If I would be on Twitter, I think I would now post a message telling that – at the moment - I am intensely enjoying this magnificent reissue.



AWESOME IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT! (and I haven't even touched a Trappist beer right now)

Sublime Frequencies label night (Hasselt - June 6th 2009)

I recently went to the SUBLIME FREQUENCIES label night at Kunstencentrum België in Hasselt. Sublime Frequencies is a world music record label based in Seattle and headed by Alan Bishop from THE SUN CITY GIRLS and Hisham Mayet. I was never impressed by THE SUN CITY GIRLS’ music although I had their 2 so-called masterpieces in my record collection at the time: ‘Torch of the Mystics’ from 1990 and ‘330,003 Cross dressers From Beyond the Big Veda’ from 1996. I found the music vague and pretentious, made by a bunch of charlatans who make weird music just for the sake of being weird. A few years ago, I sold both out-of-press albums at a great price on eBay and bought me another bunch of Nonesuch Explorer CD’s with the money.

As a world music aficionado, I really felt I had to check out the SUBLIME FREQUENCIES releases though and although I like some of the labels output, I also found some real stinkers in the catalogue. ’I Remember Syria’ and ‘Radio India’ for example feature a mish-mash of random music culled from Syrian/Indian radio, with the radio being fine-tuned all the time and endless audio distortion throughout the songs. To make things worse, many songs are brutally shortcut in the middle and the lack of any licensing info really reeks of exotica exploitation.

But as I just mentioned, there are also a bunch of worthwhile collections in the SF catalogue: the ‘Cambodian Cassette Archives: Khmer Folk & Pop Music Vol.1’, ‘Molam: Thai Country Groove From Isan’, ‘Choubi Choubi! Folk and Pop Sounds from Iraq’ and ‘Ethnic Minority Music of North Vietnam’ are all good to great compilations of genuine modern or traditional music from out there.

Last year, I bought the OMAR SOULEYMAN compilation ‘Highway to Hassake’ and I was immediately intoxicated by the 2 slow & mesmerizing laments on the compilation. I also like some of the GROUP DOUEH recordings so when I read about an upcoming Sublime Frequencies label night with OMAR SOULEYMAN and GROUP DOUEH, I absolutely didn’t want to miss the opportunity to witness myself what Sublime Frequencies is all about.

The evening took off with the screening of ‘Palace of the Winds’, a 52 minutes documentary by Hisham Mayet focusing on the music of the Saharawis from Southern Morocco and Mauritania. The film consisted mainly of raw & intense live performances by Group Doueh, Group Marwani, Sadoum Oueld Aida and Group Bab Sahara and these home-recordings were interwoven with lo-fi images of desert villages and its inhabitants. Unfortunately and in real Sublime Frequencies style, Mayet doesn’t give the viewer any information which I found rather frustrating as I was wondering at times in what country the images were taken (Morocco or Mauritania?) and on what kind of occasions the bands were playing. Again, it looked like the Sublime Frequencies people are more interested in weird & outsider culture than in the awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others (dixit Smithsonian Folkways). Still, I bought myself a copy of the DVD because I still liked the film and think it’s an interesting addition to my Saharawis 3CD box set on Nubenegra.

As soon as ‘Palace of the Winds’ was over, GROUP DOUEH took the stage and treat us to some great desert music. Although the keyboard sounded very cheesy, both the guitar playing and the male and female lead singers were excellent. The music reminded me of Dimi Mint Abba with its hypnotic and trance-like feeling. Great!

Next was a documentary shot on the Jemnaa El Fna square in Marrakesh ('Musical Brotherhoods of the Trans-Saharan Highway'). Last year, I visited the square myself but in the documentary, it looked like the images were shot somewhere else. Firstly, you didn’t see any tourists in the film (and there are a lot) and the musicians were much more interesting in the film than those I had witnessed myself on the square. Still, a nice way to feel some of the square’s vibrancy!

In the middle of the documentary, I had to rush away because OMAR SOULEYMAN had taken the stage. Although the audience loved every note, I wasn’t really impressed by Souleyman’s Syrian disco with techno beats. I found the virtuosi electric saz player of more interest than Souleyman himself who reminded me sometimes of the Syrian equivalent of Eddie Wally. After three quarter of an hour, the band suddenly switched to a slow hypnotic song but as the audience had come to party, the song was abandoned after a mere 2 minutes and the band continued with their ruthless party beats.

At the end of the night, Bishop and Mayet did some DJ-ing (no vinyl, just cd’s and cd-roms) and screened some amusing film footage from all over the world. As I was looking at the screen above the stage, I saw a photographer asking Bishop and Mayet if he could take their picture while DJ-ing. They agreed but all of a sudden, when the picture was taken, Bishop and Mayet raised their right arm to give the Hitler-salutation. I know the swastika has been known in India for over 5,000 years but I don’t think the Nazi-salutation has an ancient tradition. Oh well, charlatans - right?

Desperado - THE POOH STICKS

If push comes to shove, “Desperado” by THE POOH STICKS might be my all-time favorite power-pop song! It’s catchy as hell, it’s pretty wild & each time I hear it again, it makes me very happy. A real hidden gem, forgotten by anyone but me, my wife & Michael Kastelic. That’s right, the singer of THE CYNICS almost kissed me on the cheek when I played “Desperado” before the band went on stage in my hometown some 15 years ago (gee, I’m getting old!!!). In an ideal world, “Desperado” is the kind of tune you would hear blasting out of convertible sports cars!

Desperado - THE POOH STICKS mp3

"Desperado" is the fifth track from 'The Great White Wonder', the second POOH STICKS album from 1991, released on Cheree Records in the UK.

THE UPSETTERS: Unsung Heroes of Rock & Roll !!!

The Upsetters are one of my favourite R&B outfits. Unfortunately, their music is very hard to find. Here’s some information from the liner notes of a 1984 Charly Records compilation called “The Upsetters: The New Orleans Connection”, written by the late great Ray Topping:

Around October 1957, Little Richard gave up rock ‘n’ roll for the church and his retirement left his backing band, the Upsetters out on a limb. They had many advance bookings and engagements to fulfil and set about looking for a replacement. In Chicago they met Dee Clark, a versatile vocalist who had previously sung in several vocal quartets. Billed as Little Richard, Clark set off with the Upsetters to complete a mid western tour. On their return the Upsetters signed with Vee Jay and accompanied Clark on “Oh Little Girl” and “Wondering” – (Falcon 1009, see CRB 1010). On the same date, January 17th 1958, the Upsetters cut two great instrumentals “The Strip” and “Upsetter” (Falcon 1010) and their saxophonist, Wilbert Smith (who also doubled on piano) sang on “Hatti Malatti” and “Mama Loochie” (Vee Jay 272). Smith who used the stage name of Lee Diamond on these sides, came from New Orleans and had previously played with the bands of Roy Brown and James Brown, he also co-wrote “Slippin’ and Slidin’” and introduced Little Richard to his revised version; Eddie Bo had first recorded it for Apollo. “Hatti Malatti” became a regional break out in many Southern markets, and the flip “Mama Loochie” was a feature of DeeJay ‘Hound Dog’ Lorenz memory tune show for many years.

The nucleus of the Upsetters started life as various parts of the Pluma Davis and Gatemouth Brown bands. In Houston around 1955 where they accompanied Big Walter Price on his famous Peacock recordings of “Pack Fair And Square”. Grady Gaines, who later became their leader, also accompanied David Dean and Earl Forrest on a number of Duke and Peacock recordings. Grady Gaines’ brother Roy Gaines was starting to make his name as a leading session guitarist in Houston about this time. Roy went off to lead Chuck Willis’ band while Grady went on the road with the Upsetters backing Little Richard. Grady played lead Tenor Sax and wrote charts. Other members of the Upsetters included Clifford Burks (tenor sax), Larry Lennear (Barritone sax), Wilbert Smith (Piano and tenor sax), Nathaniel Douglas (guitar), Osie Robinson (bass), and Emile Russell (drums). Russel replaced the original drummer Charles Conner.

The Upsetters second session for Vee Jay later in 1958 produced 4 more sides: “Upsetter Rock”, “Baldhead Baby”, “Wake Up” and “Girl in Every City”. These sides remained unissued until now. “Upsetter Rock” and “Wake Up” are powerhouse instrumentals featuring the guitar of Nathaniel Douglas and the latter bears an uncanny resemblance to the Athmosphere’s “Fiddle Chicken”. If you listen closely to the end of “Upsetter Rock”, you hear somebody shout “Oh My Soul”. Is this Little Richard or could it be Lee Diamond doing a good impression?

The Upsetters returned for a third session in 1959 but unfortunately the tapes have been lost. In the early sixties Lee Diamond returned to New Orleans where he recorded for Minit, Lola and Bourbon Street, and wrote “Tell It Like It Is” for Aaron Neville with George Davis. He was last heard playing in Joe Jones’ band when they came to New York in 1965.

The Upsetters continued to record and a slew of singles appeared on many labels including Gee, Fire, Palm and H.B. Barnum’s label Little Star, where they re-united with their old buddy Little Richard who sang (uncredited) on “I’m In Love Again”, “Everynight About This Time” and “Valley Of Tears”.

In 2003, a bootleg cd with 27 Upsetters songs appeared on La Cienega Records (Made in Spain). Roots & Rhythm may still have a few copies for sale so don't hesitate because The Upsetters were surely one of the most exciting rock ‘n’ roll bands of the 50’s! Here are 5 classic Upsetters tracks for you to enjoy:

The Strip – THE UPSETTERS mp3
Upsetter – THE UPSETTERS mp3
Hatti Malatti – LEE DIAMOND AND THE UPSETTERS mp3
Mama Loochie – LEE DIAMOND mp3
Upsetter Rock – THE UPSETTERS mp3

15 GEMS

Here are the 15 films that made the biggest impression on me so far in 2009 (minus STELLA which I reviewed earlier):

LA FRONTIERE DE L’AUBE

Philippe Garrel proves once again that he is one of cinema’s greatest poets today with this beautiful and contemplative film exploring the destructive power of love. The spectacular black and white photography is a work of art by itself and the performances are impeccable. An intelligent movie that stays in your mind and haunts you like a ghost.


24 CITY

A masterly combination of fact and fiction by today’s leading Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhang-ke, co-written with the poet Zhai Yongming. Another tour-de-force that portrays China’s modern history and turns it into poetry.


THE CHASER

A hyperventilating South-Korean action-packed crime thriller that will please lovers of Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Memories of Murder & The Host. See the original South Korean box office hit before it is watered down by a planned Warner Bros. remake.


STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

What more can I add to this review of a superbly directed film about the day-to-day lives of four disconnected young women living and working in the metropolis of Tokyo. Released in 2006 and thanks to the Cinema Novo Film Festival finally to be enjoyed on the big screen in Belgium last March. A highly refined and subdued drama that I can’t praise enough.


MILK

Not the Gus Van Sant homage to Harvey Milk but the second film of Semih Kaplanoglu’s trilogy Egg-Milk-Honey, in which the Turkish director sketches long, tranquil tableaux of rural life. This allegoric quest for the meaning of existence, family, adulthood and the challenges imposed by tradition is cinema pur sang.


FOUR NIGHTS WITH ANNA

Four Nights with Anna is the first film in 17 years from the great Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski and it is a real triumph: a grim movie reminiscent of Béla Tarr and Krzysztof Kieslowski. The fact that these kind of gloomy, sinister Eastern-European films are still being made today made my trip to Rotterdam all the more worthwhile!


THE SOUND OF INSECTS - RECORD OF A MUMMY THE SOUND OF INSECTS

A rather experimental movie about a man aged forty who starves himself in a remote forest and writes about his observations in a diary. The film ignores all kinds of feature-film conventions and mixes precise observations of the surrounding nature, vague memories, dream sequences & flashbacks. A real piece of cinema art that never ceases to amaze you.


INLAND

After ROME RATHER THAN YOU, Teguia has made another remarkable film in which he links two important causes of alienation: the influence of terror on local populations and the migration of men without prospects. With a length of 138 minutes and a minimalist approach to plot and dialogue, I am afraid it’s only for the die-hard cinephile. Great soundtrack with music by Ina Djakou, Christian Fennesz, Cheikha Djenia, Fela Kuti, Sonic Youth, Terry Riley & Bismillah Khan.


THREE MONKEYS

A Turkish film noir by one of my favorite contemporary directors. Intense performances and mesmerizing cinematography: awesome movie!


LEONERA

Sometimes when leaving a theatre, you expect a film to become a huge hit but most of the time, it doesn’t. Leonera is a typical example but don’t ask me why because Pablo Trapero’s latest is an engrossing drama about a pregnant women who gets imprisoned for manslaughter. The almost documentary-style, realistic approach makes the movie powerful & emotional. Rent it on DVD and prove me wrong!


LA MAISON JAUNE

A charming Moroccan countryside film that I finally got a chance to see on the big screen. An honest little gem of a film, simple but accurate.


OCEAN FLAME

An arty and erotic Hong-Kong drama about self-destruction. Although criticism like this might be justified, the movie is never boring or arty-farty.


PAPER SOLDIER

This Russian film set in the early 1960s and featuring an emotionally vulnerable doctor working with the first team of Soviet cosmonauts confirms that Russian cinema is reappearing on the world cultural map. Some scenes reminded me a lot of the great master of Russian cinema Andrej Tarkovsky. Another great new Russian film seen in Rotterdam was Alexei Balabov’s MORPHIA.


LA MUJER SIN CABEZA

This fascinating tale about a women who loses her memory due to a car accident poses more questions than it delivers answers so for many, it might be a very frustrating film to watch. I enjoyed it a lot because I became fascinated by the way Lucrecia Martel plays with reality and imagination.


FILM IST. A GIRL & A GUN

The result of the exploration of dozens of film archives looking for exciting and challenging old images. A visual feast of exciting images and fascinating music by Bohren & Der Club Of Gore.



In 2009 I also liked and recommend Songs from the Southern Seas, El Regalo de la Pachamama, Firaaq, Vacation, Katanga Business, Treeless Mountain, A Festa de Menina Morta, All Around Us, Funuke Show Some Love, Parque Via, Z32, Puisque Nous Sommes Nés, La Vida Loca, Serbis, Izulu Lami, Liverpool, Tokyo Sonata, Before The Burial, Survival Song, Khiam 2000-2007, The Wrestler, Il Divo, Teza and Los Abrazos Rotos.

But then again, it’s all very personal. For example, every critic hails Kore-eda’s STILL WALKING at the moment but I found the movie rather tame and boring. Still, I do believe that some readers might share my passion for the 15 above mentioned films.

Two killer shows last week!

Firstly, BRUTAL KNIGHTS turned the Pit’s once again into an incredible moshpit with people & beers constantly flying through the air & great tunes being played at a devastating tempo. Add a very entertaining singer/stand-up comedian & a cool club vibe and you get what I call the ultimate gig. Oh what a night!


Two days later, I went to see KING PLEASURE & THE BISCUIT BOYS in my hometown and I wish I had brought my camera along because the band was a real treat for the eye with their blue tuxedos & cool instruments (standup bass, saxophones, piano, etc.). The music was absolutely killer: pure 50’s swing the way it is meant to be played: rocking’ & rolling! The band played a bunch of awesome covers like The Champs’ “Tequila” & Louis Prima’s “Oh Marie”. Thumbs up too for the opening band TIPITINA whose line-up existed of the piano player and drummer of The Biscuit Boys and a charming retro lady who had a great voice and lifted the fine covers by Dr. John, Nina Simone & Ray Charles to new heights. Unfortunately, the show was criminally under attended which, on the other hand, resulted in a lot of space on the dance floor. Something you definitely need when King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys are in the house!

Goner Records

Here's a brilliant quote by the still much missed JOHN PEEL from an interview with David B. Livingstone, published in Your Flesh #29 (1994).

“I think it’s a pity that audiences have become so sectarian in their tastes, where if you like one form of music you’re pretty much excluded from liking another. There is so much outstanding stuff to be heard. If you’ve never heard any of the great Zairian guitar players like Diblo Dibala… I could give you a long list of names. These are names that you should have tattooed on your forehead, really, because they are magical men. They can do things with guitars that you can’t believe; not just vulgar displays of technique, but their ability to play on your emotions is stunning. And if you cut yourself off from it, thinking “Oh, I don’t like that sort of thing”, you do yourself a grotesque disservice. For me, the important thing with our children and anyone that I talk to really is that you ought to keep your range of options, of choices, open, because people can’t wait to shut ‘em down, you know? People want to be able to define themselves in a series of absolutes, you know, and a lot of people by the time they’re eighteen are virtually dead, as far as I’m concerned, because they’ve decided, “This is who I am, this is what my attitude to this is, what I watch, what I eat, what I listen to, who I talk to”. And that seems to me to be really, literally terrifying, because it does you untold damage, and makes you very vulnerable to the influence of demagogues.”

To the memory of John: Muungano - ORCHESTRA MAKASSY mp3

RED MASS

Here’s the link to an amazing studio session by RED MASS, the band that was born out of the ashes of the CPC GANGBANGS; one of the best garage punk bands of the 21st century. RED MASS has released a couple of 7-inches and a 10-inch and I hope they will release their debut album very soon. In the meantime, let’s enjoy this wonderful session. If there’s any justice left in this cruel world, RED MASS should become HUGE!

Fire Music

Last year's "Beyond Quantum" album by Anthony Braxton/Milford Graves/William Parker (Tzadik, 2008) is one of the most exciting contemporary free jazz albums I have heard in a long time. All five tracks are freely improvised and impeccably produced by Bill Laswell. A real tour-de-force by a brilliant trio and an absolutely essential release!

Years ago, Grand Royale magazine published Thurston Moore's personnal top ten free jazz albums. In case you still haven't see that list, here it is once again:

1. DAVE BURRELL - Echo (BYG 529.320/Actuel Volume 20)

2. MILFORD GRAVES & DON PULLEN - Nommo (S.R.P. LP-290)

3. ARTHUR DOYLE Plus 4 - Alabama Feeling (AK-BA AK-1030)

4. SONNY MURRAY - Sonny's Time Now (Jihad 663)

5. THE RIC COLBECK QUARTET - The Sun Is Coming Up (Fontana 6383 001)

6. JOHN TCHICAI AND CADENTIA NOVA DANICA - Afrodisiaca (MPS CRM711)

7. RASHIED ALI and FRANK LOWE - Duo Exchange (Survival SR101)

8. THE PETER BROTZMANN SEXTET/QUARTET - Nipples (Calig - CAL30604)

9. THE MARZETTE WATTS ENSEMBLE - (Savoy MG-12193)

10. MARION BROWN - In Sommerhausen (Calig 30 605)
BLACK ARTISTS GROUP - In Paris, Aries 1973 (BAG 324 000)
FRANK WRIGHT QUARTET - Uhuru Na Umoja (America 30 AM 6104)/
DR. UMEZU-SEIKATSU KOJYO IINKAI - (SKI NO. 1)
CECIL TAYLOR - Indent, part 2 (Unit Core 30555)

Most of these albums have been reissued on CD on different labels. You can find more info about the original albums here.

What a better way to revive this blog by sharing my new compilation with you? Download it here, burn it on a CD-ROM and enjoy some great tunes!



1. Oh How She Dances – TAV FALCO PANTHER BURNS
(Midnight In Memphis - Triple X Records CD 1992)

2. A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall – THE STAPLE SINGERS
(The Ultimate Staple Singers: A Family Affair 1955-1984 - Ace Records 2CD 2004)

3. Skinny White Girl – TRAILER BRIDE
(Hope is a thing with Feathers - Bloodshot Records CD 2003)

4. Blue Yodel #2 (My Lovin’ Gal Lucille) – THE RHYTHM WRECKERS
(Roots N'Blues: The Retrospective (1925-1950) - Columbia/Legacy 4CD 1992)

5. Elegua Quiere Tambo – CELIA CRUZ
(100% Alcuzar: The Best of Celia Cruz Con La Sonora Matancera - Rhino Records CD 1997)

6. Helen Fordsdale – MARS
(New York Noise: Dance Music From The New York Underground 1978-1982 - Soul Jazz Records CD 2003)

7. Undertaker – THINKING FELLERS UNION LOCAL 282
(Admonishing the Bishops - Matador Records MCD 1993)

8. Run On For A Long Time – BILL LANDFORD & THE LANDFORDAIRES
(There Will Be No Sweeter Sound: The Columbia Okeh Post War Gospel Story 1947-1962 - Columbia/Legacy 2CD 1998)

9. Es Largo El Camino – ANA Y JAIME
(Es Largo El Camino - Amort002 CD)

10. Slow Day For The Cleaner – GRIFTERS
(the Eureka e.p. - Shangri-La Records CD 1995)

11. Badi’ah Masabni – AL-GHAIRAH NAR AL-GHAIRAH
(Women of Egypt 1924-1931: Pioneers of stardom and fame - Topic Records CD 2006)

12. The Great Valerio – RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON
(I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight - Universal Island Records CD 2004)

13. Roll Over Beethoven – CHARLIE FEATHERS
(Honky Tonk Man + Jungle Fever - New Rose CD)

14. Kimble – LEE PERRY
(The Upsetter: Essential Madness From The Scratch Files - Metro/Union Square Music CD 2000)

15. Leaning On You – THE YO-YO’S
(A History of Garage & Frat Bands In Memphis 1960-1975 - Shangri-La Records CD)

16. The Box – THE GOLDEN BOYS
(Goodbye Country - Monofuss Records CD 2008)

17. Charlie Bill Nelson – LEE HAZLEWOOD
(Strung Out On Something New: The Reprise Recordings - Rhino Handmade 2CD 2007)

18. Mercy On My Soul – EARL GAINES
(24 Hours A Day - Black Magic Records CD 1998)

James Purdy RIP

James Purdy, author of underground classics, dies.

CINEMA NOVO Film Festival

I am at the CINEMA NOVO film festival in Bruges right now and I am really looking forward to the 40 films I selected! Mood = excited!!!

Next week, I also hope to publish a brief account on the films I saw at the recent INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM.

Here's what I've been listening to during the last couple of weeks:

- FLY GIRLS! B-BOYS BEWARE: REVENGE OF THE SUPER FEMALE RAPPERS! (Soul Jazz Records 2x2LP 2009)

- Samora Machel - SHALAWAMBE (Mondeca Records LP 1989)

- Le Meilleur de CHEB KHALED (Blue Silver CD 1991)

- The Legend: India's Best-Loved Singer - LATA MANGESHKAR (Manteca 2CD 2006)

- ROLL YOUR MONEYMAKER: EARLY BLACK ROCK 'N ROLL 1948-1958 (Trikont CD 2009)

- Blues With A Beat - THE GRIFFIN BROTHERS (Acrobat Records CD 2003)

- Alone & Together - CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (Sacred Bones Records LP 2008)

- Shakti - DAVID S. WARE (Aum Fidelity CD 2009)

- The Unreleased Recordings - HANK WILLIAMS (Time Life 3CD 2008)

- ... For the Whole World to See - DEATH (Drag City CD 2009)

- Alight of Night - CRYSTAL STILTS (Slumberland Records CD 2009)

- 200 Million Thousand - BLACK LIPS (Vice Records CD 2009)

- Unbelievable Sounds - SCOTTY (Trojan Records LP 1988)

- Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) - RAY CHARLES (Rhino Records 7CD/DVD 2005)

- Onyina's Guitar Band - KING ONYINA (PAM Records CD 1999)

Here’s one of my alltime favorite jamaican dancehall tracks from the 1980’s. Don’t know much about HORSEMAN but I think he really was a one-hit wonder. Doesn’t matter, because his claim to faim is justified by this killer 12”… Enjoy da ride!!!


Horsemove (Giddi-up) - HORSEMAN (12") mp3

Watch out for more forgotten killer dancehall tunes from the 80s in the near future!

IT'S ALIVE !!!

Last Friday, I drove with a couple of friends just across the border to a place called La Boîte à Musiques (Wattrelot, France). Firstly, STINKY LOU AND THE GOON MAT WITH LORD BENARDO entered the stage and played a very cool, hard-rocking blues set. It was the third time that I witnessed this lively trio on stage and they still remain my current favorite Belgian live act. Juke joint blues like it’s meant to be played: raw & savage! Their debut album on Voodoo Rhythm doesn’t do them justice and I think they should better have released a live album because that’s where the real action is. Like I said before: don’t miss this ultra-exciting live band if you have the opportunity!

****


I had never really cared about BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES but because some people had told me that their recent live show at the 4AD club was absolutely stunning, I certainly wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. The reason why I used to be biased towards BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES is that the band name always reminded me of trendy-ass bands like the BRAND NEW HEAVIES. Mea culpa, because the BRAND NEW HEAVIES - oops, BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES turned out to be the ultimate live band! Imagine 2 guys: one incredibly talented drummer and a maniacal but very soulful singer/organist. They kick off with a hard-stompin’ version of “Nutbush City Limits” and you immediately realize you’re in for something very special! Rock music without guitars?!?? Well, I must admit that the organ sometimes sounded like it hid 5 guitars inside! The two-man band rocked their asses off and fused blues, soul & rock in a very majestic way. Without a doubt one of the most intense shows I’ve seen in recent years so please go check out the band if you have the chance. BRAND NEW H… damnit! BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES RULE!!!

(thanks to Ollie for the pictures)

The Power of Pussy

I think I’ll use the following absolutely gorgeous photograph as my personal desktop background for the rest of my life!

(click to enlarge)

More exciting Viva Van Story retro pictures can be found here.