FIFTY3FRIDAYS: KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Getting on for 12 years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a showcase for four disparate acts from the Bella Union stable at the acoustically blessed sanctum of London’s Union Chapel. Memories of that evening came to mind when I read about the independent label’s latest signing. The common link is family; the artists that evening were fulsome in their appreciation of Bella Union and each time the record label was name-checked there was warm audience applause too. It felt l
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FIFTY3FRIDAYS: SECOND ALBUM SYNDROME UNDONE
Whither second album syndrome, that curious music industry phenomenon whereby artists struggle to replicate a debut album’s acclaim with an all too often rushed follow-up? Or writers who manage to squeeze both whither and whereby in the same sentence, you may ask? The good news is that Staffordshire-based duo Sonnen Blume has somehow avoided the difficult follow-that trap by pulling another pearl out of the jewellery box. Sonnen Blume 2 has been delivered miraculously just
Apr 10
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR TREES
OK, so why the stock photo of a canopy of trees with the tops keeping their distance from one another? Could this be a form of social distancing for trees? You’ll find an answer in our third song featured below. Coincidentally I was looking up old editions of this column and came across my A-Z of Self Isolation from May 2020; an excruciating piece of comic writing in response to which Private Eye kindly said “Sorry not to publish.” Anyhow do click on the A-Z link above sh
Apr 3
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: REBEL JOY BY ROSWELL ROAD – TRACK BY TRACK
I have the Fresh On The Net Inbox once again to thank for introducing me to the music of Roswell Road . The London-based Indie-Americana project of Zoë Wren and Jasmine Watkiss came about after a chance meeting through a mutual friend led to them being pressured to sing together in the very public location of Ely Market Square. The resulting musical chemistry was instantaneous and they have been performing and writing songs together ever since. I am always interested in the g
Mar 27
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN?
How many people does it take to write a song? This question struck me while watching highlights from The Oscars on Monday. It was prompted by KPop Demon Hunters winning Best Original Song with “Golden” , to add to its gong for Best Animated Feature. At least six out of the seven people credited with writing the song, including singer EJAE, seemed to turn up on stage to receive the award. Maybe one of them could have collected Sean Penn’s for him, while at it. Headline photo
Mar 20
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: THAT OLD PARASKEVIDEKATRIAPHOBIA AGAIN
For the consecutive month, today is Friday the 13th. An odd alignment of numbers maybe but nonetheless a timely opportunity to highlight Olivia Miceli’s splendid February 13th titular single once again. Yet the paraskevidekatriaphobic among you need fear nought. You may walk under ladders and cross on stairs with impunity in search of a quiet spot to read on and listen to this week’s fine selection of music, emanating largely from the wonderous independent artist community we
Mar 13
