GoGo Penguin's compositions often have an astronomical theme. I was drawn into their orbit in 2018 when they released their album, A Humdrum Star, and I've been floating around them ever since. When they chose to call one of their latest tracks Luminous Giants, they were almost certainly thinking of a type of red giant…Read more Luminous Giants
Track of the Week
The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
Going back to the corner where I first saw you.Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I'm not gonna move. Danny O'Donoghue, Mark Sheehan It's a bit late for Valentine's Day, but this is one of the most romantic songs ever written. The Man Who Can't Be Moved is a single released by the Irish pop-rock…Read more The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
Oath Breaker
It's been a while since I used the track-of-the-week tag. I guess that's because there have been plenty of albums worthy of a spell in the spotlight here, and no one track has stood out above the rest. But, today, I'm going to feature a band called Alo̱r that, as far as I can see,…Read more Oath Breaker
Blood In The Water
Ian Anderson, Al Di Meola, Leslie Mandoki, Richard Bona In 1992, László "Leslie" Mándoki, a Hungarian drummer and producer, started his Soulmates project. The original line-up was: Ian Anderson (flute, vocals), Jack Bruce (bass, vocals), Al Di Meola (guitar) and Leslie Mandoki himself (drums, vocals). That's plenty to justify a post in these pages. But…Read more Blood In The Water
Livin’ In A Bubble
Do you ever feel trapped? Hemmed in by petty laws that curtail your freedom. Or confined within the boundaries of convention, your creative spirit stifled, denied the oxygen that gives life to the fire of original thought? If so, you will know how Medicine Head's songwriter felt when he wrote Livin' In A Bubble. You…Read more Livin’ In A Bubble
The Trees and I
As a child, an oak tree grew outside my bedroom window. Its leaves were a rich dark green, and it produced a copious crop of acorns every year. On the next street corner, there was a sycamore tree whose seeds twirled like helicopter blades as they fell in the autumn. In the park that my…Read more The Trees and I
Gånglåt i femtakt
"Walking song in five beats" (Google Translate) This track came up in my Release Radar recently, and it pleased the ears. https://open.spotify.com/track/2cAINrpYiy2zEb6g8PP9ep?si=45718c55398d4383 It's from an album called Åtråvärld, released late last year by the Swedish band Å. They are: Joel Öhlund – vocals, guitar/bass guitar Milovan Fredriksson – guitar/bass guitar, backup vocals Erik Wallin –…Read more Gånglåt i femtakt
Protocol
"The use of the word 'extinction' breaches diplomatic protocol", says dinosaur. protocol[ proh-tuh-kawl, -kol, -kohl ] noun The customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence and etiquette. An original draft, minute or record from which a document, especially a treaty, is prepared. Medicine. The plan for carrying out a scientific study or a patient's…Read more Protocol
Slip Away
Watching the day slip away The forensic archaeologist at the Crotchety Music Institute was asked to find songs on the theme of Position. The search began with the keywords 'position', 'where' and 'place', which turned up a few mostly unremarkable pop and folk songs. Next, he tried 'front', 'back', 'above', 'below', 'left' and 'right'. These…Read more Slip Away
Thinium
Thin lines. Between genius and madness. Between success and failure. Between order and chaos. Is that what Thinium is about? Or is this the Immortal Onion's way of reminding us of the tissue paper layers in the vegetable that makes us cry? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNP5SIMf2_Q This Polish jazz trio has appeared here before - in February 2021…Read more Thinium
Crotchety Man 