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Post by spot51 on Sept 25, 2024 7:21:26 GMT
As my musical life evolved I have had loads of temporary “favourite artists”. If pushed, to name my current fave it would probably be Emily Barker. Born in small-town Western Australia, Emily’s career path has taken her to the bright lights of Perth, Melbourne, Cambridge, London and, latterly, Nashville. She is a jobbing singer-songwriter and, in my judgement, has always produced and performed great music.
She first came to the UK in 2002 and began collaborations that attracted the attention of John Peel. In 2005 she formed her on/off band Red Clay Halo and launched her own record label. A BBC executive saw her perform and asked her to play at a garden party he was organising at his West London home. Among the guests was Martin Phipps, a British composer responsible for writing themes for TV and movies. He called Emily the following week and asked if she would be interested in working on a new project with him. They re-recorded her song “Nostalgia” (removing Melbourne references) which became the theme to BBC2’s excellent Wallander series with Kenneth Branagh playing the Swedish investigator.
I saw her a few years back, supporting Mary Chapin Carpenter on her UK tour. Unlike most opening acts, rather than getting pissed in her dressing room, she reappeared to play guitar and do backing vocals for MCC. She then continued supporting the US leg of the tour and recorded and performed some of her stuff in Nashville before returning.
Emily has released several albums, with Red Clay Halo and solo. They are all good and some are great. I guess “Despite the Snow” (2008) would be the best by the band but choosing between her solo releases is hard. I guess I’d opt for “A Dark Murmuration of Words” (2020) from which I’ve chosen “Any More Goodbyes”.
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Post by threehundred on Sept 25, 2024 7:46:01 GMT
As my musical life evolved I have had loads of temporary “favourite artists”. If pushed, to name my current fave it would probably be Emily Barker. Born in small-town Western Australia, Emily’s career path has taken her to the bright lights of Perth, Melbourne, Cambridge, London and, latterly, Nashville. She is a jobbing singer-songwriter and, in my judgement, has always produced and performed great music. She first came to the UK in 2002 and began collaborations that attracted the attention of John Peel. In 2005 she formed her on/off band Red Clay Halo and launched her own record label. A BBC executive saw her perform and asked her to play at a garden party he was organising at his West London home. Among the guests was Martin Phipps, a British composer responsible for writing themes for TV and movies. He called Emily the following week and asked if she would be interested in working on a new project with him. They re-recorded her song “Nostalgia” (removing Melbourne references) which became the theme to BBC2’s excellent Wallander series with Kenneth Branagh playing the Swedish investigator. I saw her a few years back, supporting Mary Chapin Carpenter on her UK tour. Unlike most opening acts, rather than getting pissed in her dressing room, she reappeared to play guitar and do backing vocals for MCC. She then continued supporting the US leg of the tour and recorded and performed some of her stuff in Nashville before returning. Emily has released several albums, with Red Clay Halo and solo. They are all good and some are great. I guess “Despite the Snow” (2008) would be the best by the band but choosing between her solo releases is hard. I guess I’d opt for “A Dark Murmuration of Words” (2020) from which I’ve chosen “Any More Goodbyes”. Haunting and beautiful |
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Post by spot51 on Sept 26, 2024 6:41:16 GMT
It is funny how you discover new artists after the demise of TOTP and when you stop checking what bands are playing locally. My usual source these days is Jools Holland who is great at showcasing emerging talent. However, I do look out for the music progs on BBC2/BBC4 as they can also be informative. One such was a show about “Cover versions better than the originals.” There were a number of music industry stalwarts making claims and counterclaims but the person speaking with most authority was Nerina Pallot, described as “singer/songwriter”. Not one I’d heard of though. I did some checking and listened to her stuff - which I liked.
Nerina was born in London to an English/French father and Indian mother and grew up in Jersey. She was inspired by watching Kate Bush on TV and decided to become a musician. Winning a music scholarship to Wellington College was very helpful. She released her first album in 2001 and her 8th is due November this year.
She has had chart success, records of the week and Ivor Novello nominations and written songs for Kylie but has never really hit the big time. What she has though is a worldwide network of avid fans that she treats like an extended family. This is something I’ve never encountered before.
This was another difficult task, choosing just one track to represent a life’s work. In the end I opted for a track from her 2022 album “I don’t know what I’m doing”. It is typical of her brilliant lyrics and expert delivery.
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Post by spot51 on Sept 26, 2024 8:44:02 GMT
So Mr threehundred - will you tell me who you were expecting or saving it for a future 300 MWM post? |
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Post by threehundred on Sept 26, 2024 8:58:50 GMT
So Mr threehundred - will you tell me who you were expecting or saving it for a future 300 MWM post? Ha! Well, I was certainly wrong! Really enjoyed Nerina Pallot. It seems she is a fellow Birkbeck alumni too… I will be checking out more of her stuff. I won’t say who I thought would be your choice, but will save her for the future as you suggest. I’ll give you some clues, though. She led a short and fairly tragic life, was a gifted songwriter with a pure voice and is buried close to where I am now. The song I had in mind moves me to tears, particularly as I and those I love most get older. You will know this Lady, spot51 😉, I have no doubt, as will some others here, but not everyone. ’nuff said..? |
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Sept 26, 2024 9:30:14 GMT
It is funny how you discover new artists after the demise of TOTP and when you stop checking what bands are playing locally. My usual source these days is Jools Holland who is great at showcasing emerging talent. However, I do look out for the music progs on BBC2/BBC4 as they can also be informative. One such was a show about “Cover versions better than the originals.” There were a number of music industry stalwarts making claims and counterclaims but the person speaking with most authority was Nerina Pallot, described as “singer/songwriter”. Not one I’d heard of though. I did some checking and listened to her stuff - which I liked. Nerina was born in London to an English/French father and Indian mother and grew up in Jersey. She was inspired by watching Kate Bush on TV and decided to become a musician. Winning a music scholarship to Wellington College was very helpful. She released her first album in 2001 and her 8th is due November this year. She has had chart success, records of the week and Ivor Novello nominations and written songs for Kylie but has never really hit the big time. What she has though is a worldwide network of avid fans that she treats like an extended family. This is something I’ve never encountered before. This was another difficult task, choosing just one track to represent a life’s work. In the end I opted for a track from her 2022 album “I don’t know what I’m doing”. It is typical of her brilliant lyrics and expert delivery. Some local interest to boot! Pallot is a common name in these parts (eg the catsitter we just had) |
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Post by threehundred on Sept 26, 2024 9:55:03 GMT
It is funny how you discover new artists after the demise of TOTP and when you stop checking what bands are playing locally. My usual source these days is Jools Holland who is great at showcasing emerging talent. However, I do look out for the music progs on BBC2/BBC4 as they can also be informative. One such was a show about “Cover versions better than the originals.” There were a number of music industry stalwarts making claims and counterclaims but the person speaking with most authority was Nerina Pallot, described as “singer/songwriter”. Not one I’d heard of though. I did some checking and listened to her stuff - which I liked. Nerina was born in London to an English/French father and Indian mother and grew up in Jersey. She was inspired by watching Kate Bush on TV and decided to become a musician. Winning a music scholarship to Wellington College was very helpful. She released her first album in 2001 and her 8th is due November this year. She has had chart success, records of the week and Ivor Novello nominations and written songs for Kylie but has never really hit the big time. What she has though is a worldwide network of avid fans that she treats like an extended family. This is something I’ve never encountered before. This was another difficult task, choosing just one track to represent a life’s work. In the end I opted for a track from her 2022 album “I don’t know what I’m doing”. It is typical of her brilliant lyrics and expert delivery. Thinking more about your opening paragraph. For me, exposure to new artists mostly happens through friends. Then, as you say, Jools Holland (although I don’t watch as religiously as I once did) and the (very) odd foray into Radio 6. 299 listens to Radio X quite a lot (I will put it on for Jonny Vaughn or Chris Moyles) and I’ve often heard really good bands there (Paramore and The Last Dinner Party spring to mind) for the first time. Increasingly I will hear something on a film or TV soundtrack or when I’m out in a pub or somewhere random and Shazam it. I’ve found some interesting and really cool stuff like that. But discovering new music was the whole point of this Fred… it’s been an absolute goldmine and I must thank everyone who has contributed - and continues to contribute - to it. |
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Sept 26, 2024 11:09:00 GMT
It is funny how you discover new artists after the demise of TOTP and when you stop checking what bands are playing locally. My usual source these days is Jools Holland who is great at showcasing emerging talent. However, I do look out for the music progs on BBC2/BBC4 as they can also be informative. One such was a show about “Cover versions better than the originals.” There were a number of music industry stalwarts making claims and counterclaims but the person speaking with most authority was Nerina Pallot, described as “singer/songwriter”. Not one I’d heard of though. I did some checking and listened to her stuff - which I liked. Nerina was born in London to an English/French father and Indian mother and grew up in Jersey. She was inspired by watching Kate Bush on TV and decided to become a musician. Winning a music scholarship to Wellington College was very helpful. She released her first album in 2001 and her 8th is due November this year. She has had chart success, records of the week and Ivor Novello nominations and written songs for Kylie but has never really hit the big time. What she has though is a worldwide network of avid fans that she treats like an extended family. This is something I’ve never encountered before. This was another difficult task, choosing just one track to represent a life’s work. In the end I opted for a track from her 2022 album “I don’t know what I’m doing”. It is typical of her brilliant lyrics and expert delivery. Thinking more about your opening paragraph. For me, exposure to new artists mostly happens through friends. Then, as you say, Jools Holland (although I don’t watch as religiously as I once did) and the (very) odd foray into Radio 6. 299 listens to Radio X quite a lot (I will put it on for Jonny Vaughn or Chris Moyles) and I’ve often heard really good bands there (Paramore and The Last Dinner Party spring to mind) for the first time. Increasingly I will hear something on a film or TV soundtrack or when I’m out in a pub or somewhere random and Shazam it. I’ve found some interesting and really cool stuff like that. But discovering new music was the whole point of this Fred… it’s been an absolute goldmine and I must thank everyone who has contributed - and continues to contribute - to it. Agreed, it's getting harder to find new music As we don't watch live telly any more really, Jools gets bypassed and I rarely listen to the radio any more as I can't even get 6 since my Dab broke (haven't bothered replacing it as mainly listen to podcasts anyway), so for me it's just mates' recommendations and odd ones we pick up at festivals (again usually mates dragging us along), so this has been a boon. |
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Post by spot51 on Sept 26, 2024 16:15:46 GMT
Just been looking at Friday TV - 2100 to midnight BBC4 back to back Transatlantic Sessions. Must see TV.
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Post by spot51 on Sept 27, 2024 6:52:31 GMT
Although History was always my favourite subject at school, having the world’s most boring man as my 5th year teacher saw me fail History O level. However, my interest remained and it has been a hobby ever since. I’ve read books on loads of historical subjects. My favourite period is the latter 3rd of the 19th century when the whole world was changing quicker than ever before.
Key to this was the industrialisation and expansion of the USA. In the 1860s they were fighting the Civil War yet, between 1870 and 1900, more than 12 million immigrants arrived in America. This fuelled a huge rise in economic activity which surpassed that of the UK sometime in the 1880s.
In the early years of that century, 3rd president Thomas Jefferson had bought Louisiana from Napoleon and sent Lewis and Clark to trek to the Pacific coast. He foresaw the westward expansion of the USA and the subsequent decades saw the concept of “Manifest Destiny” (aka Go West, Young Man!) take root. Sheer numbers of people made this happen during the final 3rd of the century.
Every westward movement of the US boundary displaced more Native Americans, some more than once. We think of the Sioux as a plains tribe yet they had been forced from their homeland near the Great Lakes by earlier expansion. Little BigHorn and Wounded Knee were just 14 years apart yet, during that time, skyscrapers were going up in Chicago, Edison had launched his phonograph, Eastman launched dry photographic plates and shops began using cash registers. The modern world was arriving at an unstoppable pace.
Throughout this period the westward movement of “civilisation” continued by canoe, wagon and eventually rail as, for millions of people, their current problems were solved simply by moving on and I guess there must’ve been songs written at the time to describe the lure of the “Golden West”. However, when I heard this one, written in the 21st century, it absolutely captured that desperate longing for a better life.
I had my fingers crossed through French Chris’s contributions as I was worried he’d choose I’m With Her before I could. These are 3 more ladies with glittering solo careers who came together to record an album and go on tour. The writing credit for “Overland” is shared by them all. It is a fabulous song, beautifully sung by Sarah Watkins with harmonies from Aoife O’Donovan and Sara Jarosz.
What a time that was to be alive!
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Post by Frankfurt Saint on Sept 30, 2024 13:39:31 GMT
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Sept 30, 2024 14:33:33 GMT
Not my week (or is it), but it seems he should get a marker on the music fred today
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Post by channonite on Sept 30, 2024 16:15:49 GMT
Good point FFrank, whose turn is it?
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Post by threehundred on Sept 30, 2024 16:57:29 GMT
Good point FFrank, whose turn is it? It’s melrose’s week… |
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Post by spot51 on Sept 30, 2024 18:19:28 GMT
Good point FFrank, whose turn is it? It’s melrose ’s week… Bring on the punk FFS! |
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