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She Drew The Gun – Something For The Pain / Resister

January 13, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Louisa Roach from She Drew The Gun

Louisa Roach from She Drew The Gun

Song of the Day: A pair of finely crafted and powerful songs addressing pain and ongoing social problems from the Liverpool indie pop band fronted by singer and songwriter Louisa Roach from the 2018 album Revolution of Mind

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In 2018, indie, pop Tags songs, song of the day, She Drew The Gun, Louisa Roach, immigration, work, homelessness
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Hen Ogledd – Problem Child

January 4, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Hen Oggled, featuring Richard Dawson, second from right

Hen Oggled, featuring Richard Dawson, second from right

Song of the Day: It’s impossible to categorise this brilliant, heady mixture of folk and electronica with thudding bass, and oddball vocals, except it has an echo of late-70s Peter Gabriel about it

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In 2018, electronica, folk Tags songs, song of the day, Richard Dawson, Rhodri Davies, Sally Pilkington, Dawn Bothwell, Hen Ogledd
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Once & Future Band – The Old Brain

December 17, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Once & Future Band

Once & Future Band

Song of the Day: After the frenzied blood in the brain by Pom Poko, a slower, but rather beautiful number on grey matter by the rock band from Oakland, California fronted by Joel Robinow

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In 2018, prog rock, psychedelia, rock Tags songs, song of the day, Once and Future Band, Joel Robinow, brain, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Ween, Curtis Mayfield
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Pom Poko – My Blood

December 14, 2018 Peter Kimpton
High hopes: Pom Poko, from Norway

High hopes: Pom Poko, from Norway

Song of the Day: The next body-aware song comes in a new one from the Norwegian pop-punk quartet – a cartoonish, sugar-rush tribute to the energising red stuff that runs right through us all

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In 2018, pop, punk, post-punk Tags songs, song of the day, Pom Poko, blood, biology, cartoons, Studio Ghibli, Norway, Japan, Japanese anime, Bella Union
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Julia Jacklin – Body / Head Alone

December 8, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Julia Jacklin

Julia Jacklin

Song of the Day: “It’s just my body. I guess it’s just my life.” Two of several telling lines from a pair of beautifully powerful songs by the the Australian singer-songwriter from her forthcoming album, Crushing

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In indie, 2018 Tags songs, song of the day, Julia Jacklin, relationships, sex
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Mush – Gig Economy

November 23, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Economic gigging: Mush

Economic gigging: Mush

Song of the Day: Continuing from Bas Jan's songs, a recent number by the indie Leeds-formed quartet that with frantic energy reveals the impossibility of the 21st century model of freelance employment

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In 2018, indie Tags songs, song of the day, work, Mush, employment
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Bas Jan (Serafina Steer) – Instant Nostalgia / Profile Picture

November 21, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Bas Jan

Bas Jan

Song of the Day: “I am not a company but I keep getting these emails.” Continuing the freelance life theme after yesterday’s Toro Y Moi track, two new and witty pop songs from the trio of Serafina Steer, and now Emma Smith, and Rachel Horwood

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In pop, electronica, 2018 Tags songs, song of the day, Bas Jan, Serafina Steer, Emma Smith, Rachel Horwood, Black Box Recorder, Sarah Nixey, technology, social media, work, lifestyle
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Toro y Moi – Freelance

November 20, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Save your work: Toro y Moi

Save your work: Toro y Moi

Song of the Day: Focusing on the difficulties of creative self-employment, this is in an engagingly funky, eccentric off-the-wall new single by the South Carolina songwriter, record producer and graphic designer from his forthcoming 2019 album Outer Peace

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In 2018, ambient, disco, dance, electronica, funk Tags songs, song of the day, Toro y Moi, Chaz Bear, work, technology
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Fatoumata Diawara – Nterini

August 8, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Fatoumata Diawara

Fatoumata Diawara

Song of the Day: After a series of longer established African stars, a more contemporary one – the Ivory Coast born singer songwriter, from her 2018 album, Fenfo (Something To Say), with a song about mass migration

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In 2018, African, funk, fusion, jazz, soul Tags song of the day, songs, Fatoumata Diawara, Africa, Mali, Ivory Coast, migration
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LUMP (Laura Marling & Mike Lindsay) – Curse of the Contemporary

June 1, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Hair today. Mysterious LUMP dancing.

Hair today. Mysterious LUMP dancing.

Song of the Day: Yesterday we highlighted two of Joni MItchell's finest from, and with a California connection, here an English singer-songwriter with a voice that soars with comparable quality, alongside beautiful, otherworldly music from the Tunng frontman and producer

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In 2018, electronica, folk Tags songs, song of the day, LUMP, Laura Marling, Mike Lindsay, Tunng
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Trembling Bells – I'm Coming / Christ's Entry Into Govan

May 28, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Old and yet new: Trembling Bells album cover for 2018's Dungeness

Old and yet new: Trembling Bells album cover for 2018's Dungeness

Song of the Day: Following our previous track by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, new songs from the Scottish-formed folk band who collaborated with him on the 2012 album The Marble Downs, but two here from their new LP Dungeness

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In 2018, folk, psychedelia, prog rock Tags songs, song of the day, Trembling Bells, Alex Neilson, Lavinia Blackwell, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, art, James Ensor
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Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert (featuring Siobhan Wilson) – Cockcrow

May 15, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert

Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert

Song of the Day: After yesterday's duo with Bill Wells. another link to Aidan Moffat alongside two other Scottish artists in a beautiful dialogue song between two ex-lovers talking about past and present

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In 2018, folk, indie Tags Aidan Moffat, RM Hubbert, Siobhan Wilson, Bill Wells, Scotland, relationships
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Childish Gambino – This Is America

May 9, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Childish Gambino, aka Donald Glover in a still from the video by Hiro Murai

Childish Gambino, aka Donald Glover in a still from the video by Hiro Murai

Song of the Day: Continuing our ongoing edgy theme, this time on a different plain – a super-sharp, ironic cultural commentary with one of the most talked about videos in years by the US rapper, actor and comedian, aka Donald McKinley Glover Jr.

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In hip hop, gospel, world music, 2018 Tags song of the day, songs, Childish Gambino, Donald Glover, Hiro Murai, Ludwig Göransson, Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi, BlocBoy, 21 Savage, Quavo, gun laws, America, slavery
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Parquet Courts – Almost Had to Start a Fight / In and Out of Patience

April 29, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Parquet Courts – Wide Awake in 2018

Parquet Courts – Wide Awake in 2018

Song of the Day: Yesterday's Bodega song was a cri de coeur against passivity, today's by another great New York band is the opposite - capturing the reactionary side of our fractious times in a two-part number

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In 2018, indie, post-punk Tags songs, song of the day, Parquet Courts, Danger Mouse, indie, postpunk, psychology, anger
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Bodega – How Did This Happen?

April 28, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Bodega

Bodega

Song of the Day: It's a question many ask in the current state of world affairs, but this terrific song by the New York band manages to pose political questions and still be enormously engaging in both music and lyrics

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In rock, post-punk, 2018 Tags song of the day, songs, Bodega, New York, LCD Soundsystem, Woody Guthrie
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Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel

March 10, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe

Song of the Day: It's Saturday, time to get a little bit sexy, and  bang up to date with a brand new number that might remind you of someone? Yes Prince did indeed help US singer and rapper Monáe with this before he left us.

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In 2018, funk, pop Tags songs, song of the day, Janelle Monáe, Prince, pop, funk, sexuality
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Go-Kart Mozart - When You're Depressed / Relative Poverty

February 23, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Go-Kart Mozart's Lawrence, a genius at upbeat-downbeat indie pop

Go-Kart Mozart's Lawrence, a genius at upbeat-downbeat indie pop

Song of the Day returns with two gloriously upbeat numbers with downbeat titles by Lawrence, formerly of Felt and Denim, from his brand new 17-track album Mozart's Mini Mart

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In 2018, indie, pop Tags songs, song of the day, Go-Kart Mozart, Lawrence, Felt, Denim
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David Byrne – Everybody's Coming to My House / Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime

February 9, 2018 Peter Kimpton
David Byrne

David Byrne

Song of the Day: That's not my beautiful house! Or is it? Today we may find ourselves comparing two sublime songs, two houses, one brand new and a classic from the Talking Heads Remain in Light album of 1980

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In 1980, 1981, 2018, indie, pop, post-punk Tags songs, song of the day, David Byrne, Brian Eno, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth
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Ezra Furman – Love You So Bad

February 8, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Ezra Furman never fails to be entertaining on stage

Ezra Furman never fails to be entertaining on stage

A beautifully upbeat, mischievous, wistful, passionate number from the new album, Transangelic Exodus by the Chicago indie rock singer-songwriter, in which "the past is the past, but the present's nothing without it"

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In rock, pop, indie, 2017, 2018 Tags songs, song of the day, Ezra Furman
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Field Music – Count It Up

February 5, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Field Music's 2018 album Open Here

Field Music's 2018 album Open Here

Song of the Day: How to create a value system for modern life? Just as this is hard to quantify, it is equally difficult to categorise the musical style of the Sunderland band, whose latest, sixth album, Open Here, addresses a variety of contemporary issues

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In 2018, indie, pop, electronica Tags songs, song of the day, Field Music, David Brewis, Peter Brewis, David Byrne, Memphis Industries
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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Pink martini

Pink martini.jpg

SNACK OF THE WEEK

grilled artichoke hearts

grilled artichoke hearts.jpg

MORE MUSIC …

Featured
Feb 18, 2019
New albums: Chaka Khan, Ladytron, Piroshka, Methyl Ethel, Cass McCombs, Stats, Czarface and Ghostface Killah, Bis, Homeshake
Feb 18, 2019

Alongside full funk and pop from Prince’s great friend Chaka, experimental, indie and electronica dominate this week’s roundup, including Australia’s Methyl Ethel and long due return from Glasgow’s catchy popsters Bis

Feb 18, 2019
Feb 11, 2019
New albums: International Teachers of Pop, Yak, LCD Soundsystem, Elder Island, Mercury Rev (& various), Flat Worms, Jessica Pratt, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Panda Bear, Lemonheads
Feb 11, 2019

Electronic pop from the International Teacher and Elder Island, Yak’s long -awaited indie, covers by Mercury Rev and Lemonheads, slow beauty by Jessica Pratt and lo-fi live studio recordings by LCD Soundsystem are among this week’s bumper roundup

Feb 11, 2019
Feb 4, 2019
New albums: Beirut, The Specials, Ian Brown, Rustin Man, Tiny Ruins, Unloved, The Cool Greenhouse, Angel Bat Dawid, Cherry Glazerr
Feb 4, 2019

Brass beauty from Beirut, a 40th anniversary album from The Specials. and a new solo album from the Stone Roses frontman are among this week’s roundup of releases that are various experimental, rock, electronica and more

Feb 4, 2019
Jan 29, 2019
New albums: Toy, Swervedriver, Better Oblivion Community Center (Conor Oberst & Phoebe Bridgers), DAWN, Rat Boy, Sunflower Bean, Mike Krol
Jan 29, 2019

From an experimental album by New Orleans artist DAWN to a collaboration between Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers, as well as a return by 90s shoegazers Swervedriver, this week’s roundup has plenty of surprises

Jan 29, 2019

Featured
Feb 20, 2019
Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters – A Quiet Place
Feb 20, 2019

Song of the Day: Following Miles Davis with In A Silent Way, a beautiful ‘64 soul number pleading for silence on a noisy street by the artist who grew up in Philadelphia and developed his Sam Cooke-like voice in church and doo-wop bands

Feb 20, 2019
Feb 19, 2019
Miles Davis – In A Silent Way
Feb 19, 2019

Album of the Day: A special edition to mark the anniversary of a unique masterpiece recorded 50 years ago today on 18 February 1969 at New York’s CBS 30th Street Studio. Davis’s contribution was small, but key, fitting perfectly alongside the work of other greats

Feb 19, 2019
Feb 15, 2019
The Staple Singers – Bridges Instead of Walls
Feb 15, 2019

Song of the Day: On the day Donald Trump calls an attention-seeking national emergency to get funding for his controversial wall project, a song from 1973 by the great soul and gospel family with a message that’s loud and clear

Feb 15, 2019
Feb 12, 2019
The Beatles – Birthday
Feb 12, 2019

Song of the Day: Combining two birthdays, one for the Song Bar itself - now three years old, and less significantly, the Bar’s Landlord, this off-the-cuff rock number was written during the White Album recordings on 18 September 1968

Feb 12, 2019
Feb 3, 2019
The Groundhogs – Cherry Red / Eccentric Man (plus John Lee Hooker)
Feb 3, 2019

Song of the Day: Deliberately one day after the traditional date of Groundhog Day, life and music repeats itself with two songs by the British 60s band were inspired the great American bluesman and one of his numbers

Feb 3, 2019
Jan 22, 2019
Sandie Shaw / Ron Moody / Galliano – Reviewing The Situation
Jan 22, 2019

Song of the Day: To capture the current state of farcical flux and political impasse over Brexit and US government shutdown, a classic written by Lionel Bart for the musical Oliver!, which also became a feminist 60s pop hit for the female star

Jan 22, 2019
Jan 15, 2019
Alabama 3 – Woke Up This Morning
Jan 15, 2019

Song of the Day: After Miss Otis Regrets, another songs about a women who decided to stop taking abuse from a man, this time by the band from Brixton whose song eventually became synonymous with the Sopranos

Jan 15, 2019
Jan 14, 2019
Ella Fitzgerald / Ethel Waters – Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)
Jan 14, 2019

Song of the Day: After yesterday’s She Drew The Gun songs, let’s go back to an original Cole Porter number from 1934, which contains that shot line of defiance and revenge, a tragic tale about a society woman who simply would not take it anymore

Jan 14, 2019

Featured
Feb 17, 2019
Word of the week: flimflam
Feb 17, 2019

Word of the week: It means pseudo-intellectual nonsense, insincerity or a confidence trick perpetrated by elected officials, so while antiquated, always current and relevant, and with a lovely musicality where has it been used in lyrics?

Feb 17, 2019
Feb 9, 2019
Word of the week: gabardine
Feb 9, 2019

Word of the week: Let’s extend the lyrical wardrobe. It’s a smooth, durable, twill-woven worsted, rayon or cotton cloth material and also the name of coat, but is a also beautifully sounding, musical word, perfectly suited to sung words

Feb 9, 2019
Feb 2, 2019
Word of the week: harridan
Feb 2, 2019

Word of the week: It traditionally means a scolding, bossy, unpleasant woman, possibly with origins from the 17th century and related to the verb to harry, or hassle, and has a certain comical quality, but where does it come up in song lyrics?

Feb 2, 2019
Jan 23, 2019
Word of the week: ichthyosaur
Jan 23, 2019

Word of the week: After last week’s fictional Jabberwocky, a real-life deep-sea dinosaur, a fish-reptile with an extraordinary evolutionary history on land and sea, famous in fossils, but where can we dive to find it in song lyrics?

Jan 23, 2019
Jan 16, 2019
Word of the week: jabberwock
Jan 16, 2019

Word of the week: It’s best known as the mythical monster in Lewis Carroll’s poem from Through The Looking Glass (1871), but the word also means nonsense or gibberish, something that continues to be very much at large

Jan 16, 2019

Song Bar spinning.gif