SOMETHING OLD: 'King For A Day' - Jamiroquai

For me, the best music makes you feel something. But 'King For A Day' stands alone in being able to make me feel on age the entire time listening to it. Not that that's a bad thing, I wouldn't pick it as a Blue Monday choice otherwise, but this is what essentially makes it good.

Written as a very public and direct message to bass player Stuart Zender, who left the band shortly after finishing the album, lead singer Jay Kay's lyrics sound laced with venom in a scathing attack.

Its menacing strings and crawling baroque harpsichord melody running underneath throughout, give the impression the song is building to a big end when in fact it ends perfectly subdued, much like after a blazing row. You can even hear the darkness in the drums; no computer produced drum loop could express the bubbling rage you can hear desperately hit out.

Whatever you think of Jay Kay, he has one of those voices that is not only instantly recognisable but can convey every emotion with pure soul, and damn, is he bitter and sarcastic in this one.

The production on the track is superb, it gives the same anticipation and tension you get when you feel like someone is watching or following you. But with that massive hat a bit of a give-away, let's be honest, stalking's loss was Jamiroquai's gain.

From the album Synkronized (1999) / www.jamiroquai.com

SOMETHING NEW: 'Waking Up Sideways' - Kassidy

There’s enough hair amongst the members of this band that if they were to complete a mass shaving there would be enough hair there to keep Katie Price in extensions for the next five years. But I’m not here to discuss their look. Never judge a book by its cover or a band by its choice of waistcoats and corduroy.

A catchy number from their debut album, Scottish folk band Kassidy are freshly signed yet so far as I’ve heard of their music you could be mistaken for thinking they’d been touring and writing for a lifetime. I’m not too keen on comparing bands but if this song in particular could be categorised, it would be nice and snuggled alongside Mumford & Sons. Group folk harmonies and instantly foot-tapping, sing-a-long chorus’, provide us with that image of singing round the campfire or as we reach the middle eight of oohs and aahs, shouting from a mountain top.

They do however produce a slightly more rockier edge than Mr Mumford and his off-spring, helped along by the rasp of lead singer Barrie James-O’Neill. From its opening guitar we’re treated to a rustic , ‘arms in the air’ song which builds to layer upon layer of what can best be described as some of Scotland’s finest organic goodness. 

From the album Hope.St (2011) / @kassidyuk

SOMETHING OLD: 'Come Back Brighter' - Reef

From an album which most remember the undeniable ‘Place Your Hands’, came second single ‘Come Back Brighter’ – a stomping anthem laden with a dirty riff and the kind of heavy drums any ‘air drummer’ can envision playing at ‘their’ Wembley.

What may at first come across as a potentially angry and vengeful track with its harsh pounding production, in fact within the very first line of lead singer Gary Stringer’s instantly recognisable growl, becomes a positive preach to the stubborn rock converted.
A chorus easy to pick up and shout til you’re hoarse, his attitude and mocking towards whatever brought him down in the later chorus’ displays a gradual growth in confidence over the relentlessly enjoyable 3 minutes and 33 seconds. I read somewhere Gary wrote this as he lay bed-ridden with a football injury. If that’s the case, he took on the pain and frustration, won, and this is his victory song. And a damn fine one at that.

From the album ‘Glow’ (1996) / @stringerbessant

SOMETHING NEW: 'Contender' - Fenech-Soler

As soon as I heard this track for me it had an instant effect, one of those rare tracks that actually makes you stop what you’re doing until you’re sure it’s finished.

The elements of staccato chords and effects which sound like members of the Starship Enterprise moving from room to room are brilliantly layered, to the point where it’s only if you listen closely to its individual components does its simplicity become clear. 
With all the funk of a band like Friendly Fires, but swapping percussion for synth, Fenech-Soler are ones to catch live as well – check out their All Saints Basement Sessions on YouTube.

Although from the start it has a very strong electro production, with the kind of heavy bass line which would have shaken the very core and plastic interior of my previous old Clio and its dodgy stereo speakers, it’s what I lovingly call a ‘head-nodder’. Go on, listen and try to stop yourself bouncing (and for some reason for me, pouting).

From the album ‘Fenech-Soler’ (2010) / @FENECHSOLER

SOMETHING OLD: ‘Loaded’ – Primal Scream

With a name like Primal Scream, if you hadn't heard this band's music before you'd probably assume some heavy rock outfit whose lead singer gargles with grit first thing in the morning to achieve his legendary drawl. But, thankfully, you couldn't be more wrong.

With a drum loop and bass line which would have any music fan of the 90s bouncing off the walls with excitement, the sound echoed earlier by The Stone Roses and later by Happy Mondays, became synonymous with the early phase of Brit Pop. 'Loaded' is minimal on lyric content but for what it lacks with words, it more than makes up for with uplifting layers.

A piano riff cooler than Samuel L Jackson in an ice bath, there's brass and there's also a choir – what more could you want for a summery track which, despite being 20 years old, sounds timeless. And it's no doubt that it's this timelessness which has lead the band to tour this year performing just these album tracks alone.

From the album 'Screamadelica' (1991) / @ScreamOfficial

SOMETHING NEW: ‘Patience’ – KT Tunstall

Taken from her 7 track EP, ‘Patience’ follows suit of the style of the entire CD – that of just KT and her guitar, and in this particular track, a guitar made from whiskey barrels. Surely that’s already worthy of a Blue Monday Music recommendation huh?

What I’ve always loved about KT’s voice is that it’s effortless and no more so is this evident than in such a stripped back track such as this. Her voice is gentle but that rasp maintains the true emotion, add in a catchy hook and it makes an absolute delight for your ears. I don't know what swagger Cher Lloyd bashes on about, but this song has authentic swagger and simplicity running through its veins.
If I lived in an old American shack, I’d be sat right now on my porch listening to this as the sun went down. And it would seem only right, that I’d be joined by a single malt.

From ‘The Scarlet Tulip’ EP, only available at www.kttunstall.com / @KTTunstall