SOMETHING OLD: ‘How Can You Mend A Broken Heart’– Al Green

Yes I’m gong waaaay back this week! Originally written and recorded by The Bee Gees, Al Green’s version is all kinds of soothing, sexy and one of the most gorgeously laid back songs you’ll ever hear.

The simplest of productions it is of course the vocals which steal the show. Such emotion and gentle persuasion in his voice, its slight husk and soul provides the listener with every belief that this man is pleading for help.
As with every good soul song, he builds from quiet beginnings to the crack of frustration and the odd yelp which only the finest of singers can truly pull off with sincere feeling rather than it acting as a filler.

Your classic organ, strings and female backing singers give us just enough layer to carry the song through its full 6 minutes but when it’s this good you don’t even take notice of its time duration. In fact, sounding this good, you’d even be prepared to let him go through a bit more heartbreak just to hear the warm tones of an incredible voice. As my dad would say, they don’t make them like that any more.

From the album ‘Let’s Stay Together’ (1972) / www.algreenmusic.com

SOMETHING NEW: ‘Two Islands’ – Outfit

Liverpudlian band Outfit are incredibly hard to find on the internet. Not even the power of Google can rustle up a website or even wiki page. But hopefully a listen to this song will encourage you to seek them out, live or otherwise and what I can’t tell you of the band I can tell you of this memorising track ‘Two Islands’ (best found at the moment on YouTube).

At just over 6 minutes long it uses this time to build from drums and noises from a very early episode of Dr Who into a driven beat of a twinkling piano hook and atmospheric tale of loneliness.
I’m sure the way I’m describing it you would imagine something quite dark, but the vocals, tambourine and cymbal lead drums keep it light and dare it say it, summery.

Guitar solos weave their way in and out of the verses and chorus’ to the point where there seems to be no traditional verse, bridge, chorus set up. This isn’t a bad thing. It purely adds to the escapism of its entirety.
The single is released in September, I’d love to tell you of an upcoming album but even research hasn’t provided me with any more details. So enjoy the mystery, it seems quite a unique way of marketing a band these days but who knows, if the rest of their stuff if this good - perhaps it’ll sell itself.

Single out on September 12th 2011 / www.everynightidressupasyou.com/music.php

SOMETHING OLD: ‘Let Forever Be’ – Chemical Brothers

One of the UK’s finest dance acts, The Chemical Brothers teamed up with Noel Gallagher to produce this anthem of a crazy drum loop mixed with Noel’s vocals which, following the 90s dominance of Brit Pop, are instantly recognisable on their own merit.

A dance track but indie-fied (yes that’s another word from the Dictionary of Helen) the heavy drums and roaring guitar slide are not what you would normally expect from essentially a ‘dance’ record.  Elements of string sections being played backwards lean towards the Beatles, but once those drums kick in it suddenly develops more meat and attitude than a West End bouncer.

Psychedelic breaks and a throbbing bass line prevail to make it more than a vocal/drum dominance; but both the production of the Brothers and the forefront vocal of one Brother compliment each other perfectly.
Also check out the video, it’ll quite easily mess with your head if you try and figure out how it was made but is a pure spectacle in itself.

From the album ‘Surrender’ (1999) / @ChemBros

SOMETHING NEW: ‘Hits Me Like A Rock’ (Dillon Francis Remix) – CSS

So we’ve been battling the elements a bit in good olde England this August, flash floods and what not – the usual. But thankfully CSS have brought their flavour of Brazil with the help of a gorgeous remix from Dillon Francis to put some puff back in our lilos before summer’s out.

A chilled out remix with enough attitude to encourage the shaking of body parts, its chilled out patter of synth hooks breaks through like sun rays piercing the clouds.
Minimal on vocal until a shouty middle eight if you like half way through, the tempo switches again to an even more mellow beat then returns effortlessly to the salsa, samba, whatever genre you’d like to call it, before you reach temptation to press repeat.

Kept to a perfect sized portion, we all know how remixes can turn into epic 15 minute productions of their own, this one is long enough to keep your attention and keep you nodding your head for its 5 minutes and 11 sunny seconds.
If you haven’t had a holiday this year (yes that’s the sound of the world’s smallest violin) then at least crack out the BBQ in the back garden and stick this on for an instant splash of Rio as the sun goes down.

From the album ‘La Liberacion’ (2011) (remix is single only) / www.youtube.com/csstv

SOMETHING OLD: 'New York' - Ryan Adams

A song perhaps made more famous by its video, featuring the New York skyline filmed 4 days before 9/11; Ryan Adam’s take on the city so good they named it twice and wrote a thousand songs about, is an instantly catchy track minus the clichés of previous NYC songs.

Describing areas less well known of the city, you get a real feel for his story as he goes on to explain despite being in and out of love his true love is that of the area. It’s romantic without being glaringly obvious, touching without being slushy. Uplifting both in music and vocal, it maintains the driving force you’d associate with its subject.

Its live sound production also portrays this image of him busking down in Times Square, that authentic and raw tone makes the story so much more believable. Minus the glamour and schmooze of Sinatra’s great, Ryan Adams shows us that even away from the skyscrapers and showbiz; everyone is susceptible to the charms of the Big Apple.

From the album ‘Gold’ (2001) / http://paxamrecords.com/

SOMETHING NEW: ‘Where We Want To Be’ (Acoustic Version) – Joe Echo & Ben Barnes

Lay down, close your eyes and simply escape to this track. Bold enough introduction for you? It’s worth it, a simply beautiful song which will scoop you up, cradle you and let you get out of here for 3 minutes 40 seconds of pure utopia.

A voice which could melt the hardest of hearts, the subtle touches of harmonies and instruments simply brush the track with no unnecessary over production.  I could get all gushy and use some dreadful examples of how stunning this song is, but here floating on water is my best descriptive image. That pure escapism with a blissful lack of control of where it may take you.

An acoustic version of what is originally quite a rocky anthem, both are excellent but for me this edit is a fine example of how music can fill all your senses.  ‘Feel the breeze’ and ‘come away’ – I wouldn’t need any more convincing.

From the album ‘Killing Bono’ (Original Film Soundtrack) (2011) / @benbarnessource

SOMETHING OLD: 'Slight Return' - The Bluetones

The sadly soon to be split 90s favourites, The Bluetones embark on their farewell tour next month and for me this, their biggest hit, remains a firm favourite-  sounding particularly glorious in the summer.

Lead singer Mark Morriss possesses one of the softer voices from the rule of Britpop, making the songs of the band easily recognisable and enjoyable, without that whiny drawl so many other bands influenced others with during that time.
Despite that, there’s still an element of attitude in the track particularly in the bridge when that almost synonymous pattern of drums and guitar from that time are made their own with the harmonies which graced and stamped many a Bluetones track.
If this song isn’t new to you then I’m sure you have memories of your own to accompany it, if it is then I would highly recommend you have a listen to the impressive back catalogue. Or even better, catch them one last time on the road.

If this is perhaps what The Bluetones will be mostly remembered for, that and the memories of what a great live band they were too, then ‘Slight Return’ is a fine legacy from an exquisite band.

From the album ‘Expecting to Fly’ (1996) / @TheBluetones

SOMETHING NEW: 'Jar of Hearts' - Christina Perri

The only downside to the beauty of this track is that I’m certain the instrumental will be used in one of those X Factor montage videos. So try to forget that and allow yourself to be immersed, I do warn you however it’s not one to listen to if you’re feeling a bit, well, fragile.

It’s so rare to hear a song which doesn’t use a drum beat, I can only think of Adele currently who has done that; but as is so often the case when the vocal and lyrics are this incredible the song drives itself. All the strings and piano of a romantic out-pouring, in fact it’s a song of defiance against a lost love – ‘you’re gonna catch a cold from the ice inside your soul’. Ouch.
Some parts remind me of the other Christina, in particular her track ‘The Voice Within’. The middle eight brings a nursery rhyme like melody before it drops you back into the wonderful chorus – the strings alone building where normally an almighty drum roll would bring the reprise. This Christina’s voice is full of pain but dogged determination, the simple production allows us to hear almost a quiver in her voice at times.

It’s the kind of song you wish you’d written after that thing happened. We’ve all been there. But Christina Perri’s done it for us, and to the kind of perfection most of us couldn’t even imagine. Relate and enjoy.

From the album ‘Lovestrong’ (2011) / @christinaperri

SOMETHING OLD: 'Ghost Town' - The Specials

Time to throw one of my all time favourite songs into the mix for Blue Monday Music. Yes, yes, every song is my favourite but ‘Ghost Town’ is right up there.

Lyrics which could easily fit into today’s recession hit society, the eerie introduction is juicy enough to encourage you to keep listening (yes I did just use the word ‘juicy’ to describe a song).

A slightly more gentle version of the ska which dominated the music climate of the early 80s, it’s a sad tale of what has become of a once exciting and bustling town. As the song takes a dramatic uplift in vocals and key to describe the ‘better days’ of the ghost town, we’re suddenly brought crashing back to reality, a wailing ode to how it used to be.

Great songs stand the test of time and although I wasn’t even born on its release, I can easily relate to its lyrical story. There’s no other song like it. It’s not just special, it’s genius and I defy anyone not to wallow in its glory. Who knew recession could sound so good?

Originally a non-album single (1981) available on ‘The Singles Collection’ / www.thespecials.com

SOMETHING NEW: 'Make Some Noise' - Beastie Boys

Starting with the type of guitar lick you’d associate with some super slo-mo Tarantino footage, once the drum beat kicks in not only does it become clear you’re listening to another Beastie Boys classic, but once again it’s doused in pure funk.

Through their long musical heritage the group have never taken themselves too seriously, but have always had the talent to maintain the success and admiration from fans and critics alike. ‘Make Some Noise’ sticks to the Beastie Boys program with lyrics combing humour and having a good time, switching MCs effortlessly like an undefeated wrestling tag team.

Unfortunately hip hop is so often associated with dreadful clichés, trophy women and how big the rims on your Bentley are, but the Beastie Boys bring an element of fun and most importantly class to the genre.
I have no doubts that ‘Make Some Noise’ can be easily enjoyed by old and new fans and while they continue to make such noise as this, who dares stop them.

From the album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011) / @beastieboys