Wednesday 29 May 2013

Today Has Been A Very Good Day...

Despite the driving rain in both Nottingham and Derby, today has been a very interesting and enjoyable day. A little shopping this morning was much brightened by the three nice ( and not-too-shabby-looking) young men who wanted my number (no 1) wanted my email address (no2) and wanted to add me on Facebook (no 3). Made my day, that did - don't get chatted up that often at my age...

Anyway, on to the afternoon. Spent in the company of one Jimmy, AKA ReggiiMental. One of the nicest, most genuine people it has ever been my pleasure to meet. MPR Derby is his domain, and he showed me what it's all about...then promptly enrolled me as a contributor to the website ( after reading a little of my own little scribblings). Go have a little perusal, it's a worthwhile endeavour, and what we all should be doing for our own communities. The conversation flowed, a little tour of Derby followed...and then came The Deepest Cellar.

Which actually is a cellar. Such a small space, but bursting with creativity and music. Hard to believe all those wonderful sounds are laid down in there, that the brilliant Coming Around was made in there...but they are. I have a CD burned especially for me clutched in my grubby little mitts to prove it, with some very exclusive stuff on it. And I haven't stopped smiling since. I'm listening to it now, as I type...and it's brilliant! And I found out about Magic Red Box :)

So yeah, today has been one of those excellent days you only get once in a while.

Thanks Jimmy, I know you're a busy man so it was kind of you to spend some of your valuable time with me, I really appreciate it and thoroughly enjoyed your company!

Until next time,

Les
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Tuesday 28 May 2013

Just so you know...

Satsuma Elephants (the new incarnation featuring Matt Henshaw & Chris Goring from Censored) will be playing live on Tuesday 18th June, and it's a FREE GIG !!!!  Head down to Pepper Rocks, 12 Pepper Street, Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham !!! Get yourselves there... I might even see you, who knows ;)

Les
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Monday 27 May 2013

Tomorrow!

'My bags are packed, I'm ready to go..'

Can't remember who sang it, but it's a particularly apt song tonight.

Nottingham, I will be in you tomorrow. :)

Les
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Monday 20 May 2013

Only a week to go...

...before I'm once again in the bosom of the East Midlands, and I can't wait! It's been so long since I was there last, and I've missed it more than I realised. Three days might not be long enough...

So a five hour coach journey to get there is looming, which means it's time to do my travelling playlist - it's a good chance to catch up with some stuff I've been meaning to listen to, but I'll have to remember not to sing along with some old favourites! ( Wouldn't be the first time I'll have had folk on a bus look at me strangely...but that's another story!) Anyway, I'll most likely be in Derby for one of those days; I should be meeting up with Jimmy B-Boy AKA ReggiiMental while I'm there...and possibly one half of Satsuma Elephants (if he's about). I shall be a very happy Lesley. Watch this space...

Oh Nottingham, how I've missed you, ma duck! Hopefully the weather will be kind...

Les
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Thursday 2 May 2013

And so the travelling begins...

The hotel is booked, the train is booked, and the city of Nottingham is on stand-by...

Yes folks, I'm off a-travelling once more. Off to the land of Robin Hood, where the locals call you 'ma duck' and the music is varied and really quite brilliant.

Three days should see me catching some live music and hopefully a catch-up with two old friends, and one new one.

So watch out Nottingham...I shall be in you on May 28th...be good to me.

Peace and Love

Lesley

Coming Around by Matt Henshaw & Reggiimental

I am a very happy music fan. Very happy.

"Why?" I hear you ask.

The answer is simple.

Coming Around, the new album from Matt Henshaw and Reggiimental arrived in my inbox at two minutes past midnight on May 1st...and has been on almost constant repeat ever since. It is fifteen tracks of Solid Gold ( sorry, couldn't help myself!) soul/blues/funk with a gritty edge to it. It is also, by far, the best these B-Boys have produced!

I was going to do an in-depth review of each track, and probably still will, but in the meantime I want to rave about my favourite tracks, and there are many. At last count, I have seven favourites, each with their own merits, and my absolute favourite changes at an alarming rate...which demonstrates the quality of this album. There is no one stand-out track, each is as brilliant as the next...hence the ever-changing favourites. So here they are, in no particular order...

First up, the title track, Coming Around. It's a get-you-on-the-dancefloor feel-good song with a thumpingly good tune with an old-school feel, guaranteed to get you foot-tapping and itching to sing along. I'm happy to admit I know all the words to this now (yes, even Reggii's ).

Next, Thinking Of You...definitely in my top three. Northern soul-like, with brilliant lyrics and vocal performances, from both Matt and Reggii, to die for. brings to mind dancing till dawn on hot crowded dance floors in small clubs where the music never stops. Adore it.

I Know How It Feels. Quite simply, the Blues. With a twist. And done perfectly. Brings to mind a dark, smokey blues club in the 1920's, with bodies swaying sinuously to the slow rhythm... and the end vocal, stripped back to just Matt's voice with a slight echo, gives me goosebumps. Every time.

Next up is Down. A slowish dreamy kind of song with a hidden heat and a pulsing beat that would melt an iceberg. Gorgeous.

And then there's Gimme Some More. Oh man...what can I say about this one. This one had me hooked before I'd even heard the rest of the album! I ADORE this song so very much...and the video isn't too shabby either. Two gorgeous blokes in a bowling alley...symbolic much? It might be my completely depraved mind, but I have a feeling this song was written with sex in mind... correct me if I'm wrong, gentlemen!

Everybody Clap Your Hands is THE party song of the summer...play this at your summer bbq's and watch the neighbours turn up...perfect song for a sunny summer evening with a cold drink and good friends.

And that brings me to my current favourite, Killing Time. An almost stripped-back song, Matt's guitar and vocals taking centre stage with an almost plaintive quality that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Hauntingly beautiful. Sublime, in fact.

And there you have it. So far.

For me, this is the album of the year, and if you only buy one album, make it this one. Get it here http://matthenshaw.bandcamp.com/album/coming-around?goback=.gde_4954001_member_237055558

You certainly won't regret it. These two are coming into their own now, and have created something very special, very special indeed. If there is any justice, this will be picked up by the big boys at the radio stations, be broadcast far and wide, and become the huge hit it deserves to be.

Matt, Jimmy...I thank you. My soul thanks you. My ears thank you.

Now I have only three words for you both...

More please.

Soon.

Peace and Love

Lesley
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