How Can It Feel This Wrong?

A stunning new version of Roads, performed by Portishead in support of Together For Palestine.

Filmed at the Cube Microplex in Bristol and posted the day that the festering sore on the backside of humanity left the UK.

Thank you, Beth, Geoff and Adrian.

Sticky Beak>

Beak> are back!

 

Whilst there has been a lot of attention - and deservedly so - on Beth Gibbons return after what seems like an eternity, fellow Portishead genius Geoff Barrow, together with Billy Fuller and Will Young (<sigh> no, not that one) released >>>> at the end of May.

Their first album in six years, according to the promo the songs were recorded "in a house called Pen Y Bryn in Talsarnau, Wales [...] Remote and with only ourselves and the view of Portmeirion in the distance." The album was completed at Invada in Bristol and released via the label of the same name.

A video for The Seal was posted on You Tube last week and gives you a flavour of what to expect. >>>> ploughs a similar Krautrock/motorik groove as before, though none the less engaging or infectious for that. 

Another characteristic of naming songs after places in Bristol and neighbouring counties is also present and correct. >>>>'s contribution to this alternative road map is Windmill Hill. Not an usual name as of itself, lots of places use it, but I used to live near this one in South Bristol, which is home to a rather lovely city farm.

 

 

Here's another called Iron Acton, going back to their very first release in 2009 and geographically the closest to Casa K's current location.

 

 

Coincidentally, I was there at the weekend with Mrs. K, looking for another barrow, of the wheeled variety. No luck there but we came away with a bird bath instead. First world problems, eh? As a wee boy, my parents used to drive past the road signs for this place, which I would misread as Iron Action. The reality is there's not much action in Iron Acton but the music is great...!

 

Beak> have also recorded several sessions for Mark Riley's show on BBC 6Music which are worth checking out. In July 2019, they delivered a 4-song set, opening with covers of two Gary Numan classics, Cars and Films. Great stuff.

Beak> will be playing a few summer festivals and then touring the UK later this year, concluding with a hometown gig at SWX in Bristol on 14th December. I've got my ticket...see you there?

Devotional

Side 2 of a Depeche Mode mixtape, recorded sometime around September or October 1998.

The triumphant return of the boys from Basildon with this selection focusing on a decade of mixes from 1988 (not 1989 as advertised above) to 1998, bridging live compilation 101 through to their second singles collection, the rather functionally titled The Singles 86>98.

 

Headstar is a good example of Mode's stock-in-trade B-side, an instrumental that could easily have wound up on a US TV drama soundtrack. World In My Eyes is remixed by The Beloved's Jon Marsh, tucked away on a limited edition single back in 1990.  

 

In Your Room wasn't a particular favourite of mine as a single/album track but the remixes were better, including the one here by Jonny Dollar and featuring my first encounter with Geoff Barrow working under the Portishead moniker. 

 

Wrapping up Side 2 - and the compilation - a rare occasion when I used an alternative to the definitive single version of Enjoy The Silence on a mixtape. Poor old Dave Gahan doesn't get a look in until the closing minute or so, but it's a good mix nevertheless. 

 

I haven't yet got around to buying the latest Depeche Mode album, more a reflection on the ton of great albums that have already landed in 2023 so far. 

 

1) Headstar (Single Mix By Tim Simenon & Robin Hancock) (1998)

2) Nothing (Zip-Hop Mix By Justin Strauss & Eric Kupper) (1988)

3) World In My Eyes (Mayhem Mode) (Remix By Jon Marsh) (1990)

4) I Feel You (Babylon Mix By Supereal aka John Crossley) (1993)

5) Barrel Of A Gun (United Mix By Paul Freegard & Marc Waterman ft. Vanessa) (1997) 

6) Home (LFO Meant To Be) (Remix By Mark Bell) (1997)

7) In Your Room (The Jeep Rock Mix By Jonny Dollar & Portishead) (Edit) (1994)

8) Enjoy The Silence (Ricki Tik Tik Mix By Daniel Miller & Phil Legg) (1990)

Side Two (46:22) (KF) (Mega)

 

If that's left you hungry for more Mode, here are the previous selections I posted in August 2021 and May 2022.

 

More Than A Party

Moving Violations

 

Black Swan To Blue Mountain

Bristol on the mix: Easton to Stokes Croft in seven steps.

 

1) Black Steel (In The Draw Mix By Substance) (Cover of Public Enemy): Tricky (1995)

2) Love Will Be On Your Side (Massive Attack Tabla Remix): Indo Animata (1996)

3) Roads (Monk & Canatella Remix): Portishead (2009)

4) Distorted Angel (Remix By Tricky): Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1996)

5) Spooned (Smith & Mighty Dusk Mix): Coldfeet (2001)

6) Burning (RSD aka Rob Smith Remix): Kakhand ft. Sizzla (2013)

7) Nefisa (Portishead Mix): Earthling (1995)

Black Swan To Blue Mountain (37:06)