Hope Sandoval

Hope Sandoval is a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, California who is the leading singer of the Duo Mazzy Star and her late act called Hope Sandoval and The Warm Inventions. Starting in the late 80's, Sandoval Collaborated to David Roback to form Mazzy Star after Kendra Smith left their former band called Opal. Roback and Sandoval released three albums in the 90's and broke up so she wandered from one project to another, with her gloomy-hazy voice, until she formed Hope Sandoval and The Warm Inventions with My Bloody Valentine drummer, Colm Ó Cíosóig. Because the winter is coming and her voice is so warm, I hope that you'd also like some of her songs. I've chosen five of them, it's recommended to listen to them with a warm cup of tea/coffee. Enjoy

1) Suzanne (Taken from Bavarian Fruit Bread, 2001)

Favourite Line: Suzanne is waiting at your doorway, but all she does is waste your time

2) Wild Roses (Taken from Through The Devil Softly, 2009)

Favourite Line: And we're like the roses stoned in the backyard

 

3) Cherry Blossom Girl (Taken from Air's Cherry Blossom Girl Single, 2004)

Favourite Line: I don't think to feel like being shy, don't think i wanna stand it anymore

 

4) Charlotte (Taken from Bavarian Fruit Bread, 2001)

Favourite Line: Gonna Teach her to sin, 'cause I'm always knowing where she's been

 

5) Trouble (Taken from Bavarian Fruit Bread, 2001)

Favourite Line: The trouble with the trouble is the trouble in me

Amsterdam (Pick Word #6)

Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. Amsterdam's name is derived from Amstelredamme indicative of the city's origin: a dam in the river Amstel. Settles as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch golden age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading centre for finance and diamonds. As Netherlands' commercial capital and one of the top financial centres in Europe, Amsterdam is considered as an alpha world city by the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) study group. The city  is also cultural capital of the Netherlands. Many artists were fascinated by the beauty of this city, its canals and its old port. As a result we can find a lot of songs written about this magnificent city. So without any hesitation, here are five songs which deals with Amsterdam from different perspectives, Enjoy this part of City Tour issue

1) Dave Nachmanoff - Descartes In Amsterdam (Taken from Candy Shower, 1997)

Favourite line: Like an actor in a play who shall I be today, It's good to be a stranger in a strange land

 

2) Jacques Brel - Amsterdam (Never recorded for a studio album, preformed live at Enregistrement Public a L'Olympia, 1964) 

Favourite line: Dans le port d'AmsterdamY a des marins qui dansent

 

3) The Whipsaws - Amsterdam (Taken from 60 Watt Avenue, 2008)

Favourite line: Do you remember? We always said we'd get married in Amsterdam

 

4) John Cale - Amsterdam (Taken from Vintage Violence, 1970)

Favourite line: She's back from Amsterdam and I think journey did her well

 

5) Coldaplay - Amsterdam (Taken from A Rush Of Blood To The Head, 2002)

Favourite line: Come on, Oh my star is fading and I see no chance of release 

Kite (Pick Word #5)

When I was younger, I was fascinated by kites, those tethered air crafts that older kids in the neighbourhood flew. First invented in China about 2,800 years ago, the kites were made of silk and Bamboo which were the immediate materials to be used for that then new toy. Today, we can see children and mature people flying they're kites by the sea or in a windy green field far away from the noise of the common life. I searched for songs about kites and found a few that are really great, so enjoy them and try to fly one by yourselves. You can find some similar songs on Museum Of Flight Series

1) U2 - Kite (Taken from All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000)

Favourite Line: I'm a man, I'm not a child. A man who sees the shadow behind your eyes

 

2) Sun Kil Moon - Black Kite (Taken from Among The Leaves, 2012)

Favourite Line: Down the river, along the sea, up in the sky black kite follow

3) Blow Up Hollywood - Kite (Taken from Blow Up Hollywood, 2002)

Favourite Line: praying, wishing, hoping that somehow we'll see the light

 

4) K's Choice - White Kite Fauna (Taken From Paradise In Me, 1996)

Favourite Line: I close my eyes and perceive marble emptiness looking for my soul to bless

 

5) Damien Jurado - Paper Kite (Taken from Caught In The Trees, 2008)

Favourite Line: I'm caught out in your string, lucky enough to be in your tree

Tanita Tikaram

24 years have passed since the release of Tanita Tikaram's debut album called Ancient Heart. That album helped her to expand her audience, providing two well-received singles, Good Tradition and Twist In My Sobriety. After the success of her first album, she never managed to reproduce another album in the same critical level. The result was long years of silence between albums, which haven't got the opportunity to chart. Now, 7 years after her previous release called Sentimental (1995), Tanita Tikaram released brand new album, which hasn't got much attention at the media so far. I Listened to it a few times and it is not bad at all. In fact, there are some songs that are well produced while emphasising her deep voice. So here are three tracks (One of them with faboulos Grant Lee Philips) from the album called Can't Go Back, featuring two of her earlier songs. Worth listening, preferably at night time...

1) Rock n' Roll (Taken From Can't Go Back, 2012)

Favourite Line: I've never heard about you, all that I know is Rock n' Roll

2) Feeding The Witches (Taken From Lovers In The City, 1995)

Favourite Line: Since I've been feeding the witches, feeding them straw

 

3) Keep It Real (Taken From Can't Go Back, 2012)

Favourite Line: You keep it real like I'm someone else

4) Twist In My Sobriety (Taken From Ancient Heart, 1988)

Favourite Line: All God's children needs travelling shoes, drive your problems from here

 

5) Heavy Pressure (Taken From Can't Go Back, 2012)

Favourite Line: Love is a heavy pressure when you're going to places

 

Well Kept Secret: 25 Years To David Sylvian's "Secrets of the Beehive"

If there was a prize given to the most tormented singer, it seems that David Sylvian, formerly the leading singer of Japan, would be one of the strong candidates (EELS and Mark Kozelek). 25 years ago, on 7th of November, 1987, he released his highly acclaimed fourth album called Secrets of The Beehive. Mostly acoustic and down-tempo, Sylvian draws beautiful songs coloured by his wonderful voice, taking the listener into a magical world of Mythological characters and beautiful landscape. I've chosen five songs of that album, but my favourite, Orpheus, became one of his greatest hits so you must hear it at least....

1) September 

In 5 words: Feeling the cold wind blowing through
Favourite line: We say that we're in love while secretly wishing for rain

 

2) Orpheus

In 5 words: Great mythological metaphors of Orpheus
Favourite line: But we feel secure against such mighty dreams, as Orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring

 

3) The Boy With The Gun


In 5 words: Staring at the barrel of a gun
Favourite line: A grudge held from his childhood days, as if life had loved him less

 

4) Promise (The Cult Of Eurydice)


In 5 words: Silent ballad to fall asleep with
Favourite line: And when the lightning starts the secrets in her heart merge within the rain patterns

5) When Poets dreamed of angels


In 5 words: An unsolved question about poets' dreams
Favourite line: When the poets dreamed of angels what did they see?

Cashback: 10 Years To Johnny Cash's "American IV: The Man Comes Around"

There's something sad in Johnny Cash's album called American IV: The Man Comes Around, which is the fourth part of his project American Recordings, which he started at the mid 90's of the previous millennium. Cash was very ill when he recorded the songs on that album but I was impressed most by the songs he and Rick Rubin picked for this release. Covering a wide range of styles from new wave (Depeche Mode) through Classic songs (Beatles, Simone and Garfunkel) until Alternative Rock (Nine Inch Nails), Cash gave a minimalist new meaning for those songs with coulages like Fiona Apple, Nick Cave and Don Henley. My favourites from that album are listed below and it wasn't very easy, but above all of them is his cover to Hurt which gets a new interpretation from an old man point of view.

1) Hurt (Nine Inch Nails Cover)

In 5 words: Trent Reznor was surprised by this cover version
Favourite Line: And you could have it all, my empire of dirt. I will let you down, I will make you hurt

 

2) Bridge Over Troubling Water (Paul Simone Cover)


In 5 words: Bridge over Cash's shivering voice
Favourite Line: I'm on your side. When times get rough and friends just can't be found

 

3) Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode Cover)


In 5 words: Cash could be a great priest
Favourite Line: Your Own, Personal, Jesus. Someone to hear your prayers, someone who cares

 

4) In My Life (Beatles Cover)


In 5 words: When Englishmen meets American folk
Favourite Line: There are places I'll remember in my life though some have changed

5) Give My Love To Rose (Revised Version)


In 5 words: A Prisoner tale of homecoming
Favourite Line: Tell my boy his daddy's so proud of him and don't forget to give my love to Rose

Caged Animals: 25 Years To Sinead O'connor's "The Lion And The Cobra"

On the 4th of November it would be 25 years since Sinead O'Connor, the famous Irish singer-songwriter, released her debut album called The Lion And The Cobra. Back then in 1987, she was 20 years old and seven months pregnant when she persuaded the record company to let her produce her album. The result was magnificent, as you can hear below. O'Connor used Metaphors and tales in her songs which dealt with war, love, betrayal and more controversial issues. O'Connor did it in her own way and paved the way for future Irish singers like Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries. The Album sold 2.5 Million copies and got favourable critics around the world, so here are five songs from that great album from 1987.

1) Mandinka

In 5 Words: Paved Sinead way to mainstream
Favourite Line: I don't know no shame, I feel no pain, I can't see the flame

2) Just Like U Said It Would B

In 5 Words: The silence after the show
Favourite Line: I can see too many mouths open, too many eyes closed, ears closed

3) Jackie

In 5 Words: Ghostly sad tale about lost sailor
Favourite Line: And I've been waiting all this time for my man to come, take his hand in mine and lead me away to unseen shores

4) Drink Before The War

In 5 Words: Don't drink that much before fighting
Favourite Line: Oh Listen to the man in the liquor store, he yelling: "Anybody wanna drink before the war"

5) Troy

In 5 Words: The First (Under-rated) single of Sinead ever
Favourite Line: And I wondered where you went to, tell me, when did the light die

Storm (Pick Word #4)

The horrible storm Sandy caused a Hugh damage to the East coast a few days ago. It seems that it would take the citizens a while to understand the scale of destruction that it caused. Since my thoughts were with the people who suffered this great disaster, I managed to listen to songs about storms. Here are five which I've chosen. Hoping you'd like it.

1) Jose Gonzalez - Storm (Taken from Crosses, 2003)

In 5 words: Waiting for the storm to over
Favourite Line: All the stars are burning (for you), but none of them is going to last, so stop chasing the past

2) AARON - Birds In The Storm (Taken from Birds In The Storm)

In 5 words: How birds survive this storm?
Favourite Line: We're on our way to see the world, and all we are is birds in the storm

3) Mirah - Storm (Taken from Storageland, 1997)

In 5 words: Should have listen to the radio first....
Favourite Line: The storm blew in all over me. Maybe it's just a minor injury but my fingers and my head are rather tired

4) I Am Kloot - Storm Warning (Taken from Natural History, 1999)

In 5 words: Don't know whether it's storm or not....
Favourite Line: I would have kept you free from harm, ranged the bells or raised alarms

5) Hungry Lucy - Storm (Taken from Glo, 2003)

In 5 words: Great dreamy Trip-Hop song
Favourite Line: Wind carries me away to the place I want to be

Archive

When I first heard Archive's music it was late at night before the end of the last millennium. A friend of mine stuck his headphones in my ears swearing that Londinium is a masterpiece undiscovered yet. I was too tired that night so the sounds slipped through my head before I fell asleep without paying appropriate attention to their music. When Lights (2006) was released, I got back to them and It was great to discover this Progressive-Rock Trip-Hop collective. Last week I've noticed that they released their ninth studio album called With Us Until You're Dead (2012). Surprisingly, I've found out that it was out for sale since 27th of August and then I realised that it lacked public relations because it was released by their independent label called Dangervisit. So here are five songs by this great collective, two of them from the last release, enjoy.

1) Sane (Taken From Lights, 2006)

In 5 words: Can't help but dancing when I hear it
Favourite Line: Television's dead but you can't stop taking it in

2) Hatchet (Taken From With Us Until You're Dead, 2012)

In 5 words: Don't let her hold that hatchet.....
Favourite Line: If I had an army, it would be yours to have. People think I'm crazy but the pain is worth the pain

3) Bridge Scene (Taken From Michel Vaillant OST, 2003)

In 5 words: A beautiful look from a bridge
Favourite Line: I can't help but love the way you move

4) Damage (Taken From With Us Until You're Dead, 2012)

In 5 words: Progressive Rock mixed very well
Favourite Line: Cuts show nothing at all, scars show nothing at all, Damage shows nothing at all

5) Last Five (Taken From Londinium, 1996)

In 5 words: Don't miss Roya Arab's hidden track
Favourite Line: Hell was a place I knew a long time ago. Everything was dark, there were mazes all around

Animal Kingdom

Welcome to the animal kingdom!!! find a song about every kind of animal I've found, just click below the picture....


Butterflies


Foxes


Horses

20 Years To REM's "Automatic for the people"

October 1993. Only a year passed since REM's album Out Of Time which paved their way to all American ears (and also global ones), and it was very hard to predict what would I discover on the next one, which would be their eighth. The answer was completely out of time, while they made one of the best records of the nineties back then. Automatic for the people was released on 5th October and earned Platinum records all around the world due to its great songs. No one knew then that it would be one of the last albums with the drummer Bill Berry and his old friends: Micheal Stipe (Vocals), Peter Buck (Guitars) and Mike Mills (Bass and Keyboards), but it doesn't matter today that much. It was hard to choose but here are my favourite songs of that album. I know that not all of you will agree with me but it's OK. Enjoy

1) Drive

In 5 words: Best driving song ever composed
Favourite Line: What if I ride? what if you walk? What if you rock around the clock?

2) Sweetness Follows

In 5 words: Sadness first, sweetness follows
Favourite Line: I used to wonder why did you brother? Distanced from one, blind to the other

3) Nightswimming

In 5 words: Mature retrospective on youth pool parties
Favourite Line: It's not like years ago, the fear of getting caught, the recklessness in water

4) Man On The Moon

In 5 words: It's not dedicated to Niel Armstrong....
Favourite Line: If you believed they put a man on the moon, a man on the moon

5) Find The River

In 5 words: Life is like a river stream
Favourite Line: Watch the road and memorise, This life that pass before my eyes

15 Years For Portishead's "Portishead"

After a great debut album called Dummy, We needed to wait about three years to hear its follower, Portishead, which was darker than the first one (Didn't think it was possible then...). Beth Gibbons (Vocals and Guitar), Adrian Utley (Bass, Guitar and Keyboards) and Jeoff Barrow (Multi-instumentalist, DJ and producer) made a great effort to bring us one more mysterious album and it worked. So here are five songs which I chose from that record, almost 15 years after its release on 30th September, 1997.

1) Only You

In 5 Words: Gibbons left the ciggarettes behind here
Favourite Line: "We Suffer everyday, what is it for; These crimes of illusion are fooling us all"

2) Cowboys

In 5 Words: Feels like looking at Marlboro's cowboy
Favourite Line: "Did you feed us tales of deceit, conceal the tongues who need to speak?"

3) Undenied

In 5 Words: Plan and simple quiet love song
Favourite Line: "Now that I've found you and seen behind those eyes, how can I carry on"

4) Half Day Closing

In 5 Words: Gibbons' filtered voice sounds great
Favourite Line: "In the days, the golden days, when everybody knew what they wanted; It ain't here today"

5) Western Eyes

In 5 Words: Fictional loops of fictional band
Favourite Line: "With Western eyes and serpent's breath, we lay our own conscience to rest"