Sunday 8 November 2009

Something Different


Sunday night....spent all day preparing for work tomorrow so grabbing a few minutes to add a new blog entry. I thought that tonight I would offer the world a couple of slightly different sounding tracks.


First up. You know how most free CDs from magazines are a bit dodgy? Well, Mojo have bucked this trend this month with a re-recording of 'The Wall'. The tracks are covered by a range of acts, most unfamiliar to me and the whole thing is remarkably consistent, both in style and quality. It opens with 'In the Flesh' as covered by (mercury nominees) Sweet Billy Pilgrim. They offer a percussive take on the song, which unfolds nicely and sets the tone for what follows. (They also have a very good picture of a ship on their album cover, as you can see. )Part 2 follows next month - I wonder who will tackle the mighty 'Comfortably Numb'?. Inside the mag itself Roger Waters reveals he is looking into the logistics of an arena tour for 'The Wall' which would be very exciting. Yes, we all know it's overblown and a bit silly, but it's still awesome.



Secondly. Efterklang. Danish I think, and hailed by Mojo. I was intrigued enough to download a sample track,and it has sneaked into my 'Festive 50' in a very high position. I've since bought the album, which comes with a live cd. This features the band joining forces with a danish orchestra to re-produce their album 'Parades'. Somewhere between post-rock and contemporary classical and scandinavian ambience lies this wonderful track which is the climax of the set. The DVD reveals the orchestra and band on a set that features stylised mountain peaks and a maypole, and everyone is dressed in bizarre Scandinavian modernist costumes, with facepaint and cone hats. Weird in a good way. However, the guy who seems to be directing the whole shebang also has a very dodgy thin moustache.

Both of these songs are worth a download and a couple of plays