We're well overdue methinks, dear reader, another little selection of some of the "newer" choons that have caught my ear of late - before everything turns to shit with the coming tsunami of Xmas cash-ins...
A fitting way to start is with something that couldn't be more diametrically opposed to tinsel, sleigh-bells, faux-jollity and mawkish sentimentality if it tried! Who would ever have thought that a legendary member of that most decadent of bands Velvet Underground and a contemporary pop-princess would ever have collaborated on something as utterly breath-taking, gothic and sinister as this?
Phew. I think we should break the mood, at least a little bit, with a poignant one - the Soft Cell cover of an old Giorgio Moroder choon, that turned out to be the very last single released before Dave Ball's premature death:
Speaking of 80s/90s troupers, this:
Now for something completely different! [This album's actually on my Amazon wish-list] Abba as you never heard them before:
The wonderful Mr Bill McClintock does it again!
And, saving the best till last - I LOVE THIS!
As ever, dear reader, let me know your thoughts...
“Just give me a reason, I'm losing faith in modern times.” Mika does it again.
ReplyDeleteHe's utterly fabulous! And still cute, too... Jx
DeleteI can't listen right now; I will be back later to give the new chops my usual once over! I know, you can't wait!!
ReplyDeleteSx
Oh, the hectic social whirl of life in a Dartmoor village... Jx
DeleteIndeed!
DeleteRight:-
Charli xcx - I think this is more of a visual experience? Very interesting.
Soft Cell - Definitely one to bop to, but a little too long!
Andy Bell - Yes! An Erasure reboot!
Lautten Compagney - I could certainly listen to more of this. I like the Soprano Sax!! I always wanted one.
Peter G mash-up - Very good, as per, and ear confusing!
Mika - Oh he's a sweetheart, what's not to love?!
Sx
Thank you Ms Scarlet!
DeleteYes, the Charli XCX one is a feast for the senses, but not the sort of thing I can imagine popping up on the Christmas Top of the Pops 😂.
...and I agree - Mika is a sweetheart, and still sexy!
Jx
I disliked the first one a lot. It was like Laurie Anderson had gone to the Dark Side.
ReplyDeleteSoft cell and Andy Bell very nice; how could they not be
loved the Mama Mia
Bill McClintock is a genius
Yes you did save the best for last. Fab U Lous! how can Mika still be so pretty at his age!
It's in his genes, dear - or is it in his jeans? Jx
DeleteI've been listening to the Soft Cell one over and over and over - I love it! (And I beg to disagree with Ms Scarlet, but it could be longer.)
ReplyDeleteAs for the others, I quite like Mika's effort (a distant second to Soft Cell), and the McClintock mash-up is as entertaining as always. Baroque Abba and "House" are not my cup of tea, but I'm pleasantly surprised by Andy Bell & Tim Rice-Oxley's number (despite the electronically 'assisted' vocals) - it sounds rather more sophisticated than Mr Bell's recentish solo efforts of which I'm not a fan.
Just going to listen to Soft Cell again on my way out. Thank you, Jon!
Thanks, Mr DeVice.
DeleteSoft Cell never disappointed, did they? One of my all-time fave bands, needless to say. I agree with you about the recent Andy Bell stuff - good, but not quite good enough. He needs Vince back 😎.
Glad that you like the Mika one, too! Jx