We Are Live: Temptation

Original video located here. Accessed 24th August 2015

Song title: Temptation

Artist: New Order

Year: 1982

Why I like this song:

Recently I saw Peter Hook and the Light when they made an appearance in Hobart.

This was an unusual show in that it came in thirds. The first third was all dedicated to Joy Division songs (it should be noted that there was no support act). The second third was playing the New Order album Brotherhood in full. And the third third was playing the New Order album Low-Life in full.
And then there was an encore playing the hits: Thieves Like Us, True Faith, Temptation (above) and Love Will Tear Us Apart.

It was a great show as Peter took the lead vocals and had his son playing second bass. The rest of the band were no slouch although it should be noted that the other three had all played in Monaco. Even David Potts was there which made me wonder why they didn't go the whole hog and include What Do You Want From Me.

Still, it was a great show and I'm glad I went.

Choon of the Month: The Shamen

Original video located here. Accessed 17th February 2016

Song title: The Shamen

Artist: Majora

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

Won't say no to an instrumental and this one delivers. Hits like a sledgehammer and I think I like it.

Nineties Revisited: Natural One

Original video located here. Accessed 15th August 2021

Song title: Natural One

Artist: Folk Implosion

Year: 1995

Why I like this song:

It's something of a lost gem. I don't recall this having any kind of popularity in the mid-nineties but it did stick with me for just being ominous: The bass line, the guitar riff, the freaky lyrics ('There's no telling what we'll do when we're free" and "The World is falling down so it may as well crash with me").

Funny thing, you have so many metal bands trying to sound evil and then you have this doing the same thing but through mood and more subtler methods. And is therefore more successful.

Nineties Revisited: He'll Never Be an Ol' Man River

Original video located here. Accessed 14th July 2015

Song title: (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River

Artist: TISM

Year: 1995

Why I like this song:

Yesterday, I mentioned about how, at age 14, i was stepping out of the bubble and finding new music beyond it. And, as strange as it may sound, This Is Serious Mum is indeed emblematic of this forging of new frontiers.

For me, TISM had a lot of appeal to my developing mind: It was goofy. It was snarky. It had a lot of swearing. It had subjects that you could get away with in songs. It had a wicked social satire.

All of which are ingredients to seduce my sense of mischievousness

Nineties Revisited: Apple Tree

Original video located here. Accessed 9th August 2017

Song title: Apple Tree

Artist: Drop City

Year: 1995

Why I like this song:

This song is another in amongst the clutch of new songs i heard during that time in 1996 I decided to expand my musical horizons. As such, i will always associate this song with being fourteen and finding out there was world outside my comfort zone.

As for the song itself, it's very much an exercise in the psychedelic and with a winner of a guitar riff. In fact, i doubt if you could listen to this and not be won over.

This Song Rocks: Puppet Theatre

Original video located here. Accessed 7th August 2015

Song title: Puppet Theatre

Artist: Claptone with Peter Bjorn and John

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

Moody indeed. There's a great beat and some spooky vocals from Peter, Bjorn and John. And who says electronic/dance music is all bombast?

The Asian Connection: Tonari no Totoro

Original video located here. Accessed 18th August 2020

Song title: Tonari no Totoro

Artist: Azumi Inoue

Year: 1988

Why I like this song:

You know how last month I mentioned Grave of the Fireflies? Well lets talk about My Neighbour Totoro.

Not much I can say about this one: A delightful theme, maddingly catchy and it really sells it's parent anime.