Cat Empire Live At Hard Club

Last Friday I went to see The Cat Empire live at Hard Club in Porto.
The Hard Club is some kind of a small alternative place where you can find at the same time great concerts as well as "all night long" parties. So, it was the perfect place to see a band like the Australian one.
The atmosphere was great, it wasn't full but it was with enough people.
And the band really made a connection with the crowd (as they always do). They played all their famous songs, some of the new album and gave a lot of outstanding improvisation moments. Really, the time when the 3 wind instruments were competing was just just just incredible.
Best moments for me were How To Explain, Brighter Than Gold, Still Young, The Chariot and obviously, the mythical Wine Song. I made a fault, and went to see the setlist of their last concerts, which didn't include The Wine Song, so, I really wasn't expecting it, which was even greater when they played it.
The concert was long, intense and incredible enjoyable, you could stay the 2 hours just dancing and dancing. They do really look (and probably are) a bunch of really nice and happy guys that are enjoying each moment as we are.
I just bought the ticket on the same afternoon of the concert, and I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't go. Won't miss them next time and it's one of those concert that, even if you don't know the band very well, you'll enjoy it to death! If you doubt my words go and check a live performance of them on YouTube!

Bowie's Back Again!

The legendary David Bowie will return with a new album called "Blackstar".
The album will be launched on the 8 of January, the same day of his 69th anniversary, and will contain 7 tracks separated in 45 minutes.
The lead single will have the name title as the album and will be released on the 19 of November. According with The Times, it's a 10-minute song.
More news to follow soon!
There's a preview available here!

Berlin

Another post of a "new" not world-wide famous artist.
Mark Fernyhough is a musician and photographer, who passed the last years in the company of great artists. One of them, was Suede, he was the support act of them in some shows.
And you can understand why, his tunes are very "Suedey" for sure.
Take a listen to Mark's fantastic debut single Berlin.
Really curious to listen something more of him.

Agent "Orange" Side Grinder

I discovered a new band (for me) through a fantastic Portuguese local radio program called "Sem Regras" (Withouth Rules). Actually, I did discovered 3 amazing bands on only one broadcast, which was incredible.

One of them was Agent Side Grinder, a Swedish electro/industrial band.

Their new single "This Is Us" was passing and I enjoyed it so much that later I listened to their whole new album "Alkimia".

The album consists of 8 great songs, most of them with more or less the same direction and, by coincidence, the song that guided me to them, is the one that is less fitted to the album in my opinion. 

"This Is Us" is a pop/rock electric single, that kinda reminds me of Joy Division or Bauhaus. The song is great, with a wonderful and catchy chorus and amazing keyboard riffs, maybe my favourite.

However, when I listened to the other songs, another band came to my mind, one of my all-time favourite acts, Depeche Mode. I know it's unfair to compare bands, but this case was special, because the English band really looks like a older brother of the Swede.

Kristoffer Grip's (the singer) voice has a very similar tone to Dave Gahan from the 80's and the instrumental section also has a big connection. Some keyboard riffs could easily fit in some of DM's songs from A Broken Frame or Construction Time Again. Also, Agent Side Grinder use a lot of sound samples. Take a close listen to "Giant Falls" (that middle section) and "For The Young" and, if you are a Mode's fan, you'll understand what I'm saying. Basically, imagine that Depeche Mode had frozen in the 80's, before their turned more guitar-orientated (so, before Violator), and they would unfroze today in the XXI century. I think they would be similar to ASG.

I don't you to keep the idea that Agent Side Grinder is a copy of Depeche Mode or too much 80's oriented, they are not, and I can't really say that, because I only know their new album. To reduce a great album to a Gore/Gahan article would be truly unfair (but that's my bad, I'm a big big DM fan). And, I can admit, they do have a much powerful and cooler bass on their recording.

Alkimia is a short and powerful record, dark and mystic, that can keep your attention with its variety of sounds and good quality song-writing. Take a listen to them, I'm sure you'll enjoy. Personal favourites are "Into The Wild", "This Is Us" and "For The Young".

Also, the video for "This Is Us" is beautiful.

Suede To Release Their Best Yet?

Suede are going to release their brand new album "Night Thoughts" on the 22 of January.
The album will be accompanied by a full film directed by Roger Sargent.
As we can see, it will be an innovative release, something that Suede have never done in the past.
The first single Outsiders is already available on iTunes and can be listen on YouTube.

Until now, I listened, and re-listened to 6 songs: Outsiders (studio version), I Don't Know How To Reach You, Can't Giver Her What She Wants, Tightrope, What I'm Trying To Tell You and Pale Snow (all of them live)

These songs are creating in me, very high expectations, so high that I'm starting to think that Suede can be in the process of releasing their best album so far!
My favourite album is Coming Up, and then we have the "fans-favourite" Dog Man Star but, I think that, for what we saw, Night Thoughts has the potential to overcome them.
Bloodsports was a perfect come back, but as Brett Anderson said, it was a little bit squeezed into 10 three-minute songs, not giving them the space to explore deeper the songs. This space may have emerged now.

The single, Outsiders, is brilliant, the chorus is so beautiful, reminds me of glorious Coming Up days, we have a solo, a instrumental outro, Brett's voice is ageing very well and his falsetto sounds like it was 20 years ago.
What's I'm Trying To Tell You is in the same style as Outsiders, great fast rock track, with an amazing guitar riff during the verses.
Pale Snow is very introspective, Can't Giver Her What She Wants is very dramatic (which is great) and Tightrope sounds brilliant, although I'm expecting a much more complex and full studio version in contrast with the acoustic performances that it had live.

And then, the main song that is creating in me this feeling is I Don't Know How To Reach You. I was lucky enough to be part of the audience when it was first played.
The performance of it during the Glastonbury Festival is enormous. The lyrics are beautiful, the guitar riff after the chorus is magical, the melody is dramatic and emotional and there's an ending coda on the end of the song with powerful guitars and screams. And I'm hoping that the studio version will be even better.

I can't wait for the release of the album, until then, I'll listen this tracks and wait for the concert on London's Roundhouse in November which I'll be attending!

A Song From Norway

Susanne Sundfør first cough my attention when she provided the vocals for a song by Röyksopp called "Running To The Sea" (and they also played together Ice Machine by Depeche Mode, maybe that was, in fact, the reason why I saw them together in first place). The song is great, with a melancholic dance vibe. Susanne's voice is spectacular, something really attracts me to her voice, obviously she sings very good, but there's something in her timbre quite spectacular, maybe it's the way she flies very easily from the low to the high tones.

So, I started to search a little bit about her. Her first singles didn't entered to my head so easily as Running To The Sea did (although her single "White Foxes" is a great great moment) but, I recently listened to the album "Ten Love Songs", released this year. And it is fantastic!
Her vocals are really amazing, what a voice really, and her pop / electronic songs really flow easily into your mind. Personal favourites for now are "Accelerate" and "Memorial" (a ten minutes epic song) but the rest of the songs are very good. I would describe "Slowly" as a lost song from the early catalogue of Depeche Mode, adapted to 2015.

Well, I wouldn't say it is a revolutionary record, something that you really need to listen right now, but it is, without any doubt, a very fresh and modern record. Lyrically is normal, simple, as the album's title says they are love poems. But again, I really like her voice.
It has a really good connection with 80's electronic music and today's pop and rock music.

And she is from Norway! Sometimes I get a little bit upset about British media, always the same artists, always Blur, Oasis and the mega famous american popstars, so it's great to open the horizons a little bit and try music from other European countries.

Luminous

Lately I was listening to the new, or last, Horrors' album.
I'm a fan of them, Primary Colours and Skying are amazing pieces of art.
Although, now, I'm not a big big fan of Luminous. I like the sound, very futuristic and personal but, in my view they lost something from the previous ones.
Faris Badwan's voice is not that as raspy as it used to be, now it's a lot more "sweeter", more poppy, and that's a big disadvantage, because part of the band's identity was his voice and his way of singing.
The synthesisers are awesome as always but the guitar is lacking a little bit, the riffs, you can't find things like "Do You Remember" here.
The best moment of Luminous is the lead single, "I See You". It's a great track. "So Now You Know" is also a great moment, "Jealous Sun" is super interesting and "Change Your Mind" it's a nice ballad. But I can't find a big connection with "Frist Day Of Spring", "In And Out Of Sight" or "Mine And Yours". Compare this album's final track "Sleepwalk" with "Ocean's Burning" from Skying and you'll see why I'm telling this.
I had the same problem with the previous albums, it took time for me to really enjoying them, so, maybe I'll change opinion soon but, I don't think it is as good as the expectation created.
Anyway, The Horrors are amazing and Luminous is great, but not as great as I expected.
Great bands always give you great expectations.

This Week I'll Be Listening To...

The two (new for me) albums that I'll add to the playlist for listening while walking on the streets during the next week.

I'm thinking of getting a routine of every week listen to a modern record and to a classic album that I don't know so well. Let's start now.

Blur Doing The "Bowie"?

I'm suspicious to talk about. When David Bowie released "Where Are We Now?" back in 2013 it was, for me, the best and most surprising moment in music history. That moment, that no one knew that Bowie was still active and when people though (or were sure) that he was retired, he, suddenly, released one of the best songs ever. Ever.
Of course, this surprise effect had a brilliant commercial performance.

Well, today, Blur released their new single when no one was also expecting. It was known that the band recorded something in 2013, but last year Damon Albarn said that they didn't have time for the new album and that, maybe, the songs would never be released.
So, I think Blur tried to have a little bit the Bowie effect. But, it didn't worked so much. First of all, some newspaper discovered it before the announcement and, in my opinion, the new song "Go Out", although it is really "Blurish" it isn't that that amazing. And of course, because Blur are not Bowie, and Bowie is Bowie, incomparable to anyone else.

Obviously people will say that they just released a song didn't try to use Bowie's idea but there are some coincidences. Actually, when the band asked how does the new album sound they replied something like Bowie's Berlin Trilogy (I'm sorry but, again, that, David's period is also incomparable) and the way they are pre-ordering the album is exactly the way Bowie did, buy today the new album and you'll get the new song single now. For sure record companies tactics but it is funny to see how things connect.

Good news that Blur are back, I really like them, and it is a good way to release a new song and to announce a new album. So David Bowie must say.

Suede Will Receive NME's Godlike Genius Award 2015

Suede are set to receive the NME's Godlike Genius Award 2015.
The band will be recognized for their contribute and influence to modern pop music next week during the NME awards and will also perform in the event.
Read HERE a brand new interview by the band where they comment this new achievement.
Meanwhile, remember one of their old (but always fresh) hit singles.

Happy Birthday Elvis And Bowie!

Today is some kind of a legendary day.
Two of the most influential artists of all time were born on the 8th of January.
One of them is already dead: Elvis Presley would do 80 years if he was still alive.
The other is the one and only David Bowie, a personal favourite of mine and one of the most talked artists in this blog.
To celebrate listen to some of their songs.
Happy Birthday for both of them!

Recording In Progress

The British singer PJ Harvey will record her next album in front of an audience. 

The album will be recorded in London's Somerset house and will be called "Recording in Progress". Flood and John Parish are in charge of the production.

The recording room will be a space in the gallery, surrounded by a one-way glass that allows people from the outside to see the band working.

This will be Harvey's first album since the amazing "Let England Shake" that won a Mercury Music Prize.

The tickets for the exhibition (or recording) are already sold out.

Nothing Has Changed

David Bowie released is Very Best Of, named Nothing Has Changed.

Now, is my mission, to tell you why this is one of the best compilation albums ever and why it is so relevant.

First of all, there are 4 editions of the album so far: 1CD, 2CDs, 3CDs and Vinyl.

Let's focus on the most popular and complete one, the triple album.

So, in this version we have 59 (!) songs. 

Back in 2002 Bowie released his most popular (until now): Best of Bowie that covers his career from Space Oddity to Heathen. Since that album, Bowie only released two original albums, Reality and The Next Day.

The biggest difference between this compilation and Nothing has Changed are the 90's and the 60's. In my opinion the first compilation didn't covered very well the 90's but, in the new one we have a lot of songs from that time. Songs from hours... and Buddha of Suburbia didn't appear there and, finally, they are here.Great moments on the album with Thursday's Child, Buddha of Suburbia, Seven or Strangers When We Meet.

Bowie's career in the 60's are not very popular, although there are there really good songs before he emerged has a solo artist. Liza Jane, You've Got a Habit of Leaving fit like a glove on Nothing has Changed, and shows an "oldies" Bowie, marvellous really.

He even choose two songs from is unreleased album Toy.

Well, obviously, on a best of like this, you have to pick mostly the hit singles. Bowie is such a musical genius that, there are hundreds of songs you can pick for a best of. It's a pity that moments like Rock n' Roll Suicide, Five Years, Time, Heathen, or If I'm Dreaming All My Life are not there, but understandable. But we have Moonage Daydream there, which is a song that impersonates very well the singer, but was never a hit or even a single.

Also, a nice curiosity, this compilation albums, normally have the tracklist in chronological order (from old to new) or like a concert, with the biggest hits first and a ballad to end. Well, Nothing has Changed has the tracklist in chronological order but from the new songs to the old songs!! I can't explain why, but I think that is amazing.

And the Cover Art of the album is, again, spectacular. Seems like a coincidence but David took photos in mirrors during almost all is career. So, you have photos of Bowie has Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, from the beginning of the 70's, from the 90's, and from today! It looks like he was planning this, since the 60's.

The title of the album came from the song Sunday but, as Bowie is often called the chameleon of music, because of his alter-egos and changes. So, call the album "Nothing has Changed". Priceless! But, then, open the 3CD box and you read, "Everything has Changed". Oh yeah, Bowie can play with your thoughts very easily.

The only thing I would change a little little bit, would be the Berlin years. Although the main songs are there, these era of Bowie is so good and different that he could have put one of his acclaimed instrumental on the album. And my choice would be, for sure, Warszawa.

Most of the songs are in their shorter single versions and some are the single remixes. Mostly of these remixes are actually worse than the album versions (Hallo Spaceboy, I'm Afraid of Americans or Love Is Lost) but, as the album versions are available on their respective LPs, makes sense to choose the single versions.

The album reached #9 on the UK album charts (but it deserved #1).

Listen to Nothing has Changed and you will listen to 50 years of amazing music, through a lot of different style and times. Best Christmas gift this year, by far and, probably, the best compilation album ever released. 

Leave U2 Alone

This expression "Leave [...] alone" became popular from a silly young girl and her obsession with pop singer Britney Spears, however it is a good euphemism from what I want to say.

First, U2 are a great band. Obviously, they were better in the 80's and 90's when they had the power to re-invent themselves during 20 years, creating wonderful albums.

Yes, we can't forget that they made brilliant songs. Achtung Baby is still one of the best albums I ever heard. Every single song is brilliant. Love Is Blindness, So Cruel, The Fly, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, etc. And then, they created a completely different album with Zooropa, with Stay, The First Time, Lemon, between other songs. And then, they went again to a different and brilliant album with Pop.

I don't believe that they can do a decade like this again. They are getting old, they don't have the power to re-invent themselves for every album, so the last works follow some  more or less straight line.

Some think that their artistically is covered by speeches about poverty, sunglasses, guitar pedals or cowboy hats, and, sometimes I kinda agree with that.

But, they are still a great band. Their last album is good, it has some beautiful moments as well, great guitar riffs. Bono's voice is, naturally, a little bit aged (compared to his super powerful voice 20 years ago), their lyrics may not have the same "muse" as before but the songs are there, and it is good.

Today, it seems that the press (and a lot music critics) are tired of U2 and want to push them down as much as they can, which is not fair.

For example;

Songs of Innocence was given for free for iTunes users or whatever. Everyone now is saying that U2 are giving away their music because it is bad, because they devalued their own music, because no one wants to buy it.
But, when Radiohead did that with "In Rainbows" they were called revolutionaries, visionaries and it was the best and most spectacular thing someone did to music. Also, Thom Yorke, more or less at the same time that U2 released their last album, made his new solo album available via BitTorrent by a very very low price, but that is not devaluing music, it is a genius step.

Other example;
Someone says "U2 are shit, I hate them". And then "Did you heard the new song by Jack White? Love Is Blindness?" "Yes, it is brilliant I love it" "U2 wrote it" "Oh but I prefer much more this version, U2's version is shit, Jack White really added everything to it". I'm pretty sure White wrote the lyrics, the chords and the melodies for this song.

I don't remember seeing good news on a music website about U2 for ages. Every new is "U2 are going to split" "Bono is getting blind" "The grandfather of the guitarist of the band that had one hit song says that U2 are shit". It'tiring and boring.

So, everyone is trying to put U2 down, I don't know why. It's a pity and music industry should remember the huge influence that the band has on modern pop rock music.

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

One day after Morrissey started his world tour to promote "World Peace Is None Of Your Business", his most recent solo album that reached #2 in the British Charts, he declared that he received medicine's attention for cancer treatment. If he has or not the disease, is something still unclear. While the international press is saying that he has been receiving treatments during the last 18 months, Morrissey says that he did some analysis to his body but that everything was OK.
He said:
"They have scraped cancerous tissues four times already, but whatever," he said. "If I die, then I die. And if I don't, then I don't. Right now I feel good. I am aware that in some of my recent photos I look somewhat unhealthy, but that’s what illness can do. I’m not going to worry about that, I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
But also:
"I made four analysis to cancer but everything was good. Everytime we heard the word "cancer" we assume that everything is ending. [...] As things are today, I can say that time belongs to me"
This is really sad news. Morrissey is 55, and still one of the best artists around. His new solo album is amazing and it's a shame if he will pass away so early, because, a man with his talent has a lot more to offer to this world.
As you said Moz, there is a light that never goes out.

George Harrison's Apple Years Boxset Is Released Today

George Harrison's new boxset is released today.
It includes all studio albums that Harrison relased between 1968 and 1975 when he was still committed with Apple Records.
All of the albums were remastered and there is a lot of extra tracks being added to the albums.
All of the CDs will also be released separately excluding the bonus DVD, which only is available as part of the boxset.
After the Beatles back catalogue being revised and, more recently, McCartney's and Lennon's most successful albums bring remastered it was (finally) for George's turn. Actually, he was really needing a edition like this, some of his albums were last time released back in 1992.
All albums have been remastered by Gavin Lurssen, Reuben Cohen and Paul Hicks at Lurssen Mastering.
Don't forget that this week is also George Harrison week in Conan O'Brien (a huge fan) show, which will include performances of Beck, Norah Jones and Dhani Harrison.

Check the tracklist of each album:
CD 1: Wonderwall Music

1. Microbes
2. Red Lady Too
3. Tabla and Pakavaj
4. In the Park
5. Drilling a Home
6. Guru Vandana
7. Greasy Legs
8. Ski-ing
9. Gat Kirwani
10. Dream scene
11. Party Seacombe
12. Love Scene
13. Crying
14. Cowboy Music
15. Fantasy Sequins
16. On the Bed
17. Glass Box
18. Wonderwall to Be Here
19. Singing Om
20. In the First Place – The Remo Four (Bonus Track)
21. Almost Shankara (Bonus Track) (previously unreleased)
22. The Inner Light (Alternative Instrumental) (Bonus Track) (previously unreleased)

CD 2: Electronic Music

1. Under the Mersey Wall
2. No Time or Space

CDs 3-4: All Things Must Pass 

1. I’d Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn’t It a Pity (Version One)
5. What is Life
6. If Not for You
7. Behind That Locked Door
8. Let It Down
9. Run of the Mill
10. I Live for You (Bonus Track) (included on All Things Must Pass, Capitol CDP 7243 5 30474 2 9, 2001)
11. Beware of Darkness (Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track) (included on All Things Must Pass, Capitol CDP 7243 5 30474 2 9, 2001)
12. Let It Down (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track) (included on All Things Must Pass, Capitol CDP 7243 5 30474 2 9, 2001)
13. What is Life (Backing Track/Alternate Mix) (Bonus Track) (included on All Things Must Pass, Capitol CDP 7243 5 30474 2 9, 2001)
14. My Sweet Lord (2000) (Bonus Track) (included on All Things Must Pass, Capitol CDP 7243 5 30474 2 9, 2001)

1. Beware of Darkness
2. Apple Scruffs
3. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
4. Awaiting on You All
5. All Things Must Pass
6. I Dig Love
7. Art of Dying
8. Isn’t It a Pity (Version Two)
9. Hear Me Lord
10. It’s Johnny’s Birthday
11. Plug Me In
12. I Remember Jeep
13. Thanks for the Pepperoni
14. Out of the Blue

CD 5:  Living in the Material World

1. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
2. Sue Me, Sue You Blues
3. The Light That Has Lighted the World
4. Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long
5. Who Can See It
6. Living in the Material World
7. The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)
8. Be Here Now
9. Try Some Buy Some
10. The Day the World Gets ‘Round
11. That Is All
12. Deep Blue (Apple single R 5912-B, 1971) (Bonus Track)
13. Miss O’Dell (Apple single R 5988, 1973) (Bonus Track)
14. Bangla Desh (Apple single R 5912-A, 1971 as remixed for The Best of George Harrison, Parlophone PAS 10011, 1976) (Bonus Track)

CD 6: Dark Horse

1. Hari’s on Tour (Express)
2. Simply Shady
3. So Sad
4. Bye Bye Love
5. Maya Love
6. Ding Dong, Ding Dong
7. Dark Horse
8. Far East Man
9. It is ‘He’ (Jai Sri Krishna)
10. I Don’t Care Anymore (Apple U.S. single 1877, 1974) (Bonus Track)
11. Dark Horse (Early Acoustic Take) (Bonus Track) (previously unreleased)

CD 7: Extra Texture

1. You
2. The Answer’s at the End
3. This Guitar (Can’t Keep from Crying)
4. Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You)
5. World of Stone
6. A Bit More of You
7. Can’t Stop Thinking About You
8. Tired of Midnight Blue
9. Grey Cloudy Lies
10. His Name is Legs (Ladies and Gentleman)
11. This Guitar (Can’t Keep from Crying) (previously unreleased Platinum Weird version) (Bonus Track)

George Harrison – The Apple Years Feature (2014) [7:27]

• Produced by Peacock, Directed By Olivia Harrison
• All Things Must Pass (bonus feature in 2001 album package) [8:03]
• Produced by Radical Media
• The Concert for Bangladesh EPK (2005) [6:03]
• Produced by Olivia Harrison and Jonathan Clyde, Edited by Claire Ferguson
• Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (video from Live In Japan, 1991) [3:43]
• Miss O’Dell (alternative version from 2006 deluxe edition of Living In The Material World) [2:31]
• Sue Me Sue You Blues (acoustic demo version from 2006 deluxe edition of Living In The Material World) [3:04]
• Living In The Material World (feature from 2006 deluxe edition of Living In The Material World) [3:34]
• Produced by Abbey Road Interactive
• Ding Dong, Ding Dong (original promo video, 1974) [3:46]
• Directed by George Harrison, Filmed by Nick Knowland
• Film Restoration: David Dean & Gwyn Evans
• Dark Horse (original promotional clip, 1974) [:30]
• Created by Capitol Records

We Need A Depeche Mode B-Sides Album

Earlier today, I was listening to some of Depeche Mode's b-sides. You can state the obvious, the songs are not as good as most of the album songs, which is something the band can be proud of, they didn't make the typical mistake of letting bit anthems out of their albums.
Anyway, on their b-sides you can find some really great musical moments, more than enough to make a big compilation selection all or the best of them.

The band were always fan of compilation albums, they already release 3 singles and 2 remixes compilations. So, instead of getting some new guys to make a couple of remixes they could simple release their ultimate b-sides compilation. Their b-sides are not that famous, even inside their fanbase and for long they don't play any of it live (instead of Fly On The Windscreen, an original b-sides appearing alter on Black Celebration).

But image, an album with songs like Ice Machine (famous now for Röyksopp version), Work Hard, But Not Tonight, Dangerous, Sea of Sin, My Joy, Death's Door, Surrender, Sibeling or Free could be a damn good compilation album.

It exists some bootlegs with these songs but no official release until now so, Mute guys, think about that please.

I Am The Resurrection

Sometimes you can't find the motivation to write about music, sometimes you don't have nothing to say or you simply don't have the right mood.

So writing for some months again, but I created this blog 8 years ago and don't want to let it disappear. So, let's resurrect Strange Sound one more time!

   

Suedewalk 2014

As I wrote before, I'm now living in London. Actually, this is my last week here, this Sunday I'm travelling back to my sweet old Portugal after 6 months in this amazing place. 

Some weeks ago I wrote in a Suede Facebook group called "The Insatiable Ones" that it would be nice to resurrect the Suedewalks.

What are the Suedewalks? Suedewalks are tour around London organized by David Barnett, ex-member of the Suede crew and writer of their official Biography. Well, guess what, Mr. Barnett answered to my request and organized a new Suedewalk! The last one was a couple of years ago.

This year's Suede walk focused on the Suede/Dog Man Star era. 

So, a group of more or less 10 fans met at the Boogaloo pub in Highgate. There, we went for a beer and David started to tell some secret things about the band. It was awesome. I read his book some weeks agof or the third time and listening to him speaking was almost reading the book for us. Incredible. The owner of the Boogaloo was also very nice and offered us some Corona beers for the trip.

The first stop was Brett's old house (pictured). There, he wrote the lyrics for Suede's most acclaimed album, Dog Man Star. The house was number 16, Brett's lucky number, because, as Barnett's said, he is very superstitious.

Next we went to the park where Brett used to do volunteer work and where he got inspiration for the lyrics of Sleeping Pills. We also visited the Highgate cemetery where Brett and Bernard Butler gave their last TV interview together and then we passed through several places where Suede played specially on their first years. We passed through the Forum where the band gave their fantastic 1997 B-Sides gig and the mythical White Horse where the band gave their first ever concert in 1990 (pictured).

After that, we ended up drinking a beer in a pub in Kentish Town and having a good conversation and a good laugh. 

David signed my Love & Poison book and we took a picture together. And I also brought home a copy of the fanclub Sessions CD provided by him!

Fantastic Saturday and fantastic walk, I can only say thank you very very much.

Suedewalks are not dead!

Happy Birthday Sir Paul McCartney

Today, 72 years ago, a legend was born!
Paul McCartney former member of the Beatles, Wings, and with a huge and successful solo career launched his latest album "New" last year reaching the top 3 of the UK album charts.
Just to have an idea of the contribution of Paul's to modern music, we just need to say that the Beatle was involved in the #1 best selling single in the 60's, 70's and 80's.
I can't choose a favourite song but, let's remember this old classic, Monkberry Moon Delight from his second solo album (or first with Linda) Ram On.
Happy Birthday!