Tag: 2012

Fay Hallam is one of those treasured singers who in a parallel universe could be a household name. Despite a past that includes fronting Makin’ Time with Charlatans bassist Martin Blunt and The Prime Movers, Fay is largely unknown. This could all be about to change with her latest album ‘Lost In Sound’, which sees her collaborating with The Bongolian. ‘Lost In Sound’ is an album full to the brim with that classic Hammond organ sound, that combined with Fay’s powerful and soulful vocals creates an album that’s impossible not to get absorbed in. Highlights on the album include opener ‘Freefall’, a song that has a very northern soul feel to it, the way the Hammond Organ, Guitars and Vocals combine is a statement of intent. ‘Dancing’ has such an infectious chorus you will be left scratching your head wondering why is this not at the top of the charts. ‘Lights Are Coming Down’ and ‘Gathering’ both provide the album with some beautiful and tender moments. ‘I Don’t Need You To Love Me’ which closes the album with style, weaving its way from darkness to joy in such a perfect way. ‘Lost In Sound’ is an album that will hopefully see Fay Hallam finally achieve the success her songs deserve.

30. Baltic Fleet ‘Towers’ (Blow Up)
Instrumentals that that pits itself between DJ Shadow, Gang of Four and Neu!

Il tutto condito da vellutato soul vocale, avvolgente e appassionato o in crescendo come nella marcetta a passo di Hammond-beat di Alive. La title-track è commovente nella sua atmosfera da party della Domenica pomeriggio, dove ci si scalda ballando northern soul intriso di bollente groove, cercando di non pensare alla pioggia, alla nebbia e al freddo invernale: lost in sound per sognare ad occhi aperti. Il finale vede Fay e soci all’ opera con il brano forse più acido del lotto, fra ritmi sempre ballabili e lampi di Hammond che arricchiscono come sempre il contributo vocale, in questo caso filtrato a rendere ancora più lisergico il tutto. Poco più di mezz’ ora godibilissima che farà, naturalmente, la gioia di tutti i fans del mod-sound e del neo-beat. Ma non solo: quando c’ è la passione, vera e autentica che fa correre le note, allora non esistono più generi e colori di parte ma solo meravigliosa musica. Inno alla vita.

When he’s not contributing keyboards to Echo and The Bunnymen Paul Fleming composes Neu!/Eno/Kraut-rock influenced instrumentals for his band Baltic Fleet. But the Baltics aren’t in any way purely a band of studio boffins and tech-types whose home territory is the recording studio – live they are a stunningly powerful project. The latest single, Engage, is the sort of rampant anthem that should have a field full of festival heads waving their glo-sticks at sunset and bouncing like an army of massed mentalists. And I’ll give you a tip off, I’ve had an early earful of the Baltics’ album, Towers, and it’s equally as dark, muscular and magnificent as Engage.

Previously, in P-TCP issue 9, you may remember us getting ourselves in a proper froth over The Bongolian’s album, Bongos for Beatniks. A year later and the brains-behind-the-beats, Nasser Bouzida, has buddied up with Fay Hallam (whose previous musical partnerings include Martin Blunt and Billy Childish) for a new album, Lost in Sound. The duo are teasing listeners in with a lead off single, Dancing, a sprightly delight that’s Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll having an Acid Jazz throw down. Hugely groovy and instantly addictive Dancing is a pop-omatic way to warm up any shindig.

This one’s well worth a listen and a download. Former Makin’ Time vocalist Fay Hallam has recorded an album – Lost In Sound – with multi-instrumentalist The Bongolian (Nasser Bouzida). The album’s not out until May. But, as a taster, they’ve released a single, Dancing, which is rather impressive, complete with an infectious Hammond sound.