Thursday 30 April 2020

Album Reviews for Handsworth Revolution by Steel Pulse

"I’m old enough to have lived through the ‘Punk wars’, mid-teens, getting to end of school and discovering a musical scene that was mine not someone else’s. Attending gigs then, the obligatory pre-gig soundtrack was reggae. It was quite an experience to encounter wall shaking dub records for the first time. But I didn’t know enough about it to understand the themes or the patois. Steel Pulse arrived, they were from up the road, so I was getting to hear their records being played. They sang in clear tones that I could decipher and in that clearer Bob Marley style which I had heard before and liked. Brummies talking about empowerment, freedom, religion, peace, racism. Its got some great tunes, wonderful harmonies and a message. I was in".
-Marek

Wednesday 22 April 2020

The Album Club Remixed #3


The Album club remixed is a new format for our regular music discussions which now happens virtually with recorded contributions from a growing band of volunteers.

The next album up for discussion is Steel Pulse's 1978 Album "Handsworth Revolution"

The next recording session is planned for Friday 1st May 2020 at 6.30 pm.

You must notify us by email if you would like to take part (oh yeah, and do some homework).

The final edit of the discussion will feature in The Unseen Swerve scheduled to broadcast on Tuesday 5th May 2020 @7 pm on Switch Radio.


Wednesday 15 April 2020

Album Reviews for The Streets- Original Pirate Music


Photo by Blaz Photo on Unsplash

The Streets- Original Pirate Music 
"When I first heard a bit of this album it really was a “what the heck is that?” moment. A guy not rapping, not singing, sort of talking, sort of reciting poetry, telling stories? The background is a mixture of orchestral strings, synths, drum machines switched onto beats, broken beats and steady recognisable tunes.

I wasn't sure what to make of it but it was intriguing. So you find out a bit more, a recording emerging out of the UK Garage scene which explained the beats, but there was this layer of lyrics calling out the experience of a twenty-something and talking about their interests and perception of life. All done in voice which was readily recognisable and a world away from the American rapper style.

This is not an aspirational series of tales, this is gritty street-level, possibly documenting a sense of boredom and lack of opportunity. As such it was refreshing breath of air, from the music business that was hurtling towards blandness and repetition.

Twenty years on….it still sounds fabulous”.
- Marek

When I was living in Dublin I heard this and it made me nostalgic for Birmingham.

It wasn't until I was older, in my early thirties, that the significance of the album hit me, with the line in "Weak Become Heroes" that goes; "Then the girl in the cafe tape me on the shoulder, I realise five years went by and I'm older, Memories smoulder, winter's colder, But the same piano loops over and over and over." It's a testament to the timetraveling power of music that a piano loop can transport you to a time in your past, and for a daydreaming minute you're there again.

Lee Satchel went to school with my friend who went to school with Mike Skinner. He says he was always chasing the birds and fighting the geezers. He was a bit of a "barstard" by all accounts.
-Matthew


Friday 10 April 2020

The Album Club Remixed #2


The Album club remixed is a new format for our regular discussion on a nominated album.

The conversation happens virtually, with recorded contributions and written comments or questions from social media.

The next album up for discussion is the 2002 debut from The Streets- 'Original Pirate Music'

The next recording session is planned for Friday 17th April 2020 at 6.30 pm.

You must notify us by email if you would like to take part (oh yeah, and do some homework).

The final edit of the discussion will feature in The Unseen Swerve scheduled to broadcast on Tuesday 21st April 2020 @7pm on Switch Radio.


Thursday 2 April 2020

Swerve...

For more info on the new show and home of The Album Club Remixed visit

The Album Club Remixed is hosted within a new programme: 

'The Unseen Swerve' which starts at 7 pm on Tuesday 7th April 2020

Switch Radio 107.5 FM, DAB and Online

https://theunseenswerve.blogspot.com

This times discussion has been recorded and the next album and future recording date will be announced shortly.