End of Year 2014!!

Another year has passed! 

2014 was eventful and one of my busiest for many a year. It took me all around the country and also out of it and saw the release of my album 'Science & Magic'. Here's a brief look at just some of the music and other things that have influenced me....

BECK - Morning

This album was Becks love letter to conventional songwriting sensibilities in a traditional sense. With beautiful production, playing, structures and songwriting, it's a meloncollic work of beauty.

THOMAS PAUL SAUNDERS - A Luna Veterans Guide To Re-Entry
This album was a late influence on some of the mixing of my album 'Science & Magic'. It holds great memories of the Northern part of the Terry Reid support tour I did in the spring of 2014. It's an intergalactic masterpiece.

FLYTE - Light Me Up
I've loved Flyte since I saw them at Southsea Fest last year and have adored everything they have done. Still waiting for the album as the process seems to be with so many bands at the moment we are drip fed songs to build the profile up until the time is right. Flyte to me are masterful pop, intelligent lyrics, melodies that you think you have heard in every great classic song from the last 50 years and an 80's image that reminds me of my childhood. This track when I first heard it made me want to go and play guitar.

COLDPLAY - Midnight
The band eveyone loves to hate came back this year and this will probably be the only blog that includes them :-) I loved Ghost Stories...all meloncollie hues and electronic wistful synths. Lyrically it's not Martin's best and although he gets slated lyrically a lot, I happen to think he's written some killer lines over the years! Whatever you thought...this track midnight reminds me of standing in a field in Sweden with the moonlight cascading down onto the fir trees...beautiful! I'm old enough to not be scared of pop music anymore...

MARIKA HACKMAN - Cinnamon
An interesting songwriter whose album comes out next year but has been drip feeding us songs for too long! This song is old but the session is from this year. I adore it's slightly off kilter bitter/sweet vibe. It's something I explore quite a bit in my writing and her last single 'Drown' is dark but gorgeous.

RYANS ADAMS - Gimme Something Good

I always get so excited when there's a new Ryan Adams record out and although this wasn't one of his best it was still was strong. The album reminded me of listening to the radio as a kid in the 80s enjoying endless summers and thinking of girls. Lyrically it wasn't as inspired as most of his work but the melodies were fantastic.

DAMON ALBARN - The History Of A Cheating Heart
I had the pleasure of seeing Damon play this year at the Wedgewood Rooms and it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. I seriously believe Damon is one of the only songwriters in contemporary music that is tackling real issues and making music that represents what it means to be human in 2014.

SOHN - Artifice
I knew nothing of this guy until I stumbled upon this live session on YouTube performing this song. Part electronica and part pop this video is simple and captivating. The album is good......exploring the dark and melancholic side of expression, but I hope he indulges in pop a little more as he wears it well. Straddling mystery with accessible melodies.

JON HOPKINS - Breathe This Air

The Asleep Versions EP and versions of his Immunity album tracks, was a venture into full blown ambient music. In this adrenaline fueled instant gratification consumption of music we all have nowadays it was a brave release and one which has turned me onto ambient music again. 

MARK MORRISS - Space Cadet
Mark is a bit of a hero of mine...he's a great writer, his lyrics are especially underrated...always with sarcasm, wit, grace and harmony. He writes as Mark...which is so rare nowadays, when you buy a Mark Morriss record you are entering into his world and not a focus group idea of what you should buy. I respect his song-craft and Flash Of Darkness is just one in a long line of successes in my view.

KASSASSIN STREET - Centre Straight Atom
This band will feature in my end of year blog for as long as they are a band. They are very good friends of mine but I am an out an out fan, and am excited as anyone when I hear something new or go to a show. They have had a fantastic year and continue to craft perfect slices of psychedelic napalm bursts.

MONUMENT VALLEY - iOS Game
Having been an avid gamer over the years I never have time for new games nowadays. I find a lot of games now are repeats and are just extremely expansive versions of first person shooters and racers. The iPad and iPhone have given a platform to bring back retro games and the way things were. This game is a puzzle game based on mind bending perspective. Its like a psychedelic Escher mixed with the beauty of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon...buy it!

INTERSTELLAR - Film
I cant say this year I've been to the cinema very much which is a shame because I adore it. As many people now watch things at home and cant afford ten pounds to go to the movies it is normally saved for big blockbusters like this and I'm sure many film buff's will hate me for that statement! This is epic, beautiful, intelligent and what films should be....an experience. Also those who know me know that I love anything to do with space....I'm in!

Have a great Xmas and thanks to everyone who has supported me this year. Its been a fantastic time with some memorable gigs, festivals, and experiences and I'm looking forward to 2015.

Stay Safe
Andrew
xx

To stay connected to everything going on next year please go to 

www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk

P.S. Watch the Dr Who Christmas Special.

Terry Reid Tour - The Half Moon London

Hi all!

So here we are on the last date of the tour with Terry Reid in London at The Half Moon in Putney, a venue I know very well having played there many times before. I've performed here lots with Terry and also done an album release here with Chris Helme from the Seahorses. 

I was actually a little under the weather for this gig that later developed into an ear infection, but it didn't effect my voice and I was still match fit....just. 

My performance was a little marred by a few ingredients, some unfortunate sound battles, an early start, a thinner crowd because of said early start and a slight fight with my own energy levels because I was hours away from a health blip!

I performed well considering and people engaged and bought a few records. It's always great to play the half moon and it's nice to see it's still healthy and thriving as a music venue.

Putney is also the place to go for fish and chips....and rupert the bear comics....apparently.....

Terry had a great gig slowing all the songs down to a hyper melloncollic state with BJ Cole filing in the gaps as only Terry and BJ can do. The crowd were mesmerised and it definitely showed his cult status  and type of person Terry attracts. On a good night a Terry Reid gig is almost a sermon or religious experience to his fans and tonight they lapped it up! For me though Newcastle was still his best night.

This tour has been dashed with incredible experiences that I'll never forget. Meeting Robert Plant, travelling across England seeing places I'd never seen, playing in venues I'd never played before. Going over to Sweden was the highlight for me, a fantastic experience that I hope I can re-visit at some point. 

Terry and I will now part company and he will go back to America and do what he does, and I will carry on with my own dates. It's always an adventure with Terry and I learn so much each time we travel together. I've had the chance to spend some time with him away from music, which has given us quite a bond I think.

Till next time Terry.......a well earned rest ;-)

Here's a song I demo'd out in Sweden. Conny and Karin (our amazing hosts) had a fantastic array of guitars with Gibsons being a staple. Saying this a gorgeous little Epiphone parlour guitar took my eye and it didn't leave my side all weekend! As soon as I picked it up this song filtered through obviously being influenced by my surroundings and this had just been finished on the deck of the Saloon Hilbilly. Sky City was the first sign I saw as the plane touched down in Sweden. 

There is still tickets available for my Worthing show that can be purchased online from this link.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Next stop this week....

Stay Safe

Andy xx

Mostly listening to....

I saw Damon Albarn at the Wedgewood rooms in Portsmouth on Saturday night...I can honestly say it was one of the most fantastic gigs I've ever seen. The band he has are exceptional.

Sweden - Saloon Hillbilly Oxhagen

Hi all...

First of all I'd like to say that this little blog write up on this gig will not do it justice and I will have to be careful not to descend into a 'wish you were here' style tourist episode. We flew over on Norwegian Airlines (787's are proper good!) and were greeted by the venue owners who took us straight away to Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm for dinner and a photo with the staff. Stockholm is absolutely beautiful and everywhere is less populated and clean with shimmering lights over incredible architecture and grace. I fell in love with it instantly....

Conny and Karin (the venue owners) own farmland which they have kept in the family for generations and built their own venue upon its land from which they put on events. Keeping it low key and exclusive they retain all control over what's going on and it gives the place its own vibe. It has a western saloon décor and is situated 30 mins away from the capital amongst a backdrop of Sweden's beautiful rural area. They really are beautiful people and took us in to their home like we were one of the family with the best hospitality I have ever experienced ...period. I feel I have a strong bond with them in the small time I stayed with them sharing a lot of the same ethics and desires.

The first thing I saw as we pulled into the farm that night was a huge wild moose in the garden....just chillin out! The day of the gig we had an extremely relaxed soundcheck having so much time to do what we wanted and explore their home.

The gig was packed full of amazing gentle souls who for which Terry and I being there seemed an event they hadn't experienced much. They were lovely to us and I have received messages from them afterwards.  The weather was so nice there was food being cooked and people walking in and out which meant the event took a private party style feel. People were talking as we played which is new for the tour but they were enjoying themselves and watching. Of course it's always a little daunting doing something like this as there can be a little language barrier but after the show you could tell people had engaged with both Terry and I  because of them expressing how grateful they were for us coming over. 

The next day was a free day for us to explore a little of their local area has to offer. We drove their American car over astonishing countryside, hills, and rural Sweden visiting the sea, a Viking church, a castle where we had afternoon tea...all organised by Conny and Karin. Like I said I'm rushing through it as hearing me go on about it isn't good reading ;-) I wrote a song whilst I was over there called "Sky City" as this was the first sign I saw as the plane touched down in Sweden. I will post a video of the song at a later date.

I can't say thank you enough to Conny and Karin, I hope our stay made them as happy as they deserve to be because I know how much work they put into this event and I wish the Saloon Hill-billy every ounce of success and hope to go back sometime soon....

I love Sweden!

Next stop London at the Half Moon in Putney this Thursday - 29th May. Stage time approx. 8pm.

You can still buy tickets for my headline show in Worthing at The Connought Studio on July 5th

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Stay Safe

Andy

Xx

Mostly listening to

Coldplay - Midnight

I defy anyone listening to this when standing in a field in Sweden with a ghostly twilight to not be emotionally effected!

Terry Reid Tour - Newcastle - Cluny 2

Hi all...

As I was travelling through the north on the train you can see the remanance of old industrial sites, mills, quarry's and mines. Beautiful countryside, rolling hills, bridges, nature and a huge number of farms. 

It got me thinking of feeding the population and how old farming techniques could surely be phased out entirely as in many years to come it may seem an almost primitive way to do things. This got me thinking of a doomsday scenario when oil isn't currency but food becomes the new power......that done my head in...... so I played Sonic the Hedgehog on my iPad instead ;-)

I'd never been to Newcastle before and I'm not sure what my ignorance was expecting but it's much prettier than I imagined. Maybe it's the soft southern fairy in me being judgmental, but I haven't really spent much time that far up north before.

The Cluny is a venue off the Tyne and I believe it was an old whiskey brewery. It's a great location next to a lock with art centres, a woodwork factory and a steampunk submarine....? It has a bohemian vibe and the Cluny 2 (the room which we were playing in) is a fantastic space for a smaller band/acoustic music. In fact I'd go as far as to say that along with the Bedford it's probably one of the best I have played in. Ross the sound guy deserves a mention for his patience and professionalism, and the staff were lovely. 

What was quite perturbing though was the announcement by one of the bar staff the minute I arrived that the dressing rooms were haunted and to look out for a "vibe". Now being a guy who tries to stay rational I didn't think anything of it but just enjoyed the story....course when I was down there I was looking!...I think it's human nature. I didn't see anything although my door got stuck and I panicked for a second, it's not really "the ring" that though is it ;-)

The Geordie crowd were right up my street, interacting, inviting, friendly and respectful. Although I was on a little too early they were fantastic people and a pleasure to play to. I was being cheeky onstage forgetting the name of the Tyne and saying I couldn't understand them...good fun and they engaged with my music. I would definitely want to come back here anytime and people need to support venues like this one. 

As for Terry's set, it was almost like an event, and the show took on a different vibe making Terry talk more. They really hold him dear up here and his northern connections obviously have made a mark on people maybe on a deeper level. It was like "an evening with" and an evening it certainly was he went way over curfew and played for nearly three hours haha! 

So a late night, hotel mixup, loooong journey to Gatwick....off to Sweden we go!

Stay safe

Andy xx

Mostly listening to Paul Thomas Saunders - Beautiful Desolation

Listening to this album whilst looking out on these bridges is quite an experience. You should try it sometime ;-)

Wolverhampton - Robert Plant... sorry Robin 2.....

Hi all

So on the Virgin train cross country bound for Wolverhampton, for another gig with Terry Reid. I like Virgin Trains...plug socket, smooth, comfy, I don't work for them just don't get a chance to use them a lot. Anyone who's ever been to Robin 2 will know it's a great music venue from which there's not many of them left. A great room with a fantastic acoustic sonic, armed with an experienced and cool headed sound engineer. It reminds me of a slightly bigger Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth.

Terry's in good spirits, soundcheck was great and everyone was relaxed and chilled. What's great about this venue is there's a small hotel attached to it! I wish all venues were like that how much easier would that make touring...it should be default ;-) it just relieves all the leaving the venue angst that can put a downer on the night sometimes. 

Terry's friend Robert Plant came to see him.....what was that? Yes Robert Plant from a little band called Led Zepplin. I shook his hand 15 minutes before I played. His opening gambit when he came through the doors was " who's that imposter" pointing at a poster of tribute act 'Boot Led Zepplin' who were going to be playing the venue soon....which I thought was hilarious. It's not everyday you meet arguably the most famous rock frontman of all time....

Terry reading an article on himself from a melody maker from 1969!!

Zoe was on first displaying some great soulful vocal talent from a bygone era. She reminded me of the singers from the 70's, simple songs but all the performance is in the vocal display rather than a kaleidoscope of arrangements and chord structures. She held the stage like a country rock singer that had been a staple for years.

I enjoyed my set even though it was a little weird using Terry's gear as it's set up for him of course. I am using Terry's tree of life Gibson acoustic on this tour and it's absolutely beautiful and people obviously don't get a chance to use a guitar like it. It just goes to show though you need time with an instrument to fully understand how it responds and where it's sweet spots are. The onstage sound was great and I flew through my set. I felt a little dislocated from the crowd tonight but it always seems to be worse in my head than it is. The crowd were extremely polite...like English but turned up to eleven. 

Tonight people were here to see Terry though and that was quite apparent. He was onstage again with legendary pedal steel player BJ Cole who I had a brief chat about royalties over dinner.

The highlight for me was a down right bizarre and psychedelic versions of his songs that were rediculously trippy, I don't know where BJ's head went but it was fun to witness! Terry was coaxing the polite crowd to settle in to the night with his rock and roll anecdotes and they seemed to be lapping it up. It was quite a downbeat set from Terry with songs being a little slower than usual and breathing more but the venue is great for this.

With Robert being mobbed by tipsy fans and Terry laughing his way to bed....we retired...

So next stop Newcastle! Never been there let alone play there, should be fun!

Stay Safe

Andy xx

Mostly listening to 

Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots

Terry Reid Tour 2014 - The Cellars at Eastney - Portsmouth

Hi all!

So Its my pleasure to be on tour again with Terry Reid, this time in Portsmouth, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, London and....Sweden! Yes the land of Moomins! I've been to a few dates I wasn't playing on such as Brighton Komedia, and the Jazz Cafe where I had a great chat with Michael Kiwanuka about his second record (he had come to see Terry as "no one does it like him") and Terry is in good spirits for the tour.
So we start with the Cellars in Portsmouth...

This time he has brought some cosmic Americans with him from over the pond and cosmic they most definitely are! They are his backing band for most the dates on the tour and also playing a musically bonkers Bluegrass set to open the night. They are called "The Cosmic American Derelicts" and the name is very apt as its though they have been beamed straight from planet Woodstock. They are the most gentle and incredibly musical people I have ever met, they can deal with any genre chucked at them and with George the bass player, there's a Keith Richards alter-ego inside him hiding just below the surface! Lovely fellas though all of them and they compensate Terry perfectly.

My set is now peppered with some new songs from my up coming album due in the summer "Science & Magic". The songs have been going down well and the older songs that are on the album have now bedded in to a point I can deliver them right. Because of the intimate nature of the crowd there is room for explanations of songs and anecdotes and they engage with the whole evening perfectly. You really can't ask for more :-)

Terry is in good form tonight after a rather meloncollie start for him (he does like to shake things up), the version of "Brave Awakening" was spellbinding and the evening takes on a kind of "living room" gig kind of vibe. 

Next stop Wolverhampton on Wednesday 21st May

Tickets for my Worthing show in July can be bought from this link

CLICK HERE

Stay safe

Andy xx

mostly listening to

Beck - Morning Phase

James Walsh (Starsailor) @ the Wedgewood Rooms & The Troubadour

It's always an absolute pleasure playing the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth. There's so much history in the place that has formulated my musical life and has influenced, shaped and guided many a musician and music fan for many years. So after a while having not graced that halo'd stage I was very excited to be playing with James whom has also influenced me in past years with his band Starsailor. Particularly the John Leckie and Phil Spector produced 2nd album 'Silence is easy'. 

People turned up early and I could tell the crowd were going to be vibey and receptive as the room buzzed with that electricity that many a musician looks out for before they go onstage. 

My set was mixed with new songs and old but a full and playful crowd helped me relax and get into a groove from which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

You can't write this kind of crowd interaction, when it goes right and people are interacting and bantering back. It makes for a much better experience all round and personally for me I always play better when the crowd are engaged and they feel relaxed enough to enter into the spirit of what I am doing. Some would say that's my job to create that..it often depends on many factors because by the nature of the musical limitations of solo artists you don't take people's heads off volume wise, so a lot depends on a fragile balance of you and them. The real stars of the night were the crowd themselves. James came on with a fantastic set of his new solo material mixed with some Starsailor classics and it was a pleasure to meet him. He gave me some great comments from the stage and completed a great gig for me.

Next up was The Troubadour in Earls Court London. It's another Titan in the formation of the bohemian folk scene in the 60s with many songwriters passing through including some bloke called Bob Dylan. It's a beautiful place as I've said before and even though the night was rather thin on attendance, it's always a pleasure to people watch Londons more refined characters live in a way only people with money can. 

Photo by Aaron Bennett Photography

Stay Safe

Andy xx

Mostly listening to

Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots

BBC Bristol & Chris Helme

A modest but attentive crowd gathered to watch Chris Helme (Seahorses) and myself at The Cellars at Eastney. I've had the pleasure of playing together with Chris a number of times and he never fails to impress with his fantastic song-writing, honest and cheeky demeanour. His performance, if it was possible has grown to be a real lesson in what one man and guitar can do, its a pleasure to watch. It was relaxed in the venue which allowed us to talk more with anecdotes about the Seahorses, touring experiences, and where our songs come from. Always a pleasure to see him.

Chris Helme Website, Click here

My BBC Radio Bristol experience was professional and slick which I've come to expect from them. Laura Rawlings and her crew were very hospitable which makes for a relaxing vibe in which to perform live on radio which can always be a nerve-racking experience. After a discussion on the trials of being a solo performer, a live rendition of 'Heartbeats', and my up coming album 'Science & Magic', I ventured out into the graffiti covered streets of 'Stokes Croft' in Bristol.

Stay Safe

Andy xx

NEXT GIG: 

I will be supporting JAMES WALSH (Starsailor) at the Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms on April 16th 2014. Please contact me at andrewfostermusic@gmail.com for reduced tickets. :-)

What Definitely Maybe means to me...20 year Anniversary

I could elaborate on the music and more specifically the album itself.. the ferocious introduction, the life affirming melodies, the raw production, the psychedelic world it creates, the power in a simple lyrical phrase, but we all know it already. Like any classic album it's woven into the fabric of the musical timeline like the recent discovery of space time waves.

Definitely Maybe is the catalyst for millions of people to turn their ears to popular music and many people try to deny its reach, scope, and influence but it is in everything you hear when a band pick up the classic arrangement of guitars, drums and vocals. You can't shake it because it is a right of passage piece of work. Like the many classic albums before that the album took its influences from, it has become a reference point standing like a titan of early 90s popular culture and everything before it, and it's resonance still holds power and grace today.

Whether you liked the band or not so many of your brothers, sisters, friends, other bands you have met or are fans of, have started playing guitar because of this record. Yes it spawned many inferior copies or just plain lazy songwriting from a million other bands, but it also created genius and inspired future generations of musicians to even bother restringing the old beaten up acoustic that no one ever knew why was in the loft.

Much talk of its class and social comment have led to an 'us and them' style debate over the years with Oasis being the voice of the working class. It is arguably hard to escape this.... I was a normal kid with a good upbringing, Mum's during the week, Dad's during the weekends.. I never wanted for much and I was looked after well... but we were working class, my friends were and my schools were, I spent every night out with friends prowling the streets and I felt like most teenagers, the need to express myself. The album tapped into something that kids like me identified with, a slight grittiness, a truth, melon-collie, aggression, the need to escape but delivered in an aggressive life affirming manner. The fundamental message in definitely maybe to me is hope. Grunge although is another massive influence to me was always far too self absorbed and contained too much self loathing to ever fully embrace. I wanted something that celebrated life because I like being alive and I love those moments that make you feel alive. That's what Oasis did for me.

Something that shouldn't be overlooked is the window of music Oasis opened up for so many people. Oasis fans are often condemned as being narrow minded and devout followers of just the Gallagher's and their friends, but this is just not so for so many music lovers like myself. Oasis opened the door to Bowie, The Beatles, TRex, the Stone Roses, the Velvet Underground, Neil Young and to even being interested in rock & roll..period. From this benchmark I went on to love a huge wide range of sonic art that had nothing to do with my indie roots or Oasis. Dance, jazz, blues, psychedelia, heavy rock, even a touch of world music yes...world music! Noel's collaborations only further cemented the impact of the bands endeavours with Knebworth being the epicentre of the British music scene with bands like Cornershop, The Prodigy, and the Chemical Brothers being linked to the band at the time opening more doors to open minded discovery of new edgy pop music.

Before the age of the internet and the constant 'big brother' style window into media and bands lives, the myth was still intact. Fans would have to wait for articles and live performances on the TV to get a glimpse of their heroes. Magazines like NME, melody maker, Q, Raw, Select, Uncut, were collected and poured through. Studying there every move I obsessed about everything....the artwork, magazine articles, newspaper stories, live TV performances, what clothes they wore. Even down to the strings they used, the guitars they played, what amps they used. For me it was a life choice, a sense of belonging and a Narnia of possibilities within the world of music was opened because of it.

I was the perfect age when Definitely Maybe came out. I loved the melodic sensibilities of pop, the power of grunge/punk, and a band had fused these two elements together to form a life affirming celebration of being alive, ready to take on the world with a soundtrack to shadow your every move.

The creams and greens of the artwork, the perfect earthy everyman feel, but with a slight psychedelic distortion. The inside photos were classically shot, reminiscent of The Beatles and late 60s album shoots. Simple, iconic, perfect.

I am a songwriter and performer now and I have this album to thank for this sharp turn in my teens. I was going to be a computer programmer...I was going to code games, software, applications and make money this way in a easy structured life of Volvos and coffee percolators. Then I realised there was a whole world of expression, creation, a voice for all this confusion and static in my head. I would take 100 years struggle playing to 2 people in a pub, than a lifetime of dull drudgery.
The band changed my life and definitely maybe will always be a pillar, a milestone if you will, to when I found what I love doing with my life. Making, performing, and listening to music.

Definitely Maybe fuelled the fire in millions, to me and many others it's existence omnipotent. 

Stay Safe

Andy xx

Listening to 'Columbia'

Bands Of The Year 2013

Hi All.....
That time of year again! and we all seem to love a Hornby inspired list of everything!!
This is just a snippet of the things that have inspired and enamored me this year :-)

OUTFIT:
Outfit were a find from the Lauren Lavern Podcast which I enjoy every week. After listening to the interview of the band who came across as graceful and intelligent I decided to check them out on Spotify. Its become one of my favorite albums. Its a bizarre genre'less record spanning over psychedelia, to dream-pop with everything in between. Its at times melancholic but there's also something quite life affirming to it. The perfect soundtrack to walking through an urban environment. Listen whilst walking through a city and you'll understand what I mean.



MARIKA HACKMAN:
A pleasant surprise this song, a real testament to the fact one women/man and guitar can.. if done correctly.. stop time for its duration. Beautiful, and slightly creepy like the Metz advert from the 90's....



PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING:
Genius atmospheres created using old tapes from WW2 a fantastic idea, like lemon jelly on steroids.



DAVID BOWIE:
He surprised as all didn't he! What a legend of publicity but with the album to prove the hype. This record consumed me this year and it was at the height of my Bowie obsession as well....I nearly wet myself with excitement. What a classy beautiful way to come back as well...not with rock posture but with a reflecting melancholic, sonic landscape with a life affirming end that always brings a tear to my eye...
"As long as there's me....as long as there's you!"
Weird and wonderful Bowie back with grace putting the art back in pop.



MATT CORBY:
A fantastic EP from start to finish really illustrating this mans versatile vocal, songwriting and diversity. A whole range of emotions scale the Resolution EP... the songwriters EP choice of the year.



JON HOPKINS:
I always knew him as "that guy who added all the weird atmosphere to Xylo Myloto". Turns out hes an expensive, intense, cinematic, intelligent, dramatic genius of atmospheric electronic music!



JOHNNY MARR:
I've always loved Marrs guitar work but never fallen completely in love with his solo work, and it wasn't after hearing the single which didnt grab me... but more getting a copy of the album that I realised this album has some fantastic songwriting and has crept into my conscious and woven its way into my brain. The album spans his career and really is a celebration of the Fender Jaguar...in fact this album should come with every sale of Fender Jags...A great comeback made even better whilst watching him at the Wedgewood Rooms.



HYPNOTIC EYE:
A sexy 60's front-women, fantastic psychedelic pop style production, great tunes and fantastic guitar sounds...get on it! Shocking Blue for the new age... whats not to like!



DAFT PUNK:
I was as excited as any other this year as the wait for this album reminded me of pop music in the 90's when people actually used to get excited as an album was going to be released....remember that?! Anyway it wasn't quite the perfect comeback, there was a few clangers, possibly the most annoying hook in 'lose yourself to dance' in "come on! come on! come on!" for 2 mins....and although 'Get Lucky' was a pop masterpiece it slightly grated with its cheesy nod to sex...which was a shame... it didn't need that as it was 70s disco perfection. What it did have though was a half album of absolute genius, exploring genres, production, and ideas far better than bands that are scared of the charts and claiming to be experimental. This was exciting pop music again. Someone asked me recently that the album sounds different from everything else....you know what it is?.....its live!!! Live recorded music actually sounds vital again on record and Daft Punk record live... even their synths. Listen to the Drum-kit sound at the end of this record below....there's more urgency in that then most of the bloggers lists this year!



MANSIONS ON THE MOON:
I've been raving about this band on twitter all year and the year before.. and now they are just starting to come out of the "best kept secret" stage. The production has influenced me a lot on my own record coming out next year... the songs are exciting, spacey and with a slight tinge of fantasy sparkle which sends you of into M83 territory but sits the right side of accessible pop melody. Music to lose yourself to.


KASSASSIN STREET:
Kassassin have had a great year and deservedly so, the second gig they did at this years Southsea Fest was a real "I was there" moment. I adore this band and have made no secret of it, telling everyone who will listen about them and supporting them in any way I can. Its intelligent, colorful, urgent, and fresh and I suspect good things next year. Good people, good friends, and I respect them immensely.



FOALS:
I was never a fan of Foals, and mainly because as soon as any hipster scene starts creating a buzz I shy away or join later when the fuss dies down. I kind of had them in the same boat of the Vaccines which was naive of me. Like the Maccabees before them this second album was really rather clever and was a wide expansive exploration of sonic territory and some truly inspiring delay guitar-work.



Let me know your thoughts, I like to hear what people are listening to :-)

I'll have a new album next year which I think is my best work, stay in touch and please join me for the gigs and music. Have a fantastic Xmas and if you don't like it...lighten up! Have a day off! enjoy the magic :-)

Stay Safe
Andy
xx

PS....best film? Gravity!!! What a ride that was!!!!

Best thing in the year ever?
Doctor Who 50th in 3D.....yep yep.....incredible ;-)

Oh and best tea? Earl Grey.....standard......

Gig Diary 5 - The Bedford - The Abbey Tavern - Dublin Castle

The Bedford was the first of three London dates running back to back, and it's a pleasure to play. I've said much about it over the years and hold it close as my favorite London venue for my music. Tonight's gig was five songwriters doing the usual four songs over two parts of the evening. A Swedish lad called Ludvig Andersson was waiting patiently for soundcheck looking like a Americana star already, and we started talking. He is an interesting guy, he travels over from Sweden to play gigs knowing that to get a cheap flight to London and back is actually cheaper than staying in a hotel over here! You've got to admire that kind of thinking and he was a great performer too. Backstage we all swapped touring stories, guitars, and a rather interesting conversation with another artist Simon Wells about the lost Dr Who tapes recently found. Simon was another interesting chap, a writer as well as a musician with the bohemian vibe to boot. It was a warm and friendly night with a good receptive crowd no animosity from the other performers and a sense of camaraderie.

My pedal board has raised a few eyebrows this year as the textures really do add a little depth to the vibe I try to create with my songs. Tonight was no exception with "the Garden" being particularly psychedelic! 

The Bedford in Balham, backstage graffiti wall

The Abbey Tavern is a place I've never played before and is essentially an open mic night that you book to play on. It has the option to record the three songs you perform and I'll no doubt have one of them up soon to listen to. The pub where the stage is present is all open plan so people all sit around and you get up and do your thing. It's very relaxed and a nice vibe in there, I'd imagine this place would be great to try out new material or to play tracks in development. The other artists on the bill were all friendly and I stayed around to chat to the people who listened giving out flyers and introducing myself. I then left to catch a very good friend of mine play in the Camden Eye to a slightly different vibe. 'Lewisberg' has just started solo performing but he played fantastically well against a tough background.

London looked quite beautiful on the way to The Dublin Castle in Camden today. The overground train I was on from Wimbledon is mostly overground rooftop height and everything was silhouetted against a cold December sunset. Quite a different view from my last visit to London where the overground journey exposed a darker derelict side to East London I'd never really experienced even when I lived here. Forgotten railway stations hold their ground amongst industrial buildings that were once key players now ghosts of themselves. Nature has taken over and grown around empty playgrounds and concrete graffiti ridden structures. Not today though it looked like a panning shot from an amalgamation of a Richard Curtis/Tim Burton movie... all romance and mystery.

Photo by aaron bennett photography

Dublin Castle is somewhere I'd never played on my own and I was the only solo performer there. Soundcheck was great and my effects sounded huge through the PA. Headliners 'Fracture' were a nice bunch and I'm sorry I couldn't hang around for their set as I was homeward bound that night and had to leave early. 

Unfortunately a bit like the other historic indie pillar venues I've played in London recently the crowd was sparse. I must say though the few that were there were great and listened and engaged with me. It's a shame seeing these venues across the country become less engaged with but that's a whole different conversation and is covered by many. Dublin Castle is a fantastic venue and its staff are all approachable and nice and the sound guy is very good indeed.

My voice is not running on full steam at present, I have a vocal chord injury. It's really made me realise the importance of looking after it as I've always been extremely nonchalant and taken it for granted that it would always be there. Every musician is scared of colds and I'm no different, avoiding people with them and getting all paranoid when a gig comes near. Nothing has prepared me for an actual vocal chord injury though and it's quite a shock when things you used to do become a struggle. My point to this confession is... singers....look after your voice. It will go if not respected, and when it does you will S@*t yourselves! 

Next stop The Good Ship...

Stay Safe

Andy x

Gig Diary 4 - The Regal Rooms - Five Ways Folk Club

The Regal Rooms is the other half of the two most important figurehead venues for songwriters in London. The Bedford was a place I was recommended to play very early on when I started performing on my own and I fell in love with it on my first visit. It's Shakespearean theatre decor makes for as grand backdrop for the singer/songwriter guise. The Regal Rooms in Hammersmith was it's sister venue often regarded with a certain respect for its history of having industry present at shows. Showcases tend to be arranged there for wide eyed hopefuls on the brink of discovery. It's with sadness I say that the Regal Rooms's future is in jeopardy now it's been bought out, which now makes this gig even more poignant as it was to be my last as it stands in the venue. It was your typical Regal Rooms gig, great sound, civilised crowd, cheeky camp compare, and some fine talent on the bill with a touch of show tune and theatrics thrown in for good measure. I often feel the odd one out in London but have never felt out of place in either of these venues. My voice had taken a battering by the end of these dates more of which later but for now the Regal Rooms I salute your hospitality and memories.

The Fiveways folk club was a real shot in the dark for me. I'd never heard of it before trying it out and didn't know what to expect. After getting to the pub which seemed the same as any other Weatherspoons in a suburb in anywheresville, I was told it was upstairs in a tiny room. So upstairs I went a little confused trusty guitar on back and Jack Daniels In hand. The room is just that.. very tiny and it's modest decor and school room chairs had me thinking maybe I was in the wrong place. I must admit I'd had my reservations but this was turned by the warmth of the people who frequent this aptly named club into the perfect example of what I imagined true folk clubs to be. It was an older crowd who where respectful, graceful, attentive and open to my material even though some of my songs don't necessarily fit the bill of purist folk music. I performed more pure acoustic songs leaving behind my box of effect tricks that night. Another thing that is a huge factor as well as the people  in the atmosphere of the place is there's no PA! Completely acoustic....nothing! Which I actually enjoy the pressure and tend to rise to it as it's comfortable for me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at fiveways and I'm back next year. It's different but it's untouched by media and expectations...it's a small room where people play songs that shape peoples experiences and traditions...there's a purity in that.

Tonight I'm playing at the legendary Dublin Castle in Camden :-)

Stay Safe

Andy x

Gig Diary 3 - The Troubadour & Tamesis Dock

So before I headed off to Earls Court to play at the Troubadour I stopped off at London Borough Market. Gorgeous smells waft around the archways and indoor market showing off foods from around the world. Parma Hams, fine wines, cheeses, breads, veg and meats surround you with a bustling London crowd sheltering from the rain outside. I bet it's even better round Christmas time, definitely gonna go there in December. Truffles are £79 ...... Just saying.....quite expensive.

The Troubadour is a 1950s old tavern complete with huge wooden door and shield street sign. Adorned inside with a beautiful decor, bohemian vibes, and very flamboyant bar staff who are all passion, nonchalance and precision. The artists were given red wine and lasagne after soundcheck and believe me that never happens in any venue! The troubadour is steeped in rock and roll history with Dylan and Hendrx amongst others passing through its doors. I fell in love with it instantly and if I lived in the area I would spend all my time in there. The gig was packed out and the crowd were definitely enjoying their alcohol...

Of course I could pass through Earls Court without seeing one of the only remaining police box's. Being a massive Dr Who fan....this is the most exciting box since the rubix cube......

Taking the tardis to gigs is something I should do more, negotiating London with equipment this last week has caused some aches....I should have done this ages ago....

On Thursday before my gig I went to the Imperial War Museum. If anyone has been they will understand that the museum is an exceptional showcase of the Second World War, including the MI5, MI6, espionage, and by far the most intense museum installation I've ever had, The Holocaust. I urge anyone to go and experience it even if it is a little difficult, it really makes you feel small and humble. The first floor about the blitz also makes you proud to be British. 

Halloween is coming....my favourite yearly celebration. 

Tamesis Dock is a psychedelic boat mored on the Thames next to the Houses of Parliament. It's an amalgamation of bric a brac, cultures, styles, and influences with a fantastic musical taste. Overlooking the river with its pillars of English culture all around its a fantastic place to go and chill out. 

Everything about it is odd and kooky even the staff have an air of the psychedelic about them. If you ever go there definitely try the food as it's gorgeous! Watching the sun go down on a boat on the Thames reminded me of my boat trip down the Seine in Paris. 

Next stop The Regal Rooms in Hammersmith, the last stop this week....

Stay Safe

Andy xx