Afro Blue

I’ve been playing the J Life version of Mongo Santamaría’s jazz standard, ‘Afro Blue’ ever since I picked up the Soul Brother compilation ‘African Spirits: A Spiritual Jazz Journey Looking Back To Africa‘.

I’ve just come across this strikingly beautiful version by The Ace Of Cups, one of the first all-female rock bands formed in San Francisco in the late ’60s.

The Ace Of Cups – Afro Blue

Dream of a land my soul is from
I hear a hand stroke on a drum

Elegant boy
Beautiful girl
Dancing for joy
Elegant whirl
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro Blue

Two young lovers dance face to face
With undulating grace
They gently sway
Then slip away
To some secluded place
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro Blue

Whispering trees
Echo their sighs
Passionate pleas
Tender replies

Lovers in flight
Upward they glide
Burst at the height
Slowly subside
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro Blue

And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
Until it seems it’s not a dream
The two are you and me
Shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro Blue

Oh shades of delight
Cocoa hue
Rich as the night
Afro Blue

That’s What Friends Are For

I’ve had quite a few emails about the Madeline Bell edit I made for my set at the Southport Weekender last month. My original copy comes from the fourth instalment of Compost Records’ Glücklich series, compiled by the incredibly underrated Rainer Trüby. (I think his set will be the unexpected highlight for many at this year’s SuncéBeat festival in Croatia.)

It’s a simple and subtle extension, stretching the original out to dance floor friendly length. If you enjoy it, I’d highly recommend checking out the Glücklich comps and also the Jazzman reissue from 2002.

You can listen and download below.

Madeline Bell – That’s What Friends Are For

Running away from life is hard to do
Especially when there’s nothing else for you
Just have a little patience ’cause life will never make sense
Unless you have lived and you learned all the facts for yourself.

It’s really nice to know that you’re my friend
And that you’ll let me call you now and then
If I had many problems I know you’ll help me solve them
And stand by my side, lend a hand, be my guide to the end.

Oh, I’d do the same for you.
You know I’d even take the pain for you
If I thought I might do any good
Change your darkest night to day if only I could
Well, you know, I would
I wish I could do a whole lot more
Haven’t I told you this before?
Isn’t that what a friend is for?
That’s what friends are for.

So if your cup should fill right to the brim
You know I’ll stay by you through thick and thin
Don’t think twice I’m only
A minute away if you’re lonely
Remember that life ain’t so bad when you know.

You are my friend, man, take it easy!

Marley Remembered

I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love,
I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love.
From the very first time I rest my eyes on you, girl,
My heart says follow through.

But I know, now, that I’m way down on your line,
But the waitin’ feel is fine:
So don’t treat me like a puppet on a string,
‘Cause I know I have to do my thing.

Don’t talk to me as if you think I’m dumb;
I wanna know when you’re gonna come – soon.
I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love.

‘Cause if summer is here,
I’m still waiting there,
Winter is here,
And I’m still waiting there.

Like I said:
It’s been three years since I’m knockin’ on your door,
And I still can knock some more:
Ooh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?

I wanna know now, for I to knock some more.
Ya see, in life I know there’s lots of grief,
But your love is my relief:
Tears in my eyes burn – tears in my eyes burn
While I’m waiting – while I’m waiting for my turn,
See!

Innervision

‘Redlight‘ was one of my favourite tunes of last month and was also featured as track of the day in SHOOK mag. Eglo Records have just posted a new video to another cut taken from the forthcoming Follow You EP, a beatless excursion called ‘Innervision’.

The press release informs us that it’s not meant for the charts, it doesn’t belong to a scene, and it’s unlikely to be heard on a dance floor. Produced by Floating Points, Fatima’s breathtaking vocal is given room to soar, and she drops her most beautiful lyrics to date. This one’s a bit special…

Fatima – Innervision

No ocean is too wide for me
I’ll travel wherever my heart might be
Dreams that crosses borders
Never ending feelings
An undying love.

Adventures I must follow or I’ll fade away
Someone asked me today, I replied and said that
‘In a state of mind that is no longer run by doubt
My head is in the clouds
Not stepping up now step aside
I’ll follow…’

Open up your heart to innervision
Life is on the line you have to listen
Innervision.

The thickness creates the stars
But a kiss can make it listen
Don’t surrender to the dark let it go
Create a new spark let it roll
Roll into light
Make day from night
I’ll follow you into what I truly believe in.

Open up your eyes to Innervision
Life on the line you have to listen
Innervision.

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The video to ‘Innervision’ was produced and directed by Gurnteam.
Follow You is released on vinyl on 16th May 2011.

Warm Weather

Pieces Of A Dream – Warm Weather

There is nothing like a warm summer’s day
The sun is shining
And the soft wind serenades
We can walk in the park
Make love after dark
Love in the night time.

I like the warm weather
Feels so mellow
It’s like a natural, natural high
I’ve got to get outdoors
It’s too nice, too nice to be inside
We can ride to the beach
Boy just you and me
Said we’re just gonna take it easy
I like the warm weather.

I like the warm weather
Just you and me together
Can think of nothing better
Just you and me together.

Love Is On The Way

Show your love
Love is on the way.

I sing to you a song of love
A message from spirits above
I bring to you a melody
The angels sing in harmony.

I play for you a rhythm
With beats from the creator’s drum
I’ll write for you these words of hope
To lift you when you’re feeling low.

Love is on the way
Show your love.

I’ll pray for you a prayer of peace
To put your heart and mind at ease
I’ll give to you the faith you need
To make you strong when you are weak.

I’ll be there when all has failed
To be the wind
That fills your sail
I’ll say to you
These words of hope
To lift you when you’re feeling low.

Love is on the way
Show your love.

I’m gonna start today
Show my love
Love is on the way.

Perfect Angel

On Saturday 24th April of last year, I played ‘Reasons’ from Minnie Riperton’s Perfect Angel album during my gig at Ronnie Scott’s. (You can listen to and download a live recording of that set here.)

I bought the vinyl reissue of Perfect Angel from Liverpool’s Probe Records, and at the time didn’t really listen further than this opening rock-soul anthem. The lyrics played around my head for months, and it became an end of night tune in many of my sets last year. ‘Reasons’ is also one of the best examples of Minnie’s majestic command of the whistle register, sustaining notes for extended periods in the sixth and seventh octave. But it would be a disservice to describe this talent in terms of technical ability; Minnie Riperton’s gift goes fay beyond that.

Minnie Riperton – Reasons
The reasons for my life are in a million faces
Like aching promises I feel them in my bones
Slipping through my fingers to dance upon the road
The reasons for my life are more than I can hold
But oh, the sweet delight to sing with all my might
To spark the inner light of wonder burning bright
You’re not alone
You’re not alone.

The reasons for my life are buried in deep places
Words once could awaken them
These seeds that I have sown
Ringing through the madness to crash against the cold
The reasons for my life cannot be bought or sold.

The reasons for my life are filling all my spaces
Like rushing waters flow, they carry me along
Twisting through my memory to pull free from the load
The reasons for my life are more than I was told.
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In September 2010, I moved my studio, record collection and library to a permanent home in Southport, and my records waited miserably in boxes until I had the chance to unpack them at the end of December. The roads were dangerously icy across the UK, and Southport was one of the most seriously affected places in the country. We were snowed in, and I spent the best part of a week exploring the lesser known corners of my record collection. I played ‘Perfect Angel’ over and over – I was enthralled – and my admiration for Minnie grew with each listen.

Last night, I tearfully watched ‘Unsung: The Story Of Minnie Riperton’ after downloading a complete copy from a Minnie Riperton tribute site. (You can still get it here.)

On the back of the ‘Perfect Angel’ LP, there is a note written by ‘a very special fan’:

When Minnie sings I feel my insides rush and quiver. She touches a place in me where no one else can go. It’s hard to believe how incredibly high and beautiful Minnie can sing. But I know her, and I believe. Sometimes I just lay back and try to imagine how sweet her soul must be. Thank you for your music, Minnie… a gift of love for all the world to see…

This message is the lyrical inspiration for the following little-known but incredibly beautiful tribute by DJ Cam and In Love.

Attempting to capture the wonder of Minnie in words is an impossible task, but the essence of her spirit shines through every note. Her gift of love lives on.

DJ Cam feat. In Love – For Minnie
Just like an old sweet song for Minnie
It’s bringing all my memories
And that’s the way she used to be
So sweet, sweet and lovely.

Just like the way she used to sing ‘Loving You’
It was more than just a dream come true
And loving you is all I want to do
I can see your soul shining through.

Just a little touch of love
I feel my insides rush and quiver
Just a little touch of love
And your love will live forever.

Thank you for your magic music Minnie
A gift of love for the world to see
How beautiful you were and always be
So sweet, sweet and lovely.

And I think you are a perfect angel
Yes I think you are a chosen one
Sometimes I dream that you could be around
And sing such a sweet song.

Just a little touch of love
I feel my insides rush and quiver
Just a little touch of love
And your love will live forever.

Andmoreagain

And if you’ll see Andmoreagain,
Then you will know Andmoreagain,
For you can see you in her eyes.
Then you feel your heart beating,
Thrum-pum-pum-pum.

And when you’ve given all you had,
And everything still turns out bad.
And all your secrets are your own.
Then you feel your heart beating,
Thrum-pum-pum-pum.

And I’m wrapped in my armor,
But my things are material.
And I’m lost in confusions,
‘Cause my things are material.

And you don’t know how much
I love you.
Oh, oh, oh.

And if you’ll see Andmoreagain.
Then you might be Andmoreagain.
For you just wish and you are here.
Then you feel your heart beating,
Thrum-pum-pum-pum.

And I’m wrapped in my armor,
But my things are material.
And I’m lost in confusions,
‘Cause my things are material.

And you don’t know how much
I love you.
Oh, oh, oh.

High Society

A couple of weeks ago I was in London with a friend and we checked out the High Society exhibition at the Wellcome Trust:

From ancient Egyptian poppy tinctures to Victorian cocaine eye drops, Native American peyote rites to the salons of the French Romantics, mind-altering drugs have a rich history. ‘High Society’ will explore the paths by which these drugs were first discovered – from apothecaries’ workshops to state-of-the-art laboratories – and how they came to be simultaneously fetishised and demonised in today’s culture.

I was fascinated by Rodney Graham’s installation, ‘The Phonokinetoscope’. A five-minute 16mm film loop documents a bike ride Graham makes in the Tiergarten in May 2000, having ingested a blotter of ‘Mad Hatter’. The film is accompanied by a single-sided 12″ played on a Technics 1210 turntable that has proven to be quite difficult to track down. I made a note of the lyrics in the exhibition and discovered them to be from Pink Floyd’s ‘Bike‘. This wasn’t the song playing though! After some searching, I discovered the track in question was written and recorded by Graham himself, inspried by Floyd’s lyrics, and is called ‘Theme From “The Phonokinetoscope”‘. You can listen below. It’s brilliant.

Rodney Graham – Theme From “The Phonokinetoscope”
I’m the I they failed to dot
From the land that time forgot
I just lost my train of thought
I saw someone sitting on a rock.

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world.

Who is it that does not love a tree?
I planted one, I planted three
Two for you and one for me
Botanical anomaly.

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world.

When I fell off my medication
Seems I lost the art of conversation
Drape the dump in shades of grey
Declare it ‘I feel fucking awful day.’

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world.

Who is it that does not love a tree?
I planted one, I planted three.

Another highlight of the exhibition is ‘Afyon’, a projection by Mustafa Hulusi that shows four simultaneous tracking shots across a field of poppies in Turkey.

This extract from a preview posted on Saatchi Online gives more context:

The seductive fields of Hulusi’s Afyon are also subtly woven with a complex social and political history. The word ‘Afyon’ comes from the province in Western Turkey where it is thought that the poppy originated. From time immemorial, the opiate form of the plant has been used as an aid to worship, an intoxicating substance to intensify the religious experience; it has been used as a poison by assassins; then for medicinal purposes; it has been the subject of wars that resulted in Britain’s imposition of punitive trading laws on China; but also and, more latterly, as a source of income to fund the current anti-colonial wars in Afghanistan. Hulusi’s work, set in what was the centre of opium production, thus carries more than a simple sensory pleasure, however light the artist’s touch.

You can watch the footage here, but it really must be seen in situ to fully appreciate its enveloping mystique.

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High Society runs until 27th February 2011 and comes highly recommended.

Night Air

Jamie Woon – Night Air

Night air has the strangest flavour
Space to breathe and time to savour
All that night air has to lend me
Till the morning makes me angry
In the night air
The night air.

I’ve acquired a kind of madness
Daylight fills my heart with sadness
Only silent skies can soothe me
Feel that night air flowing through me
In the night air
The night air.

I don’t need those car crash colours
I control the skies above us
Close my eyes to make the night fall
Comfort of a world revolving
I can hear the earth in orbit
In the night air
The night air.

I’ve acquired a taste for silence
Darkness fills my heart with calmness
And each thought like a thief is driven
To steal the night air from the heavens
In the night air
The night air.