Let the Music Play (on the Wing): October 2011

Sunday 30 October 2011

Manic Street Preachers - A brief tribute to the best Welsh band of all time...

Sorry, Super Furry Animals, Lost Prophets, Stereophonics and even The Alarm !

Next week sees the release of a new career spanning best of "National Treasures - The Complete Singles" (Sony) which pulls together the 38 singles the band have released since 1992.

Rarely has a group been able to maintain critical acclaim and commercial success for such a sustained period of time and much of this in the face of adversity. Following the well documented disappearance of guitarist and songwriter Richey Edwards in early 1995 the band even deliberated about disbanding.

This followed the release of one of the intense and bleakest (and most brilliant) albums of all time "The Holy Bible"

A quick scan at the track list of the new collection reveals genuine anthems that have become soundtracks for a generation (or even two).... Stay Beautiful, Motorcycle Emptiness, A Design for Life, If You Tolerate This...

OK, so there may have been a slight creative dip in the early 2000´s but the album is a testament to one of rock & rolls ultimate survivors, a true reflection of their origins, influences, progression and ultimate determination when may of their peers had long given up.

For me, the long lasting memory of the Manics will always be their show at London's Astoria Theatre in December 21th 1994.

After a set that drew heavily from material from "The Holy Bible", upon completing the last song of the evening ("You Love Us" ) the group proceeded to thrash and destroy their instruments with an intensity that left the entire audience with an eerie sensation that something was amiss within the band. This would be the last time the Manics would ever play together with Richey Edwards.

Manic Street Preachers cover Rihannas Umbrella (audio only)

Ticket stubs from the infamous Astoria shows in December 1994

Wednesday 26 October 2011

New Music Alert - The Weeknd

Imagine a 21st century Marvin Gaye, inspired by the "Mezzanine" Massive Attack era, fused with austere dub of Burial, and the intensity of Tricky´s "Maxinquaye", throw in some Siouxsie and the Banshees & Beach Boys samples and you have one of musics most exciting new propositions.

Little is known of The Weeknd... they hail from Toronto and are fronted by 21 year old Abel Tesfaye and have released two exceptional albums this year with a 3rd scheduled to drop before year end.

Both albums are available as free downloads from -
http://the-weeknd.com/

Heres track one (audio) from "Thursday" (the new album)

Saturday 22 October 2011

Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay return with studio album No 5

Anticipation is building for one of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year.
Coldplays "Mylo Xyloto" is the bands 5th studio album and gets it worldwide release on Monday October 24.
Brian Eno once again collaborated with the band and it has even been alluded by Chris Martin that it may even be the last Coldplay album ever!

So what to expect ? From the tracks that we've been able to hear prior to its release, the album certainly is aimed at pleasing the traditional Coldplay fan with few creative risks being taken.
Stadium friendly sing-a-long choruses abound with obvious examples being the two singles "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" and "Paradise".

The hype machine will kick into overload with the album release next week and an exclusive show being directed by Anton Corbijn at Madrid´s Las Ventas bullring (on the 26th) and set to be simulcast live on you Tube /Vevo.

Here's the recently completed video for "Paradise" which features the band dressed in elephant costumes!

http://youtu.be/1G4isv_Fylg

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Levante UD - Proving that there still is some romance in modern football !

If you look up Levante in any Spanish-English dictionary, you are informed that its...a masculine noun and that it refers to the East Coast or the East Wind.
The Levante currently in 2nd position in La Liga (equal on points with Barça) are indeed from the east-coast, hailing from Valencia, having endured an eternity in the shadows of their wealthier city neighbours Valencia CF and this season have generated plenty of their own "footballing east wind", this weekend blowing away the nu-rich on the block, Malaga 3-0.

To fully appreciate what this team full of football journeymen, astute signings and old cast off's has achieved in the opening 7 fixtures, here are some statistics that give their amazing early season achievement some perspective.

They have an annual budget of €22 million (2nd lowest in the league), this overshadowed somewhat by the €461 million of Barça and €450 million of Real Madrid.
Their back four on Sundays game v Malaga had a combined age of 137.
They have the best defensive record in the league having just conceded 3 goals (Barça & Sevilla have both conceded 4)
They are the only team this season to beat Real Madrid in La Liga.
Aiser del Horno (ex Chelsea) plays for them !

The groundwork to their success was laid last season by ex coach Luis Garcia, who left Levante in the Summer with a move to the capital at Getafe. He was replaced by Juan Ignacio Martinez who has got the team playing effective and practical football. Lightning on the counter attack, rock solid defence and evident great team spirit are the keys to this early season fairy story.

In a day and age when most of Europeans major leagues are now starting to look a little over predictable with the usual names dominating, time will tell whether Levante have the wherewithal to stand the pace. Logic and lack of deep pockets would suggest not, but for the past weeks Levante have been gathering acclaim and winning over neutrals, the media and even "Bah-Humbug" Jose Mourinho reluctantly praised them after Real Madrid´s 1-0 defeat calling their style of play as "shrewd".
Levante play away next weekend at Villareal on Sunday (23rd) night at 2200 (CET).