MUDKISS ON PURE 107.8FM - END OF THE YEAR SPECIAL - 26.12.13

 

A sad week in the online Fanzine world with the announcement of Mudkiss coming to a close.  We'll still be around however and pay our own tribute to the site in the first show of 2014 on January 2nd.

In the meantime, here's the end of year special which hopefully helps highlight the sheer length and breadth of music which passed through the site, just the tip of the iceberg of incredible musicians we've enjoyed this year alone.

Happy New Year to you all. Have a great 2014, wherever life takes you.

https://x.mixcloud.com/barney24/mudkiss-on-pure-1078fm-end-of-year-special-261213/

The Computers – Call On You
Exit Calm – When They Rise
The Bronx – Under The Rabbit
Bellowhead – Whiskey Is The Life Of Man
The Levellers – This Garden
Eurielle – I’ll Be Waiting
Full English – Stand By Your Guns
Mohawk Radio – Million Lights
The Fallows – Washed Out
Black Belt Karate – Push
Jamie Lenman – If You Have To Ask You’ll Never Know
Valerie June – You Can’t Be Told
The Cornelius Crane – The Needle And The Gun
Eurielle – Gold
Carcass – Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
The Struts – It Could Have Been Me
Kvelertak – Bruane Bren
Lucy Ward – Icarus
Wolf People – When The Fire Is Dead In The Grate
Junip – So Clear
The Rubys – Sell The Sun At Once
Bells In The Birches – For All Seasons
Lincoln Durham – Annie Departee

 

www.pureradio.org.uk  @puremudkiss  @pure1078

 

 

MUDKISS ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

The alternative Christmas Special is now available on Mixcloud.

http://www.mixcloud.com/barney24/mudkiss-on-pure-1078fm-191213-alternative-christmas-special/

Playlist for 19^th December 2013  -  Presenters Andy Barnes, Nigel Cartner & Mike Ainscoe.

Reuben – Christmas Is Awesome

Kate Rusby – Here We Come A Wassailing

Kirsty Almeida – Just Cancel Christmas

Bob Dylan – Must Be Santa

The Miserable Rich – Everything You Wanted

Jethro Tull – Last Man At The Party

Nick Lowe – Children Go Where I Send Thee

Bellowhead – Christmas Bells

Chris Wyse, Chuck Billy,  John Tempesta,  Jon Donais,  Scott Ian - Silent Night

Golden Fable – Blithe Spirit

Jon Anderson – Oh Holy Night

Kirsty Almeida – Winter Wonderland

Bob Kulick, Bruce Kulick,  Chris Wyse, Jeff Scott Soto,  Ray Luzier – We Wish You A Metal Christmas

www.pureradio.org.uk  @puremudkiss  @pure1078

TOP TEN METAL, PUNK, HARDCORE,ROCK AND PURE NOISE ALBUMS OF 2013

Hopefully you've had time to digest my more restrained collection of recommended albums released in 2013.......Now, it's time to get loud, and I mean loud......"bleeding aural orifice" doesn't even come close, crank these up as high as they'll go..........

The Bronx  - The Bronx IV

The Bronx move further into melodic territory without losing edge or indeed credibility in any way. Will the punk purists suggest The Bronx have sold out, comparing “Heart Attack American” or “Three Dead Sisters” to “Valley Heat,” wringing their hands in anguish…. perhaps. But consider this, while the best punk bands over the years have projected aural bile in the guise of anarchistic social commentators, what do we remember most fondly, is it the attitude, is it the clothes, is the globules of phlegm, no, it's the music.........and The Bronx provide exactly that in shed loads. This band just get better and better and better.....
 

 Carcass - Surgical Steel

To describe “Surgical Steel” as the comeback album of the year would be accurate, but also woeful understatement. In reality, possibly the best comeback album ever. Original members Bill Steer and Jeff Walker manifest alongside Ben Ash and Daniel Wilding, armed with razor sharp aural scalpels, sonically disembowelling the listener, no pain involved however due to an anaesthetic mix of unpredictable song structures, intelligent riffage, blistering fretwork and stampeding rhythms all showcasing musicianship of the highest order.  

"Surgical Steel" is an essential album, ultimately defining everything which makes Metal the most stimulating musical genre around.

The Icarus Line - Slave Vows

Icarus Line main man Joe Cardamone once again rails against authority and a music industry openly regarded as an enemy to creativity. In many ways, there’s a temptation to suggest, come on Joe, that’s just the way life is, like it or not, but without that anger, without that resentment coercing a desire to rip open wounds and rub salt, deep as humanly possible, an album this intense just wouldn't exist. One thought I can’t remove from my mind on every occasion I play ‘Slave Vows,’ the spectre of founder member and original lead guitarist  Aaron North has most definitely now left the building.

 

 

 Iron Tongue  - The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown
 

Iron Tongue may reek of years of life on the road and dusty bars although a real freshness emanates from deep within tales of life, love, pain and suffering. They revolve unashamedly around music of the 60's and 70's, each track injected with additional doom encrusted purposefulness, making this album stand out completely triumphant. Stoners with soul, it really doesn’t get much more impressive.

Windhand - Soma

'Soma' a heavy weight meandering beast containing sludge riffery of the filthiest kind circumnavigating contrasting clean vocals.  An album which includes both an acoustic and thirty minutes plus track of slo-mo metal lumbering shouldn't work and maintain any level of interest. The fact it does, suggests quite simply, Windhand taking Doom to another level.



Antlered Man  - This Devil is Them

Demonic prog with a devilishly wicked sense of humour, an injection of rapped vocals and some of the heaviest crashing chord structures this side of 'Electric Wizard,' "This Devil is Them" not an album for the faint of heart. Even the Dark Lord himself would take a step or two back in awe at the sheer power of Antlered Man......enter one of the distinctly individual collections of the year at your peril.

Wolves in the Throne Room - Anno Domini

Do two tracks totalling twenty minutes constitute an album? Perhaps not, but impossible to let this release of a 2011 BBC live session pass by uncommented.  Focusing on 'Prayer of Transformation' and 'Thuja Magus Imperium' both taken from their "Celestial Lineage" album, Wolves in the Throne Room's devastatingly atmospheric Black Metal proves hauntingly compulsive while maintaining a overall disturbing aura. Somewhere along the line, if given time and effort, it proves perversely relaxing........or perhaps that's just me? 

We await future material with equal levels of excitement and trepidation.

  

Jamie Lenman  - Muscle Memory Pt.1

 How can it be, Jamie Lenman appearing in both the quiet, and loud lists of the year? Simple, "Muscle Memory" a double album of such diversity, one half introspective, the other a hark back to Reuben days of yore supplemented by total lack of melody, even notes. Instead, Lenman slams his distortion pedal through the floor, producing a pulverising attack on the ear drums designed to make the listener turn quickly to album two. In this he fails miserably, instead producing a tuned down collection of hardcore magnificence, which sits intensely alongside his best ever work.



Death Angel - The Dream Calls for Blood

 Veteran Thrash Metallers Death Angel return with a album chock full of vivacious life, easily putting bands half their age to shame. Riffs and solos arrive and depart at blistering levels, keeping pace with a galloping rhythm section all seemingly headed towards a multiple pile-up which never materialises. Instead, control and cohesiveness amongst the rapidity key to the albums brilliance.

 

 

 

 



Kawabata Makotos Mainliner - Revelation Space

"Revelation Space" literally rips the rule book to shreds on song structure and balanced recording, preferring to annihilate through feedback induced, distorted chaos. Imagine Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell turning up at the studio to find Jimi and producer totally off their tits, deciding to press on regardless and see what transpires from a drug fuelled haze. You get the picture.

Want to hear these and more, join us every Thursday between 11 and midnight www.pureradio.org.uk @puremudkiss https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Mudkiss/230845907079036

     

MY RELATIVELY QUIET, MORE RESTRAINED TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2013

Jamie Lenman  - Muscle Memory (Pt.2)

A double album split into two distinct parts, one side loud, the second quieter more reflective, spread across a myriad of genres.  The ex Reuben main man back with an absolute bang, exploiting  his songwriting, and talents as a musician to the ultimate. 

  

Lucy Ward - Single Flame

A breathtakingly gorgeous collection of dark folk songs from Lucy Ward, highlighting a purity of voice with distinct Northern tones, which only enhances the individuality surrounding this record. Beautiful and emotive.

 

The Computers - Love Triangles Hate Squares

A re-invention of sorts, The Computers dropping the hardcore aspects of earlier work, instead focusing on the more rock 'n' roll and soulful aspects of their music, bringing their lyrical excellence to the fore.

Queens of the Stone Age - Like Clockwork

Straight from day of release, Like Clockwork always going to feature in my top ten, the only question in the heavier or lighter list. A definite return to form from one of the best bands of the last twenty five years. A more mature sound with melodies back to the fore, supplemented by one of the tightest musical units around, whatever the line up. 

Lincoln Durham - Exodus of the Deemed Unrighteous

Even filthier swamp blues take Lincoln Durham to another level after his debut 'The Shovel and the Howling Bones.' Deliciously dark, with murderous intent, if anyone can convince you to become a "Sinner," it's this man. Stunning in it's intensity. 

 

Carlton Melton - Always Even

An instrumental album of literal shimmering soundscapes. One in which to lose yourself entirely and travel to another dimension on a legally purchased high. 

Beans on Toast - Giving Everything

Another album filled with compulsive listening from Beans on Toast, acerbic wit, personal issues and dark observational comment on modern day society combine. You might not agree with all the sentiments, but you certainly can't ignore them.

Rovo and System 7 - Phoenix Rising

Japanese electro meets and conjoins with legendary prog couple Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy, producing an otherworldly collection of instrumental brilliance. Two drummers, electric violin and Hillage in brilliantly extended soloing mode, and absolute highlight of the year.

Wolf People - Fain

An album which intertwines folk with psychedelic rock, impossible to predict, such the meandering nature of the constructions without venturing too deeply into vast prog territory. Brilliantly played and composed, modern music really doesn't get much better.

   

The Wave Pictures  - City Forgiveness

A band who should garner much more attention. Unambiguous lyrical genius mixed within one of Britain's musically diverse three pieces, City Forgiveness is a sprawling twenty tracks, with never so much as a dull moment.

Want to hear these and more, join us every Thursday from 11 til Midnight over at www.pureradio.org.uk and follow us @puremudkiss and over on Facebook.

My heavier, more extreme top ten of 2013 to follow soon............

   

MUDKISS ON PURE 107.8FM - 12.12.13

 Second of our shows to be uploaded to Mixcloud.  Slightly more restrained this week with a trio of ambient rock / metal instrumentals, a touch of understated doom, an injection of folk and it wouldn't be the same without a bit of Prog. 

 http://www.mixcloud.com/barney24/mudkiss-on-pure1078fm-121213/



Mudkiss on the Radio  - Thursday  11 til Midnight

Playlist for 12^th December November 2013 – Presenters Andy Barnes, Nigel Cartner & Mike Ainscoe.

www.pureradio.org.uk  @puremudkiss  @pure1078 

Avatarium – Bird Of Prey

Caspian – Porcellous

Nick Raven – Butterfly High

Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies – The Ghost Of Valentine

Sound Of Contact – Closer To You

The Rubys – Silhouettes

Tides From Nebula – Laughter Of Gods

Rebecca Pronsky – Honesty

Anathema - Harmonium              

MUDKISS ON PURE RADIO NOW AVAILABLE ON MIXCLOUD

At last......we have a listen again feature for the Mudkiss radio show on Pure 107.8FM.  If you head over to the Mixcloud link below, you'll be able to hear the show from December 5th and we'll be uploading each week from now on.

And don't forget, alternative Christmas special December 19th, 11 til midnight and a two hour, best of the year show on Boxing Day night the 26th, 11 til 1am.

Keep up to date with the best in new and underground music by giving us a follow and have the shows delivered direct to your in box.  I doubt you'll experience a wider range of genres and styles anywhere else.

http://www.mixcloud.com/barney24/

Twitter @puremudkiss

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Mudkiss/230845907079036

JAMIE LENMAN - LIVE REVIEW - THE NIGHT AND DAY CAFE MANCHESTER - 07.12.13

As lead singer, guitarist and lyricist with Reuben, Jamie Lenman built up a hardcore underground following of fans who have been waiting patiently for their cult hero to return. Five years since Reuben split in 2008, Lenman released solo album "Muscle Memory" last month to much critical acclaim, a double collection in two distinct halves. One half quiet, a melodic mixture of styles from folk to country to big band swing, his songwriting skills with tender lyrical themes completely to the fore. The other half,complete opposite, an aural barrage of almost impenetrable metal based assaults on the senses. If ever there's been a more contrasting album, I'm yet to hear it.

The question on my, and surely many others lips, how was tonight's set list going to stack up.  As the good to go sign is flashed by a roadie to the sound desk, Lenman strolls from the back of the Night and Day stage to monumental applause and cheers, the conquering hero returneth, ukelele in hand and trademark battered Yamaha slung across his back. Evidence immediately, both aspects of 'Muscle Memory' would quickly be realised.  As Lenman opens with the gorgeous tones of "Shotgun House" the crowd respond vocally, each and every word sung back vigorously, setting the audience participation tone for the whole evening. His sharply self deprecating humour soon appears as a mistake in the solo transpires, before the band take to the stage, playing out the end before breaking manically into "The Six Fingered Hand" followed immediately by "Fizzy Blood" the area in front of the stage breaking into a frenzy of moshing.  The change in styles breathtakingly immediate.

Jamie and band continue with a magnificent set, guaranteed to inspire and satiate all present. The majority from the new solo album obviously, although a smattering of classics please the die hard disciples of Reuben including "No One Wins the War." Mid way, the whole of the touring party become involved, both roadies and band as a whole string the stage for a rousing version of the A Cappella "A Day in the Life," and Lenman's wife also takes her turn, providing contrasting backing vocals on "It's Hard to be a Gentleman" and "If You Have to Ask, You'll Never Know" before the standard quartet hold sway for a return to the Reuben back catalogue and a riotous "Moving to Blackwater."

He appears genuinely overawed by his reception, praising the crowd as the best on the tour so far, assuring us this no glib front man speak, in fact, probably the best and most energetic he's ever had the pleasure to play for. Manchester treats him as one of their own tonight, confirmed by the the sold out sign on the front door.  Gracious and keen as ever to promote underground music generally, Jamie extolls the virtues of both support acts, local band ST I LT S and touring partners Kill Chaos simply described as one of the UK's finest, and his favourite band of the moment.  Both showing skill and dexterity in and amongst punk / hardcore thrash, Kill Chaos more mature, exhuding class and additional stage presence.

The night ends all too soon, a crushing "Muscle" before none of that "encore bullshit" and we're treated to a lesser known Reuben track "Shambles" to close an incredible evening of live music.  Tonight's gig quite simply one of the best I've ever attended in over thirty years of watching live music.  The energy on stage matched and indeed overtaken by that in the audience, Lenman's quick wit and repartee as razor sharp as ever and the sheer adulation shown by all is empowering.  You can't fail to see this man as a musical unsung hero, one who got away, and for that, the industry should genuinely be ashamed. We can only hope there's more to come in the coming months and years.

http://www.jamielenman.com/

https://twitter.com/jamielenman

https://www.facebook.com/jamielenman?fref=ts

MUDKISS ON THE RADIO - PLAYLIST FOR 5th DECEMBER

Mudkiss on the Radio  - Thursday  11 til Midnight

Playlist for 5^th December November 2013 – Presenters Andy Barnes, Nigel Cartner & Mike Ainscoe.

You can now catch us on Mixcloud 

http://www.mixcloud.com/barney24/

The Suzukis – Personal Patrol

Chris TT – Gulls

Jingo – Same Without You

Jo Bywater – This Garden

Sleeping Romance – Devil’s Cave

Hey Bulldog – Numb

Arena – The Ghost Walks

IC1 – Wack Jack

Making Monsters – What It’s Worth

John Paul Jones – Leafy Meadows

www.pureradio.org.uk  @puremudkiss  @pure1078