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Bob Harris Saturday Show 24/02/07 - a review by Cherskiy

 
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Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:00 pm    Post subject: Bob Harris Saturday Show 24/02/07 - a review by Cherskiy Reply with quote

Wasn't looking forward to the live session in the middle hour, Tunng not exactly being my thing based on the evidence in last weekend's show. Tonight's highlights?

A rip-roaring start with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' "By The Way", from their album "Blood Sugar Sex Magik", although presented here as part of their 2003 "Greatest Hits" collection. Flea's bass and Anthony Kiedis' often-explicit lyrics aren't always everyone's cup of tea, but there's no denying the band have plenty of energy to spare.
The Lostprophets followed with "Rooftops" from "Liberation Transmission": this Welsh outfit managed to come up with a more melodic sound than I'd expect from a metal band so I was pleasantly surprised.
The Wiredaisies 2004 debut album "Just Another Day" has lived on my Amazon wishlist for a little while now. The reasons for this were obvious when Bob played the pre-release "Rocket Girl" from the band's forthcoming second album, "Wire Daisies", with Treana Morris's uplifting and infectious vocals being the only justification I needed to add it as well.
Fleetwood Mac's timeless "You Make Loving Fun" featured Christine McVie's almost effortless delivery of this classic hit. Released 30 years ago on the "Rumours" album - that long ago?!
A new album from Patty Griffin always seems to be an event for Bob, and he waxed lyrical about "Children Running Through" before playing "Burgundy Shoes". Never having heard much of her work before, I was captured by the purity of her voice. There appears to be a bit of everything on this album - blues, rock, gospel, and I can see a purchase looming soon....
The Hours' featured next, Bob selecting "Back When You Were Good" from their new album "Narcissus Road". Some critics are talking about this being Album of the Year already, and it's almost hard not to sympathise with them on the strength of this track alone, Antony Genn's vocals standing proud. Well worth another listen, something I can envisage ending up on the normal playlist. (Mark - you got a namecheck after this track! Smile )
The second hour began with "When You Were Young" by The Killers, from their album "Sam's Town". This Las Vegas band have been heavily influenced by British acts as diverse as Duran Duran, New Order and The Smiths, although on the strength of this song I'd be inclined to say they were channelling U2 with a dash of Big Country for good measure. Nothing wrong with that, though. Another candidate for my wish list....
Bob is a self-confessed fan of The Shins, and played "Phantom Limb" from their recent release "Wincing the Night Away". I'd heard tracks from their second album "Chutes Too Narrow" on various US radio stations last year and wanted to hear more. "Phantom Limb" echoes The Beach Boys in places, surf music albeit with an indie stamp, but they're eking out a style all of their own - tight yet complex backing and laid back vocals. Well worth a second (and third) look.
I know nothing about the Australian singer-songwriter Josh Pyke: "Buttons", from his album "Memories and Dust", provided enough for me to make a mental note to find out a little bit more. He has released a previous album, "Feeding the Wolves" - and that's all I know. His delivery was gentle, soothing and intriguing.

So to Tuung, the live session in the middle hour. Bob played "Woodcat" from "Comments of the Inner Chorus" as a prelude. They have been described as producing 'folk electronic' music, and "Woodcat" certainly delivered that, mellow vocals and reasonable guitar work punctuated by odd beeps now and again. As with last week, I wasn't too taken with this odd mix. Three out of six band members turned up for the live gig, described as being 'diluted for Bob'. "Jenny Again" was the first live track, and I must admit that the melodies and harmonies provided by the trio were good with down to earth lyrics (when was the last time you heard a Little Chef restaurant mentioned in a song?), and the omission of the electronic interruptions was a godsend. Without the beeps and whistles Tuung are fine.... though Bob couldn't say the name of the album correctly, trying three times without success! 'Folk-tronica', they described, stemmed from playing with sounds and spoken word samples (from a 70s educational poetry record!) not normally associated with acoustic music. The 'boingy giraffe' sound was surreal.... "Fair Doreen" appeared to be a more trad folk arrangement without much 'help' from the electronics, doubled up with the rather shorter "Spoons" which was enjoyable but could have been longer! Musical influences? Bjork, Jackson Browne, Fairport, Kate Rusby.... "It's Because... We've Got Her" rounded off the session, the trio offering Bob a percussive instrument to join in at 'any time he felt like it'. Another good set of harmonies backed by acoustic guitar, although it could have done without the bells and the owl flute, which seemed tacked on.
Okay, so maybe I was a bit harsh based on last week's offering. I'm not entirely convinced the electronic bit actually works but they've got some good music going without it, going by the harmonies displayed tonight.

Florida's Matchbox20 brought us back to reality with Rob Thomas providing the vocals to a more Americana roots/folk-inspired rock track, namely "Real World" from their debut album "You or Someone Like You". Reminiscent of what I remember of Counting Crows' output, they do deliver radio-friendly American rock, but it's well done and extremely accessible.
I wish he'd play some Medicine Hat - he uses their jingle for the lead-in to the final hour and it's not enough....
Hey, hey, we're The Monkees.... "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You". Manufactured they might have been, but still great all the same.
Another unknown for me was Jonny Lang, another 12-bar blues exponent hot on the heels of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who Bob featured to great effect last weekend. "Lie To Me" was played, from his 1997 debut album of the same name, when he was aged 16.... Solid blues sold here, Bob was in raptures and it's not hard to see why. "Lie to Me" had a gospel chorus and spendid guitar work, served up with Jonny's impressive vocals. 16? Going by this, 36 or 46, more like.... absolutely wonderful.
I was intrigued by the promise of Julie Fowlis in the show, this North Uist artist singing in Gaelic (the traditional language of the Western Isles). "Mo Ghtuagach Dhonn" from her second album, "Cuilidh" (pronounced 'cool-ee', 'a secret hiding place for valuable things'), was a real treat. Backed by musicians who have worked with the likes of Capercaille, Nickel Creek and Kate Rusby, Julie's vocals are incomprehensible to those not familiar with Gaelic, but the language itself has always lent itself to verse and song. It doesn't matter if you can't understand what's been sung - just immerse yourself in the harmonies and gentle accompaniment. I almost imagined myself walking along the beach at Traigh Iar in North Uist, listening to this. My cousin's daughter is learning Gaelic - I'll have to get her to translate it all once I buy a copy!
Another Scots folk artist followed, Karine Polwart, who I was introduced to via her solo debut, "Faultlines", which remains arguably one of the most musically perfect albums I've ever heard. Bob played "Follow The Heron" from her new release "Scribbed in Chalk" - the depth and detail in this acoustically brilliant song demonstrating just what an experienced performer she is (having played in Malinky and the Battlefield Band).

Another good show, but I came away not really knowing whether I like or dislike Tuung.... ditch the beeps, guys!
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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Last edited by Cherskiy on Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:43 am; edited 1 time in total
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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Location: Chorley, Lancashire

PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wonder if Mark will give us a review too?

I listened for some of it on my way back from the cinema. It was good stuff, but I did wonder if he needs to list every single track he's playing between 11 and 2 - you may as well switch off if there's nowt you fancy.
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Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can't usually catch it live but check the playlist on Bob's website the following morning to see what was played. To be honest, there's never been an hour yet that hasn't featured at least two tracks I didn't either like or hadn't heard before.

I like Bob's shows because I know I will always come away with finding out something new and listening to somebody I want to hear more from.
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Barkingbiker



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PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I try and listen to Bob's Saturday show on listen again as there is always an introduction to someone who I have not heard before, sometimes brilliant, sometimes not my cup of tea at all, but always interesting. I sometimes can't find the time to listen to all of his Saturday show, but almost always listen to his Thursday show, again on listen again. His knowledge and enthusiasm for music is amazing, we could do with more presenters like him on R2,IMHO.

BB Twisted Evil
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Barkingbiker



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PostPosted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am listening to last night's show, playing at the moment is Patti Griffin, Burgundy Shoes, it is just absolutely tremendous, my kind of music. Like Cherskiy, I feel an urge to get my hands on this CD, sooner rather than later. If only this was on earlier than 11PM on a Sturday, just think how great Saturday morning could be if it was on after SOTS, instead of Wossy the obscene.

BB Twisted Evil

PS Mark Occomore just got a mention from Bob, is that our very own Mark, if so Mark, nice one squirrel Cool
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mark occomore



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PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Barkingbiker wrote:




PS Mark Occomore just got a mention from Bob, is that our very own Mark, if so Mark, nice one squirrel Cool



It was me in the first half of the show. Very Happy Wink
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Cherskiy



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Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Between The Hours and The Killers - I heard your namecheck and thought, "aye, I know who that is".... Smile

Anais Mitchell is performing the live session in the middle hour this weekend, so she'll probably be doing a selection from her new album, "The Brightness" ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightness-Ana%C3%AFs-Mitchell/dp/B000LP4O2E/sr=8-1/qid=1172523480/ref=pd_ka_1/202-4275413-3833469?ie=UTF8&s=music ).
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