Split System – Dave

These lads from Melbourne tackle their obvious  passion for retro punk sincerely. All too often a band will have a go and then end up sounding daft, lukewarm, insipid. I would line up Jackson Reid Briggs, Arron Mawson, Ryan Webb, Deon Slaviero and Mitch McGregor alongside early Dammed if we were able to go back in time. Split System’s new LP, Vol.2. is a fully fledged romp through track after track of convincing well-conceived music. Stimulating.

A Certain Ratio – It All Comes Down To This

Can it really be all those years ago that I would find that special moment in the evening to lay Shake Up down. It didn’t take me long to rush out and snag a second copy of the 12” to create a seemingly never-ending mix. I’m here to testify the crowd sweated into frenzy, each and every time. Wonderful memories. A Certain Ratio are back with It All Comes Down To This and here is as they say, the sound of the current incarnation of the legendary Manchester band. This single is from their thirteenth studio album, it is the first time ever they have recorded strictly as the core trio of principle band members, multi-instrumentalists Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson after 45 years together. A walloping fat sound, I’d love to mix Down To This with Shake Up in a club night, one of these days. Grand stuff.

Angélica Garcia – Jaunita

“Your voice, the sound of stars/Not even the gods can draw you,” Angélica sings on Juanita, “I wanted Juanita to feel like the story of my life, but one that was also true in a past life. I wanted the song to have a never-ending quality.” With the exquisite production, Ms. Garcia has me not only wanting to hear more from this talented artist, I’m prompted to make sure you take notice, too. She is now living in Los Angeles but  raised by her Mexican and El Salvadoran family in El Monte, California; east of LA where she lived for most of her life.

Thomas Bush – Thirsting

Now here is a work I approve of from a label I highly recommend, Jolly Discs. Do make certain to have a serious gander at their catalogue. Mr. Bush’s back catalogue is also worth investigating as you’ll find his talents included as L-v-L, men, scruff and RAP. Here on Thirsting from the album, The Next 60 Years you’ll find curiously entertaining cuts, with sleeve art that features a clock that reads 1 through 13. Also take note that Thomas Bush can also be found on split cassette with Princess Diana Of Wales. Intrigueing.

? – Blood Red Wine (version 1)

From deep in my archives on reel-to-reel tape, this is version 1 of Blood Red Wine. Recorded in May of 1968 at the acclaimed Olympic Studios in Barnes, southwest London. The lead guitarist and multi-instrumentalist would be dead one year later and the band would move on for many raggedy years, remaining together in name only for most of that time, despite making important landmark albums in rock ’n’ roll history. Who is the band? Send your answer to norman b at life elsewhere dot co. The first five correct answers will receive a gift.

Bnny – Let Me Be Your Dog

Bnny – Good Stuff

Jessica Viscius’s Bnny caught my attention back in 2018 with Let Me Be Your Dog. This delicious helping of salaciousness was on repeat-play at LE Tower for weeks. The Chicago-based artist is back with her second album, One Million Love Songs. “This album is about love after loss, getting older, and just trying to have fun with a broken heart.” Says Jessica. The breathy vocals are there, yet Jessica is realistic, “I’m hanging ‘til the next time, yeah I’m hanging on to the good stuff, yeah I’m hanging on to my big love, my big love”. There is a charming video for Good Stuff and the sleeve art for One Million Love Songs is a photo of Jessica by her sister, Alexa. It’s an ambiguous image, you can read Viscius as relaxed and at ease, or you can read her as completely wiped out and drained. Very Special.

Doefriends – I Don’t Know If You Hate Or Love Me

Apparently, this is Jess who says “I like music, here’s my album, it’s about a lot of things that mean a lot to me. I hope you enjoy, I love you”. Jess continues, “I like to draw and make music”, and “this is a new genre… gay furry music”. The album is I Want To Love Again and it gets a big thumbs up from these quarters. 

Assassun – If

First of all you have to understand when a new release arrives from Alex Donat of Blackjack Illuminist Records you have to try and get into the dizzying mind of Mr. Donat. This ridiculously talented fellow likes to wear different hats, dress up, wear masks, splatter paint or unfathomable gunk all over his face, meanwhile using different monikers. So we have gone along with Alex’s ruse that Assassun are a collective of dangerous-looking beef-cake blokes in sweaty-leather harnesses behind the LP, Post Climax. As you will hear from If, Assassun/Alex have forged this idea to perfection. Top notch production, fun and unwavering.

The Happy Somethings & Slovenly Boy – One Step Away (awake version)

The Happy Somethings & Slovenly Boy – One Step Away (asleep version)

These two cuts are astonishingly brilliant. There is something so genuinely authentic about what these lovely people are doing, from their songwriting, production, artwork and I guess, philosophy. After all, they say this about themselves, “We are an Independently unpolished band who like to be happy. Unintentionally retro. Effortlessly uncool.” I’m very impressed. Do make sure you check out their back catalogue. But, the burning question is, why did I just discover this superb music? Such a lot to delve into here. I’m thinking a Zoom chat with ‘em is in order. Lovely, brings a beaming smile to my grumpy ol’ fizzog.

Ellie Bleach – Pamala

From her sophomore EP Now Leaving West Feldwood, Ellie Bleach sings of the fictional town of West Feldwood, exploring the lives of an anthology of residents – with each track told from the perspective of a different character. This one is on Sad Club Records. Interesting concept.

Driven Snow – Aurora

They go by the moniker of Driven Snow, they are from Dublin, they are Kieran and Emily who tell us in the notes to their LP A Kind Of Dreaming, a charming story of how this record came to be. Like their music it’s simple but not simplistic, it’s touching but never saccharine. They both have lovely voices and obvious they are talented songwriters. Plus, they look like lovely people from the photos.

Champagne Dub – Cumulonimbus

Champagne Dub is a collective of selected artists who say they come together to practice psychedelic dub rituals. Rainbow the new LP from this London-based group showcases ventures into various genres making this a record to delve in and out of as the mood fits. Expertly put together.

The artwork is by Sandy Lieberman (1946 – 2023) “Boy in a circle”1976 Kodachrome print on archival paper 24” x 24” courtesy of Norman B’s collection