Killing Joke - MMXII

Is it possible for a band that's been together for over thirty years (give or take few line up meltdowns) to still be coming up with the goods?

On the evidence of 2010’s Absolute Dissent, which saw the first recordings with the original line up since Revelations (1982) then the answer has to be ‘yes’, as anyone whose witnessed the band live recently will already know.

But can they repeat the trick with MMXII?

Trailed as being their ‘end of times’ album, it could be argued it’s the album Killing Joke have been threatening to make since Jaz Coleman did a runner to Iceland back in 1982 precipitating the end of the original line up amid dark mutterings of an impending apocalypse. 

Which is a theme Jaz has returned to on more than one occasion since then, although recently, seemingly calmer and more stable than in the past, he’s moderated his views claiming we stand on the edge of a new way of living, rather than the end, lights out.

Residents of Greece for example, might even think he’s on to something...

So what does all that mean for MMXII?

No Cyclists Here?

Street art or road rage?

Songs From The Last Century

Makes them sound old doesn't it?

But that would be the point of The Guardian's 'Old Music' feature.  

Obviously it doesn't need to be re-blogged by me (if that is indeed what I am doing?), but I cannot resist mentioning today's entry:

Johnny Thunders 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory' is just a timeless classic.  

Finding it by chance on my regular lunch hour footie gossip surf reminded me that this one song justified the whole of Thunders, notoriously uneven, career.  And it was a more interesting read than why Andy Carroll's a bit of a numpty.

Read it here 

It's also one of several excellent articles in the series, not all of which I agree with, but you could do worse than spend your lunch hour reading about gems from Killing Joke, Ramones, Magazine and Teenage Fanclub.

April Fool?

Review to follow...

The Stranglers - Giants

For those of us who just can't help ourselves and have to check out the numerous You Tube clips of new material prior to an album's release (yes, I know, guilty as charged!), the first thing that strikes you listening to 'Giants' is how much better than expected it sounds.

No, that's not right.  That's the second thing.  The first thing that hits you is 45 seconds into track one, when the unmistakable bass growl of JJ Burnel kicks in.  It still sounds awesome.  It is awesome!

'Another Camden Afternoon' is a lazy, lolloping instrumental opener, almost as if the band are rousing themselves and flexing their muscles.  A pleasing enough start.  

Lost In Music - Mark Lanegan Band, Institute, Birmingham

You're album's riding the crest of a critical wave that already suggests 'Blues Funeral' will be recognised as one of the best of the year and demand for tickets for tonight's show has been strong enough to see the gig upgraded to the main room at the HMV Institute and yet as Mark Lanegan follows his band onstage he seems to wince in embarrassment at the roar that greets him.

Curious behaviour from a seasoned performer.  No acknowledgment to the crowd by word or deed, not even a pause to bask in the moment.  Yet this is a man with seven solo albums to his name stretching back to 1990.  And that's not even considering the plethora of collaborations, side projects and guest vocalist recordings and gigs to his name.

As has been well documented, until fairly recently, Lanegan operated in something of an 'altered state'.  James Dean Bradfield has claimed that despite having done an entire US tour together, Lanegan did not speak to him once during the course of their weeks in close proximity!

Now despite the bedraggled appearance Lanegan is clean and yet still his onstage persona is that of a man who would rather be someplace, anyplace else.

Hanging off the mike stand staring intently at a spot on the stage about a yard to his right - his default setting between songs - you almost wonder if he can go through with this.  By a cruel irony we have come to see a man seemingly crippled by nerves.

Then the magic starts.  As the band kick into 'Can't Come Down' Lanegan opens his mouth and out comes THAT voice.  That husky, death rattle barritone that seems to at once, envelope and threaten the listener.  And we know why we are here.

Killing Joke - Manchester Academy

Manchester sees Killing Joke in fine form.  As is becoming a habit with the rejuvenated Joke, early tour dates see various new songs road tested before the band settle on the ones that will become a fixture for the tour.

Perversely one of the songs that hasn't made the cut is new single 'In Cythera'. Played at Exeter and Bristol, but by Manchester it had been dropped.  But as it is a more reflective song about love and loss, it did sit a little bit at odds with the majority of the new material which sees Jaz & co raging at the ecological and economic implosion of the world.

Manchester 10/03/12 setlist - lovely!

We Watch The Sun Go Down...

 

Sunset over Smethwick. Nothing to write home about in itself, but while taking this picture I was listening to Wire's 'Pink Flag' album.  For me early Wire means 'Outdoor Miner' and 'Dot Dash' of course.  Can't say I was a massive fan at the time - probably way too much going on for a simple lad like me.  But there I was standing at the bus stop when up pops the sublime 'Mannequin'.

Music does not always stand the test of time, but remarkably this track, from 1977, seems far better now than I remember it...

See what I mean