LTW newsletter 73
Warriors!
Yet again, sadly, we are reminded of the fragility of life as we lost a friend of the site, Steve Albini who succumbed to a heart attack at his Electrical Audio Studio last week. We had known Steve for decades from his spikey early days when we had argued with him about his provocative statements to the polar opposite older version who confronted his own demons of youth. He had somehow turned into a wise old owl on a whole range of stuff from music, cooking and poker to many other topics and went from that acidic youth to wise older tribal states-person over the decades.
In-between he recorded countless great albums for bands of all shapes and sizes, putting a distinct fingerprint on them with his trademark recording techniques that were not the noise of myth but actually brought an extraordinary clarity to the proceedings.
We had been looking forward to the upcoming Shellac tour that was going to start later this week in the UK and the new album that is out this Friday but, of course, this has all changed and the tour is no more and the album will be a strange experience.
https://louderthanwar.com/an-appreciation-of-steve-albini-by-john-robb-godspeed-you-the-big-black-emporer/
The Chameleons have been ramping it up of late. Their live shows have never sounded better, and it seems like late in their career, they will be finally getting the credit and kudos and the crowds that they have always been tantalisingly close to. Not only are they recording a new album, they are also tidying up their sparse back catalogue and have released the definitive version of their classic album Strange Times via their Blue Apple label. Our man Stephen Canavan gets to review one of his favourite groups that still sound relevant after 40 years and says, ‘It’s how it should be in all its beauty.’
Good to see the return of Preston Pop Fest. The annual-ish event is a celebration of the underground and always has a great lineup mixing old school cults with upcoming irregular heads. The promoter’s tell us that ‘There is hopefully going to be a headliner added and a couple of other acts still to confirm and there may also be a Friday night (June 28th) bit, so keep that day free too.
The Great Escape festival is on this weekend in Brighton. Normally a mixture of music bix convention and a showcase festival, it’s an opportunity for new bands to get a break in the many gigs across the city. This year, it’s been hit by pullouts of bands and stages over one of the part sponsors, Barclays Bank, links to the event and to Israel.
https://louderthanwar.com/the-great-escape-hit-by-pull-outs-of-bands-and-stages-over-barclays-bank-links-to-event/
Welsh indie cult titans Helen Love returns with a slice of classic pop flavoured with a northern soul twist that instantly transports you back to the smokey dancehalls and talcum powder dancefloors of long-lost decades. It’s a great slice of vibrant summer pop and should be on the airwaves now and is released via Alcopop! Records.
https://louderthanwar.com/helen-love-returns-with-stay-with-me/
The 33⅓ book imprint has released a whole library of books focusing on specific classic albums that give another alternative twist to music history. The latest in the series revisits the game-changing Depeche Mode Pasadena Rose Bowl gig in 1988 and the resulting live album whose influence would change the trajectory of alternative music.
https://louderthanwar.com/depeche-mode-101-by-mary-valle-book-review/ (Opens in a new window)
We have been supporting The lovely Eggs since we saw their first gig in Lancaster years ago. The band have become an indie institution now rightfully celebrated for their fierce DIY ideals and their music that has made much of their psyche punk roots and never remained in one place at once. Their new album is yet another jump forward with an added emotional charge.
https://louderthanwar.com/the-lovely-eggs-eggsistentialism-album-review/
The perfect melodic pop and harmony laden sound of the Lemon Twigs has been winning them a whole legion of new friends and their new album sees the wacky duo burst out. ‘classic melodies and guitar pop from LA duo at the top of their game’'
