A Certain Ratio - Flight (1980)

14/01/2022

Welcome Soundheads!

Another 12” this week for a change of direction and pace.
Even tho’ history is now a little kinder to ACR, this jittery funk chill stamps its foot on the ground to say that they still don’t really get the kudos they deserve.
I have always and shall continue to nail myself to that flagpole.

Flight is a transcendent icy suspension post punk funk of Antarctic Enoesque Before and After Science mist.

Held down by the mastery of Donald Johnson’s absolutely top notch rolling funk breaks (which are worthy of finding their place at times on a Miles Davis 70’s workout), a middly blocky bass stab and an ice station zebra guitar that’s so cold, you need a 70’s snorkel parker with its hood pulled all the way up.

And then on top of all that frozen glory, you have it all wrapped up in the distant polar tundra of Martin Hannett’s production.
Sublime is not a word I use lightly.
As the famous quote goes…
“I am just going outside and may be some time”

Perfectly encapsulates the time the experimentalism that came from the post punk scene was on a full head charge lead by the likes ACR and Cabaret Voltaire.

A good single malt shall suffice for the 6 min journey.

Same time next week, pop pickers.

Over n Out

RH XX

Lightnin' Hopkins - My Little Kewpie Doll (1958)

07/01/2022

New Years salutations Soundheads!

Another Friday, another slab of infinite goodness to wash away the week.

Now this 1958 chuggin’ gem from Lightnin’ asking his baby what’s wrong with her, gets instantly to the point.
A Kewpie Doll for the uninitiated, is a quite scary looking concoction of supposed cuteness.
Personally, they might as well be Chucky as I find them quite quite sinister but hey ho, at least they didn’t piss and shit themselves.

Anyway, back to the bizness, this hip slinger has the classic Lightnin’ sleek and bright guitar and probably the graveliest voice this side of your local gravel pit.
It rides and slides like the best fun fair water chute and makes no bones it’s outta town in less than 3 mins.

Bourbon on the Rocks at the ready my fellow audiophiles, let Lightnin’ warm yo selves on this damn cold day.
The Bourbon will do the rest.

Hmm Mmmm

Til next time!
Lator You Gators

RH X

Public Enemy - Brothers Gonna Work It Out (1990)

01/01/2022

So yeah… SOUNDHEADS, let’s bang it in on NEW Years Day

An’ I’m not gonna talk about U2.

Let’s bring it on!
Yep, it’s a 12” slammer, but ok it’s the same as the album version.

For me, the most agit prop PE album of them all.
It brought the noise… and then some.
But this track, fuck me… this is furious anger right there.

Nuff said

Elvis was a hero to most indeed…

Shut em down

RH
X

Robert Parker - Let's Go Baby (Where The Action Is) (1966)

31/12/2021

Well, here we are Soundheads… another year upon our horizon.

I can’t be arsed to wax lyrical about ‘21, most of it was fucking shit.

So let’s get to the meat on the menu here.

Robert Parker diggin’ it big time with Let’s Go Baby (Where The Action Is) from 1966.

It’s another B-Side slider from me, the ever hot Barefootin’ hit you up on the A, but I gotta get you cats in on the vibe… this shits all over Barefootin’.
The A is the hip huggin boogie-riffic stepper and it’s awesome.
But this fellow diggin’ dogs… is the boat that floats in my moat.
Everything on it is just plain outtasight.
A NOLA gumbo of bold brass, a funky mf of a guitar giving it some but never flashy and the Parker striding down the avenue, just playing it cool.

So wherever you are tonight – which I have to say, I do actually hope is indoors and staying safe – get your high heel sneakers on, get the hips wiggin’ and the feet a steppin’ to this 100% slider.

Let’s go babies, to where the action damn well is!

Be safe, be smart, be kind and be real.
See you over there on that there ‘22 and let’s get all the fuckwads out and some people power back in!

Endless smiles
Love
RH xx

Keith Richards - Run Rudolph Run (1979)

25/12/2021

It’s better to give than to receive apparently.

So Santa’s Soundheads.

Let’s have it with KEEF!

In all his ragged, torn and frayed glory.
You like to think he at least wore a Santa hat whilst recording this!
But his xmas was probably white and full of snow of a different variety, eh?
I doubt he had much time for extra indulgence of wondering where his fucking hat was.

It’s KEEF!
Not the worst kept secret in the world that I balls out love him.
It was his birthday a few days ago so, I make no apologies for being a bit soppy.
So this won’t touch the sides compared to Otis, but if there’s a bottle of Jack in your vicinity, take a huge glug straight off the top, don’t fuck about with a glass, and stagger about a bit throwing guitar ninja shapes in honour.

You know it makes sense

Call me the Tumblin’ Dice

RH X