Saturday Theme Ten

Today's Saturday theme is the Wolf Howard Theme, Dole Drums. 

Dole Drums (The Wolf Howard Theme)

Dole Drums is an instrumental piece of low- fi, organ- led beat pop, thumping drums courtesy of the titular Wolf Howard, sticksman for Wild Billy Childish And The Musicians Of The British Empire. Dole Drums is from their 2008 album Thatcher's Children, an album that had two stone cold 21st century Childish classic- He's Making A Tape and Back Among The Medway Losers and sleeve art by the legendary Jamie Reid (of Sex Pistols cover art fame). 

The song was featured in Andrew Weatherall's Double Gone Chapel Vol. 1, an hour's worth of top tunes selected by Andrew back in October 2008 and hosted at the Rotters Golf Club website. Double Gone Chapel Vol. 1 set the standard in some ways, the perfect sampler for what he was listening to in the first decade of the century- surf instrumentals,  rockabilly, post punk, Balearica, solo tracks, remixes and 7" singles that came his way via Rough Trade East. Double Gone Chapel Vol. 1 (Vols 2 and 3 followed in 2009) includes Calvin Cool, The Dawn Breakers, The Tall Boys, Sleaford Mods, S.C.U.M., Lykki Li, Basement 5, Lark, Thee Oh Sees and Billy Childish as its finale. You can find at Mixcloud or here if you want a download to keep forever. 

Coffee

I'm a tea drinker. I drink multiple cups of tea a day- since giving up the cigs I think it's only the tea that keeps me going sometimes. But there aren't any songs about tea on my hard drive. Coffee on the other hand is well represented. Coffee is cooler than tea, more sophisticated- to us Brits coffee is the continent, pavement cafes, and frothy milk. Now the high street is littered with coffee shops selling a bewildering array of coffees all served by your expert barista who's happy to stamp your loyalty card. Our first cup is served by Lalo Shifrin, an unsettling instrumental from the film Bullitt (hence the picture of Steve McQueen at the top).

Just Coffee

The caffeine is kicking in now. The Bullitt soundtrack can be a bit jittery even without a shot of the black stuff. In 1994 James Lavelle put out a double vinyl ep called The Time Has Come, a bunch of remixes from Howie B, Portishead and Plaid. Plaid did this, breakbeat- jazz- trip hop that isn't a million miles from Lalo Shifrin..

Coffeehouse Conversation (Plaid Remix)

In 1989 Edwyn Collins released his Hope And Despair album, a lovely collection of songs. This one, drum machine led and with a lovely circular guitar riff, builds for nearly five minutes as Edwyn croons. Gorgeous.

Coffee Table Song

Blur's 1999 album 13 was a reaction to the Britpop thing. Graham Coxon sings and wrote it, describing his battle with alcohol over a chirpy indie-pop tune with a sqwarky, string-bending guitar solo. A bit of an ear worm.

Coffee And TV

To finish before the barista chucks us out for nursing one cup for an hour, here's Wild Billy Childish And The Musicians Of The British Empire, from the magnificent Thatcher's Children album, and a three chord rush tirade sung by Nurse Julie...

Coffee Date

The Meek Ran Wanton

Ok, I give in. Here's a Christmas post. What was your office party like?

I haven't posted any Billy Childish for ages and his take on Christmas in the late 70s is wonderfully jaundiced. Green vinyl, 7". Of course.

Christmas 1979