Black Rivers and nostalgia..

After Doves there was somewhat of a hole. A dull ache.

Yes, yes, of course continual listening to Lost Souls was going to be obligatory, there was Jimi Goodwin's solo stuff, and forever held in the highest of esteem was the beautiful electronica of Rebelski. But then Andy and Jez Williams decided to release an album. Under the name Black Rivers some of the tracks floated onto the internet and I was thoroughly hooked.

Voyager 1 is a personal highlight. Instantly familiar -- but if you mainlined Jez Williams voice as frequently as I did then it is bound to be familiar -- the track is paced with total abandoned and joy. That voice. Such comfort.



And when asked t'other day if Doves might ever reform...

..Never say never. https://t.co/1XhpissU2s

— Black Rivers (@Black__Rivers) July 20, 2016

And it is 14 years today since Pounding had its single release. I used to request this so frequently on nights out that one DJ used to play it almost as my entrance music.

Rebelski

We really are pushing the boat out here for this one. Rebelski is an artist I have been very fond of for a long while. Travelling, fourth-member to Doves, keyboardist, finger wiggling, brilliantly named, delight Martin Roman Rebelski, is a little known wonder.

With two albums under his belt on Twisted Nerve I cannot praise this wonderous electronica, subtle, sweet and yummy phenomenon enough.

Both his albums Thanks For Your Thoughts and Stickers On Keys are quite infamous in the small and little experienced world of Ms Mulrine. And anyone who has had the (dis)pleasure of spending a summer's afternoon with myself will know of the cruel game I like to play when my it is hot and the sun is streaming into my room by putting on the sheer perfection of either of these albums and then watching the other person be so relaxed and soothed that they fall asleep by the fourth track.

So perfect I say right now having worked a 10 and a half hour shift. I stabbed my left index finger too so typing is painful. Bastard summer sale.

Here is the opening track of Stickers On Keys..

Rebelski - Alka Seltzer [via zShare]

Please, if you like, go and buy it, its well worth your pennies and hopefully it'll prompt Martin Roman to come out of hiding and produce more gorgeous music.

PURCHASE!

Belle & Sebastian

Named as the Best Scottish Band of All Time Belle & Sebastian are still, in my opinion, massively underrated.

I only know a handful of people who have heard of them and even less than that are actual fans. But they have been making music for a lot longer than most would care to note and they truly have earned every ounce of respect and love that their fans genuinely feel for them.

Here is a track taken from their first record, Tigermilk, that I have been listening to a lot again recently. This track stood out to me last year when I was in my electro-dance-distorted-techno spiral. Brought me back to something more crafted and subtle.

Belle & Sebastian - Electronic Renaissance. (right click and save...)

For a band that always managed to avoid doing lots of promotion, interviews, messy entanglements with the nasty media, they slowly but surely built up a solid fanbase. Culminating in last year's release of The Life Pursuit featuring in any respectable music lover's album of the year list.

This is the single that was released for this record. I remember being very excited about this little track and was filled with glee when I got it on vinyl.

Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog. (right click and save...)

So to find a person who is a fan of Belle & Sebastian is to find a person with a great sense of musical integrity and aptitude. And if they are also into the likes of Alfie and Rebelski too then try to close your gaping jaw and ask to borrow some of their CD's.