Music Labyrinth Episode 031
Katchi / Nick Waterhouse (feat. Leon Bridges)
Hello Valued Listener. I can report that you have found your way to Episode 31 of The Music Labyrinth and I am particularly pleased and honoured that you have done so, especially if you have done so on purpose! - thanks very much for listening in. And for anyone who has stumbled upon us by accident, well I should make you aware of the convention that now requires you to stay with us for the next hour in order to ensure that our choices are wise and our logic is - well, at least illusionary. Now, just before we launch into the music, here is an exciting announcement that Episode 33 of The Music Labyrinth, which will go to air in two weeks, will be a “stand-alone” episode which will deliver you a number of cover versions of well known songs which I assert are better than the original recordings. I know - its outrageous, isn’t it?! Some of you, I am certain, are railing against your speaker at the moment, insisting that, by definition, a cover cannot have greater value than the original. Well, here is even better news! There is no need to suppress that outrage. Jump over to Twitter and find and follow us by searching for @MusicLabyrinth and tweet at us like you are a former president of a great nation. I can take it! We commenced this week with the song Katchi by Nick Waterhouse, which is the song that ended our previous episode. Nick Waterhouse is a singer, songwriter, musician and record producer from California. One of the artists he has collaborated with in his capacity as a producer is the confusingly named American band, Manchester Orchestra (being neither from Manchester in England, nor particularly orchestral). Their 2017 single, The Gold, was remixed by Nick Waterhouse. However, lets have a listen to the original release by Manchester Orchestra. This is The Gold.
The Gold / Manchester Orchestra
From 2017, that was Manchester Orchestra with The Gold. Andy Hull and Robert McDowell from the band wrote and performed the soundtrack to the film Swiss Army Man which starred Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe was enthusiastic about the musical merits of the soundtrack, proposing that it be nominated for an Academy Award. Music is a particular interest for Radcliffe. Last year he appeared on the BBC program Desert Island Discs and one of the tracks he submitted to that program was this one by The Hold Steady. This is Killer Parties.
Killer Parties / The Hold Steady
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard Killer Parties by The Hold Steady, from their 2004 debut album Almost Killed Me. The lead singer, and lyricist from The Hold Steady is Craig Finn. In 2012 he released a solo album Clear Heart Full Eyes which appears to partially reflect time that Finn spend travelling the Great Ocean Road and other parts of Australia, as the album has plenty of references to places and aspects of this country. From it, this is Apollo Bay.
Apollo Bay / Craig Finn*
That was Apollo Bay by Craig Finn. Less than 100km by road to the west of that place is another town which is the subject of a bluesy, contemporary song. This is Ash Grunwald with Port Campbell.
Port Campbell / Ash Grunwald
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we have been taking a drive along the Great Ocean Road from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell, and the last track we heard was Ash Grunwald’s Port Campbell. Further west is the township of Port Fairy which is, in part, known for its annual folk festival. Ash Grunwald played the festival in 2019, when the lineup also included this legend of Australian rock music. This is Broderick Smith’s Big Combo with Faded Roses.
Faded Roses / Broderick Smith’s Big Combo*
Sounding for all the world like an antipodean Bruce Springsteen, that was Broderick Smith’s Big Combo with Faded Roses, from their 1981 eponymous album. I recall that lineup from seeing them play at the Basin Concert in the early 80s. What I did not know until very recently is that Broderick Smith’s son, Ambrose Kenny-Smith, is the vocalist, keyboardist and harmonica player with King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. Now I have to admit a large degree of ignorance about this band, but in doing some research I have discovered that they are extraordinarily versatile and equally prolific, having produced sixteen studio albums, seven live albums, two compilations and two EPs. From their 14th studio album, Fishing For Fishies, this is This Thing.
This Thing / King Gizzard and The Lizzard Wizard
That was King Gizzard and The Lizzard Wizard with This Thing, from their 2019 album Fishing For Fishies. That album was nominated for the Aria award that year for Best Blues and Roots album, but it was unsuccessful. Another unsuccessful nominee for the same award that year was Dan Sultan for his album Aviary Takes. Form that album, here is Dan Sultan’s cover of Love & Hate.
Love & Hate / Dan Sultan
On The Music Labyrinth we last listened to Dan Sultan’s heartfelt cover of the Michael Kiwanuka’s hit song Love & Hate. In 2019 Michael Kiwanuka released his third solo album from which I reckon one of the standout tracks is Hero.
Hero / Michael Kiwanuka
That was Michael Kiwanuka with Hero, from his 2019 album Kiwanuka, which has been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony. In that category he will be up against four other albums, including Sound & Fury by Sturgill Simpson. From that album, this is the track Remember To Breathe.
Remember To Breathe / Sturgill Simpson
That was Sturgill Simpson with Remember To Breathe. Sturgill Simpson has released albums across several musical genres, from bluegrass to the funky, guitar rock we just heard an example of. In 2017 He won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. Also that year, he collaborated with the singer Kesha, Brian Wilson and the American singer Wrabel. Let’s end this episode of The Music Labyrinth with that track. As always, thank you very much for listening. Don’t forget that the stand-alone cover-version episode will go to air in two weeks, and you can contribute to that discussion by following us on Twitter by searching @MusicLabyrinth. Until next week, this is Kesha with Resentment.
Resentment / Kesha (featuring Sturgill Simpson, Brian Wilson and Wrabel)
* (Please note that the Spotify playlist does not contain the songs marked with an asterisk, as they could not be located in the Spotify database. Sorry.)