Mantaray

After 30 years in the music biz Siouxsie Sioux has released her first solo album, Mantaray. She started out as the post-punk ice queen with The Banshees, then mutated into the experimentation of The Creatures, a duo with her long time partner in life (and Banshees drummer) Budgie. That marriage is over, and Siouxsie is moving on with this album. It is easily the most straight forward album of her career; this is not arty experimentation but actual pop music. It ranges from the industrial edged rock of lead single Into A Swan to Goldfrapp-y glitter and stomp, with jazzy bits (Drone Zone), a Shirley Bassey moment on Here Comes That Day and a swoony Bond film song in Sea Of Tranquility. It is a gleaming modern rock record, ably produced and played by Goldfrapp collaborators Charlie Jones and Steve Evans. They have a firm grasp on what sounds good today, while retaining key snippets of the post-punk and spookiness of old. Siouxsie is in fine voice too, capable of sounding hard as nails and then soft and gentle. It is refreshing to hear a more commercial album that retains the Siouxsie edge. I have really been enjoying this record. Not bad for the 50 year old rocker.
About To Happen
Heaven And Alchemy

Funky Friday

It's been a few weeks since I've posted, due to a general disinterest in writing and having other things to do - like play with the kids, or watch Around The Horn and PTI, or veg to CNN and so on and so forth. I have still been consuming as much music as before, I just haven't felt the urge to tell you about it. Well, that changes today with this funky Friday playlist.

Dinosaur L - #1 (You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean) - from a nice expanded reissue of 1981 LP 24→24 Music, this is some Arthur Russell art funk at it's best.
Dondolo - Dondolisme - seriously '80s flavored synth pop from France. Magnifique.
Underworld - Crocodile - from the forthcoming album, this is a pretty typical Underworld track with an absolutely monstrous bass riff.
MC 900 Ft. Jesus - Killer Inside Me - demented hip hop from the early '90s.
Felix Da Housecat - It's Your Move - a taster from the new Virgo Blaktro & The Movie Disco.
Heliocentrics - Distant Star - stellar space funk from the SF crew's debut Out There.
Imagination - Flashback - a nice slice of early '80s British soul with falsettos set on stun.
Jill Scott - Hate On Me - from her new album, this is definitely one of the tougher cuts.
Just Jack - I Talk Too Much (featuring Kylie Minogue) - a catchy slice of Brit hip pop with the lovely Kylie cooing along.
Duran Duran - My Own Way (Night Version) - this is one of my fave remixes ever. DD re-recorded this, adding huge strings and the big disco pacing. JT's funky bass on this is truly astounding.