I first heard this song at the end of the London 2012 Olympics on the BBC as a closing summary full of highlight memories - [playout sequence clip] to jog your memory.
The song is a unique collaboration between Thea Gilmore & Sandy Denny. In late 2010 Thea Gilmore was commissioned by Sandy Denny’s estate, in conjunction with Island Records, to write melodies for unfinished manuscripts, lyrics without music, and works in progress (that had come to light in 1989) to finally bring some of Sandy Denny’s last works to the world. Of course this song is not about the Olympics but just being away from home.

The 2012 Olympic playout was just an edit, this is the full track called > 'London' 

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Whether it was the Drones in the sky display or the Pictograms performance that caught your eye during the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony, you must have wondered at the music during the Japanese Kabuki dance-drama section featuring the artist Hiromi. Playing piano in a flamboyant style, much like her 'anime' hair, her improvisation and mix of jazz, classical and rock reminded me of Keith Emerson's much loved meanderings and indulgent show-off-manship while hitting the ivories with everything available.

Her actual performance from the ceremony is not available on the web, though a short picture sequence is [FYI here].
The full piece called 'Spectrum' is available to experience > Hiromi

 

There are many other videos worth a look, those with her trio especially. 

Last week in the YouTube comments column someone had remarked the Obi track reminded them of Nick Drake's 'From the Morning'. This in turn triggered my memory of when Margaret, unfamiliar with his music, asked Alexa to play songs by Nick Drake.
The resulting playlist that followed included a veritable who's who of classic singer/songwriters:- Tom Waits, John Martyn, Gordon Lightfoot, CSNY, America, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Donavan, Cat Stevens, Tracy Chapman & Sandy Denny - all came up...
Explore your own playlist, starting with 'From the Morning' by Nick Drake > 

"Now we rise / And we are everywhere"

I noticed another comment on YouTube that said:- 

"I like the fact that the final song on the last album recorded in Nick Drake's lifetime was actually a song of hope and inspiration! "

 

This week I have mostly been cycling !
But what music was in my head ? ...on our route along the Kennet & Avon canal from Bristol to Reading (and onto Hurley).
I did some research on Beats Per Minute & Heart Rate and toyed with the idea of finding a nice steady beat (a cadence) to pedal along to. Nothing to energetic. This resulted in various speeds [108-115 bpms] and many tracks on playlists and 'Happy Cycling Mixes', with some great pieces to consider. Then I came upon this video about actually cycling along the Kennet and Avon that ends with this track which seemed ideal. 'Somewhere Nicer' too.

So this is British indie-pop group Obi singing 'Somewhere Nicer' > 

The video of the actual cycle I found is here for those interested. Pedal here 👉

Not exactly our route, but mostly the same.

 

Big band. Big concert.

And when The Edge's guitar comes chiming in - the reaction, is just amazing !

Clearly that tells you this is U2. In concert from 2001 on their Elevation Tour Live in Boston [video: strobe warning] - go Full Screen. 

Performing 'Stay + Bad + Where the Streets Have No Name' - 'No barriers, no limitations'

U2: Elevation Tour - Live In Boston [DVD] - check out the whole concert, it's brilliant. 

 

I seem to remember I promised awhile ago another performer from Rick Beato's Top Female artists list.
Brazilian Lari Basilio plays guitar with a smooth latin vibe, jazzy and rocky, while clearly enjoying herself enormously. 

Here she is playing a track titled 'Not Alone' in the 'Guitarguitar' music store in Birmingham. Dare I say she needs the money for some new jeans ? No, that would make me sounds old fashioned right 😏

There's plenty of different tracks (and different guitars) on YouTube: 

Check out:-  'Far More' [with a band in the studio]; Her Signature Ibanez guitar track 'Novo'; & 'New Time' - [beach video]. Simply search Lari Basilio 

 

I somehow can't ignore all these rousing Football singalongs any longer. Side-stepping the obvious 'Three Lions' and 'Seven Nation Army', likewise 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' and going for a screamer. 
'Chelsea Dagger' by The Fratellis comes to mind, especially after seeing the fun McDonalds ad currently showing during most half-time breaks [link]. But that is possibly a bit much, so I've gone for the full on goal celebration that is 'Song 2' by Blur. Woo-hoo...

> This track is also being used in another ad right now for airbnb. 

Action Replay - just hit the play button again 😁

The Smiths have been described, among other things, as 'miserablists'. It is something of a joke that most of the songs before you even get to the chorus there's been mention of panic, murder, being dragged down, corrodes my soul, dreaded sunny day, bludgeoned, murderous desire, feel so lonely, so sad. I'll stop there, but you get the idea…. However their songs were often as not far more cheerful and full of life, almost Merrie Melodies (looney tunes) > no not that !!

'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want' from 1984 by The Smiths was only 2 minutes long, this version by the band's guitarist Johnny Marr features some beautiful guitar work. (You don't get Morrissey's voice here but instead you get Marr's astonishing guitar work) > mellow out everyone, and get what you want

KCRW session from 2013: [KCRW is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California]

More Summery sounds this week.

Tristen Gaspadarek was discovered via Cerys on Radio 6 when I heard her version of 'A Case of You' - a cover of a Joni Mitchell song [though very different from her original] containing some nice laid-back guitar. Known simply as Tristen, I then came across 'Glass Jar' with it's wonderful Rickenbacker Guitar Sound (guitars known for their bright jangle and chime) and it immediately feels like Summer and a jingle jangle morning - hope you like it 

- She has a new album just out called 'Aquatic Flowers' 

We have waited long enough for some Summer sunshine, so finally I can spin this track and greet the day with a warm outlook and recount this tale from yester year.

From the John Peel column in 'Sounds' - September 1976

He writes of a new ritual at his home .... "Whosoever rises first - and this is usually me - goes straight to the stereo and cranking the decrepit machinery up to full volume, fills the house with the stirring strains of Poco's 'Rose of Cimarron'. 

Naturally, being decent, god-fearing folk, we eschew the mildly beastly edited single version and go instead to the full-blooded 6 minute and 40 second version. As soon as the ecstatic guitar break has faded away, the rest of the house rise from their beds, their eyes shining with a strange light, the spirits uplifted. 

I suspect that repeated exposure to 'Rose of Cimarron' could raise you to a similar state of bliss." 

So here it is [remember full volume] > Poco - and one of my favourite tracks ever -