Oh Bugger, It's Enda

"I am here toooo zuck yur bllooood......"

Something for the Weekend: Delta 5 "Anticipation"

A key component of the late-70's new wave / post-punk era were Leeds five-piece, Delta 5.

The band, which featured two basses opposing a sole guitar, only existed for two short years, yet rather than claiming any commercial success, Delta 5 are often on the receiving end of a vast array of influential nods. Basically they're a band to mention if you are bland enough to try and impress someone with that shit.

Following the positive critical reception of their 7-inch début single, "Mind Your Own Business" in 1979, Delta 5 opened the 1980's with a double A-Side release, entitled "Anticipation / You".  The single was released on a rather limited run by Rough Trade, although unlike "Mind Your Own Business", "Anticipation" did make it onto Delta 5's only album, See the Whirl in 1981.

As very public members of the Rock Against Racism movement of the time, the band found themselves subjected to a brutal assault during a protest from right-wing parties and thugs.
Around this time, the band took on their only US tour, announcing their split from Rough Trade upon their return. Eventually, Delta 5 moved instead to PRE Records - a subsidiary of Charisma Recordings. PRE Records would soon house the release of See the Whirl; however the album's clean production robbed the band's sound of much of its potential rawness, rendering it aurally castrated.  Both Delta 5 and PRE Records dissolved soon afterwards.

The video is a mimed studio cut from a show aired in the former half of 1980; however it is not Top of the Pops, despite what the original description says.

Delta 5 "Anticipation"

Nicholas Courtney (R.I.P.)

Seeming most like an age coming to an end, another passes from classic Doctor Who. Nicholas Courtney, who famously played Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart in the long running television show Doctor Who, has died at the age of 81.

Courtney made the role his own with a gruff regular army appeal, which dovetailed into UNIT’s wide-eyed curiosity for extraterrestrial life and alien goings on. The British actor actually appeared in the show two years prior to the debut of Brigadier Stewart, initially assuming the role of Bret Vyon in the 1966-67 story, The Daleks’ Master Plan, alongside the first Doctor, played by William Hartnell.
It was only in 1968 when the Patrick Troughton adventure, The Web of Fear, aired that Courtney found the role that he would make his own for decades to come. From there, Courtney starred on screen with ever Doctor bar Colin Baker; however he would star with Baker and David Tennant in Doctor Who audio stories.

Although Nicholas Courtney may no longer be with us, Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart is immortal. Nearly all the recording in which the character appeared exist and through these, Courtney’s work can be enjoyed forever.
Personally I will always remember Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart for the famous quote from the third Doctor story, The Daemons: “Chap with the wings there. Five rounds rapid.”

Something for the Weekend: The Divine Comedy "National Express"

I have always found it difficult to believe that when The Divine Comedy released their biggest single to date, "National Express", it came from their sixth album, Fin de Siècle.

Coming out just following the dawn of 1999, "National Express" proved to be something of a surprise success, especially considering its placing as the final single from the album.  The often wry and bleak humour displayed in the lyrics throughout sit well against Neil Hannon's booming voice, as he describe's societies underlings, whether they be screaming children, old ladies, unlikely fathers and once youthful women, whose youth and beauty have faded without grace in the sands of time.

It is a song, not just about watching people, but also watching your life disappear.

Admittedly, Hannon's baroque and chamber pop project was certainly a slow burner that really only started with his second single "Something for the Weekend" from the 1996 album Casanova.  Of course, many fans of Father Ted will know the Casanova track "Songs of Love", as it became the theme tune to the show.

**Edit:
How could possibly leave out the fact that "National Express" has one of the best lines in modern (ish music.  Genius.
"...but it's hard to get by when your arse is the size of a small country..."

The Divine Comedy "National Express"

Something for the Weekend: The Chico Hamilton Quintet "Blue Sands (live at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival)"

Those that know me, should know that I have a great love of jazz; especially percussion driven works from the 1940's through to the late-60's.

Its driving precision often held a sort of manic fluidity in check; like sheer madness surrounding a column of calm. As one of my favourite musicians of all time, Chico Hamilton was that calm.
Hamilton was born in Los Angeles of 1921 and although his drumming provided something of a high-wire stability in numerous bands during his early years, he would not find his feet as a band leader in his own right until 1955. Until that point, he had been an associate of the likes of Charles Mingus, Buddy Collette, Dexter Gordon, while also enjoying spells performing with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday and Sammy Davis Jr. There was even a turn as the drummer for Fred Astaire's backing group in the film You'll Never Get Rich in the early-40's.

When the Chico Hamilton Quintet did formulate, it came to a somewhat unusual format. Rather than being brass led - as many jazz bands at the time were - Hamilton created a group that contained cello, flute, double-bass and guitar; however there was rarely a lead. Often on albums, lead instruments would alter per song and in some cases would flirt from instrument to instrument.
The line-up, devoid of sharp sounding instruments help give birth to west coast jazz, also know as "cool jazz" and in this time, Hamilton produced some of the finest jazz albums ever recorded.  Long players such as The Chico Hamilton Quintet featuring Buddy Collette (1955), Truth featuring Eric Dolphy (1959) and the truly magnificent El Chico (1966). A series of fabulous albums was topped off by The Dealer (also 1966), released on Impulse Recordings. There were a number of fine recordings in those years, but rarely is that collection of four ever topped.
In the 60's, the formula of Hamilton's band altered somewhat and began to assume more of a hard bop and avant-garde feel. This was aided by the addition of Charles Lloyd, Gabor Szabo, Arnie Lawrence, Albert Stinson Richard Davis, Archie Shepp and George Bohanon to his band at various points.
Following the this period, Hamilton began a film production company, where upon he scored numerous movies; including Litho, Repulsions, By Design, Mr Rico and Liebe Auf Den Ersten Blick amongst others.

Nowadays the 89-year-old Hamilton still lives in Los Angeles and continues to record and perform when the opportunity arises. His 61st album, Twelve Tones of Love was release last year.
This week Something for the Weekend goes back to the début long player to uncover one of the best tracks from The Chico Hamilton Quintet, "Blue Sands". The version shown here is taken from a performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and displays some of the sublime precision that only the likes of Hamilton could create.

The Chico Hamilton Quintet "Blue Sands"


2009 Interview with Chico Hamilton