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Friday 10 March 2017

From Our Portugal Correspondent


A (former) peanut farmer writes
At the end of last month I acquired a bit of money. I was also given a couple of packets of biscuits, some pretzels, a pair of gardening gloves and a man bag. This last item is the talk of the town. “Aqui está o homem ingles com a bolsa dele” they say as I walk into my local cafe for my abatanado. I never reply “Eu não nasci na Inglaterra”. I spent the money on some records downloads. Why the windfall? You might have thought that my friend of over three decades might have mentioned something in his blog, along with maybe a reference to the birthday of Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Sandie Shaw, Michael Bolton. He didn’t......

There are now on the shelves in The Music Room, in the legal downloads section, two albums of what I can only describe as Portuguese Americana. There’s also an album by a Portuguese indie band. Back to the Americana, and today’s artists, who are called A Jigsaw. I’m not sure how the native population get on with pronouncing their name as the letter “w” does not exist in the Portuguese alphabet. They also cannot pronounce the “i” in jigsaw as it should be said, such a sound does not exist in Portuguese. Portuguese Americana, unpronounceable name, doesn’t that just endear you to this lot already? And you haven’t heard any music yet. On the strength of one YouTube video I bought their latest album, No True Magic, and after the first 4 or so tracks I was impressed, not hugely, but on the lines of “this is not bad at all”. The music is low key, and has been described as something like Calexico meets Tom Waits. A fair description (thanks CC), musically but not vocally. I also think there’s a bit of The Walkabouts in there too.  When track 6 came on it just blew me away. It’s bloody brilliant. So you’re not getting that one, you’ll have to buy the album (it’s on Bandcamp). This is the last track on No True Magic:



Buy the album. Then buy Like The Wolf, it’s even better. And then can someone please explain why I did not go and see the band when they played near-ish (40km) to our town last year? FFS it's not like I've got much else to do.

And finally. On this very day in 1950 Edward McKenna was born, usually called Ted. Brian Clough, though, would have called him Edward.  He is a drummer (Ted McKenna, not Brian Clough) and has played with Gillan, The Michael Schenker Group, and much more famously, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. There’s not nearly enough prog-flavoured rock on these pages, so here’s a track from the album Framed, a song about an alleged witch:
There used to be a very fine, knowledgable, idiosyncratic music blog that featured birthdays every day. Whatever happened to it?


Obrigado Georges

17 comments:

  1. Top track!

    I seem to have missed out completely on Portuguese Americana up until now.

    Jamie

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  2. That blog you mentioned George - maybe it will return one day if the writer is lavished with enough praise. A brilliant article, by the way!

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  3. Yes, happy to lavish him with praise! Would love to see that blog start up again. There was music, animals and birthdays, what's not to like?

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  4. Gosh lots of words today CC and I can't pretend to know quite what it's all about but I'm guessing it has something to do with George? Very entertaining now and I have even learnt some Portuguese into the bargain!

    A slightly strange couple of tracks as well but also strangely pleasing.

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  5. I can't take any of the credit/blame Alyson
    All the work of our Portuguese correspondent George
    He used to host a blog called Jim McLean's Rabbit which I suspect was before your time

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    1. and it's not about to be resurrected

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    2. Oh dear - I feel as if I've missed out on something very special.

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  6. We still miss the old place George. It's always good to see you in the comment sections, but this post is a real treat. I don't know A Jigsaw (though on the back of this tune I'll investigate further), but any friend of SAHB is a friend of mine.

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    1. As I said, the Like The Wolf album is even better.

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  7. Isabel Gowdie's a great track. Must say I was unaware of the back story blah blah blah, but just done a quick search and hey couldn't have come at a better time, International Womens Day etc etc. There's currently a glut of books on the subject of Witchcraft and the howlingly egregious treatment of women which I'm gonna check out. Incredible to report that some 'friends' of mine still have similarly pre-historic views. Who'd ve thought us progressives would be fighting defensive battles such as these in 2017. Pass me the bottle!

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  8. Was sure I commented on this last night but it, and a couple of others haven't shown up. I'll try and get it right this time.....

    Dear George

    In this shameful era of fake news and alternative facts there is now a greater need than ever to resuscitate J Mac's Rabbit.

    Please, please, please.

    Aye yours

    JC

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  9. No. We don't want Jim McLean's Rabbit back. The meanderings of a Portugese vegan. Lordy!

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  10. Dod,

    The reason you didn't go and see the band when they were 25 miles away?

    You're a twat. Simples.

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  11. Vocally, surely this man is the bastard son of Leonard Cohen, the well known Irish singer?

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  12. I feel we should "unpack" an earlier part of Portugese Dod's post. Who was daft enough to give him money? And where did he get the manbag frae? George, as a sometime user of manbags and satchels, I feel you should post a pic of said item so we can all judge how manly (or not) is. Likesay, just saying...

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  13. Nice to have you back, George, even if it is just for one day. Always an entertaining read. Don't be so long between posts next time.

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