Rabbit Rabbit!

I'm sorry to disappoint you good folk but this is not a post about Chas 'n' Dave.
No, CCM could not begin to pay homage to their contribution to British popular culture.

Now that my tongue has been firmly removed from my cheek I can reveal that this post will rather feature some Alt Country singers  with songs giving a name check to the little furry creatures in their titles

First up is Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins and the cover song from their fantastic 2005 album.
They are followed by Caitlin Rose from the previously featured Own Side Up album from 2010.
Last, but by no means least, is a track from Rabbit Songs an album by Hem one of two splendid Hem albums I picked up for a fiver in Bernardos whilst on holidays and which will feature in more detail in a later post.
The album and song titles feature rabbits but there appears to be no direct reference to them on this song - bizzare

Rabbit rabbit!

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

Caitlin Rose - For the Rabbits

Hem - Idle (The Rabbit Song)

AGAP

A few weeks Drew, or Mr Kitchen Table, as he was amusingly referred to by one commenter, was waxing lyrical about the Only Ones -Another Girl, Another Planet here
 I went on record as saying this would be in my all time top 10 and probably nearer the top than the bottom and potentially even the very top
I've got it on vinyl and it is three minutes of unadulterated pop genius.
I've also got a version on the Peel Sessions album from 05/04/78
A slightly rougher version which maybe lacks the immediacy of the studio version but the passion and the electricity is still there.
I'm also posting another track from this session to prove they were no one trick pony but obviously anything else does not come remotely close.
I asked for this for Christmas one year and still have a wry smile thinking of my mum at the counter at Virgin Records asking for it!

The Only Ones - Another Girl,Another Planet (Peel Session)

The only Ones - No Peace For The Wicked (Peel Session)

Lost in Space

On a recent visit to Glasgow regular commenter George bequeathed Tin Planet by Space to the Charity Chic  vaults.
It's a completely bonkers record!
By way of retaliation I gave him the spare copy of the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack destined for recycling to the Charity shop.
I'm unclear as to who got the best from that deal - him I suspect given that he got the previously featured splendid Gene Autry track

Space - A Liddle Biddy Help From Elvis

Pathhead Music Collective

The village of Pathhead just south of Edinburgh received a Creative Places Award in 2013 from Creative Scotland.
One reason is the Pathhead Music Collective containing such luminaries as Karine Polwart and Lau.
Their free sampler CD popped through my letter box yesterday and you can get your copy here
It is a pleasant mix of folk, jazz, traditional music and not so traditional music.

First up is The Burns Unit a Scottish Canadian super  group containing Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock, King Creosote, Kim Edgar, Mattie Foulds, Michael Johnston and MC Soom T who does the Bhangra rapping here.
Following on is Inge Thomson, originally from Fair isle in Shetland, who plays a number of strange percussion instruments in Karine Polwart's band and who is married to Martin Green of Lau

The Burns Unit - Send Them Kids to War

Inge Thomson - John

Mexican Monday 8

Like Alejandro Escovedo, Tish Hinajosa is a Texan child of Mexican immigrants and in her case she is the youngest of 13!
She sings in both Spanish and English and these songs are taken from her 1992 Rounder Records album Culture Swing which I have just about played to death over the years.
First up is Something in the Rain - a heartbreaking story  of migrants working in the fields and the problems of inappropriate pesticide use (a laugh a minute)
On a cheerier note I have no idea what Corazon Viajero is about except that it is absolutely gorgeous.
Apologies if you are getting the wrong track info up for these songs - my burning software was playing silly beggars only recognising some tracks and naming others wrongly.
Hopefully the names of the tracks you are not getting will inspire you to buy this and many more of her records

Tina Hinajosa - Something In The Rain

Tish Hinajosa - Corazon Viajero

Nu Wave

On a beautiful day like today I find my thoughts turning to soul music and in particular the number of new British female stars who have emerged over the last year or so.
Obviously there is Emeli Sande with Our Version of Events. It is now pretty ubiquitous so I won't be posting a track.
Then there is Jesse Ware's Devotion and Delilah's From the Roots Up both of which I got from the library and which are very good.
There is also Rebecca Ferguson, Josephine and Laura Mvula.
Lastly and certainly not least there is Lianne La Havas, pictured above who's 2012 album Is Your Love Big Enough is featured here.
A rich vein of talent and one in the eye for those who feel that no new good music is being produced.

apologies - have had to pull these tracks following DMCA notification - so you will not get an opportunity here to hear how good they are which in turn may have led you to buying or downloading the album

Unbelievable

The things you say
Your purple prose just gives you away
The things you say
You're unbelievable

Unbelievable by EMF has long been one of my favourite songs.
It was on my wishlist for a while until I got in on a couple of compilation CDs including True Brit 40 Essential Indie Hits from where this was taken.
A couple of years later I stumbled across a vinyl copy of Shubert Dip , the original album from 1991 from whence it came, in Oxfam for 99p.
I'm playing it as I type and it is rather pleasant

EMF -Unbelievable