My iPod #508: Wings – Helen Wheels

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“Helen Wheels” was written and recorded by Paul McCartney and his post-Beatles band Wings during the sessions for the great album Band on the Run released in 1973. Being released as a single prior to the album’s release, the track was not included in the album’s final tracklisting in the UK. It was in the US though, placed between “No Words” and “Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)“. Good decision by Capitol Records to ask McCartney for the change. To me, the album doesn’t seem as right without it.

The song details a journey from the Shetland Isles near Scotland down to London via Glasgow, Carlisle, Liverpool, and Birmingham. This all takes place in “Helen Wheels”, the Land Rover Paul and his lovely lady Linda once owned and the track is a dedication to the vehicle’s reliability, comfort and overall awesomeness. Set to a shuffling bluesy rhythm, McCartney sings with a Southern state inflection before unleashing his chest voice with the “HELEEEEEN” that begins each chorus. That amongst many other little parts make this one of his most enjoyable songs to listen to. Like those backing vocals which echo the last three words of each line in the final verse, or when Paul forgets to start playing the bass for a second and comes in a bit late at one point. The little guitar licks and improvised fills are satisfying too.

The song is a great rocker, and a very good one to drive to of course.

My iPod #507: Interpol – The Heinrich Maneuver

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“The Heinrich Maneuver” was the first single from Interpol’s third album Our Love to Admire, a work that was also their first to be released since moving to major record label Capitol Records. I remember really getting into the song itself when it started to circulate around the Internet in the early summer of 2007; I wasn’t the greatest fan of the band at the time, though I thoroughly enjoyed their songs via the music videos that aired on MTV2 and I was glad that their ‘comeback’ didn’t disappoint. The video for this one on the other hand… could have been a bit better.  It’s cleverly put together, though I would have liked to see the band in it.

Singer and guitarist Paul Banks gets the song off through singing its first line before being joined by a stop-starting guitar riff and drums. It isn’t long until all the members enter the frame, especially former bassist Carlos Dengler who once again executes yet another weaving and inventive bassline to keep everything together.

It is quite a dramatic track. No doubt the bigger-sounding production has something to do with that feeling, but the song’s overall atmosphere gives it that further kick. That spooky false ending, Banks’ energising vocal take (which I’m sure exhibits a range not shown on any of their previous singles), or those synthesized strings during the song’s climactic ending – those are just a few elements out of many which make “The Heinrich Manuever” one of Interpol’s most thrilling tracks in their catalogue.

My iPod #506: Enter Shikari – Hectic

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Let’s get back to business.

“Hectic” by Enter Shikari is another about the good times of the past – but this time focuses on staying round at the houses of various friends listening to music, playing Sonic and Golden Axe on a Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) and carelessly running and jumping across the rooftops in the town. Like the last song I talked about in this series, the track also wishes to go back to those days of innocence and naivety as those of today aren’t so great in comparison. “Things aren’t right” as it is sung in the bridge before the final choruses, and the dread of today has left the narrator feeling as if they are own their own and nothing will be able to change the situation.

Being the penultimate song on Common Dreads, the track provides the rush of pure excitement containing blaring keyboard blasts, vocal interchanging between singer Rou Reynolds, guitarist Rory Clelow during the singalong choruses and an overall soundscape that will have you lunging around the room in various directions. Though there is a brief but poignant moment in which bassist Chris Batten with his choirboy-ish vocals takes lead in the midst of it all, it isn’t long before the hurrying drums and guitars enter to bring the track to a thrilling end.

Pangaea + Parklife 2015

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Alright, so it has now been a week since I left for Manchester to go to the annual Pangaea and Parklife festivals that take place there. I’ve had enough time to recuperate, get myself back together, and come to terms with the fact that the weekend is over and that I shall have to wait another year (maybe more) until I return to it again.

How was it, you may be asking? It was great. Had such a fun time. Not just because of all the great acts I was able to see over the four days, but also because I got to spend the time with a lot of amazing people. Having a friend who is into the same music as yourself, and is currently studying in a location that is home to some of the biggest events and musical talents in general does have its benefits.

PanJun15.LineUp.FoyerSlideSo the festivities began last Thursday with the Pangaea Festival, a night organised and situated within the university’s student union. Honestly, I was not as bothered about who was playing there as much as I was for Parklife. In fact, I really only knew that Sister Sledge was there prior to leaving for Manchester on the day. Still, becoming inebriated and dancing/singing along to “We Are Family” and a range of other soul classics did not sound like a bad idea. The positive vibes and atmosphere was too much that I didn’t take any videos of it; there was a brief Snapchat video here and there, but I didn’t want to spend time on my phone recording. It was all about experiencing the stuff there and then. It wouldn’t be the same looking at a video. It would be too sad to reminisce. Plus, you had to be there if you really wanted to enjoy as much as I did. Erol Alkan and Simian Mobile Disco were cool to witness too; I had no idea they were there until my friend mentioned them to me on the day. Videos would have helped to allow a recollection of songs they played – I’m sorry about that – but those of you who have seen them will know how good live acts they both are.

There are plenty of pictures. But those are just of me and my friends over there with our afros, glitter and other accessories – the night had a “Disco Apocalypse” theme which didn’t really work, I dressed up in the same costume as I did last year – and I will never let you see ’em. Never! Haha. Though you’ll probably be able to find them on Facebook if you are having those stalking urges.

A well deserved break was taken on the Friday. There was a barbecue. It was needed, because we all knew the next two days would be something to remember. Those two days were what me and my friend had been waiting for since at least February when the acts were announced. It was finally time.

Parklife-2015I want to tell you everything that happened this weekend. Especially the events of Saturday and Sunday. But most of it is a bit of a blur. And I feel that it would take up too much time. To sum up actually getting there: what was meant to be a swift commute by tram from Manchester Piccadilly to Heaton Park turned into the group abandoning the whole idea because the tram was rammed with people and getting a cab there instead. We got there much later than we were supposed to. But it was all good. The weather was so much better than it was last year, and we were just grateful that we got there in time for the people we really wanted to see. Personally I was left just a tad disappointed. Just a bit. Not so much that I really cared about it.

The guys I saw on Saturday were: Novelist, Justin Martin, Mac DeMarco, SiriusModeselektor, Wu Tang Clan, Jamie xx, and Seth Troxler.

All in all, was a great day. Met a lot of people having a good time. I did see a bit of Mac DeMarco, but a lot less of him than what I wanted to see. I did get to see him play “Salad Days“, “Still Together“, “The Stars Keep on Calling My Name“, and a bit of “Freaking Out the Neighborhood“, but he was on at the same time as Justin Martin who my friend wanted to see. So I conceded, and went with him to watch. Justin Martin was still cool though. There will be plenty of times to see Mac in the future.

I am sorry to say, however, that the real disappointment – which I still can’t get over because it baffles me that much – was the Wu-Tang. “WHAT?!” I hear you cry. Yeah. I know. Missing the RZA, Raekwon, and Method Man, the Clan weren’t able to perform up to the standards that I was expecting them too months in advance. This was on the Main Stage too, and I exchanged disappointed looks with my friend Dhillon who was just as perplexed as I was at what was going on. The sound wasn’t good, there was no bass, the crowd was tame as anything, and the group didn’t help themselves by dedicating five minutes of time to the DJ who failed to impress with his scratching and tricks on his turntables. It was a shame. I asked a fellow member of the crowd if he was disappointed in what has occurring, with a fake smile he replied “Can you see it on my face?” Enough said. At least I can say I’ve seen the Wu. Probably just not for the right reasons.

Sunday was a beautiful day. The journey there was a lot quicker than the day before, and the sun was out for a longer period of time too. There were a lot less acts on the last day that I was bothered about seeing, but I had to see Madlib and Nas. Just because they are who they are. Apparently Madlib played some new Madvillainy, which I am a bit pissed about as I was not there to see it. But he did play some J Dilla, and some stuff from his recent work with Freddie Gibbs which was amazing to hear. Actually, I’ll just give you a list of who I saw:

Patrick Topping, Madlib, Hudson Mohawke, David Rodigan, George Fitzgerald, Kaytranada (bangin’), Nas (I say I saw him, I saw a bit of his last song before DJ EZ, who owned it on the same stage), Calyx & Teebee

Alright, so I didn’t fully get to see Nas. A shame as he was performing Illmatic… but I think he’ll milk it for a 30th anniversary tour in nine years. I don’t mind waiting.

Both my good mate and I agreed that it was unbelievable that it has been a year since the last Parklife. Time has really flown by. It was a great weekend, and I am lucky to be acquainted with a whole bunch of great people who made my time there the best that it could be. Love ’em to bits. Take me back, please.

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That’s all I have to say on that. For followers, I’m sorry there hasn’t been posts on here for the past week. I think above should explain why. Normal work on here should resume from Monday onward. A bit lethargic at the moment to do a daily thing this week. Though I am feeling a lot better than I was at this point last year which is awesome. I’ll be back.

Jamie

My iPod #505: Wilco – Heavy Metal Drummer

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Both this track and “I Am the Man Who Loves You” jumped out to me as being the radio-friendly hits from Wilco’s well-respected album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Though the album did go through a ton executive meddling that pushed back its initial release and forced it to be distributed on a completely label altogether, all of which was pleasantly documented, it could have been commercially represented by singles which I think would have been very popular. But what do I know?

“Heavy Metal Drummer” is one of the brighter, and lighter sounding tracks on the album. Faking you out with a boom-box drum beat for the first few seconds, the song suddenly bursts with a delightful piano line and brisk acoustic guitars amidst a general perky beat provided by drummer Glenn Kotche. The mix is then filled with bubbly synthesizers for the majority of the track as Jeff Tweedy recounts memories of the past from the heavy metal bands to personally playing Kiss covers whilst high.

You can’t help but feel the melancholic undertone when Tweedy sings “I miss the innocence I’ve known”. He yearns for the times when life wasn’t so hard and everything was alright. But the music’s uplifting and sometimes child-like playfulness overtakes that lingering sadness.