The Evening Chill Out Session

How these dance CD’s that sound like a geezer smashing 10 bells of shite out of his new culinary equipment can be released as a ‘chill out session’ is beyond me.

If I’m listening to a set of songs to chill out with, have a sup of ale with, you can bet your boots none of these ‘chill out’ CD’s will be anywhere near my sound system.

So I got to thinking, what would I pick as my chill out tunes? Well, here they are. Agree or not I’m sure you’d love to chill out with them deciding!

So top ten, leading to our victor looks like this……….

Number 10 – Kate Bush.- Running up that hill.

Ouch, this song is sharp. Beautiful fucking song, one most definitely to chill out with.

Number 9 – Alabama Shakes – You Ain’t Alone

Sleepy time. Giddy gum drops this one is a dream.

Number 8 – Stone Roses – Adored

It’s a tune. A massive fucking tune. It’s also calm in its way too. Love it.

Number 7 – The Smiths – I Know It’s Over.

A depressing number for the chill out zone? Fuck off this is Morrissey. He’s magic and this tune is deep, slow and massively listenable. (Is that even a word?)

Number 6 – Beady Eye – The Roller

I want these in the selection list because I think Liam and co have done a marvellous job here. Massive band in my eyes and this is a subtle one to make the list. There are others on the album but this is just huge right?

Number 5 – Oasis – Let There Be Love

Touching hey. It’s fabulous and it’s by Oasis. Enough said.

Number 4 – Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum

Can these little rockers really make a chill out session? Cause they fucking can. Have you heard this one? It’s a sing-a-long hit, it’s still relaxing and it’s a jib at everyone’s mrs. Love it.

Number 3 – Stone Roses – Mersey Paradise

They make it a second entry. They are that good and this is one of their greatest hits. Why a b-side I’ll never know. Enjoy it as it takes you into our top 2.

Number 2 – The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work

It’s a fabulous, fabulous song. The magic on The Verve is driven at you by the majestic tone of Ashcroft’s voice. This is a must for the chill out zone.

….and number 1? Them again?

Number 1 – The Verve – Lucky Man

Our number one is from my number one. Richard Ashcroft has a voice made for chill out sessions and Lucky Man is arguably The Verve’s greatest work. I love it, you should too.

The Book Club – Book Mark Them

Fans of the Arctic Monkeys would have no doubt stumbled across Sheffield counterparts Milburn in recent years, (Milburn covered in an earlier blog). Well since the demise of the latter, what has become of their sound?

Joe Carnall, the lead singer of Milburn, took his melodies to a new band, grabbing former Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson In the process and developing his modestly named four piece ‘Joe Carnall and The Book Club’. That Sheffield steel Milburn and the Arctic’s ooze(d) was back. Carnall eventually dropped his name from the band title and POW The Book Club voyage begins.

If you haven’t downloaded some of the sounds this band produce then do so. ‘What Was Said On The Landing’ to ‘Cautious Cavalier’ all melt into the beautiful tone of Carnall’s voice. The Book Club’s sound produce plenty of power to back it up too.

Fans will relate to the sound of this band, jump with them, surf with them and sweat fucking bucket loads with them. Their modern, stylish and beaty demeanour is one that could propel them to heights Milburn didn’t believe they could reach.

The feedback coming from recent gigs are all positive too and there’s a real buzz around these boys and the future many see them embarking on.

No need for silence, The Book Club are coming.

Burning Condors - Unique Personified

Burning Condors. A flaming hot vulture? An ignited plane? What ever the name sake these lads are bloody hot and they’re bang in your face too. You simply can’t ignore their sound.

I’ve enjoyed listening to snippets of their work, in particular ‘Love On The Rocks’ which gets firmly imprinted on your brain for the next day or two.

The Burning Condors are London boys and are anything but the stereotypical band. They’re edgy, unique in their ways. There’s no attempt to copy bands up T’North and there are certainly no apples and pears getting climbed.

The indie trend is such an easy one to fall into for up and coming bands looking to make their name heard. Condors say no to that. They say it fucking loudly too.

The boys already have part of America on side with Producer Mark Robertson inviting them to his Nashville studio to work on their debut album ‘Round Our Way’. I find it all a little fitting considering their sound was compared to what Blur would have sounded like if they grew up listening to Nashville Tennessee’s own Carl Perkins.

The American influences are pretty clear to hear in the Condors sound but Marcus, Rory, Matthew and Chris are blighty boys and their sound will be leaking from the capital for more to hear.

Those who aren’t familiar with these lads need to be and the ones that are will know just why.

Their credibility is outlined by being chosen to support renowned US rock act The Legendary Shack Shakers at their 2010 London show. They’ll be more of these chapters to write in time too, you mark my words.

They are a band to look out for and one you should certainly listen to if you’re looking for something to break the mould. So many bands can get lost in the generic façade of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ but the Burning Condors go as far to almost define it.