I'm the goodness in the bad
I'm the saneness in the mad
I'm the sadness in the joy
I'm the gin in the gin soaked boy
1. Lawks-a-lordy, we are back for session forty five. Can it really have been seven days since the last one? This week has seen temperatures start to lift and we're being blessed with longer daylight hours. It's not much but at least it's something right? So what mood are we aiming for this evening? Well Whiskey is the key that sets the monkey free and I played a few of these songs whilst under the influence of a bottle of Dubliner (nice Valentine's prezzie from my other half) a few days back. Music and Devil's Water combined to put me on the right frequency and it felt pretty good. Whilst my son did not appreciate the kitchen dancing he witnessed, The Horse & Feather will try and channel this same sort of energy in an effort to lure you in and furtherance the cult that is The Barfly Sessions. So we'll start with big energy and work our way down to a point where we are starfished on our backs looking up at a big blue moon. Sound like a plan? Cool beans! Lets kick off with a soul anthem from 73-74 by 6 piece Detroit band The Contours.
1. The Contours
Baby, Hit and Run
2. I don't believe our next song has been out for a very long time but it has something timeless about it that makes you think it must have been. It swirls around like a dizzy dream and I am really happy to play this. Sometimes I think it would be quite something to have one of those fancy apartments with balconies that look out over the city. What a view! Well if I ever did have one of those, this is what I would listen to as I pruned my bonsai tree plant and my neighbour did their yoga exercises. Thought quite hard about this actually. There's a story right there isn't there?
2. Jessie Ware
Remember Where You Are
3. What this bar needs right now is some Peruvian deep house electronica. I am pretty sure that's not a comment you hear very often but before you look at me with scorn have a listen to this song called La Perla. It is nothing but all sorts of fabulous and it arrives courtesy of Sofia Kourtesis. Maybe you know, maybe you don't (You should never tell your Granny how to suck eggs as my old boss used to say) but La Perla is an ancient shanty town in Puerto Rico that overlooks the ocean. It's houses are brightly coloured and enticing but the place is considered dangerous and tourists are warned to stay away... especially at night. Not wishing to sound contrary but my experiences in such places have only been good ones on the whole. I've always found the bars are better and the people more "interesting" but maybe I've just been lucky. Who knows?
3. Sofia Kourtesis
La Perla
4. I think this song beautifully sums up my feelings for my beloved football team. Getting beat by 2 teams at the bottom end of the league but then beating the reigning champions and our arch rivals next. It's almost impossible to comprehend and they toy with my emotions on an all too regular basis. I've done my best to explain this to my son who is also a massive blue and so far it hasn't put him off. Perhaps it's the closest we'll get to discussing real love. If he doesn't get it now, I know he'll get it one day. But back to the song, it's by Kacy & Clayton. A folk duo from Saskatchewan, Canada. And it's fantastic of course. Like really really fantastic. Have a listen for yourself... and offer a little prayer for my team who play Southampton on Monday night.
4. Kacy & Clayton
I Wonder Why
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5. This week, The Fox sent me an L7 song to play and there is naff all wrong with that. L7 are very cool and normally I'd be well on board with that but tonight this just didn't fit between the other songs. Don't despair though Stelfox fans as I've had a rummage through some of his older recommendations and found this bluesy wonder from Lennon, Clapton and Keith Richards or as they called themselves The Dirty Mac. A complete one off between these musical legends which is a real shame but in a way, it makes this even more precious.
5. The Dirty Mac
Yer Blues
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6. As promised earlier, we're going to slow this boat down to almost a chugging halt. I had to do a little check to confirm this (I mean come on, it's been almost a full year of these sessions now) but this is the first Joni Mitchell song we've played in here which sounds outrageous really. There are so many songs of hers that I could recommend but above all and beyond the others, I think this is her best. What I would call a late night track for sure. I don't need to advise anyone of Joni Mitchell's songwiting abilities though as they've been documented countless times but like so many of my favourite singer/songwriters, her songs do read like poems but she's more unorthodox than most in her phrasings and the way she weaves her verses into and around a chorus. She is the master of it. A bona fide genius.
6. Joni Mitchell
Court and Spark
7. So we come to a graceful finish and I thought this evening we'll end with a song that I have loved and adored for many many years. Have one more shot and let this wash over you. In fact, have two. It's taken off the album Waiting For The Moon by Tindersticks and if you ever wanted to lie on your lawn and look up at a universe moving in slow motion, this is the time to do it. There is a stillness to this that I struggle to describe but it's so fucking calming it should be prescribed by doctors. A beautiful, beautiful record. Enjoy what is left of your weekends. Blessings to each and every one of you. If you are as drunk as a skunk you are in good company and I hope you sleep well in your headphones. Goodnight, goodnight. x
7. Tindersticks
Sweet Memory
