Cool Manchester

October is a very predictable month in the pop music industry, the UK Top 40 is pretty much consumed with acts associated with The X Factor for the rest of the year and the major record companies take few risks and bring out all the "Best of" compilations ready for Christmas.

There are still, however, a few great new[ish] songs out there though for those willing to look for them.

Here are four songs for this month that come recommended by me:

1. Nicola Roberts - Lucky Day

Nicola gets a pretty bad deal from the press. She's seen as the "other one" from Girls Aloud and gets nowhere near the same amount of coverage as other less vocally gifted members of the group [I don't have to name names do I?]. Personally, I think that Nicola has the best solo material by a long way and Lucky Day is a catchy pop tune that doesn't resort to the "vocal enhancement" associated with other members of the same group [I don't have to name names again do I?].

2. Marina and the Diamonds - Radioactive

Hollywood and I Am Not A Robert should have been MASSIVE hits and the fact that Marina still has not had a top ten hit is a major injustice. Hopefully the first single from her second album will do much better!

3. Charlene Soraia - Wherever You Will Go

The original version of this song by "The Calling" is one of nmy all time favourites songs and usually I am very unkind about cover versions, but Charlene's vocals on this track are spine tingling! Trust me on this one!

4. Aqua - Playmate to Jesus

FOURTEEN yeasrs after the release of "Barbie Girl" the Danish band are still going strong [in Europe anyway!] and are back with a new album "Meglomania". Aqua have moved on from thier original sound but are still making great pop songs. Have a listen, it may just surprise you!

By Jason Waters

Vinny Peculiar (aka Alan Wilkes) is back with a brand new album, and what a fine album it is too. The extremely catchy 'My Generation' (I said goodbye)' hooks the listener in the first few bars with the dancing piano and sweeping guitar. The songs refrain of "I said goodbye to my generation, I never heard from them again" will most certainly be on repeat in your mind long after the song is over.

'Judy Wood' instantly reminds this reviewer of David Bowie's sound on his 'Hunky Dory' album, although its a different bowie album Vinny name checks in the lyrics, "I dropped out of school, I wished I was a girl, coz I listened to the man who sold the world". Its not just Bowie who is in the mix here though, Vinny’s vocal delivery brings to mind Ray Davis, and the Beatles influence is apparent.

Talking of the fab four, the next song, 'A Vision' is an extremely wonderful nod to The Beatles, an achingly melancholic look back at times gone by. Its on this track you realise just how very British a songwriter Vinny really is.

The chaos of 'Other People' jumps out from the speakers at you, and its refreshing that the title track of the album is actually a lightweight romp compared to the previous tracks. The guitar work particularly makes itself known.

'Artrockers' starts out like a Motown song until Vinny reveals with his every man lyrics that this is another ode to the pop stars of his youth. The whole song is one big celebration of art, and is a joy to behold.

The jagged guitar intro of 'Art Thief' is more along the lines of something you'd expect from a mid 70s Lou Reed. It rocks its way nicely through its duration, but its spacey guitars and frantic pace don’t really cover up the fact that the song is somewhat slight compared to other work on the album.
'Square One' is simply pure vintage Vinny Peculiar. The wistful lyrics over a luscious backing reinforce why so many people, including myself, love Vinny’s work.

'Christo & Jeanne-Claude', as well as featuring some fine acoustic flourishes on guitar, has some great lines,
"they were genuine artists, and there are so few genuine artists"

When you turn the TV on and are confronted with marketing instead of true musicians and songwriters, Vinny’s sentiments ring true.

'Something And Nothing' is another look back, something of a theme on this album. This time its a more modern sounding backing Vinny chooses to convey his lyrics, and for some reason Radiohead in their quieter moments spring to mind here, with former Oasis guitar man Bonehead providing Ebow guitar.
The album closer, the instrumental 'Theme Fifteen' is a gripping work of alternative electronica. Echoes of Eno are present, and its a genuine joy to listen to.

4/5

Vinny Peculiar is playing live across the UK this winter, so catch him in Manchester on the 22nd of October at 'Manchester M19 Bar'.

‘Other People Like Me’ is out now on Shadrack & Duxbury Records

For full tour info and details on where you can by the album visit the Vinny Peculiar website below.

http://vinnypeculiar.co.uk

Stalagmites describe themselves as 4-piece Rock & Roll band from Salford, and I think they are under playing themselves a touch there.

The bands debut single sees them in strong form, if your looking for jangly guitar pop here you'll be sorely disappointed.

If your looking for a new band whose music you can get your teeth into, then your on the right track with 'Stalagmites'.

A deceptively catchy guitar riff nags at you, and refuses to let you ignore it, 'Reptile Rainbow' is a dark slice of alternative rock, reminiscent of early 90s American band 'Low'.

Frontman Bradley Lynch often delivers the lyrics with a sinister nasal attack, the backing smoldering and almost cooking in its own darkness.

B-side 'Howling at the moon' starts off with a similar bleak music back drop, but things are lighter here, and ultimately ends in a sublime concoction of breezy vocals and emotive guitar work.

Stalagmites have everything it takes to make it massive, and if there is any justice in this world, they will.

Gig dates
8th October - Fuel, Withington, Manchester
13th October - Ruby Lounge, Manchester
15th October - Fac251, Manchester
25th November - The Crescent, Salford

For info on how to get hold of the bands music visit: https://www.facebook.com/Stalagmites

Isn't very warm outside today? The last time i can recall it being this warm in October was 1990...

Having said that I was in Spain at the time! And that is my tenuous link to the charts this week 21 years ago

1 Maria McKee Show Me Heaven
2 Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet
3 Londonbeat I've Been Thinking About You
4 Status Quo The Anniversary Waltz - Part One
5 Pet Shop Boys So Hard
6 Twenty4Seven featuring Captain Hollywood I Can't Stand It
7 Technotronic Megamix
8 The Steve Miller Band The Joker
9 Deee-Lite Groove Is In The Heart / What Is Love
10 Bass-O-Matic Fascinating Rhythm
11 The Farm Groovy Train
12 MC Hammer Have You Seen Her
13 Snap! Cult Of Snap!
14 Monie Love featuring True Image It's A Shame (My Sister)
15 The Beautiful South A Little Time
16 The Cure Never Enough
17 The Charlatans Then
18 MC Tunes vs 808 State Tunes Splits The Atom
19 The KLF featuring The Children Of The Revolution What Time Is Love?
20 Depeche Mode World In My Eyes
21 Hi-Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K Spin That Wheel (Turtles Get Real)
22 Adamski The Space Jungle
23 The Chimes Heaven
24 Neneh Cherry I've Got You Under My Skin
25 AC/DC Thunderstruck
26 Mariah Carey Vision Of Love
27 The Adventures Of Stevie V Body Language
28 The Wedding Present Three Songs (EP)
29 Deacon Blue Four Bacharach And David Songs (EP)
30 New Kids On The Block Let's Try Again / Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time
31 INXS Suicide Blonde
32 Criminal Element Orchestra / Wendell Williams Everybody (Rap)
33 Jesus Jones Right Here, Right Now
34 Iron Maiden Holy Smoke
35 Mica Paris With Rakim Contribution
36 Cliff Richard From A Distance
37 Phil Collins Hang In Long Enough
38 Bombalurina Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
39 The Sisters Of Mercy More
40 Betty Boo Where Are You Baby?

Not a bad chart really, a couple of truly horrific songs [ I'll let you work out those for yourselves] and a lot of really good dance tracks.

The Wedding Present in 1990 set records by releasing one track every month and having 12 different hit singles in one year. Quite a big acheivement in the age before downloads!

The speed limit on Britain’s motorways is set to rise to 80mph

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/motorway-speed-limit-to-be-raised-2362980.html

Is this a good idea or a bad one? Does raising the speed limit really make any difference to fuel efficiency?

Statistically speaking, all countries that have increased the speed limit have also increased the amount of road traffic accidents resulting in fatalities and those places that have reduced the speed limit have seen a decrease in accidents.

I'm really unsure on this one. To me, raising the speed limit may encourage even more speeding than we have already.

There are certain areas of Manchester where the streets are full of very dangerous drivers in a particularly expensive type of car speeding away while chatting on their mobiles. [I was going to name the types of car that I always see speeding, but I have held back in fear of recrimination!]

I was in The Trafford Centre last week and I paid a quick visit to Currys, while I was in there I was greeted with "Merry Christmas [War is Over]" playing out on all the speakers. I thought to myself that was a bit strange and carried on shopping...

During that whole shopping trip however there were reminders of Christmas everywhere. Decorations, Crackers, Cards... it was all too much!

Its not just The Trafford Centre. In Altrincham The House Of Fraser has opened up its Christmas department and a certain store [which I won't name bacause its embarrasing] has decorations up with banners stating "ITS NEVER TOO EARLY"

I don't want to sound like a Dickensian cynic when I say this and I know economically speaking its always good to be prepared, but if shops start Christmas earlier and earlier every year it will take away the magic of having Christmas in December.

I genuinely feel sorry for people working in these stores at the moment.