This Week In Spotify

I've very little to write about today, so I thought I'd go through some things I've been listening to recently on Spotify.

Criminally underrated indie rock heroes Tellison will release their third record this year, much to my delight. They recently debuted the first single off that album "Tact Is Dead", a brooding look at the quarter life crisis and a fine addition to their discography. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them play at Oslo next month. I have never been there so I can't comment on the venue. While I'm sure the gig will be great, a venue in Hackney called "Oslo" seems like the height of hipster bullshit to me.

I've greatly enjoyed the second series of Uncle on BBC3 which came to an end last night. What sets it apart from a lot of sitcoms (amongst other things) is the use of original songs, occasionally in the form of a power ballad of some kind. Nick Helm's character is a natural extension of his wild, depressive, angry stage persona. That persona's first outing came in "Keep Hold Of The Gold" which is now available on Spotify. It's not for everyone and between songs the material can be hit and miss. But his tunes are a joy, the tongue in cheek "I Can Make You Look Fat" a particular highlight.

Luke Leighfield's latest record "V" came out on Monday. I'm going to go ahead and assume that "V" denotes the fact it's his fifth album. It's his best also, as Leighfield continues to refine his talent for writing piano driven pop rock. Recruiting Jim Wirt, who produced records from the previously mentioned Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin, as well as The Rocket Summer, has proved an inspired decision. Leighfield is clearly influenced by those bands and it's reflected throughout, which is no bad thing. The highlight is probably "Fool For Love", in part because I'm a sucker for a well placed horn section. Very good stuff.

Following his show at The Borderline, I've also been revisiting Tim Barry's "Raising Hell and Living Cheap: Live in Richmond". Recorded at a show in his home town of Richmond, Virginia, it's a pretty faithful reproduction of the Tim Barry live experience. The previously mentioned "Church of Level Track", "This November", "Avoiding Catatonic Surrender" "Walk 500 Miles" remain the stand outs.

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