On April Fool’s Day 1985, XTC released “25 O’Clock” an album under the name The Dukes of Stratosphear. It consisted of songs that sound like they were recorded in 1967 and was produced by John Leckie, who recorded and produced albums by George Harrison, Pink Floyd, and Syd Barrett.  Leckies combined XTC’s sound with instrumentation and analog recording techniques of the golden age of psychedelic music. The result is simply magical or it was in 1985 when I first heard it.
Many consider this album just an April Fool’s Day joke, but I think their love of this kind of music. It certainly echoes strongly in their next release “Skylarking”. “25 O’Clock” was 6 tracks of pure joy and later in the year they release a CD with 16 tracks. My picks for this week are “What in the World” and “Vanishing Girl”. Just listen to Colin Moulding’s bass work on that first track. It just sounds like he’s channeling McCartney. If you really dig this kind of music play the entire album. It’s a blast.

 

 

To borrow a phrase from Frank Zappa: folk-rock is not dead, it just smells funny. This was the first thought that entered my mind when I started listening to Wolf People late in 2013. Their new album “Fain” is a mix of blues, folk, and mild psychedelia that reminds me most of Jethro Tull. My pick for the week is “When the Fire is Dead in the Grate”. Yeah I know this has been done before but I’m sick this week and this music is like chicken soup.

I belong to a music sharing group where each week we post a new track with some bits of commentary. Mainly its just a way for some like minded folks to discover new music.  I’ve decided to cross post my picks for the week here so that I can shared them with the world and preserve a copy for myself on a service that isn’t owned by a “rich creep” (more on that reference later). Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy the weekly music post. Thanks. — The Management.

I’m a huge Foxygen fan. My pick this week is a band formed by their drummer Shaun Flemming. Recording under the name Diane Coffee, “My Friend Fish” is a delight for those of you who can’t get enough Foxygen. This album is tasty. I’ve starred at least 4 tracks and it’s hard to pick a favorite among favorites. If you put a gun to my head, “Tale Of A Dead Dog” is a sweet cut that tips it’s hat in the direction of some prog rock forebears. Hope you like it.