The music I love

I was born late in the Baby Boomer era.  Because South Africa was slow to move with the generational changes, I guess that technically I was part of the first wave of the Jones sub-generation rather than the last section of it.  The point of narrowing this down a bit is to link it to the significant changes that I lived through.  The Age of Aquarius, Beatlemania, reaching the moon, heart transplants, the oil crisis and more.  Platform shoes, large rock shows, designer drugs, new poetry, new technology and computers, Star Trek, Star Wars, Thunderbirds... An age of optimism and counter-culture, where we can do things, where we are ready to boldly go.  

Counterculture is probably my middle name.  When the world loved the Beatles, I listened to Pink Floyd.  When ABBA was huge I listened to Tangerine Dream, Yes and later King Crimson.  I loved the early Ultravox, but walked away from the commercial Midge Ure era, preferring the rawness of John Foxx.  Over time I discovered some fantastic music by constantly searching the edge for inspiration.  These days we buy songs, rather than full albums, perhaps not a good thing.  We'll see, but here are a few full album recordings I go back to often, inspired by a request recently to share some bucket list music.  There are more music in my collection, but these came to mind.

Joy Division - Closer 

Released after the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, this album from 1980 captures a darkness and edge quite opposite to the punk of the time.  It moves between raw chords and smooth synths, through rough drumming and grinding bass to deliver deep emotions.  This is a landmark work, and for me something that I listen to from front to end on long dark flights.  The voice of Ian Curtis reflects deep emotional connection with the content of every song.  Peter Saville did a fantastic job with the cover and the music production is vintage Factory Records and Martin Hannett.  Shivers!!

"Existence, well, what does it matter

I exist on the best terms I can

The past is now part of my future

The present is well out of hand"

Ultravox - Vienna

The fourth album from Ultravox was released in 1981.  John Foxx had left and a softer sound emerged.  Still connected to the anger of punk, but now clad in the New Wave sound.  A brilliantly compiled recording that morphed from punk to New Wave and set the scene for the Romantics, it is still a great CD to fire up while you drive into the hills on a winding road.  My first copy was a gift from a special person and listening to it takes me back to tough years in the early 1980's.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

I guess most people think about Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall when you mention Pink Floyd.  For me it simply Wish You Were Here.  I own copies on vinyl, CD, tape and DVD.  SEVERAL!   This is a concept album with no equal.  You have to listen to the whole thing in one go, on headphones in a dark room perhaps, or like I've done often, dark room, big audio system and loud.  The cover shown here is from the first copy I owned.  David Gilmour shines on this with epic guitar.  

Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy

Not ||, not |V, but the fifth album comes back to me regularly.  From start to finish it just rocks with comfortable blues from the best rock band ever.  This album departs from earlier Led Zeppelin and is something to enjoy with a deep red wine in a room filled with candles.  Jimmy Page plays with a comfortable, unforced style and the band sounds tight and cohesive.

Loud is good.  

Deep Purple - Made in Japan

The loudest concert and the epic versions of songs like Highway Star are included on this album.  These days I'll listen to a few songs at a time, but I used to listen to the whole thing  in one go when I was younger.  I go back to this album for the sheer brilliance on display by each member of ultimately the best version of this band.  Blackmore is agility personified on Highway Star and John Lord paints with the keyboards.

Echo and the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here

A dark work full of existential angst and sounds that stood the test of time comes out of the covers in winter.  I remember getting my copy delivered in a nice box from Street Records in Hillbrow and the person at the post office desk asked me what type of music is this that you have to import it.  I looked out of the window at the winter sky of Bloemfontein and said that it is was stuff that would never sell.  Well, I guess, it did sell, but not in the Republic.  Haunting, alive and crisp, it stands the test of time.  

Peter Gabriel - So

From Red Rain to In Your Eyes this album rocks with great production and brilliant lyrics.  Music for the thinking person.  This is one of those albums that will get you drumming along, humming tunes and crying with a sense of loss on one or two cuts.  Be prepared to come through drained and ready for a nap.

"Moved on to another town

Tried hard to settle down

For every job, so many men

So many men no-one needs"

Martha and the Muffins - This is the Ice Age

1981 yielded a gem of an album from this Canadian band.  It has dark and bright spots of music, layered to paint a stunning image of the things we were experiencing. It was clear our optimism was wasted, we were thinking about better times past, we were coming to grips with the restlessness of love, realising we should be careful what we call love.  And we retreated behind manufactured personas.  A difficult album to get into, but absolutely worthwhile.

"We talk of parks and simple places,

Sense the thickness of the air.

Highly strung like nervous guitars

My fingers make waves in you.  

We're afraid to call it love,

Let's call it swimming..."

Roxy Music - Avalon

I know, I know, it should be an earlier work that I mention, but no, this is the one that swings and flows like dark chocolate laced with chili.  This was one of the big releases of 1982.  The title track is stunning, bass in front, sweeping synths and harmonies, Bryan  Ferry sounding fragile, Andy Mackay hits the mother of sax solos and Phil Manzanera does great work on guitar.  Andy Newmark drums to within an inch of your soul rhythm on every track.  Pour some wine, get comfy on a couch with someone you can trust in love, and flood the room with this sound.  Tip: put on repeat play. 

Rush - Moving Picture

If you love progressive hard rock then this is a must.  This is the eighth album from the three guys from Canada.  The songs tell stories, each a little movie of sorts.  If you ever go racing in your car, load up Red Barchetta, and wait for the adrenaline to kick in.  Only once is enough to trigger the rush every time you play this song.

The recording is crisp and it is best to listen to this loud and on a proper sound system.  

Steely Dan - Aja

This album from 1977 is the definition of the rare alloy called jazz-rock.  It swings, rocks, oozes blues and jazz rhythms. Lounge lizards in disguise, hip kids in normal pants... you go and give it a spin.

"This is the night

Of the expanding the man 

I take one last drag 

As I approach the stand 

I cried when I wrote this song 

Sue me if I play too long 

This brother is free 

I'll be what I want to be" 

Keith Jarrett - My Song

Jarrett, Jan Garbareck, Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen recorded a hauntingly beautiful album that almost defines the jazz from Scandinavia for me, even though Keith is an American.  If you buy one song off this LP, it must be Country.  So you can be infatuated and buy the rest!

Talking Heads - Remain in Light

This is the fourth studio album from Talking Heads and it showcases Brian Eno and Adrian Belew (one of the best guitarists at the time).  The music was way ahead of the times and the songs are about important things.  This was, to my mind, the last worthwhile TH album.   The rhythms are frenetic on some of the songs, and David Byrne works through emotions with a voice that burns holes in your soul.  Whispering Wind is still relevant, and The Great Curve is a gut wrenching masterpiece.  

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

From Canada, this band performs music that kicks you in the gut.  Mangled pop tunes, tough lyrics and current issues.  A new album is due out this year, but rush over to iTunes and get this full CD.  It is not easy stuff, you will not sing along in the car on all of them....  I think this one will stand the test of time.  

Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal

I love the Icelandic sound: Jónsi, Sigur Rós, Björk.  Sometimes difficult to get into, but really good, and this is a lovely way to be exposed to the sound.  The music is fresh, honest and different.  

We all have different tastes.  For me the test is whether I am emotionally touched again and again by the music.  Will it take me to new places?  These albums do it for me.  Respond here and tell us what is an exceptional album you like to listen to.  Could be fun.