Paul Simon – Seven Psalms

I believe there is are fascinating appreciations waiting to be written about artists who are loved and acclaimed for work famous in the twentieth century that have continued to create and release top-drawer music over the most recent twenty years. Top of that list would be Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney but without a doubt Paul Simon has been quietly building his catalogue with some essential, if less heralded, work in this period too. In fact, if you look at his solo releases, there were just nine albums in the twentieth century whilst this new album ‘Seven Psalms’ will be the seventh in our current century, that represents quite a significant proportion of his output. And if recent interviews are to be believed, he has no desire to stop creating either, regardless of the fact that the world touring years are now over. The most significant factor however remains the music and with this album, Simon has produced a beautiful, hymn-like meditative and continuous piece of music, like nothing he has previously played, with acoustic guitar textures as the centre point and Simon’s ethereal, subliminal thoughts and words caressing this remarkable work into existence…

Peter Gabriel – Road To Joy (Bright-Side Mix)

At the other end of the scale output wise (he admits he works at a snails pace) is Peter Gabriel although the important point again here is, the music stands up creditably alongside his older material. I reflect on my experience of seeing Gabriel live for the first time in twenty years alongside this months Fruit Tree Records playlist and here is one of the latest ‘i/o’ tracks that landed, as all others have thus far, on the occasion of a full moon…

Rick Astley & Blossoms – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

This weeks half dozen recommendations are centred around a theme of either older artists or older material. I cannot tell you what my opinion is of Rick Astley in general other than, seeing him doing this at Glastonbury 2023 as part of a set consisting entirely of Smiths songs, it is obvious he has a good deal more credibility as a performer and lead vocalist than former SAW dissing snobs (like myself regrettably) have ever acknowledged. Furthermore, I would far rather watch Rick sing these songs in 2023 than Morrissey…

Royal Blood – Figure It Out

I cannot defend Royal Blood’s petulant outburst the other week when they were sandwiched between pop acts whose fans lacked the kind of effusive rock reaction that Royal Blood seem to believe is their entitlement. As they walked on stage during the live feed of Glastonbury my expectation was that I would switch over imminently. Actually, I stayed glued to the whole set because, rather annoyingly given their slightly tarnished reputation, they are pretty damn good at what they do. ‘Figure It Out’ has always been my favourite song of theirs and as they were tearing it up the festival crowd seemed suitably ‘rocked’, so no one got a telling off this time around…. phew…

Elton John – Rocket Man

Included simply because I love Elton John and his music has been a part of my life from my earliest memory. If this is indeed his last ever performance on UK soil (and you cannot ignore the way his onstage announcement left room for a row back) he left us with the kind of set that becomes a legend most; zero filler, all killer, largest crowd I’ve ever seen at the festival, voice sounding fantastic and piano playing still consummate. Never forget, Elton may have fame that puts him on other planets, as unreachable as a royal or a world leader, but in his heart he is one of us, a music obsessive and record collector (albeit with a far more enviable budget!)…

Kieran Hebden & William Tyler – Darkness Darkness

And finally something new in the shape of a reworking by the Four Tet main man of a song written by Jesse Colin Young of the band The Youngbloods in 1969. It is available now on Psychic Hotline…