Celebrating The Blog That Celebrates Itself ...

For a number of years, too many to count, I’ve been following, and have been a huge fan of, a music blog called The Blog That Celebrates Itself … there’s the blog itself, various social media handles, plus the blog’s Bandcamp page, which presents a veritable treasure trove of downloadable music.

As I understand it, the blog is the project of one Renato Malizia of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and I learned this week that its apparently all about to come to an end in early May. Which is real a shame. Obviously, Renato will have his reasons for that. But before it does cease to exist as an ongoing concern, I just wanted to to express my own appreciation by sharing some links … a little too belatedly perhaps. 

You’ll find the main blog page here. 

And you’ll access a feast of music released by the blog here. 

Of special note are the various themed compilation releases dedicated to specific artists, genres, etc. Many of these albums are name-your-price, and serve to introduce unknown and/or underground artists and bands far too readily overlooked by the mainstream. My own favourite themed releases over the years have been those paying tribute to some of the bands I love, in the form of offering a selection of cover versions. 

Included in that category are TBTCI covers or tribute albums for Cocteau Twins, David Bowie, Ride, The Smiths, New Order, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, Husker Du, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, The Sound, Stereolab, Velvet Underground, Psychedelic Furs, Lush, Smashing Pumpkins, Nick Cave, and R.E.M. Plus many others. Beyond that, various other themes are covered. 

As ever, the quality on offer is variable; sometimes great, occasionally terrible, but mostly quite decent. A lot of that will depend on your own taste, of course. But part of the fun for me has been listening through these compilations, sorting the wheat from the chaff, recycle-binning what doesn’t appeal, and keeping what does. I’ve been introduced to so many bands that I continue to follow and simply wouldn’t have heard if it hadn’t been for the exposure offered by TBTCI. 

According to a recent Facebook post, the blog’s final release will be a tribute/covers offering for The Cure’s landmark Disintegration album. Possibly as early as next week. 

Anyway, thank you Renato Malizia and The Blog That Celebrates Itself for all your hard work over the past decade or so … go well, wherever it is you're going. 

Classic Album Review: Gary Clail & On-U Sound System - End of The Century Party (1989)

One of many exceptional politically charged dub albums from Adrian Sherwood’s most excellent On-U Sound stable of artists, End of The Century Party brings together a wide and diverse array of talent. From the ex-Sugarhill house band trio of bassist Doug Wimbish, guitarist Skip “Little Axe” McDonald, and the beats programmer/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Keith Le Blanc (collectively aka Tackhead), to ex-PiLsters Jah Wobble and Keith Levene, to roots merchants such as the late Bim Sherman and Style Scott’s Dub Syndicate, plus a host of other label luminaries. Throw in an ex-roofer (allegedly) from Bristol with a loud hailer voice, one Gary Clail, have Sherwood himself take care of the mixing and production, and well … you’ve got an irresistibly potent brew. 

Who cares that they decided to celebrate the end of the century a decade or so early? 

Clail and Tackhead had worked together before, most notably on an album called Tackhead Tape Time (1987), but also when Clail was employed as a ranting/chanting/toasting MC with a live/touring version of the band. On End of The Century Party however, it’s Clail who takes centre stage, and this album to some extent acted as the launching pad for an otherwise sporadic “solo” career which included four more full-length releases – Emotional Hooligan (1991), Dreamstealers (1993), Keep The Faith (1995), and Nail It To The Mast (2014). Rumour has it another one is due in 2019, but I can’t be sure about that. 

End of The Century Party combines helpings of techno, dub, funk, sampling, and spoken word (though not necessarily rap), with large chunks of social commentary and a set of highly politicised lyrics. Themes include vegetarianism (on ‘Beef’), corporate corruption (on ‘Two Thieves And A Liar’ – with specific targets being Stockbrokers, Accountants, and Lawyers – you decide who’s what), dreaded privatisation (on ‘Privatise The Air’ – parts 1 and 2), and of course, football (a particular passion of Sherwood’s as expressed on ‘Leroy Leroy’). 

‘Beef’, later released as a single and given a bpm boost, and also included on Clail’s Emotional Hooligan album, is probably the best known track for non-On-U Sound devotees, but the rootsy dub of ‘Two Thieves’ and the quite phenomenal ‘A Man’s Place On Earth’ are the stand-out moments for me. 

If you’re a fan of Adrian Sherwood and/or Gary Clail and/or Tackhead, or the On-U Sound label itself, you’ll likely already have this album. If you’re not yet a convert, but keen to learn what all the fuss was about, then this is a great place to start.

Introducing ... Neutrikk

Neutrikk are a newly-formed Waiheke Island/Auckland-based duo, consisting of Nikki Ngatai (Oyawa) and Lee Catlin (These Automatic Changers), and their recently released (eponymous) debut EP is well worth picking up as a name-your-price download on Bandcamp. Five immaculately produced pop-electronica tracks, which sit at the more eclectic end of the spectrum, and grow in stature with each and every listen … stream or download below: