Alternative Weekend: Losing Boney M!

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For once it’s weekend and the #alternativeweekend tag is going to be valid. More recently it could have been ‘Alternative Midweek Tunes’ or similar.

I probably should use the #threetunetuesday tag like everyone else is, but does anyone give a crap about tags in today’s modern HIVE?

Tag misuse was a big thing four or five years ago in the days of STEEM. Pack as many tags in as you can, and get some extra tokens. Most of them are valueless apart from LEO and possibly POB, so who cares anymore?

What Life Brings – Steven Wilson (The Harmony Codex – 2023)

I have been aware for some time now that Steven Wilson was about to release a new album. After the last disaster that was The Future Bites, it couldn’t get worse, could it?

Fortunately, so far this is proving not to be the case; Steven made the wise choice to ditch the cheesy backing singers who reminded me of what Boney M, or Odyssey would sound like if relegated to the flanks.

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...'I would have to look far and wide to find a band more nausiating than Boney M. What made it worse is that they were REALLY, REALLY popular (let me stand aside and vomit somewhere)'...

Steven has unfortunately continued with the irritating practice of hiring very annoying dancers for his videos, and manages to look his age during this appearance in this video. Having met him in real life, I can attest he looks quite a bit younger than the 55 he is. The videographer should get the sack.

As for the tune, this is a dreamy, ethereal, easy-going number and one of the more accessible tracks on The Harmony Codex, more reminiscent of a Blackfield track than his usual sound.

As for the rest of The Harmony Codex, it’s still sinking in, but is enough for him to sell me two tickets if and when he decides to announce his latest tour.

..and if you bring anyone who looks remotely like fucking Boney M, I will walk out...

Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away) – Deftones (Around the Fur – 1998)

I have tried, and listened to other songs by this American metal band, but none have gotten past me yet. This one was the exception which I took in right away. Give me a repeating heavy minor chord and you have my ear.

For once it's not a massive, huge 9 minute song (that's next heh...), but something more radio friendly, at least 'heavy' friendly. I note this band has been going for decades and I was surprised at the vocal quality of the mixed race frontman 'Chino Moreno’.

From what I have heard, he is quite famous for his screams, but there’s none of that in ‘Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away), apart from close to the end. There is some great melody you would never hear in your average AC/DC comparison.

'Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)' is likely to be added to my list of 'one hit wonder' songs; a pile that is getting unfortunately larger.

Travel – The Gathering (How to Measure a Planet? – 1998)

After discovering this band just a few weeks ago, it’s inevitable I was going to come across more gems, and this track ender of How to Measure a Planet?, took my eye simply by the length of track.

That’s right; I listened to it simply because it was a long song. While the 20+ minute songs, are tougher to listen to, something of this length to me generally means it will contain some variance and soundscapes of interest.

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...'there's little chance of me seeing Anneke van Giersbergen live. She tends to tour Holland or South America and nowhere else'...

'Travel' initially sounds like an easy-going rock song, with some heavy elements that took in my ear right away. It sounds like accessible music but gains complexity as it develops into a sweeping epic, the last few minutes divulging into a beautiful vista of melancholic sublimity.

Wonderful stuff and with the tiniest dose of 'Rush', but it takes a few listens to sink in. There’s too much subtlety for a single listen.

Harridan – Porcupine Tree (Closure/Continuation – 2022)

For the longest time I ignored the opening track of Closure/Continuation. The chorus didn’t strike me as compelling, if you can even call it one of those. This not strictly a chorus/verse song in terms of being standard, though loosely it could be.

Isn't the chorus supposed to be the part that draws you in? Harridan's chorus seemed like a load of noise to me and not the main draw.

Over time, I have come to realise just how complex this song is, especially the drumming. @steevc will appreciate how tough this would be to replicate having some experience himself.

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...'I blew my chance of seeing them this summer in Manchester. The standing only, outside venue put me off. It always rains in England when something cool happens'...

I am not a drummer, but can hear the intricacies involved, but still complex doesn't mean good and ear bending.

The addition of Richard Barbieri’s soundscapes give Harridan a very dark, brooding feel in the mid to late sections, something I became familiar with on hearing ‘Ghosts’ back in 1982 when it hit number 5 in the UK charts.

I always thought it was an unlikely single, and his touch and feel even from those days protrude though to modern Porcupine Tree and give them that same dark, pensive sound that gets into your system.

Like the last track, this is one requires several plays. It's a complex song, and strictly not for Backstreet Boys fans.

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