Ed Percival

Day 313. Scritti Politti: Anomie & Bonhomie

Returning a few years after his 80s peak of highly polished pop, this draws in hip hop and rock influences. I expected something listless but it’s actually terrific. I don’t even mind the rap. The production is still fabulous.

8 out of 10

Day 312. Prefab Sprout: Steve McQueen

Splendid laid-back mid-80s pop. His voice reminds me of Aztec Camera. The production is lush, but the tunes tend to merge into one. I prefer what Scritti were doing at the time. But enjoyable.

7 out of 10

Day 311. Cat Burns: How to be Human

I probably wouldn’t have listened to this without Traitors. Cat and her many collaborators have created a set of songs covering a gamut of emotions, all delivered with a defiantly English accent. It has surprising depth and quality.

7 out of 10

Day 310. Madison Cunningham: The Revealer

Interesting songs with intriguing arrangements and instrumentation. All through it’s her voice which is the star of the show, a beautiful and perfect tone delivering unusual lyrics. Nods to Mann or Joni.

8 out of 10

Day 309. Flyte: Flyte

Just stunning. Acoustic, melodic folk of the first order. So delicate that a soft breeze would blow it over. The songs draw you in and wrap you in their arms.

10 out of 10

Day 308. Christian Lee Hutson: Beginners

Paul Simonesque, acoustic guitar songs, which I mean as a compliment. Could have been written any time in the last 50-odd years. Gloriously comfortable and engaging songs of everyday life.

8 out of 10

Day 307. Foxwarren: Foxwarren

Mellow and melodic, laid back folk-rock vaguely akin to Band of Horses. Gentle mid/tempo throughout. Hard not to like, but I would not describe it as memorable. Suited my mood today.

7 out of 10

Day 306. Twelfth Night: Twelfth Night

In late 1983 I got down to the final 3 to be lead singer of this band. It took 3 more years for this, their major label debut, to come out. It’s very much of its time and lacks much of the prog charm that I liked. But it’s much better than I expected.

6/10

Day 305. Laura Cox: Trouble Coming

I’d not heard of this YouTuber. Fiercely strident rock vocals, but the star of the show is her fabulous swamp slide guitar playing. The songs pack a real punch and make you want to see her in a club.

8 out of 10

Day 304. Florence + the Machine: Everybody Scream

New today. An interesting mix of songs, many you can imagine a big crowd joining in with. She’s got a real foghorn of a voice and the band can thump out a tune, but my favourite songs were the gentler ones. Her vulnerability is attractive.
7 o/o 10

Day 303. Billie Marten: Writing of Blues and Yellows

A delicate voice, so quiet that I’m amazed it can hold notes. Backings are rich but compressed heavily to sit in the mix. Forms a whole so seamless that individual songs blur into one. You aren’t really aware of verses and choruses.

7 out of 10

Day 302. The Bersnard Lakes: The Bersnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation

Shoe gaze ahoy! Turn the reverb up to 11, set space echoes to stun and pop the drummer some quaaludes. Mesmerising stuff delivered by carrier pigeon from the midst of a pea souper. Stream of unconsciousness lyrics.

6 out of 10

Day 301. Descendants: Milo Goes to College

Fast and furious punk with a hefty nod towards the Ramones. 23 minutes, 15 songs. Sounds like they had fun doing this and could bunk off for the afternoon.

Fun

6 out of 10

Day 300. Lily Allen: West End Girl

For a record labelled as pop, this is a harrowing set of songs, which I assume are autobiographical. The production is sparse with the minimum of variety. It leaves the sense of someone who is deeply unhappy. Moving and sad. Yet compelling.

7 out of 10

Day 299. Shawn Colvin: These Four Walls

More high quality, gentle and melodic country songs, delivered with great emotion and tasteful playing.

Gorgeous.

8 out of 10

Day 298. The Go-Betweens: Before Hollywood

My band supported them at the Rock Garden while they were recording this album. They seemed very cool, but I don’t think we hung around for their set. It’s very 1980s indie stuff, which didn’t appeal then or now.

5 out of 10

Will be seeing Last Dinner Party live in December

Day 297. T Bone Burnett & Elvis Costello: The Coward Brothers

Rambling collaboration of Americanesque original songs, with a handful of contributions from Tap’s Tufnel. I’m sure they had fun knocking it together, but it didn’t really do it for me.

5 out of 10

Yes, they were on the list a few minutes back.

Day 296. Wet Leg: Wet Leg

I’m seeing them in a few weeks, so thought I should listen to their breakthrough album. It has a charm and distinctive delivery, but the songs are much of a muchness. I prefer the follow up.

7 out of 10

Day 295. The Antlers: Blight

A beautifully delicate and heartfelt album. Soft vocals floating on the barest of backing. In the mould of Damian Rice, perhaps. It casts a sense of calm.

8 out of 10

Day 294. Billie Eilish: Don’t Smile at Me

After enjoying her last two, I thought I’d go earlier. Her distinctive delivery is there from the off, with perhaps a more expansive sort of song.

What’s not to like?

7 out of 10

Day 293. Roger Hodgson: In the Eye of the Storm

Debut solo album recalling elements of Supertramp, whose Crime album has been a favourite for nearly 50 years. Solid but maybe suffers from the lack of other musical/production input. Not Afraid sounds like a Davies vocal and song.

7 out of 10

Day 292. The Last Dinner Party: From the Pyre

I hadn’t been impressed from what I’d heard before, but this is good album. An interesting mix of intelligent songs delivered with distinctive vocals and satisfying instrumentation. Great opening track.

8 out of 10

Day 291. Tame Impala: Deadbeat

I’ve tried with them before. They have their fans. It seemed such a pointless album. Wan vocals and bland repetitive backing

1 out of 10

Day 290. Miles Kane: Sunlight in the Shadows

New today and I’m seeing the launch gig tonight. Blimey, he’s morphed into Mark Bolan! Hope he’s got glitter and corkscrew hair to match. As the album progresses it becomes more Supergrass-like. Quite a dense mix.

7 out of 10

Day 289. Sigur Ros: Agaetis Byrjun

A mesmerising album with sounds that ebb and flow across the occasional whispered vocals. Draws you into its own universe to form a soundtrack to whatever. Gentle and comforting.

8 out of 10

Day 288. Miles Kane: One Man Band

Seeing him live this Friday, so listening for the first time. Appealingly upbeat collection which echoes Supergrass and Arctic Monkeys. I really enjoyed the overall feel.

8 out of 10

Day 287. Chris Stapleton: Higher

I enjoyed his Traveller album a few years back. This covers a wider set of styles, all lead by his distinctive vocals. His forays into Feat-style southern rock were the high spots. Some classy guitar playing as well. I might have watched too much Yellowstone

7/10

Day 286. Jacob Collier: The Light for Days

Hot on the heels of hearing him the first time, comes his latest album. Beautifully simple, with lots of tapped acoustic guitar. It’s just the sort treatment that I thought was lacking on his first album. No need to show off. Lovely

8 out of 10