From time to time, the Music Enthusiast comes out of his cave and stops whining about “why isn’t blues more popular” and “whatever happened to the Sixties?” Or, “is the electric guitar really dead?” 😀 And then he listens to new music and finds out that, hey, some of it is pretty good. Herewith a few songs that came to my attention recently and for which I hope you can spend a few minutes of your time.

First up is a bloke based in Manchester, UK named James Holt. His website says this: “James Holt is an alt-rock artist from the moors of Bolton and is receiving attention and praise from music industry giants such as legendary producer Brian Eno and the listening public alike.” In fact, he has a picture of himself meeting Eno and seems appreciably gobsmacked as would I.

The song is called “Whatever Happened to John,” and it’s a bracing shot of what sounds to these ears like good old Brit blues-rock. If you wandered into the Marquee in London in the early-to-mid 60’s, it might sound something like this. “Fresh and exciting to listen to,” Eno says. Yeah:

Spotify link  SoundCloud link

Here’s a brief Daisy Clark (pictured on top of post) bio: She’s a “19-year-old singer-songwriter from Newquay, Cornwall on the English South Coast. Her distinctive voice and style has made her a much sought after act on the South Coast live music scene, resulting in her performing at many top festivals and venues. After several viral successes her profile is now raising across International shores.”

Man, that’s impressive. I think back over the years to when I was 19. I couldn’t do shit. I like this tune, gang. Daisy has a nice soulful feel to her voice. It’s pop but it’s good pop, what fellow blogger CirdecSongs called Intelli-pop. This song is called “Worlds Away.” Go ahead, dance to it. I am. Nobody’s watching:

Spotify link

From the Yawpers website: “Shimmering against blacktop fever dreams and Elvis’ ghostly sneer are the anarchic impulses of the MC5 and and psychedelic muscle of Leslie West’s Mountain and Blue Cheer. Raw and melodic, infectious and irreverent, [their album] American Man is an update on the Springsteen tramp’s dream of getting out while you’re young… It’s the suicide rap played out in the desert, without velvet rims or everlasting kisses…”

Ok, fuck me, you’ve gotta hear them at least once, right? The band consists of three hell-bent guys from Denver, a drummer and two acoustic guitars. I know. I don’t get it either. But it works. I bet they put on a scorching show. They go all French on us with a (rockabilly?) scorcher called “Mon Dieu.”

Spotify link

You know what would go over well right now, Jimbo, you’re saying to yourself? A nice shot of some dub reggae-inflected music. Oxford-based reggae 9-piece ZAIA released their debut album Butterflies on 26 May. The album has been described as a “brilliant slice of simple summer listening that you won’t tire of” by The Norwich Radical and “a near perfect Summer album” by Nightshift Magazine.”

I’m digging this tune called “Under the Tree.” It floats my boat and yeah, summer-time, convertible top down, driving down the road without a care in the world. Chillout music. Sparkling lead vocal by Amy MacKown.

Spotify link