Have You Ever Heard The Reign?

Even we zeitgeist surfers have the occasional blind spot. For me, one of them was Reigning Sound. Until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard of them, even though they have been knocking about Memphis and Asheville for the best part of twenty years and play on at least one album I own (the great George Soule's comeback album, "Take A Ride").

Then I heard a couple of tracks from "Abdication... For Your Love", recently reissued by Merge in the UK, and I realised instantly I had a lot of catching up to do. Here is a track from "Abdication", along with the title track of their 2002 album, "Time Bomb High School".

"Call Me #1" - Reigning Sound

"Time Bomb High School" - Reigning Sound

By the sound of it, the lads of Reigning Sound would be well advised to try to get a transfer to another school. This one, maybe.

Loadsa Lonnies

Last time out we featured Lonnie Holley. If you liked that, then you're going to like this six times as much.

"Baby Without You" - Lonnie & The Legends

"Zydeco" - Lonnie Brooks

"Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" - Lonnie Donegan

"Galveston Bay" - Lonnie Hill

"I Found A Love" - Lonnie Mack

"Down By The River" - Lonnie Youngblood

Buddy Donegan's Blues

I had a real treat last night when we went to see Lonnie Holley play in the church down the end of my road. I really can't do justice to him or his extraordinary life story, but this feature in The Guardian last year makes a gallant attempt to do so.

The short version is that Lonnie is a highly regarded so-called 'outsider' artist whose works have been displayed in museums all over America, from the MOMA and Smithsonian on down. He has been making and recording music privately for many years, originally using a second-hand Casio keyboard and a karaoke machine. He made his first album in 2012 and his third album 'MITH', released last year, has rightly generated a lot of interest.

Lonnie played keyboards last night, accompanied by two of his regular collaborators on drums, trombone and effects. The first part of the set was a little bit one-paced at times, to be honest, while still being pretty good. The best bits sounded like a Donny Hathaway album (if the album in question was "Donny Hathaway Sings Songs About Space Ships And Air Conditioning Units").

As the set progressed they went up a gear or two. The extra oomph suited both Lonnie's songs and voice, bringing out their preacherly qualities (appropriately given the venue). They finished on a real high with "I Woke Up In A Fucked Up America" and a plaintive but funky love song to Siri. Yes, that Siri.

I would recommend investing in "MITH" if you haven't already done so. Until it arrives, here are a song apiece from his first two albums, "Just Before Music" (2012) and "Keeping A Record Of It" (2013).

"Mama's Little Baby" - Lonnie Holley

"Six Space Shuttles And 144,000 Elephants" - Lonnie Holley

The Fabulous Fabienne

A real treat for you today. Some fabulous slices of French pop to take you back to the Swinging '60s from the magnificent Fabienne Delsol. A glorious mix (or mélange as the French might say) of ye ye and what, following our earlier request for clarification, the Académie française has confirmed should be called le cadence de caprice.

Not that they actually date from the Swinging '60s. Fabienne, who is properly French but was living in the UK at the time, made a handful of albums for the Damaged Goods label in the 2000s. These top tunes are both from her debut album, 2004's "No Time for Sorrows". 

"When My Mind Is Not Live" - Fabienne Delsol

"Don't Fall In Love With Me" - Fabienne Delsol

Also on the album is Fabienne's cracking cover version of France Gall's "Laisse Tomber Les Filles". But, good as it is, you can't top the original.

From Cuba To Croatia

This should set you up nicely for the weekend. Some vintage Cuban sounds, from a Luaka Bop compilation called "Cuba Classics 2".

I found it in a second-hand record shop in Zagreb. I wasn't aware that Cuban music is popular in Croatia - maybe it isn't if it is only found in the dustier corners of second-hand shops.

"Llegué Llegué/ Guararey de Pasto" - Los Van Van

"Fifi, Teté Y Popó" - Orquesta Revé "Changui '68"
 
Legend has it that Los Van Van named themselves after their hero Van McCoy, although I can't guarantee that is true.

Huffin' And Puffin'

I have lured you in under false pretences. We have no huffin' or puffin'. Nor, for that matter, do we have any stuffin' or bluffin', or even chuffin'.

But that doesn't mean we have nuffin'. Here are three Ruffins and two Muffins.

"Walk Away From Love" - David Ruffin

"Was Ezo" - Martha & The Muffins

"Ooh Child" - Bruce Ruffin

"The Muffin Man" -  World of Oz

"I'll Say Forever My Love" - Jimmy Ruffin

Buenos Aires Beat

A couple of months back I featured the mighty La Yegros, the Queen of Nu Cumbia (and much more beside). I mentioned then that I was going to see her live when she came to London.

The gig was last night and it was every bit as good as I had hoped. She had great tunes, enormous charisma and a fabulous band. If they are ever playing near you, you should definitely go and see them.

La Yegros has a new album out called "Suelta". My copy is on order. To tide us over until it arrives, let's have a track apiece from her two previous albums, "Viene de Mi" (2013) and "Magnetismo" (2016).

"Trocitos de Madera" - La Yegros

"Sueñitos (feat. Lindigo)" - La Yegros

Support on the night came from King Coya, one of the founding fathers of Argentinian folktronica - not something you can say of many people. It was just him and a lot of the music was pre-recorded, so it wasn't the most stimulating of live spectacles, but I liked the noises he made.