Ladies play the blues

If you still think blues is played and loved only by middle-aged men it's time to dust up your beliefs. This year we've already witnessed breakthroughs from two very talented young ladies who may have very different takes on their music but also a very bluesy sound. And it's only March, so who knows what's gonna pop up in the months to come?

Let's begin from the minimalistic end. Mirel Wagner is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter who sites Mississippi John Hurt as one of her influences, believe it or not - I mean, how many girls of her age even know who Mississippi John Hurt is, let alone like him? Mirel has an amazing way of creating a dark atmosphere and she's clearly an old soul.



Compared to Wagner Anna Calvi's style is very decorative and she sites classical music and opera as her major influences. The end result is very blues-oriented though (at least to me) and most often she's compared to Nick Cave and PJ Harvey - which must be quite nice, I assume.



Both Wagner and Calvi do a great job in using old blues and taking it to a new level. And I love the fact they're both so young and female. Lightnin' Hopkins was right when he said that blues comes in many ways:

Shoegazing + reggae = the new PJ Harvey song

I wonder what went on inside of Polly Jean Harvey's head when she wrote this song. The first 45 seconds of the song have an eerie, My Bloody Valentine kind of sound - but then, totally out of the blue, a reggae sample kicks in. And somehow the two components manage to blend seamlessly. How's that even possible?

"Written On The Forehead" is from PJ Harvey's upcoming album, due to release on February 2011.

Written On The Forehead by pjharvey

They all heart Beefheart

It's a widely known fact that Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, has influenced many of the most respected artists of today. Like Tom Waits, The Clash, Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth and PJ Harvey, to name a few. It seems that nowadays Beefheart is starting to gain the respect he duly deserves but somehow it feels unfair he never became hugely popular in terms of record sales - although it's quite understandable, too. His music is way too eccentric to appeal to big audiences. Apparently old Captain's quite a character as well, with a persona as erratic as his music.

Beefheart retired from music in the early 80's to concentrate on painting and what do you know - he turned out to be talented in that as well, says the almighty Interweb. Not too much is known about Beefheart or what he's up to nowadays but it's been rumored that he's suffering from MS. If it is true, and considering his high age (70 next January, apparently), it's quite possible that the world will truly pay attention to one of it's most original musicians after he's gone. Which is still too little too late, if you ask me. So here's a novel idea: how about giving the man some credit now? Maybe all those musicians who've praised him could at least throw him a proper 70th birthday party or something.

So next time you're listening to recent Tom Waits albums it might be fitting to spare a thought for Captain Beefheart as well. Or compare this "Dropout Boogie" to PJ Harvey's song "I Think I'm A Mother". Once you begin to hear the echo of Beefheart's music it's never gonna stop.

When under snow

Woke up this morning and there was at least 10 cm of snow outside. Just like that. Everything's tucked under a thick, white, dimly glowing cover.

If there ever was a record that could describe the same combination of coldness, comfort and beauty it'd have to be PJ Harvey's album White Chalk. So, here's PJ playing When Under Ether in a place that seems to be a giant concert hall. Love the way she still manages to make that huge stage her own and create a strangely private atmosphere. It's almost like that enormous crowd was eavesdropping outside her bedroom door.