Stay the Ride

Any artist is welcome to send us ONE track via soundcloud.com/groups/dropbox anytime between Monday lunchtime and Thursday morning - and all our moderators, including Tom Robinson, will listen to every track*. This is our full inbox from the week beginning 29 February 2016: from mid-day on Friday you'll be able to hear our shortlist and pick your favourites on this week's Listening Post which will appear at freshonthenet.co.uk/batch188

*Note: we don't listen again to tunes we've already heard, and automatically block artists who send more than one track a week (our moderators can manage to work their way through 150 tunes overnight, but 300+ would be impossible!)


ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 188

Thanks to everyone who came by Fresh On The Net at the weekend to check out  Listening Post 185 and tell us which tracks they liked best. Here, in alphabetical order, are our readers' top favourites. Our reviews are being written by Fresh On The Net's Rob Ball – and you'll be able to read them at http://freshonthenet.co.uk/faves188

Fresh Faves: Batch 188

March 2016 Mix

WORK ANXIETY SYNDROME

Collaborations

Jim Pearson

Traffic Jams

My new gtr... came packaged with this tune... first play...

Jim Dandy

From the album "Self assembly"
©Jim Pearson 2011

Listen to the album... http://jimpearson.bandcamp.com/album/self-assembly

What Happened To You?

©Jim Pearson 2015
More existential angst and a little hope.

Listen to the album on Spotify or listen/download from here... https://jimpearson.bandcamp.com/album/it-might-never-happen

Thank you to everyone who helped me complete the recording of this song, it has made it a bit special for me. 

Paul Marsden (trumpets), Russell Cottier (melodeon), and on vocals... Ian Heath, Jeff Roberts, Scott Cryer, Jo Bywater, Tom and Helene Lockett (The Kirk Owls, Caroline England, Henry Priestman, Phil Chisnall, Bob Glass and Elizabeth Fitzsimons (Coast), Fred Arnell and members of The Wallasey Folk and Acoustic Club. 

Right now is the moment that you are alive
So put down your burdens and give yourself a high five
You can’t run away ‘cos there’s nowhere to hide
Right now is the moment that you are alive

If you’re stuck in the past you will never be free
Thinking life was better the way it used to be
When you're lost in the mist of your own memory
Look under your nose and I hope you can see

If you look too far ahead you are going to miss out
Consumed by anxiety, riddled with doubt
But when you’re on your deathbed you’ll you figure it out
You came in with nothing and you’re leaving with nowt

The state of the world’s driven you to the brink
You get out of your mind so you don’t have to think
And it’s all flashing by faster than you can blink
So wake up before it all goes down the sink

Wake up, smell the coffee make the most of the day
Or wear a stiff upper lip in the civilized way
Or get down on your knees, beg for mercy and pray
But the voices inside you just won’t go away

Too many opinions, you can’t hear for the din
You long for the day when you’re silent within
But don’t let the bastards get under your skin
Just take a deep breath and get ready to sing

Right now is the moment that we are alive
So put down your burdens and give yourself a high five
You can’t run away ‘cos there’s nowhere to hide
Right now is the moment that we are alive

©Jim Pearson 2014

Right Now Is The Moment That We Are Alive

Released on Monday 13th April 2015.
Written by Alex Moran
Engineered and mixed by Geoff Allan at Ca Va Studios

QUIET AS A MOUSE - Snowflake

Produced and Recorded By Alain Johannes at 11AD (Los Angeles)
Mastered at Fluid Mastering by Nick Watson (London)
Cover by Florencia P. Marano
Words and music by Edith Crash
English translation : Peter Ellis


Paroles / Lyrics / Letras


Partir


Le jour tu danses à mes côtés
La nuit tu chantes l’éternité
Toi tu m'as tout donné
Ton sang coule dans mes veines

Sache que jamais je n'abandonnerai
Et peu à peu je construirai
Un monde ou brille l'immensité
Les couleurs qui sont tiennes
                                                                             
Si tu pars au loin là-bas
Je garderai au fond de moi
Ton sourire qui me portera
À mille lieues de mes peines
 
Un dernier souffle pour s'élancer
Dernier regard puis s'en aller
Un dernier rire pour accepter
Que la lueur doit s'éteindre

Puisqu'il faut prendre le dernier train
Tu montes à bord sans peur de rien
Moi sur le quai j'attends le mien
En chantant l’âme pleine

Si tu pars au loin là-bas
Je garderai au fond de moi
Ta lumière qui me portera
Et qui tuera ma peine

Lorsque la fin sonnera
J'prendrai ta main, j'irai vers toi
Dans le néant ou je ne sais quoi
Et ensemble on partira
Comme autrefois

**************************

Partir 

During the day, you dance by my side 
During the night, your singing eternal 
You gave me everything 
Your blood flows through my veins 

I want you to know I'll never give up 
Step by step, I'll build up 
A world shining vast 
Your true colors 

If you go far away 
I will keep inside 
Your smile lifting me up 
Miles from sorrow 

Last breath to jump 
Last look to leave 
Last laugh to accept 
That the light should blow out 

Since we must take the last train 
Fearless, you go on board 
On the dock I expect mine 
Singing with all my soul 

If you go far away 
I will keep inside 
Your light lifting me up 
Killing my pain 

When the sound of the end will strike 
I'll take your hand 
Go towards you into nothingness, 
Or I don't know what 

And together, we will leave 
As before


**************************

Partir 

En el día bailas a mi lado 
En la noche cantas la eternidad
Me has dado todo
Tu sangre fluye en mis venas 

Que sepas que nunca abandonaré 
Poco a poco construiré 
Un mundo en el que brilla la inmensidad
De los colores tuyos 

Si te vas allí lejos 
Guardaré en lo mas profundo 
Tu sonrisa que me llevará
Lejos de mis penas

Ultimo soplo para lanzarse
Ultima mirada y marcharse
Ultima sonrisa para aceptar 
Que la luz se apaga 

Ya que debemos tomar el ultimo tren
Subes a bordo sin miedo a nada  
En el anden espero el mío
Cantando con el alma llena 

Si te vas allí lejos 
Guardare en lo mas profundo 
Tu luz que me llevara
Y matara mi pena

Cuando el fin vendrá
Tomare tu mano, 
 Caminaré hacia ti
En el vacío o no se que 

Y juntas nos iremos 
Como antes 



Partir

http://robertnashmusic.com/index.php/music-2/

From the album 'The Ghost of Your Old Love' - released January 22, 2016



Leaves Are Falling

NEW TOWN POP GROUP TACKLES DISAPPOINTING HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

Speedvark, the Hemel Hempstead based duo, took a holiday recently and were underwhelmed.

Promises of spacious accommodation and luxury facilities made in the glossy brochure were not kept; levels of hygiene on site were below par and the service was disappointing.

At best, Speedvark asserted (to each other) that the travel agent through which the holiday was booked was economic with the truth; at worst it was downright misleading.

One upside (possibly) is ‘Holiday Song’, the band’s new single, which was inspired by the experience.

Lead bugle player, backing vocalist and front man Ben Raudnitz was held at gun point and asked for his thoughts on this latest track: “Holiday Song is a rallying cry for a nation of disappointed holiday makers too weak to do anything about it. It’s an anthem for those of us who are too mild and too terrified to do anything about anything.” He stammered before being shot.

Like many law abiding commuters, the members of Speedvark spent much of their vacation noting the various faults and minor disappointments rather than making the most of their time abroad.  And, like most of their middle income compatriots, the band spent much of its time pontificating about legal recourse, official complaint channels, compensation and possibly even an email to Radio 4’s Money Box with Paul Lewis

Holiday Song

Track One from the new EP - The Radio Edit 

State Of No Apparent Consequence (Radio Edit)

The Great & The Magnificent - Charles Lee Ray

New single from Dutch trio Snowapple about the desperation of the business commuter rat-race, taken from upcoming train-themed mini-album TRACKS.

SNOWAPPLE - Businessmen (Single Edit)

Nicole (The Fall) - Gren Men

http://www.twitter.com/gren_men_
http://www.facebook.com/grenmen

Spotify | Apple Music

GREN MEN - Nicole (The Fall)

This is the first track from my second collaborations collection (Out 11th March) and features the amazing Yuri Kono.  

I have many talented friends and I love to work with people. After a few years I found I had a small collection of music that I wanted to share so started this Collaborations series. I am very lucky to work with such talented people. 


LUCY CLAIRE - Kawaita Tsuki / The Barren Moon Ft. Yuri Kono

We're writing, recording, and releasing a new song every month in 2016.  This is February's song.

Released 29th February 2016.

What Became of Laura R? 
Velvet jacket and Doc Martens 
I used to know that crowd 
they cut you in, they cut you out 
And it was such a shame 
and we were just fifteen 
I guess that I decided 
I was so bored of my enemies 

Listen, listen 
I am not afraid of 
all the disaster 
always surrounding me 

Rachel I remember it 
and what was it you said? 
Designed to take apart 
the bits and pieces of my heart 
But actually 
you set a fire in me 
If scars could build a ladder 
I would climb over my enemies 

Listen, listen 
I am not afraid of 
all the disaster 
always surrounding me 

In your playground 
I don't wanna be 
I won't join in 
you can't make me 
Sing your rhymes 
they don't bother me 
'Cause I'm running, 
catch me 

Listen, listen 
I am not afraid of 
all the disaster 
always surrounding me

---------------------------------
Music by Heavy Heart 
Producer - Patrick Fitzroy 

© 2016 Heavy Heart

What Became Of Laura R?

Yours & Mine

Boneslum Band Radio Edit

Modala is the project of British musician & songwriter, and Castellers band mate - Russell Robertson.   His eclectic musical influences, ranging from The Velvet Underground to Claude Debussy, shape a distinctively cinematic sound. Featuring various guest vocalist and collaborations, it is a truly unique and unpredictable must hear musical feast of a project!
Its’ intense, yet laid back, psychedelic spirit weaves perfectly with the beautiful vocals of guest artist Dakota.

Modala - Sealed Fate

Music by Jim Pearson. Words and vocals by Scott Cryer.

This track was originally an opening instrumental on my album It Might Never Happen. Very recently, Scott gifted me with his vocals... it sent chills down my spine.

I have probably known Scott for getting on for 14 years, and yet we have never met or even spoken. We first encountered each other on a peer-to-peer music review website called garageband.com. Some kind of weird affinity was struck and we simply kept in touch, offering encouragement, banter and sometimes collaboration.

Scott lives in Toronto and is one half of the band Dirt Farmer. You really should check them out... https://dirtfarmer1.bandcamp.com/

Scaredycats (UK-CA)

For you

New song collaboration written and performed by Steff Adams and Jim Pearson
© Steff Adams Jim Pearson 2013

Photo by Clare Curran

The Bingo

This track is from the album Work Anxiety Syndrome.
You can download it and/or buy the CD from 
http://jimpearson.bandcamp.com/album/work-anxiety-syndrome
Or iTunes.

Struck

Keeping Up Appearances

©Jim Pearson 2013
In the grip of a mid-life crises
Listen to the album on Spotify or listen/download from here... 
http://jimpearson.bandcamp.com/album/work-anxiety-syndrome

This Is How We Have Fun was written in pan-Atlantic collaboration with Jeff Roberts from Charlottesville.

This Is How We Have Fun

My Father's Chair

We're Not Coming Back

Winner of 2024 Liverpool Songwriting Competition with "The Boy With the Red Hat", taken from "Death to Mortality".

People have said that Jim plays guitar like a drummer. He is. In the mid eighties, he toured the Far East, Europe and Tyneside with near-legendary Geordie club band Foxy, before putting down his sticks, opting for a life of obscurity as graphic designer, husband and dad.

In his late thirties with a mid-life-crises looming, he started writing and recording his songs, self-releasing “Some Songs by Jim Pearson” in his fortieth year.

Suddenly, nothing happened, so he continued, and gradually accumulated a niche following of several well-intentioned virtual people, each possessing an uncanny appreciation of music and lyrics, as well as managing to get a handful of plays on BBC 6 music.

Jim is also singer, guitarist, songwriter with niche NW-UK band Scaredycats, who's debut album "Dumb Animals" was pronounced album of the year by Liverpool Sound and Vision in 2017.

Last year, he was a key collaborator and producer with international lockdown supergroup "Nothing On TV".

According to Jim... "You might not agree, but I think I’m getting better at this. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I will never get the global recognition I so clearly deserve, and honestly, I am all the happier for it."

BBC 6 Music's Tom Robinson says... “This is the astonishingly prolific Merseyside songwriter Jim Pearson… you never can be sure what kind of project Jim will come up with next, but you can always be sure it’s gonna be pretty darn good...” (The Tom Robinson Show, January 25th 2020)

Songwriter from Northern England
https://jimpearson.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5R96vnb0ABdaZRMLG4XUNf

Scaredycats
https://scaredycatsuk.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/02W2iVwO5b3EIjzspgmS1N

Nothing On TV
https://nothingontv.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/07ADDEerdBir7xBgvdYyeo?si=k65U2tPkQuqbd1WFuPQOyA