Session News

I very rarely get to hear his programmes as they are broadcast these days, but in odd spare moments over the past week or so I've been desperately trying to catch up with a batch of recent Marc Riley radio shows on the BBC iPlayer before they disappear into the ether 30 days after transmission. His session guests have been of a exceptionally high calibre of late. They include marvellous sets from Joan As Policewoman, Peter Perrett, Yo La Tengo, Wreckless Eric and Robyn Hitchcock & the LA Squires. I've attached a handful of individual highlights, but you'll have to dig through Marc's episode guide to check out the rest. Don't delay though.

Hitchcock's full session and between song banter with Marc was a particular joy for this old Soft Boys fan and if anyone out there is able to magically preserve these moments in an MP3 format for me, I'd be eternally grateful. Robyn is in the middle of a UK tour at this very moment, but I'm unable to make it to any of the shows. Bugger.

Perrett at the Beeb

Not so much a post as a public service announcement. If you, like me, had your tired old heart warmed by the return of Peter Perrett a few months ago, please check out his recent Marc Riley 6Music session here. Over the course of 27 minutes, Peter speaks frankly about his life, health and music, as well as playing killer versions of 'Hard to Say No', 'Something In My Brain' and 'Living in My Head' from 'How the West Was Won', his first new LP in 20 years. I bring this to your attention because, as of this writing, the session will only be available on the BBC iPlayer for another 22 days before it presumably disappears into the ether forever. If anyone out there has the technical ability to download it, please let me know, I'd be eternally in your debt. It's a glorious listen.

As a bonus, here's a video for 'Sweet Endeavour', the latest single from 'How the West Was Won'.

The Return of Peter Perrett

During the course of 2016, photos began to emerge of Peter Perrett at work in a recording studio for the first time in 20 years - a heartwarming sight for this old Only Ones fan. The first fruits of those Chris Kimsey produced sessions finally appeared last week in the form of the title track of a new LP, 'How the West Was Won'. The album itself isn't due until the end of June, but until then enjoy the video for a song that lashes out at vapid celebrity culture and American imperialism in gloriously dark and sleazy fashion. 'How the West Was Won' is sonically part 'Sweet Jane' / part 'If Not For You' and effortlessly picks up where Perrett left off two decades ago.

The Speed of Sound Turns Decades Into Hours

The record shop I frequented most in the summer of 1977 (and the one I'd eventually work for) kept a 'punk box' of singles behind the counter, which you had to a) know about and b) ask for. Luckily, I was in the know and one morning after hearing it on Peel's radio show the night before, I pulled The Only Ones debut single 'Lovers of Today' from the box and handed over my cash. Much as I was briefly swept along by the nihilistic clatter of some of the second division punk of the day, I primarily like pop songs, however dark, and pop songs don't come much darker than Peter Perrett's.

For the next four years I followed the band from afar, cherishing every recorded moment, but never getting to see them live - and then they were gone.

Thirteen years later Perrett re-appeared with a new band and new songs which were as painful and glorious as ever and, just before this brief chapter also came to a premature conclusion, I finally managed to see him live, at the Mean Fiddler in London. He looked frighteningly frail, but led his band straight into Another Girl, Another Planet, an opening gambit so powerful and unexpected that it took the audience a full five seconds to react at the songs' conclusion. It was one of those moments. After a further ten years of silence, The Only Ones reformed and continue, in some degree, to this day.

From the small glimpses he has allowed us through his songs and the long silences in-between, Peter Perrett's life has clearly not been an easy one. Today he turns 60. Happy birthday and good health Peter.

(Here's a great TV performance of the title track from Peter Perrett's last album of new material in 1996.)