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Category: Nessy Recommends

  • Tune of the Week // George Michael featuring Nile Rodgers – Fantasy

    Tune of the Week // George Michael featuring Nile Rodgers – Fantasy

    George Michael - Nile Rodgers - Fantasy

    Tune of the Week // George Michael featuring Nile Rodgers – Fantasy

    For at least thirty three years, I have waited eagerly for each new George Michael release. This one was no different. I had my headphones in on my morning commute, listening to Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2, paying homage to George.

    This time, though, there was no George to tweet, to ask what we all thought. Even after eight and a bit months, the sense of loss that George isn’t with us, hasn’t subsided. So hearing Nile Rodgers’ remix of Fantasy definitely left me with mixed emotions on first listen.

    Nile Rodgers had definitely added the funk, dropping the brass section from George’s versions of the track. But on multiple listens to the track, it becomes apparent that in this remix, Nile Rodgers had turned Fantasy into the ultimate tribute to George Michael.

    The introduction to Fantasy is reminiscent in its structure to the intro of Star People 97. As the first line of George’s vocals kick in, the added Nile Rodgers guitar uses the rhythmic guitar strum from ‘Faith’ but with the chord progression from ‘Freedom 90’

    George Michael - photo by Caroline True

    George Michael’s Fantasy – The Best Version

    Fantasy has always been a difficult song to get behind, it lacks a traditional soaring chorus but Nile Rodgers has turned it into a seriously danceable track, complete with hand claps. The toppy horns from the late 80s / early 90s have been replaced by funky guitar and bass lines making this the best version of this track.

    Listen Without Prejudice

    Fantasy was originally a B Side on Waiting for That Day in the UK and Freedom 90 in other territories, both singles taken from Listen Without Prejudice. A remixed Fantasy 98 was a B Side on Outside. The 1990 version appears on George’s album Ladies and Gentlemen.

    Nile Rodgers was working on the remix of Fantasy for the release of the remastered Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1 / MTV Unplugged which will be released in October. George never got to hear the finished remix.

    What a fantastic musical and philanthropic legacy he has left us. It’s wonderful that his music lives on, it warms my heart. Then, I remember and it breaks again. My hero.

    Spotify Tune of the Week Playlist

    I’ve started putting Spotify playlists together, including a Tune of the Week playlist, which includes all the tracks I’ve chose as Tune of the Week here on nessymon.com. You can find the playlist here. Make sure you follow, it will be updated weekly.

    Listen to Fantasy

    Photo of George from Facebook by Caroline True

  • Tune of the Week // St Vincent – New York

    Tune of the Week // St Vincent – New York

    St Vincent - Tune of the Week - nessymon

    Tune of the Week // St Vincent – New York

    The first time I heard ‘New York’, I was stopped in my tracks. Annie Clark, aka, St Vincent, possesses a remorseful fragility on this track. A lost love expressed through sparse musicality and carefully chosen words. I can feel the pain in her heart. Beautifully human, tragically painful.

    In years to come, this will be one of tracks I will automatically remember from 2017.

    Update // The track is taken from St Vincent’s new album ‘Masseducation’ which will be released on October 13 2017.

    Find out more on St. Vincent’s website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

    Spotify Tune of the Week Playlist

    I’ve started putting Spotify playlists together, including a Tune of the Week playlist, which includes all the tracks I’ve chose as Tune of the Week here on nessymon.com. You can find the playlist here. Make sure you follow, it will be updated weekly.

    Watch the video for New York

  • Tune of the Week // Session Motts – Plundered Past

    Tune of the Week // Session Motts – Plundered Past

    Session Motts - Tune of the week - photo: Eoin HigginsIt’s quite easy to get caught up in the rat race of London and miss out on stuff. Even though this Session Motts’ track has been around a little while now, I first got the chance to listen to it on Spotify as it had been added to a playlist I follow.

    Tune of the Week // Session Motts – Plundered Past

    Blow me down with a feather, it’s bloody great! I love Keeley’s wistful vocals, I love the guitars, I love the synthy bass line.

    Plundered Past is the second release from Dublin’s Session Motts and the follow up to Chip Shop Fights, which was released earlier this year.

    The trio comprise of Keeley Moss and Ingmar808 who have been joined by Daniel Kane. I also love how they have given themselves job titles within the band. Keeley is Session Motts Director of Communications & Social Media. Daniel is Lead Ambience Designer & Head of Logistics. Ingmar808 has been given the title of CEO & Head of Production. Quite rightly too, he’s got a not too shabby CV when it comes to mixing and producing, having recorded Julian Cope, Sly and Robbie, Suede and Pulp and mixing Bob Marley and U2. Sorry, I have to read that line again, I thought it said Bob Marley and U2.

    Inga-Maria Hauser – The Keeley Chronicles

    Plundered Past is ‘Dedicated with so much love and respect to the memory of Inga-Maria Hauser and her family. Never forgotten’

    Inga-Maria Hauser was a German backpacker who was murdered in Northern Ireland in 1998, however the crime is still unsolved. Not content with being on vocal and guitar duties in the band, Keeley Moss has turned detective on her blog, dedicated to the mystery. Check out https://www.thekeeleychronicles.wordpress.com to read Girl, Interrupted: The Untold Story of Inga-Maria Hauser.

    Plundered Past is a retro modern electronic indie showgaze marvel. Can’t wait to hear more.

    Find out more about Session Motts

    You can find out more about Session Motts at their website, Facebook and Twitter

    Spotify Tune of the Week Playlist

    I’ve started putting Spotify playlists together, including a Tune of the Week playlist, which includes all the tracks I’ve chose as Tune of the Week here on nessymon.com. You can find the playlist here. Make sure you follow, it will be updated weekly.

    Watch the video for Plundered Past

  • Tune of the Week // Panda Cult – Blue Angel

    Tune of the Week // Panda Cult – Blue Angel

    Panda Cult - Tune of the week - nessymon

    Tune of the Week // Panda Cult – Blue Angel

    I’ve been trying to work out what a Panda Cult looks like. Is it a tribe of pandas who all live together inside an enclosed compound? (Is that a zoo?) Is it a whole bunch of pandas who dance to 80s music under the full moon? Going on this release from the newest Merseyside quartet, they may be heavily influenced by the 1980s but have their feet firmly stuck in 2017.

    Blue Angel is a one of those three minute wonders, it’s fresh but familiar, perfectly formed with a seriously funky guitar line and is a classic summer track. The track’s vocal refrain of ‘Baby come back to me’ is echoed in the guitar line making it all more memorable. Production on the track is divinely understated but beautifully rounded. It may take a few listens but once ‘Blue Angel’ gets under your skin, it will stick in your head all day. Indie pop delightfulness.

    Verdict: Please sir, can I have some more?

    You can find out more about the band on their Facebook page and on Twitter.

    Listen to Blue Angel

    Spotify Tune of the Week Playlist

    I’ve started putting Spotify playlists together, including a Tune of the Week playlist, which includes all the tracks I’ve chose as Tune of the Week here on nessymon.com. You can find the playlist here. Make sure you follow, it will be updated weekly.