the toppermost of 2013

Hello, my friends. Yes, I have returned from the wilderness. Actually, I didn't go anywhere. A series of business plans, musical endeavors, and odd back issues caused me to be blogless for a while. Now, I'm back, back, BACK!

Let's kick off this short entry with a list of my ten, favorite longplayers of 2013. Hopefully, at some point, I will be able to go into more detail about each one. I promise to try to post as much as possible without another hiatus. For the time being, let's just look at my top picks. Drum roll, please!

David Bowie - "The Next Day"
Disclosure - "Settle"
Agnetha Fältskog - "A"
Goldfrapp - "Tales Of Us"
Alison Moyet - "The Minutes"
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "English Electric"
Pet Shop Boys - "Electric"
Prefab Sprout - "Crimson/Red"
ShyBoy - "Water On Mars"
Suede - "Bloodsports"

There you have it. Discuss amongst yourselves. There will be a quiz.

tales to tell

The mighty Goldfrapp will return on September 9 with "Tales Of Us", their first new material since dropping their retrospective, "The Singles", early last year. It also marks a return to a sound more aligned with their debut, "Felt Mountain", and fourth longplayer, "Seventh Tree". Fret not, there are some electronic flourishes on the new elpee. However, don't expect the full on, stomp and synth of "Head First".

Thankfully, the good folks at Goldfrapp HQ have provided a handy trailer to hold us over until the summer months have passed. September seems like a long way to wait for an album. But it sounds like it will be worth it.



The official tracklisting for "Tales Of Us" will feature the following ten tunes. All single word titles, nine of them are the names of people. Surely, there must be a tale to tell with each one.

1. Jo
2. Annabel
3. Drew
4. Ulla
5. Alvar
6. Thea
7. Simone
8. Stranger
9. Laurel
10. Clay

singled out

After a decade of singles and five longplayers, Goldfrapp have parted with Mute, the label they called home since their debut. To mark the occasion, Alison and Will are about to release the appropriately titled, "The Singles".

Featuring a meager twelve singles and two new recordings, "The Singles" gives a cursory overview of the duo's magnificent history. However, it's beyond comprehension why overlooked gems such as "Caravan Girl", "Pilots (On A Star)", "Twist", "Fly Me Away" and "I'm Alive" have not made the cut, especially when there is plenty of room on the disc for their inclusion.

The super lush and blissed out "Yellow Halo" is the first of two new tracks to be released from "The Singles" which hearkens back to the sound of "Seventh Tree". And that's not a bad thing, mes chattons! They've even managed to lense a little vid for the tune which is accompanied by a stunning set of visuals. Let's check it out.



"Melancholy Sky", which Goldfrapp performed live on their last tour, is the second of two new songs. "The Singles" will hit the "shops" on February 6. The following is the official tracklisting.

1. Ooh La La
2. Number 1
3. Strict Machine (Single Mix)
4. Lovely Head
5. Utopia (Genetically Enriched)
6. A&E
7. Happiness (Single Version)
8. Train
9. Ride A White Horse (Single Version)
10. Rocket
11. Believer
12. Black Cherry
13. Yellow Halo
14. Melancholy Sky

ten for 2010

As another year draws to a close, so many of us in the blogosphere must hunker down and review our faves raves from the previous twelve months. Getting stuck in the great Boxing Day blizzard was the best springboard from me to begin the simultaneously arduous and thrilling task of completing my list. Thankfully, 2010 turned out to be a banner year for music. One of the best on record if I recall correctly.

But first, a look forward. Which longplayers am I anticipating in 2011? Hue And Cry, The Human League, Duran Duran, The Feeling and Penguin Prison. I know Duran just released "All You Need To Know". But the iTunes configuration isn't the whole enchilada. The full twelve track experience will be issued in physical form in February. So, I'm gonna wait to review it. It's already one of my most played elpees of this year! Sure to be a top contender in the next.

And will someone PLEASE tell me where the new albums from Blondie and Sophie Ellis-Bextor have gone? Once imminent, they've slipped off the map. Can't bode well for either of them.

Without further faffing about, here are my ten favorite albums of the year listed in alphabetical order.

Marc Almond - "Varieté"

Taking on the dual roles of showman and troubadour for "Varieté", Marc Almond showed he could deliver his own, self-penned material with as much style, quality and panache as the covers he performs so exceptionally well. All of this during his rehabilitation from a near fatal motorcycle accident a few years ago.

From the Russian strains of "Najinsky Heart" to the gypsy peasantry of "Bread And Circus", the piano torch of "Lavender", the swinging 60s London glam of the title track, the entire longplayer hangs together thematically, lyrically and musically in a way that most artists can only dream of at any point in their career.

Even the limited edition version of the album is an embarrassment of riches for Mr. Almond as he presents another half dozen or so songs which are presented in a stripped back, smoking jacket, beat club production. Every track on "Varieté" is vintage Marc Almond, one of the UK's musical treasures.

The Divine Comedy - "Bang Goes The Neighborhood"

Neil Hannon, in the guise of The Divine Comedy, returned with a... bang! Natch.

Still waving the flag for intelligently crafted songs with nods toward classic British pop of the 60s and 70s, TDC returned in grand style. Neil still kept the orchestral flourishes in tact, but delivered "Bang" with a slightly more low-fi approach. From the Blur-like "At The Indie Disco" to the Continental flavor of "Neapolitan Girl", the album fits in perfectly with previous TDC masterworks without ever sounding like a retread. One word... Bravo!

Bryan Ferry - "Olympia"

Ten years on from Bryan Ferry's last longplayer of original material, "Olympia" had a lot to live up to. Sure, it has many of the trademark soundscapes he's been known for. There are the languid electronics, the dream guitars, the slurry delivery of someone intoxicated by love and other musings. All of it is present. But there's a rugged undercarriage to the songs which seems to

"Olympia" is champagne and gelato. A swirling mixture of style with a soupcon of danger lurking around the corner. A stunningly beautiful goddess flashing a sinister, knowing smile encouraging you to succumb to the layers of sound.

Mr. Ferry has lost none of his ability to seduce and beguile. May "Olympia" be the next of many nexts.

Goldfrapp - "Head First"

Zippy synths. Breathy, insistent vocals. Pulsing beats. Goldfrapp returned from the pastoral excursion of "Seventh Tree", itself a work of beauty, with "Head First", an album that should've scaled the dizzy heights of the charts.

Urgent and sexy. The opening synth triptych - the high octane "Rocket", the slightly ethereal "Believer", and the anthemic "Alive" - set up the album nicely. All nine tracks are dotted with some unusual, early 80s influences including "Xanadu" and Kim Carnes, as well as the obvious ones like OMD and Kraftwerk, without ever sounding retro.

But it's more than a dance album. There's a lot of deep emotion running through its synthy veins which gives "Head First" a lot of heart and plenty of warmth. Plus it has a penis on the front cover. Look closely. Trying to find it is part of the fun.

"Head First" never left my playlist all year. Let's keep the fire burning for Alison and Will in the hopes they come up with the goods on their next, full length, studio effort. Perhaps it won't follow too long after their forthcoming greatest hits collection which is scheduled to drop later this spring.

Hurts - "Happiness"

Grand, eloquent, elegiac and moody . Hurts live an a sophisticated pop universe. Equal parts Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys, yet sounding like nothing else in the charts.

Unfortunately, Theo and Adam haven't lit the world alight with their debut longplayer. But those of us that savor their kind of magnificent melancholy and well written, melodic vignettes know they have put a lot of work into making the album special.

The album became a bit of event, which continues the DM and PSB comparisons as it has become both bands' calling card everytime they release one of their always anticipated longplayers. My only (minor) complaint is that the elpee lacks in the uptempo tune department.

"Better Than Love" is a driving, gothic number with shades of early New Order and bits of Sisters Of Mercy woven throughout. And that's the extent of anything that pushes the BPMs into the upper reaches. Strangely, they ditched the brooding, captivating title track, a and relegated it to a bonus track status on very few digital portals.

Also, the singles could have benefited from a different release sequence. Instead of launching straight out of the box with the magnificent and moving "Wonderful Life", they chose "Better Than Love" which would have performed better had it followed the clearly defined hit.

Overall, the album is lovely. Don't wait too long to follow it up with something breathtakingly beautiful, lads.

Kylie Minogue - "Aphrodite"

Everyone's favorite, Aussie pop rocket delivered another sparkling album. This time, she gave her fans what they wanted - an elpee of full on, straight ahead pop.

It's an album that burst forth with the euphoric energy that her fans loved on "Fever" and wanted her to capture again after the spiky electronics of "X". Nearly every track has a hands in the air moment whether it's the gorgeous strains of "All The Lovers", the pulsing, singleworthy "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)", the lovely Keane written "Everything Is Beautiful" or the mighty drumline excitement of the title track. Singles for days.

Unfortunately, in this era of lowest common denominator, identi-kit R&B dominating the charts, Kylie's brand of top shelf pop seems a bit out of step. Therefore, third single, "Better Than Today", fell short of the top 30 even with all the promotional stops pulled out in full force.

It clearly underscores the damage a wrong single choice can trip up an otherwise flawless pop longplayer. Surely, the rumored deluxe edition is right around the corner as Kylie ramps up for her forthcoming world tour. I'll be there. Will you?

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "History Of Modern"

It is the year of the synth. And who better to make their return than OMD? Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphries reunited the original four piece and decided to embrace their origins.

After testing the waters during a reunion tour for their 30th anniversary and a celebration of their seminal longplayer, "Architecture And Morality", Paul and Andy realized there was a lot of life left in the old mare. They dug out their synths, hashed out a dozen new songs or so and set about capturing the excitement of their debut recordings. At the same time, their return made it very clear where current faves like The xx owe their debt of gratitude.

The lyrical bite of distorted opener, "New Babies: New Toys" lays out their manifesto with a succinct "fuck off" delivered to the impostors and detractors. OMD are doing what feels best.

Anthemic first and second singles, "If You Want It" and "Sister Marie Says", respectively, show their affinity for a finely tuned pop song. They revisit every aspect of their recorded work without ever sounding like they are trading on past glories. The strength is in the clean production which supports the melodic strength of every tune on this magnificent return to glory.

All the orchestral samples and choral pads are in tact from throughout their esteemed career. The synths sparkle, the effusive melodies twinkling like a million stars until they burst into a shower of fireworks across the pristine production. Lovely.

Robyn - "Body Talk"

For nearly a year, Robyn has been a whirling dervish. A Swedish dynamo!

When she revealed her plan of releasing three albums in 2010, many scoffed at the idea. How could she come up with the goods three times?

Firstly, she kept each release in the "Body Talk" trilogy trimmed down to about eight tracks with the third installment featuring the best of the first two plus five new tracks.

It may have sounded unorthodox first, but in this new frontier of wireless trading of zeros and ones, it seems to have worked. It also helped that she promoted each effort with the vitality and excitement of an artist in her prime. She embraced every opportunity to get the word out and incorporated eye popping visuals into every part of the media mix.

Standout cuts, "Dancing On My Own", "Hang With Me" and "Indestructible" are a clutch of the finest, tear stained dancefloor epics this side of the Stockholm archipelago. But Robyn proves she has a sense of humor inside her arctic heart. "Fembot", the Snoop Dogg assisted "U Should Know Better" and the expletive ridden "Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do" are the jammy jams with a wink and smirk to let her fanbase know she can party smartly with the best of the current R&B set. And who doesn't love to initiate slut mode at least once a day?

Scissor Sisters - "Night Work"

Sleaze is the word! Jake Shears and co. whipped up a frenzy. "Night Work", their difficult third longplayer, is a deep n' greasy blowjob in an amyl nitrate filled backroom in a backstreet leather bar in Berlin.

The Trevor Horn via FGTH inspired "Invisible Light", complete with Bee Gees falsettos and thunderous percussion may have set the tone, but a few surprises like the anthemic "Fire With Fire" sounded more like The Killers. "Any Which Way" is incendiary funk with a sexy, slippery backbone and more typical of ver Scissters previous work. "Running Out" and "Night Life" sound like they bastard child of Devo and The Cult. All meant with love, of course.

"Night Work" is the sound of a group trying to break out of the corner they might have painted themselves into with their first two albums. Equal measures of frivolity and anxiety may have built them to survive or burnt them out completely. We'll know after their mammoth world tour wraps up this year. Catch them while you can!

Tracey Thorn - "Love And Its Opposite"

Tracey Thorn is one of Britain's most gifted songwriters. Every word that falls from her mouth seems to carry massive weight despite the simplicity and directness of her writing.

"Love And Its Opposite", the follow-up to 2007's more rhythmic driven "Out Of The Woods", explores mid-life in all its glory and disappointment. This is particularly apparent on poignant tracks like "Oh, The Divorces" and "Singles Bar" - two locations many are surprised to find themselves when they've crossed the great divide into the second half of their planned obsolescence.

On Twitter, Tracey has a spiky sense of wit delivered with a dash of self deprecation. Much of it is her keen attention to detail and the gift of acute observation cloaked in a laugh. And that's where much of the lyrical content of "Love And Its Opposite" resides. With every tweet, you can imagine Tracey in her kitchen chuckling to herself in deep, Mutley tones at some of her wry commentary which touches on everything from gardening to "X Factor". Essential twitteratum.

Hardly a folk album, Tracey's third solo elpee showcases her as one of Britain's quintessential singer/songwriters. Everything in the writing, arrangements and production is never pushed or rushed. Its quiet elegance, urgent beauty and balance shows Tracey at the height of her lyrical prowess. Stripped of the thump of the dancefloor, "Love And Its Opposite" is a more direct route to the head and the heart which allows for a greater impact on the listener.

Highlights include the haunting "Kentish Town", the yearning "Why Does The Wind?", the Squeeze-ly "Hormones" and the ethereal glory of "Swimming".

And that sums up my musical excursion through the previous 52 weeks. For those keeping track, you can find my ten favorite longplayers of 2009 and 2008 by clicking here. Bring on the sound of 2011!

Stradivarius reswizzling

There has been mucho discussion and frustration over the singles campaign for Goldfrapp's latest longplayer, "Head First". Many agree that it's a fabulous album full of fire and amyl nitrate. A heady mix, club kittens.

However, despite the album having the potential to be mined for many singles, the first two, "Rocket" and "Alive", just didn't cut a swathe through the charts.

Now, with the third single, "Believer", about to drop on September 6, it seems the momentum has fizzled regardless of it being another brilliant slab of pop. Sadly, the world is being taken over by unexciting, autotuned R&B from Ne-Yo, Drake, Derulo, Cruz, et al.

While "Rocket" and "Alive" had some fabulous remixes from Richard X and Dave Audé, respectively, the reswizzled productions for "Believer" don't carry quite the same punch. That is, until you get to the last mix on the CD single by Davide Rossi.



Now THAT is what I'm talking about. More plz! Lush! Goosebumps! Heartstrings! *swoon* You can always get me with a well arranged string quartet, my lovelies.

Davide is currently on tour with Goldfrapp as part of their live band. He plays a mean electric violin.

a toured affair

Tour montage videos are all the rage these days. N'est-ce pas, mes petit chattons? Now, Goldfrapp has joined the parade with the video for their latest single, "Believer". Let's face it, they are cheap, promotionally effective and give acts the "presence" they so desire. Sometimes they amount to little more than a Final Cut Pro exercise on a roadie's Mac Book.

But, as Robyn recently showcased in the video for her current single, "Hang With Me", the raw emotion bleeds through the fourth wall rendering the viewer completely connected to the artist.

Perhaps Goldfrapp's new clip doesn't have the same effect, but you certainly get the sense that the band have a tremendous amount of fun on the road together. And it gives Alison's image a much needed shot of warmth. Plus, who doesn't love watching everyone dressed up in their glammest glamwear followed by appearances of the band in hoodies pulling their luggage through airports? Where are their minders?



Love the lampshade look Alison sports around the 1.40 mark.

Unfortunately, this will probably be the final single from "Head First", one of my absolute favorite longplayers released this year. That's a crying shame since the album could be mined six singles deep. They plucked seven out of Beyoncé's weave. Surely Alison has enough fierce divatude in her flowing locks for a few singles more.

Do you believe in life after a dud?

The mighty Goldfrapp is about to release "Believer", the third single from their excellently poptastic, retro sexy longplayer, "Head First".

While I'm very excited to see a third track plucked from the album, I can't help but wonder how the whole campaign tanked. Both "Rocket" and "Alive" - two completely AMAZEBALLS singles - were met with a resounding thud on the charts.

I get the sneaking suspicion that Radio 1 refuses to play solid, thoughtful pop music. Perhaps people thought Goldfrapp started following instead of leading. Maybe they lost people on the pastoral predecessor, "Seventh Tree".

Apparently, they have a lot of support from music bloggers. I haven't read anything but praise for "Head First". Anyway, the cover art for the single is spectacular. It's got more of that "Xanadu" factor they've been trading on. Alison has clearly tapped into every gay boy's dream.

I was lying there, lying on the beach

We're at the mid-year point and it's time for my summer holiday. Seven glorious days in the peaceful enclave of Provincetown. The sea. The breeze. Who are we kidding? The eye candy!

Srsly, this is the moment where I dial it down. I will be comatose for the better part of a week. Recharging my batteries. So, what better time to review my beachcoming soundtrack?

Here, submitted for you perusal, are some of my favorite albums of the year, so far. Each of them will be getting quite a lot of spins on the old Victrola at the beach house this week and all summer long.

"Aphrodite" - Kylie Minogue

This is clearly going to be blaring out of every open window on the cape. Let's face facts. It's the gayest album of the year. The boys will bring the noise and this elpee, the musical equivalent of a rainbow, will feature prominently. I can smell the poppers at the Boat Slip already.

I would bet cash that the marketing "gurus" at the label figured it was best to issue her album on the cusp of Pride celebrations worldwide. I'm sure we'll be raising a glass to our little Aussie pop rocket all summer long. Chin chin!

"Head First" - Goldfrapp

This is already shaping up to be one of the finest years for purveyors of pop music. Goldfrapp, back from their pastoral wanderings, returned with a synth in one hand and a fistful of killer tunes in the other.

Another album that is sure to please the boys on the beach. I expect to hear "Rocket" and "Alive" doing the business around town at various discotheques.

"Night Work" - Scissor Sisters

Oh yes! It is a gay old year. N'est-ce pas? Sleezy, filthy, camp AND fun. Ver Scissters leave behind the honky tonk and cheeky winks of the last two albums and stretch a little.

I haven't dug deep into this, their third longplayer, but I suspect this will be the soundtrack for dark corners this week.

"Bang Goes The Knighthood" - The Divine Comedy

The audio equivalent of reading a good book on the beach. SPF at the ready. Umbrellas at a slight tilt. Maybe a picnic basket of sammies and a few cocktails.

Neil Hannon's quick witted delivery and jaunty piano numbers will enchant and delight while you soak up some sun. Even the British love a summer holiday. Close your eyes and let his lyrics paint a picture for you. Run your own little film behind your eyelids.

"Love And Its Opposite" - Tracey Thorn

This is the Sunday brunch album. This is for the comedown and the chillout. It's also suitable for an early morning bloody mary.

Thoughtful and breezy. A light, flowing, linen blouse as the sun comes up.

For the record, I think The Psychedelic Furs and some classic, pre-symbol Prince are going to be garnering a lot of play this week. I'm in the mood for some grit and a bit of funk. Read into that however you'd like.

sexy disco glam distortion

Last night, Stephen Sears, the wordsmith behind the blog at XO's Middle Eight, joined me for an evening of sexy disco glam distortion. Get your minds out of the gutter! We sauntered over to the 9.30 Club in Washington DC for evening with Goldfrapp and 1,000 of their closest friends.

The venue is rather unremarkable and is located in a part of the city that is starting to see the benefits of gentrification. The inside reminds me a little of the Ritz in its gritty, 80s heyday or the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London.

In fact, while we waited for Goldfrapp to take the stage in front of a giant, silver, inflatable woo hoo, we spotted Alison as she cascaded down the backstage stairs. In that moment, I had a flashback. I realized I had been to the venue many years ago. In 1998, I produced Billie Ray Martin and did a spot of tour management for her. BRM played that very club one summer evening that year. Small world.

Enough nostalgia. Alison swanned on stage in a lovely black, feathery number and black, flashy tights to the pulsing, vocal strains of "Voicething" from Goldfrapp's current longplayer, "Head First".

For the rest of the show, many of the musical selections focused on the current elpee with a smattering of songs plucked from their rich, back catalog of material. It was a loud, adrenaline fuelled evening with Alison cooing over the live arrangements provided by her very accomplished band mates.

I was very impressed with the keyboard player who performed most of her parts live rather than let a sequencer do all the work. All of the band members were dressed in silver, spangly jumpsuits. The multi-instrumentalist who played keyboards, various guitars and electric violin wore a fetching, open front blouse which showcased his effusive chest hair and looked more like a member of ELO had invaded the stage.

During this display of lamé and sequins, I couldn't help but wonder what Will Gregory, the other half of Goldfrapp, gets up to while Alison is strutting her stuff on stage.

Last night's set list was quick and to the point. Not a lot of chatter from Alison. Although, we did find out she was terribly jetlagged. However, her wardrobe plumage spoke volumes.

1. Voicething
2. Crystalline Green
3. I Wanna Life
4. A&E
5. Dreaming
6. Head First
7. Number 1
8. Believer
9. Alive
10. Shiny And Warm
11. Train
12. Ride A White Horse
13. Ooh La La
14. Utopia
15. Black Cherry
16. Rocket
17. Strict Machine

Sadly, there were no shooting laser beams or dancing vampires. But we did get the jumpsuits. However, we were only treated to one song each from their debut longplayer, "Felt Mountain", and their pastoral excursion, "Seventh Tree". I would've loved to have heard a bit of "Happiness" or "Caravan Girl".

The highlight of the evening was clearly a balls out, glam hammered rendition of "Strict Machine" as the final encore. With our eardrums sizzling from a solid electro battering, we made our way out of the club and onto the hot and humid streets.

Not sure what the next step is for Goldfrapp. After a decade, five albums and a clutch of tasty singles, will their first greatest hits collection appear for the forthcoming Christmas season? Perhaps they'll put that off in favor of another album.

alive and kicking

It has been a smackdown of a week, my lovelies. I've been studying for a new business venture in the sunny, desert climes of Scottsdale, Arizona. My brain cells have been working overtime. Today, the temps reached a balmy 101 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. Thankfully, it's a dry heat.

In the evenings, I've been taking drives through the sprawling, sandy flatlands with Roxy Music and Goldfrapp as my soundtrack of choice. Stunning against a backdrop of majestic mountains and wide open, starry skies. But enough about the Southwestern landscape of the United States, my darlings.

Goldfrapp returns with "Alive", the second single from their latest elpee, "Head First". It was gonna be tough job following up "Rocket" being that the album is chock full of potential singles.

Another budget impaired video, which is de rigueur for labels in these lean days, was recently lensed with Alison rocking a bit of a Bonnie Tyler vibe.

In fact, it features is a melange of 80s touchstones. There are a few muses from "Xanadu", the dance routine from Bonnie Tyler's music video for "Holding Out For A Hero", the grim reaper from Def Leppard's "Rock Of Ages" vid, a left over pentagram courtesy of Mötley Crüe and splash of Jane Fonda's classic workout routine. It is SO important to recycle these day, mes amis.



For some reason they threw in a Kiss reference and some modern "Twilight" touches with a coven of vampires. It all ends with Alison retreating inside a neon coffin. Not exactly what I expected from a Goldfrapp video. Gotta keep them guessing these days, kittens.

Here's the video for "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler just for giggles and the visual reference.

timezone hydroplaning

Not much to report here. We're all waiting breathless for new albums from Scissor Sisters and Kylie Minogue. It seems the competition knows these are on target to be albums of epic proportions for many pop aficionados. So the slate is a bit bare until then.

If you come to realize I'm not checking in on a regularly here and across all my social media hangouts, blame it on the timezone hydroplaning. I will be away from my home base quite a bit over the next couple of weeks for a not so super secret mission that will shift my orbit in the coming months. Plus, I'll be toiling away in the studio on a few projects in between. Exciting times, indeed!

In the meantime, with Goldfrapp playing on my iPod over and over ad infinitum, please enjoy the latest visual nugget from Gorillaz. Not sure if this is the official video for "Superfast Jellyfish", the second single lifted from their latest longplayer, "Plastic Beach". Whatever the case, it's still entertaining.

we like dancing and we look divine

Today is Record Store Day. For many, it's not much different from most Saturdays - a weekly or monthly pilgrimage to rub shoulders with the popular music masses.

For some, the thought of exchanging their hard earned cash for recorded music, pressed into vinyl or imprinted into zeros and ones, is a foreign concept and ancient act reserved for those in their advanced years. You know...people over 40 years of age.

For most of the last 22 years, I have splashed my share of cash at the music mecca in downtown NYC known as Rebel Rebel. I've known David, the owner, longer than any of my friends. I used to buy import 12 inch singles from him when he was a clerk at another nearby record shop and I was a 16 year old Greenwich Village urchin.

I used to buy all the British imports - Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Eurythmics, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Alison Moyet, Simple Minds, Bananarama, Culture Club, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, ABC, Howard Jones, The Human League, Siouxsie And The Banshees, New Order and countless others. And David always knew what I would like. He was rarely wrong. Along the way, he introduced me to The Blow Monkeys, Lloyd Cole And The Commotions, David Sylvian and Swing Out Sister.

David and I share a bond. He is partly responsible for shaping my musical taste. He's altogether the reason why my wallet was usually empty every payday.

I followed David from New Wave to the New Romantics. Together we took trips through C86, House, Britpop and every other incarnation of pop music from the seemingly never ending stream of sound which flowed from the UK.

So, instead of lamenting a beleaguered music biz, I took today to revel in the rich tapestry of tunes inside the tiny corridor of sound located on Bleecker Street. Rebel Rebel is still in the same location where it opened its doors in August 1988.

It's packed to the rafters with both new and old vinyl, classic mags from the 80s, more compilations than your iPod could ever hold, hard to find promos and boxes upon boxes of music memorabilia. But if you're looking for the latest limited edition releases, you better get there early because David sells out of them in the blink of an eye.

In these digital days, there's a nostalgia for flicking through crates of vinyl. I loved manhandling 12" singles. (Insert filthy retort here.) There was something alluring and exhilarating about flipping LPs over front to back to front. The lavish designs. The detail. Even holding a CD had its thrilling moments. The jewel case. The shiny disc. Thumbing through booklets. I remember the early days when they were nothing more than an expensive curiosity. Then they rolled out into the mainstream and I got hooked right away.

So, what was my first purchase at Rebel Rebel when its lights were turned on for the first time? Glad you asked, kittens.

I bought the 7", 10", 12" and CD single formats of "Dreaming" by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. All four configurations were UK pressings. It was the only single lifted from OMD's first greatest hits collection.

Supporting local, independent retailers still means something to me. I do my best to unload my shekels where I know it will make a difference to the vitality of the surrounding neighborhood.

I clearly remember Greenwich Village before the strollers, the upwardly mobile throngs, the high end fashionista shops and the gleaming mega gyms. I attended college at NYU. I recall seeing the leather studs, the transvestites, the club kids, the bohemians and the wide eyed teens from suburbia all gathering at the many record shops dotted about. The street corners of GW and SoHo were the places where I first came across the art of Keith Haring. It's where I learned about life. I was able to explore my passion for creativity. It was the stuff of dreams. Good times. New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times!

Today isn't just a celebration of Rebel Rebel and all other independent music shops. For me it's more about finding and defining my youth. It's the experiences and how they're colored by the music I have listened to all my life. Music that wouldn't have been there if I didn't have a haven like Rebel Rebel in my life. It was communal. It was inspiring. It was a sonic celebration every week. And it continues to be. Long may it thrive even in these uncertain times.

By the way, aren't you the least bit curious about what I bought today? Of course you are. On vinyl, natch!

rocket fuel

The new Goldfrapp single, "Rocket", finally leaked. It's a glorious, uptempo, neon slab of 80s synth pop. Some may call their forthcoming longplayer, "Head First", the "proper" follow up to "Supernature" after the more pastoral musings of "Seventh Tree".

If you ask me, I think they're simultaneously channeling Olivia Newton-John circa "Twist Of Fate" and "Telephone (Long Distance Love Affair)" by Sheena Easton. Simply amazing!

At the same time, I hear some Bucks Fizz in there, as well! Some have rightly pointed out that it has that synth sound that falls somewhere between "Jump" by Van Halen and "It's Alright" by Christopher Cross.

And the sleeve is pure "Xanadu". Who doesn't love pink jumpsuits? 1982 is all the rage, ladies and gentlemen.

from seventh to first in two years

The album sleeve for the forthcoming Goldfrapp album, "Head First", has been revealed. I wonder if it reflects some of the pastoral elements of their previous album, "Seventh Tree".

Perhaps we'll be in for more surprises from Will and Alison like the time everyone expected them to continue the high gloss, electro glam of "Supernature" and instead they took a sharp turn off the pulsating, electronic superhighway into a lush, ambient landscape influenced by Ennio Morricone cinematics and draped in warm, delicate, folk inspired sounds.

Expect to hear more soon. "Head First", their fifth longplayer, is scheduled to be released on March 22. It will be preceded by the single, "Rocket".

Gosh, that album cover looks awfully familiar. Where have I seen it before?