ALBUM OF THE YEAR - SHORT-LIST .... ALBUM #1 - Jan 2020


Cast your mind back to Jan 2020 ... just 10 years ago ... (just me? ) . The weather was cold. There were stories about the Flu going around in China, nothing to worry about surely ... Optimistic about the year ahead....

This was an 'easy' month to choose my album of the month for. There was a little competition from Algiers, who released 'There Is No Year' Jan 17th, and I had a ticket to see them in Feb ... don't remember why, but for some reason I didn't go to the gig anyway ... 


However one of my favourite bands of recent times released their third album, and (deep breath) it was/is fantastic (arguably their best yet). 'Okay Decay' by Canshaker Pi.

I first became aware of them because of a Pavement facebook post - Stephen Malkmus had helped produce their debut album with Studio Owner/Sound Engineer (also for Pavement) Remko Schouten. 

Listened to some songs, watched some vids, liked it ... and then I saw them live. June 2017.

This was in Corby. I think their first UK tour. Brighton, London, Norwich and Corby. Corby is one hour from where I lived for 25 years, but I was completely unaware of this place (town, city, village - I still don't know...) until the gig. 

There were 3 bands. Two local, and the Dutch oddball 4 piece. Audience of maybe 20. I drank too much. I managed to assist in writing the set-list. I danced ... 

I saw The Wedding Present (and Young Romance - I sneaked in on their sound-check!) the next night in the Roundhouse in London, playing George Best. It was pretty shit. It wasn't Canshaker Pi playing JUST FOR ME.

I saw Canshaker Pi 3 months later in Milan, (the singer remembered I had worn a Pixies t-shirt in Corby... - musicians, can you all do this going forward?), and another 3 times the next year. Live they ...burned. I was addicted. I had a trip to Amsterdam booked for Jan 2018 but was sick and missed it ... I still blame God for that, and I'm an atheist. 



So proceeded by 'Nest', 'Potwasher', and 'Glass' as 'digital singles' (or whatever they are called these days),  on 31st Jan 2020 'Okay Decay' was released. 10 mighty fine tracks  (and an eleventh track which is just so-so).





This wasn't easy to track down, a limited release, the CD didn't arrive until mid-February. I used my free Spotify account while impatiently waiting , until the adverts drove me nuts.

I think my favourite track is Casual Chugger : 'She's into Radiohead and I think thats funny ... Why? Because I'm better than you ....'




Canshaker Pi seem to be at least 'on pause' (I fear it might be worst), however the singer Will Smit is very active, Personal Trainer are making waves after touring with Pip Blom in UK. Personal Trainer are pretty unique in that they have a 'rotating' membership .. one night it might be 3 people on stage, the next night 7 people ... They just released a single... enjoy:




Will also organized 'The Industry' album in Dec 2019 - i call it 'Now Thats What I Call Dutch Music' which might give an indication at least to British people who to expect. Members of Lewsberg, Pip Blom , The Klittens and numerous other bands feature.




in short (actually this is already far longer than I planned) this is right up my street. Young, loud, energetic - all the things I'm not .. 


catch me up here, I'm right ...


A worthy winner for Jan, and into the short-list it goes.


Next up : .... February !  (surprise....)


Lee



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