TOP OF THE STAIRS MUSIC

Here's a new talent to brighten up our lives. Got tipped off from my sister on this one. Ireland's Imelda May is a mix of rock, jazz and burlesque and it all mixes into a heady, exciting cocktail of new music and music which has got lost. From the 'in your ears' opening track right through to the last track it will keep you awake and entertained. She also looks the part and I would love to see her live as further reading on her says just this, that to get the full hit you should watch as well as listen. Can't recommend this CD enough especially if you need a non-caffeine lift.

Check out www.imeldamay.com for more news and some free downloads.

Downloaded Duffy's single Rain and just love it. The production is fab and her voice is very retro.

My birthday yesterday and I got a couple of CD's which have been on my wish list for an age so highly delighted with both:-

The Phil Spector Retrospective: The Phil Spector Collection

Happens - David Hemmings, yes by the actor, Hemmings. This is a collection I am putting together for a hospital radio show called 'Actors Singing' and joins other CD's I have by Anthony Perkins, Peter Wynegarde and William Shatner.

If you can think any more gems, let me know.

Just catching up with some BBC 2 radio shows - California Dreamin' by Andy Parfitt was him driving through Laurel Canyon trying to capture the aura of the hippy era and the fantastic music it created. One producer was saying that then, artists had as much time as they liked to write and record an album. This could be 2 years or so - whatever it took to get it right. Then commerce took over and it made me think about all the music that is 'rushed' through in this day and age and that whilst we may have better technology to make it all sound better, it stunts creativity and on a general level, most of the music is not a patch on then plus will probably not stand the test of time.

Almost 12 months into sorting out my huge music collection and am currently still working through my soundtracks. This morning listening to the soundtrack to Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, a quirkly film starring Urma Thurman - a psychedilc journey around the fantasia on the role of the thumb in the evolution of the human species! Released in 1993.

The soundtrack is by k.d.lang and collaborator Ben Mink. Together they made the flawlees Ingenue album which rates as one of my faves ever. It's an atmospheric and varied soundtrack and lang's voice is never less than beautful. Tracks 'Just Keep Me Moving' and ' Lifted By Love' are strong enough to be singles, with the first one showing shades of Ingenue's languid style. Very laid back, almost chilled is an instrumental called A Much Finer Place which instantly relaxes. Other tracks are twangy as expected with lang's faved Hawaiin guitar thrown in. It all works and stands alone from the film and will be a keeper in my collection.