| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| R.E.M. | World Leader Pretend | @richard0x4a and @HollowmanDan |
| Billy Bragg | There is Power in a Union | @_MM1965_ |
| Arcadia | Election Day | @HungryHatter and @tangerinebean |
| Radiohead | Electioneering | @sparkes74 , @StamfordCowboy and @arihat_ |
| Grandaddy | The Final Push to the Sum | @HeeleySteve |
| Thea Gilmore | My Voice | @substandardnerd |
| The Blow Monkeys | Choice? | @Staffs75 |
| Psychedelic Furs | President Gas | @adam0407 and @hewnique |
| Alice Cooper | Elected | @LeedsInShetland , @JamesOldham and @steverodz |
| Exploited | Fuck the USA | @fearcandy666 |
| Game Theory | Throwing the Election | @StillHonest |
| Arcade Fire ft. Mavis Staples | I Give You Power | @antmeals |
| Chumbawamba | Always Tell the Voter What the Voter Wants to Hear | @Cavedweller71 |
| The James Taylor Quartet | The Stooge | @garyshifnal |
| Drugstore ft, Thom Yorke | El President | @preservation76 |
| Frank Turner | Make America Great Again | @musicvstheworld |
| Tankus the Henge | Orange is the New Black | @BTone2020 |
| Bic Runga | Election Night | @RiverboatCapt |
| Feist | 1,2,3,4 | @aisfornala |
| The Kinks | Tired of Waiting | @paldinowolf |
| The Style Council | Walls Come Tumbling Down | @CCBriggers |
| R.E.M. | Ignoreland | @davidkbruce |
| Ry Cooder | Take Your Hands Off It | @eclecticfriend3 |
| David Bowie | I’m Afraid of Americans | @glowypanda |
| Dusty Springfield | I Start Counting | @durutti74 and @garyshifnal |
| Stevie Wonder | He’s Misstra Know it All | @dailyearworms |
| Neil Young | Campaigner | @hodge_nufc |
| Bob Dylan | The Times They Are A-Changin’ | @Rosey_St |
| Cream | Politician | @Midgetgems26 |
| The Who | Won’t Get Fooled Again | @neilc79 |
Dots Jukebox: “Fear” 31st October 2020
| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| The Fall | Frightened | @robgrew |
| Doves | There Goes the Fear | @jason_dobson |
| Wild Beasts | Punch Drunk and Trembling | @preservation76 |
| John Cale | Fear is a Man’s Best Friend | @Chops_Top_Fives |
| Blue Oyster Cult | Don’t Fear the Reaper | @garyshifnal |
| Magazine | Because You’re Frightened | |
| Bauhaus | In Fear of Fear | @gigticket |
| Jacob’s Mouse | Club Scare | @davidkbruce |
| Lily Allen | The Fear | @sharkastic |
| Ian Brown | F.E.A.R. | @neilc79 and @steverodz |
| The Associates | Party Fears Two | @Citizen_JC |
| Julian Cope | Fear Loves This Place | @adam0407 |
| Lou Reed | Waves of Fear | @RiverboatCapt |
| The Doors | Who Scared You? | @Staffs75 |
| Pulp | The Fear | @aisfornala |
| The National | Afraid of Everyone | @GreeneDermot67 |
| Ron Gallo | Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me | @hodge_nufc |
| The Cure | Your God is Fear | |
| The Young Fresh Fellows | Fear and Bitterness and Hatred | @StillHonest |
| Suicide | Frankie Teardrop | @unevensteven60 |
| Iron Maiden | Fear of the Dark | @paldinowolf |
| The Cramps | I Was a Teenage Werewolf | @eclecticfriend3 |
| The Damned | Wait for the Blackout | @Cavedweller71 |
| The Boo Radleys | Best Lose the Fear | @richard0x4a |
| British Sea Power | Fear of Drowning | @substandardnerd |
| Thomas Dolby | I Scare Myself | @Rich_W27 |
| Holly Herndon | Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt | @grantsales |
| Robert Cray | Don’t be Afraid of the Dark | @adibeasley |
| Massive Attack | Man Next Door | @LumberjackLamar |
| Eminem | Not Afraid |
Dots Jukebox: “Trouble” 24th October 2020
| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| Bob Marley | So Much Trouble in the World | @ScottP68 |
| Ray LaMontagne | Trouble | @INeedDirection |
| Nina Simone | Trouble in Mind | @musicvstheworld |
| Talking Heads | Life During Wartime | @davidkbruce |
| The Jayhawks | Trouble | @durutti74 |
| Jake Bugg | Trouble Town | @Staffs75 |
| Ghostpoet | Trouble + Me | @musicvstheworld |
| DJ Yoda ft Action Bronson & Alice… | Big Trouble in Little China | @grantsales |
| The Beastie Boys | Triple Trouble | @neilc79 |
| Public Image Limited | Double Trouble | @eclecticfriend3 |
| Common Market | The Trouble Is | @musicvstheworld |
| Future of the Left | Sorry Dad, I Was Late for the Riots | @hodge_nufc |
| Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention | Trouble Every Day | @ackleite |
| Izzy Stradlin | Bucket o’ Trouble | @steverodz |
| Sleeping With Sirens | Trouble | Ryan |
| Girl Ray | Trouble | @restrobate |
| Unknown Mortal Orchestra | So Good at Being in Trouble | @jenbren1976 |
| Blur | Trouble in the Message Centre | @preservation76 |
| Shampoo | Trouble | @JamesOldham |
| Kelly Clarkson | The Trouble with Love Is | @arihat_ |
| Coldplay | Trouble | @Rosey_St |
| Lavinia Blackwall | Troublemakers | @richard0x4a |
| Hen Ogledd | Trouble | @substandardnerd |
| The Only Ones | Trouble in the World | @Cavedweller71 |
| Moby | Natural Blues | @musicvstheworld |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water | @musicvstheworld |
Dots Jukebox: “Closure” 10th October 2020
| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| Teenage Fanclub | Alcoholiday | @Buttersstotch11 |
| R.E.M. | Leave | @HollowmanDan |
| Mammoth Penguins | Closure | @Chops_Top_Fives |
| Grandaddy | Miner at the Dial-a-View/So You’ll Aim Toward the Sky | @themikeslattery |
| The Black Heart Procession | Release My Heart | @chasethegroove |
| The Go-Betweens | Apology Accepted | @plasllanina |
| The Cure | End | @thesweetcheat |
| OK Go | Get Over It | @preservation76 |
| Ride | End Game | @jason_dobson |
| British Sea Power | It Ended on an Oily Stage | @richard0x4a |
| Squeeze | Black Coffee in Bed | @dailyearworms |
| Pearl Jam | Release | @precenphix |
| Billy Bragg | Tank Park Salute | @_MM1965_ |
| Oliver Huntemann | The End | @IndieOver40 |
| Young Marble Giants | Final Day | @davidkbruce |
| Semisonic | Closing Time | @musicvstheworld |
| The Stone Roses | (I Am the) Resurrection | @steverodz |
| Ween | Baby Bitch | @grantsales |
| Joy Division | A Means to an End | @eclecticfriend3 |
| Erasure | My Heart… So Blue | @sharkastic |
| Kate Bush | You’re the One | @_jelinor |
| Fleetwood Mac | Go Your Own Way | @Rosey_St |
| Gloria Gaynor | I Will Survive | @robgrew |
| Sam Cooke | That’s It, I Quit, I’m Movin’ On | @RiverboatCapt |
| The Doors | The End | @NeilTheKid @neilc79 |
| George Harrison | All Things Must Pass | @antmeals |
| Leonard Cohen | Famous Blue Raincoat | @AndrewLabmonkey |
| She and Him | Gonna Get Along Without You Now | @maffrj |
| The Sundays | Here’s Where the Story Ends | @hodge_nufc |
| OMD | The Beginning and the End | @durutti74 |
| McAlmont and Butler | Yes | @Perlalaloca |
Dots Jukebox: “Hope” 11th April 2020
Song of the Week:
| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| REM | Hope | @lsherrington1 |
| The Flaming Lips | Waitin’ for Superman | @aisfornala |
| The Beatles | Getting Better | @instantkarma80 |
| I Am Kloot | Some Better Day | @MakerzMark |
| The Stone Roses | Good Times | @steverodz |
| Shed Seven | High Hopes | @Katienana09 |
| The Slow Readers Club | You Opened Up My Heart | @jason_dobson |
| Panic at the Disco | High Hopes | Teen |
| Frank Turner | Get Better | @amcyoung |
| Mumford and Sons | Hopeless Wanderer | @StamfordCowboy |
| Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat | The Greatest Story Ever Told | @AndrewLabmonkey |
| Koria Kitten Riot | The Earth Will Spin Around | @NordicMusicView |
| Eels | P.S. You Rock My World | @grantsales |
| Tindersticks | Can We Start Again? | @Axels96 |
| Gorillaz | We Got the Power | @neilc79 |
| Hope of the States | Enemies / Friends | @jaytennant |
| Rolo Tomassi | Aftermath | @antmeals |
| Air Supply | Hope Springs Eternal | |
| Roots Manuva | Witness (1 Hope) | @lalonip3 |
| Eddy Grant | Gimme Hope Joanna | @matthewmoloney |
| Zoe | Sunshine on a Rainy Day | @JamesOldham |
| Simple Minds | Alive and Kicking | @adibeasley |
| Bill Nelson | Hope for the Heartbeat | @durutti74 |
| David Bowie | Rock n’ Roll Suicide | @ladyofsonnets66 |
| Peter Gabriel ft. Kate Bush | Don’t Give Up | |
| Pink Floyd | High Hopes | @n1ckbab3r |
| Portishead | The Rip | @precenphix |
| Sam Cooke | A Change is Gonna Come | @ScottP68 |
| The Four Tops | Reach Out | @VikingSlaveGirl |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water |
Dots Jukebox: “Isolation” 4th April 2020 #DotsJukebox #Isolation
“Most liked” song:
| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| George Thorogood and the Destroyers | I Drink Alone | |
| Edwin McCain | Solitude | @ScottP68 |
| Warren Zevon | Splendid Isolation | @_sandywishart |
| Eric Carmen | All By Myself | @nobrightside |
| Stephen Stills | Love the One You’re With | @MirandaKitten |
| Suzanne Vega | Solitude Standing | @_MM1965_ |
| Scott Walker | On Your Own Again | @richard0x4a |
| Otis Redding | (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay | @AndrewLabmonkey |
| The Rolling Stones | Please Go Home | |
| David Bowie | Sound and Vision | @ladyofsonnets66 |
| Statler Brothers | Flowers on the Wall | |
| The Police | Don’t Stand So Close to Me | @adibeasley |
| Genesis | Land of Confusion | |
| Joy Division | Isolation | @eclecticfriend3 |
| Aphex Twin | ‘i’ | |
| Tame Impala | Solitude is Bliss | |
| Dan Rose | Never Gonna Leave | |
| Blur | On Your Own | @jenbren1976 |
| Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros | Home | |
| Evans the Death | I’m So Unclean | @substandardnerd |
| The Tragically Hip | The Last Recluse | |
| Oasis | Sittin’ Here in Silence (On My Own) | @neilc79 |
| De La Soul | Me, Myself and I | @ItsDaveWard |
| Jack White | Alone in My Home | |
| Therapy? | Isolation | @lsherrington1 |
| Killing Joke | I am the Virus | |
| Slipknot | Don’t Get Close | @Gobbygritlet |
| Alter Bridge | Isolation | @NeilTheKid |
| System of a Down | Lonely Day | |
| The Mamas and the Papas | Safe in My Garden |
Dots Jukebox: “Christmas” 20th December 2019 #DotsJukebox #Christmas
Song of the Week:
| Artist | Song | Suggested by |
| X | Santa Claus is Coming to Town | @chasethegroove |
| Korn | Kidnap the Sandy Claws | @gobbyygritlet |
| Inside Joke | Twas the Night Before Christmas | @electricfriend3 |
| Type O Negative | Red Water (Christmas Mourning) | @grantsales |
| Bob Dylan | Must be Santa | @dailyearworms |
| Pearl Jam | Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time) | @steverodz |
| Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler | Marshmallow Road | @gigticket |
| Whyte Horses | Next Year Will be Mine | @miftin81 |
| Caitlin Rose | You Never Come Home for Christmas | @richard0x4a |
| Smith and Burrows | When the Thames Froze | @_mm1965_ |
| 4q | Xmas Ay | @neilthekid |
| Björk | Frosti | @precenphix |
| Tom Waits | Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis | @neilc79 |
| The Kinks | Father Christmas | @itsdaveward |
| The Greedies | A Merry Jingle | @amcyoung |
| Kim Wilde vs Lawnmower Deth | F U Kristmas! | @musicvstheworld |
| Eels | Christmas is Going to the Dogs | @musicvstheworld |
| Frightened Rabbit | It’s Christmas so We’ll Stop | @musicvstheworld |
| Dropkick Murphys | The Season’s Upon Us | @musicvstheworld |
| The Pogues | Fairytale of New York | @musicvstheworld |
EP Review: Martini Police – “11:11pm”
Peterborough has spawned a diverse amount of musical talent in the past forty years, everything from thrash metal to synth pop.
The newest kids on the block are this little bunch, Martini Police. Unashamedly quirk-pop, it sounds like two different bands.
On their debut EP, “11:11pm“, the songs sung by guitarist/bassist Harvey Foster have a harder, more indie edge to them, whilst those featuring bassist/guitarist Megan Leigh have a softer ingredient – imagine Sheryl Crow wearing a Motown coat. Stir in some Television, Vaccines-like affected guitar and a smattering of Hot Hot Heat and you’re getting close.
Stand out tracks are “Ugly” (what a bloody shame John Peel isn’t alive as he’d have loved this) and “Where You Are”, the musical equivalent of Galaxy chocolate.
We were reliably informed that this EP was recorded in less than 2 days and on a budget. However, the production is crisp and sprightly and we were particularly impressed by the drum sound of Donovan Jackson, always the hardest thing to get right.
It’s essential to have the capacity to turn out something original and this is a big part of the deal. Martini Police are polymorphic and difficult to pigeon hole and that can only be a good thing. Even our resident Frank Cat wants to hear more!
Gig review: Don Kipper, Crowland Abbey, 7th April 2019 @DonKipper @CrowlandAbbey #DonKipper #CrowlandAbbey #TurkishMusic #TurkishFasil #JewishMusic #Klezmer #RomaniMusic #GreekMusic #GreekRebetiko #NorthAfricanMusic #MacedonianMusic
Sunday 7th April was to be something fairly new for us – we generally go and see loud Punk and Rock bands, but we fancied something different for a change. We had listened to Don Kipper online but never had the fortune to witness them in a live setting until then.
We turned up to find a semicircle of chairs laid out near the Nave of the Abbey facing a bizarre collection of seldom seen instruments which immediately intrigued and surprised us.
Clarinet player Daniel Gouly was off to the side playing a little tune to his ancient Jewish counterparts before practically skipping back down the aisle to join the rest of the band pre-gig.
We didn’t have to wait many minutes before welcoming the whole band to the stage area – a mesmerising set of characters, each an individual and impossible to take your eyes off.
They struck up their instruments… and it was quite possibly the most sublime sound I’ve ever heard. Each note hit every part of the inside of that beautifully dark Abbey – even Gouly had a “Wow, I’ve never heard anything like this before” look on his face. Truly joyful, completely triumphant.
This was the first time ever that this ancient Saxon heritage Abbey had resonated to the almost alien but breathtaking tones of the near Eastern and Yiddish scales.
There is a heavy influence of Romani Music in what they do, but don’t go thinking that’s all they are – there is a Heinz 57 variety hot pot of complimentary eastern styles; fascinating Jewish Klezmer, stunning Turkish love songs, energetic Northern Greek & Macedonian dances and pulsating North African rhythms.
Drummer Timmy Doyle seemed to have the look of a Baltic Norseman and played like a demon. I never realised drums could be so musical sounding, but when combined with the complimenting acoustics of the church it blew my mind.
The eccentric Ian Anderson-esque accordion and duda (I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s called!) player Josh Middleton and the little Jewish hat loving Gouly had an obviously special bond and worked off each other each inspiring and delighting the other in their interplay.
Tim Karp is a guitarist with subtle Jazz chops as well as a smooth Hungarian Minor byzantine scale phrases, however he really shines when picking up the 12 string oud and the haunting tones of this traditional Turkish instrument transports us to the Bosporus and Constantinople.
Then there is singer Dunja Botic. Oh my. I have honestly never heard a voice so entrancing. She has an intense richness to her voice that is rare to hear. Because she sings in languages other than English, you notice it a lot more as you’re not focusing so much on the words she is singing. It makes you realise the voice truly is an instrument and when practised can be something incredibly special.
I’m still stunned by what I witnessed that Sunday evening and we are so glad we chose to attend. We will definitely be seeing them again.
You can follow Don Kipper on facebook, twitter and instagram and buy their wonderful music on their website.
Gig Review: Ruts DC and The Professionals, Cambridge Junction,17th Feb 2019 @therutsdc @cambjunction
Where do you go to when you think that punk rock has turned old and grey? Why, the Junction in Cambridge of course… to witness two classic late seventies punk icons that still have a fire burning in their bellies and serious skills to demonstrate.
The Professionals
The Professionals offer a smorgasbord of familiar faces and ice cool talent – Tom Spencer (The Yo Yos) Toshi from Anti-Product and Hey Hello!, Chris McCormack from 3 Colours Red and of course a real live Sex Pistol – Paul Cook.
Chris’s guitar produced a sound that could disembowel wildebeest.
Toshi took great pleasure in stalking the stage looking and sounding cool as hell – it was impossible to take your eyes off him.
Spencer doesn’t seem at all fazed by being in Steve Jones’ place – and rightly so, he very much pulls it off. His vocals are joyous, his manner modest and his energy relentless. Kudos.
At 62 years of age Cook still has attack determination and is tight as fuck. He is clearly very, very happy to be doing his thing and that was a pleasure to behold.
An exciting, slick set – main highlights for me were Bad Baby, Silly Thing and Kick Down the Doors.
Ruts DC
Ruts DC more than did justice to “The Crack” album – albeit a marginally less frantic delivery than 1979 but with polish and class. Since 2011 Ruts DC has consisted of John “Segs” Jennings, Dave Ruffy and Leigh Heggarty.
Ruffy’s drumming in particular was demonstrative and tasteful throughout.
Leigh Heggarty has the skills and understanding to be able to pull off Paul Fox’s intricate and often eloquent guitar parts with ease.
Segs is a man with a glint in his eye, knowing he is filling shoes that are not his own. He does a seamless job of mimicry and impressionism, although Malcolm Owen’s feral 1979 snarl is replaced by something smoother and more matured.
Highlights include the staggering Jah War, Human Punk, SUS and Out of Order.
It was almost blissful to hear this entire classic record in its original sequence.
Ruts DC are as potent and relevant as they ever were, if you’ve not witnessed them live yet you bloody well need to.
I was blown away.
Music vs. The World 