Colours Through The Air Best of 2022 Albums and Songs

It was so hard to choose but here is the Colours Through The Air 'Best Of' post. My favourite albums and songs of 2022. With the songs, it is one song from each artist.

I felt these albums were the strongest overall and had the most impact on me. You can find the reviews for all the albums apart from Young Guv (Listen here) and The Jangles (Listen here)  

Albums

1. The Shop Window - A 4 Letter Word

2. Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Dear Scott

3. Young Guv - III

4. Field School - When Summer Comes

5. The Fernweh - TORSCHLUSSPANIK!

6. The Jangles - Pioneer

7. Gabriel's Dawn - Gabriel's Dawn 

8. Kevin Robertson - Teaspoon of Time

9. The Sadies - Colder Streams

10. Armstrong - Happy Graffiti

Songs

1. RW Hedges - Charm Song

2. The Wends - What A Heart Is For 

3. The Pierce Kingans - Giving It Up 

4. Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - American Kid

5. Young Guv - It's Only Dancin'

6. Cactus Blossoms - Love Tomorrow 

7. Nell Davies - What The Heart Wants

8. Davoli - Sleep Deprived

9. Luca Nieri - Never To Learn

10. Sam Kogon - Barbed Wire

All in all, it has been a good year and I have found so much great music from doing this blog. Thanks so much to everyone who has shown an interest/sent music to me.

RW Hedges - Long Summer Days EP

Released: 20 Jul 2022
Label: High Tide Records

Buy Here

RW Hedges is back with a new EP of beautifully crafted songs, which captures all the magic of the Summer season.   

The songs are all under 3 minutes long, with lovely melodies and superb pop hooks, reminiscent of the music of the 60s.

The standout on the EP is opener 'Charm Song' which has hints of Jazz and Folk. It has an uplifting chorus which will stay with you from first listen. 'This Heart' is a 50s inspired love song, which brought to mind Buddy Holly (the song even mentions 'True Love Ways').

Heartfelt ballad - 'A Flower or a Song' is an emotional listen, with the simplicity of early Beatles and The Left Banke. 'A Robin's Song' is joyous with elements of childrens storytelling, old Disney e.t.c. Describing the Robin as "Like an Angel who has come here to watch over me", is a reference to Gershwin's Broadway standard (obviously a huge influence here).

The closing song, 'Long Summer Days', is delicate and sentimental, with stripped back production by co-writer Luca Nieri. There is some intricate piano work and it had hints of the jazz standard 'Fly Me To The Moon.'

A wonderful EP, full of Summer cheer, to be enjoyed all year round. Highly recommended.

Colours Through The Air Best of 2021 Albums and Songs

It was so hard to choose but here is the Colours Through The Air 'Best Of' post. My favourite albums and songs of 2021. With the songs, it is one song from each artist.

I have chosen RW Hedges for best album and song. A lovely album which although is short, all the songs are beautifully crafted. Just heartfelt, memorable songs which is what it should be about really. Read the full review here 

I felt these albums were the strongest overall and had the most impact on me. You can find the reviews for all the albums (apart from Ghost Dance Collective and Reigning Sound which were late discoveries) on this blog.  

Albums

1. RW Hedges - Year After Year 

2. Daniel Wylie's Cosmic Rough Riders - Atoms and Energy

3. Sandra's Wedding - Pleasure Grounds

4. Jim McCulloch - When I Mean What I Say 

5. Sky Diving Penguins - Sky Diving Penguins

6. Reigning Sound - A Little More Time With Reigning Sound

7. Rural France - RF 

8. Sister John - I Am By Day

9. Kevin Robertson - Sundown's End 

10. Ghost Dance Collective - Dream Yourself Into The Real World

Songs

1. RW Hedges - Travelling Road 

2. Sky Diving Penguins - Run Boy 

3. The Pierce Kingans - To Lose 

4. Reigning Sound - You Don't Know What You're Missing

5. Sandra's Wedding - Lovin' Life

6. Jim McCulloch - Come Little Waves of Light 

7. Sister John - In My Place 

8. The Sadies - Stop and Start

9. The Laughing Chimes - Try To Change My Mind

10. The Shop Window - Out of Reach

All in all, it has been a good year and I have found so much great music from doing this blog. Thanks so much to everyone who has shown an interest/sent music to me.

RW Hedges - Year After Year

Released: 3 Sept 2021 (Download now)
Label: Wonderfulsound

Listen and Buy Here

RW Hedges is, in my opinion, one of the most underappreciated UK Songwriters of recent times. This is his fourth album, and like the previous two, it involves the help of co-writer and producer - Luca Nieri. 

The album is a highly enjoyable listen, full of short but sweet, melodic guitar pop gems. It opens with 'Piece of String', which recalls the 60s of The Kinks and The Beatles. It is instantly memorable and has so much charm. The lyrics are heartfelt, yet with a child-like simplicity.

'Far and Wide' has more melancholic vibes with gorgeous Baroque pop production. The lyrics are beautifully vivid  - "Old hearts will empty out their tears and woes. You laugh but the colour in your face, it goes."

'She Calls Through The Night' demonstrates some superb storytelling, and is a homage to Film Noir. 'Weathervane' is lovely and unique with hints of Americana. It is quite playful lyrically with themes of creativity and art. 'Who's to Care' is a moody, atmospheric country song. Musically, it is wonderfully arranged and produced, with skilled pedal steel provided by BBC Presenter - Matt Allwright.  

My favourite here is 'A Travelling Road' which is joyous and uplifting, with glorious vocal harmonies. At times it recalled The Byrds and The Zombies. It ends on 'Year after Year' which has more 50s Everly Brothers vibes. 

A timeless album, which although short, has many beautifully written songs with superb melodies and hooks.  Highly recommended.

RW Hedges - Interview

RW Hedges is one of the best, relatively unheard, songwriters in the UK today. Together with songwriting partner Luca Nieri (right in photo), they create wonderful pop songs, with lovely melodies and hooks. Their sound recalls the 60s of The Beatles, Kinks and The Left Banke, also with hints of Americana and 50s Doo-wop.

On 3 Sept this year, he will be releasing his fourth album - Year after Year. It will be released on the superb Wonderfulsound label. I catch up with RW Hedges and we talk about the new record and everything music related!




Q. You will soon be releasing 'Year after Year' the new album and follow up to 2019's Western themed 'The Hills are Old Songs'. What can we expect to hear? Does it have a theme like the last record?

A. Hi Julie, what to expect? I always hope to deliver a memorable song so I hope they can expect that. And I thought the same for The Hills are Old Songs but that was themed more like for a play? Here, if there is a theme, it could be song itself.


Q. What were the main inspirations for the songs? Were there any Artists, Films or Literature which inspired the writing?

A. Last year Luca and I felt the project we had was in the wrong time so we shelved that again and Luca suggested a set of songs more in the key of music we used to play/listen to from the early to mid 60s very much Kinks, Zombies and Beatles but also Bert Jansch or folk blues. There are even hidden American songbook elements in the odd line or structure. There is what we call a song triad and that happens with the first 3 tracks. It has a Noir story, a west coast journey and some songs that are about the writing process in a way. We didn’t need a library shelf dedicated to this; any research was done on the jog.

Q. Tell me about the recording process. How did you end up working with Matt Allwright (BBC Presenter) who provides pedal steel?

A. It all came together quickly, we know Matt Allwright through my mate Scott who runs Balcony shirts in Uxbridge (check our Tunnel Vision podcast show) Matt was quick to realise his parts and intuitively he played on the ones that work for pedal steel beautifully.

Luca is studio head musician as well as producer, all those lovely electric guitars, drums, bass, organ piano and bv’s is all Luca. He is a king of arrangements too! I’m ever so lucky. But I had to fashion my chords, melody or lyrics to the occasion. And my friend Dan Towler, also a songwriter, did some amazing additional vocals and you can’t tell which of us is which. I like that.

Most of all I like writing songs with Luca. He can always help a line or a chord along with fluidity. You need all these elements, I think.

Q. The album is very short - 9 songs and around 20 mins in total. Is there a reason why you go against the 'standard' durations which most songwriters today follow?

A. I think partly in order to go against the standard of 5 minute songs, if I’m honest. It isn’t as if you can’t listen again? There are lots of good long songs when the writer feels or the song shows they should be. Here we kept the songs lean, with a good chorus. I know they are popular but anthems are not my bag.


Q. For you, what constitutes as a 'great song'?

A. When a word is combined in perfect wedding to melody and vice versa. It is hard to write convincingly I reckon. 'My Heart Stood Still' by Rodgers & Hart is a song I love, and I love them. That is a gold standard writing team. I look to them and use them as a bar way too high for me.

Q. Did you start writing songs at a young age? What started your love of music?

A. I sang to my mum at night as a baby, so I am told. I was in school choir and later in a Youth theatre where I met half of my first band that Luca was drummer in. I played Joey Biltmore in Guys and Dolls, Burt in Blitz, Mr Fox in Pinocchio. I love acting. Started writing at 14. It was all about guitars and gigs and sweating a lot back then.


Q. Is there a song you have written, or an album you are most proud of?

A. 'Signal Man', 'Haven't Seen Her in a While', 'Just a Fool', '80's Beach Emotion'. The album I am proudest of is 'Year After Year' (contractually obligated). I really like some of my comedy songs but my songs with Luca are the best really.

Q. What started with your fascination with The American Songbook, Broadway Musicals e.t.c.?

A. I was feeling low one day, I didn’t know what to do so I watched South Pacific which I’d seen along with many musicals before but this time it hit me properly. All the color and passion and brilliance of it. I then ordered in books and searched for hours to find more and more information. Luca and I both looked at chords and listened and talked a fair bit. The American songbook has had a massive effect on our great songwriters; Davies, Coward, McCartney and more.

They are sadly overlooked now, people like Dorothy Fields. But anyone who reads this can start up with the brilliant Afterglow radio from beautiful Bloomington Indiana. Mark Chilla has an archive and you’ll find the standards are a treat.


Q. Your first album Almanac (2008) is very different to your later ones with Luca Nieri. Do you find it better to work in a team? Does it affect the songwriting/creativity?

A. It is much better for me to be in a team. If the producer is also a proper musician and then an actual writer who really sees a way forward then you are so close to a tighter vision? The discussion is very important. So are surroundings. We write in a spot off the grid, and I do collage art, whilst Luca is a brilliant artist and can turn to graffiti or stark pencil works and paintings that are brilliant. Art is a really important part of our vision; it is as much therapy as music. Luca edits our videos taking all artistic responsibility into the fold. It is a way and it does help gel stuff to be honest. On a personal note, I would like access to a bunch of Jazz musicians in Prague. We could record and then have food just off of Charles bridge?


Q. You recorded a number of superb demos with your old band Starky (90s/early 00s). How do you look back on your experiences with the band? Will the songs ever be released?

A. We were good. Had lots of fun. Luca was 1st drummer then went off to do all manner of brilliant music and art. Our next drummer was Jody Moroney (great drummer name) who now plays with a few acts including a project with Little Barry.

We never released a thing. The band we were gigging and writing madly and recorded most of our stuff on Tascam 4 trks later 8 trks. I had a side blues and folk novelty gig of sitting on pub stools and belching at people. I was pretty good, I was honest and no-one was then really. The open mic nights were a scam. I went for travelling gigs and the odd residency.

Q. What are your favourite experiences/places you have visited e.t.c. whilst making music?

A. Greek Islands. It is the purest light in the centre of the world and you can breathe and be yourself and melt into the landscape.

Q. Do you have any plans for new projects, gigs e.t.c. in the future?

A. We are writing all the time for different bits n bobs. But we will try to do a Christmas song every year from now if we can, since we have done 4 these few years and we really enjoy it.

Check out Luca’s Etrurian Shades album. I love the Luca Nieri albums and people should hear all of them. Certainly, Spring to Summer 2022 is a goal for the next project from Luca and I.

Preorder the new album Year After Year, here on Wonderfulsound 
Release date: 3 Sept (though expected Aug), 2021

 

Colours Through The Air Autumn Playlist

So Autumn is upon us and for a bit of fun, I have put together a playlist of my favourite Autumnal songs. There is a mixture of recent and old but I feel all of these really capture the magic of the season.

The opening song could only be RW Hedges - Amber Room which was released last year. You can read the review here  There are a couple of songs from his songwriting partner Luca Nieri as well, whose music particularly feels Autumnal for me. A review for his new album can be found here

Some of my other favourites are The Superimposers - Autumn Falls, and The Asteroid No. 4 - The Windmill of the Autumn Sky. I've also included some classics from The Kinks (you could probably guess which), The Pale Fountains, Big Star, The Beach Boys and Dusty Springfield. 

I hope you all enjoy. If its a success I might have to do a Winter one next.

You can listen to the Spotify playlist, including more songs here:

Colours Through The Air 1st Anniversary Special Post

Exactly a year ago today, I started my music blog - Colours Through The Air. It was something I had wanted to do for a while but never really had the confidence or the motivation. To be honest, I never thought I would keep it going (just about) for a year. I'd like to thank everyone who has shown an interest as without peoples support and encouragement, I could not have continued it.

It has gone on to achieve tens of thousands of views across the world, and a lot of great feedback from record labels, bands and bloggers alike. I know its only small, in the grand scheme of things. But its good to know that I have made a difference and helped people find great music, which they may not otherwise have heard.

It is so sad that such a lot of wonderful music, goes largely unheard and under the radar. There seems to be less interest in well-written songs. Much of the music in the mainstream, for me, is style over substance and has little emotional depth. For me, a great song is about the melody and feeling it creates. 

I wanted to use this opportunity to talk about some of the songs which inspired me to start a blog. They are all, on the whole, underappreciated. There is also a new Spotify playlist (Colours Through The Air Lost Classics) in which the music can be from any year.




1. RW Hedges - Signal Man (2018, from Hunters in the Snow)

It won't be a surprise to anyone, but this song was the main reason I started the blog. The album completely passed me by in 2018 as it got very little coverage. Everything about it is so magical. It captures the feeling of the original Dickens ghost story perfectly. Luca Nieri co-wrote and produced it and a review of his new album can be found on this blog too.   

2. Shack - Cornish Town (1999, from HMS Fable)

My favourite song ever. I know that Shack probably weren't that underappreciated but I think John Head is definitely overlooked as a songwriter in his own right. The younger brother of Michael Head who NME called 'Our Greatest Songwriter' and featured on the cover, back in 99. This song is gloriously uplifting to listen to, no matter how many hundreds of times you play it! 


3. Michael Head & The Strands - Something Like You (1997, from The Magical World of The Strands)

I still think Michael Head is underappreciated as a songwriter on a larger scale. When you look at how much more recognition bands like Oasis, The Stone Roses e.t.c. have. Just over 10 years ago, I had never heard of Michael Head and many people still haven't. He should be better known with songs like this. A beautiful song, which changed the way I saw music.


4. Material Issue - Valerie Loves Me (1991, from International Pop Overthrow)

A wonderful Power Pop band from the 90s. Jim Ellison was a fantastic songwriter who wrote many gems like this, until he sadly took his own life in 96. I had only heard of the band since about 4 years ago and was blown away by everything I heard. Many of the songs were so emotional yet with brilliant pop hooks.


5. The Bevis Frond - He'd Be A Diamond (1991, from New River Head)

Superb Byrdsian jangle from a really overlooked band. Teenage Fanclub covered this pop gem and it was a highlight of seeing them live. Nick Saloman is a great lost Psych songwriter.


6. The Lilac Time - Return to Yesterday (1987, from The Lilac Time)

Stephen Duffy did have a few 'hits' and was on Top of the Pops in the 80s. But his later solo songs and with his band The Lilac Time were largely underappreciated by the mainstream. It was hard to choose one song as so many of them are great. The albums 'Astronauts' and 'Looking for a Day in the Night' are lost classics too.


7. The Corner Laughers - The Girl, America (2015, from The Matilda Effect)

A lost pop gem. I only found out recently it was written by Anton Barbeau, a great songwriter who I discovered since writing this blog. It is Karla Kane's lovely voice and the production which makes the song so perfect though. Their new album is superb too and the review can be found on here. 


8. The Fernweh - Next Time Around (2018, from The Fernweh)

It fills me with joy, every time I hear this song. So wonderfully retro and melodic, from a brilliant debut album. Really looking forward to seeing what they do next.


9. The Left Banke - Pretty Ballerina (1967, from Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina)

I wasn't aware of this song until about 5 years ago. It is one of my favourite songs and so magical. Compared to a lot of 60s bands, The Left Banke are underappreciated, especially now. They were mainly known for 'Walk Away Renee' which was covered by the more famous group - Four Tops. 


10. Attic Lights - Shiver the Trees (2008, from Wendy single)

Scottish band Attic Lights were signed to a major label back in 2008 but never got as much success as they deserved. They came at the end of the wave of guitar bands emerging in the mid 00s and I think were a bit too late. This lost gem was actually a B-Side. They have many perfect songs but this one often gets played on repeat as its so addictive!


You can listen to the Spotify playlist, including more songs here:

RW Hedges & Luca Nieri - Christmas Ghost Waltz

Released: 13 Dec 2019
Label: Wonderfulsound
Listen on Spotify

RW Hedges and Luca Nieri have a new single and this is actually a song for Christmas. It has all the magic of their winter's song - 'Never Too Bright' and will transport you back to the Victorian era.

'Christmas Ghost Waltz' is beautifully written and produced. It has lots of childhood fairytale magic, telling the story of a young boy venturing into a haunted house at Christmas.

The black and white video is perfect, with so much detail and sets the scene so well. The imagery has a distinct Dickensian feel to it and brought back memories of films I had watched as a child, set in that era.

The sound has hints of The Everly Brothers and the subtlety of Leonard Cohen's song - 'Winter Lady'. It has so much charm and innocence, which in recent years, no one else has come close to creating. 

Hedges and Nieri are amazingly talented, yet unheard songwriters of the modern era. This is another wonderful song added to their impressive catalogue.

Colours Through The Air Best of 2019 Albums and Songs

It was so hard to choose but here is the Colours Through The Air 'Best Of' post. My favourite albums and songs of 2019. With the songs, it is one song from each artist.

I don't think the Dunkie album is released yet (expected this month) but there was no way I could not include it. You can find the reviews for these albums on this blog for more info. 

Albums

1. RW Hedges - The Hills Are Old Songs 

2. Dunkie - Working To Design 

3. The Vapour Trails - See You In The Next World 

4. Attic Lights - Love in the Time Of Shark Attacks 

5. ANC4 - ANC4 

6. The Jellybricks - Some Kind of Lucky 

7. The Brothers Steve - #1 

8. Paul Den Heyer - Everything So Far 

9. The Lilac Time - Return to Us 

10. The Rails - Cancel The Sun 

Songs

1. RW Hedges - Haven't Seen Her In A While 

2. Dunkie - Can A Song Save Your Life? 

3. The Prescriptions - Hollywood Gold 

4. The Vapour Trails - See You In The Next World 

5. The Late Pioneers - Let Me Tell You How It Hurts 

6. Amoeba Teen - Suit and Tie 

7. Nick Frater - Sunshine After Rain 

8. The Gold Needles - Here She Goes Again 

9. John Myrtle - Foggy 

10. Gospelbeach - Dark Angel

All in all, it has been a good year and I have found so much great music from doing this blog. Thanks so much to everyone who has shown an interest/sent music to me. There will be a lot more reviews to come.

RW Hedges - Never Too Bright

Released: 29 Nov 2019
Label: Wonderfulsound
Listen on Bandcamp

This new single to come from RW Hedges and Luca Nieri is a dreamy winter's song. It is also beautifully written and highly melodic, like their other songs. 

'Never Too Bright' manages to capture the spirit of the season, in ways a lot of other winter and christmas songs can't. It just has that timeless quality to it, so rare in most recent music. It is also not specifically for christmas so can be enjoyed at any time. I have been listening to this one regularly as the song is a re-release from last year.

The sound is very reminiscent of the 50's/60's with Everly Brothers and Beatles vibes. There are superb harmonies with an echoing effect on them, which adds to the haunting magic. The production is so intricate with bells, xylophones and piano parts.  

All in all, this is a magical winter's song. The musical equivalent of sipping mulled cider, next to an open fire whilst watching the snowflakes fall outside the window. Highly recommended.

RW Hedges - Amber Room

Released: 22 Nov 2019
Label: Wonderfulsound
Listen on Bandcamp

One of my favourite songwriters around today - RW Hedges, returns with a new song - 'Amber Room'. It is a heartfelt ballad, full of yearning, with a magical autumnal feel to it.

As with this year's album 'The Hills Are Old Songs' it also involves the help of songwriting partner - Luca Nieri. This new song is just as sublime as anything on that album and on first listen, I was overcome with emotion.

The concept of the song is longing for something unattainable. 'Amber Room', is a reference to the historical treasure room which was lost during World War II. The accompanying video is full of imagery of this and has a kaleidoscopic feel to it.

The sound is wonderfully melodic, recalling The Beatles and The Left Banke in places. There is also a hint of country, due to the impressive pedal steel provided by Matt Allwright (TV presenter). The song is also superb lyrically, with feelings of sadness - 'My tears have eyes, blinded with a mind that haunts me.' 

All in all, the song is beautifully written and produced. The harmonies and vocals are delivered perfectly. A highly majestic song.


The Hills Are Old Songs album review

RW Hedges - The Hills Are Old Songs

Released: Aug 2019
Label: Wonderfulsound
Listen on Bandcamp

I have only been listening to London based songwriter RW Hedges for a few months but he has already become a favourite of mine. This is his third album, and the follow-up to last year's lost classic -  'The Hunters in the Snow'.  

Childhood friend and talented musician - Luca Nieri, co-wrote the music and produced the album. He has some impressive solo albums himself, full of lovely folk instrumentals. RW Hedges' sound is largely folk but with an array of influences, from 50's Easy Listening and Doo Wop, to the vocal harmony groups of the 60's. 

It opens with 'Haven't Seen Her In A While', a timeless ballad, which is so beautiful and heartbreaking. On first listen, I couldn't help but get a bit teary eyed. It expresses such a lot of emotion which is rare in most recent music. 

'Down to Venezuela' is a joyous song, and creates imagery of life in the bygone era of the Wild West. It is so melodically perfect, you will be humming along. A lot of the songs here are Western themed but it is charming, rather than overbearing which can be the case with themed albums. 

'Deep in the Valley' another highlight, tells the story of a cowboy outlaw. It is beautifully written with sublime melodies and there is also a hint of sadness. 'My Dearest' is one of the sweetest songs you will ever hear. It is delicate and full of emotion, yet has the simplicity of a lullaby. 

'Sure Enough' is also very moving and has themes of loss and loneliness. The aching vocals at the end of the chorus, again are hard to listen to without feeling emotional.

This album only goes further in proving RW Hedges has a unique and rare talent, the kind which doesn't come around too often. I believe in years to come his albums will be regarded as 'classics', which they deserve to be.