DEADBEAT

These are exciting times we live in. No, no, please keep reading. I'm not going to talk about the US elections. I couldn't give a toss, really. I'm referring to the astounding quality and fair quantity of albums being released that are patiently stacking themselves into my listen-to list this year.

Earlier in the year Sascha Funke, Loco Dice, Minilogue and The Mole all released superb albums. In the latter parts of 2008 we've had substantial additions from Shed, Stefan Goldmann, Headhunter and the topic of today's discussion, Deadbeat, with Roots and Wire.

Alton Ellis

The Godfather of rocksteady, the man with one of the sweetest reggae voices in the business has died from lymphatic cancer at the age of 70.
Despite being a huge influence on other successful artists, Ellis never enjoyed financial prosperity from his many successes. His biggest hit "I'm Still In Love", which he made at Clement "Coxone" Dodd's Studio One label was a source of controversy between the two men, as were the royalties of many of his other songs he recorded there.
Ellis had lived in England since the early seventies continuing to perform and record, though more sporadically. Listening to his music, you couldn't help but feel happy, whether he was singing songs of praise, lover's laments or hymns of repatriation.
R.I.P.

Keane

Rehab, the Berlin record, alternative media and hyping Dead Prez. Hang on, is this Keane we're talking to?

You don't expect soft rockers to have problems. They make their emotional ballads, play them to adoring fans, sit around with a cup of tea afterwards and head off back to the manor for a kip before the next Royal gala show.

Things are never what they seem though; beneath the veneer of culpable tenderness, cracks appear and soon enough large amounts of mind altering intoxicants are needed to keep that veneer in place.

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul

Can the last great apes of rock pull out another rabbit from their velvet swag bag?

Liam Gallagher has been bounding around the old boozer like a young chimp, his jaunty swagger giving way to near scampering as he ascends and descends the rickety stairs with quad-pedal aplomb. His brachiating calms as he approaches the lounge where Real Groove is already ensconced with Gem Archer and Andy Bell, though it would seem things are off to a bad start as I’m sitting in Liam’s seat. Deferring to the alpha male I shuttle myself over to the couch.