The brotherhood of I Am Kloot
There’s blood on your legs,” sings the small man with the big guitar. “I love you . . .” Has there ever been a more mysterious, more sinisterly romantic line in popular music than the lyric of Twist by I Am Kloot?
I Am Kloot’s dark domestic drama Twist illustrates John Bramwell’s gift as one of Britain’s greatest living singer-songwriters.
The Streets came out of nowhere, creating kitchen sink dramas of life as a young working-class man in the UK at the turn of the millennium.
In 2000 I was flown to Paris (business class) and plied with food and drink at the beautiful Hotel Costes just to interview an unknown French bloke called Mirwais.
The Killers’ debut single Mr Brightside has spent a record seven and a half years hanging around the UK singles chart since 2004 – but never got to the top.
If dance music was rock music, then this tune, Waters Of Nazareth by French dance duo Justice, would be its Smoke On The Water.
Anyone who’s ever had that sinking feeling as they get ready to go to work will empathise with this song. The title says it all.
Before he became a pop star singing sweet soul pastiches, Plan B was a hardcore rapper tackling social issues like the death of Damilola Taylor.
LCD Soundsystem made their debut in 2005 with this satirical send-up of the cool kids and what they were listening to over an electronic dance rhythm blending punk and disco.
Bill Callahan has been plying his lo-fi trade for more than 35 years. I caught him at one of his first UK gigs when he still went by Smog.