The return of Alternative Weekend?

#AlternativeWeekend was something Hive account@slobberchops and I used to do, but it has been a couple of years since the last post. I think we need to revive it to share some non-mainstream music we enjoy. What you class as 'alternative' may be different to me.

I got into Porcupine Tree when a friend got us on the guest list for a gig in Cambridge about 15 years ago. I had not really been aware of them before that. There is so much music that is hardly played on the radio. Since then I have bought a load of their albums and when main man Steven Wilson went solo I followed along. Three of the old band have now got back together and have an album out. I was discussing this with Hive account@slobberchops who pointed me at a review that was not too complimentary, but I will be having a listen anyway. This is the latest track they have put out and I like it. Has a great main riff that reminds me of some of their old tracks. The video is just weird.

Not that weird means bad. There is so much more music out there than we have time to check out. I listen to BBC 6music a lot as they play a lot of stuff I would not hear otherwise. Some of it resonates with me. I had it on in the background yesterday when this came on and it took me a while to realise what the song was. People outside the UK may not be aware of The Wurzels who had some novelty hits in the 70s. This cover by Sea Power totally changes the mood.

I also get songs shared with me by friends. Now that most music is online that is easy to do. I check out various bands via Spotify, but that tends to give you 'more of the same'. This came via a friend today and is definitely different. I actually kind of like it even if it is not what I would normally listen to.

Clown Core reminded me a little of John Zorn's Naked City who I discovered many years ago. They mixed up jazz, movie themes, thrash and avant garde.

Rock on and stay alternative.