Review:'Nirvana & Various Artists' 'Yesterday's Sunshine Today: Magical Covers'
- Album: 'Of Nirvana Songs 1967-9'
- Label: 'Think Like A Key Music'
- Genre: 'Sixties'
- Release Date: '13.9.24.'- Catalogue No: 'TLAKK1177'
Our Rating:
This album does exactly what it says on the tin! Bringing us Yesterday's Sunshine Today:Magical Covers of Nirvana Songs 1967-1969 with the bands original pre Kurt line up, back when they were based in London and were the first band to be signed to Island Records. This compilation was curated by Patrick Campbell-Lyons with assistance from Alex Spyropolous who were of course the original members of Nirvana, they have also contributed one of the 4 bonus songs on this first cd issue of the album that came out on Double vinyl in 2020.
The album opens with Tiny Goddess by Constantine from Chicago, that has a sylphlike quality to the vocals, with sweet neoclassical backing, this is a very mellow introduction to the world of Nirvana, they worship at the altar of the Tiny Goddess whose company they are pining for.
Wings Of Love by Echo Train from Athens Greece, has gently swirling organ and flanged guitars, the song builds and soars like the airplane they are singing about, the guitars get more intense with shades of Blue Cheer it really takes off aided by some supersonic Theremin.
Courtyard Of The Stars by The Watch Brigade from Los Angeles USA, have quit the Chocolate in favor of falsetto vocals, Beach Boys harmonies, gently descending woodwind, bucolic adventures, they dance wistfully in the Courtyard Of The Stars.
You Can Try It by 8X8 (Lane Steinberg and Alex Kodchenko) from Ukraine and USA, have an ethereal Incredible String Band vibe, imbibing the LSD speckled visions, you must never believe what anyone says about them.
All Of Us (The Touchables) By Costas Sterigou from Athens Greece, a super sparse ballad, organ lulls with spectral effects for the lovers of slow living, decades ahead of the modern slow movement, wistful twee pop loveliness.
Flowers For Friday by Clockwork Flowers From London England, is a sun dappled blissed out vision of psychedelic magic, for the wonders of a flower bedecked home on a Friday.
St Johns Wood Affair by St Johns Wood Affair From Bridport England is a real kitchen sink drama, that could almost be musical hall, but is chamber psyche freak folk interpretation of St Johns Wood, I'd guess halfway up St Johns Wood High Street to a certain musicians house, while being influenced by the denizen of Cavendish Avenue in case they can see diamonds in the sky instead of seeing god.
Rainbow Chaser by Mika Wilson & Peaches In Honey Los Angeles USA is as honeyed as the band name suggests, Mika adds beauty and finesse to one of Nirvana's biggest hits, this is the softest floaty chase imaginable.
Pentecost Hotel by Olaf Putker from Zutphen Holland, slowly builds from the church organ and almost choral vocals, this has a modern hymnal for better living that will come from a stay at the very friendly Pentecost Hotel.
Black Flower by Talk from Los Angeles USA is noir jazz psychedelia, floaty strings taking us to the courtroom, giving out Black Flowers, growing urging the slow life on you, through the poetic lyrical wanderings, we all chant the chorus with Talk.
Aline Cherie by Ben Reed from London England, takes a slow languid Donovanesque approach, with charming backing harmonies, sweet love song they urges you to never be ashamed of what you desire or think about.
Busy Man by Nick Capaldi from Dorchester England, is a man with a plan to make very calming, charming psyche freak folk.
Lonely Boy by Wyatt Star from Los Angles USA, is a synth pop, treated vocals sliver lush imprecations, to assist that Lonely Boy avoid being chased by Paul Anka.
Trapeze/Requiem For John Coltrane by Pisces People from Los Angeles USA, is a rather upbeat gauzy chamber pop tale of life on the Trapeze, that swings slowly, mutating into the church Fender Rhodes organ Requiem For John Coltrane a magisterial coda.
All I Do by The Absorbus Machine from Athens Greece, are in a downbeat Chet Baker style ensemble, playing with timpani and sitars, mantras aligning chakras, casting spells, conjuring magick for you, talking drums inspiring desires to be widely sampled, a must hear version.
The second version of Pentecost Hotel is by Henry Priestman from Hull England, who strips the song back to its folk roots, bringing out the pop glory at the song's heart.
The Show Must Go On/Frankie the Great/Believe in magic by Dor Koren from Green Valley Israel manages a three-part symphony of psychedelic wonderment in 3 minutes with fuzzy guitars, windswept strings.
The second version of Rainbow Chaser by Jacco Gardner from Lisbon Portugal, takes this classic and adds several layers of weirdness, distant vocals within the medieval folk sonata.
1999 by John Cavanagh from Glasgow Scotland is a rueful ballad of regret for the good old bad old days of 1999, although written way ahead of Princes hit this song is looking back to raising a glass for that fine year, the violins and cellos are redolent of somber memories of days of yore.
Flashbulb by Ex Norwegian from Miami Beach USA is the first of the cd bonus tracks, this is more upbeat psyche chamber pop, with insistent organ and drums driving it on, you pose naked for that flashbulb, ignore the hecklers, ignore everything but that Flashbulb, this song is easily a warning of the future coming of the age of the selfie queen.
Darling Darlane by Super 8 from Dunfermline Scotland is a jaunty power pop love song for the wonderful Darling Darlane, who has bewitched them so they can never get over her.
The World Is Cold Without You by John Howard from Murcia Spain is a sad song of regret for a lost love, organ led and couched in fuzzy love infused psychedelic musings, yearning for a return of your love, the bitter taste of the end of an affair.
The album closes with Hello God by Patrick Campbell-Lyons & Alex Spyropoulous from Athens Greece who were and are Nirvana, vocals encased in a hazy chamber of psyche freak weirdness, intense shaken percussion, you get that Bo Diddly beat, driving you to say Hello God a few more times, it's a brilliant weird ending to a great compilation that will make a brilliant Xmas stocking filler for your freak beat friends.
Find Out More at https://www.thinklikeakey.com/release/455939-various-yesterdays-sunshine-today-new-magical-covers-of-nirvana-1967-69 https://www.facebook.com/tlakmusic https://yesterdayssunshinetoday.bandcamp.com/album/yesterdays-sunshine-today-2024-edition?label=4091983866&tab=music
