didn't know about day of release (delayed)

howdy pop pickers

and so more of the musical themed posts i suggested would dominate the month, look you see. in this instance, one that i surprisingly had no idea even existed until some 24 hours (more or less) prior to it being released, and so promptly went and purchased as soon as i could. which turned out to be some 24 hours (give or take) after the release of it. oh, what is it? Utopian Ashes, credited to Bobby Gillespie (yes, that one) and Jehnny Beth (also yes, that one). 

it says much of the sorry state my musical awareness has fallen to that i only knew of Bobby Gillespie out of Primal Scream doing something new just before it came out. that i became aware of it was down to the chance of me hearing Zoe Ball announce him as an imminent guest. much of my time dedicated to seeing what music is due is regrettably spent on the hopelessly inept, woeful Bowie site (yes, this one), just about pointlessly checking if they will yet let me give them money for either the missing volume of Brilliant Live Adventures (which i long since lost interest in, but still) or any other new release what they often make available for all of five (5) minutes. perhaps what i should take from this is that if the Bowie Estate really have no wish nor need for my coins, they can go without. but, Bowie. 

whereas i did not hear the live session Bobby and Jehnny (if i may address them so) did in respect of promoting the record (verk requirements stepped in), at least it was so that i was aware a record was out. and so i pledged, or took an oath, to head to my preferred music shop so as to purchase. 

just what's this one all about? and why is Bobby Gillespie doing something what is not under the name of Primal Scream? the answer to the first kind of (sort of) explains the other. essentially, or if brave actually, Utopian Ashes is a thematic concept album, concerning the turbulence of a relationship ending. it's a collaborative effort between the two credited, both good friends and both having gone through, in their separate relationships, the same demise. 

for many, for we, the people, it is a comfort zone to see Bobby Gillespie as Primal Scream, and indeed vice versa. and yet, no matter how after a couple of songs in the "feel" of the music is a direction you could totes sense the Scream going, the "too rock and roll for Luton Airport" band would have been entirely the wrong conduit to convey music so deeply personal. 

yes, by the way, this is one outstanding album. kind of. it is, by some considerable distance, the best thing what Bobby Gillespie (sorry, i am not all that familiar with Jehnny) has done since the double whammy of XTRMNTR and Evil Heat. at first. the opening songs are amazing, and then it sort of drifts, maybe lags, into a subconscious sense of deeply uncomfortable listening. but i really rather suspect this was entirely intended to be so. 

there is the record on display as you (more or less) walk into HMV, then. right there just below some sort of "40th anniversary" re(-re-re-re-re)-release of Queen's magnificent Greatest Hits (in the first incarnation of such) album. not bad positioning for what is effectively a niche release. 

going with the business of honesty which i try for here, i didn't really ever expect to hear another good record off of Bobby Gillespie in this lifetime. the last two, possibly three, Primal Scream albums just didn't connect with me, at all. one or two great moments, but even then. i am sure the records were saying something somewhere, but it wasn't me meant to be hearing it, it felt. not so with this. 

oh, a Silvertone records release, no less. to my working knowledge this will be just the third release purchased off of this label, the other two (of course) being The Stone Roses and Turns Into Stone off of The Stone Roses. and yes, multiple purchases of them two. i had no real idea that the label was still a going thing, but here we are. 

whilst the last couple (or more) Primal Scream releases didn't say too much for me, this one resonates a great deal indeed. one, or just plain moi, suspects and expects that this will be very true of any number of people that encounter the record. uncomfortably close to sentiment and feelings, at times. hence me declaring this one to be quite, quite brilliant. 

from what i can recall of what i read up on this release after the fact, one or two of the songs were indeed issued, made available or otherwise "dropped" as singles. they are, in isolation, superb cuts, but this record, Utopian Ashes, really does warrant, deserve and need to be heard all in one shot. and yes, i wholeheartedly recommend that you do just that. 

does this album register on my vaguely important (perhaps to me alone) consideration of album of the year? very much so. at this stage probably a stand off between this and the James one. but, let us see what remains of the year in vibes. 

be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!