Words about music (766): Stephen Morris

You used to defend your musical values to the hilt, but now if something isn't working, you just hop to another band. My youngest daughter went from Justin Bieber to the Jonas Brothers to Joy Division in the space of a few months!

Stephen Morris

Shawn Pittman: crowdfunding campaign for new studio album "My Journey"

Texan blues singer and guitarist Shawn Pittman has launched a Kickstarter campaign to cover the costs of releasing his new album My Journey on vinyl and have a bit of extra money for promotion and on the road expenses.

Fred Händl: playing Frank Zappa on piano

Fred Händl sat down at his piano in The Hague, playing a bunch of Frank Zappa compositions. They are pretty great:

• Son of Mr Green Genes
• Eat That Question
• Watermelon In Easter Hay
• Treacherous Cretins
• Black Napkins
• How Could I Be Such A Fool

Filmed from above - save from How Could I Be Such A Fool, so good luck to all budding players trying to replicate him.

» fredhandl.com

Whisper Hiss: "Go Again" video

Watch the video for Go Again by Portland, OR based band Whisper Hiss, a track from the Split LP they share with like-minded Glaswegian indie band Dancer: "a leftfield party album that will be fully embraced by indie lo-fi loving kids of all ages. It will clear the room of any lingering jocks and sorority girls, who can't make hay of the skewed rhythms and tempo changes."

» Whisper Hiss on Instagram

HCTF review of Split.

Drew Danburry: Bird Songs

Folk musician Drew Danburry's Bird Songs EP came together over a 20 years period. The result: a children's book set to music that can be enjoyed by all ages. Colourful finery, the ability to fly - all by yourself or hanging on for dear life on a dragon's neck - princes and paupers, in this world the normal rules about what is feasible don't apply. It is perfectly alright to daydream and get lost in thought of what could be possible instead.

Danburry keeps it basic and catchy, without the dumbing down that is the bane of so many songs for kids. It looks like They Might Be Giants finally have some competition in a field they thought they had to themselves.