I thought all the Favours for Sailors songs existed online already. Then I found this gem hidden away, waiting to remind the world again of the immutable power pop tenacity of these once park dwelling miscreants (the parks now abandoned for steady and unsteady employment, I learn).
In an interview I recently did with the wonderful Neu, I fantasised about Favours for Sailors one day becoming this century’s The Nerves. Circumstances dictate that’ll likely never happen. But in all their songs, even in this one long since discarded by them, are the embers of that dream. I think that’s because each one of their songs is about either sex or money, or both. The relevance of those things never diminishes, even when the ability to obtain them decreases (i think there’s perhaps some kind of negative correlation there).
Now all we need is this century’s Blondie…
DOWNLOAD: Favours for Sailors – “Medieval Jon’s”
(Photo: Henry Mackay)
Some bands go on forever. Some burn up hard and bright. Like Favours for Sailors, but we can probably blame that on all the rum.
Their wayward ghost ship will sail again, in some form (guided by a kinda Lazy Hurricane, so I’ve heard…), but in the meantime, I keep grabbing at the past, listening to Furious Sons again and again and again… And seeking out old demos and alternative versions of songs I’ve listened to a billion times like they’re Unobtainium and I’m an evil human.
Last night I found these seven lost gems in Davey Jones’ locker (iTunes), including the Radio 1 session and the very first slightly-in-the-red demo I ever received from when they were a three piece.
I’ve got something in my eye…
Favours for Sailors – Demos & Radio 1 session zip
“I can’t see where the assumption has ever come from that just because a ‘better’ or more modern technology is there it should be used. I don’t want to take a helicopter everywhere I go – I like to walk because it means I can have a look around and not worry that the propellers are going to fall off.
Are some people expecting us to be listening to the songs of space whales in 3D or something? It’s empowering to everyone in the world that you can pick up an instrument and be in a band and document it with one mic in one moment. No-one is selling themselves short or denying the world some sort of important Holy Grail of art, because whatever gets out is what it would always be. Its not like these bands are writing “Imagine” and then turning it into that GBV song about ‘coming into town with the giggling faggots’” (Maltese Falcon, Favours for Sailors)
Grass Widow have an album out on Make A Mess and an EP out on Captured Tracks.
Grass Widow – “To Where”
Photo: Robin Silas
Last year we released mini-xmas album Listen, The Snow Is Failing as a free download. As you may not all know about this, I thought I’d post it again. The Favours for Sailors and Situationists songs are easily among the best things they ever did. Happy birthday, Jesus, thanks for nothing
Tracklisting:
1. Situationists – “Cold Out”
2. Favours for Sailors – “Hanging From Your Xmas Tree”
3. Empty Set – “Christmas Is The Best Day To Be Alone”
4. Fake Passport Office – “Christmas Abroad”
5. Honeytrap – “Empty Blue Holes”
6. Situationists – “Fabric & Thread”
ZIP FILE – Listen, The Snow Is Failing
