I was just settling down to watch the football last night, when the phone rang. I picked up the receiver, but it was one of those – usually incredibly annoying – calls from a gig, where you can just hear a song reverberating around the venue. After a few seconds I could make out a baritone invocation, some ethereal harmonies in the far distance, and a generally spectral air that was uncannily enhanced by the phoneline. Leonard Cohen, singing “Who By Fire” in Manchester, at his first British date for some 15 years.
You can read a full report on the show here, with the setlist revealed in all its lengthy glory. The call, my mounting anticipation for July’s London Cohen show, and the fact that Italy won have rather overshadowed other events of the past day or two. But here’s this week’s Uncut playlist:
1 Babe, Terror – Nasa Goodbye (http://www.myspace.com/babeterror)
2 Lindstrom – Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound)
3 Stereolab – Chemical Chords (4AD)
4 Joanna Newsom – Ys (Drag City)
5 Love As Laughter – Trademark Of Quality (Self-Released)
6 John Terrill – Frowny Frown (Family Vineyard)
7 The Heads – Dead In The Water(Rooster)
8 The Necks – Aether (Fish Of Milk)
9 Gramercy Arms – Gramercy Arms (Reveal)
10 Yahowa Presents Children Of The Sixth Root Race – Songs From The Source (Drag City)
11 Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Bella Union)
12 Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP (Bella Union)
13 Pete Greenwood – Pete Greenwood (Heavenly)
14 Black Taj – Beyonder (Amish)
15 Bowerbirds – Hymns For A Dark Horse (Dead Oceans)
16 Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun (EMI)
17 Jim O’Rourke – Tamper (Drag City)
18 Mogwai – The Hawk Is Howling (Wall Of Sound)