Happy New Year to you all!

We start of this busy time of year by indulging in another EP this time by lesser known North-West indie band Mansun. The band were seemingly a fan of the EP format as they released a slew of them during their tenure; sequentially and numerically named all the way from 1 to 14!!!!

Although they were around as a band for a fair while before and after the height of the fame in the latter part of the 1990's, they are mainly known for two, maybe three songs. This is a little unfair as the band actually had fourteen top 40 hits, nine of them getting into the top 20! Their sound is very much in tune with the Brit Pop scene of the time but they had a slightly rockier, guitar-infested sound which sometimes came across a bit on the Prog side, sometimes on the funk side.

The EP we discuss today has four tracks... or is it five....? Whichever side of the debate you are on, it seems fair to say this is (quite literally if you are talking about 7" releases) an EP of two sides. Some of the tracks appear to be the typical Britpop indie fayre but some of it seems a bit more melodic - almost funky -  but some how leaves us wondering... well.... listen on and find out!!!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the release yourselves (One EP is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of IMansun's work and whether you agree with our views !!

Instead of albums, starting with this unpigeonhole-able release from the front man of Foals,  we are going to be whipping out a range of EPs for us to peruse over. It is a busy time for us (and most of you!) at this time of year and this allows everyone a break from without stopping the podcast.

Yannis Phillippakis is joined on this recording by the drummer from the very first Afrobeat combo - Africa 70 - the late Tony Allen who has collaborated with a long list of musicians and singers spanning a wide range of genres and nationalities. We tap into how and why these two came together and also why it took so long between the recording the tracks in 2020 and their release in 2024.

This may well only be a 5 track offering but it soon becomes clear that if you were expecting an Afrobeat record, or an indie record, or a funk record, or a jazz record; this EP none of those things and all of those things at the same time.

This month sees the first reviewed album on the podcast that is not by a set artist or act. This album from 1998, was not only a homage (I think...?!?!) to the Eurovision Song Contest but also a tie-in to the late night Channel 4 programme in the UK, Eurotrash.

The album contains a range of Eurovision and Eurovision adjacent fayre and might have left many people watching the accompanying episode or listening to the album how or why they got these acts to do these songs.... Some songs are straight covers, some are brand new songs but there are also a couple of old songs that snuck in under the radar. This CD, as was the TV show, was all VERY 90s and therefore some of it has not aged well... In fact some of the ideas were questionable to begin with... 

We have a very short news round up at the start and finish with the reveal of the next review (which also a bit of a first!) but will be the last of 2024!

This particular album is not available on streaming services but the "A song for Eurotrash" TV episode is findable on youtube as are many of the individual songs too. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Interactive's work and whether you agree with our views !!

In a strange Quantum Leap-esque straddle from the previous episode, we stay in Germany *and* with the Forever Young theme as Andy asks us all to listen to the mid-90s rave combo Interactive.

Although not the most known electronic dance artists (especially outside of Germany), Interactive's work comfortably spans the realms of hardcore/techno/hard trance/commercial chart music and creates a sound that many do not initially think of when they are asked to dwell on the 90's European dance scene. There are plenty of lyrics - most of which are not that repetitive - some pleasant earworms, multifarious tunes and a varied array of layered electronic instrumentals.

Our news round up is very short this week and ends up being more of an ESC advert! As always though, we reveal of the next albumble album which is VERY different to anything we've reviewed before! 

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Touché is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Interactive's work and whether you agree with our views !!

ALBUMBLE BONUS EPISODE ALERT !!!

It's that time again! It is time for Junior Eurovision 2024!

17 countries will be looking to win the contest that is being held in Madrid, Spain. We quickly discuss why it's being held in Spain and the make up of this year's contest.

Ann and Andy are joined by their 9 year old Marcus who, if you have listened to previous FOPs, has an extremely good track record in picking the acts and songs that will do well.

In episode three we review songs from, in alphabetical order:

France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy and San Marino...and reveal our Farty Or Party review winner!!!!!

This year, jESC is being held on a Saturday - namely November 16th at 6pm UK time. Don't worry if your country is not taking part, you can still watch and even vote...!!!!

Go to the official channel at junioreurovision.tv for more info !

ALBUMBLE BONUS EPISODE ALERT !!!

It's that time again! It is time for Junior Eurovision 2024!

17 countries will be looking to win the contest that is being held in Madrid, Spain. We quickly discuss why it's being held in Spain and the make up of this year's contest.

Ann and Andy are joined by their 9 year old Marcus who, if you have listened to previous FOPs, has an extremely good track record in picking the acts and songs that will do well.

In episode two we review songs from, in alphabetical order:

Armenia, Germany, Malta, North Macedonia, Poland and Ukraine

This year, jESC is being held on a Saturday - namely November 16th at 6pm UK time. Don't worry if your country is not taking part, you can still watch and even vote...!!!! Go to the official channel at junioreurovision.tv for more info !

ALBUMBLE BONUS EPISODE !!!

It's that time again! It is time for Junior Eurovision 2024!

17 countries will be looking to win the contest that is being held in Madrid, Spain. We quickly discuss why it's being held in Spain and the make up of this year's contest.

Ann and Andy are joined by their 9 year old Marcus who, if you have listened to previous FOPs, has an extremely good track record in picking the acts and songs that will do well.

In episode one we review songs from, in alphabetical order:

Albania, Cyprus, Estonia, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

This year, jESC is being held on a Saturday - namely November 16th at 6pm UK time. Don't worry if your country is not taking part, you can still watch and even vote...!!!! Go to the official channel at junioreurovision.tv for more info !

We go back to 1980's West Germany as Ann unveils the totally underrated and under-the-radar band Alphaville and their 1984 debut album "Forever Young".

Depending on where you are (or where you where in the mid 80s) you will probably know them for a different hit depending on what was released and pushed in your region! Their moniker of being a 'one hit wonder' really does not do this band justice as their music was powerful and memorable while their song writing skills were possibly passed over at the time. As we discover, you might *think* you know them for just 1 hit but you actually know them for more! This album is an undiscovered synth-pop gem which should be upheld as a classic of its genre which we wish more people knew about!

We start with a bit of a news round up regarding previous albumble artists and end with the reveal of the next albumble podcast alumni!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Forever Young is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Alphaville's work and whether you agree with our views !!

PS - the Junior Eurovision podcasts will be with you over the next week!

Andy's choice this month takes us back to the Liverpool music scene and to the talents of Ian Broudie in the guise of The Lightning Seeds.

Although best known for their jangly pop numbers and some '90s football/adjacent songs, their 5th studio album "Tilt" was their first new music LP after the release of their Greatest Hits album. It seems that the band were taking some risks and avenues that were slightly unexpected for the general public which resulted in a rather subdued chart performance for the album and its singles releases... and as you will hear these choices did seem a little odd... and still do 25+ years on. On the face of it, the personnel involved should have resulted in chart smashes.... but they didn't... and we wonder why this might have happened and why it shouldn't!!!

At the end of the pod, Ann reveals the album to be reviewed for the next show as well as setting up the extra Junior Eurovision podcasts that will be popping up in the feed over the next few weeks!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Tilt is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Tilt, The Lightning Seeds - or any of the other acts we have discussed - and tell us if you agree with our views !!

It's the start of the month so it was Ann's choice and sooner or later Eurovision had to come into it! We listened to "Fryslân" by Joost Klein

Joost had been well known in his native Netherlands through his YouTube exploits as a teen. Slowly but surely he transitioned into using music to connect to the world and connect us to *his* world. Released in 2022, the album is a surprise mish-mash of styles although the majority of the album is deep in his electronic roots. More importantly, the albums touches upon Joost's life story which he portrays through those different styles and vocal deliveries. At times, it is not an easy listen, but this also provides a training ramp to where many may have discovered him - EUROPAPA.

At the end of the pod, Andy reveals the album to be reviewed for the next podcast and plugs many of the places (real and fictitious!) you can find us and get in touch with us!

To fully immerse yourself in the Albumble podcast, listen to the album yourselves (Fryslân is on Spotify and possibly other places too) then listen to our appraisal. Remember to get in touch by tweeting us via @albumble and tell us what you think of Coach Party - or any of the other acts we have discussed - and tell us if you agree with our views !!