Late Junction - 02/09/2008

Robert Sandall presents a selection of maverick songwriters, including Tom Waits, Laurie Anderson, Joan As Policewoman, and new albums by Tricky and Randy Newman. Newman's Harps And Angels is only his fourth album in twenty years, and this songwriter best known for his Hollywood soundtrack work is on fine mordant form here, with this collection of wry observations about life, politics and death. By contrast, Tricky is a Bristolian who came to fame as a leading light of that city's "trip-hop" scene in the 1990s, along with Portishead. In recent years his records have not gained much limelight, but his new album Knowle West Kid sees him revisiting his Bristolian roots and is an impressive return to form. Tuesday 2nd September Randy Newman: Laugh and be Happy Taken from the album Harps & Angels Nonesuch 7559-79989-2 Scarlett Johansson: I wish I was in New Orleans Taken from the album Anywhere I lay my Head Warner/Rhino ATCO 8122 79925 8 Notwist: Sleep Taken from the album The Devil, You + Me City Slang Records Tom Waits: Alice Taken from the album Alice Anti 6632-2 Beck: Stagolee Taken from the album A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt Vanguard VCD 79582-2 Lars Horntveth: Pooka Taken from the album Pooka Smalltown Supersound STS079D Laurie Anderson: Slip Away Taken from the album Life on a String CD: Nonesuch 79539-2 Randy Newman: Harps & Angels Taken from the album Harps & Angels CD: Nonesuch 7559-79989-2 Natalie Merchant: Because I could not stop for Death Taken from the album Retrospective CD: Elektra 8122 73122-2 Bill Frisell: Floratone Taken from the album Floratone Blue Note 0946 3 93879-2 Johnny Dowd: Separate Beds Taken from the album The Pawnbroker’s Wife Munich Records MRCD 224 Tricky: Puppy Toy Taken from the album Knowle West Boy Domino WIGCD195 Yoko Ono: Toyboat Taken from the album Yes, I’m a Witch Parlophone/Astralwerks Philip Glass: Vessels (Koyaanisqatsi) Taken from the album Glass Box T Bone Burnett: The Rat Age Taken from the album Tooth of Crime Nonesuch 450300 Joan As Policewoman: To Survive Taken from the album To Survive Reveal Magnetic Fields: Courtesans Taken from the album Distortion Nonesuch 7559-79965-4 Tricky: School Gates Taken from the album Knowle West Boy CD: Domino WIGCD195 Yoko Ono: Walking on Thin Ice Taken from the ablum Yes, I’m a Witch Parlophone/Astralwerks KD Lang: I Dream of Spring Taken from the album Watershed Nonesuch Joan As Policewoman: To Be Lonely Taken from the album To Survive Reveal Records Randy Newman: Korean Parents Taken from the album Harps & Angels Nonesuch 7559-79989-2