Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs Present Occasional Rain – Ace 2LP

“Occasional Rain” is the sequel to Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs’ highly successful “English Weather” collection (“Really compelling and immersive: it’s a pleasure to lose yourself in it” – Alexis Petridis, the Guardian). This is the sound of young bands experimenting in a period of flux, feeling for a new direction, exploring jazz and folk – as many songs are led by mellotron, piano and flute as they are by guitar. Lyrically, there are two themes that crop up regularly: the search for a home that isn’t there anymore – the certainties of the optimistic 60s, the physical reality of terraced streets – and the rain. For the former, there’s Cressida’s gentle, keening ‘Home And Where I Long To Be’, while Duncan Browne’s shape-shifting ‘Ragged Rain Life’ feels like a decent summary of Britain in both 1970 and 2020.

tracklist:
Traffic – Hidden Treasure
Duncan Browne – Ragged Rain Life
Cressida – Home And Where I Long To Be
Keith West – Leit Motif
Skin Alley – Night Time

Clouds – Once Upon A Time
Mandy More – Come With Me To Jesus
The Moody Blues – Out And In (Single version)
Shape Of The Rain – Wasting My Time
Granny’s Intentions – Nutmeg, Bitter Suite
Mott The Hoople – Waterlow

Yes – Sweetness
Pete Brown & Piblokto! – Station Song Platform Two
Argent – Freefall
The Exchange & Mart – I Know That I’m Dreaming
Michael Chapman – Postcards Of Scarborough

Christine Harwood – Question Of Time
‘Igginbottom – The Castle
Andrew Leigh – Windy Baker Street
Tonton Macoute – Flying South In Winter
Catherine Howe – Innocence Of Child