Roddy Frame was 20 when the second Aztec Camera was released. He was alive with so many songs – bossa nova, soul, jazz and country. He wore a buckskin jacket and a floppy fringe. His guitar jangled with authority and he sang with passion. Like his fellow traveller Edwyn Collins, he had featured on the Postcard Records label, that testing ground for arch, indie-cool from Scotland. Released on Rough Trade, the debut album ‘High Land, Hard Rain’ was endlessly great. Album number two, ‘Knife’ was on a major label however, and was produced by Mark Knopfler. The kids were confused. The drums had that Eighties, gated drum sound. Was our hero selling out?
We suspected so. But on reflection, ‘Knife’ is an astonishing record for a 20 year old to make. It has ambition and beauty and it strives to escape the confines of the alternative music scene. Sometimes Roddy misjudged the pop aesthetic but mostly he was amazing.
Vampire Weekend – Unbelievers (XL)
Leroy Sibbles – Do Your Thing (Soul Jazz)
Ruen Brothers – Walk Like a Man (Ruen)
Rams’ Pocket Radio – Boats (white)
Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Napoleon Solo (Absolute)
Robyn Hitchcock – End Of Time (Yeprock)
Foals – Bad Habit (Warner)
Forest City Joe – She Lived Her Life Too Fast (Rounder)
Ruen Brothers – Hold Me Tight (Ruen)
Aztec Camera – Birth Of The True (Warner)
Sigur Ros – Isjaki (XL)
Jerry Lee Lewis – Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Raven)
John Fullbright – Moving (Blue Dirt)
Rams’ Pocket Radio – Love Is A Bitter Thing (white)
Paul Simon – Father And Daughter (Warner)
Dan Donnelly – Cecilia (Eighties Vinyl)
She & Him – I Could’ve Been your Girl (Double Six)
Silver Seas – Alaska (The Lights)
James Hunter – People Gonna Talk (Rounder)
CocoRosie – Tears For Animals (City Slang)
Memphis Slim – Life is Like That (Rounder)
John Fullbright – Me Wanting You (Blue Dirt)
Jon Hopkins – Immunity (Domino)
