C is for China Crisis - African And White

The year is 1982, the new romantic era is gathering pace and I as a 15 year old have my feet firmly planted in rock. Not many bands managed to pierce that unerring musical love of mine at that time, but surprisingly this, the debut offering from Kirkby's own China Crisis was one.
Taken from their "Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun To Entertain" album, its fusion of new wave synth and world music percussion made for curious listening in a fairly bland pop landscape. I loved this tune and it still sounds great to these world weary ears today. And life is just a fever..... 

B is for Billy Fury - Wondrous Place

Today's offering goes back to 1960. I'm not a huge Billy Fury fan, but I love this song. The bassline just purrs along underneath Fury's tremulous vocal and the lyrics are just magical. It was originally released as a string laden, lilting ballad by Jimmy Jones in the US where it failed to chart and more recently has been covered by The Last Shadow Puppets and Alice Gold (the latter featuring in a Carling commercial)   

A is for Apex Manor - Southern Decline

The opening track from one of last years favourite albums, the marvellously titled "The Year of Magical Drinking" this is cracking little tune with a lovely gunfire guitar riff and a bucket load of melancholic vocal resignation.