Two Fish and an Elephant now hosted by Patrick Devaney and Keith Pengelley.

Keith writes: Whilst acting for producer on Patrick’s excellent programme Stompin’ at the Savoy we often discussed music outside of his programmes subject matter which is as you may well know, confined to local music between the years 1970-2000.

Given that our musical musings ranged far and wide I invited Patrick to re-vamp 2 Fish and an Elephant by way of being co-presenter.

Patrick writes: Having the opportunity to have my Stomping At The Savoy show produced by Keith, gave us the space to talk about the love of music that we shared, so it became obvious that we would have to do a show together,

The show is a musical discussion with the music being presented by each of us to each of us is a way of us perhaps widening our own musical horizons.

We hope that you, dear listener will not only enjoy our conversation but also contribute by way of contacting us at [email protected]

We both look forward to hearing from you.

U2 – Race against Time – The Joshua Tree Sessions – 1987

Keith:

I have been revisiting many of the tracks that make up the Joshua Tree Sessions and can see why they did not make the final album cut, though many were released as B-sides to singles released at the time.

The songs themselves are certainly strong but I suggest that they were too “European” for an album steeped in American yore.

This particular track would not have been out of place when U2 came to Berlin in 1991… it has that wonderful metallic clatter and drone.

Achtung Baby anyone ?

Zaho de Sagzan – Modern Love – Modern Love – 2024

 Patrick writes:

Zaho de Sangan (real name Zaho Melusine Le Monies de Sagazan) is a French singer-song-writer.

I was drawn in by her performance at the Cannes film festival, not stuffy like a lot of Bowie covers.

There is a wonderful Youtube performance of this cover out there – recommended.

 It’s fun !

Wire – Kidney Bongos – A Bell is a Cup -1988

Keith:

Taken from Wire’s fifth studio album A Bell is a Cup. On release Wire were initially chastised for apparently losing their earlier zittery, slightly abrasive sound.

Wire’s Lewis dismissed this – he claimed that this was a criticism that had been levelled at every Wire album previously released. The abrasion is within the performance.

A good album to start with if you are curious about Wire.

Orbital – Belfast – Belfast -1991

Patrick writes:

One of my favourite ever electronic tracks.

Features famous sample of Emma Kirby singing “O Eucharist” a piece of early music written by Hildergard of Bingen.

Chosen as issued on Orbital’s first album that was issued on vinyl for first time in 2024.

Jim Kerr – Lostboy – Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr – 2010

Keith writes:

Jim Kerr’s (Simple Minds) sole solo album though a second was mooted but never released.

Very Simple Minds and an album slipping into obscurity….a lost boy ?

U2 – Miracle Drug – How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – 2004

Patrick writes:

U2’s last decent album. The song’s lyrics were written by lead vocalist Bono About a former schoolmate Christopher Nolan, who was quadriplegic and paralysed  from birth but through a medical breakthrough and medication, he was able to  relax some of his muscle and was able to communicate via a pointer attached to his forehead and eventually wrote several poetry books. Including “Damburst Of Dreams”.  

Pat Metheny – Bacarole – Offramp – 1981

Keith writes:

The first of two ECM albums to feature today – I thought that this track plus the Shankar one later in the programme would appeal to Patrick.

ECM were still relatively a small label at this point though certainly were to become a huge cultural presence in later years.

Metheny here plays a guitar synth which gives a creamy, dreamy sound. The Third world influences that Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos brings an exotic touch to the proceedings.

It won the Playboy Readers Poll for Best Jazz Album 1983 Grammy for Best Jazz Fusion Performance.

The Group’s won ten Grammys in their time together; this was the first.

Eddie Vedder – Save It for Later – Save It for Later – 2024

Patrick writes:

As featured prominently in the Emmy award winning US to series, “The Bear”, cover version of The Beat’s 1982 single from the album “Special Beat Service”, performed by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam. Delicate and wistful interpretation.

Floating Points – Silurian Blue – Relections – Mojave Desert – 2017

Keith writes:

Samuel Shepherd known professionally as Floating Points, is a British electronic music producer, DJ, and musician.

He is also the founder of Pluto Records,a co-founder of Eglo Records and leader of the 16-piece group called Floating Points Ensemble.

Shepherd cites his influences as including jazz pianist Bill Evans, classical composers Oliver Messian and Claude Debussy.

In 2017, Shepherd released Reflections: Mojave Desert. The album was recorded in August 2016 in the Mojave Desert when Shepherd and the band were rehearsing for their upcoming US tour.

The album recording was accompanied by a short film produced by long-time collaborator Anna Diaz Ortuño of Hamill Industries.

He took over the 6 Music Artist in Residence radio slot on July 15, 2024.

Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan – A Shared Sense of Purpose – Your Community Hub – TBC

Patrick writes:

Modern industrialized society is filled with ghosts. Chapman-Fox has found some of them and given them a voice. The results are dramatic and chilling, lasting long after the record ends.

Created by Gordon Chapman-Fox, the Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan is a musical project that explores this history and its reverberations today. Looking backward and forward, Chapman-Fox explores the artistic traces of this modernist architecture’s lingering hauntology.

Rain-soaked electronic lament for a lost concrete future, like missing the last bus at the end of the world.
Mojo magazine

Jeff Beck – She’s A Woman – Blow By Blow – 1975

Keith Writes:

Jeff Beck’s first solo album. Having been a Beck fan as soon as I started to listen to music (Hi Ho Silver Lining take a bow) I was thrilled by the thought of a purely instrumental alum by the great man.

Beck’s playing is superb throughout and the band are incredible. The producer was George Martin and there were covers of two Stevie Wonder songs.

Plus this cheeky cover of The Beatles B-side She’s A Woman.

The album went on to sell over one million copies.

Public Service Broadcasting – Electra – The Last Flight – 2024

Patrick writes:

From the album “The Last Flight”, named after her plane that she used for her round the world flight, a Lockheed Electra 10e Special, love the use of old public information film dialogue in this track.

Public Service Broadcasting – The Other Side – The Race for Space – 2015

Keith writes:

The second studio album by British group Public Service Broadcasting

The album relives the story of American and Russian space pioneering from 1957–1972.

I have chosen this particular track; of Apollo 8’s re-emergence from the dark side of the moon. The drama just builds and builds.

I was ten when this event took place and I remember it well.

Loftless – Semu Ca – 6.5 – 2024

Patrick writes:

From Jersey, Channel Islands, this first release for several years, the band comprises Stefan Riccio and Dom Pallot.

They use drum, bass and guitar loops, as well as other instrumentation to create huge sonic soundscapes. 

It’s good to have them back on the scene after a few years away.

Shankar – Paper Nut – Song for Everyone – 1984

Keith writes:

My second ECM track for this episode and another track recorded in the eighties.

ECM was a blessed haven from the stifling eighties gated drum sound. Even today ECM recordings from that era sound fresh and timeless.

Lakshminarayana Shankar is an electric violinist who has worked with many western artists such as Peter Gabriel and Lisa and Wendy. He has also worked with jazz musicians such as Archie Shepp.

Shankar plays a double violin with ten strings which he designed himslf.

I have chosen this track as not only does it have a fantastic melody and beat, but it features the great percussionist Zakhir Hussein who passed away only recently.

The Fireman – Watercolour Guitars – Rushes – 1998

Patrick writes:

The Fireman is the musical duo Paul McCartney and Youth and reminds me of Youth’s other band The Orb.

This track was recorded towards the end of Linda MCartney’s life, Youth later said that it “sounds like a requiem for her”.