North of North Country
What a great time to be a MONC… After releasing its second album on Acid Jazz Records, the band was invited to record a live session for Craig Charles on BBC Radio 6 (chosen by the BBC as one of the best live sessions of the year), flew out to Moscow and Germany, and went on to fill London’s O2 Academy Islington and play the Madness House of Fun weekender.
The group that has been described as “basically Soul with influences of Mod 79 sounds and Punk 77 music”, lived up to the expectations with its sophomore effort for the London based record label. This rock’n‘soul modish music has emerged from the Bauhaus architecture of Tel Aviv and from a thousand influences, most of them unexpected. 12 tracks infuse Northern Soul, Post-Punk and Rock'N'Roll into heady visions of the city’s buildings, streets, bedrooms, clubs and bars, while remaining dedicated to MONC’s brass section extravaganza and their firm belief in the power of a great pop song. It’s the work of a small collective of music fans in a culturally diverse city.
When hearing the new album, look out for their storming cover version of Lou Pride’s Northern Soul classic, I’m Com’un Home (which was already picked up for the Universal released Soul compilation, Express Your Soul), the Craig Charles favourite, Running, and the tribute to obscure Stax singer, Wendy Rene.
A short recap: Men of North Country emerged from Tel Aviv’s small soul scene, bringing with them a fresh approach to creating the perfect three-minute soul nugget. The band started by chance, when soul DJ Yashiv Cohen was overheard singing along to the 45’s he was spinning. With the encouragement and eventual collaboration of his musician friends he formed Israel's finest soul outfit. UK based label Acid Jazz Records released two singles and a full-length album. All three releases garnered glowing reviews (including a warm recommendation from London’s Metro and a 5-star review in Germany’s Dynamite magazine).
These releases are filled with memorable melodies, infectious hooks and refreshingly honest lyrics, which portray the band’s love of a genre in which they truly excel. And whilst managing to stay true to their beloved 60s Soul, MONC also introduce a contemporary, fresh and personal twist and even tread some 80s water. Influences worn with pride: The Teardrop Explodes, Style Council and Dexy’s, but with an approving nod towards their 60's favourites: Al Wilson, Robert Parker, Gloria Jones and many more.
MONC’s records were met with excitement all over Europe’s mod and soul scene and were followed by seven successful European tours so far. On the second one, the CopaseDisques label saw an opportunity, grabbed it with both hands, and put all seven lads in the all-analogue Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! studios in Hamburg, to record 4 new songs. The result of that was the Magic double 7": three self-penned Soul smashers and a soulful cover of The Who's The Seeker.
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If you’re headin’ a big city
Your tail stays behind
And you can’t find yourself
In this state of mind
You say be patient
Give it some time
But I once was a true friend of mine
Going back country
Your head stays behind
Regaining your senses
They all seem so blind
You say I’m crazy
Should give it some time
But I once was a true friend of mine
Not so country anymore
Not yet a lover, so you say
Can’t make heads nor tails
I’m waiting by the phone figure this one out
I gotta see you girl but you’re not coming out
Well, I can go to your place, have some fun
Or maybe wait a while, I’m still undone
Where are you girl, where are you, Pandora
Been out on the streets just to find my voice
I saw your mom today she tells me it’s my choice
Well, I should get your number, call you up
But baby I’m afraid that the phone is out
Where are you girl, where are you, Pandora
Saw a doctor today he asks me for my name
I say I fear a change and think I’m losing my game
Well, if the pills don’t help you, take some more
But please don’t ever come back, son, you’re such a bore
Where are you girl, where are you, Pandora
Got so many things to learn
And you’re the oldest trick
Your mom says I’ll be just fine
God, I hope this will stick
Eleven thirty, it seems that the day is done
My bed starts to wonder could you be the one
Should I leave my heart open for a chance so slim?
And when I close my eyes I wander in my dreams
Where are you girl, where are you, Pandora
Watch me growing up
Once upon a time
In a land divine
Where the water’s cold
And the accent wry
Once upon a time
Valleys shed no tears
Sand is quicker here
In my hemisphere
It’s the delta swamps
Can you feel the chill?
It’s the last frontier
The North is green fields, apples and pies
But don’t you ever dare close your eyes
When the night falls down
All your dreams could come
Spinning you around
Oh those soulful tunes
And those lonely croons
My that cracking sound
Ears became my eyes
Turned my feet so wise
Took away the blues
Fascination stays
When you pay your dues
To your dancing shoes
The North is green fields, apples and pies
But don’t you ever dare close your eyes
Oh province kingdom of the absurd
On main street peasants feeding the birds
The North is sun through sheltering sky
Where rudies smoke so much they can fly
The North is life so pretty and bold
Where all us sinners never get old
iPhoneumonia, feelings are much too sparse
Tell me when the hell
Did this whole thing become a farce?
House, dogs, paintings on walls, become a farce
And if you don’t know what I’m talking about
Time to get your head out of your arse, oh well
Faking phrases that I pick off the street
I need a clue, a hint, a line, a post, a tweet
Don’t sell me slogans that are long overused
It’s like a walk in the woods
Got my mobile on vibrate I can’t compete
Deleting myself at your feet
Master of rhythm, got no problem, there’s never been
But melody, you can find only deep within
Trust, fear, blood, sweat and tears, all deep within
Not a task to be taken so lightly
To find something you’ve never seen, oh hell
Faking phrases that I pick off the street
I need a clue, a hint, a line, a post, a tweet
Don’t ask me what’s up baby haven’t you heard
Angry bird is the word!
Broke my mobile to pieces I can’t compete
Deleting myself at its feet
Been a lone ranger for so long
Walking this earth rightly dethroned
My armour in hand pale and weak
People were laughing look at that freak
Then you came along
Did you know that I was lost?
With your damn blue eyes
You warmed up my teenage frost
So it seems it’s never too late
To underrate a word like fate
And now we count the evening stars
As the day grows dark in Manne Park
Then you came along
Didn’t know that I was lost
With your damn blue eyes
You warmed up my teenage frost
You don’t know what you mean to me
Why do I need you constantly?
Times like these
When you should be giving attention
Times like these
You can find a whole new dimension
Our memories are the echoes of pain, again
Times like these
When you should be given attention
Times like these
When you wish you hadn’t surrendered
Took a dive
When you ought to be a contender
Such a shame that you gave up and died, you fool
Times like these
When you wish you hadn’t surrendered
Stop this train
People of tomorrow
Stop this train
Don’t you ever follow us
So I stopped dreaming of the quiet life
I may not show it
It cuts just like a knife
Don’t go there, it will rip your world apart
A change of rhythm
Will change your heart
But no matter where it’s at
I’ll always be the coolest cat
Gon’ march into Soulsville, I’m lookin’ for my crown
Now at last it’s my debut
My little country days are through
This kid is a-marchin’ to town
God only knows how I will find you here
Between the buttons
Still I can feel you near
Son of a poor man keeps his place in line
But I’ll be wiser
Ain’t got the time
‘Cause it don’t matter where it’s at
I’ll always be the coolest cat
Gon’ march into Soulsville, I’m lookin’ for my crown
Now at last it’s my debut
My little country days are through
This kid is a-marchin’ to town
Pack a suitcase no regrets
A 7” of Bernadette
A guitar, a hammond, some shakers for my soul
I have promised to be true
My mama was, her papa too
This poor heart will never grow old
In town, kid’s a-marchin’ to town…
And after all these years
My collar’s bluer than my blood
Hopes high on nicotine
While waiting for the promised flood
Society’s credentials: fist or paper, vice and sins
Well, Mr. C’s got nothing in his pocket
His pretty green ain’t green
And after all these years
Liars seem to prosper fine
We all just run in circles
Avoiding unemployment lines
So many right wing meetings chew us up and grind us down
Poor Mr. C.’s got nothing in his pocket
His pretty green gone brown
Too many leaders are wrong
Nowhere for us to belong
Rifle in hand while my dear old mother
Is staring daggers
And still after all these years
Going nowhere empty hands
Rat racing far and near
But will we ever take a stand?
My blue collar is bleeding disbelief
My breath is thin
I’m Mr. C. got nothing in my pocket
My pretty green ain’t green
Too many leaders are wrong
Nowhere for us to belong
Rifle in hand while my dear old mother’s
Attending pistols at dawn
Too many leaders are wrong
Nowhere for us to belong
Rifle in hand while my dear old mother
Is staring daggers and gone
I think that it’s time
I can feel it tonight
The party awaits its star now
Step into the light
Cross this river of fame
Get my feet wet again
I got a bag full of magic for your soul
My shadows are gone
Just kissed them goodbye
I’ll die with my desert boots on
This ace is ready to fly
Ignited by rage
The smell of revenge
A fistful of firecrackers
A mouthful of magic for your soul
Can you hear it now, shine on you?
All these foreign men
Who invited them to play this game?
Don’t you say my name.
Like a bad disease
Cutting down my trees steal my seeds
Why don’t they leave?
If you see a boy who’s just skin and bones
I know him
He will know my song
And together we will show them wrong
Are they money bound?
Sniffing all around quite unsound
Released their hounds.
Don’t you find it odd
A protective squad in your yard
In the name of god.
If you see a boy who’s just skin and bones
I know him
Why would you destroy my skin and bones?
All these foreign men
Who invited them to play this game?
Are you not the same?
If you see a boy who’s jus skin and bones
I know him
He will know this song
And together we will show them wrong
If you see the boy who’s just skin and bones
I know that boy, he’s the one
Shouting out how long
You’ve done him wrong.
Teenage Frost (Northern Version)
Been a lone ranger for so long
Walking this earth rightly dethroned
My armor in hand - pale and weak
People were laughing look at that freak
Then you came along
Did you know that I was lost?
With your damn blue eyes
You warmed up my teenage frost
So it seems it’s never too late
To underrate a word like fate
And now we count the evening stars
As the day grows dark in Manne Park
You don’t know what you mean to me
Why do I need you constantly?
My teenage frost
Just melted away the moment our paths crossed
A gaze of your smile
I dive in your eyes
Used to be out in the cold
But now my heart's set on fire
You should have been somewhere late last night
Should have been here to put up a fight
You were the heart that burnt my skin
Gone with the wind
And the clock keeps on running
And your love keeps on hunting, wanting more
You singing however far away or how long you’d stay
Today, where are those wicked words of flare?
Written on air, vanity fair
And the clock keeps on running
And your love keeps on hunting, wanting more
And your beauty is stunning
While my blood keeps on running on the floor
This city’s witnessed my debut
A broken heart, an attitude
It shoves me far then pulls me near
Far and near in my ears after laughter comes nothing but tears
Now where are you Wendy Rene?
Been so long now I'm ready to play
Sixty minutes of cliché
You wanna leave I want you to stay
Where are you Wendy Rene?
The summer here is hard to bear
Can't find my shadow anywhere
On your tail here and there fairy-dusting for clues in the air
So where are you Wendy Rene?
Been so long now I'm ready to play
Sixty minutes of cliché
Peter Pan and Maggie May
You wanna leave I want you to stay
Where are you Wendy Rene?
No one’s taking you for granted
I do believe you jumped the gun
Close your eyes and think of England
Jimmy rides into the sun
And if we hold on tight
If you stay the night
Debonair, I’m going all in
When you leave a doubt
Girl you wear me out
Listen here we’re going all in
Are you taking off your clothes now?
Or are we gearing up for war?
The missionary’s out the window
Preaching out to your back door
When you cry it out
When you scream and shout
Destiny, the bell is tolling
So please leave a doubt
Baby wear me out
Listen here we’re going all in
All these foreign men
Who invited them to play this game?
Don’t you say my name
Like a bad disease
Cutting down my trees steal my seeds
Why don’t they leave?
If you see a boy who’s just skin and bones
I know him
He will know my song
And together we will show them wrong
Are they money bound?
Sniffing all around quite unsound
Released their hounds
Don’t you find it odd?
A protective squad in your yard
In the name of god
If you see a boy who’s just skin and bones
I know him
Why would you destroy my skin and bones?
All these foreign men
Who invited them to play this game?
Say you’re not the same
If you see a boy who’s just skin and bones
I know him
He will know this song
And together we will show them wrong
If you see the boy who’s just skin and bones
I know that boy, he’s the one
Shouting out how long
You’ve done him wrong
London, 1966
Kissing her softly on her lower lip
Swinging, she was born to sway
Blend in the colours of a sunny day
My Danish girl is bittersweet
My Danish girl’s my heart and soul
They don’t know at all
My Danish girl is Rock'N'Roll
Motown, 1964
Intoxicated on the cellar floor
Dancing, she’s my love supreme
Ashford and Simpson in a lovers’ dream
My Danish girl is bittersweet
My Danish girl’s my heart and soul
They don’t know at all
My Danish girl is Rock'N'Roll
My Danish girl is bittersweet
My Danish girl digs northern soul
My little bedtime treat
My Danish girl is Rock'N'Roll
Is the perfect rhyme so hard to find?
Echoes through the fog of verse and time
Little footnotes of a heartache
Scribbled lines of dares and outtakes
All these secrets sweating on my palms
Seem to fade away now that it’s getting calm
Kill or thrill her which do I choose?
Kissing storms has always been my muse
Forever starts tonight
Emotions are clouding
Windows shattered, sounds of loud guitars
Forever starts tonight
Can you hear the cry of haunting strings?
Takes you drowning in a bath of tears
Waving high my red flag of truce
Kissing storms has always been my noose
Forever starts tonight
Emotions are clouding
The truth unfolds I just can’t stand the heat
The drama is complete
Picked me up from tobacco road
Rolling papers suggesting silver and gold
Light it up ‘til the sky is bright
Wrecking all sorts of weather
Into the night
Oh what a night
Graceland’s dead and gone I mourned it
Let the truth be told you scorned it
Stolen from my own tobacco road
Time to reload
On the highway inside your head
Empty ghosts are applauded, already dead
And your blade, it’s a work of art
Edgy bastard appointed straight to the heart
Tore it apart
Graceland’s dead and gone I mourned it
Let the truth be told you scorned it
Stolen from my own tobacco road
Now you’re getting old
Little child it’s a rocky road
And your eyes getting haunted, evil and cold
Pardon me from this heavy load
Can’t believe that I loved you
Not any more
Not any more
Graceland’s dead and gone sure enough
Let the truth be told and piss off
Nothing but a lost tobacco road
Time to reload
Soon to be broken
Never chosen our demise
Soon to be broken
I could see it in your eyes
Fate overpowered
Broken buds in our yard
Dreaded the hour
Once a friend now a scar
77 arrows splitting us apart
77 on the doorbell to your heart
Cruel autumn showers
Fizzy water gone flat
Kisses turn sour
No more arrows to cast
Do you wanna fight? Don’t you wanna fight?
My fists are in tow
On the great divide swallowing my pride
It was all just for show
Soon to reopen
A true emotion to be dared
Sweet foggy notion
I can feel it
They don’t know
We’re on our way home
A passage below us
And they don’t know
We got some magic beans
And we’re rounding up the team
You gotta pick up that phone
And tell everyone you’re coming back after dawn
You ask me what is that thing
You talk about it again and again
You say you can’t live without it
Making your life worthwhile
I find it hard to explain
It’s like a sweet song needs a refrain
I’ll tell you one thing let’s go dancing until we can see the sun rise
They don’t know
We’re on our way home
A passage below
We got some magic beans
And we’re rounding up the team
To hear the sounds we adore
So tell everyone to meet us out on the floor
You wanna know why (what is that thing)
I’m feelin' so high (feelin' no pain)
Keepin’ the faith (a link in a chain)
‘cause this is something I can’t explain!
Running around like a drunk in the night (oh please tell us why)
End of November it feels like July
Lately I’m feeling that something ain’t right
Blinded by the light
Running around making love on the fly
Let’s get away to Berlin
Places that we’ve never been
See the Tokyo spring
Let’s get away
Gotta move on from this violent view (poor 972)
When did this land become bigger than the lives that it drew?
Every alarm sinks my heart to the ground
Oh that dreadful sound
Only asylum’s this city and you
Let’s take a boat down the Seine
Go visit Memphis again
Say Auf Wiedersehen
Sailing away
Let’s get away from it all
Leave all them masters of war
What is it good for?
Let’s get away
It’s the final moment of her rest
Only seconds away
Though the clock is aching still hands show
Only seconds away
Taking it in lighthearted stowing away
Taking it in lighthearted stowing away
Heaven’s been forsaken
Waving gesture is the taste of the day
Permanent vacation always annotating her stay
Sweet anticipation smiles her way
Only seconds away
Taking it in lighthearted stowing away
Taking it in lighthearted stowing away
And in her darkest lonely hour she says it’s all ok
And in the temple of lighthearted she is queen today
Gotta stay, gotta go, gonna wake up all alone, got to keep myself afloat
Do I hide? Do I seek? Haven’t seen you for a week. I am up a cripple creek
This ship is heading for the rocks, the band playing major key
All around us lonely little rats, you don’t know the shape I’m in
This is life at its best - manufactured in the west, reassembled in your heart
You were one of a kind, now we’re synching out of time, can we go back to the start?
This ship is heading for the rocks, the band playing major key
All around us lonely little rats, you don’t know the shape I’m in
It’s two of us vs. growing up
This ship is a wreck, I guess we’ll jump, with the band, last waltz
This ship is heading for the rocks, the band playing major key
All around us lonely little rats, you don’t know the shape I’m in