Records Featuring Jo – a handy playlist
In alphabetic order:
Jo Bartlett
All the releases I’ve performed on:
Solo releases –
Years active: 2010 – present
My single ‘I Don’t Want To Hear Any More Music‘ was released on 25 January 2023 and picked up a few plays on BBC 6 Music / Radio X / BBC Radio London and Wales and more international stations.
‘The Cut Up’ was released on 30th September 2022
‘It’s great! So inventive.’ Andy Bell (Oasis / Ride)
‘It’s mad and inspired in equal doses. Very cool collection of sounds and memories all in one fascinating melting pot.’ Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins)
‘What an honour!’ Huw Stephens featured on ‘Hwyl’ (BBC 6 / Radio Wales)
‘..it’s really super with plenty of wonky melodies pushed to the fore.’ The Crack Magazine
Hear it on Spotify
Hear it on Bandcamp
‘Upheaval’
My debut solo album, ‘Upheaval‘. Recorded in one afternoon at Bark Studio in East London in 2010 and released in early 2011. All one takes, no over dubs. Released on the Static Caravan label. The cover photo is of myself and a couple of my brothers, taken on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides by my Dad. I have a great fondness for this record and what it took to make.
‘Kenfig Hill’ from ‘Upheaval’ Recorded at live King’s Place, London in 2010 with Mike Siddel’s string quartet.
‘9 x 7’
My second solo album, released on Strikeback Records in January 2015. ‘9 x 7’ is 9 songs recorded by 7 musicians. The strings are arranged by Mike Siddel who has previously worked with Laura Marling, Josh T. Pearson and Mumford and Sons. I played all the bass and synth parts along with some of the electric guitar plus my usual acoustic. I guess I produced it too. I worked with Brian O’Shaughnessy at Bark Studio.
The cover photo was once again taken by my Dad, it’s from a family wedding in the early 1970s.
‘Her second solo album leans towards her folkier side – but fills out the sound with bewitching electronic percussion and lovely guitar leads.’ The Sunday Times / Essential New Releases
‘The album we hoped Beth Gibbons might’ve made if she’d ever followed up her Rustin Man project – which is high praise indeed’ Uncut
‘Bartlett’s voice has the pitch and crystal clarity of The Sunday’s Harriet Wheeler.’ Q
‘Bartlett ploughs a narrow furrow, but she does it with compelling conviction’ Mojo
‘Fans of Nick Drake and Beth Orton should investigate’ The Daily Express
‘Her beautiful, clear as a mountain stream vocals, float deliciously over sweet instrumentation, making this a really glowing release.’ The Crack Magazine
Jo Bartlett on…
The Brilliant Corners ‘Brian Rix’ 1987 (Backing vocals by ‘Jo Bluetrain’)
Bluetrain
Years active: 1986 – 1988
The ‘Some Greater Love’ album is made up of recordings of Go! Service and Bluetrain, the two bands I was in who were on Dreamworld Records. Dreamworld was run by Dan Treacy from The T.V. Personalities and was part of the early indie C-86 movement. A CD was released on Palestina Records, who are based in Peru, in 2010. A vinyl version of the album with a couple of very early demos added was released on vinyl by Berlin’s Firestation Records in 2020. The limited run sold out within a few days. A CD version was then released in Japan which also sold out in a matter of weeks.
‘Some Greater Love’ Bluetrain (Firestation Records)
Including ‘Land of Gold‘ originally released as a 12″ single, on Dreamworld in 1987
Bluetrain played the Glastonbury Festival in 1987, played in France, toured Scotland, supported The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Pastels, The Vaselines, and The Bodines, then relocated to California for 6 months in 1988.
Christine X
Years active: 2003
I released an electronica instrumental album called ‘Eurocentric’ in 2003 under the name Christine X. ‘Eurocentric’ was recorded at Bark in East London and got some nice reviews in the alternative / d.j. music press.
’….wistful, mellow, unhurried and gorgeous.’ 4 stars D.J. Magazine
’…unfathomably beautiful music.’ Careless Talk Costs Lives
Christine X on
Go! Service
Years active: 1985 -1986
My first ever release. Go! Service 12″ ‘It Makes Me Realise’ this was recorded when I was 18 in 1985 and released in 1986. This song is included on the ‘Make More Noise! Women In Independent Music UK 1977 – 1987’ Cherry Red Records cd book compilation released in 2020.
Go! Service played regularly at Dan Treacy’s legendary Room at the Top club above The Enterprise pub in Chalk Farm, North London. We also toured Europe, supporting Dan’s band, The Television Personalities.
The song ‘Real Life’ was released as part of the 3 cd set C-86 released by Cherry Red in 2013.
Go! Service / Bluetrain on…
Hardway Bros. presents the Summerisle Six
‘This Is Something’
I did the vocals on this dance track put together by Sean Johnston and featuring, among others, Andy Bell on guitar. It was number one in the Balearic chary, May 2022
‘This Is Something’ various mixes
It’s Jo and Danny
Years active: 1999 – 2005
‘Lank Haired Girl To Bearded Boy’
Our debut album, originally released on our own Double Snazzy label. After Jo Whiley played a track three days in a row on her daytime Radio 1 show, we signed to R.C.A. and the album got re released. I will always love everything about this record. A very happy time.
‘Spellbinding’ The Times 4 stars
‘Heartfelt vocals and swathes of Vini Reilly-style guitar.’ **** Mojo
‘Ferocious joie de verve’ **** Q
‘a carefree fusion of Ancient and modern’ Uncut
‘Spritualized fronted by Carol King’ The Face
‘Loaded with sprit’ The Observer
‘Folk to feed your soul’ i.D. Magazine
‘Beautiful’ The Daily Telegraph
‘A defining record’ NME 8/10
Including ‘Love Expression’ directed by James Le Bon
Kodiak Island
Years active: 2015 – present
My band right now. I love Kodiak Island. We get together and play music whenever we can. Not as often as I’d like to. We rehearse at my house and record in guitarist Richard‘s garage. We play locally in bars and occasionally a little further a field.
‘Breathing Space’ was released in January 2020. Our second album, ‘The Amber Road’ was released in October 2020.
‘The Play To You Strengths‘ e.p. was released in March 2022 on 10″ vinyl and c.d. on i40 Records and then digitally on Cherry Red Records in May 2022
Kodiak Island on….
The Yellow Moon Band
Years active: 2005 – 2010
This was my prog rock, psychedelic, instrumental adventure. We released a few vinyl singles on Static Caravan and then followed them up with this great album. This is another record I’m very proud of.
‘The spirit of classic West Coast psychedelia is alive and well and living in The Yellow Moon Band.’ **** The Independent
‘..moments of glory abound on this bright, funky outstandingly groovy album.’ **** Mojo
‘..groovy throwback prog-band….astral rocking…..Eastern flavours’ **** The Scotsman
‘A beautifully, bewitching listen.’ N.M.E.
‘1970s cosmic metal riffs……..delirious guitars.’ Metro
‘I’m looking forward to seeing this record at the top of writer’s End of the Year lists.’ Shindig!
With over 100,000 views, I guess my biggest ‘hit’ is ‘Chimney’ by The Yellow Moon Band, which is included on the Ubisoft computer game, Rocksmith.
‘Barhed‘. Video directed by Ewan Jones Morris
Copies of ‘Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World’ are now selling on eBay for £100.
We released these all on Static Caravan.
Green Vinyl 12: Polaris Richard Norris Remix.
Maybach (7″ single)
Entangled (7″ single)
We also had tracks featured on ‘A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble‘ compilation album along with Miles Davis, Can, Pentangle, Hawkwind and Donovan.
and Fred Deakin (Lemon Jelly) ‘Nu Balearica‘ compilation.
The Yellow Moon Band on….
ITTLG 