Never Too Old

Good news, people. This year's Mercury Prize shortlist has a light sprinkling of musicians over forty. Now there's been a lot of fuss over 52-year-old Paul Weller's album, Wake Up the Nation, but as far as I'm concerned the best thing about it is guest drummer Glem Cattini. This 72-year-old percussionist played on Benny Hill's 1971 hit single Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West), a song I loved as a wee child. 'He may be old,' says Weller, 52, 'but two takes and he was fucking sorted.'

Anyhow, enough of the moodiest man in pop, let's get back to the shortlist. Three cheers for Manchester band I Am Kloot who've come up with a breakthrough album in their mid-forties after 10 years of hard graft. That's Not My Age has a penchant for a heavy northern accent - Mark E Smith, Alex Turner, John Lennon, John Bramwell - and hence has seen the band more than once. Mr TNMA (a southerner) has grown to love them too. After hearing The Sky at Night, produced by Elbow's Guy Garvey and Craig Potter, The Blog Widower rushed to the computer to buy tickets for their next London gig. Who can believe then that this sumptuous album was downgraded from five stars to three in the Observer Music Monthly (RIP) reviews for being 'too northern for our readers?' As if. Excuse me while I put on my a flat cap and take the whippet for a walk.

Click here to see a fabulous I Am Kloot video starring ace northen thesp, and Manchester United fan, Christopher Eccleston


Photo: I Am Kloot
Paul Weller quote from Q magazine, February 2010