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Weekly Reviews For January 30, 2006

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I am Managing Editor at Metal4Life

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The Sex, the City, The Music: Istanbul

It serves me right for not listening to this earlier because it would definitely have been near the top of my favourites list last year. But, oh no, I had to go and do something more interesting instead, probably involving people I don't like, somewhere I don't like, doing something I don't like. Gits.

It's fairly hard to describe this album in meaningful words, as the one that springs to mind is turkishhiphoprnbjazzelectronica - and I'm pretty sure that's not a real word. What it does is bring you a taste of contemporary Turkish music which also reflects the heritage of the country without going all world and worthy on your ass. In other words, lots of dance grooves but with traditional percussion driving it along. And it is absolutely delightful.

There's a host of top quality acts on display, with the best of the bunch probably being the delightfully named, New York based, Turkish rap performer Sultana. Apparently her music video aired on a Turkish television network and was subsequently banned from transmission. I can only imagine what that was all about, as she is a sultry little missy! Elsewhere, it gets all jazzy on "Dreamin' and funky on "Istanbul Twilight".

Strangely enough for a compilation, it flows together seamlessly, so big props to the sequencer, and became welded to my CD player for several weeks. In fact, it is so good, I almost shimmied! Go get it now - you won't regret it!

The Future Kings Of England - same


Well if you yearn for the long forgotten days of pastoral psychedelia, then this could be the CD for you. A largely instrumental release this is a worthy addition to the modern psychedelic canon in the wake of Porcupine Tree and their ilk. Of course, I have to like a band who claim that “All 3 Kings have a dislike for most things”. And quite right too.

Back to the music it's grandiose stuff combing the best parts of King Crimson and Hawkwind into something very special, with the latter being emulated to fine effect on “Lilly Lockwood”. They also dabble in the new sounds of Germany, nod in the direction of folk rock and Pink Floyd and it all culminates in the mind blowing intensity of “Pigwhistle”, where they spend 14 minutes invading small countries. Take a listen and you'll know what I'm on about.

There isn't a bad tune on this release and it's splendid to think that the future of the past is in such talented hands. It's not all backward looking as they've also drawn in more modern sounds as defined by the likes of Godspeed! You Black Emperor and seem to want to plough their own furrow. This is a very good thing, especially when drenched in mellotron!

Oh, and don't forget to keep listening right to the end as “the music titles printed on the back of our long player are incorrect”.

Johnnie Burton – same

Now here's a lady who knows how to rock. There is a remarkable paucity of information about Ms Burton in her press pack, and especially on her website, but what you need to know is that she is peddling a grown up version of Avril Lavigne rock with proper guitars, interesting lyrics and a powerful performance. In fact, everything Ms Lavigne is lacking in.

Ms Burton is at her best when there is a yearning sound to her vocal performance, which may be why “What Heaven's Like” is one of my favourites. But she's equally adept at ripping it up in soft punk stylee as she does on “Too Sweet To Taste” or simply rocking out on “Hole In The Sky”. Apparently she plied her trade in local punk bands on the LA scene, and there are remnants of that foul sound lurking here and there, but her songs have an underlying melodicism that overcomes it.

People are going to say Hole, L7 blah-blah-blah, but that's lazy journalism so I'll just point out that she can sing, play guitar and write songs, so maybe more Melissa Van Der Maur than Courtney Love:-) Johnnie isn't reinventing the wheel here, but puts in a powerful performance with more than a few potential hit singles. I'd start with “Ordinary Day” myself.

You can buy her self-titled released album through Paypal on her website, and it's well worth it.

The Incredible Blues Puppies – Puppy Fat


You often find that when musical veterans with a certain pedigree get together it all goes horribly wrong. And the Puppies certainly have a pedigree.

Alan Glen was a member of The Yardbirds between 1996 and 2003 and has also recorded with Nine Below Zero, Little Axe, Dr Feelgood, Alannah Myles and numerous others. Jim Mercer has worked with Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes, Pinetop Perkins and Muddy Waters. Dino Coccia has session credits with Andy Shepard, Patrick Moraz and Grace Jones and live shows with Jo-Ann Kelly, Homesick James and Lowell Fulson. John O'Reilly has worked with The Blues Engineers and The Big Town Playboys. Finally, Dave Briggs has performed with Scotty Moore, D.J.Fontana and Sonny Burgess. Frankly you couldn't get a much better CV than these guys.

Now bearing in mind how badly this could have turned out, it gives me great pleasure to say that it's a joy from beginning to end. If you like white boy blues then you're going to lap this up. Mixing up originals as well as classics from Taj Mahal and T-Bone Walker amongst others, this is the perfect soundtrack to the blues basement party in your head.

The best covers are the Mississippi Fred McDowell track, “61 Highway” and G L Crockett's “Man Down There”, with the instrumental title track being the winner amongst the original material. As well as the outstanding (and contrasting) guitar work from Alan Glen and John O'Reilly, the former also provides some splendid harmonica work. A joy from beginning to end, it's good to hear a band playing the music they love, the way they love. Highly recommended.

Todd Rundgren - Liars Live

Todd was / is a hero of mine. Despite the admonishments of people who should know better, I found his mid-seventies work to be irresistible, couthy yet classy, overwhelming yet simplistic. But from the eighties onwards he lost his way, to my mind. But recent live activity has seen good reviews, so I was looking forward to this.

And it is magnificent.

This concert was filmed in New York in June 2004 and highlights the same set that he brought to the UK later that summer. Which means most of the material comes from a period when I was Todd-less, and it looks like that was my mistake. Largely based around the "Liars" album, the tracks were;

1. Prelude 2. Truth 3. Buffalo Grass 4. Mammon 5. Fascist Christ 6. I Hate My Frickin' I.S.P 7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 8. God Said 9. Liar 10. Soul Brother 11. Flaw 12. Sweet 13. Past 14. Love Science 15. Born To Synthesize 16. Feel It 17. The Want Of A Nail 18. Hello It's Me 19. Just One Victory

A couple of rarities (to me) really stand out with "'Feel It" (from "Nearly Human") and 'Feel It' which a quick Google turns out to be from a Tubes album he produced. Fair enough, the Rundgren live band did feature Prairie Prince on drums, so it's a stunning diversion.

The extras are a bit of a let down, limited to a photo gallery and a home video shoot of his Japanese tour. Stick to the music and watch a master at work. Although the pods are really quite scary!