MAGGIE BELL - Live At The Rainbow 1974 (Angel Air)

Former singer with Stone The Crows, future provider of top quality theme tunes to British police programmes, Maggie Bell was very much out of time, and out of place, even in her own time and place. She should have been touring the cowsheds of middle America alongside Mad Dogs and Englishmen or wowing them in a Delaney and Bonnie style review. Shame, then, that she hailed from Glasgow.

Culled from the archives of bass player, Mo Foster, this documents an era when flares were wide, soul medleys were acceptable and guitar solos were big. Just as well, Maggie Bell came from the Janis Joplin school of singing and could more than hold her own.

Sound quality is excellent, the cover of "Wishing Well" by Free is regrettable and it all works best when the band slows down, sits back and let Maggie sing. Witness her version of "As The Years Go Passing By", absolutely stunning. It's all history now, but I do wonder why there were so few original songs around. Time, money, management pressure, who knows? But "Suicide Sal" is a gem, although not as good as the studio version.

As I said, this is so of its time, it could be used in a history lecture, but when it burns it's irresistible.

BuY for £12.48

PLEXUS - "Plexus"

Plexus is a drum 'n' bass, jungle and backbeat band with a difference. They add samples, loops and synths and on 'Asia Minor' sound a bit like the Ozric Tentacles.
While obviously very talented and creative to be honest Plexus is not really my cup of tea for private listening.
But please don't let me put you off. If Plexus was ever in my vicinity I would be tempted to check them out as their brand of 'dance' music even to my unaccustomed ears is pretty special!
Contact: www.plexusmusic.com
(Mother West Records MWR0057-2)

(Phil Jackson) musician and reviewer, Paradox One

MURRAY HEAD - "Nigel Lived"

I've head a large number of Murray Head recordings over the past year courtesy of Voiceprint and I must say none of them has particularly grabbed my attention until now.
'Nigel Lived' is Murray's first solo record and reflects his self confessed obsession with recording natural sounds. Indeed he describes this album as a 'film in sound' 'veering towards an autobiography'.
He decided on the concept of a songwriter who finds a diary and writes songs around various lines and phrases he chooses from it. In actual fact this lavishly packaged album does contain extracts from a diary.
A number of things impress me about this album. First is the wonderful singing of Murray who sounds at times like John Martyn (Less grizzly though!), at others like Chris De Burgh ('Miss Illusion'), at others like Donavon ('Religion') and also like Nick Drake (On 'Junk')
He even manages to sound like a choir boy accompanied by Peter Robinson's church organ on 'Pity the Poor Consumer', a clever track that metamorphoses into a rocky protest song of sorts with biting lyrics about 'Money madness, is that all that's left?'.
Maybe all these comparisons are a bit unfair to Murray Head who is, when all is said and done, a gifted singer and songwriter in his own right- remember 'Chess'? Listen also to 'Ruthie' on this album with the twin acoustic guitars of Murray and Mark Warner and a string section led by Jack Rothstein.
The second thing that impresses me is the formidable list of musicians who contribute to 'Nigel Lived'. How's this for a roll call- Cozy Powell, Graham Preskett, Mike and Peter Giles, Ray Cooper, Jimmy Hastings? And that's just for starters!
The third thing is the variety of instrumentation used- sax, trombone, accordion, marimba, mandolin etc.
The fourth thing is the range of musical styles producing a mini rock opera of sorts. In keeping with such a format this work never takes itself too seriously. In fact it gets positively silly at times in the rock 'n' roll of 'City Scurry' and the sleazy jazz blues of 'Dole'.
Among the best moments are 'Bed and Breakfast' which reminded me of the approach Nick Drake took on 'Man in a Shed' off' Five Leaves Left' (released 3 years before this) with Spike Heatley on double bass, some great acoustic and slide guitar by Mark Warner and a 5 man horn section with contra-bass and recorder thrown in for good measure.
Also for different reasons 'When You Wake Up in the Morning' is a great little ballad with an inspired clarinet/ oboe line played by Tony Coe and Jim Chester.
Standing out also is 'Religion' featuring a choir. This gets extra marks for managing to rhyme 'esoterics with 'generics'!
Finally in terms of favourites you have the Beatle-ish 'Nigel Nigel' with the cellos prominent in the string section.
Over its 49 minute length (in 2 parts- 'Success' then 'Failure') this is a marvellous period piece that demonstrates the song writing and singing ability of Murray Head aided and abetted by an inspired choice of studio musicians.
'Nigel Lived' comes highly recommended.
(Headcase GAH106CD)
Contact: www.voiceprint.co.uk Buy this CD for £12.99 at Amazon

(Phil Jackson) musician and reviewer, Paradox One