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Weekly Reviews For November 26, 2005

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Pallas - The Dreams Of Men

I'm so old I saw Pallas with their original vocalist, Euan Lowson, and still have my Granite Wax singles! So I was mildly surprised to see their new release landing on my desk, courtesy of major minor InsideOut / SPV.

As with a lot of their releases it's coming out as a Special Edition version with slip case, 32 page booklet and a bonus disc, as well as the bog standard edition, but I only have the standard one here. But that's fine, because this is a blindingly good album.

Swooping and soaring, majestic prog rock, unashamed of what it is. There are some instant classic such as "Ghostdancers", another stab at relating the tale of the Scots dispersal to the New World - an episode given a glossy treatment by our former slavemasters, but an inglorious period on our history. Pallas tell it as a tale of one man's dream can be another man's nightmare, and it's leisurely, measured pace and striking lyrics make it an instant hit.

If Pallas were the kind of band to have a single in the charts, then it would be "Messiah", the rockiest track on the album, virtually a straightforward rock song, but with precise, dynamic percussion and some thought provoking words about a certain Mr Blair.

Finally, "The Last Angel", which closes the album (and one of the 3 number exceeding ten minutes) is a stunning epic, which carries you along in its wake, only to leave you gasping for more at the end of the magisterial, melodic maelstrom.

Without doubt, one of the finest releases with their name attached, this is essential prog listening.

Various Artists - Purple People


Now how annoyed am I? Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat much. Thanks to a bookcase being moved, this lovely, lovely CD fell down the back, not to be discovered until many months later. Gits.
Now I have my lovely original vinyl copy of "Purple People" which was issued back in 1973 when Deep Purple were going through the motions of trying to persuade people that it wasn't just a vanity label. And it wasn't really. OK, some of their old mates got deals, but they cast their net far and wide, and snagged a diverse bunch of artists.

Of course, they wanted people to buy the thing, which is why it kicks off with "Smoke On The Water". Yes, even in 1973, it was the marketing mans dream choice. Then it's in to vanity label part 1 with Tony Ashton joining in with Jon Lord for a track of their "First Of The Big Bands" album. An album well worth revisiting, incidentally. Then, one of my favourites, as Atomic Rooster offshoot Hard Stuff offer up a funky little number, "Libel". And when will the Hard Stuff albums be reissued I hear you cry? Well, petition Purple records and see what happens!

Then it was on to some of the more diverse signings with Rupert Hine going all J J Cale on us, Yvonne Elliman going all West Coast folky, the dreadfully named Tucky Buzzard provide some dull, bland seventies soft rock before the glorious Silverhead pop us to remind us what rock and roll is all about. Their debut album still gets regular plays on the old turntable and usually provokes a bad Michael Des Barres impersonation.

In case listeners were panicking, Purple themselves reappeared with the rare (for the time) B-side, "When A Blind Man Cries" before Yvonne Ellima gets an inexplicable 2nd number. Granted, it's a lot better than the 1st, but then it is a cover of The Whos "I Can't Explain" complete with Pete Townshend guitar solo. Obscurity time next with Clive Malsoon (formerly of Curtiss Maldoon) providing "Clouds In My Hair", which is surprisingly enjoyable in a Chas'n'Dave kind of way. The album closes out with another couple of obscurities - Buddy Bohn performing "Vermouth Rondo" which would fit nicely into Richie Blacmores 2005 repertoire and "Look Out Cleveland" by Carol Hunter which just shows that her erstwhile employer Neil Diamond was right to perform his own material. And that was that. An odd sampler, like so many in the seventies.
But this reissue is filled out with another 8 tracks for your listening pleasure. Well,listening. Luckily for me it's Bullet who kick things off with "Monster In Paradise". The band who would become Hard Stuff rock up a storm. Old pal Tony Ashton gives up one of his patented honky tonk piano numbers, the Madonna sampled Curtiss Maldoon appear (which prompted me to dig out the vinyl, more bloody Yvonne Elliman, then a section of Jon Lords "Gemini Suite".

Obscurity time again as the never released single by Bunter, "Looking Back" appears, all sixties psych and hi-hat. As it was 1971, that could explain why it was shelved. The truly awful sub Donovan combination of Rupert Hine and David MacIver is next, before things close down with the legendary Jon Pertwee single "Who Is The Doctor". I'd like to warn you about how bad it is with David MacIver adding lyrics to the Dr Who theme tune for Jon Pertwee to speak. Abysmal!
The CD has the usual fabulous Purple Records sleeve notes, Purple Records discography, rare sleeves and pictures, although that creased copy of "Bolex Dementia" looks like mine:-) Not for the casual punter, but Purple completists will lap it up.

One For Jude - Helice

This is a strange one, a hybrid of dark pop, goth, chamber music and crooner all rolled into one. Imagine Tindersticks getting it on with Depeche Mode during the Dave Gahan drug years with Gilbert Becaud singing. Weird, but enjoyable, especially as unique sounds are few and far between these days.

From the latter, you may have gathered that One For Jude are French and you are correct. So I have no idea what they are singing about on 3 of the 4 tracks here. "The Punishment Of The White Rose" is in English but they doesn't make it any easier to understand what they're singing about as the words seem to be used as an additional sound.

The best track is "'L'ebloui" is drenched in strings and has a distressed sound that gets you right there [this is the bit where you visualise me pointing to where my heart should be]. It's a broody little beggar of a mini album that draws you into its melancholic spell, slowly but surely.

One For Jude, Post: 37 Bd St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France

Goldfrapp - Number 1

Well that was a bit dull. After the delights of the previous single, Goldfrapp go and release their first poor single, well, ever. The worst song on the album by far, and the album is no great shakes, mind.

Fortunately, you do get a new song, "Beautiful" which almost makes up for it. A nice bit of bllep bleep and back to the cold and clinical style we love them for. But no more of this kind of tosh, please.

Status Quo - All That Counts Is Love

Oh dearie, dearie me.

Just when I thought they had grwon a set back, they go and release this piffle. Why they are persisting with recording songs by John David, a man who has worked with the legends that are Shakin Stevens, Samantha Fox and Alvin Stardust is beyond me.

After all they have made up with Bob Young who contributes the B side "I Ain't Ready" which is a nice enough Bo Diddley shuffle, but it still knocks seven shades out of the lamentable A side. Almost makes me yearn for "Marguerita Time". Well, not really, nothing could be that bad.

But sack the writer.

Texas - Can't Resist

Nearly there. Texas have been getting closer to their glory years with the last couple of songs, and with this Goldfrappy number they've nearly made it.

We like Sharleen when she goes all diva on us, and this is a good un. The B side "Say Hello" is a little gem as well, the antithesis of the A side, stripped back to their acoustic routes with Sharleens voice bare to the bones, devoid of electronic frippery and a joy to listen to.

Santana feat Steven Tyler - Just Feel Better

I wonder if Carlos Santana even knows he has a new record out? I suppose it was inevitable after the 25 million copies of "Supernatural" and the flop(!) "Shaman", which only sold 5 million copies, that yet another round of so called collaborations was inevitable.

This is a by the numbers, songwriters for hire number that could easily have been a soundtrack contribution from Aerosmith. The formerly fluid and inspirational guitar lines of the maestro are barely discernible as Aerosmith bobo Steven Tyler honks his way through an insipid ballad. It's almost as though they never met, and knowing how modern recording works, they probably never did. The producer probably just pushed the button marked "Lick no 52".

To make matters worse they couple it with the big single of "Supernatural", "Smooth". The song that started the whole thing of was a marvellous piece of Latin rock which blew the roof off America. Rob Thomas, erstwhile Matchbox 20 man has a lot to answer for. A sorry song from a man who soundtracked so many years of my life. I'm off to play "Abraxas" again, just to remind myself how great Carlos once was.

Madeleine Peyroux - Dance Me to the End of Love

People are saying good things about Ms Peyroux and on the strengtt of this single they're well founded.

She's turned the old Leonard Cohen tune into a torch song with a shuffle beat, which sounds odd but works very well. The live version is even better, slowed down and very Billie Holiday.

The other live song, "Don't Wait Too Long" is also a delight with some lovely keyboard flourishes and a Norah Jones vibe. But that's a bit of a cop out for Madeleine has a voice all of our own.