Reviews

Weekly Reviews For April 15, 2006

Review Index

I am Managing Editor at Metal4Life

I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock

I am also featured reviewer at spacerock.co.uk

I was Editor & reviewer at MetalUK.

New Reviews

Jaiya - Firedance: Songs For Winter Solstice

I don't really understand the countryside. There's too much of it, crying out for concrete, and deep down, I just know the locals get up to all sorts of deviant countryside practices when I'm not looking.

Which leaves me ill equipped to deal with an album that stresses the importance of living fully by remaining grounded in the natural rhythms of the earth. Now if that involves burning goths in a large wicker pyre, I'm there, but I supsect not.

Having said that, there is still a lot to enjoy here for a city boy. The three musicians responsible - Miranda Brown, Lael Whitehead and Kim Darwin - have a fine grasp on Celtic, folk and new age music, with a good mixture of new and traditional compositions.

Granted, I was left with an urgent desire to inhale some petrol fumes but I'm confident anyone with an actual soul will find this a warm and intoxicating brew.

Chad Bradford - Dollar Short


It takes a brave country singer to sample 'that' sequence from "Deliverance", so here's hoping it's irony. If not, then I'm really, really scared.

So it's probably a very good thing (for my wellbeing) that this is an excellent release. Chad has a warm, rich voice that draws you into the everyday stories of love, life (and pigs) he wants to tell you.

He's working in the mainstream milieu of modern country - glossy enough for radio, a hint of twang for the traditionalists - and I can think of no reason why he shouldn't make it. There are some delightful songs on offer with my personal favourite being "She Disappears", "Trade Every Dollar" and "Rosalyna". Definitely one to watch out for, this was a treat.

Gayle Cloud - Second Chance

The word sultry was probably invented to describe the voice of Galyle Cloud, who began her performing life as a jazz singer based in Paris before discovering the rhythms of African music and channeling it into her own delicate compositions. However, the music stays rooted in traditional, Western melodies, drifting into the words of ethereal Celtic music and dark Leonard Cohen type styles.

Most of the songs are based on affairs of the heart with "Courage To Love" and "Naked Heart" the best of the bunch. The former, especially, asks a question most people are too scared to say out loud.

This is a delightful, generally introspective release, more pop than jazz, more jazz than world, with only a couple of tracks missing the mark. Give it a try.

Todd Stephen - Heartache Son

First things first. Todd Stephen is a damn good songwriter. Across the ten tracks on this eleven track CD, there's maybe half a dozen songs with enough melody, pathos and panache to soothe even the most savage beast.

"One More Day", "Heartache Son", "Just Friends", "Stay The Same", "Live Without" and "Left With Nothing" beg for repeated plays. If you have a yen for the roots rock singer songwriters that only America seems to generate, then you'll love them.

But I was left slightly deflated as the songs deserved a better presentation and production. Now it is not really Todds fault. After all, this is a truly independant release, but I just wish someone would come along and throw a decent production at the songs.

Hopefully, Mr/Mrs Bigbucks will come along thinking exactly the same thing as me, and the next time I encounter Todd will be when his name appears on the closing credits to US teen angst TV show with a Top 10 album just around the corner.

Noella Choi - Restless

My oh my! Don't worry, I'm not about to burst into a karaoke version of an old Sad Cafe song, even if it is a classic. No, I'm actually bursting with excitement at the talent that is Noella Choi. Of course, I say excitement, for that was the barely discernible twitch that only seasoned Zeitgeist watchers would be able to identify as excitement.

Anyway, back to Miss Choi. The Chinese / Canadian singer / songwriter may be in the first flush of youth, but she's worked hard at her craft, earning a crust scoring for TV before putting together this set of contemporary adult pop, very much in the vein of mid-period Jewel.

Most of the songs concern the usual fare of lifes struggles, love and loss, but Miss Choi lifts them up with memorable melodies and hooks which manage the remarkable trick of sounding like old friends on first listen.

A couple of songs have slipped through quality control but that leaves 9 good 'uns, expertly composed, produced and arranged by Noella. It's hard to pick favourites but if pushed I'd go for "Crossroads" and the weary "Heartbeat".