Reviews

Weekly Reviews For August 12004

Review Index

I am also Assistant Editor & reviewer at MetalUK.

I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock

Recent reviews include
Rush - Chronicles (The Video Collection)
Deep Purple - The Early Years
Damageplan - New Found Power
Whitesnake - The Early Years

You will also find some reviews at spacerock.co.uk

The Rocker
New releases from;
Superczar - Pop Art
Various - Further Adventures of the Telepathic Explorers
When's The Future - Then
And many more....

 

New Reviews

Bell X1 - Alphabet Soup

Seemingly lost in the swathe of praise going to the overrated Thrills, Bell X1 go for a similar concoction of rock, folk, country and Celtic, that can make for addictive listening, when done properly. And the two tracks on this promo, 'Alphabet Soup' and 'Like I Love You' have been done properly.

Whereas, 'Alphabet Soup' is country fried pop, perfectly formed, 'Like I Love You' heads off into outer space, with a dreamy arrangement. It's all very summery, very laid back, but concealing hidden strengths. Ignore the fact that the NME liked them, for they are actually quite remarkable.

State Shirt – Don’t Die

State Shirt is primarily a one man band bowing down at the altar of Beck. WHich is grand for those who admire the work of Mr Hansen, less so for those who think je's an over hyped musical magpie. Which makes some of this hard going. But it is worth persevering.

Aided and abetted by Chad Fischer (Jude, Colin Hay, Josh Clayton-Felt) on a couple tracks, as well as the mastering chops of engineering superstar Dave Collins (Chris Cornell, Perry Farrell, The Police), this is surprisingly polished for a recorded in trhe bedroom release.

Ethan Tufts (for such is the mantle of Mr Shirt) is a very good songwriter, of that there is no dount. Some of the arrangements are a tad on the 'too cool for skool' side, being overly fussy, when simplicity might have paid greater dividends, but it's early days, and there is a lot of merit here.

When he hits the mark, things get very good indeed, "Life Isn't Everything" being just one example, a melancholy keyboard counterpoint with a driving yet subdued bass riff, overset with a yearning, melancholic vocal. Elsewhere, he can still be in thrall to some of his influences as on the Radiohead-lite "Not A Kid Anymore", but he has more hits than misses.

It must be hard for a solo musician to tie himself down to one thought pattern, but if I had to point one route out then it would be "Indefinite Acrobat (Space Cadet)", where he becomes something bigger, and takes his muse out to a whole new level. On songs like that, it becomes a journey worth taking.

This is an interesting release, with a lot to say, and many ways of saying it. Worth looking out for.

Flesh.Resonance - The Feast Of Shadows

Hmm, self proclaimed (well, stickered), "pure dark ambient-electro-rock", but does it have any merit in space rock world. Well, they submitted it for review, so i'll defer to their judgement and start waxing.

There are moments, on "Transient" for example, where there is no doubt that they belong here, all driving synths and experimental rhythms, there's a fascination with the futuristic and the nihilistic, a Blade Runner for the ears, if you will. Actually, to drag things into the 21st Century, this would have made an ideal soundtrack to the Matrix movies.

Sometime, it probably gets over industrial, which is music to my Zeitgeist ears, but probably a step too far for the more traditionally minded spacerockers. They have the ability to make a positive out of their eclecticism, which in others makes for a bloody mess. Sitting here in my dark, gothic tower, I appreciate fully the darkness underpinned by the harmony vocals of Melanie Webb, which underpin and contrast the leading male vocals.

My personal favourites are where they drift into the ambient elements mentioned in their blurb. "Reflections & Shadows" is a divine otherworldy track that keeps me hitting the repeat button. And keeps me hitting the repeat button......Almost Gregorian in melody, it's like being dragged slowly under a swelling wave, welcoming the system shutdown, drifting into oblivion.

This is, undoubtedly, a tremendous album, and one well worthy of your time, if you're willing to take that step into other genres and open up any barriers or preconceptions you may have. Gothic and intense in an HP Lovecraft way, rather than a Sisters Of Mercy way.

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall

I'm not exactly sure what the point of Ryan Adams is. There are better singers, better songwriters and better guitarists wandering round trying to get an nth of the media coverage that he does. Mind you, that's the joys of the incestuous London media circle, as they busily feed off each others bottoms, sucking the joys out of what should be divine.

That said, this is better than the Oasis original, but most versions would be, the arrangement is very funereal, and it blows Ryan Adams own material out of the water. So, if you like Ryan Adams you'll love this. But if you're looking for adventurous singer / songwriters may I suggest you turn your attention elsewhere.

The Dog Show - Hello, Yes!

Crap name for a band, but there you go. Imagine of you will the offspring of Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello grinding out a Kinks/Who hybrid of gritty guitar rock. Now, cleanse yourself of the repugnant mental imagery, and try listening to the music instead.
Taking the template above, The Dog Show are very much oriented towards the garage rock sound that has been prevalent over the last couple of years, but with a hint of early rock and roll. The best track by far is "Every Baby Boy", where all the influences come together with an excellent melody.

The Dog Show mainman, Jerome O’Brien has worked with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Knoxville Girls, Kid Congo and many more, and certainly knows his way around a bass guitar. Lyrically. he knows how to put a good couplet together, and twist his stories into something interesting. The current lineup of The Dog Show perform regularly in New York City venues like CBGB and Sin-e, and if they work a bit harder at arrangements, could make a bit of a name for themselves.

The Seventh Season - Fall Within

An interesting one, The Seventh Season were formed in Moscow in 1972, but after a 20 year break, and a move of continent, now consist of Yuri Batygin and his son Konstantin. Theirs is an odd mix of folk, classic rock, prog, and new wave, sometimes in English, sometimes in Russian, veering wildly across genres with nary a backward glance.

As is inevitable with something so eclectic, you're areas of enjoyment will vary with the styles, so the more traditional classic rock tracks get my vote with 'Commando' and 'Army Of Reason' scoring highest.

The folk rock meld of 'So Insane' is also wel conceived and performed, crossing over into an almost electronic folk blend, but 'Pirate Song' is the out and out winner, one track where all their influences converge into a new fluidity.

There is a lull in the middle of the album as neither 'Desire' nor 'Drag Me' manage to lift themselves out of the ordinary, but this is an admirable project, and one to be commended.