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Copyright © 2004
Zeitgeist

 

CD OF THE WEEK

LUCY KAPLANSKY - The Red Thread

Lucy Kaplansky is a folk musician with a quite remarkable voice. Fortunately, with the renewed interest in her chosen idiom, regardless of whatever Americana tag is flavour of the week, she is gradually becoming as well known as some of the artists she has worked with - Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith and Dar Williams amongst others.

As I'm sure you all know the album's title refers to the Chinese belief that when a child is born, it is connected to all the people who will be important to him or her in life, by an unbreakable red thread. You need to know this as Lucy and partner / cowriter Richard Litvin recently adopted a baby girl from China. You also need to know that they also live a few miles from where the World Trace Center once stood, as the half dozen songs they penned on this album relate to one or another of these issues. Now I know that 9/11 means doodly squat to the vast majority of humanity, but you have to give the Americans some leeway for having such an abrupt entry into the world of terror, so many of regard as commonplace. But back to the music.

Lucy has done the sensible thing for a solo performer and gathered a group of sympathetic musicians around her over a period of years, and the band - John Herrington and Duke Levine on guitar, Zev Katz on bass and producer Ben Wittman on drums - provide exemplary backing.

Picking out a few highlights we have "I Had Something" which tells of the connection she feels to the as yet unborn child. Of the New York songs "Land of the Living" tells of Lucy returning to the city immediately after 9/11, and unlike some more jingoistic commentatirs notes that her cab driver has been beaten because he is Middle Eastern.

Of the cover versions, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdales "Hole In My Head" provides simple but effective relief to some of the larger emotions flying around. Dave Carters "Cowboy Singer" also goes for a gutsy simplicity.

TIAMAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LARRY WALLIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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JONATHAN BOYLE

 

 

 

 

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DEAD ON HOLIDAY

 

 

LARRY WALLIS - Death In The Guitarfternoon

Strange to think that is the debut solo release from Mr Wallis, considering his several thousand year tenure in the music world. Stranger to think that I saw him on the Stiff tour, many many incarnations ago. And whisper this, for I shall be returning Lemmywards for the 900th time this year, and value my teeth, but "On Parole" was always my favourite Motorhead album. Never really got the Pink Fairies, but then I was on different drugs. And, of course, "As Long As The Price Is Right" was as down and dirty as Dr Feelgood ever got. Anyway, legendary is the name for Larry.

Strange to say then, but this is his first solo release, and appropritely covers the gamut of his musical oeuvre. "Are We Having Fun Yet?", a sequel to "When’s The Fun Begin" kicks things off with spacerock noodlings, and you get the Shadows on mescalin assault of "El Diablo's Hangin' Ten" and a return to the mutant Motorhead sound on "Where the Freaks Hang Out". Mick Farren pops in for a jazz tinged "Don't Mess With Dimitri" and a pop rock excursion on "Downtown Jury". As befits a novelist of some standing (excluding the DNA Cowboys) Mr Farren contributes some straight out of Ellroy conjurations.

Some of you may recall the Hogwatch compilations. I do. Especially with my cheque being cashed and a not known at this address response from Brighton. Bastards. Anyway, "Meatman" is a reworking from "Hogwatch 2", and is a downright nasty piece of blues chugging. If it's bad puns you're after, it doesn't get much worse than "Mrs Hippy Burning", although the bludgeoning Leslie Westian guitar motif makes up for it.

Debut solo single from the Stiff years "Police Car" also gets reworked, although whether it needed to be twice as long is debatable. Things end up with a longstanding grudge against an ex Pink Fairy with whom Larry still has issues. "Do It" becomes "Screw It". 'Nuff said.

This is one of those CDs you really should own. A potted history of underground rock, all done and dusted in under an hour. Buy one and make an angry old man happy.



JONATHAN BOYLE - Manfriday

Jonathan Boyle, (Jonny to his mates) is an extremely talented songwriter, musician and singer from the North East of England.

He's well known around the Tyne and Wear area, both for his remarkable singing and songwriting, and his promotions work at the Mill House where he puts on live shows (and related CD from acts who perform there*).

Highlights include the jazz tinged "Be My Friend" and the world weary "Hope It Rains". Of the eleven tracks on offer, there isn't a single duffer in site. Quite remarkable. One for the Ian McNabb and Nick Harper fans out there, although it's not all angst ridden and introspective (see "& Then She Came"). Jonny has created a marvellous CD, all the more so as it's self released. All he needs is a major label, a soundtrack tie-in, and watch the money start rolling in.



*Sweetcorn Volume 1 feat Dave Wiser, Adam Cole, Blue Diamond, Steve Daggett Trio, Snakeoil, Roo Butler, Tubesnake, Gladstone, Wanted, Snakeoil, Mowgli & Khan, Jonathan Boyle


THE DEAD ON HOLIDAY - Turmoil Demo

Three tracks on offer here, "Turmoil", "Safe Embrace" and "Touch Me In The Morning". The flier claimed they were a "perfect blend of Thin Lizzy and the Whos heritage". Which of course they're not. Instead they're a post punk hybrid of Janes Addiction and The Clash, not my two favourite bands.

However, they rise above it, especially on "Turmoil", which is a fabulous Husker Du slab of angular rock. And let's not forget a spirited bash at the Diana Ross classic, "Touch Me In The Morning". If you're into Hundred Reasons and Hell Is For Heroes, you'll find a lot to enjoy here.