Reviews

Weekly Reviews For February 13, 2005

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

Terry Munday – The Human Zone

Let’s see – last time I reviewed the work of Mr Muday I said. “Mixing up the various vibes of rock, blues and Latin, but tying it down with a traditional melodic sensibility, makes this an absolute peach of a CD, twisting and turning at every opportunity leaving you wondering where you'll end up next. Fortunately, it's always omewhere interesting. If the term guitar virtuoso leaves you cold, I suggest you shun your prejudices and give this a damn good listening.”

And I was right – but then I usually am!

This release is more of the same, fluid, melodic guitar lines, interspersed with atmospheric, neu-ambient moments, in places Steve Hackett in sound and feel. There is the occasional funky moment when the rhythms lock together, especially on my favourite “In Search Of The Human Zone”.

It’s amazing how much you don’t miss vocals when the instrumental work is as compelling as this. Other highlights include the electronica meets Indian vibe of “Behind The Veil Of Ignorance”, but there’s something here for every mood. Unless you happen to be a berserker in which case may I suggest the new GWAR album.

The guitars take a step back on “Trans-Global City Life”, which is a funky piano number, before it all closes down with the elegance of “Deep Blue Sea”. Another excellent release, and one which deserves a wider audience.

Amityville – Pacific Radio Fire EP

Please note the absence of ‘the horror, the horror’ jokes about old Britpop musicians, but blimey, we remember Geneva. What was that song again? “Tranquillizer”? Might have been. Anyway, frontman Andrew Montgomery had an incredible voice, hitting notes only dogs could hear.

Well he’s calmed down a bit since then with a lower register, but it’s none the less captivating. This 3 track EP seems to have gone further down the dark route that Geneva threatened to with “How You Been”, the highlight here, having a Peter Hammill feel to it. Which is a good thing.

It was great to hear the voice again, and more songs like “How You Been” could elevate them to a high place. Although “Closer Now”, the final track is so 1996 Britpop it hurts. But on with the good! More, please.

2Play feat Thomas Jules & Jucxi D – Careless Whisper

Do you realise that the promo of this single lasts 31 bloody minutes! You read that right. 38 minutes of remixes of a dance version of a dodgy George Michael song I’ve spent twenty years trying to blot out.

I mean does the world need a garage mix radio edit with MC version of this white stiletto standard? I suspect not, but in its favour, it’s not the George Michael original, which remains one of the worst records ever (especially as it rips off a classic David Coverdale ballad from his pre Whitesnake day – you do the detective work – I’m not telling you!).

This has already been a heat, so my opinion will have no bearing on the Ford Mondeo owning classes who will dance badly to this in whatever hell hole that passes for a club these days. Verdict – better than it should be.

Madras – Dimestore Raves

I’m tired and it’s late, but here goes. Fairly generic indie pop with hints of Weezer, some catchy choruses and the obligatory quiet loud quiet thing that bands of this ilk go for.

But there is one major saving grace and that is “Great Wide Spinout”, a quite outstanding stop start song, where Dan Luperini realises that he can actually sing and goes for it big time. Talking Heads meet Catherine Wheel over an Orlando melody. A truly magnificent song.

Nothing else matches that, although “Hollows” gives it a good run, but at least they’re not as clinical and contemptuous of the listener as Coldplay or my new pet hates Athlete. More of track 2, and they could be on to something huge.

Three Days Born - EP

There are lots of different sides to this CD; it all starts with a lovely long spacey intro that is rather intriguing. The guitars are growly, the drums piercing and the vocals are teasing, flowing between smooth and gritty. L’ autobus Fatale is fierce! Sleazy rough guitars complimented by the driving force of the drums. 2_Player takes you on a whole different journey; silky lush vocals side by side with tinkling ambient guitars that make you feel warm and cosy. Just as you are settling into it you get jolted by the blindingly played loud guitars. It jumps with ease from ballad to rock and back to ballad again, this totally is sing along at a concert material. Marbles is poignantly heavy with seductive beats that make you want to hump. A very special diverse CD that is a total treat for your eardrums.

Katey J

Valerian - Intimations of Sorrow

I don’t know why but from the name of the band and the title of the album I was expecting a black metal monstrosity, especially as my promo copy arrived with no sleeve or PR bumph.

So imagine my surprise when it turned out to be chock full of traditional hard driving classic rock with some glam touches and a hint Of Guns n’ Roses Appetite era bluster.

There are even some reminders of fellow Finns, Him around the vocals, but this lot seem to take their rock and / or roll seriously, which makes a change from the irony overload of modern day rockers (hello and goodbye to The Darkness and Pink Grease).

The single would have to be "Liar", a soaring beast of a song, with an immense melody designed for the megadromes of America. There’s even some classic ‘woohooing’ going on for good measure. The best of the power ballads is "Mine Forever", another song that would have been Top 10 with a bullet back in the day.

There aren’t enough bands doing the pop glam metal thing these days, and Valerian could soak up that particular demand, if enough people hear it. If they can cut it live, they could rule their own world.

Paul Roland – Pavane

One of those remarkable musicians who spins at his own speed, Paul Roland has been releasing albums since 1979, evoking notions of pastoral pop and baroque eccentricities.

Much better known in mainland Europe than in his native IK, he has maintained a fanatical following in France, Greece, Italy and Germany.

He’s produced acoustic based mini LPs 'Happy Families' and 'A Cabinet Of Curiosities', the rockier 'Duel', the folk rock of 'Masque', the more commercial 'Roaring Boys' and 'Strychnine', a mini album of cover versions.

But this LP sees the man described as "the male Kate Bush" by Robyn Hitchcock, working back in the pastoral field. Predominately acoustic, the quiet sound is augmented with touches of harpsichord, lute, hurdy gurdy, recorders, violin and mandolin. So far, so Ritchie Blackmore. But there are some wonderful lyrical stories here, be it the Irish rebellion of Easter 1916 or the title track tale of an arrogant lover who turns to murder.

Not that I would know, but apparently this album sees his first instrumental numbers, which are knowing pastiches of Michael Nyman. Not my cup of Earl Grey, but as they start and finish the album, they are unobtrusive. In places eerie, elsewhere whimsical, this is a thoroughly enjoyable release.