Reviews

Weekly Reviews For February 26, 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

Lope – Variation

I’ve remarked before on the wonderful ambient drone produced by Swedish based musician Victor Kvarnhall, who trades under the name Lope, and I’m delighted to report that this is every bit as good as its predecessors “Meta “ and “Necros “.

Ethereal, moody, and dreamy, the highlight this time around is probably “Panik”, which throbs away threateningly, whilst masquerading as something much less damaging.

However, it is consistently melodic, something similar artistes often forget about and the 4 tracks whizz by in 25 minutes leaving you reaching for the repeat button.

It’s still all points Eno, Low and Mogwai, but done in an inspired manner.

Lorraine Foster - Compositions by Musicians

The first jazz influence on Toronto born Lorraine Foster was Ella Fitzgerald, and it was Ella who inspired Lorraine to pursue her drum with the Art Hallman Orchestra, before she started touring nationally as a soloist.

It didn’t take long for Lorraine to become a top name in venues across Canada before returning to the bosom of an orchestra, this time Dal Richards and his orchestra, whom she worked with for eleven years.

This CD highlights the delicate nuances she can bring to a song, as well as the passion and experience that only a life lived can bring. The highlights are “Quiet Nights Of Quiet Song” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Gene Lees and the Hoagy Carmichael standard “The Nearness Of You”, which is almost painfully personal.

A sympathetic band and production recorded live in the studio, this is a very special performance.

Vivahead - Slug

The last time I reviewed a Vivahead release I said “some of the noises contained (or imprisoned) in this CD, mirror the noises in my head, when the medication isn't working and I'm about to do something very, very bad.”

This release isn’t quite as daunting or scary, although they still mash up classic Krautrock and Philip Glass into something a little bit special.

This has more of a traditional English electronic feel to it, more Canterbury than Can, mellow in places, especially on the nursery cum drone hybrid that is “Artism Part Two (Let Me In). Elsewhere they get a little bit funky on album highlight “Lying Down To Lie” which is equal parts early Genesis and late Kool & The Gang.

A cracking release, and one that should experimentalists very happy for quite some time to come.

vivahead@lycos.co.uk
Pulper Music Productions, 323 Wellfield Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1PL, UK

Saturday Nite Fish Fry - Rhythm & Soul

Now you might think that the world doesn’t need another version of “John The Revelator”, but you’re wrong. First of all, there’s no such thing as too many versions of the song, and secondly, you’ve never heard it funked up like this.

And that’s just one of the many outstanding treatments of songs new and old, on this release. Imagine Jools Hollands Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, but good.

Featuring piano and vocals from the remarkably talented Bill King and some amazing vocals courtesy of Shakura S’Aida, alongside a band full of people who just love this mix of jump blues, jazz, down home rock and roll, New Orleans, you name it they’ve got it.

Elsewhere you get fabulous renditions of Elmore James’ ‘I Can’t Stop Lovin’ and Big Bill Broonzy’s ‘I Can’t Be Satisfied’, a coupl eof Bill King originals and the highlight of the album, “I Just Can’t Stand It No More”, cowritten if memory recalls by a former Beat Farmer!

Despite being rooted in the past this is actually a modern reinvention with the rock guitar, strident brass and arrangements taking the blues a few stops forward rather than looking over its shoulder. Just listen to the closing arrangement of the Gershwin classic, “Lady Be Good” if you don’t believe me.

Hal - What a Lovely Dance

They’ve toured with Grandaddy and the Delays, they know their way around a melody, they’re a bit winsome in places, and know how depressing brass instrumentation can be when used properly. It jingles, it jangles and sometimes it spangles.

Which makes this single a very good thing. This Irish quintet deserves more accolades in a world where people think Embrace and Athlete are good, instead of being THE DEVIL SPAWN. I liked this. It won’t change the world, but fills the air with something nice.

Nick Cuda - Cichi (A Beautiful Woman)

Last time around Mr Cuda was giving vent to the romance and passion of Spain. Apart that was, from the final track, "Groovin' With Ms S.G.", which is a fine piece of blues strut.

This time around he dedicates an album to “a beautiful woman” on this six track release which consists of laid black blues, cool jazz and some beautiful acoustic guitar picking. And with a couple of classic Santana covers in the shape of “Black Magic Woman” (yes I know it was originally by Fleetwood Mac but Carlos produced the definitive version) and “Samba Pa Ti”, it was never going to go wrong in my book.

There are a couple of vocal tracks which are heartfelt rather than brilliant. "Always on My Mind" will forever be associated with Willie Nelson in my mind and nothing will top it, although there is some great slide guitar work here courtesy of lL Brisco.

One of those albums that dark times and late nights will have you reaching for, "Cichi (A Beautiful Woman)" is a delight from start to finish.

The Stacie McGregor Quintet - Straight Up

Stacie was a bit of a prodigy, studying piano at the age of six and by twelve, she was already an accomplished composer. She also has a Juno (Canadian music award) to her name for her performance on the “Best World Music” recording of 1999 (Omnisource by Madagascar Slim).

However, Stacie's debut CD “Straight Up” sees her leading a fabulous jazz quintet, performing her own compositions. The whole set looks back to the days of bop, but sounds fresh and vital. Ably assisted by sympathetic musicians, the likes of “Horacin' Around” swings the way jazz ought to, with a great arrangement and some awesome brass, from Kevin Turcotte on trumpet and Michael Stuart on saxophone.

Elsewhere, “Very Late”, is a remarkable composition, seemingly out of time and place, yet holding itself high. The outstanding track on the album, it needs to be heard. A name to look out for, Stacie has the chops and songs to break out world-wide.