JONES
AVE. - "Folk Art"
I
love the 'feel' of this album. 'Folk Art', a project of ex San Francisco
Blue (former Jefferson Airplaner, Bob Harveys band) man, Brian Fowler
sounds so 'alive' and includes a good old fashioned bit of protest,
'World War 3', a beautiful ballad about Nick Drake (whose tragic life
and death has touched so many of us) in 'Broken by the World' and a
variety of instrumentals with some fairly 'far out' experimentation
(e.g. 'Circus Clown').
Jones Ave. seem to take their inspiration wherever they find it and
use 'sound bytes', dialogue, even children's nursery rhymes ('Saviours')
and 'avant garde' playing, anything it takes to get their message across.
I was reminded of The Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart in
the more anarchic moments and Jim Morrison's 'American Prayer' again
in the more anarchic moments!
The striking things instrumentally are Brian's lead guitar work, not
technically flash but a clear, resonating, honest sound and his mandolin
playing -this gives a 'folk vibe' to the recording- of course! Brian
is assisted on vocals by David Wisdo and my one complaint here would
be that I couldn't make out all the lyrics. The other distinctive element
is Laszlo Stan's violin and he and Brian trade licks pretty well together.
There are 3 keyboard players and 3 bass players listed although I wouldn't
say these instruments are that prominent- it's the guitar and violin
that come across most strongly on the first couple of listens.
Overall the album sounds like an authentic late 60s recording and the
genre you can't get away from is psychedelic with a capital P.
Check it out!
Buy online - 
Zeitgeist- http://www.the-rocker.co.uk
Contact Brian at http://www.sfblue.co.uk
(Phil
Jackson) musician
and reviewer
THE BLEEDING
HEARTS - Anarcoustica
Feckin
crusty hippies. Can't live with them, can't beat them about the head
with a seal c(l)ub. The Bleeding Hearts were rightly lauded round our
way for the excellent "Fly In The Face Of Fashion" ceedee,
a right (anti) royal kick in the head, agit punk folk in your face.
So
how do they follow it up? With an acoustic live release full songs of
how whales are good and war is bad. Which is debatable. However, this
is tupthumpingly good, I can forgive them:-) They have come up with
some interesting percussive arrangements, relentlessly driving bass,
and some heartfelt vocalising.
Recorded
in the glamourous heartland that is the Flapper & Firkin, Brummagam
(hmm, been there, drunk that, shed a tear for Firkin brews), the perpetual
European touring over the last 7 years shows through as the band whip
up a stew of attitude and sweat. Never forgetting that the basis for
everything has to be good songs, the Bleeding Hearts have come up with
an intimate yet rousing release.
Buy
it at
http://www.bleedinghearts.co.uk
ADRIAN SHAW
- "Look Out"
For
the unacquainted, Adrian is the bass player with Bevis Frond and counts
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Magic Muscle, Hawkwind and nearly T
Rex among the bands he's played for. See Adrian's informative and entertaining
musical autobiography on the Woronzow web site for an explanation of
the Marc Bolan connection.
The CD gets off to an excellent start with the 9 minute 'I Don't Think
So', a track rich in Neil Young influences to my ears (circa '89- '90)
with two great guitar breaks from Nick Saloman and ex High Tide axe
man Tony Hill and an acoustic guitar solo from Adrian's son, Aaron.
'The Chosen' has a hypnotic guitar motif with a very 60s sounding organ,
a memorable chorus and some nice spacey echo laden guitar to round things
off
The lyrics on 'Few Are Called' (as indeed on 'Another Face') are most
intriguing. I heard this described as 'dark ska' in the Free City review
and I know what the reviewer means. The piano is irresistibly infectious
and the use of sampled voices and other sounds is ingenuous. The descending
scale at the end reminds me of the more playful moments of Blur (as
did some of 'Another Face'). The more experimental side of The Beatles
is the most appropriate comparison though while the following track
'Remembrance of Things' recalls the more common face of The Beatles
(the melodic one of course!) and a latter day Pink Floyd ballad.
An evocative guitar arpeggio opens 'Father's Day' a song I was familiar
with from Alchemical Radio, very catchy. Adrian does not have the strongest
voice in the world but his singing is full of emotion no more so than
on a song graced by some fine 'harpsichord' and two stirring Clapton
style guitar solos by Bari Watts. Great multi-tracking at the end! The
short instrumental 'Oh to Be Young' has what sounds like mandolin or
ukulele, a melancholy twangy sort of effect that evokes a Russian railway
station in winter. This track would fit 'Doctor Zhivago' well!
Phased guitar arpeggios with nice stereo effects and distant synth provide
a mellow start to 'A Modern Man' then things turn a bit heavier with
spacey Pink Floyd type organ. Parts of this track are reminiscent of
'Father's Day'.
'Cool Blue Reminder' is a heavy bluesy song with a 'Come Together' kind
of feel, some wah-wah guitar, weird phased vocals and cymbal work.
The album closes fittingly with the ballad 'Childhood's End' featuring
acoustic guitar and gentle synth. I'm sure I read somewhere that this
is based on the brilliant Arthur C Clarke story but I can't find that
reference so can't swear by it.
Adrian plays all the instruments on this CD apart from the guitar solos
referred to earlier.
'Look Out' is a very warm, very psychedelic and at times very experimental
recording and Adrian's ear for a good melody ensures that his creations
live long in the memory. This is one CD not to be missed!
To find out more please visit the web site of Adrian and Nick's record
company at www.woronzow.co.uk
and read an in depth interview and discography at the Aural Innovations
web site (#11) also accessible through www.rubricrecords.com
Buy online -
(Phil
Jackson) musician
and reviewer
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