Reviews

WEEKLY REVIEWS FOR JULY 3rd 2004

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

Daniela Nardi Trio - One True Thing

It's rare that an album comes along and completely envelopes you in its magic. If you're lucky it happens once a year. And this year, the magic album comes from the Daniela Nardi Trio. The Canadian press seem to be labelling her with a Norah Jones tag, and I suppose it's apposite, as far as fusing jazz, soul and country, in a similar fashion. But it's a lazy tag, and there is an awful lot more to Ms Nardi and her cohorts.

A classically trained pianist, the early 80’s saw her change instruments to bass guitar and take up songwriting, becoming involved in various bands and songwriting projects. Eventually, her roads led to York University where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music (Honors). Since leaving university, Daniela has been working as a composer for various independent film projects, as well as performing on the other side of the lens as an actor and voice over artist.

However, the mid 90’s brought a time which forced Daniela to stop all work, move back home and heal. It was during this time that Daniela turned to her songwriting and after a year of preproduction, recording, mixing and mastering, "One True Thing" was gifted to us.

Blurring the lines betwen musical genres, her sultry, evocative voice, is augmented in splendid fashion by the other trio members, Stephen Bright and Larry Crowe, with an array of Toronto’s finest jazz musicians adding some sublime touches, with an especial mention for the harmonica stylings of Mr Tortoise Blue.

This is a flawless selection of songs, which has been on permanent play for weeks. Whether it's the samba of "Hands", the bitter sweet acoustic beauty of "Crazy Jane" or the reaching out, languid, searching and wanting expressed in "You...so, Beautiful", this is an album of rare beauty. Things rarely move quickly, but when the pace quickens as on the blues drenched "Mr. God", it shows that Daniela can handle just about anything she desires.

By far the finest album I've heard this year (and I've heard hundreds), this is absolutely essential.

Catdesigners - Strange Little Creatures

I'm always pleased when someone makes a record that sounds as they've hoovered up as many drugs as I did in my youth. At least I do when they paint the pictures I used to see in my head, not when they find one note and stretch out for several weeks to no effect (hell Mr Ozric and Ms Tentacle).

And here's another addition to my collection of "woah..........look at the horses, man" mental imagery file. Catdesigners' debut album was called "Chemical Jazz", which seems a very appropriate title, if installment number 2 is anything to go by. 'Genres? We don't need no stinking genres'. Just the way we like it.

There are some wonderful moments contained within these grooves (groove? how many grooves(s) are in a CD?). "A Mind Like Mine" ambles along in cowboy fashion, while the title track is very Van Der Graaf in its execution. "Freak Show" is an odd mix of the Buzzcocks and Jeff Buckley, while the punk-prog-jazz mix continues on "Come Around", which has a catatonic vocal alliied to a spiky early eighties indie guitar sound. Sounds pap, but works a treat.

The progsters amongst us will warm most to "Congratulations On Your Head", which is just as psychotic as the title suggests. There are a few where it all turns a bit Radiohead, but that's what the skip button was invented for. Nick Troop is the man behind Catdesigners and I would encourage you to support his peculiar ways, wholeheartedly.

Sputnik Weazel - All Yer Buddhas EP

How can you not love someone whose career milestones includes;

Accidentally Recording for BMG,
Busking with Eddie Izzard on an island off the north of Holland, and
Doing a promotional gig for the Orient Express on platform 10 at London Bridge Station during the rush hour, full PA, a dancing troup, & people in kangaroo suits (don't ask).

There's only 3 tracks here, but each one is a gem. Yes they're acoustic, yes there's a saxophone (last refuge of a scoundrel, fact fans), but each one is instantly memorable, a combination of the personal and the political (with a large emphasis on the latter). Protest songs for the new minn-ell-ium (damn), with an outright winner in "All Yer Buddhas", which ups the tempo to fine effect.

Mr Weazel also has a full length album out, "New American Century", and you what that stands for conspiracy theorists, or 'historical revisionists' as the USA government now terms them. A title previously reserved for Holocaust deniers, not that George W is trying to smear his opponents. Oh, no, not my Georgie.

A goodie this one, go get some.

Peter Smith Quartet - Blue & Green

Recorded live in the studio, this is Peter Smiths 3rd release, and an entirely Latin affair. By mixing up some standards, rearranged in unfamiliar style, alongside some lesser known compositions by some jazz greats and a few pieces of original material, Peter Smith and his Quartet have produced an original and invigorating piece of work.

Looking to the acknowledged masters, there's numbers by Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter and Thelonious Monk, with Monk’s "Bye-Ya", and the kind of retitled "Oléo" by Sonny Rollins’ thriving in their new environment.

It's a pure acoustic affair, which allows the music and instrumentation to breathe, with Peter Smith on flute, soprano and tenor saxes, with Kevin Laliberté on acoustic guitar, bassist Drew Birston and Marcus Chonsky hitting everything and anything in his quest for sympathetic percussion. Looking at the original material I defy you not to be drawn into the divine "Carrie", a perfect soundtrack to the sunny afternoon I've just spent in its company. "Weather Report" is another gem, percussive driven, but having a lightness of touch that eases you in gently to its groove.

There's nothing to fault here, just pure music, inspirational and comforting. Highly recommended.

John Beland - Burrito Works

All you need to know about John Beland is that he has worked with The Flying Burrito Brothers, Herb Pedersen, Kris Kristofferson, Rick Nelson and the legendary Swampwater amongst many others. He was the house guitarist at the Troubadour when he met two singer / songwriters named Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther and toured with the pre-Eagles Longbranch & Pennywhistle duo. He also befriended Linda Ronstadt, who, in turn, persuaded Beland to form her first backing band, Swampwater.

The Flying Burrito Brothers were moribund in 1981 when he joined. Once famed for having Gram Parsons in their lineup, he was primarily responsible for rejuvenating the Burritos kickstarting their string of US country hits, including "She's A Friend Of A Friend" and "She Belongs To Everyone But Me."

Which leads us to this compilation of Burrito songs, sung and mostly written by Beland, and taken from the last three Flying Burrito Brothers albums - "Eye Of The Hurricane", "California Jukebox" and "Sons Of The Golden West". What you get is a trip through the history of country rock and the seventies California sound, and for the most part it is truly delicious. He's roped in some mighty fine guests such as Buck Owens, Alison Krauss, Sonny Landreth, Jo-el Sonnier and Ricky Skaggs as well as a heap of ex Burritos, which shows the respect he is accorded. However, it's the songs that are the stars here with "Rosetta Knows", "San Fernando Road", the classic "Sons Of The Golden West" and the manodlin assisted "Pioneer Zephyr Train" that shine brightest.

A remarkable testament to a remarkable career, essential for anyone who claims to love country music.

Chilli - Take Me To Graceland

Things seem to be picking up in the UK classic rock field, which can only be good, and Chilli are the latest to fly the flag for all things rocking. This took a while. Opening track, "Calling The Angels" is the worst track on the album by far, and acted as a major deterrent to reviewing it. But persistence paid off, and one day while walking down the High Street track 3, "Nobody Knows" kicked in, and I suddenly got the groove. Time vanished and I was midway through track 8, "Good Light" before I noticed I'd missed my turning and had to retrace my steps.

Intrinsictly melodic, and awash with guitar led instrumentation, aided and abetted by the fabulous voice of vocalist, Sarah, they make a game attempt at fusing their disparate influences with hints of the California sound, Celtic folk and rock.

Flirting between vaguely anthemic lighter in the air numbers like "Someone Else's Name", and delicate ballads such as "Daylight", they are operating a space somewhere between twilight and darkness, invading your space but occupying it like an old friend.

I must be getting old as it's the introspective moments that drew me in most, when they blur the lines between folk, blues and rock, combined with some incisive and decisive lyrics. A grower, and well worth the wait. Key tracks - pretty much everything from track 3 to track 8, especially "Daylight" and "Treat In Kind".