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Weekly Reviews For May 27, 2006

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I am Managing Editor at Metal4Life

I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock

I am also featured reviewer at spacerock.co.uk

I was Editor & reviewer at MetalUK.

New Reviews

The Ultimate - Everyone Is Secretly In Love

Like the world needs another band wearing robes. We've already got the Polyphonic Spree and Soundtrack Of Our Lives and it hasn't done them much good. Oh, right, hang on, it did. Um. You know, what the world really needs is another band wearing robes! Praise be then, to the Ultimate.

As a band, they are all over the place. It seems like they can't decide between being the Flaming Lips, Dread Zeppelin or the Beach Boys. In the same song. Except when they want to be Sly & The Family Stone or the Flying Burrito Brothers. And that's just the first half of the album.

The second half calms down a bit, which is a shame as the world needs more Reggie Knighton Band soundalikes as on "1/2 Past 3". The weird thing is, their deranged tribute to virtually every mainstram genre ever, is absolutely delightful. It shouldn't work but it does, which makes the world, momentarily, a brighter place.

Marcy Morman & Ekklesia - My Secret Place


Well if you're going to shout and praise the Lord, then putting together a fine collection of jazz tinged soul tunes is as good a way as any to do it.

Marcy Morman is the featured vocalist and has a strong, vibrant voice, ably backed by 4 other female songers and half a dozen talented musicians. Of course, it would all come to nought without good songs and this set of original material stands tall.

Some of the material could step up in tempo and there are a few splashes of bad eighties keyboards but Ekklesia to do their duty to be a light in dark places.

Tammy Allen - Wonderful To Be

Ah, the joys of a ceedee that arrives without benefit of covering letter or press release. The cover screams pseudo celtic keech or possibly Joan Baez wannabee. What it did not suggest was sophisticated jazz influenced adult pop. Cos that's what it is.

Ms Allen has a delightfully smooth voice, a way with words and some gifted collaborators. She also has a healthy sense of self deprecation if the liner phots are anything to go by.

The eleven tracks on offer are all originals, and remarkably good ones at that. I was particularly taken with the funky "So Good" but that's because, deep down, I'm a Temptation at heart. This is a splendid release and an unexpected pleasure.

French Possession - Foil For A Girl In A Posh Frock

Now you know I don't approve of the French. It's just wrong. Now if I want an expert in sprinting or bad food, I know where to go, and I suppose the one good thing about them having possessions is the ease with which you can help yourselves to them. Only 2 words save them from perpetual damnation - Thierry and Henry.

Of course the band don't appear to be French, so perhaps a bout of francophobia is out of place, but it's my gaff and my rules. If you don't like them, go set up your own.

French Possession are dealing in fragile, melodic, borderline arty songs which rarely burst into a run, but which inevitably have a memorable hook. Which is a rare talent and one to be commended.

Things turn out for the best when they take a slight step to the left as they do on "Wear And Tear", a song I should hate due to the Philip Larkin excerpts - the French and poetry in one album! - I'm eyeing up the lighter fuel. As we all know poets are on the list along with mimes, clowns and jugglers. Some of the songs even teeter on the edge of a Peter Hammill like collapse which makes "Controlled Emotion" a delicate jog. there's even a Kinks-ian bounce to "Deep In The Long Grass" and others.

There's no clunkers here, just a highly commendable debut.

Rudridur Maggagar

I suppose there's a reasonable chance of ending up a bit odd when you come from somewhere as remote as Iceland. A chance increased further if your howmtown of Vadhlaekie not only has too many consonants but a population of 225. remote and isolated - not a winning combination.

However even I was unprepared for the rambling, shambling acoustic bluesman that is Rudridddur. It's one part Captain Beefheart, one part Swamp Dogg, one part White Stripes and one part commital papers. I'd tell you he's the Icelandic Bartles but only dedicated readers of this august journal will appreciate that high praise.

As he rattles through 23 tracks in under an hour, there's no chance of the songs overstaying their welcome with only the Dreadlock Holiday reggae rhythms which appear a couple of times giving the skip button any work.
Odd and compelling, this is music that should have you crossing the roid, but instead it keeps you loitering longer than you really should.

Cynic Guru - same


'A cross cultural exchange of like minded artists' sounds hippy enough to have me reaching for my shotgun but as I have a soft spot for lush Fountains of Wayne like power pop, I'll let it slide this time. Especially when mixed with some classic rock riffing and progtastic orchestrations.

Cynic Guru are one of the biggest bands in Iceland right now. Now I know that's like me claiming fattest bloke in my house right now, but anyone who knocks the lamentable Queens Of The Stone Age of the top of the singles chart is OK by me.

And, credit where credits due, singer / songwriter / fiddle player Roland hartwell has put together a remarkable set of songs here. Not only that, but the boy can sing. Really sing. Not whine in the manner of skinny malingers like Snow Patrol (has there been a worse album this year?), but really, really sing.

Then when you least expect it he ups the ante with a burst of Kashmirian orchestration and some serious violin riffing that would warm the cockles of ELO fans the world over. In places, this is absolutely glorious and one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.