Reviews

Weekly Reviews For May 21, 2006

Review Index

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

Giles - Dancing With Dolores

It's a brave thing to do, starting an album with a slow blues, but if anyone was going to be up to the challenge, then it was going to be Giles. Purveyors ogf one of last years surprise treates in the shape of "Blue Funk", they've come up trumps again.

Across ten originals and four well chosen covers - "Freedom" by Richie havens, "Gypsy Eyes" by Jimi Hendrix, "Nutbush City Limits" by Ike & Tina Turner and "Bird On The Wire" by Leonard Cohen - well, three well chosen covers and a Leonard Cohen song - they ably demonstrate why I was so smitten last time around.

Whether it's the strut of "Fallen Angel", the Santana blitz of "Freedom" or the dense electric blues of "That's Why", Giles hit most of the marks most of the time. Granted, there's a bit of a lull in the middle before the shuffle of "Just A Shell" picks things up again, but it's a minor quibble.

Giles have pulled another rabbit out of the hat, skipping merrily across blues, funk and soul to deliver a delightful reacquaintance.

Zoe Chilco - Up The Highway


A double album, 28 songs long, from a singer you've probably never heard of. I can see you sidling towards the door already. If I tell you that the album is split into 2 halfs - "Blues Boulevard" and "Jazz Junction", will that help? Thought not. It is quite daunting when you consider the number of singers out there that you already like, and who don't release double albums. Me, I'm a Side 1, Side 2, ten tracks man, but in the interests of public service I dived in anyway.

If I had to choose between blues and jazz, then the blues would win every time, and so it was that "Blues Boulevard" found its way to the ceedee player first. Zoe has a rich, deep voice well suited to the slow blues style she favours. With a couple of exceptions the self-penned material follows the same pattern which leave syou looking for vocal and musical nuances to make a song stand out. Which favours "If I Want You", "Huis Clos / No Exit", the bouncy "Save My Soul" and the unaccompanied "My Dreaming Life".

Over on "Jazz Junction" and another 14 self-penned songs, which kick off with the sprightly jump 'n' jive of the title track. It's the trio format material that works best here, when Zoe is joined only by piano and bass with "True Blue" and "Cycling" my favoured tracks.

Robin Trower - Living Out of Time (live)

It's amazing to think that Robin Trower celebrated his 60th birthday with this stunning live release on Ruf Records. Starting off with The Paramounts I am forever indebted to Robin for many hours of pleasure listening to his solo on 'Repent Walpurgis' from the first Procol Harum album. At that time his guitar work embellished songs written exclusively by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid at times elevating them to new levels. It was not until the 'A Salty Dog' album that he started to write contributing 3 songs including 'Juicy John Pink' which would give an indication of the blues direction he would soon head in. Robin continued to develop as a writer with 'Whisky Train' off 1970's 'Home' a particularly good example. His fascination was not only with the blues but very much with Jimi Hendrix and 'Song For A Dreamer' on 'Broken Barricades' was a fitting tribute signalling a parting of the ways. He set up his own band Jude but that was short-lived then released a series of albums from 1973 to 1982 the most successful of which was 'Bridge of Sighs.

' I have to say that the lengthy live version of this number is brilliant and a track I've returned to many times over the past week. The band Davey Pattison (vox), Dave Bronze (bass) and Pete Thomson (drums) really do it justice and I can't believe how good the recording is. Listen through headphones-LOUD! Needless to say the 'Bridge of Sighs' album provides quite a few live cuts like 'Too Rolling Stoned', a song that has become a classic in its own right. I reacquainted myself with some great memories from the solo Trower catalogue and also made some new acquaintances with songs I hadn't heard before. The sound of a Fender Strat has seldom been better heard than on 'Living Out of Time' live. Those who witnessed the event at the Rockpalast Crossroads Festival in Bonn were very fortunate indeed!

(Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist)

Omar & The Howlers - Bamboozled (Live in Germany)

I was impressed when I heard my first recording by Omar and the Howlers ('Boogie Man') and am certainly not disappointed by this CD as Kent Dykes aka Omar 'howls' his way through 74 minutes of pulsating, inspired blues. Actually 'howling' is a rather unkind self deprecation as Kent has a deep throaty drawl (perfectly mimicked by some of his guitar sounds) ideally suited to his powerful and authentic evocation of classic blues Texas style.

After a stirring warm-up 'Shake For Me' it's no messin' straight into the Creedence Clearwater blues boogie shuffle of 'Mississippi Hoo Doo Man' and the rousing 12 bar 'Bamboozled' (Sounds like an all time classic to me!) The pace relents on the slow visceral impact of 'East Side Blues' as Kent runs his fingers up and down the fretboard to audible gasps of appreciation from an appreciative audience. When he sings 'You're mean and you're evil' you just don't argue with the guy! A 'Not Fade Away' rhythm is used for 'Magic Man' which includes the wonderful throwaway line 'Long ago and far away I was born on my birthday!' There's an instrumental 'South Congress Blues' that demonstrates the warm intensity of the artist and a poignant delivery of the title track of his 'Muddy Springs Road' album dedicated to the memory of his wife Lynette Leah, as is the whole live set. 'Do you believe it?' screams Kent in the classic encore 'Rock 'n' Roll Ball'.

I was delighted to reacquaint myself with the songs from 'Boogie Man' and some impressive blues boogie I hadn't previously heard like 'Hard Times in the Land of Plenty' and 'Monkey Land' (More at the 'Run Through The Jungle' boogie end of the spectrum). This man certainly knows his stuff and The Howlers (Barry Bihm and Jon Hahn) provide able backing. Any serious blues aficionado should add 'Bamboozled' to their collection without delay!

(Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist)

Census Of Hallucinations - Apparitions (4 CD set)

The first thing that strikes you about this collection is the sound: a brilliant palette of sound coloration that breathes new life into music already familiar but never quite as vividly realised before. Let's start with CD3 (Why not?), a good starting point for those unfamiliar with CoH music :two of their most immediate and renowned songs 'Orion' and 'The Moon' followed by two songs that are stylistically very different, and might be loosely described as 'disco soul funk without the inane lyrics' (Does that make sense? Probably not!) Chunky acoustic guitar drives the barbed political commentary of (If at first you don't succeed) 'Lie Again' admitting that 'there does not seem to be a solution' as the world has gone irredeemably astray. Despite the fatalism CoH music is oddly uplifting and always delivered with a wry humour and candid lyricism that certainly hits the target but may be a little 'OTT' for some. That would be a pity because not to open your mind to this is to miss out a quite extraordinary musical journey through life's 'discomfort zone'. Anyway, another thing is to always expect the unexpected. A whiplash, a quotation from 'they're coming to take you away HA!HA!', 'raspberries', acerbic insolent 'one liners' litter the music ate periodic intervals. A title like 'General Erection' tells its own story and uses a jazz funk approach that Frank Zappa would surely approve of. 'Merlin…You Left Your Hat On' is accompanied by a very clever video on the Pet Hippy website as we are reminded that science doesn't have all the answers. 'What about the things you can't see?' Quite! 'Gardez loo' (shouted before rubbish and excrement were thrown out of windows in pre sanitation days) introduces the delicious folk rock of 'Ignorance Insane', a splendid song boasts a chorus that reminded me of Tom Petty for some unfathomable reason. Guitarist/ singer/ songwriter Tim Jones is at his finest on 'Hard World' ably accompanied vocally by 'fellow conspirator' Terri B (Only joking!), Tim's guitar arpeggios perfectly deliver the message musically. There are more gems to come on this CD: the lovely reflective 'To Prodigal's Guide' and the 'disco stomp' (Not really!) of 'Daydream in the Slipstream' with more fine guitar from Tim.

To me CD 1 held together thematically in a way unsurpassed by the others which could get rather disparate and fragmented and lot to take in for the newcomer! There are only seven tracks on CD1 (Over 40 minutes of music) including some of my personal favourites like 'The Sun is Rising' and 'Sunshine Through Autumn Leaves' a song that has grown in stature enhanced by the superior sound quality. There was also a nice reminder of the late Tony Morland's lyrical contribution to the band in 'Mazed and Mystified' and 'The Sun is Rising'. The incisive, at times acerbic commentary is punctuated nicely by 'Opening the Trapdoor to Outer Space' a classic example of space electronica. I was less familiar with the concluding track 'Where?' an invigorating reggae/ska concoction I couldn't quite place.

Disc 2 didn't work as well as 1 for me as there is more emphasis on experimentation and less on substantial pieces of music. Having said that the fluid guitar of the remarkable 'Love is the Answer' and the hypnotic Hillage like guitar echo of 'Integration' (Would this have benefited from editing I wonder?) as well as the moving anti-war sentiments in '55000 Airmen' are worth the admission alone. My favourite piece on the side though (and one of my all time CoH favourites) is the awesome 7 minute 'My God It's Full of Stars' with sax joining the guitar.

Census of Hallucinations is ever eclectic and this is nowhere better demonstrated than the range of styles on CD4. Big questions are always asked: Where do you go when you sleep? What is the grand design? Whatever your perspective the lyrics and commentary will really get you thinking. On more earthly matters titles like 'Weapons of Mass Deception' tell you what to expect. Musically there are many variations: from the folk chant of 'External Internal Development' to the bluesy 'Manifest Your Magick' and a wonderful new song 'The Gremlin Song' containing a fine guitar riff and solo that will appeal to all you 'head bangers' out there.

So if you're looking for something challenging and different look no further than 'Apparitions'. Inevitably trying to put so much music together it's difficult to keep the momentum going but there is enough thought provoking stuff in this musical compendium to satisfy the most demanding of listeners. Recommended.

(Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist)

Root Deco - This Island Earth


Root Deco has never sounded better on this re-mastered compilation on Pet Hippy Productions. Although called 'This Island Earth' with an implied concept on the sleeve the music is in fact taken from their first two albums 'Dragon Rings A Bell' and 'We Come In Peace' introduced by a stirring new opener in 'Arise'. 'Subway To Paradise' actually closed the 'Dragon' CD and would be selling in bucket loads if performed by a more, shall we say, fashionable artist (ie. One with lots of money behind them!) The irresistibly catchy 'Eyes In The Back in My Head' has a more serious subject matter that its infectiousness and immediacy might suggest while there is a touch of humorous blues in 'Stretch' (Larry Vilchek likes to add the occasional harmonica to his stunning multi-tracked guitar work). New songs like 'Little Black Book' sit comfortably with the old and Root Deco have forged a unique sound that sounds familiar and yet is hard to place combining perhaps the accessibility of a Big Country with the raucousness of a High Tide! Yes they are heavy at times but never lose sight of a good melody! My only reservation is that personal favourite 'Shallow Man' is not included!