SOFT WORKS - Abracadbra (Moonjune)
Well, I doubt you'll be hearing much of this on the lamentable
Jazz FM (who may be losing their license for charter violations),
so short of buying it, you're stuffed. Which would be
a bad thing. For at times, this hits moments of pure pleasure.
Soft Works is that much maligned beast, a supergroup of
sorts that reunites members of various incarnations of
Soft Machine. "Abracadabra" also resides in
another maligned genre, that of fusion. The combination
of these two words (supergroup / fusion, for those at
the back not paying attention) is usually enough to send
normal folks packing up survivalist supplies and heading
to the hills. Which would be a mistake, for there is more
imagination in one of these tracks than in the entire
playlist of daytime UK radio combined.
Listening to Allan Holdsworth on guitar, bassist Hugh
Hopper, saxophonist and pianist Elton Dean and drummer
John Marshall exploring sounds ranges from the intellectually
satisfying to the emotionally delirious, sating all appetites
and crating a few new ones. There are ambient nuances
dotted around, particularly on openener "Seven Formerly".
“Elsewhere” by contrast, is a bit of a romp, which combined
with a fabulous Allan Holdsworth solo is one of the highlights
of the whole set. Another delight is “Baker’s Treat”,
a balladic reworking of an Elton Dean tune, where things
are probably at there most melodic, making for the standout
track on a glistening release.
http://www.moonjune.com
THE KIERAN RIDGE BAND - same
This CD arrived out of the blue, and is often the case,
an absolute peach. Once you get past the 'bloody hell,
why is Bob Dylan masquerading as Kieran Ridge' moment,
you realise that Kieran actually adds some very personal
touches to his vocal approach, which distinguishes him
from the overrated Mr Zimmerman.
These are roots songs, written and performed the eay they
should be. Every song tells a story, and every story is
worth listening to. There are also enough diffuse influences
to lift this out of being just another good CD, into the
realms of a must have. SOme country, some blues, some
classic rock. Lovely.
Granted, the ghost of John Welsey Harding (the album)
looms large, but there's nothing wrong with wearing your
influences as long as you don't end up in a tribute band.
The highlight is undoubtedly, "Angels Wings"
which benefits from the sublime harmonies of guest, Emily
Dahmen, to great effect. Remember the name, because Kieran
Ridge and band should be around for the long haul.
http://www.kridge.com
DEATHBOY - Music To Crash Cars To (Wasp Factory)
Deathboy have been around for quite some time, staring
as a solo project before mutating into a full band. This
is, I believe, their first 'proper' release, although
there are hunnerds of tracks lurking round the bowels
of this here internet thing. And it is good.
For those of us who like easy cultural reference points
(i.e. me), then Nine Inch Nails has to be your first port
of call, although I do hear shades of Stabbing Westward
in there. Although that may be wishful thinking on my
part, as the 10th anniversary of "Ungod" grows
ever closer:-(
So what else do we have? Late 80s indie touches (bad thing),
industrial and darkwave (good thing), interesting, sometimes
humourous lyrics (you're so pretty, you taste like cyanide
- what?) and, blimey! a stonkingly good CD. Albeit it
with loads of swearie words. It's not big, and it's not
clever.
It's heavy when it needs to be, but contemporary enough
to please the 'kids' brought up on all the sons of Ministry
currently polluting the world I know as RAWK. Spooky enough
for the minigoths who love their Manson and Amys. There's
even enough melodies going around for the idle foot-tappers
(although threatening to skullf*** someone in their sleep
may hinder radiogram airplay).
Top tunes - Snarling "We Will Destroy", nasty
"Crawlout" and the proggoth "Killer".
http://www.deathboy.co.uk
http://www.wasp-factory.com
DAVE DILL - Heaven
I totally agree with singer/ musician/ songwriter par
excellence Dave Dill that ‘there’s Heaven all around us’
as his plaintive vocal to the title track suggests, a
song, incidentally that a ‘new millennium’ Paul McCartney
would be proud of. It is remarkable to think that Dave
performs everything on this and the nine other tracks
on ‘Heaven’. ‘Into You’ has a more eighties ‘new wave’
feel, like a top drawer Graham Parker perhaps with country
rock influences in the guitar. Next comes a song that
stands out lyrically- ‘Losers’ ‘without whom winners couldn’t
be’. ‘Left Behind’ starts with lovely acoustic guitar
arpeggios and, vocally, I was reminded very much of the
intensity of Jeff Buckley. Dave’s lyrics reveal his deep
sense of humanity and on ‘When You’re Beautiful’ he sympathises
with the unrealistic expectations of ‘beautiful people’
and includes some neat little synth lines along the way.
‘Why’ sounds uncannily like an acoustic track from a Spock’s
Beard album rooted in vocal harmony groups such as Crosby,
Stills and Nash of course. Dave’s great concern for the
‘human condition’ is also revealed on ‘Bury the Sun’,
a song that George Harrison this time would be proud of.
The concluding song ‘Always There’ also has a psychedelic
era Beatles undertone and show that Dave Dill has absorbed
great song writing influences well. The listener is the
beneficiary of this osmotic process as everything sounds
so fresh and relevant. The short piano coda reprising
‘Heaven’ is a nice touch.
Maybe there is nothing greatly innovative on this album
but if there was any justice in the world these exquisitely
crafted and played songs would be getting the maximum
exposure they so richly deserve. Why isn’t BBC radio playing
music like this? It is after all the quintessence of good
taste and judgement- there is not a word or note out of
place- and what real music lovers want to hear, persumably.
You owe it to yourself to check this guy out. Certainly
a recommended release of 2003 and should easily end up
in my top ten of the year. Profuse thanks to Tim Jones
and Terri~B for drawing my attention to the immense talent
of Dave Dill.
http://www.davedill.net
(Dave Dill review by Phil
Jackson)
