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Reviews
Weekly Reviews For September 19, 2004 I am also Assistant Editor & reviewer
at MetalUK. I also contribute reviews to getreadytorock You will also find some reviews at spacerock.co.uk
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New Reviews So what they're going for is a harmony sound combining Patti's hard rock roots with Billi's country twang. And it is very good. Two very differnt voices coming together to make something greater than the individual parts. Of course, it helps that the songs on this 5 track mini album are absolutely fabulous, simple songs about love and loving, spartan with acoustic guitar and minimalist percussion, yet compelling. They sound like songs you've heard a thousand times and on "I Love You" and "Let Me Love You" they've created two songs which should be standards of the future. You owe ot to yourself to hear this.
Reviewed by Katey J Freeview are: Dave - Vocals Adrian Shaw - String Theory There’s nothing to beat a good riff of course and the album kicks off with a rather good example- ‘Mirrors’. Bari Watts does a sterling job on lead guitar while the rhythm section of Ade and Ric Gunther kick some ass- reminding me of the wondrous High Tide in fact. ‘Do It Again’ has a country feel with some pedal steel at the beginning and a George Harrison/ Travelling Wilburys feel to it. The lyrics about ‘narcotic charms’ are depressingly familiar as the resigned autobiographical account of life as a musician (and its pitfalls) continues. I must confess I’m not entirely sure where ‘Cottam Hill’ is but there is yet another change in style here- almost a Philip Glass meets ELO meets The Beatles in the ‘orchestral’ and vocal arrangements. The chorus of ‘Bide My Time’ will stay in your head as will Bari Watt’s fluid guitar runs and Ade’s simmering organ. There’s bitterness in the lyrics of course- this is not an easy record- but the raw emotion finds perfect release in a well crafted seven minutes crowned by that nifty Hammond break I mentioned earlier. Organ also begins the haunting ballad ‘Lost for Words’ while disillusionment turns to anger in a broadside against the hunting fraternity on ‘Stirrup Cup’- the wailing guitars sound the lament beautifully. I could go on but I hope I’ve said enough to convince you
to check ‘String Theory’ out for yourselves. Great guitar
playing, imaginative use of keyboards driven along by Ade’s
superlative bass skills, a rich and varied tapestry of music whose
melodies draw you in and lyrics make you think. What more can you
ask for? (Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist)
Thomas Simon - WalkAbout; Original
Motion Picture Soundtrack This, however, is an actual soundtrack to his debut documentary feature, "Thomas Simon Walkabout" filmed in New York City, Vienna, Brazil, Nepal and India. Simon uses the film to explore the meaning of music across different cultures as he interviews and performs with musicians from different backgrounds and cultures. Simon took the music he recorded back to New York City, where he added vocals, guitars, bass, keys, sitar and kalimba to the sounds recorded across the world. Which is probably why there is a strand of unity running through all the compositions. It would have been interest ing to hear the raw, street recordings to compare them with the finished product, as the end result seems to be more a vision of Thomas Simon than a record of collaboration. But that aside, this is still an accomplished piece of work, with the highlights being the suite of tracks originally recorded in Nepal ("Prelude", "Rock Jog" and "Himal Healing", which revisits the world explored by Shakti, and is quite captivating. An admirable conceit, and one that is ultimately rewarding.
TITUS GEIN – SUNDAY 8th AUGUST
2004 Titus Gein!! Where to start? They have a complicatedly simple style, lots of plinky plonky noises combined with superb guitar solos and a thrashy electro rock sound. It’s so crazy it works, a style reminiscent of Floyd with an up to date touch – there isn’t much singing but the tunes themselves hold attention and the band are fun to watch. The crowd loved them and it was cool to see the guitarist and drummer swap roles. The music is seductive, people were moving in time and didn’t even realize. What a great way to take your mind off the crappy weather of late, your GP should describe a dose of Titus Gein over Prozac any day….. Reviewed by Katey J Titus Gein are: Ross - Drums
Heaven & Earth - A Taste Of Heaven The main point of interest is really the new material, which features former Rough Cutt vocalist Paul Shortino wrapping his blues soaked larynx round a top quality selection of material. The best of the new material is the very political "Nasty Piece Of Work", which sounds like Dirty White Boy (the David Glen Eisley fronted band, not the Foreigner song). Closely followed by the big ballad, "It'd Be True". If this were 1984, we'd be buying this by the million. However, after the instrumental interlude, "Dreams Of Desire" it's straight into Deep Purple territory. Richie Sambora is an excellent singer and makes a damn good go of "When A Blind Man Cries". It's a daunting song to tackle, and he does a much better job than the singer in his band would have. The Joe Lynn Turner number, "Heaven & Earth" is a keyboard drenched mid tempo number which is instantly addictive. But you won't be surprised to hear that it's my main man Shug who really rocks the joint, with a stunning turn on "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean". A slide guitar, an awesome vocal, then a pounding beat, a train riff and glenn Hughes brings the blues on back home. A stunning end to a fabulous release. This EP is limited pressing of only 2,000 and one of the songs with Paul Shortino on it is not going to appear on the actual "Screaming for Redemption" CD which will be released later in the year so these will become collector’s items in the future. 01. Screaming For Redemption (*) from the album Heaven & Earth - 1998 Paul Shortino - vocals
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