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Reviews
Weekly Reviews For September 11, 2005 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
And time has not withered its majesty. At the time I had no idea that music like this existed, and its discovery sent me into the musty interiors of Edinburghs 2nd hand record shops for years to come, buying anything and everything that had the word mellotron on it. Not, that I knew what one was! Musically, Barclay James Harvest were at the top of their game with 'Medicine Man' and, of course, 'Mockingbird' absolute classics. Although, for me, the version of 'For No One' on this album is unbeatable. Listen to the lead guitar work of John Lees and marvel, as the words resonate through to the traumas of today. There's nothing new or rare here, just 11 classic tracks performed by a band pushing themselves to the limit. Essential!
This marks the 10th anniversary of the 12 piece Royal Jelly Orchestra, and if you yearn for the days of big bands and tap dancing on record ('Who Wouldn't Care For You'), then this is the place for you. On this, their 6th CD, and across 13 tracks, with 12 different vocalists, this is the CD that pretenders like Jools Holland should listen to, then quietly shuffle out of the door, apologising for their impertinence. Having reeled in the cream of Canadian performers, this is a superlative romp through a set of swinging classics, including an almost thrash romp at 'Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby' featuring Christopher Plock, a stomping 'Get Happy' with some gutsy vocals from Sandra Caldwell' and a dynamic 'House Party' with Lawrence Bayne. Other highlights include Big Rude Jake strolling through 'Ain't Misbehavin' and a fabulous, vibrant romp through 'Let The Good Times Roll', but there isn't a weak track on the album. Of course, some will poo-pooh the idea, but what could be better than great singers and great musicians playing great songs? Nothing, that's what. There's nothing groundbreaking here, just a fantastic celebration. Play this at your next party and be the talk of the town. Sensational!
Texas - Getaway Thankfully, the experimental dancehall nightmare that was the last Texas album has sunk, never to be seen again, and they've gone back to doing what they do best. Silky choruses, sexy vocals, and close-ups of Sharleen Spiteri. It's what we want, dammit, and it's what they've given us. Thankfully. The other new song here, 'Like An Angel', is an acoustic delight, with one of the best vocal performances in aeons from the delightful Ms Spiteri. Worth the price of admission all by itself, welcome home, Texas.
Barry Romberg's Random Access Part
3 He's a busy man is percussionist Barry Romber, having appeared in several incarnations in the hallowed pages of Zeitgeist, including MRC Trio, Geoff Young Trio, Lenny Solomon and Inside Out. Every one has been a delight in its own way, and now it's time for the dreaded improvisational album. It can be a treat to here a bunch of talented musicians kicking out the jams, away from the constraints of traditional song structures, but it can also be an unholy mess. Usually, it ends up somewhere inbetween, and this is no exception. As Barry Romberg says, they set out to "create a musical structure out of chaos." So, let's concentrate on the delights - and there are many. By far the best piece on the album is the ten ninutes spent in the company of 'The Two Elvins' (the album is partly dedicated to the late ELvin Jones). The percussion, strings and brass interact with precision and clarity with Kevin Turcotte doing things to his trumpet that are probably highly dangerous and illegal. At its best, this hits the heights of fusion, with the electric percussion adding a different dimension to the standard percussive affair. However, some of the pieces do feel unfinished, not surprising given their improv roots, but tracks like 'Not a Speck of Cereal' and 'A Peace of Mind' just seem to be getting started, then they're gone. There is some incredible musicianship and outstanding solos dotted around, but you have to keep paying attention as they fly in and out when you least expect it. An interesting album, but not for the faint of heart!
Joe Turner - My French Connection Eight years as bass player and musical director for BB King, still touring with his Memphis Blues Caravan, presumably a relative of the Kansas City born 'Big' Joe Turner who died in 1985 after an illustrious career spanning 50 years well documented by blues guru Paul Oliver, Joe Turner has some blues c.v! Anyway, 'My French Connection' is dedicated to the 450 people in the French village of Chedigny where he now lives and includes a song about that very place. Fittingly the CD also features the cream of France's blues session musicians. The BB King connection can certainly be heard in the guitar playing of Arnaud Fradin backed by a solid rhythm section including Joe on bass of course and Julien Brunetaud's boogie piano as well as Hammond organ and harmonica- love the solo on 'Beale Street Boogie'!. Joe writes all the songs and the quality is consistent throughout with a good time groove but also, inevitably, some serious subject matter, even when done tongue in cheek on 'Something Wrong', an acerbic tale of betrayal with its spoken lyric by Joe, the most memorable line of which refers to panties being in the lady's pocket as opposed to on her butt- I think you get the idea! The album gets off to a great start with the shuffle of 'Some Day', a John Lee Hooker feel with Joe on vocals and some wonderful barrel house piano but Ladonna Smith takes lead vocal on the vast majority of tracks over 73 minutes of engaging blues music. If you like blues and boogie music you'll love' My French Connection'!
Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist
Mandra Gora Lighthouse Meet Cherry
Overdrive It's great to see vinyl making a comeback and here from Swamp Room Records is a nice thick slab of 7 inch plastic featuring two songs from MGLS and 2 from Cherry Overdrive. The first track 'At The End of the Day' is an authentic trip back in time recalling a revved up Kinks with the addition of a retro sounding organ! You could be listening to one of those psychedelic nuggets collections that have become so popular. The second song 'Start and Stop' features more stabbing organ, the vocal has an insistent Jim Morrison quality, pounding drums, extended spaced out guitar and synth and a catchy, repetitive chorus. 'Sharks' by Cherry Overdrive is heavier, more guitar led with a good female singer and a punky beat, catchy, foot tapping stuff. 'Transparent' is more of a ballad, lots of note bending on the guitar, a slow burner with a bass solo. Psychotic beat and Paisley pop it says on the cover. Right on!
Reviewed by Phil Jackson for Zeitgeist Emporium - Wasted Released in shocking red vinyl, and for some reason partly funded by the Scottish Arts Council [cue grumble about my tax money], this is the first new material in three years from Emporium. Swathed in psychedelic stylings and Dave Greenfield type keyboard rumblings, 'Wasted' belies initial misgivings and becomes increasingly addictive. The flip side, 'Don't Be Alarmed', is more jagged, but does have some moments of Super Furriness. Better this than yet more publicly funded art installtions (whatever the hell they are), it's well worth a digital download.
Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot
/ Sink That Ship Well, I'm sure it will have appeared in the Top 10 by now, soundtrack for the summer as it was. Still not entirely sure what the fuss is, but it does have one of the best choruses of the year, and comes in a shiny 7" vinyl version, which is always welcome. Yet more Stranglers type keyboards rumblings, which makes me wonder whether every NME botherer of the last 2 years has a secretly stashed Stranglers best of tucked away out of sight. The new song is even more Stranglers like with lashings of J J Burnell bass lines which, unfortunately, don;t reallly go anywhere, as the Tenpole Tudor vocals let things down. 14 minutes and counting.
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