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Reviews
Weekly Reviews For September 3, 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
Then, catastrophe! Singer and songwriter, Daniel Wylie, ups and leaves for a solo career. Not that you'd really notice on this 2003 release, as they continued on their merry way, with chiming guitars, vocal harmonies and sunny melodies. Granted, they seem to have lost the slight edginess of their earlier material, but it's hardly drastic. The highlights are many with 'Justify the Rain' and 'Life In Wartime' coming top of the list, although there are no duds across a series of sub 4 minute pop gems. Best of all is 'Stupid You', where the guitars and vitriol are briefly unleashed. Stephen Fleming has taken over the lead role, but the band as a whole are on top of their game, rising to the challenge of losing their frontman, with applomb. At times, they do run dangerously close to background music, but the songs and performances are strong enough to survive.
You wouldn't wanted to have got on the wrong side of Iggy Pop when he was at his manic worst, but you'd still have bought his records. But this is a shambling mess (and rarely has a band been so well-named), without a single redeeming quality. However, credit where credits due - the B-side 'Monkey Man' should have lawyers reaching for their copyright infringement casebooks and dragging Mark E Smith, bad attitude and all out of the pub. See, there's another one. Trash and talent. Mr Doherty, however, simply merits a smack on the head, and sent to bed without his tea. You have to despair at the tabloid trash shenanigans which have brought us the latest NME obsessed Emperors New clothes. Hopefully, it won't be too long before some little kiddywink points at the nekkid man,and we can all get on with our lives, surrounded by good music, rather than an addled no mark scratching himself in public.
The Morenas - It Shouldn't Mata The kids today with their wacky spelling and text messaging! For this has nothing to do with Mata Hari, and should therefore be punished. Preferably with a good dose of the tawse! - A uniquely Scottish leather strap with two tongues used for punishing unruly schoolboys when I were a lad. But here, I'm hearing Gene, Tindersticks, Cousteau and a bit of Placebo. SHouldn;t really work, but with a great deal of oomph in the bottom end department (oo-err), the lead track is oddly addictive. 'Say Something Else' comes up a bit short, but a few more tracks like the A-side (preferably spelt correctly), and The Morenas could be making some students very, very happy.
Hope Littwin - Live In The Studio Well I could take the easy road, say "Joni Mitchell for the 21st century", switch on the Sly telebox and wallow in endless reruns of the Gilmore Girls (on Hallmark and Discovery!, but how much do I hate Dean in the latest series), but you and Hope deserve more. For Hope Littwin is one of the best new singers I have heard in years. Jo McCafferty has finally got a serious rival for my affections. New York born, Miami based, Hope has a truly phenomenal voice, soaring, swooping and caressing her way through some interesting self penned songs. Granted, in places, she is still in thrall to her influences but that's perfectly accepatable when you realise, scarily, that's she's only 18 years old! SOme of the songs could also do with tighter arrangements, but these are minor quibbles. To be honest, if enough people hear her voice, then swathes of seasoned professionals will be packing up their acoustic guitars and retraining at Macdonalds University. She's that good. I'm not one for grandstanding comments, but I'll stake what passes for a reputation on Hopes talent. Lyrically, there's work to be done, as we dip into standard coffee house sixth form fare, but when an old cynic like me gets chills up my decaying spine, then there's something very special at work. Of course the danger is, some record exec wanders in, rubs off the rough edges, and loses the magic, but the magic is definitely there.
Opus 4 - Von Bach bis Broadway This is the bit where all the guitar fans run away screaming, for Opus 4 are a trombone quartet. And not just a trombone quartet, but a German trombone quartet! They've been on the classical scene for over 10 years now, and have developed a repertoire covering five centuries of music from the Renaissance (hello Mr Blackmore) right through to the 20th century encompassing the popular as well as the classical. Even if the thought of 4 trombones scare you, dip into their fabulous 8 minute version of 'A Portrait' by George Gershwin, right before an invigorating romp through Khachaturians 'Sabre Dance'. You might find yourself very pleasantly surprised.
Silo 10 - same If you want avante garde, ambient, post rock then you can;t go far wrong with a DogFingers / Uncle Buzz release, and this is no exception. Recorded live in Siol 10 (aha!) in San Antonio, Texas, this showcases the experimental sounds of Warren Rivera on guitar / synth effects and James H Sidlo on fretlesss guitar with sympathetic strings / loops / treatments. Much of it sounds like the soundtrack to a post nuclear holocaust diorama with the occasional side trip to a slaughterhouse after dark. And I should know, having been to a slaughterhouse after dark. Fortunately, I have yet to witness a post nuclear holocaust diorama. This is an album that demands headphones, and there's little point listening any other way, as the almost non-sounds will pass you by, as they crawl slowly through your consciousness. Picking favourites is a bit stupid but I keep getting drawn back to the extreme slow motion of 'Winter / Spring' on a regular basis. Too melodic to be drone, this is a late night mood enhancer.
Ron Davis Trio & Shimmering Rhythm
- Shimmering Rhythm Hello again, Mr Davis. I was greatly taken with his last CD, 'Mungle Music', and was delighted to pop this into the music playing machine. Especially when the joyous opening track, 'Rhythmaron' is such a sparkling piece, with fingers flying over the piano in tribute to Gershwins 'I Got Rhythm'. But this is no one trick pony as the Trio take on board a battalion of guests (the Shimmering Rhythm) and an astonishing range of sounds. From the gospel like 'Oratio' to the latin influenced 'Jeanamora', on to the astonishing Passover tune, 'Chassal Siddur Pesach', the Welsh hymn arranged by Vaughn Williams, 'Rhosymedre' and the stunning rendition of the Jerome Kern classic, 'The Way You Look Tonight', this is an outstanding, fresh and life affirming piece of work, and one of the most enjoyable jaz releases of 2005.
Arthur Lipner - Modern Vibe You know, there's something not quite right about vibes. For some reason, when they go badly wrong, it's a lot worse than when more conventional instruments go awry. So, it was with some foreboding that the opening cover of 'Love The One You're With', the Stephen Stills classic went so badly wrong. And, bear in mind, in my world, anything with the Stills imprint has got a head start on mere mortals. However, this version scored very highly on the upchuck-ometer. But it was with relief that the first, self-penned, number arrived, 'Street Vibe'. For it is on the original material that Arthur Lipner scores highly. There's a funky, smooth flowing vibe to his vibes that makes for pleasurable listening. Ignore the cover of 'Let's Stay Together, move swiftly along to the delightful Latin infused 'Blue Tango'. Although to be fair, he does pull off a good version of 'Ain't No Sunshine'. I can only assume the covers are here to try and pull in the casual punters, but Mr Lipner should stick to his own, sometimes exceptional, compositions.
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