Reviews

Weekly Reviews For September 17, 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

Gina G - Tonight's The Night

You've got to give a girl some credit for trying. Does Gina G let the critical maulings and lack of chart action get her down? Heck, no. Instead she ramps up a raunchy club act, sneaks out a white label to club DJs, and watches it hit number 2 in the Music Week Club Chart. Go get 'em, girl!

Now, I may be old, tired and in the way. I also may be completely incapable of dancing, beyond the 3 patented metalhead routines;

a) do a pre-Axl arm waving snake dance,
b) the patented Quo finger in belt no-nonsense mindless headbanging boogie, or worst of all,
c) the modified 'idiot dance', often known as the hippy dance.

However, even I was almost tempted into attempting a shimmy as this top notch slice of disco pop bounced out of the speakers. I didn't because that would be dangerous, and could cause seismic disturbances, but if I were a lad with a penchant for t'other lads, I would be dangling my hanky for this tune.

A top quality pop / dance crossover, this should keep Ms Gardiner in PA appearances for quite some time to come.

Altered Natives - same


Gaaaaarrrrrnnn! I hate, hate, hate programmed drums. And there seems to have been a plethora of releases crossing my path recently, dripping with the gosh darned things.

You see, this is a very good set of contemporary jazz fusion, primarily the work of Derrick Graves, which bops along in fine fettle. But skip the tracks with drum programming. Head for the near ten minute "Peace Of the Rock", where the fervour outweighs all else and enjoy.

Kevin Dorsey Collective - Gateway

This is a sprightly set of contemporary, instrumental jazz, albeit one with its roots in the new jazz directions of the seventies.

Composer and bass player Kevin Dorsey has found himself some excellent associates whose sympathetic treatment of his music really helps it sparkle. A special word of praise to Bill Pomares whose brass and wind work is a constant delight.

I was especially taken with the incredibly melodic "Just Above the Surface" and the driving latin rhythms of "See More".

Arnold Faber's Vibre - Blue Comedy

The vibraphone has never been an instrument I've warmed to. Too much like a set of Homebase door chimes for my liking. But there is something rather pleasing about the music that this quartet produces.

There is a warmth and spontaneity to their contemporary jazz sound which just draws you in. Whether it's the lenghty workouts of which the original "Sink Or Swim" dominates or a sprint through Dave Brubecks "The Unsquare Dance", they have such an enthusiasm for their material, that you can't help but smile.

Thomas Patrick Maguire - Woodside Land

I remember finding Mr Maguires last record slightly endearing in a shambling lo-fi kind of way. And it's good to see that he has stuck to his guns.

It's all very Lou Barlow acoustic, the kind of thing you thought sunk with the good ship nineties, but when he bumps into a good tune as on "Negative Hill", "My Hands Were Tied" and others, it's rather engaging.

One for those who yearn for the days of storytellers gone by.

The Morrisons - Psycho Surfin'


For a moment there they had me fooled with their Surfaris type intro but, no, they haven't really gone all Jan & Dean on us. Instead, twenty years on from their flexi disc debut, it's an actual full length debut album of what used to be indie rock.

Of course, it's Englis eighties indie rock, before it became a generic term for any old rubbish with a guitar. So in places it's a bit fey, a bit jangly, always melodic and sometimes pastoral.

So, if good songs played in a somewaht ramshackle manner takes your fancy, then give it a go.

Barry Romberg's Random Access - No Soap Radio

It's always a treat when a new Barry Romberg album arrives and this set of exploratory jazz is no exception. In fact, this latest chapter of improvisations may be his best yet.

The opening lengthy jams, "3rd Rock From The Sun" and "Master Of The Universe" contain patterns and phrasings that are probably illegal on some parts of the planet, so out there are they.

If you're willing to join the music and visit some uncharted territories, then this is the place to begin.

Kiki Wow - Back To Nature

What a lovely, lovely record. Sure, it gets a bit treehuggy in places, but you can excuse that when it's such a melodic treat.

Singer / songwriter Kiki Wow has put together a delightful set of acoustic based tunes, with one foot firmly planted in the seventies and the other thoroughly bang up to date.

Nine of the ten originals are originals, and there isn't a dud amongst them. The highlights are a-plenty but I was enamoured of "Goin' Nowhere Fast" and "Dream Come true" most of all. Tunes to make an old cynic smile.

IV Christ - same

IV Christ are a contemporary gospel group who come leaping out of the traps with a righteous fervour and some spot on vocal chops.

It's also nice to see that their compassion extends to the visually impaired graphic designer who made the inner sleeve so unreadable. Props for equal ops. But, bitchiness aside, this is a strong set of soul and r'n'b with the tremendous four piece harmonies well to the fore.

There are a couple of particular treats in the shape of "The One" and "I'm Coming Home", although some of the others edge over the sugar line into syrupy.