What song are you listening to right now? (Page 372 of 392)

Dan Patlansky - Shelter of Bones (2022)

Arrived late-afternoon yesterday, so this is my first chance to unleash the new album from Dan. After a morning down the Quayside, I should be chillin' and to be fair, there's a smooth ballad, Lost caressing the ears, but the previous tracks, Soul Parasite; Snake Oil City & Selfish Lover sound the perfect collision between Hendrix & SRV. And now Bad Soul is spitting a hot riff through the speakers. Now Presence is struttin' funky and Devil's Dopamine sounds like it would fit on Purple's Stormbringer while Sweet Memories are more than enough to keep Dan's Blues credentials in order.

Can't deny, Dan's pulled out another good'un; plenty of guitar chiaroscuro for anyone. Roll on April when he swings by.

Eric Johanson - Live At DBA (New Orleans Bootleg) 2022

So, you're waiting in for an electrician to call, and Eric Johanson's Live Bootleg [double album] drops through the door... What to do Slap the discs in the player and enjoy 2 hours of the best, contemporary, swampy-Delta Blues going; that's what.

This was recorded in mid-January, for release a couple of weeks ago (I've been waiting for the post...) and from 1st note until 19 songs and 2hrs later, it was one of those nights I'd wished I'd been there. Taking their first opportunity in two years to hit the stage, Eric and his band; Will Repholz on Bass and Terry Scott Jr behind the drums were just on fire... Alternating between the Resonator and what sounded like a classic Danelectro, Eric was switching between the hypnotic and the hyper; not just on his own quality material but took Blues standards like Chuck Berry's Oh Louisiana; Son House's Dead Letter;  and Muddy Water's Champagne and Reefer back beyond their roots as well as throwing in a spirited Allman's Midnight Rider.

This is great stuff, modern, yet Delta through and through. Now excuse me while I get the Spanish moss off the light-fitting and rescue the electrician from the gators....

Marillion - An Hour Before It's Dark (2022)

Rule of thumb in spotting a "defining" album - minimalist cover with no, or hard to find title and band credit. So that one's nailed.
Second rule, if one's needed, the songs, few in number, each made of various "movements" to capture the current "zeitgeist". Again, nailed...

If you thought Marillion's best days were behind them (aside from the "Fish was best" brigade) you were dropped a big hint with 2016's f.e.a.r. album that the band were far from done, and even though they haven't released a "bad" album (O.K. This Strange Engine took a few more listens than usual) this is the album that Marillion have always threatened to make. Not just a career "high" but quite probably one of the most significant Prog albums of the last 25 years - or more.

The vocals soar, the guitars shimmer, the keys swirl and the strings swoop. There's orchestra, there's chorus, yet it never feels overblown. from the Cohen tribute The Crow and the Nightingale to the hymn to  health-workers, Care, not a note is out of place or over-played.