Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Uriah Heep - Chaos & Colour (2023)

Well, Mick Box and the team have gone and done it again. As with their previous, Living The Dream; rather than re-invent themselves for the 21st century, they've looked back at their high points of the past 50 years (yes, count them), put them all in a blender and come out with another thunderous album of classic rock. It may take a few listens to find the absolute anthem of the album, but at the moment it's the picking out the glimmers of past glories. There may be nothing new here, but between Save Me Tonight and Closer To Your Dreams this is vintage Heep outpowering bands half their age; luscious melodies and cannily crafted song writing.

I don't know what they're on, but I'd like to know where you get it. bands of this vintage surely shouldn't sound this vital, but since they were among the originators of the genre, then who better to remind us how it should be done?

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Oli Brown & The Dead Collective - Prelude (EP) 2023

So, here's the debut outing for Oli Brown's new outfit, The Dead Collective, and it is a beauty. Working along side Wayne Proctor, who drummed for Oli back in his Blues days, this may not be as heavy as Oli's previous project, the power trio that was RavenEye, but nor is it easy listening Blues: it's the perfect bridge between both aspects of Oli's music progress thus far. The drums may be like rolling thunder and the guitars scream, but Oli's vocals have lost none of their range and power while Oli has learned to express the angst without falling into histrionics. Certainly shows scope for hopefully an full album before too long.

Here we're given 3 great tracks, Heard It All Before; Sinking Ship and Haunted, which also has an evocative semi-acoustic version; cello backed, this is really atmospheric.

Oli has been concentrating on his bespoke silver jewellery lately but since releasing the 4 tracked Unreleased EP in Summer 2020 (1st music product since 2017's RavenEye - Nova), Oli has been honing his skills at Superfly Studios in mixing, mastering and producing, as well as some writing, which we got a taste of on Toby Lee's debut (original) album Aquarius as well as popping up on The Mentull's most recent album.

This is why it was wise to reserve his seat at the big table - welcome back, and try the fish...

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

6,861

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

JD Simo- Missy's Strut
Go and buy his latest album: Songs from the House of Grease.-
He always delivers really great work

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Wille & The Bandits - The Kernow Sessions (2023)

A "live", in sessions album from Wille & the Bandits recorded on 20th October last year, featuring Wille and the band. plus a couple of friends sitting in (Chris Haddon on Guitar & Helm Devegas on Rhodes piano) and having a romp through family & fan favourite tracks from their back-catalogue so far.

Love the artwork of the album's cover, by Cornish artist Marielle Newton who specialises in evocative seascapes. This "pairing" between the artwork and the music works especially well. Consider Cornwall as that spur of land in the Atlantic, splitting the ocean into the Irish Sea and the English Channel; at one moment the sea is benign & beguiling or sharply turns to threatening & turbulent; moody & majestic - much like the music of WATB.

If you've never yet tried any of WATB's music, this is the perfect intro; some of the older tracks have been beefed up since the days the band was a 3-piece, but their essence is still there, retaining their unique sound. As a young friend recently said, these guys are more than just the coolest band name.

Bad News - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9__FXpTf6oI
1970 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A0PDyM7GKA
Still Go Marching In - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrRJTCSt-Ag

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Del Barber - Easy Keeper (2019)

So, while there was very little, okay, no choice of CDs on the merch table the other night (though several vinyl), I came away with a copy of Easy Keeper from Del, and it turns out to be a bit of a "classic" in the modern country genre. Well, let's be clear, in ANY genre it's a worthwhile album: checking up on it and you could say it's Del's breakout album, certainly gathering attention right the way up to Rolling Stone Magazine.

Rather than any ear-exploding music, what comes to the for is Del's storytelling, observant, personal and accessible; songs such as Louise and No Easy Way Out while Ronnie & Rosie show a more tender regard from what are essentially, real life characters he's met along the way. (in a different genre, I think Ian Gillan is the only other writer with this gift, that i can name.)

I will certainly be on the hunt for the follow-up album Meantime and the "outtakes" collection Stray Dogs as well as Almanac, due in April.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

The Who - Quadrophenia (1973)

So, Pete & Roger have lined-up some early Summer dates, doing an orchestral tour of this seminal album to mark it's 50th Anniversary (lot of it about....). Realising I'd never actually heard it in it's entirety (pause as Curby falls off his chair.. recovers and gets back up), thought it was high time to remedy the situation...

Flippin' 'Eck!! this is powerful stuff. though how the devil they'll do this without Moony's drumming is beyond me.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

6,865

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Pet Shop Boys - Living in the past  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH-JzfkAvD8  new song

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Those Deadbeat Cats - This Ain't Rockabilly, This Is.....  (2023)

So, big question, if it ain't rockabilly, then what is it? Some may call it skiffle, and I wouldn't disagree. Arguments aside though, this album is actually good fun. Take the "ultimate" 1980's hits compilation and strip the songs of the "everything but the kitchen sink" style of production, and this is what you get. Everything from Guns 'n' Rose to Culture Club gets the treatment here. And before anyone gets picky, I know Creep came out in 1992; by the same measure, Tainted Love may have been a bigger hit in 1981, but it was first released in 1964 (Gloria Jones) and this arrangement is the closer match; the same year The Munsters hit the TV screens.

So, who are the archetects of this? Well, it's Ron Sayer backed with Daryl Blyth on drums and Wayne Beauchamp on double bass, and I have yo say, the do a fun job. It certainly isn't as earnest as current hot rockabilly revivalists His Lordship, but the deconstruction of these songs is masterful.

Ubangi Stomp - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM4lkXybwbw
Ace of Spades - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7x3cdo8TQo
Creep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRM8wQ1aoHU

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Anthony Gomes - Peace, Love & Loud Guitars  (2018)
                          Containment Blues  (2020)

You know how it is, your flicking through your Facebook page and there's one of those random ads spring up, and just as you're about to hit DELETE, one of those bells rings in the back of the mind, just in time. I thought I recognised the name, one touted by Gary a couple of years ago, in an Album of The Year threads. That, and never one to turn down a good offer, especially free Transatlantic postage, here we are.

Can't really say that there's much to separate the two albums, Gomes has hit on a style, somewhere between ZZ Top and AC/DC, which works well. The earlier album does exactly what it says; it's as complicated as a 1970s GMC pick-up, but just as sturdy and reliable, carrying a vocal that sounds like Gomes has gargled with desert sand.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Love Sculpture - Another Helping  (2020)

Mentioned this a few days ago on Curby's Dave Edmunds thread. The album here is made up from 3 "live" radio sessions the short-lived Love Sculpture did for the BBC in 1968 & 1969. It was the first of these that spawned their monster chart hit, the frenetic take on Khacaturian's Sabre Dance (from Gayane), originally done aa a session piece, but was released as a single due to listener pressure. The track was inspired by the sort of arrangements being done by Keith Emerson and played much in the style of TYA's Alvin Lee.

Most of the other tracks in the sessions fall into Blues rock, with others being covers of what are now rock'n'roll standards, very much setting the template for Edmunds later, and more lucrative solo career. That didn't stop another Classics cover appearing, this time, the technically superb take on Bizet: Farandole (from L’Arlésienne). (On the band's 2nd & last album, they also interpreted Holst's Mars from The Planet Suite, but it wasn't licenced by Holst's estate for UK release.

The band split in 1970, following a US tour and Edmunds went on to a career as a solo artist and with the collective known as Rockpile, sharing lead duties with Nick Lowe. The guitar flash may have taken 2nd place in this time, up to his retirement with an instrumental covers album in 2015 and then altogether from the music industry in 2017. Whatever the style, he certainly played with aplomb.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Frijid Pink - Frijid Pink (1970)

When you look back at the Detroit music scene back in the late 1960s, there must have been something potent in the water; in the Rock genre alone, you had MC5, the Stooges, the Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger, Suzi Quatro, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad; to name but a few.

Often overlooked though, were Frijid Pink, formerly The Vibrations, until apparently them came on to play a 2nd half set in matching, shocking pink velvet outfits, and the name stuck. They even dared to have a major international hit single, an almighty take on House of The Rising Sun, with great vocals over top a heavily distorted guitar that almost wrested the song back to the USA from the English Invasion upstarts, The Animals: not bad for a "filler".

Frijid Pink's self-titled debut LP followed in 1970, as did their second release Defrosted, with virtually all of the album's writing being provided by the duo of Beaudry and Thompson. Subsequent singles including "Sing A Song For Freedom" and a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" failed to match earlier successes. The quality of the songs do vary on this expanded album, its a case of when they're hot, they're on fire, but when they're not, they're not, but it's a good representation of the Detroit heavy blues scene of that era.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

6,870

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Sparks - The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTAxPhxADo0

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

The Answer - Sundowners (2023)

After a hiatus of about 7 years, Cormac, Paul, Micky & James have got back in the studio and put out a thumping good album that any band would be proud to deliver. The songs sound, on the surface, like simple, stomping anthems, but then that's the trick isn't it? There's a Hell of a lot more going on under the surface than is first apparent.  And that first bite, you get the power of vintage Nazareth with the blues swagger of Black Crowes and the tightness of AC/DC, while at the same time, copying none of them.

Like with Thunder a few years back, it certainly sounds like the break has done them the power of good and here's to the guys maintaining the momentum - we need more bands like this.

I was checking back in the forum vaults, it's a shame they've had little mention on here in the past. They first came up back in 2006 which would tie in with their Rise album. I think I saw them back then, pre my days on the Forum and can remember thinking, their lead singer Cormac Neeson had great potential. Maybe on this album it hasn't been played up as much in favour of a more balanced band approach. How ever you may feel about it, in what has seen a slow-startting year for new music, this is a little gem that will grow on repeated listenings.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Laura Cox - Burning Bright (2019)

If I remember right, this is a name a gig buddy pushed my way a few years back while we were chatting about the other emerging French fret-burner Felix Rabin. (Think Gary here is also a bit of a fan.) Okay, so Laura is half English, half French, but she can't half rock it out.... There's a lot more grit to it than anything the girls on RUF Records are putting out, not quite as bluesy, but there's plenty of flash.

Puzzles me though, why I had to find it marked down in the CD bin at HMV: you'd think they were clearing out CDs to make way for vinyl, which will never catch on IMO... (Going in a music store now, it's like stepping back into the 1980s...)

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

6,873

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Picked up a new album Stone Cold Country that actually has more hits than misses of songs by The Rolling Stones by current Country musicians.
At the top is this song by a fave of mine.

https://youtu.be/77YRaLHckBU

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

Hawkwind - Church of Hawkwind (1982)
Right then, a 2023 re-pressing of 2010's remaster of 1982's little gem of a Hawkwind album from that early 1980's period when they were quite prolific in their mainstream releases; not to mention their own series of bootleg releases (known as Weird Tapes) and their own fledgeling Flicknife label.  Hot on the heels of the likes of Levitation, Church immediately followed Sonic Attack and preceded Choose Your Masques, and to be fair, it strikes a balance between out-takes of the former and demo's for the latter, and produced by "Dr Technical" which was probably a nom-de-guerre for Dave Brock.

So we get synth and guitar workouts such as Nuclear Drive, Star Cannibal, Fall of Earth City, Light Specific Data and Looking in the Future (which was on the Weird 7 album). We get synth pieces such as Phenomenon of Luminosity, Joker at the Gate and The Last Messiah. For the bonus tracks we get an extend version Angel Voices. It's the most disappointing track on the album so extending adds nothing, Harveys Sequence which is a nicely atmospheric synth piece, Fall of Earth (alternative version) might be the better version, Water Music (Light Specific data) which is a messier version and a similar version of Looking in the Future which morphs via a synth section into an alternative version of Virgin of the World, one of few the highlights of Sonic Attack.

The remastering itself (on all of the tracks) gives a clearer soundscape than the first CD release, without following the current trend of adding huge amounts of extra bass, so is mostly good. Overall rather splendid stuff, though not classic stuff, and besides Choose Your Masques perhaps the best Hawkwind album of the time, until Chronicle of the Black Sword came along.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

6,875

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

So underrated but a genius to me.  This a very obscure yet magical song by my Prince.  R.I.P. brother.

https://youtu.be/r967lcA_rR8

Re: What song are you listening to right now?

After seeing current "hot-ticket" Dom Martin for the first time last week, I picked up a couple of his early albums to get a better mark on the man: his debut studio - Spain To Italy, (2019) and the follow-up live band album, Dom Martin's Savages - Live At The Harlington (2021)

The studio album has 2 covers in the 12 tracks, Lead Belly's Out On The Western Plain and Blind Blake's Dry Bone Rag; all the others being Dom Martin originals. The Rory Gallagher influence is unmissable, but not done as a straight copy; that would miss the more folky-edge from the likes of John Martyn and the ilk. The vocals are a gruff near-baritone; (a hint of van Morrison perhaps?) and the story-telling is masterful - in many ways, very much like old Ian Siegal.

Dealer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBgj8xBRldM
Antrim Blues (Live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVmQZgndyfE

The Live album, recorded Dec 2020 is virtually a full show (running a CD busting 78 minutes); the only thing missing is Martin's between song "craic" which, I'm told is as much a show feature as his guitar-work. Again, the spirit of Rory Gallagher dominates with 4 back-to-back tracks - Hands Off; Laundromat; Morning Sun & What's Going On; toward the start of the set with Railway & Gun just after the mid-point. However, Martin is one to follow his heart while playing, and when he hits a groove, a 10 minute track is on the cards; self-indulgent maybe, but not boring... This will be a hard album to track down if anyone is interested, the last 10 copies were on the merch table at last week's gig.

Unsatisfied (not on album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS-2cGiwrJE
Hands Off - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzh_lrecpDA

There is a 2nd studio album available, A Savage Life (2022) and a new album to come later this year.

12 Gauge (lead single from Savage Life) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCMmfQVedmE&t=1s

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...