Album review: MIKE TRAMP – Cobblestone Street

March 4th, 2013 by jason

Target Records [Release date 08.04.13]

First up, if you are expecting something along the lines of White Lion, the harder rocking Freak Of Nature or something lighter in the melodic rock field be warned as this is an album Mike Tramp has wanted to make for many years. That said if you are a fan of his vocals like me and love folk/acoustic music and storytelling in songs you will LOVE this album.

The songs have sparse musical arrangements, although little additions here and there really add to the song’s atmosphere. Take ‘Once’ where Mike’s vocal is set to a crackly background bringing to mind an old movie and you can hear the reel of the imaginary film spooling out at the song’s end. The harmonica and acoustic strumming on ‘Ain’t The Life I Asked For’ recall the Alarm’s Mike Peters. Hey now there is a dream tour, the two Mikes :)

The title track sets the scene nicely being about his childhood and where he grew up. His knack of penning a potential chart topper show through on the pop rock of ‘New Day’. Throughout the album Soren Andersen adds in just the right musical backing, be it the subdued keys on the title track or the electric guitar solo on ‘Revolution’.

The nearest he gets to one of his previous bands is on ‘We’ll Be Alright’, which could be an acoustic White Lion number.

I rarely award five stars but this album deserves full marks, not a duff moment from start to finish. He may have taken thirty years to reach this point and make this album, but it has been worth the wait.

*****

Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)