Album review: THIEVES’ KITCHEN – One For Sorrow, Two For Joy

Self-released – 2013

Well, where to start with this one? There are just so many good things going on and so many influences here that it’s difficult to pin down exactly where it’s coming from.

A simple distillation would be a neo/traditional progressive rock tour de force played by an English/Swedish combo who sound like a female-fronted amalgam of Yes, Focus, King Crimson and Genesis with a side-order of Jethro Tull and All About Eve.

There, I’ve done it.

Of all these influences, the strongest is the Yes/Focus combination with Thomas Johnson’s keyboard work eerily similar to Thijs van Leer and Phil Mercy’s exceptional guitar work casting more than a just a nod in the direction of Steve Howe.

This, of course, is no bad thing as the band have absorbed all these musically diverse influences into a cohesive whole which, when added to the sweetly jazzy vocals of Amy Darby, pushes them forward as one of the more interesting and idiosyncratic bands out there.

Be warned though – it’s not an easy listen.

Of the seven tracks only two clock in at less than seven minutes and the two major epics ‘Germander Speedwell’ and ‘Of Sparks And Spires’ exceed twelve minutes apiece. But stick with it as the album’s treasures reveal themselves over the course of a few listens to be things of real substance and beauty.

Plaintive piano and delicately strummed acoustics sit alongside the odd pounding riff and searing solo to stunning effect which, combined with exceptional musicianship and an almost poetic libretto, lift the album to a significant high.

The album’s sheer eclecticism may discourage some listeners, but if you like your music just that little bit different, edgy and intense this is surely manna from heaven.

****

Review by Alan Jones

Alan sequences “The Eclectic Mix” third Sunday of the month on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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 16 November 2025.

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 600th show was first broadcast on 18 November 2025

How to Listen Live?

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

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 live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.