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Yearly Archives: 2014
Album review: RICHIE KOTZEN – The Essential Richie Kotzen

earMUSIC 2-CD/DVD [Release date 08.09.14] A re-appraisal of Richie Kotzen’s work is probably long overdue, and this 2-CD/DVD set – assembled by the man himself – goes some way to provide a suitable portal for the curious. Signed to Mike … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, blues, compilation, guitar, guitarist, Mr Big, Poison, review, Richie Kotzen, rock, The Essential Richie Kotzen, Winery Dogs
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Album review: PAUL GILBERT – Stone Pushing Uphill Man

Music Theories Recordings [Released 15.09.14] Former Racer X and Mr. Big Guitarist Paul Gilbert has always had a refreshing and thoughtful approach to his instrumental work. On the Sisyphusian concept of ‘Stone Pushing Uphill Man’ his 13th solo album, he … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Aerosmith, album, Elton John, Eric Carmen, guitar, James Brown, Jeff Beck, k.d lange, Kenny Aronoff, Loverboy, Mike Portnoy, Mr Big, Paul Gilbert, Paul McCartney, Peter Green, Racer X, review, Sting, Stone Pushing Uphill Man, The Beatles, the Police
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Quick plays: HENRIC BLOMQVIST & FRIENDS, DYLAN KAY, MICHAEL STANLEY

HENRIC BLOMQVIST & FRIENDS All Of Your Illusions www.henricblomqvist.com [Released 01.05.14] Guitarist Henric Blomqvist hails from Finland and has worked with various bands and musicians over the years. This album is his debut solo release and the friends include vocalists … Continue reading
Album review: CLEARLIGHT – Impressionist Symphony

Gonzo Media Group [Release date 23.05.14] Clearlight’s ‘Impressionist Symphony’ celebrates the 40th anniversary of the post-‘Tubular Bells’ album ‘Clearlight Symphony’, cut on the fledgling Virgin label all those years ago. It once again brings together three former Gong members Didier … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Christophe Kovax, Clearlight, Craig Fry, Cyrille Verdeaux, Didier Malherbe, fusion, Gong, guitar, Impressionist Symphony, keyboards, Linda Cusma, Neil Bettencourt, Paul Sears, Remy Tran, space rock, Steve Hillage, symphony, Tim Blake, Vincent Thomas-Penny
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Album review: WAKING AIDA – Eschaton

Robot Needs Home Records – Release Date: 2 June 2014 OK, I admit it. I’m thrashing about in utter confusion these days trying to understand all the weird and wonderful names given to various genres of music. Post-rock, neo-prog, jazz-fusion … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Eschaton, Post/Math Rock, review, Waking Aida
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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL – 8-10 August 2014

Photo: Darran Scott Arriving early afternoon on Saturday, and focusing on the main stage, I was blown away by the confidence and vitality of my first band, Walkway. Somehow the young Suffolk band had slipped under my radar as their … Continue reading
Interview: Rising Stars – THE YOUNG FOLK

The Young Folk consists of Anthony Furey (vocals/guitar), Tony McCaughlin (bass/mandolin/vocals), Paul Butler (keyboards/vocals) and Karl Hand (drums/vocals). With the current popularity of folk music, particularly that in the more alternative/popular end of things like Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged acoustic, folk, interview, Rising Stars, Young Folk
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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – PICTUREHOUSE acoustic session, Sunday 17 August

Sunday 17 August, 21:00 (Tuesday 19 August, 16:00 and Thursday 21 August, 21:00 repeat) This Sunday, 17 August, Irish popsters PictureHouse perform an exclusive set for the ‘In Session for GRTR!’ series. The band formed back in the early-1990s, releasing … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, GIG REVIEWS, NEWS
Tagged acoustic, Dave Browne, Evolution, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Ireland, live, PictureHouse, pop, radio, session
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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – CHRIS DAUGHTRY interview, Sunday 17 August

Sunday 17 August, 22:00 (Monday 18 August, 22:00 and Friday 22 August, 22:00 repeat) This Sunday, 17 August, David Randall chats to Chris Daughtry, ahead of his European tour which includes a date at the London Roundhouse on Sunday 12 … Continue reading
Album review: SMASH FASHION – Big Cat Love

www.smashfashionmusic.com [Released 11.08.14] Now this loyal reader is a real treat for the ears! Put it this way, if you like any of the following bands – the Stones, the Faces, the Sweet, Cheap Trick and Jellyfish – you will … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Big Cat Love, Cheap Trick, debut album, glam rock, Smash Fashion, The Faces, the Stones, The Sweet
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Quick plays – MANUMIT, COLT 45, SUSAN AQUILA

Album review: MANUMIT – Digital and Hostile Lost Generation Records [Release date - 01.09.14] Manumit is a solo artist from Bridgend in Wales. Influenced by the likes of Pendulum and Paramore he attempts to ‘bond genres’. A DVD will also … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged Adam Lewis, album, Bandit, Bridgend, CD, Colt 45, Cumbria, Digital and Hostile, Download Festival, electro, Gareth Jenkins, Larusso, Manumit, Neil Harper, Paramore, Pendulum, pop, punk, review, rock, Skullfunk, Susan Aquila, Tanyth, The Tide Is Turning, Young Guns
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Album review: MICHAEL KATON – Hard On! (The Boogie)

Mystic [Release date 31.03.14] Michael Katon’s back with a hard hitting album full of boogie, blues and lashing of guitar. In fact he’s never really been away, except that his last few albums have been digital download only, so ‘Hard … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, boogie, Canned Heat, Erwin Gielen, F.P.White, guitar, Hard On! (The Boogie), hard rock, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Katon, review, rock
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Album review: JETHRO TULL’S IAN ANDERSON – Thick As A Brick – Live In Iceland

Eagle Vision [Release date 25.08.14] Also available as a DVD/Bluray When I interviewed Ian Anderson in 2010 he stated that “Thick As A Brick 2 is not on the cards” when asked about revisiting former glories. I wonder what changed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged album, Bluray, DVD, gig, Ian Anderson, interview, Jethro Tull, live, review, TAAB2, Thick As A Brick - Live In Iceland, Tour
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Album review: CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN – El Camino Real

Freeworld [Release date 11.08.14] It’s not essential to have heard this album’s predecessor ‘La Costa Perdida’, but it certainly helps to explain the dark lyrical quality, David Lowery’s weary vocals and the sardonic nature of Camper Van Beethoven’s ruminations on … Continue reading
Album review: enkELINATION – Tears Of Lust

enkElination [Release date 21.07.14] Finnish opera singer Elina Siirala moved to the UK back in 2008 in order to study music. She formed enkElination back in 2011 and “Tears of Lust” is their first full album following on from an … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Elina Siirala, enkElination, female fronted rock, review, Tears Of Lust
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Album review: THE GRAND – The Rebel Son

Self release [Release date 15.03.14] The Grand hail from British Columbia Canada, but they play a very commercial brand of southern influenced rock with a big production. Their bristling style comes with a layered sound and impossibly catchy hooks, topped by … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AC/DC, album, Anthony Fiddler, Craig David, Fleetwood Mac, James Hrankowski, Mark Needham, Neil Morgan, Nickelback, Randy Staub, review, Ryan Stead, Shylo Sharity. Spin Doctors, southern rock, The Grand, The Killers, The Rebel Son
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Album review: XANADU – Follow The Instinct

Pronet Records – Release Date: 4 June 2014 Ahhh… the Polish progressive rock runaway train still shows no sign of running out of steam. With excellent releases this year from the likes of Pinkroom and Riverside, here is the follow-up … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Follow The Instinct, Poland, Progressive Rock, review, Xanadu
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Album review: BLACK STATE HIGHWAY – Black State Highway

HNE Recordings Ltd [Release date 18.08.14] ‘Black State Highway’ is a self titled 8 track debut album by a young Brighton band of retro rockers who provide their own contemporary take on classic hard rock. They may unashamedly tip their … Continue reading
Album review: THE SHARPEES – Mississippi Thrill

Sharpees [Release date 12.05.14] Influenced in equal measure by George Thorogood, Dr. Feelgood, Rory Gallagher and Tom Petty’s melodic sensibilities, The Sharpees are a straight to the vein shot of self penned, guitar driven rhythm and blues. ‘Mississippi Thrill’ pushes … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Bad Influence, Baz Payne, Brian Willoughby, Cathryn Craig, Chuck Leavell, Dr Feelgood, George Thorogood, Ian Dury, Mississippi Thrill, Paul Cox, Peter Green, rhythm & blues, Richard Hayes, Roger Cotton, Rolling Stones, Rory Gallagher, Spencer Blackledge, The Sharpees, The Strawbs, Tom Petty
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Album review: DAVE McGRAW & MANDY FER – Maritime

www.daveandmandymusic.com [Release date 09.14] The gentle folk/Americana debut self-release by songwriters Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer – Seed Of A Pine (2012) – was a rather fine, if somewhat understated example of the genre. Deploying the ‘less is more principle’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, Dave McGraw, folk, Mandy Fer, Maritime, review, singer, songwriter
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Album review: NELL BRYDEN – Wayfarer

157 Records NYC [Release date 28.07.14] It’s no surprise to read that the title track and lead single from Nell Bryden’s latest album has been play listed on Radio 2. It’s equally of little surprise that, back in 2008, we … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Nell Bryden, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Wayfarer
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