Quick plays: ESP 2.0, ROAMER, UNRULY CHILD

March 17th, 2018 by jason

ESP 2.0 22 Layers Of Sunlight [Release date 20.04.18] www.suncreative.com

ESP released a very enjoyable prog rock album in 2016′s ‘Invisible Din’ and now they are back with a revamped line-up. Composer/producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki are joined by former Lotus Eaters vocalist Peter Coyle this time around.

The first album had a series of guest musicians, however this album has a more band feel about it as the aforementioned trio are joined by bassist Pete Clark and for live dates keyboardist Richard Smith (who plays piano on ‘Smiling Forever’).

It is a concept piece based on the ideas from Peter Coyle based on the near future where a cortex slave system runs the world via the world wide and a world inhabited by cyborgs.

The music is orchestral and sweeping in its scope, with lots of keyboards and the highly melodic vocals of Peter Coyle. Adding him to the line-up has added an extra dimension to ESP’s sound – the wonderful vocals and harmonies on the title track are a fine example of this, although they can still prog out on instrumentals like ‘Ride Through Reality’.

Mark Brzezicki really seems to come into his own playing in ESP, with a wonderful drum outro on ‘Algorithm’ and his steady, yet inventive playing driving along the music.

ESP 2.0 have done it again with another album full of intriguing and enjoyable music. ’22 Layers Of Sunlight’ will certainly propel them further into the upper echelons of progressive music. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

ROAMER What The Hell [Release date 27.04.18] www.czarofcrickets.com

Roamer hail from Switzerland having released a couple of EPs to date. The band consists of Samuel Blatter (vocals, keys), Simon Rupp (guitar), Christian Weber (bass, vocals) and Martin Stebler (drums/vocals) and they have been working on and off for the past ten years to create this, their debut album.

Musically it walks the alternative rock path, sometimes recalling the Eels on ‘Sick Enough’ and hitting the spot on ‘There’s No Me’, a beast of a tune. Otherwise it is slim pickings and not an album that is going to really help Roamer stand out from the crowd. **1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

UNRULY CHILD Unhinged: Live From Milan Frontiers [Release date 23.02.18]

This was recorded last year at the Frontiers festival and it marked a special occasion as the band – all originals which is a novelty these days – performed the band’s 1992 self-titled debut album in full. Of course they arrived in the days of grunge which put paid to wider success the album deserved and indeed the band who split in 1992, before coming back in 1998 with Kelly Hansen replacing Marci Free on vocals.

Do they still have it in 2017? Oh yes indeed and they sail through ‘Let’s Talk About Love’ and ‘Is It Over’, Marci Free is on fine form and the keys soar at just the right time, AOR-tastic. ‘Who Cries Now’ ends of the debut album ends their set in style and a suitably rocking end.

A no brainer for fans of the band to own, plus the DVD adds ‘This Is Who I Am’, which isn’t on the CD. Unruly Child were back then and still are now, one of the leading melodic rock acts out there. ***1/2

Review by 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.

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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)