Monthly Archives: May 2018

Gig review: THE SHARPEEZ – Half Moon, Putney, 30 May 2018

THE SHARPEEZ – Half Moon, Putney, 30 May 2018

British rhythm and blues is alive and well in the capable hands of The Sharpeez. They set the bar high for a genre of music that was almost rendered extinct by American rebranding of the genre as contemporary urban music. … Continue reading

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Album review: TRACEY BROWNE – The Doctrine Of Song

TRACEY BROWNE - The Doctrine Of Song

[Release date 4.05.18] You could be forgiven – listening in a ‘blindfold test’ to this sophomore release from Manchester-based singer songwriter Tracey Browne, for occasionally thinking, “blimey, where did these ‘lost’ Thea Gilmore songs come from?” But dig a little … Continue reading

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Album review: BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY – Strange Men, Changed Men (The Complete Recordings 1978-1981)

BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY – Strange Men, Changed Men (The Complete Recordings 1978-1981)

Cherry Red [Release date 27.04.18] Bram Tchaikovsky left The Motors in 1978 after playing on their 1977 debut album. Born Peter Bramall, he’d been christened Bram Tchaikovsky by fellow Motor, Andy McMaster. This new 3CD set collects all three albums … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SAGA, CUDDLY SHARK, THADEUS GONZALEZ

SAGA Live In Hamburg earMUSIC [Release date 01.06.18] ‘Live In Hamburg’ was recorded back in 2015 in one of Saga’s main national fan bases Germany. It was originally released as limited-edition, however now it gets a full release. Some of … Continue reading

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Album review: IAN SIEGAL – All The Rage

IAN SIEGAL – All The Rage

Nugene Records [Release date 16.03.18] There’s a lot to be said for just following your stream of consciousness and moulding it into a song by simply plugging in and laying down your art. It’s something Ian Siegal and his exemplary … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK COFFEE – Take One

[Release date 21.04.18] Columbus, Ohio represents the US industrial heartland the same way Birmingham and Wolverhampton do in the UK so it’s entirely unsurprising that Black Coffee hail from there. Formed in 2017 by drummer Tommy McCullough, singer/bassist Ehab Omran … Continue reading

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Quick plays: TALITHA RISE, GIULIA MILLANTA

TALITHA RISE An Abandoned Orchid House

TALITHA RISE An Abandoned Orchid House Sonicbond [Release date 01.06.18] This full length debut from Sussex based indie folk singer songwriter Talitha Rise is an ambitious, ethereal, set that at times bears the hallmarks of Robert Plant’s Zeppelin and solo … Continue reading

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Album review: RITCHIE DAVE PORTER– End Of The Line

RITCHIE DAVE PORTER– End Of The Line

Self release [Release date 01.04.18] From the opening filmic feel of ‘Blues At Sunrise’ to the conceptually opposite of ‘Blues At ‘Twilight’ – two ambient blues instrumentals that top and tail Ritchie Dave Porter’s ‘End Of The Line’ – this … Continue reading

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Album review: DS4 – Sweet Georgina

DS4 - Sweet Georgina

Critical Discs [Release date 11.05.18] DS4′s ‘Sweet Georgina’ is a lyric-led album, full of Ray Davies style vocals and coloured by imaginative narratives that leap from the page. And right there at the bottom of the credits is the great … Continue reading

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Quick plays: PAUL RODGERS, ATOMIC ROOSTER

PAUL RODGERS - Free Spirit

PAUL RODGERS – Free Spirit Quarto Valley Records [Release date 29.06.18] This account of Paul Rodgers revisiting his Free-form past was recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in May 2017 . It was the culmination of his UK tour where … Continue reading

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Album review: CARL PALMER’S ELP LEGACY – Live (CD/DVD)

CARL PALMER

In this exclusive, extended, interview edit, Carl Palmer chats about his formative years and the influence of his musical family in terms of career direction. (9:14) The full interview with Carl was broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on … Continue reading

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Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – British Blues Explosion Live

JOE BONAMASSA – British Blues Explosion Live

Provogue [Release date 18.05.18] ‘British Blues Explosion Live’ is the latest conceptual vehicle for the prodigiously talented Joe Bonamassa and his constant search for a meaningful context with which to keep the blues alive. Playing to a seated outdoor crowd … Continue reading

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Album review: ASH JOHNSON – The Mad Ship

ASH JOHNSON – The Mad Ship

Stunted Records www.stuntedrecords.co.uk [Release date 25.06.18] Ash Johnson has been a key figure on the North Lincolnshire music scene for many years working in various bands in the area. Now on the suggestion of the record label boss he has … Continue reading

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Gig review: DAN BAIRD AND HOMEMADE SIN/Austin Gold – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 21 May 2018

DAN BAIRD AND HOMEMADE SIN – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 21 May 2018

Dan Baird And Homemade Sin remain a glorious anomaly in the contemporary rock scene.  They are a southern rock band with one foot in Nashville and one foot in kick-ass rock and roll, all tied together by a lyrical twist. … Continue reading

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Interview: JIM LEA

JIM LEA - Lost In Space

Jim Lea, the former Slade bass-player and one half of the mega-hit Holder-Lea song-writing duo, has a brand new six-track EP out: Lost In Space. I caught up with Jim to discuss the inspiration behind the title track and the … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MISHAPED PEARLS, LORDS OF BLACK

MISHAPED PEARLS Shivelight [Release date 25.05.18] Mishaped Pearls latest album’s title Shivelight comes from a word created by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. The word describes the lances of sunshine that pierce through a woodland canopy. An apt description as Mishaped Pearls have … Continue reading

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Book review: JIM McCARTY with DAVE THOMPSON – Nobody Told Me: My Life With The Yardbirds, Renaissance and Other Stories

JIM McCARTY with DAVE THOMPSON – Nobody Told Me: My Life With The Yardbirds, Renaissance and Other Stories

http://www.jamesmccarty.com/ 305 pages paperback ISBN 978-0-244-96650-8 [Publication date: May 2018] ‘Nobody Told Me’ is a suitably titled autobiography that documents the life and times of Jim McCarty, The Yardbirds founder member, drummer and rock and roll hall of fame inductee. … Continue reading

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Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Gravity

PRAYING MANTIS - Gravity

Frontiers [Release date 11.05.18] Originally part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, albeit at the more melodic almost AOR end of the spectrum, Praying Mantis are still going strong. This new album is their 10th studio outing, 11 if you include … Continue reading

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Album review: MANSUN – Attack Of The Grey Lantern

MANSUN - Attack Of The Grey Lantern

Kscope [Release date 08.06.18] Mansun’s ‘Attack Of The Grey Lantern’ gets a 21st anniversary re-issue with all the bells and whistles you’d expect. This reissue is remastered from the original multi-tracks and is available on all digital platforms and as a media book … Continue reading

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Gig review: JACK BRUCE: SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE – Tribute Concert Screening – The Curzon, London, 14 May 2018

JACK BRUCE: SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE

Introduced by Scottish DJ Edith Bowman who later anchors a Q&A session, the Kyla Simone Bruce directed ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’ is an aptly titled film. It represents the triumph of the collective spirit over potential adversity, as the musicians … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Supersonic Years The Seventies Singles Box Set

LACK SABBATH - Supersonic Years  The Seventies Singles Box Set

BMG [Release date 08.06.18] This is no ordinary reissue; for a catalogue that has been reissued more times stamps have first day covers, last year’s 8LP + crucistick box took reissues to a new sonic and packing level, and this … Continue reading

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DVD review: THE MOODY BLUES – Days of Future Passed – Live

THE MOODY BLUES - Days of Future Passed - Live

Eagle Vision [Release date 23.03.18] Over the past few years a number of bands that have been releasing records since the 1960’s have reached that impressive milestone that is celebrating 50 years of being together, the other side to this … Continue reading

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DVD review: IGGY POP – American Valhalla

IGGY POP - American Valhalla

Eagle Vision [Release date 06.03.18] “American Valhalla” tells the story of Iggy Pop and Josh Homme’s experiences creating Pop’s 2016 “Post Pop Depression” album. We get to watch the very inception of the album from idea to finished product, and … Continue reading

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Album review: RYAN ROXIE – Imagine Your Reality

RYAN ROXIE - Imagine Your Reality

Cargo When I look through my record collection there are not many other guitarists that feature as much as Ryan Roxie. Having recorded with the likes of Slash, Gilby Clarke, Electric Angels, Casablanca, Roxie 77, more than a few Alice … Continue reading

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Album review: JAMES CHRISTIAN – Craving

JAMES CHRISTIAN - Craving

Frontiers [Release date 20.04.18] Fourth solo album from House Of Lords frontman James Christian sees him work with a variety of songwriters including Tommy Denander (who also plays guitars, bass and keys), Cliff Magness (who has his solo album released … Continue reading

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