www.markvickness.com [Release date 17.05.23]

“Sit back, pour a glass of your favourite tipple, and let this album wash over you.”  That’s what I wrote about ‘Interconnected’ in 2020 making it one of my “best ofs” that year.  And it could also be applied to ‘In The Rain Shadow’.

All the same ingredients are present that made that last album so listenable.  The blend of violin, cello with infectious percussion is well demonstrated on ‘The Gorge’.  Occasionally there’s a bit of Vickness’ electric guitar in the mix but – for the most part – as a bandleader he seems happy to sit back with his acoustic, colour the groove and let his fellow musicians carry the weight.

There’s also a filmic quality to some of the pieces.  ‘Alluvial Fans’, for example, punctuated by Matt Renzi’s oboe and a fine orchestration with Joseph Hebert’s cello and Mads Tolling’s violin against the characteristic infectious rhythm and repeated motifs.  And the folky, Celtic element present on ‘Interconnected’ (although not intrusive) crops up again in ‘On The Cliffs Of Mohr.’

A particular highlight is ‘Cloud Shadows’ a superbly reflective piece that should be the newbie listener’s first port in a storm.

The whole album has apparently been inspired by Vickness’ move to California’s Owens Valley in late-Lockdown and inspired by the meteorological changes he observed in the shadow of the mountains.

It is the skilful blending of instruments and insistent drone rhythms (Ty Burhoe and MB Gordy with Dan Fieszli, bass) that proves ultimately irresistible.  Whilst the album again reveals Vickness’ classical and jazz background the tunes are always melodic and completely immersive.

The whole album rises above what might disparagingly be called wallpaper music.  Not a lot happens admittedly – there’s a consistent and unbroken vibe – but it is a great listen that repays repeated listening.  *****

Review by David Randall

Album review (Interconnected, 2020)

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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 1 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

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