Album review: LEFT WITH PICTURES – Afterlife

February 29th, 2016 by jason

Organ Grinder Records [Release date 29.04.16]

Left With Pictures describe their music as an orchestral pop ensemble. They have been around since 2005 and consist of Tom Walker, Toby Knowles and Stuart Barter. They have released a series of EP’s and two albums prior to this one, the last album being 2011′s ‘In Time’.

The album, as the title suggests, deals with life, death and renewal, all done with a truly magical musical backing.

If you listen to nothing else by Left Without Pictures (and shame on you if you don’t!), try ‘Terra Firma’. The listener is swept along by a classical backing and some other worldly synths (which also pop up on album closer ‘The Night Watch’ to good effect). If that wasn’t enough, the vocals and choral arrangement towards the song’s climax are amazing.

‘The Start’ is the only time the music picks up the pace, the piano/bass motif reminded me of Ben Folds. The band members classical training shines through on the use of strings and the grandiose, yet never too overbearing musical arrangements. ‘Last Man On Earth’, and indeed some of more somber moments, are reminiscent at times of Dead Can Dance and Porcupine Tree.

Throw away your genre labels and this album by can be enjoyed by all, a perfect end of the day listen with the headphones on to ensure you miss none of the little musical treats contained within this album. Wonderful music. ****

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.

How to Listen Live?

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

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

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 again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

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)