Repertoire 2012
Subtitled ‘a nano opera based on a true story’, this concept piece from the veteran Scottish progressive act tackles the theme of living with the condition of ‘electrical sensitivity’ – or put another way an inability to live healthily near mobile phones, laptops, screens (the list is inevitably exhaustive). Guitarist and song-writer Ricky Gardiner is a sufferer and explores the issues in association with keyboard playing and lyric-writing partner, Virginia Scott and son Tom on drums. On the surface, this could suggest that an embarrassment but not necessarily of riches awaits the casual listener. The contrary proves the case: ‘Lose A Life’ is a rather impressive slice of symphonic prog that eschews any self-regard nor over-references former glories (the band made some good-to-excellent albums for Vertigo in the early ‘70s) but opts for a sharp, contemporary sound, marrying Scott’s individualistic vocal (a Celtic Björk) to some occasionally hard guitar, married to shimmering, extenuated Floyd-esque passages, from Gardiner. It’s told at a slow and considered pace without recourse to rant and is indicative of how developmental this outfit always was; all their albums have measured change. The outcome makes for an enterprising and unusual listening experience that shapes up well today. Standouts run from slow-burn opener “Electrofire Invasion” via the busier “Masts on My Roof” to the instrumental closer “Tango for the End of Time”. If there’s a carp it’s how the album would have benefited from an occasional change of pace. They do get their collective rocking mojo working on an earlier work ‘Close To my Heart’ (***), now also available on Repertoire: equally contemporary in feel, it’s a more standard release, without the focus and passion of this strange, compelling audio story.
Peter Muir ****
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.
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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 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)
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