Single reviews: STEVE BLOOD, TESS CUNNINGHAM

The Last Xmas

STEVE BLOOD The Last Xmas [Release date 8.12.13] www.thelastxmas.com

Christmas songs. Bah. Humbug. Who’d have ‘em? Frequently cheesy, easily forgotten. Here at GRTR! Towers we get our share. This offering is refreshingly different.

Steve Blood has an interesting career plying dance tracks on his own label in the late-1990s and the ubiquitous remixing for various artists and several movie placements.

The dance credentials are evident on several remixes, not least the quite superb ‘Audiotrip Space Dub’ which packs a more ambient breakbeat groove. This will truly add a bit of spice to your mulled wine and to your animated party conversation.

With long-time friend and collaborator Andrew Lee on vocals, start off with the classic vocal mix ballad arrangement and work your way through. *****

Review by David Randall

TESS CUNNINGHAM Let’s Compare Scars [Release date 02.12.13]

This low budget debut EP from piano based female singer songwriter Tess Cunningham is a pleasant enough release, but one that’s a tad lacking in originality.

For those of us who’ve been round the block several times it combines the quirky/ experimental pop of early Kate Bush with the more dreamy vocals of short-lived early 1990′s band JJ featuring singer Jan Johnson (their one and only album release ‘Intro’ being a classic example of ‘one that got away’).

Like Bush, Tess Cunningham likes to illustrate, choreograph and make visual interpretations of her songs, and Stripped is a particularly impressive number. But for me the linkage to predecessors of different decades is uncomfortably close. Let’s Compare Scars does however suggest that there’s a real talent here waiting to explode. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

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

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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)