BEND SINISTER Animals

FU:Music [Released 11.03.14]

Canadian four piece whose album has been out since earlier this year and they create a massive wall of sound. Case in point being the eight minute epic opener ‘Best Of You’ that has it all from a Queen approved piano riff, guitar solos and a catchy vocal outro.

The single ‘Fancy Pants’ is an instant hit with the listener bringing to mind the Feeling meets Jellyfish. Often they reminded me of classic 1970′s era 10cc for the inventive lyrics and mix up of musical styles.

Bend Sinister don’t really stick to a musical formula as ‘I Got Love’ with its added horns sounds almost like a gospel revival at times. ‘Thunder And Lightning’ has the band in full rock mode, plenty of guitar action on this one. Like most of the album the keys/Hammond playing of Dan Moxon drive the music along.

An intriguing album and worth tracking down if you like 70′s classic rock melded with pop rock. This band ooze talent and musical ideas, worthy of further investigation. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

GANDALF’S FIST A Forest Of Fey

[Release date 11.10.14]

Prog rock concept albums, you can’t beat ‘em! Gandalf’s Fist have an album based on a young girl becoming lost in a magical and at times sinister world. A four piece band consisting of Dean Marsh (Vocals/Guitars/Mandolin/Keys), Luke Severn (Vocals), Chris Ewen (Bass) and Stefan Hepe (Drums) then have enlisted a few name prog musicians including Clive Nolan (Arena/Pendragon), John Mitchell (It Bites/Arena) and Nightwish’s Troy Donockley whose whistles and bouzouki playing add greatly to the folk feel of the music on the album.

It is a full on tale with spoken interludes filling in the storyline and for a concept album relatively short at just over fifty minutes in length. Two standouts are ‘Stories Old And Stories Told’ with John Mitchell guesting on vocals and ‘Drifter On The Edge Of Time’, with Matt Stevens lending his guitar talents on the ambient guitar intro. That’s not to detract from the band who provide an interesting musical backdrop and vocalist Luke Severn has a nice, melodious style.

One for those prog fans who like the neo-prog sound with a distinctive folk feel added for good measure. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

DAVID BRONSON – Questions

Big Arc [Released 19.01.15]

David Bronson’s new album is perfect for those who enjoy the laid back West Coast sounds of artists like Jackson Browne and the 70′s solo music of George Harrison. What really helps the album is the use of the backing vocalists and one Robin Clark (who has worked with David Bowie and Paul McArtney amongst others) really lets rip on the vocal improvisations. Check out ‘Day By Day’ which starts off gently with Bronson’s vocals before an almost gospel backing brings the song to a fitting crescendo. What a song!

‘Song Of Life’ has that classic West Coast vibe from the dreamy vocals through to the slow and subtle guitar solo. If this was the 70′s it would be a monster hit on the radio in the US I am sure. ‘Connect The Dots’ is another stand out song, the gentle intro easing you into the song and another fine vocal performance by David Bronson.

Excellent musicianship throughout and a memorable set of songs make for an album that you will keep playing in the years to come. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

THE KORGIS …By Appointment

Angel Air [Released 12.01.15]

The Korgis were formed by Andy Davis and James Warren back in 1978 scoring a few hits and they finally split in 1993, before returning in 2005 and in 2015 they are planning to tour again, hence this timely compilation.

Reading the sleeve notes it seems the songs on here have been re-recorded or are unplugged versions from their ‘Unplugged’ album of 2006 (re-issued on Angel Air). The band’s two biggest songs start the album off, namely the wonderful ‘If I Had You’ and ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime’. They really do hit the melodic pop spot with ease, with a nod to a big influence on them on their 2006 comeback single ‘Something About The Beatles’.

This and ‘The Kollection’ are just a good a starting points if you are new to the music of this fine band. You can see where bands like Crowded House took some of their musical style from. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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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)