Yearly Archives: 2014

Album review: RICHIE KOTZEN – The Essential Richie Kotzen

Richie Kotzen - The Essential Richie Kotzen

earMUSIC 2-CD/DVD [Release date 08.09.14] A re-appraisal of Richie Kotzen’s work is probably long overdue, and this 2-CD/DVD set – assembled by the man himself – goes some way to provide a suitable portal for the curious. Signed to Mike … Continue reading

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Album review: PAUL GILBERT – Stone Pushing Uphill Man

Paul Gilbert - Stone Pushing Uphill Man

Music Theories Recordings  [Released 15.09.14] Former Racer X and Mr. Big Guitarist Paul Gilbert has always had a refreshing and thoughtful approach to his instrumental work. On the Sisyphusian concept of ‘Stone Pushing Uphill Man’ his 13th solo album, he … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MACHINE ROX, WINTTER, ANTI-CLONE

      Album review:  MACHINE ROX – Next Level Synchrotrax Records  [Release date 22.09.14] Electro metal/ Cyber metal/ Industrial metal, call it what you will, can either produce glorious masterpieces of heaviness as with Rammstein or repetitive, snore inducing … Continue reading

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Album review: WASTED SHELLS – The Collector

Wasted Shells - The Collector

Broken Bones Productions  [Release date – out now] Yet more quality metal from Sweden, the clear waters in Scandinavia must have a high iron content  which gets into the blood at an early age. Wasted Shells are the latest in … Continue reading

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Quick plays: HENRIC BLOMQVIST & FRIENDS, DYLAN KAY, MICHAEL STANLEY

HENRIC BLOMQVIST & FRIENDS – All Of Your Illusions

HENRIC BLOMQVIST & FRIENDS All Of Your Illusions www.henricblomqvist.com  [Released 01.05.14] Guitarist Henric Blomqvist hails from Finland and has worked with various bands and musicians over the years. This album is his debut solo release and the friends include vocalists … Continue reading

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Album review: CLEARLIGHT – Impressionist Symphony

CLEARLIGHT - Impressionist Symphony

Gonzo Media Group [Release date 23.05.14] Clearlight’s ‘Impressionist Symphony’ celebrates the 40th anniversary of the post-‘Tubular Bells’ album ‘Clearlight Symphony’, cut on the fledgling Virgin label all those years ago. It once again brings together three former Gong members Didier … Continue reading

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Album review: WAKING AIDA – Eschaton

Waking Aida - Eschaton

Robot Needs Home Records – Release Date: 2 June 2014 OK, I admit it. I’m thrashing about in utter confusion these days trying to understand all the weird and wonderful names given to various genres of music. Post-rock, neo-prog, jazz-fusion … Continue reading

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Album review: NEAL MORSE – Songs From November

Neal Morse - Songs From November

Inside Out www.insideoutmusic.de   [Released 18.08.14] Neal Morse is back with a new solo album, however don’t go expecting something like his previous solo albums namely catchy melodic/progressive rock. This album has more in common with the albums from the likes … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL – 8-10 August 2014

Cambridge Rock Festival 2014

Photo: Darran Scott Arriving early afternoon on Saturday, and focusing on the main stage, I was blown away by the confidence and vitality of my first band, Walkway. Somehow the young Suffolk band had slipped under my radar as their … Continue reading

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Interview: Rising Stars – THE YOUNG FOLK

The Young Folk

The Young Folk consists of Anthony Furey (vocals/guitar), Tony McCaughlin (bass/mandolin/vocals), Paul Butler (keyboards/vocals) and Karl Hand (drums/vocals).  With the current popularity of folk music, particularly that in the more alternative/popular end of things like Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – PICTUREHOUSE acoustic session, Sunday 17 August

Dave Browne of PictureHouse

Sunday 17 August, 21:00 (Tuesday 19 August, 16:00 and Thursday 21 August, 21:00 repeat) This Sunday, 17 August, Irish popsters PictureHouse perform an exclusive set for the ‘In Session for GRTR!’ series. The band formed back in the early-1990s, releasing … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – CHRIS DAUGHTRY interview, Sunday 17 August

Daughtry

Sunday 17 August, 22:00 (Monday 18 August, 22:00 and Friday 22 August, 22:00 repeat) This Sunday, 17 August, David Randall chats to Chris Daughtry, ahead of his European tour which includes a date at the London Roundhouse on Sunday 12 … Continue reading

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Album review: SMASH FASHION – Big Cat Love

www.smashfashionmusic.com  [Released 11.08.14] Now this loyal reader is a real treat for the ears! Put it this way, if you like any of the following bands – the Stones, the Faces, the Sweet, Cheap Trick and Jellyfish – you will … Continue reading

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Album review: TANKARD – R.I.B. (Rest In Beer)

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Looking at Tankard’s discography, one cannot fail but be impressed by the incredible consistency of this German outfit. Since their inception back in 1982, the German Weltmeisters of humour-driven Thrash Metal have been pretty much … Continue reading

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Quick plays – MANUMIT, COLT 45, SUSAN AQUILA

MANUMIT – Digital and Hostile

Album review: MANUMIT – Digital and Hostile Lost Generation Records  [Release date - 01.09.14] Manumit is a solo artist from Bridgend in Wales. Influenced by the likes of Pendulum and Paramore he attempts to ‘bond genres’. A DVD will also … Continue reading

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Album review: MICHAEL KATON – Hard On! (The Boogie)

MICHAEL KATON – Hard On! (The Boogie)

Mystic [Release date 31.03.14] Michael Katon’s back with a hard hitting album full of boogie, blues and lashing of guitar. In fact he’s never really been away, except that his last few albums have been digital download only, so ‘Hard … Continue reading

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Album review: JETHRO TULL’S IAN ANDERSON – Thick As A Brick – Live In Iceland

JETHRO TULL

Eagle Vision [Release date 25.08.14] Also available as a DVD/Bluray When I interviewed Ian Anderson in 2010 he stated that “Thick As A Brick 2 is not on the cards” when asked about revisiting former glories.  I wonder what changed … Continue reading

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Album review: CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN – El Camino Real

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN – El Camino Real

Freeworld [Release date 11.08.14] It’s not essential to have heard this album’s predecessor ‘La Costa Perdida’, but it certainly helps to explain the dark lyrical quality, David Lowery’s weary vocals and the sardonic nature of Camper Van Beethoven’s ruminations on … Continue reading

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Album review: enkELINATION – Tears Of Lust

enkELINATION – Tears Of Lust

enkElination [Release date 21.07.14] Finnish opera singer Elina Siirala moved to the UK back in 2008 in order to study music. She formed enkElination back in 2011 and “Tears of Lust” is their first full album following on from an … Continue reading

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Album review: THE GRAND – The Rebel Son

The Grand - Rebel Son

Self release [Release date 15.03.14] The Grand hail from British Columbia Canada, but they play a very commercial brand of southern influenced rock with a big production.  Their bristling style comes with a layered sound and impossibly catchy hooks, topped by … Continue reading

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Album review: XANADU – Follow The Instinct

Xanadu - Follow The Instinct

Pronet Records – Release Date: 4 June 2014 Ahhh… the Polish progressive rock runaway train still shows no sign of running out of steam. With excellent releases this year from the likes of Pinkroom and Riverside, here is the follow-up … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK STATE HIGHWAY – Black State Highway

Black State Highway

HNE Recordings Ltd [Release date 18.08.14] ‘Black State Highway’ is a self titled 8 track debut album by a young Brighton band of retro rockers who provide their own contemporary take on classic hard rock. They may unashamedly tip their … Continue reading

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Album review: THE SHARPEES – Mississippi Thrill

The Sharpees - Mississippi Thrill

Sharpees [Release date 12.05.14] Influenced in equal measure by George Thorogood, Dr. Feelgood, Rory Gallagher and Tom Petty’s melodic sensibilities, The Sharpees are a straight to the vein shot of self penned, guitar driven rhythm and blues. ‘Mississippi Thrill’ pushes … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE McGRAW & MANDY FER – Maritime

Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer - Maritime

www.daveandmandymusic.com [Release date 09.14] The gentle folk/Americana debut self-release by songwriters Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer – Seed Of A Pine (2012) – was a rather fine, if somewhat understated example of the genre.  Deploying the ‘less is more principle’ … Continue reading

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Album review: NELL BRYDEN – Wayfarer

Nell Bryden - Wayfarer

157 Records NYC [Release date 28.07.14] It’s no surprise to read that the title track and lead single from Nell Bryden’s latest album has been play listed on Radio 2.  It’s equally of little surprise that, back in 2008, we … Continue reading

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