LEVI CUSS Just Below Radio (Vol. 1 & 2) [Release date 03.11.17]
Well, that’s a first – 2 EP CDs, 4 tracks on each, which surely doubles up on the production cost, when both would fit handsomely on a single CD with room to spare for a multitude of other songs. But it makes a statement.
With a short September – November folk club tour of less than a dozen random dates (it’s a long way to travel to Stockport and Glasgow for just a couple of ‘northern’ dates), folk driven rock and roller Levi Cuss, from Alberta, Canada delivers a handsome, rootsy set of songs inspired by hanging out in London last year.
Some swelling organ (and piano) from Chris Gestrin lends a nice period feel to a set that boogies, grooves, and smoulders, fuelled by Cuss’s raw vocals, some delightful pedal steel and perfectly weighted bluesy lead guitar lines.
With hints of Dylan, Neil Young, Ryan Adams and the likes, Just Below Radio is a good ‘honest’ record played with feel and no frills. If he’s playing near you, check him out. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
JIM McHUGH Noise Machine [Release date 22.10.17]
The debut release, co-produced by Ben Reel, from Northern Irish singer songwriter Jim McHugh, is indeed a rather ‘noisy’ record. It’s one of the most raw and unpolished efforts I’ve heard in a long time, but there’s an indefinable charm and honesty to the set.
Opening with the cacophonous, and somewhat chaotic ‘Hills Of Mullyash’ there’s a great hook lurking, and it’s easy to imagine that in their infancy U2 probably sounded this rough around the edges. And in many ways, this record could well point to the way in which a somewhat stale music industry might be re-calibrated.
I’m not suggesting Noise Machine is in any way approaching ‘masterpiece’ status, but along with band members James ‘Butch’ McNeill (drums), Paul McCabe (bass), and Ronnie Morgan (second guitar), McHugh it’s easy hear McHugh’s passion bleeding through the tracks.
And that’s the charm of Noise Machine, it’s uncultured, indie folk driven rock that has a vibrant beating heart. From the driving single ‘Red Rose’, the catchy ‘River Won’t Flow’, the rootsy ‘My Destiny’ and ‘Help Her Help M’e, to the almost Velvet Underground reminiscent ‘Do You Remembe’r, there’s a rich vein of potential coursing through the grooves of this record. ***1/2
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.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
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 7 April 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 2 April 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 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
