Quick plays: TALK-SHOW, STEVE RAVENSFIELD

TALK-SHOW Permanent Honeymoon

TALK-SHOW Permanent Honeymoon (Wooden Piano Records)

The brainchild of Maidstone singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lawrence O’Shea, Talk-Show brings together Gustaff Llunggren (brass, woodwind, strings and lap steel) and Chris Pepper (drums, percussion, programming, electric and bass guitars and syths), overseen by producer Boo Hewerdine (who fronted cult 80′s indie band the Bible).

The PR blurb would have you believe they blend Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk, and McCartney but to my ears their influences are far more recent – from a songwriting perspective, the likes of 10cc, and from a musical delivery perspective a range of 1980′s influences, perhaps most notably the likes of The Lightning Seeds mixed with elements of The Cars, and ELO.

So what you get is cleverly crafted retro pop rock. No surprise that they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Squeeze. And as fellow reviewer Jason Richie commented when reviewing the band’s 2015 All Messed Up (And Nowhere To Go) EP, not a million miles removed from Cats In Space who were recently awarded the GRTR! 2017 album of the year accolade.

Whether this signals a new trend – a classic 70′s pop rock/early 80′s synth revival – it’s too early to say, but well written songs, with irresistible hooks, that cry out for radio airplay, will always be well received. ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

STEVE RAVENSFIELD Into The Next Life [Release date 01.12.17]

The second long player inside 12 months from this somewhat mysterious Midlands singer songwriter whose web footprint offers no bio, no photos, no dates. Nothing.

Throw into the mix that for a limited time (well after its release) he offered his last album Broken Diamonds delivered free, not even a p&p charge, and the mystery thickens.

Then there’s the cryptic Facebook message that while he was hoping to get out on the road before the year end he was unable to do so for personal reasons, and the somewhat maudlin nature of his new material – the burdens of this mortal coil – and you sense this is stuff he needs to say before the sands of time run out.

So a very personal album, but very much like on his debut his hoarse, gravelly vocals and easy listening brand of acoustic driven soft rock, don’t wholly convince. At least not in a commercially viable sense, and it’s the gospelly backing vocals (from, I’m guessing Ange Lloyd again) that lift much of the material.

But if catharsis is the aim, and I suspect it is, then while it may be fairly run of the mill fodder to you and I, it’s mission achieved with the poignant ‘If I Never Tell You Goodbye’ and the driving title track offering an element of redemption. ***

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

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 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.

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 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)