Quick plays: SHINE NOIR, GEORGE ST.CLAIR

SHINE NOIR – s/t

Alternative rock, from Germany, anyone? Formed when Anne wanted to record a few of her singer-songwriter songs, the guys who owned the studio – Olli (guitars) and No (drums) decided to add their own metal and new wave styles to the mix. And to square the circle, Lemmy on bass. And ‘no’ he’s not been resurrected in some weird Nazi occult ritual.

The result is indie rock interspersed with the occasional lines of whimsical pop, in what is, and frankly, a strange marriage – Olli’s intense wall of rhythm guitar dominating proceedings, with Anne’s vocals providing the melody.

Full marks for intensity, and I can imagine in a low ceilinged club on the Reeperbahn (and after a few steins of strong Bavariain lager) Shine Noir would catch the eye, and the ear. But in the cold light of day the somewhat unsophisticated, and unyielding, guitar sound can becomes a little wearing.

Youth may be taken in by the enthusiasm, but in the long term Anne may have more chance of carving a niche with a more sympathetic, and varied, accompaniment. **

Review by Pete Whalley

GEORGE ST.CLAIR Ballads Of Captivity And Freedom [Release date 02.03.18]

The say football is a game of two halves. So it would seem is this release from ‘part western balladeer, part borderland chronicler’, singer songwriter George St. Clair.

Based in the UK, but having grown up in the high plains of Texas, and despite being a relatively young man, Ballads Of Captivity And Freedom is a mix of what you might call ‘old school’ country and western tunes, Mexican folk, and more contemporary material incorporating element s of 1970′s rock.

The more traditional material – steeped in pedal steel – is, to my aged ears, somewhat ‘cheesy’ and unlikely to find mass favour (except on hoe-down nights), on the other hand when George does let his hair down – like on the excellent rock infused ‘Up To Fail’ and the poignant ‘Cimarrones’ – there’s an unequivocal potential for wider appeal.

But to put it bluntly, it’s one shot on goal, scored – a poacher’s finish, and one near miss. Unfortunately, several own goals, means the chances of silverware are remote. **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.

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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)