Share the post "Album review: MARK VENNIS & DIFFERENT PLACE – A Beautiful Lie Or The Ugly Truth"
Cadiz Music [Release date 20.04.18]
Mark Vennis, a 20 year veteran of the film industry, with production credits on 33 films to his name, including the comedy drama Funny Cow, and the recent documentary ‘Here To Be Heard; The Story Of The Slits’, has been writing and playing guitar with his band Different Place since 2008.
Over that time they’ve released at least one long player, and a number of EPs. A Beautiful Lie Or The Ugly Truth, a low key, Americana set, brings together remixed and remastered versions of three limited edition EPs, a couple of new songs, and a Merle Travis cover.
And while it’s a DIY affair, produced by long term creative collaborator Duncan Lefeuvre (drums) at his New Forest, Gravel Track Studios , and with Dave Sweetenham (bass and vocals) and Daniel Hunnisett (guitar , harmonica and vocals) completing the line-up, it’s actually rather good.
In a lo-fi sort of way. It’s not a shiny, polished, big production, and in some way it benefits from that – allowing the songs and delivery to flourish. And while acknowledged influences include Johnny Cash, The Clash, Steve Earl, The Ruts, Springsteen, John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, John Martyn and Ry Cooder, the overarching vibe is one of the mid- Seventies when there was an explosion of raw talent.
There’s very distinct echoes of Mark Knopfler in Vennis’ guitar playing and song writing style, his vocals a marriage of Knopfler and Jagger, with some of the hooks reminiscent of The Stranglers and The Clash, and chiming guitars resonating with early REM.
Let’s not kid anyone it’s the start of a new career, but in its refreshingly uncomplicated delivery, A Beautiful Lie Or The Ugly Truth is nevertheless a rather charming, if out of time, record. ****
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
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: MARK VENNIS & DIFFERENT PLACE – A Beautiful Lie Or The Ugly Truth"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
