Album review: TRISTAN MACKAY – Invisible Light

Website [Release date 14.02.19]

Following the incredibly good ‘Out Along the Wire’, with its breezy Eric Clapton unplugged vibe which was a showcase for Tristan Mackay’s electric guitar playing and the second album ‘Wire and Wood’, which was a darker more acoustic fair that veered into more singer/songwriter – dare I say it Sheeran territory – be it with a more serious themes of loss and the responsibilities of childbirth. We now have the Kickstarter funded third album which does feel like a loose part of a trilogy is ‘Invisible Light’.

At the start we enter the album with a very short intro song titled ‘We Found Love’, is a Mackay trademark which he is known for, but then the album goes in a different direction than the previous two albums. It is still very much Tristan but more of him being his own man, less being compared to Clapton, Knopfler and Sheeran that you will see mentioned in a myriad of reviews for the two-iTunes number one blues charting albums released before.

The production is very modern and the songs balance between modern blues and popular singer/songwriter styles of music with Tristan’s electric guitar playing being once again utilised on several songs, ‘Diane’ being of note.

Mr. Mackay has three trump cards, things he does very well…his voice, his guitar and his song writing. In regard to his singing and guitar playing he never oversells either and this tempering of his talents for the greater good of his craft produces work of quiet beauty like ‘Wordless Whisper’. The title track has a more traditional blues sound and his closest stab at the swampy delta blues is the magnificent ‘Only Human’ with its warm atmosphere is quite wonderful.

Tristan Mackay is never hard rock or even rock for that matter, but his musical skills and song writing make his body of work acceptable in a rocker’s quieter moments.

Tristan’s most Tristan sounding album to date. It is an album of a man nailing his own sound and the path ahead looks very promising! ****1/2

Review by Martin David Porter

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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 1 December 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 3 December 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 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)