Quick plays: HASSAN BIN RASHID, LOUIS DE BERNIERES, RYAN YOUNG

HASSAN BIN RASHID My 21 Grams [Release date 06.10.23]

Not everyday you get offered to review an album by a proper prince, in this case Bahraini Prince, Hassan bin Rashid. ‘My 21 Grams’ is his fifth studio album as he aims to do for Arabic music what the Hu have achieved with their mix of traditional Mongol music and metal. As for the the album’s title Hassan says: “A scientist did some research of the weight of the soul. He estimated it at 21 Grams, so My 21 Grams is the weight of my soul. These are songs which come from my soul.”

Hassan openly admits to a love of Pearl Jam, which can be heard clearly on opener ‘Nag Champa’, in both the music and his singing style. Blummin’ impressive it is too! ‘Refugee’ was the obvious single choice as it puts Hassan’s singing to the fore, with a tasty bit of guitar. ‘Muted Orchestra’ has that addictive, hypnotic appeal of Radiohead in their prime, whilst ‘Skin Deep’ achieves his aim of mixing Arabic sounds with a modern rock sound. A classic song for headphones listening.

Hopefully he will get his music out to a wider audience and he’d be a perfect opening act for Pearl Jam. One of those albums that the listener will keep coming back to. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

LOUIS DE BERNIERES Delicate Lies Khaki Angel Records [Release date 27.10.23]

Better known as a bestselling author including the bestselling book and film ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, Louis de Bernieres has also been running a parallel career as a singer songwriter.

To be honest his singing is not for this reviewer, however, his playing on guitar and mandolin are sublime listening. Pick of the album would be ‘Basket of Skulls’, which sounds like a Roy Harper tune, and the jaunty melody on ‘Mind How You Go’.

Nice listen but not one you would come back to often. **1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

RYAN YOUNG Just A Second www.ryanyoung.scot [Release date 27.10.23]

Only the second album by this young Scottish fiddle player, with this album delayed as he recovered from a long-term injury to his left hand. He is joined on the album by Craig Irving on guitar and the album was produced by Jess Lewis.

Where Ryan Young scores above fellow fiddle players is that he excels on the slower, broodier music, for instance ‘Willie Macrae’s Jig/The Monday Morning Reel’. His arrangement of the traditional tunes ‘The Fox/Flora MacDonald’s Reel/Little Donald in the Pigpen’, is an immersive listen, as the listener focuses on nothing more than the fiddle’s sound and gentle guitar backing.

Ryan Young has a love of playing music which shows on this entertaining and highly accomplished set of traditional and Scottish tunes. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

STEVIE JONES & THE WILDFIRES Clarity In Dusk Wildfire Session Productions [Release date 13.06.23]

Third album from Stevie Jones & the Wildfires who consist of Stevie Jones (vocals, acoustic guitar), Alfie Dabrowski (guitars), Dave Dabrowski (bass) and Dave Carter (drums, keys, guitars).

Certainly on topic lyrically, as the hard hitting ‘Do Or Die’ would not look out of place on a Levellers album. In fact this is more instant ‘hit’ than ‘Carmen’, which was released as the lead single and takes a little while to gel. ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ is another highlight.

Plenty of passion has gone into this album and as the creator Stevie Jones says, it holds up better listened to in one sitting. Seek it out as worthy of your listening time. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

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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)