Quick plays: OUR MAN IN THE FIELD, TRAGIK, THE LAST HURRAH(!!)

OUR MAN IN THE FIELD Gold On The Horizon In The Field Recordings [Release date 03.11.23]

Our Man In the Field is not a band per se as it’s the pseudonym of British singer/songwriter Alex Ellis. He released his debut album in 2o20, which garnered good reviews along with plays on BBC 6 Music. Previous to this he was an actor.

Singing wise Alex Ellis comes across as a mix of Van Morrison and particularly David Gray (the haunting ‘Great White Hope’ being a good example).

Opener ‘Feel Good’, which despite its upbeat tempo, is based on his life experience of his acting agent at the time blowing his earnings on drugs and prostitutes. ‘Go Easy’ is a fine piece of Americana as you’ll hear this year and ‘Glad To See You’ features some glorious pedal steel playing by Henry Senior.

An album to savour and keep an eye out for Our Man In The Field as he’s an artist with plenty to say and memorable songs to say it with. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Feb 10 2024 Nottingham, The Angel
Feb 11 2024 Sheffield, The Greystones
Feb 12 2024 Birmingham, Kitchen Garden Cafe
Feb 13 2024 Oxford, The Jericho Tavern
Feb 15 2024 Manchester, Gullivers
Feb 16 2024 Glasgow, The Glad Cafe
Feb 17 2024 Newcastle upon Tyne, The Cluny

TRAGIK Realm Angelic Rock Company Records [Release date 20.12.23]

Album number twelve from Tragik, who feature that man of many albums (and talents!) Phil Vincent. Long-time Tragik cohorts drummer Dirk Phillips and guitarist Damian D’Ercole are both involved, along with Vince O’Regan on lead Guitars and once again the album is mastered by Jacob Hansen.

‘Genesis’ packs a powerful punch both riff and solo wise, whilst ‘Sorry To See You Go’ is a solid rocker with a catchy chorus. One things for sure, over the years Phil Vincent hasn’t lost his knack of penning catchy choruses.

Phil Vincent’s love of the Beatles see Tragik cover ‘Yesterday’ and in typically heavy form, almost to the detriment of the vocals.

You know what you are getting with a Tragik album, namely riff heavy, melodic hard rock and this album is another solid album in their repertoire. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

THE LAST HURRAH (!!) Modern Nostalgia TBC Records [Release date 27.10.23]

The Last Hurrah !! is the brainchild of Norwegian music connoisseur, producer and musician HP Gundersen. The album promises to take you on a journey similar to John Barry, Serge Gainsboug and Marianne Faithful via the Laurel Canyon.

When the pandemic started in 2020, HP Gundersen moved to the countryside with his pianist wife Cecilie Leganger and set up a studio in the basement. All normal musical activity stopped, but he had a close circle of friends of musicians who helped create this album.

‘Internet Troll’ features Tim Scott McConnell on vocals, on a song that has a modern lyric, yet a sound steeped in those classic 70s albums from the likes of Jackson Browne. In fact on ‘Dusty Road’ you could be forgiven for thinking it was a long lost Jackson Browne tune!

If Brian Wilson ever did a psychedelic country & folk album with Jackson Browne & Tom Petty it would quite possibly sound like this. Not instant by any means, however, worth the listener’s time and vocalist Maria Due adds that extra bit of special magic on the songs she takes lead vocals on. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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

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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.

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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)