EP review: THE JOY FORMIDABLE, EMMET SCANLAN

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Sleep Is Day

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Sleep Is Day EP [Release date 26.09.16]

You certainly can’t complain at value for money with an EP that runs to a very generous seven tracks over 32 minutes. I’ve seen plenty of albums that aren’t much longer.

But fans of the Welsh three-piece – Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan (guitar/vocals), Rhydian Dafydd Davies (bass), and Matthew James Thomas (drums) – who have been around since 2006 and who have three albums under their belt, will be well aware of the band’s prolificacy.

Leading with ‘Liana’ lifted off their latest album Hitch – a shimmering taster that echoes Mac and the short lived River City People, it begs the question why TJF have flown under the Get Ready To ROCK! radar thus far.

The EP, otherwise a largely acoustic outing, includes a neat balance of two reinterpreted Hitch album tracks, a previously unreleased number, and covers of Bowie (a sympathetic ‘Ashes To Ashes’), The Misfits, and KONGOS (their current tour partners).

While perhaps only painting one aspect of the TJF sound, Sleep Is Day provides a springboard for a broader exploration of the band’s releases. And for the curious, there’s plenty of tasters to be found both on the band’s website, and their Soundcloud page. ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

EMMET SCANLAN & WHAT THE GOOD THOUGHT These Are Dreams This Is Life EP [Release date 11.11.16]

For those with a predisposition for Soaps, no, this is not Emmet J Scanlan from Hollyoaks.
This Emmet is originally from Limerick, and he and his multinational band (Alan Preims – Percussion (Italy), Peter Akerstrom – classical guitar (Sweden), Nicola Geddes – cello (Scotland), and Cathal Doherty – bass (Ireland)) have been around for a decade without, it has to be said, making many ripples on the scene.

Their latest EP – their second since their 2009 debut album Hands, cover s a gamut of genres – rhythm ‘n’ blues (Over Again), jazz (You Know Who Knows), singer/songwriter (with some very delicate female harmony vocals), and folk (Bless The Weather), again with some exquisite harmony vocals).

There’s a warmth to the set that could perhaps set Emmet Scanlan & What The Good Thought apart from the rest, but the breadth of the material means they fail to nail their colours to any one particular mast. ***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.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 20 October 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 22 October 2024.

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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 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse 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)