Tag Archives: classical

Album review: DANIELE LIVERANI – An Innocent Challenge

Posted on September 1, 2016 by jason

Lion Music [Release date 26.08.16] Danielle Liverani was last seen with the rather good guitar instrumental album ‘Fantasia’ and now he has come back with a piano concerto! Classical and rock music have always been linked, with many rock musicians … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album An Innocent Challenge, classical, concerto, Daniele Liverani, instrumental, Khymera, Lion Music, piano, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Album review: APOCALYPTICA – Plays Metallica By Four Cellos (20th Anniversary Edition)

Posted on June 25, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Odyssey Music Network [Release date 22.07.16] Metallica played by a string quartet? Keen-eared readers will know that this isn’t such a wayward proposition. Back in 1999 Hetfield’s Heroes recorded a live album with the San Francisco Symphony demonstrating the tunes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 20th anniversary edition, album, Apocalyptica, classical, instrumental, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LEFT WITH PICTURES – Afterlife

Posted on February 29, 2016 by jason

Organ Grinder Records [Release date 29.04.16] Left With Pictures describe their music as an orchestral pop ensemble. They have been around since 2005 and consist of Tom Walker, Toby Knowles and Stuart Barter. They have released a series of EP’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Afterlife, album, atmospheric, classical, Left With Pictures, Organ Grinder Records, pop, review, synth pop, synths | Leave a comment

Backstage Hero: MARK STAY

Posted on November 1, 2015 by jason

Mark Stay is an author and has had his first script make the big screen, ‘Robot Overlords’, which he co-wrote with Jon Wright, who also directed the film. It is also a novelisation which you can find out more about … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Backstage Heroes | Tagged classical, Dave Gilmour, film, Gollancz, Mark Stay, Orion, Pink Floyd, progressive, Robot Overlords, rock, sci fi, SF | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TELERGY, TARJA TURUNEN

Posted on August 30, 2015 by jason

TARJA TURUNEN – Ave Maria earMusic [Release date 11.09.15] This is a big gamble for both Tarja and her record label, as even they have not released an all classical/crossover album as far as I am aware. On this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anna Phoebe, Ave Maria En Plein Air, Chris Caffery, classical, David Ragsdale, Hypatia, Nightwish, Oliver Wakeman, opera, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, Scott Page, Tarja Turunen, Telergy | Leave a comment

Gig review: RENAISSANCE – The Stables, Wavendon, 14 April 2015

Posted on April 15, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

RENAISSANCE - The Citadel, St.Helens, 24 April 2015

You can take the girl out of Bolton, but you can’t take Bolton out of the girl. Stage sound issues and residual deafness in one ear might detract some artists on the first night of a comeback tour of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 14 April 2015, Annie Haslam, classical, gig, Milton Keynes, prog, progressive, Renaissance, review, rock, The Stables, Wavendon | Leave a comment

Album review: SKY – Reissues (Sky, Sky 2)

Posted on December 13, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date 01.12.14] CD/DVD These two reissues give us a welcome opportunity to re-evaluate that fusion of classical and prog that the band Sky purveyed back in 1979. A “supergroup” of sorts bringing together the unlikely presence of classical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged acoustic, album, Blue Mink, classical, Curved Air, folk, Francis Monkman, Herbie Flowers, John Williams, reissue, review, rock, Sky, Sky 2, Tristan Fry | Leave a comment

Album review: DIXIE DREGS – Dregs Of The Earth, Unsung Heroes, Industry Standard (reissue)

Posted on October 28, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records [Release date 06.10.14] www.bgo-records.com OK. I own up. I thought Dixie Dregs might have been another Poco or Flying Burrito Brothers. Yes, I knew that this was Steve Morse’s first major calling card, but even though liking his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classical, country, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dregs Of The Earth, fusion, Industry Standard, review, rock, Rod Morgenstein, Steve Morse, Unsung Heroes, Winger | Leave a comment

DVD review: VANGELIS and the Journey to Ithaka

Posted on March 8, 2014 by jason

This is not a live concert or ‘best of’ his works performed live, instead it is a fascinating insight into the musical world of Vangelis. The thing that shines through the various interviews, which include Oliver Stone, Jessye Norman and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged 1492- The Conquest of Paradise, Bladerunner, classical, DVD review, electronic music, Gonzo Multimedia, Jon & Vangelis, Jon Anderson, synthesizer, synths, Vangelis, VANGELIS and the Journey to Ithaka | Leave a comment

Gig review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 4 January 2014‏

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Yiannis

The first time that I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra live, it turned out to be one of the musical highlights of the year for me. The year was 2011, the venue exactly the same as tonight (note: then called The Hammersmith … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged 4 January 2014, Al Pitrelli, Chris Caffery, classical, Eventim Apollo, gig review, Hammersmith, London, metal, Paul O'Neill, rock, symphonic, Trans Siberian Orchestra | 2 Comments

Album review: GORDON GILTRAP – Reissues

Posted on August 20, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date 29.07.13] Gordon Giltrap should be certified A National Treasure. He’s laboured tirelessly since the late-1960′s honing and preening his guitar style, dipping into various genres including prog, and generally maintaining the highest quality standards. These new reissues … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classical, Fear Of The Dark, Gordon Giltrap, guitar, guitarist, John G Perry, Perilous Journey, reissue, review, rock, Simon Phillips, Visionary | Leave a comment

Album review: THE LIVING – The Jungle Is Dark But Full Of Diamonds

Posted on April 16, 2013 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date: 01.12.12] In their own words,Vancouver band The Living try to: ‘bridge the gap between Western art music and popular styles, mixing traditional rock instrumentation with classical instruments’. Their challenging music and adventurous goals are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Canadian Rock, chamber music, classical, Elyse Jacobson, funk, metal, Mike Bell, rock, strings, symphonic rock, The Living, Two Side Moon Promotions, violin | Leave a comment

ED ALLEYNE-JOHNSON – Purple Electric Violin Concerto

Posted on November 26, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

20th Anniversary Special Edition (Edsel Records) Release date 26.11.12 Is it really 20 years? Cripes. I first heard ‘Oxford Suite (Part 1)’ on BBC Radio 1 (I am sure it was ‘Fluff’ Freeman’s Saturday afternoon show) and was immediately drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1992, 20th anniversary edition, classical, Ed Alleyne-Johnson, instrumental, New Model Army, Purple Electric Violin Concerto, rock, violin | Leave a comment

JON LORD – Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

earMusic Rock and Classical music have long been awkward bed fellows. And while it’s over four decades since John lord first dipped his toes into the water to meld his Deep Purple organ licks with orchestral music, his ‘Concerto For … Continue reading →