Tag Archives: instrumental

Album review : STEVE HOWE – Guitarscape

Posted on October 14, 2024 by jason

HoweSound [Release date: 27.09.24] With more than one hundred albums featuring his name in the recording credits, to offer guitarist Steve Howe the title of a truly accomplished musician should come as no surprise to anyone – still, it does … Continue reading →

Quick plays: RICHARD TRETHEWEY, THE SCHMOOZENBERGS

Posted on March 6, 2024 by jason

Richard Trethewey – Two Halves [Release date 15.03.24] Second album from Cornish musician Richard Trethewey is one that was first imagined for vinyl, as side one is songs inspired from Cornwall’s river estuaries, whilst side two would feature songs based … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Americana, folk, instrumental, Ma Polaine's Great Decline, Molecules, mouse, pop, Richard Trethewey, singer songwriter, the Schmoozenbergs, traditional, Two Halves | Leave a comment

News: Albums Of The Month (October – December 2023)

Posted on January 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

HANFORD FLYOVER Source (Fruits De Mer Records) There are several bands operating in the psych/blues rock space and female fronted such as Dead Feathers and Blues Pills, and even label mate Crystal Jacqueline. But Hanford Flyover are less late sixties Jefferson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2023, albums of the month, Ann Wilson, blues rock, Care of Night, December, Hanford Flyover, instrumental, melodic rock, November, October, prog, progressive, Robin Trower, rock, Sari Schorr, Trevor Rabin, Tripsitter, Will Pike | Leave a comment

Album review: KLARK KENT

Posted on November 26, 2023 by jason

Kryptone Records/BMG [Release date 17.11.23] Best known as the drummer for the rock/reggae/punk band The Police, Stewart Copeland has had a long and successful career. Aside from Curved Air and The Police, he has released several solo albums and composed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged drummer, instrumental, Klark Kent, pop, reggae, reissued, review, rock, self-titled album, Stewart Copeland, the Police | Leave a comment

Album review: UNIFONY – Unifony III

Posted on October 20, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Volkoren [Release date 03.11.23] The great thing about GRTR! is our eclecticism over 20 years, very much reflecting the taste and preferences of our solid review team. We’re not bound by classic rock but the music has to move us. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, chill-out, Clannad, instrumental, Moya Brennan, review, Unifony, Unifony III | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBBIE CUMMING – Choons Vol.1 & 2

Posted on July 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Absolute [Release date 12.05.23] I’ve often wondered about a canal boat holiday, traversing the criss-cross network hopefully in the sunshine, away from congested roads, and with regular stops for refreshment. And, maybe, if I took the plunge as it were … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Canal Boat Diaries, Choons Vol.1 & 2, instrumental, review, Robbie Cumming, TV | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Posted on July 10, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs. And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, NEWS | Tagged albums, April 2023, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, June 2023, May 2023, melodic rock, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAH WAYBRIGHT – Dreamed

Posted on June 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Invasion Merch [Release date 17.07.23] One of the great things about GRTR! as we reflect on our twenty year lifespan is the eclectic nature of our brief. We don’t ever feel compelled to review the latest Jethro Tull or Yes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classical, Dreamed, Gary Blu, Happy The Man, instrumental, jazz, Leah Waybright, Mark Wood, review, Rick Kennell, Stanley Whitaker | Leave a comment

Album review: DALLAHAN – Speak Of The Devil

Posted on June 10, 2023 by jason

www.dallahanmusic.com [Release date 16.06.23] Dallahan base their sound not only on Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene, but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America. Dallahan consists of Jack Badcock on guitar and vocals, Ciaran Ryan on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Celtic, Dallahan, folk, instrumental, review, Speak Of the Devil, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: GNOSS – Stretching Skyward

Posted on May 8, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 12.05.23] Gnoss – Aidan Moodie (vocals, guitar), Graham Rorie (fiddle, mandolin), Connor Sinclair (flute, whistles) and Craig Baxter (bodhrán, percussion) – released their last album ‘The Light of the Moon’ in 2021. On the subsequent tour supporting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, Gnoss, instrumental, review, Stretching Skyward, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: IMAR – Awakening

Posted on April 13, 2023 by jason

www.imarband.com [Release date 21.04.23] The Scottish, Irish and Isle Of Man collective that is Imar return with their first album in five years. Imar’s line-up is Mohsen Amini (concertina), Adam Brown (bodhrán, guitar), Tomás Callister (fiddle), Ryan Murphy (flute, uilleann … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Awakening, folk, Imar, instrumental, review, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Les Fleurs / Fantasy / Keys To The City (Remasters)

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] BGO have done a great job releasing back catalogue from a number of big name artists and labels and packaging several albums on a couple of discs together with extensive liner notes in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Earth Wind & Fire, fantasy, funk, fusion, instrumental, jazz funk, Keys To The City, Larry Dunn, Les Fleurs, Maurice White, piano, Ramsey Lewis | Leave a comment

EP review: DANIELE LIVERANI – The Wheel Of Emotion

Posted on April 8, 2023 by jason

Spotify [Release date 30.03.23] After being lost for more that 30 years in old tapes, Daniele Liverani issues these four unreleased songs. Recorded back in 1992 with a 4 tracks and minimal home recording equipment tools, the tracks have been restored and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Daniele Liverani, EP, guitarist, instrumental, metal, review, symphonic, The Wheel Of Emotion | Leave a comment

Album review: WILL POUND & JENN BUTTERWORTH – Volume 1

Posted on February 21, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 24.02.23] Two of the finest instrumentalists in traditional music combine to produce an album full of musical wonders. Jenn Butterworth won the 2019 Scots Trad Music Awards Musician of the Year accolade while Will Pound has been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, classical, folk, harmonica, instrumental, Jenn Butterworth, review, traditional music, Volume 1, Will Pound | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE VASS – Decemberwell Decade

Posted on November 3, 2022 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 18.02.22] Mike Vass is always an artist coming up with new musical ideas that are both intriguing and enjoyable. On ‘Decemberwell Decade’ he celebrates his 2011 classic winter album with a brand new incarnation. The original album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Decemberwell Decade, folk, instrumental, Mike Vass, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: VINNIE MOORE – Double Exposure

Posted on October 29, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Vinnie Moore about his career with tracks from his solo albums. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on 4 December 2022. Mind’s Eye Music [Release date 08.11.22] We were mightily impressed with Vinnie Moore’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, Double Exposure, guitar, hard rock, instrumental, review, UFO, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Celebration

Posted on October 22, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 28.10.22] The question has to be asked. Do we really need another take on the classic ‘Tubular Bells’? It has to be one of the most re-worked pieces not least by Mike Oldfield himself. Well, it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ella Shaw, instrumental, London Contemporary Voices Choir, Mike Oldfield, orchestral, review, rock, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Celebration | Leave a comment

Album review: SAM SWEENEY – Escape That

Posted on October 16, 2022 by jason

Hudson Records [Release date 21.10.22] Renowned fiddle player Bellowhead member Sam Sweeney returns with an album that ties together the threads of Sam’s musical loves; combining pop hooks and his pioneering work in the world of traditional dance tunes. Written … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bellowhead, Escape That, fiddle, folk, instrumental, review, Sam Sweeney, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: SENDELICA – One Man’s Man…

Posted on September 24, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Fruits de Mer Records [Release date 28.11.22] www.fruitsdemerrecords.com For several years now Keith Jones from Fruits de Mer Records has kindly supplied us with samplers, singles and albums from his eclectic and enterprising label. Keith seeks out obscure bands from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, instrumental, One Man's Man.., prog, Progressive Rock, psychedelic, review, Sendelica | Leave a comment

Album review: FARA – Energy Islands

Posted on August 28, 2022 by jason

Faramusic [Release date 26.08.22] Fara are from the Orkney’s, where they developed their distinctive sound that blends the three fiddles and vocals of Jeana Leslie, Catriona Price and Kristan Harvey against piano. On this album Fara introduce a new pianist Rory … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Energy Islands, Fara, folk, instrumental, Orkney Islands, review, traditional music | Leave a comment

Album review: FRACTAL SEXTET

Posted on August 2, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Alchemy Records [Release date 16.09.22] It would be easy to dismiss Fractal Sextet as a muso-based-up-their-own-backside combo. In fact the press release might have you believe that. But no. Muso – yes – but damned accessible with it. The whole … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Colin Edwin, Fractal Sextet, fusion, instrumental, Jon Durant, progressive, review, Stephan Thelen | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LIPS TURN BLUE, O’KANE & BLOCK, CTP

Posted on June 28, 2022 by jason

LIPS TURN BLUE MIG Music [Release date 04.05.22] Lips Turn Blue feature Don Mancuso (a former member of Black Sheep which featured Lou Gramm who guests on this album), keyboardist Eric Bieber, bassist Mike Mullane, drummer Roy Stein and vocalist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Christian Tolle, Christian Tolle Project, classic rock, CTP, Damien O'Kane, folk, instrumental, Lips Turn Blue, melodic rock, Phil Naro, review, rock, Ron Block | Leave a comment

Album review: HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE – The Confidence Trick

Posted on June 18, 2022 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 29.07.22] Here at GRTR! we are big fans of Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, enjoying what the band use to describe themselves as genre defying music. They have a prog rock basis but then wander off down … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classical, Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate, instrumental, melodic, prog rock, progressive, review, The Confidence Trick | Leave a comment

Gig review: SPIERS & BODEN – Oxford Playhouse, Sunday 5 June 2022

Posted on June 6, 2022 by jason

First time on stage at the Oxford Playhouse for John Spiers and Jon Boden, and also the first time inside this smart theatre for this reviewer. Playing to a home crowd (Spiers and Boden met in Oxford) is always a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bellohwhead, fiddle, folk, gig, instrumental, John Spiers, Jon Boden, melodeon, Oxford Playhouse, review, Sunday 5 June 2022, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: NICK FLETCHER – The Cloud Of Unknowing

Posted on June 2, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Rough Draft Audio [Release date 02.09.22] Nick Fletcher’s latest album is a departure from the previously reviewed ‘Cycles Of Behaviour’ It gives free rein to his jazz rock tendencies whereas its predecessor added a bit more prog in the mix, … Continue reading →