Tag Archives: instrumental

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 →

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Bainbridge, guitar, instrumental, Jazz rock, John Hackett Band, Nick Fletcher, review, The Cloud Of Unknowing | Leave a comment

Album review: ART GRIFFIN’S SOUND CHASER – The Seven Ages Of Starlight

Posted on May 27, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Artsounds Music [Release date 08.04.22] A self-confessed sucker for a bit of jazz rock/fusion, I couldn’t really resist the latest offering from Canadian bassist Art Griffin. Ably assisted by his band including violinist Victoria Veh and Saga drummer Steve Negus, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Griffin's Sound Chaser, instrumental, Jamie Glaser, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Michael Sadler, review, The Seven Ages Of Starlight, Todd Sucherman | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE SATRIANI – The Elephants Of Mars

Posted on April 25, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 08.04.22] A new Satch album. Energy levels high. Check. Weird titles. Check. Stellar guitar. Check. Shades on. Check. In fact guitar nerds are being spoilt, because this album comes hot on the heels of Steve Vai’s latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, classic rock, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, Joe Satriani, review, sci fi, The Elephants Of Mars | Leave a comment

Album review: HELD BY TREES – Solace

Posted on April 22, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Tweed Jacket Music [Release date 22.04.22] The opening piece on this instrumental album sounds like an outtake from Inspector Morse c.1988. It was one of the great TV detective series, punctuated by Barrington Pheloung’s superb orchestrations. I digress, perhaps the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Held By Trees, instrumental, review, Robbie McIntosh, Solace, Talk Talk, Tim Renwick | Leave a comment

Quick plays: PAUL TASKER, BLACK LAKES, D’ERCOLE

Posted on March 6, 2022 by jason

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada Yellowroom Records [Release date 01.04.22] Paul Tasker is now releasing his second instrumental album, best known for being co-songwriter with Doghouse Roses and a previous member of the Willard Grant Conspiracy. The album’s title translates to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alt metal, alt rock, Black Lakes, D'Ercole, folk, For All We’ve Left Behind, guitarist, instrumental, melodic hard rock, metal, Paul Tasker, Phil Vincent, Quick Plays, review, rock, Tierra Quemada | Leave a comment

Album review: PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS – Both In A Tune

Posted on February 3, 2022 by jason

Website [Release date 11.02.22] Peter Knight defines a progressive musician as he always seeks to further his music, be it traditional tunes given a new arrangement, or his own compositions. Famous of course as a member of Steeleye Span until … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bellowhead, Both In A Tune, folk, Gigspanner, instrumental, John Spiers, Peter Knight, progressive, review, Steeleye Span | Leave a comment

Album review: CLIVE MITTEN – Tales From A Misspent Youth Vol.1

Posted on January 29, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Bumnote Records [Release date 28.01.22] www.twelfthnight.info Do we really need more cover versions? Do we really need to hear another take on ‘Tubular Bells’? There seems to be a trend, maybe as rock gets old, to revisit and occasionally reinterpret … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Clive Mitten, Genesis, instrumental, Pink Floyd, prog, progressive, review, rock, Supertramp, Tales From A Misspent Youth Vol.1 | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE VAI – Inviolate

Posted on January 28, 2022 by jason

Favored Nations/Mascot Label Group [Release date 28.01.22 - vinyl 18.03.22] With over 40 years in the music industry, Steve Vai should need no introduction, he is a virtuoso guitarist, composer and producer, considered by many as one of the greatest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, fusion, guitarist, instrumental, INVIOLATE, progressive, review, rock, Steve Vai | Leave a comment

Album review: iVARDENSPHERE – Ragemaker

Posted on January 17, 2022 by jason

Metropolis Records [Release date 04.02.22] Albums like this one are why, after nearly twenty years reviewing for GRTR!, my love of discovering and hearing new music shows no signs of waning. Not for everyone this one, as industrial-tribalist iVardenspehere weaves … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, atmospheric, electronics, instrumental, iVARDENSPHERE, progressive, Ragemaker, review, soundtrack | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID CROSS & ANDREW KEELING – October Is Marigold

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Noisy Records [Release date 03.12.21] David Cross releases fine instrumental music via his own Noisy Records imprint. Cross was with King Crimson in the 1970s whilst Keeling has scored new versions of the band’s repertoire. You’d expect that their music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Keeling, David Cross, Electric Chamber Music Vol.3, flute, instrumental, King Crimson, October Is Marigold, review, violin | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to Christmas (rock) Music

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Christmas comes but once a year, and with it the usual mixed bag of toons. But not for us the familiar stylings of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ or ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. We like to dig deep, a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Alan Davey, album, carols, Christmas, feature, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, instrumental, Jethro Tull, playlist, review, Rick Wakeman, Thea Gilmore, Thijs van Leer, Xmas | Leave a comment

Album review: ESKINA – We Were The Moon

Posted on November 18, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Challenge Records [Release date 19.11.21] www.eskinamusic.com Has the music world gone all reflective? Or maybe it is just a coincidence that in the past few weeks we have received several releases that seem to chime with the times. Or maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, chill-out, classical, Eskina, instrumental, review, We Are The Moon | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BREMER McCOY, L.SHANKAR, PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE, FREEDOM TO ROAM

Posted on November 16, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

BREMER McCOY Natten Luaka Bop [Release date 29.10.21] We all need some chill-out music, perhaps the more so as we enter the festive season. A perfect antidote (and respite from socks, Scotch and smellies) could be found in the hands … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Animals Reimagined; A Tribute to Pink Floyd, Bremer McCoy, chill-out, Christmas From India, classic rock, folk, Freedom To Roam, instrumental, L.Shankar, Natten, prog, progressive, review, The Rhythms Of Migration, world music | Leave a comment

EP review: AMY THATCHER – Let What’s In, Out

Posted on October 29, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 05.11.21] Amy Thatcher is a professional accordionist based in the North East of England. She has built up a reputation as one of the UK’s leading folk accordionists, both as a performer and composer, working with fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged accordion, album, Amy Thatcher, EP, folk, instrumental, Let What’s In Out, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ORGAN FAIRCHILD – Brewed In Buffalo

Posted on October 27, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Organ Fairchild Records [Release date 15.09.21] Here at GRTR! Towers we are privileged to receive any number of albums from aspiring or jobbing musicians, some obviously hitting the mark more than others. Occasionally a real gem emerges and in Organ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Brewed In Buffalo, funk, instrumental, jazz fusion, Organ Fairchild, review, soul jazz | Leave a comment

Album review: AVAWAVES – Chrysalis (Anna Phoebe/Aisling Brouwer)

Posted on October 19, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

One Little Independent Records [Release date 08.10.21] The return of Anna Phoebe!! She contributed a track to our Rising Stars sampler in 2007. She has performed with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She was special guest of Jethro Tull (2009) and gave Ian … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aisling Brouwer, album, ambient, Anna Phoebe, Avawaves, chill-out, Chrysalis, instrumental, piano, review, violin | Leave a comment

Album review: RACHEL FLOWERS – Bigger On The Inside

Posted on October 18, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

www.rachelflowersmusic.com [Release date 01.10.21] For an artist influenced by Coltrane and Zappa you may think that Rachel Flowers’ music will be a bit abstract, quirky and at times inaccessible. But, Rachel was mentored by Herbie Hancock and infuenced by the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bigger On The Inside, instrumental, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Rachel Flowers, review | Leave a comment

Album review: GUS G – Quantum Leap

Posted on September 12, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

AFM Records [Release date 08.10.21] When I interviewed Gus G back stage in Manchester in 2012 all the talk was how he had fared with Ozzy. He contributed to the album ‘Scream’ (2010) and there were high hopes of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Firewind, guitar, guitarist, Gus G, instrumental, metal, Quantum Leap, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE BROOKFIELD – Hey Kiddo!

Posted on June 22, 2021 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Mike Brookfield for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in June 2021. First broadcast 27 June 2021. Golden Rule Records [Release date 09.07.21] Mike Brookfield’s catchphrase is: “keep it burnin”. And he certainly does that on ‘Hey … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Buddy Holly, Dick Dale, Dire Straits, Duane Eddy, guitar, Hey Kiddo!, instrumental, Jet Harris, Jimmy Page, Link Ray, Lonnie Mack, Los Straitjackets, Mark Knopfler, Mike Brookfield, Peter Eades, review, surf music, Tarantino, The Shadows, The Ventures | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB KORAL – Wild Hearts

Posted on June 2, 2021 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Rob Koral for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the album ‘Wild Hearts’. First broadcast 13 June 2021. RKUK [Release date 28.05.21] Rob Koral’s ‘Wild Hearts’ is an exhilarating instrumental album comprising guitar, Hammond … Continue reading →