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Tag Archives: melodic
EP review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – Phoenix Volume 1

Facebook [Release date 26.01.18] The Darker My Horizon duo Paul Stead (lead vocals/guitar) and Mark Stephenson (guitars & backing vocals) used to be in Sacred Heart previously and on this EP they have re-recorded four songs from that band, partly as a stop … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Mark Stephenson, melodic, modern rock, Paul Stead, Phoenix Volume 1, review, rock, Sacred Heart, the Darker My Horizon
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News: For Your Listening Pleasure…STEVE HACKETT, FM, DUKES OF THE ORIENT (February 2018)

Steve Hackett releases a re-recorded version of GTR’s ‘When The Heart Rules The Mind’ on February 2nd. It features a guest appearance from Marillion’s Steve Rothery. More details and tour dates here FM release their new album ‘Atomic Generation’ on … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Listening Post, NEWS
Tagged Atomic Generation, Change Your Position, Dukes of the Orient, Everlasting Love, FM. Steve Hackett, For Your Listening Pleasure..., Genesis, Ignore The Sign, Love Affair, Marillion, melodic, Michael Armstrong, music, new, news, Nordoff Robbins, progressive, rock, Steve Rothery, Tax The Heat
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Album review: IGNORE THE SIGN – A Line To Cross

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 23.02.18] Ignore The Sign are a new band formed around the trio of vocalist/keys/guitarist Ossy Pfeiffer, guitarist/vocalist Anca Graterol (Rosy Vista) and guitarist Steve Mann (MSG/Lionheart). The are joined by bass player Lars Lehmann (Uli Jon Roth), percussionist … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A Line To Cross, album, classic rock, debut, Def Leppard, Ignore The Sign, Lionheart, melodic, review, rock, SPV
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EP review: BAD MOTHER EARTH

Self-released [Release date 26.01.18] Bad Mother Earth are a new four piece consisting of vocalist Jacky Rogue, guitarist Joe Kash, drummer Greg Kats and bass palyer Mitch Prax. ‘Not Comin’ Home’ has been released as lead single/video and fair pelts … Continue reading
Album review: FIVE GRAND STEREO – Sex & Money

Five Grand Stereo [Release date 26.01.18] Five Grand Stereo are Chris Singleton (vocals/guitar/piano), Jane Fraser (vocals), Stelios Kalisperides (guitar), Michael Kirkland (sax/synths), Zane Maertens (bass) and Ben Woollacott (drums). Chris Singleton has of course released a series of excellent pop/rock … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Chris Singleton, David Bowie, debut, Five Grand Stereo, melodic, pop, review, rock, Sex & Money
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Album review: JONO – Life

Frontiers [Release date 01.12.17] Jono joining Frontiers will be good for both parties, as Jono will get greater exposure to their marvellous mix of pomp, rock and prog, whilst Frontiers have a band who I am sure as Mr Halford … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Jono, Life, melodic, Muse, pomp, progressive, Queen, review, rock
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Quick plays: BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD, RAINTIMES

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN Hearts Of Glass Proper Music [Release date 09.02.18] www.bethnielsenchapman.com Beth Nielsen Chapman’s latest album is nearly all her own songs, with many of them being re-recorded versions where the piano on the originals is replaced by guitar. … Continue reading
Album review: KAYAK – Seventeen

Inside Out [Release date 12.01.18] Kayak was founded in 1972 by keyboardist/composer Ton Scherpenzeel, who is the sole remaining original member, as the band release their seventeenth studio album. Ton is joined in Kayak by singer Bart Schwertmann and guitarist Marcel Singor, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy Latimer, Camel, Kayak, melodic, prog, prog rock, Progressive Rock, review, Seventeen, Ton Scherpenzeel
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Album review: BLOOD RED SAINTS – Love Hate Conspiracies

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.01.18] Blood Red Saints return with their second album and joining the original trio of Pete Godfrey (vocals), Rob Naylor (bass) and Lee Revill (guitars) are guitarist Neil Hibbs (ex-Shy) and Andy Chemney on drums. There are a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Blood Red Saints, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, hard rock, Love Hate Conspiracies, melodic, Paul Laine, review
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Album review: DAMIEN O’KANE – Avenging & Bright

Pure Records [Release date 08.12.17] Damien O’Kane’s album ‘Areas Of High Traffic’, released last year, was nominated for ‘Album Of The Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Based on this new album that is hardly surprising as in the main he takes … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Avenging & Bright, banjo, Damien O'Kane, folk, Kate Rusby, melodic, Proper Records, review
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Album review: JON BODEN – Afterglow

Hudson Records [Release date 06.10.17] ‘Afterglow’ follows on from Jon Boden’s 2009 post-apocalyptic concept album ‘Songs From The Floodplain’. Whereas that album was largely rural in its setting, ‘Afterglow’ takes the listener into the chaos of a ruined city’s street carnival, as two star-crossed lovers try to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Afterglow, album, Bellowhead, concept, folk, Hudson Records, indie, Jon Boden, melodic, review, singer songwriter
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Album review: TARJA – From Spirits And Ghosts (Score For A Dark Christmas)

earMUSIC [Release date 17.11.17] Former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen has been successfully building a solo career where she makes the music she wants to and that suits her vocal style/musical visions. It comes as no surprise then she has decided to record a … Continue reading
Album review: SWEET & LYNCH – Unified

Frontiers [Release date 10.11.17] Second album from Sweet & Lynch – Michael Sweet and George Lynch – who have both been busy with their respective bands Stryper and Lynch Mob. In fact the ever busy Lynch has recently announced he … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Dokken, George Lynch, melodic, Michael Sweet, review, rock, Stryper, Sweet & Lynch, Unified
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Album review: ROBIN BECK – Love Is Coming

Frontiers [Release date 13.10.17] Robin Beck first came to the attention of the record buying public here in the UK in 1988 when she released the massively successful “First Time” single, helped by its inclusion in an advert for a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Clif Magness, Frontiers, House of Lords, James Christian, Love Is Coming, melodic, review, Robin Beck, rock
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Album review: LEE ABRAHAM – Colours

F2 Music [Release date 27.11.17] Lee Abraham was the bassist in prog rockers Galahad between 2005 and 2009, who he has now since re-joined but as their guitarist. He has been busy on the solo front releasing a series of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Colours, Credo, FM, Frost*, Galahad, Lee Abraham, melodic, porgressive, review, rock, Steve Overland
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Album review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Retribution

Frontiers [Release date 10.11.17] You do wonder at times when Jeff Scott Soto (JSS) finds time to rest, as he is involved in the recently released album from Sons Of Apollo, he has his more metal edged Soto band, there … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, hard rock, Howie Simon, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic, Retribution, review, rock, Sons Of Apollo, Soto
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Quick plays: PENDULUM OF FORTUNE, TOMI MALM, THE ESKIES

PENDULUM OF FORTUNE Searching For The God Inside [Release date 08.12.17] Pendulum Of Fortune are based around former Eloy drummer Bodo Schopf, who is joined by Pink Cream 69/Almanac vocalist David Readman, guitarist Vladimir Shevyakov and bass player Franky R (who … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, And Don't Spare The Horses, AOR, Dennis Ward, hard rock, Headstrong, melodic, Pendulum Of Fortune, Pink Cream 69, review, rock, Searching For The God Inside, soul, The Eskies, Tomi Malm, Walkin' On Air, West Coast
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EP review: DANDELION CHARM – Riding The Flood

www.dandelioncharm.com/ Riding The Flood is a new five-track EP from Newhaven-based duo Dandelion Charm, who comprise of John and Clare Fowler. Clare Flowler says that ‘the themes we deal with in our songs are not frivolous ones. They are all … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Clare Fowler, Dandelion Charm, EP, folk, John Fowler, melodic, review, Riding The Flood
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Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Skyscraper Souls

David Randall chatted to Chris Braide in October 2015 and this hour special provides background to the singer-songwriter’s career and on hooking up with Geoff Downes. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Magical Think Tank Records [Release date … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy Partridge, Asia, Big Big Train, Buggles, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Marc Almond, melodic, pop, progressive, review, Skyscraper Souls, Tim Bowness, XTC, Yes
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Quick plays: DANTE FOX, CHEAP TRICK, KATE RUSBY, LOTS HOLLOWAY

DANTE FOX Six String Revolver AOR Heaven [Release date 24.11.17] This album sees Dante Fox re-record ten songs from their first two albums ‘Under Suspicion’ (1996) and ‘The Fire Within’ (1999) – five songs from each album. Joining the band … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Angels & Men, AOR, carols, Cheap Trick, Christmas Christmas, Dante Fox, folk, Kate Rusby, Lots Holloway, melodic, review, rock, Roy Wood, Six String Revolver
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Album review: VIRGIL & STEVE HOWE – Nexus

Inside Out [Release date 17.11.17] ‘Nexus’ is the collaborative record by Yes guitarist Steve Howe and his son Virgil Howe who passed away suddenly on September 11, 2017 aged 41. Not an easy decision then to release this album, however … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, cinematic, instrumental, melodic, Nexus, progressive, review, Steve Howe, Virgil How, Yes
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Album review: STEVE WALSH – Black Butterfly

Escape Music [Release date 10.11.17] After Steve Walsh retired from Kansas back in 2014 many thought that would be it and we’d hear no more from Walsh, luckily this was proven wrong and here we have a new solo album … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Black Butterfly, Kansas, melodic, Mike Slamer, progressive, review, rock, Steve Overland, Steve Walsh, Streets, Tommy Denander
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Rising Stars: LOUISE STEEL

Louise Steel has just released her new album ‘Heartstorm’, one for lovers of passionate melodic rock. We ask Louise a few Qs about the album, its recording and her future musical plans… Louise Steel Music What have you got planned … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged Heartstorm, interview, Jim Steinman, Louise Steel, melodic, Pat Benatar, Rising Stars, rock
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EP review: JOSH TAERK – Stages

Apple Music [Release date 02.02.18] Josh Taerk has long been a favourite here at Ritchie towers and he is now back with a new five song EP, although one song ‘After The Fall’ is lifted from his last album ‘Here’s To … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars Revisited, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, interview, Josh Taerk, melodic, pop, review, rock, singer songwiter, Stages
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