Ian McNabb - Eclectic Warrior

More Of The Same, Thankfully

Eclectic Warrior is a welcome return to the guitar heavy sound of McNabb’s 1994 standout album Head Like a Rock [reviewed here], sans this time the occasional assistance of Crazy Horse but retaining their sound. The opening two tracks on this new album simply rock out the heaviness, whilst third They Couldn’t Hear the Music harks back most closely to that ’94 sound in its more melodic offering. Next My Life to Live Again sustains this slower pace and sweetness, the fuzzed guitar a la Young and CH providing the backdrop. But if that’s too genteel for you, fifth [I Just Wanna] Rock N Roll My Life Away picks up the pounding riff and adds some soloing. The whole album spins around this axis, heavyish to balladry, and penultimate track Memory Be Good To Me, Memory Come Back To Me embraces both and is most Neil Youngish in the way the languid but again fuzzed guitar work is beautifully psychedelic in its sprawl. Closer Right On Time is similar yet adds some soaring harmonies.

John Martyn - The Island Years [18 cd box set]: latest information

I trust they won't mind, and I'd like to acknowledge the JOHNMARTYN.com website for posting, but details for this box set now being released in September [with its limited edition number increased because of worldwide demand for which I have mixed feelings as a fan wanting to share but also wanting my pre-ordered set to be genuinely limited!] are a delight to view for those of us eager to hear. For me, the previously unreleased versions of tracks on Bless the Weather will be the most precious, but the previously unreleased live recordings will also be special. It's going to be a lengthy but joyous listening experience:



JOHN MARTYN – THE ISLAND YEARS
DISC ONE – LONDON CONVERSATION and THE TUMBLER
London Conversation  (1967)
01: Fairy Tale Lullaby ( 2:49 )
02: Sandy Grey ( 2:23 )
03: London Conversation ( 2:40 )
04: Ballad of An Elder Woman ( 2:41 )
05: Cocain ( 2:55 )
06: Run Honey Run ( 2:35 )
07: Back To Stay ( 3:27 )
08: Rolling Home ( 5:42 )
09: Who’s Grown Up Now ( 4:01 )
10: Golden Girl ( 2:31 )
11: This Time ( 3:05 )
12: Don’t Think Twice ( It’s Alright ) ( 4:12 )
The Tumbler  (1968)
13: Sing A Song Of Summer ( 2:18)
14: The River (  2:53 )
15: Goin’ Down To Memphis (  3:07 )
16: The Gardeners (   3:11 )
17: A Day At The Sea (  2:29 )
18: Fishin’ Blues (  2:34 )
19: Dusty (   3:01 )
20: Hello Train (   2:32 )
21: Winding Boy (   2:18 )
22: Fly On Home (  2:28 )
23: Knuckeldy Crunch and Slippledee Slee Song ( 2:51 )
24: Seven Black Roses (  4:01 )

DISC TWO – STORMBRINGER (1970)
01: Go Out And Get It ( 3:07 )
02: Can’t Get The One I Want ( 2:54 )
03: Stormbringer ( 4:16 )
04: Sweet Honesty ( 8:02 )
05: Woodstock ( 1:42 )
06: John The Baptist ( 3:11 )
07: The Ocean ( 3:40 )
08: Traffic-Light Lady ( 3:17 )
09: Tomorrow Time ( 3:49 )
10: Would You Believe Me ( 5:16 )
11: John The Baptist – Alternate Take ( 2:58 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
12: Go Out And Get It – Alternate Take ( 3:11 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
13: Traffic-Light Lady – BBC Radio International – 23/3/1970 – First Time on CD
14: It’s One Of Those Days – Demo ( 5:41 )
15: I Don’t Know – Demo ( 3:50 )
16: John The Baptist – Demo ( 2:54 )
17: Traffic-Light Lady – Demo ( 3:01 )

DISC THREE – THE ROAD TO RUIN (1970)
01: Primrose Hill ( 2:56 )
02: Parcels ( 3:26 )
03: Auntie Aviator ( 6:01 )
04: New Day (  3:57 )
05: Give Us A Ring ( 3:51 )
06: Sorry To Be So Long ( 4:42 )
07: Tree Green ( 3:10 )
08: Say What You Can ( 3:04 )
09: Road To Ruin ( 6:23 )
10: Say What You Can – Alternate Take ( 3:06 )  – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
11: Road To Ruin – BBC Radio Int. – 23/3/1970 ( 3:04 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD
12: Here I Am Now – Demo ( 4:24 )

DISC FOUR – BLESS THE WEATHER (1971)
01: Go Easy ( 4:14 )
02: Bless The Weather ( 4:27 )
03: Sugar Lump ( 3:40 )
04: Walk To The Water ( 2:46 )
05: Just Now ( 3:37 )
06: Head and Heart ( 4:52 )
07: Let The Good Things Come ( 3:04)
08: Back Down The River ( 2:38 )
09: Glistening Glyndebourne ( 6:30 )
10: Singing In The Rain ( 1:29 )
11: Glistening Glyndebourne – Alternate Take ( 7:46 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
12: Go Easy – Alternate Take # 2 ( 4:33 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
13: Head and Heart – Alternate Take ( 4:59 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
14: Sugar Lump – Alternate Take ( 6:01 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
15: Just Now – Alternate Take ( 3:37 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
16: Bless The Weather – Alternate Take ( 4:51 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
17: Go Easy – Alternate Take # 3 ( 4:14 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
18: Singing In The Rain – Alternate Take ( 3:39 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD

DISC FIVE – LIVE AT THE HANGING LAMP – RICHMOND – 8th MAY 1972
01: The Easy Blues (  4:04 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
02: Bless The Weather (  5:10 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
03: May You Never (  4:15 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
04: Don’t Think Twice (  1:05 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
05: Back To Stay (  3:13 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
06: Head and Heart (   3:57 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
07: Singin’ In The Rain (  2:38 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
08: Sugar Lump (   2:14 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
09: I’d Rather be The Devil ( 7:45 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
10: Outside In ( 11:19 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
11: The Glory Of Love ( 2:35 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD

DISC SIX – SOLID AIR (1973)
01: Solid Air ( 5:44 )
02: Over The Hill ( 2:52 )
03: Don’t Want To Know ( 3:01 )
04: I’d Rather Be The Devil ( 6:17 )
05: Go Down Easy ( 3:35 )
06: Dreams By The Sea ( 3:16 )
07: May You Never ( 3:40 )
08: The Man In The Station ( 2:52 )
09: The Easy Blues ( 3:21 )
10: Solid Air – Alternate Take ( 4:31 ) – First Time on CD
11: Over The Hill – Alternate Take ( 3:18 ) – First Time on CD
12: I’d Rather Be The Devil – Alternate Take # 2 ( 6:02 ) – First Time on CD
13: I’d Rather Be The Devil – Alternate Take # 3 ( 5:43 ) – Previously Unreleased version -First Time on CD
14: Go Down Easy – Alternate Take #2 ( 5:11 ) – First Time on CD
15: Go Down Easy – Alternate Take # 3 ( 3:42 ) – First Time on CD
16: Dreams By The Sea – Alternate Take ( 3:22 ) – First Time on CD
17: May You Never – Alternate Take ( 3:46 ) – First Time on CD
18: Man In The Station – Alternate Take ( 2:58 )  – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD

DISC SEVEN – INSIDE OUT (1973)
01: Fine Lines ( 3:49 )
02: Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Chearbhaill ( 3:06 )
03:Ain’t No Saint ( 3:37 )
04: Outside In ( 8:22 )
05: The Glory of Love ( 1:57 )
06: Look In ( 2:56 )
07: Beverley ( 3:53 )
08: Make No Mistake ( 5:57 )
09: Ways To Cry ( 3:00 )
10: So Much In Love With You ( 2:50 )
11: Make No Mistake – Alternate Take ( 6:45 )  – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
12: The Glory of Love – Alternate Take ( 2:39 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
13: Fine Lines – Alternate Take ( 3:55 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
14: Outside In – Alternate Take ( 9:34 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
15: Beverley – BBC Radio Session – 15/10/1973 ( 2:13 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD
16: Make No Mistake – BBC Session – 15/10/1973 ( 3:12 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD

DISC EIGHT – LIVE AT LEEDS (1975)
01: Outside In ( 18:58 )
02: Solid Air ( 7:11 )
03: Make No Mistake ( 5:04 )
04: Bless The Weather ( 4:34 )
05: The Man In The Station ( 2:40 )
06: I’d Rather Be The Devil ( 8:47 )
07: Solid Air – Live at Glastonbury 21/6/1986 ( 5:42 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD
08: Bless The Weather – Live at Glastonbury 1986  ( 4:10 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD
09: Love Of Mine – Live at Glastonbury 21/6/1986 ( 4:07 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD
10: Fisherman’s Dream – Live at The London Palladium ( 4:52 ) – First Time on CD
11: John Wayne – Live at The London Palladium ( 8:04 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD

DISC NINE – SUNDAY’S CHILD (1975)
01: One Day Without You ( 2:58 )
02: Lay It All Down ( 1:50 )
03: Root Love ( 4:33 )
04: My Baby Girl ( 2:29 )
05: Sunday’s Child ( 3:17 )
06: Spencer The Rover ( 4:10 )
07: Clutches ( 1:52 )
08: The Message ( 2:29 )
09: Satisfied Mind  ( 3:31 )
10: You Can Discover ( 3:43 )
11: Call Me Crazy ( 7:27 )
12: Eight More Miles – Alternate Take ( 2:44 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
13: Sunday’s Child – Alternate Take  (  6:31 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
14: Root Love  – Alternate Take   ( 5:17 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
15: Ellie Rhee – Alternate Take  ( 3:54 )
16: Spencer The Rover – BBC In Concert – 31/12/1977 (  3:53 ) – First Time on CD
17: John Stevens Away -  Anni – Part 1 and Part 2 ( 7:36 )  – First Time on CD

DISC TEN – LIVE IN SYDNEY – 14th August 1977
01: Outside In ( 14:29 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
02: Spencer The Rover ( 4:17 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording– First Time on CD
03: One Day Without You ( 3:57 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
04: The Easy Blues ( 3:14 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
05: My Baby Girl ( 3:08 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
06: Make No Mistake ( 4:25 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
07: Bless The Weather (  4:45 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
08: I’d Rather Be The Devil ( 9:47 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD
09: May You Never ( 4:32 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording  – First Time on CD
10: Over The Hill ( 3:57 ) – Previously Unreleased Live recording – First Time on CD

DISC ELEVEN – ONE WORLD –ORIGINAL UK MIX (1977)
01: Dealer ( 4:58 )
02: One World ( 4:09 )
03: Smiling Stranger ( 3:29 )
04: Big Muff ( 6:31 )
05: Couldn’t Love You More ( 3:07 )
06: Certain Surprise ( 3:54 )
07: Dancing ( 3:43 )
08: Small Hours ( 8:43 )
09: Dealer – Alternate Take  ( 5:15 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
10: One World – Alternate Take ( 4:20 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
11: Smiling Stranger – Alternate Take ( 3:35 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
12: Couldn’t Love You More – Alternate Take ( 3:13 ) – Previously Unreleased  – First Time on CD
13: Small Hours – Alternate Take ( 9:50 ) – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
14: Black Man At Your Shoulder – Alternate Take ( 8:31 ) – Previously Unreleased – First Time on CD

DISC TWELVE – ONE WORLD – OUT TAKES
01: One World – Alternate Take # 3 – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
02: Smiling Stranger – Alternate Take # 3 – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
03: Big Muff – Alternate Take – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
04: Couldn’t Love You More – Alternate Take # 2 – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
05: Certain Surprise – Alternate Take # 2 – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
06: Dancing – Alternate Take – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
07: Small Hours – Alternate Take # 2 – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
08: Dancing – Alternate Take # 2 – Previously Unreleased version – First Time on CD
09: Black Man At Your Shoulder ( 17:32 ) – Alternate Take # 2 – Previously Unreleased version
10: Big Muff – Extended remix – First Time on CD
11: Anna  ( 4:11 )

DISC THIRTEEN – GRACE AND DANGER (1980)
01: Some People Are Crazy ( 4:20 )
02: Grace and Danger ( 4:05 )
03: Lookin’ On ( 5:15 )
04: Johnny Too Bad ( 3:58 )
05: Sweet Little Mystery ( 5:26 )
06: Hurt In Your Heart ( 4:58 )
07: Baby Please Come Home ( 3:55 )
08: Save Some ( For Me )  ( 3:31 )
09: Our Love ( 3:59 )
10: Hi-Heel Sneakers – Previously Unreleased Cover Version ( 3:16 ) First Time on CD
11: Grace and Danger – Alternate Take ( 7:37 ) – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
12: Small Hat – Alternate Take ( 7:15 ) – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
13: Johnny Too Bad – Alternate Take (  7:18 ) Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
14: After Tomorrow Night – Alternate Take ( 4:36 ) Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
15: Dead On Arrival – Alternate Take ( 5:57 ) Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD

DISC FOURTEEN – GRACE AND DANGER ERA
01: Running Up The Harbour – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
02: Some People Are Crazy – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
03: Untitled Instrumental – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
04: Our Love – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
05: Johnny Too Bad – Previously Unreleased Alternate Take # 2 / First Time on CD
06: Grace and Danger – Previously Unreleased Instrumental / First Time on CD
07: Johnny Too Bad – Version – First Time on CD
08:  Sweet Little Mystery – BBC Old Grey Whistle Test – 10/1/1981
09: Some People Are Crazy – Live at Stirling University 2/3/1981
10: Grace and Danger – Live at Stirling University 2/3/1981
11: Save Some ( For Me ) – Live at Stirling University 2/3/1981
12: Johnny Too Bad – Live at Stirling University 2/3/1981 / First Time on CD
13: Hurt In Your Heart – BBC A Little Night Music – 12/8/1981
14: Sweet Little Mystery – London Palladium 3rd March 1986 / First Time on CD

DISC FIFTEEN – SAPPHIRE (1984)
01: Sapphire ( 5:15 )
02: Over The Rainbow ( 3:23 )
03: You Know ( 3:10 )
04: Watching Her Eyes ( 3:51 )
05: Fisherman’s Dream ( 4:16 )
06: Acid Rain ( 4:09 )
07: Mad Dog Days ( 4:56 )
08: Climb The Walls ( 4:11 )
09: Coming On Time ( 3:31 )
10: Rope-Soul’d ( 4:45 )
11: Love In Your Life – Unreleased Song ( 3:27 ) – Previously Unreleased / First Time on CD
12: Sapphire – Andy Lyden mix ( 4:48 )  – Previously Unreleased mix / First Time on CD
13: Over The Rainbow – Andy Lyden mix ( 3:47 ) – Previously Unreleased mix / First Time on CD
14: Fisherman’s Dream – Andy Lyden mix ( 4:34 ) – Previously Unreleased mix / First Time on CD
15: Acid Rain – Andy Lyden mix  ( 4:06 ) – Previously Unreleased mix / First Time on CD
16: Mad Dog Days – Andy Lyden mix ( 5:21 ) – Previously Unreleased mix / First Time on CD
17: Rope-Soul’d – Andy Lyden mix ( 4:50 ) – Previously Unreleased mix / First Time on CD

DISC SIXTEEN – PIECE BY PIECE (1986)
01: Nightline ( 5:06 )
02: Lonely Love ( 3:17 )
03: Angeline ( 4:42 )
04: One Step Too far ( 3:19 )
05: Piece By Piece ( 3:49 )
06: Serendipity ( 4:10 )
07: Who Believes In Angels ( 4:56 )
08: Love Of Mine ( 4:46 )
09: John Wayne ( 6:51 )
10: Tight Connection To My Heart ( 3:48 )
11: Advertisement # 1  ( 1:02 )  – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD
12: John Wayne – Alternate Take ( 5:51 ) – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD
13: Lonely Love – Alternate Take ( 3:22 ) – Previously Unreleased  First Time on CD
14: Angeline – Alternate Take ( 5:03  – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD
15: Advertisement # 2 ( 0:54 )  – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD
16: Piece By Piece – Alternate Take ( 3:58 ) – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD
17: Who Believes In Angels – Alternate Take ( 4:56 ) – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD
18: Love Of Mine – Alternate Take ( 4:27 ) – Previously Unreleased -  First Time on CD

DISC SEVENTEEN – THE APPRENTICE – ORIGINAL MIX (1987)
01: Live On Love – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
02: The River – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
03: Income Town – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
04: Send Me One Line – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
05: Deny This Love – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
06: Hold Me – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
07: Upo – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
08: No. 9 – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
09: The Apprentice – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
10: Lifeline – Previously Unreleased Song -  First Time on CD
11: The Moment – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
12: Patterns In The Rain – Previously Unreleased mix -  First Time on CD
13: Patterns In The Rain – Live at the Island Records Birthday Party – 4th July 1988  -  First Time on CD
14: The Apprentice – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986
15: Send Me One Line – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986
16: The Moment -  Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986

DISC EIGHTEEN – DVD
01: Make No Mistake ( 3:07 )  – Old Grey Whistle Test – 16/10/1973 – First Time on DVD
02: Outside In ( 4:31 ) – Old Grey Whistle Test – 16/10/1973 – First Time on DVD
03: You Can Discover ( 4:53 ) – Old Grey Whistle Test – 17/1/1975
04: Outside In ( 14:30 )   -  Sight and Sound – In Concert – 15/10/1977  – First Time on DVD
05: Spencer The Rover ( 3:55 ) -  Sight and Sound – In Concert – 15/10/1977  – First Time on DVD
06: Dealer ( 5:05 ) -  Sight and Sound – In Concert – 15/10/1977  – First Time on DVD
07: Sweet Little Mystery ( 5:00 ) – Old Grey Whistle Test -  10/1/1981– First Time on DVD
08: Lookin’ On ( 5:00 ) – Old Grey Whistle Test – 10/1/1981– First Time on DVD
09: One World ( 3:53 ) – A Little Night Music – 12/8/1981 – First Time on DVD
10: Johnny Too Bad ( 3:52 ) – A Little Night Music – 12/8/1981– First Time on DVD
11: May You Never ( 3:30 ) – A Little Night Music – 12/8/1981– First Time on DVD
12: Inside Out ( Outside In ) ( 10:40 ) – A Little Night Music – 12/8/1981– First Time on DVD
13: Hurt In Your Heart ( 6:47 ) – A Little Night Music – 12/8/1981– First Time on DVD
14: Mad Dog Days – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986
15: Angeline – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986 – First Time on DVD
16: The Apprentice – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov1986– First Time on DVD
17: May You Never – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov 1986 – First Time on DVD
18: Solid Air – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986 – First Time on DVD
19: Deny This Love – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov1986 – First Time on DVD
20: Send Me One Line – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov 1986 – First Time on DVD
21: John Wayne – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986 – First Time on DVD
22: Dealer – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th November 1986 – First Time on DVD
23: Johnny Too Bad – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov 1986 – First Time on DVD
24: Over The Rainbow – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov 1986 – First Time on DVD
25: Sweet Little Mystery – from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – 13th Nov 1986 – First Time on DVD
BONUS FEATURE
26: Fisherman’s Blues -  Out Take from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – First Time on DVD
27: Lookin’ On – Out Take from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – First Time on DVD
28: Outside In – Out Take from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – First Time on DVD
29: One World – Out Take from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – First Time on DVD
30: The Moment  – Out Take from Foundations – Live at the Town & Country – First Time on DVD
BONUS FEATURE
31: Bless The Weather ( 5:24 ) – Out Take from  Old Grey Whistle Test 10/1/1978 – First Time on DVD
32: Outside In ( 13:11 ) – Out Take from  Old Grey Whistle Test 10/1/1978 – First Time on DVD
33: Spencer The Rover ( 4:03 ) – Out Take from  Old Grey Whistle Test 10/1/1978 – First Time on DVD

Caroline Rose - America Religious

The Poetry of Great Music

In many ways this is uncomplicated to review – Rose’s bright, natural qualities as an artist are heard immediately in the ease and confidence with which these Americana/folk songs are played and sung. Tunes are as already stated broadly folk-based - Americana or Indie for possible want of a prefix – and there are other obvious generic roots too, like the blues tinge of third Roll On which sounds familiar in the way I don’t need to know the precursor, just acknowledge there is a genuine skill in sounding so experienced as if heard before. Partner Jer Coons also takes credit for excellent engineering and production, but Rose’s vocal is key in its range [not a dramatic one in some virtuoso sense, but simply damn fine and good] as on fourth Here Comes the Rain, or – yeah I’m going to name – the Melanie-esque fifth Note Walking Home from Work, a song that recounts the daily grind of someone who sweeps the floors at a store and whose hardship is juxtaposed only by the awareness of that of others. Seventh Six Foot Woman is a country rocker with sass lyrically and musically, and ninth Notes From A Bedroom Upstairs is a sweet acoustic with violin track, the lyrics comprised it seems to me from a poem written as a stream of consciousness set of observations. Indeed, the lyrics/poetry deserves a reading and this can be done here. America Religious is one of the strongest albums I’ve heard from a female artist for some time.

Paul Young - Remixes and Rarities

Admission 

As I have so often bitched and moaned, the 80s musically passed me by or brushed me lightly to a shiver and cringe. It even corrupted proper artists/musicians during its dull decade, like John Martyn, with synth and drum machine orchestrations that are garish and ludicrous and laughable.

But I have admitted – I think – my occasional fondnesses, for example Spandau Ballet, and there must be a few others. And now I’m going to out my 80s liking for Paul Young, especially this double cd with its remixes that by and large provide great electronic underpinnings upon which Young’s wonderful soul vocals gain extra sonic strength. Songs like Every Time You Go Away, Wonderland, Come Back and Stay, and Wherever I Lay My Hat are superb in their innate crafting, but these remixes enhance this to funky and sassy extroversions. A long-standing favourite is the stonking I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down [Remixed US Dance Floor Smash] which when played loud reverberates its 80s excess with a glorious stereo aural assault.

Listening now and thus the sudden share. 

Purson - The Circle And The Blue Door

I Do

Listening to Purson and debut album The Circle and the Blue Door  we coalesce in an aural reverie of the nostalgic, their sound unashamedly woven within musical echoes of the past and presenting a relevance to the present no more startling than the simple fact it is often startling good, if you like that sound, as I do.

The prog-folk opening to first song Wake Up Sleepy Head sets the aural landscape with echoing vocal, acoustic guitar, flute, and mellotron as lush backdrop, so an echo of Caravan and King Crimson, whilst lead singer Rosie Cunningham introduces her gorgeous vocal softly before segueing into second The Contract where it is so clearly reminiscent of Curved Air’s Sonja Kristina. Third Spiderwood Farm is more overtly psychedelic with its heavy fuzzed, wah wah guitar and then other effects - and possibly an approximation to harpsichord inside the mix - as the rock riff with barebacked vocal roots the sound even more firmly in the past. 

Fifth and single release [I got my vinyl copy a while ago] Leaning On A Bear is the most sonically reflective of Curved Air, with a smattering of Nice thrown in by the organ and drum rhythms, and it is a glorious recreation of progrock, if you like that sound, as I do. Sixth Tempest and the Tide exudes a more folky base, with lyrics that evoke fantasy and the occult as requisites for this broad retro-genre, and the mellotron again layers its lush backdrop. Seventh Mavericks and Mystics foregrounds Cunningham’s powerful vocal with a return to rock riffs to encourage headbanging, if you like that impulse, as I do. Citing influences that range from The Beatles to David Bowie to Slade, eighth Well Spoiled Machine starts more with a wiff of The Doors and then moves quickly back into its prog roots, ending on classic distortion effects. Ninth Sapphire Ward is pounding and loud with effective guitar effects but reflecting at this stage of the album a need for more creativity and variety in the songwriting to produce that album which fully establishes its mark, as much as it looks to the past for inspiration. By closer Tragic Catastrophe, those 60s/70s effects engage but don’t capture as wholly as I’d like, though Cunningham’s vocal is the quality that is sustained throughout.

I'd love to catch this band live and will be attempting to do so.

Marcus Bonfanti - Shake The Walls

Not Original

I was questioned recently about the musical ‘relevance’ today of bluesrock in the context of recent reviews about bands playing this kind of music, however one wants to characterise it as a genre. I characterise it as essentially guitar-driven, rock-paced [pretty heavy then], blues structured music that doesn’t strive to sound original as this would be anathema to the point of singing and playing the blues. But what the fuck is ‘original’ anyway? You can play the blues in a distinctive way, but more importantly, you can play the blues in a way that demonstrates expertise, either virtuoso guitar or harmonica [to chose two obvious instruments], or to sing with grit and soul and emotion. Just play it so it sounds authentic. I suppose there are obvious creative blues-tangents exemplified by, for example, Captain Beefheart and Jon Spencer, but then these two have become raunchier touchstones, and contemporary blues artists can sound like either and are therefore not ‘original’. It’s an argument that will crawl up and get lost in its own analysis if I carry on.

Marcus Bonfanti is an English blues artist whose guitar playing and gritty singing are pretty damn fine and non-original. This third album is contemporary bluesrock personified and is therefore non-original. I find myself listening to this album and nodding my head/moving my feet in a non-original appreciative and enjoyable way. Eighth track Blind Alley, to select quite randomly, has a little of the Tony Joe White in the vocal and is therefore non-original, but I like it. Favourite track, third We All Do Bad Sometimes, is a funky blues stomp that ends with a fine guitar solo which is reached as a crescendo in the song and is effective in a totally proficient but non-original way. The following track Honest Boy has a little of the Beefheart I mentioned already, and although Beefheart was quite original this echo is no longer original because it isn’t, and can’t be. But I don’t care. I just like it. It’s not an apocalypse. It’s bluesrock. The album closes on an acoustic blues number that I have heard many times before, not literally but in a non-original kinda-way [that’s a compound neologism and therefore original but really rather naff], and it isn’t bluesrock but it is the blues and I’m not going down that road.