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Full Review of Richard Hawley’s new album – ‘Standing At The Sky’s Edge‘

Hawley diehards rejoice, Mr Reliable has struck again with a mesmerising composition of nine dwindling, ruminating pieces of eccentricity.
Just approach with an open mind.

Cannot WAIT to get my hands on this – I LOVE Hawley’s stuff – and sounds like he has headed in a very different direction.

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It’s not Opeth. It’s not Porcupine Tree. It’s Storm Corrosion. And it’s wonderful.

.. we will see – but I have definitely been anticipating this one – 9 minute and 57 music with video embedded in the review – so you can START to make your own mind up.

Full Review OfThe Album: Storm Corrosion.

via Thrash Hits.

Continue reading »]]> The following was sent to me by JP (the other one) – but it was just TOO GOOD to not post to the blog … (and it kinda relates to this one as well.)

1) write and record a catchy pop song,

2) get radio play for your song, and

3) get Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez to hear your song, so

4) they tweet about enjoying your song. Bonus steps to further fame:

5) make a video that has a twist ending, which

6) people (including Bieber and Gomez) cover and remake and share online for further fame and fortune.

Thanks to all this, Carly Rae Jepsen’s pop dance song has moved beyond Canada, and is charting all over the world. If that’s not enough, NPR’s Ann Powers has further thoughts on the pop hit and its video.

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I don’t quite know how Marco found me. But he did. Earlier this year actually. He was about to release a new album featuring talents like;

He wanted me to do a review – sure I said. The album arrived and I put it to one side, and life took me over – you know – as it does!..

I am sorry it did – gorgeous album – gorgeous – been playing it round in circles this past week – hints of erico morricone (yes – really – and I list him up front), neo progressive, electronica, folk songs – a truly eclectic album and well worth taking some time out to have a listen.

Thankyou Marco. Thankyou. I am just so sorry that it took a while to get myself to properly listening. I will put it to right by trying to spread this review as far as I can.

To quote Marco’s press release

Marco Machera is an Italian musician/songwriter – one of the best-kept secrets of the music business.   He likes to say,  “I don’t play music – I make it happen.” Basically self-taught, Marco has played nearly all kinds of music, from pop to rock, blues to jazz and fusion, to ambient and electronica, folk and gospel and everything in between.

… and when you think about that – no wonder I have a hard time classifying it. But why classify – other than in the box marked ‘Great’

Thinking more about thin, through Steven Wilson I have become a fan of the Italian band No Sound and of course with Marco’s link to Pat Mastelotto – who also drums with King Crimson and Gavin Harrison – it is of course all interconnected. And in a number of ways Marco demonstrates a similar eclecticism of musical influence in this album that Mr Wilson has demonstrated over his extraordinary career. Just listen to the opening track ‘Hello’ to see what I mean.

This whole world of neo/post progressive music is a genre that I truly embrace and Marco is one more on my list to include in my roster.

{ Marco Machera’s Website } is the source of a lot more information about Marco and A full interview with the man himself can be found here.

Continue reading »]]> Happy to say the ‘boys’ (their average age must have been around 60) stopped by this past weekend to say hi to the island – first time ever that they played on Maui in 44 years.

Steve Howe as great as ever.
Geoff Downes probably one of the last multi keyboardists out there — they just don’t make them like that anymore
Chris Squire and Alan White – the rhythm section was on fine form
and Jon Davison – the Jon Anderson stand in – did an extraordinary job of replicating the vocal sound of Anderson – quite amazing – though out of tune at times – and sometimes didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands – waving them around like a crazed hippy … oh wait !

Overall, a wonderful night – on occasions a little cacaphonic – but the hall is not the best acoustically – and they always were a band that some times came across as 5 individuals rather than a band of one !!

They stuck to the TRUE Yes classics – mainly all pre Topographic Oceans – and then of course had to do “Owner of a Lonely Heart”. The ‘suite’ from their new album – as banal as so much of later Yes after they lost their way.

But otherwise – a great night.

Continue reading »]]> I don’t know John Gushue – but I think I’d like to – he seems to have a taste and sensibility that interacts and overlaps with mine a great deal.

Take this post for example - Solsbury Hill – John Gushue 

Love Peter Gabriel.

Love Solsbury Hill.

BUT – I have an issue …

This is the song that set Peter Gabriel on his way as a solo artist, literally; it’s about his decision to walk away from Genesis just as they were hitting their stride (“the machinery,” as he put it).

Totally agree with what ‘The Hill’ is about – BUT – Genesis – until 1978 (after that is a different story), and Gabriel have ALWAYS been about concepts and message and musicianship and stories and theater and sound. NOT singles.

If they were about singles – they would have stuck with people like Jonahan King who produced From Genesis To Revelation’ – if you listen to that album – you will hear single after single. It is a gorgeous album – but is not what their world was about.

I would agree that Solsbury was a success as a single – but not putting him on his way as a solo artist. He was going to do that anyway – and did – despite the single.

Here’s a thought – ask people who know the song Solsbury Hill – and then get them to name as many other tracks that Gabriel has produced.

Sledgehammer, Biko will come up

Maybe Red Rain, Shock The Monkey, Steam, Digging In The Dirt

.. and then it will dry up. Gabriel is not a singles guy. Never was. Never will be. His record company – wanting to push singles out – make money – for them – sure – I get that.

My point is that his fans and his followers buy (and bought) his albums and followed his concerts because of his sheer capacity as an extraordinary writer, musician and entertainer.

From there – they engaged with WOMAD, are aware of his political activism and humanitarian work, know his film scores etc etc

They know him and love him for his body of work – not his singles.