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Feb 21, 20241 min read
BIG BIG TRAIN - THE LIKES OF US (2024) (Inside Out/ Sony)
There is always a piquancy and warmth to Big Big Train’s music, and while not as uninhibited as some past musical adventures, “The Likes...
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Feb 21, 20242 min read
CAMEL – AIR BORN – THE MCA & DECCA YEARS 1973-1984 (2023)
Camel’s relationship with Decca was a fraught one; indeed, drummer Andy Ward suffered a mental breakdown, but Decca insisted they make a...
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Feb 21, 20241 min read
JETHRO TULL – WAR CHILD 2 (Parlophone) (2023)
This is a vinyl release remastered by Steven Wilson of the remnants of the “War Child” sessions between 1973 and 1974. It has the classic...
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Feb 21, 20241 min read
DAVID JACKSON & RENÉ VAN COMMENÉE – KEEP YOUR LANE (2023) (Talking Elephant)
Some jazz, electronica and a little bit of funk add to ex VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR’s saxophonist/ flautist David Jackson progressive...
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Feb 20, 20241 min read
LOCOMOTIVA ELÉTRICA – OS ANIMAIS QUE NOS (2024) (Abraxas Records) (Bandcamp)
My Bandcamp explorations usually reveal some gems and this Brazilian group is one of them. They are Murilo Neumann (guitar), Lucas Stein...
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Feb 20, 20242 min read
STEVE HACKETT – THE CIRCUS AND THE NIGHTWHALE (2024) (Inside Out Music)
It’s here at last, the eagerly anticipated semi-autobiographical concept album with a touch of the Moby Dicks about it, as the metaphor...
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Feb 19, 20241 min read
KIKAGAKU MOYO – FOREST OF LOST CHILDREN (2014/2023) and MASANA TEMPLES (2018)
Is this really the same artist that recorded these two albums? “Forest of Lost Children” is quite blues and 70s rock based, although...
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Feb 19, 20241 min read
PSYCHIC LEMON – THE UNHEIMLICH KINGDOM (2024) (Drone Records)
Due for release on 29th February on limited edition splatter and echo vinyl, CD and cassette, “The Unheimlich Kingdom” will be Psychic...
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Feb 19, 20242 min read
THE PINEAPPLE THIEF – IT LEADS TO THIS (2024) (K Scope)
Guitarist/ vocalist and leader Bruce Soord has spoken in interview of a minority creating the toxic environment we have to live in; hence...
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Feb 19, 20242 min read
EXPERIMENTAL – HOMÓNIMO (2023) (Mylodon Records)
Towards the end of last year this extraordinary record was released. It actually originates from 2001 and has been remastered in digipack...
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Feb 19, 20243 min read
AN INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN HALL OF SOFT HEARTED SCIENTISTS
Soft Hearted Scientists have just released a mightily ambitious album entitled “Waltz of the Weekend” on FRUITS DE MER RECORDS which, to...
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Feb 19, 20243 min read
SOFT HEARTED SCIENTISTS – WALTZ OF THE WEEKEND (2024) (Fruits de Mer Records)
Apparently coming into existence serendipitously as the result of bumping into one another searching for meteor fragments in the Garwnant...
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Feb 19, 20242 min read
RE DISS-COVERY: DEEP PURPLE – MACHINE HEAD (1972/ 2024) (Warner)
Guess what? Deep Purple’s classic 1972 album is, following the 40th anniversary edition, in a deluxe 3 x CD/ LP/ Blu-Ray edition with a...
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Feb 19, 20241 min read
PENNY GRENNAN – NO RELATION (2023) (Penny Grennan Music/ Bandcamp)
This is English singer songwriter, guitar, ukelele and banjo player Penny Greenman’s first album. The style ranges from folk to bluegrass...
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Feb 19, 20243 min read
RE- DISS-COVERY: ACQUA FRAGILE – MOVING FRAGMENTS (2023) (Ma. Ra. Cash Records)
ACQUA FRAGILE, from Parma, Italy, was founded by Bernardo Lanzetti (vocals, guitar), Gino Campanini (guitar) and Piero Canavera (drums),...
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Feb 12, 20242 min read
MATTHEW HALSALL – AN EVER CHANGING VIEW (2023) (Gondwana)
This is one album that I keep returning to it and certainly one of 2023’s best in the ‘Jazz’ category. There are two brief field...
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Feb 12, 20242 min read
MARY HALVORSON – CLOUDWARD (2024) (Nonesuch)
‘The Gate’ is a powerful opener, Patricia Brennan’s vibes coming to the fore; trombonist Jacob Garchik also contributing grandly;...
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Feb 12, 20241 min read
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE – OWL SONG (2023) (Nonesuch Records)
At the tail-end of last year, Akinmusire released this intimate and soul-enhancing album: just a trio with his trumpet playing alongside...
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Feb 12, 20241 min read
LA LA LARS IV (2023) (Bandcamp)
One of Bandcamp’s recommended albums of 2023 is the fourth by LA LA LARS , a Swedish jazz group led by drummer Lars Skoglund, who also...
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Feb 7, 20241 min read
INSIDE OUT: new album from STEVE HACKETT to be released on 16th February, 2024
“The Circus and the Nightwhale” is a concept album about a young person called Travla’s rite of passage, with an autobiographical element...
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