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Pop
and Contemporary Music |
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The
Waifs - Sundirtwater
Jarrah Records WAIFSCD010 Reviewed by AH
It’s been an amazing ride for The Waifs and they’ve come a
long way since they first began in the deserts of Western Australia 15
years ago. They’ve built a loyal following by being fiercely independent
and touring relentlessly. Waifs-mania reached fever pitch when they stole
the show at the Cambridge Folk Festival a few years back, culminating
in a smash record Up All Night and various Aria awards.
In 2005 they released a fabulous double live album A Brief History which
captured all the magic and intensity of The Waifs on stage. Now they bring
us Sundirtwater, something of a departure from the country folk sound
of old. Recorded in Nashville with some pretty esteemed guests, this record
is a real musical chameleon. There’s still the gorgeous blend of
Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn’s voices - both sent from heaven –
but more emphasis is placed on Josh Cunningham’s guitar playing;
it’s earthier, bluesier and in some places, downright dirty. That’s
not to say The Waifs have abandoned the tender moments; ‘Vermillion’
lilts gently in the breeze, the girls’ voices accompanied by the
sweetest of blues solos, whilst ‘Feeling Sentimental’ harks
back to the golden era of Peggy Lee. I don’t know why, but as I
listened I kept getting reminded of those classic Linda Ronstadt albums
– not a bad reference point for this lovely piece of work.
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Earl
Scruggs, Doc Watson & Ricky Skaggs - The Three Pickers
Rounder RRCD 0526 Reviewed by RP
A celebration of kinship and sumptuously and spontaneously plucked and
picked bluegrass from this Holy Trinity of guitar, mandolin and banjo
players is a delicious prospect and this evening’s live entertainment
recorded in December 2002 at the R.J. Reynolds Auditorium in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina never, ever disappoints.
The musicianship, improvisational virtuosity, connectivity, sheer dexterity
and interpretative excellence are enviable. Those standards are maintained
throughout a generous twenty-three track, sixty-five minute running time.
The crowd-pleasing guest appearances of the radiant Alison Krauss on tracks
like ‘Earl’s Breakdown’, ‘Down In The Valley To
Pray’, ‘The Storms Are On The Ocean’ and ‘The
Banks Of The Ohio’ is the glacier cherry on this perfectly iced
cake. Each richly spiced slice of storytelling - be it a Carter Family,
a Monroe Brothers number or one of those many Scruggs, Watson and Skaggs
signature tunes - is an aural delight. Throw in some old fashioned jousting
between guitar and banjo in tunes like ‘Katy Hill’ and symbiosis
is complete. This is an acoustic and artistic tour de force, almost matched
in the sympathetic, clean sounding and detailed treatment meted out at
the recording console. |
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The Believers
- Lucky You
Corazong Records CRZ255106 Reviewed by AH
The Believers cut a great album full of driving rootsy rock a few years
back. Two tracks from that are included on this new release; the ultra-catchy
‘Railroadspikes And Shotgun Shells’ and ‘Long Way To
Heaven’, and both fit in seamlessly with these ten new songs. Blessed
with two cracking singers -Cyd Frazzini and Craig Aspen – The Believers
come at you with all guns blazing. Aspen’s guitar crackles into
life on opener ‘Lucky You’, urging Frazzini on to spectacular
heights as she rips off a steaming vocal. She’s one of those singers
who can adjust her voice to suit the song; it can be tough, powerful and
direct one minute, then softly sensuous the next. Aspen’s no slouch
either; his has just the right amount of grit and harmonises beautifully
with Frazzini’s. As with the first album, repeated plays are necessary
to uncover what’s hidden underneath.
After a few spins, what might have sounded almost throwaway on first listen
comes to the surface and nestles in the memory banks. The harmonies wash
over the senses sending a warm glow to the listener’s centre, and
although Frazzini doesn’t sound like Emmylou Harris there’s
more than a hint of the latter’s work with Gram Parsons here. The
Believers tour relentlessly and have honed their particular brand of high-octane
roots rock to perfection. This is the sound of a band in their prime.
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Geoff
Leigh and Cathy Williams - Mirage
Hard World HWCD004 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine
Supplier: frontier@btconnect.com |
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Jack
Savoretti - Between The Minds
De Angelis Records DAR11CD Reviewed by AH
Available in this months magazine |
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Hayes
Carll - Trouble In Mind
Lost Highway 0602517544635 Reviewed by AH
Available in this months magazine |
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Martin
Stephenson - High 7 Moon 5
Stovepony Records WCMF004 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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Jackson
Browne - Solo Acoustic Vol. 2
Inside Recordings INR8021-9 Reviewed by AH
Available in this months magazine |
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Patti
Larkin - Watch The Sky
Vanguard Records 79851-2 Reviewed by AH
Available in this months magazine |
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Paula
Cole - Courage
Decca Records B0008292-02 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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Stormwarning
- Something Real
Lightning Fingers Records SWCDS0802 Reviewed by AH
Available in this months magazine |
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Maria
Solheim - Will There Be Spring
Strange Ways Records Way 256 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine |
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Eric
Gales - The Story Of My Life
Provogue Records PRD7252 – 2 Reviewed by AH
Available in this months magazine |
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BossHoss
- Stallion Battalion
Universal 0602517340428 Reviewed by RP
Available in this months magazine
Supplier: frontier@btconnect.com |
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Jazz
Music |
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Alboran
Trio - Near Gale
ACT 9469-2 Reviewed by DD
Classic acoustic jazz trios have enjoyed something of a renaissance over
the last few years and based on the experience of hearing this set from
the Italian Alboran Trio it’s easy to see why. They combine traditional
jazz forms with delicate touches of world music, and deliver the whole
with a skill, surety and melodic invention that is hugely enjoyable.
With the exception of one number, all the tunes here are written by the
pianist Paolo Paliaga, and whilst throughout you are aware of the way
working with musicians from around the world influences him, this is very
much a collaborative venture, which no single musician dominates.
As Paliaga himself says: “We’re the Alboran Trio, not the
Paolo Paliaga Trio... there are very few groups where everyone is on an
equal footing.” So seamless is the music making and so high the
overall quality that it seems churlish to single any particular track
out. That said I particularly enjoyed the swirling ‘Fuori Stagione’,
the bowed bass that opens and then carries through ‘Invariable Geometries’,
the African influences in the percussion of ‘Also Sprach Raul’,
and so on. Doubtless new favourite tracks and moments will emerge in repeated
listening to this gently engaging and delightful album.
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Irene
Kral - Where Is Love
Choice/Pure Pleasure CRS1012 Reviewed by DDD
Available in this months magazine
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Tom
Richards Orchestra - Smoke and Mirrors
Candid CCD79850 Reviewed by DD
Available in this months magazine |
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