Posted in Press Releases

Nanci Griffith – New Album – Intersection
Out February 20th on Proper Records

Twenty albums now, and none before like this.

“It’s emotional for me, and it’s personal, and it makes my heart pound, thinking I’m going to be totally exposed here,” says Nanci Griffith, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Intersection is not an album of resolution or closure; it’s an album about difficulties, about anger, about things that slip away and things that explode.

“I’ve had a hard life, and I write it down,” Griffith sings on the title track, and that line serves as a statement of fact and purpose, and as a gentler way to explain her near-shouted musical exclamation, “Hell no, I’m not alright...

Posted in Press Releases

REWIND SCOTLAND – The 80s Festival, Scone Palace, Perthshire
Friday 20th July – Sunday 22nd July

Tickets on sale at 9am on Friday 20th January
For ticket info and prices, please visit: www.rewindfestival.com

Due to the outstanding success of the first “Rewind Scotland – The 80s Festival” in Perth, Scotland during July 2011, the festival returns for the second year. As with last year’s unforgettable concert performances and festivities, this year’s Rewind Scotland boasts another massive live outdoor line-up of the crème de la crème of 80s recording artists/performers.

Rewind Scotland will take place from Friday 20th July until Sunday 22nd July at Scone Palace, Perthshire, Scotland (www.scone-palace.co.uk). Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 20th January...

Posted in Press Releases

The Wedding Present will be releasing their much-anticipated eighth studio album Valentina on March 19th, released in the UK on their own Scopitones label. It was recorded by the group in France, California and Brighton during 2011 and mixed by Andrew Scheps [whose past credits include Metallica, Iggy Pop and Johnny Cash].

The ten track Valentina comes four years after 2008’s El Rey, the longer than usual delay reflecting The Wedding Present’s commitment to touring and other side projects involving the group’s founding member, David Gedge.

Valentina is performed by:

David Gedge: Singing, guitars and percussion
Graeme Ramsay (co-writer with Gedge of all but one of the songs on the album): guitars, piano, harmonium
Pepe le Moko: bass and backing vocals
Charles Layton: drums and percus...

Posted in Press Releases

Ultimately what’s most impressive about Ringo Starr isn’t what he’s been, but rather who he is,” wrote Rolling Stone rock critic David Wild. ”The man’s great heart and soul, his wit and wisdom.” Ironically, the story of Ringo’s evolution from former Beatle to successful solo artist is still best told from the beginning.
Ringo Starr’s music, as a solo artist and as a Beatle, is permeated with his personality. His warmth and humor, and his exceptional musicianship have given us songs we all know and love, including ”With A Little Help From My Friends,” ”Don’t Pass Me By,” ”Octopus’ Garden,” ”Photograph,” ”It Don’t Come Easy,” ”Back Off Boogaloo,” ”You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful And You’re mine),” ”Don’t Go Where the Road Don’t Go,” ”The No No Song,” and ”Never Without You.”
Since beginning...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Straylings are Bahraini/Austrian singer/songwriter Dana Zeera and English guitarist Oliver Drake. They released their debut EP in 2008, and are now back with a full length album – Entertainment on foreign grounds.

Straylings fall into the ”alternative” category of music – in other words the category to cover any band that doesnt fall neatly into any of the other genres. Their sound is definitely reminiscent of ”White Rabbit” era Jefferson Airplane – that slightly rocky psychadelic sound, with similarly haunting vocals.

There are three songs from the album available to listen to on the band’s facebook page which I’d certainly recommend that you go and listen to – the songs are fairly representative of the album and if you like them then buy the album.

This is a really good album...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Leverage” is the fourth album from German band Lyriel. I must admit that despite being a fan of female fronted rock and metal, I hadnt heard anything by Lyriel before now. One listen to the album quickly convinced me I’ve been missing out in a big way – this is really impressive stuff.

There are strong folk influences in the music and there is also a strong celtic feel to it. Singer Jessica Thierjung has a lovely voice which is used to great effect in these songs, and the use of Cello and Violins adds an extra richness to the music as well as giving it more atmosphere. At times the album really reminds me strongly of the latest Nightwish album, which can’t be bad !

Comments on a couple of the songs…

The Intro doesnt really work for me – it adds nothing to the album, and to be honest is...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Tenebrarum are a Colombian gothic metal band that has been going for over 20 years and released 8 albums. Despite this and them having a good following in South America, where they’ve headlined festivals and played to crowds of 30,000 people they remain fairly unknown in the UK.

Musically its an interesting sound. The violin gives it a bit of a symphonic metal feel but without the richness that you’d get with a larger string section or full orchestra. There is a strong Gothic feel to many of the songs as well, and the vocal style does remind me of early stuff by the Sisters of Mercy.

The introduction for ”One step” is a nice piece of piano music, but they’ve added a really annoying crackle and bump to it – as though its being played on a poor quality vinyl record, and that detracts aw...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Here and Now” is the new album from Nickelback – their seventh album to date.

Over the last decade, Nickelback have become one of the biggest rock bands in the world, yet despite this they seem to get a lot of criticism. The critism they get from some quarters doesnt seem to affect them and they continue to release albums that sell in huge quantities. Despite their massive success, I must admit to only having heard a few of their songs – mainly the singles that receive airplay on the music TV channels, so I was curious to see how I’d enjoy their new album.

After listening to the album a few times, it’s clear why Nickelback sell so many records, and equally I can see why they get some of the criticism they receive.
Musically there’s actually some really good rock here in places with some...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

MOGG är tillbaka på metalscenen i Umeå

Rock –SM deltagarna från 1979 gör bejublad comeback i spanskan på Scharinska. Bandet har under många år avböjt alla erbjudanden till reunion. Bandet hade ambitioner med skickliga musiker och gjorde enligt mig riktigt bra metal. De slog igenom stort i början på 80-talet tillsammans med band som Gotham City och Witch. En norrlandsturné gav MOGG blodad tand och de siktade mot Stockholm. Med sångaren Jonny Lindkvist (nuvarande Nocturnal Rites) så hade de en gyllene pipa i förgrunden. Låtmaterialet var starkt men bandet var inte riktigt enade. De spelade in några singlar utan att slå igenom. Klimatet var dock tufft med band som Europe härjade i Sverige och så småningom världen...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Lion/Warner

Lead vocalist and main man IAN PARRY continued his sci-fi saga CONSORTIUM PROJECT with the second installment in 2001. Still utilizing brilliant guitarists like Patrick Rondat (ELEGY/solo), Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS) and Thomas Youngblood (KAMELOT), basists Jan Bijlsma (VENGEANCE/AYREON) and Patrice Guers (ex. RHAPSODY OF FIRE), keyboard player Gunter Wernö (VANDEN PLAS) and seasoned drummer Dirk Bruinenberg (ELEGY, PATRICK RONDAT etc, etc) the sound and performance must have been Ian´s least problem. The sci-fi was spiced up with the headlines of the day concerning e.g. global warming. And the whole shebang was mixed by Tommy Newton (HELLOWEEN, KAMELOT etc.) and produced by Ian himself.

The opening title track was a show of progressiveness...