Release Date: 08/02/13
Publisher: Titan
SYNOPSIS:
'Songs That Saved Your Life - The Art of The Smiths 1982 -87' reveals the stories behind every track (including unreleased out-takes), catalogues all the group's UK television, radio and concert appearances and features interviews with original band members, producers and associates.
REVIEW:
As a Manchester person and a huge fan of Morrissey, I just had to get this title when I heard about its release, it delves into the history of the songs, the meanings and of course the time to which each was written. Its carefully researched, written with clarity and for me as a fan, is something that will sit on the shelves with my Smiths CD’s to peruse when I’m in the mood. Definitely one of the better titles out there and something that I’ll enjoy quite a few times.
Release Date: 29/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
Original InterCeltic music from Jamie Smith's Mabon: 'Windblown' is the dynamic new album featuring their well-loved instrumental arrangements alongside new and beautifully crafted vocal tracks. 'Windblown', the crisp new 10-track studio album from Jamie Smith's Mabon, sees Wales' finest purveyors of original, InterCeltic music celebrate the autumn equinox after which the band is named. Following on from Mabon's award-winning Live at the Grand Pavilion, 'Windblown' is a coming of age album from a young band of virtuoso musicians spearheaded by composer and accordion maestro Jamie Smith. Already established as "a mighty instrumental force" (The Independent), the band also unveils songs for the first time, including the aptly named Yes We Sing Now and the haunting Welsh-language track Caru Pum Merch (Loving Five Girls). These songs take the band's well-loved sound into new dimensions, but stay in the same ethos - reaching into contemporary soundscapes but still firmly rooted in their Celtic heritage. From slick songs to joyful jigs, graceful mazurka to ecstatic muiñera, 'Windblown' is an emotional journey, an expression of joyful musicality: an autumn storm of youthful energy balanced by a mature restraint - taking Jamie Smith's Mabon on to a brand new page of their ever developing story.
REVIEW:
OK, I’m going to be blunt here, I cannot stand to listen to Christmas music. Why? Well after working in a restaurant for years from the age of 13 to 18, I had to listen to the damn stuff from October throughout January, so when we hit this time of year I’m always on the lookout for something not only different but something that I can substitute that not only pleases the ear but gives you a wonderful emotional background.
This is why I was more than happy to discover this talented group. Each of the instruments adds another layer of emotion upon the slower tracks making it more an album of the soul than a lot of the mass produced music, it makes up a place within you and is something that you’ll want to listen to time and again. Add to this some uplifting numbers that give you a sense of euphoria and it really was an album that I loved listening to.
Add to the mix (from the sound of it) a group that clearly loves what they’re doing, highly polished and carefully selected tracks and all round this album is something that I’d advise a lot of people to at the very least check out, plus if they sound as good live as they do on here, that’s going to guarantee at least a very good night out.
Release Date: 15/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
England's finest roots duo weave a touch of Folk, a hint of Blues and a tiny pinch of Country into their new studio album. Born out of a love of both English and North American acoustic and roots music, 'Wake the Union', the eagerly awaited new Show of Hands studio album takes a journey through the heart of two landscapes united by a common tongue and musical heritage. Produced by Mark Tucker, the 15 tracks feature themes and styles that alternate between the two countries. In the first three songs the Knightley/Lakeman co-write 'Haunt You' tells a tale of a tormented seafarer, whilst the new Knightley-penned track 'Company Town' shows a Tom Waits influence and the festival favourite 'Now You Know' implores a lost love to return to the West Country to rekindle a relationship. Celebrating 20 years as a unit with a 4th sell-out appearance at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, Steve Knightley and Phil Beer have enlisted an impressive array of guest musicians on the recording including Martin Simpson, Seth Lakeman, BJ Cole, Andy Cutting, Bellowhead's Paul Sartin, Cormac Byrne and Canadian Leonard Podolak, and as ever Miranda Sykes adds her wonderful double bass and vocals.
REVIEW:
For a number of years I’ve been following Show of Hands as I’m a huge fan of their type of music having grown up in the Lake District with a few folk clubs. So having enjoyed previous titles they’ve produced, I was looking forward to the latest one and have to say that for me its one of their best to date. That takes you through the full emotional spectrum whether you want the emotional turmoil presented within “Katrina” or “Coming Home” through to the heartache with “Cruel River” and “Seven Curse”s alongside anger in the “I Will Haunt You.”
Yet for all that the Album has its uplifting tracks and the wonderful musical talent goes within through a very unique combination of Blues, Folk and a touch of Country that brings the best of all together. All in this is a top notch album that includes tracks that you’ll sing along to as well as listen to the lamentation. Great stuff and an album that will be listened to quite a few times.
Release Date: 08/05/12
SYNOPSIS:
A Steampunk Opera is a 90 minute, 4 Act story which follows four generations of McAlistairs in the fantastical city of New Albion.
Featuring:
LAUREN OSBORN as Annabelle, Fay, Amelia & Priscilla
JASON BRODERICK as Edgar, Byron & Soldier 7285
and KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT as Your Narrator
REVIEW:
I love musicals, and whilst you always tend to hear about the West End side of things, there’s some crackers out there that don’t get the acclaim that they should. One such example is The Dolls of New Albion by Paul Shapera which brings Steampunk to the fore with themes explored within that is part Frankenstein, part spirit of man. Its quirky, the various acts blend together with a wonderful recurrent theme and when added to the vocal talent within make this a title that would work wonderfully an animated film.
Add to this some cracking lyrics snippets that remind you of other musicals like Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable and Cats and all in this album is something unique and different. Definitely worth checking out on Bandcamp. Great stuff.
REVIEW:
Jordan is one of those artists that had it not been for friends I wouldn’t have heard which to be blunt is a great shame. The album follows the evolution of New Zealand and the journey of a family through the exploration of music and time. The first track Johnny Come Home, is not only invocative of the album but one to set the pace as well as themes within that really make this a wonderful piece to own.
Add to this a whole host of tracks that bring Jordan’s deep and haunting voice alongside her lyrics to the listener and some wonderful combinations of vocal alongside instrumental magic (such as the pure vocal track A Woman Scorned) which will leave the listener wondering why they haven’t heard her before. Sadly in the UK the demise of Classic FM and O Music probably means that she won’t get much airplay but trust me, its well worth the time to search out this remarkable musician.
REVIEW:
There are times when you’re reading that you just want to have some background music, and times when you’re writing and want something a little different to not only inspire you but to get you in to the right place and time zone to create that special piece. What makes this album from Abney Park so much fun is the raw as well as wonderfully themed pieces within that bring the world of Steampunk to life through the use of unusual sounds, cleverly worded lyrics and of course a band dressed to the extreme in their character costumes. Its quirky, its fun and its definitely an album that I’ll be listening to for quite a few times.
Add to this crew, the deep vocals of “Captain” Robert and all in the pieces fit the gateway of imagination down to a Tee. (If unsure check out this track End of Days.) Finally throw into the equation a book, a roleplay game and of course a rich world to explore and I suspect that pretty soon, you’ll be firm fans of this unusual group.
REVIEW:
The second Abney Park Album that I listened to and whilst interesting it didn’t have quite the same feel as End of Days as it didn’t have a lot of the same effects and felt more like an organic selection of tracks with influences in various genres including Ska. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you can hear the groups development throughout the two albums as they find not only their own stride but their niche.
Don’t get me wrong, the music is clean, its refreshing and when you add the groups dynamics as well as sound it’s there in the earlier stages but for me, this album will always come second to End of Days. It is fun, it does carry the listener away into a dystopian society but all in, for me, End of Days is vastly superior.
Release Date: 31/01/12
SYNOPSIS:
There will come a time...
When freedom is considered too dangerous. Cities are walled, and citizens are chained to round-the-clock jobs to keep them controlled. Change and progress are outlawed.
There will come a time...
When clockworks wake up, only to find they are not allowed to be awake. They hide in fear, not daring to break their chains of slavery.
There will come a time...
When freedom is outlawed. The last free people must scrape a living in the dirt of the prairies, or in the skies above them. These hardened men and women fight for their lives and their freedom against beasts of the plains, police in the cities, and pirates in the sky. When freedom is outlawed, only the outlaws are free.
This time will come, and it will be my fault.
Sorry about that.
REVIEW:
I’ve read a lot of Steampunk and recently I’ve been listening to a lot of music within the genre, so it’ll probably come as no surprise that I embarked on a journey with Captain Robert and his crew of the Ophelia firstly by soundtrack but then by text as I picked up and started to read this amalgamation of Time Travel and Steam.
It’s a title that is written in the first person, takes the reader on a journey and of course brings all the elements together with danger alongside adventure as the crew embark on a mission that has a feeling of déjà vu, ambition and of course a goal that regardless of the seemingly impossibility, is still worth the effort to attempt.
Add to this quirky tale a whole host of supporting cast that fit the bilges with something for everyone alongside good dialogue and a real turn of pace and all in the readers in for a treat. Great stuff but don’t forget to try out their music first and if you’re really inspired you can play the roleplay game.
