Category Archives: Music

Kaiser Chiefs, Education, Education, Education & War. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The Kaiser Chiefs promised a hiatus and that is what their fans got and thankfully the time has come again for the Yorkshire band. With new addition Vijay Mistry on drums, Ricky Wilson, Andrew White, Nick Baines, Simon Rix have conspired to make sure that the past few years away have not been for nothing, that they have worked what ever made them go arguably off the boil somewhat out of their system and will see their fans relish as if have been offered the keys to musical sanctuary in the form of Education, Education, Education & War.

Kaiser Chiefs, Education, Education, Education & War. Album Review. full post

(499 words, estimated 2:0 mins reading time)

Molotov Jukebox, Carnival Flower. Album Review.

The gradual rise to prominence of Molotov Jukebox is becoming a journey almost as fun and rewarding as the final destination. Following up previous E.P.’s Double Dare and Bang, divided by a flurry of energetic singles, a performance at Glastonbury, and acting appearances on both the big and little screen by lead singer Natalia Tena, Carnival Flower has been a long awaited debut L.P. from the swing band.

Molotov Jukebox, Carnival Flower. Album Review. full post

(468 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

Elbow, The Take Off And Landing Of Everything. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

How do you ever follow up an internationally acclaimed album? The only way really is to come up with another one, just as good, just as sonically rampant, interestingly lush and throughout it all having five musicians chomping at the bit to make something stand out just as their debut album did 14 years ago.

Elbow, The Take Off And Landing Of Everything. Album Review. full post

(560 words, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

Vedina Mosé, The Soul Remembers Everything. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Vedina Mosé more than lives up to the title she has given her new album, The Soul Remembers Everything. In this case the songs she has produced for this offering are of such an incredible nature, both warm even comforting and yet prickly, taking the conscience of her beloved London and putting it on show for the world to see and offering the glimpse of a life in which the musician clearly has a long memory for every smile, every frown, each and every ill-treatment struck down on her, her family and those in which society has let go in whichever form that may be.

Vedina Mosé, The Soul Remembers Everything. Album Review. full post

(415 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Magnum, Escape From The Shadow Garden. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Can a group go on forever making storming album after album? Eventually time catches up with all, the ticking of the clock counts down and the music stops; sometimes suddenly with no expectation from the fans and sometimes with the gradual decline of a group who knows that time has caught with them but still have the power to charm and beguile.

Magnum, Escape From The Shadow Garden. Album Review. full post

(545 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

Shakira, Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

It is perhaps hard to believe that Columbian superstar Shakira has been performing and writing music for as long as she has. The simple incorruptibility that she wears as if a badge of honour, the tight grip she keeps on her music like a lioness keeping a watchful wary eye on her young; is not for sale, even though many an executive might try their damnedest to flaunt her appeal. Sometimes it works, the odd breakthrough the tough Columbian feminine exterior and on those occasions the music lacks soul but for the most part you can always rely on some good old fashioned pop with the big heavy hint of Latino thrown in for good measure.

Shakira, Album Review. full post

(412 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Nine Times Blue, Matter Of Time. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is craftsmanship and there is skill in the artistry, the look of appreciation from the passer by as they suddenly stop and take in the wonder that has unfolded before them. For Nine Times Blue, their new record Matter of Time is the type of E.P., although at six songs it really is not far off album length and equals it in its great depth, that grabs the attention of those passers-by. It turns them into life-long fans, the splendour of power pop wrapped cunningly in the arms of the melodious rock tune and across seven songs the beat gets more interesting, more attractive until suddenly you see the Vincent Van Gogh before your eyes.

Nine Times Blue, Matter Of Time. E.P. Review. full post

(415 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Anette Olzon, Shine. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

From out of the embers of past regrets and former glories, comes a gleaming light that steers far from the edge of patina and brings back one of the great voices of Symphonic Metal, the illustrious Anette Olzon and her debut solo album Shine.

Shine it does as well and despite moments in which she may have seriously doubted herself after having to leave Finnish Metal stars Nightwish, any such fears and trepidation, the twinkle in the eye and the lustre in her voice are still very much essential in framing the type of music that many have come to expect from Ms. Olzon.

Anette Olzon, Shine. Album Review. full post

(356 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

The Alarm, Declaration (2014). Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The art of re-imagining, of taking something so pure and sometimes corrupting it just to suit your own ideal of perfection is one the most part an art to avoid, it never captures the spirit for which it is intended and can lead to frustration in many fans eyes.

Like Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes, it can be ridiculed and derided and whilst thankfully the new stories, effectively prequels in their own right can help get over the scorn in the public gaze, the image is still there forever imprinted into the retina.

The Alarm, Declaration (2014). Album Review. full post

(509 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Space, Attack Of The Mutant 50ft Kebab. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The hunger never really stopped. Despite leaving the main music arena for new bands to enter the fray, to take on the semi goliaths that the 1990s offered, Tommy Scott and Franny Griffiths kept checking out the view from the side of the cinema screen and took in the odd tour with new cohorts and sublime musicians, Phil Hartley, Ryan Clarke and Alan Jones. Now, they have finally decided enough is enough, the epic nature and humour that Space provide the nation as a studio outfit has finally and thankfully returned with their album Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab.

Space, Attack Of The Mutant 50ft Kebab. Album Review. full post

(397 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)