Category Archives: Music

The Union, The World Is Yours. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Three albums down the line and The Union have hit a stride that will be difficult, if not impossible slow or indeed stop. As in the early days of the 70s a band has been given the time to develop their music and come up with a recording that sits comfortably in amongst some of the greats of the genre. In The World is Yours, The Union, comprising of Thunder stalwarts Luke Morley and Chris Childs stand aside Peter Shoulder and Dave McCluskey as they breathe new life into the harder edged side of Blues/Rock that seems to have vacated over the last few years.

The Union, The World Is Yours. Album Review. full post

(427 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Roddy Woomble, Listen To Keep. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

For his third foray into the world of solo albums, Roddy Woomble of Idlewild liberates and musically  distances himself from the band that many still suggest was one of the great Scottish acts of the last 20 years and delivers a genuinely astounding wonderful piece of work. Whilst Idlewild may not have released a new album for four years, Roddy has plugged away at creating a sound that whilst indicative of his time as the band’s frontman, doesn’t echo and repeat old glories. Listen To Keep goes that little bit further and plays like a dream.

Roddy Woomble, Listen To Keep. Album Review. full post

(367 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Kate Nash, Girl Talk. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It wasn’t that long ago that Kate Nash was thought of quirky, a new voice to enjoy whilst it possibly lasted and more than likely she would do well to get a couple of albums under her belt but gradually fade away. Something then happened to make that possibility a mere inconsequence, she became a female voice of a generation and for that music lovers should be grateful.

Kate Nash, Girl Talk. Album Review. full post

(405 words, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Pink Floyd, The Final Cut. 30th Anniversary Retrospective.

It seems slightly ironic that at a time when the Falklands debate rages once more between the U.K. and Argentinian Governments, an album that uses the conflict between the two countries as a focus for an anti-war message should be celebrating its 30th anniversary. It is almost with bitterness and a shaking of heads that Pink Floyd’s 1983 album The Final Cut should still resonate across the many thousands of miles between Buenos Aires and London. Even after the Falkland Islanders have had the unprecedented and historic vote in the last few weeks on where they see their future, the echoes of a conflict that was born in the spring of 1982 but had its genesis over a period of a couple of hundred years, still rages and the thoughts of the people caught between two ideologically opposed governments might in the end not matter.

Pink Floyd, The Final Cut. 30th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(1304 words, estimated 5:13 mins reading time)

Billy Bragg, Tooth And Nail. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

For the first time in five years, one of the beating hearts of musical radical social truth releases an album. Whilst Billy Bragg’s overt dynamism may have mellowed with age, the fire in conviction, the words he wants get across to those that sometimes won’t or can’t listen has never been more acute and on Tooth and Nail, he still uses the power of the ideas running through his head to great effect.

Billy Bragg, Tooth And Nail. Album Review. full post

(373 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Joe Bonamassa: An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House, Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

To capture someone in all their glory live can be a laborious and sometimes self sacrificing work, an effort of near epic proportions is needed by a lot of people to make sure that the magic that is heard is portrayed correctly and doesn’t become a fuzzy after thought in the listener’s minds. In Joe Bonamassa, there really is no need to ever question what the end result will sound like as his unique personality and guitar playing are always top quality and when the music is within the confines of the Vienna Opera House then it’s an experience to savour.

Joe Bonamassa: An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House, Album Review. full post

(391 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

Amaranthe, The Nexus. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

They may be the best kept Metal secret that Sweden and Denmark has been able to keep under cover, especially from U.K. fans, in many years. The time though has come for Amaranthe to come of age and claim the crown of Nordic Metal Gods one and for all with their brand new arse kicking, Metal munching/pop infused release The Nexus.

Amaranthe, The Nexus. Album Review. full post

(383 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Me And Deboe, E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is something tantalising about the way a musical duo can be in so in tune with each other, that when it’s done well it’s as close to perfection as you can expect it to be. American Folk act Simon and Garfunkel showed this from the very beginning of their career, Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke of Yazoo perfected in the 80s Electronic era as did the Eurythmics and the sensational Everything But The Girl. Even when the music is not coming from a natural duo such as Liverpool’s Ian McNabb and Ian Prowse or Mersey Wylie and Dave O’Grady, the music they generate, the feeling they inspire is nothing short of impressive.

Me And Deboe, E.P. Review. full post

(402 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Fallen Streams, Lookin’ Up. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

From the depths of the passing of Liverpool’s Sheerwater, Fallen Streams resurfaces. The band, which contains Mark Dawson on vocals and guitars and the superb Jack Beacall on keyboards have taken off where the previous named incarnation left off and whilst for less discerning types they may struggle with the difference and ask what does it matter what they are called, the difference is they have become even better, an improvement if that was ever possible and the name change? Well that only matters in the overall scheme of things, otherwise they still have the same fantastic attitude that first got them that all important attention in 2011.

Fallen Streams, Lookin’ Up. Album Review. full post

(402 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Marillion, Script For A Jester’s Tear. 30th Anniversary Retrospective.

If anyone thought that Progressive Rock was dead in the water as the 1980s began, then certainly the cowbell that had once proudly rang out was joining the fat lady in beginning to sound decidedly croaky and worn out.

By early 1983 Genesis had moved so far from the Progressive line that they were considered cool in circles they couldn’t have envisioned 10 years earlier when they bought out the pastoral sound of Selling England By the Pound. Yes were going mainstream, Supertramp were going their separate ways, Queen had long since abandoned the genre, Pink Floyd, the standard bearers of the music from 1973 onwards were about to self-destruct with what seemed one final hurrah in the opinion dividing The Final Cut and countless others such as Caravan and Camel were running out of steam.

Marillion, Script For A Jester’s Tear. 30th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(1750 words, estimated 7:00 mins reading time)