Category Archives: Music

Justin Hayward, Spirits Of The Western Sky. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is no comparison readily available to the voice that made The Moody Blues one of the finest bands to ever come out of Britain. In Justin Hayward the talent he possesses is phenomenal, a real delight in a world that can seem cynical of a person still recording good quality music after nearly fifty years. That musical talent is yet again laid bare for listeners to revel in and take an hour or two out their ever-increasing busy and demanding lives in his first solo album since 1996, the exquisite and beautiful Spirits of the Western Sky.

Justin Hayward, Spirits Of The Western Sky. Album Review. full post

(388 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Steve Macfarlane, Happy Daze. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It is not the first time that poetry has been set to or inspired a musical score and it certainly won’t be the last but with the indomitable spirit and really sensuous voice that runs through the very core of Steve Macfarlane, the enchanting Billy Hui on piano and the words of the impressive poet Peter Grant, the musical orchestration of Happy Daze is a poet’s dream come true and hugely enjoyable to listen to.

Steve Macfarlane, Happy Daze. Album Review. full post

(352 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies. 40th Anniversary Retrospective.

As his persona and as the leader of the American shock rock band Alice Cooper, the man named Vincent Furnier at birth must have appeared to some as the devil incarnate, the man who was leading the nations younger music lovers astray with the bands songs which suggested and spoke of subjects such as necrophilia, political instability and shocking church groups. Looking back with 40 years of hindsight, Alice Cooper’s sixth studio album, Billion Dollar Babies, it is nothing more than sensational and shows the leader of this much talked of group as nothing more than perhaps the ultimate music showman, the Barnum of the staged three ring rock circus.

Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies. 40th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(1143 words, estimated 4:34 mins reading time)

Iceage, You’re Nothing. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating *

The Scandinavian countries have a proud history of producing some really great music that catches the ear in more ways to the British ear than say music from Southern Europe. From Abba, A-Ha, Lena Marlin, In The Woods, Jacob Bro, Lars Ulrich of Metallica fame and Candlemass have all made an impression somewhere along the lines in the lives of music lovers from the U.K. They are hard acts to live up to and newer bands trying to make any head way in their own country has a huge mountain to climb.

Iceage, You’re Nothing. Album Review. full post

(347 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, What The Brothers Sang. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

If you are going to do an album of cover songs by one of the greatest duos of American popular music then it not only has to be good, it has to be sensational and given a new twist. Thankfully Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, the folk singer Will Oldham, have not only managed this but have done it with such style and with due deference to the Everly Brothers that the songs could well have been written in the last year given their freshness and contemporary feel.

Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, What The Brothers Sang. Album Review. full post

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

EN (Erica Nockalls), Imminent Room. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Watching Erica Nockalls on stage, the first thing you notice is her absolute belief in what she is playing, whether as part of Wonderstuff or going out on the road with Miles Hunt and touring intimate venues, the way she handles the violin marks her out as one amazing performer. This conviction is carried over into her debut solo album Imminent Room and it is a work of pure and fantastic art.

EN (Erica Nockalls), Imminent Room. Album Review. full post

(443 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

The Shadow Theatre, Ghosts. Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The Shadow Theatre, four lads from the heart of Maghull and Huyton release their first single today and it is a rip-roarer and a testament to the growing anger that dwells within a section of society once more. The anger of punk was never lost, it just has a new feeling and new bands in which to shake a few fists and take on the stupidity of what it sees.

The Shadow Theatre, Ghosts. Single Review. full post

(313 words, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, The Colonel and The Governor. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

They don’t come much more rich and musically exotic as Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, two men whose work ethic and contribution to music is outstanding and what better way to enhance their reputation to in effect stratospheric proportions than by working together on the outstanding album The Colonel and The Governor.

Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor, The Colonel and The Governor. Album Review. full post

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

Steelesque, Johnny On The Spot. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * ^½

The steel cities that are divided by an ocean both have seen rough times and an industry that was decimated beyond recognition. Whereas Sheffield found solace in in burgeoning pop scene of the 1980s with the likes of The Human League, A.B.C. and Heaven 17, Pittsburgh, once rightly called the power house of America and the home of the great Pittsburgh Penguins now has a band to look up to and salute in the same way as the great Anti Flag.

Steelesque, Johnny On The Spot. E.P. Review. full post

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

Richard Thompson, Electric. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There can be no doubting the staying power of Richard Thompson, if anything the man who cut his musical teeth with the likes of Fairport Convention has become more prolific as the years have gone by and compared to those that that once stood alongside him, Richard Thompson remains as likeable and musically pleasing as he ever did, something he has proved once more in his latest release Electric.

Richard Thompson, Electric. Album Review. full post

(369 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)