The Floe, No Looking Back. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2010.

No Looking Back is the startling debut album by The Floe. Sensual, beautifully crafted and full of little surprises that will jolt you occasionally from the relative tranquility you will feel when you first play the album.

It is one of those albums that upon first listen will make you think that the world is a good place and nothing much can go wrong with it. Scratch underneath the surface though and listen closer to the lyrics and you will find a roller coaster of emotions waiting to be explored, dissected and enjoyed. This is especially true on the songs One Deep Breath and the lamentable Playing Safe; both songs capture the imagination and the subtleness of the music superbly.

The Floe, No Looking Back. Album Review. full post

(248 words, 1 image, estimated 1:0 mins reading time)

The Reasoning, Adverse Camber. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 30th 2010.

There is an old saying that goes “If it isn’t broke, don’t change it”. The Reasoning sort of hold true to that adage for the third studio album Adverse Camber, what they have done instead is taken all that they have learned over the last few years and gone one better. The result is an album full of great, solid and cleverly written songs that screams for your attention from the moment you press the play button.

The Reasoning, Adverse Camber. Album Review. full post

(329 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

The Alarm, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool.

The Alarm in Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 4th 2010

The last night of a tour is always quite emotional for any band, but for Mike Peters and the Alarm it is always special when they finish their tour in Liverpool. Mike has a lot of affection for this city and it comes through in a lot of the lyrics that the band has written over the years.

The Alarm, Gig Review. o2 Academy Liverpool. full post

(451 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Hugh Cornwell, Gig Review. Gloucester Civic Hall.

Hugh Cornwell in action. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 17th 2010.

One of the joys of travelling around the country to see musicians ply their trade is that sometimes you get to go to a completely new venue in a brand new city. For the first time as a fan of music I had the pleasure of visiting Gloucester Civic Hall to see Hugh Cornwell on his latest tour and I wasn’t disappointed by the venue or the man behind some of the iconic songs of his generation.

Hugh Cornwell, Gig Review. Gloucester Civic Hall. full post

(449 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Steve Hogarth, Gig Review. The Cavern, Liverpool.

Steve Hogarth at the Cavern. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 17th 2010.

Steve Hogarth last entertained his loyal Liverpool fans nearly 18 months ago when he played at St Brides Church, a cold evening that was warmed up beautifully by Steve’s vocal talent and the joy and warmth that was felt by the audience.

Steve Hogarth, Gig Review. The Cavern, Liverpool. full post

(382 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Alexx Calise, In Avanti. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 22nd 2010.

It’s not often an album drops through your letter box from an artist that you have never heard of but who has heard of you. What do you do with said CD; you might put it on once, listen attentively for a while and then put it in your collection, never to be heard again.

To do this to the album In Avanti by Florida born and Californian based Alexx Calise would be nothing short of a shame, it is a stunning piece of work by someone so young and so very obviously talented.

Alexx Calise, In Avanti. Album Review. full post

(332 words, 1 image, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Steve Harley, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by L.S. Media. May 30th 2010.

It’s hard to imagine a time when Steve Harley could ever be out of favour with the music establishment and not be received well by critics and some of the general public alike but the last few years has seen resurgence in the popularity of the man behind some of the most memorable songs of the seventies.

Steve Harley, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(457 words, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

The Divine Comedy, Bang Goes The Knighthood. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 3rd 2010.

The Divine Comedy (in the guise of Neil Hannon) have been quiet the last few years, (the only album Neil has been on is the magnificent Duckworth Lewis Method album from 2009) recording only one album since 2004’s smash Absent Friends. Now, finally the master of baroque pop is back with a collection of new songs from the wittily titled Bang Goes the Knighthood.

The Divine Comedy, Bang Goes The Knighthood. Album Review. full post

(340 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

The Hobbit, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 9th 2010.

Cast: Peter Howe, Christopher Robbie, James Hedley, Seb Morgan, Danny Fox, Russell Clough, Antony Gabriel, William St. Clair, Craig Whittaker, Kirk Barker, Paul Chesterton, Christopher Llewellyn.

There are books and stories that are just too epic and grand in scale to try and transfer over to the theatre, The Hobbit isn’t one of them…just.

The Hobbit, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(434 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

The Steve Miller Band, Bingo!. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 29th 2010.

It has been 17 years since the last time Steve Miller decided to go into a studio and record an album. Some artists would consider that to be against their work ethic and would rather retire and walk away from it all forever than to tease any loyal fan base in this way…but the Godson of the last great Les Paul can be excused any travesty of recording timing when he pulls out an album of superb blues covers from out of the half hidden music locker.

The Steve Miller Band, Bingo!. Album Review. full post

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