Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
All you need is something different, something slightly dissimilar than what anybody is else is doing and the world becomes your oyster. For Scott and Maria Owen Midlane of Noterminus, their debut album, the intriguingly titled Haselupker’s Ink, the oyster is a delicious and rampant morsel which uniquely captures the idea of visionary imagination alongside the pulsating power that dominates the album.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Wales has always managed to hold onto its musical secrets until the right time comes along to unleash them upon the world in a blaze of Welsh pride, especially its rock groups. The Alarm, Manic Street Preachers, The Reasoning and The Stereophonics all have become household names over the decades not just in their home country but across the River Severn and through the mountains and hills of the North and invaded the collective music thought of the neighbours in England.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Some people kick off their weekend by taking off their work shoes slumping infront of the television for the night and only moving again when the television reception goes wonky. Others will be more adventurous and make their way into town and watch television on a big screen as Wimbledon reaches its climax. For some though the chance to take in some music, to find an oasis in a desert, is too compelling an opportunity to mess with and as Skarlett Riot entered the fray at the O2 Academy to a crowd that was already in love with them after catching the foursome finish their warm-up, there may as well have been a big sign stamped on the wall saying, your weekend starts here, rock your heart out and enjoy!
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The world of Progressive Rock has perhaps never been in a more healthy and thought-provoking state. The days of being labelled as dinosaurs and past it are long over, the new breed that fly the standard high, proud and youthful vigour such as Touchstone and The Reasoning sit alongside the giants of the genre and the old master who still show any aspiring musician just what is so cool about being able to thread together lengthy and intricate musical movements with a good lyric.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2009.
Fresh from their convention slot supporting Marillion in Holland, The Reasoning reinforced their position as one of the country’s top progressive rock bands with a performance that bowled over an enthusiastic crowd.
Opening the set with the title track from their 2007 debut album Awakening, followed by Fallen Angels. The band showed why their musical ability and sharp lyrics have made them favourites on the progressive rock gig circuit.
With singer Rachel Cohen in fine form and in teasing mood, The Reasoning then played the beautiful Chasing Rainbows before carrying on with the fabulous Aching Hunger and the lyrically excellent Breaking the Fourth Wall.
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.
Originally published by L.S Media. June 21st 2012.
L.S. Media Rating ****
The British Rock band Asia is one of the very first so called ‘supergroups’. However, unlike others before them that fell by the waysides after a couple of years or a couple of albums as they realised that even one album together was too much, Asia are celebrating 30 years together with the appropriately named album XXX.
As solo artists or key cogs in other band’s machinery, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer are sublime, together they bring those key elements that make them stand out and turn into one of the bands of their time.