A gentle piano intro, and the voice intoning a complex and odd melody, “picking melodies out of the black and fumy air” indeed. Then, something stirs, crashing chords, strident bass and drums, and a synth melody soaring aloft; yes friends,…
View More I Am The Manic Whale – Things Unseen
It’s rather wonderful when discovering music for the first time with which many others are familiar. A bit like finding a new path nearby that you’ve not previously noticed before and discovering new vistas and points of interest on your…
View More Sonar with David Torn – Tranceportation (Volume 2)
Ms Amy Birks will be known to many of us as one third of the Beatrix Players, who came to prominence with their debut album three years ago. I came across them supporting Big Big Train, and a striking act…
View More Ms Amy Birks – All That I Am & All That I Was
If you google Echorec, apparently it’s some kind of guitar effect pedal. Well, it could have been worse, they could have called themselves Wah Wah. Anyway, this Echorec are a young trio from the West Country, and The Island is…
View More Echorec – The Island
Anyone who has followed The Enid in recent years will know that they have endured a particularly turbulent time, even for a band with their chequered history. They were completely transformed by the arrival of Joe Payne and enjoyed great…
View More The Enid – U
There’s something about debut albums isn’t there? Bands or artists that are new to you making their first long-form artistic statement. There are no pre-conceptions, not too much expectation, more hope really, and when they turn out to be impressive,…
View More Zopp – Zopp
So the burnin’ question on your lips must be, “Do we need another BÖC live album?” That was my first thought too, and the answer is “Yes, probably!” I guess the first thing to say is the obvious really, but…
View More Blue Öyster Cult – Live In Cleveland 2014
The Court Theatre, Tring Saturday, 7th March 2020 This showcase at the Court Theatre in Tring is effectively the launch of That Joe Payne’s solo career. Although he has played a few shows since his time in The Enid, this…
View More That Joe Payne / Ms Amy Birks
Time Shift Accident; what does that band name say to you? Perhaps it suggests a seventies-obsessed sci-fi band with a Hawkwind fixation bent on recording a concept album about Einstein’s theory of relativity and the potential for time travel mis-haps?…
View More Time Shift Accident – Chronosthesia
With new album The Other Side just released, TPA’s Graham Thomas spoke to Derek ‘Mo’ Moore from Nektar to discuss the band’s career, new music and forthcoming touring… To touch on the early history, what are your memories of how…
View More Derek ’Mo’ Moore – Nektar