There is nothing purer than the voice of Aino Peltomaa over a pipe drone. It’s as traditional and heartfelt as you can get and drills down into the intense humanity of these largely ancient works, as reinterpreted by the members…
View More Ensemble Gamut! – RE
The Tramshed, Cardiff Wednesday, 7th December 2022 I love The Tramshed. Not only is it a very nice space, the staff are the best I’ve ever experienced. It’s a pleasure to roll up to the door and be cheerily greeted…
View More Magnum / Vega / Theia
When you think of Christmas albums, it can all get a bit cloying. As a long-term veteran of the Retail Wars, having to hear Christmas music on constant rotation for three months of the year was enough to put you…
View More Mediæval Bæbes – MydWynter
Sin City, Swansea Wednesday, 30th November 2022 Gigs like this seldom happen in Swansea – and I nearly missed it as I only found out about it the night before! Thanking my lucky stars, I headed down there… Upon arrival,…
View More Nordic Giants / Alex Hedley
Trinity Centre, Bristol Sunday, 20th November 2022 After seeing Gong turn the Good Ship Thekla into a space vessel back in March, loosing its moorings to take us grinningly happy throng to the stars, the thought of a double-header with…
View More Ozric Tentacles / Gong
From the satisfying metallic clang of opener Sail Around the Sun, this third release from Swiss sound explorers The Universe By Ear ticks many boxes. The harmony vocals work very nicely and the trio of Beni Bürgin (drums), Pascal Grünenfelder…
View More The Universe by Ear – III
With their latest album, Zenith, just released, self-proclaimed instrumental prog band Poly-Math played a special album launch gig at Signature Brew in Walthamstow, East London. Always keen to attend a gig in a brewery, TPA’s Jez Rowden was on hand…
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Signature Brew, Walthamstow, London 12th November 2022 What’s that you say? Fancy a night out watching three of your favourite current bands in a brewery? Can I stop you there – a brewery?! It turns out that this isn’t the…
View More Poly-Math / Thumpermonkey / A Formal Horse
The biggest take-away for me from the Portals Festival in May was Poly-Math. Their half-hour set was an object listen in how to play an eviscerating set of complex and edgy instrumental music whilst keeping it engaging and entertaining. The…
View More Poly-Math – Zenith
Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Eindhoven, Netherlands Thursday, 20th October 2022 I love seeing bands outside the UK, it’s usually a very different experience, and a smashing Christmas pres from a wonderful wife has led us to Eindhoven for Marillion’s second night…
View More Marillion / June Road