Mel Allen

Eveline’s Dust – K

I had the pleasure to be able to review Eveline’s Dust’s last album, the well-received The Painkeeper. At the close of my review, I expressed the wish to hear what this band would do next. Now I have the opportunity…

Xavi Reija – The Sounds Of The Earth

Sometimes life gets in the way of completing reviews, the growing pile needing your attention, but in this case just playing the album, enjoying it, means kind of forgetting that you need to make some notes. Yep that’s the case…

Eivør ‎– Live In Tórshavn

Born in Syðrugøta on the Faroe Islands, but now residing in Copenhagen, Eivør has been making music for most of her life, indeed her first album was released when she was just sixteen years old, blending traditional Faroese with other…

Ruphus – New Born Day

During my time reviewing albums I have become very interested in the great music being produced by the Norwegian music scene, therefore when I saw this reissue album by the Seventies band Ruphus my curiosity was tested further. The fact…

Duke 72 – The Mid Shires Herald

Duke 72 is a Scottish/Australian collaboration, brainchild of guitarist Justin Lumsden and drummer Jonny Mitchell, conceived, written and performed during a nine hour session in Glasgow. The Mid Shires Herald does not feel rushed, it has that carefully put together…

Ill Considered – V & VI

There are times when a “you may like this” recommendation pays off and you find a little gem, this has happened for me in the case of Ill Considered. The Bandcamp recommendation was spot on, the music capturing my musical…

The Tronosonic Experience – II: The Big Blow

The Tronosonic Experience, from Oslo in Norway, return with their second album, their first release on the excellent Apollon Records. The band’s music is inspired by avant garde jazz artists of the Sixties and Seventies progressive rock bands, sounds which…

Patrick Grant – Fields Amaze and Other Strange Music

This release from Patrick Grant is a re-titled, remixed and expanded version of his 1997 album Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release. That album was mostly recorded at Philip Glass’ Looking Glass Studio, with Patrick adding extra piano and other instruments later.…

Roine Stolt’s The Flower King – Manifesto of an Alchemist

Roine Stolt has had a long and varied career since joining the band Kaipa as a teenager in 1974, the guitarist, singer and song writer going on to be involved with The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Agents of Mercy, The Tangent…

Jordsjø – Jordsjø Compilation

Jordsjø released their first album to appear on CD, Jord, earlier this year through Karisma Records, and it has become one of my top releases for this year. The band’s previous releases, Jordsjø, Jordsjø II and the Songs from the…

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Author: Mel Allen