Recently I reviewed the new compilation album from K+K-tactics. The duo described their music as drum and bass, but this is literally a description of the two main instruments, and usually sole instruments, played. That said, I was still able…
View More Nerve – Music For Sharks
Well that was interesting. I had to check I was listening to the right thing, so much has the sound of Maquinas changed since last I heard them on 2016’s Lado Turvo, Lugares Inquietos. The band did release a collaboration…
View More Maquinas – O Cão de Toda Noite
Aadal are an instrumental jazz band from Norway who, according to the PR sheet which accompanied the album, have clear references to Americana. This was a description that didn’t sound particularly appealing to me, and it was the addition of…
View More Aadal – Silver
Back in 2017, Nick Barrett posted a blog entry about the process of writing and how a deep personal engagement with his material meant he couldn’t simply churn out albums to order. Reflecting on the recent passing of his father,…
View More Pendragon – Love Over Fear
For a band from France, the new album from jazz collective Pee Bee is as British as the red telephone box on the cover. Maybe not surprising given that co-founder and bassist Gary Brunton is an ex-pat Burnley boy and…
View More Pee Bee – Or Not to Be
The classic pop division of Cherry Red Records have recently released this trio of classic Kim Wilde albums, spanning her self-titled debut album from 1981, Select from 1982 and Catch as Catch Can from 1983. Now, I know this page…
View More Kim Wilde – Kim Wilde / Select / Catch as Catch Can
I have never been a great lover of the stoner rock scene that came out of the Californian desert. If I had, I might have heard of Swedish stoners Lowrider. I assumed this year’s Refractions was a debut, but it…
View More Lowrider – Refractions
In 2016, in a church hall in downtown Stroud at Ian Fairholm’s beautifully curated Eppyfest, I had the pleasure of being introduced to the music of the Sirkis/Bialis International Quartet, featuring Israeli drummer Asaf Sirkis and Polish singer Sylwia Bialas.…
View More Sirkis/Bialis IQ – Our New Earth
Throughout the last few years, I’ve found myself listening to more and more jazz from Spain. Bands such as El Tubo Elàstico and On The Raw have thoroughly impressed me, and now add Canarian Juan Belda and his Bit Band.…
View More Juan Belda & The Bit Band – No encuentro la tónica
Released towards the end of last year, this debut album from Liverpool-based, piano-driven progressive trio Exploring Birdsong is one that has been highly awaited by many people, myself included. I first encountered Exploring Birdsong live at HRH Prog in November…
View More Exploring Birdsong – The Thing With Feathers