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Stephan Thelen – Fractal Guitar 2

It seems that almost every album I review lately has been born as a result of the time and space afforded whilst working musicians are stuck at home with nothing but their home studios, a bunch of instruments and a…

Cast – Vigesimus

This Mexican band have two very big hurdles to overcome. Firstly, they are the Mexican Cast, and not the UK Cast. I don’t think I’ve yet talked about this band without having to explain that it’s not the Cast people…

Blacklist – Superpredator EP / Saul Blease Interview

Don’t you just love it when artists take notes that don’t belong in a key and create passing dissonance? I like drums, gritty guitar, distorted bass, quiet bits with piano, soft harmonised backing vocals against a building riff. I like…

The Aristocrats – FREEZE! Live in Europe 2020

BOING! That’s the sound of my jaw hitting the floor. Actually, it’s more of a clunk. But ‘Boing!’ is appropriate because that’s the name of the record label responsible for this jaw-dropping release. If you hear a more astonishing instrumental…

Frost* – Day And Age

“Hello, and welcome to the rest of your life”, the opening line from our narrator, a child-like English voice whose name may or may not be Alice, introducing us to Day and Age, the latest recording from Frost*, and their…

Lifesigns – Altitude

So, Altitude, album number three from Lifesigns, and this one seems important somehow. A new line-up, no chance of touring to promote it, and their staunch refusal to give their art away on streaming platforms all make this a critical…

Night Bus – Second Trip

Sometimes, jazz is just the tonic you need. We don’t often dip our toes into the purer end of this particular ocean of possibilities, but there’s no reason why we can’t, so here goes. Jazz always works best in a…

Bryan Beller – The Aristocrats

‘Live in 2020’ – three words we won’t be reading very often. For most musicians, 2020 was the year from hell, when Covid killed touring, their most lucrative source of income now that CDs no longer make any money. A…

Jon Anderson – Animation [Remastered & Expanded Edition]

There are some albums that REALLY need a second chance with a decent re-release, and Jon Anderson’s 1982 album Animation is one which was crying out for some love and respect, to be presented again with characteristic care and attention,…

Jon Anderson – Olias Of Sunhillow [2021 Deluxe Edition Remaster]

Jon Anderson is most well-known for his work with the legendary band Yes, writing and performing all-time classic progressive rock songs of the ’70s. However, strangely, it may well be that his most unique creation is his inimitable debut solo…