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Big Big Train – Are We Nearly There Yet?

Releasing a live album after each new concert series has become standard practice for some bands: Steve Hackett, Yes, Marillion, and Transatlantic, to name just a few, have been guilty of this phenomenon for a number of years. But are…

Crayola Lectern / La Mômo / James Larcombe

The George Tavern, Stepney, London Friday, 29th August 2025 Down at the Crayola Lectern show at the George Tavern — a stout, notched tooth of a building set into the bony drag of Commercial Road — there’s been a bit…

Jo Quail – Notan

Music manifests in countless forms, each stirring emotion depending on the creator’s intent, the performance, and the listener’s interpretation. This is especially true of instrumental music, which, without the guidance of lyrics, invites the listener to shape their own narrative.…

John Holden – The Great Divide

The link between music and the visual arts is a profound one. Although it deals with abstract sounds, music can vividly paint images and scenes upon the blank canvas of our minds as we listen. Capture Light, the outstanding title…

Phi Yaan-Zek – Inner Cosmic Spiral

Whilst a guitar is always pretty central to a Phi Yaan-Zek record, it’s been quite a while since he released an album where the guitar was the focus throughout. Well, the wait is over, as his latest musical outpouring is…

Renaissance – Opening Out: The Albums 1977 – 1979 (3CD Boxset)

Esoteric’s series of Renaissance clamshell boxsets – which began with Running Hard, covering the years 1974-76 – continues with Opening Out, and contains the albums that followed: Novella, A Song for All Seasons and Azure d’Or. If Running Hard could…

Hawkwind – Hall Of The Mountain Grill (7CD/2Blu-ray Limited Edition)

Hawkwind released their fourth album Hall of the Mountain Grill in September of 1974, following on from their successful previous release Doremi Fasol Latido. This album sees some changes in the Hawkwind world with the temporary departure of Robert Calvert…

Various Artists – When Will They Ever Learn? A Story Of U.S. Folk Music: 1963-1969 (4CD Boxset)

One of my earliest memories from childhood is my father showing me a book of song lyrics. The songs would have comprised what would later come to be known as Americana – folksy, simple, emotional and often humorous songs that…

Camel – Music Inspired By The Snow Goose (2CD/Blu-ray Edition)

Some music is timeless. Some music is resplendent and perfect. Some music is beautiful and unique. Music Inspired by The Snow Goose is all those things and more, and has remained the pinnacle of their career ever since 1975 when…

Machinary – Machinary

As an avid fan of the band Comedy of Errors I was particularly excited when Machinary’s new, self-titled EP landed on my desk. Like COE, Machinary hail from Scotland and their credentials are impressive, including three current/previous COE members: Bruce…