Europe - Bag Of Bones

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It's very easy to take Europe for granted.  A couple of years ago, I was blown away by their stage show and the album "Last Look At Eden".  Despite this, it's taken me a while to catch up with this new album.  If anything it's stronger and more consistent than its predecessor.  The band are fairly traditional and sometimes sound a lot like Led Zeppelin or Whitesnake without the cock rock hilarity.  There are eleven tracks here, and the album clocks in at just 41 minutes.  In a sense, this is a strength and the album doesn't peter out towards the end like so many. 

The album kicks off with "Riches To Rags" a cool rocker, and it must be autobiographical to some extent.  Next up is "Not Supposed To Sing The Blues", the first single from the album.  Here is the video, so that you can judge the quality for yourself:

Third track is the new single "Firebox", reviewed here before.  Just to recap, this is built around a Zep-type riff and has the most amazing psychedelic break mid-song.  Check out the video here:

Title track "Bag Of Bones" is an interesting bluesy number, and features guest Joe Bonamassa on slide guitar.  "Requiem", a short instrumental courtesy of keyboard player Michael Michaeli, leads into another bluesy track "My Woman My Friend".  "Demon Head" is another rocker and "Drink And A Smile" has a more acoustic feel with Joey's vocal sounding rather strange.  "Doghouse" is a fun rocker track which may be familiar from the Shepherd's Bush live CD/DVD/Blu-Ray (of which more soon) but sounds rather more together here.  An even better riff kicks off "Mercy You Mercy Me" which has a guitar tone to die for, courtesy of original guitarist John Norum, now firmly back in the fold.  Final track is the ballad "Bring It All Home".

So, all in all, a great album mixing rockers and bluesy numbers to devastating effect.  While writing this review, I came across the interview below in which Joey explains the album in detail, and is quite honest about the influences on the band.  Joey is an anglophile, and his command of our language is second to none.
This album is an essential purchase and is available on vinyl, CD and as inferior download mp3s.  Get a copy now, and give some thought to the upcoming shows.  The band's website is at http://www.europetheband.com/home.html and is well worth a visit.

Show Off!

Borrowed with thanks from the excellent "Vintage Scans" blog.  Here is the link for it:
http://vintagescans.blogspot.co.uk/

Dodgem-X - After The Horse Has Bolted EP and Free Download

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Another great release from Welsh rockers Dodgem-X.  It features six of the best, hardest-hitting punk songs you will hear in a long, long time.  I am particularly fond of the euthanasia rant "Operation Dignitas" but that's probably because it's the song I'm most familiar with, as they played it live when I saw them.  A recording of the song from the gig has been on YouTube ever since.  Here is a band with wit and intelligence.  I think they'll go far.  And now for the best news of all:

The release is available as an Amazon download and totally free, gratis, for nothing courtesy of the band at:
http://dodgem-x.moonfruit.com/  - the band are also giving away their full album "If You Don't Want To Know The Score, Look Away Now" as reviewed here at the same download location!  Wow!  Thanks guys!

John Foxx - Metamatic Deluxe 2CD Edition

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I first saw John Foxx leading the original Ultravox! back in the '70s.  I think they were supporting Supercharge at the time!  I saw them again as headliners only a few months later and was totally blown away by how much they had improved and by their amazing stage show.  John was a true pioneer, imitated by Gary Numan and the Midge Ure incarnation of  Ultravox. 

Metamatic was a terrific debut solo album following his departure from the band.  It featured the singles "Underpass", "No-One Driving" and US release  "He's A Liquid".  The gorgeous fat analog synths are on every track here.  The original 10-track album is supplemented by a bonus CD of unreleased versions, B-sides etc.  You get later single "Burning Car" but only the B-side to successor "Miles Away."  There is even "My Face" originally a flexi-disc with some teen magazine.

So why only 4 and a half stars?  Well, the transfers, while very good do lack the bloom and glow of my vinyl copies.  It's still an essential purchase, though.

Europe - Firebox single

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Europe have a new single out now.  It's called "Firebox" and is the second single from their new album "Bag Of Bones".  It's a tough rocker built around a Zeppelin-style riff and features an unlikely psychedelic break right in the middle.  Something that could appear derivative is thus transformed into a really special number.  I really must get my hands on a copy of the album!  Earlier Europe material is reviewed here.

Bryan Ferry - Boys And Girls

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This album gets played more often than any other in my car.  It's my favourite Bryan Ferry solo album, although I don't know them all.  For once the album is truly consistent with no dud tracks at all.  Even "A Waste Land" passes muster, although I suspect it was originally planned as a longer track based on TS Eliot's "The Waste Land" (see http://www.bartleby.com/201/1.html for the full poem).

My favourite song here is the title track where Bryan sings artfully about a "wailing saxophone" accompanied by no sax at all!  Later on in the track of course there is plenty of sax courtesy of the incomparable David Sanborn.  Rather better known are the hit singles "Slave To Love" and "Don't Stop The Dance".  A third single "Windswept" was a flop, undeservedly.  All the material here is strong.  Even "Valentine" manages to make a success despite its unpromising reggae foundation.  The cast of musicians is a Who's Who of session players.  Particular mentions must go to Chester Kamen and David Gilmour on guitars.

The album is on the short side at just 38 minutes, but this makes it ideal for burning onto a CD with another album for in-car listening.   For example it fits with albums as diverse as the Dacoits and Oxygene!  You can find some nice online video of Ferry and Gilmour performing songs from this album at Live Aid.

There was briefly a Hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) of this album, but that is long deleted.  The standard CD is more than good enough, so treat yourself to a copy.  More Bryan Ferry here.

Panic Room - Skin

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At last, I've got my hands on this new album by Panic Room, one of my favourite bands.  It's an essential purchase.  You can hear extracts at the band's website http://www.panicroom.org.uk/music.html
and you can buy the album and its predecessors there.

This time around the music of Anne-Marie and the boys is enhanced by the addition of a string quartet.  This adds a lush extra layer to the sound, while avoiding sounding like ELO!  The album is also the first to feature the charismatic presence of new bassist Yatim Halimi.  My favourite track just at the moment is "Chameleon" which is quite moody and haunting, with some excellent  jazz shadings from guitarist Paul Davies.  I am also particularly fond of the fat synth sound Jonathan Edwards gets on "Screens".  It reminds me of the great Mick MacNeil of Simple Minds.

I can see this album selling well, as the band's product is now released through the Cherry Red group's new Esoteric Antenna imprint.  It's the same label that has released the new Van Der Graaf Generator album "ALT", featured here in the review immediately below this one. 

Panic Room are playing a few promotional dates in England and Italy.  I'm not sure I can get to one of the shows, which is a shame.  I see they are appearing at the Cambridge Rock Festival, as are Welsh rockers Sankara.  Perhaps we'll get a more extensive Panic Room tour in the winter?

This album is available as a download and as a CD.  The only downer for me with the CD version of the album is that it comes as a digipak.  Apparently this is a "Limited Edition" and later copies will come in a standard "jewel case".  Don't let this small disappointment put you off buying this outstanding release. 

Van Der Graaf Generator - ALT

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I really think if I was managing Van Der Graaf Generator, I'd have talked them out of releasing an all-instrumental album.  Of course, we've been here before to some extent - the instrumentals on the re-issued "Pawn Hearts", the thoroughly weird "Time Vaults", Disc 2 of "Present", etc, etc.  This new album "ALT" is surprisingly good.  I hadn't expected much, but it is challenging and rewarding, if a little bit pointless.  There is plenty of weirdness here, even without the distinctive sax of Jackson - although there is some fake sax from a synth - are they having a laugh?  Indeed, I suspect there is something arch about all of this, and that the band are having a joke at our expense, to a certain extent. It's almost as if this was released as a spoiler to the re-issued Metropolis concert, also a June release.

The CD is released on Esoteric's new sub-label Antenna.  I cannot see this being a money spinner for them.   The album is presented as a standard CD, with entertaining notes by band member Guy Evans.  He hits the nail on the head when he says that "these tracks really require you, the listener to complete them and give them life."

I can hear plenty of the influence of the frequently inconsistent Robert Fripp on Hammill's guitar. The real highlight of this album for me though is the amazing drumming of Guy Evans.  Would I rather have had a vocal album?  Yes, but this will do nicely.  Do you need to buy it?  No, you don't.  Regard this one as an optional purchase, even for hardened VDGG fans.  For all news on Hammill and Van Der Graaf, visit http://www.sofasound.com/

Two releases for fans this month...

Dodgem-X - CD and free downloads

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Live at The Swan in Wantage!

Dodgem-X hail from Bargoed, Wales.  I recently had the pleasure of attending their first English gig at that hallowed rock'n'roll shrine, The Swan at Wantage.  What was I doing there?  Catching my favourite indie band The Dacoits.  Dodgem-X were also on the bill that night, and I must say they were very entertaining.  In singer Jody Davies they have a frontman of rare charisma and humour.  They even have a Gaye Advert style bass player in the cool Natasha Muller.  Line-up is completed by Luke Davies on mean yellow guitar and Geraint Bodman on drums.

I would say this music is typical British punk rock circa 1977.  However, the band claim to be influenced by Therapy?, Helmet and Queens of the Stone Age.  Well, these are bands I'm not terribly familiar with.  They also mention Nirvana, but who doesn't?  They remind me of 999, The Lurkers and The Adverts.  The songs are strong, the hooks are catchy, the band could be huge.  I really hope they stick with it.  You can sample their wares with free downloads of the songs "Straightjacket" (live from the Wantage gig) and "Diane" (the latter a cover) at http://www.reverbnation.com/dodgemx and I recommend their CD album "If You Don't Want To Know The Score, Look Away Now".  My copy of the latter was bought at the gig and was decidedly home-made rather than factory-pressed.  Anyway, it was a real bargain at just £3!  It includes the single "Action Man."  Treat yourself to a copy now!

UPDATE: The album has been available on iTunes and Amazon downloads for some time.  But now the band are offering a free download of the ENTIRE album, track by track at http://dodgem-x.moonfruit.com/ - how generous is that?  Get it while you can and pass your thanks on to the band.

Alexander Shchetynsky - Sacred Music From Ukraine

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This is an interesting CD.  Somehow it seems fitting to be reviewing something from Ukraine right now.  This is another Naxos release, so is available widely at a very reasonable price.  This is modern choral music, and fully deserves four and a half stars.  It hasn't got me hooked in quite the same way as sister release James Whitbourn - Luminosity which is a five star CD if I ever heard one! 

At the time of writing you can find "Requiem" from this disc on YouTube, but as it is not an official upload it may not be there forever, so I am not linking to it here.  The other pieces on this CD are "Know Yourself" and "Light To Lighten".  I think this disc is a bit of a grower, with hidden depths.  It's well worth seeking out.  I got my copy from Devizes Books...

Van Der Graaf Generator - Recorded Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios, London (2 CDs and 1 DVD)

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My copy of this remarkably cheap release arrived today.  What we have here is a reissue of the recent "Classic Rock Presents" DVD with a new bonus of the concert soundtrack on 2 CDs.  This isn't the only release from the band due this month, there is also an official one, entitled "ALT" and it is apparently all instrumental!  I have a copy on pre-order, so will report on it as soon as I get it.  It's worth stressing to anyone who has lost touch with the band that the line-up on both releases is Hammill, Banton and Evans.  Saxman Jackson has dropped out of the the line-up again and I do miss his presence.  What a shame too that Peter Hammill plays so little guitar live with the band these days.

The concert promotes recent material from the "Trisector" and "A Grounding In Numbers" albums.  Old favourites "Nutter Alert", "Man-Erg" and "Lemmings" are also included.

This triple disc set is on specialist reissue label Salvo, and is joined by similar sets by Bill Nelson, Caravan, Barclay James Harvest (the superior John Lees version), Roy Harper and The Zombies.  All these concerts were recorded live in front of small fan audiences, and were originally scheduled for broadcast on ITV here in England. This album, although not really an official release is available from Peter Hammill's site at http://www.sofasound.com/ as well as the usual suspects.  Might as well get a copy of "Alt" as well!

Packaging is better than you'd expect for a budget release.  This is a large 4-panel digipack, and there is even a booklet with good notes.  At this price this surely is unmissable.  Only reason I could see for not buying this is in case a Blu-Ray is forthcoming.  Right now, that doesn't look likely though.

A generous release of DVD and two audio CDs

This was the original release, just 1 DVD and no CDs!

The House Of Love - Babe Rainbow

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I was lucky enough to find a second-hand CD copy of this 1992 album by The House Of Love. It's currently out of print, which is a shame as it's such a strong album. Universal own the rights to this, but instead of trying to promote it they have deleted it. Now they want to acquire the EMI catalogue, but what's the point if they cannot promote what they have already? As it happens, bleeding chunks of this album are available on the double CD “The Fontana Years” which is a patchy but cheap release. Songs common to both albums are “You Don't Understand”, “Yer Eyes”, “Crush Me”, “Feel”, and “The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes”. Completists will need both releases as the compilation includes rare B-sides etc.

The album kicks off with the crazy and weak intro to "You Don't Understand", released as a single in 1992 when it scraped into the Top 50.  A strong, catchy song, it should have been bigger.  Next track is "Crush Me" where the guitars while subtle, are quite overwhelming.  The effect is quite beautiful and this is my favourite track on the album.  It was also the fourth and poorest-selling single from the album.  More shimmering and psychedelic guitars adorn "Cruel", making it a wistful, world-weary song but one which I love.  At times it reminds me of The Beatles in their Indian period.  "High In Your Face" is rockier, driven around an insistent bass line from Chris Groothuizen and incandescent guitar.  "Fade Away" is quieter, folky, dreamy and closes Side One of the original LP.
  

"Feel" opens the second side.  Sometimes referred to as "You've Got To Feel", this was the biggest of the four singles from the album.  Indeed, I used to have it on a CD single (actually an EP) but where it went to, heaven knows.  It's not the strongest track here as that accolade falls to the next song "The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes".  This is a pop classic if I ever heard one!  Guy Chadwick sings and plays this track beautifully, although as a single it fell on deaf ears, not even reaching the Top 50.  At the time, the band blamed the record company Fontana/Phonogram for poor distribution of the release.  Seems fair to me!  Next up is "Burn Down The World", a very English track despite some nagging rockist piano.  "Philly-Phile" is obviously American and a little doomy, featuring some interesting drumming and some more rockism in the shape of the closing guitar parts.  With four different guitarists featured on the album (as another line-up disintegrated) it's hard to know who's playing what here.  Closer "Yer Eyes" re-runs some of the subtle lyrical and dreamy themes of the album.  Indeed, to the casual or first-time listener some of the tracks here could seem repetitive as Guy seems to be forever singing about feeling and eyes!  

It's easy to detect some cynicism in the songs here, but really the album is something of a lost masterpiece.  This album will repay the effort you will need to make to find a copy.  It doesn't even seem to be available as one of those crappy mp3 downloads.  In fact, it's not available at all legally.  Well done, Universal!  Now That's What I Call Business Acumen...

James Whitbourn - Luminosity

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You don't have to be religious to enjoy this stunning release.  This is modern choral music, performed by Oxford based Commotio, directed by Matthew Berry.  It's a CD release on the budget-priced Naxos label, which is available widely.

You can listen to samples of this disc at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126161604 The main piece is "Luminosity" which is half an hour of celestial bliss, with an interesting accompaniment of tanpura, organ and percussion.  It's really something special and should have been placed first on the disc.  Instead it is preceded by 9 shorter pieces, all of which are of a very high standard, although they lack the epic embrace of "Luminosity" itself.  Be sure to check out the audio samples at the link given above or at Amazon, because this is a real find.

Artwork is from the Hubble, and the full text of "Luminosity" is included in the 8-page booklet.  If you fancy something different, this could be just what you're looking for.

Simple Minds - X5 (6 CDs)

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This delightful set arrived today, a couple of days before the official release date.  This really is a supreme bargain, as it is so cheap.  Early Simple Minds stuff is so underrated.  I got into them in 1979, and first saw them at the Hammersmith Palais, London supporting The Skids.  Liverpool supergroup Pink Military and Mick Hucknall's new wave band The Frantic Elevators also appeared that night!

Sadly the original line-up gradually fell apart with the departures of brilliant drummer Brian McGee and bassist Derek Forbes (the holy backbeat indeed) and later keyboardist Mick MacNeil.  Although the band still produce some great material from time to time, the original line-up will be forever unsurpassed.

Here you get 6 CDs comprising the albums "Life In A Day", "Real To Real Cacophony", "Empires And Dance", "Sons And Fascination", "Sister Feelings Call" and "New Gold Dream".  There are also 19 bonus tracks!  These include all the rare early B-sides, unavailable for decades.  I am so happy to have legitimate digital versions of masterpieces like "Special View" and "Film Theme Dub".    Don't confuse this pioneering electronica with later stadium dross like "Ghostdancing" and "Sanctify Yourself".


The albums are presented in card sleeves.  For the Sons And Sisters albums, they are twinned in a gatefold.  The original artwork has been suitably manipulated.  All the card sleeves are a little tight which makes extracting the discs a little tricky.  The box is small too, and will not accommodate the PVC sleeves I usually use when confronted with harsh cardboard sleeves which could damage discs.  Maybe paper sleeves would fit, but that will have to be a project for another day. There is no booklet, which is disappointing, but the music does speak for itself.


I could write for hours about "Real To Real Cacophony" as it has always been one of my favourite albums of all time (only just beaten by "Underwater Moonlight" by The Soft Boys).  

"Cacophony" is an album of unmatched humour, musical genius and features cutting edge production by John Leckie.  Here we get bonus tracks "Kaleidoscope" and the "Film Theme Dub" which were originally on the flexi picture disc 7" which accompanied the first pressing of the "I Travel" single. There is also the live version of classic track "Premonition" which originally graced the "Changeling" 7".


Follow up album "Empires And Dance" was much darker, very European and decadent.  The disco rhythms and Derek's bass produced a truly unique sound, transcending early influences such as Neu!  Featuring the full versions of singles "I Travel" and "Celebrate" we also get the disappointing 12" versions although not the 7" edits (indeed I'm not sure these have ever been released on CD - anyone know for sure?). In addition there is "New Warm Skin" the B-side to "I Travel", not a track that I ever, er, warmed to.

The band switched from Arista/Zoom to Virgin at this point and released the 2 LPs "Sons And Fascination" and"Sister Feelings Call" as a cheapo twofer.  This was Americana and shocking in the same way that "Aladdin Sane" was when it followed "Ziggy Stardust".  For this release the two albums have been split up again onto two discs.  This is to accommodate the bonus tracks, most of which originate from the "Sweat In Bullet" 12".  Remember though that both albums without the bonuses fit onto 1 CD for burning for in-car listening.  This material was made for automobiles!


After that came the trippier "New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84" album which drips sunshine from every track.  Glorious tracks like "Big Sleep" and "Hunter And The Hunted" still sometimes feature in the band's live shows to this day.  This album marked the end of the McGee era, and introduced the heavy handed Mel Gaynor.  This was to lead onto heavier material like "Waterfront".  Bonus material on this CD is generous but not comprehensive.  For example you don't get the extended "Hunter And The Hunter" only available on the short-lived DVD-A version of the album, or the sublime BBC version of "King Is White And In The Crowd".   You do get the full 12" mix of "Someone Somewhere In Summertime" with Charlie's later guitar intro, which was missed off some copies of "Themes Vol. 2" (mine had the album version instead of the 12").


You may have noticed I skipped the band's debut "Life In A Day".  It's here along with B-sides "Garden Of Hate" and "Special View" (the latter a favourite of mine).  

I always disliked this early album apart from the singles "Chelsea Girl" and "Life In A Day".  I know some fans who do rate it highly though.   Personally I find pomp like "Pleasantly Disturbed" a rather sad affair.  I have always resented the album because I bought it instead of going to the band's second Marquee show.  Money was too tight to mention at the time!  The first show was fantastic by the way, but that's a story for another day.

Get this bargain while you can.  In the past there has been some really expensive Simple Minds CD product.  I'm thinking here of the "Themes" and "Silver Box" sets which were sloppy rip-offs.  This new set more than makes amends!

 

Look how slim this 6 CD box is compared to the earlier 3 CD box.

I'll be selling this earlier box as it has been superseded now!

Journey - Original Album Classics 3 CDs & 5 CDs (update)

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I explain in the post below about the odd decisions Sony has made in its releases of Blue Oyster Cult albums in the "Original Album Classics" series.  Similarly, odd things have happened for releases by the band Journey.  I reviewed the first "Original Album Classics" 3CD box by the band here.  That box covered the albums "Departure", "Escape" and "Frontiers".  My suspicion is that this release is now going out of print.  Instead Sony has released a 5CD box featuring the albums "Infinity", "Evolution", "Escape", "Frontiers" and "Raised On Radio".  Also released is another 3CD box (also called "Original Album Classics"!) featuring earlier jazzier albums "Journey", "Look Into The Future" and "Next".  These pre-date Steve Perry joining the band as lead vocalist.  I'm very tempted to buy the latter release as these early albums are really great and have been very hard to find in the past.  At a bargain price, typically less than a full price CD, this set strikes me as being unmissable.

Earlier release - if you want it get it now in case it goes out of print!

Blue Oyster Cult - Original Album Classics 5 CDs (update)

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In a widely anticipated move, CBS/Sony have released another box of five BOC albums in the "Original Album Classics" series.  This time we get live albums "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" and "Some Enchanted Evening", later studio gems "Cultosaurus Erectus" and "Fire Of Unknown Origin" and oddity "The Revolution By Night".  As a bit of a fan, I regard this as an essential purchase.

"On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" was to a large extent the album that made BOC aim for the stars.  A big seller, and a metal classic of sorts, it captured live versions of their early masterpieces.  The later live album "Some Enchanted Evening" builds on this and of course features "Don't Fear The Reaper".  The latter album is presented here in unexpanded form, which is disappointing.

Now things get weird.  The earlier 5 CD box, also called "Original Album Classics" and reviewed here by me seems to have been deleted.  If you want a copy start hunting now!  Thanks to correspondent "alientool" for alerting me to this.  That also probably explains why that review has been one of the most popular here lately, I guess people are trying to figure out what the hell Sony is playing at!  Maybe these boxes are limited editions after all?

Out of time or out of print?

Can - Landed (Hybrid SACD)

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This sleeve caused the facial recognition software in my camera to go bananas!

Continuing this month's unplanned '70s theme, I purchased a copy of this Hybrid Super Audio CD (playable on all CD players) a couple of weeks ago.  It is still listed at UK distributor Mute Records , as is a digital download.  Such is availability of early "Krautrock" bands like Neu!, Can, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Faust and Amon Düül II that you are best buying the product when you see it as this stuff tends to be in and out of print. 

Packaging is rather different to my old LP copies!

This is my third copy of this album.  A guy at school gave me his copy as he didn't much care for the album.  That LP was on Virgin, but my copy soon wore out and eventually I bought a replacement import copy on the Harvest label.  This is a fine remastering of a terrific album and is now on Can's own Spoon label.  It's far from the band's trendiest release, but I love it.  It kicks off with the warped pop of "Full Moon On The Highway" and disturbed gems "Half Past One" and "Hunters And Collectors".  You can find these on YouTube if you fancy trying something extraordinary.  Many of the instruments are treated and distorted.  The imagination used in this process means there are sounds here that you won't hear on releases by other bands.  The album descends into hypnotic jamming by the time of the final track "Unfinished".  

Remarkably after this release, the band went on to achieve a hit single with the disco parody "I Want More".  All credit to Virgin for getting that one into the Top 30!  Can finished as a band some time ago, and with the untimely death of guitarist Michael Karoli a decade or so ago, we are unlikely to see any further group activity.