Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
It may not be a music genre that is keenly associated with France but occasionally a band aligned to the Metal brigade bursts through the Euro Tunnel and onto British soil in such a way that makes people sit up and take notice and wonder why the contribution of Karelia to the ever growing list of impressive acts from the continent is over taking the home grown talent from the natural home of the genre.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
No matter which branch of the Metal enclave you try to put in Norwegian band Benea Reach into, in the end it doesn’t matter as they, like their fellow Nordic musician’s Amaranthe, are a new wave of Metal that justifies themselves by the way they reach their ever-growing fan base and not by the small boxes a lot of the bands find themselves placed within.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Sometimes people neglect or worse forget the music that calls The Midlands its home as if the area never produced anything of note. There is no rhyme or reason to this as whether it is the Black Country streets of Wolverhampton, the gentle market town of Stourbridge, the old industrial heartlands of Birmingham or to the East Coventry and every port of call in between, The Midlands is responsible for arguably the best popular music to come out of England that doesn’t have the Mersey River feeding its musical life blood. Whether it is E.L.O., Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, The Specials, Jeff Lynne, Duran Duran, Magnum, Black Sabbath or Dexy’s Midnight Runners, The Midlands has contributed so much to music and so have one of the finest out of the region, The Wonder Stuff.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Three albums down the line and The Union have hit a stride that will be difficult, if not impossible slow or indeed stop. As in the early days of the 70s a band has been given the time to develop their music and come up with a recording that sits comfortably in amongst some of the greats of the genre. In The World is Yours, The Union, comprising of Thunder stalwarts Luke Morley and Chris Childs stand aside Peter Shoulder and Dave McCluskey as they breathe new life into the harder edged side of Blues/Rock that seems to have vacated over the last few years.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
For his third foray into the world of solo albums, Roddy Woomble of Idlewild liberates and musically distances himself from the band that many still suggest was one of the great Scottish acts of the last 20 years and delivers a genuinely astounding wonderful piece of work. Whilst Idlewild may not have released a new album for four years, Roddy has plugged away at creating a sound that whilst indicative of his time as the band’s frontman, doesn’t echo and repeat old glories. Listen To Keep goes that little bit further and plays like a dream.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
It wasn’t that long ago that Kate Nash was thought of quirky, a new voice to enjoy whilst it possibly lasted and more than likely she would do well to get a couple of albums under her belt but gradually fade away. Something then happened to make that possibility a mere inconsequence, she became a female voice of a generation and for that music lovers should be grateful.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
To capture someone in all their glory live can be a laborious and sometimes self sacrificing work, an effort of near epic proportions is needed by a lot of people to make sure that the magic that is heard is portrayed correctly and doesn’t become a fuzzy after thought in the listener’s minds. In Joe Bonamassa, there really is no need to ever question what the end result will sound like as his unique personality and guitar playing are always top quality and when the music is within the confines of the Vienna Opera House then it’s an experience to savour.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
They may be the best kept Metal secret that Sweden and Denmark has been able to keep under cover, especially from U.K. fans, in many years. The time though has come for Amaranthe to come of age and claim the crown of Nordic Metal Gods one and for all with their brand new arse kicking, Metal munching/pop infused release The Nexus.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
From the depths of the passing of Liverpool’s Sheerwater, Fallen Streams resurfaces. The band, which contains Mark Dawson on vocals and guitars and the superb Jack Beacall on keyboards have taken off where the previous named incarnation left off and whilst for less discerning types they may struggle with the difference and ask what does it matter what they are called, the difference is they have become even better, an improvement if that was ever possible and the name change? Well that only matters in the overall scheme of things, otherwise they still have the same fantastic attitude that first got them that all important attention in 2011.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
When Canadian musician Jeff Healey passed on, the world of blues/rock seemed to take a turn towards the bleak and dull. There was something about the man and his music that could make anyone smile and relish the notes that he played on his guitar, not only was an inspiration to many, overcoming his disability in such a way that was both admirable and succinctly praise worthy but also in the way that he carried himself in front of those that came to watch him perform.