Category Archives: Rock

TRAMPLORD-FROM BUDDY HOLLY TO PETULANT SOUNDS.

TRAMPLORD-FROM BUDDY HOLLY TO PETULANT SOUNDS. It was back in 2010, that the enigmatic, London based, Tramplord released their debut album Buddy Holly. Critics were won over by Tramplord’s unique fusion of jangling indie pop, psychedelia and Brit Pop. No wonder. The music on Buddy Holly was anthemic, joyous and melancholy. It was also melodic and …

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FOLLOW ME DOWN-VANGUARD’S LOST PSYCHEDELIC ERA 1966-70.

FOLLOW ME DOWN-VANGUARD’S LOST PSYCHEDELIC ERA 1966-70. Mention Vanguard Records, and most people will think of their blues and folk releases. Very few people will think of Vanguard Records as a psychedelic label. However, between 1966 and 1970, A&R men Sam Charters and Maynard Solomon  Sam Charters decided that Vanguard Records should climb onboard the psychedelic …

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PINK FLOYD-THE ENDLESS RIVER.

PINK FLOYD-THE ENDLESS RIVER. Twenty years ago, there was no such thing as Twitter or Facebook. The term social media hadn’t even been coined. In fact, the internet and the technological age were in their infancy.  Compact discs were only a decade old. Debate raged about their merits and sound quality. Vinyl we were told, …

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THE VELVET UNDERGROUND-THE VELVET UNDERGROUND.

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND-THE VELVET UNDERGROUND. Following disagreements about The Velvet Underground’s future musical direction, John Cale left the group. This was almost inevitable.  For some time, John Cale and Lou Reed views about The Velvet Underground’s future differed. John Cale wanted The Velvet Underground to continue to innovate and create experimental music like White Light/White …

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NEIL YOUNG-A LETTER HOME AND STORYTONE.

NEIL YOUNG-A LETTER HOME AND STORYTONE. Having left Buffalo Springfield in 1968, Neil Young decided now was the time to embark upon a solo career. So, Neil put together an all-star band to record his eponymous debut album.  It featured guitarist Ry Cooder, pianist Jack Nitzche and backing vocalist Merry Clayton. They recorded Neil Young …

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ROBERT PLANT-LULLABY AND…THE CEASELESS ROAR.

ROBERT PLANT-LULLABY AND…THE CEASELESS ROAR. For many musicians who were once part of one of the most successful bands in musical history, the day that band breaks up is one of the worst days in their life. That day, can mark the end of their career. Try as they may, they never reach the same …

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FIELD REPORT-MARIGOLDEN.

FIELD REPORT-MARIGOLDEN. It was back in 2012, that Field Report, released their eponymous debut album. Two years later, and singer-songwriter Chris Porterfield and his  band return with their sophomore album, Marigolden, which was recently released by Partisan Records. However, much has happened to Field Report in the intervening two years. Since the release of Field …

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WINGS-VENUS AND MARS.

WINGS-VENUS AND MARS. Although their first two albums had been a commercial success, Paul McCartney and Wings’ third album, Band On The Run, was a game-changer. It was released on 5th December 1973, and reached number one in America,  Australia, Britain, Canada and Norway. This resulted in Band On The Run being certified triple platinum …

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JIMI HENDRIX-THE CRY OF LOVE AND RAINBOW BRIDGE.

JIMI HENDRIX-THE CRY OF LOVE AND RAINBOW BRIDGE. It was around 11a.m. on the 18th September 1970, that Jimi Hendrix was found unresponsive at an apartment in the Samarkand Hotel, in Notting Hill, London. He was rushed to the St. Mary’s Abbot’s Hospital, but pronounced dead at 12.45p.m. Jimi Hendrix was just twenty-seven. Music had …

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LED ZEPPELIN-HOUSES OF THE HOLY.

LED ZEPPELIN-HOUSES OF THE HOLY. When Led Zeppelin released Houses Of The Holy on 28th March 1973, they were one of the biggest bands in the world. Houses Of The Holy was their fifth album. Their four previous albums had sold over forty million copies. This made Led Zeppelin one of the biggest selling rock …

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BUILDING INSTRUMENT-BUILDING INSTRUMENT.

BUILDING INSTRUMENT-BUILDING INSTRUMENT. Although Building Instrument formed in 2008, it’s taken them six years to release their eponymous debut album. Building Instrument, which was recently released on Hubro Music was recorded over a period of several years. During that time, Building Instrument’s trademark sound evolved.  Originally, when Building Instrument formed, they decided to make electronic …

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THE BLUE NILE-PEACE AT LAST.

THE BLUE NILE-PEACE AT LAST. The Blue Nile were no ordinary band. They did things their way. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe the Blue Nile, whose third album Peace At Last will belatedly be released on vinyl as a double album. The remastered vinyl version of Peace At Last will be released …

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THE LAST SKEPTIK-I DON’T EVEN LIKE YOU.

THE LAST SKEPTIK-I DON’T EVEN LIKE YOU. Longevity. That’s what every artist hopes to enjoy. However, longevity doesn’t come easy. Constantly, an artist has to revaluate and reinvent them self. Their music has to evolve, in an attempt to stay relevant. The Last Skeptik realises that, and in 2014, celebrated his tenth anniversary with the …

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NIPPON GIRLS 2-JAPANESE POP, BEAT AND ROCK ’N’ ROLL 1965-1970.

NIPPON GIRLS 2-JAPANESE POP, BEAT AND ROCK ’N’ ROLL 1965-1970. It was five years ago, that Big Beat International, a subsidiary of Ace Records, released Nippon Girls- Japanese Pop, Beat and Bossa Nova 1966-1970 to critical acclaim. For many people, this was their introduction to the  groovy, eclectic sounds of sixties Japanese pop. What an …

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ADRIAN CROWLEY-SOME BLUE MORNING.

ADRIAN CROWLEY-SOME BLUE MORNING. Adrian Crowley never intended to be a musician. Originally, the Galway born singer-songwriter studied architecture, painting and photography. In his spare time, Adrian wrote a few songs. He never performed any of these songs until 1993, when Adrian was twenty-five. That was when Adrian first performed live. This show might never …

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STEVE GUNN-WAY OUT WEATHER.

STEVE GUNN-WAY OUT WEATHER. Although Philly born guitarist Steve Gunn’s career began fifteen years ago, it wasn’t until 2007 that he released his eponymous debut album. Before that, Steve was the guitarist in Kurt Vile’s band The Violators. Since then, Steve has enjoyed parallel careers.  Apart from his solo career, Steve has been a member …

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SPIRIT OF MALOMBO: MALOMBO JAZZ MAKERS, JABULA AND JAZZ AFRIKA 1966-1984.

SPIRIT OF MALOMBO: MALOMBO JAZZ MAKERS, JABULA  AND JAZZ AFRIKA 1966-1984. Four years have passed since the last instalment in Strut Records’ critically acclaimed Next Stop Soweto series. At last, however, the wait is over. Recently, Strut Records have released Spirit of Malombo: Malombo, Jazz Makers, Jabula and Jazz Afrika 1966-1984. This is a double …

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THE LONDON AMERICAN LABEL YEAR BY YEAR 1965.

THE LONDON AMERICAN LABEL YEAR BY YEAR 1965. For a generation of music lovers, their introduction to American pop, rock ’n’ roll and soul was the London American label. It released the latest American hit singles. This had been the case since the mid-fifties.  London American had been licensing singles by Atlantic, Chess, Dot, Imperial, …

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JOZEF VAN WISSEM-IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO RETURN.

JOZEF VAN WISSEM-IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO RETURN. It was back in 2000, that avant-garde composer and baroque lutenist Jozef Van Wissem released his debut album, Retrograde Renaissance Lute. Since then, Josef has released a series of groundbreaking solo albums and collaborations. Jozef’s latest album, It Is Time For You To Return, will be …

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