What does it sound like?: Here we have yet another comprehensive boxset, this time of ‘The MCA and Decca Years 73-84’ in Camel’s back catalogue. For the vast majority of those … [Read More...] about CAMEL: “Air Born – The MCA & Decca Years 1973 – 1984”
The Afterword
Musings on the byways of popular culture
Nights In
Peter Gabriel – I/O
What does it sound like?: Peter Gabriel is an intelligent man who retains his curiosity about the world and how we all fit in it together. He remains passionate about nature and … [Read More...] about Peter Gabriel – I/O
Lori McKenna – 1988
What does it sound like?: One of the great things about music is when you unexpectedly discover an album that completely takes you by surprise. 1988 is one of this records. It … [Read More...] about Lori McKenna – 1988
Cliff Richard • »Cliff With Strings«
What does it sound like?: Leaving the attention-grabbing headline behind – this is of course not about the record industry’s latest installment of the annual Xmas favourite, the … [Read More...] about Cliff Richard • »Cliff With Strings«
Nights Out
Show of Hands – Final night of the Full Circle tour
Venue: Exmouth Pavilion Date: 02/12/2023 Show of Hands, having decided to take an indefinite break from playing and touring together, wound up ‘Phase 1’ of their lap of honour … [Read More...] about Show of Hands – Final night of the Full Circle tour
The Cruel Sea’s 30 year anniversary tour of The Honeymoon Is Over album.
Venue: Palais, St Kilda Melbourne Date: 02/12/2023 The Cruel Sea's swampy grooved third album The Honeymoon Is Over was their most successful. After touring with his other 90's … [Read More...] about The Cruel Sea’s 30 year anniversary tour of The Honeymoon Is Over album.
Kraftwerk
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland NZ Date: 01/12/2023 I knew it wasn’t going to be a straightforward Kraftwerk gig when I discovered that each seat had a Kraftwerk whoopee cushion on … [Read More...] about Kraftwerk
Sarah McQuaid, who never fails to deliver a fine performance
Venue: 'The Longroom' at The Queen's Head in Box, near Bath Date: 26/11/2023 On a cold, damp night in November, one warm and nourishing evening. Very little in the realm of live … [Read More...] about Sarah McQuaid, who never fails to deliver a fine performance
Features
13 Beatles Albums In 8 years: With The Beatles
Dave Amitri on With The Beatles
As we approach the 60th anniversary of the release of With The Beatles just eight months after Please Please Me I’ve been listening to not only the album for the first time but also some of the music that came before. Trying to get myself in the mind of a music fan in 1963 which requires me to dismiss everything released in my lifetime and more. As luck would have it our dear friends at Nothing Is Real have a two part podcast looking back, just at November 1963 in Beatles world and it has provided the kind of history lesson I could only dreamed of having at school. It has also helped me understand the unique madness of the original and biggest pop mania. So before I get to the album let me try and set the scene as I see it with absolute acknowledgment that these gems are Steven’s and Jason’s as they microscopically followed a month in the life of The Beatles where they were touring the country in front of 120000 fans, an ever voracious press desperate for any snippet of information and increasing interest from the US.
How can » Continue Reading.
Films
Meshes of the Afternoon
Year: 1943 Director: Maya Deren If there’s a prize for least-seen film on the Sight and Sound 2022 poll then number 14 I am sure would be in with a shout. Meshes of the Afternoon … [Read More...] about Meshes of the Afternoon
Cleo from 5 to 7
Year: 1962 Director: Agnes Varda Cleo from 5 to 7 is number 14 on the 2022 Sight and Sound Poll, another big climber from 207 in 2012. Another female directed film, after Jeanne … [Read More...] about Cleo from 5 to 7
Stop Making Sense 40 years on restored and on at IMAX – review
Year: 1984 Director: Jonathon Demme I’ve had a quite a history with Stop Making Sense (SMS). Way back in December 1983 I was visiting by brother in San Francisco and we saw the … [Read More...] about Stop Making Sense 40 years on restored and on at IMAX – review
Man With A Movie Camera
Year: 1929 Director: Dziga Vertov Numbers one to eight on the Sight and Sound 2022 poll are - diverse in time, language and theme - broadly feature films. Scripts, actors, … [Read More...] about Man With A Movie Camera
Reads
On Track – Linda Ronstadt 1969 – 1989 / The Jam / Hawkwind
Author:Daryl Richard Lawrence, Stan Jeffries. Duncan Harris I’m not a big fan of the West Coast country sounds of Linda Ronstadt, but given that she’s sold over 100 million albums … [Read More...] about On Track – Linda Ronstadt 1969 – 1989 / The Jam / Hawkwind
Living The Beatles Legend – The Mal Evans Story
Author:Kenneth Womack Even if you don’t recognize the name, you will have seen pictures with him in. According to Kenneth Womack, Evans was quite deliberate, sticking close to his … [Read More...] about Living The Beatles Legend – The Mal Evans Story
Silent Night
Author:Sophie Hannah A fifth instalment in the author’s loving recreation of Hercule Poirot and his famous little grey cells. A Christmas based mystery presents itself to the … [Read More...] about Silent Night
My Effin’ Life
Author:Geddy Lee The Rush vocalist and bass player gives the reader an in depth look at his life both in and out of the band in this fascinating lengthy autobiography. Initially … [Read More...] about My Effin’ Life
Noticeboard
Labyrinth: British Jazz on Record 1960-75 – by Richard Morton Jack
01/12/2023 ‘This utterly engrossing feast focuses on the ‘golden period’ of British jazz, when boundary-breaking and experimentation first broke through. Featuring large sleeve … [Read More...] about Labyrinth: British Jazz on Record 1960-75 – by Richard Morton Jack
Legends of Tomorrow – new (last?) single released: ‘The King is Dead (He Told Me Himself)’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj2XkU0YMPk BLURB: Following their 25-year CD anthology The Weather at World’s End: 1997–2022 (Talking Elephant, 2023), Colin Harper’s Legends of … [Read More...] about Legends of Tomorrow – new (last?) single released: ‘The King is Dead (He Told Me Himself)’
Jazz at The Elephant 2023-24 Programme So Far
05/11/2023 In case anyone in the North Fincley/NW London area is interested. 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month. 7pm start. 9.30 finish and home for an early-ish night. Thai food … [Read More...] about Jazz at The Elephant 2023-24 Programme So Far
The Legends of Tomorrow – first/last concert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT6i5FmWv_M As mentioned elsewhere on the AW, my unusual 'studio ensemble' the Legends of Tomorrow (the name a throwaway bit of tongue-in-cheekery … [Read More...] about The Legends of Tomorrow – first/last concert
Terri Hooley: Seventy-Five Revolutions
16/10/2023 BLURB: Terri Hooley about to celebrate his 75th birthday. He’s the record shop champion and the guy that gave critical help to the Undertones, RUDI, the Outcasts and … [Read More...] about Terri Hooley: Seventy-Five Revolutions
RSD Black Friday
24/11/2023 I thought RSD was just one big one this year? A relatively small list. I'm probably in for The Beat and the Colourfield as I know the bloke at Chrysalis who does the … [Read More...] about RSD Black Friday
