What does it sound like?:

Marillion are an act which could have a t-shirt with their name on a Marmite jar, such are the polarised views about them. They are a very different band from 35 years ago, and really shouldn’t have to keep apologising. They took a different direction with the change of singer (we cannot call him “new”, given Steve Hogarth has been with them since 1989 and the band have rarely looked back). Yes, there were still soaring guitar breaks, but they were concise and to the point, the focus is on tunes and ensemble playing and excellent arrangements rather than flash mock-classicism, and lyrics are contemporary. The last album, “FEAR” was far superior to that normally heard from a bandof their age, and the response from a mature audience desperate for a decent album from a name band in this field led to Marillion’s star rising again, with sold-out tours, and grown men (and long-suffering wives) overcome by the emotional sensibilities and harsh realities of the lyrics. And that was before COVID and the invasion of Ukraine. This album continues that arc.

“An hour before it’s dark” is a reflection of mortality and tempus » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Those who like Hawkwind can be pretty uncritical, whereas those who don’t definitely compensate for that generosity of spirit. This compilation is probably gtreen kryptonite for Abba and Adele-listeners, as much as those artists often repel Hawkwind fans. Greater minds than mine have asked will happen when Hawkwind are no more? Will there be a tribute act? Will space rock return? You’d think it could, particularly if there are exciting revelations about alien life, missions to Mars, mining of asteroids, etc, capturing the imagination of noisy geeks who like an occasionally bifter.

The unappreciated aspect of Hawkwind is their range, and the unfamilar listener could easily say “It’s Hawkwind, Jim. But not as we always know it”. Which Hawkwind? They have produced 34 studio albums. This excludes the 12 live ones, including the incomparable and possibly immortal “Space Ritual”. Folk, psychedelic, progressive, proto-metal, almost-punk, rave, tribal native American, electronic, orchestral, or what? This 6-CD compilation takes most of the well-known tracks plus deep cuts, single versions, and the occasional live recording, as well as definitive tracks – the “Master of the Universe” here is the one from “In Search of Space” where Lemmy’s bass » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Hawkwind, ever changing, ever the same. Over 50 members, and as many albums. You want the riffage and whooshes? Science-fiction poems and rave beats? Swashbuckling almost prog? Honk n’ skronk? Clever pop songs? Depending on where you dive in, you may get any of these. Live, it’s populated by drugs and parties miscreants aged 15 to 75, some of whom may have retired from active service, on audio, it’s a more refined experience. Yes, refined. They’ve been playing for decades, and know their way around a recording console. Like last year’s Hawkwind Light Orchestra “Carnivorous” (geddit?), 80-years young and probably wasn’t an angel Dave Brock has been working far harder than he should do, refining and extending the various strands of Hawkwind mythos and audio ambience for a concept album about sleep and it’s various implications (dreams, insomnia, nightmares, being woken up…). We have jams, we have songs, we have driven bikerdelia, drum n’bass breakdowns, the occasional Arabian flourishes … “Strange Encounters” is a complex freakout, the mellow “Alcyone” (either a star in the Taurus constellation, or daughter of Aeolus, Greek god of the wind; do you get this with the Sham 69?), “Counting » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

If I have to tell you what this sounds like, you probably need to be on another website. The definitive biker’s band doing unreconstructed (even then) rock n’ roll with a hard n’ heavy edge, it’s tongue in the cheek and mouth of a worryingly young looking female fan, it’s nose stinging from bathtub speed, the taste of which taken away by large glasses of Jack Daniels and coke (the drinking kind) and chain-smoking. Bass and drums are bowel-pummelling on the computer speakers, and live it was a palpable workout, with flailing teens and idiot-dancers having the best psychotherapy session then available. The economy of the riffage, the wry but unrelenting songs, the clear love between audience and band … it’s no wonder this album was a massive success at the time, and remains definitive, with the definitive line-up also.

The album comprises the full gig as released, plus sound checks, and 2 shows from Newcastle, and one from Leeds. Paul Morley types may wonder if this may involve any variation and smirk cleverly, but anyone who likes Mötörhead should not give a damn. Mark E Smith said “it’s not repetition, it’s discipline”, » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Iggy’s laconic baritone comments on coronavirus. Rocky, a bit jazzy, , mid-paced as warrants his seniority, but there is still no doubt, he’s the guvnor.

What does it all *mean*?

I don’t mind people making songs about the pandemic; it marks the historical moment; it’s not as toe-cringing as some, and as a denizen of scabrous observation and low-live, the Igster is more justified in this than many. Hope he is watching himself so he can come back and continue to set a good example.

Goes well with…

mince pies, tea, hand sanitiser, wire brush and Dettol, face masks.

Release Date:

out now

Might suit people who like…

Iggy Pop, sleazy rock, glam rock, decadence chic