The Driving Test
A Musical Car Ride
Whilst we would love to give every album/EP/single a full indepth review,we are only human and don't have a time turner so we aren't able to give every release the time and attention it deserves.
In the past that would have ment that we either reviewed a release or we didn't, but now we have a third option, a middle way.
The solution here has been a simple one. Rather than review individual artists' CD's at length, we play them one after the other on a long car journey. The simple listening test is: "are they bearable in the car - interesting, enjoyable, not distracting". This may not be how the artists want us to hear their work, but it's how a lot gets listened to for the first time and at least raises awarenes! The rating system is simple and provides a shorthand for reference.:
James Frost - All Of Our Hands ***
www.jamesfrostmusic.com/
Crowd funded and featuring over 100 musicians, many of them from gospel choir, Soul Of The City , "All Of Our Hands" is an album that ranges across the acoustic spectrum, giving each of the songs a space that has been crafted out for it. James Frost wrote the album, well including a co-write with Carmody, who also appears on the album, as well as an adaption of the Rumi poem, "Where Everything Is Music". There is a richness to Frost's voice and this is particularly true when he's in jazz mode, picking up a more sultry, smoky element and it's when flirting with those genres I felt he was at his best. Ultimately though difficult to fault and individual track there are times where I thought te album didn't work as a whole. In fairness that point wasn't consistent or there on every play and other songs I like occasionally jar. AI
Dan Raza - Wayfarer ****
www.danraza.com/
There are some albums that set the blood pumping, others that take the edge off, there is much about "Wayfarer", Dan Raza's third cut, that falls into the second category, but with a title like "Wayfarer", would you expect anything less. Wayfaring is about the journey, not how quickly you get from a to b. Raza writes songs that work well with small tight groups as well as they do solo. He them makes excellent choices on the musicians he wants to collaborate with , including regular guests from Slim Chance. Described as a contemporary troubadour, Raza makes great albums for the road. AI
Nicole Hale - Some Kind Of Longing ****
www.nicolehale.bandcamp.com/album/some-kind-of-longing
The Texan singer-songwriter's fourth album, it's a classy, musically sophisticated affair that draws on jazz, Americana and classic 70s pop influences (Judee Sill has been mentioned) with instrumentation that includes, cello, flute, vibraphone, saw and autoharp. Dreamy piano ballad All My Friends opens proceedings, laying out her way with imagery ("There's a hole in the sky/And it shines like a wedding ring/But it burns like a bee sting when I look inside"). A similar languid musical mood envelops the rest of the album with the likes of the lazing 'Inner Critic', the vibraphone-shaded 'Following A Straight Line', the slow waltzing post break-up reassurance 'Give It Time' where she croons like a softer Lucinda. Harmonium lifts 'Break Open' into almost This Mortal Coil territory, a flavour that carries over into 'Remembered This Way' and the resonant piano-based 'Sleeping Dogs' with its electronic crackles with piano and strings carrying the instrumental 'Dream When Awake' before the more electronica title track lullaby and the simple piano chords and flute of the melancholic Buckley-esque Traces ("I wanted/Time to slow/In the places/Love won't grow") bring it to a close. One to keep for immersion in the quiet hours. MD
Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters - Good Morning Sunshine ***
www.ashleighflynnandtheriveters.com
Flynn hails from Kentucky and she and the band trade in good time Americana rock n roll, this being their second studio album following their 20121 live release. The title pretty much conveys the musical mood, opening with the train time chug of 'Eye On The Light' following on with the swaggering riff and harmonica-driven tale of a bad night 'Drunk In Ojai' and the similar styled title track. There's no huge departure from the basic template though 'Deep River Hollow' has a fast-paced twangy swing groove, 'Love Is An Ember' takes it down for a slow burn dance and 'Little Red Wing' frolics among the bluegrass. The stand out is the honky tonking 'Shake The Stranger', but pretty much everything should ensure the bar dance floor gets a good stomping. MD
Taff Rapids - Blwgras ****
taffrapids.com
If you like your bluegrass with a twist check out "Blwgras", recorded predominantly in Welsh, I'd almost guarantee you a real surprise. Take language out and just include the instrumentation and you are already placing Taff Rapids in the top draw, the playing is exquisite. The band are absolutely tight where they need to be, which gives them the license for individual musicians to step forward and feature their skills. Then add back in the language and even after multiple plays, it catches you. One of the reasons for that is that there are a few English and French tracks on the album and that gives the Welsh ones more impact. It also means an album that is true to both musicians and the music they are covering. NK
Mel Clapham - Distraction ***
www.facebook.com/Melrc32
Keswick based singer-songwriter Mel Clapham was an artist that I was aware of, but hadn't really heard until "Distraction" found it's way to the PO Box. Previously I's heard a couple of well performed covers, but "Distraction" is an album of self-penned songs that were inspired by both the Lake District and the utilitarianism of daily life and it really achieves that objective well. The songs are evocative Clapham, knows how to capture a vision in a phrase and that's one of the reasons this has been spending time with me in the car. Another is the quality of melody that underpins the songs, to use a well worn phrase, it strikes a chord. There is a flaw in the album, in that it's under produced, it just needs a bit of pazzaz to escalate it to the next level. That said, it's an easy album to recommend, it's an album well worth the release, well worth the time and a vital step on Mel's journey. Go for it. NK
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.