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.:
Luke Francis - Saguaro ****
www.lukefrancismusic.com
A Seattle-based singer-songwriter, his album named for a large type of cactus, Francis has an attractive smoke and sand voice, his songs gently drifting through songs about loss, love, identity and disappointment that namecheck Marilyn Monroe and Jackson C, Frank's 'Blues Run the Game' along the way. He has an engaging way with words and imagery. The six-minute cosmic folk 'Tucson' and the more muscular 'Nothing But The Ocean' are highlights but the standout is 'Michael Collins', a stately and gradually swelling melancholic piano and fiddle Jackson Browne-like ballad about the third astronaut on Apollo 11 who went to the moon but never stepped on it. MD
Polite Company - Please Go Wild ****
www.polite-company.co.uk
Formerly bassist with New Zealand's The Mutton Birds, Alan Green now plies radio friendly, brass-coloured hooks-laden power pop with jangling guitars, piano and the occasional zither carrying along catchy tunes and light melancholia on wittily written songs that variously touch on depression ('Circulation'), spin doctors ('Perfectly Good Explanation'), super yachts and oligarchs ('New Yacht'), a whizzkid tech entrepreneur's fall from grace ('Barefoot Billionaire'), preloved lives ('Second Chance Charity Store'), wallflowers ('Shrinking Violet') and an over the hill musician who doesn't know when to quit ('Otis Mace Guitar Ace'). Very English in feel and variously reminiscent of Ray Davies, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Mike Nesmith and The Lilac Time, the last track, 'Tell Me When It's Time' is a lilting piano ballad about someone who doesn't know when to leave. I'd say Gregg has many more hours left on the clock. MD
Glasshopper - I'm Not Telling You Anything ***
claireannetaylor.com
It's been four years since Glasshopper released their debut album and like many artists arestill playinmg catch up on the covid curve. "I'm Not Telling You Anything" was recorded back in 2022 and is only now finding it's way out into the world via Clonwell Jazz. A trio lead by saxophonist Jonathan Chung, supported by James Kitchman, guitar and percussionist Corrie Dick, they pull celtic and blobal roots into their groove to create a seven track album that's easy to relate to and one that's easy to enjoy at home with a glass of wine and good company, less so to listen to when you are on the open road and less so when you are stuck in traffc, though actually the laid back vibe, could be just the chill you need before temperatures get out of control. NK
Tasha Smith Godinez - A New Day ****
www.tashasmithgodinez.com
Maybe it is because she's American Tasha Smith Godinez takes license to take the harp, in two mainforms 47 string concert grand and 32 string electro acoustic away from it's Celtic routes and into a much more jazz infused sound. As well as being the principle player on "A New Day", Tasha Smith Godinez also wrote and arranged the 9 tracks on the album. The alsbum is pretty much instrumental, but Leonard Patton, contributes the occasional vocal over the recording. In both timescale and positioning, this picks up from where "Out Of The Desert" left off showing Tasha Smith Godinez is not a person to rest on her laurels, but rather continuing to move forward to create something whilst still being influenced by her past AI
Our Atlantic Roots - Memories Live On *****
www.ouratlanticroots.com
More of an EP than an album, "Memories Live On", is more of an EP than a fully fledged album, but one that holds true to the tradition of leave them wanting more. Mac & Laura Johnston started off life on either side of the Atlantic before becoming firmly rooted in Cornwall. Penning three of the five tracks on the release addings "Medhel an Gwyns", originally written for Poldak and their version of the unofficial Kernow nationional anthem, "Cornwall My Home" into the mix.Ben Nicholls and Sam Sweeney are amongst the artists lending their talent to the release, laying done a delightful foundation. It is however the self penned songs that really give this EP it's inner strength as it reflects on the meaning of place and home, both through birth and adoption. NK
The Jake Leg Jug Band - Some Glad Moring
www.thejakelegjugband.com
Quality is not always the price of quantitity, particularly when talking about old timey music, the simplicity almosr purity of the music means that so long as the sounds are well written and arranged the actual recording process is relatively easy. That counts double when you include standards like "The Old Ragged Cross" amongst the track list, the version on "Some Glad Morning" being one of the sweetest I've heard of that standard, a sure funeral favourite to be. It's worth noting Ciaran Algar amognst the session musicans if only to give an idea ofwho has been called upon to lend support to an already excellent release. Old Timey is an oft misunderstood genre and this isn't going to solve that, but it will let you know what is a high bar. AI
Will Riding - Man Draw ***
willridingmusic.wordpress.com/
Surpringingly, "Man Draw" is the full length debut from singer-songwriter Will Riding. He's one of those artists that seems to have been around for ages with a regular schedule of singles, eps or simply tracks. Riding is very much in the troubdour, busker tradition. with songs driven by life and events. The fourteen songs on the album cover an eleven year period and I would be intrigued to understand the editing process that brought us to the final selection. The album is simply recorded, just Will Riding and his guitar, but definitely includes songs that hold your attention and make you think, but perhaps a little more varioation in pace wouldn't have gone astray, I felt I got more from "Man Draw" by dipping in and out, rather than trying to take in at a single session. 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.
Corsair 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.