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.:
The Magnolia Janes - The Light Years ***
www.themagnoliajanes
A new Americana duo comprising Ashley Riley and Sarah Bonsignore, their debut kicks off in promising style with 'Stones on the Road', a strummed guitar and piano, tumbling folk-rock melody and upbeat message ("Go on it's your song/Play it how it comes to you…Some days you're high/Some days you're low/Hey hey hey it's gonna be ok") that showcases their harmonies. The other highlight comes with the penultimate, organ-backed, folk and gospel-tinged 'Five More Minutes'. Between times, however, while the song quality, the vocals and the playing aren't diminished, the overly lush and polished production do them no favours, rendering them sweet, easy-listening when a little more edge might have given them a stronger emotive catch. 'Goodbye To Lonely' and the strings-accompanied, piano ballad 'Same Side' emerge as close contenders, but otherwise there's too much of a sameness to stand out from the crowd. MD
Nic Norton and Alice Morell - Grand Pagent 2018-2023 ***
www.nicnortonmusic.com
This one had the potential to be a real curate's egg, a sort of greatest hits package, re-records and new material rolled into one eclectic 22 track extravaganza. What this does, very effectively is add Alice Morell's vocals to some older Nic Norton tracks and get them laid down and not just live. Norton writes great songs, often dark with a hint of humour underpinning the narrative, but like Bob Dylan, may not always be the best person to sing them, step forward Alice Morell, whose clear vocals catch all of the intended inflections and give real strength to the perfomance. "Grand Pagent 2018-2023" has a lot to offer and really whets the passage for a new collection from the duo. If you're in East Anglia, check out the live performances when you can. NK
The Legendary Ten Seconds - Wonder Songs ***
www.thelegendarytenseconds.bandcamp.com/album/wonder-songs
His 28th album, another delve into (mostly) Tudor period history from Ian Churchward and friends, set to courtly folk styled melodies arranged with electric guitars, drum and keys, this collection takes in tales of 'Berry Pomery Castle' in Devon, Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, Richard III ('Not By Divine Intervention'), Elizabeth I ('The Daughter Of Ann Boleyn') and pretender to the crown Perkin Warbeck ('Gates of Exeter Revisited'). These are also punctuated with an instrumental ('Eastern Promise'), a musing on ageing and obsolescence ('Fast Forward'), an ode to 'Home', a woman in white ghost story (the twangy 'In A Doll's House') and a musical retelling of Francis Flagg's 1927 tale of a visit from the future 'The Machine Man Of Ardithia'. Always worth a listen. MD
Erin Ash Sullivan - Signposts and Marks ***
www.erinashsullivan.com
A New England singer-songwriter, Sullivan trades in easy on the ear folksy Americans, she on guitar and ukulele and Doug Kwartler playing everything else. Brisk opener sorry not sorry song 'Goat On A Stone Wall', dobro-shaded break-up ballad 'Rest Stop Bird' and the waltzing 'Nobody's Business' (about not writing personal relationship songs) pull you in and, while it sort of plateaus after that point, the likes of the fiddle slow swayer 'Baltimore', bluesy bluegrass murder ballad 'Winter Walk' and empty nester numbers ('How It Should Be', 'Before You Go')keep you engaged while storysongs about college years pilfering ('One Time I Stole A Book') and an adult attempt to regain her teenage pie-eating championship ('Eat The Pie') bear testimony to an inventive lyrical style. MD
Son Of Dave - A Flat City ****
sonofdave.bandcamp.com/album/a-flat-city
If you like your blues high tempo with a bit of left field thrown in for good measure, look no further than Canadian born, UK based gob-iron maverick Son Of Dave. A beat boxer to boot, bluesharp guru Son Of Dave(Benjamin Darvill) shows why a collection of harmonicas can be as good leading a song as a guitar, guys or fiddle. This is real driving music(Watch those speed limits) that sets bodyparts taping and grinding. "A Flat City" doesn't have a dull moment, but the cover of "Werewolves Of London", is a real stand out moment for me. "Take Your Baby To A Jazz And Blues Bar" is another highlight of the album, but not sure it's a great advice for going on a first date, especially if, as implied in the song, you might both be too young to drink, it is however a great slice of dirty, dirty blues. AI
Avant Gardner - Stress Test***
www.facebook.com/p/Avant-Gardners-Band-Page
Arguably this is Merseysider Avant Gardner's first album since "As You Were", yes I know there was "Lockdown Songs" in between, but that felt a bit more like a sanity project, "Stress Test" feels like an album should, i.e. a good collection of songs with overlapping themes, but with each song capable of standing on it's own two feet. At it's heart, "Stress Test" is a blues album, it certainly carries that vibe, even when picking up more indie sensibilities. If nothing else, check out "That Look Died With The Dog", it might just be the gateway drug to the whole album, either way the album is definitely worth a listen and makes a good companion on the open road. AI
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.