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.:
Daniel Boling featuring Tom Paxton - It Matters ***
www.danielboling.com/
A second collaborative outing, both in terms of writing and performing, this is very much the easy listening side of folk with several songs touching on how getting older every day you wake up is a good one ('Hidey-Ho', 'Goodnight'), how what we do matters ('It Matters'), childhood memories ('Mama Singin' To Me'), the threat of AI ('What Could Possibly Go Wrong?'), the sacrifice of the young generation to war ('Send The Old Men To Fight'), the story of an equine Korean War hero ('Sgt, Reckless'), the fuck you attitudes of businesses and government agencies ('We're Not Happy '… till YOU'RE not happy", making your voice heard ('Complain') hypocrisy ('She's A Witch') and, of course, relationship ups and downs ('Something Missing In Your Smile'), rounding out with 'God Is Too Big' and the message "If I have all the answers, I have all the questions wrong". As accomplished as you'd expect from two such masters, the bite may be softer than in their prime, but the teeth are still sharp. MD
Phil Martin - Fredom Of The City ****
philmartinmusic.com
There is an element of classic 60s pop culture that runs through Whitby based Phil Martin's "Freedom Of The City", his third. The opening/title track immediately had the feel of a song that could be the theme tune of a "Man In A Suit Case", "The Champions" type show and really sets the scene for the rest of the album. There is a slightly dated feel to the album, but in a strange way that only adds to it's integrity, as does a slight jazz underpinning. This is an album I find myself coming back to and one that I can highly recommend. NK
Steph Cameron - Blood Moon ***
www.stephcameron.com/
From Saskatoon and big in Canada, her third album too often plays like a lightweight Rumours-era Stevie Nicks with a higher pitch (notably on 'Rain') , at others leaning into air folksy pop as on the fingerpicked 'Morning Time' or touching on bluesier folk shaded with 'Summer Song' while 'Whatever Questions You're Asking' has strong echoes of 'Stairway To Heaven'. While some songs grab your attention, others are less memorable but it's pleasant listening overall. MD
Jerry Leger - Lucky Streak: Latent Lounge- Live From The Hangar ***
www.jerryleger.com
As it says, 13 choice cuts, ranging from a guitar/piano arrangement of On Your Own' from his 2006 sophomore album ' to three from the recent Donlands, encompassing the Dylan blues homage 'Baby's Got A Rare Gun' and the first professionally recorded appearance of the six-minute gently loping Angella written when he was just 15, mostly with just him on strummed or picked acoustic guitar, putting the focus on the cracked emotion in his voice. 'I Was Right To Doubt Her' and 'Out There Like The Rain' are notable highlights, but everything here warrants the price of admission. MD
Matt Andersen - The Hammer & The Rose ***
www.stubbyfingers.ca
A big-bearded mountain of man from Canada, Andersen has that same sort of honey and gravel voice as Ted Hawkins, Van Morrison and Ray LaMontagne, bringing a soulful husky emotion to his ballads, the slow dance title track a fine example of his style and delivery. As such, there's several that have that same vibe, 'Hold On To Me' with its laid back bluesy guitar, the countrified glow of 'Stay Home With You', the touching love letter to his father 'Always Be Your Son' and the weeping lap steel coloured Countin' Quarters all notable highlights. On the downside, he's less persuasive when he hits a funky blues groove on things like 'Wayaheadaya', the organ-driven gospel-flavoured 'You're Here To Stay' or the wincingly punning jam-styled 'The Cobbler (Good For My Sole)' which are probably better suited to experiencing live. But when he digs into emotions rather than the groove, he's well worth lending an ear. MD
Todd Adelman - Western Soul ****
www.toddadelman.com
Based near Woodstock, Adelman is a rootsy rural heartlands singer-songwriter with a ringing guitar and raspy voice that would suit any collection alongside Mellencamp, Parsons and Springsteen. The songs addressing the passing years and the changes they bring, it opens with the slow march beat, dobro-coloured 'Oh Mama, Won't You Take Me Back Home' and proceeds through the steel-weeping Out Of Gas reflecting on growing older, the thematically linked slow swaying '(Why Are) Old Guitars (So Proud Of Their Age)' and the crumbling relationship of 'Another Bloody Mary. There's uptempo numbers like 'Kings Upon The Town' and the choppy Johnny and June styled duet Opposites Attract', the bluesy picking call and response 'Wink And A Smile' and the Mariachi romp 'Trying To Get Through Today' (which also comes with a ¾ time version), but it's the slower, emotionally stripped out tracks, such as the hobo narrative 'Vagabond Shoes', the Guy Clark-like 'Can't Sing The Blues No More' and the strummed 'One Of A Kind' tribute to John Prine that elevate this to the albums of the year list. MD
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.