Review: The Bright Forever – Carried Away

The Bright Forever – Carried Away (Independent)

The Bright Forever is the creative project of LA based singer-songwriter Megan Hook, and the eight tracks on “Carried Away” are performed by Hook and a group of talented local musicians who compliment and add to her considerable multi-instrumental prowess. Indeed, Hook’s first musical loves were the great composers - Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach – which led to a degree in Classical Music and an early career in opera - and although “Carried Away” is very much a singer-songwriter album, elements of her classical music education are ever-present within the album’s eight tracks.

Hook’s lead instrument is piano, though she’s also credited with guitar, bells, and harmonium, and she sings with a clear, pure, unfettered voice that induces a chilly tingle on the back of the neck. This collection is the second of a trio of albums that are planned for release in 2013 (the third record is being recorded as I type), and as such should be considered just part of a complete and major work. Of course, when delivered in individual sections like this, each part must stand alone, and “Carried Away” does so with strong songs and accomplished musicianship.

Beginning with “Break Me Open”, it’s propelled by Hook’s delicate piano and Ellen Hong’s understated cello. The effect is melancholic and sorrowful, but quite beautiful and moving. “Did I Dream You” is equally affecting, and “Under the Sun” incorporates aspects of progressive pop, which brings to mind Kate Bush circa “Lionheart”. The album ends with the title track, where everything comes together in elegant focus, and concentrates Hook’s impressive and ambitious vision.

www.thebrightforever.com

www.meganhook.com

www.soundcloud.com/the-bright-forever

The Bright Forever CD Baby Page

Phil S.

Tonight at De Montfort Hall: Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells For Two

De Montfort Hall Presents…

Mike Oldfield's

Tubular Bells For Two

Thursday 23^rd May
Tickets £19.50 / Concessions £17.50

Doors: 7:30pm

www.tubularbellsfortwo.com

Two talented Australian musicians playing over twenty instruments bring to life Mike Oldfield's seminal album Tubular Bells in a unique theatrical performance.

Multi-instrumentalists Daniel Holdsworth and Aidan Roberts have arranged the entire score of Tubular Bells to be played by just two blokes, its subtle beauty and richly layered madness intact.

This herculean feat leaves the musicians drenched in sweat and audiences on the edge on their seats, as they race from instrument to instrument.

Remember; always check with the venue before travelling:

www.demontforthall.co.uk

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Tonight at The Musician: Kim Richey

Greenbird Promotions presents...

Kim Richey
Thursday 23^rd May

£10

plus Paul McClure (The Hi & Lo)

www.kimrichey.com

Two-time Grammy-nominated Kim Richey is a storyteller; a weaver of emotions and a tugger of heartstrings.  She has written two Number 1s and four Top 10 hits in the USA and her songs have  been recorded by the likes of Trisha Yearwood and James Morrison among others and she has sung on albums by Ryan Adams, Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter.  Her music is “gorgeous, timeless” (Maverick) and “always of the highest quality” (Country Music People).  She is, as the Irish Times says “a class act”.

Late of acclaimed duo the Hi & Lo, described by Maverick as "one of the UK's premier roots acts", Paul will be showcasing songs from his debut solo album.

Remember; always check with the venue before travelling:

www.themusicianpub.co.uk

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Review: Consuelo’s Revenge – S/T

Consuelo’s Revenge – S/T (Independent)

Consuelo’s Revenge is a six-piece roots-Americana / folk-rock outfit from Providence, Rhode Island, with a dark, untamed edge to their sound. UK equivalents would be groups like the Pogues, The Men They Couldn’t Hang or the Folk Devils, though there’s no mistaking Consuelo’s Revenge’s American roots, or their ability to find new territory to explore within their chosen genre(s).

They’re fortunate to have several talented singers within their ranks. Amanda Salemi, Alexandra Gibbons, Nicholas Smyth and Ian Lacombe bring a profusion of vocal variety to the table, and the girl / boy mix works particularly well, whether they’re singing together or one or other is taking the lead. Their self-titled debut clocks in at a short and sweet 33 minutes, but within the ten tracks, they show themselves to be versatile musicians, able songwriters and fully aware of the importance of a healthy hook and a robust folk tune.

Standout tracks are plentiful. Opening cut “Pasadena” is slinky and sultry with a rolling gypsy rhythm and a tale of wrongdoing and redemption to tell. “Forest Flower Waltz” enjoys a similar Romany atmosphere, with a touch of Mexicana on the side and their version of “Henry Lee” is an upbeat revelation. Recorded relatively recently by both Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Consuelo’s Revenge’s rollicking take is a fine addition to the canon.

www.facebook.com/ConsuelosRevengeMusic

www.consuelosrevenge.bandcamp.com

Consuelo's Revenge CD Baby Page

Phil S.

Lennon lyrics donated to British Library for tax relief

The handwritten lyrics to Strawberry Fields Forever will sit next to the Magna Carta in the British Library's Treasures Gallery

Beatles biographer Hunter Davies has donated letters and lyrics by John Lennon to the British Library as part of a new tax relief scheme.

His collection, which includes handwritten lyrics to Strawberry Fields Forever, is the first donation through the new Cultural Gifts Scheme.

The initiative, which was introduced in March, encourages people to give gifts to the nation for a tax reduction.

Davies said the British Library was the "perfect home" for his memorabilia.

Culture minister Ed Vaizey said the "incredibly generous" donation was a "testament to the strong culture of philanthropy" in the UK.

A total funding of £30 million is available annually for the Cultural Gifts Scheme, which will allow recipients to reduce their tax by 30% of the value of the object over five years.

It is estimated that Davies, who wrote the only official biography of The Beatles in 1968, will reduce his tax by £319,500.

"I want my Beatles collection to be kept together, in one place, and on public display, and the British Library is the perfect home for it," the 77-year-old said.

"I'm really pleased the cultural gifts scheme has helped me make this a reality."

The British Library's Roly Keating said he was "delighted" to receive the "iconic items on behalf of the nation".

The collection also includes an early draft of lyrics from In My Life, which featured on 1965 album Rubber Soul, with a line about Penny Lane crossed out.

Davies received letters from Lennon, whom he befriended in the 1960s, and has been collecting other correspondence from the legendary musician.

Source: BBC

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Review: The Skys – Colours of the Desert

The Skys – Colours of the Desert (Matchbox Recordings)

Previously hailed as “Lithuania’s No.1 proggers” by Kerrang! founder, Geoff Barton, The Skys have a lot to live up to on their fourth full length album, “Colours of the Desert”. Taking sand as their central concept, The Skys score the world’s rise from the desert (“Is This the Way?”), the loneliness of the desert (“Walking Alone”), desert dwellers (“Lethal Kiss” and “The Pyramid”), the sands of time (title track), draw in biblical reference (“I…He…”), and imply that nuclear war would result in the world returning to such a barren place (“When The Western Wind Blows”).

Featuring male / female interchangeable lead vocals and guests; Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters band), John Young (Scorpions, Bonnie Tyler), Snake Davis (Eurythmics), Martin Beedle (Cutting Crew), Anne Marie Helder (Mostly Autumn, Panic Room) and Tony Spada (Holding Pattern), The Skys have a powerful, meticulously produced and very theatrical rock sound. So much so that “Colours of the Desert” could be described as a nomadic rock opera and couldn’t help but make one think “Jesus Christ Superstar”!

www.theskys.com

Willsk

Marnie's Stern's UK tour kicks off 30th May

New York guitar goddess, Marnie Stern will be heading to the UK at the end of May

UK Dates:
Thursday 30th May - Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
Friday 31st May - Sheffield, Queens Social Club
Saturday 1st June - Manchester, Ruby Lounge
Sunday 2nd June - Glasgow, Broadcast
Monday 3rd June - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Tuesday 4th June - Bristol, Louisiana
Wednesday 5th June - London, The Garage
Saturday 29th June - London, Corsica Studios

And you can listen to Marnie in session on Marc Riley's BBC6 Music show on Wednesday 29th May.

The Chronicles of Marnia is out now on Kill Rock Stars.

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Review: AcoustiHOO – S/T

AcoustiHOO – S/T (Red Cedar Records)

Wisconsin four-piece AcoustiHOO (Sue Orfield on saxophone, Lucas Fischer plays guitar and sings, Olaf Lind contributes violin and mandolin and Randy Sinz holds the rhythm together on double bass and sings, too) play a mix of old-school jazz, blues, Klezmer and Americana on their new, self-titled debut record. They’ve been performing together since 2010, playing both covers and original material.

They’ve a talent for both joyous dance music and melancholy material, and it’s the latter that launches the record; “I Can't Shake This Sadness” is beautifully languid, with Orfield’s saxophone leading the way. By contrast, their take on the ‘20s jazz standard “Sweet Georgia Brown” will surely get the most leaden of feet moving and back-ends a-shaking – if you get my drift.

The gentle “Lullaby” relies on Fischer’s acoustic guitar for mellow propulsion and on “Two Fifteen” the combination of Lind’s violin and Orfield’s saxophone is beautifully unhurried. “5am Blues” is perhaps their most conventional song – it’s folk-rock influences and jazz flourishes bring to mind the West Coast boho scene of the early to mid ‘70s, and artists like Tom Waits and Rickie Lee Jones.

In and around her Chippewa Valley hometown, Orfield is a musician of some repute, and has played with a diverse range of talents, from Bo Diddley and Dizzy Gillespie to Ivan Neville and the Indigo Girls. Although AcoustiHOO aren’t quite as prominent as those artists, these eleven recordings will only add to her reputation.

www.facebook.com/AcoustiHOO

AcoustiHOO CD Baby Page

Tony S.

Elton John to headline new Hyde Park festival

Elton John is to headline a new summer festival celebrating British songwriters in London's Hyde Park.

Former Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Elvis Costello will also perform full sets with their own bands at the 12 July show.

Three other stages will showcase established and younger songwriting talent from the UK and the US.

They include Nick Lowe, founding member of Del Amitri Justin Currie and Lucy Rose.

American singer-songwriter Tift Merrit will play on The Village Hall stage, alongside British band To Kill A King.

Thea Gilmore, Grammy and Golden Globe nominee Scott McFarnon and Olivia Sebastianelli will perform on The Bandstand stage.

Tickets for the festival go on sale on Thursday 23 May.

Sir Elton will also headline this year's Bestival on the Isle of Wight at the start of September.

He will also be the first act to play at the new Leeds Arena on 4 September - his only UK indoor date for the year.

The 65-year-old star has live dates booked across Europe from June 15 until December.

Sir Elton will also be performing a 13-night run in Las Vegas in the autumn.

Source: BBC

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Rachael Sage announces UK tour

Rachael Sage UK Dates:

6/23 Kendal, UK 
Kendal Town Hall, 7:30PM

6/27 Telford, UK 
Oakengates Theatre, 7:30PM

6/28 Cheshire, UK 
Cranage Hall, 7:00PM

6/30 Potters Bar, UK 
Wyllyotts Theatre, 7:00PM

7/1 Cheshire, UK 
Red Lion Disley, 7:00PM

7/3 South Shields, UK 
The Customs House, 7:45PM

7/4 Birmingham, UK 
New Alexandra Theatre, 7:30PM

7/6 Oxfordshire, UK 
Cornbury Festival, 11:00AM

7/9 London, UK 
The Troubadour, 8:00PM

7/1 Lancaster, UK 
Grand Theatre, 7:30PM

7/12 Stamford, UK 
Stamford Corn Exchange, 8:00PM

7/13 Hull, UK 
Hull New Theatre, 7:30PM

7/14 Blackpool, UK 
Viva, 7:30PM

7/18 London, UK 
London FolkFest, (time TBD)

7/19 Croydon, UK 
Fairfield Halls, 8:00PM

7/21 Staffordshire, UK 
L-Fest, 3:30PM

7/25 Bournemouth, UK 
Pier Theatre, 7:30PM

7/26 Harlow, UK 
Harlow Playhouse, 7:30PM

7/27 Harlow, UK 
Harlow Playhouse, 7:30PM

www.sageandsequins.com

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Review: Mike P. Ryan – American Tales

Mike P. Ryan – American Tales (Independent)

Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter Mike P. Ryan is something of a find. His blue-collar narratives are touching and heartfelt, and whether he’s accompanying himself on acoustic guitar or employing various country-roots instruments (pedal steel, fiddle, etc.) to fill out the sound, his songs are always placed centre-stage – which is just where they belong. He’s a consummate storyteller, with arrangements to match, and he delivers his songs in a voice that will remind many of James Taylor. That’s an impressive list of positives, and listening to “American Tales”, it’s just as good in reality as it is on paper.

Ryan’s been playing guitar and writing songs for as long as he can remember, although “American Tales” is his debut recording. I suspect the reason it’s taken him so long to find his way into a studio is that real life has a habit of getting in the way of artistic endeavour. Work and raising his family were priorities, but all his life experiences make him the writer he is today, and throughout this 13-track collection, there’s a feeling that Ryan’s telling stories that he’s witnessed firsthand or heard passed down from friends and relations. It adds considerably to the listening experience, and on songs like the homesick trucker’s lament “Morning Glories” or “A Girl's Gotta Do” he nails his subject matter with subtlety and a warm understanding. My favourite is “Oklahoma Sky”, which features some wonderful playing from Ryan, and is a cleverly constructed paean aimed squarely at his home state.

www.mikepryanmusic.com

www.reverbnation.com/mikepryan

Mike P. Ryan CD Baby Page

Tony S.

David Bowie bassist Trevor Bolder dies

Trevor Bolder, the bassist in David Bowie's legendary 1970s backing band Spiders From Mars, has died from cancer at the age of 62.

Rock band Uriah Heep, whom Bolder joined in 1976, announced the death of "a world-class bass player" and "world-class friend" on their website.

He stopped playing with the band a few months ago because of poor health.

Bolder appeared on classic Bowie albums including The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

"Trevor was an all-time great, one of the outstanding musicians of his generation and one of the finest and most influential bass players that Britain ever produced," Uriah Heep said in a statement.

The death comes a few weeks after the 20th anniversary of the death of guitarist Mick Ronson, another of the Spiders From Mars.

Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp, who presented a BBC Radio 2 documentary about Ronson, paid tribute to Bolder on Twitter, writing: "RIP another Spider from Mars, a kind and decent man, Trevor Bolder. Love and peace to his family."

Source: BBC

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Russia: Azerbaijan's Eurovision snub 'outrageous'

Russia's Dina Garipova finished fifth overall

Russia's foreign minister has called Azerbaijan's failure to award any points to Russia's entry in the Eurovision song contest "outrageous".

Sergei Lavrov said the points had been "stolen" from Russia's Dina Garipova and "this outrageous action will not remain without a response".

Azerbaijan says it cannot explain how it awarded no points to Russia, when Garipova came second in its phone poll.

Russian voters awarded the maximum 12 points to Azerbaijan's Farid Mammadov.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has ordered an inquiry into how its votes for Russia apparently went missing.

And the country's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, sitting next to Mr Lavrov at a press conference in Moscow, called it a "detective story".

He said records from all three of Azerbaijan's mobile phone operators show that Azeris awarded Ukraine's entry the most votes, followed by Russia's.

"Where did the votes go? How did they disappear? This, of course, is a question for our public television," he said.

National jury

Mr Lavrov said he and his counterpart had agreed they should take a "unified course of action" once the reasons for the discrepancy became clear.

A spokesman for the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the competition, said the phone vote was not definitive. A national jury in each country also contributes 50% of the final decision, the Associated Press reports.

Despite the high-level political interest, 10 points for second place from Azerbaijan would not have made any difference to Garipova's fifth place, since she finished 17 points behind Norway.

Azerbaijan, which hosted last year's contest, has traditionally tried to maintain good relations with Moscow though there have been tensions over energy in the past.

Meanwhile, the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has weighed in with his own accusations. Suspicious that the Belarusian singer did not receive a single point from Russia, he has claimed that the final was falsified.

Source: BBC

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