Writings
tAngerinecAt - Grief (Annwn Records) Review
Following the global acclaim of tAngerinecAt’s previous album, Glass (2023), which included the incredible House of Shards, Grief is one of the most uniquely powerful albums you will ever hear; taking you on a personal and political musical journey like no other.
tAngerinecAt - Grief (Cover Art by Sahin Cetin)
Recorded at tAngerinecAt’s studio in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, between 2022 and 2024, Grief is now out on the road on a 9 date album launch tour of the United Kingdom, following the album's physical release in May 2025.
The duo, Ukrainian-born Zhenia Purpurovsky (he/him), a nonbinary classically trained multi-instrumentalist, producer, poet, vocalist and songwriter, and British-born Paul Chilton (they/them), a visionary sound designer and multi-instrumentalist, conjure up a whole universe of breathtaking, Lynch/Badalamenti-esque soundscapes; their experiences of war and exile fully channeled into their work.
tAngerinecAt: Zhenia Purpurovsky and Paul Chilton
Purpurovsky’s experiences, in particular, of extreme poverty, homelessness, disability, severe trauma and isolation, make this a deeply personal recording.
Minimalism, dark jazz a cappella, hypnotic industrial electronic beats and spoken word live quite happily together on Grief. But, if you haven’t heard anything by this duo before, you’ll be completely blown away by the sheer power of Purpurovsky’s absolutely stunning opening vocals on the title track, sung in Ukranian. Also check out the amazing video (see below for link).
The staggering beauty of the spoken word, March of Mourn, with its thumping beats, suddenly takes the listener into Twin Peaks territory, so effectively. Freedom, spoken word again, is a powerful, hard hitting diatribe, while the rumbling, pulsating The Irish Sea, is dramatically described in English by Purpurovsky, as the clattering soundscape adds to the atmosphere the words convey. Fire literally burns with an energy from deep down in the earth's outer core, before the tolling bell of Subaltern, ushers in a frenzied rush of beats.
The titles of the final two tracks, Gwyn ap Nudd and Cyhyraeth, are in Welsh, but the songs are sung in Ukranian. Gwyn ap Nudd is a huge figure in Welsh mythology, the ruler of the Otherworld and king of the Tylwyth Teg (fair folk). Cyhyraeth is the Welsh counterpart of the Banshee.
Purpurovsky, with a degree in folkloristics, symbolically portrays Gwyn ap Nudd, and also identifies with this figure and assumes the role of Cyhyraeth, seeking solace in the whispers of the local sea. As you can see, this creates a rich tapestry of meaning.
When all is said and done, amongst all the dark, haunting imagery this album creates, there is a sense of hope within. For Grief, after all, is Love.
Whichever way you look at it, one thing is certain. Grief truly is a masterpiece.
Written by Kevin S Petch
Grief by tAngerinecAt is out now on Green Vinyl, Black Vinyl and Green Vinyl Effect CD. Tickets are also available from the website.
https://www.tangerinecat.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm4Cox4vxXs
The tAngerinecAt UK Grief Album Launch Tour continues, visiting:
09/10 Leeds, Lending Room
10/10 Manchester, Sacred Trinity Church
11/10 Nottingham, The Chapel
17/10 Gateshead, The Black Bull
18/10 Edinburgh, The Voodoo Rooms
24/10 Bristol, The Louisiana
25/10 Coventry, The Tin Music and Arts
CURTIS ELLER’S AMERICAN CIRCUS – ANOTHER NICE MESS (ALBUM REVIEW)
Genre: Alternative/Americana/Banjo/Rock & Roll/Indie Folk
Fancy spending your autumn evenings and beyond, with the likes of Laurel & Hardy, Sonny Liston, Lillian Leitzel, the legendary circus performer, and silent movie star, Fay Wray? Then you need look no further than Another Nice Mess, a brand new collection of songs from North Carolina's finest, Curtis Eller's American Circus.
Cover art by Jamie B. Wolcott
What you’ll immediately notice about this new album, is how superb the recording is. Every track is as clear as a bell and the band have been captured flawlessly!
True Love in the Exclusion Zone is the perfect opener, with Eller’s signature banjo at the forefront. This is songwriting at its best, with harmony vocals from Stacy Wolfson to match.
Goddamn Loser is a wonderful little ditty, with Steve Cowles shining bright on those absolutely exquisite saxophones, and deserving yet another mention for his sublime flute on Conscientious Objector. Great lyrics too!
Photo: Alex Maness
We Know This by Heart, coming in at a second short of two minutes, see’s Curtis Eller on banjo and lead vocals, with Joseph “Joebass” Dejarnette on upright bass, delivering in great style.
The heartfelt lyrics on Carry the Faces (For Martha Wills) cannot help but bring a tear to one’s eye; that combination of saxophone and singing saw, setting the tone immaculately. Genius! Yes, it’s that man Steve Cowles again!
Another Nice Mess (for Laurel & Hardy), the title track, just makes you want to smile throughout, with Rima Fand’s accompanying violin taking a song about the friendship of one of the most loved film comedy duos, to another level.
Loving Andy Lyth’s drums on Sonny Liston Told Us, where the heavyweight boxer once said, “Some day they’re gonna write a blues for fighters. It’ll be for slow guitar, soft trumpet and a bell.” Well, maybe Curtis Eller’s American Circus doesn’t have those instruments to hand, but their gift to the man who fought “the Greatest” is clearly in this song.
An Only Child is beautifully atmospheric, while Standard White Jesus, the only song on the album not written by Eller, has a bit of a Tom Waits feel to it. Loving the electric bass by Hugh Crumley here.
Time Moves Slow (for Lillian Leitzel) sees Stacy Wolfson share lead vocals with Curtis Eller here, and the result is stunning.
I Saw Fay Wray is a truly satisfying way to bring this album to a close and, oh my, what a wonderful journey it’s been.
A truly remarkable album!
Another Nice Mess by Curtis Eller’s American Circus is on pre-sale from September 9, 2024, with a release date of October 9, 2024.
The Another Nice Mess UK Tour takes in London, Brighton, Bristol, Leamington Spa, Hull, Harrogate, Sheffield, Preston, Barrow-In-Furness, Atherton, Leeds and Newcastle, and tickets are on sale now. Go to https://www.curtiseller.com/tour for more details.
You can watch True Love in the Exclusion Zone here: https://youtu.be/fidRaYVzlH0?si=pfSA39vqv-tqnncU
Written by Kevin Petch
GOOD SHIPS – GAIN, DISTORTION, SUSTAIN (ALBUM REVIEW)
It's heading for 27 degrees outside, but, musically, the sound of the summer has finally arrived too, in the shape of Good Ships and their debut album, Gain, Distortion, Sustain.
The more switched-on amongst you will recognise the line-up, fronted by Blackpool-born Dave James, as those rootin’ tootin’ indie rockers, formerly known as Cardboard Cowboy. So you can rest assured that any new music from this very talented four-piece, will be meticulous and of great interest to lovers of proper music.
Kicking off with Dark Souvenir, which is an absolute joy, the song boasts one of the most beautiful openings you’ll have heard in a very long time. Unchain My Heart follows in great style, with a Bowie’s Let’s Dance-esque guitar, while Please Don’t Go takes us well into dream pop territory. Need You, with its beautiful drums and bass line, really does draw you in, especially when the fuzzy guitar and keys kick in. Nowhere Fast will simply rock your socks off! Wild Things, though slower in tempo, lets the listener know just how versatile a band Good Ships are. The keys here are extraordinary. The stop-start of Kong is, in a word, magnificent, as is the lead guitar, while Don’t Care About You is a real gem, with a great vocal performance and, again, keys to die for. The acoustic guitar on The Girl is delightful; hearing a bit of a nod to The Thrills, or that type of music, here. Getting a bit of a [The] Beatles vibe with Why? Such a great lyric too. Gain, Distortion, Sustain, the title track, sounds, in places, like post John Cale Velvets, while Sinking oozes melancholy in all the right ways and is a fitting end to a terrific, well-crafted collection of songs.
Be prepared to be entertained. Get the Kleenex and factor 50 ready and let Gain, Distortion, Sustain, 12 songs in 45 glorious minutes, wash over you. And once it’s finished, put it on AGAIN!!
Good Ships are Dave James, Pat Moore, Ant Pearson and Mark Woolsey.
Gain, Distortion, Sustain by Good Ships is out now.
Written by Kevin Petch
NICK RYDER – EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (ALBUM REVIEW)
Every once in a while an album comes along that you didn’t know you needed in your life. Nick Ryder’s Edge of the Universe, is one such album.
Unashamedly Beatlesque, but more in the way of where the Fab Four’s music would have gone if they’d stayed together and all been around today, Nick Ryder’s writing style is solid, meaningful and always catchy.
Getting off to a great start with Heartbreaker, which boasts an incredible lead guitar break, is a real treat, while Miss You instantly grabs your attention with its vibrancy. It’s just wonderful. Don’t slows things down, giving the listener a chance to hear how amazing Ryder’s musicianship and vocals are. I Need You follows along the same lines, and Dear Sugar Baby is lyrically beautiful. Shine on my Shrine is, well, just epic. Stand My Ground gives out a bit of an Elvis Costello vibe, which is music to my ears. Edge Of The Universe is poignant, stunning and ethereal. Following on, No More certainly does make you think about the world we’re living in today. Another showcase of great vocals and sublime lead guitar comes in the form of Go Your Own Way, while Estelle works perfectly with that pounding drumbeat; though it does leave the listener wondering who on earth Estelle is? You concludes this album in great style, leaving you with a feeling that you’ve just witnessed something very special indeed.
All in all, this is no less than fabulous. It’s one of the best and most memorable 44 minutes I’ve spent in a very long time. Singer-songwriter Nick Ryder should be very proud of his creation.
Edge of the Universe by Nick Ryder is available to purchase as a download via Bandcamp and on all the major streaming sites.
SIMON WESTON ENDORSEMENT OF FALKLANDS ANNIVERSARY CHARITY SINGLE IS ICING ON THE CAKE!
‘When will the world find peace? When will the troubles cease?’
Simon Weston
In commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, which began on April 2, 1982 and lasted for 74 days, a download single has been presented to the FVF Liberty Lodge FI charity, to help raise much-needed funds.
The song, Memories Of You, with words by Micki Stokoe and music by Christopher Bevan, was recorded at Eclectic Music Ltd., Hull, on a very rainy day in late April, and the result is astounding.
See below for the link to download this charity single
Simon Weston CBE, the Falkands war veteran who suffered 46% burns to his face and body during the conflict, said: “The lyrics in the Memories Of You song are very poignant to veterans who have been involved in conflict and especially the families of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
He added: “Special thanks should go to the authors of the lyrics, soprano Kimberley Raw for agreeing to perform the song and the Eclectic Orchestra conducted by Daniel Thompson, for giving their time freely to make such a resounding production. This doesn’t happen by chance. There has been a great team working tirelessly behind the scenes, to drive the project to completion and I thank you all. I am hoping Memories Of You, will bring significant funds to support Liberty Lodge in the Falkland Islands, which is there for all Veterans and families of those that were involved in the war in 1982.”
The original recording of Memories Of You, way back in 2012, was created using music production software alongside a real piano, but it was always the dream to realise the piece with an orchestra.
L-R: Daniel Thompson, Kimberley Raw, Christopher Bevan and Sean Lloyd
Sean Lloyd, the man responsible for steering the project from the very beginning and a Falklands war veteran himself, concluded: "I've had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and working towards Memories Of You, with a truly amazing team. So thank you!”
Memories Of You by Kimberley Raw is exclusively available for download at https://libertylodgefi.com/support-us from Friday, June 14, 2024 onwards.
SONG COMPOSED AS A TRIBUTE TO OUR INJURED SERVICE PERSONNEL FINALLY GETS THE ORCHESTRAL TREATMENT
In commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, which began on 2nd April 1982 and lasted for 74 days, Memories of You, a very fitting, reflective song, is, after over a decade, finally being recorded by an orchestra and will be presented to the FVF Liberty Lodge FI (Falkland Islands) charity, to help raise much-needed funds in the form of a download single.
The recording will be taking place at Eclectic Music Ltd., Maister House, 160 High Street, Hull, HU1 1NL on Sunday 28th April, and will feature the Eclectic Orchestra, conducted by creative director Daniel Thompson, and the stunning vocals of soprano Kimberley Raw.
Blending music and musicians together from a wide variety of backgrounds, Eclectic Music Ltd. brings musical opportunities to Hull and the East Riding, from their Grade 1 listed Georgian venue, situated in Hull’s Old Town.
Memories of You is a beautifully written ballad, composed by Christopher Bevan, with lyrics by Micki Stokoe that speak of loss in all its guises, be it personal and in times of conflict.
Christopher Bevan said: “Composing Memories of You with the wonderfully talented lyricist, Micki Stokoe, was a joy, and we are incredibly lucky that Kimberley Raw has agreed to record the piece. I sincerely hope that the song will inspire our armed forces personnel and encourage the public to continue to support them.”
The original recording of Memories of You was created using music production software alongside a real piano, but it was always the dream to realise the piece with an orchestra.
Following the recording, mixing and mastering, Memories of You will be released on Friday 14 June to coincide with the anniversary of the end of the war in the South Atlantic.
Written by Kevin Petch
SGT. PEPPER AT 50!
It was 50 years ago today (well, as of June 1st 2017) that Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles’ eighth studio album, was released and 70 years since Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. But is it, as many claim it to be, the best pop/rock album ever made?
Musically, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has everything and John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr have never sounded better, both vocally and in their musicianship. The songs themselves, originally produced by George Martin, are of such high quality and so well-known these days the listener could be forgiven for thinking they were all released as singles.
Up until the early 1970’s it was common practice not to include singles on albums and, as a result, Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane were released as a double A side, even though they were the first songs recorded during the Sgt. Pepper sessions, giving the overall feel of what was to come next from the Fab Four. Sadly, the single only made it to number 2 due to Engelbert Humperdink’s version of Release Me, halting a string of UK number 1 singles.
The 50th Anniversary release of this iconic album has been given the Super Deluxe treatment (4 CDs, Blu-ray and DVD housed in a full-size replica gatefold sleeve, plus posters, cut-outs and a 144-page hardback book) and the packaging alone is, in itself, a work of art, with a lenticular version of Peter Blake’s classic album cover adorning the front of the 13” x 13” x 2” box set in all its glory.
At the heart of the release is a new stereo mix of the album by Giles Martin, son of George, who sadly passed away in 2016. The mastering here is stunning, with a huge emphasis on all of Ringo Starr’s input which has been brought to the fore. Martin is also responsible for all the mixes on the 33 tracks from the Sgt. Pepper sessions, which give a great insight into the songwriting, arranging and recording process of the time and the technical limitations of the 4-track recorder that went with it.
Giles Martin has created a thing of beauty and is essential to any fan of The Beatles, though, to be honest, the original mono mix by his Dad from way back in 1967 and included in the Super Deluxe version is the real masterpiece here. Furthermore, the inclusion of Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane following A Day In The Life on the mono mix is a wonderful touch and will please many.
Also available as an expanded 2 CD version and a 180-gram 2 LP vinyl package.
Written by Kevin Petch
INTO THE WOODS – A REVIEW
Following the release of Disney’s Into The Woods in 2015, starring James Corden, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman and Johnny Depp, it’s great to see that The West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North have teamed up for the very first time to bring it back to the stage.
Making its debut in San Diego, USA in 1986 before transferring to Broadway in 1987, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, Into The Woods tells the story of a Baker (Dean Robinson) and his wife (Louise Collett), who are given the chance of having a child of their own by a Witch (Claire Pascoe), but at a price. For this to happen, the childless couple would have to bring the Witch a cow as white as milk; a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold.
So, as the likes of Little Red Riding Hood (Helen Évora), Cinderella (Gillene Butterfield), Jack (Nicholas Watts) and Rapunzel (Amy Freston), enter the story, the Baker and his wife seize their opportunity. But will the Big Bad Wolf (David Llewellyn), an Evil Stepmother (Miranda Bevin), The Ugly Sisters, a Giant and his wife, and various other fairy tale characters get in their way?
For adults and children alike, this is one of the greatest musicals to grace any stage and seems very much at home at the Playhouse. With faultless direction from James Brining, ingenious set design by Colin Richmond, and creative lighting by Tim Mitchell, this dynamic trio make the whole production come to life. Into The Woods is perfectly cast and the characters are so strong and well written that all the performances stand out, though I do suspect that Helen Évora (Little Red Riding Hood) is having the most fun. Special mentions also go to Team Enchanted Woods and all the puppeteers.
As long as you are open to the fact that Into The Woods is 99.9% sung , I would encourage you to purchase tickets for what is an unforgettable evening of fun, great songs, fine performances, puppetry and hilarity – even if it is a little on the dark side.
Runs until Saturday, June 25 2016
Written by Kevin Petch
COSI FAN TUTTE - A REVIEW
Così fan tutte or, The School for Lovers - The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds
Opera North, England’s national opera company based in the North, has long been associated with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte, with its first performance at this very theatre in 1982, followed by the first performance of this production in 2004, and now revived in 2016 for a returning audience and, by the look of tonight’s gathering, a new ‘younger’ audience to enjoy.
With a libretto By Lorenzo da Ponte dating back to 1790, the story centres around Don Alfonso (William Dazeley, Baritone), a philosopher, who places a bet with his soldier friends Guglielmo (Gavan Ring, Baritone) and Ferrando (Nicholas Watts, Tenor), that all women - their lovers, sisters Fiordiligi (Máire Flavin, Soprano) and Dorabella (Helen Sherman, Mezzo-soprano) included - are fickle and, given the opportunity, will be unfaithful. With all sides confident of winning the wager, the three male protagonists, alongside the bribed to play along Despina (Ellie Laugharne, Soprano) concoct a ruse that will turn all their lives upside down.
Sung tonight in English, Così fan tutte was seen as controversial during its early life and didn’t find its real audience until the middle of the 20th century, though, even today, it still divides in a misogynistic sense. But, in saying that, Mozart’s composition is musically as beautiful as any of his major works, especially O wind gently blowing, the trio from Act 1.
It just wouldn’t be right to single out any artiste tonight, as each delivered what can only be described as a world-class performance, and the same can be said for the Orchestra of Opera North, with Jac van Steen conducting. Tim Albery’s direction is flawless, as is the set and costume design by Tobias Hoheisel and lighting design by David Finn.
Stunning, mischievous, and thoroughly entertaining - a tour de force.
Performances on February 10, 13, 18, 26 at 19:00
Written by Kevin Petch
Following the global acclaim of tAngerinecAt’s previous album, Glass (2023), which included the incredible House of Shards, Grief is one of the most uniquely powerful albums you will ever hear; taking you on a personal and political musical journey like no other.
Recorded at tAngerinecAt’s studio in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, between 2022 and 2024, Grief is now out on the road on a 9 date album launch tour of the United Kingdom, following the album's physical release in May 2025.
The duo, Ukrainian-born Zhenia Purpurovsky (he/him), a nonbinary classically trained multi-instrumentalist, producer, poet, vocalist and songwriter, and British-born Paul Chilton (they/them), a visionary sound designer and multi-instrumentalist, conjure up a whole universe of breathtaking, Lynch/Badalamenti-esque soundscapes; their experiences of war and exile fully channeled into their work.
Purpurovsky’s experiences, in particular, of extreme poverty, homelessness, disability, severe trauma and isolation, make this a deeply personal recording.
Minimalism, dark jazz a cappella, hypnotic industrial electronic beats and spoken word live quite happily together on Grief. But, if you haven’t heard anything by this duo before, you’ll be completely blown away by the sheer power of Purpurovsky’s absolutely stunning opening vocals on the title track, sung in Ukranian. Also check out the amazing video (see below for link).
The staggering beauty of the spoken word, March of Mourn, with its thumping beats, suddenly takes the listener into Twin Peaks territory, so effectively. Freedom, spoken word again, is a powerful, hard hitting diatribe, while the rumbling, pulsating The Irish Sea, is dramatically described in English by Purpurovsky, as the clattering soundscape adds to the atmosphere the words convey. Fire literally burns with an energy from deep down in the earth's outer core, before the tolling bell of Subaltern, ushers in a frenzied rush of beats.
The titles of the final two tracks, Gwyn ap Nudd and Cyhyraeth, are in Welsh, but the songs are sung in Ukranian. Gwyn ap Nudd is a huge figure in Welsh mythology, the ruler of the Otherworld and king of the Tylwyth Teg (fair folk). Cyhyraeth is the Welsh counterpart of the Banshee.
Purpurovsky, with a degree in folkloristics, symbolically portrays Gwyn ap Nudd, and also identifies with this figure and assumes the role of Cyhyraeth, seeking solace in the whispers of the local sea. As you can see, this creates a rich tapestry of meaning.
When all is said and done, amongst all the dark, haunting imagery this album creates, there is a sense of hope within. For Grief, after all, is Love.
Whichever way you look at it, one thing is certain. Grief truly is a masterpiece.
Written by Kevin S Petch
Grief by tAngerinecAt is out now on Green Vinyl, Black Vinyl and Green Vinyl Effect CD. Tickets are also available from the website.
https://www.tangerinecat.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm4Cox4vxXs
The tAngerinecAt UK Grief Album Launch Tour continues, visiting:
09/10 Leeds, Lending Room
10/10 Manchester, Sacred Trinity Church
11/10 Nottingham, The Chapel
17/10 Gateshead, The Black Bull
18/10 Edinburgh, The Voodoo Rooms
24/10 Bristol, The Louisiana
25/10 Coventry, The Tin Music and Arts
CURTIS ELLER’S AMERICAN CIRCUS – ANOTHER NICE MESS (ALBUM REVIEW)
Genre: Alternative/Americana/Banjo/Rock & Roll/Indie Folk
Fancy spending your autumn evenings and beyond, with the likes of Laurel & Hardy, Sonny Liston, Lillian Leitzel, the legendary circus performer, and silent movie star, Fay Wray? Then you need look no further than Another Nice Mess, a brand new collection of songs from North Carolina's finest, Curtis Eller's American Circus.
What you’ll immediately notice about this new album, is how superb the recording is. Every track is as clear as a bell and the band have been captured flawlessly!
True Love in the Exclusion Zone is the perfect opener, with Eller’s signature banjo at the forefront. This is songwriting at its best, with harmony vocals from Stacy Wolfson to match.
Goddamn Loser is a wonderful little ditty, with Steve Cowles shining bright on those absolutely exquisite saxophones, and deserving yet another mention for his sublime flute on Conscientious Objector. Great lyrics too!
We Know This by Heart, coming in at a second short of two minutes, see’s Curtis Eller on banjo and lead vocals, with Joseph “Joebass” Dejarnette on upright bass, delivering in great style.
The heartfelt lyrics on Carry the Faces (For Martha Wills) cannot help but bring a tear to one’s eye; that combination of saxophone and singing saw, setting the tone immaculately. Genius! Yes, it’s that man Steve Cowles again!
Another Nice Mess (for Laurel & Hardy), the title track, just makes you want to smile throughout, with Rima Fand’s accompanying violin taking a song about the friendship of one of the most loved film comedy duos, to another level.
Loving Andy Lyth’s drums on Sonny Liston Told Us, where the heavyweight boxer once said, “Some day they’re gonna write a blues for fighters. It’ll be for slow guitar, soft trumpet and a bell.” Well, maybe Curtis Eller’s American Circus doesn’t have those instruments to hand, but their gift to the man who fought “the Greatest” is clearly in this song.
An Only Child is beautifully atmospheric, while Standard White Jesus, the only song on the album not written by Eller, has a bit of a Tom Waits feel to it. Loving the electric bass by Hugh Crumley here.
Time Moves Slow (for Lillian Leitzel) sees Stacy Wolfson share lead vocals with Curtis Eller here, and the result is stunning.
I Saw Fay Wray is a truly satisfying way to bring this album to a close and, oh my, what a wonderful journey it’s been.
A truly remarkable album!
Another Nice Mess by Curtis Eller’s American Circus is on pre-sale from September 9, 2024, with a release date of October 9, 2024.
The Another Nice Mess UK Tour takes in London, Brighton, Bristol, Leamington Spa, Hull, Harrogate, Sheffield, Preston, Barrow-In-Furness, Atherton, Leeds and Newcastle, and tickets are on sale now. Go to https://www.curtiseller.com/tour for more details.
You can watch True Love in the Exclusion Zone here: https://youtu.be/fidRaYVzlH0?si=pfSA39vqv-tqnncU
Written by Kevin Petch
GOOD SHIPS – GAIN, DISTORTION, SUSTAIN (ALBUM REVIEW)
It's heading for 27 degrees outside, but, musically, the sound of the summer has finally arrived too, in the shape of Good Ships and their debut album, Gain, Distortion, Sustain.
The more switched-on amongst you will recognise the line-up, fronted by Blackpool-born Dave James, as those rootin’ tootin’ indie rockers, formerly known as Cardboard Cowboy. So you can rest assured that any new music from this very talented four-piece, will be meticulous and of great interest to lovers of proper music.
Kicking off with Dark Souvenir, which is an absolute joy, the song boasts one of the most beautiful openings you’ll have heard in a very long time. Unchain My Heart follows in great style, with a Bowie’s Let’s Dance-esque guitar, while Please Don’t Go takes us well into dream pop territory. Need You, with its beautiful drums and bass line, really does draw you in, especially when the fuzzy guitar and keys kick in. Nowhere Fast will simply rock your socks off! Wild Things, though slower in tempo, lets the listener know just how versatile a band Good Ships are. The keys here are extraordinary. The stop-start of Kong is, in a word, magnificent, as is the lead guitar, while Don’t Care About You is a real gem, with a great vocal performance and, again, keys to die for. The acoustic guitar on The Girl is delightful; hearing a bit of a nod to The Thrills, or that type of music, here. Getting a bit of a [The] Beatles vibe with Why? Such a great lyric too. Gain, Distortion, Sustain, the title track, sounds, in places, like post John Cale Velvets, while Sinking oozes melancholy in all the right ways and is a fitting end to a terrific, well-crafted collection of songs.
Be prepared to be entertained. Get the Kleenex and factor 50 ready and let Gain, Distortion, Sustain, 12 songs in 45 glorious minutes, wash over you. And once it’s finished, put it on AGAIN!!
Good Ships are Dave James, Pat Moore, Ant Pearson and Mark Woolsey.
Gain, Distortion, Sustain by Good Ships is out now.
Written by Kevin Petch
NICK RYDER – EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (ALBUM REVIEW)
Every once in a while an album comes along that you didn’t know you needed in your life. Nick Ryder’s Edge of the Universe, is one such album.
Unashamedly Beatlesque, but more in the way of where the Fab Four’s music would have gone if they’d stayed together and all been around today, Nick Ryder’s writing style is solid, meaningful and always catchy.
Getting off to a great start with Heartbreaker, which boasts an incredible lead guitar break, is a real treat, while Miss You instantly grabs your attention with its vibrancy. It’s just wonderful. Don’t slows things down, giving the listener a chance to hear how amazing Ryder’s musicianship and vocals are. I Need You follows along the same lines, and Dear Sugar Baby is lyrically beautiful. Shine on my Shrine is, well, just epic. Stand My Ground gives out a bit of an Elvis Costello vibe, which is music to my ears. Edge Of The Universe is poignant, stunning and ethereal. Following on, No More certainly does make you think about the world we’re living in today. Another showcase of great vocals and sublime lead guitar comes in the form of Go Your Own Way, while Estelle works perfectly with that pounding drumbeat; though it does leave the listener wondering who on earth Estelle is? You concludes this album in great style, leaving you with a feeling that you’ve just witnessed something very special indeed.
All in all, this is no less than fabulous. It’s one of the best and most memorable 44 minutes I’ve spent in a very long time. Singer-songwriter Nick Ryder should be very proud of his creation.
Edge of the Universe by Nick Ryder is available to purchase as a download via Bandcamp and on all the major streaming sites.
SIMON WESTON ENDORSEMENT OF FALKLANDS ANNIVERSARY CHARITY SINGLE IS ICING ON THE CAKE!
‘When will the world find peace? When will the troubles cease?’
In commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, which began on April 2, 1982 and lasted for 74 days, a download single has been presented to the FVF Liberty Lodge FI charity, to help raise much-needed funds.
The song, Memories Of You, with words by Micki Stokoe and music by Christopher Bevan, was recorded at Eclectic Music Ltd., Hull, on a very rainy day in late April, and the result is astounding.
Simon Weston CBE, the Falkands war veteran who suffered 46% burns to his face and body during the conflict, said: “The lyrics in the Memories Of You song are very poignant to veterans who have been involved in conflict and especially the families of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
He added: “Special thanks should go to the authors of the lyrics, soprano Kimberley Raw for agreeing to perform the song and the Eclectic Orchestra conducted by Daniel Thompson, for giving their time freely to make such a resounding production. This doesn’t happen by chance. There has been a great team working tirelessly behind the scenes, to drive the project to completion and I thank you all. I am hoping Memories Of You, will bring significant funds to support Liberty Lodge in the Falkland Islands, which is there for all Veterans and families of those that were involved in the war in 1982.”
The original recording of Memories Of You, way back in 2012, was created using music production software alongside a real piano, but it was always the dream to realise the piece with an orchestra.
Sean Lloyd, the man responsible for steering the project from the very beginning and a Falklands war veteran himself, concluded: "I've had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and working towards Memories Of You, with a truly amazing team. So thank you!”
Memories Of You by Kimberley Raw is exclusively available for download at https://libertylodgefi.com/support-us from Friday, June 14, 2024 onwards.
SONG COMPOSED AS A TRIBUTE TO OUR INJURED SERVICE PERSONNEL FINALLY GETS THE ORCHESTRAL TREATMENT
In commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, which began on 2nd April 1982 and lasted for 74 days, Memories of You, a very fitting, reflective song, is, after over a decade, finally being recorded by an orchestra and will be presented to the FVF Liberty Lodge FI (Falkland Islands) charity, to help raise much-needed funds in the form of a download single.
The recording will be taking place at Eclectic Music Ltd., Maister House, 160 High Street, Hull, HU1 1NL on Sunday 28th April, and will feature the Eclectic Orchestra, conducted by creative director Daniel Thompson, and the stunning vocals of soprano Kimberley Raw.
Blending music and musicians together from a wide variety of backgrounds, Eclectic Music Ltd. brings musical opportunities to Hull and the East Riding, from their Grade 1 listed Georgian venue, situated in Hull’s Old Town.
Memories of You is a beautifully written ballad, composed by Christopher Bevan, with lyrics by Micki Stokoe that speak of loss in all its guises, be it personal and in times of conflict.
Christopher Bevan said: “Composing Memories of You with the wonderfully talented lyricist, Micki Stokoe, was a joy, and we are incredibly lucky that Kimberley Raw has agreed to record the piece. I sincerely hope that the song will inspire our armed forces personnel and encourage the public to continue to support them.”
The original recording of Memories of You was created using music production software alongside a real piano, but it was always the dream to realise the piece with an orchestra.
Following the recording, mixing and mastering, Memories of You will be released on Friday 14 June to coincide with the anniversary of the end of the war in the South Atlantic.
Written by Kevin Petch
SGT. PEPPER AT 50!
It was 50 years ago today (well, as of June 1st 2017) that Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles’ eighth studio album, was released and 70 years since Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. But is it, as many claim it to be, the best pop/rock album ever made?
Musically, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has everything and John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr have never sounded better, both vocally and in their musicianship. The songs themselves, originally produced by George Martin, are of such high quality and so well-known these days the listener could be forgiven for thinking they were all released as singles.
Up until the early 1970’s it was common practice not to include singles on albums and, as a result, Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane were released as a double A side, even though they were the first songs recorded during the Sgt. Pepper sessions, giving the overall feel of what was to come next from the Fab Four. Sadly, the single only made it to number 2 due to Engelbert Humperdink’s version of Release Me, halting a string of UK number 1 singles.
The 50th Anniversary release of this iconic album has been given the Super Deluxe treatment (4 CDs, Blu-ray and DVD housed in a full-size replica gatefold sleeve, plus posters, cut-outs and a 144-page hardback book) and the packaging alone is, in itself, a work of art, with a lenticular version of Peter Blake’s classic album cover adorning the front of the 13” x 13” x 2” box set in all its glory.
At the heart of the release is a new stereo mix of the album by Giles Martin, son of George, who sadly passed away in 2016. The mastering here is stunning, with a huge emphasis on all of Ringo Starr’s input which has been brought to the fore. Martin is also responsible for all the mixes on the 33 tracks from the Sgt. Pepper sessions, which give a great insight into the songwriting, arranging and recording process of the time and the technical limitations of the 4-track recorder that went with it.
Giles Martin has created a thing of beauty and is essential to any fan of The Beatles, though, to be honest, the original mono mix by his Dad from way back in 1967 and included in the Super Deluxe version is the real masterpiece here. Furthermore, the inclusion of Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane following A Day In The Life on the mono mix is a wonderful touch and will please many.
Also available as an expanded 2 CD version and a 180-gram 2 LP vinyl package.
Written by Kevin Petch
INTO THE WOODS – A REVIEW
Following the release of Disney’s Into The Woods in 2015, starring James Corden, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman and Johnny Depp, it’s great to see that The West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North have teamed up for the very first time to bring it back to the stage.
Making its debut in San Diego, USA in 1986 before transferring to Broadway in 1987, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, Into The Woods tells the story of a Baker (Dean Robinson) and his wife (Louise Collett), who are given the chance of having a child of their own by a Witch (Claire Pascoe), but at a price. For this to happen, the childless couple would have to bring the Witch a cow as white as milk; a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold.
So, as the likes of Little Red Riding Hood (Helen Évora), Cinderella (Gillene Butterfield), Jack (Nicholas Watts) and Rapunzel (Amy Freston), enter the story, the Baker and his wife seize their opportunity. But will the Big Bad Wolf (David Llewellyn), an Evil Stepmother (Miranda Bevin), The Ugly Sisters, a Giant and his wife, and various other fairy tale characters get in their way?
For adults and children alike, this is one of the greatest musicals to grace any stage and seems very much at home at the Playhouse. With faultless direction from James Brining, ingenious set design by Colin Richmond, and creative lighting by Tim Mitchell, this dynamic trio make the whole production come to life. Into The Woods is perfectly cast and the characters are so strong and well written that all the performances stand out, though I do suspect that Helen Évora (Little Red Riding Hood) is having the most fun. Special mentions also go to Team Enchanted Woods and all the puppeteers.
As long as you are open to the fact that Into The Woods is 99.9% sung , I would encourage you to purchase tickets for what is an unforgettable evening of fun, great songs, fine performances, puppetry and hilarity – even if it is a little on the dark side.
Runs until Saturday, June 25 2016
Written by Kevin Petch
COSI FAN TUTTE - A REVIEW
Così fan tutte or, The School for Lovers - The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds
Opera North, England’s national opera company based in the North, has long been associated with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte, with its first performance at this very theatre in 1982, followed by the first performance of this production in 2004, and now revived in 2016 for a returning audience and, by the look of tonight’s gathering, a new ‘younger’ audience to enjoy.
With a libretto By Lorenzo da Ponte dating back to 1790, the story centres around Don Alfonso (William Dazeley, Baritone), a philosopher, who places a bet with his soldier friends Guglielmo (Gavan Ring, Baritone) and Ferrando (Nicholas Watts, Tenor), that all women - their lovers, sisters Fiordiligi (Máire Flavin, Soprano) and Dorabella (Helen Sherman, Mezzo-soprano) included - are fickle and, given the opportunity, will be unfaithful. With all sides confident of winning the wager, the three male protagonists, alongside the bribed to play along Despina (Ellie Laugharne, Soprano) concoct a ruse that will turn all their lives upside down.
Sung tonight in English, Così fan tutte was seen as controversial during its early life and didn’t find its real audience until the middle of the 20th century, though, even today, it still divides in a misogynistic sense. But, in saying that, Mozart’s composition is musically as beautiful as any of his major works, especially O wind gently blowing, the trio from Act 1.
It just wouldn’t be right to single out any artiste tonight, as each delivered what can only be described as a world-class performance, and the same can be said for the Orchestra of Opera North, with Jac van Steen conducting. Tim Albery’s direction is flawless, as is the set and costume design by Tobias Hoheisel and lighting design by David Finn.
Stunning, mischievous, and thoroughly entertaining - a tour de force.
Performances on February 10, 13, 18, 26 at 19:00
Written by Kevin Petch