ALBUMs

: Album Reviews; 26 July 2013

How old is ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, ‘Animals’? …well, you can hear faint remnants of Pink Floyd all over this album mixed with simple, effective and at times complex electronic music. This is a fabulous album to be played at volume!

F*ck Buttons (or FB now?) are chart bound with this record, which makes it the first ATP record album to actually hit the charts (a great reason to get out there and buy it before Sunday!).

FB are Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung who come from Bristol (where there must be definitely something in the water, electronic music wise) and this is their first release as FB since 2009’s ‘Tarot Sport’, this time however, the recording is self-produced at their own Space Mountain studio

Danny Boyle used their music in the Olympics opening ceremony in London which brought the duo further into the limelight. Ben has also had his solo project, ‘Blanck Mass’ on the front burner in recent months but this is, make now mistake an epic return for FB and one likely to propel them further into the spotlight.

9/11

Pete

1. Brainfreeze

2. Year Of The Dog

3. The Red Wing

4. Sentients

5. Prince's Prize

6. Stalker

7. Hidden XS

: Album Reviews; 17 July 2013

This is a one of those, put the roof down on the car, roll up your sleeves, foot on the gas and get some miles under those tyres, type of record. A rock 'n' roll line can be drawn from The Stones, via Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and The Eagles in the influence stakes on this very listenable album.

Bobby Keys, the legend that is, the Rolling Stones Sax Man of choice and Americana darling, Caitlin Rose both appear on the album. All bases get covered here, Rock songs, Country and a ballad or two. This is the band’s fourth full-length LP.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, ‘comments band leader Fredson excitedly, about the Bobby Keys saxophone solo at the end of ‘Riding the Clutch’ ‘“That was a pretty special moment to have such a legend grace us with his musical presence on record with us."

He continues, "The album is self-titled because of all the records we've ever made, we think this is the one that represents our live show and musical allegiances the most," "This is the record where what we heard in our heads made a perfect transition onto record, and self-titling it seemed like the most simple, effective way to represent what we had created."

: Album Reviews; 10 July 2013

Dear Uncle Pete,

This is by far the most fantastic set of songs you have ever asked me to review.

This band clearly rehearses in the nastiest, dirtiest old rock pub you know and love it for its grizzled ambiance. As a live album it is brilliant, I thought if Joe Bonamassa collaborated with The Cult it would sound as great as this.

Raw,edgy and beautifully performed. This is a band with unexpected festival surprise (if they are playing any) of the year tag waiting for them.

A free album is a rare gift today, but one that makes me cry Hell yeah, out loud to each track this a must for any RockCluberati. I played the album front to back, back to front and then in a freestyle shuffle mode and it sounded tight fun loud and bloody good fun every way up.

All the live tracks are pub thumping good, with Heavy Horses my particular fave. I would jump at the chance to see them in the People's Republic of Essex or Londonshire, any time soon.

Not just Fallen Trees, they are Redwoods of distinction. The album in question is available as a FREE download from Bandcamp

Rockadoodledoo

Iain @docswallow

Circuit Records

Fallen Trees are from Sheffield and the band members are;

Paul Littlewood

Dave Timmons

Glenn Moss

Graham Sutherland

: Album Reviews; 23 June 2013

Matt Boulter plays in a band called The Lucky Strikes, he plays guitar with the Simone Felice Group on regular occasions as well as having a solo career as 'Whispering Pines'. His latest solo venture come under the title of M.G. Boulter and a true Americana album recorded, not in the Catskills Mountains or Laurel Canyon but, in Broom Cupboard Studios in Rayleigh in Essex.

The band behind the album, The Water or the Wave, includes Pick Withers of Dire Straits fame on drums, Lucky Strikes compatriots, Paul Ambrose and Jim Wilson and from London Bluegrass band, Troubadour Rose came Bryony Afferson and Lizzy O'Connor. all this added up to a beautiful warmth of sound on the record (yes, the album is available on 180g vinyl).

Eleven original compositions crammed into just under thirty-seven minutes means that you definitely have an appetite for more at the end of the album.

Matthew has a voice built for Americana, particularly wistful on ‘Once I Was’ and dance floor Americana on Confetti Hearts This album drifts by effortlessly with a tapping of the foot and a glass of whiskey in hand. It should charm the socks of any listener.

I wouldn't say one song stands out above another; there is a genuinely sweet consistency throughout. Perhaps a fifty-minute album next time?

Matt has an album launch at the Slaughtered Lamb in London on 24^th The Album: The Water or the Wave is available from Harbour Song Records on 8th July in CD 180g vinyl & Download and is heartily recommended.

Pete

10/11

We asked Matthew some questions about the record and other stuff HERE

: Album Reviews; 14 June 2013

Review by Kevin Hand, June 2013

I like this album, the latest by prolific solo electronic Edinburgh artist Richard Haswell. Itâ€™s extremely well produced, by the man himself, with references to post-Dark Side Pink Floyd. At times his voice sounds uncannily like Gilmour. But itâ€™s more imaginative than that â€“first track Jarvik-13 is a driving anthem with treated guitars that sound like bagpipes. The Distance Between You and I feels like dark dancefloor Depeche Mode. And his admitted influences sound like a dream playlist â€“ see below. Much is moving and mellow, especially the closer The Thinner the Ice.

I wanted to hear more â€“ which should not be hard, as Richard has recorded over 20 albums! Recorded, produced and self-promoted, single-handedly. I was fascinated by this alternative way of music-making, and Richard was very open to my questioning:

KH: How easy it is it to self-produce your own material to this quality?

RH: If I was being honest the self-production process is a difficult and painstaking one. I don't have the best of equipment or software but having recorded on a 4-track tape recorder for years there are many advantages with computer software. Sometimes though a song will drive you to your absolute limit, as with Jarvik-13 (I almost lost the will to live mixing that! :). You are trying to get as close to the sound you have in your head and it often requires a lot of sifting and many different mixes before you get near that.

KH: Is it a personal choice, or would you prefer to be working with a label?

RH: Sometimes I feel I would like the support of a label, as to promote your own album requires a lot of work and it probably doesn't reach as wide an audience. Also the live aspect suffers - if I had a manager / label I would probably play live more but having to organise it myself it often gets put on the back burner. However I do love the artistic freedom I have to follow my own path