THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: October 2020 (Page 1 of 2)

JEFF BECK – Wired

October 20, 2020 /

Back to 1976 we go to catch Mr. Beck at probably something approaching his peak. Moving away from the Yardbirds and his early blues influences to a more fusion sound, this album sees Beck honing techniques and sounds that he would become sun ominous with later on in his career. It’s worth noting that Jeff does not get a writing credit on any of these tracks, which I find strange as I am sure he must have had a hand in the arrangements.

This is one of my favourite Beck albums. Quality from beginning to end. This is the master sound half speed mastered version which sounds great. Kicking the whole thing off with Led Boots, which I think is a homage to Zeppelin with a great groove and some fantastic playing from Jeff (and is still in his live set today) as well as Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. Closing Side 1 is the excellent Heading For Backstage Pass, which is my personal fave on the album. Side 2 carries on where Side 1 left off featuring the awesome Play With Me.

If anyone wants an introduction to Beck’s solo work then I would point them in this direction as you can’t go wrong with Wired. Jeff is up there with the greats for his style and technique.

8/10 from the Grooveman.

PORCUPINE TREE – Fear of a Blank Planet

October 14, 2020 /

Disclaimer alert!!! Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson are one of my favourite artists.

This is a concept album about two medical conditions, ADD, and Bipolar Disorder that affect teenagers and the reliance on the medical profession to treat them with drugs. Thus rendering them as zombies. Well that’s my gist of it anyway.

Kicking off with the title track that presumably has a doctor typing a prescription on his computer, the track kicks into a great riff and groove with a heavy middle eight that should get any music fan drooling. The album is very light and shade, the way the tracks have been sequenced presumably to create the moods of the kids while they are on the drugs. Stand out tracks are Anesthetize, weighing in at a whopping 17.42 in length, and the close out track Sleep Together.

Gavin Harrison’s drumming on this record is on a different level, and on Sleep Together the groove is just sublime. Both of these tracks are Porcupine Tree at their best. Steven still uses Sleep Together to close out his solo performances. This is the first of two studio albums they recorded for Roadrunner and quite possibly their best album ever.

If you were to give someone an entry point in to Porcupine Tree’s music, then this would be the one to recommend from this period and maybe Sygnify from earlier recordings. I love every second of this masterpiece.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

EDDIE VAN HALEN

October 9, 2020 /

A couple of days have passed since the passing of #GOAT Eddie Van Halen. Lots of people have expressed their love and sorrow at the passing of this giant of Rock N Roll.

I first heard Van Halen at the beginning of 1978 when I was 17. I had heard rumblings in Sounds magazine about this amazing band from LA that was going to change the world. You heard those type of remarks all the time back then as we were in the middle of the punk explosion, which was fun for about 10 minutes until you realized that none of them could play. It was on Alan Freeman’s album show on a Saturday afternoon when the ground zero moment occurred. He played Eruption and You Really Got Me. Well to say I was blown away was the understatement of forever. The hype was all true and then some. These guys could play and write great songs.

The first album weighed in at 35 mins. 11 songs all killer no filler. In fact the first 6 albums are all fantastic. I don’t think there has ever been a band with such constant great output. Eddie was the standout for me as his guitar playing was other worldly. Every guitar player and band that followed used VH as a template. His contribution to music cannot be over estimated, I doubt we will ever see the like again.

Eddie and VH have been a constant companion for me for the past 43 years and I feel as though I have lost a close personal friend. Love you Ed💔

LARKIN POE – Venom & Faith

October 8, 2020 /

I didn’t fully appreciate this band until I caught them playing live at the Ottawa Bluesfest a few years ago. They blew me away with how good they were. Blues for a modern age. Fronted by sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, they are the best blues/roots band I have seen for a long time.

Album opener Sometimes is pure delta blues which sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the record. Rebecca’s voice is just perfect for the music they play. Fly Like an Eagle is my personal favourite. There is so much emotion on this record I’m not sure any words I write can do it justice. Just close your eyes and you could be on the banks of the Mississippi. Listen to Hard Time Killing Floor Blues to catch my drift. There is some great slide/lap steel played by Megan.

Love this record. If anyone has a remote interest in blues/roots music they should own this record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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