THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Month: September 2022 (Page 3 of 11)

THIN LIZZY – Live And Dangerous

September 20, 2022 /

In the tradition of great live albums that came out in the seventies, Live And Dangerous is a close runner-up to Made In Japan for the best. Recorded at various venues over a few tours, the Hammersmith Odeon and Seneca College in Toronto to name two, this is Lizzy at their supreme best. I saw them live around this time, and believe me they were a killer live band.

Heavily loaded with Jailbreak tunes which let’s face it, was their best album; this album just smokes. Side 3 with Cowboy Song, The Boys Are Back In Town, Don’t Believe A Word, Warrior, and Are You Ready has to be one of the best sides ever. The version of Warrior on this set is just killer, and for today is my favourite track on the album. Phil was such a great frontman. I miss Lizzy and that twin guitar attack a lot.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

KINO – Radio Voltaire

September 20, 2022 /

There seem to be a million project bands within the prog genre, and I guess Kino are one of them. Comprising of John Mitchell (Lonely Robot) on vocals and guitar, Pete Trewavas (Marillion) on bass, John Beck (It Bites) keyboards, and Craig Blundell (Frost) on the drums. This is their second proper album, released in 2018.

Radio Voltaire opens up the album and it’s a great piece of modern Prog with Mitchell’s distinctive voice driving the song with lots highs and lows. The Dead Club has a great heavy riff that reminds me a tad of Porcupine Tree, but there is a lot more going on musically. Idlewild slows the groove right down and Mitchell’s voice comes over as a more melodic Peter Gabriel, at least on this track and his solo is just wonderful. I Don’t Know Why is one of three songs that Trewevas has written on the album. The song has a very late 70’s feel to it, with great vocal harmonies. The best song on the album is I Won’t Break So Easily Anymore. It harks back to Prog epics of the past. A superb song with some killer playing from all involved. Temple Tudor has a medieval vibe with a great Mitchell vocal. Out Of Time is a runner up for my favourite track on the album, as I love the main riff and groove to the song. Grey Shapes On Concrete Fields, apart from the vocal, reminds me of Genesis. Keep The Faith I would describe as a prog anthemic ballad, with a really cool melodic solo. Save the epic to the last with The Silent Fighter Pilot, a huge song that just builds and builds; a very dramatic piece. I would call this a classic mode prog record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SKYHARBOR – Sunshine Dust

September 19, 2022 /

This is India’s finest exponents of tech metal’s third album, released back in 2018. Melody has always been high on the things they excel at, but with this album I think they have gone above and beyond. The only non-Indian member of the band is vocalist Eric Emery who sort of defines the sound somewhat, just like Mike Lessard does in The Contortionist. In fact, I think those bands are very alike.

After the short instrumental track Signal, the first track proper is Dim. A totally vocal-driven piece with a nice groove and vibe. Out Of Time has a very busy groove, there are some killer riffs and short instrumental bursts all over this track. Synthetic Hands has a short quiet beginning before the pace picks up with a very busy drum groove, matched with a choppy riff. The middle is super heavy and djenty. They do seem to have moved maybe too much away from the heaviness. The songs have become too reliant on the vocals, and the main vocal melodies seem to blend into one. I’m not saying it’s bad, its not, I just would like more of the heaviness. When a track like Dissent blasts in, its like a kick in the nuts. The heaviness is so welcome and a refreshing change, it’s my favourite on the album. I hope the next record mixes it up with a little more crunch.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ROBIN TROWER – Twice Removed From Yesterday

September 19, 2022 /

This is Robin’s first album, released in ’73 after leaving Procul Harem to go solo. These early Trower albums are pure gold. Great heavy sound and tone to his playing but with real soul and feel, and Jimmy Dewar’s vocals just can’t be beaten. Quite unfairly tagged with being a Hendrix copyist, if the hacks who wrote those comments had paid a little attention to the music that was being played they would have heard that was not the case. Sure, Hendrix was an influence as he was to many, but that was it.

Right from the opening notes of I Can’t Wait Much Longer you know that you are hearing a genius play. Superb groovy tune with a killer vibe. Daydream is my favourite track and is a real slow tune, but the hairs still come up on my arm when hearing this after all these years. Just superb playing! Hannah follows and is another slow paced track, at least at the start, then a killer funky vibe takes over. The guitar sounds so heavy and yet very melodic. Side 1 closes out with the soul/funk of Man Of The World; a short groovy piece.

I Can’t Stand It opens up Side 2 and I love the riff, and Jimmy is singing with a spoken style. You can tell Robin is still finding his feet as a solo artist as he holds back on the solos on this album. The good old standard Rock Me Baby is next up and this version has a dirty swing to the groove with plenty of guitar. The title track is up next and this is the one track I don’t quite connect with. Sinners Song follows and the initial picked riff is quite simple. The groove is quite funky and I really love the middle section. The album closes out with Ballerina and it’s just Robin and Jimmy with the most beautiful delicate piece.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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