THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 472 of 491)

PORCUPINE TREE – Up The Downstair

February 6, 2021 /

This version does not include the Staircase Infinities outtakes, so the tracks are more spaced out on the vinyl. Apart from a couple of tracks (where Colin Edwin provides bass, and Richard Barbieri adds some electronics) SW plays all of the instruments. This also has the organic drum tracks that were added by Gavin Harrison.

There was lots of online stupidity and slating (mostly by people who are only recent converts to SW’s music) surrounding SW’s new release, The Future Bites, well what would those people think of this release I wonder? Up until this point, Porcupine Tree were basically an experiment/off shoot to the No-Man project with Tim Bowness, but with the release of this album, SW wanted to make it a full band to tour.

After the small intro piece, the first track is a million miles away from what he is creating today. Synesthesia has very psychedelic undertones to the music and is just beautiful. The next full song is Always Never, and again is just a fantastic tune expanding into the full Prog experience – complete with Gilmour-esque solo. Flip over onto Side B and we have the title track, Up The Downstair, which takes up the whole side. A very trippy electronic intro before a killer bass groove takes the listener to electronic dance territory before the guitar kicks in with that repetitive riff. Superb track!!!

Over on to Side 3 we go, we have Not Beautiful Anymore with its LSD references and very trippy, groovy, and almost dance track. Some nice phased guitar adds to the atmos. Relatively short track, Small Fish, is next which feels very Syd Barret era Floyd. The album’s longest track, Burning Sky, follows and starts with another psychedelic intro and repetitive riff, and builds into a Prog fan’s wet dream.

I love instrumentals and SW is a master at them. I have to say that two words keep popping into my head when listening to this and they are Pink and Floyd. On to album closer, Fadeaway, which is just a beautiful song and a great finish to the album. If all the moaners had come into SW’s music at this point they may well understand the man and his music a lot more. This album is just pure joy, and is one of my favourite PT albums. Everyone should own one.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

THE POWER STATION – s/t

February 5, 2021 /

What do you get when take two parts Duran Duran, two parts Chic, and front it with Robert Palmer? Well its this funk/rock gem that’s what!!! Andy Tylor was always the rock guy in Duran Duran, and he wasn’t given the chance to play as much as he wanted, so at the time, this was a perfect vehicle for him to stretch out.

Opener, Some Like It Hot, is a great opening with a serious groove and a real catchy song. Murderess is more of the same with a great beat and drum sound. HUGE!!! Lonely Tonight carries on with that monster drum sound with a great funky groove, but slightly let down with a weak vocal from Palmer. Side closer, Communication, is the weakest song on this side. Even the monster drum sound can’t save this one.

Flipping over on to Side 2, and the song that everyone in the universe will have heard of, their cover of T.Rex’s Bang a Gong (Get It On). Not usually a fan of cover tunes, but when it’s done as good as this then bring it on. This is such a great version with killer production – it was impossible to fail. How to follow that?! Go To Zero gives it a good try with that monster Chic funk groove, and some killer playing from John Taylor. The Isley Brothers Harvest For The World is next, and this is a perfect example of a cover that does not work. Such an iconic song where exactly do you take it? Not like this that’s for sure. Album closer, Still In Your Heart, is another let down from what, on the whole, is a great album. So still a good album apart from a couple of poor song choices.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

VANDEN PLAS – The Ghost Xperiment Illumination

February 5, 2021 /

This is the tenth studio album from these German Prog metallers. I first got into these guys through their first album The Colour Temple. Their second album, The God Thing, is an absolute masterpiece of the genre. This album is actually part 2 of the Ghost Xperiment concept. So for those of you not familiar with Vanden Plas – think Dream Theater in their more basic moments, with a huge fat guitar sound and great melodies.

First track, When The World Is Falling Down, is a great opener with a huge riff and a great vocal from the unfortunately named Mr Kuntz…Under The Horizon is next, and is more of the same – a great opening side. Black Waltz Death starts Side 2 in a mellow mood – with a nice acoustic intro that turns into a great power ballad with a cool solo section. The Lonely Psychogon closes out the first disc with another fat beast of a riff with a cool heavy groove. Great song!

On to Disc 2, and the epic Fatal Arcadia, which is very Dream Theater Train of Thought era. Ever since the second album (the aforementioned, The God Thing) the band have not been able to shake the DT comparisons, and when you listen to this tune you can understand why. It’s not a bad thing, may I add, as they do it really well. The Ouroboros is next to finish Side 3, the longest track on the album at 13.06. Another slow-burner of a tune that builds and builds into a tune of epic proportions. Another great song with some killer playing. Over to Side 4 we have Ghost Engineers – with its almost classical beginning and the weakest song on the album. Last track is a bonus track for the vinyl, Krieg Kennt Keine Sieger, and not a bad track it is.

Special mention goes out to Stephan Lill, who has a huge tone and drives the band with some monster riffs. That’s not knocking any of the other members as they are all great players – it’s just that guitar is very front and centre in the mix. If you were ever thinking about buying a Vanden Plas album and not sure where to start – I would go with The God Thing first, and then this beauty. Be careful when buying as the pressing quality is not great I’m on my third copy. Frontiers have no quality control.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BUCKINGHAM MCVIE – s/t

February 4, 2021 /

What do 50% of Fleetwood Mac do when they get to play by themselves? Well, I say 50% as in the writing process, but recording wise they are all here apart from Stevie.

First thing I notice with opening track, Sleeping Around The Corner – other than it sounds like a Mac outtake – is how ruff Lindsey’s voice is. Feel About You is a nice laid back tune with Christine singing. In My World, which I do believe was a single, is more what I was expecting from these two. A good catchy song with a sing-a-long chorus, and that stuck-in-the-west-coast vibe. Red Sun is next, and the thing that grabs you is how much better the songs sound with Christine singing. Love Is Here To Stay closes out Side 1 and it sounds as though it’s been lying around since the Rumours days.

Flip over and what could be the best song on the album – Too Far Gone opens things up nicely. Great tune with Lindsey actually playing some guitar. I’m gonna skip the next three tracks as they are basically three more laid back west coast tunes, but the last song, Carnival Begin, is very reminiscent of really old Fleetwood Mac. It has a very bluesy vibe with a great vocal from Christine. And that’s that!

Just a nice chill out record.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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