Monthly Archives mars 2012

Posted in Interviews

Festivalphoto spoke to Rebecca Spinks, singer with The Mariana Hollow, before they played supporting Pythia at the Borderline in London on 29th February.

Festivalphoto: Ok for anyone who hasnt listened to The Mariana Hollow before, how would you describe your music?

Rebecca: I’d describe it as alternative metal/rock. There’s definitely a melodic edge to our music so we like to write songs that people can listen to and remember. It’s fairly dark, some people say it reminds them of the sea

Festivalphoto: Your new album, Velvet Black Sky has just been released (although I keep mis-saying it as Black Velvet sky).

Rebecca: I keep doing that as well to be honest.

Festivalphoto: Where did the album title come from?

Rebecca: To be honest I was reading a book and it was just a few of the words i...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Emergence” is the debut album from heavy rockers The Sun Explodes. Hailing from Carlisle, they have a sound that crosses genre boundaries. At times they have a really heavy guitar driven sound, but at other times there is a very prominent use of synthesisers which gives it a totally different sound. Presonally I’m glad to see so many new bands mixing things up and not being limited by artificial genres as by mixing things up we get some interesting new sounds – sometimes it works brilliantly and at other times it doesnt work. Happily in this case it works well.

Comments on a couple of the tracks…

Title track ”Emergence starts off with some guitar and drums which gradually rise in pace and intensity for almost a minute at which point the synth kicks in and becomes the dominant sound, e...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Diana Ross, originally issued in 1976, was Diana Ross’s first full-length solo studio album in over two years. It arrived on the heels of Mahogany, Diana’s record-breaking second feature film that included her No. 1 hit, ”Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)”.
As well as the Mahogany theme, the album containts one of Diana Ross’s biggest hits – ”Love hangover”.

As well as the newly re-mastered original album, there is a second CD packed with bonus material – single-only mixes, non-LP singles, the super-rare promotional single ”Coming Home,” and new alternate mixes of nearly the entire album...

Posted in Cd Reviews

”Older than my old man now is the new album from Loudon Wainwright III. The title represents the fact that at the age of 65 he has lived longer than his father did. The whole album has an autobiographical theme whether and also involves several members of his family – Opening track ”The here and the now” features his four children on backing vocals as well as two out of three of their mothers. A couple of songs are based on recitations written by his late father, and one song was written with his late ex-wife Kate McGarrigle.

Loudon Wainwright III has a career spanning over 40 years with this being his 22nd studio album, so his music needs little introduction as he’s built up a solid fanbase during that time...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Jake Morley is a young British singer-songwriter who has been getting plenty of attention recently. His single ”Feet don’t fail me now” was extremely good so I was looking forward to hearing the album. The music is simple – primarily Jake Morley playing acoustic guitar and singing whcih works well. His guitar playig is an unusual style – he plays it with a lap tapping style which isnt something you see very often.
The lyrics are all based around everyday life rather than anything particularly exciting or exotic, and while that may not excite some people, I can see it appealing to others who find the lyrics easier to relate to than lyrics by many bands.

It’s a hard style to describe – its not pop, its not folk, its not rock – but saying what it is isn’t easy – really its a blend of the t...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Rock´n´Roll fest på kära KB.

Funkiga Electric Boys och återvändande Bonafide är båda aktuella med skivsläpp till sommaren. Electric Boys har varit borta i skånska Klippan hela veckan och jammat in låtar hemma hos nytillskottet i Bonafide – basisten Martin Ekelund. Så de passade på att gemensamt göra en smutsig spelning för de skånska fansen på KB i Malmö.

Först ut var Bonafide som direkt slungade iväg Dirt Bound, dränkt i tequila. Den nya sättningen fungerar bra och Bonafide låter fortfarande mycket Bonafide. Lite nytt material bjöds från kommande skivan Krusher och det låter lovande. Full rörelse på scenen och givetvis gör Snibb en Snibb(!) och hoppar troget ner till publiken och bjuder upp till närkontakt av tredje graden, till publikens förtjusning.

B...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Tonight is the launch party for Pythia’s new album, The Serpents curse. The Mariana Hollow who are supporting also have a new album out (Velvet Black sky). Normally with two unsigned bands playing a midweek gig I wouldnt expect a large crowd, but tonight the Borderline is pretty packed – the bands have attracted a damn good crowd. Handing each ticket holder a signed copy of Pythia’s current single (Betray my heart) on Vinyl was a nice touch and probably helped ticket sales, not to mention putting people in a great mood straight away on the night.

The night started with plenty of drinking while Pythia’s album played, then after a short break it was time for The Mariana Hollow to take the stage...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Kissin’ Dynamite may be a new name to many people, but I predict that they’re a band that you’re going to hear a lot of over the coming months and years, particularly if you’re a fan of sleaze rock. Despite their youth this is their third (and best) album to date as well as being their first since signing with AFM records.

With this album Kissin’ Dynamite have found their identity. Previously they’ve experimented with various sounds, but have now settled on a sleazy heavy rock sound which definitely suits them.

The two singles – ”Money sex & power” and ”I will be king” are both really strong tracks that are already winning the band a lot of new fans judging by the number of my facebook friends who have been reposting the videos recently.

Insanely catchy choruses, great vocals, well wri...

Posted in Cd Reviews

In May 2010 the world of Hard Rock / Heavy Metal lost one of its most talented stars, with the passing of Ronnie James Dio. During his career he sang for Rainbow and Black Sabbath, as well as his own eponymous band (Dio). With his incredible vocal range he sang some of the real classic songs in rock and metal

Three of the Dio albums – ‘Holy Diver’, ‘Sacred Heart’ and ‘Last in Line’ are being re-released this month. As well as a re-mastered version of the original album, these reissues each feature a bonus CD containing lots of extra material including B sides, the EP and live tracks. There is also an expanded booklet with notes from Malcolm Dome. The reissues have been endorsed by Ronnie’s widow Wendy Dio.

As with the other two albums being released at the same time, the ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

In May 2010 the world of Hard Rock / Heavy Metal lost one of its most talented stars, with the passing of Ronnie James Dio. During his career he sang for Rainbow and Black Sabbath, as well as his own eponymous band (Dio). With his incredible vocal range he sang some of the real classic songs in rock and metal

Three of the Dio albums – ‘Holy Diver’, ‘Sacred Heart’ and ‘Last in Line’ are being re-released this month. As well as a re-mastered version of the original album, these reissues each feature a bonus CD containing lots of extra material including B sides, the EP and live tracks. There is also an expanded booklet with notes from Malcolm Dome. The reissues have been endorsed by Ronnie’s widow Wendy Dio.

As with the other two albums being released at the same time, the ...