Reviews roundup – A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band vs. The Dowling Poole vs. Intelligent Music Project vs. Erik Scott
Various Artists
Midnight Rider: A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band
Goldenlane
A tricky one, this, because the first time I heard ‘Blackhearted Woman’ by the Allman Brothers Band changed the course of my musical life. Not that you can’t cover the ABB because I actually prefer the Molly Hatchet version of ‘Dreams’ on their 1978 better than the original.
Cleopatra (for it is they) have certainly wheeled in some big names for this with the regurgitated Molly Hatchet back, along with Pat Travers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Hall, Steve Morse, Commander Cody and Leon Russell amongst the many performers. Of course, it’s all a bit hit and miss, but that’s the nature of these beast.
But the good ones are good with Molly Hatchet ramping up ‘Melissa’, Commander Cody having a blast with Sonny Landreth on ‘Southbound’, Wet Willie man, Jimmy Hall on ‘Whipping Post’ and Pat Travers take on the the title track. Some of the other material is forgettable, but as a dyed in the wool ABB fan, I’m happy for anything that keeps them in the public eye, especially with them seemingly winding down the road.
THE DOWLING POOLE
Bleak Strategies
369 Music
The Grip! Now they were a band. ‘Teenage Bride’ on 12″, that was a proper record. But that was the eighties, so Willie Dowling must be cracking on a bit. But the former Chelsea / Grip / Honeycrack fella is still plugging away, and this is his latest band.
But there is no more faux glam on offer, as his new outfit sees him teaming up with ex Cardiacs fella Jon Poole, and following the Ginger Wildheart route by Pledge Music funding. And if slightly psychedelic pop rock is your bag then you’ll like this. A lot of it is rooted in the sixties, with some Beatlesband harmonies, before they move onto 10cc and end up with some paisley pop.
There are some jolly nice tunes with ‘The Sun Is Mine’ and ‘Saving It All For A Saturday’ the best of the bunch and only one out and out clunker in the shape of ‘Twilight Subplot’. It can sometimes be a bit too polite and knowing for its own good, but psych popsters should certainly give it a go.
INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT
II: My Kind O’ Lovin’
Intelligent Music
The second IMP album from composer and producer Dr. Milen Vrabevski sees him bringing in the likes of drummer Simon Phillips and vocalists Joseph Williams (Toto) and ex-Uriah Heep / Lucifer’s Friend John Lawton.
It’s an album that would have sat happily on an adult contemporary station in the seventies, with light jazz licks, MOR harmonies and melodies, and uplifting lyrics. Songs like ‘Happiness’, ‘Things We Can’t Do’ and the ballad ‘Love Song’ aim to lift the spirit, and even the lyrics are a bit happy clappy for some of us, the melodies carry them off.
The performances are uniformly excellent, especially John Lawton, whose profile has been rising over the last couple of years, and when the harmonies hit hard, it’s a real treat. AOR / MOR fans who like things a wee bit on the old fashioned side will enjoy this, although Heep fans may want to tread cautiously.
ERIK SCOTT
and the Earth Bleeds
independent
A lot of Alice Cooper fans won’t think fondly of Erik Scott. Having signed up for the “Flush The Fashion” tour he stayed on to work on the “Special Forces” record before co-writing a lot of “Zipper Catches Skin”, albums not beloved by his fan base. Me, I quite liked them, so was interested in finding out what he’s been up to for the last 30 years.
And it seems like he’s turned into a Celtic progster. Seriously. Seems that Scott “did” Scotchland last August, and three of the songs here – ‘Free’, ‘The Battle For Neverland’ and ‘Run’ are straight out of the Mel Gibson version of “Brigadoon”. So, in news that should make Furst Meenister Wee Fat Eck very happy, ‘Free’ is inspired by, and dedicated to William Wallace. Frrrrreeeedduuummm!!!!!!
Elsewhere, things jog along in prog-lite, ambient and reflective manner, with songs like the title track and ‘Loco Amour’ very gentle indeed. The proggiest moment is ‘Let’s Do Something Cool Tonight’ and it benefits from that approach. As you would expect from someone who has worked on hunnerds of session over the years, it’s a professionally produced and arranged album, which you’d be happy to have pop round for a cup of tea, without necessarily inviting to dinner.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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