Reviews roundup – Starblind vs. Dragontown Dan vs. Enuff Z’Nuff vs. Olde Worlde
STARBLIND
Darkest Horrors
Stormspell
Would you be surprised to learn that “Darkest Horrors” by Starblind is a heavy metal album? Thought not. What about the fact that they’re Swedish and that they simply adore Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Manowar. Time to throw some horns, methinks. And that’s exactly what Starblind do.
And it’s early eighties Priest, Maiden and Manowar that they like, not any of the fancy schmancy latter day gubbins. Twin guitars widdle and riff, high pitched vocals scrape the ceiling, and all is well with the world. For sure, there isn’t a world beating song in here. They’re more Ethel The Frog than “Number Of The Beast”, but it’s still great fun.
The best tunes are ‘Mountains Of Madness’ and ‘The Great Hunt’, so you may want to try them out first. If you happen to be fed up with your record collection which only goes as far as June 1981, then this could be for you.
DRAGONTOWN DAN
Rock ‘n’ Roll Machine
independent
Well, he seems to have named himself after an Alice Cooper album, so no surprises that Mr Dan seems to specialise in seventies hard rock. In fact, it seems that in 2007 he set a world record (really?) for impersonating Alice Cooper 31 days straight in costume and character. An event I would like to see in the next Olympics.
Despite the album title, this is a concept piece, an “allegory of where we are today as a society”. It veers between classic rock and industrial styled soundtracks, and it’s all rather enjoyable. Considering the time he’s spent in a covers band, the music is well written, and songs like the rifftastic ‘Frankenbarbie’, ‘Guitars, Girls, & Guns’ and the ranting ‘I Wish It Was The 80’s’ are certainly well worth hearing.
It’s not startlingly original, but with a good voice, crisp production and a full arsenal of old school rawk, this is something for Dragontown Dan to be proud of.
ENUFF Z’NUFF
Covered In Gold
Cleopatra Records
I saw Enuff Z’nuff live once. It was back in the dark ages around the time of their debut, presumably darn sarf in London town. They weren’t very good, although I was partial to their recorded material. They briefly split up, but bassist Chip Z’Nuff has kept the flag flying for nigh on 30 years now, and shows no inclination to stop.
Now, four years on from their last album, they’ve gone and released a covers album. And you won’t be overly surprised at some of the bands and performers they’ve went back to. The Beatles, Cheap Trick, David Bowie and Queen would be high on the list of bands you think that Enuff Z’nuff would be influenced by. And here they are.
More interesting are trips to Prince (‘When Doves Cry”’), The Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ and The Miracles ‘Tears Of A Clown’, and there is no such thing as too many versions of ‘Yankee Rose’. For obvious reasons, the worst track by far is Nirvana’s ‘All Apologies’, a song that deserves a shotgun blast.
They finish up with a live, acoustic version of their own ‘New Thing’, a song that knocks many of the covers on offer out of the ring. It was certainly interesting, and one you’ll find at least half of worth returning to.
OLDE WORLDE
The Blue Musk-Oxen
Groundhog Records
Album number four of indie-folk from Tokyo born musician Sohhei Numata. Whether it’s something that merits a fourth album is questionable, but as this is the Sort of Thing that the worthy press and Radio 6 get very moist over, it’s probably no surprise.
On the plus side Mr Numata has a very listenable voice. Unusual, without being annoying, at times he sounds very girly, something that suits the feyness of the material. Sonically, it’s very good, with an otherworldliness about songs like ‘Thinking About You’ and ‘Stuck In Hibernation’ that make you think there is a very good record waiting to emerge from Olde Worlde.
A lot of the songs blend into each other, but I suspect that has been done as a conscious concept, but it didn’t really work for me. If the thought of Antony and the Johnsons meets Tortoise sounds like your thing, then give it a go.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
Leave a comment