Reviews roundup – The Unthanks vs. Herman Rarebell vs. The Lauren Wolf Band vs. Aranis vs. Kliodna
THE UNTHANKS
Mount The Air
Rabble Rouser
The first album in four years from The Unthanks, their first since “Last”, and one that seems to have taken two years to make. Now no album should take that long, so here’s hoping it was interspersed with bouts of home baking, or something equally worthwhile,.
All five members of the band contribute songs this time around, so that means there are debut pieces from Rachel and Becky Unthank, and it all works rather well, even if the prog type length of some of the songs gets a bit wearing.
See, ‘Mount The Air’ is a cracking song, but an awful lot of its time is taken up with supper club jazz noodling. So I’m much happier in the world of ‘Died For Love’ and ‘Magpie’, where they remember what a song and a melody is. A bit arty farty for me, but there are five songs here which would make a great EP.
BUY AT AMAZON
HERMAN RAREBELL & Friends
Hermans Scorpions Songs
Solid Rockhouse
Not that he’s bitter but here’s a second run through of Scorpions songs from their ex drummer Herman Ze German Rarebell, who has dipped into his Rolodex to visit the eighties for an array of singers including Don Dokken, Doogie White, Jack Russell and Tony Martin to have a crack at some of his co-writing credits.
Now how you’ll view this depends upon your opinion of tribute albums. Because, basically that’s what it is, even if he was in the band. Me. I loved the Scorpions so am more than happy to hear ‘Is There Anybody There?’ sung by Alex Ligertwood (Santana), ‘You Give Me All I Need’ featuring Don Dokken and ‘Make It Real’ with Doogie White, his current colleague in Michael Schenkers Temple Of Rock.
Naturally, it’s not as good as the originals, but if you want to hear the above as well as Bobby Kimball (Toto), John Parr, Michael Voss (Mad Max), Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell), Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot) and Gary Barden (Michael Schenker Group) revisiting the past, then jump on board.
THE LAUREN WOLF BAND
Rise Up
Caudog
Oh, this is good. Although you’d never guess it was a new release, so rooted in seventies blues tinged rock is it. Which is fine with me.
It’s the kind of thing that was big back in the day, taking in blues, soul and rock, with gritty guitars and heartfelt vocals. And there are plenty of good tunes on offer as well, with the likes of ‘Run Daddy Run’, ‘Drowning In My Tears’ and the title track the best of what is an excellent set of classic rock.
It’s album number two from Ms Wolf, and she really does deserve a wider audience for here excellent vocals, while the band put in a decent shift as well. Highly recommended.
ARANIS
Made In Belgium II
Home Records
What the hell was that? Well, turns out that Aranis are a Flemish acoustic avant-rock, experimental and neo-classical chamber music group led by composer and contrabass player Joris Vanvinckenroye. So I hope that’s cleared it up for you.
Part 2 of a trilogy, the first part passed me by, but I’m sure it wouldn’t have made any sense either, as they wander through progressive rock, art rock and classical chamber music with reckless abandon.
However, just because I have no idea what’s going on doesn’t mean that this isn’t an immaculate racket, because it is. Clueless I may be, but it doesn’t really matter on a truly adventurous release.
KLIODNA
Set Me Free
independent
Finally for today, we’re off for some melodic metal from Belarus, which may or may not be a made up country. Actually, this debut EP is more folk metal meets goth meets melodic metal. And for a debut it certainly does the job. Which is to make you perk your ears up and go hello.
And that’s certainly true of this Belarussian band, fronted by singer Helena Wild, who has a voice you won’t forget in a hurry, and who isn’t afraid to use it, regardless of what people might say.
The songwriting doesn’t quite meet the execution yet, but on ‘Night Symphony’ they show that they have the potential to make The Great Leap Forward.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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