Reviews roundup – Classical Reflection vs. Shawn James & The Shapeshifters vs. Paola Pellegrini Lexrock vs. Bill Wyman vs. Andy Shauf

Reviews roundup – Classical Reflection vs. Shawn James & The Shapeshifters vs. Paola Pellegrini Lexrock vs. Bill Wyman vs. Andy Shauf

CLASSICAL REFLECTION
A New Day Is Dawning/ Bring Him Home
independent

You’ll know then as the twins from The Voice.  They brightened up the rather dull Team Ricky with their classical crossover warblings, and have now teamed up with composer Christopher Broom on ‘A New Day Is Dawning’. And it’s pretty much what you would expect.

Now obviously I don’t know which soprano is which, but whoever kicks off this song has the voice I prefer, as the uplifting, almost spiritual tune builds up.  You can buy it directly from them on their website as a one track single, but if you prefer a familiar song, they’ve also put out an acoustic version of ‘Bring Him Home’, a song that everyone in the world has now covered.  And they do it justice.  Whether there is room for them in an increasingly crowded classical crossover world, with the likes of Karl Loxley and Lucy O’Byrne shoogling for elbow space is open to question, but both songs were a very enjoyable listen.

http://www.classicalreflection.co.uk/

SHAWN JAMES & THE SHAPESHIFTERS
The Gospel According to Shawn James & the Shapeshifters
independent

Damn you genetics!  Damn you biology!  If it wasn’t for you I’d be joining the queue to have Shawn James babies.  Because this record is the most awesomely awesome thing I’ve heard in ages.

Prior to this, there were four EPs, none of which I have heard, damn it, but this is just tremendous.  It’s a remarkable fusion of blues, country, shouting and banjos, none of which should work, but which is utterly irresistible.  There is a gothic twist in there as well, with a lot of southern baptist hollering and a-shouting and a-burning in a lake of fire.

Oddly, he seems to hail from Chicago, although is now based in Arkansas, and it’s that location that seems to infuse tremendous songs like ‘Like Father Like Son’ and ‘Lake of Fire’.  Frankly, there is little point in me listening to another record this year, as I fail to see how this will be topped.  Now don’t be fooled into thinking they’re just another indie blues act.  This is bigger, deeper and better than a thousand of them, rolled up and set alight.

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PAOLA PELLEGRINI LEXROCK
Dreams Come True
Qua Rock

Careful what you say, cos Ms Pellegrini is also a criminal lawyer in Florence.  Who, on the side, makes punk / metal hybrid rock and roll.  And fair play to her.

It’s quite old fashioned, the kind of thing that Girlschool were bashing out, before they tried and failed at the American dream.  But it’s a good noise, with some 21st century production work, shoving the songs right down your throat.  It’s rougher than Joan Jett, but she has an interesting way with words, as befits someone who has also just published her first novel.

Not all the songs are winners, but with a handful of tunes standing out, you may want to try streaming the likes of ‘Love My Game’, Take Me’ and ‘Until You Drop’ before taking the plunge.

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BILL WYMAN
Back To Basics
Proper

A solo album?  From Bill Wyman?  His first since 1982, according to the press bumph, which nicely erases “Stuff” from the public domain.  Although, seeing as how that was a funk album only released in Japan and Argentina, it’s maybe for the best.  Odd, though, seeing as how he revisits the title track on this new release.

Because this one really is a successor to his triptych of “Monkey Grip” (1974), “Stone Alone” (1976) and “Bill Wyman” (1982), none of which troubled the chart compilers overly, despite his sole UK top 20 hit single ‘(Si, Si) Je suis un rock star’.  Since then he’s been busy playing jump blues with the Rhythm Kings, but he obviously feels he has something left to say now he’s turned 78, and has pulled in a bunch of musos like Robbie McIntosh (Paul McCartney), Andy Wright (Eurythmics/Jeff Beck) and Guy Fletcher (Mark Knopfler).

It’s mainly new material with revisits to ‘Seventeen’, ‘I’ll Pull You Thro’ and the aforementioned ‘Stuff’, and it’s a gentle understated stroll through the kind of whimsical pop / blues-lite he tried all those years ago.  It’s not really an album of highs and lows, although ‘What & How & If & When & Why’ and ‘November’ stand out as the best songs.  JJ Cale if he’d come from south east London.

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ANDY SHAUF
The Bearer Of Bad News
Tender Loving Empire

Gird yersel, there’s grim times ahead.  Because that album title is not ironic.

Yes, it’s indie folk singer songwriter time, as Mr Shauf takes on the mantle of doe eyed troubadour with a sad heart full of soul.  And wants us to share his pain.  Basically, he seems to be very depressed about stuff and girls (or boys, I don’t know), and through the medium of some lo-fi musings, he tells all.

Now, lots of people like this sort of thing.  You know.  Heartbreak, mistakes, regrets, and general maudlin’.  So fair play to the fella from Saskatchewan, over there in the Canadian colonies as he croons his tunes of doom and gloom.  He does have a listenable voice, though, and a couple of the tunes do take hold, such as ‘Drink My Rivers’  and ‘Jesus, She’s A Good Girl’. Plus, I’m all in favour of the clarinet, but if you were born with a melancholy disposition, you may want to steer clear of songs like ‘I’m Not Falling Asleep’.  Me? My life is shite enough without adding second hand pain to the mix.

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