Reviews roundup – Klaus Schulze vs. Darryl Way vs. The Rex Granite Band vs. Sydney Brown vs. Band of Gold

Reviews roundup – Klaus Schulze vs. Darryl Way vs. The Rex Granite Band vs. Sydney Brown vs. Band of Gold

KLAUS SCHULZE
Silhouettes
Oblivion / SPV

Well what do you expect from an icon of electronic ambience?  Some nut crushing EDM?  Of course not.  So you’re getting exactly what you would expect from the septuagenarian pioneer.Well what do you expect from an icon of electronic ambience?  Some nut crushing EDM?  Of course not.  So you’re getting exactly what you would expect from the Tangerine Dream / Ash Ra Tempel fella.

It’s been a few years since we’ve had any new music from him as it seems he’s been a bit poorly.  Add in the fact that some of his contemporaries have moved on to other aspects of existence and it’s not really a surprise to hear the sound of reflection within the four pieces presented on this release.  The title track, ‘Der lange Blick zurück’ (The long look back), ‘Quae simplex’ (what is simple) and ‘Châteaux faits de vent’ (castles made of wind) unfold slowly and majestically, taking their time to imprint themselves upon you.

It’s not the kind of thing that the Now Generation will take to, as you really need to keep to the pace of the music to get an idea of what is going on, and with the two shortest tracks clocking in at 15 minutes a piece, time is what you have to give to it.  With about 60 solo albums and over 100 albums in total it’s difficult to find anything that’s actually new here, but Schulze still manages to put together a compelling, cosmic, electronic symphony for our time.

 

 

DARRYL WAY
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons In Rock
Right Honourable

For some reason this is being promoted as the 50th anniversary of the Curved air tune ‘Vivaldi’. Which is odd seeing as how it was on their debut album “Air Conditioning” in 1970. Now I’m no maths whizz but even I can see that makes no sense.

Now there have been a lot (and I mean a lot) of re-imaginations of the Four Seasons over the years so is it possible for a new twist to be applied. Well, much to my surprise, the answer is yes. It’s been a fertile time of late for fans of the former Curved Air fiddler and this is one they’re really going to take to. The core of the original piece is there and even a lot of the fiddle work is close but with the rock arrangements and a swathe of synthesisers the respective movements survive and flourish

For sure, the opening ‘Spring’ movement doesn’t immediately grab you but by the time you get to the ‘Winter Largo’ you’ll find yourself reaching for the bravo button. It may not please pure classicists but to those of us who like to tap our feet as well as use our brains, this will be a winner.

 

 

THE REX GRANITE BAND
Spirit / Matter / Truth / Lies
independent

Even if this album were a roaring pile of keech (which it isn’t) I could quite happily sit and stare at the rear cover for hours on end. So props to artist Michael Raaflaub for a stunning steam train picture. Oh, yes, and there’s a record as well.

A good one. The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck to give them their Sunday name are a slide guitar rockin’ combo from Omaha who really do know how to rock the blues. The slide guitar work of the splendidly name Rex Granite push things along while the soulful Susan Tedescho style vocals of Sarah Benck help ease you into the songs. They’re nine tenths original with a cover of an old Percy Mayfield tune, with one from Ms Benck and the others from the pen of one Kevin Loomis who isn’t in the band and may be their manager.

And the songs are good as well, although the band are at their best when they get a bit rough and ready, so ‘Cadillac Car’, ‘Steamroller’ and ‘Two Trains’ really stood out for me. A wee gem.

 

SYDNEY BROWN
Love Is Stronger Than Smoke And Fire
Tarpan

Well actually it isn’t. If there was ever a new version of Rock, Paper, Scissors with Love, Smoke and Fire, then Love would finish last.

But Ms Brown (for Sydney is a she) is young, so a bout of virtue signalling is inevitable. Especially as all profits on this single will be donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to directly support the Victims of the Northern and Southern California wildfires.

It’s a nice piece of pop soul ably produced by the legend that is Narada Michael Walden. She’s got a good voice and was only 16 when this was recorded, so with the right direction and songs there could be a musical future for the musical theatre schooled singer / songwriter.

 

BAND OF GOLD
Where’s The Magic
Jansen

Some indie tinged Nordic pop now. Which means it’s time for Band of Gold (Nina Mortvedt and Nikolai Hangsle).

The first Norwegian winners of the Nordic Music Prize took folks by surprise last time out, so there are high expectations for this one. And fans won’t be disappointed. It follows on smoothly from it’s predecessor, albeit with perhaps a tad more melancholia.

None more so than on my favourites, ‘Look At Me’ and the non-Sabbath ‘Into the Void’. But then I’m an old manic depressive with genetic mental health issues. So not a surprise.

But for those who yearn for their poppier side, there are still plenty of treats here. So they should focus themselves on ‘I Wanna Dance With You Again’ and ‘Well Who Am I’, either of which will sever them well. Top pop.

 

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