Reviews roundup – Phenomena vs. Cassidy Janson vs. Hannah Robinson vs. JoanOvArc vs. Stephen Thelan vs. Cornell CC Carter
PHENOMENA
Anthology
Explore Rights Management
That’s taking the piss, that is. Wait for a few months to pass after the vanilla reissues of the first three Phenomena albums, then bung out a compilation that includes bonus tracks from the Escape reissues and a couple of 12″ mixes. Why not just wait for me in a back alley and mug me for my boabees. I’m also reasonably sure the bonus tracks were on a German best of as well. But I can’t be arsed checking.
Musically there’s no complaints. The “real” tracks from the first three albums – “Phenomena”, “Dream Runner” and “Innervisions” probably are the best ones. Apart from the fact there is no ‘Kiss Of Fire’. I mean, really. What were you thinking of. After all there’s room for five tracks from the “Innervisions” album. I’d have dumped one of them. However the three rare tracks do have Glenn Hughes vocals and you can’t really have too many of them.
I’ve already reviewed the reissues but to precis; buy the first one immediately, bung the second on a watch list and get the third if you’re struggling to spend a gift voucher. The 12″ remixes are a bit meh. One is from the olden days, one is an unreleased one but there is nothing special about them. The package is up there with the reissues. Fold out digi thing, full colour booklet with lyrics and plenty of artwork. If you haven’t investigated Phenomena before then I suppose you could try this but as of today this is £3 dearer than the first album. I know what I’d do.
CASSIDY JANSON
Cassidy
BMG
First things first. Cassidy Janson is a great singer. No question. Which is why this is such a disappointment.
And it’s got nothing to do with the vocals. They’re faultless. It’s the songs. Now I understand why Ms Janson wants to step away from her West End roots and try something different. She’s down the songs from the stage thing with Leading Ladies so there’s little mileage in that route. So an album of originals with eight of the fourteen tracks are co-written by Cassidy. Makes sense.
Thing is, the songs aren’t very good. They’re not bad, just a tad on the insipid side with few melodies that you’ll remember by the end of the song, never mind hum them in the shower. It’s ballad upon ballad with few changes in tempo or style. Granted, the production is great and her voice is rich but I’m sitting here listening to the record for the fourth time and it still feels like the first time. And not in a good, Foreigner type way.
If I was pushed I’d say that ‘Fairytale’, ‘On a Beach’ and ‘Waiting For the Love of My Life’ were the best on offer but I can’t think of any reason why this won’t disappear into the never to be played again pile. And that’s a damn shame. Granted, the modern world seems to lap this kind of latte emotion up so I hope it works for her.
HANNAH ROBINSON
Endless Street
independent
Is there any point? I’ve been telling you since 2012 how great Hannah Robinson (no relation) is. Because that’s when I fell a wee bit in love with her.
That was “Oil & Turpentine” which was great. Then a few years down the line I told you to grab a hold of “Water, Carry Me”. Did you? Did you hell as like. I don’t know why I bother sometimes.
Well Ms Robinson has put out a new EP, “Endless Street” and it’s even better than what came before. Something that surprised me. But the title track is probably the best thing she’s ever released. It’s a sideways step from the seventies singer / songwriter vibe of the earlier releases and that’s largely down to the guitar which goes all mellow prog rock on you. I did not see that coming.
The other songs are more reminiscent of what has gone before but when she sings the world temporarily stops spinning. There won’t be many better releases this year so will you finally do what you’re told. Buy this now.
JOANovARC
JoanovArc
independent
Album number two from the band who play fast and loose with their spelling and punctuation.
Back in 2016 I recall that JOANovArc were bigged up as one of the many next big things that were being touted around.. Obviously they weren’t but they’ve stuck around to have another go.
Was it worth it? Hmm Sort of. Thing is people keep banging on about them being a hard rock band. Now I know I’m getting on a bit but what I’m hearing isn’t really hard rock. I mean there are moments of rock but an awful lot of what is going on here heads off into fairly mainstream territory. A song like ‘Down By The River’ would sit happily on Absolute Radio and their ilk. ‘When We Were Young’ is an out and out power ballad that makes ‘More Than Words’ or ‘Hole Hearted’ seem tough. And as for ‘Try It On’. Well that’s an out and out pop song that in a just world would be a hit single. ‘Jane’, however is a long lost Texas outtake.
Those and others are really good songs, well performed by the band – ’Samantha Walker, Shelley Walker, Deborah Wildish and Laura Ozholl – and with a crisp production. I’m just not sure they’re being aimed at the right audience. There are hits here, there is a band that could hit the mainstream and, fingers crossed, success awaits.
STEPHAN THELEN
Fractal Guitar
MoonJune
Stephan Thelen is the leader, guitarist and composer in the experimental prog meets fusion band Sonar as well as writing music for theatre and film.
Turns out that in Sonar he keeps away from guitar effects and the like but decided he’s like to explore in a different direction. Hence this record which sees him linking up with David Torn – electric guitar, live looping, Markus Reuter – U8 touch guitar, soundscapes, Jon Durant – cloud guitar, Matt Tate – U8 touch guitar (bass), Manuel Pasquinelli – drums, Bill Walker – electric guitar, live looping, Henry Kaiser – electric guitar, Barry Cleveland – guitar atmospheres, bowhammer, Andi Pupato – percussion and Benno Kaiser – drums. You’ll notice that comprises a lot of guitar!
Luckily there is plenty of room for all that guitar to explore as the tracks range in length from 8 to 18 minutes. The first point of reference is late period King Crimson. Now if you were paying attention you will have seen the name Markus Reuter in the credits. He’s also co-producer and you should know his name from Stick Men with Tony Levin and The Crimson ProjeKct. So it all makes sense as the constantly shifting rhythms and directions take you off in unexpected directions. The music is probably a tad more on the progressive rock side of things with a Floydian moments hither and thither but wherever they go you’re never far from a jaw dropping moment.
It’s not just a record for fans of out there guitar as some of the percussion is equally off the chain. A remarkable record.
CORNELL CC CARTER
One Love
independent
Hey ladies…
Yes it’s retro soul man, Cornell CC Carter, and he wants you to know how much he loves you. And he loved you. A lot.
If you know his name it will be from reading the small print on albums as he’s an in demand session singer with the most high profile slots being on the “Santana IV” reunion album as well as on The Isley Brothers & Santana joint album “Power Of Peace”.
But based on this he really wants to be Keith Sweat or Brian McKnight because it has that eighties Teddy Riley vibe to it. It helps that he has a great voice and the session band of drummers Morgan Howell (Soulpersona, UK) & Brian Braziel, guitarists David Council & Dave Shul and bassists Kirk Crumpler & David Agent really get into the groove with him.
‘That’s My Baby’ and ‘That Feelin’ are real standouts as his voice really gets to shine on top quality material. It may be a wee bit out of time but there is always room for some classy r’n’b round my way.
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