Reviews roundup – Screamin’ John & TD Lind ~ The Grand Astoria ~ Emily Jane White ~ Helhesten ~ Jeremy Cubert ~ The Watts
SCREAMIN’ JOHN & TD LIND
Mr. Little Big Man
Down In The Alley Records
TD Lind! Blimey. The last time I saw that name must have been over a decade ago when I got a wee bit moist over his “Call Me Sinner” album.
Well turns out a few years back he got the band back together. That would be nineties rockers Edenstreet whose major label album was never released. But the four of them plus harp player Joel Pinkerton are firmly in the blues these days and this is their second album following on from “Gimme More Time” in 2017. And it’s very good.
I always thought TD Lind aka Tim Arlon had a really good voice and time has not withered it. Along with a red hot band this set of originals and covers is a rare treat and they’ve managed to persuade septuagenarian production legend Glyn Johns to do the knob twiddling. So it sounds timeless. There are five Lind originals along with covers from the likes of Jimmy Reed, Taj Mahal and Leadbelly. It’s to his credit that the originals don’t get lost alongside ‘Shame Shame Shame’ where the slowed down pace works really, really well. And don’t start me on the delights of ‘Jelly Roll’, probably my favourite Taj Mahal songs. Well, actually, do. After all this is supposed to be a review.
Of the originals, ‘Rollin” Joanna’ and the funky shuffling title track are real gems while the ballad, ‘Emptiness’ hit home hard. Screamin’ John Hawkins throws in some fine guitar while the moothie work of Joel Pinkerton is superb throughout. A cracker from start to finish.
http://www.screaminjohnandtdlind.com/
THE GRAND ASTORIA
The Mighty Few
Addicted
Huzzah! Another encounter with the self proclaimed “psychedelic jam rock having sex with heavy metal” band from St. Petersburg.
And I’m delighted to report that this 2015 release sees them just as batshit crazy as on their other albums. Two tracks on what was their sixth offering. The opening “Curse of the Ninth” sees them tackling the mythology that classical composers are doomed to die before finishing their tenth symphony. And there’s plenty of classical motifs in amongst the prog, fusion, metal, jazz, spacerock and every other thing you could possibly think of. With flute. And clarinet. At times they teeter on the edge of jam band. Which is not a good thing. But they always manage to pull themselves back from the precipice.
The shorter of the two songs (the opener is 28 minutes long) sees them going a bit more proggy. ‘The Siege’ expands over a mere 21 minutes and is rooted in a riff. It’s a bloody good riff, mind, which is used brutally at times. Add in some fantastic brass sounds, seventies styled prog keyboards and a superb guitar solo and, at times, it does actually sound like a small country being invaded.
Utterly magnificent. Go get it now.
https://thegrandastoria.bandcamp.com
EMILY JANE WHITE
Immanent Fire
Talitres
Well that was depressing. But then Ms White has written an album about her belief in impending planetary doom. Hence the title. So it was unlikely to be about daisy chains.
That said, if you’re in the market for doom, gloom, destruction and how History shows again and again, How nature points out the folly of me then this is the place for you. It’s still very good mind. Ms White has been doing this for a wee while now but it may be that the cyclical nature of music has moved in her favour given the light shone on the dark side by the likes of Chelsea Wolfe, Louise Lemón and AA Williams. So people out there want to hear this sort of thing.
It’s quiet yet pulsating in tone, never getting out of first gear but there is a hypnotic quality to the songs and I’ve always been a sucker for a well used cello so I’m sorted. It’s one of those records that really works as a piece although I must admit that ‘Entity’ really stood out from an always interesting album.
There is a density to the arrangements that suits the apocalyptical nature of the music and the lyrical imagery is particularly well presented. I won’t be playing it any Christmas parties but when I sit in the attic music room on a wild, Baltic night, this is one of the records I’ll be reaching for.
HELHESTEN
Vanquisher of Darkness
independent
Well I think we have contender for most metal album cover of the month. That’s none more metal artwork that is.
Helhesten are from Spain and this is their debut EP. Power metal is their thing and they’re very good at it. Of course, I say Spain but guitarist and songwriter Mark Norris is actually a Scouser. But we won’t hold that against him.
Certainly all the elements for solid power metal release are here. Tales of wizards, dragons and derring-do, some shredding guitar solos and some fabulous screams from the lungs of vocalist Sergio Beltran. Who has left the band since this was recorded which is a real shame. They’ve also lost lead guitarist Diego Arazo so I suspect this is going to go down as one of those things which could have been. It’s hard to find a shit hot guitarist. It’s virtually impossible to find a singer who can hit the highs and lows of the genre.
Granted, the songs are the work of Norris but it’s the vocals and guitars that really make this stand out. ‘End of Time’ is the real highlight here with a fantastic riff and soaring vocal along with a near symphonic metal arrangement. There isn’t a duff track here, the production is great considering it’s an indie release and the whole package is that of a band who could have climbed the ladder. A shame.
https://helhestenofficial.bandcamp.com/
A JEREMY CUBERT PROJECT
Elephant In The Room
independent
An interesting one this as Jeremy Cubert takes on the world of seventies fusion, bringing into the 21st century.
And he’s very good at as well. With added ukulele. But that’s a side portion to the main offering which is, at times, quite dense, avant fusion with Mr Cuber taking care of all the writing, instrumentation and production. A proper solo album.
He’s got history in the world of prog going back to the nineties and at one point collaborated with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson and his roots sometimes show through. Which is a good thing although he’s just as happy flinging in some funk influences to tunes like ‘Repeat Machine’. He’s also got his hand on the latest invention from drum machine pioneer Roger Linn whose latest creation – the modestly named LinnStrument – brings to electronic life the sounds of violin, cello, saxophone, guitar and more.
It’s never dull as he jumps from solo piano to full on prog to Weather Report styled fusion and comes recommended to those who like things complex and melodic.
https://jeremycubert.bandcamp.com
THE WATTS
Decoherence
Bonobo’s Ark Records
Now you know that things are never dull when Yumi Hara is in the room as anyone who has encountered her many free jazz, improvisational, sound experiments can attest.
This is the latest one. The Watts (it makes sense when you release the tracks are called ‘Fahrenheit’, ‘Celsius’, ‘Kelvin’ and ‘Rankine’) sees her working with former Henry Cows Tim Hodgkinson and Chris Cutler, both of whom have previous collaborations with Yumi. THis particular articulation was put together for the occasion of Sakedelic Space Shuyukan’s 25th anniversary in 2017. That’s a well known venue in Japan that specialises in out there music for those not in the now.
They’ve played a few more shows since then and this record takes a series of improvisations recorded in 2018 and 2019 which have then been remoulded into the four offerings on this CD with the thirty minute plus centrepiece ‘Kelvin’ taking the honours.
It’s never easy listening as the aforementioned Yumi Hara (piano, voice, objects), Tim Hodgkinson (lap steel guitar) and Chris Cutler (drums, percussion) go where the moment takes them but anyone with the slightest interest in experimental soundscapes should be taking a listen to this as well as delving into a never dull back catalogue of left turns.
http://www.yumiharacawkwell.co.uk
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St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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