Reviews roundup – Help The Witch ~ The Bitter Elegance ~ Laura Cortese ~ Norwald ~ The Petal Falls
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Help The Witch- A Concept Album
From Here Records
Well now, this was a bit good. In case you’re wondering, “Help The Witch” was Tom Cox’s first collection of short stories and is a series of evocative and unsettling trips into worlds previously visited by the likes of M. R. James and E. F. Benson. Which was good because before that he spent far too long writing about cats. But this was good and off the back of it here’s a concept album based on it.
Cox says “In recent years, I have begun to think of my books as more like albums: maybe not quite what you’d call concept albums, but certainly albums where there’s something conceptual going on.” So a concept album. And to that end a whole bunch of alt folkies, normal folkies and weird folkies have come together with From Here Records to bring the prose to life. Well, not really, because the stories were pretty lively to begin with. Or deathly.
And if left of centre folk is your thing you’ll be hard pressed to find a better record this year. There’s not a bum track on offer as Zervas & Pepper, Trimdon Grange Explosion, The Left Outsides, Bobby Lee, label owners Stick In The Wheel, Jack Sharp, Widow’s Weeds, Daniel Davies, Jim Ghedi and Gemma Khawaja take you off on a real (not X Factor style) journey of discovery. It does two things. One, it really adds an extra dimension to the book, as I’ve found out whilst rereading it to this soundtrack. And secondly, it does what the great compilation albums of yore did. Like when you bought “Fill Your Head With Rock” for the Santana and Black Widow tracks then found yourself blindsided by Skin Alley and Trees whilst developing a life long hatred of all thins Leonard Cohen.
It does that. You want more. If I had to pick a favourite, even though your not supposed to, but I always do. You know who you are. Then it would be ‘Speed Awareness’ by Gemma Khawaja. It’s ridiculously good. Even better, if you get your finger out, you can grab a copy on vinyl. Hurry now.
https://stickinthewheel.bandcamp.com
THE BITTER ELEGANCE
Hiding In The Spotlight
Participation Trophy Records
Well I wasn’t expecting that.
Looking at the cover I was expecting some sort of indie goth EDM mix. Which wasn’t 100% off the mark. But what I didn’t see coming was such a well rounded set of pop songs.
For sure, there are lots of keyboard swashes that keep the record over in the Collide meets NIN goth style camp, something definitely helped along by the splendidly named Merlot on vocals. Who also gets an extra point for bigging up potatoes as her favourite food. But when you realise that guitarist Jeffry Wynne Prince and drummer Dave “Bractune” Meyer used to be in a power pop band who punted out about nine albums over the years you can see where the pop element comes into play.
And it’s a rather intoxicating mix. They’ve been together a few years now and this follows on from “Painting Over Your Ghost”. It’s one of those records you start listening to and before you know it you’re into a third play and your headphones just won’t be parted from your ears. The vocals of Ms Merlot are particularly dreamy (swoons) but the arrangements and production is just delicious. ‘Chasing Eden’ and ‘Kiss This Goodbye’ are my go to songs for now but you can drop the needle anywhere you like and you’re off into world of rabbit holes and spiral galaxies.
http://www.thebitterelegance.com
LAURA CORTESE & The Dance Cards
Bitter Better
Compass Records
This was sold to me as an indie-folk release. It’s not. It’s fairly mainstream roots with a few folky bits thrown in for good measure. But it’s very good.
It must have been an odd one this, with Ms Cortese now a resident of Belgium (why?) and the rest of the band back in the USA. But they’ve been at this for over a decade so seem to have their thing sorted out. The first thing I have to say is that the harmonies are just fabulous. With five (count ’em) musicians credited with them, they are absolutely lush and really draw you into the music.
That would be nothing, though, if the songs weren’t up to scratch. They definitely are. ‘Where The Fox Hides’ and ‘Younger Man’ have leapt straight into my 2020 favourites. Spookily enough, given where we are, the former is song about how isolated people are in the modern world and the loneliness that ensues. With witchy words like that I’ll be careful what I say. Meanwhile the latter will appeal to all fans of the harmonium and as I’m typing up my notes on VE Day, the spooky continues as it reflects on European battlefields and world wars.
Musically, the arrangements are stunning. There’s plenty of fiddle and banjo to run alongside the more mainstream instruments. A delightful album from start to finish even if it does sometimes bring a tear to the eye.
https://thisislauracortese.com
NORWALD
Madness & Heroes
Rock CD
Aieee!! Metal time. And not just metal but symphonic power metal from Spain.
Which may be a first for me. But hark!
Ah, the mighty stories of the Norwald…
Lands darkened by evil, which would only shine again after the sacrifice of a beloved hero.
This is ‘Madness and Heroes’, a story of a growing madness, inherited by Thostar, prince of Kajtar.
It seems to be the brainchild of guitarist Patri Grief who has written all the songs on offer, telling the bardic tale of Thostar and Thekar, the Dagger of the Gods. And if you’re going to tell some Thongor like stories then there isn’t a better way to do it than in the world of heavy metal. They just go together.
As well as Srta. Grief, Jeffrey García (bass), Alejandro Leónidas (guitar), Ann Meseguer (singer, since replaced by original, American, vocalist Caroline Phoenix), Frehul Martínez (keyboards) and Joey Martin de Boer (session drummer) are here to help colour in the notes. Now I admire ambition in a metal band. If you’re going to try and make a name for yourself in this genre, go big. So inventing your own epic world and launching it via a concept album is the way to go.
Generally, it’s an impressive offering. Considering it’s their debut and an independent release you’d be hard pushed to find anything wrong with the production. The vocals are very Leaves’ Eyes like, which suits me, while the band can riff up a storm when required. But they also pull off the more intricate moments. It must be a right bugger, though, promoting an album with a singer whose no longer in the band. Without hearing the replacement you’ve no idea whether it’s a plus or a minus. Ask the aforementioned Leaves’ Eyes how things are going.
That aside, there is some fine music here. ‘Creatures’ is a real treat but it’s ‘The Madness Of The King’ that’s the real winner with some excellent harmony work and a galloping riff. It’s an enjoyable release and hopefully the past and present vocalists will shine in the future.
THE PETAL FALLS
All These Years
Handful of Dust
Now I’m one of those folk who like to listen to a record before reading the press release. Without preconceptions and all that. That’s a moot point with this record as there wasn’t one. Nor indeed any CD booklet. Or anything. Which often pushes things to the bottom of the pile. I’m glad it didn’t happen with this one because it’s very good.
Out of time. But very good. It’s kind of an eighties mix of when It Bites tried to be prog and Magnum tried to be pop. With some Mr Mister melodies. I should point out that these all very good things just in case a youngster has wandered in by mistake.
Big melodies, huge hooks, great harmonies but with some intricate rhythms and arrangements. That’s what I’m talking about. And so it was, with some reluctance, that I headed off into the world of DuckGoGo to try and find out who the heck these fellas are.
And, drum roll, The Petal Falls are a five-piece consisting of Keith Leahy ( lead vocal/guitar/keyboards), Robert Harpum (guitars), Robin Tucker (drums), Dave Richards (guitars) and Marius Ryndziewicz (bass). Turns out they’re from Kent, signed a deal back in the nineties, got eaten up and spat out by the Evil Record Empire before regrouping for this and 2019’s “Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day”. To be honest, from their sound, they were probably too late for the party anyway as this has eighties radio hits written all over it.
At times, Mr Leahy has a touch of the Robert Harts about his vocals and whoever played the guitar solo on ‘I Won’t Be There’ has a pint on standby once the Chinese bat pox is behind us. And that’s before we get to ‘Second Sight’, the best song Honeymoon Suite never wrote. Damn, it’s good. In fact (does sums) there are at least five US radio hits here from 1986. It’s the kind of record that will make AOR fans get very moist indeed and remind auld fellas like me what it was like to be young, dumb and full of fun. Fantastic.
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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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