Reviews roundup – Telergy ~ Jeremy Harry Harris ~ Sunnysiders ~ Espiral ~ The Refusers
TELERGY
Black Swallow
independent
If you’re familiar with the work of American progster Robert McClung then the opening few minutes of his latest conceptual offering will certainly throw you. Acoustic harmonica blues? But it’s a scene setter for what’s about to happen.
Because, yes, this is another historical concept piece although one much more up to date than his previous releases telling, as it does, the life of Eugene Bullard, the first African-American pilot in the history of the United States. Briefly, he ran away from home aged 11, worked as a jockey, a boxer and a minstrel amongst many other things before ending up in France. He was there when World War I broke out, enlisted in the French Foreign Legion where he was injured in infantry combat and asked if he could join the French Air Force so he could carry on fighting. He then married a French aristocrat, opened a nightclub and when the Second World War arrived he would listen out for information from Germans in his nightclub and pass it along to the resistance. He ended up back in America where he is buried in the French War Veterans section of a New York graveyard.
Interesting, yes? And as with precious releases Mr McClung has brought in an array of rock and prog legends to bring the music to life. There are actually too many to list but there are folk from Styx, Kansas, Yes, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kamelot, Savatage and Nightwish in there. Magic Dick from the J Geils Band even pops in for some atmospheric harmonica and the McBroom sisters of Pink Floyd fame are here as well.
Musically, he’s still working in the field of symphonic prog although the harder side is less upfront this time around. The story is helped along by spoken word narratives which link the music and provides exposition. The music itself is melodic, atmospheric and constantly holds the attention as you follow the story arc. The story being what it is there are brief diversions into blues, jazz, gospel and martial music. But it sticks to the core of symphonic prog rock. Some might find the narrative elements a bit musical theatre (as if that’s a bad thing) but with a lot of the music being instrumental I found it a good anchor.
In terms of presentation I would have liked to have known who did what but with over sixty musicians involved there’s barely enough room to list them on the digipack never mind give chapter and verse. But that’s a minor quibble on what is one of the best records of its ilk you’ll hear this year. It may have taken 5 years to bring it all together but, for once, that wasn’t time wasted. Oh, and Telergy remains a non profit endeavor, with all proceeds going to charity. Well done that man.
JEREMY HARRY HARRIS
Kings Of Time
Rock Puppy
The debut solo album from one time Stone Circle singer Jeremy Harry Harris has had an interesting gestation.
After they ground to a halt their vocalist (Mr Harris) took a sideways step from music bar an annual tour of Cuba where Stone Circle had previously performed. He played there every year from 2014 – 2017 and connected with local musicians. So this record is split between songs dating back to his Stone Circle days and those cowritten with Cuban musicians.
But he’s stuck to what he does best. So there’s no Buena Vista type crossover here. It’s melodic modern rock with a few hard rock elements. And when it’s good, it’s really good. The title track is probably the hardest of the rockers and it really burns up with an incendiary guitar solo. He goes a bit modern alt-rock on the likes of “See You See Me” and “Go & Fly” but they’re still a lot better than many songs you’ll ear on the radio today.
“Sold Me Out” is the best of the Stone Circle tracks on offer and bar a couple of fillers the record hangs together well. The songs with music written by Reiner Martinez Rodriguez are excellent and as he also produces and plays bass, guitars and keyboards, his is a name you’ll want to hear more of.
http://www.jeremyharryharris.com.au
SUNNYSIDERS
The Bridges
Dancing Bear
Fancy some Croatian blues? Of course you do.
Turns out it’s the 10th anniversary of Sunnysiders so they decided to get some of their mates involved in a celebratory CD. And very good it is too.
Seems that Boris Hrepic Hrepa and Antonija Vrgoc Rola (who are Sunnysiders) are well known in there part of the world as well as having twice got to the semi-finals of the the International Blues Challenge twice. They were a band but are now, largely, the husband and wife duo mentioned in the last sentence. The self penned material is largely acoustic based but they can whip up some rockabilly and blues rock when they need to.
The guests, although largely Croatian, include the Norman Beaker Trio and the final mix was done in Ardent Studios. I particularly enjoyed the Hammond enhanced “Flogging A Dead Horse”, the (literal) car crash that is “Hood In The Face” and the ballad “You’re Not That Good To Me To Cry” but there are no duffers here. It’s a well presented package with lyrics and background to each song, and comes highly recommended.
It’s scheduled to come out on the 12th October so keep an eye out for their forthcoming website update. That’s also my birthday. Cash and / or whisky is always acceptable.
No video so here’s a live clip
ESPIRAL
Cuando vuelve el sol
Rock CD Records
I only know one thing about Ceuta, the Spanish city that Espiral hail from. And that fact is that it’s in Africa not Spain. I’m not making this up. Technically, it’s in Morocco. How do I know this? Because two very angry policeman pointed guns at me and a couple of other blokes when we accidentally went there in the eighties. I was working on the boats at the time and the last leg was from Gibralter to Rabat. And one time we had a few days to spare before heading back so went wandering. Somehow, despite my thick Scots accent and three Belfast screeches the polis accused us of being English. Not being aware of the long dispute between Spain and Morocco over the Spanish held territories we decided not to argue. They did have guns after all.
Anyway, Epiral come from Ceuta and this is their fourth album since 2006, following on from “Espiral”, “Contratiempos” and “Cicatrices”. It’s also their first with their new vocalist. Not having heard the others I will just have to believe the nebulous internet which reckons they’ve been getting progressively more metal. That’s as in more metal, not as in prog metal. Now comprising Alberto Mateos Miranda on vocals, Luis Zapater Ortiz and José Luis Corrales Silva as guitarists, Rogelio Mateo Pitalua on bass and Antonio Jurado García on drums they make a fair fist of mixing up eighties power metal and nineties mainstream metal.
Long term fans will be able to spot the difference as they’ve actually re-recorded a host of their earlier songs in their new, tougher sound. And it’s a good sound with plenty of tough riffs and good, piercing solos. The title track is one of the new ones, though, and it’s an excellent introduction to their music. Another highlight is “Contratiempos” which although it slows things down also heavies things up. Definitely the two best tracks on offer.
They’re not doing anything new but they do it well. Worth a listen, especially if you happen to speak Spanish.
https://espiralband.bandcamp.com
THE REFUSERS
Freedom Fighter
AWAL
I remember “Wake Up America” from, um, 2016-ish. It was left wing, modern rock, post grunge, putting the world to rights through the power of mildly struck chords. It’s now 2020 and, based on what’s happening around the world, I’m guessing it didn’t work. So they’re back with the very misleading “Freedom Fighter”. I say misleading because if you saw an album cover that featured one of Ace Frehleys spare flame thrower guitars taking on the Lernaean Hydra you’d probably expect something Manowarish. What you’re getting is Sandinista era Clash.
They state their influences as Rage Against The Machine, Marley and Bobi Wine. I get RATM for the lyrics, Bobi for some white boy skanking but I can’t find any reference to a lovable Labrador. Maybe there’s subtext somewhere that I missed. I did enjoy ‘Clown Show’. It’s the one standout track for me but bearing in mind that this will appear on that there internet I do feel slightly hypocritical when I decry the technological enslavement of the masses in the 21st century. And, of course, the band themselves are on Facebook and Twitter. But what are you supposed to do? If you want people to hear your message the only way in this world is to use the tools of Evil Empire.
It’s a dichotomy that won’t go away. How can you be a free thinking libertarian (hello, everybody) if the only medium for you to proselytise is controlled by the very people you want to bring down.
Back to the music and there is no doubting the talent of the musicians involved. It certainly takes an adventurous approach to genres ranging from the aforementioned whiteboy skank through power pop, post grunge and modern rock. The production is sound and there are some really nice guitar lines. You can find out more here.
No video but here’s an oldie. Relevant mind.
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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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