Review: Texan shoegaze arrivistes, Glare, share 'Heavenly'; the band's first proper EP-length release, it hotly follows their two drumroller single releases 'Into You' and 'Void In Blue', both released earlier in the year (yet they do not feature here). The EP hears Heavenly hone the best qualities of their sound so far, delivering a fiver of cataleptic overloads, and bottling a normally immiscible range of emotions - "love, loneliness, and anger" - where only the sonic medium of heavy-set rock gushes, and the act of averting one's gaze to the trodden, spirit-sodden floor, can succeed in integrating them. The EP's momentous shreds and viscid vocals are at times too much to muster for us sensitive types; we note the contrast of 'Bloom', 'Floating', 'Soft', 'Heavenly' with the closer 'Ghastly', a shocking tonal shift compared to the first four songs, its amped discordancy and snarled pickup grrs making it the standout of the bunch, yet also the most horrific; a well and truly drowned sorrow.
Review: Uncollected Noise New York '88-'90 marks Galaxie 500's first new archival release in nearly three decades, presenting the most extensive collection of unreleased and rare material from the band. Spanning 24 tracks, this compilation includes the complete Noise New York studio recordings, outtakes and non-album tracks. The band meticulously compiled this collection, tracing their journey from their earliest studio moments to their final recordings. Featuring eight previously unheard tracks and rare, long-out-of-print studio material, Uncollected Noise New York '88-'90 offers a hidden history of the band's evolution from beginning to end. Produced and engineered by Kramer at Noise New York from 1988 to 1990, the album's packaging includes archival images and historical liner notes by the band. Galaxie 500's three studio albums include 'Today' (1988), 'On Fire' (1989), and 'This Is Our Music' (1990). 'Shout You Down' and 'I Wanna Live' are two standout tracks from this release with the band's raw and evolving sound on full display
Review: Elliot Galvin is a leading figure in UK jazz with four solo albums that have topped year-end lists in respected media outlets. He is also a member of the Mercury-nominated Dinosaur and has collaborated with key jazz cats such as Shabaka Hutchings, Emma-Jean Thackray and Norma Winstone. Known for his improvisational prowess, his latest solo album taps into that skill once more and is an entirely improvised record that takes in quiet beauty like the opener, more theatric drama on 'Still Under Storms' and world jazz sounds on 'High & Wide'.
Review: We Have Dozens of Titles by Gastr Del Sol is a treasure trove for fans, offering a glimpse into the experimental post-rock pioneers' journey from their Bastro roots to their groundbreaking work as Gastr Del Sol. This collection, curated from their 1993-1998 recordings, shows their evolution into sonic explorers, pushing the boundaries of post-rock with influences from musique concrete and free improv. The unearthed CBC recording from Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in 1997 is a highlight, featuring ethereal versions of familiar tracks like 'The Seasons Reverse' and 'Blues Subtitled No Sense of Wonder.''The live rendition of "Onion Orange' is a revelation, with Jim O'Rourke's kosmische synth waves intertwining seamlessly with David Grubbs' intricate guitar work. Additionally, the inclusion of rarities like 'The Harp Factory On Lake Street' and tracks from various compilations adds depth to the collection. Each track, whether a live performance or a studio recording, has been meticulously mastered or remastered by O'Rourke, enhancing the listening experience. We Have Dozens of Titles not only fills in gaps in Gastr Del Sol's discography but also exemplifies their innovative approach to music-making.
Review: Dutch gothic doom metal turned shoegazing prog collective The Gathering are one of those artists of two consequential halves. Superheat; their live album released at the dawn of the new millennium and recorded primarily in the classic Amsterdam Paradiso, sonically deposits the group half a year before the release of their seminal sixth full-length If Then Else, by which time they had made the full transition to alternative auteurs. Here the material is a complimentary myriad of cuts from their acclaimed opus How to Measure A Planet?, interspliced with material from their darker, heftier albums such as Mandylion and Nighttime Birds.
Review: Genesis's And Then There Were Three is a pivotal album in the band's history, marking their transition to a trio following Steve Hackett's departure. Released in 1978, the album showcased a blend of progressive rock roots with shorter, more concise songs, reflecting a response to the changing music scene and indicating the future path on which the band would travel. Lead single 'Follow You Follow Me' became a chart-topping success, propelling the album to platinum status in the US and the LP's sound, despite being dominated by Tony Banks' keyboards and Mike Rutherford's guitar work, signalled a departure from their earlier style but retained the band's signature sound. Critics praised the album's strong, confident compositions, noting tracks like 'Ballad of Big' and 'Down and Out' and despite initial scepticism about their ability to continue as a trio, Genesis proved their resilience and their musical depth remains clear on this 2024 reissue.
Review: Turn It on Again: The Hits serves as a concise yet comprehensive overview of Genesis's illustrious career as hit-makers. While it may not include every fan favourite track from their extensive catalogue, it effectively captures the essence of the band's evolution from the Peter Gabriel era to their chart-topping success under Phil Collins's leadership. The compilation - being made available on vinyl for the first time - features all the major hits that have defined Genesis's legacy, from the anthemic 'Turn It on Again' to the infectious 'Invisible Touch' and soulful 'Follow You, Follow Me.' The album offers a satisfying journey through the band's musical journey. Standouts include the inclusion of classics like 'I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)' and the reworked version of 'The Carpet Crawlers 1999,' showcasing the band's versatility and enduring appeal. Overall, Turn It on Again is a must-have for both casual listeners and die-hard fans alike, reaffirming Genesis's status as one of rock's most iconic acts.
Review: 'Selling England By The Pound' is Genesis fifth's studio album and is widely known as the prog darlings' musical opining after the loss of English folk identity - as it slowly paled to American tastes, in the early 1970s. A grim mood of sad inevitability underlies this album, as if its endless breakdowns, climaxes and metallic guitar solos signify the long and drawn-out process of Banks, Rutherford, Hackett and Collins dealing with and eventually coming to terms with a looming, virulent spectre which they cannot control. Sampled endlessly and not lost to time thanks to its cult status, this reissue is sure to reinvigorate attention for the album once more.
Review: Prog rock - even in its most shiny 80s pop incarnation - doesn't do thing by halves and so we shouldn't be surprised this double album is only one of two sprawling releases containing the 1986 LA gig by Genesis. This is the threesome in their Invisible Touch era, so there's plenty from that album here - yes, even their often overlooked electro-styled instrumental 'The Brazilian' - plus highlights from its eponymous predecessor (the Grandmaster Flash-referencing 'Mama', 'That's All') and other back catalogue big hitters such as 'Follow You, Follow Me' and 'Abacab'.
In The Cage/In That Quiet Earth/Supper's Ready (16:00)
Invisible Touch (9:22)
Drum Solo (4:11)
Los Endos (8:15)
Turn It On Again Medley (12:06)
Review: Another instalment of Collins-era Genesis in live action in 1986, straddling the parallel worlds they inhabit, namely prog overlords ('In The Cage/In That Quiet Earth/Supper's Ready') and shiny pop wizards ('Invisible Touch'). While the hardcore fans will always point to the Gabriel era as the band's purple patch, even they would have to concede that the churning chords and rhythmic stomp of 'Turn It On Again', which closes this set, is always a heart warming listen.
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