Reviews January 2008 Reviews Page 3 April McLean - Darbytown Road (Circle Back Music) A singer-songwriter-pianist from Nashville, Tennessee, McLean, will probably need to country-up her sound if she’s going to succeed in her hometown. But what do we care for commercial success. It’s its twang-free arrangements and classic West Coast, inward looking, female singer-songwriter tone which makes ‘Darbytown Road’ an intriguing listen. Both the title track, and ‘Head Over Heels’ both hint at a happiness which remains out of reach, while ‘Meaningless’ confirms the worst. Ideally suited to after hours listening, this is quintessential melancholic pop for the big chunk of the population who’s glass his always half empty. Rob F. - Chris Bergson Band - Fall Changes (2 Shirts) While some albums merely stand the test of time others are timeless. There exists a rich vein of (only) American contemporary music that cannot be defined by its time, place or genre and which cloaks itself in the full spectrum of new world musical traditions, in the process producing the finest that “rock” can offer. This magnificent collection by Chris Bergson, recorded at Levon Helm’s Woodstock studios, follows the Band in drawing intuitively and seamlessly from blues, country, folk, funk, soul and jazz. Bergson has the kind of voice that can be sepia-tinted, whisky soaked or nicotine stained to fit the requisite style and mood, standing alongside Gregg Allman, Dr John, Van Morrison and Danko / Helm. A neatly balanced set of self-penned numbers and entirely justified covers (‘Are You Experienced’ is a revelation!) are immaculately played by a tight and energetic band complimenting excellent guitar work with washes of organ and honking sax. Crisply but roundly produced, Fall Changes is an undeniable pointer to a talent with major league potential. Neil B. - Cult of Sue Todd - Not... (Independent) ‘Tampa’, the first track on Cult of Sue Todd’s new taster CD bodes well for the upcoming full length offering. A departure from their country folk efforts, The Cult embrace jerky pop rhythms. By fourth track, ‘Burma’, the boys fire a grumpy old man warning that they are ‘too old to sleep on the floor’. A yelping staccato machine gun burst of energy proves that there is life in The Cult yet and if they have ‘got to go home’ then it won’t be without kicking the cat on the way down the path. Carl J. - Vespero - Rito (RIAG) Russian outfit, Vespero deliver a compilation of 8 almost - if you exclude the wailing and other vocal noises - instrumental (excluding some ) psychedelic space rock tracks, some reworkings from earlier in their career. It’s dynamic varies in power and switches from thundering drones of ‘Inverno’, to the tranquility of ‘Crabs Ashore’ and the extended Floyd-ish guitar workouts of ‘Triptych: to the Falling Sun’. All in all a great set of tunes, very listenable. To call it progressive rock would imply a movement forwards yet this would sit gracefully alongside (and that’s not to say it’s merely a pastiche of) some of the 70’s best synth inflected space and kraut-rockers, Amon Duul, Tangerine Dream, Hawkwind, Gong, et al. The cod reggae rhythms of ‘Rito’ do let it down a little... but not a lot. Will F. - Mimi Burns - I Know You’re Out There... (Independent) Celtic folk rockers from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mimi Burns and her band whip up an addictive groove on their third album, thanks to some exhilarating Waterboys-esque acoustic rhythms, electric guitars that wouldn’t sound out of place on a 70’s rock album and Burns’ classic female folk-rock vocals. Fans of the Fairports and Steeleye Span will know what I mean. Standout rocker (and opening track) ‘Netherworld’ encapsulates perfectly what they’re about. Folky fiddles and pipes mesh with rock (solid) drums and guitars in fine style; the sort of sound that goes down a storm on the UK summer folk festival circuit. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them middle of the bill at Cambridge sometime soon. Rob F. - Craig Chin - Home Recording For Fun Or Profit (Independent) If ever an album title gave the game away, then it’s this one. ‘Home Recording For Fun Or Profit’ was recorded directly onto amateur kit in various homes around the US. As a result, it sounds a little lo-fi in lots of places, but fortunately, as with New York soulmates Squires Of The Subterrain, it’s easy to forgive the rough edges, instead concentrating on the quirky songs, elevated arrangements and pure ambition on display. Craig Chin worked around the block, builing the best DIM supplement https://comprogear.com/best-dim-supplement/ in his day job and recording this ablum in his spare time. There are 15 tracks on ‘Home Recording’ and the very best of them got me thinking of demo versions Todd Rungren’s early records and that’s no bad thing. Check out Craig’s Myspace page for a taste. Rob F. Next Past Reviews: March 07, April 07, May 07, June/July 07, Sept/Oct 07, Dec07