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Haven
- The Road
Haven are a female fronted band that echoe the glories and sounds of Vixen and Heart. Lead vocalist, Pamme could well be a secret sister of Ann and Nancy Wilson (who she sounds so much like). 'The Road' features an array of both ballads and rockers. The opener, 'The Curtain' features Robin Mcauley (of MSG) and is a mellow ballad about being hurt by somebody. I was really taken aback by the power of 'Strange Premonition' - a gutsy number that has a riff reminiscent of the MC5 classic 'Kick out the Jams' - this is quality-cooking material. 'Show them' is a real happy number which caught my ears immediately where you may recognise the drummers style - it is Matt Sorum (ex-G'n'R, now back in The Cult) who is presented pretty damn prominent in the mix who throws in his top-notch snare 'n' ride timekeeping punch. Pamme's voice is extremely metallic and pure brilliance here (not that she isn't everywhere else of course). The tantalising guitar playing and keyboard action of Michael Brody and John Vanelow are also well worth mentioning. 'Hold on', a moderate tempo rocker fit snugly on a Heart or Vixen album with its tight acoustic electro feel. Haven are a tight unit which will no doubt be an awesome live spectacle - so if you miss Vixen and wonder when Heart will do something again, let Haven fill that gap and you won't look back. Hopefully there will be a bigger selection of rockers on the next album that are a bit too scarce on this debut. 7.5/10 By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS |
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Hawkwind
- Year 2000 : Codename Hawkwind - Volume 1 Disc One is a CD version of the album, 'Space Ritual, Vol. 2 - that was originally released on American Phonograph (distributed by Pinnacle) in 1985. The gig is from The Sundown Brixton, 30/12/72. It sounds a lot clearer than the vinyl version - and all the players stand out real well and the bands line up is pure class: Dave Brock- Guitar/Vocals, Nik Turner - Sax/Flute/Vocals, Rob Calvert - Vocals, Lemmy - Bass, Dik Mik - Audio Generator, Del Detmar - Synthesiser and Simon King - Drums There's an imaginative version of the bluesy 'Orgone Accumulator' coming complete with mad sax playing from Mr. Turner and power-driven bass playing from Lemmy who both blend brilliantly with the drumming of Simon King. The short rendition contained here of the wacky off-the-wall 'Sonic Attack' is brilliant and I love the way that it flows naturally into the equally impressive 'Time we left' (which is well over 13 minutes long). The band sound like a freaky off-beat spacey jumble that although sounding completely odd at times it still seems to make perfect musical sense until it completely baffles you, especially Nik Turner's Snake Charming silliness - I guess that's when the drugs have just kicked in - make your own judgement on this one!!!! But hey, this is Hawkwind at their 70's pinnacle prowess - and I can't see many disagreeing on that. Other memorable moments captured on digital domain are the legendary 'Brainstorm' featuring the awesome flowing slam pattern of the drums (a Hawkwind trademark) and the jogging booming bass riffs that the band are famous for. This track really is something special as Nik Turner steals the show with his musical court jester appeal. The moody but wildly uplifting 'Seven-By-Seven' is notoriously floaty, due to the weightless feel created by the master of the audio generator, Dik Mik, but your dropped down to earth suddenly when the heavy guitar riffs kick in, only to be raised again with the synth aura of Del Detmar. This track for always seems to remind me of one of the tracks from the Jesus Christ Superstar Musical, especially when the chant starts up. It's completely mind-blowing material and it completely fascinates me how they came up with music like this. You just can't grumble when followed up by 'Masters of the Universe' and 'Welcome to the Future', which again has that weightless feel about it, until it explodes into a eruptive slightly, cacophonous mess and then overshadowed by a well-happy crowd - which is where CD number one ends. It's got to be worth a solid 10/10, overall a cracking CD. Disc 2, is sadly nowhere near as good (as the sound quality is rather ropey - even though it's been digitally re-mastered, but still sounds like a bad mono 70's bootleg taken from a well-worn out audience recording that was committed to tape via a cranky old open reel tape recorder. The live origin is the Cambridge Corn Exchange in 1972 and was originally released as 'The Text of Festival 1970-2', (on 'Illuminated Records in 1983) - but thankfully here you get only the 8 real songs). On stage at this gig are Dave Brock - Guitar/Vocals, Nik Turner - Sax/Vocals, Huw Lloyd Langton - Guitar, Dave Anderson - Bass, Dik Mik - Synths and Terry Ollis on Drums. Here you'll find knockout versions of 'Masters of the Universe', the now rarely heard, 'You know you're only dreaming', which comes complete with bird whistling and sharp lead vocals from Dave Brock. 'Hurry on Sundown' is part of the set too and comes across well on this performance with a sweet acoustic Led Zeppelin quality. What kills the gig dead are the god-awful versions of 'You shouldn't do that' and 'Paranoia', which spoil the proceedings no end. Thankfully, the medley of 'Seeing it as you really are/I do it/Came Home' saves the day. 6/10 - due to poor sound and a couple of terrible songs in the set.
This is another Hawkwind re-release, brought to you on the NMC label from Dave Anderson and Nik Turner (ex-members of the band). It originally came out on vinyl on the Demi-Monde label in 1985 under the title of 'Bring me the head of Yuri Gagarin' (live at the Empire Pool, 1973) and has been available numerous times already under different titles. There's no new musical surprises thrown in as bonus tracks - which would've been a splendid inclusion. The members on this line up are Robert Calvert, Lemmy, Nik Turner, Dave Brock, Dik Mik, Del Dettmar, Simon King and Miss Stacia So why would you want to buy it again - the answer - the great liner notes taken from Melody Maker (Dave Brock 1972 and Mike Oldfield 1973) - which are rather humorous, to say the least. There is also a rather nice 3D, CD-ROM animation of an egg flying round a digital Island - which must have took hours to put together. The sound quality leaves a lot to be desired, with many muffled frequencies all round. Some of the vocals just aren't high enough in the overall mix and there's far too much echo present. A lot of the individual instruments turn into one big mass - giving the impression that Hawkwind have been recorded in an enormous cavern at a tremendous volume). Notably though, the sound is of a much better standard than that on 'The Text of Festival 1970/2' re-release that is CD 2 of Codename Hawkwind -Volume 1). On the CD you'll find a class version of 'Urban Guerilla', live obscurities like 'Ga-ga' (an opening cop-out section where the band are greeting the audience) and 'In the Egg', featuring some balmy ramblings which defy definition in true Hawkwind style. The fans are really into 'Sonic Attack', which is welcomed with mass shouty applause. The echoes of the venue more than compliments the song - as does the answering backing hollering of Sir Lemmy. 'Silver Machine' is also a gripping performance and you can even hear 'Stacia' on backing vocals somewhere in the middle of the drug-infested chaos. 7/10 - a good gig, but if the sound quality was better and more tracks had been added it could have been a blinder of an album.
By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS
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Horakane
- Eternal Infinity
This is an album for fans of Praying Mantis for sure. Horakane sees the Prayer's vocalist Tony O'Hara twin up with guitarist Jamie Kane (hence 'Horakane'). It's more or less a fan pleaser - to give the PM audience something new to check out while they are waiting for the follow up to the 'Nowhere to Hide' album. So, if the above statement places goose pimples on your arms and makes the hair stand on end - hit the play button now!!! What you'll find throughout the 'Eternal Infinity' album is early/mid-80's metal that has a Dokken/Judas Priest flavour about it. So springing out of the speakers you get a warm keyboard back-line, fast 'n' slammim' drums and chigiddy rhythm guitar-work as well as lead solo 6-string squealing and high-end vocals. There are many fast rockers and I thoroughly recommend 'Judgement Day' and the hard edged 'End of an Era' because they really kick ass. When it comes to ballads, Horakane's are of exquisite quality. The quiet guitar led 'Never meant to make you cry' and 'Remember my name' are easily the best tracks on the album because they mark a pleasant change of musical direction (especially the backing vocals and exceptional arrangements on offer). 7/10 By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS
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Glenn
Hughes - Building the Machine
Glenn Hughes is the man who can put his hand on the old holy book (The Bible) and swear on his life that he's served time in some of rocks biggest bands like Deep Purple (he was the bassist after Roger Glover left and hit vocal notes that David Coverdale couldn't reach!!), Trapeze, Black Sabbath's (the lead vocalist for the 'Seventh Star' album as well as being the throat for The KLF's 'What time is love?' So what is the man currently up to, you may ask, well, it's back to the funky 'n' electric blues with Glenn Hughes. The man is in fine form throughout the entire 'Building the Machine' album - the latest release. It really is a grooving and vibing delight with loads of dirty blues funk which'd make James Brown jealous - most notably 'Out on me' - yeah you can take it out on Glenn - he doesn't mind. 'I don't want to' follows in a similar suit as well and you'll even discover hints of Jamiraquai in there too. If you prefer the good ole pull out the plugs and go acoustic for a bit then 'Feels like home' is really up your street that morphs into a progressive section (a la Genesis - Peter Gabriel era) before flying into full-on electric rock and then finally petering out into the distance. Be sure to turn up the stereo full blast for a work-through of the long-forgotten Deep Purple classic 'Highball Shooter' (that originally came out on their 'Stormbringer' album). 'Highball Shooter' is a funky, 12-bar styled belter that incorporates hooky get-up-and-freak-out Hammond organ sound that come courtesy of Vince Di Cola. You'll nearly drift off to 'I will follow' as it's so mellow, laid back and enchanting - the same goes for the closer - the emotional 'Big Sky'. It's a mature album for the older listener who's grown up with a genuine love for funky blues-rock. 7/10 By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS
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Hurricane
- Liquifury
It's bee quite a while - but it's been worth the wait - the new Hurricane album is here - and man, it's a milestone. The numbers come ripping at you - well - like a Hurricane. I can quite honestly say it's of the same quality of their classic single 'I'm onto you' - and I'm not kidding either. Hurricane haven't lost their big sounding melodical rock stature, which we loved them for the first time around. When you listen to this album, you start thinking it's as if though they never went away. They are so together and as strong as hell musically - Kelly Hansen's voice must be one of the best on the planet - it just gets better!!! The opening intro builds up the anticipation to what you are about to be greeted with and you hear past Hurricane classics that appear to be coming from a car stereo - but what really brings it home is the 'Na Na Na Na Na' (from 'I'm onto you') that one of the guys sings and laughs around. Then you are hit in the face with 'New God' - a spiritually mind-blowing rocker and elsewhere the funky pop-metal of 'It's your life'; the deep bass driving of the dirty rocker 'Bleed for me'; the nasty-edged 'Torn' which has full-on melodic rock with an open snare-drum beat. Hey what about the closer 'Shine' (which has almost - Extreme styled backing vocals - a band who gave us the famous for the 'Get the funk out' and 'More than Words') alongside squawking lead vocals and power-filled drums 'n' guitar melody. 'Shine' is a song about believing hat you are doing - and it comes as no accident that Hurricane do with this full-marks return to glory. 10/10 By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS |
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Hush
- II
Fancy some classy AOR, if so, then you've touched the right spot. Here's 'Hush' from Oslo who feature Keith Kristiansen (guitars, keyboards and backing vocals), Patrick Simonsen (lead vocals, guitars), Rob Rutle (drums), Steve Titz (bass, backing vocals) and Terry Smith (Hired Piano/Organ Gun) with their second 5" offering, simply entitled, 'II'. You'll find very much Bon Jovi ballad type material with 'Don't turn around' and 'Till we become the sun' being major contenders. The song 'Don't say Goodnight' is bouncy AOR that musically breaks no new boundaries about stopping with a girl and giving everything to her.The majority of the CD is very much of a similar musical nature. In my opinion, the last 3 songs are by far the real gems on the album. These are 'Like Love' that is a nice uplifting moderately fast tempo acoustic/electric rocker that reminds me of the Kiss classic 'Hard Luck Woman' (that Peter Criss took lead vocals on) - it really is a gorgeous number. Then there's the energetic slipper-stomping cock rocker 'The Real Thing' (with its dirty Whitesnake feel) and the closer, 'In My Dreams' which is gargantuan Pacey, Racey, Powerful AOR at its finest (again, with a Whitesnake feel) about being obsessed by a particular woman. The guitar/keyboard solo trading is very entertaining - just take my word for it!!! With a well-ordered set list these guys will be awesome at The Gods 2001 at Maximes, Wigan in November. 7/10 By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS |
