Capital Theatre

A Hero’s Journey

Reslau, 2022

8/10

Listen to A Hero’s Journey

The debut album from the New Zealand trio Capital Theatre, the 10 tracks here present a very skilled, meticulous and exceptionally produced display of their alt-rock ways.

“Fait Accompli” starts the listen with buzzing synth, as driving guitars and thumping drums enter the dynamic and smooth alt-rock delivery, and “People” continues the intensity with a fiery rhythm section that balances power and melody with dreamy and hard hitting moments.

“Fire” lands in the middle and offers calmer moments of beauty amid bursts of cathartic energy, while “Delicately Poised” soars high with its anthemic demeanor and great use of piano alongside the swirling guitar.

“Better Than This” and “Save A Stranger” exit the listen, where the former lands in piano balladry that’s quite poetic and emotive, and the latter finishes on a pop-punk friendly tone that’s still indebted to the more abrasive sides of rock.

Adam Stevenson (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Roy Oliver (guitar, backing vocals) and Paul Reid (drums, backing vocals) make up Capital Theatre, and it’s very likely you’re going to hear much more about them, cause they can write a firm yet pensive song you won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Dean- Life Lessons; Heat Of Damage- Open Fire

Knife Girl

Uniform

Soliti/Playground, 2022

8/10

Listen to Uniform

The Finnish songwriter Knife Girl penned this album while living in Japan for a year, where gender roles are very firm, which contributed to a depression that was brought back to Finland.

“Stop Time” opens the listen with a very soft and dreamy display of gently delivered folk-pop that embraces stirring vocals, and “The Good Times Are Coming Your Way” follows with a bright and melodic display of modern pop meets indie-rock that’s quite anthemic.

In the middle, “Never Let Go” tips its hat to some disco nods with its crisp drumming and bright, rhythmic song craft, while “Precious Baby” gets quite soulful in its intimate demeanor that’s a bit blurry, too.

Approaching the end, “Brain Dead (Just Do It)” bounces with a stylish version of indie-pop that uses talk/singing strategically, and “Whisper” exits with a snappy, groovy landscape that flows with a retro energy.

Considering that the origin of this record came from a darker place, Uniform is an upbeat affair for Knife Girl (real name Lili Aslo), and it’s quite diverse, animated and colorful.

Travels well with: Babel- Yoga Horror; Johnny Hunter- Want

Again Again

Your Voice Is Magic

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Your Voice Is Magic

Again Again is the duo of Jennifer Cook and Anne Montone, and together they bring their superb voices into family songs about self-care, respect and identity that embraces pop, folk and World music ideas.

“Signs Up High” opens the listen with warm acoustic guitar and gorgeous vocal harmonies as the pair deliver a very bright anthem, and “Pronoun Party” follows with a fluid and melodic pop delivery that mixes singing and talking as gender identity is discussed in a welcoming way.

In the middle, the ‘80s pop sensibilities of “Better Way To Play” makes for the album’s best, while “FOMO” recruits cultured percussion and plenty of rhythm to a body moving display of diverse song craft.

Close to the end, “Wash Your Hands In March In English And Spanish” displays bounces keys, Spanish singing and very soulful backing vocals to a very sanitary tune, and “Monsters Aren’t Real” exits with a lullaby that’s quite pretty, soothing and kind of spacey, too.

Inspiration for this 2nd family album came from the Nigerian musician William Onyeabor, Laurel Canyon folk, ‘80s rock, George Harrison, Beck, Luscious Jackson, Portugal. The Man, and Heart, to name a few, and it makes for a very charming and inviting listen for the entire family.

Travels well with: Katie Dwyer Music- Let’s Move; Jenn Cleary- Happy Day

Jesse Jukebox

Just A Minute

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Just A Minute

The Cleveland family musician Jesse Friedberg, i.e. Jesse Jukebox, returns with his 4th kids’ album, and it’s full of short bursts of adventurous rockin’ and kid friendly subject matter that’s quite humorous.

The aptly titled “One Minute Song” opens the listen with a brief blast of charged and buzzing alt-rock that comes with an instant sing-along, and “How Long?” follows with warm keys and plenty of atmosphere to complement the quirky delivery.

Elsewhere, “The Incredible Snooze” floats with a dreamy quality that certainly seems like a lullaby, while the firm acoustic strumming of “Invisible Shirt” comes with snotty vocals amid the retro folk spirit. “Just One More Chip”, one of the album’s best, then heads right into ‘60s territory with its lively percussion and harmonic group vocals.

Deeper still, “Pierogi Polka” recruits an accordion for the indeed polka sensibilities that will get your body moving, and “(Swindled By A) Possum” continues this playful nature with some fluid modern rock that the parents will enjoy just as much.

Much like the title implies, just about every song present is a minute or less, and with influences like The Who, Fountains of Wayne and Daniel Johnston in tow, adults will get just as much enjoyment out of these 28 tunes as the little ears.

Travels well with: Jesse Jukebox- Awesome!; Kelli Welli- Robots Don’t Tell Jokes

Michael Salvatori

Waiting For Autumn

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Waiting For Autumn

An album released by Mike and Tom Salvatori, Waiting For Autumn served as a follow up to their 1976 Apocalypse studio album, The Castle, and here the prog-rock classic is resurrected in all its retro glory.

“When I Look Into Your Eyes” opens the listen with firm guitar strumming and scrappy drumming in the fluid and smooth nostalgic-rock that certainly sounds right at home in the early ‘80s, and “Waiting For Autumn” follows with a much calmer spirit of dreamy song craft that welcomes soothing vocal harmonies.

At the midpoint, the crunchy and thicker presence of “Throw It To The Wind” balances melody and grit with precision, while “Letter From The Front” spends nearly 8 minutes mesmerizing us with its intimate and airy qualities that land near balladry.

Close to the end, “A Matter Of Time” is quite animated, with some grooves that you could dance to amid the chunky bass, and “Epilogue” exits the listen gentle, poetic and with calm synth buzzing that segues into a fuller, thumping rocker.

Michael handles guitar and vocals here, and his brother takes up classical guitar. Additionally, Gail Salvatori (Michael’s wife) provides backing vocals, Gary Polkow contributes keyboards, and Henry Bahr sits behind the drum kit.

A recording that has aged quite well, Waiting For Autumn showcases symphonic prog-rock that certainly is still quite enjoyable and relevant in 2022. This did serve as Salavotori’s last solo rock album, as he moved into the world of commercials, jingles and video game soundtrack scoring, and it’s quite clear that his musical talent goes back a long ways.

Travels well with: Apocalypse- The Castle; Going Up North- Waiting For The Sun

3 Pairs Of Boots

Mighty Love

Dark Country, 2022

8/10

Listen to Mighty Love

The husband and wife duo of Andrew Stern and Laura Arias, as 3 Pairs Of Boots the duo bring country, rock and folk together in a way that might remind you of Fleetwood Mac, Shania Twain or even The Byrds.

“Leap Of Faith” opens the listen with a booming and soaring blast of country-rock that highlights Arias’ powerful and pretty pipes alongside well timed keys, and the title track follows with a hint of twang in the intimate and expressive climate that bounces with a charming dreaminess.

Halfway through, the bright melodies of “Just Call Him Love” reside pretty close to pop territory amid the lively bass lines, while “Labor Day” emits a bit ruggedness amid the breezy folk-rock.

Closer to the end, the piano balladry of “Ghosted” builds into a lush and precisely layered album highlight, and “The Server” exits the listen with fluid and timeless pop-rock song craft that illustrates much skill.

This is the 3rd album from the pair, and they bring in drummer Randy Cooke and Dave Cohen on keys, as well as a string quartet, and it makes for a heartfelt, technically proficient and instantly memorable body of work.

Travels well with: Stacy Antonel- Always The Outsider; Mary Bragg- Violets As Camouflage

Chris Cortez

Live At Blue Bamboo

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Live At Blue Bamboo

The exceptional guitarist Chris Cortez has done many things in his creative life, but a live record wasn’t one of them, until now. Consisting of primarily originals, the selections here take help from the bassists Ron Jenkins and Doug Matthews, plus many more for the occasion.

The mesmerizing guitar of “The Visit” opens the listen, where frisky keys and playful drumming enter the rhythmic climate, and “That’s The Way Of The World” follows with a dreamy tone that benefits from Dan Jordan’s flute and Jeff Sipe’s meticulous drums.

“Awakenings” lands in the middle, and showcases Bob Thornton’s agile keys amid the flowing winds and acrobatic drumming, while “Different Strokes” places Joel Rosenblatt on drums for the breezy melodies and very memorable bass lines of the album’s best.

Approaching the end, “The Rose Of Shalamar” blends crisp drums, cozy keys and intricate guitars in the bouncy demeanor, and “A Remark You Made” exits the listen intimate and poetic, with very absorbing acoustic guitar from Cortez.

Cortez’s inimitable guitar is front and center here, but his esteemed band certainly don’t disappoint, and the jazz template casually touches on swing, funk, rock and blues, among other genres across this excellent effort.

Travels well with: The Jazz Professors- Blues And Cubes; Andy Adamson Quintet- A Coincidence Of Cats

American Wild Ensemble

Duos And Trios

New Focus, 2022

8/10

Listen to Duos And Trios

An outfit whose inception was steered towards making music for national parks and historic sites, the American Wild Ensemble brings cello, flute and clarinet to these nature-esque pieces that draw reference from the natural world.

“Stillwater March”, by Aaron Travers, opens the listen with quivering flute and meticulously bowed cello, and is inspired by a waterfowl in Bloomington, Indiana as it flutters with swift moments, as well as calm ebbs of mystery. “Avaloch Sketches” then unfolds across 3 chapters of dreaminess that benefits from carefully plucked strings in its intimate gestures, that, near the end, erupt into more firm areas in the David Clay Mettens original.

David Liptak’s “Two Nocturnes” lands on the back half, and emits a playful melody, where the strings, flute and clarinet interact with much attention to space and tonality, while Margaret Brouwer’s “Fear, Hiding, Play” exits with a stirring emotive quality that’s very particular about its mood.

The players in attendance include Emlyn Johnson (flute), Daniel Ketter (cello) and Ellen Breakfield-Glick (clarinet), and they certainly illuminate the creativeness of these composers on this organic and harmonic, often animated affair.

Travels well with: Kimia Hesabi- Nemāno Gaona; Steven Ricks- Assemblage Chamber

Acoustic Lounge

Alone Together

Mingus, 2022

8/10

Listen to Alone Together

A collection of songs penned between 1932 and 2010, Acoustic Lounge place their inimitable percussion across the listen, and this time with more emphasis on synth and vocals via the quintet’s brand of soul and jazz.

The album opens with the adventurous percussion of the title track, where a dreaminess surrounds the expressive singing and soulful brass, and “The Shadow Of Your Smile” follows with cozy horns in the very warm delivery.

At the halfway point, “Happy” benefits much from the agile rhythm of the Pharrell Williams original, while “Time Out Of My Mind” spotlights the proficient piano amid lively percussion and meticulous bass playing

Moving towards the end, the intimate spirt of “Lady Bird” flows with much grace and playfulness that resonates breezy melodies, and the album ends on a very charming interpretation of “What The World Needs Now Is Love”.

Acoustic Lounge consists of Soren Baun (vocals, piano, Fender rhodes), Claus Waidtlow (sax), Jesper Bodilsen (bass), Mikkel Schnettler (percussion), and Michael Hartvig (percussion), and together with guests on horns they put a fresh coat of paint on songs we’ve all heard before, but not quite like this.

Travels well with: Marilyn Scott- The Landscape; Melbreeze- I Love Paris

Triio

Six-ish Plateaus

Elastic, 2022

8/10

Listen to Six-ish Plateaus

The sophomore album from the Canadian free jazz outfit Triio, the sextet showcases the talents of Ben Labikova (alto/soprano sax), Naomi McCarrol-Butler (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax), Tom Fleming (guitar), Michael Davidson (vibraphone), Stefan Hegerat (drums, percussion) and Alex Fournier (double bass/compositions) for these 5 adventurous tracks.

“An Intrepid Toad” opens the listen with playful drums, soulful sax and strategic clarinet that makes for a very warm climate, and the title track follows with a very intriguing atmosphere of guitar picking, bouts of percussive sounds and very animated vibraphone for the meticulous delivery.

“Addedna/Agenda” lands in the middle, and radiates much beauty with its stirring brass and dreamy backbone, while “Tragic Leisure” spends 11 minutes mesmerizing us with its soothing clarinet and cautious, cinematic landscape. The final track, “Saltlick City”, then blends sax, drums, vibraphone, clarinet and guitars into a timeless jazz exit.

An excellent outing that pairs written sections with improvisation, each of the tracks present are quite distinct from each other, and illustrate a tremendous amount of skill from all 6 members.

Travels well with: Jacob Chung- Epistle; Chris Mondak- Glass Spheres

Solace Supplice

Liturgies Contemporaines

FTF, 2022

8/10

Listen to Liturgies Contemporaines

A French rock band formed by Eric Bouillette and Anne-Claire Rallo (both of the English outfit Nine Skies), as Solace Supplice they bring us 11 very diverse and exciting songs on this highly progressive debut.

“Le Tartuffe Exemplaire” opens the listen with a driving and sonically engaging version of prog-rock that uses talking and singing in mysterious ways, and “Sunset Street” follows with a more restrained climate that builds into a dynamic and thumping display of power and melody.

“Cosmos Adultérin” lands in the middle and finds much beauty to reside in, where a gentle atmosphere and thumping drums helps balance a light versus dark approach, while “Au cirque des ámes” indeed sounds like it could soundtrack a day at the carnival with its quirky, charming appeal.

The title track arrives near the end, and buzzes with a cinematic demeanor that’s also quite rhythmic in its meticulous nature, and “Marasmes et décadence” exits with warm keys, layered vocals and escalates into a firm version of prog-rock.

The album also features Willow Beggs on bass and Jimmy Pallagrosi on drums, and they sure do make for an exciting and easily enjoyable first album that’s as timeless as it is accomplished.

Travels well with: Laughing Stock- Zero: Acts 3 & 4; Fatal Fusion- Dissonant Minds

Hemisphere

Unity

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Unity

A very diverse outfit who explore, rock, pop, metal, and plenty of other related genres, too, Rob Shinno (guitars, vocals, vocorder), Don Bowman (lead vocals, sax), Michael McQuilken (drums), Nate Brown (bass, groove) and Max Zape (keys), i.e. Hemisphere, make the most of the 11 well crafted tracks here.

“Blue Sky” gets the listen off to an energetic start with its sweeping strings, bright brass and Bowman’s soaring pipes, and “Rebel Rebel” follows with a slight reggae feel, where the band offer a very fusion-friendly spirit on the Bowie classic.

In the middle, the stirring strings of “Open Your Eyes” invites a highly intimate and poetic display of soothing song craft, while the retro-grooves of “The One” sound right at home in the ‘70s with its dreamy, soulful textures.

Further still, “Shadowland” showcases piano alongside powerful singing with a hint of jazz, and “Power To The People” exits with nostalgic pop that’s a bit jangly, entirely infectious and hosts booming brass, hand clapping and lively group vocals.

It’s not hard to think of Morrissey, The Beatles or Pink Floyd when listening to Unity, and the band’s ability to weave in and out of cultured, progressive and vintage pop ideas that will always be relevant, not to mention the superb backing vocalists and guests on horns, makes for a very fun listen.

Travels well with: Vanilla Bloom- Promise; Jon Fuller- When Did You Get So Damn Scared

Chris Walden & LMR Jazz Orchestra

Missa Iubileum Aureum: Golden Jubilee Jazz Mass

Origin, 2022

8/10

Listen to Missa Iubileum Aureum: Golden Jubilee Jazz Mass

The esteemed composer/arranger Chris Walden takes on a substantial project here, where an opportunity for a 50th wedding anniversary brings jazz with the tradition of the liturgical mass for 11 very full and inviting pieces.

“Kyrie” starts the listen with bright brass and elegant keys, as the many voices emit a warm spirit, and “Gloria” follows with a loud and booming approach that showcases the energetic brass, soothing choir and strategic drumming from Gary Novak.

Moving towards the middle, “Offertory- The Passionate Shepherd To His Love” offers a very intimate and absorbing duet from Tierney Sutton and Kurt Elling, while “Sanctus” is a glorious hymn that radiates a very cozy, spiritual demeanor that spotlights a sax solo and much synergy between the St. Dominic’s Schola Cantorum choir.

Further yet, “Agnus Dei” floats with calm winds and Elling’s expressive pipes that complement the gentle melody, and “Thanks Be To God” follows with a festive landscape that embraces quieter ebbs as well as busy, textured jazz and gospel.

You can tell a lot of work went into this effort, and the many winds, brass and voices, not to mention Curt Moore’s vibraphone and Brian Nova’s guitar, make for a big band jazz endeavor that’s not to be missed.

Travels well with: Dave Slonaker Big Band- Convergency; Ben Patterson- The Way Of Groove

Kyle Aho

Rituals

OA2, 2022

8/10

Listen to Rituals

A skilled improviser who know his way around a set of keys, Kyle Aho brings along his Missouri based band of Randy Hamm (sax, flute), Jeremy Allen (bass), Marty Morrison (drums), Chris Mathisen (cello) and Mark Brueggemann (trumpet), as well as Christin Bohrisch’s stunning voice for these atypical jazz compositions.

“Awaken (Overture)” opens the listen with a brief display of meticulous keys, which lays the foundation for the cautious bass and gorgeous vocals of “Like A Stream”, as well as the elegant cello and strong attention to mood of “No Words”.

Halfway through, the soaring vocal scatting of “Belonging” pairs well with the dreamy keys, while “A Night In The Woods” offers a very swift and exciting delivery of adventurous drumming, bouncy bass lines, bouts of piano and absorbing wordless singing.

Near to the end, the pretty singing of “Fragments” makes for an intimate and chilling minute, and “Theoria” continues the mature song craft with fluid brass and strategic bass to complement the twinkling keys and lovely vocals.

A very well executed affair that pays much attention to tone and balance, the lyrical themes surround poetry and text that touch on communion and spirituality, and it sure does make for a superb experimental jazz outing.

Travels well with: Meridian Odyssey- Earthshine; Dmitri Matheny- Cascadia

Eldanka

Rusty Treasures

Self-Released, 2018

8/10

Listen to Rusty Treasures

The Finnish rockers Eldanka know their way around an instrumental song you won’t soon forget, and here there’s a dozen tracks that showcase the dynamic interaction between Mika Jämsä (lead guitar), Rasmus Tammik (rhythm, surf, acoustic guitars), Mauri Haapamäki (bass), and Janne Torvikoski (drums).

“SUP Rider” opens the listen with a bit of playfulness as thumping drums and warm guitars help make for a soothing yet exciting, cinematic opener, and “Paranta Beach” follows with Jämsä on trumpet and Mauri Haapamäki’s tenor horn on the cultured, bright climate.

In the middle, “Treasure”, which is influenced by game music, brings marching band style drumming to the spirited guitar work, while “SF Surf” places Jämsä on flugelhorn in the speedy, West Coast surf rock meets Eastern and Balkan folk music.

Close to the end, “Jopo-The First Ride” enlists Minnamaria Jämsä on piccolo flute, Mika Jämsä on trumpet and has Mauri Haapamäki handling trombone for the Tex-Mex influenced album highlight, and “Springfields” exits the listen with nods to Christmas in the dreamy, memorable finish.

An excellent blend of folk-rock, surf-rock, alt-rock and prog ideas, the 4 members of Eldanka are superb musicians, and this very interesting vocal-less listen is perfect for fans of instrumental, guitar driven sounds.

Travels well with: Apocalypse- The Castle; Going Up North- Waiting For The Sun

Antonio Adolfo

Octet And Originals

AAM, 2022

8/10

Listen to Octet And Originals

The always impressive multiple Grammy nominated pianist and composer Antonio Adolfo returns with an instrumental album that includes Brazilian styles like samba, baiao, bossa, partido alto, quadrilha, toada, calango, maracatu, and much more.

“Heart Of Brazil” opens the listen with much warmth from the brass, as Adolfo’s well timed keys and Rafael Barata’s skilled drumming anchor the breezy spirit, and “Boogie Baiao” follows with a swift pace of soulful horns and Ricardo Silveira’s agile guitar lines making for a American boogie meets Northeastern Brazil mashing.

Halfway through, “Pretty World” showcases Adolfo’s intimate keys amid the timeless jazz nods that are quite melodic, while “Teletema”, a romantic jazz waltz, showcases the elegant piano alongside the inviting sax playing.

The final two tracks, “Zabumbaia” and “Modern Toada”, are equally impressive, where the former meshes Adolfo’s proficient finger acrobatics and Barata’s percussive manipulation, and the latter exits with a calm, romantic demeanor that’s inspired by Bill Evans.

Adolfo has over 200 original compositions to his credit, and these cultured, harmonic and exceptional pieces that take help on brass from Jesse Sadoc (trumpet, flugelhorn), Danilo Sinna (alto sax) and Marcelo Martins (tenor sax, flute) make for a swinging and charming effort that fans of Latin jazz will adore.

Travels well with: Antonio Adolfo- Jobim Forever; Chris Standring- Wonderful World

Josh Modney

Near To Each

Carrier, 2022

9/10

Listen to Near To Each

The debut album as a composer and bandleader for Josh Modney, the violinist brings along Ingrid Laubrock (sax), Cory Smythe (piano) and Mariel Roberts (cello) for the meticulous affair that balances improvisation and notation with much awe.

“Violin Solo” opens the listen with a very adventurous manipulation of the strings that is quite firm, even jagged, in its brief execution, and “Whalefall” follows with a stirring ambience that’s very warm, a bit mysterious, and benefits from precisely bowed strings, well timed keys and bouts of sax.

In the middle, “Opening” blends screechy strings amid an undercurrent of subtle harmony, while “Ballad” spends 10+ minutes mesmerizing us with its reflective violin and moody keys that emits a cinematic quality.

Closer to the end, “Rift” welcomes an ominous angle that’s nearly sci-fi in its creative vision, and “Chorale” exits the listen with an abrasive manipulation that’s tonally fascinating.

A striking body of work that focuses on sound production, timbral gestures and strong attention to intonation, Modney and company make for a fascinating exploration of experimental, classical, abstract song craft.

Travels well with: Erik Satie- Fragments; Itamar Zorman- Violin Odyssey

Maggie Belle

Starting Anew

Splice, 2022

9/10

Listen to Starting Anew

The New Orleans artist Maggie Belle possesses a set of mesmerizing pipes, and this debut album is one full of both light and dark textures that reflect her experience working as a nurse during the pandemic.

The title track opens the listen with Belle’s very expressive and soulful pipes alongside warm piano that builds into a jazz friendly climate with a hint of pop, too, and “Buckling Down” follows with a very stylish display of playful bass, restrained drums and, of course, Belle’s inimitable pipes that can get quite firm.

Deeper into the listen, the mysterious “Hometown” rumbles with a late night spirit that uses brass precisely amid the diverse singing, while “Hold Me” pairs Belle’s inimitable pipes with elegant piano in the powerful delivery that eventually welcomes horns and swift drumming to the New Orleans tinted album highlight.

Close to the end, “Mama” is full of vivid storytelling in a darker tone that’s quite articulate, and “She Is” exits the listen with one of the fuller selections, where a dreamy tone and dynamic, inviting instrumentation illuminates Belle’s thoughtful talent.

A very diverse first effort that embraces blues, soul, R&B and no lack of rhythm, Belle’s timeless vision of song craft and stunning voice make for an incredible performance.

Travels well with: Jane Bruce- My Bed; Heather Sarona- Head Above Water

Parisa Sabet

A Cup Of Sins

Redshift, 2022

8/10

Listen to A Cup Of Sins

The debut album from the Iranian-Canadian Parisa Sabet, the eclectic affair welcomes strings, vocals, winds and electric guitar to a very distinct contemporary adventure.

“Shurangiz” opens the listen with Laurel Swinden’s airy flute and swift strings wrapping around the flowing melodies, and “Dance In Your Blood” follows with 21st century expressionism that showcases Jacqueline Woodley’s sublime and soaring pipes.

Moving toward the middle, “Geyrani” emits a soothing quality via the carefully manipulated solo violin of Matthias McIntire, while “Maku” benefits much from vivid storytelling by way of layered vocals that range from being whispered to shouted.

Advancing towards the end, the dreamy flute of “The Seville Orange Tree” is punctuated by a very mysterious ambience, and the title track exits with clarinet, guitar, piano, viola and cello in a very powerful and literate finish.

Sabet has dabbled in solo works as well as large ensembles, films and choral works. A Cup Of Sins resides somewhere in the area of opera and chamber territory, and it’s both minimal and lush, and quite unpredictable in its creative nature.

Travels well with: Joseph Petric- Seen; Instruments Of Happiness- Slow, Quiet Music In Search Of Electric Happiness

Professor And The Madman

Live At The 100 Club

Fullertone, 2019

9/10

Listen to Live At The 100 Club

Recorded in August 2018 at the legendary London 100 Club, Professor And The Madman bring their all-star ensemble of Alfie Agnew, Sean Elliott, Paul Gray and Rat Scabies to the famed venue with a bristling set of tunes that span their 3 studio albums, as well as some welcomed surprises.

“Peace Bombs” starts the listen with a rowdy display of thundering punk rock energy with melodic undertones, and “Nuclear Boy” follows with bouncy bass lines and fun guitar work in the anthemic cover.

Elsewhere, “Dearest Foe” recruits some psyche-rock influences in the frenzied energy, while “Faces” illustrates proficient ‘70s nods in the retro stabs that are all over the record.

Deeper into the set, “Space Walrus” brings us subtle post-punk moments, and “Demented Love Song” proves that these punk vets aren’t opposed to rockabilly, too. “Electroconvulsive Therapy” ends the listen with a sonically loud and boisterous exit, which illustrates the strong musicianship and versatile approach that is Professor And The Madman.

With half the band living in The States and half in the UK, this was a rare chance to see the band without stand in musicians and together their collective skill (ex-members of The Damned, Eddie And The Hotrods and The Adolescents populate PATM), shines with a rare chemistry that makes this listen not only a must for fans, but a decent starting point for the new listeners, too.

Travels well with: D.I.- State Of Shock; Social Distortion- Mommy’s Little Monster