If I mention the term folk music you might instantly conjure up gatherings of ageing hippies sitting around in a circle singing Kumbaya as the patchouli incense fills the air. But the 60's are long gone and the idea of what folk music used to represent has not only changed but the music itself covers a much broader spectrum now. Essentially folk music is protest music and … [Read more...]
So – Peter Gabriel
There was a period through the mid 80’s and into the 90’s where Daniel Lanois was responsible for producing some of the most sonically majestic records of that era. He crafted memorable albums for a diverse range of artists including Bob Dylan (Oh Mercy); The Neville Brothers (Yellow Moon); Emmylou Harris (Wrecking Ball); and with Brian Eno a string of U2 albums (Unforgettable … [Read more...]
Little Hurricane – Podcast
A couple of years ago I discovered an album called Gold Fever by Little Hurricane. The record was dirty, bluesy and at times slightly distorted, but the songs were also melodic with a lyrical honesty that was refreshing. As a duo featuring drums and guitar playing their own brand of dirty blues Little Hurricane were always likely to be compared to bands like the Black Keys, … [Read more...]
Pray – Black Rabbit George
As one half of the Tijuana Cartel Paul George has built a sustained following over many years through the band’s impressively energised live performances. At a Tijuana Cartel gig you know you’re guaranteed a good time. Two years ago Paul began a side project that couldn’t have been further from that scene. Black Rabbit George was created as an opportunity for Paul to explore … [Read more...]
Midge Ure – Podcast (Part 2)
Midge Ure. The Ultravox front man who rode the crest of the wave through the band’s biggest success and then went on to form Band Aid and Live Aid to feed the starving millions in Ethiopia. In part 2 of this podcast Midge takes us behind the scenes of the Band Aid recording where he and Bob Geldof stood outside the Sarm West recording studios in front of a huge media … [Read more...]