These reissues are a long-overdue reassessment of Toyah's early-'80s output, and reaffirm just how much depth and sheer great musicianship and songwriting there was to her catalogue. The deluxe Toyah reissue series reaches its third instalment here, with this 1980 live album getting the treatment. It is slightly confusing now, as a later compilation album..
German Proggers LONG DISTANCE CALLING release first single ‘Kamilah’ from upcoming album ‘Eraser’
With a reputation as a formidable and dynamic live band, not least due to multiple European tours and high-profile festival appearances, LONG DISTANCE CALLING have been developing towards a crescendo of their artistry for some time now. In 2020, despite being unable to hit the road, the band released their seventh and most absorbing album..
SUZI QUATRO – The Albums 1980-86 / Back To The…Spotlight (Cherry Red / 7Ts)
Back To The Drive is not only the finest Suzi Quatro album, it is one of the standout rock albums of its entire decade. She was, indeed, back! Suzi Quatro has been experiencing something of a career resurgence of late, with an excellent last album (The Devil In Me), and a successful show at the..
Band photo: Steve Gullick
HEADSWIM Announce ‘Flood #Redux’ and reform for intimate show
Trapped Animal records have announced the return of '90s legends Headswim, with a reissue of their seminal psych-grunge masterpiece, Flood, on 7 October 2022. Released on double vinyl and double CD, this deluxe re-issue will feature previously un-released BBC sessions, studio B-sides and experiments by the band and their mad scientist friends on Disc Two! To celebrate the release, Headswim’s..
WINTER IN EDEN – Social Fake (Cherry Red)
The sound - courtesy of Steve Johnson's production - is immense... It grabs you around the head and gets your attention like the musical equivalent of Judge Death opening his helmet visor on you. It's been a long time now since North-East of England prog-metal band Winter In Eden released an album - in fact,..
FIELDS – Feeling Free: The Complete Recordings 1971-73 (Esoteric / Cherry Red)
There are no long epics among [the debut album's] ten tightly composed tracks, but that matters not to an album which is utterly bursting with good, old-fashioned Golden Age prog rock. It is, genuinely, an unsung classic. The list of worthy 1970s bands who have remained largely unsung and, worse, unheard by most people is..
HELD BY TREES – Solace (Tweed Jacket Music)
It's an odd thing, but as I have grown older, with a free bus pass tantalisingly close, my approach and attitude to ambient instrumental music has very much shifted. Time was, and not all that long ago, when - aside from a liking for a few early Tangerine Dream albums and the like - the..
SLADE – Coloured Vinyl Reissues (BMG)
The 'Slayed?' album looked and sounded as if it was going to bully your other records as soon as you left the room, and this edition, with its replication of the original sleeve, looks like it will do it again. If you have the original vinyl as well, and store both together, they might do..
BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA UK TOUR DATES, APRIL – JUNE 2022
The Blackheart Orchestra are embarking on a UK tour which will see them traverse the length and breadth of the country during April, May and June. TBO are a two-person 'orchestra' playing up to 13 instruments in their unique live show. Their symphonic use of vintage synthesisers, acoustic and electric guitars, mandola, bass, bowed guitar..
JACK LANCASTER & ROBIN LUMLEY – MARSCAPE (Esoteric / Cherry Red)
All in all, this isn’t an album to drive to on the motorway, nor is it one to work out to, as it demands some attention from the listener, but it does reward such attentive listening. Jack Lancaster and Robin Lumley, for those who might understandably require some clarification, were (and indeed still are!) a..