nessymon.com

Category: Music Review

  • Take That: Progressed Review

    Take That ProgressedIt’s not too surprising that Take That have chosen to release Progressed as a two disc edition rather than a brand new separate release. Just as the original five get back together on tour for the first time in fifteen years, the two disc edition is a nice little shot in the arm for the fastest selling album of the century. Plus every die hard fan will want it.

    Lead single from ‘Progressed’ is ‘Love Love’, taken from the soundtrack to ‘X Men: First Class’, a little bit gritty and electro than a lot of Take That’s previous releases.  While lead single from ‘Progress’, stayed pretty much in line with what the group had released with Beautiful World and The Circus, you can hear a more electro Robbie Williams influence here.  Even the production on Don’t Say Goodbye has a certain Pet Shop Boys vibe.

    ‘Man’ is an interesting, a dance track with a phat bass, it features vocals and a vibe that will bring die hard fans straight to the early ‘Do What You Like’. The Mark Owen led ”The Day the Work is done’ is a decent mid tempo track, while the thumping ‘Beautiful’ reminds me The Killers/Brandon Flowers.

    To these ears, Love Love is the best of the eight tracks. If Take That were to push another track from Progressed, it would probably be the nostalgic ‘When We Were Young’, which would be ideal to close the Progress chapter.

    Every fan will buy it and it will be probably be number 1 by the end of the week. (more…)

  • John Edgar Voe: Western Notes Review

    John Edgar VoeThese guys are clever, John Edgar Voe isn’t a bloke, it’s a band. Led by Martin J Corrigan, the band also features one Robyn G Shiels and members of Alloy Mental.

    John Edgar Voe’s sound is definitely country tinged, the first track, ‘Highwayman’ has nice use of lap steel, Corrigan though, refers to it as Fermanicana. Clever. Americana from Fermanagh, which is exactly what it is.

    ‘Highwayman’ has echoes of  Johnny Cash, which is never a bad thing but pronounication of some of the lyrics, region, drug, make this distinctly JEV.  ‘The Conscript’ uses clever lyrics to build the story of our hero. The mid tempo track features laid back vocals as we hear the pain in the singers immaculately delivered vocals. This almost has an anthemic feel with an uplifting positive chorus. I really like this track. (more…)

  • The Future Shape of Sound: Thinking Bad Thoughts Review

    Thinking Bad ThoughtsThinking Bad Thoughts is the new single from London based ‘The Future Shape of Sound’. On a first listen, TFSOS sound somewhere Mudbone and Republic of Loose. They have a slick funky, retro feel, helped on by the male/female vocal duel between Big Daddy Kai and Nomtai Mabo.

    Addictive drumbeats and 1960’s Northern Soul vibe make it impossible not to dance to this. It’s a little bit gritty, just like it should be. While the track has a retro feel it’s unmistakably contemporary. It’s excellently produced by Alex McGowan and features The Vaccines’ Arni Hjorvar on bass and The Dub Pistols’ Jack Cowens on drums.

    I really like the sound of this. ‘Thinking Bad Thoughts’ is taken from the forthcoming album ‘Eleven 59’,  I hope that TFSOS have enough variance in their sound to keep me hooked for a full album. Looking forward to hearing it. (more…)

  • Robin James Hurt: The Market House E.P. Review

    Robin James HurtFolk music and me have a long standing complicated relationship. Once it goes to diddly aye territory, I’m outta there. Hearing the new E.P. though, from Robin James Hurt (with the Band of Moonlight Love) has given me quite a smile.

    The CD opens with an original instrument composition, ‘The Doonbeag Waltz’, a tender mandolin led piece beautifully intertwined with delicate guitar and string arrangement.

    Hurt has taken traditional songs and given them his own arrangements. Traditional instruments are flanked by drums and bass guitar and Hurt’s raspy vocals make these songs his own. (more…)