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HOTINDIE NEWRELEASE NEWRELEASE NEWRELEASE The Rolling Stones • Totally Stripped Just released on a variety of formats, including CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray, this revised iteration of their mid-90s package, Stripped features The Rolling Stones (or what’s left of them) performing some of their back catalogue titles in what was billed originally as ‘stripped down’ versions. Audio and visual quality is well above excellent as is to be expected with all modern-day RS product. Included here are the ontour documentary and CD of concert takes along the way. Jagger works the boards like a jaded circus barker and Charlie still has his magic. Long-time fans however will note sadly that all the mystery and danger once associated with this formerly-great band are long departed – the fire’s gone out but the ashes are still warm to the touch. – Rod Nicholson >B > Universal Rich Robinson Flux It’s a long way down the road now from the 1990 moment when the first Black Crowes album burst out into the world. Listeners looking for any of that kind of thunder will just have to move on past this latest solo album from guitarist/vocalist Rich Robinson. There’s plenty of variety and fine playing on Flux (with a clear highlight being the beautiful gospel groove on ‘Everything’s Alright’) and it’s undeniable that Robinson continues to grow as a singer. Occasionally, a flicker of the old fire makes itself known on tracks like ‘Which Way Your Wind Blows’ and ‘Eclipse The Night’ and the man’s abilities on the six-string haven’t waned by any means. One for true-blue Crowes fans who always understood anyway, hits be damned. – Rod Nicholson > B+ > Universal Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin • Paco & John: Live At Montreux 1987 Released for the first time, Paco & John: Live At Montreux 1987 is a deluxe DVD/two-CD set featuring two master guitarists performing a masterful set on flamenco and jazz. Having worked together as two-thirds of the ‘Friday Night In San Francisco’ trio, it’s no surprise that they worked so well as a pair at this event. Filmed/recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the set opens with a solo piece from McLaughlin, followed by a solo performance from De Lucía. They soon join forces to present a series of duets drawn from their solo albums, and covers of music written by colleagues like Egberto Gismonti and Chick Corea. Presented in DTS Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1, the sound and video quality is excellent. Guitar fans and guitar players shouldn’t miss out on this one. – John Sharpe >A > Eagle Rock David Bazan Blanco A well-respected denizen of the Seattle indie scene, David Bazan has worn many hats in his time as frontman, drummer, songwriter and more. His latest solo album, Blanco (actually a collection of singles he released a while back) shows an artist in full pursuit of creative growth while forging a strong bond of communication with his listeners as he does so. Composed mainly of samples and keyboard work with acoustic instrumentation drifting through here and there, these tracks possess both a shimmering dream-like quality musically and a very real sense of emotion lyrically. That push and pull (along with some beautiful melodies given full rein by Bazan’s fine vocal work) makes this recording a standalone gem in a field crowded with unabashed pretension and insincerity. – Rod Nicholson > Performance: A/Production: B+ > Barsuk 20 HOTINDIE HOTINDIE HOTINDIE HOTINDIE POPCDs Chaim Tannenbaum • S/T Anyone who’s followed the performing and recording careers of Loudon Wainwright III or The McGarrigle Sisters will probably have become familiar with the name Chaim Tannenbaum. Although an opportunity arose to make an album 20 years ago with legendary producer Joe Boyd (Nick Drake, Richard Thompson etc.) it’s taken until now for the man to finally issue a recording under his own name. Happily it’s well worth the wait. Tannenbaum’s fine voice and evocative way with a lyric blend beautifully with outstanding backing by Rufus Wainwright and David Mansfield among others while his own compositions (including centerpiece track ‘Brooklyn 1955’) stand easily alongside a series of inspired covers ranging from Kate McGarrigle’s ‘(Talk To Me of) Mendocino’ to traditional classics like ‘Coal Man Blues.’ – Rod Nicholson Performance: A+/Production: A > Storysound Sulfur City Talking Loud Fans of hard-edge female singers need look no further for that which they seek. Sulfur City and lead singer/muse/goddess Lori Paradis have the goods to fill the bill and then some. Their new album, Talking Loud is a clear declaration of the fact that they’re able to handily transfer their live sound into the recording studio without any loss of mojo. With a classic Sixties-derived guitar/bass/drums/keyboards instrumentation configuration they have all the bases covered and Paradis’ vocals are well set-up to ride high and easy over the band groove. The songwriting is strong overall with the only possible weak point being the production values created by producer Dale Morningstar that sometimes muddy up the sound and somewhat lessens the sonic impact that’s clearly available. – Rod Nicholson > Performance: B+/Production: B- > Alive Natural Sound The Marrieds Fire In The Flame Local country/folk duo The Marrieds (Jane Carmichael and Kevin Kennedy) continue to refine their sound and their latest recording Fire In The Flame is a clear indicator that the road is open and clear for them to take their music to the next level should they so choose. The album features an airily spacious sonic environment that allows the simplicity and beauty of the sounds they’re creating to fully impact the listener. The lyrics here are as meditative and well thought-out as the music enfolding them and as a result they shine out from the fine harmony work laid down on these tracks. Spare but effective arrangements that bring out all the colours in the material are the finishing touch to a memorable listening experience. – Rod Nicholson > Performance: B+/Production: B+ > Indie Dione Taylor Born Free This new album by Saskatchewan native Dione Taylor serves to underline once again the depth and breadth of impressive world-class musical talent this country is home to. Her music has been described as ‘rural blues’ but listening to Born Free one is reminded of the fact that the word ‘gospel’ is synonymous with truth and in that respect there’s plenty of ‘gospel’ onboard here. The one constant that brings everything home to rest is the strength and depth of the emotion and conviction in Taylor’s singing voice and it’s that voice that allows these songs and their lyrics to blossom fully. Passionately bluesy backing musicianship and effective production values are at work from beginning to end here, uniting these tracks as one. Recommended. – Rod Nicholson > Performance: B+/Production: B+ > Matay physicalreviews HOTINDIE HOTINDIE HOTINDIE HOTINDIE Deni Gauthier Passenger Although St. Thomas resident Deni Gauthier is a fine vocalist and a good guitarist, it’s his considerable skill as a songwriter that sets him apart from other folk/pop artists on the local scene. His most recent release, Passenger, deals with the good and bad in live, love and meaningful relationships. One senses that many of Gauthier’s tunes are biographical in nature and they’re all the better for it. Self-produced at his St. Thomas studio, Passenger’s nine original tracks benefit greatly from the soundscape provided by Gauthier’s talented cohorts -- Andre Wahl (guitar), Steve Koning (keyboards) and Ivory Hour’s guitarist Luke Roes. Gauthier has noted that these are ‘definitely the strongest songs I’ve written’ and after hearing Passenger, one would be hard-pressed to disagree. – John Sharpe > Performance: A/Production: A > Indie Lionel Lodge Human Heart The term ‘wandering troubadour’ was surely coined for guys like Lionel Lodge. Born in Scotland, Lodge has lived in London, England, Spain, Toronto and for some years, London, Ontario. He now lives in Vienna, Austria, where the bulk of Human Heart was recorded. Self-produced, Human Heart contains 13 original tunes that cover a lot of musical bases. The album opener, ‘All She Wants’ is a flat-out rocker; while ‘I’m A Balloon,’ ‘Pauper Or A King’ and ‘Drink It Up’ have a nice country rock/folk feel. Looking for flashes of reggae, zydeco and Latin rhythms? Human Heart’s got ‘em all. While Lodge was recording Human Heart he made a brief pit stop in the Forest City where he recruited local guitar ace Jeff Bialkowski to add tasty guitar licks to a couple of tunes. Turns out Lodge and Bialkowski are former bandmates who once worked together in The Cheekies, a short-lived rock band based here. – John Sharpe > Performance: B+/Production: B+ > Indie The Kat Kings Swingin’ In The Swamp If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, straightahead party record, you can’t go wrong with Swingin’ In The Swamp. I mean, that’s what the honky-tonk swing of the album’s second track, ‘Poppin’ At Party Time’ is all about. Led by vocalist and guitarist Kevin McQuade, The Kat Kings present 13 original songs reminiscent of the good ol’ days when Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis were pumping out jump blues, rock ‘n’ roll, country and rockabilly hits. Members from well-known Canadian blues band Fathead, including drummer Chuck Keeping, vocalist John Mays, and crack guitarist Teddy Leonard form the bulk of McQuade’s back-up band. They’re joined by John Dymond on bass and Wayne Dagenais on keys. Infectious fun, perfect for listening or cutting the rug. – John Sharpe > Performance: B+/Production: B+ > Kool Kat Various • Keys To The City Inspired by the city that’s so nice they named it twice, a diverse group of keyboard aces lay down 13 New York-based standards that span nearly a century. While some of the participants may not be well known to a general audience, Dave Letterman’s old sidekick Paul Shaffer, Dick Hyman and Fred Ebb should be familiar names to most listeners. Most of the tunes are presented in a very straightforward manner, while others offer a fresh spin on some classic tunes. For example, Axel Tosca adds Latin flavour to ‘Take the ‘A’ Train,’ George Whitty gets funky on ‘New York, New York,’ and Glen Roven, who conceived and co-produced this program, adds violin/cello accents to an unpredictable romp through ‘55th Street Bop.’ As for Paul Shaffer, he teams up with his former Letterman bassist Will Lee on the pop hit ‘Eyes Of A New York Woman.’ – John Sharpe > Performance: B/Production: B+ > Roven/Naxos ESTABLISHED IN 1989 JUNE 30 - JULY 27 • 2016
physicalreviews CLASSICALCDS Dreamtime Much modern chamber music still harkens back to the halcyon days of the 18th and 19th centuries, when the form was as popular in the courts of aristocrats as it was in European salons. This, however, is not that music. American instrumental group Zodiac Trio – Kliment Krylovskiy on clarinet, Vanessa Mollard on violin, and pianist Riko Higuma – update listeners’ expectations with their sophomore release, Dreamtime, which features a program consisting entirely of 21st century repertoire. It’s a refreshing change from the standard fare, rendered with gusto, grace and unsurpassed technical finesse. Among the highlights are Andrew List’s numinous exposition ‘Aboriginal Dreamtime’ – from which the CD takes its name - and the rhythmically enticing ‘Breakdown Tango’, composed by John Mackey. The ambitious, multi-part ‘Across the Universe’, comprised of one-minute vignettes by different composers, has both esoteric MODERN TRIO VOCAL JAZZ CHORAL ORCHESTRA and aesthetic appeal, since it is based on the signs of the zodiac, as well as being brilliantly performed. A stellar effort. – Chris Morgan > Zodiac Trio > Blue Griffin, 2016 Got a Little Rhythm Nineteen tuneful gems from the Great American Songbook have found a home on this recent Bridge Records release. Vocalists Amy Burton and Patrick Mason, accompanied by pianist John Musto, recreate the smoky ambiance of early 20th century jazz clubs with classic tunes from some of the most revered songwriters of the time, including George Gershwin (‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘Little Jazz Bird’, ‘Embraceable You’, ‘By Strauss’, ‘I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise’), Cole Porter (‘Tale of the Oyster’), Irving Berlin (‘Lazy’, ‘I’ll See You in C-U-B-A’, ‘What I’ll Do’) and Hoagy Carmichael (‘The Nearness of You’). Impeccable musicianship courtesy of Musto and playful, engaging performances from both singers make this CD a worthwhile addition to any collector’s library where the music of young America figures prominently. – Chris Morgan > Amy Burton (soprano), Patrick Mason (baritone) > Bridge Records, 2015 Gordon Getty The Little Match Girl An unlikely fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen provides both the title and partial substance of this new recording from Pentatone. Composer, conductor and arranger Gordon Getty is the flame at the center of this creative effort, adapting the 19th century folk tale with his well-honed gift for setting and restraint. His nuanced approach to subtleties in the performance makes the climatic passage of the little match girl’s death all the more potent. As well, two other works by the conductor-composer also appear on the recording – a setting of William Butler Yeats’ poem ‘A Prayer for my Daughter’ and ‘Poor Peter’, a work that features both music and text written by Getty himself. Tenor Nikolai Schukoff shows himself to be in excellent form on this last piece, and the accompaniment of the Munich Radio Orchestra is nothing short of immaculate. – Chris Morgan > Bavarian Radio Choir, Munich Radio Orchestra > Pentatone, 2015 Ravel - L’Heure espagnole & Don Quichotte a Dulcinee Opera buffa and opera seria are Italian terms which refer to the mood of a given opera, ‘seria’ meaning ‘serious’ and ‘buffa’ meaning ‘comedy’. This recent release from Naxos is an example of the latter, offering a splendid performance of Maurice Ravel’s version of the Spanish-flavored L’Heure espagnole, as realized by the musicians of the Orchestre National de Lyon under the direction of conductor Leonard Slatkin. Ravel’s take on the classic opera buffa gave the work a palpable humanity, a tenderness that deepens the comedy, as well as improving the overall score. In addition to the opera, Ravel’s final composition - Don Quichotte à Dulcinée - also appears on this recording. Based on Cervantes famous literary creation, this song cycle is vital and evocative, awakening in the mind’s eye images of the chivalrous Don Quixote and his knightly misadventures. – Chris Morgan > Orchestre National de Lyon, Leonard Slatkin > Naxos, 2016 The Science of TV’s The Big Bang Theory There is little question of the popularity of The Big Bang Theory. No, not the cosmological model that describes the origin of the physical universe but the television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady that premiered on CBS in 2007. Since the main male characters on the show are physicists and engineers from the California Institute of Technology, fans know to expect technical jargon in the dialogue; in fact, many of the jokes are predicated on a basic understanding of the modern scientific worldview. Such is the premise behind The Science of TV’s The Big Bang Theory, an informative offering by Dave Zobel, an author who brings his considerable knowledge and wit to bear on the real-world research that underlies much of the show’s comedy. It’s worth noting that this is more a book of ‘popular science’ than ‘popular culture’, as Zobel elucidates as a teacher or professor might, using situations and characters from the program to explore – at length - deeper truths in the fields of physics and astrophysics, astronomy, chemistry, biology and mathematics. Want the info behind the entertainment? Look no further than The Science of TV’s The Big Bang Theory. It’s all the proof you’ll need. - Chris Morgan > Dave Zobel > ECW Press, 2016 • 398 pages The Verdict on Each Man Dead: A Peter Cammon Mystery Salt Lake City homicide detective Henry Pastern is called to a gruesome and confounding crime scene in quiet suburbia: a woman beheaded, a husband nowhere to be found, a house full of drugs, and a street full of nosy neighbors claiming complete ignorance. Pastern consults his friend and mentor Peter Cammon, a former Scotland Yard detective chafing at his retirement who shares Pastern’s belief that something deeper is going on. When tragedy strikes, Cammon travels to Utah to assist with the investigation and bring a murderer to justice one way or another. As leads dry up and a series of law enforcement agencies try to take the case over or place it off-limits, Cammon and Pastern must seek aid from corrupt police, a notorious Mexican drug lord, and even Unabomber Ted Kaczynski in order to find a killer who may have ties to domestic terrorists across the country, past and present. Throughout, Cammon and Pastern are forced to confront their own ideas of evil, vengeance, and the extent to which the law should be broken in pursuit of justice. The Verdict on Each Man Dead is author David Whellam’s third Peter Cammon novel, and – in this reviewer’s opinion - the best so far. - Adam Shirley David Whellams ECW Press, 2015 • 379 Pages Winnie’s Tongue Winnie wants to escape her life of drugs, abuse and poverty, and wants to bring her new friend Tongue along with her. Her chance comes when, after her father’s funeral, her uncle finds her: “I recognized the sound of Dirk’s sinuses well before he slunk his way beside me at a bar. He had this horrible way of sucking in his snot and choking it back.” He has come with her inheritance - keys to a limousine and thousands of dollars in cash. Because she is estranged from the family, he is nervous to approach her, and he struggles with a pronounced stutter. Winnie narrates the scene: “Uncle Dirk had always been the most art-art-art-articulate in the family.” Novelist Nic Labriola writes in a darkly comedic style, delighting in extreme gross-out laughs and shocks. The character of Winnie, as a narrating protagonist, is herself unsparingly cruel and cold in her views on the world, vividly detailing the physical deformities and flaws of those she meets. To her, a hospital is “crawling with failure”. At a used clothing store, the garments remind her “of all the people who must be alive out there, sweating out armpits, outgrowing dresses, ripping the seats of pants, spilling fluids, making stains. A mess.” Labriola has penned a surrealist Canadian road trip, a story of running away from family and hurtling wildly towards - not redemption – but healing. Tongue, a kind, broken man, befriends Winnie even as she lashes out at him. Together, they make their own family, and their own, rough world. - Amy Andersen > Nic Labriola > Insomniac Press, 2016 • 240 pages JUNE 30 - JULY 27 • 2016 <strong>CELEBRATING</strong> 27 YEARS 21 POPULAR SCIENCE MYSTERY FICTION BOOKS
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