Four songs and the release clocks in at 24 minutes. Having four rather long songs is quite an undertaking, but Brother Townsend rises to the occasion. An unconventional melding of blues, pop, rock, cosmic country, and psychedelia is the signature of this release. What it may give up in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. All four songs are expertly crafted. Discipline is also the operative word here. While the album is entitled “Heavy Hands,” the production, mixing, and engineering is surprisingly light and ambient. Lots of open space to let the listener reflect on the music without being overwhelmed with production gimmicks. All the instrumentation is spot on and the fills, while sometimes understated, are all in the right place at the right time. It is hard to keep a listener engaged for six-plus minutes of a song but Brother Townsend executes perfectly.
Barry Walker Unit – At The 13th Moon Gravity Well Album Review
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
Sun Ra exclaimed, “space is the place,” and I think he was on to something profound. The Barry Walker Unit seems to live in a realm that is not just physical but ethereal and nebulous. They challenge the very concept of structure in music and flirt with chaos; in doing so, they create new lines and new borders that have yet to be defined. Their sound, infused with unique twang and innovative use of pedal steel, offers a fresh take that is both avant-garde and deeply comforting at the same time.
Robyn Hitchcock ‘n’ The Eqyptians: Queen Elvis (A&M Records) Album Review
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
There is at least one exception to every rule, or so the saying goes. I am officially exercising my option on my own rule to only review albums within a year of release. So what am I doing reviewing an album that is 37 years old? I will tell you. It is so darn good and still holds up in today’s musical spider web. I heard this quite a bit in 1989 when it was released, but lost touch with it over the years. A few years ago, we reconnected and I gave it an earnest listen and was completely gobsmacked by how incredible it still sounded after all these years.
Grateful Dead: Blues For Allah – The Angel’s Share (Rhino Entertainment Company) Album Review
Reviewed By Harry Kaplan
So I had read the title, The Angel’s Share, but never really paid too much attention to its deeper significance. As I was doing my research for “Blues For Allah: The Angel’s Share” release, I decided to Google the exact meaning of “angel’s share.” It is a term used in winemaking or whiskey making and refers to the two to three percent that is lost in the barrel to evaporation. I was awestruck; what a creative name! To take something with such a powerful moniker and apply it to Grateful Dead music, creating a memorable correlative objective, is truly a feather in the cap of the marketing team. The Angel’s Share is that part that was supposed to evaporate; we aren’t supposed to be experiencing it now. However, through tape recordings and modern-day techniques, this lost music has come back to life. The irony of the resurrection, when dealing with so many themes relating to death, is not lost on me, either.
OURB proves that rock and roll is still very much alive and well. Analog Kid delivers the goods with an offering that provides sounds and influences that listeners will be familiar with. It’s got prog roots with some great pop sensibilities. The songs are a continuation and appears to be a retrospective of life from birth through adulthood and maybe through death, depending on your interpretation.
This is some high-octane rock and roll. Definitely a conglomerate of punk, 70s metal, and some psychedelia thrown in for good measure. Another album that hit me from the very first listen. I love the high energy and the overall groove on Fantasy Factory. The band definitely is overflowing with chemistry, making a studio album play like a live album. I have no idea how many takes each track took, but it seems as if they just rolled the tape and started playing. The production and mix are perfect, giving this album a live feel. There is nothing worse than when a band cannot reproduce the sounds of their studio album in a live setting, but I definitely get the feeling that this will not be the case for The Tazers.
The Tazers hail from South Africa. If we were playing word association, rock and roll and South Africa wouldn’t be a match for me. I know there have been a fair number of rock bands from there, but none I have been familiar with. That changes today, as The Tazers single handedly alter that perception.
There are no slow numbers on Fantasy Factory. It is a barn burner from the first note to the last. This is a power trio, and for three gentlemen, they generate a very large sound. No track exemplifies this monster sonic explosion better than I Want Your Love. This track is a perfect representation of their ability to fuse acid rock and doom metal. It features a healthy dose of 70s hard rock with some early Black Sabbath influences thrown into the mix. The guitar solos and general sound have Tony Iommi written all over it, serving as a tribute to the iconic riffs that defined metal over 50 years ago. After giving this track a few earnest listens, my eardrums need a respite, but I am compelled to return for a few more spins.
I misspoke or miswrote a little bit in the previous paragraph. I stated that there are no slow numbers on this release. Well, that isn’t exactly true.Figure It Out is probably the slowest paced song in the entire collection. I wouldn’t exactly call it slow, but slower. It documents the band delving ever so slightly into a rhythm and blues jam. It starts with a super funky drum intro that sets the mood for this tune at the outset. The song maintains a very steady pace and crescendos into an absolutely brilliant guitar solo that produces more smoke than a Texas Hill Country barbeque joint.
The energy in Fantasy Factory is infectious, making it a thrilling listening experience that encourages you to turn up the volume and let loose. You can almost visualize the band members vibing off each other, channeling the spirit of classic rock while pushing forward with their unique style. Each track maintains a relentless pace and an undeniable groove, showcasing the band’s impressive musicianship and the raw power that echoes through their sound. It’s a journey that leaves listeners exhilarated and eager for more.
