31012014 - Chelsea Wolfe "Pain Is Beauty"

I had literally no idea what to expect when I started listening to this album, mostly based on a recommendation from a certain well known web based shopping site where I have sometimes spent just a tiny amount of time. And money. My curiosity was further aroused by the simplistic mock-goth album cover and title, so let's just say I had a good feeling about this one. From the first song, it's apparent that Ms. Wolfe has spent some time with her PJ Harvey albums, but her self styled doom-drenched electric folk might also appeal to fans of such varied acts as Concrete Blonde, Portishead, True Widow, Cat's Eyes, Devics and Julee Cruise. Apparently she's a huge fan of both black metal and hip-hop, and has shared the stage with Sunn O))), Swans and Boris, but there's not a lot here that reminds me of those acts. This album contains a frail, wavering beauty, but also enough pure rock energy to wipe away any suspicion of weakness or innocence. I believe this might be a grower, and after my first listen I am willing to give this album plenty of opportunities to build on what is already a both intriguing and bewitching first impression.

30012014 - David Crosby "Croz"

Brand new David Crosby album, you say? Don't mind if I do! Not exactly one to flood the shelves, it's been 24 years since his last solo album and 10 years since his last output altogether, the eponymously titled album by Crosby & Nash. So... What does this 72 year old legend sound like 50 years into his career? Well, upon first listen I have to say that "Croz" sits comfortably next to the three other solo albums of his. His voice is, if anything, less rugged and more - dare I say - angelic than before, and the songs are laid-back, Steely Dan-esquely pleasant and sunny, and would perhaps sit better if listened to from a Californian patio or a Riviera boat deck than Norway in the middle of the winter, but until this can be the soundtrack of the summer - and I have a feeling that it will be - it can at least bring its own sunshine to your day.

29012014 - Sarah Jaffe "The Body Wins"

Sarah Jaffe is a wonderful bird, and even if you have never heard of her chances are you have heard her absolutely mesmerizing voice on a different, pretty high profiled album from last year. I first became aware of her through Midlake, some of whose members feature in her band on this album. Her previous record had a more conventional singer/songwriter feel to it, albeit with great songs, but "The Body Wins" is a different beast, from time to time bringing to mind artists like Sinéad O'Connor, Fiona Apple, Ane Brun, Rufus Wainwright or the marvellous John Grant, without ever letting go of what is truly her own identity. Some of the songs are as beautiful and pristine as falling snow in an enchanted forest, others pulsate sultrily to the rhythm of Jaffe's pulse. The end result is an album that will enchant you, seduce you and haunt your dreams!

28012014 - Wicked Lady "Psychotic Overkill"

Another day, another obscure psych rock revelation! How obscure is this? It's so obscure the band don't even have a Wikipedia entry! There is, however, a Black Sabbath link in here somewhere, but I shall leave it to the archeologists amongst you to look up that one... Apart from a rather unnecessary version of "Voodoo Chile", the tracks on their second and last album are really great and the riffapalooza on the remaining six songs, including the epic 22 minute long album closer "Ship of Ghosts", should please all fans of fuzz and lovers of loudness! Great tunes, brilliant musicianship and enough heaviness for this 1972 release to qualify as proper proto-metal! I am going to check out their first album, "The Axeman Cometh" right away! Oh, did I mention that Wicked Lady was another power trio? Yeah - sometimes you can have it all!

27012014 - Cyndi Lauper "True Colors"

I had a lot of fun checking out a whole Paul Young album recently after needing to hear one of the songs on there, so when the lovely title track to Cyndi Lauper's second album album insisted upon my brain it was time to do the same. Again I knew the singles here, like the brilliant album opener "Change of Heart" plus the song "True Colors" itself, but I had never listened to the entire thing. I have to say that apart from the singles - including her cover versions of "What's Going On" and "Iko Iko" - this album is mostly filler material, albeit reasonably enjoyable filler material. The list of guests on this album is extremely impressive though, and I had no idea that Billy Joel and Aimee Mann appeared here - both of them more or less hidden on some of the more anonymous tracks, though. Shame.

26012014 - Fire "Could you Understand me"

A heavy psych rock power trio from the former Yugoslavia? With a record from the very year of 1973? Yeah, baby, that's what I'm talking about! These crazy Croatian cats had certainly got their Cream, Blue Cheer and Hendrix groove on, and they had the tunes to match the 'tude! Apparently the band were not understood in their native country, and the album cover even had them banned, but they sensibly relocated to Holland to record this, their only album and the rest is cult history!

25012014 - Tommy Tokyo "We Blister and We Bleed"

Tommy Tokyo is a tender and soft voiced man. Perhaps a bit too tender and soft voiced? I can't seem to decide. The 11 songs that make up this album are indeed beautiful, but if you're not in the mood for extreme mellowness this will not be the droid you're looking for. However, if soulful country-tinged downtempo pop is what you seek, look no further. Tokyo's voice contains a warmth and sadness that at times only slightly lies above a whisper, but can also rise to melodramatic heights on some of the tracks. When he turns the tempo up a bit over halfway throughout, on "Torture Behind the Door", the album picks up a bit, but apart from that and one other song "We Blister and We Bleed" is an orgy of softness. In conclusion - a mellow album for mellow moments.