It’s not everyday that a Big Big Train album appears in my mailbox. An immense thanks to Kathy Spawton and Greg Spawton for sending it, and to the band for signing it!

Continue reading “Big Big Train’s FOLKLORE Arrives in Michigan”
It’s not everyday that a Big Big Train album appears in my mailbox. An immense thanks to Kathy Spawton and Greg Spawton for sending it, and to the band for signing it!

Continue reading “Big Big Train’s FOLKLORE Arrives in Michigan”

MAY 31ST, 2016
Review of Airbag, DISCONNECTED (Karisma, 2016). Tracks: Killer; Broken; Slave; Sleepwalker; Disconnected; Returned.


When Airbag first appeared on the prog scene with their extraordinary album, IDENTITY (2008-2009), they seemed a fascinating cross between Pink Floyd and Talk Talk, at least in their influences. Or more accurately, perhaps, imagine Pink Floyd performing Talk Talk songs. Even the cover of IDENTITY looked like something James Marsh would’ve painted. The atmosphere the band created—at least in the studio—was nothing short of astounding. Moody, driven, and meaningful. One might be tempted to call their music prog shoe-gaze.
Their first and only (as far as I know) live release, LIVE IN OSLO, proved just how amazingly talented the four members of Airbag are. After hearing them live, no one could dismiss them as a studio band merely. As much as I liked IDENTITY, it was the 24 minutes of LIVE IN OSLO that utterly blew me away. Upon my first listen to this short album, I knew this band was something special.
Continue reading “Airbag’s DISCONNECTED: The Spirit of Mark Hollis and Rick Wright”
Their last trip to the Portland, OR area came more than a decade ago and it’s been nearly as long since they released an album of new material but regardless the 15,000 strong who packed the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater in Ridgefield, WA on Saturday definitely know the Cure. The Robert Smith fronted group played 34 […]
via Concert Review: Portland Finds The Cure in Ridgefield — Drew’s Reviews
The members of BBT have graciously made the CD/vinyl booklet available for free.
Link to BBT’s dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zdn1hnnqmme9s26/AAAKvUmF4PfxSfkGIMQXmaIYa/Folklore%20album%20booklet.pdf?dl=0
Or, a direct down load here: Folklore album booklet

So, today is a big day–the first studio album from Big Big Train in three years and the first studio album from Frost* in eight. Amazing. Enjoy!


Artist: Big Big Train Album Title: Folklore Label: English Electric Recordings Date Of Release: 27 May 2016 Albums like this need to be consumed for some time before any thoughts are committed to paper or PC. However, I was desperate to review ‘Folklore’ by Big Big Train before it was officially released and so, after […]
via Big Big Train – Folklore – Album Review — The Blog of Much Metal

One of America’s two finest print sources has a great writeup on BENT KNEE. And, well deserved. By Jim Fusilli.
Bent Knee, whose latest album, “Say So” (Cuneiform), arrived on Friday, has been classified as a proponent of art rock, which is only a little more helpful than saying it makes music. Across the span of its three full-length discs, the silo-smashing, Boston-based sextet taps into cabaret, ’70s piano-based folk, chamber pop, industrial rock, metal and prog rock—with the snap of funk and hip-hop in some of its rhythms. Featuring the versatile, ever-appealing voice of Courtney Swain on top, Bent Knee’s unique mix is equal parts ingenuity and deliciousness.
Bent Knee may begin and end a track near the same sonic place, but in between it offers a journey filled with fruitful detours. The initial listening experience is to wonder what’s next; later, it’s a matter of catching up with what was missed the earlier times around. On “Say So,” the track “Counselor” features bouncy allusions to show tunes; punchy funk; wailing metal; and a sing-along worthy of a protest rally. A cocktail-lounge piano and a theatrical vocal by Ms. Swain introduce “Nakami,” but soon comes Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth’s booming drums, a stinging guitar and sweet strings; Ms. Swain, who also plays keyboards, sings the stirring outro in Japanese. “Eve” has two bludgeoning interludes right out of sludge metal, but there are also little bits on plucked violin and accordion, with some jazzy chording on electric guitar. For all that’s happening on this album, there’s little bloat or self-indulgence, and even the longest tracks feel like concise statements.
To read it all, and you should, go here: http://www.wsj.com/articles/say-so-by-bent-knee-review-1464125585
Thanks to Stephen Humphries for pointing this out to me this morning.