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RAZOR WIRE SHRINE: Going Deaf For A Living CD
Story of my life, squire………..the title that is!! The only guy who'll grow old with a pathological hatred of headphones!!! Anyway, this is a new band, although the guys behind it have "been around" on the prog-rock block for aeons, seemingly starting proggy, going rocky and now? Well, they've stepped sideways and gone all "guitar" on us - yes an instrumental electric guitars-bass-drums trio - one that will blow you right out of your chair!! Phil, our resident guitar person, hated it, so it was pretty inevitable that I was going to like it since out guitar tastes seem to be so at odds it's untrue. Sure enough, I loved it - I just adore this sort of "in-your-face" sonic soup approach to the genre, you know, the "let's go with all guns blazing and while we're at it, throw in the kitchen sink as well" way of doing things. As a result, the opener, 6 minutes of 'Shards' gets the title about right as riffs, rhythms and solos splinter off at all angles on a positively explosive track where the guitars alone have enough energy to maintain half of Philadelphia in electricity for a good month at least, while the rhythm section just thunders away, so heavy you swear your CD system will fall through the floor any second. Those who may expect the second track to show some respite from the musical hurricane unleashed on 'Shards' will be…………absolutely delighted to find that the 6 minute 'Crackling Dimentia' is even more explosive, even more full-sounding, even more cohesive, this time the wild ride of riffs and rhythms giving rise to a spiralling set of guitar leads that just go supernova and reach heights you didn't think a guitarist could reach. At 8 minutes, it's unsurprising that 'Architecture For The Tortured Soul' starts at slightly less than tornado-force, but it's not long before the storm arrives, this time a wealth of the things passing by, pouring down on you, a brief pause for breath, then the next one, and so on - some of the most smoking guitar leads and solos raining down on you to gloriously soaking effect. So it goes, a series of wickedly heavy tracks with riff after riff, explosive rhythms - hell, even the odd moment of pure dynamics in there too if you look hard enough - and guitar solos to light up the night sky. The production is incredible, getting both separation and yet maintaining the "sonic soup" approach to perfection. The playing is fantastic and they sound like they had a wild time making it - the enthusiasm more than comes across and that's what makes it so good. Loved every minute of it - one of the best instrumental rock-guitar albums for ages and required listening.
ANDY TIMMONS: Pawn Kings Live CD
Superbly recorded, this is an out an out blues album recorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience, from a quartet of electric guitar, electric bass, drums and organ, plus vocals, and it's asset of originals and covers that is just wonderful. The opener alone is just so enthusiastic as the band powers up and the sound of electric blues as it should be comes surging from the speakers, so atmospheric that you shut your eyes and you're there in the club with them, rocking with every note, glass in hand and satisfied at a night of real blues played lovingly, clean and fresh. Any modern band who can deliver a version of 'Black Magic Woman' and NOT make you say "ohhh, not this again", deserve more than your respect, for that's exactly what happens here as the riff begins, but the guitar and piano work make it sound like you've never heard it before, and the vocals carry the piece superbly - so infectious that you can't help swaying along, and when the sparking lead solo comes in, with river of organ underneath, rhythm section as crisp and solid as you'd want, the effect is wonderful. A gorgeous 7 minute version of Gary Moore's instrumental, 'The Loner' slows things down with guitar work that is so emotive, there can hardly have been a dry eye in the house - just magical, with the rhythm section sharp but flowing and the organ washes providing the current on top of which the fluid and slowly spiralling lead guitar solo travels to perfection. Elsewhere, there's a way enthusiastic cover of a song made more famous by, but not an original of, The Beatles, in the form of 'Money' here given a new bluesy makeover and sounding just right, familiar, of course, but in no way "dated". The original Timmons track 'Way That I'm Livin' is a classic blues swagger with empetus, feel and drive as the slow boogie gives rise to some sizzling solos and nearly 8 minutes of solid blues heaven. A 9 minute version of the Beatles original 'Come Together' surprisingly, for me, worked just fantastically, the band giving the track an interpretation that takes a rather old-hat song, into a wholly new dimension, with a steaming sea of leads in the middle as the guitar work climbs higher and higher, the band as a whole really delivering the goods and then some. With more great tracks as well, this is just amazing - nothing groundbreaking, but done so well, so passionately, you could almost believe you'd discovered the joys of electric blues for the very first time. There's a venue in Stafford (my old home town) called "The Grapes" run by an ex-Climax Blues Band guy, and this band would be just PERFECT there - oh, how I'd love to see them - sadly the band is no more, so I won't! Instead, get this CD - it's got to be one of the smartest moves you could make.
ANDY TIMMONS: Official Live Bootleg 1991-1998 DVD
Visually and audibly, this is a great DVD, providing you don't mind watching a guitarist play so passionately that he feels every note - some of the facial features he manages are seriously entertaining. But that's not a criticism, since, when you hear the trio in action and Timmons' lead guitar work in particular, you can see why he does it. The sheer feeling that comes out of the instrumental compositions is positively glowing, with almost tributes to the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Free & Stevie Ray Vaughan along the way, all wrapped up in his own excellent style. Across all the tracks, it works well, although how often you'd watch it rather than just play it is open to debate, but to see the guitarist in action is a treat. The rhythm section turn in a solid and well-represented performance, an integral part to the enjoyment, the guitarist looks good as yer typical young-looking guitar god, and this comes surprisingly recommended.