Reviews roundup – Blodwyn Pig vs. Ben Taylor vs. Nick Lowe vs. E.Z. Riders
BLODWYN PIG
Pigthology
Gonzo Multimedia 2013
Unreleased material from Blodwyn Pig. It’s the kind of thing that keeps grown men awake at night. And not in a good way.
Of course you’ll be hard pushed to work out where, when and what these recordings consist of, as there is nothing in the booklet to tell you. No dates, lineups, nothing. And my copy is missing track nine all together, so no ‘Hound Dog’ for me. I’m lucky as I have a press release, so I can tell you that seven of the twelve tracks have date unknown beside them, so even Mick Abrahams doesn’t know. However, the tracks that have been identified are all between 1969 and 1973, with a couple of BBC Sessions alongside live numbers from the Marquee and Luton Town Hall!
There are alternate versions of two tracks from their 1969 debut in the shape of ‘Dear Jill’ and ‘The Change Song’ plus an outtake ‘It’s Only Love’, and ‘Drive Me’ and ‘See My Way’ from the 1970 follow-up “Getting To This”. I suspect that this is pretty much the same package as issued by Mick Abrahams on his website back in the mid-noughties, but it’s still good to hear non-album tracks like ‘Baby Girl’ and ‘Same Old Story’, although those have been out before as well.
It would have been nice to have had more details about who was on what and when, but this isn’t really aimed at a new audience. Blodwyn Piglets will just be glad its out there.
BEN TAYLOR
Listening
Iris Records 2013
The follow up to his 2008 release “The Legend Of Kung Folk – Part 1 (The Killing Bite)”, this sees the son of Carly Simon and James Taylor heading off in a slightly different direction to both that and its predecessor, “Another Run Around The Sun”, which remains my favourite of his releases.
This one, however, seems a bit at odds with itself. I don’t know if that’s because it’s been recorded in fits and starts over the last four years, or whether because young Master Taylor is trying on too many styles, but I found it a rather disjointed listen. I suppose it matters less in the world of mp3s and shuffles, as you can rejig it any way you want it, but still.
I like it best when he’s so laid back as to be horizontal, so songs like ‘Oh Brother’ and ‘Not Alone’ are right up there with his best unlike ‘Worlds are Made Of Paper’ which became an instant skip. It’s a warm, welcoming record all topped off by his very listenable voice, and I’m sure his fans will lap it up.
NICK LOWE
Quality Street
Proper 2013
It’s Chhhhhhrrrrriiiisssttmas!!!!!!!!!! Yes, really, it’s that time of year when the record companies try to work out how to wheedle some extra cash out of you by punting out a record that you’ll play once at the office Christmas party, lose down the back of a desk, and forget all about it the next day.
Which may be why, when Nick Lowe was approached by his record label about making a Christmas album, his reaction wasn’t exactly one of comfort and joy. “It was more disquiet and alarm, accompanied by feelings of ‘Do they really think I would wish to sully my good name on this tawdry and vulgar commercialism?'” Lowe says with a laugh. “But that feeling lasted about thirty-six and a half seconds, before I came to and thought, ‘Vulgar, tawdry commercialism? Yes, please, when do we start?’ And here we have the end result, subtitled “A Seasonal Selection For All The Family”.
Now I like Christmas records. That is to say I hate Christmas compilations, but like it when someone puts a bit of thought into it. This sees Mr Lowe take on a mixture of well known, lesser known and some new tunes, and it all ends up very enjoyable. Even if I am listening to an advance copy in September, whilst fervently wishing for some good gardening weather this weekend.
There are two new Nick Lowe songs, a co-write with Ry Cooder, a new Ron Sexsmith song and some excellent run throughs of Roger Miller’s ‘Old Toy Train’, a splendid jaunt through ‘Silent Night’ and even a turn at one of my favourite hymns, ‘Rise Up Shepherd’. I was less enamoured of the Madness like stab at Wizzard’s ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’, but it’s a minor glitch on an otherwise enjoyable album.
E.Z. RIDERS
Try Hard…Or Die Hard
E.Z. Riders 2013
Or the Experienced Zydeco Riders to give them their Sunday name. The Italian blues rockers have put out three albums, including this one, and are firmly rooted in the seventies blues rock mien, with a touch of jam band and country rock thrown in for good measure.
So, there is nothing startlingly original on offer, but what they do, they do well, gazingly longingly over the Atlantic as they work their way through ten tunes, which are well worth a listen. Led by Alessandro Alessandrini (guitar, vocals), who is a much better guitarist than he is singer, they certainly seem to enjoy what they’re doing on tunes like ‘Down In Mississippi’ and ‘When It All Comes Down’, something that is communicated to the listener.
If you’re looking for a new band to check out in the world of blues rock, this is worth a punt, as the songs, production and playing are uniformly good.
The Rocker 