This week’s jollies:
Marillion ‘Holidays in Eden’ - still enjoying rediscovery of this surprisingly fresh sounding album. The new mix adds little to its charm;
Marillion ‘Live at Hammersmith, 30 Sept 1991’ - ace concert recording included in the box set edition of the above, showing Steve Hogarth’s vocal prowess at its best;
The Move ‘Shazam’ - a couple of filler pseudo-classical moments aside, The Move’s second LP is a cracking album, with Roy Wood’s patent pop genius (and some choice covers) augmented by a seriously hard rock feel. Got to mention the eternally underrated Carl Wayne, whose vocal performance on the heavy HEAVY ‘Don’t Make My Baby Blue’ is another universe from the twee New Faces kack he was later burdened with;
The Move ‘Brontosaurus’ 45 - Wayne had given way for Jeff Lynne by the time this came out, but the hard rock edge remained - and how. A reminder that the UK singles chart of the early seventies wasn’t all Clive Dunn and Middle of the Road;
The Proclaimers ‘Dentures Out’ - if you dig them - as I do - you’ll love this and if not, you won’t. Charlie and Craig have a Marmite quality, and consistency, that neither ages nor changes. God love ‘em;
Van Morrison ‘Hymns To The Silence’ - that rare thing, a double album that doesn’t outstay its welcome. Van’s 1990s were a lot less embarrassing than most of his contemporaries. So were his 1980s, come to that;
David Sylvian ‘Blemish’ - finally re-released on vinyl after 18 years, Sylvian’s most confessional opus sounds sparser and stranger than ever, yet beautiful. His close miked vocals are astounding;
The Kinks ‘Arthur’ - the myriad brainwashed numpties that have phoned into radio and TV programmes in defence of Johnson prompted me to dig out this unsung gem. Nothing’s changed in half an effing century;
Dvorak: Symphony no.5 (Czech PO/Pesek) - fine, unaffected reading of Dvorak’s most appealing scores by Libor Pesek who we sadly lost this week;
Brahms: Symphony no.2 (Philharmonia/Pesek) - early Naxos bargain, also demonstrating Pesek’s talent;
James Lancelot ‘The Archbishop’s Fanfare’ - varied and satisfying recital showing the colours, beauty and sheer force of Durham Cathedral’s mighty organ.
Fare thee well, dudes
Dave x
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