fri 07/03/2025

New Music Reviews

Reissue CDs Weekly: Giorgio Moroder, The Teardrop Explodes

Kieron Tyler


Giorgio Moroder Schlagermoroder Volume 1 1966-1975Giorgio Moroder: Schlagermoroder Volume 1 1966-1975 / On the Groove Train Volume 1 1975-1993 / On the Groove Train Volume 2 1974-1985 / Son of my Father

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Lucinda Williams, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

graeme Thomson

Lucinda Williams’s current tour might be billed as “intimate”, but anyone who has seen her perform before will know that intimacy tends to come with the ticket. It is true, however, that this pared-down format, in which she performs drummerless and accompanied – splendidly – by Doug Pettibone and David Sutton on guitars, pedal steel, bass and harmonies, brings the audience even closer to her extraordinary voice and unflinching words.

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Marianne Faithfull & Bill Frisell, Queen Elizabeth Hall

Sebastian Scotney

“Marianne Faithfull, you are first of all a timbre, a warm and bewitching voice…” Those were the words of the French Culture Minister in March 2011, when he awarded her the title of Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres. That celebrated vocal timbre has now settled comfortably, truly, deeply in the baritone register.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Scared to Get Happy

Kieron Tyler

 

Scared to Get Happy A Story of Indie-pop 1980-1989Various Artists: Scared to Get Happy – A Story of Indie-pop 1980-1989

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Urban Voices Collective, Pizza Express Jazz Club

peter Quinn

When it comes to live performance, nothing quite socks it to the solar plexus like a choir singing their heart out. Last night, in the intimate space of Soho's Pizza Express Jazz Club, Urban Voices Collective (UVC) gave it to us with both barrels.

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Iggy and The Stooges, Royal Festival Hall

Garth Cartwright

Having witnessed Neil Young’s shambolic O2 concert on Monday – Young treating the occasional venture into his back catalogue with listless contempt whilst serving up multiple banalities from his recent albums – I considered skipping seeing more veteran American rockers.

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The Gloaming, Union Chapel

peter Quinn

While the melodic and rhythmic subtleties of traditional Irish music are best experienced through listening to the solo performer, it's very much through groups that the music has reached a global audience. While some so-called "supergroups" have promised much and delivered very little – being nothing more than a session on stage with no thought for arrangements, pacing or mood – in this much anticipated UK premiere The Gloaming spectacularly fulfilled, and surpassed, all expectations.

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Reggie Watts/Mac Lethal, Royal Festival Hall

James Williams

The Meltdown Festival has always been a fascinating proposition, getting a living legend in their field to curate their own personal festival line-up, and present all of their idiosyncratic choices to London in the refined and retro-futuristic surroundings of the Royal Festival Hall.

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Neil Young and Crazy Horse, O2 Arena

Adam Sweeting

"Don't say it's over," wailed Neil Young at the end of "Hey Hey, My My", his raging anthem against the dying of the light which still sounds as bellicose and cantankerous as it did in 1979. And happily it isn't over yet, because on this evidence the 67-year-old Young still looks fighting fit and raring to run round-the-clock heavy metal marathons.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Dr. Feelgood, The Three O’Clock, Ane Brun, Ruthann Friedman

Kieron Tyler

 

Dr. Feelgood: Taking No Prisoners (with Gypie 1977-1981)

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