New Music Reviews from The Arts Desk
The Arts Desk has released a fresh batch of new music reviews, which include some oldies, newbies and plenty of goodies...
Russ Coffey went to the Bush Hall to see Jon Allen and Josh Bray's double bill of singer-songwriters. Coffey enjoyed their performance, which dramatically improved after initially experiencing sound problems and a lack of atmosphere. The reviewer found Allen to be the smoother and Bray to be the more rough-edged, which seemed to work a treat.
A 65,000-strong crowd recently rocked out to Kings of Leon in Hyde Park. Matilda Battersby enjoyed a compelling live performance from the Followills, who treated the crowd to hit after hit. A documentary about the band's amazing journey to fame will be hitting the cinemas soon.
Joe Muggs recently sampled the new music scene at Barcelona's Sonar festival. Showcasing everything from hip hop to South African tribal dance, Muggs wrote a three-day report on this popular modern dance music festival.
Seven-piece Scottish collective Southern Tenant Folk Union recently showcased their new album, 'Pencaitland' at the King and Queen. Russ Coffey found that their fusion of Celtic British and American roots music, alongside a healthy dose of bluegrass banjo, gave their music real heart and soul.
Ringo Starr's self-mocking humour added to the triumph of his recent concert at Hampton Court Palace. Bruce Dessau enjoyed Starr and his All Starr Band, who offered fans a mix of Starr's solo hits and Beatles classics.
It isn't just live music that the critics at The Arts Desk review - new music CD releases are also up for debate. London nine-piece band The Bookhouse Boys' 'Tales to be Told' evokes pacey but dark melodrama, while Mehdi Zannad's 'Fugue' is packed with retro-style summer pop. Marilyn Mazur and her percussion orchestra create glittering spaces with 'Celestial Circle', while wispy folk rock dominates Stevie Nicks's 'In Your Dreams'. Duane Eddy and his twangy guitar sounds have collaborated with Richard Hawley to produce 'Road Trip', while The Boy Keys' 'Got to Get Back!' proves that you don't have to settled for imitation retro soul music, when you can sit back and enjoy the real thing.
Russ Coffey went to the Bush Hall to see Jon Allen and Josh Bray's double bill of singer-songwriters. Coffey enjoyed their performance, which dramatically improved after initially experiencing sound problems and a lack of atmosphere. The reviewer found Allen to be the smoother and Bray to be the more rough-edged, which seemed to work a treat.
A 65,000-strong crowd recently rocked out to Kings of Leon in Hyde Park. Matilda Battersby enjoyed a compelling live performance from the Followills, who treated the crowd to hit after hit. A documentary about the band's amazing journey to fame will be hitting the cinemas soon.
Joe Muggs recently sampled the new music scene at Barcelona's Sonar festival. Showcasing everything from hip hop to South African tribal dance, Muggs wrote a three-day report on this popular modern dance music festival.
Seven-piece Scottish collective Southern Tenant Folk Union recently showcased their new album, 'Pencaitland' at the King and Queen. Russ Coffey found that their fusion of Celtic British and American roots music, alongside a healthy dose of bluegrass banjo, gave their music real heart and soul.
Ringo Starr's self-mocking humour added to the triumph of his recent concert at Hampton Court Palace. Bruce Dessau enjoyed Starr and his All Starr Band, who offered fans a mix of Starr's solo hits and Beatles classics.
It isn't just live music that the critics at The Arts Desk review - new music CD releases are also up for debate. London nine-piece band The Bookhouse Boys' 'Tales to be Told' evokes pacey but dark melodrama, while Mehdi Zannad's 'Fugue' is packed with retro-style summer pop. Marilyn Mazur and her percussion orchestra create glittering spaces with 'Celestial Circle', while wispy folk rock dominates Stevie Nicks's 'In Your Dreams'. Duane Eddy and his twangy guitar sounds have collaborated with Richard Hawley to produce 'Road Trip', while The Boy Keys' 'Got to Get Back!' proves that you don't have to settled for imitation retro soul music, when you can sit back and enjoy the real thing.
