Market Square makes a specialty of releasing
"lost gems from past and new recordings by new and established artists
working in the genres of folk/roots, pop, jazz, fusion, and rock".
Rod Clements - One Track Mind 2008 (Market Square)
Back in 1994, well-respected Lindisfarne guitarist and songwriter Rod took a break from band duties to record a solo album; the resulting One Track Mind was released only in limited-edition cassette format. It was a superb set, eleven songs in all, that included some timeless blues and folk standards that had inspired him alongside solo versions of some of his own well-loved classics like Road To Kingdom Come, Train In G Major and (of course!) Meet Me On The Corner. Just under half of the album was Rod solo, demonstrating in particular just how masterly a guitarist (especially slide) he is as well as an easygoing vocalist skilled in expressive understatement: these tracks included a really impressive take on Ain't No More Cane (On The Brazos), while the stripped-bare versions of the aforementioned classics work brilliantly. On the rest of the cuts, which included powerful takes on Evil Hearted Woman and Bourgeois Blues, Rod was more than ably backed by what was then Lindisfarne's rhythm section - Steve Cunningham (bass) and Ray Laidlaw (drums).
In 2001, the album was reissued on CD, and the opportunity was taken to add three extra (instrumental) tracks; these pitted Rod's guitar wizardry against his own programmed percussion, with (on occasion) judicious additional bass, harmonica and keyboard. These elegantly bluesy adventures formed a useful adjunct to the original cassette album, and made the CD an essential purchase - but glory be, this 2008 expanded reissue of the earlier CD is even more desirable, for it contains also the original home recording of No Turning Back as well as two more tracks (bringing the total up to 17), these last recorded only this year by that most sympathetic of engineers, Ron Angus.
These are solo performances by Rod of songs resurrected from a very early stage of his career: Blues For A Dying Season was originally recorded around 1969 for the unreleased Downtown Faction album, whereas A Dream Within A Dream (written in 1968/69) was performed just the once by Lindisfarne for a 1971 radio broadcast. This wonderfully fresh-sounding and supremely coherent (and excellent-value) 70-minute collection just has to be one of the year's key reissues. (David Kidman September 2008)
Lindisfarne - Happy Daze (Market Square) is released September 15th
Happy Daze was the second (and final) release by the Mk. 2 lineup of Lindisfarne (for Warners - following the expiry of the contract with Charisma, with whom Roll On Ruby had been recorded a year earlier, in 1973). Original members Alan Hull and Ray Jackson were joined by four newcomers: bassist Tommy Duffy (ex-Bell & Arc), guitarist Charlie Harcourt (ex-Jackson Heights), keyboardist Kenny Craddock (ex-Airforce) and Paul Nichols. Happy Daze was a critical and commercial failure in this country, but the States open-mindedly embraced it for what it was: a well-produced, clean-sounding and bravely eclectic record. To fans of the Mk. 1 band, however, it all seemed too mid-Atlantic and ballsy-commercial, even a bit of a mish-mash, for to their ears the Mk. 2 band's sound bore little resemblance to that of Mk. 1 for much of the album's length - all of which may explain why Happy Daze has never been reissued on CD until now. David Kidman's review continues at
www.netrhythms.co.uk/reviews.html#lindisfarne
Dan Tyminski - Wheels (Rounder)
The film that launched Bluegrass music to a wider world was O Brother, Where Art Thou? Two wonderful voices captured our hearts, Alison Krauss, of course, and her Union Station sidesman, thirteen-time Grammy winner Dan Tyminski. It was Tyminski's vocals on the "Soggy Bottom Boys"' I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow (not George Clooney who lipsynched it for the soundtrack) which is now legend. This is Tyminski's first album for Rounder and although there isn't the dynamite of I Am A Man Of ... , take pleasure in the outstanding playing of Tyminski the master, his band (Adam Steffey-Mandolin, Ron Stewart-Banjo, Justin Moses-Fiddle, Barry Bales-Bass) and an album of perfect Bluegrass Americana. Vince Gill, Ron Block, and Cheryl and Sharon White guest.
Sierra Hull - Secrets (Rounder)
Sweet-voiced, mandolin-picking prodigy Sierra may be only 16 years old however her debut CD for Rounder is a bluegrass stormer of versatility and Alison Krauss-like charm and talent. Co-produced by Krauss and Ron Block this is no speedy "sign and release" album. Word has it that Rounder signed her at 13 years of age but allowed her to grow musically at her own speed. And it's this Tennesee girl's dream band - session musicians include Nashville heroes Jerry Douglas on Dobro, flat-picker Tony Rice, Dan Tyminski and the afore mentioned Block on banjo and guitar - but nowhere do they diminish her musical gifts which shines throughout. Listen for another prodigy in the band, 17-year old banjo player Cory Walker.
The Grascals - Keep On Walking (Rounder)
Here are both traditional and contemporary Bluegrass songs - with fine vocal harmonies from Grascals's Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson and Terry Smith. Mandolin fiddle and banjo driving numbers like the well-known traditional Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms and the slow-tempo, Merle Haggard tear-jerker Today I Started Loving You Again, sit happily with new material. Tight musicianship from Aaron McDaris on banjo, Danny Roberts on mandolin and (for those who collect such snippets of information) there's a guest appearance credit for the legendary keyboard session man "Pig" Robbins - immortalised but never seen in Robert Altman's film "Nashville".
www.myspace.com/dantyminski
www.myspace.com/sierrahull
www.myspace.com/thegrascals
www.myspace.com/roundereurope
"Roots" (Single Mix) - video. The video to the single.
Available in two different formats: mp4 (30.6 MB - plays on MAC/iTunes)
and wmv (35.1 MB plays in Windows Media Player).
Follow the links to their online shop from
www.showofhands.co.uk
Empty Room Promotions exists to bring high quality live music to the good people of Buckinghamshire and beyond.
Upcoming schedule for September & October:
Hayes Carll 12 Sept Tingewick Village Hall, Buckingham
Eliza Gilkyson 27 Sept Radcliffe Centre, Buckingham
Deadstring Brothers 24 Oct Tingewick Village Hall, Buckingham
Lucy Kaplansky 25 Oct Radcliffe Centre, Buckingham
Contact Mike Trotman, Empty Room Promotions, 01296 748268 / 07843 767868
www.empty-rooms.com
Acoustic Sussex hosts a programme of the very best folk, roots & singer-songwriter gigs
at various venues in mid-Sussex.
Acoustic Sussex has been established as a 'not for profit' organisation
- any money made from promoting events is paid to charities
Contact details 01342 716975 or 01342 714810. More information on all up-and-coming artists can be found at:
www.acousticsussex.org.uk
www.myspace.com/acoustic_sussex
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