New


styles that range from Middle-Eastern rhythms, through ’60s model British psychedelia, country, folk and blues, to acid-space rock, echoes of the Beatles, Beefheart, Moorcock’s Deep Fix and, naturally enough, Hawkwind are clearly evident. ‘(Please) Don’t Blame The Moon’ is ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ for the 21st century, and ‘Spammed Man’ sounds like a certain Mr Van Vliet having a bad day with his email inbox. With Goodway’s distinctive vocals sounding


like Wall of Voodoo’s Stan Ridgway at times, musically, Shaw’s grinding bass riffs are unmistakeable, whilst his guitar work is unerring too – the solo on ‘Angels’ is amazing. He also tackles mandolin, sitar, drums and keyboards with similar aplomb. In fact, the instrumentation is virtually flawless throughout. Knowing that another album is virtually in


the can, this has merely whetted my appetite for more. Rich Deakin


THE SHAZAM Meteor Not Lame CD www.notlame.com


consequence In Another Life shows a growing self-confidence in Soldaat's writing and singing abilities. In truly great, deeply melodic powerpop songs Anne Soldaat takes the Daryll-Ann legacy one step further. The picture on the sleeve breathes a pastoral atmosphere, which is totally in sync with gentle, slightly melancholic songs like 'Runaway', 'Pillow Talk' and the tongue-in-cheek 'Born To Perform'. Also available on vinyl –with the CD for


free! Wiebren Rijkeboer


THEM BIRD THINGS Fly, Them Bird Things, Fly! Playground Music Finland CD www.playgroundmusic.fi


Brain child of Will Shade, master of all things birds, this album gathers 12 previously unreleased songs written by Steve Blodgett and Mike


Unlucky Nashville lads The Shazam nearly made it 10 years ago, gaining high profile UK reviews and shows, but their brand of powerpop/pop-rock has since left the media’s consciousness with only a small dedicated worldwide following having kept up with them – which is a shame as Meteor is one of their strongest efforts. Produced by the legendary Mack after their


rockist tendency led Brad Jones to back away Hans, Jeremy and crew shape endless ditties based on big loud guitars, Beatles harmonies and Harrison styled leads. Overlooking the American arm in the air mentality most apparent on ‘So Awesome’ and ‘NFU’ (“not fucked up”) melody and craft lie at the centre of this album. Conversely, The Shazam carry on the tradition of what made classic US rock like Cheap Trick and Kiss both so dumb and so great. At its core Meteor has a stadium filling


quality that unfortunately will never be experienced in a stadium. Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills


ANNE SOLDAAT In Another Life Excelsior Recordings CD/LP www.excelsior-recordings.com


Daryll-Ann, the best Dutch rock band of the ’90s, called it a day in 2003, their creative nucleus, Jelle Paulusma and Anne Soldaat, going their separate ways.


With In Another Life, Soldaat finally reaches his true ambitions, teaming up with none other than pop prince Jason Falkner – he of Jellyfish, The Grays and solo fame. It's an interesting combination with the rather shy guitar-meister relying on Falkner as a sidekick. As a


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Brassard, formerly of early ’60s Plattsburgh rockers Mike & The Ravens. They insist on “NOT being a retro wannabe 60s band” and it’s mostly the voice of Finnish vocalist Salla Day that makes the whole thing pretty much timeless, described by The Monks’ own Gary Burger as “low, sultry, sexy and powerful and making you want to hear more... and see more”. ‘I Can See Russia From Here’ is not only my fave here but one of the best songs I’ve heard in a while, sounding like Eartha Kitt backed by Beefheart’s Magic Band, though the jazzy “intelligent pop” by way of The Zombies, heard in ‘Blue Parakeet’ and ‘Your Baby’s Not Your Baby Anymore’, comes as close second. The remainder of the album proves that the


authors have been through it all. Classic rock ‘n’ roll, Del Shannon-like pre-Fab pop, Beau Brummels-like mid-60s folk-rock, fuzzy garage punk, along with a lysergic psychedelic trip or two.


High contender for the album of the year if


you ask me. Goran Obradovic


TWINKRANES Spektrumtheatresnakes Twisted Nerve www.twistednerve.co.uk


New prog has really been finding it’s own distinct voice amongst acts this past year or so and thankfully it’s finally starting to drown out the stale discussions


from hairy men in pubs over the importance of Tubular Bells and the size of Rick Wakeman’s keyboard collection. Hailing from Dublin, Twinkranes leave the


doors of perception ajar with their debut LP, the enormously named Spektrumtheatresnakes. Owing as much to the touchstones of prog – latter day Floyd and Can’s Krautrock majesty – as it does to that recently coined term “prog- punk”, the opening chords of ‘High Tekk Train Wreck’ stab at rhythms which jump between Silver Apples dance action and Neu!’s frenetic musical agenda. Over seven tracks we’re treated to a furious micro-opera incorporating Barrett laments and


The Shazam: exceedingly good rock ’n’ roll.


electronic screeches of Goblin grandeur. Co- produced by Voice Of The Seven Woods’ Ricky Tomlinson, needless to say,Twinkranes have hit that sonic nail squarely on the head. Richard S Jones


LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III High Wide And Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project 2nd Story Sound CD www.2ndstorysoundrecords.com Intrepid


singer/songwriter Wainwright goes all the way back to his Chapel Hill, North Carolina roots with this 2-CD package that not only


engagingly revives many of legendary singer and banjo picker Charlie Poole’s (1892-1931) songs but tells the mill hand musicians’ tragic story in both pictures and words. Wainwright and producer Dick Connette,


between them, have even composed nine new, Poole-oriented compositions for the occasion (including the brutally lucid title song) that fit snugly alongside Wainwright and company’s string-band versions of a host of the hard drinking rambler’s most popular numbers. And what stellar company Wainwright keeps. Among the sympathetic assisting virtuosos are guitarist Rob Moose (who also artfully arranged tunes like ‘Ragtime Annie’ and Bret Harte’s tale of ‘Bill Mason’s Bride’), Wainwright’s son Rufus (ardent backup vocal on the Poole classic ‘Old And Only In The Way’), pianist Paul Asaro, the Roche sisters, Geoff Muldaur, Chaim Tannenbaum and violinist David Mansfield. Those who get hooked on Poole are in


luck –JSP Records has a four disc box available containing no less than 96 of his 110 known sides. Gary von Tersch


Coming in the next issue of Shindig!


THE BONZO DOG BAND


PROCOL HARUM


THE BOSSTOWN SOUND


MIMSY FARMER


AMORPHOUS ANDROGONOUS


plus the usual mind-boggling selection of


news, reviews, shoes and hullabaloos.


Out 31st December


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