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2 Music


Acclaimed star set to take stage


GLOBE DATE: Gemma Hayes


FOLLOWING the release of her new single Palomino, boundary pushing Irish singer- songwriter Gemma Hayes is to embark on a full UK and Ire- land tour this May. Kicking off at Cardiff’s The Globe on May 14, the nine date run will see the maverick alt- folk musician air tracks from her acclaimed 2015 album Bones + Longing at the shows. Bones + Longing is now the Tipperary native’s fifth album and the third to be released on her self-established Chasing Dragons record label (along with former albums Hollow Of Morning in 2008 and Let It Break 2011). In a breathtaking 13-year-long career that began with the Mer- cury Prize-nominated, Night On My Side in 2002, Hayes later went on to scoop the prestig- ious Meteor award in Ireland for her magnificent The Roads Don t Love You in 2006. Over the years, the experi- mental artist has turned her hand to create music of all genres from blissed out folky ballads, to anthemic lo-fi pop rock earning her a definitive renegade reputation. Bones + Longing encompass-


es all of that but locates it in an ethereal ambience of its own. Recorded in Shankill, Dublin, Strong Room Studios, London, and Black Box Studios, France, it was produced by long-time collaborator David Odlum (The Frames, Josh Ritter). Guitars were played by Gemma and Da- vid Odlum, various keyboards and backing vocals by Romy. Gemma has also recently con- tributed vocals to the upcoming single from Above & Beyond, a track entitled Counting Down The Days.


Contact Us


EDITOR: Nicole Garnon 01633 777203 nicole.garnon@gwent-wales.co.uk


EDITORIAL AND DESIGN: Andy Howells andrew.howells@gwent-wales.co.uk


ADVERTISING: Andrea Hall 01633 777285 andrea.hall@gwent-wales.co.uk


ONLINE: www.southwalesaargus.co.uk www.twitter.com/argus_theguide


Friday, May 8, 2015 Follow us on Twitter @Argus_The Guide Lambrettas riding into city


RIVERFRONT SHOW: The Lambrettas


THE 1970s band The Lambrettas are set to play Wales with a Newport Riv- erfront show next month. The origi- nal members were Doug Sanders, Paul Wincer, Mark Ellis and Jez Bird. Their first gig was on Hastings Pier and promoter Peter Haines offered them management. They are most remembered for their second single Poison Ivy, and their album Beat Boys in the Jet Age. Both spent a few months in the charts. Third single was Da-a-ance which coincided with UK and European tours. After eight singles, two al-


bums, gigging for three years, and various TV appearances, mostly on TOTP, they called it a day. A full dis- cography is on the website. Fast forward to 2009, and the an-


niversary of Quadrophenia. Doug and Paul were asked if they would get back together to do a short set at a Modrophenia event in Brighton. They were joined by Phil Edwards on guitar and Chris Venzi-James on bass.


After the Brighton gig it was clear


that they were back together perma- nently. The phone started ringing, and they have been playing gigs up


and downthe UK, Ireland and Europe ever since. In 2014, due to other com- mitments Chris was replaced tem- porarily by Nick Beetham on bass. However, they now have a new full time bass player Ant Wellman. Doug says: “It took a while, but we are re- ally happy that Ant, as well as being a nice bloke and great bass player, has helped us get back to our original sound, but with an up-to-date slant on it.”


This year is the 35th anniversary


of the release of Beat Boys in the Jet Age. Tocommemoratethis, Beat Boys has been re-released and is available


In other words, a ine disc CD Reviews


Frank Sinatra – Ultimate


Sinatra IN CELEBRATION of Frank Sinatra’s centennial year, Ul- timate Sinatra is a 25-track collection of the King of Cool’s greatest recordings, ranging from 1940’s All or Nothing At All to 1979’s New York New York. Digitally re- mastered, his Capitol records hits, such as I’ve Got You Un- der My Skin, and Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words), sit nice and easy between early recordings including Satur- day Night and later material featuring the reflective It was AVery Good Year. The real bo- nus of the release is listening to a Sinatra recording session via an alternate take of Just in


Time. A brilliant overview. If you have a few extra pounds, you can go for a four-disc col- lection or a 24-track 180-gram heavyweight 2LP vinyl for the full-on sound. Andy Howells


Portico – Living Fields THE record is a perfect ex- ample of how to use simple sounds to create something more. Each individual ele- ment by itself is fairly un- remarkable but as a whole, densely layered, weaving in and out of itself, there is just enough of each single element to create a sound with incredible depth. You can pick out the drums or the bass, switch to the vocals and still there is more to find. This record is more elec- tronic than their previous re- lease, which drew on a wider range of styles, but it is just


as good. Maybe better.


Balthazar – Thin Walls DESPITE the opening track, Decency, sounding like it should be on an advert aimed at middle-manage- ment, this is actually not a bad record. Everything is fairly understated. The vo- cals are brought to the fore which creates a laid-back style, especially when set against the barely-there guitars of tracks like Then What. It’s not ground-break- ing but it’s a nice change from all of the exactly-the- same-sounding indie-rock and faux-folk bands which keep churning out the same song. It’s not going to start a major musical upheaval, it’s just nice to listen to. Dan Barnes


on the Salvo label. The package also includes a secondCDwith Ambience, singles and B-sides The Lambrettas now consisting of Doug Sanders, Paul Wincer, Phil Ed- wards, Ant Wellman are also on tour again and play Newport Riverfront on June 12. Call 01633 656757 for tick- et details. The current set includes songs from the Beat Boys album, singles and a couple of homages. The music is as energetic and fresh as it ever was. Gigsandall othernewscan be found


on their website .thelambrettas.co.uk and Facebook page facebook.com/


KING OF COOL: Frank Sinatra


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