FOLK POP
WILLY MASON If the Ocean
Gets Rough (Radiate) ooo
; WILLY MASON
Wee Willy Mason launches his second tasty platter. with a voice that still sounds way beyond his tender early 208. This new set of songs makes his acclaimed debut. Where the Humans Eat. seem like a slab of raw meat. with lush production values and lusher melodies pitching him somewhere between Aimee Mann and Ron Sexsmith for the best numbers (‘We Can Be Strong'. ‘Save Myself'. ‘Riptide‘) but occasionally laying his hat uncomfortably close to the reasons why Radiohead have picked him as a support act. He may well be hearing from Mr Yorke‘s brief after the quasi- ‘Creep' ‘I Can‘t Sleep‘ while I can hear Cash turning during ‘When the River Moves On'. Although the second half loses steam. this Martha's Vineyard boy will surely soon take the plunge into real glory. (Brian Donaldson)
CONTEMPORARY MARK O’KEEFFE Knight Errant
(Delphian Records) 0...
The Edinburgh-based label is doing its fair share to support contemporary Scottish composition. The Edinburgh Ouartet's fine recent disc of new
years ago demonstrated his affinity with contemporary idioms as well as his extended technical prowess on his instrument. and this disc follows suit. O'Keeffe plays music by five significant composers on the Scottish scene. including a series of six pieces written for him by John Maxwell Geddes. and music by Eddie McGuire. Rory Boyle (a piece which also features Belgian mezzo-soprano Annique Burms). William Sweeney and Peter Maxwell Davies. A short work by Mark-Anthony Turnage completes a fascinating and very varied collection. and if just under 80 minutes of solo trumpet seems a bit much to swallow whole very often. it's perfect for dipping into individual works. (Kenny Mathieson)
POP INJUNS
Lionel, It’s a Complicated World (Great Northwestern Records) oooo
Skye boys Leighton Jones (keyboard and vocals) and Hector Maclnnes (drums) and the four other lnjuns lads know their stuff and aren't afraid to prove it. This debut is a densely influenced. multi-genre- encapsulating smorgasbord swerving from the accessible ‘ls Sheila lnvited?‘ and
JAZZ QUENTIN COLLINS
If Not Now, Then When? (Sunlightsquare Records) 0000
Trumpeter Quentin Collins is an emerging name on the London jazz scene. and this debut album suggests that the buzz around his work is well justified. His bright. cutting tone is in a recognisable line of descent from the likes of Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan. and his phrasing adds a contemporary edge to the post-bop idioms of
includes four originals here (with a nod to Coltrane on 'Mr O.C.'). although his slightly eerie adaptation of Faure's ‘Pavane' is also more Collins than the Classical original.
Alto saxophonist Tony Kofi joins the quartet on the two ja27 covers. Monk's ‘Four In One' and Coltrane's '26—2'. Jim Hart's fleet. rippling Vibraphone lines are a very effective complement to Collins' trumpet work. and the rhythm department is manned by the current bass and drum team in Tommy Smith's quartet. American bassist Michael Janisch and our own Alyn Cosker. Worth checking out.
(Kenny Mathieson)
POP
TRAVIS
The Boy With No Name
like on ‘Big Chair' or 'Colder‘ — they are truly unbeatable. but for parts of this album their particular brand of sweetness is too saccharine. Flashes of genius suggest there‘s still something there but they seem a little too polite for their own good. (Mark Robertson)
FOLK
RORY CAMPBELL Intrepid
(Vertical Records) 0...
Barra—born Rory Campbell is best known for his work in bands like Deaf Shepherd and Old Blind Dogs. His latest project features Jonny Hardie (a band- mate in Old Blind Dogs) on guitar and drummer Donald Hay. and offers strong and expressive
. Scottisi'} Arts Lecr‘ci.
aCOustic music in an outward-looking contemporary folk idiom that pushes beyond the predictable in imaginative fashion. reflecting his exploraIOry musical sensibility.
The instrumental sets incorporate tunes from Brittany. Galicia. NOrthumberland and the USA alongside Corrina Hewat's ‘Bass Strathspey' and several of his own tunes. including dedications to his son in 'lnnes Campbell' and his wife in ‘Anya'. The selection of songs includes the very traditional ‘Oran nam Mogaisean'_ a dreamy version of Bjdrk's ‘Jbga'. and his own 'Sunny Outside' and 'Dreams'. featuring lyrics in both English and Gaelic.
(Kenny Mathieson)
ALSO RELEASED
Tori Amos American Doll Posse (Columbia) For her ninth album Amos takes five personas and writes from their point of view. reflecting on politics more directly than ever with lead song ‘Yo George'. Dinosaur Jr Beyond (P/AS) The comeback album for the recently reformed legendary grunge- inspiring rock beasts. Groove Armada Soundboy (Columbia) Despite their una88uming nature CA are seven albums in and construct more affable electric throbs abetted by a raft of guests. from former Sugababe Mutya and Angie Stone to members of Hard-Fl and The Rakes. Nine Inch Nails Year Zero (Nothing) The guitars take a back seat to twisted electronics for Trent Reznor's fifth album, an apocalyptic concept piece.
A fantastic weekend oflive Americana‘music
PRESENTED BYgfibxifatflxffig-
Thursday
"wondt‘foiJOhtpelhng, vivid. well-woven mics"
The Arches. 253 Argyle Street. Glasgow
Tickets £ l 3 from the Arches box office 0870 249 7528 Online at:www.thearches.co.uk Tickets Scotland 0l4| 204 5 I St
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Scottish string quartets, ‘ Friday
The Cold Dancer, is
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".1 Life blending wickedly on-thc- :"cy,'ob$¢'l rations"
I BC 2. 300 Sauchiehall Street.GT\asgow
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followed by this solo Outing from the BBC 8808 principal trumpet. Mark O'Keeffe. His Creative Scotland project with Theatre Cryptic a couple of'
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religious musings of ‘The Man Who Never Was' and playful exuberance of King Kong'. Like an entire iPod shuffled into one album. its perfect for silencing friends who complain that all new music sounds the same. With the gamut of music expressed so eloquently on one album. sorry Lionel. but it looks like it doesn't have to be such a complicated world after all. (Suzanne Black)
The scholarly quest for songcraft for songcraft's sake is now the only real endeaVOur for Travis these days. which is preferable of comse to trying to regain former glories that. as their contemporaries Oasis will never tell you. are unattainable.
Their ability to harness a beguiling melody or a bittersweet chord construction are considerable. and when they nail the killer hook —
Tickets if I 2"«fro‘ the ABC box office 0870 4000 8| 8 Online at: www.ticketweb.co.uk
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Ripping Records. Edinburgh 0|3| :26 70|U
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(Solo Acoustic) Plus ,‘>.i"'l“.l “i?!
Saturday Zéth May 2007 at 7.30pm
Tron Foyer. 63 Trongate. Glasgow Tickets {I “(9 from the Tron box office 0l4l 552 4267 Tickets Scotland 0 l 4| 204 SIS I
Featuring} ZEV .i ' Sunday 27
5 Plus Guests
th May 2007 at 7.30pm
The Arches. 253 Argyle St/eet. Glas ow Tickets £5 from the At‘ches box 0 fice Online at: www.ticketweb.co.uk
in association with
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