Reviews

REVIEWS - MUSIC with PETER DILLEY

Indie promise

Dreams of a Homecoming by Andy Mayo, Turquoise Tracks, CD £12, including postage. Full details/online ordering: www.andymayo.com
Arrivals Lounge by Paul Marriott, Worx Records, CD £6, including postage. Full details: www.worxrecords.com

Two quite different independent releases, both from singer/songwriters now based in the Kent/SE London area.

Pouring out the hopes and longings of an exile, the title track of Andy Mayo’s Dreams Of A Homecoming is rooted in Andy’s recent experiences in the former Yugoslav Republics.

Amongst other themes explored in the 13 songs are Christ’s passion (The Reason), childhood innocence (Princess in The Park) and Eternity. Aided and abetted by jazz saxophonist Nick Beston and keyboard maestro Stanislav Majersky, the only obvious shortcoming is Andy’s limited vocal range.

Unusually for an ‘indie’ venture, my review CD was supplied with some smartly-packaged background information, and the website is impressive too – not a bad idea if you’re looking for a wider audience.

Arrivals Lounge is Paul Marriott’s second EP-length release. Not unusually for a low-budget CD, production tends to lack frills and sophistication, although a pared-down acoustic guitar/mandolin accompaniment actually fits Complete very well, and the singalong potential of Fall Into Your Arms is undiminished by some rather overcautious backing.

On the down side, drums and overdriven guitar give way somewhat abruptly to acoustic strumming on My Friend Forever, and instrumental Still just meanders aimlessly. Well-written songs though.

One for avid fans

Archive:D – Delirious?, Furious? Records, DVD £12

As its title suggests, Delirious’ first venture into the world of the DVD is a huge retrospective compendium of live, promotional and behind-the-scenes material.

A sizeable chunk of this had been available on VHS as A View From The Terraces – live and documentary content from the King of Fools era, kicking off (literally) with footage of the D:boys in Wembley stadium at the Champion Of The World event.

One way or another, the entire back catalogue of promotional videos is included too, many of these had been packaged in the Pro-Mod:E compilation, but the videos of more recent singles Waiting For The Summer, Take Me Away and last year’s remake of I Could Sing of Your Love Forever are previously unreleased.

And for the benefit of D:anoraks/completists/tribute bands(?) there are even live projection visuals for five tracks, plus biographies, director commentaries and so on.

But even with all this, on top of the Deeper, Access:D and Spanish language Libertad CDs, it’s just yet another trawl through ‘classic’ songs and the vaults at Furious? Records, and only seems to highlight the dearth of new material coming from the Delirious? camp – I’m sure that’s what fans are really hoping for.
(New album's coming in November, we're told - Ed)

A joy

Eva Cassidy – American Tune (Hot Records) (£12)
www.didgerecords.com

It would have been great to hear the incredible voice of Eva Cassidy tackle more gospel music, and this new release which gathers together some live, one-take recordings from studio sessions is probably as close as we’re going to get (apart from versions of People Get Ready and Take Me To The River on Live At Blues Alley).

Eva’s pure toned, at times almost dreamlike voice is entirely at home with Billie Holiday’s God Bless The Child, apparently the first song she ever wanted to record, and she gives an immaculate solo rendition of the traditional, gospelly standard The Water is Wide.

She gets top class backing throughout, not least on the mid-Fifties Atlantic era Ray Charles classic Hallelujah, I Love Him So – also famously covered by The Beatles, The Animals and one of Eva’s favourites Stevie Wonder.

There’s variety aplenty in the rest of the 10-track line-up – Fairport Convention’s Dark Eyed Molly and Paul Simon’s American Tune from the folk genre, Eighties chart fare in the shape of True Colours, a hit for Cyndi Lauper and written by the same team responsible for The Bangles’ Eternal Flame, and You Take My Breath Away by English singer-songwriter Claire Hamill.

Completing the listing is a haunting rendition of McCartney’s Yesterday, the bluesy Drowning In The Sea of Love and an exuberant version of Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).

A must for Cassidy fans, and sure to win over new aficionados, too.

Fine contributions

Spring Harvest – Live Worship 2003 (ICC Records), CD £14.99

Spring Harvest albums, particularly the live recordings, are something of a reference point for many church musicians. What are the up-and-coming worship songs? And what should they sound like, if your music group is good enough?

These 15 songs and two instrumentals are the regular broad cross-section, featuring many of the usual suspects in action – Dave Bilbrough sounds increasingly like Elvis, appearing with sundry family members on Everybody Sing and One Heart, One Spirit; Graham Kendrick leads 25th Anniversary theme song Do Something Beautiful (Robbie Williams title, and S Club 7 influence, by the sound of it)(Graham had it first - Ed); Stuart Townend/Phatfish pitch in with Grace, and the apocalyptic, but not very congregation-friendly There is A Day; and there are some fine contributions from Geraldine Latty (Michael W Smith’s Agnus Dei), and Trish Morgan (nice work on Above All Powers).

The new name is American worship leader Mark Tedder – contributions from Mark’s stint at Skegness include his own Calling All Nations, Beautiful One by Tim Hughes and the drawling rendition of Chris Tomlin’s Forever (Give Thanks To The Lord) – “His love endooures forever”!

A fair amount to get stuck into.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		REVIEWS - MUSIC with PETER DILLEY Indie promise Dreams of a Homecoming by Andy Mayo, Turquoise Tracks, CD £12, including postage. Full details/online ordering: www.andymayo.com Arrivals Lounge by Paul Marriott, Worx Records, CD £6, including postage. Full details: www.worxrecords.com Two quite different independent releases, both from singer/songwriters now based in the Kent/SE London area. Pouring out the hopes and longings of an exile, the title track of Andy Mayo’s Dreams Of A Homecoming is rooted in Andy’s recent experiences in the former Yugoslav Republics. Amongst other themes explored in the 13 songs are Christ’s passion (The Reason), childhood innocence (Princess in The Park) and Eternity. Aided and abetted by jazz saxophonist Nick Beston and keyboard maestro Stanislav Majersky, the only obvious shortcoming is Andy’s limited vocal range. Unusually for an ‘indie’ venture, my review CD was supplied with some smartly-packaged background information, and the website is impressive too – not a bad idea if you’re looking for a wider audience. Arrivals Lounge is Paul Marriott’s second EP-length release. Not unusually for a low-budget CD, production tends to lack frills and sophistication, although a pared-down acoustic guitar/mandolin accompaniment actually fits Complete very well, and the singalong potential of Fall Into Your Arms is undiminished by some rather overcautious backing. On the down side, drums and overdriven guitar give way somewhat abruptly to acoustic strumming on My Friend Forever, and instrumental Still just meanders aimlessly. Well-written songs though. One for avid fans Archive:D – Delirious?, Furious? Records, DVD £12 As its title suggests, Delirious’ first venture into the world of the DVD is a huge retrospective compendium of live, promotional and behind-the-scenes material. A sizeable chunk of this had been available on VHS as A View From The Terraces – live and documentary content from the King of Fools era, kicking off (literally) with footage of the D:boys in Wembley stadium at the Champion Of The World event. One way or another, the entire back catalogue of promotional videos is included too, many of these had been packaged in the Pro-Mod:E compilation, but the videos of more recent singles Waiting For The Summer, Take Me Away and last year’s remake of I Could Sing of Your Love Forever are previously unreleased. And for the benefit of D:anoraks/completists/tribute bands(?) there are even live projection visuals for five tracks, plus biographies, director commentaries and so on. But even with all this, on top of the Deeper, Access:D and Spanish language Libertad CDs, it’s just yet another trawl through ‘classic’ songs and the vaults at Furious? Records, and only seems to highlight the dearth of new material coming from the Delirious? camp – I’m sure that’s what fans are really hoping for. (New album's coming in November, we're told - Ed) A joy Eva Cassidy – American Tune (Hot Records) (£12) www.didgerecords.com It would have been great to hear the incredible voice of Eva Cassidy tackle more gospel music, and this new release which gathers together some live, one-take recordings from studio sessions is probably as close as we’re going to get (apart from versions of People Get Ready and Take Me To The River on Live At Blues Alley). Eva’s pure toned, at times almost dreamlike voice is entirely at home with Billie Holiday’s God Bless The Child, apparently the first song she ever wanted to record, and she gives an immaculate solo rendition of the traditional, gospelly standard The Water is Wide. She gets top class backing throughout, not least on the mid-Fifties Atlantic era Ray Charles classic Hallelujah, I Love Him So – also famously covered by The Beatles, The Animals and one of Eva’s favourites Stevie Wonder. There’s variety aplenty in the rest of the 10-track line-up – Fairport Convention’s Dark Eyed Molly and Paul Simon’s American Tune from the folk genre, Eighties chart fare in the shape of True Colours, a hit for Cyndi Lauper and written by the same team responsible for The Bangles’ Eternal Flame, and You Take My Breath Away by English singer-songwriter Claire Hamill. Completing the listing is a haunting rendition of McCartney’s Yesterday, the bluesy Drowning In The Sea of Love and an exuberant version of Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing). A must for Cassidy fans, and sure to win over new aficionados, too. Fine contributions Spring Harvest – Live Worship 2003 (ICC Records), CD £14.99 Spring Harvest albums, particularly the live recordings, are something of a reference point for many church musicians. What are the up-and-coming worship songs? And what should they sound like, if your music group is good enough? These 15 songs and two instrumentals are the regular broad cross-section, featuring many of the usual suspects in action – Dave Bilbrough sounds increasingly like Elvis, appearing with sundry family members on Everybody Sing and One Heart, One Spirit; Graham Kendrick leads 25th Anniversary theme song Do Something Beautiful (Robbie Williams title, and S Club 7 influence, by the sound of it)(Graham had it first - Ed); Stuart Townend/Phatfish pitch in with Grace, and the apocalyptic, but not very congregation-friendly There is A Day; and there are some fine contributions from Geraldine Latty (Michael W Smith’s Agnus Dei), and Trish Morgan (nice work on Above All Powers). The new name is American worship leader Mark Tedder – contributions from Mark’s stint at Skegness include his own Calling All Nations, Beautiful One by Tim Hughes and the drawling rendition of Chris Tomlin’s Forever (Give Thanks To The Lord) – “His love endooures forever”! A fair amount to get stuck into. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.