Snakecharmer – Debut album review

 

 

 

 

Snakecharmer – Debut album review

Released on: Frontiers. Release date: Available now.

 

 

 

 This band of fine musicians that make up Snakecharmer, have very deep pedigrees indeed!

Featuring former original Whitesnake members Micky Moody (Guitars) and Neil Murray (Bass), along with well-rounded drummer Harry James (Thunder, Magnum and many more!), guitarist Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash, Home), vocalist Chris Ousey (Heartland, Virginia Wolf) and keyboard whizz, Adam Wakeman (Strawbs, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath), yes – no pun intended! – son of the maestro himself, Rick Wakeman.

 

 

This is a bit of an interesting album, as I’m sure many people would have their own ideas of how it could turn out sound wise, with perhaps the general consensus that it would be quite akin to the classic Whitesnake sound of old …, well …, in places it does …

 
 

Opener ‘My Angel’ is very nicely presented melodic rock, with a nice catchy chorus and wonderful bridge in the mid-section, with some sweet slide guitar work from Micky Moody, something I remember well from early Whitesnake gigs before a tasty harmony part between both Micky and Laurie and then an absolutely ripping solo from Laurie, excellent!

 

 

Next track ‘Accident Prone’ - just with the title alone - jogs my memory back to the Status Quo track of the same name but no, it’s not the same track and no it really doesn’t sound like Quo, it really doesn’t.

There really is a Bad Company like vibe to the sound the band has captured, which is no bad thing.

Another mid-paced number in quite a similar vein to the opener, but there is middle section that’s almost classic old school Whitesnake. Nice touch and nice solo by the way!

 

Wow! Next track ‘To The Rescue’ has a very Bryan Adams like groove to it, I’m sorry but when you hear this, you tell me otherwise?

It’s not a bad thing though and it's a really hooky number indeed, of course the fact that it’s Bryan Adams' like probably tells you that!

 

An excellent bluesy, soulful power ballad next with ‘Fallen Leaves,’ with some gospel like backing vocals through the chorus, almost making it sound like ‘Knocking On Heaven’s Door,’ but really only at that point.

Again, there’s a sweet guitar solo herein, very slick indeed.

 

 

 ‘A Little Rock ‘n’ Roll’ kind of conjures up a little Bad Company meets Whitesnake, with a twist with Chris Ousey’s vocal, which I can’t help but tag as a male Tina Turner like sound.

A good steady modern day blues like rocking number.

 

 

Next up ‘Turn Of The Screw’s’ intro really reminds me very much of Quo’s ‘Down Down,’ of course it’s not, but I will say that the track is very Quo like indeed as it develops.

Kind of a little like a recent Quo track, ‘Beginning of the End’ actually, but nonetheless, cloning someone else or not, it’s a pretty good number.

 

 

‘Smokin’ Gun’ is a little of a laid back chug along type rocker, hmm, almost the same groove as ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ then it hits a nice bridge section, with some sweet guitar work once more.

Catchy chorus too …

 

 

‘Stand Up’ next is another melodic rocker / AOR type number, that the chorus really reminds me of something else.

Nice hook lines, the piano driven chords in the chorus really make it sound familiar, but it’s Snakecharmer’s own handiwork, no doubt at all.

Great solo once again, but what would anyone expect from two class players like Micky Moody and Laurie Wisefield? Nothing less!

 

 

 I've said nothing of Harry James or Neil Murray so far, but as the rhythm section they're right there in the pocket, high pedigrees as I said, who've both played alongside some of the world's greatest players.

Likewise Adam Wakeman, who like his father Rick is in a class of his own.

Perhaps it's just a shame that there's no jamming keyboards solo's present here, as the guy is seriously talented.

 

 

‘Guilty As Charged’ is a nice playful almost Bad Company like rocker, very smooth and a nice soaring lead solo too, which then leads to a slide solo which just has to be Micky Moody! Remember those solo's well from back in the early Whitesnake days. 

 

OK, sorry but the Quo comparisons continue and while this next one is not a Status Quo track, it does have a very Quo like 12 bar groove. ‘Nothing To Lose’ almost also reminds me a little of Lynyrd Skynyrd too.

Nice guitar / organ driven rocker.

 

Then the last number here, ‘Cover Me In You’ seems to border on AOR, it's certainly in a more commercial hard rock style.

Good steady catchy number and nice album closer.

 

 

It’s funny you know, for some reason the first couple of spins of this album it wasn’t grabbing me too much, but it’s without doubt a grower.

 

Yes, I’ve drawn a bunch of comparisons here and there, which to be honest is hardly surprising from the backgrounds of these guys.

Is it a killer album? I have to say no, not for me.

Is it outstanding? No, not really, it's very well performed material and has a bunch of high points, it’s a very enjoyable listen that brings back some good old memories in its styling’s.

Not bad ...

 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

 

Weblinks:

http://www.snakecharmer.org/

http://www.frontiers.it/

 

 

 



Queen – 'Hungarian Rhapsody - Live in Budapest' DVD / CD review

 

 

 

 

Queen – 'Hungarian Rhapsody - Live in Budapest' DVD / CD review        

Released by: Eagle Entertainment. Release date: Available now.

 

 

 

 

Queen were such an incredible band, something that I clearly didn’t take seriously enough when I was younger.

For whatever reason, I seemed to sit on the fence on a few occasions when I could’ve gone to see them live and consequently missed out on catching them with the flamboyant Freddie Mercury.

I have since seen them albeit without Freddie and now own, many live Queen DVD’s and time and time again kick myself for not having gone and seen them, with Freddie!

When I did see the band a few years ago though with Paul Rodgers, being a fan of both artists, I thoroughly enjoyed that evening, although I know there were many die hard Queen fans who thought it sacrilegious, to do such a thing.

My take on that is that Paul never tried to sound like Freddie, by any means, as he never could for one thing and the band in respect of Freddie played all those shows as Queen with Paul Rodgers. Enough said …

Maybe Thin Lizzy should’ve done that and it could’ve got a number of fans off their backs and they wouldn’t have had to call themselves Black Star Riders …., maybe? Cough …. I doubt it!

 

 

Anyway, this concert performance ‘Hungarian Rhapsody – Queen Live in Budapest’ is apparently the last complete footage of Queen live in concert, before Freddie passed away and was filmed in July 1986.

I must say that I’m surprised that the last Queen concert to feature Freddie at Knebworth in the UK, in August of the same year was not filmed?

Maybe it was and that footage is being saved for another day ….?

 

This package is also special as although it’s a double format special DVD and two CD disc set, there’s bonuses about each of the formats!

The DVD of course includes bonus features, but the two CD set also includes live tracks not included in the DVD concert, which kind of beats me but there you go!

The extra tracks on the CD that are not on the DVD are, ‘Another One Bites The Dust,’ ‘Looks Like It’s Gonna Be A Good Night’ – Well, partially anyway! – a version of ‘(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care’ and ‘Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)’ – Yes, really!  

I know, perhaps the only one of real interest to Queen fans, is ‘Another One …,’ but by the same token, it really reflects how far the band could stretch their repertoire when they wanted to.

 

 

So to this concert, which once again proved that Queen could control any crowd anywhere in the world and it was especially true in front of this 80,000 stadium crowd in the Népstadion in Budapest and the crowd loved the band!

 

So Freddie hits the stage first and he’s resplendent in his ringmaster like outfit and then the band launch into the monster that is ‘One Vision’ and so a massive light and sound event begins!

From the deft keyboards of Spike Edney into Brian May’s raw power chords to intro the song it’s ahem …, ‘a kind of magic!’

Sorry, ahem ..., couldn’t resist that one!

 

‘Tie Your Mother Down’ rocks out next and boy does it rock out, before closing with flash bombs! The band’s performance is killer already and they’ve only just started!

Freddie tells the crowd, ‘It’s so nice to be here tonight …,’ then into ‘The Lap of the Gods’ and has the whole of the Budapest audience backing him, as he parades around the stage and then takes his seat at the grand piano where he kicks off, ‘Seven Seas of Rhye,’ before running across the stage to work the crowd some more. Then Brian May’s guitar work is of course, spot on!

Seriously, this is only four songs in and this is a rockin’ show!!!

Must’ve been mad not to have gone to see Queen with Freddie!

Ed’s note: – Now kicking myself seriously hard!!!

 

Then there’s a brief interlude that rolls into ‘Tear it Up’ briefly, then eerie stage noises and the lights pan all over the darkened stage, before we hear Freddie utter, ‘It’s A Kind Of Magic’ cue song!

Freddie of course is / was, the ultimate, ULTIMATE poser that he was totally commands the audience and they love it!

Solid stuff of course from both Roger Taylor and John Deacon, keeping the backbone and backbeat of the band always there!

 

Then there’s a break from the concert, as the DVD switches to a photo shoot and catches the band on a sightseeing tour of the city during the day, then Freddie does a little solo performance at an evening reception, before it’s back to daytime shots of the band, then Freddie on the stage in the stadium before the concert, doing some warm up exercises that then leads back into the concert.

Freddie gets the crowd into a little singing session, back and forth, him then them and then it’s into the mega global hit ‘Under Pressure.’

Next Freddie introduces a “new song for us, this is called ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’” which was from the ‘Highlander’ movie, with Brian May on keyboards at the beginning, before punching out some power chords back on guitar and we’re off!

Really classy tune, love it!

 

‘I Want To Break Free’ up next, with Freddie sharing vocal duties with the crowd here at the beginning, before then taking the helm for the rest of it.

Brian May takes centre stage for an almost four minute - Over six minutes on the CD - guitar solo spot that then leads into more photo shoot stuff with Brian basically on walkabout, after a ride in a hot air balloon, then laid back on a speed boat then a bunch of autograph signings and receptions, then back to the air balloon before the ultimate Queen rock out song, ‘Now I’m Here.’

 

Really folks, there’s much more of the aforementioned great stuff here in this package.

If I were to go into a track by track review of the concert performance on this DVD and every little detail of the bonus material, I could write pages and pages.

As this stands, I have covered the first ten songs and Brian May’s tasty guitar solo spot moment and this so far, would typically be the length of any of my other reviews or thereabouts.

 

Some wonderful material is included in the remainder of the set Queen plays here, including a special moment for Hungarian fans, where Freddie sings part of a traditional Hungarian folks song in ‘Tavaszi Szél Vizet Áraszt’ – Translated it means, ‘The Spring Wind Blows The Waters.’ – to which even with the words on a piece of paper in his hand, he receives a wonderful response.

 

 

Of course there’s Queen classics that the band could no way leave out, such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘Love of My Life,’ ‘We Will Rock You,’ ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love,’ ‘We Are The Champions,’ and newer soon to be classics such as ‘Hammer To Fall,’ ‘Friends Will Be Friends,’  ‘Is This The World We Created’ as well as ‘Radio Ga-Ga’ to immense reaction!

 

It is a wonderful DVD / CD set, as well as the bonus twenty six minute mini documentary, ‘A Magic Year,’ that really captures the magic that was Queen with Freddie Mercury and I have other Queen live DVD’s too, including the fantastic Wembley concert in ’86 and the ‘Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl’ from a storming set at Milton Keynes bowl from back in ’82 and others and this is another performance that once more reinforces what a phenomenal live band they were and a great showman Freddie was.

Seriously well worth getting folks, don’t miss out, get it!

 

 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

 

Website:

http://www.queenonline.com/

 

 



Steve Lukather – ‘Transition’ album review

 

 

 

Steve Lukather – ‘Transition’ album review

Released on: Mascot Records. Release date: Jan. 22nd 2013

 

 

 

Steve ‘Luke’ Lukather is truly the musician’s musician as I have certainly encountered when talking to people at either his solo performance or with multi-platinum AOR band Toto or just talking to friends who likewise appreciate the guy’s talents.

My admiration goes right back to when at age sixteen, I first heard the classic ‘Hold The Line,’ from the very first Toto album in 1978.

The guitar solo on that track alone was killer, but of course that was such a small part of what Steve Lukather has been all about, I mean he and the guys in Toto were all known session musicians, by the time they released that first combined gem as Toto.

 Since 1977 ‘Luke’ as he’s best known to so many, has been an in demand player, composer, singer, you name it, he’s got it!

 

He has performed on well over 1,000, in fact I believe it's closer to 1,500 and still counting and has co-written hit songs for so many artists too, but then if you’ve read ‘Chambers of Rock’ on a regular basis, you’ll have been well aware of my admiration for Luke.

I’m so fortunate to have seen the guy play both back in the UK and here a few times now in the States and have also been especially proud of having interviewed the guy too.

The man’s ability to play hard rockin’ riffs, to more soulful and jazzy pieces just seems endless.

Oh and if you can’t believe those stats, just go here for his credits:

http://www.stevelukather.net/Discography.aspx

 

 

So here we are in 2013 and Luke has a new album out this week.!

‘Transition’ is Luke’s seventh solo studio release and frankly it’s amazing that time allows for solo ventures for the guy, but Toto has run a little on and off over the years, which has usually worked out to allow Luke to do just that!

In fact, in speaking with Luke not long before Christmas he said that this album wraps up a trilogy of releases since 2008’s brilliant ‘Ever Changing Times’ through 2010’s ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ and I agree that they are very much in sync with one another, so fans of the last two, should likewise enjoy this one.

 

 

Another really great thing about this album is once again, Luke has called upon his live band players to be a part of the release as well as other great guests and I have say, live they gel so well as if they’re a unit that’s been around for donkey’s years!

 

 Opening with the epic ‘Judgement Day’ clocking in at over seven minutes long, it couldn’t be better!

He manages to touch on many of the styles that he likes to play, from smooth AOR, through rocking riffs and heavy driving drums and bass to easing back a little with soulful, almost jazz like touches right back into the rockin’ groove!

Oh and the solo …, killer, of course!

Toto fans should love this opener, no question.

 

 

‘Creep Motel’ next, appropriately written about the many weirdo’s that you bump into in travels through various stop overs here and there.

It’s got a wonderfully laid back, sub-bluesy meets Steely Dan kind of groove to it.

This one runs just under six minutes long and while there is only nine tracks here on the whole album, it’s really only the closing instrumental track that’s less than four minutes long here, so even for nine tracks, it’s not bad.

Luke also said to me, ‘Who has time to listen to like fifteen tracks or more anyway and your attention span / interest may not stretch to that either.’

Valid points to some folks, although I’d certainly enjoy more music from this guy, its class stuff indeed in my books!

 

 

Next track ‘Once Again,’ is a beautiful heartfelt ballad that would easily fit well on a Toto album to be honest. I love it, although it clearly reflects emotional pain for Luke.

 

The haunting intro on ‘Right the Wrong’ leads into a funky laid back groove, but then there’s a massive power ballad style chorus and then the bridge leads into a wonderful guitar solo. It’s a class six plus minute track, co-written with his son Trevor.

Haunting words throughout too about all we’ve done so wrong with our world, moving stuff.

 

‘Transition’ does exactly what it’s title suggests, jumps from one groove to another direction, starting soulfully and then gets into a real sweet jam, then comes right back down again and then … Wham! Killer stuff with so many layers from Steve Weingart and Luke, it’s just phenomenal and just when you think its instrumental track, Luke throws in some vocals around the four minute mark.

Really nice track indeed, great stuff!

 

With ‘Last Man Standing’ it sounds like Toto turf once again, a wonderful slow to mid paced number.

There’s just so many rich textures to this track and the whole album to be honest, but then that’s exactly what Luke is all about. He’s such a master of his art, he really is.

 

 

I’ll tell you something else too, can it get any better ...?

You want hit single ...?

 

Seriously, ‘Do I Stand Alone’ could give the likes of Bon Jovi, U2 and Springsteen a real run for their money if it picked up radio play. It has hit record written all over it! Massive!

It’s so catchy, great hooks, great harmony vocals, it’s just huge! I love it!

 

 

‘Rest of the World’ allows Luke a little bluesy soul trip. Really nicely done and some seriously sweet licks!

 

 

Closing track is the instrumental cover of the song ‘Smile,’ originally written by Charlie Chaplin no less.

It’s beautifully conveyed by Luke’s slick guitar work, a really nice closing number.

 

 

 

I really like this album, it may be a grower for some people, but sometimes those are the best!

It’s certainly right up there with ‘Ever Changing Times’ for me and maybe has the edge over ‘All’s Well That Ends Well.’

Between C.J. Vanston and Luke, they’ve produced a real beauty!

Buy it!

 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

 

Official weblinks:

http://www.stevelukather.net

http://mascotlabelgroup.com/ 

 

 

Paul Raymond Project – ‘Terms and Conditions Apply’ album review

 

 

 

 

Paul Raymond Project – ‘Terms and Conditions Apply’ album review

Released on: Hear No Evil/Cherry Red Records. Release date: Available now.

 

 

  Paul Raymond has been in the music business for some time, getting his first big break replacing Christine McVie (Then Christine Perfect) in Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack blues band, before moving onto Savoy Brown.

Most rock fans though typically associate the keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist with British rock legends, UFO and to be honest, other associated UFO offshoot bands such as the Michael Schenker Group and Pete Way’s Waysted.

 

Paul became pretty much a fixture in UFO when he joined the band for their classic ‘Light’s Out’ album released in 1977, although he joined them in 1976.
He stayed with the band until the tail end of 1980, when jumped ship to join former UFO guitarist Michael Schenker, in M.S.G. with a lineup that included the late drumming legend Cozy Powell and he appeared on two M.S.G. albums.

This lasted about two years before he hooked up with Pete Way in Waysted, recording the album ‘Vices.’

 
 

He briefly collaborated with Phil Mogg again, with the UFO album ‘Misdemeanor’ released in ’85, in ’89 his first Paul Raymond Project album got a Japan only release with ‘Under The Rising Sun.’ 

 

A full UFO reunion took place resulting in the ’95 release of the excellent ‘Walk On Water’ album but Paul Raymond’s participation in that didn’t last and in ’97 the Paul Raymond Project released ‘Raw Material.’

Raymond contributed to the 1999 Mogg/Way release ‘Chocolate Box,’ as well as another P.R.P. in ‘Man On A Mission’ was put out the same year, then 2000’s ‘Worlds Apart’ was released by P.R.P.

 

 In 2003 Paul rejoined the ranks of UFO once more and has remained a constant since then, releasing four studio albums with them to date, the solo release in 2005 ‘Secret Life,’ and then another Paul Raymond Project release in 2008’s ‘Virtual Insanity’ before this latest one, ‘Terms and Conditions Apply.’

 

This release pulls in a couple of guest players one very important character being Michael Schenker, although I personally think the track he features on is sadly, quite disappointing, but we’ll get to that …
 

The basic lineup on the album is Paul Raymond – lead vocals / lead and rhythm guitars / keyboards, Andy Simmons – lead and rhythm guitars / keyboards, Mark Coles – bass / backing vocals and Tony Steel – drums / backing vocals.

 

Opening track, ‘Born and Raised On Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ you know actually reminds me a little of Thunder, kind of Faces / Bad Company like too.
Good old rootsy R ‘n’ B grooving rocker, not too bad a start at all.

 

Next track ‘End of Life as We Know’ starts with a guitar led intro not unlike say Boston meets Blue Oyster Cult, before getting into a more laid back chug along rocker. A very harmony driven chorus indeed too which is really enjoyable, love the guitar work on this too. Nice stuff!

 

Ha ha! Paul, I think you have just ripped yourself off on the intro to ‘Deeper Shade of Blue,’ which is akin to the intro of UFO’s ‘Cherry’ or even ‘Couldn’t Get It Right’ but once the acoustic guitar plays it’s part alongside the electric, the track gains its own identity. There’s something about the last couple of minutes, where it becomes a little repetitive, but the song develops an almost E.L.O. like sound to it.

 

‘C-List Celebrity’ has a kind of punky vibe to it, but also an underlying UFO like feel too for its mid-paced rocker grove.

 

The more laid back piano driven ‘We Will Be Strong’ has an almost Queen like feel to it throughout and it’s a nice track generally, even some strings become evident around the final third of the song briefly. As the song goes for an epic like finish, it just feels like the mix / production is lacking a little something.

 

The title track ‘Terms and Conditions Apply,’ is truly a monster track even if only four minutes long, it’s so strong and clearly the standout track of the album for me. It’s brilliantly structured and performed; it really is so well presented that I cannot say enough good about it and when I was first listening to it – before re-reading the press release album details. – I thought Schenker was playing the lead solo, it’s so sweet! Excellent track!

 

The rockin’ instrumental ‘Whiskey Mac’ isn’t bad at all, but it has that P.R.P. drum / cymbal sound that I’ve heard and really don’t like. I’m quite sure it’s electronic and I hear it in other parts of the album too here and there.

If it wasn’t for the drum sound I would love this track, but the false cymbal sound kills it for me, sorry.

 

‘Bright Lights’ next has the same drum / cymbal sound … Yuck! Don’t like it, I really don’t.

I generally like the song, that has a very Faces like feel to it and rocks at a mid-pace, but sometime feels a little disjointed in presentation.

 

OK, to the track that features Michael Schenker, the cover of the Four Tops ‘(Reach Out) I’ll Be There’ and I’m sorry, I love what both Paul Raymond and Michael Schenker have added to both UFO and M.S.G. in the past, but this track, this version is really, really just … Horrible! There, I said it …!

I’m sorry, but I really feel like saying ‘Did Michael hear this, before it was released and he agreed to it?’

There is a certain point about this album that until now I really haven’t mentioned, well OK, I did on the track ‘We Will Be Strong’ and ‘Bright Lights.’

The overall production of the album in some places, is really bad and I know I’m not a producer and far from it but when you listen daily to a lot of music, new and old for pretty much your whole life, you really do start to get a grip on what is sounding good and what’s really not and sadly elements of this release, really do not make it sound consistent.

I would even go so far as to say, there’s possibly at least three or four different producers / engineers behind this release.

What’s sadder still is that there are without doubt some really good, even great songs here, but they don’t come off as good as they could, without a good, solid name producer involved. Huge shame …

Paul, I wish you could get with someone and remix this … Please … :(

 

Next track ‘Love is Blind’ features another guest on the album, vocalist Reuben Archer (Stampede, Wild Horses, Lautrec) and it’s simply a very laid back ballad and that’s really about all there is to it.

 

 ‘If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody’ kind of starts a little like a Faces groove again, before getting a little Pink Floyd like trippy like space rock.

 

Now the next three tracks are identified as bonus tracks and I guess I’m not really sure what that means here as the press release doesn’t say there’s a deluxe copy or what so, hey, bonus tracks are a bonus right?!

 

‘Still The Same’ comes first and it’s a steady kind of mid-paced rocker, not unlike from the post Schenker period UFO.

Then comes ‘Drifting Apart’ which with its twangy guitar gives it an almost country like groove, then it rocks a little more briefly to a more Faces like vibe. There’s a nice little brief sax solo that merges into the guitar solo, both tastefully done.

 

Closing track here ‘Partners in Crime’ is a chug along type rocker to wrap the album up.

 

So, to summarize … I really wanted to like this album as I think what Paul adds to UFO and has added to M.S.G. in the past has always been great and without doubt makes his touch very important.

The Paul Raymond Project though, for me just doesn’t seem to flow that well. There are moments of brilliance though – The title track for sure. – and other good spots too, but I think the production sadly lacks consistency and balance.

It really does sound in places like some of this is dare I say, demo quality. Sorry, but I really feel it does ...

There’s no doubting the playing of anyone on here and likewise on the vocals, all good but for songs and final production it very much leaves me for sure, wanting more.

 

Rating: 3 out of 5

 

 

Weblinks:

www.facebook.com/paulraymondproject

www.paulraymond.info

www.cherryred.co.uk



 

 Paul Raymond Project Lineup 2012