STACK #126 Apr 2016

MUSIC

REVIEWS

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Van Morrison Duets: Re-Working the Catalogue For his 35th studio album, Morrison revisits 16 songs from his vast catalogue (avoiding popular hitsin favour of lesser known songs), mostly from post -1980 releases. Using a variety of musicians and fresh arrangements, he shares vocals with artists who inspired his earliest recordings, like Bobby Womack, Taj Mahal and Mavis Staples. Contemporaries Chris Farlowe, Steve Winwood, Georgie Fame (and on Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby – yes – P.J. Proby) join him, amongst others; George Benson, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Mark Knopfler and Mick Hucknall are outstanding on the Veedon Fleeces song Streets of Arklow. ( Sony Music) Billy Pinnell

Calexico Edge of the Sun

Joey Burns and John Convertino, the main members of Calexico, are strongly influenced by the south-western desert plains of their home state of Arizona, and the sounds of Mexico that drift over the border. Kick-starting the writing process for this album south of that border has pleasantly inspired their latest release. Filled with the space of a far-off spaghetti western as well as fiesta sounds of the south, they transport you away accompanied by many friends including Neko Case, Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell, and several others. Put it on repeat and pretend you're somewhere else... (Spunk/Caroline/Universal) Denise Hylands

Skipping Girl Vinegar The Great Wave It's the last wave of summer. Skipping Girl Vinegar’s third album – their first in four years – is filled with references to water. Usually, it’s joyous, but sometimes there’s a dark undercurrent. The pulsating opener, Dance Again , sets the scene. A celebration of youth (“first love feels like a roller

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coaster”), it also captures the joy of music, telling the tale of going to a Phoenix show with “phony IDs”, “pushing to the front as the lights go low”. If only life was as much fun as your first concert. The Great Wave deals with adult themes, Here Comes The River is a heartbreaking meditation on mortality, and the title of Weary World says it all. But there’s a relentless spirit at the heart of this album. “When life feels like it’s crashing in,” Mark Lang sings, “one deep breath and you’re living life again.” Lang is a fine storyteller, with a voice warm and believable. These are campfire sing-alongs and SGV make you feel like you’re there beside them. And in the end, your best option is to “leave the past and all the things that haunt you”, and “throw your arms into the night and run”. Catch this wave. ( Secret Fox/MGM) Jeff Jenkins

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Daniel Johns Aerial EP

Marlon Williams Marlon Williams

Strung Out Transmission. Alpha. Delta It’s been six years since vintage Californian punk rockers Strung Out released their last album. For a band whose international fanbase borders on bonkers, it was a particularly arduous wait; not least because it never was entirely clear whether or not the band – 25 years deep – would create again. Vocalist Jason Cruz insists he doesn’t want “Strung Out to be a nostalgia punk band”; the new LP is deeply rooted in the late '90s skate punk era, though in typical Strung Out fashion, it’s far more melodic and technically impressive than anything their Fat Wreck peers are offering at present. Welcome back, legends. (FatWreck Chords/Shock) Emily Kelly

Gang of Four What Happens Next

He’s all grown up. Nearly 20 years to the day after Silverchair’s debut album, Daniel Johns is out on his own. “Now I dance to my own beat,” he declares in opening cut, Preach. This four-track EP, which comes eight years after Silverchair’s last album, is a tease. An intoxicating mix of Frank Ocean and Peter Gabriel, it leaves you wanting more. In some ways, the title track reminds of Darren Hayes’ debut solo single, Insatiable ; sensual and soulful, that song also showed the power of a brand, with Hayes failing to match the success of Savage Garden. What fate awaits Daniel Johns? (Eleven Music/Universal) Jeff Jenkins

Such is the velvet wonder of his voice, this expat Kiwi could probably move you to tears by singing entries from the phone book. Fortunately for his self-titled debut album, Williams has come up with a classy set of originals and covers that provide the best possible showcase for his golden tenor. Although steeped in trad- folk and country, there are some intriguing diversions, as well as a lovely reading of Bob Carpenter’s recently rediscovered Laurel Canyon classic Silent Passage. The haunting first single Dark Child suggests Williams would also be right at home with Nick Cave’s songbook. ( Caroline/Universal) John Ferguson

This band should be called 'Gang of One'. You see, they’ve stopped and split on numerous occasions, but without singer Jon King, nor bassist Dave Allen... well, what we have here is a solo album from a great guitarist with guest singers (Alison Mosshart of The Kills being a known identity) and a completely alternate sound erring on some weird alterno/m.o.r/cut-n-paste; nothing like what Gang of Four is amazing at releasing, writing or achieving. Not aware of the band’s history? Grab a copy of their debut, Entertainment . You’ll play it on high rotation for the majority of your life. Already a fan? Just listen to the debut again, for God’s sake. (Shock) Chris Murray

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