Starmer, The Prosecution Case

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  On Freelance Photography

  Trump’s Winning Ways…?

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  Larkin Poe Live in ‘25 + New LP

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  On Misinformation

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Joe Satriani Album Review

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Joe Satriani SHOCKWAVE SUPERNOVA. Sony

Joe Satriani’s new album “Shockwave Supernova” is released by Sony Music/Legacy Recordings on July 24.

His 9-date UK tour with special guest Dan Patlansky kicks off at the O2 Manchester Apollo on November 1. Tickets: www.ticketline.co.uk/joe-satriani

I first came across Satriani when his self-titled 2000 album was recommended for its audiophile quality by a top hi-fi magazine that same year (in fact 50 records were recommended and I ended up acquiring all of them!). I had long been a fan of acoustic guitar music inspired by the work of the player I regard as the best of them all - Yorkshire’s son John McLaughlin. But it was Satriani’s album that finally alerted me to how good great electric guitar music can be. The album still remians my favourite Satriani recording but SHOCKWAVE SUPERNOVA is testing my resolve and could so easily replace it given a few more listens…

The opening title track explodes out of the speakers and immediately the game is given away… Marco Minnemann’s drumming almost dominates this epic rocker and sets the tone for the album’s notable rhythmic strength and consistency. Satriani’s guitar leaves no stone unturned while his writing proves to be as melodic as ever, perhaps even more so. ‘Lost In Memory’ calms the waters with a mellow and contemplative display led by Satriani’s lyrical and expressive playing. The choruses are pure symphonic rock as his guitar soars to extraordinary heights and weaves the most melodic tale. Producion (with co-production and engineering by John Cunibert) is superb and beautifully judged.

‘Crazy Joe’ reveals some quite extraordinary mega-fast finger-picking by the man while he is joined by a new rhythm section with Vinnie Calaiuta on drums and Chris Chaney on bass. ‘In My Pocket’ is blues rock at its best with the same rhythm section but more dominant while Satriani chimes in with some of my favourite guitar passages on the album. So far, so excellent and my appetite for hearing these songs played live is well and truly wetted…

‘On Peregrine Wings’ is a wonderful example of how descriptive Satriani’s writing and playing is. It’s an epic song which for me reprises this magnificent bird’s flight and occasional murderous dives for prey. Incredible! The next song ‘Cataclysmic’ is a prime example of how Satriani cleverly changes pace and vibe, this time it’s mid-paced, darker and threatening with the rhythm section once again setting the tone punctuated by Satriani’s screaming and pleading guitar. Then another change this time back to slower, rambling blues with ‘San Francisco Blue’. The song boasts melody by the truckload and I can imagine it backing some high budget advert or cinematic thriller.

‘Keep On Movin’’sees keyboardist Mike Kineally shoved to the stage-front in solid partnership with Satriani. ‘All My Life’ travels along slowly and is one of the most emotional songs here as expressed by Satriani’s wailing, expressive guitar and another stunning melody.

After a long and illustrious career Satriani continues to grow as a composer and player. I’m left breathless by the scale, diversity and musicality of this instrumental adventure which is made for live performance impact. It is a superbly produced masterclass album and one that will be regarded as one of the best electric guitar albums ever recorded.  It’s that good.

5/5

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Joe Satriani New LP & UK Tour

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JOE SATRIANI SETS RELEASE OF HIS 15TH STUDIO ALBUM “SHOCKWAVE SUPERNOVA” ON FRIDAY 24TH JULY 2015, ON SONY RECORDS 

RELEASED ON CD, DOWNLOAD AND 2 LP VINYL

World Tour Begins 17th September in Europe – US Tour Planned Early 2016

“CRYSTAL PLANET” – Satriani’s Sci-Fi Animation Series in the Works

Legendary guitarist, JOE SATRIANI, announces plans to release his 15th solo studio album, Shockwave Supernova, on 24th July, making him one of the first to utilise the new “Friday, Global Release Day” for music. It would be easy to call Shockwave Supernova a “masterpiece” or  “the last word on guitar” from the world’s most commercially successful solo guitar performer.  Satch, however, sees it much more personally. He has consistently advanced the artistry of the instrument; an effort he dedicated himself to on 18th September, 1970, the day his idol Jimi Hendrix died.

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Recorded late last year at Skywalker Sound in Lucas Valley, CA, Satriani assembled the dynamic trio of world-class musicians who had recently been part of his global tour; renowned keyboardist and guitarist Mike Keneally, a veteran of several Satch outings and recordings; along with drumming whiz Marco Minnemann and bass extraordinaire Bryan Beller. “I couldn’t have asked for a better band to help bring these songs to life,” says Satriani.

The album also sees Satriani once again joining forces co-producer and engineer John Cuniberti. Satch and Cuniberti share production on Shockwave Supernova, as they have on numerous albums – their shared history dates back to the guitar star’s 1986 debut album, Not Of This Earth and its follow- up, the platinum-selling, critically acclaimed, Surfing with the Alien.

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Minnemann and Beller handle the bulk of Shockwave Supernova’s rhythmic duties, with the exception of four cuts – the driving “Keep On Movin’,” full of wondrous Satch guitar wizardry and Keneally’s playful piano, “In My Pocket,” a deliciously greasy, souped-up take on Swing, along with “Crazy Joey” and “Scarborough Stomp” – find Satriani joined by another powerhouse rhythm section: the esteemed drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (whose work includes the likes of Frank Zappa, Sting, Paul Simon, among others) and Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney (whose resume includes Alanis Morrisette, Celine Dion and Rob Zombie, to name a few).

SHOCKWAVE SUPERNOVA – TRACKLIST

1.   Shockwave Supernova
2.   Lost In A Memory
3.   Crazy Joey
4.   In My Pocket
5    On Peregrine Wings
6.   Cataclysmic
7.   San Francisco Blue
8.   Keep On Movin’
9.   All of My Life
10. A Phase I’m Going Through
11. Scarborough Stomp
12. Butterfly and Zebra
13. If There Is No Heaven
14. Stars Race Across The Sky
15. Goodbye Supernova

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Recently, during the final performance of his two-year Unstoppable Momentum tour, Satriani had an epiphany; he found himself, “playing the guitar with my teeth an awful lot. I thought, ‘Why are you doing this?’ It’s as if something else, or somebody else, was driving me to do it.” Satriani seized upon this moment of self-realisation as the springboard and creative centre for his alter ego “Shockwave Supernova,” the outlandish and extroverted ‘performance side’ of the normally shy and reserved guitar virtuoso. With this new persona as partner, Satriani launched his wildly ambitious 15th solo album, Shockwave Supernova.

In a creative and engaging alternative venture, Satriani, a lifelong science fiction fan, has reached out to the future, through the medium of animation. Finally recognizing the on-stage symmetry with his alter ego allowed Satriani to also take a risk on this particular style of storytelling. He says, “Guitarist Ned Evett and I have created an animated series called Crystal Planet. The actual Crystal Planet is our very own Earth, set billions of years in the future. The hero of the show uses music generated by a unique electric guitar to travel through time while the show’s characters struggle to preserve the future and past of humankind.”  More information on Crystal Planet and how and where fans will view the series will be coming shortly.

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Fans are now able to pre-order the new album with an exclusive signed poster only at satriani.com. Satriani will be selecting art for the poster from fan submitted art – check Jhis FB page for more details (www.facebook.com/joesatriani). The album is available for pre-order on Amazon (http://smarturl.it/satriani_SS_amzn) and iTunes (http://smarturl.it/satriani_SS_itunes) and will also be available to order as 2 LP 120 gram vinyl.

As was previously announced, Satriani and Steve Vai, will perform at a third benefit concert in support of music industry veteran and their good friend, Cliff Cultreri. “A Benefit for Cliff III” is set for Friday, June 12th at 8pm at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.  This event will feature performances by Satriani and Vai, as well as special guests, Animals As Leaders.  In addition, Satriani and Vai, along with other artists, have graciously donated various items to be auctioned at the event.  Among these items are autographed guitars as well as a chance to join Satriani’s “G4 Camp” taking place June 28 – July 2 in Cambria, CA.

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Mew Live in Manchester

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Manchester Ritz, 19 May 2015

My first encounter with Danish band Mew was back in 2003 when the album FRENGERS popped through my letterbox. I loved it but never recieved any further information regarding the band until a few weeks ago. The occasion was the release of the band’s latest album - some 6 years in the making. +- is a strange name for an album that proved once again that Mew is one of the most distinctive, emotive and accessible bands out there. Along with the album the band announced a rare UK tour and for the first time, in a long time I will be able to witness Mew live. I expected a lot…

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First up in the impressive Ritz Manchester venue is a Liverpool based trio called All We Are with players from Britain, Brazil and Norway. They describe their music as ‘psychedelic boogie’ which had me foxed both before the set and after it. Now sound management standards are getting worse but this set was atrocious sonically. I couldn’t hear a thing and am none the wiser as to how good or bad they are. But it concerns me when a band are not concerned about how they sound to an audience. I was not impressed although a few audience members managed to shout their approval (for what I will never understand).

It was not to be the only disappointment on a night of strong anticipation.

MEW ARE:

Jonas Bjerre – lead vocals
Bo Madsen – guitar
Johan Wohlert – bass
Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen – drums

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One by one Mew band members wandered onto the stage starting with drummer Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen who started work immediately introducing the show’s opening salvo, ‘Witness’, from the new album. Jørgensen’s drumming was central to this rhythmic humdinger of a show opening. Jonas Bjerre’s gorgeous high-pitched voice was perfect as the song rushed to it’s conclusion to massive applause from an almost capacity audience. Next up another new album stunner in the melodious and epic ‘Satellites’ which for me musically sums up this band. Great harmonies and pop-rock that is original and infectious. Bo Madsen on guitar is already stalking the large stage like a cat on heat while in the background keyboards, drums and bass thunder on below a video backdrop. On record this sounds great, on stage it’s rockier and just as good.

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But there’s a problem… I’m desperately trying to take pictures of a band in darkness. Yes, darkness! Somebody has forgotten that the huge bank of Ritz spotlights exist and are available to use for even the most incompetent of lighting engineers. Frankly, this angered me. It made Mew out as a lazy band unconcerned about it’s audience who had paid big bucks to be there. Hell, it was dreadful and inexcusable. Even the sound was nothing to write home about. What the band has to remember is that this is not just a performance, it’s a show .

Thankfully, the setlist that followed was top notch including songs from my favourite FRENGERS album plus songs from NO MORE STORIES and AND THE GLASS HANDED KITE. Despite the darkness the band performed with skill and passion . Best audience reaction of the evening was to ‘Am I Wry? No’ with Madsen stunning guitar riffs although my beloved FRENGERS tunes came close. A wonderful performance flawed by lack of attention to vital technical details. This could have been the show of the year…

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SETLIST

Witness
Satellites
Special
The Zookeeper’s Boy
The Night Believer
Beach
Silas The Magic Car
Snow Brigade
She Spider
Water Slides
Am I Wry? No
156
Apocalypso
Saviours In Jazz Ballet
Medley (Clinging To A Bad Dream, The Zookeeper’s Boy, Louise Louisa)

My Complications
Comforting Sounds

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