It was back in late 2002 when I interviewed Mike Batt about his new artist, Kate Melua. My interest stemmed from scant information, and my admiration for great female singer/songwriters. Katie’s first two albums were interesting although I could not fathom out the musical heart of this young performer. Occasionally, I was allowed a peek [...]

The R.G. Morrison - FAREWELL, MY LOVELY (Loose Music)
Essentially, Rupert Graeme Morrison and his band of merry men, following up 2006’s debut album “Learning About Loathing” and pretty much a similar formula adopted now as then. That formula is a set of stripped down folk-based songs, with a rawness in execution facilitated by it having [...]

HISTORY FROM BELOW (ROUNDER). Release Date 14 June, 2010
It all started with an innocent-looking, simple card-sleeved promo CD popping through my letterbox. I listened once and thought, ‘interesting but not devastating’, and then put it to one side for later, for more considered listening. And there it remained until I started planning a future radio [...]

The Miserable Rich OF FLIGHT & FURY (HS). Release date to be announced.
Brighton’s The Miserable Rich were formed in 2007 by cellist/pianist William Calderbank and singer percussionist James de Malplaquet. The band’s name was taken from an experience had playing at an aristrocratic wedding in Rome, and then the guys set out making “unusual acoustic [...]

Exit Calm EXIT CALM (Club AC30) - Available Now
Nicky Smith - vocals, Rob Marshall - guitars, Simon Lindley - bass, Scott Pemberton - drums.
“Exit Calm’ is sure to be the greatest album you will hear this year.” It’s a big claim for a new band and its debut album, however, with this record, at this [...]

“But by the mid ‘60s,” he continues, “the hippies were all dropping acid, and I was in there with them… experimenting with feedback and big amps. Prior to that, I was a jazz snob - but then came Revolver and Sergeant Pepper. Then Hendrix. By 1967, I was trying to experiment - trying to get [...]