Van Morrison – No Guru, No Method, No Teacher

This is a visit to an old friend, and I realised how much I have missed him. It’s good to make the effort to keep those cherished relationships healthy.

A3 – Power In The Blood

 Power In The Blood. This album is a treat for bass enthusiasts, with its great bass lines adding depth and richness to the tracks. Interestingly, the bonus acoustic version offers a different perspective, like listening to another band. It’s a good idea to listen to both versions.

Jimmy A – Secrets

It was a good listen, but it could have been better. Jimmy Abegg has collaborated with some great musicians, but his solo work could be more balanced and engage me as a listener.

Childish Gambino – Atavista

Altavista is the reissued version of the fourth studio album, 3.15.20, from Donald Glover. I recommend this video of the feature track Little Foot Big Foot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLX1HxJm5wM

Cage The Elephant – Neon Pill

Neon Pill is CtE’s new album and a good listen. It may not be better than their first album, but I am partial to the debut album, Cage the Elephant because we used to play some of their tunes when I played (poorly) in a band.

Chagall Guevara – Halceon Days

I hadn’t listened to this in ages. When it first came out in 1991, I was head over heels enamoured by this album. These days, in 2024, I keep my feet on the ground and my head on my shoulders, and this album is still a good listen.

Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil – Wow To The Deadness

Wow, two artists stretching the boundaries of gospel music and two artists that I enjoy listening to are now available on one album. It did not disappoint me, I enjoyed hearing this collaboration.

Per Ubu – YouTube selections

I hadn’t listened to Per Ubu, even though they have been around since the 1970s. I can’t listen to every band out there, but I am trying to. I just skipped around on YouTube, listened to about a half dozen of their tracks, and liked what I heard.

Half-handed Cloud – 

As Stowaways In Cabinets Of Surf, We Live​-​Out In Our Members A Kind Of Rebirth 

Flying Scroll Flight Control

What can I say about Half-handed Cloud? They have a unique sound, and their lyrics are challenging. The Stowaways album had a lyric sheet that I needed a magnifier to read, and I was left wondering what that album was about. Flying Scroll Flight Control has a lot of Biblical narratives, but the way  John Ringhofer writes lyrics, I have trouble understanding what he is trying to say. Apart from the lyrics, there is the music. I have very few artists to compare Half-handed Cloud with. Danielson Famile or Danielson Family are about as close to Half-handed Cloud as you will get.

Daryl Hall – Sacred Songs

Yes, this is the Hall from Hall and Oates, and yes, it is the Robert Fripp from King Crimson. Sacred Songs features an interesting pairing of musical prodigies. Hall is a world-class songwriter. If you want to know more about Daryl Hall, I suggest reading Wikipedia, which has a comprehensive list of the hit singles that he has contributed to.