Album review overview: Doro, Marc Amacher and more
Dozens of new albums arrive at Maxazine’s editorial staff every week. There are way too many to listen to them all, let alone review them. It ensures that too many albums are left behind. And that’s a shame. That is why today we post an overview of albums that arrive at the editors in short reviews.
Ben Crosland Quintet – North York Skies
York and specifically the rugged moorlands of North York in England are a universe unto themselves. It is the home of bassist Ben Crosland, who in twelve pieces on “North York Skies” pays tribute to the rural character of the region, its inhabitants and its rich history. Crosland does this in his own recognisable style, which is clearly rooted in traditional jazz, with touches of funk, folk, blues and even tango (in “Fat Betty”). That tango is the only odd one out. There are no wild experiments with Crosland, but honest-to-goodness jazz in which every part is given room to shine, while the bassist himself, together with drummer Nic France, is responsible for a tight rhythm section. The compositions all tell a story through beautiful melodies with sometimes surprising elements, for example in the instrumentation or arrangements. The funky opening “The Optimist”, the name of a train that runs through the moorlands, for example, begins with a Hammond organ that gives the piece a special, Lonnie Smith-like vibe. Crosland and his quintet feel most at home in the more up-tempo pieces, but the album certainly has a few moments of respite. “The View from Room 12”, Crosland’s mother’s favourite room in the Lastingham Grange hotel, is a wonderful ballad in which trumpeter Steve Waterman and guitarist Chris Allard in turn take you into the countryside stretching above the old fortified town. With “North York Skies”, released on Crosland’s own label, you get twelve very well-crafted pieces, without any real standouts. Calm, nuance and above all craftsmanship. (Jeroen Mulder) (7/10) (Jazzcat Records)
Andrew Van Garratt – Point Nemo
Andrew Van Garratt is a British rock and indie musician/singer-songwriter. He became known as the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band No Hope In New Jersey. After this band broke up, he focused entirely on his solo career. “Point Nemo” is now his 14th solo album and is being released in collaboration with the Dutch independent label Rock Company. Everything on the album is performed and played by Andrew Van Garrett, except for the drums, which are played by Karl Thompson, with whom Van Garrett has also worked in the past. The album is named after the most remote place on Earth and thematically balances between isolation, human connection and personal introspection. “Point Nemo” contains eleven relatively short, compact songs and an enormous variety of musical styles. The accompanying press kit uses the metaphor: ‘Imagine The Beach Boys and Black Sabbath sharing a rehearsal room while The Beatles and The Clash occasionally drop by to add ideas’. The best song, in my opinion, is “Eternal Condition”, which contains a fine Led Zeppelin guitar riff. (Ad Keepers) (7/10) (Rock Company)
Liam Hayes – Dancing Backwards
American musician Liam Hayes returns with the album “Dancing Backwards”. Known for his earlier work under the name Plush, the songwriter presents a more polished sound on this record. Where his classic “Fed” stood out for its soulful arrangements, Hayes opts here for a more restrained approach. The opening song “Dancing Backwards” immediately establishes an intimate tone with floating pianos and polished strings. Yet the singer fails to convince throughout the entire album. Some compositions such as “We Need You” linger too long on musical ideas that barely reach a satisfying climax. Vincent Carlo’s production sounds clear and the vocals sit comfortably in the mix, but there is occasionally a lack of compositional decisiveness. Songs such as “Eight Degrees” fortunately do demonstrate his characteristic craftsmanship when it comes to melody. It is a solid record that will certainly appeal to fans of expertly crafted pop music, although it does not reach the level of his earlier work. The listener is presented with a collection of atmospheric songs that sometimes feel just a little too noncommittal. (William Brown) (7/10) (Royal Oak)
Marc Amacher – Overdrive
Guitar hero Marc Amacher pounds relentlessly through the speakers with his album “Overdrive”. This Swiss blues rocker delivers eleven tracks brimming with energy and dirty amplifier sounds. From the rousing opener “Hell Yeah”, he makes it clear that making concessions is not an option. The guitar riffs scrape across your eardrums like sandpaper, while Amacher’s smoky voice adds a raw edge to every composition. Tracks such as “Streets Are Golden” breathe the atmosphere of a sweltering pub on a scorching summer night. The duet finale “Can’t Beat Time” provides a wonderful moment of respite in which the tension continues to simmer beneath the surface. The entire recording breathes live dynamics and leaves little room for polished studio tricks. The song “Cash Smash Boogie” bursts from the speakers with heavy guitar work and tight drums. Amacher shows that authentic rock music is not dead at all, provided you deliver it with enough balls and passion. This has become an honest and merciless record for anyone who loves dirty guitars and unadulterated blues. (Anton Dupont) (8/10) (Hoboville Records)
Doro – Live (1993-2026) (Re-issue)
The legendary German singer Doro is also now releasing a re-issue of the live album released in 1993, with the very original album title “Live”. The album contains 17 tracks, with a great deal of material from her band Warlock, including the classics “All We Are” and “Für Immer”, which appear on the fourth and final Warlock album “Triumph And Agony”. She also performs solo material and there is a cover on the album, namely “Only You” by Kiss, which can be found on their album “Music from “The Elder””. This re-issue comes with a completely new audio master and the visual material has also been digitally remastered. Whereas in 1993 you still had to insert a VHS videotape into your video recorder to watch the concert footage, recorded in Hamburg and Cologne, you can now play it on DVD. The packaging and artwork also differ somewhat from the original. Metalville Records handles the physical distribution of the CDs and DVDs released by Doro’s own record label Rare Diamonds Productions. Universal Music Germany still owns the rights to the original from 1993. In collaboration with Doro, they have released the exclusive Picture Disc Vinyl. Personally, as someone who is not a die-hard fan, I do not find it sufficient to purchase this re-issue. Fans of The Metal Queen, on the other hand, will have to dip into their pockets again. (Ad Keepers) (6/10) (Metalville Records)
