Time for a catch-up

Thursday 9 February – I haven't posted anything for a while. Actually, due to a combination of holidays, personal stuff, and a strange lack of much happening, musically, in York, I haven't been to a live gig yet this year. So what's this all about then? Well, my retrospective for 2011 was written before Christmas and I received a fair numbers of CDs over the festive period that ought, by rights, to be included in my 2011 round-up. So here goes:

First up is a real blast from the past, Voyage of the Acolyte + 1 by Steve Hackett. The original was released in 1975 as Steve's debut solo effort and I used to own this on vinyl. Sadly my vinyl collection is no more and so I invested in this, the 2005 re-mastered version of the album, which contains a couple of bonus tracks; a live version of Ace of Wands, and the extended playout version of Shadow of the Hierophant at a shade over 17 minutes long! Other contributors to the album include band mates Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, Sally Oldfield (sister of Mike), and Steve's brother, John. The album artwork, by Kim Poor, won Album Cover of the Year 1976. No prizes for guessing that I really like this album and was very pleased to have a copy back in my collection.

I received another non-2011 album, the eponymous offering from Black Country Communion which was released in 2010. I've come about this band from the wrong direction, starting from their second album, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this another brilliant product from Joe 'Bones' Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian. Whilst the whole album shines, the standout track has to be One Last Soul which I saw they perform live at the High Voltage festival. Awesome.

Now on to the 2011 material, and Mr Bonamassa and Beth Hart first worked together when Beth provided vocals for the track No Love On The Street on Joe's 2011 album Dust Bowl. Later that year they got together to create an album of blues covers called Don't Explain. No one could complain about 10 gorgeously sung tracks from the likes of Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Billy Holiday et al. This album is a simply a joy to listen to.

Sticking with blues guitarists, I received Robin Trower's new album, The Playful Heart. Basically this guy does what Hendrix would do if he was alive today as demonstrated by the track Dressed in Gold. Incredible guitar solos combined with thought-provoking lyrics deliver a powerful package. Trower shares the vocal duties on this album with Davey Pattison.

I've got the first two studio albums by The Answer. I thought the second was a slightly iffy so I was a bit dubious about getting the third, Revival, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is as good as their debut with strong songs, fantastic solos and catchy tunes. As an added bonus it came with a second CD containing some demo tracks and acoustic versions of album tracks. Not a duff track in sight and a total of 23 tracks over 2 CDs, what a brilliant bargain.

The next album from 2011 is in a completely different vein, Falling Deeper by Anathema. This is a reworking of the band's early 'doom' output. It's mostly lush, orchestral arrangements on which Sleep In Sanity and Sunset Of Age, in particular, benefit from the treatment. For those tracks with vocals, two feature Anneke Van Giersbergen on the reworked arrangements of Everwake and ...Alone, while Daniel Cavanagh and Lee Douglas share duties on the remainder of the tracks, all three showing remarkable vocal talents. Superb.

Finally, a sort of 2011 release, 10 Stories Down by The Pineapple Thief. This was the band's fourth album and was originally released in 2005 on the Cyclops label. This 2011 Kscope edition is presented in the same way as the originally limited double album release with the 8 Days Later album (which was never released separately) on CD2. This is one of my favourite bands at the moment and the album doesn't disappoint. With rather melancholic lyrics and slightly pop, but mostly prog instrumentation, each track features layers of sounds and melodies. Whilst both albums do benefit from repeated listening in order to captures the musical nuances involved, it's definitely well worth the effort as this is an outstanding product.

Top five albums of 2010

Having mulled over my 2010 album purchases, I think I'm ready to declare my top five, except that I'm going to be awkward and have six and a special mention. Hey, they're my rules OK?

The special mention goes out to We're Here Because We're Here, the eighth studio album from Anathema which was released in 2010 but I didn't get it until 4 January. It's an extraordinarily beautiful album with multi-layered vocals and weird time signatures that just ticked every box for me on the very first listening. If I'd bought it in 2010 it would be in my top six, but I didn't.

So here are my top six album purchases of 2010:

In at six; the eponymous debut album from Yorkshire soundscapers Lost From Atlas. Instrumental math rock is alive and thriving in the hands of this late teen trio who how show a maturity transcending many of their peers who might have settled for a comfortable life of repetitive monotony. It's fantastic to see new blood producing such high quality material.

At five; The Minerva Suite the second offering from Mexicolas. Hot on the heels of their outstanding debut, X, comes this not quite so outstanding but nevertheless fantastically good bit of alt.indie from Jamie Evans.

Number four in the chart; Black Rock by Joe Bonamassa, the tenth solo album release from the 32 year old blues man. A finely crafted melange of originals and covers of songs from Leonard Cohen Jeff Beck, Otis Rush and Willie Nelson. Each track is magically transmuted into Bonamassa's unique style and polished to a high gloss.

Into the top three; Someone Here Is Missing, the eighth studio album by The Pineapple Thief and sporting cover art by Storm Thorgerson. Nine tracks of their trademark bittersweet progressive indie rock. Each song is tightly constructed and exquisitely recorded as Bruce Soord pours his heart all over his sleeve and into our ears. It's not all about the lyrics either, in between the words the rest of the band flexes quiet and loud like a musical muscle. Set the volume to 11 and stick your ears between those speakers.

Just missing the top slot, so that'll be number two then; April from Leeds fan-friendly band Hope&Social. Released on a pay-what-you-want basis this is another great album from the artists formerly known as Four Day Hombre. There's cheery great lashings of verve and energy, sing-a-long choruses, just a smidge of melancholia, then more dollops of Northern pep and wide-eyed musical wonders. But, don't just listen to the music, go and see the band live, they're even better and so much fun. Truly a joy to listen to.

And so to the number one; another eponymous debut, this time from The Union. The Union are a new band formed by Luke Morley, formerly the guitarist for legendary UK rock band Thunder, and ex-Winterville vocalist/guitarist Peter Shoulder. The album consists of twelve Americana-influenced songs with, as you might expect, superb vocals and outstanding guitar work. But don't be thinking that the tracks sound the same, oh no, each is a mini-masterpiece from the all out rock of Step up to the Plate, to the blues slide of Come Rain Come Shine, and the more stripped down acoustic tracks such as Lilies. They picked up The Classic Rock Award for Best New Band and ChildLine Rocks chose This Time Next Year as their first official charity single. Definitely the best album of 2010 and definitely the best live gig that I've seen in a long time.