Reviews February 2008 Page 7 State Radio - Year Of The Crow (Ruff Shod) Much like The Clash, State Radio mix up rock and reggae to get their political message across, and much like The Clash, they’re preaching to the converted and they wont change a thing. Although, just maybe, that’s not the objective. Possibly you’ve got to make your position clear on certain subjects just to make a point, to draw a line in the sand and make sure everyone, your audience at least, knows exactly where you stand. Song titles such as “Guantanamo”, “CIA” and “Fall Of The American Empire” provide all the clues you need as to their stance, and their punky reggae grooves, though rarely incendiary, do contain a genuine power. My one concern; singer Charlie Stokes can sometimes sound like an over familiar cross between Sting and Colin Hay (Men At Work). It’s a little disconcerting when the band cries out to be taken seriously in every other way. www.stateradio.com Rob F. - Mark Fry - Shooting The Moon (Boredidlebaby) Mark Fry’s first album was Dreaming With Alice, originally released in 1972 and something of a cult classic if you read certain websites. After a short break of 36 years, Fry’s released the follow up. I’m tempted to give it 20 years before reviewing it, just to let it sink in properly, but times have changed, information travels at the speed of a broadband connection, so I should probably get on with it. Shooting The Moon may damage Fry’s reputation as a psyche-folk pioneer, but that’s only because there are a dozen albums missing from his CV; a dozen albums to get used Fry as a mature singer-songwriter with mature subjects to sing about. It’s beautifully produced with a sonorous, mellow tone which brings to mind later recordings by classy American singer-songwriters like David Crosby and James Taylor. There are hints of jazz and blues in the arrangements, but nothing to overpower the songs which mostly glow gently in their after-hours setting. So, an album of grown up songs for a grown up audience. Nothing wrong with that. www.markfry.co.uk Rob F. - Chase Pagan - Oh, Musica (The Militia Group) Embracing the theatrical, Chase Pagan writhes and bleeds a florid combination of rock, soul and country. With the success of BC Camplight, Devendra Banhart and even the execrable Mica, the parameters of the male voice have been expanded. Chase Pagan is a sensitive addition to the role of challenging and rewarding male vocalist and songwriters. Musically, Pagan’s songs feature complex structural progressions over stripped - down instrumental processions: a wisp of guitar here, a few lines of piano there, all under his nearly limitless vocal range. At the end of the day, Pagan’s music is merely a twenty-something’s contemplative search for answers in a world that is rapidly changing. www.chasepagan.com Carl J. - Pandatone - Happy Together (Music Related) Noodle, doodle, noodle, doodle, whineywail, whineywail, noodle, doodle. If you’re going to make noodle, doodle electronic mood music, don’t ruin it with the whiney wailing of a flat female voice. So, check out Pandatone’s website if you like noodle doodles, borrow the CD and, in your lonely bedroom existence, edit out the whiney wail and you’ll hear the thoroughly OK noodle doodling of other bedroom computer geeks. Fuck me, this review is as dull as this very dull album. Noodle, doodle, noodle, doodle, etc. www.pandatone.com Carl J. - The Whipsaws - 60 Watt Avenue (Shut Eye) This is The Whipsaw’s second album, following on from their acclaimed 2006 debut Ten Day Bender. 60 Watt Avenue should be even more successful for this Alaskan quartet. From the opening track “60 Watt” the Whipsaws look like becoming one of the best Americana bands around. This is an outstanding album that really rocks out and the playing and harmonies are superb. Twelve of the Thirteen tracks are written by the band, the one that isn’t is a great version of Neil Young’s “Mr Soul” which compares favourably with the original. This is definitely an album that merits attention from anyone with an ear for music from this genre. Pete J. - Otis Taylor - Recapturing The Banjo (Telarc Blues) Otis Taylor, with assistance from fellow bluesmen Alvin Youngblood Hart, Guy Davis, Corey Harris, Keb'mo and Papa Don Vappie all play on this superb album which features both original and traditional numbers. Seven of the thirteen tracks are written by Taylor, from the haunting atmospherics of "Absynth" to the caustic humour of "Bow-Legged Charlie" and the poignancy of losing someone in "Five Hundred Roses". Also included are traditional numbers such as "Little Liza Jane", and Gus Cannon's well known "Walk Right In". Otis also reprises Jimi Hendrix's "Hey Joe" which he first covered on his debut album. Over all this is an outstanding album. Pete J. Past Reviews: March 07, April 07, May 07, June/July 07, Sept/Oct 07, Dec07, Jan08, Feb 08