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Bob Harris Saturday Show 21/04/07 - a review by Cherskiy

 
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Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:20 am    Post subject: Bob Harris Saturday Show 21/04/07 - a review by Cherskiy Reply with quote

Marillion in concert at Maida Vale a couple of weeks ago took up the whole ‘middle hour’ – something different from the usual in-studio sessions. There seemed to be something missing from the show this week, however – can’t really put my finger on it exactly but I suspect it has something to do with the concert taking up so much time, creating less space for the diverse elements he included in previous shows. Despite this, there were some real gems for me this weekend….

Another cracking start to the Bob Harris Saturday Show this weekend, two wonderful tracks beginning things tonight, The Jam providing an energetic opening with “In The City” from their debut of the same name back in 1977 – about the time I started seriously listening to music. Raw energy on display here, a vision of the much heralded things to come from Weller and company. Must see if I still have this album tucked away somewhere.
Iggy Pop was up next, Bob lifting “The Passenger” from the anthology “A Million In Prizes” that was released a couple of years ago. I’m not sure whether I like this or Siouxsie and the Banshees’ cover version best – I’ll settle for saying I can’t decide.
I’d never heard of Wilco before, so “Either Way”, the opening track from their album “Sky Blue Sky” was a gentle introduction to Jeff Tweedy’s simple and understated vocals, something apparently at odds with the band’s previous release “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”. Gentle is the word here, the track almost slipping into Americana roots territory without the band quite realising it.
Bob played “Greyhound Bus” from Oh Susanna during his Thursday show last week which I quite liked, so I was looking forward to hearing “Billy 4” from Canadian artist Suzie Ungerleiter’s third album (also entitled “Oh Susanna”). Her strong, clear vocals are on display here – nothing absolutely jaw-dropping or new, just simply well sung with minimal accompaniment. If you like Emmylou Harris, there’s plenty to appreciate here.
Dolly Varden was another new band to me, this Chicago-based outfit apparently nearly being killed on the A1 not a million miles north of me back in October 2001, according to their bio! Featuring husband and wife team Stephen Dawson and Diane Christensen plus three other band members, Dolly Varden was formed in 1995 and since then have produced something like five albums to date, “The Panic Bell” being the latest, from which “It’s All Gonna Change” was taken. Strong melodies are to the fore here, backing being simply that in order to let the lyrics and vocals shine.
Guitar legends abound – Joe Bonamassa is probably one of the lesser-known ones, although based on the strength of “High Water Everywhere”, taken from last year’s “You And Me”, this is doing him a disservice. I prefer this to Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, both of whom old friends had gone nuts over during the early 90s but which left me wondering ‘….and?’. Joe’s vocal talents appear to have improved on this album, too.
Canadian Sue Foley opened her track “Same Thing” with a rich, bluesy rhythm that immediately sucked me in: it’s a pity she’s not more widely known since she’s got a cracking voice. Getting on for a dozen albums now, the blues route obviously doesn’t engender huge sales or critical appeal, which is a shame, as she’s also a fairly accomplished guitarist. She’s been on my radar for a little while now, a couple of albums (including “Love Coming Down”, where this was taken from) making it onto my wish list – on the strength of this track, I can see a purchase within the month! She is featuring on Bob’s show later this year – can’t wait….
Canada certainly appears to be a hotbed of acoustic music recently, The Great Lake Swimmers having featured a number of times on the Saturday Show this year, “Where In The World Are You” from “Ongiara” demonstrating just how pleasant and satisfying such music can be, which no doubt accounts for its growing popularity. Currently on a tour of the UK, they’re playing Newcastle tomorrow night – which unfortunately I’ll have to miss since I’m on a photo mission up in Scotland, boo hiss!

Was never a big fan of Marillion in pre- or post-Fish days so I gave up completely on the concert….

I’m not always a big fan of the world music Bob features in his Saturday show, although “The Djembe” from Damon Albarn’s Mali Music enterprise dating from 2002 somehow struck a chord, possibly because its multi-layered sound reminded me of Jarre’s “Zoolook” album which I quite liked years ago.
Sandy Denny’s voice almost needs no introduction, “Listen Listen” providing ample evidence as to why she is hailed as arguably the queen of British folk-pop. Tragically lost at 31 as a result of a household accident, the album this track is taken from, “The Best Of”, illustrates how she managed to easily crossover from folk into a more mainstream pop environment. Another album to buy shortly.
I had never come across Simone White before, so “The American War” from “I Am The Man” was a bit of a find for me. Gentle although slightly quirky vocals feature here – almost reminiscent of Jem in places but that’s possibly a good thing as they seem to work with the jaunty political undercurrents of the lyrics. “I Am The Man” is a re-working of her three-year old debut album “Sincere Recording Company Presents Simone White”, albeit dropping some tracks and adding others. I could get used to listening to more of this.
Mary Lee Kortes of Mary Lee’s Corvette fame sent Bob an advance copy of her band’s latest recording, the single “I Must Be In Heaven”, which has yet to be released. Hurry up and do so – it’s great, just like her previous stuff. Soaring vocals, uncluttered yet great backing, more of what was featured on her previous album “Love, Loss And Lunacy”.
Bob’s second world music track, Amadou et Mariam’s “La Fête Au Village”, taken from their “Dimanche à Bamako” album, sounded like a bit of a grower although it was quite repetitive. This blind Malian couple seem to be pretty famous in world music circles although I have to admit I’d never heard of them before.
Anais Mitchell – little-girl voice, had to cancel her UK tour recently and an appearance on this show – featured next with “Santa Fe Dream” from her latest release “The Brightness”. Despite what I’ve said this year about her, she is actually growing on me little by little. Might just end up putting this album on next month’s ‘to buy’ list just for the hell of it.
Can’t say I’ve heard of The Mendoza Line either, their track “Settle Down, Zelda” coming from the heartland stable with its blue-collar lyrics, almost Dylan-esque vocals and definite back-roads feel. Stripped down acoustic music at its best again, the album this is taken from is their 2005 release “Full Of Light And Full Of Fire” – the band being a six-piece outfit, one that originally formed as a trio in Georgia back in 1996 but now operate from New York. Seven albums to their name later, an eighth is apparently under way at the moment.

Honorable mention for The Climax Blues Band tonight.
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nod



Joined: 24 Dec 2006
Posts: 3558

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another good show and review, 2 great tracks to start as you say.
I remember the excitement of the Jam album, and seeing them live a couple of weeks later in a small very packed venue, and it's Iggy's 60th birthday Very Happy
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Barkingbiker



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 2313
Location: Lincolnshire

PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great show, I especially enjoyed Oh Susana, and Dolly Varden, thought that they complimented each other, like a hand in a glove. Like you Cherskiy, I am not over fond of Marillion, I did listen as my brother used to rave about them, many years ago. I still cannot see that they are anything special, good yes, but not to my liking. Must listen to the 3rd hour again as I fell asleep. I emailed Bob last week, didn't get my request played, however, got an excellent reply to my email and it shows that he really cares about his listeners when he can take the time to reply personally when he cannot play your request; what a wonderful person.

BB Twisted Evil
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