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CD REVIEW - NO MACHINE - A TERRIBLE THING When listening to a newly acquired CD, your mind instantly makes comparisons to frequently played bands and artists, however after 45 minutes and eight seconds of quality rock from London band No Machine, you are left with a feeling of freshness from a breathtaking and powerful rock band, who deliver a collection of tracks, which even after hearing for the first time, gives the listener a mood of being with old friends. One could wax lyrical for page after page about both the band and its music, but the bottom line is this is one hell of a talented band, about to tour the UK. From Brighton to Aberdeen and all places between, will feel they have seen and heard something very special. www.nomachinemusic.com www.myspace.com/nomachinemusic No Machine’ is the brainchild of the Athenian born Rivers brothers. Growing up on a diet that ranges from Prince to Johnny Cash and Marillion to King Crimson, they have been playing together since they were 13, experimenting in the darker side of pop music with thought provoking imagery. Chance meetings in a Lisbon club brought new members into the fray and the classically trained Rivers brothers had found their line-up. The idea behind the name ‘No Machine’ is the idea behind the band: a real “live” band, with straightforward, expressive, “human” songs. After the band approached artist Mark Wilkinson (Marillion, Iron Maiden) he was so enthusiastic about the band’s sound and ethos he set about designing No Machine’s first ever cover art. Given the brief of a fine line separating man and machine, it comes as the perfect visual complement to a dramatic rock band with an ear for a razor sharp pop hook. Given their broad musical schooling, the result is a new, convoluted and stimulating modern rock release. Produced by the Rivers Bros. Mixed by Mark Wallis at Good Luck Studios, London.
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Shaun T Hunter - The Great Departure www.shaunthunter.com Running time 62.53 If you are one of life’s “fortuitous people” you will hear an album which has a profound effect on your life, Shaun T Hunter’s recently launched CD “The Great Departure” is such a CD. Personally I have never listened to an album of songs which have touched me so emotionally and spiritually. Seeing Shaun “live” is a wonderful experience, however, in a noisy pub it is impossible to take in all the subtle and poignant lyrics this unique song-writer produces. A ‘normal’ CD review outlines the songs and describes or quotes certain lyrics, to do this with Shaun’s CD would take a ream of paper, due to the complexities and feelings described in the songs, all of which we have experienced along our journey in life, including all the pain, suffering, despair, hope and joy. To listen to these songs, either in a room of subtle lighting or with your eyes closed takes you to a higher consciousness, where you will find, or touch, your own personal god, spirit or destiny. Paul Abraham www.leedsmusicpromotions.com
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A decade which started with Rolf Harris at number one with "Two Little Boys" and finished with Pink Floyd's "Another brick in the wall" at number one, this was a decade of change, from "Glam Rock" to "Disco" to "Punk" this was a fast-moving ever-eventful ten years. Being a teenager in that decade brought many difficult choices; did you keep loyal to "Blue Peter" and John Noakes, Peter Purvis and the homely Valerie Singleton or desert to "Magpie" for the only reason of Jenny Hanley? Singles compilations also threw you into despair; did you spend your pocket money on the latest Ronco or K-Tel 33rpm? decisions, decisions. After reading your "Look-In" magazine, we watched 'Top of the Pops' (falling madly in love with Suzi Quatro, Debbie Harry and Agnetha of Abba) while eating our Cadbury Curly-whirly, which was soon to be relegated for the manly Yorkie Bar. During the 70's, bands seemed to enjoy themselves more, Slade, Mud and Wizzard always appeared to enjoy what they were doing, unlike today's seemingly miserable millionaire "Boy Bands". Had we lived in the PC-Age we live in now, then Chuck Berry's number one in 1972, "My-Ding-a-Ling" would no doubt have been banned, long before it had seen the light of the October day it was released. It was also a time when in the school playground we all wanted to be "The Leader of the gang, I am" sadly if we only knew then what we know now, then thousands of posters would have been ripped off the wall. Now we have downloads and iPods, in the seventies we had a choice of cassettes or cartridges, cartridges like Betamax videos quickly dieing a death. Saturday mornings always brought a trip to Leeds city centre and a visit to Debenhams, the reason, a look through their box of ex-chart 45's at 5p each or 5 for 20p, I bought such classics as Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" on a sunny April day and, possibly, now a rare "45", of Yorkshire show-jumper Harvey Smith singing "True Love". The record labels at the time included a picture of a sailing ship on the RAK (Suzi Quatro ) label, while other labels of the time were, Magnet (Alvin Stardust), Epic (ABBA), Bell (Gary Glitter), Chrysalis (Blondie), Vertigo (Thin Lizzy) and Harvest (Pink Floyd), The Radio One top forty gave us the chance to test the dexterity of our fingers as we compiled our own favourite chart compilation cassette, without having any inane comment from the host of the time. Were the seventies a happy, unique and innovative decade, or am I looking at the ten years through rose-tinted wire NHS spectacles?
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