Cause & Effect: Rory Gallagher

Podcasts to-go at radio4all

Cradle Rock-Rory Gallagher-Irish Tour ’74-Sony-1974
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Just Because-Elvis Presley-Sun Sessions-RCA-1987
Rock Island Line-Lonnie Donegan-Puttin’ On The Style-Sanctuary-1993
You Can’t Lose Me Cholly-Lead Belly-Alabama Bound-HIgh Definition Classics-2004
Bull Cow Blues-Big Bill Broozny-Big Bill’s Blues-Topaz-1986
Ghost Blues-Rory Gallagher-Fresh Evidence-Capo/Buddha-1990
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Gamblin’ Blues-Taste-Live Taste-Polydor-1971
Young Fashioned Ways-Muddy Waters-The London Muddy Waters Sessions-Chess-1971
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On the Boards-Taste-On the Boards-Polydor-1970
Rollin’ and Tumblin’-Cream-Fresh Cream-Polygram-1967
Can You See Me?-The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Are You Experienced?-MCA-1967
Blister On The Moon-Taste-Taste-Polydor-1969
Hot Stuff-The Rolling Stones-Black and Blue-Virgin-1976
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Secret Agent-Rory Gallagher-Calling Card-Chrysalis-1976
Sleep On the Sidewalk-Queen-News of the World-EMI-1977
Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend-Thin Lizzy-Black Rose: A Rock Legend-Warner BRos.-1979
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Born On The Wrong Side of Time-Taste-Taste-Polydor-1969
Surrender-U2-War-Island-1983
All Of A Sudden (It’s Too Late)-XTC-English Settlement-Virgin-1982
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The Last of the Independents-Rory Gallagher-Photo Finish-Chrysalis-1978

Pyramidal/Frozen Galaxies

Alicante’s favorite Sons of Light Pyramidal return from Dawn in Space with new transmissions on their follow-up, Frozen Galaxies. Rather than coasting on the vapor trail left by Dawn in Space, Pyramidal re-ignite the boosters, taking their blend of space and psych rock further out—for them and us—by pumping in some flares of prog into the tanks. Frozen Galaxies is still alive with trace elements of rock’s core, but the mixture has been recalibrated. No slouchers before by any means, Pyramidal sound reinvigorated after Dawn. The songs are fiercer, more intense and their playing is pushed deeper. That doesn’t mean it’s jackhammers-on-the-asteroid time. Obvious fans of pioneers such as Hawkwind and more experimental leaning Sabbath, Pyramidal get that heft isn’t about indulgence in distortion or useless bombast. That’s just turning a knob or two. The songs themselves, the structure, is what has the weight. On the conjoined first two cuts, Altar of Delusion World and Beyond the Lost Orbs, Pyramidal take on Arantxa Marín’s sax, playing no small part in the new frenetic slant on Frozen Galaxies. Marín and Pyramidal push the envelope into some prime Hawkwind flavored grind as well as reaching out, and into, some of the unhinged nature of Acid Mothers brand of frayed space/prog rock. The dynamics are more jagged and the pulse oscillates more, with Pyramidal keeping a strong hand on the planets’ bedrock. Beyond the Orbs is far more elongated and drifting, but it has the same ingredients, just redistributed. The stronger emphasis on prog is felt right out of the gate, some moments calling to mind Crimson’s attack on rock among others. Each cut has a definite identity, but they are deeply connected. Not twins, but sharing some parts of the central nervous system. Sons of Light finds the ‘nauts flipping the switch back a notch to some prime, driving space rock. Pyramidal’s strong foothold on their foundation makes a deep footprint here. Wearing their influences on their bell-bottoms as much as their sleeves, Sons of Light is classic in transport, modern in delivery. Depending on your tastes, the more laser-pointed strike of Sons of Light could make it the centerpiece, but its placement after the flurry of the opening duo and before the opus of the title track makes it more the pivot. Pyramidal take the tangents of both, and elongate them on Frozen Galaxies, stretching their legs just shy of 24 minutes. Traces of harder prog are front-loaded on Frozen Galaxies, peppered with some hints of metal that add even more to the mix. Around 5 minutes into the flight, Pyramidal level out, not coasting, but going into a driving chug that carries them through to the end and provides enough thrust for the twist and turns to come. Considering the length of the flight, you’d think they would play to the tailspin, but Pyramidal opt for some surprising moderation that keeps Frozen Galaxies stable, and more importantly, on course for the duration of our flight. Factoring in some sitar from Samuel Riviere, the journey can lighten its payload along the way without floating away or losing direction. Nearing the end, Miguel Rodes’ bubbling bass signals the descent as Pyramidal take their time summing up their ingredients and bringing the mission full circle and back to front. Somewhat of a showcase for Pyramidal, Frozen Galaxies never shows off, despite the lure of indulgence with such a running time. It’s a logical way to join all the parts into a big closing statement without getting long-winded or seemingly not knowing when to stop, tacking on hard noodling at the end to fill time. Pyramidal do fill the time, and fill it well, but they do it without cramming or bloat. Easily shaking of a sophomore slump, Pyramidal bring life to space’s ‘frozen galaxies’ and tundras while injecting themselves with a new vitality, readying themselves for the next launch.

Skidmarks For Scratchmark (Tighter)/SOB 2.25.13

Skidmarks For Scratchmark (Tighter)/SOB 2.25.13 @ainfos

The Future Rock (We Got It) ≈ Brant Bjork ≈ Gods and Goddesses ≈ Low Desert Punk ≈ 2010

Follow Me ≈ Born to Hula ≈ Sunset Radio ≈ Born to Hula ≈ 2011

You Think I Aint Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire ≈ Desert Sessions ≈ The Desert Sessions Volume 5 & 6 ≈ Man’s Ruin ≈ 1999

X. ≈ The Machine ≈ Solar Corona ≈ Nasoni ≈ 2009

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Tight Fit ≈ Tracker ≈ How I Became An Alien ≈ Sulatron ≈ 2010

Fever ≈ Trip Hill ≈ Hofmann’s Kaleidoscope Vol. 1 – Expiation of the Psychedelic Hunters ≈ Ex Lab/Perkele.it/Vincebus Eruptum ≈ 2012

Better Living Through Chemistry ≈ Queens of the Stone Age ≈ Rated R ≈ Interscope ≈ 2000

Grease ≈ The Re-Stoned ≈ Plasma ≈ R.A.I.G. ≈ 2012

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Bleeding Out ≈ Lo-Pan ≈ Salvador ≈ Small Stone Records ≈ 2011

King of the Road ≈ Fu Manchu ≈ King of the Road ≈ Mammoth ≈ 2000

Kiss the Sun ≈ The Atomic Bitchwax ≈ The Atomic Bitchwax ≈ MIA ≈ 1999

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Livin’ in the Ghetto ≈ Purple Image ≈ Purple Image ≈ Radioactive ≈ 1969

Freedom ≈ Jimi Hendrix ≈ First Rays of the New Rising Sun ≈ Experience Hendrix ≈ 1997

Them Changes ≈ Buddy Miles ≈Them Changes ≈ Mercury ≈ 1970

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Ask Brother Ask ≈ Ramatam ≈ Ramatam ≈ Atlantic ≈ 1972

Gettin’ Tighter ≈ Deep Purple ≈ Come Taste the Band ≈ EMI ≈ 1975

Door of Illusion ≈ Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush ≈ Tales of the Unexpected ≈ Columbia ≈ 1979

Caledonia ≈ Robin Trower ≈ Long Misty Days ≈ Chrysalis ≈ 1976

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Day of the Eagle ≈ Robin Trower ≈ Bridge of Sighs ≈ Chrysalis ≈ 1974

Bridge of Sighs ≈ Robin Trower ≈ Bridge of Sighs ≈ Chrysalis ≈ 1974

No Quarter ≈ Led Zeppelin ≈ Celebration Day ≈ Atlantic/Swan Song ≈ 2012

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Good Old Music ≈ Funkadelic ≈ Funkadelic ≈ Westbound ≈ 1970

Qoph/Freaks

Sweden’s Qoph offer up an odd mix on their third release, Freaks. A strange brew of psych rock with some stoner lugs on the boots and progressive flairs peppered throughout, Freaks stands side by side with many of Transubstans usual stock in trade. Toss in the above, some sax work along with twists and turns, and Freaks earns its title among its brothers and sisters without alienating them, or Qoph. Much of the thrust and jab is reminiscent of Soundgarden’s punch, and vocalist Rustan Geschwind packs a wail as strong—and controlled—as Cornell’s. The Weirdness To Come may not be the definitive track (it’d be hard to nail that down), but it’s a good summation of tangents that Qoph take as much as another fitting title. Feverland takes a more subdued approach, but in its in more laid-back tack it still harbors all the other elements that makes Freaks a compelling entry into the hard/stoner rock pool. The title cut does much the same, taking the quirky aspects once again in another direction so they don’t come across as forced, or worse, repetitive. Other tracks like Remedy and Seconds & Minutes get downright jaunty without jettisoning some of the more progressive slants that lend Freaks its uniqueness, and somewhat mutant status, among Qoph’s peers.

Ride :: Qoph :: Freaks (2012, Transubstans)

Major Stars/Decibels of Gratitude

A ball of rock…hard, heavy and hairy…from Massachusetts’s Major Stars, courtesy of their 8th long-player Decibels of Gratitude. It’s a pretty straight-forward, road-tested equation, one they fully acknowledge by angling ’to just be thought of as a Rock group (early ’70′s capitalization intact).’ With new singer Hayley Thompson-King in the fold, Major Stars spell it out with the biggest, shaggiest of letters; from the bedrock of The Who, Cream, Neil Young…the likes of The Stooges, Dinosaur Jr…and the admitted love of Otis Rush and Buddy Guy…Decibels of Gratitude is all about the pistons, the riffs and a strut that is always welcome. Equally adept at stoking a rootsy scuzz and escalating into a flurry of guitar-based freak-outs, Major Stars unabashedly wear their influences on the their sleeves. And they stick, no matter how much the arms flail around. With a sound that is as up-front as it is intimate, these East Coast vets are just as concerned with what’s under the hood as they are letting the machine out of the garage. It’s not an overtly psychedelic record, but when the proceedings escalate like they do on Fuse or the long and winding Turning For Home, Major Stars whip it up into a head lifting drive that is viscous, and vicious, in the just the right places. The dots are already connected, and capitalized…freeing up from drawing those lines again and again, Major Stars get on with the big business that can happen between them.

Fuse :: Major Stars :: Decibels of Gratitude (2012, Important Records)

Transubstans Grounded In Flight

Venerable label Transubstans, a fave for many cosmic sounds, also keeps a set of tires firmly on the road to put some rubber down. If your travel needs lean more towards the grounded and grinding, Transubstans has a handful of new releases that might aid your road trips…

Sideburn/IV Monument

The 4th release from Sweden’s Sideburn traffics in a road-tested hard rock drive reaching back to the days of Sabbath and their kin to more modern stabs by outfits that have grabbed that gauntlet since. Cuts like Crossing The Line and Silverwing inject a bit o’blues feel into the tank further linking them to not only their touchstones, but the bigger picture in general.

Diamonds :: Sideburn :: IV Monument (2012, Transubstans)

Dirty Passion/In Wonderland

Sporting new vocalist Kriss Lohikoski Svensson, Sweden’s Dirty Passion return with In Wonderland. Hearkening back to more melodic metal and hard rock, In Wonderland is both a throwback of sorts and a call to arms for the party(ing) faithful.

Into The Wild :: Dirty Passion :: In Wonderland (2012, Transubstans)

Three Seasons/Understand The World

Rocking with a touch of the groovy, Three Seasons move through a 70s vibe, calling up signals from bluesy outfits like Humble Pie and Faces (I Would Be Glad) as well paying respect to keys-heavy locomotives like Uriah Heep and Deep Purple (Set In Stone, Can’t Let Go).

Set In Stone :: Three Seasons :: Understand the World (2012, Transubstans)

Dödaren/Maen

Gothenburg’s Dödaren strive to keep it ‘truly Nordic’ on their debut Maen. Singing in Swedish and keeping a grip on the melodic, Dödaren deliver the chug and pump. Pulling a 70s hard rock and metal framework into the modern age, Dödaren don’t lose sight of their ‘Swedish energy.’

En Ny Dag :: Dödaren :: Maen (2012, Transubstans)

Torso/Inside

Vienna’s Torso lay down all kinds of the rock on their debut, Inside. A good portion of Inside has a bluesy vibe that pours on more cement to the 70′s foundation they’re building on, but Torso mix in some other gravel. The title cut has some desert winds blowing around it that whip up into a break before blowing on out again. Mona Lisa works as straight up rocker with a twist or two, while Black Man and Haunting Witches have a doomier edge that point to some other objects in their rearview mirror. One of the best cuts, Room has whiffs of power-trio hey-day out of the gate, then goes on to a wobbly stoner work out with stop/starts thrown in to keep you guessing, and a bottom-end working overtime to drag you to the finish. They do tone it down on Voices, but the stretch gets muddled and despite the title’s declaration, it could use a little dominance in one voice. That voice is made clear on the outstanding One, with a pouring on of a serious space rock topcoat that really makes all the pistons fire in sync, giving Torso some solid legs to stand on.

One :: Torso :: Inside (2012, StoneFree Records)

The Brimstone Days/On A Monday Too Early To Tell

The Brimstone Days (TBD), anchored in Malmö, Sweden, start the week with some groove on their new On A Monday Too Early To Tell. Like many of their like-minded brothers and sisters at Transubstans, and throughout their homeland, TBD turn the knobs on the way back machine to the 70s for a refresher course in bluesy hard rock. The overarching feeling you get is that TBD are concerned first and foremost with having a good time and making it ‘impossible to stand still.’ To do it, the trio take the rock and inject some funk factors into it, keeping it pretty accessible and upbeat. Apparently veterans of the road throughout Europe, On A Monday Too Early To Tell could use some of that road grit in the production to get across just what happened before Monday morning. Their energy may not compensate totally for that, but it does keep the platter moving at a good clip and there is an intimacy to their playing and setting that makes them pretty approachable. It’s good time music, made clear by opener I Need Soul’s call to put on your dancing shoes and shake your hips. TBD carry the vibe straight on through to the close courtesy of cuts like Tucson, Arizona, What Do You Want and Give Me A Reason.

What Do You Want :: The Brimstone Days :: On A Monday Too Early To Tell (2012, Transubstans)

Captain Crimson/Dancing Madly Backwards

Hailing from Örebro, Sweden, Captain Crimson‘s Dancing Madly Backwards is more than a passing reference to 70s hard rockers Captain Beyond; it’s a statement of purpose. The quartet has more than one foot placed firmly in that hey day, defiantly setting the knobs on the way back machine as they run through a series of straight up rockers. Going beyond the Captain, they flesh out the ghosts of outfits like Mountain, Leaf Hound, and Humble Pie while sitting firm with other Transubstans label-mates like Gordon Fights and Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus. They add some more ornate fills to their vintage sound taking it a bit past a narrow-cast retro aim, but they hit all the requisite touchstones of a heavy bottom end, fuzzed-out guitars, and riffs with hooks that either drag the past to light or refuse to let it go. I remember reading an interview with Nugent way back in the day, and when asked about Zeppelin he said something to the effect of “They’re about as English as a Chevy.” No disrespect to Captain Crimson and their homeland, and no additional props to the deluded Nugent, but you could swap out Zeppelin and English for CC and Swedish and you got about the same thing. Of course it’s not a stringently American sound, it never was, but CC and a lot of other like-minded Swedes of late are carrying that banner forward with both hands on the wheel, proving it’s the driver as much as the car.

Lonely Devils Club :: Captain Crimson :: Dancing Madly Backwards (2012 Transubstans)

Double Header Upside the Head

Got to sit in on two great shows on the mighty Mothership…thanks for having me…enjoy…

The Parts Get Shorter, The Parties Get Harder :: Songs From the Big Hair :: 5/5/12 podcast

One’s Too Many (And a Hundred Ain’t Enough) ≈ Nick Lowe ≈ Nick the Knife ≈ Columbia ≈ 1982

Alone in the Dark ≈ John Hiatt ≈ Bring the Family ≈ A&M ≈ 1987

Back to Sin City ≈ Treat Her Right ≈ Tied to the Tracks ≈ BMG ≈ 1989

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Detox Mansion ≈ Warren Zevon ≈ Sentimental Hygiene ≈ Virgin ≈ 1987

Begin The begin ≈ R.E.M. ≈ Life’s Rich Pageant ≈ International Record Syndicate ≈ 1986

Could You Be The One ≈ Husker Du ≈ Warehouse/Songs and Stories ≈ Warner Bros ≈ 1987

Split Myself In Two ≈ Meat Puppets ≈ II ≈ Ryko ≈ 1999

Waiting for Jimmy to Kick ≈ Butthole Surfers ≈ Cream Corn ≈ ≈ 1986

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Love Yer Brain ≈ Flaming Lips ≈ Oh My Gawd!!! ≈ Restless ≈ 1987

The Final Rhino ≈ Adrian Belew ≈ Desire Of The Rhino King ≈ Island ≈ 1991

The Lone Rhinoceros ≈ Adrian Belew ≈ Desire of the Rhino King ≈ Island ≈ 1991

Peacable Kingdom ≈ Adrian Belew ≈ Mr. Music Head ≈ Atlantic ≈ 1989

Sleepless ≈ King Crimson ≈ Three Of A Perfect Pair ≈ EG ≈ 1984