FOREIGNER
A new double album, ‘Live at the Rainbow ’78’ (Rhino), features a 27 April 1978 concert at the famous
London venue. The band featured Mick Jones (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Lou Gramm (lead
vocals, percussion), Ian McDonald (guitars, keyboards, sax, flute, backing vocals), Al Greenwood (keyboards,
synthesiser), Ed Gagliardi (bass, backing vocals) and Dennis Elliott (drums, backing vocals), played after
the release of their self-titled album. Now newly mixed and re-mastered. As for the mastering? Yes, there
could be greater dynamic reach and midrange space on offer but this live album remains remarkably
consistent with no sonic nasties to get in the way. A sterling effort and a well recorded live release.COMPS
Instant Replay (www.eccrecords.co.uk)
is a 3LP, various artists compilation
featuring Eliza Carthy, Green Gartside
and more spouting multi-genre covers
created between 1971 and 1981 from
Marvin Gaye to The Clash. Fun and
frolics plus a USB with extra music
and content.
Different. The Hackney Colliery Band’s ‘Collaborations - Volume One’ combines brass band tones with modern music constructions and vocal
styles with Angélique Kidjo, James Taylor and more. Inventive and fresh.
BC35 features members of the Swans, Sonic Youth and Alice Donut who performed or mixed and matched to perform together. Featuring a free
7”, it celebrates thirty-five years of Brooklyn’s BC recording studio. Imagination runneth over.vinyl section
http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2019 HI-FI WORLD 81
VINYL NEWS
...AND FINALLY
The National’s ‘I Am Easy To Find’ (4AD; http://4ad.com”4ad.com) uses the latest marketing fad: women. You remember them. They’re in the news, they’re
cool, they’re for you and for #MeToo. Clogged with sincerity, this indie rock outing drags female artists off the street to use as ‘right on’ wallpaper.
Miel de Botton’s ‘Surrender to the Feeling’ (Absolute) is another sort of Me Too. A dated, derivative, factory-fed ‘me too’, high clarity vocal of
immense diction over a conveyor-belt, building trance beat. I’m sure I reviewed this in 1995.
The jazz/electronica of Laurence Pike’s ‘Holy Spring’ (http://theleaflabel.com) is all about texture and rhythm and how you play with both, often with
nuance and subtlety. Nice.
Robag Wruhme’s ‘Venn Tolep’ and free 7” single, no less (Pampa; http://pamparecords.com) offers stripped, click/beep beats on a bed of ambience
with lots of salad dressing.
The Bogs Of Aughiska’s self-titled album (http://lonevigilrecordings.bigcartel.com) is a swathe
of dark ambience from western Ireland. Pagan, mystical, ruminative and pensive.
Vocalist in TesseracT, Daniel Tompkins’ debut LP ‘Castles’ (http://kscopemusic.com) offers a
blend of power and electro-pop with rock grandeur. One for the fans.
The Skints ‘Swimming Lessons’ (http://mrbongo.com”mrbongo.com) offers punk Post-it notes
attached to reggae tones and toasty raps, keeping the tone light yet rhythmic.BANDCAMP BEAUTIES
Sebastian Reynolds, Anne Müller & Alex Stolze’s ‘Solo Collective - Part Two’
(http://solocollective.bandcamp.com) provides neoclassical ambience, folkish
insight and delicate minor chords. Sublime.
Mndsgn Snaxx (www.stonesthrow.com). Fourteen short tracks featuring
ye olde trip hop. OK, ‘beats’ as the fashion now demands. Beautiful, lovely,
wonderful and pithy.
‘Traum Und Existenz’ from Kompromat (http://kompromat-official.
bandcamp.com)
offers German pop-techno in a Daft Punk mode. Lively and head-noddingly
melodic.