Live review: Elvis Costello Date: Monday 15th June 2015 Venue: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Reviewer: Alan O’Hare It’s all about that singular voice. Elvis Costello is unique. Sure, he’s not the only acclaimed songwriter around who twists brand new melodies from well-worn chords. But he is the only one who renders chords, melodies and structure almostContinue Reading
EP REVIEW Artist – Paul Wilkes EP – Take The Sunlight Release date – 8th June 2015 Reviewer – Alan O’Hare Listen on Soundcloud How does a prolific artist sustain interest in 2015? There is no answer to that. But, in these disposable times, one plan of action is to release music often and to strive toContinue Reading
EP REVIEW Artist – Paul Wilkes EP – River Running With Me Release date – 19th January 2015 Reviewer – Alan O’Hare Listen on Soundcloud Paul Wilkes has been around for a long time. One of his first tunes, the delicately bruised ‘Rihanna’, still occupies a space in the file marked ‘great lost songs’ of theContinue Reading
ALBUM REVIEW Artist: Various Artists Album: Mellowtone: Ten Years Reviewer: Alan O’Hare Talk about a labour of love. “We hope our selection gives a taste of the city’s unplugged underground from 2004 to 2014,” says curator Dave McTague. He can rest easy. McTague, as lots of you will already know, is theContinue Reading
EP REVIEW Artist – Iain Till EP – The Rise And The Fall Release date – November 2014 Reviewer – Alan O’Hare (Listen on BandCamp) To make music this sparse stand out from the crowd, the singer has to be able to whisper something into your ear. Fortunately for Iain Till, his voice is sublime. The songwriter (andContinue Reading
EP REVIEW Artist: SheBeat EP: SheBeat EP Reviewer: Alan O’Hare SheBeat’s debut release is a cracker. The singer/songwriter, well known for earning her stripes on the local open mic scene, has seemed a little fragile trying to hit the heights above the noise of a crowded pub. But this four track EP puts thatContinue Reading
EP REVIEW Artist: Rachael Dunn EP: Placing Stars Reviewer: Alan O’Hare Rachael Dunn’s EP opens up with an urgent acoustic guitar beat and a mournful cello. It’s beautiful. But, Placing Stars (the title track in question), soon moves into double tracked chorus vocals and a high harmony that takes the song on aContinue Reading
EP REVIEW Artist: Steve Roberts EP: When We Dreamed, We Dreamed Of Dreams Reviewer: Alan O’Hare Songs are mysterious and wonderful things. Especially great ones – not many of them come along. But, when they do, they wrap themselves tightly around your soul and refuse to let go. Years ago,Continue Reading
ALBUM REVIEW Artist: Only Child Album: From Muddy Water To Higher Ground Reviewer: Lis Garrett Alan O’Hare told us at the launch of Only Child’s album “From Muddy Water to Higher Ground” that this was an album all about love. He’s not wrong. This album is overflowing with it –Continue Reading
Live review: Only Child album launch Support: Vanessa Murray, Jon Lawton, Silens Date: Saturday 26th April 2014 Venue: The Zanzibar Reviewer: Stuart Todd Only Child launched their new album From Muddy Water To Higher Ground to a fairly busy crowd at The Zanzibar. The brainchild of Liverpool singer songwriter Alan O’Hare (formerly of The Trestles), he wasContinue Reading
