Petrichor is the second album in for The Lost Trades.

Clearly not suffering from second album syndrome, this is again another gorgeous collection of vocal harmonies backed by acoustics

There may be a more American West Coast feel rather than English Folk this time round but that’s not a bad thing.

Already Keep My Feet Dry may be my favourite track of theirs. The emotional weight of the song with some stunning vocal work make it’s very special.

Possibly the album is too front loaded with big emotional songs about loss and longing (Old Man of the Sea, Keep my Feet Dry and Long Since Gone) but then you get the change of pace and the joyful Daffodils.

A simple song about friendship and guaranteed to make you smile, Daffodils also deserves extra bonus for managing to include ‘devil’s avocado’ in the lyrics. 

The almost acapella Valhalla closes the album and is a great showcase again for the band’s harmonies – Amazing what you can do with just three singers, each which their own distinct voice.

So looking forward to see them in concert again soon 

 Must be time to start on some new reviews….

First up is Lost Animals, a mini album (six songs) from Jenny Colquitt.

I not a great fan of the singer/songwriter description as nowadays it’s used lazily to describe anyone who picks up a guitar or plays piano.  There’s a very Classic Rock feel to this album, maybe even a hint of Heart or Alannah Myles (circa Rockinghorse)!

Opening track, I’m Just Lost, starts out as a piano led power ballad but at just under 2 minutes the pace changes dramatically. From there the track thunders along with that gorgeous, powerful voice soaring over the top.

Open Pages repeats the trick of starting slowly but this time the song builds and builds to full throated crescendo before bringing the song gently to a close.

Paradise is the big old school power ballad you thought you were getting earlier, while Soldier of the Modern Day beautifully conveys the struggles of life without being mawkish about it

The album may be short but that means there no filler to distract from some truly stunning vocals which are the star of the show

Great way to start a new year of new music

 A Look Forward to 2023

The year has started slowly for new music but there is a lot on the horizon to look forward to - Firstly albums I know are due:

• Petrichor - The Lost Trades (March)
• The Fell - Snow Ghosts (February)
• Lost Animals - Jenny Colquitt (February)
• Black Bay - Silver Moth (April)
• Elevation - John Reed (October)
• Broken Spells - Jo Beth Young (TBC)
• Anno 1696 - Insomnium (February)

Also I've slowly started gigs for this year but it's looking fairly quiet at the moment:

• Pale Blue Eyes - Exeter Cavern (February)
• The Lost Trades - Exeter Phoenix (March)
• Jo Beth Young - St Mary's Church, Totnes (May)
• Molly Hatchet - Exeter Phoenix (July)

Hopefully there will be some reviews to come soon!

Final review of 2022 and it's the big one - Best albums.

Now I didn't think there would be another good enough year where I could revert to a top ten but this year surpassed expectations with the quality of new music.

So in alphabetical order

• The Blackheart Orchestra - Hotel Utopia
• Josienne Clarke -  Now & Then EP
• Crippled Black Phoenix - Banefyre
• Hekla - Xiuxiuejar
• Indignu - Adeus
• Marillion - An Hour Before It's Dark
• Mortem - Slow Death
• Nerina Pallot - I Don't Know What I'm Doing 
• Emily Scott Robinson - Built on Bones EP
• A.A. Williams - As the Moon Rests

Most years it isn't possible to choose one album above the others but this year I can - and it is As The Moon Rests, the latest masterpiece from A.A. Williams 

 

First part of my 2022 review and let's start with my favourite half dozen stand alone singles - in alphabetical order:

• The Anchoress - Bizarre Love Triangle
• Jenny Colquitt - Soldier of the Modern Day
• Alex Henry Foster - Power of the Heart
• Maer - Sister
• Placebo - Shout
• Jo Beth Young - BRIGID

And my favourite gigs were:

Abrasive Trees at the Bread & Roses in Plymouth

Sulpher at the Cavern in Exeter

The double header of All Living Fear and Inkubus Sukkubus also at the Cavern

 Last review of the year and it's a short one..... 

As The Moon Rests by A.A. Williams - The review is you should/must own this album

One word constantly comes to mind when listening to this - SWOON

It's heavier than the last album Forever Blue but achingly beautiful and full of emotional longing. From the opening torch song of  Hollow Heart to the epic closing title track this is just a stunning album.

 

 First EP review of the year (and maybe not the last).... Built on Bones by Emily Scott Robinson is the story of Macbeth told from the three witches' perspective. 

It's an intriguing concept and with only six songs, very ambitious.

This is American Gothic writ large and based around some stunning three-part harmonies. Massive credit must go to Emily, Alisa Amador & Violet Bell for some of the best vocals I've heard this year.

The highlight is Double, Double which is the retelling of the famous witches' spell from the play. It's dark, sensual and menacing with beautiful sultry harmonies and ferocious blues guitar.

Some of the other tracks such as Men & Moon veer towards a more traditional country sound but are never predictable or safe.

For an EP it fits in a lot and not a minute is wasted. I would also recommend seeing the video for Double, Double which dials the gothic influence up to 11 and is visually perfect for the song.

An absolute certainty to be one of my albums of the year