Out of Quebec with fiery sadness, young bluesman takes to the stage to right the wrongs of our world. This musician has been striding the scene for nigh on a decade now, yet his concert audiences seemed limited to Canada’s crowds, with a rare trip down south. VIAC Justin Saladino Band – Live (2020) Justin Saladino Band – Live (2020)
Live
Blues
Les Disques Bros
2020
CD
11
The year when many of us found ourselves in unexpected isolation, and with their Prague concert cancelled in March 2020, David and Arve decided that if they could not express themselves together onstage then they would do so in the recorded medium. VIAC David Kollar & Arve Henriksen – Unexpected Isolation (2020) David Kollar & Arve Henriksen – Unexpected Isolation (2020)
Unexpected Isolation
Contemporary Jazz
Hevhetia
2020
CD
18
From Ottawa to Toronto and on to the world with words of wisdom: Canadian blues-breaker bucks the pessimistic trend. Not that Steve Marriner has been twiddling his thumbs since stepping on a solo route with Going Up back in 2007 – although what can a musician do except to move his digits? – but the process of living up to the debut’s promise saw this artist involved in various collectives rather than pursue a personal path. VIAC STEVE MARRINER – Hope Dies Last (2021) STEVE MARRINER – Hope Dies Last (2021)
Hope Dies Last
Blues Rock
Stony Plain Records
02. Jul 2021
CD
10
Still ‘ot ‘n’ sweaty, ‘eavy rhythm-and-blues veterans balance their graceful act and walk into sunset with a smile. VIAC CACTUS – Tightrope (2021) CACTUS – Tightrope (2021)
Tightrope
Hard Rock
Purple Pyramid Records
2021
CD
12
These days most people think of David Kollar as Steven Wilson’s right hand man, but I first came across him in the band Komara which he formed with drummer Pat Mastelotto and Italian trumpeter Paolo Raineri back in 2014. VIAC David Kollar – 10 Poems For Ronroco / Crime On The Bunny (2020) David Kollar – 10 Poems For Ronroco / Crime On The Bunny (2020)
10 Poems For Ronroco / Crime On The Bunny
Jazz Rock, Noise
Hevhetia
2020
2xCD
4x10
Since signing to Frontiers Music there has been a plethora of live releases from Blue Öyster Cult, and this one catches the band at the Rock of Ages Festival in Seebronn, Germany, recorded on July 30th, 2016. VIAC Blue Öyster Cult – Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016 (2020) Blue Öyster Cult – Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016 (2020)
Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016
Hard Rock
Frontiers Music
2020
CD, DVD
11, 10
Post-Summer of Love cynical observations from a non-rock rock band. There have been musical collectives named after continents, cities and countries, but this one was the first to zoom on a certain territory in order to smear social commentary all over it. VIAC The United States Of America – The United States Of America (1968) The United States Of America – The United States Of America (1968)
The United States Of America
Psychedelic Rock
Columbia
1968
LP
10
CD Esoteric Recordings – ECLEC 2449 /2014/
Spanning 1969-1974, a primer of the Woodstock wrestlers’ initial circle of life on and off stage. Wrongly viewed as an American answer to CREAM, this band’s mojo was – and still is – less pure in bluesy terms and more varied in style. VIAC Mountain – Crossroader: An Anthology 1970-1974 (2010) Mountain – Crossroader: An Anthology 1970-1974 (2010)
Crossroader: An Anthology 1970-1974
Hard Rock
Esoteric Recordings
2010
2xCD
20x6
I have been a fan of Blue Öyster Cult for more years than I care to think about, certainly more than 40, and the very first band shirt I ever owned was theirs. I remember proudly wearing it to my first ever metal gig, Saxon and Tygers of Pan Tang, when I was 17. VIAC Blue Öyster Cult – The Symbol Remains (2020) Blue Öyster Cult – The Symbol Remains (2020)
The Symbol Remains
Hard Rock
Frontiers Records
2020
CD
14
Fusion accomplished: an energy release from romantic, if down-to-earth, warriors. Projected from atomic physics into a macrocosm, quantum jump may also mean a leap of faith, and that’s what it was for these four musicians. VIAC Quantum Jump – Quantum Jump (1976) Quantum Jump – Quantum Jump (1976)
Quantum Jump
Prog Rock, Jazz Rock
The Electric Record Company
1976
LP
8
CD Esoteric Recordings – ECLEC 2472 /2014/
Madrigal were originally formed in 1977 by David Cebert (keyboards) and Kevin Dodson (vocals, drums), since when they have undergone numerous personnel changes. In 1982, there was a change in direction and a change in name, as they became a covers band called UVU to earn some money. This lasted until 1985 when the band broke up, which featured the end of the writing partnership of Cebert and Dodson. VIAC Madrigal – Waiting… (1989) Madrigal – Waiting… (1989)
Waiting...
Prog Rock
Every Third Person Records
1989
CD
8
In a way, it was predictable that a country as set on the Anglo rock culture as Israel would produce a few solid acts. There were few of those, and it’s a shame that JERICHO JONES didn’t make it big. Still, were they any different from many a band on the thriving British scene of the early ’70s? GUN, anyone? VIAC Jericho Jones – Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys (1971) Jericho Jones – Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys (1971)
Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys
Hard Rock
1971
LP
10
CD Repertoire Records – RR 4101-WZ /1990/
PTS originally formed in Holland in 1987 as a covers band and released their first demo Camera Life in 1990. A second cassette Welcome To The Real World followed in 1991, and their debut CD Nightlines in 1992. VIAC PTS – Tides (1994) PTS – Tides (1994)
Tides
Prog Rock
SI MUsic
1994
CD
11
Still catching the skin, legacy album of American ensemble snaps out of lethargy. This Pittsburgh group seemed destined to hit the big time but, instead, found themselves doomed, due to the record label’s politics, and hit bottom, having left only two LPs in their wake: 1987’s self-released debut and its self-titled follow-up which more than deserves rediscovery. VIAC The Zippers – The Zippers (1990) The Zippers – The Zippers (1990)
The Zippers
Hard Rock
MCA Records
1990
CD, LP, CASS
10
CD Angel Air Records – SJPCD512 /2018/
There are arguably far too few bands trying to emulate the mighty Hawkwind, so when I saw that this CD was by a band that had completed a full tour with them as long ago as 1992, Iknew I was in for a treat. Then I read that Andy G had been inspired to set up the Dead Ernest label just to release this album and I was quite intrigued. VIAC Krel – Ad Astra (1997) Krel – Ad Astra (1997)
Ad Astra
Space Rock
Dead Earnest
1997
CD
10
