Liege and lief

Liege & Lief is the heart-warming 1969 album from The Fairport Convention. Possibly the first major British folk-rock album, it combines the nostalgia of traditional British folk with hints of electric guitar; another step towards the growing dominance of electric instruments in every nook and cranny of the musical sphere. Suffused with drama, passion andContinue reading “Liege and lief”

What’s going on?

It’s unusual that by the 11th album of your career you should suddenly go rogue, but that’s exactly what Marvin Gaye decided to do on What’s Going On? The poster boy and statesman of Motown records saw the social problems both on the streets of Detroit and in the media, and like many artists atContinue reading “What’s going on?”

Back to Black

Potentially controversial, but to truly understand and enjoy Back to Black (B2B) I feel we must first revisit Frank. Released 3 years prior, Frank established an audience with its new wave jazz, neo-soul and infused beat sound, so popular in the early 00’s. Unfortunately, to my mind, it failed to stand apart from its contemporaries,Continue reading “Back to Black”


If Henry 8th had a house band, it would’ve been Jethro Tull. Jethro Tull were arguably Britain’s most commercially successful prog folk, blues, rock, metal, jazz group. A niche category, but the best nonetheless! Aqualung was written as an album to make a significant breakthrough into the mainstream. The late 60s saw many folk-inspire acts,Continue reading “Aqualung”

Listen without prejudice Vol.1

Where do you start with an album that asks you to listen without prejudice?  Well I’ll tell you where I started; a place of distrust and suspicion; what is Mr Michael trying to hide? George Michael released ‘Listen Without Prejudice’  3 September 1990 following the massive success of 1987’s “Faith’. The album was 1 ofContinue reading “Listen without prejudice Vol.1”

Natty Dread

A commonality between (almost) any ‘great’ work of art, is that they all have an essential reason for being.  Ask: why was this made, what does it express, and would the world be different if it didn’t exist?  If the answer to these questions are not clear, then it is likely the work will notContinue reading “Natty Dread”