Category Archives: Uncategorized

Folk: album review – Christina Alden & Alex Patterson ‘Safe Travels’

Album reviews, Folk music, Uncategorized, , , , ,

When Norwich-based folk duo, Christina Alden & Alex Patterson, released their debut album, Hunter, back in 2021 I found it a highly enjoyable listen and was struck by the duo’s lovely melodies, heart-warming vocals and charming story-telling.

We’ve had a while to wait but now they are back with a brand-new album, Safe Travels, featuring ten original songs and a duo-composed instrumental.

Recorded at the couple’s home studio in the centre of Norwich, they outline the genesis of the album as follows:

“We began making this album at the start of 2022 as the world was emerging from the global pandemic and just before the birth of our daughter, Etta. Some of these  songs are like old friends that have travelled many miles with us, while others came about in the final stages of production. This is a collection of songs and tunes that feel as if they have grown and changed with us over the years. Those keen listeners among you may even hear some of our home life; our old cat pottering and meowing around the house; our daughter talking in the background or the sound of city life just beyond the city walls. We are so proud of this album and it’s been a real pleasure creating the music together.”

A number of the songs on the album are highly personal, such as the lovely ‘Etta’s Song’ (above) celebrating the birth of the couple’s baby daughter; the charmingly infectious ‘Our House’ which recalls Alden’s memories of growing up in a home filled with music; and the poignant ‘A Hundred Years Ago’ which, rather than being an epic historical folk tale, is all about recalling momentous events in one’s own life. However, as with the previous album, songs celebrating the beauty of the natural world also feature heavily and, as in the case of the ecologically-themed ‘The Mountain Hair’, the threat that the effects of man-made climate change poses to our natural landscape.

Both Alden and Patterson are accomplished multi-instrumentalists and finger-picked guitar interwoven with beautiful string arrangements make for a gentle yet versatile backdrop for Alden’s crystal clear lead vocal and Patterson’s warm harmonising. As with the debut album, pleasing melodies and heart-warming story-telling is the order of the day.

After a four-year journey Safe Travels has finally reached its intended destination and it’s an album that’s been well worth the wait.

Released: 9th May 2025 https://christinaaldenandalexpatterson.com/

Related review:

Folk: album review – Christina Alden & Alex Patterson ‘Hunter’

This week’s featured artist: Singer-songwriter Anita Abram – debut EP ‘The First Escapade’

Album reviews, Folk music, Music news, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Anita Abram is a singer-songwriter, radio presenter and producer who also has a passion for the visual arts. A member of the DIY female musicians’ ‘Rise and Release’ community, she composes, records and produces music from her home in Suffolk, and is the founder of Every Bird Records, a community interest company supporting independent female musicians with unique voices.

Abram herself performs as part of folk trio, The Copper Foxes, as well as a solo artist. The First Escapade is her debut EP.

Opening track, the poignant and beautifully-atmospheric ‘Gravity Running’, is a personal commentary on the “futility, inevitability and insanity of human conflict driven by fear and greed”. The song’s final line “we will never back down” pays tribute to the strength and determination of the Ukrainian people.

Comprising five original songs, other themes explored on this charming and thought-provoking EP include love (‘Go Again’), ongoing threats to our natural environment (‘Shift Away’) and loss (‘Stars Above’), which is dedicated to NHS staff. Bearing striking hand-painted cover art, the CD artwork also incorporates an additional images created by Abram.

Luke Concannon, best known from the folk duo Nizlopi while influencing a young Ed Sheeran, says: “There is something classic in Anita’s song writing. Simple, mythic, deep…”

In addition to Anita Abram (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, field recordings), the release also features Pete Moody (vocals, piano, arrangements), Chris Lockington lead guitar) and Mark Sewell (percussion)

Released: 1 January 2024

https://anitamusic.uk/

‘Snakebite’ – second single released from forthcoming new studio album by Thunderstick

Music news, new wave of British heavy metal, Rock music, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

‘Snakebite’ released 6/10/23 by Roulette Records

Available from: https://lnk.to/snakebitesgl

New Wave Of British Heavy Metal drummer Barry Graham Purkis, his iconic masked alter-ego Thunderstick, and his eponymously named band are set to release a second single from their forthcoming album, Lockdown. With another powerful vocal from vocalist, Raven Blackwing, ‘Snakebite’ is a tale of prima donnas, victim narcissism and manipulation as well as some nifty bottleneck guitar from former Thunderstick guitarist, Dave Kilford.

Thunderstick’s alter ego and creator Barry Graham Purkis says: “ Snakebite…Ah Yes I won’t detail the lyrical content just to say that it depicts prima donnas, narcissism, and the ease of which communicative platforms such as social media can be used to victimise by the propagation of falsities to an all-too-eager responsive audience ready to join in the persecution…I speak from experience!!…Coupled with some rockin’ bottleneck guitar.”

Lead singer Raven Blackwing: “Snakebite was a pure joy to record. Knowing who and what the song was about meant I could easily spit the lyrics (laughter). Although I shall never let on who the real individual might be, I’m sure we can all relate to that one person whose voice really grates on us….”

Release information:

The single ‘Snakebite’ is released on 6th October 2023 by Roulette Records and available on the main digital platforms.

The album Lockdown is released by Roulette Records on 20th October 2023, in CD format and on all the main digital platforms.

Mixed and mastered BGP/Danielson at Legend Recording Studios, Ålesund, Norway.

Original artwork: Baz Crowcroft

About Thunderstick:

Best known for his time with Samson and an early Iron Maiden Barry Graham Purkis (AKA Thunderstick) has been the legendary icon for the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) scene since the late 1970s. His eponymously-named band, renowned for its female-fronted power rock and theatricality, have a considerable heritage. The band played live and recorded for six years, both in UK and in the US, throughout the 1980s until playing their last gig October 1986.

Then in 2016 former lead vocalist, Jodee Valentine, tragically died following a five-year battle with early onset Alzheimer’s. In recognition of Jodee’s memory Barry decided to record some of the songs that Jodee had performed live. This became the Something Wicked This Way Comes album, the first Thunderstick product in over thirty years. It was released in July 2017 to enthusiastic reviews worldwide.

Barry: “Back in 2017 after the ‘Something Wicked’ album was released I had no intention of forming a live performing band or indeed a follow-up studio album but after such positive encouragement from both long- time supporters and new followers alike I realised that there were still an audience of many out there that wanted our particular brand of mayhem. The die was cast. After much deliberation a new Thunderstick was formed staying true to its theatrical roots but still relevant in today’s fast changing-musical environment. I am so lucky to have found the musicians that I now work with especially Raven of whom I consider to be one of the finest rock singers that I have the good fortune to watch and listen to every time we perform. She is the ‘real deal’ both in terms of voice and stagecraft. The next chapter in our story is now ready for the writing.”

Read in-depth interview with Barry Graham Purkis here

A live DVD of the band’s appearance in Lublin, Poland last April is also scheduled for release towards the end of the year.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thunderstickofficial/

Facebook fan site: The Thunderstick Stormtroopers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThunderstickUK

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thunderstick.official/

Roulette Records: http://www.rouletterecords.co.uk/

Related posts:

Behind the mask: interview with Thunderstick’s Barry Graham Purkis

NWOBHM icons Thunderstick are back with new single and video ahead of studio album this Autumn

Thunderstick album – news, reviews and interviews round-up

News: 40 years of Thunderstick celebrated with limited-edition live album – released 20/3/20