We are often sent unsolicited CD's, links and emails requesting that we listen to stuff. To be honest many of the tracks, albums we receive are mismatched to the world in which we operate and are speculative requests to work together thinking that somehow we are going to be able to propel the said artist into the mainstream and get their music career off the ground. Clearly, in such cases the artists don't know anything about us and our history and either haven't bothered to do their research or are just desperate for attention. On average i listen to between 10 - 30 seconds of anything I receive and sometimes don't bother at all. Quite often it depends on the attitude of the accompanying note / letter / email but more often it depends what I have going on and what my current life priorities are. It takes a lot to grab my attention musically and a lot more to keep it.
I know Ron Graves, he's a fan of Census Of Hallucinations and all things Stone Premonitions. I think he may have even collaborated with Census Of Hallucinations on one of their albums, I am not sure (really, I must brush up on my COH history). Ron has been a Falling A customer for a good number of years now. So when he sent me his CD and press release through the post quite simply as a gift, I felt compelled to give it a listen and give it a plug in my blog.
ReidGraves is a collaboration between Ron and David Reid. Ron is a performance poet, an aspiring novelist and has directed two short films. David Reid is an established musician as a member of the band, The Contrast.
This is their third album together and though I have not listened to either of the predecessors, I am going to check them out on the strength of this listen. They at times made me think of Eyeless In Gaza which is a little bit of synchronicity since I have an album by Martyn Bates on my desk at this moment and in the queue for review which Martyn also sent to me as a gift.
As I continued through the album there were moments that moved away from the psych, folk influenced sound to a much more gritty rock out with a guitar sound similar to the intensity of Husker Du. Aimee Reid adds an excellent different dimension to the vocals. The album weaves through a diverse musical landscape straddling the themes of love, loss, theology, mental illness and annoying insects. Lyrically thoughtful, clever and insightful, musically compelling with a very intriguing sound pallette. The album really delivers.
Find out more and check it out via the Secret Shark website
Sadly, a couple of days after I wrote this review, Ron Graves passed away.
I know Ron Graves, he's a fan of Census Of Hallucinations and all things Stone Premonitions. I think he may have even collaborated with Census Of Hallucinations on one of their albums, I am not sure (really, I must brush up on my COH history). Ron has been a Falling A customer for a good number of years now. So when he sent me his CD and press release through the post quite simply as a gift, I felt compelled to give it a listen and give it a plug in my blog.
ReidGraves is a collaboration between Ron and David Reid. Ron is a performance poet, an aspiring novelist and has directed two short films. David Reid is an established musician as a member of the band, The Contrast.
This is their third album together and though I have not listened to either of the predecessors, I am going to check them out on the strength of this listen. They at times made me think of Eyeless In Gaza which is a little bit of synchronicity since I have an album by Martyn Bates on my desk at this moment and in the queue for review which Martyn also sent to me as a gift.
As I continued through the album there were moments that moved away from the psych, folk influenced sound to a much more gritty rock out with a guitar sound similar to the intensity of Husker Du. Aimee Reid adds an excellent different dimension to the vocals. The album weaves through a diverse musical landscape straddling the themes of love, loss, theology, mental illness and annoying insects. Lyrically thoughtful, clever and insightful, musically compelling with a very intriguing sound pallette. The album really delivers.
Find out more and check it out via the Secret Shark website
Sadly, a couple of days after I wrote this review, Ron Graves passed away.
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