If ever there was an evening that personified the phrase ‘Bitter Sweet’ then this would be pretty close to the top, if not the peak itself. The penultimate gig of the short UK tour celebrating the genius of Tony Clarkin: founder, guitarist, songwriter, producer, etc. of his lifelong project, Magnum. A melodic hard rock band from Birmingham, formed sometime in the early 1970’s (even Tony himself wasn’t 100% sure exactly when). The fact that this run of gigs has happened at all is astonishing, as Tony’s cohort for the entire 50 years plus of the existence of the band, the ever-youthful Bob Catley, announced in a heartfelt post last year that his heart was broken, and that it would be impossible to continue with his mate. Well thankfully after a tour with power metal supergroup Avantasia, Bob’s Magnum heart was healed somewhat, and he decided to put together this tribute tour to give Tony the send-off he deserved. I’ve been to many gigs at KK’s Steel Mill, and this was the most...
1978 saw the seventh album by UFO and the final release by the classic line-up of Mogg, Way, Parker, Raymond and Schenker (until their reformation in 1993). Chrysalis records present the album in a newly remastered package which includes a previously unreleased 2024 mix of Live at The Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, originally featured in parts on the seminal Strangers in the Night live record. Mixed from the original multi-track tapes by engineer Brian Kehew, this is the most sonic version of the recordings to date. Kehew comments that, “Our new mix of the Cleveland show is definitely a bit more aggressive than the original Strangers LP, sounding more like a front-row seat than Row 50 position.” But let’s drop back into the album first before getting to the live tracks. Having released the brilliant Lights Out in 1977, UFO were on a high and returned to the studio to record Obsession . It was on the subsequent tour that Strangers in the Night was recorded. Obsession may not have h...
2009 was the last studio release by this seminal band, whose debut album in 1989 is rightly regarded as a classic and still gets regular airtime in this house. With Chris Goss the only original member, the elusive genius now brings the band back to life once more with their latest album, The Archer . Masters of Reality has always driven their own course. Rightly credited as a major influence on the desert rock scene, the band’s canvas was spread much wider. The Archer comprises nine tracks that span just under 40-minutes, making it an easily digestible record but not one that diverts from the quality that Goss has always crafted. Here he’s in fine form, the sprawling songs take their own shape and form, nothing rushed and much mellowness as the bluesy vibes cascade across the songs. Barstow , which sits in the middle of the album is a perfect example. A sleepy gentile track that oozes relaxed quality, it’s nonetheless a fine example of the laidback approach which makes this album...
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