2020 - An Overview

 

2020 - An Overview

by Pete Clemons

People do not need me reminding them that 2020 has had its extraordinary difficulties. And live music was especially hard hit. Clubs closed and tours cancelled. Will life ever go back to the way it was. I am not convinced. The virus is certainly here to stay. So we will need to adapt in order to live with it. But I am certain we will. That said it has not all been doom and gloom. Remarkably, and despite the problems it has encountered, the music world has still managed to give us many positives. Listed below are a selection of the positives I have come across. Of course, this is a very narrow view and, with music being such a vast ocean, there will have, I'm sure, been many positives in other areas of music. Massive thanks to all for keeping our spirits high..............

 Albums

 

Gazpacho – Fireworker: each Gazpacho album takes you on some kind of a journey. And this release is no exception. With Fireworker you are taken on an immersive exploration to the depths of your mind as they question why we react the way we do in certain situations and why we think the way we do.

 

Colin Edwin and Robert Peck – Infinite Regress: Infinite regress, as I understand, is a statement that needs to be supported by another, and so on. So in that sense these ten songs support each other. Heavy bass and lyrics based around how memories hold up over time.

 

The Pineapple Thief – Versions of the Truth: the growth of the internet has been both a benefit and a curse. Here Bruce Soord delves into how the magnification of the digital age has enabled truth to have been twisted to suit certain agendas and aims.

 

Lunatic Soul – Through Shaded Woods: This is the seventh album from multi instrumentalist Mariusz Duda. Here, Mariusz found his inspiration for the album from his childhood home, an area of Poland known for its forests and lakes. Musical soundscapes guide you through the local folklore.

 

Dyble Longdon – Between a Breath and a Breath: An accompanying postcard, that came with the album, and signed in one corner by David Longdon just spoke volumes. There seemed to be this large gaping void that was yearning for another name. Of course, it was that of Judy Dyble who is no longer with us. But what a way to bow out.

 

Sanguine Hum – A Trace of Memory: Sanguine Hum have been going about their musical business for 20 years now. Quietly releasing a series of really good albums. And still they have the capability of turning one out as engaging as this one.

 

Iamthemorning EP – Counting the Ghosts: As if to prove that the pandemic was indeed worldwide, this Russian pair vented their frustrations. 'All I wanted lately was to scream aimlessly into space but instead I recorded a Christmas song'.

 

Tim Bowness – Late Night Laments: Very much an album to be heard under the headphones. This a very inward looking and a self examination of an album. Brooding and, at times, quite dark.

 

Jack Hues – Primitif: it was the Syd Arthur connection that drew me toward this album. Before then, to my knowledge, I hadn't been aware of Jack Hues. Yet here he is at the age of 60, with time on his hands, writing a set of wonderful songs of reflections and relationships spread across a double CD release.

 

Steven Wilson EP's – Eminent Sleaze & 12 Things I Forgot: Steven's latest album has been ready to go for a number of months. But the pandemic, along with the chaos it has caused, has resulted in its delay to the wider world. But the intervening time has seen Steven release a series of tasters in the form of EP's.

 

Nektar – The Other Side: This was a very pleasant surprise. Following the passing of Roye Albrighton in 2016 the new Nektar began work on a new album. As I understand some of the songs on this release were based on ideas from 1978. Those ideas were reworked on and readapted to produce this beauty.

 

Judy Dyble and the Band of Perfect Strangers - Weavings of a Silver Magic: Recorded live at St Barnabus Church, Cambridge complete with full band and strings. I am proud of the CD and want to blush a bit with joy – Judy Dyble.

 

Airbag – A Day at the Beach: Their music is smooth and sophisticated. It is rich and creates atmosphere's. At times though I do struggle with the rawness of the lyrics. But it is with the music where this band excel.

Locally released music

 

Voodoo Kings – Rollin: this dynamic rockabilly trio completed their album just prior to lockdown. Released during October 'Rollin' contains a mix of highly original and imaginative reinventions of standards and classic foot tapping tunes.

 

The Session: as ridiculous as it sounds, The Session could quite rightly claim that 2020 was the most successful in their two decade history. Tunes like 'Denver Hill', 'The Fear' and 'Ravages of Time' have ensured that the accompanying videos have received thousands of hits and visits.

 

Crokodile Tears – Hoi Polloi: in the continuing tradition of any Croks release this album is piled high with musical quirks and is choc full of joy.

 

Fresh Maggots – Waiting For the Sun: Almost fifty years after the release of their first studio album, during October 1971, Fresh Maggots released a new album. But do not expect a follow up to that debut. Equally as enjoyable, this album represents the duo today.

 

Barnabus – Beginning to Unwind:all good things come to those who wait. And this album, that sat in the vaults for years, at last saw the light of day. Rise Above Records/Relics, led by Coventry born Lee Dorrian, pulled out all the stops in giving this record the most tasteful of releases.

 

Alternative Sounds – Compilation: Volume 4 of an ongoing series that showcases the best of what Coventry offers.

 https://alternativesounds.bandcamp.com/album/alternative-sounds-volume-iii

Re-issued albums

 

Medicine Head – Old Bottles, New Medicine: Fiftieth anniversary release of Medicine Head's debut album. Comes with unreleased tunes and live material recorded at the Marquee Club.

Brian Davidson – Every Which Way: A vastly under promoted album when first released. Now available on CD this is an excellent album by a band that received little recognition at the time.

Crystalline – Axe Music: One of those long lost albums revamped and produced onto CD-Rs by Steve Giles of Dark.

The Classic 1970 Album - fully endorsed by Steve Gordon, drummer from AXE - which is now available again.

 

Live music

 

Sadly live music for 2020 was decimated by the pandemic so not much to report on. What there was of it though, particularly during the lockdown and restricted times, was a huge tonic. Grateful thanks to those who led the way in pioneering these gigs and who had to jump many hurdles, following the ever changing rules, to ensure they were all run safely.

 

Pre Lockdown Gigs

 

Glen Matlock and Earl Slick – Robin 2, Bilston

Kafkadiva / Andy Nixon – Duffy's Bar, Leicester

 

Post Lockdown Socially Distanced Gigs

 

Voodoo Kings – Gatehouse Tavern

Roddy Radiation - Arches

Blues2Go - Arches

Stone Foundation – Queens Hall, Nuneaton

 

On Line Gigs

 

Bruce Soord – 5 sessions

Soft Machine – 2 sessions

 

Losses during 2020 included amongst many others..........

 

Neil Peart

Kenny Rogers

Bill Rieflin

Neil Landon

Bill Withers

Little Richard

Florian Schneider

Dave Greenfield

Phil May

Judy Dyble

Peter Green

Wayne Fontana

Pete Way

Lee Kerslake

Johnny Nash

Brian Locking

Dave Munden

Spencer Davis

Charlie Pride

Eddie Van Halen

Leslie West

 

There are moments in all lives when the world turns slightly on its axis, a death, a birth, a shocking of the soul coming from nowhere to change the reality of the days . And there is no going back. There is no returning to how it used to be.

So we go forward into the unknown future, with no real understanding of how or why. But knowing that the universe has turned and changed forever – quote borrowed from Judy Dyble