What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

"here, here" on the Emmylou

[Jerome]

Another one that comes to mind this time of year - https://youtu.be/h6SkaFMTihI

[Jerome]

Busy listening to Elton John's 'Blue Moves' album which I think is vastly superior to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road but GYBR does have one or two songs that are really exceptional. But overall this album is better and far more creative.

[Jerome]

Another class act - https://youtu.be/p02szEhyPcI

[Jerome]

Ian Anderson's 'The Secret Language of Birds' - lovely stuff. Just what suits me today.

[Ruby]

never heard of them but I remember seeing that album cover somewhere because it looks familiar??

after some investigative time:

that album has been reissued on cd, the review:  http://therisingstorm.net/morning-morning/

a longwinded essay on the band which I admit I haven't read yet:  http://www.nickwarburton.com/wordpress/?cat=13

BTW, like the linked track, gorgeous harmonising

and, have you got both or both of their albums Ruby??

I don't have either CH. Listened online.

[Ruby]

I’ve been listening to multi-instrumentalist Andrew Marshall, aka Willowglass. Symphonic prog, despite being a one-man outfit, or just about – drums excepted on the first two and drums and violin, flute and additional guitars on the third, The Dream Harbour (spelled with a ‘u’ which is a clue as to his origins – I heard it referred to as Mud Island the other day! Lol!). Of the three, I think I prefer the second, which is Book of Hours – the first is eponymously titled. Lots of mellotron on them all – they are all instrumental and pay very evident homage to the great progressive music of the seventies – in a similar vein to Anthony Phillips. Release dates 2005, 2008 and 2013.

          

While Marshall has played in several bands over the years, Willowglass is his to do with as he pleases, and it is an evolving project. I like the sounds he’s produced which have some of that important luminosity, although if I had to level criticism, it would be that he tends to fall in love with his riffs now and then! Also, I think that sometimes when ‘outside’ contributors are used there seems to be a bit more of a struggle with cohesion in the end product. Colin Masson doesn’t have that problem, and neither does Steve Unruh who I’ve also been listening to because of his work on the third Willowglass album. That said, however, all three of these Willowglass albums are definitely worthy of admiration (if you like this kinda thing to begin with, of course ?).
 
A track from each of them:

• Willowglass – “Walking the Angels” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bP93KrOg_M
  
• Book of Hours – “The Maythorne Cross” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXEfcFTH0CU
  
• The Dream Harbour – the title track … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Zt5J4MLrA (which incidentally went directly into Camel’s Stationary Traveller on autoplay on YT – OMG – comparisons seem so unfair, but they are undoubtedly in a class of their own – gorgeous music … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acb3wRtzuBE)
  

[Ruby]

Steve Unruh who I just mentioned above, is also an independent multi-instrumentalist with a proggy bent, albeit erring slightly more on the side of folk/rock. Sounds like – eerrrrmmm Ian Anderson x 10CC x Yes x a large helping of mysticism ala Shawn Phillips plus a smattering of bluegrass which I realise should be a marriage made in hell. Lol! A polygamous one at that!!

Anyway – it was so interesting to hear how absolutely gung-ho he is, no hesitation, he just goes for it, and whether or not one likes what he’s doing, his timing is impeccable IMHO. He’s released nine solo albums (as well as appearing on around 20 more as band member or session musician) and while his influences are also very obvious, his output has a more contemporary vibe - he doesn’t hold back – loads of energy! Acoustic and with vocals … and not from Mud Island …

I listened to his most recent album – released early this year – Precipice …

“Constellation” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeqCMiAGNk8

The title track …

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ELTON JOHN "Caribou" cd, 1974

his eighth studio set
love just about every track on this one
"don't let the sun go down on me" is one of my faves of his from any period of his career.
its one of those songs whose lyrics were written by someone who is years older than 
their biological age.
superb album from a superb writing team and a superb artist
I LOVE THIS ALBUM

fave:

[Jerome]

Bee Gees - Life in a Tin Can - marvelous stuff.