There is a rising tide of violence and hate in the world today. But, if you are a protest singer, that presents an opportunity. So, for example, Grace Petrie's gonna do well out of this. At least, I hope she will. With her 17-minute EP, This Is No Time To Panic!, Grace has summed up…Read more This Is No Time To Panic!
Album
Lizard
A fresh look at a beloved lizard. This is the second time I have blogged about Lizard, King Crimson's third studio album. In my earlier post, I noted that Robert Fripp had described it as 'unlistenable', and respectfully disagreed. This time, I will not be pulling my punches. The 2025 David Singleton Elemental Mix reveals…Read more Lizard
Part of the Whole
You and me, the birds and the bees, the fish in the seas, the animals and the trees ... we are all part of nature. A bewildering variety of species form an interlocking ecosystem, nearly all of them dependent on organisms lower down the pyramid of life. Many of those species are now standing on…Read more Part of the Whole
Forever Blowing Bubbles
If you are a fan of West Ham United Football Club, please don't sing/play/stream the club anthem while you are reading this post. Its music hall style wouldn't mix well with the progressive symphonic rock on Clearlight's second album, Forever Blowing Bubbles. https://open.spotify.com/album/7KkzZ9XnykpxNy1hm11H7f?si=YZxqU4v8TfW9rDk-cwAzMw Clearlight was founded by Cyrille Verdeaux in 1973. VERDEAUX, native of France,…Read more Forever Blowing Bubbles
Kin & Chaos
A poster promoting the 2021 sci-fi film, Chaos Walking. In my experience, it's rare for brothers and sisters to get on well with each other. So, if you put three pairs of siblings in a band together, it wouldn't be at all surprising if chaos ensues. But the Bradford band, Mischief, is proving me wrong.…Read more Kin & Chaos
The Land, the Sea, the Air
The cover art for The Land, the Sea, the Air How many band leaders are also professional circus performers? Not many, I imagine. I only know of one: Katrina "Tree" Stewart is both a trapeze artist and the founder of the prog and symphonic rock band, The Emerald Dawn. The band's latest album, The Land,…Read more The Land, the Sea, the Air
In the Wind of Night
Album cover art How many languages do you know? Although I was taught French and German at school (and a smattering of Russian), I have largely forgotten them. The odd word from other languages has taken up residence in my mental dictionary, but there has never been an entry in Slovenian. Then, a few days…Read more In the Wind of Night
Tangram
8 Tangram sets in pastel colours The crowdfunding project for smalltape's Tangram album has raised over 70% of its target, and there are just three more days left to raise the other 30%. Crotchety Man has already blogged enthusiastically about Philipp Nespital's last album under the smalltape moniker, The Hungry Heart, and made his contribution…Read more Tangram
Mahrudin
A volcano erupts Mahrudin is an imagined island that was born many millennia ago when the seabed under the cold northern ocean first trembled, then shook, cracked, and finally tore itself apart. It is a land of myths and legends, set to music by Alan Kennedy, a musician and composer from Durham, UK. As befits…Read more Mahrudin
Desert Electric
'Queen Victoria' agaves in the "Desert Electric" sound & light show, Phoenix, 2018. The Jazz Club in my village withered on the vine, but a couple of residents meet for a Listening Pleasure session once a month or so. The topic this month is 'Fruit'. A few songs came to mind immediately, a few more…Read more Desert Electric
Crotchety Man 