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John Wenlock- Smith Interviews David Longdon
In this piece I talk to David Longdon of Big Big Train about his latest album, a collection of songs recorded in collaboration with the late Judy Dyble entitled ‘Between A Breath and A Breath’, which was released on the 5th September 2020. DL – Thanks for writing such and insightful and sensitive review of…
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Review – Dyble/Longdon – Between a Breath And A Breath – by John Wenlock-Smith
Many of you will be saddened with the cessation of daily routine and life, especially in the area of live music. Big Big Train have certainly had a rough time of all this with their inaugural headlining show at Rosfest in Florida being cancelled due to the virus. During this time David Longdon has not…
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Review – Fish on Friday – Black Rain by John Wenlock-Smith
‘Black Rain’ is the fifth full length album from Belgian/UK/US outfit Fish on Friday, although there was a compilation last year called ‘Initiation’ that included a non album track (Wings) but acted as a fine introduction to this little-known band. I have been a follower of the band from hearing their first album – ‘Shoot…
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Review – Lonely Robot – Feelings Are Good – by John Wenlock-Smith
Lonely Robot is the name that John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Kino and Arena) uses for his solo projects, and this really is a solo album as it all performed, composed and produced by John himself with Percussive duties being handled by his Frost* colleague and drummer extraordinaire Craig Blundell. This is the fourth release…
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Review – Steve Howe – Love Is – by John Wenlock-Smith
‘Love Is’, is the latest solo album from Yes guitarist Steve Howe. Steve has been the guitarist in Yes since the ‘Close To The Edge’ album in 1972 and in that time his guitar mastery has entranced millions of fans with his unique style and skill on both electric and acoustic guitars, his harmony vocals…
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Review – Frost* – Others E.P. – by John-Wenlock Smith
The ‘Others’ E.P. is basically a collection of left-over tracks from their last album (‘Falling Satellites’) released in 2016 and with a running time of 32 odd minutes. Acting as a taster for their next album, that is due to surface in September, this 6 track EP is most welcome treat one that, once again,…
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Interview With Ronnie Platts of Kansas – by John Wenlock-Smith
Ronnie Platts of Kansas talks about the band’s latest album ‘The Absence of Presence.’ Ronnie is the current lead vocalist for American rock legends Kansas and had the very difficult job of filling the role vacated by Steve Walsh when he decided to retire from the group where he had been a mainstay of for…
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Review – Kansas – The Absence of Presence – by John Wenlock-Smith
It’s now the third month of the Coronavirus shutdown. In efforts to conquer the virus and to stop its devastation of both our economy and, more so, of the peoples of the world, certain politicians, who should know better before talking, have suggested some strange solutions, bleach anyone, for instance! There is some light at…
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Review – Pattern Seeking Animals – Prehensile Tales – by John Wenlock-Smith
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Review – I Am The Manic Whale – Things Unseen – by John Wenlock-Smith
I Am The Manic Whale deliver their third studio album with ‘Things Unseen’. The project is the brainchild of bassist and singer Michael Whiteman who hails from Woodley, Reading. The band’s name actually being an anagram of his own name, Michael is joined in this endeavour by Ben Hartley on drums, David Addis on guitars…