Black Stone Cherry: The Human Condition (Mascot Records)
Kentucky's favourites sons return with their seventh full length album, this one turns an eye and ear to the political/world issues in both the USA and worldwide check out Ringin' In My Head's lyrical content for more but they haven't suddenly become RATM, much of the record is a comforting, citing music as an escape, something which frontman Chris Robinson has been preaching on most of BSC's albums. So musically there are now wide variations, listening to Black Stone Cherry album is like putting on a pair of your favourite shoes, well worn but comfortable. Their heavy Southern rock sound was at one time the leading light in the rebirth of the genre and since then they have grown into bonafide arena headliners, adding the radio-friendly hooks that sees them featured heavily on rock radio. Single Again is a very good example, hiding some excellent solo work and moody riffs under a very modern chug and sing along chorus. Often I deride bands for not adapting to the times, or refreshing their sound every now and again however Black Stone Cherry have reached that level where their music is delivered so slickly that any sudden change would be too jarring, I said earlier comfortable and that's the best way to describe it. A mixture of bouncy, joyful rockers, bluesy noodling, of course a few muscular ballads and a ELO cover (Don't Bring Me Down) The Human Condition is BSC 101 but there's not much wrong with that. 7/10
Jakko Jakszyk: Secrets & Lies (InsideOut Records)
The current frontman of King Crimson Jakko Jakszyk is something of an art/prog rock maven, with an address book to rival anyone in the genre, when he sets his mind to making a solo album he can not only dabble in any style he likes he can also call upon anyone to flesh out the band, as is normal Jakszyk himself contributes the main vocals and fluid guitar playing but elsewhere he has his King Crimson bandmates; Robert Fripp (guitar/keys), Gavin Harrison (drums/percussion), Tony Levin (bass/stick) & Mel Collins (sax/flute) all contributing to an album where three of the tracks Separation, Under Lock & Key and Uncertain Times all came from King Crimson writing sessions but with Covid came the need to protect Robert Fripp at all costs!
The enforced hiatus has meant Jakszyk could steal away these songs for his solo album. Secrets & Lies is a cinematic, emotionally resonant journey through obsession, betrayal, politics, and his own family history with his wide vocal range taking you through a number of stylistic changes, but mainly the songs here are rooted in the experimental tradition of King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Steven Wilson and even Eric Serra (Fools Mandate) due to the extensive use of both electric and acoustic percussion, repeating bass riffs and expressive guitar playing. There's a darkness to this album with a keening sensitivity both vocally and on the instrumental tracks such as the title track which is a widescreen guitar solo piece which leads into the soulful Under Lock & Key.
It's not just King Crimson members that play on this record however as John Giblin (bass - Simple Minds), Mark King (bass - Level 42), Peter Hammill (vocals/keys/guitar - Van der Graf Generator) and Al Murray (vocals - The Pub Landlord) all make their mark too. King Crimson's loss is Jakszyk's gain, allowing this immensely talented once again to indulge in his solo project where magic has been found once again. An introspective, at times beautiful album to let wash over you as the nights draw in. 9/10
Magick Mountain: Weird Feelings (Self Released)
Leeds based trio Magick Mountain bring fuzzy, hazy, psychedelic garage rock from outer space underpinned by more earthy heavy rock tones. From the opening bars of Bart Cobain you can hear touches of (early) Kings Of Leon filtered through the kaleidoscope of The Stone Roses as Lins Wilson's guitar and Tom Hudson's bass are both heavily reverbed much like their dual vocals which work in unison to bring an otherworldly vibe to the to the frantic, fizzing heavy riffage behind it. Weird Feelings is the debut full length from this Leeds based band formed by seasoned musician Wilson who has finally found herself a vehicle bringing Hudson from Pulled Apart By Horses and Nestor Matthews of Sky Larkin behind the kit. I mentioned previously Magick Mountain take some garage rock cues with bands like 13th Floor Elevators and the MC5 obvious points of reference but also with tracks such as Zodiac, Cherokee and Infinity X2 they have the pumping proto-punk of The Stooges though things are taken into more pastoral realms on Dream Chaser displaying the bands forays into the psychedelic. Weird Feelings is a hooky, punchy, hallucinatory journey of Wilson's brainwaves, channelled through a 200 watt amplifier. 7/10
Grimorte: Esoteric Ascendance EP (Self Released)