Record Reviews

CARAVAN ~ IT`S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS MADFISH 636551821223 (Barcode: 636551821223) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 British Canterbury / Progressive Rock heroes CaravanFind albums by this artist are back with a new album, eight years after their last studio recording and well over fifty years since they started their journey in 1968. With vocalist Pye HastingsFind albums by this artist as the only original band member, the lineup includes violist / guitarist Geoffrey RichardsonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jan SchelhaasFind albums by this artist and drummer Mark WalkerFind albums by this artist. Two guests support them on this album: bassist Lee PomeroyFind albums by this artist and flautist Jimmy HastingsFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, nine songs and one instrumental, nine of which are written by Pye Hastings and one by Richardson. Obviously the music does not strike the same ecstatic reaction as that achieved while listening to the early albums by the group, but not because the music is less exciting. Simply we have all moved on and half a Century later we have a different perspective on everything, not only music. To be honest the music is quite faithful to the Canterbury spirit and mood, perhaps somewhat less ambitious but still offering great melody lines and fine instrumental support, and Hasting’s vocals sound fine to me, in contrast to the many critical reviews published about this album. It is completely naïve, if not simply stupid, to expect anything else from a group in their sixth decade of activity and at least they manage to reproduce the spirit of the early days without being completely derivative or pathetic. This album is a nice piece of music which stirs warm memories without being blindly sentimental. Definitely well done, lads! Overall, this is a nice effort by Prog veterans Caravan, re-visiting old memories and sentiments, and being completely professional and heartfelt. For Prog / Canterbury fans, who loved that music once, this is pleasant trip down the memory lane. If one does not have false expectations, one does not get disappointed!

Updated: 29/03/2024Posted: 29/03/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OREGON ~ LIVE AT YOSHI`S INTUITION 3299 (Barcode: 750447329928) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2002 This is a live album by the iconic American group OregonFind albums by this artist, recorded at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in Oakland, CA in 2001. It features three founding members of the group: guitarist Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist, oboe / English horn player Paul McCandlessFind albums by this artist and bassist Glen MooreFind albums by this artist, and drummer Mark WalkerFind albums by this artist, who replace the original drummer / founding member Collin WalcottFind albums by this artist, who died tragically in 1984 in a car accident. The album presents ten tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Towner, one was composed by Moore, one is credited collectively to the four members of the group and finally on was composed by Jim PepperFind albums by this artist. It was the third live album in their impressive recording legacy, that spans thirty brilliant releases. The music presents a selection of the group’s repertoire, going back to their early material and more contemporary (at the time) compositions, performed luminously by all four musicians and splendidly recorded. The music, as always, is an amalgam of highly melodic tunes, often spiced with World Music influences and of course extensive improvisations. The unusual, purely acoustic sound of the group remains as one of the most unique and instantly recognizable Jazz phenomena. Overall, this is an absolute gem of an album, as are all of the Oregon recordings, which I personally like to return to, often when the bleak reality becomes hard to bear. I had to opportunity to hear them often live in the 1970s / 1980s, but even after losing Walcott they managed to continue to play sublime music until the end of 2010s. A true balm to one’s soul.

Updated: 21/02/2026Posted: 21/02/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend