Review - The Ginger Quiff

Membranes What Nature Gives...Nature Takes Away

The Membranes – What Nature Gives… album review

June 19, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Four Seasons for the punk generation

It took a while for me to find the right words to put to this review. On the first couple of listens I was totally blown away, lost for words.

You see, What Nature Gives…Nature Takes Away is far more than just an album. Like nature itself, it is profound and unstoppable, a Tour De Force, an irresistible masterpiece in four parts. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the punk-goth generation if you like.

What The Membranes give…

It feels like the culmination of an entire life’s work, a cycle of life just like nature itself, it seems like the whole of The Membranes career has built to this overwhelming pinnacle.… Read the rest

Reaction – Keep It Weird, Keep It Wired – album launch review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

It seemed a long time in coming but Saturday’s launch gig for the vinyl version of one of 2018’s standout albums and the SAY listed Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired.

McChuills

There was a buzz of anticipation around the excellent McChuills venue on Glasgow’s High Street and an opportunity to catch up with friends old and new over a few drinks in the relaxed and friendly bar ahead of the evenings festivities as the inimitable dapper gentleman that is the one and only Nicky Stewart warmed up the crowd with some punk classics on the decks.

Talking of dapper gents, the equally debonair Alex “Mainy” Main was manning the merchandise and as grabbed a couple of words with him, I noticed a piece of ReAction merchandise that I didn’t own.… Read the rest

Thirteen – Controversy – album review

June 17, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Unlucky for some?

Falkirk based punk rock ‘n’ rollers Thirteen launch their latest album Controversy at the end of June. Fans of the band will be familiar with a few of the tracks, with Tattered Sleeve, We Will Overcome and Spirit of Resistance taken from their EP of the same name as the latter. It hasnt been an easy ride getting this album made with Dolly sans band-mates at one point.

Controversy…ain’t what it used to be

It hasnt stopped him getting a solid album together. Dolly gives us another ten tracks in the same raucous rebellious spirit as the EP.… Read the rest

The Gold Needles Through a Window album cover

The Gold Needles – Through a Window – album review

June 12, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

The Gold Needles, Hull’s purveyors of fine 1960s influenced psych power-pop prove their worth once again with a delightful selection of sunshine-tinged pop tunes, this time released on legendary US-based label Jem Records. The band appear to have taken the time between their debut Pearls and this new album Through a Window, honing and perfecting their blissed-out sounds.

This album is a cohesive solid set of ten beat pop influenced tunes dropping just in time for summer. Through a window will be a great soundtrack to long hot hazy summer days, if we get any. Even on days when the rain traps you indoors, pop this CD on and the sun will shine in your living room.… Read the rest

Southern Approach – Insurrection – album review

June 5, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Now is the time for Insurrection

The title of the new offering from Southern Approach is timely in its title. The dis-United Kingdom is at breaking point – literally, with the shambolic Brexit debacle exacerbating the divides between the people and those in power and that is before we stray outwith these shores…

Southern Approach was the first band to feature on the Ginger Quiff blog and I’m pleased to say that, despite all the shite going on, the band continues to go from strength to strength with the release of their latest rabble-rousing digital album Insurrection.

Beautiful Inside and Out

In a further act of kismet, there is also a mental health link.… Read the rest

Ex- EP 7 review

May 31, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I’m not sure if Meek ever sleeps. His creative juices seem to flow 24/7 – what with writing many of his own books and compiling the works of others in the “For the Many, Not the Few” series, now onto its 8^th volume, the musical output from him (and the rest of Ex- of course) takes some beating.

The latest EP Ex- 7 is a case in point.

The three tracks here are of the now expected superior quality I’ve come to expect from Ex-, their melodic punk/NY garage-rock sounds complemented by Meek’s satisfying rich burr.

Ex- songs always have an intelligent lyric and an eminently memorable refrain or chorus.… Read the rest

The Spangles – Sweet F.A. – album review

May 30, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Spangles or Chips?

Spangles? Despite having an urge for some old-fashioned boiled sweets, and a bag of chips from the get-go (listen and you’ll know why) I managed to hold off the impulse for 30 odd minutes. Well, to be honest it wasn’t difficult to hold off, the music on offer from Sweet FA is as addictive as the thought of a good old bag of salty, vinegary chips

Growing Up?

I was smitten from the first song. “Everybody’s growing up, I’m just growing old”. Too right. Growing up is over-rated. Live for the moment.

The Only One, the delight that is One Good Reason, these songs are worming their way into my consciousness trying to make me believe I’ve known them forever.… Read the rest

Black Bombers – Vol 4 – mini album review

May 24, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

Black Bombers

Black Bombers are a three piece rock’n’roll band featuring Alan Byron on Guitar/vocals, Darren Birch on bass and Dave Twist in drums. Their latest release is a sumptuous 6 track selection of prime deep down and dirty punky/bluesy garage rock ‘n’ roll. There is a nod to Black Sabbath in the monochromatic cover art and the title and its typeface.

So what of the tracks on offer? First and foremost, this a trio of accomplished musicians between them having notched up connections and appearances with several high-profile bands and artists. Lead singer Alan has an instantly likeable gruff raw vocal which is a perfect match for the matching the sound of the band, their fuzzy grungy guitar, sublime bass and thunderous drum sound perfectly.… Read the rest

Goodbye Mr MacKenzie – Good Deeds & Dirty Rags – a celebration

May 16, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

A Celebration. The 1980s was a fruitful time for Scottish bands. The tail end of the 1970s into the early 1980s saw the rise of innumerable post-punk bands like Josef K, Scars, The Associates, Fire Engines and Orange Juice created a scene spawning cult independent record labels Postcard Records. At the other end of the scale, worldwide mega-stardom was achieved by the likes of Simple Minds. There was certainly plenty to celebrate in the Scottish music scene.

Criminally Under-rated Classic

For me, one of the key releases and a memorable highlight happened in 1989. Following a string of underground quintessential singles.… Read the rest

Hard Rock Renaissance – Psychobabylon & The Wildhearts

May 9, 2019 By neilho27@sky.com

I read an article recently claiming that heavy rock/metal was on the rise again and is currently one of the most popular music genres in the UK.

One of the key proponents of heavy punk influenced rock/metal in the UK for the last 30 years, The Wildhearts, have just released their first album of new material in ten years in the acclaimed Renaissance Men, featuring their classic line up of Ginger, CJ, Danny McCormack and Rich Battersby. In a tenuous attempt to link the two bands, Psychobabylon, who feature Danny’s bandmate JJ Watt from The Main Grains, also have a new 4 tracks EP out in Is This All There Is?… Read the rest