Second 'Heavy Blarney' album in pre-production

That means 'Bing is trying to get his act together and write some songs for the next Heavy Blarney album'. Recording is scheduled for later this year, hopefully the album will be ready for Christmas!

In other news, work on the sequel to 'The Musomancer' book is slow. Soooo slow. But I was recently kicked into action when I saw this:

What's this? Could it be that they're trying to cover up the entrance to the evil Musomancer's lair? Obviously the book has put the scares up a few people - perhaps those who are part of a musomancical conspiracy...? I will do my best to find out what's happening, and write a fairly silly book about it.

The first Musomancer book is available here, and local luminary Paul Turner says it's the best book he's read all year. He's also man enough to admit that it's the only book he's read all year. That's The Musomancer for you - increasing literacy in the community!

And let's not forget that the latest Bing Turkby Ensemble album is available here. Simon J Crawford says "Bing Turkby what have you done? I can't recall ever hearing anything as original ,honest and down right entertaining as this album." (Since you're reading this, go check out Simon's album here. It's blimmin' great!)

OK, well, keep on being awesome, you lot.

Bing

Andy Anderson 'Andersongs' CD review

For many years I've been reviewing CDs for NZ Musician Magazine. Recently I was asked to review a CD under my own aegis. Here be the results:

Andy Anderson's latest album 'Andersongs' kicks off with an exuberant whoop of a song called Hey I'm Alive, which sets the tone both musically and lyrically. It's a real celebration of life, full of self-deprecating humour (“An ageing wino hippy, quite a few brain cells short”), but with a message of rangimarie and kotahitanga (“Still pushing that peace/love trip. Just because we got stoned and missed it, doesn't mean that the plan was wrong.”) That first song has a great, jammy rock feel. The next one up, Spirit of Parihaka, leans into reggae territory, with a cruisy backbeat and swooning slide guitar. But the lyrical theme of living peacefully with one another is there again (“May the healing of the White Feather pass from hand to hand.”) The whole album is permeated with Andy's mellow, 'let's all be cool to each other' persona.

With Hayden Lauridsen on drums and Adrian Fou on bass, the rhythm section is tight and swinging. Jeff Carr lets rip with some fiery yet tasteful guitar solos. Not an easy feat! Backed by this team, the cream of Palmy rock musicians, Andy plays guitar and harmonica, and his singing takes flight, his voice loaded with life experience.

The guitar playing of Bruce 'Phantom' Robinson is shot through the album like a golden thread. Andy pays tribute to him on All Rise (Phantom's Song). Sadly, Phantom did not live to see the album completed, but his playing lives on in 'Andersongs', as the rest of the band weave their music around his contributions.

Anderson touches on other topics, such as politics (Politricks), the Pike River Mine, and even ends with a heartfelt tribute to his mother. It's a very personal album that was recorded and mixed with real empathy by Nigel Mauchline at Palmerston North's iconic recording/rehearsal/performance venue The Stomach. The sound is polished and professional, yet the album still feels intimate and confessional.

From acoustic ballads to country to swaggering rock, Dr John-style scat to Marley-style reggae, Anderson and his merry crew lead you on a journey through Andy's memories, and leave you with his hopes for the future. Let's hope that Andy surprises us, and maybe himself, with another album soon! As the man himself says: “Outlived my hair, my brain and teeth... If music's the last part of the brain to leave, I'll keep on singing till I'm through”.