Music reviews

Ray Fenwick,”Playing Through The Changes:The Anthology (1964-2020)” (Cherry Red)- The name of Ray Fenwick probably doesn’t crop up too often when lists of Britain’s finest rock guitarists are being assembled, but this gifted musician has been plying his trade with a good deal of style and distinction since the mid sixties, and this wide ranging 3 CD set brings together some fine examples of his work for your listening pleasure. The contents of this entertaining anthology were personally selected by Ray himself and include collaborations with everyone from a youthful Steve Howe to R&B legend Bo Diddley and rabble rousing sixties soulman Geno Washington to name but a few.

Declan O’Rourke,”Arrivals” (Eastwest)- The seventh studio album from award winning Irish singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke is an affectingly sparse and unadorned affair, recorded in the space of just six days at Black Barn studios in Surrey, with no less a rock luminary than Paul Weller handling the production duties with a genuine empathy for the Galway based balladeer’s organic brand of music making.The finished product is arguably Declan’s most intimate and socially aware offering to date, blessed with subtly memorable gems such as “In Painter’s Light,” “The Stars Over Kinvara” and the jazz influenced “This Thing That We Share.”

Quarterman,”Carondelet” (Wood Head Records)- This beguiling solo package is the brainchild of Man The Lifeboats’ frontman Richard James Quarterman, drawing its creative inspiration from such impeccable sources as the collected works of Tom Waits, Richard Thompson and current Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Quarterman’s refreshingly honest explorations of the familiar themes of love,loss and longing capture a roots music performer of rare depth and integrity operating at the peak of his powers, as you’ll discover for yourself if you lend an ear to stand-out tracks such as “ “That Old Chinese Takeaway Called Happiness.”