John Shand | Music & Other Spheres Posts

May 30, 2016 / Album Reviews - Archive

RENAISSANCE MUSIC FROM SPAIN AND ENGLAND (Songbird Music) 7.5/10 At its best early music is not just an artistic time-machine, but an insight into the psyche of humanity in another era. While reverence is commendable, even more important is a willingness to buy into the present tense of the music;…

May 28, 2016 / Concert Reviews - Archive

The Basement, May 10 7.5/10 Were one sufficiently oversupplied with leisure to make lists of Australia’s finest and most influential musicians, the late Jackie Orszaczky would feature prominently. He would be on the shortlist of singers, bassists, arrangers, composers, band-leaders, producers, talent-spotters, mentors and (all to himself) piccolo bassists. Eight…

May 25, 2016 / Album Reviews - Archive

NEUROTICA (Cluster) 7/10 James Muller has a way of making a melody line dance, of making it twitch and contort. However fast the line the guitarist loads the phrasing with nuances of rhythm and also dynamics, so the notes jostle and collide as they come hurtling at you. Sometimes they…