Lazland playlist

Oh God Steve, that's terrible news.  I'm really sorry, my thoughts are with you and the family. 

My condolences Steve. I know your mother was blessed with a loving and supporting family, the best thing that any of us can possibly offer to a loved one. My prayers are with you and your family at this tough time.

Edited by SteveG - August 04 2015 at 10:37

Thank you all for your kind words, which really mean so much.

Life goes on, and so will the Lazland blog, hopefully with some rather more cheerier posts in the months to come.

Steve, sorry I didn't catch this earlier.  My condolences to you and your family.  You've really been there for the elders in your family and that is very cool.  Sorry for your loss and may her memory be with you always.

Thanks Nicholas and Jim. I really appreciate the sentiments.

Wow Steve......I am so sorry to hear all this terrible news in your family. Mighty fine of you and your wife and son to handle the family as you have! Whether this means anything or not to you and your family, you all have a special place reserved in heaven for your good family deeds.

Steve, I don't post here often, but I do read your writings when I can. Thoughts are with you, keep your head up!

As promised, or threatened (delete according to taste and constitution), my little blog returns, and life is returning to some sort of normality in the Lazland household, or as near to normality as it is possible to get, I suppose.

For somewhat obvious reasons, I have not contributed to the site a great deal in recent times. In addition, I have not been active at all in getting new music. I just haven't felt like it, or had the time, really.

The last time this happened was when we had that almighty row on the site about sub-genres, which I was responsible for initiating. As a result, I resigned as a collab on the Neo team, and rather fell out of love with music altogether. Thankfully, this did not last a long time, and thus it is now. Life goes on, and my signature says it all, really.

So, this last week has seen, for me, a positive orgy of music buying.

I received the new Edison's Children cd last week, and have given it a couple of spins. This has been the subject of what was, to me, a rather ridiculously pedantic argument on the forum as to whether it should be classified on the site as a studio album, or as a compilation album. Personally, I do not really care a great deal as to what the classification is. I was responsible for Pete and Eric's collaboration being added to the site, and, at the end of the day, as long as they are here, nothing else really matters.

It is described as a "bridging album", something to keep fans (this is a large number in the context of our genre. This has been a very successful project, even hitting the American charts) going until the next promised epic, which will be recorded after the next Marillion project. Understandably, this takes precedent in Pete's world.

It is extremely good, and I particularly like the alternative mixes of tracks we have had before, and mention should go to Jakko Jakszyk, of Crims fame, and John Mitchell. I will save the detailed comments for my review, but, suffice to say, both bring unique and new touches to the works. Further, I have found it very interesting to listen to the pieces outside of their usual context as part of sprawling narratives and concept. There is also a marvellous live rendition of A Million Miles Away (I Wish I Had A Time Machine) from a Wolverhampton Marillion Weekend. In addition, there are some new tracks as well, which make me really look forward to the next wholly new album from two extremely interesting and talented individuals whose music I find fascinating and wholly original.

I rated the first two as masterpieces, and still hold by those opinions. They are both also still rated overall above four on the site, a testament, I feel, to their quality and appeal. This one, I feel, is probably a four, i.e. excellent, although it will have a few more listens prior to my reviewing. I also get a name mention on the cd as one of those who pre-ordered a fair while ago.

To those who read either my (lately, infrequent) reviews, or this blog, and share my tastes, but have not yet ventured into the dark and gothic world of Edison's Children, you really should. They are well worth it.

I also purchased, at Derricks Music, a very good independent store in Swansea, Richard Thompson's new, electric, album, Still. Not prog, but one of the towering figures in folk rock, Thompson has been recording for not far short of fifty years, now, and the new album is quite superb, and will, I feel, be a firm favourite of mine in 2015.

In addition, I picked up a copy of the Marillion live Holland Weekend gig in 2013 Sunday Night Above The Rain. This is a double album, and quite superb, essential, in my opinion, as a record of just where the great band are live now. The track from which the title takes its inspiration, The Sky Above The Rain, is even more achingly beautiful and effective than the studio version. It drips with emotion and truth, and is worth the admission price alone. For aficionados of the Fish era, there is also a fun, rollicking, version of Garden Party. I added the album to the archives on Friday, so you can see the full track listing there.

I also ordered, but have not yet received, from Will at Caerllysi Music, the new Arena album, The Unquiet Sky (told you I would get it eventually, Nicholas!), the new IO Earth double opus, New World, and, based upon Thomas' (Tszirmay) review, Dave Kerzner's album, A New World. I have very high hopes for this, and cannot wait for it to arrive.

I have also splashed out on the new Corvus Stone album, which has also been the subject of controversy re classification, but have not gotten around to listening to it yet.

So, music is back with a bang in my life, and I am very much the richer for it. I face a week of commuting this forthcoming week, as my usual lift is on holiday. I will, therefore, get around to penning a few words on reviews, as the backlog of stuff I want to review has gotten ever longer.

As ever, thank you to all who respond here for your thoughts, and, especially, your continued kindness.

Barbu wrote: lazland wrote: In addition, I picked up a copy of the Marillion live Holland Weekend gig in 2013 Sunday Night Above The Rain. This is a double album, and quite superb, essential, in my opinion, as a record of just where the great band are live now. The track from which the title takes its inspiration, The Sky Above The Rain, is even more achingly beautiful and effective than the studio version. It drips with emotion and truth, and is worth the admission price alone. For aficionados of the Fish era, there is also a fun, rollicking, version of Garden Party. I added the album to the archives on Friday, so you can see the full track listing there. Sunday Night Above the Rain Excellent, excellent!! I recently bought High Voltage 2010 and this one blew me away, big time. If you haven't heard it yet do not hesitate if you see it, a top 3 Marillion live favorite for me.

That High Voltage appearance won them a great number of both new and returning fans, that is for sure. Marillion are, to me, the greatest live band I have ever seen.

Steve. You sound great...very healthy I mean.
I am so glad you are rekindling the fire of music that burns with in you.
I never knew it could actually leave someone like you, but as you are of course experiencing as of late, life can be a complicated mess at times. Anyhow, we have a sonic backbone that can help us through all our troubles. I know I'd be a very lost individual without music.
So Edison's children. I have their first album and I really quite like it. I can listen to Pete trewas play bass all day. He really is one of the best. I'd put him up there with Geddy lee of Rush and Chris squire of Yes. Yes, I do feel he is that good.

And you got the Unquiet Sky!!! Oh and I cannot wait to read your review. I actually got so inspired by Arena's latest, that I even wrote a review of the album. It's all praise really. I couldn't find a way to constructively criticize it, so it's not really a balanced review. It actually sounds more braised than anything else, but as you know I am seriously riding that Arena train pretty fast these days. I just love them. :)

Above all else though. I am glad you are back and I am very sure you are gonna find some new sonic treats very soon. If anyone out there knows how to dig for sonic gold....it's you!

Cheers. :)