Reviews: Beth Hart, Rosalie Cunningham, Skarlett Riot, Spineless (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

Beth Hart - You Still Got Me (Provogue Records)

A new Beth Hart album is always a cause for celebration, especially if you're a fan of the blues, the Grammy nominated singer is one of the best vocalists on the block, live she's captivating, the epitome of a diva; fiery and ferocious, winning over the crowd easily and drawing you in to songs about lust, life and inequity. 

It's not always been easy of course but in the last 10 years Hart has broken through and becomes the recognised name, she has always deserved to be in rock/blues circles, though she's into year 28 of her career, battling to claim her place. On 11th album You Still Got Me, she returns to the classic bluesing after her dalliance with Zeppelin on the previous album. 

Evoking Tom Waits on the dark vaudeville of Never Underestimate A Gal, while Drunk On Valentine adds a smokiness of an off-Broadway jazz bar, it's that parping brass. It's an album of differing influences all showcasing thoses sultry, soulful pipes, the title track especially poinant as a tribute to her team and her husband while Wonderful World details the lineage of the women in her family.

If you're after rockers then there's a bit of rockabilly on Wanna Be Big Bad Johnny Cash, the massive Don't Call The Police. While there's some blues rock on Saviour With A Razor which opens the record and features 'The Cat In The Hat' Slash. He's not the only guest though as Eric Gales peels off some funky riffs on Suga N My Bowl.

The modern days answer to someone like Nina Simone, Hart and her piano again produce evocative, inspiring, rootsy, gutsy music. We still have her and we're all the better for it. 9/10

Rosalie Cunningham - To Shoot Another Day (Esoteric Antenna)

To Shoot Another Day is the new album from the retro loving Rosalie Cunningham. With cover art that blends Bowie with Bond and a title that screams Roger Moore. The title track too is replete with John Barry-like swells and knowing nods to the Chubby Broccoli classics. Cunningham follows up her last release Two Piece Puzzle with more music that pays homage to the 60's and 70's. 

From the beginnings of Purson the woozy psychadelia has been ever present but since going solo the more doom edged material has been replaced by corduroy wearing, flare sporting glam, flute wielding (from Ian East) folk on Heavy Pencil, some late night jazz on In The Shade Of The Shadows and power pop perfection on Denim Eyes. 

That word perfection being exactly what Rosalie strives for in every release but in this one especially as it was totally recorded and mixed at her home studio, so every moment was studied and scrutinized. She again uses her brilliant vocals and plays guitar/bass/keys and percussion, accompanied mainly by Rosco Wilson who co-writes and co-produces, drummer Raphael Mura and piano/hammond from David Woodcock, there's even a cameo from Rosalie's dog. 

With the Beatlesesque, possible ode to the red faced, fake news promoting owner of the famous UK pub chain (Timothy Martin's Conditioning School) or the vaudevillian blues swagger of Good To Be Damned, there's plenty of that Purson/Cunningham charm but To Shoot Another Day, tickles new soundscapes and takes a broader range of styles on top the influence of bands like The Move, Mott The Hopple and The Moody Blues, there's space rock, pop and plenty of jazz and even some distortion-led proto metal on Spook (y Tooth?) Racket. 

To Shoot Another Day is a true solo record, written/recorded totally by Cunningham and Wilson it takes the formula established back in the Purson days and broadens the scope through virtuoso musicianship. 9/10

Skarlett Riot - Caelestia (Despotz Records)

British alt metal band Skarlett Riot emerge from another writing hole with their fourth album Caelestia, it's an album that shows growth musically, main writer guitarist Danny Oglesby collaborating more with frontwoman Skarlett for some of their most personal and raw songs of their career. They've taken time here treating the songs with a hyper critical mind to make sure the come out the best that can be.

Skarlett's vocals as always on top form while Danny's riffs are techy and inspired by djent as Danny also adds some screams, his brother Luke drives the more aggressive songs with powerful percussion the alt metal grooves still strong in Tim Chambers bass. Latin for Celestial, Caelestia is a sum of four long term collaborators conspiring together to evolve their sound.

If you're a long term fan of the band they the added screams may be a little jarring as they begin Chemicals but soon Skarlett's more familiar vocals come in and it all levels out to become another element of Skarlett Riot's more modern sound. 

From the dramatic Lullaby and Who Do You Think You Are, through the anthemic Run, aggressive Violence and ballad Hold Tight there's much to love here if you enjoy modern heavy metal. 8/10

Spineless - Dysphonia (Submersion Records)

Dysphonia is the second album from Spineless aka vocalist/musician Chrysa Tsaltampasi, she brings in musicians from the Greek music scene. It's the follow up from 2018's Speaking Of Chaos And Relative Peace and continues the visceral, experimental music Chrysa brought on her debut. 

Inspired by the likes of Chelsea Wolfe, Mono and Ulver, all of whom are mentined in the accompanying information, Dysphonia begins with the throbbing industrial chug of Justice and keeps the post-metal obtuseness, as haunting electronics bleed into Disease.

Chrysa's vocals are impassioned and varied, from soaring emotional cleans, to haunting mids and even some extreme screams/roars used to terrifying effect on the Aphex Twin-like Nozz. Me and Where I Am twitch and oscillate with electronic beats, You is dramatic and simple, the piano giving Tori Amos before To The Core adds crushing doom. 

Spineless can proudly be compared to those artists I mentioned earlier in the review, written and performed with no boundaries. 8/10