Tag: Brendan Perkins

Review – Brendan Perkins – Stories from the Old Church Lane – by John Wenlock-Smith

Unbelievably this is Brendan Perkins’ twenty-eighth solo release since 2008 when he decided to follow his musical aspirations full time. ‘Stories from the Old Church Lane’ follows from last year’s wonderful ‘Favourite Places’ album which he actually released on CD and that I gave a very positive review to for this very site. You can find that Review here:

https://www.progradar.org/index.php/2024/08/14/review-brendan-perkins-favourite-places-by-john-wenlock-smith/

This album is in a similar vein,  although this time it concentrates on the lives of the folks who live in the area of a local church. Whether this us an imaginary church is not entirely clear but the album seems to draw upon personal experiences that Brendan has had or encountered over the years since he moved to a rural location. Either way, the tales he has conjured up are certainly imaginative and told with warmth and a positive attitude that translates into the music the album conveys. The album is entirely self-composed and performed by Brendan although his partner Helen Flunder features on vocals on the track Another Eveningtime. The music flirts around the edges of progressive rock but is actually very pastoral in tone and would a definitely appeal to fans who like that style of prog, as offered by Big Big Train and the like as there is a strong storytelling element to these songs.

The albums begins with the track Another Eveningtime which opens with a piercing guitar line underpinned by synths and assorted sonic embellishments that fuse together to make a pleasing wall of sound. To this is added Brendan’s trusty Rickenbacker bass providing a solid bottom end before the vocals start, speaking of settling down and building a new life in the shadow of the church. It’s a very positive song with great guitar lines and a fine backing. Olivia Ruth is about a lady who collects things, it is also a song about memories and how they can affect us and how we look at a life. The words are very descriptive as they are poured out and the song is full of warmth rather than criticism. It is about accepting and welcoming different approaches to life and is enlivened by some great guitar and bass interplay in the final part of the track. Amelia’s Wedding is a song about expectations being realised, in this instance the wedding of a daughter to a man and how they begin a new life together, with all the opportunities that affords. This is a fairly bass driven track with lots of ethereal keyboards in the background, creating an interesting sound palette. It is another very warm sounding piece with lots of hope and positivity towards the happy couple on the very special day of their wedded union.

Bram’s Return (from Metro Fair) opens with a fine acoustic guitar line, the song is about returning from the big city to a more relaxed and less stressful way of living as the author realises that the big city life he has lived wasn’t really for him. Instead, he finds peace and contentment in a new place and opens a new chapter of his life. There is a distinct touch of Mark Knopfler in the guitar playing on this track and the use of space in the arrangements and sound really adds something special. The extended length also gives room for lots of free expression. This is a song extolling that the best place to be is with the one you love, which is of course a most excellent thing to desire. Ned And Mary is another gentle song talking of a couple’s evolving life story through different times, but all underpinned by the love they share and celebrate in Old Church Lane. It’s a lovely song with more superb guitar lines woven through it. This is much shorter track but still a good one, if not a tad contemplative in tone.

The final track is Summer’s End which celebrates the harvest and the festival that it brings, exemplified here by the annual dance which really beings the village together in gratitude and celebration. The description of the dance is very warm and speaks of a shared experience that is welcomed by all the inhabitants of the village. It is a very well composed track and a strong close to the release.

‘Stories from the Old Church Lane’ is a rather uplifting and life affirming release from Brendan Perkins. Certainly there is a lot of excellent material and songs here and I would urge you to have a listen for yourself, you may very well be rather surprised and taken with it.

Released 5th April, 2025

Order from bandcamp here:

https://brendanperkins.bandcamp.com/album/stories-from-the-old-church-lane

John Wenlock-Smith’s review of the 2024 musical year

2024 has been quite a year hasn’t it really? From the vagaries of politics and re-emergence of Donald Trump to again become US President again, the implosion of the Tory party and the triumphant Labour landslide, to the downfall of Assad in Syria, it has all been quite eventful, all in all.

Thankfully, musically it has been a good year, especially for the likes of Taylor Swift, whose ‘Era’ tour was a huge success, the reunion dates for Oasis were another success, especially for it’s promoters, if less so for their fans who struggled to get any reasonably priced tickets. Prog thankfully doesn’t suffer in the same way and great music shows could be easily found for very reasonable prices, except maybe David Gilmour tickets, but Steve Hackett and Big Big Train shows were far more fairly priced, as their sell out statuses clearly showed.

The year has some truly fine and many very worthwhile releases and here is what really hit it off for me. As with previous years, I have a vocal winner and an instrumental winner of the year and you’ll understand why as I reveal them to you all.

There’s also a note about why each was selected as being so very good, invariably i’ll miss something that I should have included, such is often the case as its not always easy to recall timings and release dates etc., There are no live albums or ‘best of’ though, even though several of each were very good releases.

Here we go then..

20. Wedingoth – ‘Five stars (A) live’

A somewhat interesting mix of heavy metal with distinct Pink Floyd overtones, all recorded live and portraying their 2023 five star album.

19. PsychoYogi – ‘Astro Therapy Brain repair’

The 2024 quirky release from Chris Ramsing and band with more King Crimson styled jazz musings.

18. Nataraja – ‘Spirit At Play’

A one off project from Jack Jennings with Andy Edwards and John Jowitt of Frost/IQ mixing Indian classical music with synthesisers and fiery guitar a la John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix. A very intense listen but wonderfully conceived and delivered.

17. Infringement – ‘Black Science and White Lies’

More musings on the state of the world from the Norwegian stalwarts, full of dynamic music and strong observational lyrics.

16. Storm Deva – ‘Storm Deva’

Technically released at the back end of 2023 but gained popularity this year. Wonderful orchestral type music with fabulous vocalist/keyboardist Carollyn Eden along with sublime guitar work from Stuart Clark, some beautifully symphonic music and melodies.

15. Rick Wakeman – ‘Yessonata’

A totally solo piano album from the ex-Yes keyboard man which distils over thirty melodies from the prime era of Yes music. Have fun spotting the various melodies employed herein and, as a bonus, there is an instrumental synopsis of Rick’s ‘King Arthur’ piano suite.

14. Catalyst*R – ‘Pace Of Change’

A second album of impressive prog and electronic music from the ex Winter Machine men, check out the utterly epic Pendle Hill 1612.

13. Orion – ‘The Light Bringers’

The superb second full release from musical prodigy Ben Jones with lots of Rush overtones, especially with the spectacular artwork from Hugh Syme .

12. Kite Parade – ‘Disparity’

An album that highlights the challenges of this modern world most eloquently, there is some truly some great music on offer here.

11. The Windmill – ‘Mindscapes’

Latest release from the Norwegian retro-proggers. Just four tracks but such great tracks they are! One wonderfully long epic and the the other three being shorter, but no less impressive, pieces.

10. Age of Distraction – ‘A Game Of Whispers’

This offshoot group saw some of progressive music’s current stars (ex-This Winter Machine member John Cook, Ghost Of The Machine‘s Charlie Bramald and Mark Gatland of Hats Off Gentleman It’s Adequate to name three) band together in a new ad-hoc Project which married their progressive tendencies coupl with a harder edged sound to a fantastic impact. A second album is due in 2025 and possibly some live shows too!

9. Oddleaf – ‘Where Ideal And Denial Collide’

Surprisingly endearing and engrossing 70’s influenced Prog from new French outfit featuring the lovely Carina Taurer and colleagues.

8. Brendan Perkins – ‘Favourite Places’

A fantastic album that would most probably be of interest to Big Big Train ‘Passengers’ as the music is very expansive with very Pastoral overtones at various points. A most engrossing listen.

7. Nick Magnus – ‘A Strange Inheritance’

An excellent nautically themed collection of songs. This one really resonated with me and I really love Nick’s compositions on this album.

6. John Holden – ‘Proximity and Chance’

Another excellent release from the Cheshire based multi instrumentalist who, again, has enlisted some A-list players to support his epic pieces. This was, for several months, my album of the year but was then overshadowed by the following releases.

5. Kyros – ‘Mannequin’

Another top notch release and a fantastic fusion of 80’s style synth-pop and progressive music. An exquisitely produced and delivered album of sheer class.

4. Stuckfish – ‘IV’

This is a major step up from this north-east quintet and is full of great songs, some of which are crying out for more live performances. Sheer class and fine quality to boot.

3. Ruby Dawn – ‘Blood On Water’

The superb second release from Carola Baer and colleagues, who have crafted an album that is partly based on Romeo and Juliet but also contemplates life and all it’s seasons and challenges.

2. Forgotten Gods – ‘Memories’

This album came from nowhere but such is its emotional depth and rawness, along with its honesty and strong lyrics, it really makes a deep and lasting impression.

1st equal…

Instrumental album – Nick Fletcher – ‘A Longing For Home’

A further ten slices of Nick’s incredibly imaginative and polished musical musings with a truly impressive European based set of musicians. An album full of powerful themes and melodies along with jaw dropping skill and improvisation.

Vocal Album – John Wilkinson – ‘Imposter Syndrome’

Highly impressive solo album from The Swan Chorus and Ellesmere vocalist in which, over eight strong tracks, John sings of how he feels a fraud as a singer but goes on to prove that he is no fraud or imposter, rather he is a genuinely talented writer and performer. This album is a remarkable achievement and is a thing of beauty, crowned by John’s warm and evocative vocals.

It has been a vintage year for releases, you’ll notice that I’ve shied away from major label albums, despite there been several great ones but it us these 20 Albums have impacted me the most through 2024.

Review – Brendan Perkins – Favourite Places – by John Wenlock-Smith

Occasionally, as in very rarely, you come across a real gem of an album such as this one. ‘Favourite Places’ is the latest in a steady stream of albums from Lincolnshire based musician, composer and studio engineer Brendan Perkins, who has over twenty-two releases on bandcamp, most being digital only releases. Although I believe Brendan is open to the possibility of  a physical CD release for this latest album that seems to be garnering very positive reviews by folks who appreciate the quality and crafting that these songs utilise so convincingly.

I’d not heard of Brendan before but I have to say is a really splendid and uplifting album of very strong and interesting tracks, each being of a place that Brendan has visited and been touched by his time or experience there. They range from Polzeath in Cornwall, Caistor in Norfolk, Chinley Churn (a hill near High Peak in the Peak District) to Saltburn On Sea near Whitby. There are also two non place related songs, Skylarks and the emotionally laden A Song For Friends which, whilst a bit downbeat is neither mournful or dour, rather it is a celebration of friends who are no longer with us but whose memory remains alive in our hearts and mind. This song celebrates such warm fond memories as these. In fact, the whole album is a very positive listen, the songs are good, the instrumentation is excellent, the production is clear and all taken together form a very solid and convincing piece of work.

I actually feel this very pastoral and very English album would find a highly receptive audience with fans of Big Big Train as they share a similar musical viewpoint, history, culture and stories. I also think folks who like ex Genesis man Anthony Phillips and his excellent ‘Private Parts & Pieces’ series would find much common ground and, indeed, much to enjoy here. All the music is composed and performed by Brendan himself, although he is aided by Helen Lunder on backing vocals on Skylarks and Lucy’s Lane.

Opener Skylarks sets the scene well with its fluid guitar and punchy bass lines helping to propel the song along. The track laments the decrease in the number of skylarks that are around, thirty years ago we had more hedgerows for these birds to nest but times have changed and the numbers have decreased substantially over the years as hedgerows have been removed. The song has a very fluid and ascending guitar motif which is wonderfully supported by a very solid bass line which grabs the attention. The motif is repeated at various points, it really lifts the song with grace and style elevating things significantly. It’s a really strong opener and when the guitar solo comes in this really impresses as does the interplay with the bass which really shines and shows off the talent that is on offer here, a great opening track. The aforementioned A Song For Friends is a testament to the value of friendships and how, even though they may no longer be with us, their memory and warmth of their friendship lives on in our lives. It is not a morbid song, rather it is highly celebratory in tone. Petrichor Dance is about a trip to Polzeath in Cornwall and, especially, the rich earthy smell of rain on dry soil. The song is very evocative in tone and has a very fluid guitar line that runs throughout the track, another excellent piece of music.

Lucy’s Lane is about Caistor in Norfolk,  picturing the feel of the market place and how when it winds down the townsfolk gather to celebrate the day. The next track is Chinley Churn, which is about a hill near Chinley, near High Peak in the Peak District. This piece is an instrumental with some great simple piano fills and some very Floydian guitar tones. I really like this one a lot, there is a lot of great guitar in this track, the bass is strong and muscular and versatile too, dancing around the chugging guitar rhythms. It’s probably my favourite song of the entire album and is very lyrical without words, a truly impressive track. The album closes with the more reflective The Funicular, which is about the cliff railway at Saltburn-On-Sea that takes visitors from the clifftop to the pier. It really captures the area and the beauty of this water balanced cliff railway from the Victorian era and is a beautifully warm song.

What’s remarkable here is just how much I have come to appreciate this album. I like everything about it and I especially love Brendan’s beautiful guitar playing and bass playing. The songs are emotively strong and Brendan’s voice suits them. ‘Favourite Places’ will be near the top of my best albums of the year list, it really is an outstanding work and one that, as you become more familiar with, will definitely enrich your life. Buy it, listen often and appreciate this wonderful release for yourself then you can thank me later!

Released 18th May, 2024.

Order from bandcamp here:

Favourite Places | Brendan Perkins (bandcamp.com)