Darkside Paper Trails

Bassist and composer Milo Fitzpatrick (Portico Quartet) launches new collaborative project with saxophonist Jordan Smart (Mammal Hands).

In 2002, after a six-year layoff from the recording studio, Canadian prog rock heroes Rush returned with the album Vapor Trails, the group's first album of the new millennium, and a return to the business of making music after drummer Neil Peart struggled with the death of his wife and daughter. While the group's loyal fans embraced this new batch of songs, not everyone was happy with the way the album sounded - including the members of Rush. Bassist Geddy Lee told a reporter in 2013, "We overcooked it…the mixes were really loud and brash. The mastering job was harsh and distorted." When Rush released the compilation Retrospective, Vol. 3 in 2009, they included newly remixed versions of two tracks from Vapor Trails, "Earthshine" and "One Little Victory"…

Active as a solo recording artist between the years of 1975-1981, Chris Rainbow wrote and recorded three very highly regarded albums, Home Of the Brave (1975), Looking Over My Shoulder (1978) and this release, his third full length recording, White Trails (1979), as well as a collection of singles throughout his valued career. Chris Rainbow also worked extensively adding vocal contributions to artists' work of the calibre of The Alan Parsons Project, Culture Club, Elaine Paige and Toyah Wilcox, as well as producing albums for the likes of Scottish Gaelic rock group Runrig.

Trails to the Cosmic Vibrations is a split LP that brings together two bands from Asia with outwardly contrasting dispositions, while sharing sympathetic resonances.

Without question, this follow-up to Quicksilver Messenger Service's self-titled debut release is the most accurate in portraying the band on vinyl in the same light as the group's critically and enthusiastically acclaimed live performances. The album is essentially centered around the extended reworkings of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?" and "Mona," as well as the lesser lauded - yet no less intense - contribution of Gary Duncan's (guitar/vocals) "Calvary." This album is the last to feature the original quartet incarnation of QMS. The collective efforts of John Cipollina (guitar/vocals), Greg Elmore (percussion), David Freiberg (bass/vocals), and the aforementioned Duncan retain the uncanny ability to perform with a psychedelic looseness of spirit, without becoming boring or in the least bit pretentious…

The Vapour Trails, a UK band left by the father/son team of Kevin and Scott Robertson, released two excellent records in the past few years, the most recent being 2020’s Golden Sunshine. Just when I thought they were going to be taking a break (but really glad they didn’t) out comes a new 7-song EP! Apparently it was only going to a 4 songs but the band added a few extras and it’s just as strong as the band’s other material. They haven’t messed with the formula (if you could call it a formula) with loads of jangly guitars melded with ace harmonies that brings their 60’s influences right up to the present. “Tommy’s Tune” and the title track are the 1-2 punch that open the record and are both terrific cuts, among the band’s best really and there’s a few more (including a remix of “Strange’ and a Kinks-y number called “Autumn and Spring”). I won’t delve into all of the songs (‘cos where’s the fun in that?!) but suffice it to say it’s strong collection top to bottom. Pop music the way it was meant to be done.