John North

John Lennon McCullagh - North South Divide (2013) {359 Music - 359CD1}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 147 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 94 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 47 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2013 359 Music / Cherry Red Records | 359CD1
Rock / British Trad Rock / Indie Folk / Alternative Singer/Songwriter / Blues

North South Divide is a collection of songs produced in an exceptionally sparse manner, with McCullagh’s vocals, guitar and harmonica only joined by a violin on a couple of tracks. Whilst most people of 15 years old would often hide behind a wall of noise and confusion, this delicate approach to song writing gives McCullagh a great platform to tell his stories. Comparisons with Bob Dylan abound, most notably when the harmonica comes out, and none more so than in the track ‘White Rose’, where gentle open chord fingerpicking sits alongside a beautiful ballad and the Dylanesque blowing.

Naxos has collected its four volume traversal of the lute music into a handy slipcase. All the volumes are available singly, but you can also buy the four together as a quartet of excellence, presided over by Nigel North, the acknowledged hero of the hour. What follows is a reprise of two volumes already reviewed - volumes 1 and 3 - and a look at volumes 2 and 4.

Critically acclaimed as one of the best records ever, 1974 Robert Wyatt’s masterpiece has been re-arranged by Craig Fortnam for his amazing North Sea Radio Orchestra. Featuring long time Wyatt’s collaborator and Henry Cow founder John Greaves on bass guitar and vocals and the amazing vocalist Annie Barbazza as lead singer: this is a hearfelt, fantastic tribute to Robert Wyatt’s music.

Culture - Natty Dread Taking Over - Reggae Anthology (2012) {2CD+DVD5 NTSC 17 North Parade-VP Records VPCD500}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.01 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 363 Mb
DVD5 -> 4.38 Gb | All Regions | NTSC 4:3 | Dolby AC3, 2 ch | ~ 148 min | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 61 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2012 17 North Parade / VP Records | VPCD500
Reggae / Roots Reggae / Political Reggae

The Natty Dread Taking Over collection celebrates the life and work of Culture, one of reggae’s most iconic groups and includes the best of their work for foundation producers Joe Gibbs & Sonia Pottinger – All nine tracks from Africa Stand Alone (regarded by many as Culture’s best work) – Four “BBC John Peel session” tracks recorded in 1982 – 21 song live concert DVD including an insightful 40 minute filmed interview.