Roots Music Report

Latest Album Reviews

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  Dianne Davidson
  Album: Perigon: Full Circle
  Label: Perigon Music
  Genre(s): Contemporary Folk
  
  Posted By: Duane Verh
  Sep 26, 2020

  A wide range of grown-up emotions meshes well with an equally expansive stylistic knack on veteran vocalist Dianne Davidson’s current offering.  Suitably versatile and powerful enough to provide backup work over the years for artists as diverse as Barry Manilow and B.B. King, Ms. Davidson’s own lyrically potent sentiments are, at turns, warm-hearted, indisputably sensual or haunting on tracks such as “Precious Boys”, “Subtle Touch” (a kickass duet with Ruthie Foster) and “Solitary”.  Production is first-rate.
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• 

  James Marienthal
  Album: Speak to the Sky
  Label: Silver Wave
  Genre(s): World
  
  Posted By: Robert Silverstein
  Sep 26, 2020

  Following the 2018 CD release of Alive Inside The Tank, New Age maestro James Marienthal is back on top in 2020 with his latest solo adventure called Speak To The Sky. Whereas Alive Inside The Tank was an album featuring both James and vocalist / percussionist Sarah Gibbons, the eight-cut Speak To The Sky is more of a pure solo album, with James supported by Arwen Ek (vocals) and Tom Wasinger (Lap Steel and 12-string guitar). The master-builder of the legendary Silver Wave Records label, around since the 1980’s, James excels on Speak To The Sky, an album that serves as a fine showcase for James performing his Native American flutes, bamboo flute, free-note xylophone, piano and rattles. As James writes in his Speak To The Sky liner notes, his goal is to  immerse the listener in an aura of
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• 

  Professor Tip Top
  Album: Tomorrow Is Delayed
  Label: Apollon
  Genre(s): Progressive Rock
  
  Posted By: Robert Silverstein
  Sep 25, 2020

  Professor Tiptop are regarded as one of premier progressive rock bands in all of Scandinavia. Following a series of classic albums, this critically-acclaimed Norwegian rock band are still highly regarded and they fuel the fires of our shared interests with their 2020 album called Tomorrow Is Delayed. Long term Professor Tip Top fans continue to delight in the band’s musical evolution, with all incarnations consistantly shining a light on the band’s lead guitarist and main songwriter-composer, Sam Fossback. That continued development of PTT’s music was delightfully but surprisingly interrupted owing to the recent addition of the band’s new lead vocalist Sonja Otto, replacing singer Svein Magnar Hansen. Not only is Ms. Otto a fine lead vocalist and she, as well, brings in her own keyboard approach. In essence, the broad scope and definitive
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  Rhymoi Music
  Album: Aloha Radio Hawaii (feat. David P Jackson , Dean Parks , Jim Kimo West & Nick Mancini)
  Label: Rhymoi Music
  Genre(s): World
  
  Posted By: Robert Silverstein
  Sep 25, 2020

  Some of the biggest names in 21st century Hawaiian music have banded together on the 2020 CD release of Aloha: Radio Hawaii. Subtitled A Musical Journey To The Golden Age Of Hawaiian Song, the 13-track, 40-minute album features a range of musicians and some of the best guitarists around, including Ken Emerson (Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele), Jim Kimo West (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, ukulele) and Dean Parks (electric guitar, Hawaiian steel guitar), while also featuring a wide range of supporting musicians. A lot of the album features instrumental selections with the musicians recreating classic Hawaiian favorites from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century although, vocalist Tavita Te’o does appear along with some other truly vintage sounding singers appearing as if by magic singing in native
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• 

  Stephen Mougin
  Album: Ordinary Soul
  Label: Dark Shadow
  Genre(s): Contemporary Bluegrass
  
  Posted By: Joe Ross
  Sep 23, 2020

  Stephen "Mojo" Mougin has been a performer on stage for most of his life. His “Ordinary Soul” album arrived in my mailbox shortly after I caught him picking guitar and singing with the Sam Bush Band at a “Best of” Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival on-line stream highlighting their 2016 appearance there. He also performs in a duo (Nedski and Mojo) with banjo master Ned Luberecki who plays a prominent role on this album as do other members of The Sam Bush Band. Mougin has also been busy with songwriting, teaching, coaching, starting his own Tennessee-based record label (Dark Shadow Recording). This album is an ideal platform for Mougin to demonstrate his eclectic tastes and varied skills in the music business. Most of the 12 tracks are Mougin originals, written in collaboration with other noteworthy songwriters. A song like “You Only Like Old
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Latest Articles

Press Release:
Rhymoi Records Releases "Aloha: Radio Hawaii"

Sep 23, 2020 - ALOHA RADIO HAWAII A Musical Journey to the Golden Age of Hawaiian Song   Rhymoi Music is thrilled to announce the release of their...
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Press Release:
Matt Smith Returns In 2020 With His Best Album Yet Being Human

Aug 27, 2020 - AUSTIN BASED PRODUCER/MUSICIAN MATT SMITH TO RELEASE EIGHT NEW ALBUMS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020   AUSTIN, TEXAS – Aug. 11,...
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Press Release:
The Grand Undoing Returns In 2020 With In A Vigil State

Jul 4, 2020 -   The New Grand Undoing Album Is A 21st-century Masterpiece That Unites An Array Of Reenvisioned Classic & Contemporary Pop-Rock...
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Press Release:
NYC-based Peter Galperin Returns With Tomorrow Seems Like Yesterday

Jun 7, 2020 - Peter Galperin releases Tomorrow Seems Like Yesterday Never one to turn away from a valiant fight, NYC-based maestro Peter Galperin turns to face...
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News:
MOTU brings it all back home on Blues For The Beach

Jun 6, 2020 - Roots Music Report speaks with MOTU: The Blues For The Beach Interview RMR caught up with blues rock guitarist, songwriter and band leader, MOTU...
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Press Release:
France's 1970s synth legend Zanov returns in 2020 with Chaos Islands

May 30, 2020 - French synth legend Zanov returns in 2020 with a new concept album called "Chaos Islands" Like a sonic apparition arising from the...
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Press Release:
The new album from Steinar Karlsen - Destination Venus is available now!

May 16, 2020 - NEW ALBUM OUT NOW! STEINAR KARLSEN – DESTINATION VENUS CD: OTWCD005 - LP: OTWLP005 Get ready for a musical journey to the planet...
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Editorial:
Review of Apparat live at Acacia Theatre, Naples, Italy

Apr 15, 2019 - The Apparat European tour continues. The German band with leader Sasha Ring came to Italy. On April 5th the musicians made a stop in Naples, the...
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Editorial:
Music Mentors Needed

Feb 18, 2019 - Kids In A New Groove (KING) provides private, in-home, music instruction to Central Texas youth in foster care, allowing them to gain the benefits of...
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Press Release:
Blues Singer/Saxophonist Vanessa Collier Embarks on 'Honey Up'

Oct 3, 2018 -   SOULFUL BLUES...
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