Kevin Bryan reviews this week's latest album releases, from mod rock to folk.
Born Stiff: The Stiff Records Collection ****
DAVE Robinson's Stiff label offered a welcoming musical home to all manner of mavericks and malcontents during its heyday in the late 70s and this new two CD set features no less than 45 gems from their illustrious back catalogue.
The anthology focusses attention on some of the more commercial aspects of Stiff's output, reviving successful singles offerings from the likes of Madness, Ian Dury and Lene Lovich alongside Max Wall's England's Glory, Kirsty MacColl's A New England and The Sports' naggingly infectious Who Listens To The Radio? to name but a few.
Out now (Salvo SALVODCD 216: £8.99)
Matthew Cameron: Liszt ***
NEW York-born pianist Cameron has always felt a genuine affinity for the music of Franz Liszt, so it seems only natural he should have ventured into the recording studio to capture this passionate recital of the great man's work for posterity.
Matthew's playing is steeped in the spirit of 19th century Romanticism as he tackles pieces such as Funerailles and the Don Juan Fantasy, as well as his own transcriptions of Liszt's symphonic poems Les Preludes and Hunnenschlacht.
Out now (Cala CACD 88045: £11.99)
Chris Eckman: The Last Side of the Mountain ***
CENTRAL European poetry may seem an unlikely source of subject matter for an enthralling rock album, but the collected works of the late Dane Zajc did actually provide the inspiration for this singular package from Walkabouts frontman Eckman.
The American balladeer has been based in the Slovene capital of Ljubljana for quite some time now and this was where he first came across Zajc's work.
11 of this obscure character's richly resonant verses have now been translated into English and transformed into evocative rock songs by Chris himself, with Who Will Light Your Path? and The Same emerging as the best of the bunch.
Out now (Glitterhouse GRCD 688: £12.99)
Summer Night Concert: Schonbrunn 2010 ***
THIS newly released DVD was recorded in the Baroque gardens of Vienna's magnificent Schonbrunn Palace a few months ago.
Conductor Franz Welser Most guided the Vienna Philharmonic through a celestially themed set featuring Mars from Holst's Planets Suite, some choice extracts from the soundtrack of Star Wars, a selection of Viennese waltzes and the centrepiece of the entire event, a fine performance of Liszt's Second Piano Concerto with soloist Yefim Bronfman.
Out now (D.G.076 277 6: £15.99)
Secret Affair: Mod Singles Collection ***
SECRET Affair were one of the most commercially successful outfits to emerge from the Mod revival in the late 70s and this new anthology brings together every single that the band recorded during this period.
The contents have lost a little of their potency with the passage of time, but songs such as Sound of Confusion, My World and Time For Action still pack a hefty musical punch.
The compilers have also found space for two new Secret Affair tracks from 2006 - Land of Hope and Soho Dreams.
Out now (Captain Mod MODSKACD 30: £9.99)
Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller: Shadows Tall ****
THIS gifted Scottish duo were the proud recipients of BBC Radio 2's Young Folk Award in 2008 and their second Greentrax album marks a distinct progression from their well received debut set In A Bleeze.
Their skilfully crafted vocal harmonies never fail to charm and delight as Jeana and Siobhan tackle an affecting blend of old and new balladry, including Johnnie O'Braidsleys, The King's Shilling and Richard Thompson's The Great Valerio.
Out now (Greentrax CDTRAX 352: £8.99)
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