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| Alex Vann: Steppin' Out with "Silhouettes and Pilhouettes Volume 4" |
#880: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! It must have been written in the stars that Yours Truly KJS would cross paths eventually with local artist and musician Alex Vann following an unplanned Sunday lunch at The Plough Inn in Shifnal, Shropshire last month. That is where I came across a flyer for an exhibition entitled "Drawn To The Beat" featuring the homegrown art (including The Beatles) as well as highlighting an opening acoustic gig by this Wolverhampton based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, later featured in this ELOBF 'Caught Live' review.
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| Fourteen Little Diamonds |
It was natural step, therefore, to grab a copy of Alex's latest recorded offering "Silhouettes and Pirouettes ~ Volume 4" (2014) at the launch event being as one of the tracks "I Will Be The Air" closed out an impressive evening. And what shall I say of this album? Only that it is an album of many musical styles and some memorable songs! As it is with his art, so it is with his music. Undoubtedly, The Beatles are an obvious influence throughout but this really is a delicious mixture of tempo and content that highlights a musician at the top of his game.
With the Beatlesque "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" thrown at its finale, "Throw A Stone" impresses as does the moody rocker "Blow Me Down" (which reminds me of The Police in their prime) featuring the fantastic Pete Kent guesting on guitar. Contrast that with the wonderfully jazzy, saxophone straddled "Candles and Wine" and the simply superb ditty "Just Another Teenage Dream", an instrumental "The White Rose and The Child", the pensive "Shall I Pretend" or the introspective "A Better Me" and you start to realise just how good an effort "Silhouettes and Pirouettes ~ Volume 4" is. Rest assured that all 14 trax are worthy of equal mention. A cracking album, truly. (9/10)
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| Another opportunity to catch Alex Vann in person soon |
"Drawn To The Beat" runs until Thursday 30th April at The Plough Inn, Shifnal in Shropshire and features many of Alex's original drawings and paintings. "Silhouettes and Pilhouettes Volume 4" is attractively priced at just £5 and you'll also be pleased to know that both Alex's music and his art can be viewed &/or purchased via these links thus:
ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Silhouettes and Pilhouettes ~ Volume 4" by Alex Vann to those enlightened folks who enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, The Move, 'Brum Beat', The Beatles and related artistes.
Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 28-March-2015
It is indeed a continuing pleasure to feature talented local artistes in both senses of the word and my good friend Alex Vann fits the bill perfectly! KJS@ELOBF
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