Listen to the new rock playlist from ‘LP’
An hour or so of music that has reached my consciousness recently.
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The YouTube playlist uses the same artists and songs, but the specific recording may vary.
Listening Guide #056
Bad Company, Blackberry Smoke & Paul Rogers, ‘Run With The Pack’ (feat. Brann Dailor) (from Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company - 2025)
Bad Company were a ‘supergroup’; tight, loud, and with the voice of Paul Rogers, they felt legendary even before the first album came out. It’s about time they were celebrated with a tribute album, and here it is. Blackberry Smoke are a US rock band who have passed me by until now but seem worth investigating, and Brann Dailor guests from Mastodon. I’ll always have a soft spot for them because they were on the bill at The Who’s Charlton gig in 1974. Speaking of The Who …
The Who, ‘New Song’ (Pete vocal version) (from Who Are You - 1978/2025)
Who Are You was the last Who album to feature Keith Moon. He passed 47 years ago today (writing this on 7 Sept). This is the first track to be previewed from the super deluxe edition of the album, out at the end of October. Pete Townshend’s vocal gives ’New Song’ a different feel, both less and more aggressive than the Roger Daltrey version. I know that doesn’t make any sense, and I’ll take more time to reflect on the differences when the full box is released with a full review for LP. The lyrics hark back to the self-doubt Pete expressed in The Who By Numbers and also connect with Lifehouse and ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ from Quadrophenia.
Bruce Springsteen, ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ (from Electric Nebraska – 1982/2025)
Only a few months ago, Springsteen said the electric version of Nebraska didn’t exist. So, obviously, here it is as part of the Nebraska ‘82 boxed set. To be fair, there’s no full album of electric tracks, but the versions that were tested in 1982 were promising, to say the least. ‘Born’ wouldn’t appear until the album of the same name, only to be misinterpreted by politicians in the US as a love song to the country, which it definitely is not. Is there any other artist with so many hidden masterpieces?
Karfagen, ‘Masterplan’ (from Omni - 2025)
Antony Kalugin’s melodic prog project continues with a very well-received new album. A synth solo in the style of Tony Banks (Genesis). This track has drama and light and shade and reveals more with each listen. I’m looking forward to feasting on the whole album.
Tony Levin/Manu Katché/Dominic Miller/Alex Foster, ‘Bringing It Down to the Bass’ (from Bringing It Down to the Bass - 2024)
Tony Levin’s solo project (well, one of them) where he celebrates – of course – the art of the bass guitar. This track is jazz rock with many complex elements, and it opens with a bass solo to attune our ears to the most important instrument present among the horns, guitars, drums and more. With Manu Katché on drums, this is the one-time Peter Gabriel rhythm section. Dominic Miller is a guitarist who frequently works with Sting, and Alex Foster plays alto and tenor sax.
Alan White, ‘Avakak (aka Twelve Ways to Drink Meths)’ (from Ramshackled - 1976)
Alan White’s solo album has been remastered. It’s difficult to choose one track to represent the full work because it’s a diverse collection, sometimes a long way from his work with Yes (a proper reason for making a solo record), and this one is a good fit with the Levin track.
Spriggan Mist, ‘Isambard the Mechanical Dragon’ (from Isambard the Mechanical Dragon - 2022)
Folk-lore rock from a band justifiably gaining in popularity and a reputation for unmissable live shows. This is the story of a steampunk dragon that comes alive, part of a song saga. Their next album (called The Glare) is coming in a couple of months; I’ll be writing a full review for The Progressive Aspect. Meanwhile, enjoy this stormer (there’s also an energetic live version in the YouTube playlist).
Chimpan A, ‘Skeletons’ (from Music is Art Vol 1 - 2025)
Chimpan A is a project featuring Rob Reed (better known for his work in the prog-rock band Magenta) and two members of Welsh country rock band The Storys: Rob Thompson (guitar) and Steve Balsamo (vocals). They introduced their just-released album with some innovative cover versions, and it also includes original songs such as this beautiful ballad.
Arjen Anthony Lucassen, ‘We'll Never Know’ (feat. Floor Jansen) - No Narration (from Songs No One Will Hear - 2025)
Pop this album on, have a drink and a snack and … er … imagine we only have five months left before the world ends. (At least Bowie gave us ‘Five Years’). This is not a bleak listen, so relax. The vocals are melodic, and Lucassen's and Jansen’s voices are well suited. The song builds to a dramatic climax, during which Jansen hits a note that will threaten your wine glasses. The album does feature narration, which can be an issue for repeated listens – there will be many of those – but several ‘singles’ such as this one remove the spoken word.
This Mortal Coil, ‘Song To The Siren’ – Remastered 2012 (from Dust & Guitars – 2012)
This Mortal Coil (follow the link to read about the project in The Quietus) was not a band but a unique collaboration of musicians recording in various permutations, the brainchild of 4AD’s Ivo Watts-Russell. Included simply because it’s advisable for everyone to listen to this song by Tim Buckley at regular intervals, and hearing Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins) sing it is pure bliss.
John Wetton, ‘Starless’ (Live, Shibuya ON AIR EAST, Tokyo, Japan, 1 October 1994) [2025 Remaster] from Heart Of The Dragon – 2025)
This King Crimson song has featured in my playlists at least a couple of times previously (versions by the Unthanks and the David Cross Band, if I recall correctly). It’s such a beautiful song; I’m sure it will feature in the future, as well. This version is a concise arrangement, and the strength of the melody stands out. There’s a longer John Wetton version in the video playlist.
Mike Oldfield, ‘Amarok Part 1’ (from Two Sides: The Very Best Of Mike Oldfield – 2012)
This is problematic. Amarok was recorded as a continuous hour of music for CD release. Oldfield had fallen out with the Virgin label and didn’t want them to be able to issue a single or for the album to be chopped up on streaming. There shouldn’t really be an extract on a Best Of album, nor should it feature in playlists such as this.
BUT. The album is being reissued on double vinyl in four sections. Also, although it was intended to be ‘difficult’, and is on the first few listens, sooner or later it clicks, so if you need a way in, perhaps this is it, and then listen to the full album in the YouTube playlist when you want more. I don’t know if Mike had anything to do with the reissue – probably not, given he’s now retired – but here we are. (The album is on my list to write a full review in the next month or so).
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Coming next on LP
LP>Play #057 will be with you in a couple of weeks. I’m completing my ‘Pete Townshend and Lifehouse’ book this month (if all goes well), so I’ll probably dip into the archive for the next couple of reviews – we’ll see, stay tuned.