Canter Bridge

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Taylor Dayne has the good fortune to be possessed of one of those memorably full-tilt voices capable of reaching out from the car radio and grabbing you by the throat. The problem is she uses it all the time. Continue Reading »

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

An acquaintance of mine once overheard the sound of Bach emanating from my computer, grimaced slightly, and said ‘it’s repetition’.

Precisely. Though she thought she was making a criticism. Continue Reading »

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It must have something to do with drugs, alcohol, or very, very poor personal hygiene. Continue Reading »

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

In 1995 I sat at a dinner table in Oxford and chatted with the young American at my side. He was the manager of a new band called ‘Delirious?’, he explained. They were going to be the next big thing, perhaps the next U2. He earnestly implored me to watch for them, I would not be disappointed.

The band’s name did not seem promising and the guy clearly had an interest in promoting his project. I didn’t take him too seriously. Continue Reading »

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

In 1995 I sat at a dinner table in Oxford and chatted with the young American at my side. He was the manager of a new band called ‘Delirious?’, he explained. They were going to be the next big thing, perhaps the next U2. He earnestly implored me to watch for them, I would not be disappointed.

The band’s name did not seem promising and the guy clearly had an interest in promoting his project. I didn’t take him too seriously. Continue Reading »

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

Christian believers are at their best when they cling with discernment and vigor to the Hebraic roots of their faith. For some, this has meant an appropriation of Hebrew language and Jewish forms of worship. The ‘messianic movement’ embraces a larger number of Gentiles who have made this choice. It also includes and is arguably led by a significant number of Jewish followers of Yeshua who do not consider that they have turned their back on their heritage of their people by finding in Yeshua the hope of all nations rather than all but one. Continue Reading »

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

Christmas music is an uneasy genre to define and review. Defined by the season in which it is played rather than by any ordinary considerations of genre, it slips easily into trite sentimentalism and commercial opportunism. The result of the latter is the awkward sound of artists who seem to have little in common with the season performing ‘Christmasy’ tunes as though outfitted in a too-tight pair of trousers. Continue Reading »

Full product information for this item, together with my review, my ranking of the product, and any reader comments, can be found at http://www.amazon.com.

Do yourself a favor. If you happen to fall in love with this album and the Gipsy Kings, keep it a nice little secret. Loose lips will only immerse you in a heated debate about whether all these guitars and energy, these raspy but somehow harmonious voices, and this repertoire of love and agony truly represent Europe’s Roma (‘Gypsy’; note the spelling difference in the band’s name).

Then you’ll lose a lot of time that you could have invested in listening to this music. Not a good idea. Continue Reading »