Winter Enclosure - Octavia

Advantages: Debut Album
Disadvantages: patchy

...AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, lovers of the turf turn their attentions to the Classics. In an analogous world, Rose Kemp would be a certain runner in the Acoustic Folk Oaks. She is an impeccably bred filly, being by Rick Kemp out of that well-known stayer, Maddy Prior. The only 'form' that we have to go on is this debut album. During twelve self-penned songs, she is, by turns, as moody as Chris Issac and as soulful as a young Bonnie Raitt. Whether this offering is enough to see her in the winner's enclosure is doubtful, but it is pleasing enough. If I were to put money on Rose Kemp, it would be in a few years time, when she has matured enough to take her place in the Folk Survivors' Grand National, as she shows enough versatility to handle the many obstacles that will present themselves as she makes her way in the cut throat world of the music... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: More Cohesive Effort
Disadvantages: Too many fillers

...energy. Those guitars lift an otherwise run-of-the-mill breaking-up type number "Faith", while those tonsils still sound great even when they are simply screaming "Solar Confinement" over and over. The atmospheric "Dreamstate" sounds almost "Twin Peaks"-y at times, yet manages some quite brutal passages too. Over-production-itis rears its ugly head on "I Will Not Accept The Truth" - why mess around with a voice like Mr. Dickinson's? The lyrics to "Inside The Machine" are printed over some official looking United States Air Force UFO guidelines (still back to front though!) giving a big clue to its subject matter. The vocal mix is messed about with again on "Headswim", while the crunchy sound of the drums and guitars is much more like it on "Meltdown". "Octavia", "Innerspace" and "Strange Death In Paradise" provide a rather disappointing... Read review

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Advantages: Great blues!
Disadvantages: None. Whatsoever.

...I have to admit I found Johnny Winter totally by chance. I was in a record shop and saw a CD in a round, metal case. "Johnny Winter? The Texas Tornado? I'll buy that!" So I did. What I found was a musician, Johnny Winter, who is a hard rocking bluesman of consummate skill. Johnny Winter is such a accomplished bluesman that I have to admit that it came as something of a shock to discover that Johnny Winter is a white Texan. Though he reveals that he hung out in the black part of his hometown in Texas, such was his fever for the blues. And, Winter maintains that it was his sincerity about his passion for the blues that meant that he was safe there. Even though Beaumont had not long before suffered form some terrible racially-inspired riots. Winter's blue's sound as if they were recorded in the 1940s or 1950s. Actually, I was surprised... Read review

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