Laurence Todd

Reviewer at RAMzine Magazine

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Articles

Held By Trees - Hinterland

1 week ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Following two albums primarily featuring instrumental compositions, Held By Trees (HBT) introduced vocals through Martin Smith in their 2024 release, Solace. The result is an a sublimely beautiful piece of work that comprises mainly three extended tracks. Each track is presented twice: once with vocals and once as a predominantly instrumental piece – the outcome being a quite absorbing album. On this new album Hinterland, however, HBT have reverted back to the instrumental format.
Middle Earth - London’s Psychedelic Club 1967-69 - RAMzine

1 week ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Middle Earth, formerly the Electric Garden, for an all-too short period in the mid-late 1960s was possibly the most exciting hippie club in London. Though like the UFO club, its lifespan was a brief one as it closed down in 1968 after yet another police raid. But, as a venue, it’s a revered spot in London’s underground music history, alongside The Roundhouse, UFO and the Marquee club.
Jingle Jangle Morning - The U.S. 1960’s Folk Rock Explosion

1 week ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Between the years 1965-1970, the US witnessed a quite astonishing growth in the area of folk rock which, perhaps unsurprisingly, has its origins in the seismic impact made by The Beatles and the ‘British Invasion’ of the early 1960’s. The influence that these long-haired musicians (at least for their era!) had on American youth was quite remarkable.
Clann marks the epic conclusion to Solstice's 'Sia Trilogy'

1 week ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

The release of Clann sees the completion of the ‘Sia trilogy’ by folk proggers Solstice, and put simply, it’s an utterly sublime way to close the circle. Solstice has been in existence for forty-plus years, with a couple of downtime periods along the way, and in this time they only released five studio albums. Since 2022, however, the band has released three studio albums, plus at least two ‘live’ sets, so what’s led to this sudden outburst of creativity?
The Darkness - Dreams On Toast

1 week ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Justin Hawkins and his band of merry men, AKA The Darkness, are back with their eighth studio album, which is once again brimming with tributes to iconic 1970s artists like Paul McCartney and Queen, along with a range of other influences. The launch of the album aligns perfectly with their most significant headlining tour across the UK in several years.
The Clash - A Photographic Monograph

2 weeks ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Chris Salewicz opens this book by declaring that The Clash were “the garage band who grew to stadium size,” and in doing so, they solidified their status as one of the most significant bands to emerge from the UK.
Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant

1 month ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

“I’m a curious person, not in the sense of being weird, in the sense of having curiosity. I’m also a ruminant in the sense of being contemplative. The two together seemed like a good title for an album.” – Ian Anderson. Any new music from Jethro Tull is always to be welcomed. The band went almost twenty years without releasing any albums, though band leader Ian Anderson did release several solo albums.
Gleb Kolyadin - Mobula

1 month ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Gleb Kolyadin is a highly esteemed Russian musician with classical training, known for being one half of the duo Iamthemorning, alongside Mariana Semkina. His performances seamlessly traverse the realms of classical music set against a cinematic backdrop, blending in elements of progressive rock and jazz fusion while also drawing on folk and ethnic influences. This diverse approach to music clearly indicates that his artistic journey is marked by a spirit of adventure.
Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - Perpetual Change

1 month ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

Captured during The Band Geeks, Yes Classics and Epics Tour in August 2023, Perpetual Change emerges from the collaboration between prog icon Jon Anderson—an artist eager to revisit his musical heritage—and a talented group of young virtuoso musicians. Under Anderson’s guidence, these skilled interpreters breathe new life into numerous classic Yes tracks, many of which are now over fifty years old; several of which are a part of prog’s high canon, and create a joyous celebration of Yes music.
Envy of None's Stygian Waves bring liberation to Rush guitarist

1 month ago | ramzine.co.uk | Laurence Todd

After spending forty-five years playing guitar in Rush, one of the most renowned rock bands in history, Alex Lifeson likely thought he wouldn’t be involved in any more band projects and would instead focus on solo work if he chose to record again. However, everything changed when he met the musicians who form Envy of None. Since that encounter, he has produced two albums and an EP with this new group and appears to be thoroughly enjoying this new chapter in his life.