elcome to this Spring 2026 edition of Rumbles. Hopefully you will find something of interest to you within these reviews. Music has the power to cut through all the intolerance and hatred that wants so much to dominate these socially aware times and one can truly lose themselves in music. I know I can! Music has the power to transport me to other places, hopefully it does the same for you, too.

We start off with an album by Joe Martin which is due to be released soon. Fans of Tom Petty and Jason Isbell would do well to investigate Alone In Valentine released on North Star Records and recorded with Glen Campbell's son Cal on drums and Jimmy Webb's son Cornelius on bass, along with guitarist Ben Jarrad and Neil Jones on pedal steel at the Campbell residence in Nashville.  The mantra of the album is "Music made by humans, for humans" and this ethos shines through on a bunch of originals. It tells the story of a woman travelling down from Southern Colorado to Valentine in West Texas and draws heavily on 70’s American country/folk. https://www.joemartinmusic.com/product-page/cd-alone-in-valentine

Next up, we cross the ocean to England for the new album by The Rhynes - Feel So Sure. I enjoyed their two previous releases. The Rhynes are Joe Atkinson who writes and sings the songs and plays all the instruments, augmented by Matty Bane (drums), Stanley Atkinson (additional guitars), Billy Shinbone (lapsteel), Pete New (trombone and trumpet), and Drew Stansall saxophone. It was recorded by Kames Wilkes at Orchard studio and is released by Tiny Dog Records. Joe was a member of Flipron and has toured and recorded extensively with Neville Staple, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and, er, Donovan. It’s an enjoyable album enlivened with horns and Hammond organ with fine harmonies and jangly west coast guitars. www.tinydog.co.uk

The Bringers of Change - Eye of the Storm. This new album from Stone Premonitions on Falling A Records states "In memory of all those who passed before their time during the pandemic." The songs were written by Mark Dunn and arranged, produced & mixed by Mel Jefferson and sees guest appearances from guitar player extraordinaire John Simms, vocals by Penny Rimbaud, and piano by Yasuko Fukuoka amongst others. It is a kind of progressive rock concept album, based on the recent pandemic, with a wide range of styles from the funky 'Blue' and 'The Flying Boy' through to the orchestral moves of 'The Captain Says.' www.fallingarecords.com

Satellite Inn – From Nowhere Revisited. This album came about after the band were picked as support for the 2002 tour of Italy by Willard Grant Conspiracy, whose leader Robert Fisher produced half the songs here, along with the remainder being produced by Stiv Canatrelli who handles vocals, guitar, harmonica and piano. The other band members are bassist Fabrizio Gramellini and drummer Antonio Perugini. Robert died almost ten years ago now and these recordings were due to be released by Mood Food who sadly went out of business. They were brought to light after a box of master tapes was discovered. Those recordings kickstarted this release, setting the wheels in motion to finish off the recordings, they were entrusted to engineer Chris Peet, and have now been put out by El Cortez, the label of Richmond Fontaine and The Delines.  It’s reminiscent of classic Americana bands such as Uncle Tupelo and The Jayhawks. For further information contact Gerry at www.mulefreedom.co.uk

A new solo album by Anana Kaye - Are You There has just been released through Meridian/ECR. Anana has fashioned a fine album, which ranges from the haunting opener 'Cordelia' through to album closer 'Love Is', penned by the late David Olney and Kim Richey. It is a dense, rich poetic album, enriched with all manner of instrumentation and is an album to get lost in. Anana’s vocals are reminiscent to me of a cross between Ambrosia Parsley and Kate Bush. The songs and arrangements are immersive and deal with loss, conflict, and exile. Anana was born in Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union and cannot but help but be influenced by the recent invasion of Ukraine. The "loss" part is obviously David Olney whose spirit informs much of this album. It also features five songs written by her with her husband Irakli Gabriel and David before he passed, along with David’s 'Soldier of Misfortune,' 'There Is A War' by Leonard Cohen, plus 'Familiar', a co-write with Welsh playwright Hywel John. Investigate further at www.ananakaye.bandcamp.com

Next we have a couple of fine releases from the ever-dependable Sound In Silence record label, in their customary exemplary packaging. The first to delve into is from David Newlyn – Skeletons, his fifth release for the label. David is a prolific, ambient producer from the north of England, who has released projects on a slew of tiny independent labels such as Time Released Sound and Rural Colours. He recorded this at home, blending piano, warm synths, and music boxes with his computer sitting at the heart of his minimal set up. Lovely, drifting drones and tinkling piano pieces blend into a dreamy whole, producing stately songs that are given plenty of space to breathe.

Also, out on Sound In Silence is Sweeney – Quiet Companions. The return of Jason Sweeney is welcome, this being his fifth for the label. He a musician from South Australia who has been quietly releasing albums either solo or as part of Panoptique Electrical and Pretty Boy Crossover amongst others. This is a collection of unreleased pieces, rarities and alternate mixes that have never been previously available in any format, covering a ten-year period from 2014 to 2024. It is a companion album to Exquisite Introversions, a double album only available in Australia on the Observable Universe label. It also features a cover of 'Crazy' by Adelaide band Swimsuit. This fine album features Jason’s deep sonorous vocals, underpinned by cello and piano, synths, bass and drums, not a million miles away from bands like Tindersticks. Find them here at www.soundinsilencerecords.bandcamp.com

The Fugitives - The Fugitives. Some way into their career Canadian four piece The Fugitives have established themselves as something of Canadian legends through regular touring and releasing seven albums. With a career spanning over twenty years, they have gelled into a tight unit and this album reflects upon the roads travelled and places visited, creating a stronger bond than ever. The band comprise of Adrian Glynn - vocals, guitars, balalaika, harmonica and bass, Brendan McLeod - vocals, guitar bass, Carla Frey - vocals and violin, and Christopher Suen - vocals and banjo. Acoustic folk music played and sung with passion, their songs are embellished with French Horn, Mellophone, trumpet, and Hammond organ. File under Canadiana. www.fugitivesmusic.bandcamp.com

Beau - Bonfires Of The Soul. Trevor Midgley has just released his twentieth album for Cherry Red to coincide with his 80th birthday! A new batch of his songs is always to be relished. Fourteen songs that are delivered solo with just his trusty 12-string acoustic guitar for accompaniment, falling somewhere between the political bent of Phil Ochs and the arch Englishness of Roy Harper. This could well be the only album I have which references Noddy and his side-kick Big Ears (see title track)! The songs are both satirical and reflective. The passing of time, Lady Chatterley’s brother, mortality, and land ownership are all subjected to his acidic humour, which also dissects the current state of life in these British Isles. Contemporary and topical, it is due to be released in early May and only available as a download at present. Find it here at www.cherryred.co.uk

Some country folk and blues now with the latest album by Andy Cohen + Eleanor Ellis + William Lee Ellis - Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard. Released on the RiverLark record label the acclaimed trio deliver a fine album of acoustic country blues of the first order. The three of them have a long pedigree of music-making, with Andy playing guitar, mandola, dolceola, and singing, William on both six- and twelve-string guitars as well as some slide guitar, and Eleanor singing and playing guitar. They are augmented by extra bass, harmonica,  and vocals by Steve Feinbloom, Fraser Spiers, Julie Coffey, and Vernita Weller. It’s uplifting stuff and I get the feel of sixties artists like the Jim Kweskin Band and Mississippi John Hurt. Its 21 infectious and warming songs fly by in a blur of good time playing and singing. They have immersed themselves into a timeless musical style inhabited with a joy and dedication which makes it all feel so seamless. www.riverlark.com

Hugo Race Fatalists - I Made It All Up For You. Hugo, he of the Bad Seeds has said of this recent album that “I wanted to create something melodic and beautiful in defiance of our current reality.” A fine sentiment indeed and to achieve this aim he took himself and a bunch of trusty comrades over to Italy and the beautiful city of Florence, recording the basic tracks at the floating studio on the Puccini lake. A large part of the album's sound is singer Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, whose distinctive vocals work well against Hugo’s rather downbeat ones. Other musicians include Giovanni Ferrario playing guitar, piano, Mellotron and synths, Checco Giampiola bass, Diego Spagnoli drums, Massimiliano Gallo violin and viola, Nicolai Baronti piano and synth. Simone Sandrucci adds banjo, and electric harmonica player extraordinaire Michaelangelo Russo blows up a storm on three of the songs. The whole album is atmospheric and immersive. www.gustaff.com

Cult Figures - Reports Of People. A new Cult Figures' album is always welcome round these parts and this one doesn’t disappoint. Only their fourth album since their formation back in 1977, the band are Stuart Hilton, Lee McFadden, Jon Hodgson, Steve May, and singer Fraser Gillespie and it was recorded by John Rivers at Woodbine Street studios. From album opener 'Music Of Fear' through to closer 'Scum,' they pour vitriol and rancour over eleven songs that do away the niceties of pop music and scour the depths of the human condition. It’s a cleansing blast of left-of-centre post-punk and a welcome blast of unfussy and direct music. 'The Abductee' is an early favourite, telling of Alien abduction; 'Death Of A Thousand Cuts' is another. In fact, there’s not a duffer amongst them. www.cultfigures.bandcamp.com

We are so fortunate that a company like Fruits De Mer exists,. They continue to put out great records at amazingly affordable prices. Take this latest one, a triple album for the price of a regular new one: The Soft Hearted Scientists – Phantom Of The Canton. This album was released a year or so ago on CD and we are now treated to a triple vinyl version and more time to spend in the company of the Welsh wizards where we are transported to a wonderful place wherein Syd Barrett meets Lewis Carroll in a field of foxgloves, with darting dragonflies and sunflowers. The album is a psychedelically-infused concept of sorts, for anyone who has felt a sense of identity loss during times of crises. It’s an ambitious album taking in elements of 1960’s psychedelia and folk -rock music, early prog and electronic music. The band consists of Nathan Hall who writes, sings, plays guitar and keyboards, along with Dylan Line (keyboards, electronics and sound effects), Paul Jones (six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars and mandolin), Michael Bailey (bass) and producer Frank Naughton (keyboards, all drums, engineering and production).

Following a brief welcome with ‘Phantom Hello’ we enter the ‘Phantom of Canton’, to be greeted by a strange thicket of foxgloves in ‘Foxglove Song’, allowing the band to stretch out a bit before setting seed. A questing ’Hello, Hello’ brings forth jumping beans and sunflowers, while patrolling dragonflies have been alerted, along with other flying beasties, fireflies and bees. ‘Fly by Dragonfly’ is everything a song by that name should be, a dreamy reverie, but beware: every apple has a worm inside it, all of which leads us to the beckoning chasm of ‘Approaching The Canyon’ and ‘The Canyon (smile of the sun-eyed woman)’ where we explore the difference between fantasy and love, with a nice wig-out, complete with oodles of electric guitar, organ and electronics. Excellent stuff!

After a brief intermission we meet the unattainable ‘Wonder Girl’ and attend ‘The Cloud Parade’ at the seaside. ‘The Trapdoor Opens’ to the ‘Trapdoor In the Sky’, where our dreams take on a proggy, celestial madness, mindful that we must obey ‘The Laws Of Physics’. After another take on ‘The Cloud Parade (Submarine reprise)’, we sing a ‘Song For My Sunflower’ - groovy it is too. This trip ends with ‘Golden Times’ a song in multiple parts, dissolving into trippy dub and manic laughter. ’A Phantom Farewell’, bids us goodbye, a short 1920’s sounding lo-fi wax cylinder type recording of a guitar refrain. On top of all that, this vinyl edition has been extended to include a sidelong suite of the album, plus an extra side of Instrumental versions. This is a fine album and highly recommended.

Also, out on Fruits de Mer is a new progressive rock album by Peel, Palmer, Tausig & Gould – Synesthesia. The album features four ten-minute songs that just ooze class and could almost have been released in the early seventies on Deram Nova or Vertigo. It is purely instrumental with the four protagonists swapping ideas back on forth. Each of them is a master of many instruments and they complement each other’s strengths over forty minutes of music that passes in a heartbeat. Eminently listenable and inventive, seek it out on suitably swirly coloured vinyl!

Plus, the label has just released a comprehensive trawl through the back catalogue of Astralasia – An Introduction To, a four-disc set and a good way to get familiar with their oeuvre, namely, chilled-out, acid-house rave. This is the tenth in a series of Fruits de Mer's Introduction To CD’s, enabling those who missed out on the often extremely limited vinyl editions to experience a meander through their vaults. The songs are taken from a wide range of sources, from highly limited 7” singles through to a bunch of unreleased songs, such as the great Chemistry Set remix of 'Love & Confusion.' With over four hours of music all for a bargain price of 17 quid, quite how label owner and national treasure Keith Jones does it is a mystery known to only a few, but long may he continue. You can find these and a whole lot more at www.fruitsdemerrecords.com

Well, that’s it for now. There’s still so much great music to discover out there, be it new or old, freshly laid down or discovered in a dusty old second hand record shop. I hope you all have a great summer. Happy trails and I hope to see some of you at a gig or festival.

Rumbles is written and produced by Andrew Young.
Graphics, editing, and production by Jeff Penczak and Phil McMullen @ Terrascope Online, April 2026.