Reviews

Once there was a singer called Elvis Presley. You might have heard of him. Around this time of year, his long deceased hamburger chomping equipment can be regularly heard crooning out the classic "Blue Christmas". You might have heard it.

It's a song that inspired somebody with far too much porcelain on their hands to make the most hideous Christmas decoration I have ever seen.

According to the advert I saw for it in the weekend TV guide from one of the further right leaning newspapers, it rotated while some tinny sounding mechanism belted out the Presley tune with all the enthusiasm of a dying newt.

That's probably not how the advert put it at the time, but my imagination was running riot by then.

Happy Blue Year

Anyway, I digress. "Blue Christmas". You might have heard of it. Meanwhile, in Gloucestershire, it's not been so much of a Blue Christmas as it has been a Blue Year.

This has nothing to do with the credit crunch, you will be pleased to hear, and is more to do with the fact that musicians in the county seem more than obsessed with, well, blueness.

We've had bands like The Stone Saloon literally singing the blues, but we've also had an influx of bands who go by the names of "Big Blue Sun", "Edge of Blue" and "Blue Noise". 

Even the bands whose names or style are not principally blue have something of that colour about their songs.

Blues Brothers (and Sisters)

The Offbeat offered a possibly ELO referenced track called 'Blue Sky' while The New Socials treated us to the 'Bedroom Blues'.

Only Mark Saunders seemed willing to buck this year's trend and provide respite from the blueness of the year with a track called 'Hey Red'.

But enough of this desperate attempt to contextualise a year of musical diversity.

But for the loose connections outlined above concerning the colour blue, the music introduced by BBC Gloucestershire Introducing has been as varied as it comes.

Ten of the Best

There's been the usual array of indie bands, true, but we've also had electronic experimentalism, easy listening covers bands and a selection of songs from the pen of a man who recently ran off to leave the circus.

The music scene in Gloucestershire has seen it all. And here are ten of the best:

The Echoes

10: The Echoes

An exciting band not afraid to bring their Gloucestershire accents into the heart of indie.

Their songs are about the ups and downs of life.

Anthemic and uplifting stuff.

Stand out song: 'Roll Up Roll Up'

Rookie/Error

9: Rookie/Error

Noisy, noisy nu-metal from Gloucester rocker's Rookie/Error.

If you like your existential philosophy condensed into musical form, this band may be for you.

Exactly what Sartre would have made of  the music is unknown, but he might well have liked some of the sentiments: "Hell is where we are". Well, quite.

Stand out song: 'Anything is Better'

Mark Saunders

8: Mark Saunders

Musical chameleon Mark Saunders first came to this listener's attention in May 2004.

Now in 2008 he has returned with the imaginatively titled 'Album III', his…third album.

The tracks are a musical journal of self discovery; of admitting mistakes made and hoping to move on.

Stand out song: 'Face You Show the World'

Two of 'Blue Noise'

7: Blue Noise

Back in April, I confidently labelled this band "a new hope for local music".

At the end of the year, I'm still happy to stand by my word.

The band produce great music and even greater lyrics ("I've got twelve door bells that just won't ring/I've got half a choir but they just won't sing" is just one example).

Stand out track: 'Getting Younger'

Candidates

6: Candidates

A small band with a big sound. Between them, Christian and Gareth make enough of a Noughties Indie noise to awake the dead.

Like with Mark Saunders there's a sense of self discovery to their lyrics - with a concentration on the theme of growing up.

Just don't call them "The Candidates". They won't like it...

Stand out track: 'There's No 'The' in Candidates'

Sundae Club

5: Sundae Club

One of the most gloriously inventive bands in the country let alone the county.

The musical two piece use samples and electronic instruments even Kraftwerk would throw out to produce some of the most innovative music you will ever hear.

Their album 'British Summer Time' was a return to form previously heard on their debut 'Technostalgia'.

Stand out track: 'Good People'

Faded Circus

4: Faded Circus

Some of the most beautiful, chilled out music you will ever hope to hear was composed and recorded in Gloucestershire.

Faded Circus' atmospheric songs capture the most beautiful sunset, the most exhilarating hilltop view or the most peaceful lakeside walk and turn them into music.

Utterly gorgeous.

Stand out track: 'No Care For Breaks'

Sam Holmes

3: Sam Holmes

Contemporary folk artist Sam Holmes stole my heart a couple of years ago.

With the release earlier this year of another EP showed no sign of returning it.
Holmes' music is gentle soothing stuff that will ease you through the long nights and restore your faith in the world, but she can also belt out a good jazzy shuffle too.

Stand out track: 'Stories to Tell'

Pete of The Worries

2: The Worries

What's a better word than exciting? If there is such a word, then The Worries are it.

The band do exactly what they say on the tin: they're worried and they bring their dystopian fear to the world of the indie dance floor.

Even the tired, poor, huddled masses of the world have the right to dance every now and then.

Stand out track: 'All Fall Down'

Big Blue Sun

1: Big Blue Sun

A band with a fantastic pedigree closed the year with a novel thing: a concept album themed around Gloucester.

The album 'Nocturnal City Journal' has a luscious texture to it that will melt your heart.

It is filled with sad songs drenched in nostalgia.

There is a sense of decline in the city - and in the individual characters depicted in the songs.

Between the cracks, there are flecks of hope which make the album all the more poignant.

Stand out track: 'Gloucester Moves'

Great musical year

So, there you have it: another year gone and another ten tracks dissected, itemised and listed in order of greatness.

2009 is already promising to be another great musical year for Gloucestershire.

I'm not sure how prominent the colour blue will be in the musical agenda, but given the number of metal bands lining themselves up for your attention, expect the coming year to be a noisy one.

This article is an external contribution and expresses a personal opinion, not necessarily the views of the BBC.

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If you're involved in the Gloucestershire music scene and you would like Stephen to review your music, please feel free to get in touch. Either email gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk or send your album and a bit about yourself to:

BBC Gloucestershire Introducing...
c/o Chris Sandys
London Road
Gloucester
GL1 1SW

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