THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS 2025...

Time for a recap on 2025 and 12 things from the year that have captured my attention, but first I'd like to thank Keith for the opportunity to present these monthly ramblings. I hope that I'm not overstaying my welcome. Many thanks as well to those who visit, it's very much appreciated.

Merry Christmas & Happy 2026! Now, without further ado, it's hats off to the following...

exedra / Star Zoned
Where new music began for me in 2025. 'Star Zoned' filled the silence and lifted me during those first few dark and cold weeks of the new year. Beautiful. Listen/download at https://exedra1.bandcamp.com/album/star-zoned

Pink Floyd / At Pompeii MCMLXXII
There's something about early 70s Floyd, something epic, both in the music composed and the ideas of presenting them, Pompeii being a case in point. What a setting! As the saying goes, '...a man's reach should exceed his grasp..', obviously the Floyd mantra!

Jake Stephenson / Space Is High
I have to thank Keith once more for alerting me to the work of Jake Stephenson. There's some quite mesmerising music on this set. I wasn't always sure how I was going to feel after each listening - in bliss, or perhaps slightly disorientated - I found the music at times to be quite hypnotic. The sound of summer 2025 for me.

John & Yoko Plastic Ono Band / Power To The People I watched the John & Yoko documentary 'One To One' at the local cinema here earlier in the year. There were only about half a dozen of us in there (!), but it was early on a Sunday morning. I thought that the sound quality of the concert footage was amazing, the best I'd ever heard. The power pushed me right back into my seat! Half a dozen was quite a turnout in retrospect, as just a couple of weeks later, again on Sunday morning, I saw 'Borrowed Time : Lennon's Last Decade' and I was the only person there to see that! It doesn't bother me that Lennon might not be too popular in these parts, having documentaries about him and Yoko relegated to just early Sunday morning screenings, he still remains a bit of a hero of mine.

However, after weighing up what Lennon rarities I have and what I have previously heard, against what was on offer on the deluxe boxed set of 'Power To The People', I couldn't convince myself that I actually needed all the 'bells and whistles'. This didn't stop me agonizing over it though. I'm the same with all these deluxe sets, the temptation is terrible, but I usually settle on a double disc set. I'm quite happy just to hear the remixed/remastered material along with a smattering of the extras. How I've changed! To think, I was once the proud owner of a full set (35 albums) of 'The Lost Lennon Tapes' bootleg vinyl series that featured unissued sessions, demos and home recordings. I couldn't hear enough of Lennon then. It also felt much easier to absorb such a large quantity of music by a single artist, there were less distractions.

Collecting the 'Lost Lennon' series was an adventure in itself. Once I was made aware of forthcoming volumes by my 'contact in the north' (the LPs usually appeared three at a time) I would then make contact with my 'source in the south' to reserve. Why the 'source in the south' couldn't inform me of the impending release(s) in the first place I could never work out – have you ever noticed that charming quirkiness of some record dealers? This particular quest continued from 1988 to 1992, which was when the series ended. There was always the worry I'd miss out on a volume along the way, as once I'd started on the set I instinctively felt compelled to 'collect 'em all'! I couldn't help myself. This concern stemmed from the fact that the vinyl was shipped from the U.S. west coast and occasionally some of the bootleggers would get busted and have stock confiscated, or, as in one instance, lose some of it during an earthquake in the region. Some volumes could therefore be scarcer than others, but thankfully my connections never failed. In those pre-internet collecting days, if you missed out on something limited, then the search for that elusive gem could drag on for a long time afterwards. '..Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now...' to quote once more His Bobness. Over the years since, there's been more music of other kinds that I've wished to explore and so with my time (and money) divided, I've had to learn to be selective, not just with Lennon, but with a whole host of other artists that I followed intently over the years. I remain loyal though, happy just to 'keep my hand in' now, so to speak.

Luckily for me, the double disc set of 'Power To The People' contained just the two (almost complete) Willowbrook Benefit performances and it was these I was more interested in anyway. It's surprising to think that John & Yoko rarely performed live, probably just over a handful of times. The Willowbrook concerts remain special, as in my opinion, they show the duo at their live peak and now the sound quality has been improved, well, the previously available and edited 'Live In New York' release from the mid 80s has been knocked out of the park. It does however include that 'cancelled' song, missing from 'Power To The People'. This was politically-charged/cause fighting John & Yoko, full of passion, with perhaps a little vulnerability on show too. They're a little nervous during the afternoon set, sometimes not quite reaching the notes, occasionally fluffing lyrics, but by the evening show the 'primal' energy has returned and it's 'pinned back into the seat' time again! There's the argument that there was an element of naivety about them and their actions in the early 70s, but I've always admired their conviction to whatever it was that they saw as an injustice. They used their 'celebrity' to open minds and at least try to make a difference. They were not afraid to take risks, or see a fall in their popularity as a result. That kind of courage for people in their position is becoming rarer.

Fifth Daughter / Stellar Season
I've heard that music can take you higher. I've no more to add...

Steve Kilbey & Winged Heels / The Road To Tibooburra
Steve Kilbey's Winged Heels project is another of his collaborations I continue to enjoy, one I'd happily file alongside the classic songwriting of Jack Frost (with Grant McLennan), the ethereal Hex (with Donette Thayer) and the intricate guitar based melodies of 'David Neil : The Wilderness Years' concept (with Ricky Maymi). 'Tibooburra' is the second Winged Heels release and a concept, featuring music Steve wrote for a musical based on the comeback of a faded rock star. It's maybe not so quite 'rootsy/down home' as its predecessor 'The Hall Of Counterfeits', but it still shares a good and varied array of acoustic instruments. It's this more organic approach on both albums that appeals to me, as it's a rarity when placed alongside his more 'progressive' other work, within and without The Church. On 'Tibooburra' the core musical backing is again in the capable hands of Gareth Koch, Barton Price & Roger Mason and finds SK in a lighter mood, clearly enjoying himself among this particular little gathering of musicians.

Crystal Jacqueline & Friends / Smoke Road
This is what I call 'modern folk', if that makes any sense? A real favourite of mine this year. I'd lose myself in both the lyrics and the music with every listen. Now, with it being that time of year and all, please charge your glasses with, ahem, mead, as I'd like to make a toast to all involved in the making of the wonderful 'Smoke Road' project! Cheers!

V.A. / The Shape Of Things To Come
I also found myself quite absorbed in this FdM freebie this year as well. I'd settle back to listen and let the music take me wherever...

The Who / Live At The Oval 1971
In my opinion, between 1969 and 1971 no one came near to The Who live. How I would have loved to have witnessed the original line up in concert, but I was born just a little too late. The sheer power, tightness and general consistency of the band's performances from this era is amazing. The Oval performance can at times be a little rough around the edges, but it's spirited, with the band in a playful mood when interacting with its audience too. 'Won't Get Fooled Again' here is possibly the best I've heard it played live. 'Love Ain't For Keeping' and 'Baby Don't You Do It' are also highlights, but it's a shame Pete seems to struggle with tuning problems (to these ears anyway) during 'See Me, Feel Me'. However, once the rest of the band gets behind him and the intensity of the song rises, then they're away with only blue skies in view! Ah, bless The 'Orrible 'Oo!

Robert Plant / Saving Grace Featuring Suzi Dian
The 'reinvented' Robert Plant continues to fascinate me. His recent albums and choice of collaborators are always interesting. The material selected - a mix of the old with the new - can be surprising, revealing him as quite the musicologist! I'm particularly impressed by his choice of blues and folk tunes. There's a mature grace to him these days, a sense of contentment. Long may he run...

Beatles / Anthology 4
When you're into The Beatles, you're into The Beatles and, within reason, I'll eagerly embrace anything 'new' to listen to. This volume really gets going (for me) from 'Love You To' onwards and although there are no previously unheard songs, the set becomes revelatory when examining the recording process for some of the band's later, more intricate songs. Using similar 'elements mixes' popular with the recent John Lennon reissues, the listener now has the chance to appreciate parts of the music in isolation. The orchestral arrangements on 'Anthology 4' for 'She's Leaving Home' (Mike Leander) and those of 'I Am The Walrus' and 'Something' (both by George Martin) are really quite beautiful. Once again I found falling under the spell of The Beatles! I've never been comfortable with the tampering of John's home demos for 'Free As A Bird', 'Real Love' and 'Now And Then', in my opinion they're not really 'true' Beatles recordings, but typically, after a couple of listens of this set, I had 'Free As A Bird' ringing inside my head for a long time afterwards - 'those pesky Fabs' eh! I was also pleased to be given a free Anthology tote bag when I purchased my 2CD set. I'm sure it was really meant as a gift for buyers of the deluxe set, as it's certainly large enough. I appreciated the gesture a lot and left the shop head held high, my modest purchase rattling around quite nicely inside it! Thank you!

Leigh Gregory / The Lucky Ones EP
A 3 track EP featuring two acoustic songs Leigh demoed (alongside a host of other material) with Jefferson Parker under the name L&J Illuminated. This was around the time of lockdown. These two songs are joined on the EP by the previously unreleased 'busker version' of 'Wherever You Go', originally found on Leigh's '99 to 111' album. L&J's 'The Lucky Ones' and 'Morning Rain' have been enhanced with newly recorded electric guitar parts and additional keyboards and drums. They're the better for it too, now more realised, but it's the lazy harmonica lines featured on 'Wherever You Go' that really grabbed my attention – something I wasn't expecting! Lovely, gentle rocking back on the porch music for an endless summer evening! '...we are the lucky ones, alive and free...'
Listen/download at THE LUCKY ONES ... L&J ILLUMINATED