Dustyesky at Woodford Folk Festival 28 December, 2019

In these COVID-19 times, live music is something of a rose-coloured memory, I know - but what better time than now to spread those memories around. From the 2019-2020 Woodford Folk Festival, a joyous and moving performance. I can say no…

Steve Tyson – Wrong Train, Right Station

Record review by Ian Dearden Steve Tyson's third solo album, Wrong Train, Right Station, is a tour de force, and I was delighted to be able to review it for Trad & Now in 2018.

Welcome to the musicmatters.blog

Welcome to my brand new blog - musicmatters.blog!! For quite some time, I’ve been wanting to find a home for the various aspects of my music writing - record reviews, interviews, concert reviews and technical recording articles. Now, thanks…
Red Crow Burning North Sky Record Review by Ian Dearden

Red Crow – Burning North Sky

Review by Ian Dearden Súnas bandmates Sarah Calderwood and Paul Brandon (life and musical partners) have joined forces with Mirko Ruckels (Pretty Violet Stain) and Markus Karlsen (The Company) to form Red Crow, a band that inhabits the interstices…
Sadie Jay A passing of seasons record review

Sadie & Jay – A Passing Of Seasons

Review by Ian Dearden The soundtrack to my journeys by car, plane and foot over the past few weeks has been the third album by the wonderful Brisbane-based duo Sadie & Jay. Recorded at Parklands Studio by the magical Michael Fix, this…
The Casuarinas - Into The Clearing review

The Casuarinas – Into The Clearing

Mini Review by Ian Dearden The soundtrack to my commute to work today - the mini-LP "Into The Clearing" by Brisbane group The Casuarinas. Proudly recorded AAA (multitrack tape, mixed to a master tape, mastered to a lacquer & pressed to…
Chloe & Jason Roweth CD review by Ian Dearden

Chloe & Jason Roweth – Light Another Fire

Record Review by Ian Dearden Chloe & Jason Roweth’s extraordinary and sprawling album, “Light Another Fire”, has been the soundtrack to my commute to and from work last week and this week!! This double CD album checks in at 130…
Jane Germain and Ian Simpson CD review by Ian Dearden

Jane Germain & Ian Simpson – Home on the Hill

Review by Ian Dearden If too much banjo is not nearly enough for you, then today’s “Commute to Work” album is for you. Actually, I have to confess – this album has been my commute to and from work soundtrack on a number of occasions…
Liz Frencham Love & Other Crimes record review by Ian Dearden

Liz Frencham – Love & Other Crimes

Savouring a new Liz Frencham album is like devouring a box of artisan chocolates. One part of you wants to make each chocolate last a week – the other part of you just wants to scoff the entire box in a single sitting. And so it is with this album – one part of me wants to play each one of the tracks on repeat so I can savour and devour each tiny detail for a week. The other part of me just can’t wait to hear each new track, to dive into the narrative and musical arc of this gorgeous masterpiece, and hear it as one stunning, panoramic whole that entirely captures and envelopes me.