Arne Jansen/Stephan Braun: Going Home Jansen, electric and acoustic guitars; Braun, 5-string cello, bass Herzog 901101HER (CD). 2023. Jansen, Arne Schumann, Josef Bach, prods.; Schumann, Bach, engs. Performance Sonics ½ If you don't love Dire Straits, either you're too young to remember the '80s or lack good taste. Mark Knopfler was one of the anointed. "Money for Nothing" and "Telegraph Road" are immortal. "Sultans of Swing" is as perfect a song as rock'n'roll ever gave birth to.
Pit Pony: World to Me Clue Records CLUE118 (LP). 2023. Chris McManus, eng. & prod. Performance Sonics ½ Pit Pony is a young band that hails from Tyneside, Newcastle, an English region once best known as one of Britain's main coalmining areas. In the early days of British coalmining, pit ponies were the engines for moving coal. They rarely saw the light of day. I truly hope this Pit Pony does, because this, their debut, is a powerhouse of an album. It may be my Album of the Year.
Eva Cassidy: I Can Only Be Me Cassidy, vocals, guitar; London Symphony Orchestra; six others Blix Street G2-10121 (CD, available in download and immersive formats). 2023. Eva Cassidy, Chris Biondo, Christopher Willis, Bill Straw, Tom Norrell, William Ross, Jochem van der Saag, prods.; Nick Wollage, Neil Hutchinson, Jonathan Stokes, Jeremy Miller, engs. Performance Sonics ½ Eva Cassidy died of melanoma in 1996, age 33, almost completely unknown. She has since become a cult figure. The cult is large.