Greta Van Fleet - The Battle At Garden's Gate (Republic Records)

Great as Greta Van Fleets’s debut album was, it was overshadowed by the Led Zep comparisons, which were only toned down a tad for their second release, but they seemed to have expanded their influences for this one, with flashes of Rush-style prog added. They’re still channelling classic rock of the 70’s, but they do it with such artistry and commitment to the genre that they transcend being mere copyists.   

    
Greta Van Fleet - Heat Above

The Winter Tree - Sandman (Self-released)

The Winter Tree are the brainchild of composer and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Laitres, evolving from his previous band Magus following a name change, with 'Sandman' being their seventh album. I'm late to the party here, and must seek out some of their other records, as this is classic progressive rock of the highest order, blending complex song structures with the refined playing of Laitres and his band. 

  
The Winter Tree - Sandman

Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - Interim Report, March 1979 (Bandcamp)

This might look like a joke album, but I was alerted to it by an article in Fortean Times on ‘The Haunted Generation', focusing on artists who are recording music influenced by memories of their childhood, and this album is Gordon Champan Fox’s homage to the brutalist beauty of two of Cheshire's new towns. It lovingly recreates the essence of a John Carpenter soundtrack in a Warp-ed way, and is a retro delight.    

 
Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - Gateway To The North

The Polyphonic Spree - Afflatus (Good Records)

 

Their first album in seven years sees The Polyphonic Spree taking a selection of their favourite songs and recording their own take on them. The choices are a mix of the obvious and the surprising, from ‘She’s A Rainbow' and 'Run To Me' to ABBA's 'The Visitors', Rush’s 'The Spirit Of Radio', & ‘The Porpoise Song’ by The Monkees, all lovingly recreated by Tim and the band. A nice diversion before their next offering.    

      
The Polyphonic Spree - The Spirit Of Radio

Faeland - When I Close My Eyes (Green Sage)

 

Faeland are a folk duo, consisting of the pure vocals of Rebecca Nelson, augmented by the arrangements and backing of Jacob Morrison, plus assorted guest musicians. This is the second album from the band, following their 2018 debut, and although essentially a folk outfit, they do mix in hints of country and jazz to produce a sound that transcends the genre, and is therefore able to appeal to a much wider audience. 

Faeland - Easier

Ryley Walker - Course In Fable (Husky Pants)

 

When Ryley Walker released ‘Primrose Green' in 2015, it was heralded as part of a psychedelic folk revival, but with each new album he's stretched that concept further and further, until he is now releasing records which consist of side-long instrumentals. For this album he’s in singer/songwriter mode, with a rock sound overseen by John McEntire of Tortoise, and it raises his music to an entirely new level.   

   
Ryley Walker - Striking Down Your Big Premiere

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END (Constellation Records)

 

I can’t believe that it’s been four years since the last GYBE album, but it has, and so this disc is a very welcome addition to their canon. There are no great surprises - two 20-minute suites and two short five-minute pieces, and all up to the standard that I have come to expect from the band. I don’t know what it is about them, but I just love everything that they do, and even a four year wait was worth it to hear this.   

  
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - A Military Alphabet