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the music has been described by dick tuinder as “charlie manson meets nick cave in the digital jungle”
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April 7, 2007
April 6, 2007
U.r.c.h.i.n.
March 31, 2007
March 30, 2007
March 22, 2007
RULE OF THE SWALLOW – THE PASSENGERS
During the latter part of the 1980s there was a spate of groups in the UK producing brassy, funky soul-tinged music. The likes of Curiosity Killed The Cat, Johnny Hates Jazz and Swing out Sister were scoring big with this brand of music. Neill Solomon with the help of ex-Bay City Roller Stuart Wood embraced this style for the debut album of The Passengers.
I have to admit that I found this genré lifeless and uninspiring, music that came close to being really good, but just lacked a final ingredient to cross over from mediocre to good. Obviously the success of the above mentioned groups mean that there was some appeal of the music, although I tend to believe that the appeal lay more in the good looks of the group members than in the music itself. Unfortunately Neill Solomon, despite being of Greek origin, was no Adonis, so the music comes under closer inspection than would say a Curiosity Killed the Cat song.
While the tunes on this album are all well constructed, produced and
executed, apart from a few stand out guitar solos and the backing vocal contribution of Angie Peach on ‘Got to Get Away’, the album never really lifts itself above the constraints of the genré, probing at the barriers, but never breaking through.
Even the hit single ‘Hold On’ which made it to number 5 on the Radio 5 charts suffers the same fate. However it’s the re-appearance of ‘Junk Foods and Disposable Ladies’ from his Uptown Rhythm Dogs days that saves the album from middle of the road oblivion. Given an injection of reggae beat and sunshine, it is the standout track on the album.
Not Solomon’s finest hour, bowing too much to the flavour-of-the-month
pressure. Rather check out his work with the Uptown Rhythm Dogs and
especially his excellent soundtrack music for the movie ‘The Angel, The
Bicycle & the Chinaman’s Finger’ (was this ever commercially released?), unless of course you really like the music of Johnny Hates Jazz.
John Samson, London, UK
this review originally appeared on the sarockdigest.com
March 21, 2007
Neill Solomon is half of U.r.c.h.i.n.
Discography:
Singles
* Roxy Lady (1980) WEA
* Voices (1981) WEA
* Junkfoods and Disposable Ladies (1981) WEA
* Don’t Look Their Way (1981?) WEA
* What (1988)
* In The Year 2000 (1992)
* I Don’t Want To See You (1992)
Albums
* The Occupant – Neill Solomon and The Uptown Rhythm Dogs (1981) WEA
* Rule Of The Swallow – The Passengers (1989) DPMC, DMK9005
* Gathering Of Beasts (1992) Tusk
Biography:
Neill Solomon is without doubt one of the finest singer/ songwriters in South Africa today. From his early days fronting the Uptown Rhythm Dogs, through the Passenger years to his solo work, he has consistently produced songs of depth, character and beauty that will stand the test of time.
Neill formed the Uptown Rhythm Dogs in 1980 along with percussionist Dan Chiorboli and multi-instrumentalist Tony “Lizard” Hunter. After recording two singles the group teamed up with producer Chris Galakis to cut ‘The Occupant’ album. Fueled by the success of ‘Roxy Lady’ and ‘Junk Foods…’ the group secured the opening spot on the Janis Ian tour. Unfortunately on the eve of the tour Tony Hunter was tragically killed and although Neill and Dan completed the shows with additional players, the Dogs broke up a few weeks later. After a short hiatus Neill formed Neill Solomon’s Bazaar in 1983 and toured coast to coast for nearly two years.
In 1985 he joined the Loft Theatre Company and performed in numerous plays including the award winning Kwamanzi. Later that year Neill formed The Passengers along with ace players Chris Bekker, Stuart “Woody” Woods (ex-Bay City Rollers) and George Spencer. This hot line-up recorded three singles before disbanding in 1988. Retaining Stuart Woods, Neill forged ahead with a new line-up and recorded the album ‘Rule of the Swallow’ which produced the No.1 single ‘What’.
Throughout this period Neill continued his interest in theatre and after joining playwright Nicholas Ellenbogen he went on to score the music for the plays The Trophy Hunters and Gone by the Wind. He also appeared in the film The Angel, the Bicycle and the Chinaman’s Finger which won Neill an award for the music score. In 1992 Neill gathered together some of the country’s finest musicians to record his third album ‘The Gathering of the Beasts’ which featured the chart singles ‘In The Year 2000′ and ‘I Don’t Want To See You’.
– June 2000
listen to Neill’s great guitar on www.myspace.com/akurchin