The Groove of Jackson Analogue

Jackson Analogue have a groove; the type that grabs your body and demands attention.

This groove comes from the Isle of Wight and contains infectious guitars acting as a whip to drive the beat or a counter balance to the emotionally charged vocals. All of this energy is seeped in Hammond organ.

Combined it makes Jackson Analogue one of the most authentic rock groups around.

They’re also willing to experiment. Their debut album “And then, nothing” (above) was mastered onto vinyl and then recorded back into a digital state. Thereby changing the tone of the recording and yet again finding the groove.

This album was also a way of cutting ties with the past and forging new relationships within the media and music industry for the future.

As guitarist Jim Holmes explained: “The deal we signed went sour and this album released all the music owned by that company. It’s had great reviews and brought the band to the front of people’s minds. But at the same time we are free to find people who can deliver more than we are capable of.”

Thanks to web sites like MySpace, YouTube and digital downloading, bands have access to more tools than some record companies release. So when they can’t any extra then bands have to move on.

As for future record deals Jim has this advice for himself and others: “Don’t rush into anything. Know who you are working with and get advice from as many industry people as possible.”

Jackson Analogue are in the process of making their second album which again will be recorded in the water tower on Osborne House on the Island. And have a new EP coming out soon via download.

They are playing The Bestival (Saturday, 6pm) an we’ll have a track lined up for this Sunday’s Original Showcase – 6pm original 106fm

The Appeal of Melissa

Every Sunday, after 9pm, the Original Showcase has Fanpower, in which listeners, or fans of an artist, can request more plays of their favorite acts.

If success was based on the amount of requests we receive then Southampton based Melissa would be top of the charts.

She consistently gets requests from all ages, genders and nationalities. And it is no surprise.



Her voice is excellent; her songs are about love and life, and the music is a mixture of laid-back jazz and country. She plays keyboard and flute, Dave accompanies her on guitar

The requests arrive by text, email and telephone and it’s during the calls you can hear that Melissa’s songs have tickled an emotional response with her fans.

“I write about what ever springs into my mind, or is triggered by events around me, even conversations on the bus.” Melissa explained. “The song ‘Who Knows’ was about a depressed and lonely colleague who was hoping for that special someone to come along. I just put myself I her shoes and wrote about how that would feel.”

There is nothing new in Melissa’s approach to writing but she definitely has something which links her music to the minds and hearts of the listener.

Thanks to the Internet this effect is being felt abroad with an appreciative following on the American country circuit.

As soon as the album has been recorded Melissa is hoping to head out to the States; but the album comes first and that should be with us by the end of the year.

The Original Showcase will be playing a song by Melissa this Sunday after 6pm on Original 106fm.

Dlugokecki Say "Hello" To The UK

Last week saw the conclusion of an eclectic tour of the UK by the Southampton based band Dlugokecki.

Named after the forthcoming album, the “How Do You Do” tour was their way of introducing themselves to the public and media in a way that mixes style with quality – very much a reflection of their music.


This adventure included venues such as the Mersey Ferry, Old Trafford, the London Eye, Stonehenge, and outside the Haunted House at Blackpool pleasure beach.

Where some rely solely on the internet this band have taken the camper van by the steering wheel and put some miles on the clock.

It’s also been a great way for Dlugokecki to collect plenty of footage for a video that will encompass the whole of the country.

This is music to cross borders and continents and the songs will also click within you. Ben presents stories and ideas we can all relate to.

Whether playing as a duo or a full band Dlugokecki ooze sincerity and charm.

One venue was the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth where Ben (vocals/guitar) and Andy (keyboards) played a strong set with the harbour and Isle of Wight as a back drop – and the island has a special connotation for Ben.

His fiancé used to live there and his song “Ocean” expresses his feelings about having a barrier between two people who love each other – in this case it was the Solent Estuary.

And I can’t see many barriers between his music and the rest of the world’s ears.

Birdpen – debut album announced

Whether it’s live, or on CD, you’ll always be impressed by Birdpen.

They started as a duo, combing guitar and synthesizers with killer riffs under a driving rhythm that commands attention.

Both Dave Pen (vocals, guitars, synth and centre) and Mike Bird (guitar, synth and right) are masters of studio technique and performance.

They also have James Livingston Seagull (Drums and left) who is an impassive powerhouse that compliments their laid-back yet powerful approach.



Their songs are thoughtful, intriguing and powerful. Each CD is carefully crafted and on stage they reproduce their recordings magnificently.

The mix keeps your ears firmly fixed on the layers of music surrounding you.

But in this country there aren’t many bands similar to Birdpen and, as most UK record companies seem to require groups that are part of a trend, Birdpen have one option: mainland Europe

As Dave Pen explained, “We have to prove ourselves in other territories before doors will open for us here, so we’re releasing our first album in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We’ve had great experiences in Europe and their lack of inhibitions means they get our music immediately.”

His continental vision comes from also singing with Archive, the London based collective that recently supported Muse in front of 60,000 people in Paris.

Some of that European support is also focused on Birdpen with fans crossing countries just to see them play. But that’s what happens when Birdpen get under your skin and into your nest.

The debut album is titled On/Off/Safety/Danger and released February 2008. It will be a hit.