Kate Heart (Self-titled EP)

The soundtrack to my commute this morning (5 November, 2015). Kate Heart's eponymous 5 track EP (I got to hear it twice in the 40 minute drive!!) Big drums, jangly guitars (electric & acoustic), lovely songwriting, and a gorgeous voice…

Hailey Calvert – In The Hour Of The Wolf

The soundtrack of my commute from/to work yesterday & today (27 & 28 October, 2016) - Hailey Calvert's stunning new album "In The Hour Of The Wolf"!! This album is a tour de force - from the maturity of the songwriting (any song that…

Sam Buckingham – The search for meaning (Part 1)

Interview by Ian Dearden ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the…

The audio restoration of ‘Andrew Dutney – Eight Songs’

Technical article by Ian Dearden About a year ago, I received 4 cassettes from a friend for audio restoration. On one side of one of the tapes were eight songs by another friend, Andrew Dutney. Although Andrew eventually pursued a long time…

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…