Self-released
Songs from the Underground is the first solo album by Gregg McKella, the singer/guitarist of UK space rock band Paradise 9. I’ve been in contact with the man for many years and was also lucky to see the band perform live at Kozfests in 2023 and 2024. At least Gregg also was involved in jamming with several other musicians at those festivals, if my memory serves me right…
Anyway, on this CD he concentrates on acoustic based “space folk” style. Gregg has a long history of also playing acoustic stuff while busking in the 90s and that’s where most of these songs are coming from. The album was recorded and produced by another UK space rocker Martin Litmus from Litmus, who also plays bass, keyboards, synths, Mellotron, guitars, drums and percussion, with Gregg on vocals, guitars, glissando guitar, clarinet and synths. The album also features guest musicians Nick Pynn on violins, Jeanette Murphy on BVs along with Paradise 9s
Tyrone Thomas on lead and slide guitars and Mr Eugene also on violins. So it’s not just acoustic guitar and voice we have here, some tracks even rock a bit. Most of it is still pretty folky stuff.
The album starts off with the beautiful and melancholic folk song “All Said and Done” and I really like this one. I must have heard this somewhere before. The violin is a nice addition. “Gone so Silent” has drums and rocks a bit more. “New Horizons” is the longest track on the album at 8:25 and the spacey synthesizers add some Hawkwind vibes especially in the first part which is never a bad thing in my books! Also “Face in the Crowd” has some synth noises etc. Nice vocals on this one. “It’s Come to This” has more electric guitar, bass and drums and a sort of jazz/funk rock vibe. The instrumental “Sacred Space” is a dreamy number bringing to mind some of the more peaceful Daevid Allen pieces. Wonderful! Then we have “Charlie Don’t Mind” that reminds me of something but I just can’t name what. The deep “One More Touch” brings to mind Daevid again, maybe mostly for its slide/glissando guitar work. Also “We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago” by Hawkwind, a bit. Great tune. “New Dawn” is a shorter, instrumental acoustic folk piece. “Time to Go” has a sort of ska rhythm. “Motherless Children” is a traditional folk tune that for example also Dave Brock has recorded. This is a rather different version, though. The very nice album is finished with the seven-minute “Woman Like You”, a very beautiful love song, I would say. All in all Songs from the Underground is a highly enjoyable album for all those who enjoy the more folky side of space and psych rock. Available on CD and digital download.
greggmckella.bandcamp.com
Songs From The Underground by Gregg McKella
