Each year, MMR make available a free streaming compilation containing material from across their artists, as well as giving away a limited edition of the physical version at random to people who purchase some of their albums through the website. Here we have 22 songs, from 22 different artists across 22 different releases, the concept being that listeners will use this as an opportunity to discover some of the wonderful artists operating on the MRR Group of labels, which includes Peacock Sunrise. There are more than 100 minutes of music on this collection, bringing together artists from both MRR and Peacock Sunrise, displaying the breadth of the talent on offer.
The album commences with a track by Blake, one of the few artists contained therein which I had previously not come across. Obviously influenced by some of the earlier solo works of Phil Collins, there is something about this which does not really resonate with me, and certainly there is a dramatic change in pace and approach with the next song, which is by Sun King Rising. This is the solo project by Texan singer-songwriter John Blangero, whose ‘Delta Tales’ was one of the breakthrough albums last year, which I described as classic rock and soul steeped in Americana, with great songs and vocals. This continues in the same vein, but “Free Will In China Blues” is not contained on that album as it was released as a single later in the year. Then we have The Gardening Club, the project by Martin Springett. In recent years he has become quite prolific and here is another single, bearing his trademark mix of Camel and Roy Harper. He has only recently signed with the label, and I look forward with great interest to the next album.
This compilation is packed full of highlights, from the much heavier attack of Thoughts Factory, the complexity and sheer delight of Marco Ragni, the layered beauty of Scarlet Hollow, but there is one song which needs to be called out for so many reasons. In the wake of the senseless death of George, Dyanne Potter Voegtlin (keyboards, vocals) and her son Jan-Christian Vögtlin (bass, drum programming, guitar synth) combined together to create something which is very special indeed, a message for all people regarding unity and resistance. They worked with filmmaker Serena Kunzler to create one of the most powerful music videos ever made, art for the modern age which had its very roots in the Sixties protest movement. Again, “We Could Be” was not on the last Potter’s Daughter album, but instead can be found on the ‘Casually Containing Rage’ EP.
This collection is a wonderful introduction to just some of the wonderful musicians involved with Nick Katona and his endless pursuit of sharing great music with the world. Why not join them?
Rating: 9/10
Links:
https://mrrmusic.com/
