Howling At The Moon - The Punk Panther's Album Reviews

This second release was slightly more country than the previous album had been. The "progressive" thing gives way to a more defined rock sound too, along with some jazzy influences, despite the obviously prog-inspired cover! This is perfectly represented by the muscular rock of the opener, A New Life, a track that nevertheless still manages to reach nearly seven minutes. That old experimental/workout urge is obviously still there.  A really infectious bassline and slow rhythm underpins the excellent Southern Woman, another lengthy track. It sounds like a more melodious, less down 'n' dirty Lynyrd Skynyrd. Mid-track the band launch into a distinctly jazz groove, featuring some highly impressive saxophone and a great jazz guitar solo. This group had a lot of strings to its collective bow. They were definitely not in the stereotypical country rock pigeonhole. How many other country rock bands put out stuff as inventively different as this? Not many, if any.  A very Pure

This was Dutch rockers Golden Earring's ninth album (yes, ninth!). It is, thus far, the only one I am familiar with. Certain records instantly bring up a certain time in my memory bank. Radar Love by Golden Earring is one of those. Whenever I hear it, it is the autumn of 1973 again and what a track it was too. More of that later. In the meantime, we have an album to discuss. I remember the album, as is so often the case, from idly flicking through sleeves in record shops on a Saturday morning (I loved the sexy cover, of course) but it is only now that I have come to pay it due respectful attention. It's a good album. Containing only six songs, it is a strange hybrid of riffy, driving rock, ambient prog passages and all out poppy rock. That is not to say that it is not enjoyable, however, and several listens have found me really getting into it. Seventies Dutch bands - Golden Earring or Focus? It's got to be Barry Hay and his mates.... Beginning with a fine piece of wah-wah-