THE IMMORTALS

I had a few thoughts on the tragic Amy Winehouse but Simon Cooke over at the View from Cullingworth said pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

Obnoxio The Clown wrote a really poignant piece. I don't think he's suicidal but showing how any one of us could find ourselves taking that wrong turning, standing in the same shoes, but no one but ourselves can change our course. Sometimes it takes the courage we haven't got or the will we can't summon but we are all masters of our own destiny and sometimes we must.

I've heard others say that Winehouse wasted her life. I think she did far more with the time she had than many of us will achieve in a lifetime. She might even become a member of the 27 club.

RIP Amy. Thanks for your music and your individuality.

CHILLING WITH MATT

I've just sunk into my chair as I listen to this debut album from Matt Stevens and I'm so chilled, I could slide right off my seat.

A good beat, some fantastic guitar playing, and I'm feeling somewhere between a 1970s hippy beach party, and a Spanish siesta in searing heat, while listening to the distant echo of 1980s reggae.

For more informaiton about Matt and how to buy his debut album Echo, see here : http://www.mattstevensguitar.com/

GUITAR VIRTUOSO'S ALBUM A MUST

One of the world's most talented and innovative guitarists is due to release a new album, Don't Panic, which is out on December 7.

Jon Gomm is no stranger to us up north and thousands of other fans across Europe. But he may be unknown to some of the readers of this blog who haven't a clue what they are missing out on.

Jon, an acoustic singer-songwriter with an incredible virtuoso guitar style, sounds as if he has a full band behind him but the originality of his talent comes from being able to make his instrument sound much more than it is.

Drums, baselines, and sparkling melodies come out all at the same time combining styles from blues and jazz to rock and pop. His emphasis is on soulful vocals and songwriting with original material influenced by the likes of Robert Johnson and Radiohead.

Don't Panic is the follow-up album to Jon's debut work, Hypertension, released in 2003 to help with the cost of gigging.

"I made the first record shortly after I'd put together a solo acoustic set and wanted to start touring. It was just a demo to get gigs. I made it a full length album because back then the gig fee was barely covering my petrol money, and I needed something to sell" he said.

The plan worked a bit too well, however, and Jon has been touring ever since, taking his unique style to prestigious festivals around Europe and a punishing tour schedule in the UK and Italy which meant the new album had to wait.

But now it is finally ready and it showcases Jon's genuine grasp of a wide range of genres from blues to jazz to rock and country which comes from his lifelong exprience as a session musician and musical academic. With songs ranging from dark laments to sweet melodies, to frenzied romps, and a few Urdu lyrics thrown in for good measure, the sound is a unique melting pot of damn good tunes.

Jon's fierce independent approach to the music industry has meant that the CD was recorded at home and is released on the label he owns which will launch other artists' work next year including a grammy award winner.

Don't Panic is available from December 7 on Performing Chimp Records, cat no: PCCDOO6. It is also available on iTunes and all digital download sites. CDs are available from Amazon and www.jongomm.com