https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tlqKDVhCuwwttsRhP09euuqIdiANAV0Y/view

A Year in Review…

For this issue of the e-zine, Aldora Britain Records is immensely proud to bring together the contrasting yet
complementing talents of Neil LoRe and John Jenkins. Massachusetts-based Neil LoRe is a craftsman of
song, always willing to travel far, arriving in destinations with progressive leanings, pop sensibilities, and a
new age mentality. 

And out of Liverpool, England, John Jenkins is a troubadour in the truest sense, carving
relatable story songs that roam freely through soundscapes of country, folk, and Americana. Today, each
artist reflects back on their listening habits over the last year, a year that has been brimming with
unforgettable creative moments.
 

John Jenkins: Without hesitation, it has been Wolf Alice. Not only did their most recent album The Clearing captivate me on first listen, but it sent me straight into the rest of their catalogue, exploring their previous three albums in parallel.
As an Americana, folk, and country singer-songwriter, and a radio broadcaster, my listening in recent years has naturally leaned toward those genres. That said, my musical tastes have always been broad. I probably own more classical recordings than contemporary ones, though I rarely have anyone to discuss Beethoven’s thirty-two piano
sonatas, Schumann’s symphonies, Grieg’s ‘Piano Concerto’, or Rimsky-Korsakov’s operas with!
Beyond classical music, I’ve long loved Krautrock, prog, 60s and 70s rock, soul, jazz, and more. So, I’m always open to music that sits far outside the Americana world.

 I knew the name Wolf Alice, though for some reason I had convinced myself they
were a Liverpool band, perhaps because they’ve played here a few times. I even owned their debut album,
received as a Christmas present years ago, but had never actually played it. It resurfaced only when I began
listening to The Clearing.
I have a tradition of giving an overly long Christmas or birthday list, filled mostly with albums or books
recommended by reviewers, magazines, or fellow musicians. I never expect to receive everything, but I always
enjoy the surprise of whatever arrives. That’s how their first album ended up in my collection.
When The Clearing was released last year, I bought it along with a handful of other albums on a whim.
Normally, it can take months, sometimes years, before I get around to listening to new purchases. But for
some reason, I played Wolf Alice immediately, and I was floored. The ‘Just Two Girls’ video on YouTube
confirmed instantly that this was a band operating on a different level. ‘The Sofa’ only reinforced that
impression.
I checked their tour dates and was disappointed to discover they had played Liverpool just a week earlier. A
few dates remained, though, and I decided, why not go to Nottingham? I’d never been, and the idea of
discovering a new city and seeing this band at their peak felt exciting. Their show was extraordinary. The songs
from The Clearing were stunning live, and the material I hadn’t yet heard was equally powerful.
What strikes me most about Wolf Alice is the sheer range of their music, from raw, garage-leaning indie to
beautifully crafted melodic pieces. Each of the five members is a superb musician, giving everything on stage.
Ellie’s voice is remarkable, and the band as a whole has real charisma. They’ve clearly paid their dues, and
they deserve every accolade coming their way.
Their audience was just as impressive, singing every word, fully immersed, creating an atmosphere that felt
genuinely special. At sixty-six, I was probably the oldest person in the room, but the energy made me feel
wonderfully young. I now have tickets for their London shows in July, ready for my second helping. And thanks
to the wealth of YouTube footage documenting their journey, I’ve been able to catch up on everything I missed.
Over the past year, Wolf Alice has become a constant presence