In a nutshell: this is one stonker of a CD. Some fantastic guitar playing combined with some truly gorgeous atmospherics and solid song-writing make it a real treat to the ears. This album is the classic 'grower': listen to it once and a few bits and pieces (mostly solos) will stand out as being really noteworthy. Play it a few more times and you'll find yourself humming along to whole songs; play it again and you'll find it's stuck on repeat in your CD player for the next few weeks. This is what's happened to me when listening to this wonderful album by Nine Stones Close. Ade Jones is a fantastic guitar player, somehow finding a wonderful balance between metal riffs galore and atmospherics a la Gilmour, Rothery or Reznor. I can't recommend this CD enough to anyone who likes intelligent guitar-based rock. Buy it now. :)

Two sides to this - terrific - album grab me. One is Ade Jones' obvious dedication to prog and hard rock voices from the past: to me it sounds like Floyd haunted by the ghost of Kurt. Musicality aside, the real urgency of this record comes from the feeling that something terrible inspired the music and words. The titles are a signpost - hospitalbubble, remaining days, silently screaming - the mixture of angst-and-release far more instructive. Fave track is Red & White: Nirvana in the recovery room; liquid morphine. More than the excellent music, there's trauma in these grooves. And I like it.

New having heard anything by Ade Jones before, I was unsure what I would get when advised to give St Lo by Nine Stones Close (Ade's solo recording name) a listen. He is lead guitarist with Lie Big as well, which are also worth checking out if you like Soundgarden or Alice In Chains. I was taken aback on the first listening and have enjoyed it more with each subsequent play. It is a definite grower and I certainly get the Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd references, but it is mostly much more stripped back than these bands, exploring the blacker end of the spectrum. It is atmospheric and yet very musical at the same time and is a definite album to put on repeat and listen to the changing nuances to my humble ears. The music ebbs and flows, varying between being very dark in some places, whilst very beautiful in others. Not suprising, given the subject matter that led to the recording. There is no doubt that he is a great guitarist and I would recommend this album to anyone who is open to new music. Yes, it is influenced by prog and by guitar-led rock, but it is so much more than this and stands up on its own. Do not let the influences put you off, give it a go and enjoy this talented and sometimes edgy guitarist as he takes you on a great journey.