• Suzanne Vega, Ictus, Collegium Vocale Gent / Philip Glass: Einstein On The Beach
      (2025, 2cd, Belgium, vlek)

Narrated by Suzanne Vega and performed by the Belgian ICTUS ensemble and by vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale Gent, ‘Einstein on the Beach’ re-imagines Philip Glass and Robert Wilson’s influential (and divisive) 1976 opera as a 200-minute “minimalistic sound-bath”.

For some reason I missed this performance.
I may not be the biggest Philip Glass fan, but I love Ictus and I was wondering how Suzanne Vega would fit in, so I'm glad with this new release.

BELEDO & CHAD WACKERMAN

A message from the MoonJune Records label:

New York City based Uruguayan born multi-instrumentalist, predominantly a guitarist and pianist, BELEDO, will record a new studio album for MoonJune Records after two concerts in Los Angeles with
CHAD WACKERMAN (drums)
ANTHONY CRAWFORD (bass guitar)
NICK MANCINI (vibraphone)

January 14 - Los Angeles, CA
The Baked Potato, 2 shows
thebakedpotato.com/events/beledo-january-14-2026

January 15 - San Pedro, CA
Alva's Showroom
alvasshowroom.com/event/beledo-mechanism-featuring-chad-wackerman

BELEDO NEW ALBUM CROWDFUNDING

Following two above listed warm-up shows in Los Angeles, Beledo, Anthony Crawford, and Nick Mancini will gather at with Chad Wackerman at Chad's recording studio in Long Beach, California, to record a new album to be released by MoonJune Records between May and June of this year. For the occasion, Beledo prepared 4 short demo audio snippets that you can listen to on Bandcamp:

beledo.bandcamp.com/album/new-album-crowfunding

Beledo - electric guitar, electric bass, midi drums, keyboard, composer

These are just ideas, and each tune will be between 5 and 10 minutes long, in addition to several others that will be recorded. The collection of short audio clips serves the purpose of this crowdfunding campaign to help with travel expenses, car rental, accommodations, musicians, and studio fees.

beledo.bandcamp.com/merch

KEVIN KASTNING TO RELEASE TWO NEW ALBUMS

 Kevin Kastning, master of the multi string guitar, is about to release two new albums: "Codex I" and "Codex II".

Both albums feature Kevin on 30-string Contra-baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-contraguitar, and 6-string guitar.

Kevin adds:

The compositions in the Codex series are some rather complex compositions involving new guitaristic techniques. Each piece on Codex I and Codex II was recorded live in the studio as one performance in a single take. There are no overdubs or edits.

My technique is such that I'm playing my doubleneck instruments with one hand on each neck. This facilitates simultaneous multiple lines and harmonic structures that are not otherwise possible. The recording setup on these instruments is very much in stereo. The doubleneck instruments are recorded such that the left neck is located in the left stereo channel, and the right neck is located in the right stereo channel. Listening with headphones provides a soundstage revealing which part is performed on which neck. Hearing the separate parts, the lines, the harmonic structures, and where they're originating, may provide clarity, and aid in the understanding of the compositions.

The result is astonishing.
Beautiful timbres and layered soundscapes, exuding a sense of wonderment and peace of mind.
"Codex I" and "Codex II" should be out on January 27.

Check out Kevin Kastning's musical output on Bandcamp !
Here's his collaboration with Mark Wingfield:

MORGAN ÅGREN - BATTERIE DELUXE

Soon to be released on CD, but one can already enjoy the Bandcamp download:
Morgan Ågren's remastered version of "Batterie Deluxe".

Originally released in 2015 and made available on LP in Europe and on CD in Japan, this is one exceptional release.
Superb drumming, beautiful melodies and guests who spice up things with their distinctive sound (just check out Neyveli Radhakrishna on violin on 'Isarn' !!).

Brilliant !

THE CAPELLAS - LOVE PRAYER / ZIG ZAG WANDERER

• The Capellas: Love Prayer / Zig Zag Wanderer
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2025, 7”, France, disques rogue)

British band The Capellas recorded Don Van Vliet / Herb Bermann's 'Zig Zag Wanderer' and released it as the B-side for the 'Love Prayer' 7".
Out on the French Disques Rogue record label.

Psychedelic 60's pop !!

MINKIN-SHEMER HARPSICHORD DUO - CONVERSATIONS

• Minkin-Shemer Harpsichord Duo: Conversations
      (2017, cd, France, omnibus classics)

Marina Minkin and David Shemer recorded as the Minkin-Shemer Harpsichord Duo. Their 2017 “Conversations” album presented pieces by contemporary composers, including ‘Ciaconne Alla Zappa’, composer Uri Brener's tribute to Frank Zappa

The liner notes mentioned:
‘Ciaconne Alla Zappa’ was commissioned and written in 2014 for the Minkin-Shemer Harpsichord Duo. The piece is, by definition, of a somewhat odd nature. It emerges and exists on the narrow boundary between the classical Renaissance form known as the “chaconne” with its characteristically repeating patterns and the sharp raw sound, typical of rock-music of the 20th century. The work is a tribute to one of the great musicians of the late 20th century, Frank Zappa; a modest homage to a great “musical law breaker”, whose contribution to the development of music is yet to be appreciated and understood.

o Ciaconne Alla Zappa (U. Brener) = tribute to Frank Zappa

PHILIP SANDERSON - SHARK FIN SOUP

• Philip Sanderson: Shark Fin Soup
      (2025, cd, Austria, klanggalerie gg533)

"From a secret mountain top location a number of tracks by the Residents were broadcast into the far reaches of outer space with the hope that they might be received and understood by an Interplanetary Intelligence (IPI). As the tracks traveled across space and time the signals collided and combined with other musical broadcasts: opera, swing, fuzz rock, barbershop, etc till by the time the broadcast was received it was a veritable Shark Fin Soup – a mutant musical cornucopia played in ways even the Residents might not expect. The whole thing was reflected back to earth and captured one night on short wave by Philip Sanderson (Snatch Tapes/Storm Bugs). The tracks were then dis-arranged and with the help of the The Snatch Tapes Swingers, The Brontochorus and not least Chef D’Orchestre Arthur Ingot put down on disc for your listening pleasure."

I had to read it twice, but these liner notes do tell us what to expect: songs by The Residents, but reworked in quite surprising musical styles.
Great fun and an impressive example of musical craftmanship by Philip Anderson !

Packed in a beautiful fold-out cardboard sleeve. Another fine Residents related release on the Klanggalerie record label.

DIMITRI VASSILAKIS, MIRJAM WIESEMAN / PIERRE BOULEZ - PIERRE BOULEZ UND DAS KLAVIER

• Dimitri Vassilakis, Mirjam Wiesemann / Pierre Boulez: Pierre Boulez Und Das Klavier
      (2012, 3 sacd, Germany, cybele)

The German Cybele record label released a series entitled "Künstler im Gespräch" (Artists in Conversation) around 2012.
One of the albums focused on Pierre Boulez' piano compositions.
The first part of the release presented the compositions, performed by Dimitri Vassilakis.
The second part had Mirjam Wiesemann in conversation with Pierre Boulez (January 2011), and with Dimitri Vassilakis (May 2011).

During the talk with Pierre Boulez, the collaboration with Frank Zappa got discussed. It lasted about a minute and a half and was track 11 on the second Super Audio CD.

BBSITTERS CLUB

• BBsitters Club: Joel’s Picks Vol. 2
      (2024, cd, USA, hausu mountain)

The BBsitters Club are a four-piece, Chicago-based jamband / rock band.
They have three albums out, available on Bandcamp. Two are also available on CD.

"Joel's Picks Vol. 2", their latest one, presented a collection of live recordings, sourced from both audio and soundboard recordings.
The album caught my interest because in includes the BBsitter Club's version of Don Van Vliet's 'Kandy Korn'.

You can check it out on Bandcamp:

ALBERT MARCOEUR

On New Year's Eve, I immersed myself in the music of Albert Marcoeur.
A perfect way to end and start a year.
(although I had a nice family dinner as well).

Including the latest "V'là Autre Chose", Albert Marcoeur has released 12 albums.
All except one are available from his website.
Beautiful digipack CDs with extraordinary music.

Highly recommended.

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