SARGAM.

 SARGAM.

Antwerp-based project (from a couple of years ago)

• Nicolas Mortelmans : Sitar
• Jordi Geuens : Drums
• Ralph Hermans : Bass
• Willem Heylen : Guitar

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

EIDON - KOKORO

In the liner notes for ‘Kokoro', released through Bandcamp, Eidon mentions Frank Zappa.

"Kokoro," (こゝろ), a piece for piano, contrabass, and percussion. «The title translated literally means "heart", but also translates as "affection", "spirit", "resolve", "courage", "sentiment", or "the heart of things"». Mr. Zappa would say "The crux of the biscuit." The apostrophe, then, or maybe his honker.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - GUMBOOT SOUP

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Gumboot Soup
      (2017, cd, --, flightless / ato / heavenly) – 2017-12-31
      (2017, lp, --, flightless / ato / heavenly)
      (2017, download / streaming, --, --)

"Gumboot Soup" was KG&TLW's 5th release in 2017.
And there was no messing around. Two of my favourite KG&TLW albums were released in 2017.
And "Gumboot Soup" is not far behind.

True, it's not the usual concept album, but the album presents a fine set of songs.

Here's the opening track, 'Beginner's Luck'.
It's the odd one out, a beautiful pop song.

FUSE - STUDIO 2

• Fuse: Studio 2
      (2018, cd, The Netherlands, fuse inc.)

I first heard about the Fuse ensemble when they were appearing on Dutch television as the house band of Podium Witteman, preforming a Frank Zappa piece.
The piece in question, 'Echidna's Arf', also found its way to the ensemble's first album, and I remember seeing them in concert shortly thereafter.

A few years later, they performed 'G-Spot Tornado' during the Podium Witteman tv-show (with Dweezil in the audience. He was touring Europe.)

And then it's fast forward to July 2024 with Fuse performing both pre-Zappanale in Hamburg as well as at Zappanale in Bad Doberan. On both occasions with Napoleon Murphy Brock and performing a nice set of Frank Zappa compositions.

These recent Zappanale concerts persuaded me to pick up where I had left off. I bought their most recent album at Zappanale (= their fourth release), and I ordered albums two and three when I got home.
Fuse's second album, "Studio 2", presents pieces by Ravel, Bach, Manuel de Falla, Ligeti, and Monk to name those who sound familiar to me.
Amazing music and brilliant performances.

Fuse: Stick-to-it-ive ness (Fussell Ferrante)

DON PRESTON TO TOUR EUROPE

Don Preston will be doing some solo concerts in Europe.

A first concert date has been announced:

October 6, 2024, at the 'Theaterhaus' in Stuttgart, Germany

https://www.theaterhaus.com/de/programm-tickets/the-living-legend-formerly-frank-zappas-the-mothers-of-invention/736

MORE PANOPTICON

The  Off record label's stream of Panopticon releases continues with "Revenge".

Improvised music.
Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN
Recorded in concert in 2009.

• Jean-Jacques Duerinckx (baryton and sopranino saxophones) 
• Antoine Guenet (keyboards) 
• Stéphane Mercier (alto saxophone and flute) 
• Pierre Mottet (bass, effects) 
• Domenico Solazzo (drums, percussions, loopstation, direction)

FRANCOIS SARHAN - HELL (A SMALL DETAIL)

• François Sarhan: Hell (A Small Detail)
      (2004, cd, France, zig zag territoires)

Revisiting this excellent 2004 album by French composer François Sarhan.

Next to the original pieces, “Hell ( A Small Detail)” also included two FZ compositions, arranged by François and performed by the Rosamonde Quartet.
The CD (jewel case) came in a slipcase.

• Sleep Dirt (arr. François Sarhan)
• The Black Page (arr. François Sarhan)

GENEVIEVE ARTADI - VISIONARY

from the album "Forever Forever"

 -- info: Dirk Verschaeve

NEW WARREN HAYNES ALBUM

The brand new Warren Haynes record, Million Voices Whisper, will be available digitally and on CD via Fantasy Records on November 1st, with vinyl to follow. A deluxe version CD, including four bonus tracks, will also be released. The album showcases Haynes' message of embracing positive change and features collaborations with notable artists like Derek Trucks, Lukas Nelson, and Jamey Johnson. Preorder and pre-save the album HERE:
https://found.ee/WHMillionVoicesWhisper

Million Voices Whisper, Haynes' fourth solo album, is a dynamic collection of soulful blues-rock tracks, powered by his soaring vocals and masterful guitar work. The album includes standout songs like "These Changes," co-written with Trucks, and "Till The Sun Comes Shining Through.” The deluxe CD also includes a cover of the CSNY classic "Find The Cost of Freedom."

Million Voices Whisper Track Listing:
1. These Changes (ft. Derek Trucks)
2. Go Down Swinging
3. You Ain’t Above Me
4. This Life As We Know It
5. Day of Reckoning (ft. Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson)
6. Real, Real Love (ft. Derek Trucks)
7. Lies, Lies, Lies > Monkey Dance > Lies, Lies, Lies
8. From Here On Out
9. Till The Sun Comes Shining Through
10. Terrified
11. Hall of Future Saints (ft. Derek Trucks)

Deluxe Edition (CD only) bonus tracks:
12. Baby’s On The Move
13. Smooth Sailing
14. Find The Cost of Freedom > Day of Reckoning [extended version] (ft. Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson)
15. Back Where I Started (ft. Derek Trucks)

New Single: "This Life As We Know It"

SUN RA FIGURINE

Presspop produced a Sun Ra figurine, celebrating 110 years of Sun Ra.

https://www.presspop.toys/products/4560247870775

 

NEW ALBUM BY THE WRONG OBJECT ANNOUNCED

To be released this fall:
The Wrong Object - "In And Outflown Tapes"

PROGJECT

The upcoming ProgJect tour (with Mike Keneally) has been delayed.
Drummer Jonathan Mover hurt his back and needs surgery...

European dates probably delayed until June 2025, or later.

BRITTA MAIER - 30 JAHRE OHNE ZAPPA - DIE ILLUSTRIERTE BIOGRAFIE

• Britta Maier: 30 Jahre Ohne Zappa
      (2023, book, Germany, 27amigos)

Published last year, both in hardcover and in paperback edition, this square (21 x 21 cm) 80-page book presented an illustrated Frank Zappa biography.
"30 years without Zappa"
Black and white picture on the right page, explanation on the left page.
In German.

I like the concept, and the pictures are nice (and also well-known).
So, nothing new but nice to browse through.

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - NOW PLAYING

• Captain Beefheart: Now Playing
      (2024, lp, --, rhino / warner)

Brand-new (and beautiful) compilation album on red vinyl.
Out on Rhino Records.

A1 I'm Gonna Booglerize You Baby
A2 Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles
A3 The Smithsonian Institute Blues (Or The Big Dig)
A4 My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains
A5 Click Clack

B1 Low Yo Yo Stuff
B2 Too Much Time
B3 Clear Spot
B4 Lick My Decals Off, Baby
B5 Big Eyed Beans From Venus

OPHER GOODWIN - CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - ON TRACK

• opher goodwin: captain beefheart - on track...
      (2022, book, UK, sonic bond)

I recently got my hands on "Captain Beefheart - On Track", an excellent book by Opher Goodwin.
Opher does indeed go through the albums, track by track, but he also added nice chapters on rarities, bootlegs, and on the discographies of the Magic Band members;
I like it.

BRIDGET HUDSON - FRANK ZAPPA - BIOGRAPHY FOR CURIOUS KIDS

• bridget hudson: frank zappa - biography for curious kids
      (2024, book, USA, little big giant)

80 pages, pocket format.

Intended for 8 to 12 year olds.
So I don't mind the easy wording, the large font, or the fact that there are only two or three sentences on every page, but I do mind the inaccuracies.
Frank wasn't put in jail because he recorded 'The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet',...
Buckethead never was in FZ's band...
And then I stopped browsing through the little booklet.

I understand that Little Big Giant is publishing a series of these books, all about different artists, in order to learn you kids to read and to educate them.
And I think that's fine, but they should have their facts checked.

THE RESIDENTS PRESENT BUY OR DIE

Ahead of the curve as ever, in 1972 The Residents turned their back on the mainstream music industry and established their own Ralph Records imprint, taking control of every aspect of the recording, design and manufacturing process of their records. Over the next decade, Ralph would release numerous seminal singles and albums by a diverse range of artists from both the US and Europe, capturing the zeitgeist perfectly in the era of punk and new wave, when the DIY aesthetic went overground.

Featuring key singles, vital album tracks and a number of recordings appearing on CD for the first time, as well as previously unheard material from Schwump, Snakefinger, MX-80 Sound and Gary Panter, ‘Buy Or Die!’ is not only an insight into The Residents’ world but also into the workings of their DIY mindset, with most of the tracks here being recorded in the group’s own studio, and released in artwork produced by their own graphics department. From established names such as Yello and The Residents themselves, to lesser-known gems by Fred Frith, Tuxedomoon et al, this is a distinctive snapshot of that experimental and open-minded time and place, as seen through the lense of one of America’s most adventurous artists.

Complete with a 7,500 word first hand account essay from The Residents’ Mysterious Archivist, plenty of unusual and rare imagery and many tracks sourced directly from the Ralph tape archive, all overseen by The Residents (enabled by RA), ‘Buy Or Die!’ will entertain, enthral and infuriate in equal measure.

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/the-residents-present-buy-or-die-ralph-records-1972-1982-various-artists-3cd

ANOTHER MOON ZAPPA ARTICLE

Moon Unit Zappa Explores Trauma in New Memoir: 'What Happens When Your Mother Is Your First Bully?' (Exclusive)

https://people.com/moon-unit-zappa-frank-zappa-daughter-explores-tough-questions-new-memoir-exclusive-8680619

ANOTHER PANOPTICON RELEASE ON THE OFF RECORD LABEL

More improvised music from Belgium :

"Live With Strings"

by Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN

MOON ZAPPA - EARTH TO MOON

"Earth To Moon", Moon Unit Zappa's book / bio has also been made available in the German language.

And here's Moon on her brother Ahmet's "Rocktails" show...

NEW BELEDO ALBUM ANNOUNCED

"Flotando en el vacio"
by Beledo

digital version to be released on September 19
LP and CD one week later.

On the MoonJune records label

DAVID CROSBY, BECCA STEVENS, MICHELLE WILLIS & MICHAEL LEAGUE - HERE IF YOU LISTEN

• David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis, Michael League: Here If You Listen
      (2018, cd, --, bmg)

In my mind, "Here If You Listen" is a team effort.
I understand that David Crosby was a legend, but still, the contributions of Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis and Michael League can not be underestimated.
So I think that it's a pity that the album cover does not have all the names in the same size.

Other than that, "Here If You Listen" is a perfect album.
If you have a sweet spot for vocal harmonies, this is your thing.

David Crosby, Michael League, Becca Stevens & Michelle Willis - Woodstock (2016)

MICHAEL LEAGUE - SO MANY ME

• michael league: so many me
      (2021, cd, --, groundup)

Snarky Puppy mastermind Michael League released his first solo album in 2021.

The album title, "So Many Me", is well chosen.
Michael wrote all of the pieces and he played all the instruments.
The music also is quite different from the music that's being produced by Snarky Puppy, or on the GroudUp label in general.

On the other hand, after having listened to the album a couple of times, the music is strongly recognisable.

Great melodies and harmonies, lovely percussion,...
A superb album.

A NEW RELEASE BY MEN & VOLTS

"Epics"
Men & Volts

The band started out as a Captain Beefheart cover band. That should say enough.

A MIKE KENEALLY UPDATE

A message from Mike Keneally

Doot! Doot! Ding-a-dang-dagalong, boot!

All right, not my best-ever opening, but you know what?

FREAKS IN A MELLOW MOOD, VOL. ONE - LIVE UNRELEASED ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES BY MIKE KENEALLY AND BRYAN BELLER – COMING TO BANDCAMP ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6!
We at Exowax are exceptionally excited to bring you this little gem.

Freaks in a Mellow Mood, Volume One consists of live recordings of me and Bryan Beller in November 2003, rampaging from music store to music store, playing and singing and talking acoustically on behalf of Taylor Guitars.

Back in those infant days of the 21st century, these acoustic workshops were something that Bryan and I did with some frequency, and the recordings on this album are a highly effective capturing of that moment in time.

Scott Chatfield, the road manager on the Taylor tours, made pristine digital recordings of the shows on this particular run, and it’s from these recordings – unheard for over two decades! – that the tracks on this album are drawn.

I spent a good chunk of time mixing these songs over the past few weeks, and I am entirely happy (I think the 45-year-olds nowadays might say stoked?) with how this album has turned out.

I suspect that you’ll get a kick out of it as well, or my name isn’t Boseman Willacow, and it isn’t!

https://mikekeneallymusic.bandcamp.com/

I’M GUESTING AT PROGSTOCK IN RUTHERFORD, NJ, OCTOBER 17-20

I played at the ProgStock festival with The Zappa Band in 2022 and had a wonderful time, so I’m exceedingly happy to be returning there this year as a roaming troubadour: I’ll be popping up here and there, guesting with different bands and participating in different sessions.

I can tell you now that I’ll be participating in the Last Call Live Pro-Am Showcase on October 17, as well as sitting in with ABACAB: The Music of Genesis earlier that same evening, but I’ll also be making several other appearances throughout the festival, and you’ll just have to come and find out when and with whom!

There will also be ample opportunity to just hang out having a good time and wallowing in the pure progginess of it all. Hope to see you there, especially you crazy east-coasters. You know how you are! I know you know!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Love to you and your families! And your pets!

See you out there,

Mike

LUZIA VON WYL & THIS IS PAN - LOCKDOWN CIRCUS

• Luzia Von Wyl & This Is Pan: Lockdown Circus
      (2024, cd, Switzerland, lu records)

Early 2021, Swiss composer Luzia Von Wyl got contacted by alto sax player Matthias Kohler.
Matthias asked Luzia if she would be interested to write a piece for his "All Ears" concert series.
The concept for the "All Ears" concerts being that they are performed by Matthias' This Is Pan ensemble, together with the composer, but only after one rehearsal, shortly before the gig.

When Luzia committed to the project, it wasn't clear if the actual concert would be for a live audience, or if it would be streamed... Perhaps that made her decide to choose the lockdown as a topic.

"Lockdown Circus" tells the story of circus artists who have to perform for an empty stage, displaying their talents but also their frustration, their fear and their sadness.
Written out, but with lots of room for improvisation.

As luck would have it, the actual concert took place on February 15, 2022, for a live audience. Even more so, it was the last concert where the audience had to wear masks.

After the overwhelming reception of the concert, it was decided that it needed to be documented.
Recorded in 2023, the album got released on February 15, 2024. Exactly two years after the performance.

Luzia added in the liner notes:
This album is a document of it's time, but is much more. Above all, may it be the great party that we did not celebrate. Clear the ring!

And that's exactly what this album is. A beautiful collection of pieces that look back on the lockdown, but also celebrate the end of it.

Beautiful !!

CD available from the Lu Label website:
https://www.lulabel.ch/product-page/lockdown-circus-luzia-von-wyl-this-is-pan-cd

KRAAN - SANDGLASS

• kraan: sandglass
      (2020, download, --, --)

Kraan's "Sandglass" album is a fine and relaxed way to start one's day.
Mostly instrumental, dreamy, jazzy,...

I received this album as a digital download from a friend and I am quite happy with it as I need to do some catching up when it comes to German krautrock / jazz / fusion band.

Out on LP (9 tracks) and on CD and digital platforms (13 tracks).

KING GIZZARD & THE WIZARD LIZARD - POLYGONDWANALAND

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Polygondwanaland
      (2017, lp, --, --) – 2017-11-17
      (2017, cd, --, --)
      (2017, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

"Polygondwanaland" is my favourite KG&TLW album
The album was released as free download packs with the band encouraging fans to create their own physical copies. 
I bought a copy on yellow vinyl shortly after the album came out, on the Belgian Exag record label, but over 300 different editions exist.

Progressive rock at its best.

Essential listening.

ZAPPA NEWSLETTER - - - HALF A CENTURY OF APOSTROPHE (')

The celebration continues, folks! Get in line and pre-order your copy of the Apostrophe (’) 50th Anniversary Edition.

And in the meantime, here are some sonic appetizers to tickle your eardrums. “Penguin In Bondage (Live in Colorado Springs, Colorado),” rare vault track “Approximate – Bale” and a previously unreleased take of “Uncle Remus (Piano and Vocal Mix 2024)” are available to stream on all digital platforms.

Released today, “Penguin In Bondage” is a taste of the March 21st, 1974 Colorado Springs show, one of two full bonus concerts included in the Box Set. Recorded 6 months after the release of Apostrophe (’) at the Mothers’ live set in Basel, Swizerland, “Approximate - Bale” is a track that was selected and re-mixed by Zappa from the original 4-Track live master. On the other hand, “Uncle Remus (Piano and Vocal Mix 2024)” features isolated Piano and Tack Piano tracks by George Duke. It spotlights FZ and the Ikettes vocal master tracks, and is one of multiple versions celebrating the iconic Zappa-Duke joint composition.

These tracks represent three of the 66 unreleased rare studio and live tracks, hand-picked for the 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition.

FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA - LIVE AT GARE DU NORD & MORE

• Fido Plays Zappa: Live At Gare Du Nord & More
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

In 2014, Swiss band Fido Plays Zappa celebrated their 10th anniversary by releasing a USB-stick. It presented a movie and audio tracks of the March 21, 2013 concert at the Gard Du Nord in Basel, plus lots of extras. 

Earlier today, the band released the audio version of (most of) this recording through Bandcamp.

SUN RA - THE PROPHET

• Sun Ra and his Arkestra: The Prophet
      (2024, cd, USA, modern harmonic)

Strut records' recent release of "Inside The Light World - Sun Ra Meets The OVC" reminded me that there was another album that presented material from the same 1986 sessions.
"Prophet", released by Modern Harmonic on LP and on CD. The latter having bonus tracks.

Discovered in 2016, these tapes show Sun Ra performing on / testing a new type of synthesizer, called The Prophet, with the Arkestra giving minimal accompaniment (mostly percussion).

Quite experimental.

A nice historical document.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - SKETCHES OF BRUNSWICK EAST

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard With Mild High Club: Sketches Of Brunswick East
      (2017, cd, --, flightless / ato / heavenly) – 2017-08-18
      (2017, lp, --, flightless / ato / heavenly)
      (2017, download / streaming, --, --)

"Sketches Of Brunswick East" was the 11th album by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
Their third release in 2017.
It sounds like a lounge album. A lounge album that mixes microtonal psychedelics with jazz.
I'm not familiar with the Mild High Club or with Alex Brettin (who co-wrote several tracks), but if this is their doing, I'm glad that they were around.

This is fun.
Love it.

LUZIA VON WYL ENSEMBLE - FRAKMONT

• Luzia Von Wyl Ensemble: Frakmont
      (2024, cd, Switzerland, lulabel / private release)
      (2024, lp, Switzerland, lulabel / private release)

I was introduced to the music of Swiss  composer Luzia Von Wyl by Round Midnight, the NDR Kultur radio broadcast from July earlier this year.

"Zappa-esque rhythms, the composer Luzia Von Wyl broadcast"

https://www.ndr.de/kultur/sendungen/round_midnight/Zappaeske-Rhythmen-die-Komponistin-Luzia-von-Wyl,sendung1451946.html

As a result, I bought "Frost", her first album, and more recently I ordered the two albums that Luzia had released on her LuLabel.
"Frakmont" presents 7 compositions, performed by a 10-piece ensemble.

Contemporary new music meets jazz.

• Luzia von Wyl, compositions and piano
• Amin Mokdad, flute
• Nicola Katz, clarinet
• Marcel Lüscher, bass clarinet
• Maurus Conte, bassoon
• Vincent Millioud, violin
• Karolina Öhman, cello
• Christoph Utinger, double bass
• Fabian Ziegler, marimba and thundersheet
• Lionel Friedli, drums

and guest Gary Versace: accordion

Recommended listening !!

DVDMOVIES123 - WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE FUNNY / LUMPY PISS

dvdmovies123 goes Zappa and it's not the first time.

 

DIE MISERABLEN HUSOS - ZAPPANALE #33

• Die Miserablen HuSos: Zappanale #33
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Recorded at Zappanale in 2024.
Main stage concert.
Hessich (German dialect) versions of Frank Zappa tunes.
Not translated, but lyrics similar to FZ's.

THE FURIOUS BONGOS

Upcoming shows:

The Furious Bongos, feat. Chad Wackerman

• Sep. 3 The Cutting Room, NYC, NY + special guest, Robbie Mangano
• Sep. 5 Salle Jean-Despréz, Gatineau, QC, Canada
• Sep. 6 Salle Jean-Michel-Bergot, Sainte-Thérèse, QC
• Sep. 7 Salle Dina-Bélanger, Québec City, QC

 

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY

a message from Flat Earth Society :

In memoriam Bernard Van Eeghem

A CLEAN KITCHEN IS A HAPPY KITCHEN

 a message from Jezus Factory Records:

A Clean Kitchen Is A Happy Kitchen; the Noise Rock pioneers made up of Craig Ward, Butsenzeller and Paul Lamont released their second and last album back in 2013 - now for some explicable reason I have (with their agreement) decided to allow the music in the digital realm....

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'm'anthropos'
by Eidon

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - MURDER OF THE UNIVERSE

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Murder Of The Universe
      (2017, cd, --, flightless / ato / heavenly) – 2017-06-23
      (2017, lp, --, flightless / ato / heavenly)
      (2017, download / streaming, --, --)
      (2023, 2lp, --, private release / king gizzard & the lizard wizard)

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard released "Murder Of The Universe" in 2017. It was their tenth album, second release in 2017, and a bizarre tale in three movements.

An energetic musical approach, with accentuated rhythms, that supports a fantasy tale (including a voice over).
Quite predictable, there's no happy end to the story that's being told, but the message fits, and the music sounds great.

JANEL & ANTHONY - NEW MOON IN THE EVIL AGE

• janel & anthony: new moon in the evil age
      (2024, cd, USA, cuneiform records)

Cellist and vocalist Janel Leppin and guitarist Anthony Pirog have just released "New Moon In The Evil Age".

The Mandaï newsletter adds:
New Moon in the Evil Age is a captivating album by Janel & Anthony, released by Cuneiform. This mesmerizing collection of music showcases the duo's unique blend of experimental folk, post-rock, and classical influences.
With haunting cello melodies by Janel Leppin and intricate guitar work by Anthony Pirog, each track on the album takes the listener on a journey through ethereal soundscapes and emotive compositions. The interplay between the two musicians creates a rich tapestry of sound that is both introspective and expansive.
The atmospheric quality of the music on New Moon in the Evil Age invites listeners to immerse themselves in its dreamlike textures and evocative harmonies. From delicate acoustic passages to dynamic electric moments, each song unfolds with a sense of purpose and depth.
Listeners will find themselves drawn into a world where tradition meets innovation, where familiar sounds are reimagined in new and unexpected ways. Janel & Anthony's musical chemistry is palpable throughout the album, creating a sense of intimacy that resonates with every note.
Overall, New Moon in the Evil Age is a masterful work that defies genre boundaries and invites exploration. It is a testament to the creative vision of Janel & Anthony, showcasing their talent for crafting evocative and immersive music that lingers long after the final notes fade away.

Released on the Cuneiform record label.
Out on 2 CD, on 2 LP and available as download / streaming album.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - FLYING MICROTONAL BANANA

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Flying Microtonal Banana
      (2017, cd, --, flightless / ato / heavenly) – 2017-02-24
      (2017, lp, --, flightless / ato / heavenly)
      (2017, download / streaming, --, --)

2017 was yet another busy year for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
It was also the year when I bought my first two KG&TLW albums, "Flying Microtonal Banana" being one of them.

Yes, microtonal.
The band had already experimented with it on one track on the previous "Nonagon Infinity", but it's the central theme on "Flying Microtonal Banana" and I love it.

Recommended listening !!

PANOPTICON

More Belgian improvised music by PaNoPTiCoN

BACKBONE - Live @ L'Os à Moelle
by Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN

Out on the Off record label.

Opus 26 is this time closer to space jazz and a bit psychedelic at times.

Improvised and recorded live at L'os à moelle, Brussels, Belgium, January 22nd 2010.

 

SAINKHO NAMTCHYLAK

Sainkho Namtchylak is a singer originally from Tuva, an autonomous republic in the Russian Federation just north of Mongolia. She is known for her Tuvan throat singing or Khöömei. Her music encompasses avant-jazz, electronica, modern composition and Tuvan influences.

"Lost Rivers 2", released by the Klanggalerie record label.

 

NEW ALBUM BY TONY LEVIN

Tony Levin's new long-awaited studio album 'Bringing It Down to the Bass' is available for pre-order on FLATIRON RECORDINGS.
tonylevin-flatiron.bandcamp.com/album/bringing-it-down-to-the-bass

Features a Murderer’s Row of guest musicians: Robert Fripp, Vinnie Colaiuta, Earl Slick, Mike Portnoy, Steve Gadd, Jerry Marotta, Gary Husband, L. Shankar, Pete Levin, Jeremy Stacey, David Torn, Pat Mastelotto, Larry Fast, Steve Hunter, Manu Katche, Alex Foster, Dominic Miller, Markus Reuter, Chris Pasin.

FRUITS DE MER

The Fruits De Mer record label has just released a 2 LP set with recordings of the 19th Dream Of Dr Sardonicus Festival Of Psychedelia.

The album features The London Underground, Spectral Stream, Sendelica, Hanford Flyover, Consterdine, McDowell & Westaway, the Dark Zen Kollectiv, the Cary Grace Band, and Spygenius.

The London Underground set has also been released as a separate album: 

Fruits de Mer added :

If you're in the UK, you can order the vinyl set from http://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/shop.html

if you're not, please order from http://www.shinybeast.nl

 

TRYON

Help Fund TRYON’s Largest Ensemble Album: Salmon Dreams

https://www.gofundme.com/f/3yxyg-tryons-largest-ensemble-album-salmon-dreams

The message from Kellen Mills :

Hi everyone,

My name is Kellen Mills, and I am the bassist and composer for TRYON, a large ensemble that brings together some of the most creative and boundary-pushing musicians in the free improvisation and jazz scene. Today, I’m reaching out to ask for your support in bringing our most ambitious project to life—a new album titled Salmon Dreams.

SUN RA

A message from Strut records:

Today we announce a very special deluxe edition of Sun Ra's 'Lanquidity'. 

The classic album, housed in a tip-on sleeve with OBI strip, including liner notes, and an A2 poster featuring a rare photo of Sun Ra in his home. 

https://sunrastrut.bandcamp.com/album/lanquidity

This new deluxe LP edition of ‘Lanquidity’ features the widely distributed version of the album originally released on Philly Jazz and reflects the album’s original packaging with a metallic foil / magenta sleeve, housed in a tip-on sleeve with OBI strip and featuring both liner notes and a limited edition poster, to celebrate 25 years of Strut records.

NONUNONU - NUNUNUNU

• NONUNONU: nunununu
      (2024, streaming, --, --)

Manchester-based nu-jazz ensemble NONUNONU has just released "nunununu".
Although I received a digital copy, I think it's an album that can only be enjoyed through streaming platforms like Spotify or YouTube.

It sounds amazing. Relaxed, but amazing.

The trio features:

• Bim Williams - guitar
• Andy Patterson - bass
• Ruben Sheridan - drums
  plus guest
• Callum Connell - sax

Browsing the internet for info, I also noticed that their 2023 live album, "Right + Wrong" includes pieces written by Herbie Hancock and by Allan Holdsworth.

YANG - REJOICE

• Yang: Rejoice
      (2024, cd, USA, cuneiform)
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp7

I fondly remember my first encounter with Yang. It was their "Designed For Disaster" album from a couple of years ago. On the Cuneiform Records label.
Reason enough to be exited for "Rejoice".

From Cuneiform :

According to most professional journalists, comparisons are odious. And according to most professional musicians, critics are useless. But what happens when a critic makes a comparison that turns out to be useful and also transformative in the most positive way?

Look no further than Rejoice!, the fifth album—and third for Cuneiform Records—from the masterful French progressive-rock quartet Yang.

This, naturally, needs some explanation, and in fact there are two intertwined origin stories that can be applied to what is possibly Yang’s most accessible yet most deeply felt full-length.

We’ll get to the first later. But what primarily gave Rejoice! its sound and its shape came when an online reviewer compared Yang’s previous album, Designed for Disaster, to the dark and psychologically disturbing work of the Bay Area band Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. And while there are similarities, for sure, the notion struck Yang guitarist and composer Frédéric L'Épée as odd, given that he had never heard—or even heard of—his American counterparts. Intrigued, he decided to listen, and found not just a team of kindred spirits, but the perfect singer to bring life to his songs.

“I didn’t know them, so when I saw this review, I said ‘Okay, what is this band? Is it something that I’ve missed?’” L'Épée notes, laughing. “ And, yes, it really was something I’d missed."

“I don’t like the sound of my own voice,” the bandleader continues, and so for most of its existence Yang has focused primarily on instrumental music. On Designed for Disaster, however, the German singer Ayse Cansu Tanrikulu added her jazz-inflected phrasing to five tracks, and now on Rejoice!, Sleepytime violinist and singer Carla Kihlstedt has come on board for most of the album.

It’s an ideal match, and one that wound up shaping Rejoice! far more than L'Épée had intended. In writing Designed for Disaster, he explains, he concerned himself with lyrics that were “meant to communicate an impression but not a meaning”. But after having discovered Kihlstedt, he opted to follow a different path.

“It’s interesting,” he says now. “I started to write the words like I did with Designed for Disaster; not with apparent meaning, but through the sound more than anything. But as soon as Carla accepted, I started to have her voice in my mind. So as soon as I started to write, I heard her singing at the moment I was writing. This forced me to search for the reason inside, because I realized that I wanted her to understand what I was saying, to give all the expression that I wanted. So this is one of the many reasons I started to write things with meanings, because I wanted her to be driven by these meanings.”

At the same time, circumstances were giving L'Épée plenty to write about. The world was coming out of lockdown, new wars were starting, fascism was on the rise, and all of these things were having a profoundly negative effect on some of the musician’s associates.

“In 2023, several of my friends had a kind of breakdown,” he reports. “They started to have dark thoughts, bad ideas, and they were really bad with themselves. And I wanted to help them, actually. I wanted to make them feel better. It was really with this idea, this mood, that I started to write Rejoice!”

It wasn’t therapy for himself that he was after, he stresses. “I have had the chance to live an ideal life, I would say,” he notes. “I’m living with the love of my life and I’m making music all the time, so I am someone who’s pretty happy. But I would also say that I’m empathic, so when I see someone or I hear someone that feels not right, I feel that suffering as well. So I want to help these people to get above whatever it is. And this is maybe why the album is named Rejoice!, because this is a dark time. It’s a dark age for everyone.

“It’s not a happy time, but we have to rejoice in what we have,” he adds. “Everything is wrong, nothing is going properly, but there are so many things to enjoy anyway, if you know what I mean.”

L'Épée considers Rejoice! to be “healing music”, but with its surging polyrhythms, intricately conjoined guitar parts, and Kihlstedt’s fiercely committed singing, it’s not like any music you’d hear in any spa on earth. Consider the record’s final track, “The Final Day”, which opens with fingerstyle guitars and breathy vocals that present a comforting, lullaby-like ambience. But once a powerful bass ostinato kicks in a darker mood emerges, and it becomes clear that L'Épée is describing some kind of mass extinction. “Over the land, fiery sand falls,” Kihlstedt sings. “Everyone’s horizon burns.”

The intimation of a final, climate-change-induced “fire season” is clear. And yet it’s impossible to encounter this performance without also feeling a sense of joyous release. The end is nigh—but the end is always nigh, and it’s never really the end. In that light, “The Final Day” is a perfect finale to Rejoice!, because once it’s over you’ll want to return to Track One, “Step Inside”, and play the entire record again.

Highly recommended !!

DER ROTE BEREICH - 2

• Der Rote Bereich: 2
      (1996, cd, Germany, jazz4ever records)

German modern, contemporary jazz ensemble Der Rote Bereich released their first album in 1992.
Their second disc followed in 1996.

Featuring Frank Möbus (guitar), Rudi Mahall (bass clarinet) as core members, "2" or "Zwei" also features Hal Crook (trombone) and Jim Black (drums).

If you're in to contemporary jazz, you need to check this out !

'Dagobert' is the final track from "2".

SONIC HUG

Today, Sonic Hug will be performing at De Bijloke in Ghent.
Sonic Hug = a project by Louise van den Heuvel.

It's a free, open air concert.

• Louise van den Heuvel: bass, vocals & composition
• Sam Comerford: bass clarinet & alto flute
• Hendrik Lasure: piano & hammond organ
• Daniel Jonkers: drums

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - NONAGON INFINITY

• king gizzard and the wizard lizard: nonagon infinity
      (2016, cd, --, flightless / ato / heavenly) – 2016-05-29
      (2016, lp, --, flightless / ato / heavenly)
      (2016, download / streaming, --, --)

Again, the album cover and the album title give it all away:
Nine tracks that can be played in random order, with transitions that you can hardly hear, which means that you can play it as one long piece for an infinite time.

Oh, how these guys must have fun inventing every new project.

And it's an excellent album, with the first track, 'Robot Stop', displaying the microtonal guitar, an instrument that will return on some of the next albums.

TONY TROMBO'S "TALKING ZAPPA"

I mentioned a little while ago that Podcaster Tony Trombo published a book with a selection of his podcast interviews with several musicians who worked with Frank Zappa.
"Talking Zappa".

The book is now also out in a hard-cover version.
I got my copy from Amazon.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - PAPIER MÂCHÉ DREAM BALLOON

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Paper Mâché Dream Balloon
      (2015, cd, --, flightless / ato / heavenly) – 2015-11-13
      (2015, lp, --, flightless / ato / heavenly)
      (2015, download / streaming, --, --)

"Paper Mâché Dream Balloon".
Both the title and the album cover give the impression that it's a collection of children's songs.
It even sounds like an album of children's songs.
Mostly acoustic, sweet songs.
It's only upon closer listening (and upon checking the lyrics online) that my view changed...

Stuck in a daydream
Under a moonbeam
Head on my pillow at home
Drunk are the people
Outside my window
Full of testosterone

Anyway, upon first listening, "Paper Mâché" is a short and sweet album  :-)
Catchy melodies with not so singalong lyrics.
After a couple of listening sessions, I like it even more.

A NEW RELEASE BY RUTH'S REFRIGERATOR

Ruth's Refrigerator

"Hoping for Revealment: Heidenheim 1992"

• Ruth Miller - singing and guitar
• Alan Jenkins - guitar and singing
• Blodwyn P. Teabag - organ
• Terri Lowe - bass and singing
• Robyn Gibson - drums and singing.

 

UTOPIANISTI - REASON IN MOTION

• utopianisti: reason in motion
      (2024, lp, Finland, private release)

Revisiting Utopianisti as the LP  arrived yesterday.
Multiple layers of rhythms and catchy vibes combined with beautiful melodies.
Perfect to get in a good mood.

Finnish / Ethiopian big band jazz.

Markus Pajakkala adds:
Utopianisti’s new 9-piece incarnation dives into Afro influenced jazzrock/prog driven by pitiless walls of percussion, brutal grooves, jazz psychedelia, rhythmic curve balls and ruthless horns! All recorded live in the studio with a supergroup from Tampere-Senegal-Mauritius axis!

Essential listening !!

 

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - QUARTERS

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Quarters!
      (2015, lp, --, flightless / castle face / heavenly) – 2015-05-01
      (2015, download / streaming, --, --)
      (2021, cd, --, private release / King gizzard & the lizard wizard)

Album number six for KG&TLW.
A vinyl-only release. A CD release only followed in 2021.

Four tracks, and each track lasts 10 minutes and 10 seconds.
The first track has a nice jazz / fusion / latin groove, which is yet another side of KG&TLW that pops up.
The third track, 'God Is In The Rhythm', could be KG&TLW's version of doo-wop. Who knows?
Fun.

PANOPTICON

Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN
Recorded in 2010.
Previously released on CDR by Domenico, 
and now available on Off's Bandcamp page:

• Yves Dellicour (bass clarinet, soprano saxophone) 
• Pierre Mottet (bass) 
• Catherine Smet (piano) 
• Domenico Solazzo (drums, direction, postproduction)

 

HELMUT KING & MORE

In recent year, the Zappanale festival has been blessed with amazing expos.
Located in the center of Bad Doberan, the expo room is a place you must visit when you're attending Zappanale.

Helmut King is one of the returning artists. Always fun.
Here'ss Helmut's artwork on the poster:

For the record exhibit, the focus was on "Apostrophe (')", with a display of Dieter Jakob's collection.
Dieter was featured in the latest issue of the German "Mint" magazine (Magazin Für Vinyl-Kultur), the topic being 'Extremsammler' (extreme collectors).

FUSE - MIKROKOSMOS

• fuse: mikrokosmos
      (2024, cd, nl, fuse)
      (2024, 2lp, nl, fuse)

Dutch ensemble Fuse recorded FZ's 'Echidna's Arf' and released it on their first album in 2016.
In the meantime, the sextet has released 3 more albums, with "Mikrokosmos" being released earlier this year.

• Julia Philippens - violin
• Emma van der Schalie - violin
• Mascha van Nieuwkerk - cello
• Adriaan Breunis - viola
• Tobias Nijboer - bass
• Daniel van Dalen – percussion

For "Mikrokosmos", Fuse invited 12 composers from all over the world to write a piece for them.
The result is a beautiful album that blends contemporary classical music, jazz, minimal music, and much more.

Composers: Bryce Dessner, Gabriel Kahane, Miho Hazama, Joey Roukens, Thomas Beijer, JacobTV, Morris Kliphuis, Nathalie Joachim, Kinan Azmeh, Julia Philippens, Xavi Torres and Gabriella Smith.

I saw the ensemble perform in Hamburg and at the Zappanale festival recently, where they performed a set of Frank Zappa tunes, next to material from Mikrokosmos.
The album is out on 2CD and on 2LP. I went for the 2CD set.

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MARSUPILAMI

"Forbidden Anniversary" by comic book artist Batem (best known for his work on the Marsupilami series).
Signed and numbered edition of 250 copies.

 

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - I'M IN YOUR MIND FUZZ

Another day, another King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard album  :-)

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: I’m In Your Mind Fuzz
      (2014, cd, --, flightless / castle face) – 2014-10-31
      (2014, lp, --, flightless / castle face / heavenly)
      (2014, download / streaming, --, --)

"I'm In Your Mind Fuzz", album number five for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, was the band's international breakthrough.
It got released in Australia on Flightless, in the USA on Castle Face, and in Europe on Heavenly records.
Re-releases and various coloured vinyl editions followed.

As the music, for me, this is the typical KG&TLW sound. Raw, but with a psychedelic touch.

The band released a 3D music video on YouTube, but I don't have my 3D glasses at hand, so I'm going for 'Satan Speeds Up', the other official video for this album.

The Bandcamp link for the album:

WAITING FOR THE PUNCH WITH MARC MARON AND MOON ZAPPA

WTF - Waiting For The Punch
podcast by Marc Maron

episode 1564 - Moon Zappa

https://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1564-moon-zappa

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - ODDMENTS

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Oddments
      (2014, cd, --, flightless) – 2014-03-07
      (2014, lp, --, flightless)
      (2014, download / streaming, --, --)

Ten years ago, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard released "Oddments", a collection of outtakes from their previous albums.
It was their fourth release.

Reading random comments, some people found it a pity that "Oddments" wasn't a conceptual album. I don't mind. It's a fine set of songs.

And to show the band their sense of humour, near the end of track number number 7, 'Sleepwalker',  it sounds as if there's a problem with the record as the needle skips a beat, but that's intentional...

THE 180 GS - TROUT MASK REPLICA

• The 180 Gs: Trout Mask Replica
      (2024, cd, USA, private release)

The 180 Gs' "Trout Mask Replica Replica" is an accurate a cappella cover of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band's 1969 double album "Trout Mask Replica". The 180 Gs began working on this project in July of 2018 and completed it in December 2023.

It's astonishing how an a cappella version leads to a completely different listening experience.
And it's the entire album !!
This is superb.

Vocal arrangements by David Minnick.
Out on CD, and through Bandcamp.
Great packaging and artwork, by the way. The CD arrived yesterday, and it looks great.

& don't forget to check out the 180 Gs "Commercial Album". (CD released by Klanggalerie)

FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA ON BANDCAMP

FIDOplaysZAPPA has just put one of their older releases on Bandcamp.

In case you missed the CD in 2011 :

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD - FLOAT ALONG, FILL YOUR LUNGS

• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Float Along – Fill Your Lungs
      (2013, cd, --, flightless / dot dash) – 2013-09-27
      (2013, lp, --, --)
      (2013, download / streaming, --, --)

"Float Along - Fill You Longs" was King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's third album.
It was their first 'psychedelic rock' album. I'm guessing it's already visible on the album cover and from the album title.

Lots of echo, shifting sounds, phaser effects, and other trippy sounds, plus the use of a sitar (!).
Re-issued several times, including various coloured vinyl editions.

Even the two music videos that were released in support of the album present a more psychedelic approach.

'30 Past 7'

'Head On / Pill'

The album on Bancamp:

NEW RELEASE FROM ARTHUR BARROW

Arthur added:
“My latest track! Bandcamp followers get to hear it first! It will go up on Youtube, etc. soon.”

 

SUNDAY TIMES ARTICLE

Frank Zappa’s daughter: I was a social experiment for my parents

from The Sunday Times
by Hadley Freeman

https://archive.is/Voria#selection-2165.0-2169.64

HOLIDAY IN BERLIN FESTIVAL IN HEERLEN NL

September 5, 2024, in Heerlen NL

the program:

• Kruidkoek
• Fred Händl plays Zappa
• Daan Hoebntjes
• Remko Serban
• The Disco Boyz
• Libertatem Omnibus

WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE

Frank Zappa’s kids are still grappling with his legacy — and each other

from The Washington Post 
by Geoff Edgers

https://archive.is/4EsZn

KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD - EYES LIKE THE SKY

• King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard: Eyes Like The Sky
      (2013, cd, --, flightless) – 2013-02-22
      (2013, lp, --, flightless)
      (2013, download / streaming, --, --)

The album's artwork gives it away.
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard's "Eyes Like The Sky" sounds like the soundtrack of a western movie. Narrated (and story) by Broderick Smith, the album presents all the expected clichés and more.

A bit less than 30 minutes, but excellent !

PANOPTICON

The (Belgian) Off record label continues its series of Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN albums.

Download / streaming-only.

Improvised & experimental music.

Featuring

• Olivier Catala (bass)
• Pierrot Delor (bongos, bells, shakers, rainstick, assorted percussions)
• Jean-Jacques Duerinckx (baryton and sopranino saxophones)
• Antoine Guenet (keyboards)
• Bart Maris (trumpet, effects)
• Domenico Solazzo (drums, direction)

EIDON - A STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS