LE*SILO / MENTAT ROUTAGE / PHLOX

Le*Silo / Mentat Routage / PHLOX performed 'Peaches En Regalia' (F.Zappa)

2014.

A Japanese-French-Estonian take on Frank Zappa's classic piece.

On stage: Le*Silo and members of Mentat Routage, PHLOX @ the Olympic Cafe, Paris, 18 Sept 2014

MENTAT ROUTAGE

Nicolas and Ludovic Fabre recorded one (eponymous) album as Mentat Routage.

Released on the Musea label in 2010.

 It included a piece called 'Zörn Trout Replica' !!

And then there's also this:

Brothers of Dimension - Mentat Routage invite Médéric Collignon autour de l'univers de Frank Zappa. Extraits du concert au Festival Ateliers Jazz de Meslay du Maine - mai 2024

-- info: K-H H. on Facebook

FREAKSHOW ARTROCK FESTIVAL 2025

NEW BOOKS ON THE SHELF

A new book and an older one.

"Frank Zappa - Pure Scheisse!", Germany, 2025
= a collection of German articles.
"Frank Zappa Albums", USA, 2010 = printed version of an on-line book 

NEW FROM JAPAN

 Recent Japanese releases:

- Cheaper Than Cheep (SHMCD / Japan)
- The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band: Part One (Oldays re-issue), with 'Help, I'm A Rock'
- Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica (Oldays re-issue), produced by FZ

SUN RA - STRAY VOLTAGE

• Sun Ra: Stray Voltage
      (2025, 2lp, USA, modern harmonic) – record store day release
      (2025, 2cd, USA, modern harmonic)

Originally released as a 2 LP set for record store day, Sun Ra's "Stray Voltage" album has now also been released on CD (and on Bandcamp).

From Irwin Chusid's liner notes:
If you're looking for melodies, structured compositions, pleasant harmonies, songs you can whistle, and serenades for social gatherings - seek elsewhere.
and he continues:
This is triple-A Ra: Audacious, Aggressive, Adventurous.

Check it out !

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA PLAYS ZAPPA

DIEGO PINERA - EVIDENCE

• Diego Piñera featuring John Patitucci & David Kikoski: Evidence
      (2025, download / streaming, --, cuneiform / bandcamp)

On his latest release, "Evidence", drummer and composer Diego Pinera is joined by John Pattucci (bass) and David Kikoski (piano).

Diego adds:
John has been a massive influence on me since I was 15, back in my hometown of Montevideo, Uruguay. His work with the Chick Corea Elektric Band, especially with the incredible Dave Weckl on drums, left a lasting mark on my musical journey. To now share the studio with him is nothing short of surreal—a dream come true after years of trying to connect. Dave Kikoski is another long-time inspiration. I first heard him on Roy Haynes’ *Birds of a Feather* (with Dave Holland and Roy Hargrove), and I’ve been hooked on his unique sound ever since.

What makes *Evidence* even more magical is how it all came together: completely spontaneous and without any rehearsal. I flew to New York, met John and Dave at the studio (big thanks to my friend Luis Bacqué), and from the first note, it was clear—something incredible was happening. We had planned to record just two tracks, but the energy was so electric that we ended up recording four.
Wh
at started as a simple collaboration quickly transformed into a rich, dynamic journey—one that blends jazz tradition, spontaneous improvisation, and a raw, instinctive musical conversation.

I truly hope you enjoy listening to this music as much as we loved creating it.

THE RESIDENTS - AMERICAN COMPOSER'S SERIES 1982 - 1987

• The Residents: American Composer's Series 1982 - 1987
      (2025, 3cd, UK, cherry red records)

Initially intended to be a series of 10 LP's that focused on 20 artists (1 artist per side), The Residents did release two volumes:

• "George & James" in 1984 -> George Gershwin & James Brown
• "Stars & Hank Forever" in 1986 -> John Philip Sousa & Hank Williams

The project never got finished, but was said to include The Residents' deconstructed versions of songs by Sun Ra, Harry Partch, Captain Beefheart, Bob Dylan, and Brian Wilson to name just a few.

This 3 CD set presents the above mentioned two albums with related bonus material (different takes and mixes), plus and amazing 3rd CD with a series of decomposed / recomposed Sun Ra pieces and a lot more.
Plus extended liner notes ! Love it.

CHANAN HANSPALL - PHI YAAN-ZEK - WILL ALLMAN - ANDY EDWARDS

Chanan Hanspall & Phi Yaan-Zek - Guitar
Will Allman - Bass
Andy Edwards - Drums

SCOTTISH FRANK ZAPPA TRIBUTE BAND PYGMY TWYLYTE TO PERFORM IN EDINBURGH

PYGMY TWYLYTE
August 14 & 15, 2025
at Bannermans in Endinburg, Scotland

THE ROSA ENSEMBLE - ODDMENTS

At the peak of summer’s languid glow arrives Oddments, the latest, and likely final, offering from Rosa Ensemble, released on Cuneiform Records.

With compositions by Floris van Bergeijk, Jeroen Kimman, and Wilbert Bulsink, the album reflects nearly three decades of creative unpredictability; this time striking gold more often than not.

A stellar cast, Koen Kaptijn, Mei-Yi Lee, John Dikeman, Peter Jessen, and Jeroen Kimman, dives deep into uncharted waters: New Music, heartbreak ditty, spectral improvisations, ambient drift, 19-tone detours, earworms that linger like dreams, and colors that shift before you can name them.

A fitting farewell, if farewell it is— and a true culmination of their eclectic journey.

https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oddments

-- info: Danny Mathys

MIRIODOR - LIVE 97

Miriodor is a Canadian musical group of the Rock in Opposition movement; the band combines jazz, progressive rock and chamber music into a powerful sound reminiscent of artists like Univers Zéro or Art Zoyd.

Miriodor has been making music since 1984 and has released several albums on the Cuneiform record label.
Their latest one, "Live 97", is a Bandcamp download / streaming - only album.

-- info: Danny Mathys

MIKE KENEALLY TO RELEASE "FREAKS IN A MELLOW MOOD VOL. 3" NEXT FRIDAY

"Freaks in a Mellow Mood Vol. 3" goes live at 11:59 p.m. PDT Thursday night, July 31!

And it includes 'Inca Roads' !!

 
You can also go here now for Volumes 1 and 2, along with many more Mike Keneally musics…

https://mikekeneallymusic.bandcamp.com/

These are THE SONGS of FREAKS IN A MELLOW MOOD VOL. 3:

1. SELF ‘N’ OTHER (Williamsport, Nov. 10 ‘03)
2. I'M AFRAID (Paramus, Nov. 12 '03)
3. MY DILEMMA (Rochester, Nov. 8 ‘03)
4. NONKERCHUNK (medley of I Just Got Here/Naked Horse/Blue Jean Baby/The Knife & Drum, edited from the Cambridge and Paramus shows)
5. PARANOID ANDROID (Radiohead cover, Wilmington, Nov. 11 ‘03)
6. LIVE IN JAPAN (Fairview, Nov. 9 ‘03)
7. TUG (Paramus, Nov. 12 ‘03)
8. BEAUTIFUL (Rochester, Nov. 8 ‘03)
9. 2 + 2 = 5 (Radiohead cover, Rochester, Nov. 8 ‘03)
10. SUPERMARKET PEOPLE (Bryan Beller song, Rochester Nov. 8 ‘03)
11. SPEARMINT PUP (Cambridge, Nov. 6 ‘03)
12. INCA ROADS (Zappa cover, edited from the Cambridge, Paramus, Williamsport and Littleton shows)

YUVAL RON TO PERFORM IN BERLIN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2025

PANOPTICON - LIVE REMAINS VOLUME 1

Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN
"Live Remains Volume 1"

Experimental and improvised music by some of Belgian's finest musicians.

Featuring Domenico Solazzo, Pieter Claus, Yves Dellicour, Michel Delville, Antoine Guenet, Bart Maris, Marti Melia, Pierre Mottet, among others.

ZAPPANALE 2025 FLASHBACKS - - - FRIDAY - - - HOPSCOTCH

Friday morning, we visited the exhibition.
Located at the Zappanale Headquarters in the center of Bad Doberan, the expo focussed on graphic artist Wittek and on experimental photographer Bent Szameitat.
Both have been working with Clémence Manachère (Hopscotch) and have even participated during gigs, providing live artwork.

In his art, Wittek (real name Thomas Wittke) combines different styles and techniques.
The below drawing / collage was used for Hopscotch's "White Page" project.
I love the fine balance between structure and chaos, and how he highlights certain details.
Beautiful.
(Witek was present during the entire festival and provided live drawings during different concerts - more on that later)

Bent Szameitat captures movement and sound in one picture, or in one moving picture. Impossible to explain but quite adventurous to look at, or to experience.

Our visit to the expo dovetailed seamlessly with the Hopscotch concert that took place later in the day. On the festival grounds.

Hopscotch mastermind Clémence Manachère (flute, soprano sax) was joined by Björn Lücker (drums), Tristan Xavier Köster (cello), Niklas Werk (guitar / electronics), and Ludvig Søndergaard (drums).

The ensemble performed works by Frank Zappa, as well as original pieces by Clémence.
Between the pieces, Clémence explained how she is fascinated by numbers (which is proven by the titles of her compositions).

I just loved how Clémence showed a similar approach as the graphic artists she's working with.
Too bad that there was no beamer present at the concert. It would have given the concert an extra dimension.

But even without any graphic support, the concert was great.
It was structured chaos. Like a collage.

Parts were like clockwork, like different gears in a watch: all turning and setting each other in motion. Other parts consisted of different layers, stretched out, sometimes repetitive but also expanding.

Here's 'II.2', recorded about a month ago. It's also one of the pieces that got performed at Zappanale.
(inspired by the drawings of Daniel Libeskind - https://libeskind.com/work/chamber-works/)

A snapshot from Zappanale:

ZOOGZ RIFT DOCUMENTARY

Zoogz Rift's Fireside Chat Part 1

Zoogz Rift (born Robert Pawlikowski, July 10, 1953 – March 22, 2011) was an American musician, painter, and professional wrestling personality known for his eccentric and experimental rock music. Influenced by Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, Salvador Dalí, and Ayn Rand, Rift began his recording career with the 1979 album Idiots on the Miniature Golf Course and released numerous albums through SST Records in the 1980s, blending zany, avant-garde sounds with sharp social commentary.

ALIENO DE BOOTES' "UNCONVENTIONAL RESIDENTS IV" IS OUT !

Out now : Volume 4 of Alieno De Bootes' tribute to The Residents : "Unconventional Residents".

A Klanggalerie release:
https://www.klanggalerie.com/gg509

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON - - - CHRONICO

'Chronico'
Eidon

ONE SIZE FITS ALL - - - THE DETAILS

3 different editions have been announced.

The 4 CD + blu-ray box

The 2 LP set (on black glitter vinyl)

The single LP (limited edition on blue galaxy vinyl)

Here's the tracklist for the 4 CD / blu-ray box set:

Disc 1:

1. Inca Roads
2. Can't Afford No Shoes
3. Sofa No. 1
4. Po-Jama People
5. Florentine Pogen
6. Evelyn, A Modified Dog
7. San Ber'dino
8. Andy
9. Sofa No. 2
10. Inca Roads – Rough Mix
11. Ralph Stuffs His Shoes – “Token” Outtake
12. Ralph Stuffs His Shoes – Basic Tracks, Take 5
13. Ralph Stuffs His Shoes – Instrumental Mix, Master Take
14. Can’t Afford No Shoes – Rough Mix
15. Sofa No. 1 – Basic Tracks, Take 6
16. Sofa No. 1 – Master Take, Early Mix

Disc 2:

1. Po-Jama People – Old Mix
2. Florentine Pogen – Rough Mix
3. Florentine Pogen – Alternate Solo
4. Evelyn, A Modified Dog – Session Outtakes
5. Bitch, Bitch, Bitch – In Rehearsal
6. Bitch, Bitch, Bitch – Basic Tracks, Take 1
7. San Ber’dino – Rough Mix I
8. San Ber’dino – Rough Mix II
9. San Ber’dino – Rough Mix III
10. Something/Anything – Rough Mix
11. Andy – Rough Mix
12. Sofa No. 2 – Rough Mix

Disc 3: Live In Rotterdam, Netherlands 9/28/1974

1. Tush Tush Tush (A Token Of My Extreme)
2. Stink-Foot
3. Inca Roads
4. Approximate
5. Cosmik Debris
6. Florentine Pogen
7. Montana
8. RDNZL

Disc 4: Live In Rotterdam, Netherlands 9/28/1974 continued + bonus live tracks

1. Dupree’s Paradise Intro
2. Blind Mice Blues
3. Dupree’s Paradise – Part 1
4. Dupree’s Paradise – Part 2
5. Pygmy Twylyte
6. Room Service
7. Tush Tush Tush (End Vamp)
8. Ralph Stuffs His Shoes – Live in Gothenburg, Sweden, 9/25/1974
9. Po-Jama People – Live in Gothenburg, Sweden, 9/25/1974

Disc 5: Blu-ray

Audio: Dolby Atmos (48k24b) / Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (96k24b) / PCM Stereo (192k24b & 96k24b)

1. Inca Roads
2. Can't Afford No Shoes
3. Sofa No. 1
4. Po-Jama People
5. Florentine Pogen
6. Evelyn, A Modified Dog
7. San Ber'dino
8. Andy
9. Sofa No. 2

Bonus

1. Sofa No. 1 – 1975 Quad Mix
2. San Ber’dino – 1993 6-channel Mix
3. Inca Roads: VIDEO - "Token" Outtake, Live In Los Angeles, CA 8/27/1974
4. Florentine Pogen: VIDEO - "Token" Outtake, Live In Los Angeles, CA 8/27/1974

https://youtube.com/shorts/S8KT2gsGi5w?si=rMANl0RfoSDQGoXr

FIVE DECADES OF 'ONE SIZE FITS ALL'

No time to recover from the Zappanale festival.
From the latest Zappa dot com newsletter:

FIVE DECADES OF 'ONE SIZE FITS ALL'

Go ahead, try it on again over 50 years later...

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention’s 1975 release One Size Fits All celebrates over 50 years of epic proportions! It was proof that musical genius and absolute absurdity can not only coexist, but party together. To mark the occasion, behold the 50th anniversary edition... Pre-order yours now only on the official Zappa store.

Official release #131 is yet another jam-packed multi-disc set with 75% unreleased material available and is comprised of a 2LP set, 4CD + Blu-Ray super deluxe edition, and 1LP. Check out the product breakdown below!

The 4CD + Blu-Ray Super Deluxe features the 2012 main album remaster by legend Bob Ludwig, along with a disc and a half of studio outtakes, work mixes, and Vault nuggets. Also included is a complete live show from Rotterdam, Netherlands ’74 with bonus live tracks from the same legendary European tour. The 50th anniversary booklet also contains newly revealed photos by Sam Emerson accompanying the bespoke liner notes.

The Blu-Ray disc features new Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes directly from the 24-track album master tapes, hi-res versions of the main album, and two bonus vault surround tracks featuring vintage mixes by Frank himself. Also included are two bonus videos taken from the classic KCET-TV shoot and re-edited for the first time since FZ had his hands on the footage back in 1974.

The 2LP Edition comes in “black glitter” and boasts a brand-new analog cut of the album, a bonus LP of highlights from the box set, and the anniversary edition booklet.

The 1LP Edition comes in “blue galaxy” and also boasts the new analog cut of the album, packaged in a jacket printed on silver foil with a lithograph of a never-before-seen photo contact sheet from one of FZ's historic shoots with Sam Emerson.

The celebratory album will also be on streaming services soon. In the meantime, obey your wallet and pre-order the album from the official Zappa store. It’s what the lizard in your brain would want.

HERZBERG FESTIVAL

The Herzberg Festival kicks off today.

The line-up:

https://herzberg-festival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/banner-timetable.jpg

Check out www.rockradio.de for live broadcasts.

& the Arf Society is also present:

EXPERIENCE PRINCE IN IMAX

For the first time ever, the iconic concert film Prince – Sign O’ The Times will be released exclusively in IMAX theatres globally for a limited time, beginning August 29, 2025. The critically acclaimed 1987 film, directed by Prince and featuring Prince with his talented band of musicians including Sheila E., has undergone IMAX’s proprietary Digital Media Remastering (DMR) process to deliver unprecedented image and sound quality, offering audiences an immersive experience of Prince’s legendary performance like never before.

Sign O’ The Times is widely celebrated for capturing the artist at his creative peak—blending electrifying concert footage with cinematic storytelling, powerful visuals, and genre-defying sound. Now, enhanced with IMAX’s precision surround sound audio, customized theatre geometry, and crystal-clear images, Prince’s virtuoso performance is set to mesmerize fans old and new in the most epic format available. Prince – Sign O’ The Times features some of Prince’s most iconic tracks, including “If I Was Your Girlfriend,” the anthemic title track “Sign O’ The Times,” and “U Got The Look,” Prince’s smash hit duet with Sheena Easton. The film showcases Prince’s unparalleled musicianship, stagecraft, and style, highlighting his timeless impact on music and popular culture.
Tickets can be purchased at www.imax.com/prince.

KRAKHOUSE - BASTARDS OF PROG

Krakhouse is Jesse Krakow, who we know from Fast 'n' Bulbous and Dr. Nerve.

The Cuneiform record label has just released Jesse's (Krakhouse's) first solo album: "Bastards Of Prog".
Download / streaming only.

The album includes Jesse's version of Captain Beefheart's 'Old Fart At Play'.

WIGWAM - HOT MICE

As mentioned by Jukka Iisakkilap during his Zappanale concert:

Pekka Pohjola's 'Hot Mice' (to be found on Wigwam's 1971 "Fairyport" album) was a reference to Frank Zappa's "Hot Rats.

NEW ALBUM BY THE ROSA ENSEMBLE

The new album by The Rosa Ensemble, "Oddments", is out on the Cuneiform record label.

Download available on Bandcamp.
I assume a CD release will follow soon.

CHAD WACKERMAN & THE L.A. ALL STARS WILL BE TOURING EUROPE

Chad Wackerman & The L.A. All Stars, featuring Alex Machacek, Jimmy Haslip & Steve Hunt

The first dates have been announced :

• 03/03/2026 - 'Porgy & Bess', Vienna, AU
• 06/03/2026 - 'Soundcheck One', Waldbronn, DE
• 07/03/2026 - 'Paradox', Tilburg, NL
• 08/03/2026 - 'Poppodium De Boerderij', Zoetermeer, NL
• 12/03/2026 - 'Colos Saal', Aschaffenburg, DE

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

AN UPDATE FROM WIPPY BONSTACK

Wippy Bonstack says:

Dear Fine People:

THE NEXT ERA OF WIPPY BONSTACK IS UPON US

For those of you who have been patiently waiting for a while to hear any new music at all, the time has come! In fact, there are TWO new albums on the way: one consisting purely of instrumental compositions, and the other a dense whirlwind of songs and sounds from the enigmatic world of Wippy.

Stay tuned for this exhilarating rush of music coming to you this summer! Tactile Demons, an intense instrumental journey, leads things off on Friday, August 1st. Expect the eclectic and colorful follow-up, Correct Irregulars, shortly after in early September. I’m immensely pleased to be unleashing this music after the material on these albums has been in motion for so long. The arrival of these releases will mark the next chapter in Wippy Bonstack’s creative landscape.

If you haven’t already heard, I recently put out a track from the further forthcoming album, "Correct Irregulars", called 'Wishtank'. Check it out for a preview of the sounds to come:

A MESSAGE FROM ZAPPA DOT COM

https://store.zappa.com/pages/honker-home-video

WEED DEMON - THE DOOM SCROLL

• Weed Demon: The Doom Scroll
      (2025, lp, --, private release) – black vinyl
      (2025, lp, --, private release) – splatter vinyl, edition of 220 copies

In 2024, Stoner / metal band Weed Demon had released their version of ‘Willie The Pimp’ through several digital music platforms.
More recently, Weed Demon released “The Doom Scroll”.
Next to the Bandcamp download / streaming, the album was also made available on LP.. This vinyl version got released in different versions and included ‘Willie The Pimp’ as a hidden track. It was the final track on side two.
Next to the black vinyl edition, the album got released on green and yellow splatter vinyl in a limited edition of 220 copies.

THE FURIOUS BONGOS RELEASED A CD

Frank Zappa tribute band The Furious Bongos released "La Petite Tour-ette" as a download / streaming album through Bandcamp last April.

All songs recorded over the course of La Petite Tour-ette, our first short tour up to Canada in September, 2024.

The album has now been re-released on CD, in a limited run of 100 copies.

https://thefuriousbongos.bandcamp.com/album/la-petite-tour-ette

TU-NER TOURDATES

Don't miss Tu-Ner on Tour!

TREY GUNN - Warr guitar
PAT MASTELOTTO - drums, electronics
MARKUS REUTER - touch guitar

• Aug 9 - Pawling, NY (Daryl’s House Club)
• Aug 10 - Wayne, PA (118 North)
• Aug 11 - Boston, MA (City Winery)
• Aug 13 - Hudson Falls (Strand Theater)
• Aug 14 - New York, NY (The Cutting Room)
• Aug 15 - Brattleboro, VT (Stone Church)
• Aug 16 - Henniker, NH (LCOTPA)

For tickets and information visit: https://tu-ner.com/

COPERNICUS RICE - 'STOATALLY OUT OF ORDER

Portsmouth UK-based Copernicus rice has just released their first album. It includes their version of FZ’s ‘Willie The Pimp’ !

Download / streaming release on Bandcamp, but also out on LP (in a limited edition of 100 copies).

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ... AND FUZZ FOR ALL

• Various Artists: ... And Fuzz For All
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Buenos Aires, Argentina-based Sabbra Cadabra promotes stoner and doom music.

The “... And Fuzz For All” compilation got released by Sabbra Cadabra last month.
As a download / streaming compilation album through Bandcamp.

It includes Weed Demon’s recording of ‘Willie The Pimp’, previously released by Weed Demon through Bandcamp in 2024.

MARY HALVERSON - CLOUDWARD

The day before yesterday, at Zappanale, my friend Angel mentioned Mary Halverson.

Earlier this year, Mary released "About Ghosts", but it's been a while since I listened to her 2024 "Cloudward" album, and that's a shame because it's an excellent release.

NEW RELEASE BY MEN & VOLTS

Well, one track actually.
Written and performed by David Greenberger and Phil Kaplan.

THE RESIDENTS' "LEFTOVERS" ALBUMS TO BE COMPILED ON A 2 CD SET

The 3 "Leftovers" Record Store Day LPs will be compiled on 2 CDs, with an additional set of unreleased tracks.

To be released in October.

• The Residents: Leftovers 1970-1988
      (2025, 2cd, UK, cherry red)

FRUUPP

Irish progressive rock band Fruupp released a handful of albums in the early seventies.
Their "Future Legends" album is being re-issued by the Music On Vinyl record label.
On red and white marbled vinyl.
Originally released in 1973 !

• Fruupp: Future Legends
      (1973, lp, UK, dawn)

A SHORT CHAT WITH CLÉMENCE MANACHÈRE (HOPSCOTCH)

Hopscotch will be performing twice at this year’s Zappanale festival. Expect compositions by Frank Zappa, but also by Clémence Manachère.
A Short Chat seemed in place.

UniMuta: Hi Clémence,
When I read that Hopscotch would be performing at Zappanale, I had to take out my dictionary. “Hopscotch” can refer to the child’s game (‘Hinkelen’ in Flemish, ‘Hopfen’ in German), but it’s also the name of the programming app that teaches kids coding. I like both meanings (playful & structured). Is that what you had in mind? I assume that “The White Page” is the name of the program that you will be performing. Is this a little hint to say that the program also includes Frank Zappa compositions?

Clémence Manachère: Hey Peter, yes I chose the word Hopscotch because of the child's game.
The inspiration for the suite Hopscotch is the chamberworks from the architect Daniel Libeskind.
The chamberworks are a series of 28 drawings in which Libeskind searches the relations between music and architecture.
In those 28 drawings you can recognise 4 series of 7 drawings in which each drawing is unique but all drawings are made from the same graphic language.
That's why my suite will have 28 parts as well.
Until now I fully composed 14 parts and at the Zappanale we will play 7 parts taken from the first and second series. For me the chamberworks build a fascinating hybrid between architectonic drawing and contemporary music notation.
Since I discovered those drawings a year ago I can not stop thinking about it and trying to interpret it in more concrete music notation, and also experimenting it with my band, duo or quintet or whatever.

I think one thing that is very strong when you look at those drawings https://libeskind.com/work/chamber-works/ is that you can imagine many layers.
What I mostly see is a superposition of very well defined layers which are sometimes connected and sometimes not at all.
It's a very fine tension between precision and chaos, which interests me and which I would like to transpose into sounds.
It is one reason why I have two drummers in my band, because one drummer gives structure.
And if you want to hear a structure on a structure it opens possibilities to have two drummers.
It is then not only about having a loud band but more about playing with different beats at the same time.
The strings ( guitar and cello) also build a couple in the band, where one sounds similar to the other but is slightly different.
I like those mirroring games a lot.

 
Hopscotch is also, because each musician should be ready to jump from one part to the other part, to create different spontaneous superpositions of sounds, going from lines to textures.

The White Page is related to Zappa's Black Page, yes.
The idea of this title is to give a hand to Zappa's music that influenced me and inspired me, but also to propose something completely different.
From Zappa I listened to a lot of interviews and I always have been amazed by his extremely strong personality and articulated thought.
The music from him that I've heard the most are his albums with the ensemble modern, especially the yellow shark. It seems to me that Zappa could be 2 people at the same time, but still have a big integrity.
He's a very open-minded and strong spirit, and he didn't accept to be put in a box or to do what people expected him to do.
This I like a lot.

UniMuta: You did a concert in Hamburg on the 13th of July (at the ‘RoofDrop Bar at Villa Viva). Too bad that we will only be arriving in Hamburg on the 15th, but I’m glad we will be able to catch you twice at the Zappanale festival.
Are you familiar with the Zappanale festival?

Clémence Manachère: It will be my first time there (on the 18th).

UniMuta: I must admit that I checked the Hopscotch YouTube videos that you posted, and I loved what I heard. Not only are the Zappa pieces reworked and rearranged in an adventurous manner, the ‘Hopscotch’ suite sounded amazing as well.
How did you pick or come across the Zappa pieces?

Clémence Manachère: The first piece from Zappa that I picked is 'The Black Page' because I really listened to it a lot and studied it a lot.
I loved those abrupt switches of rhythmical subdivision. I like that it is at the same time brilliant, extremely dynamic and a bit weird.

'The Black Page'

And then I picked 3 pieces from his orchestral work which attracted me and where there were lines that seemed convenient for me to build improvisational spots and a red line with hopscotch.
There are sick lines in Zappa's orchestral work and it felt interesting to me to hear them not only once but to really build a loop with it, making them evolve with different textures and rhythms.
Lines are for me always a pretext to build a structure and a common vocabulary within the band.

UniMuta: I think it’s great that we will be able to see you both in an open air / main stage situation, and in a more intimate setting at the expo.
I also learned that you work with graphic artists Wittek and Bent Szameitat. How did that come about? Do they contribute during the concerts?

Clémence Manachère: I know Wittek and Bent for about 4 years now.
They already created comics and filmografie in the past which started during my gigs, but for a long time it was only something parallel.
At some point Andreas Lütje, our common friend by whom I got to know them, had the idea to connect us for this live-performance "white-page" tour.
Now, when there's a beamer available, it is possible to see Wittek's drawings evolving during the gig as well as Bent's filmografie which were made during the last months or years.
Wittek's comics are always full of surreal elements - Wittek is very strong to catch details and moods, and to invent elements that are connected to this mood.
Filmografie means a hybrid between film and photography - it is Bent's very personal thing.



UniMuta: Thank you very much, Clémence.
I’m more than curious to see and hear you live !

The Hopscotch ensemble will perform at the main stage on Friday at 18h00, and at the expo (in the centre of town) on Sunday, at 11h00 !
(And in Hamburg again on the 23rd of July.)

A SHORT CHAT WITH DET SKANDALØSE ORKESTER

Norwegion rock band Det Skandaløse Orkester will perform at the Zappanale main stage on Saturday, half an hour past midnight. Some would already call that Sunday.
Let’s try to prepare for it.
Here's a Short Chat with Sondre Jørgensen (composer, keys and vocals / Det Skandaløse Orkester) 

UniMuta: Hi Sondre,
Det Skandaløse Orkester’s previous visit to Zappanale was in 2019. I remember it as a pretty wild concert. Do you have any recollections?
Apparently, there also was a concert film called “Legends Of Europe”. Can you tell us a bit about that?

Sondre Jørgensen: Zappanale 2019 is the greatest festival experience I have ever had. We heard so much great music and met so many good people there. The concert itself nearly got cancelled due to the big storm that suddenly took us by surprise. We were down at the beach and saw it all coming in and when we came back to the festival everything had turned into a disaster and they were closing down and evacuating people. Luckily the wind and the rain stopped and we got to play our best concert until then, two hours behind schedule late at night, but in front of the greatest audience we have seen. It was a magical night that we will never forget.

We made a concert film of the performance, "Legends Of Europe", which you can find on YouTube, and we´re planning to make another film this year. If you have any suggestions for a title, let us know!!

UniMuta: Det Skandaløse Orkester has released two excellent albums, “No Har De Laget Skandale igjen” (2014), and “Tenk Om Noen Ser Deg” (2018). The really uplifting news is that you will be presenting your new release at Zappanale: “Masters Of The Universe”. Will you be performing material from this latest release, or what can we expect?

Sondre Jørgensen: Recently we have released two EPs and now we will collect both of them into one for a CD and LP release. On page A on the LP there is "Legenden om Boblemus" (the legend of the bubble mouse) - This is s suite with a very stupid story about a poor little mouse who crawls out of her mouse hole for the first time. Through six chapters we get to experience wonder and expectation, romance and downfall, but then it ends oh so well in the end. This is probably the most Zappa inspired work we have ever done and we believe no one has ever made such great music with such poor lyrics since Zappa himself. On page B on the LP there is "Masters of the Universe". This is a collection of famous theme songs and other heroic music that has been an important inspiration for our band. This includes tunes like 'Peaches En Regalia' by Frank Zappa and 'Back To The Future Theme' by Alan Silvestri among others.
At the Zappanale concert we will will play "Legenden om Boblemus" in it´s entirety, and highlights from "Masters of the Universe".

UniMuta: You concert is scheduled at half past midnight. That might be a bit late for some of the old folks. How would you try to convince them to catch your concert?

Sondre Jørgensen: We believe ourselves that what we do is something you don´t get to see live on a stage everyday. Not even on a festival for music outside the norm. It is just wild energy and happiness, combined with great songs, crazy guitar solos and madness. Check out the film from 2019 - Legends of Europe - and if you like it you probably know that reality is even better.

One of Germanys finest people - Stef Lorentz - became our number one fan when he saw us last time and this is what he had to say:
"I´ve been waiting nearly 30 years for music to evolve - and then I see you: Young people making music like this. Zappa would be proud!" (Stef Lorenz)

UniMuta: Thank you, Sondre.
Safe travels & see you soon.

Det Skandaløse Orkester will perform Saturday night, at 00h30.
This is going to be great !
And they are playing concerts on a regular basis. If you happen to be in Norway, be sure to check out their website: https://skandalose.no/

GOV'T MULE'S ISLAND EXODUS IS BACK

A SHORT CHAT WITH MONIKA ROSCHER

The Monika Roscher BigBand is returning to Zappanale.
They'll perform at the main stage on Saturday, at 18h45.
Those who witnessed the BigBand's previous Zappanale concert (in 2018), know that this is something to look forward to.

UniMuta: Hi Monika,
I’m really looking forward to the upcoming concert of the Monika Roscher BigBand at Zappanale. I still remember being blown away by your previous appearance, in 2018.
I assume you’re looking forward to the trip to Bad Doberan. How do you look back on the 2018 concert and what happened since then?

Monika Roscher: We’re really looking forward to Zappanale — though not so much to the journey itself! :)

The train company (Deutsche Bahn) has thrown us into chaos once again by cancelling our long-booked group tickets just two weeks before the festival, which means we’ve had to rearrange everything — including hotels.

But yes, we’re super excited about Zappanale!
2018 was almost magical for us. It’s rare to play a concert where you feel like the audience somehow already knows you — even though they’ve never heard you before. We immediately felt understood, which is something you don’t often experience, especially at festivals. Usually there are always people walking off thinking, “What on earth is this?”
That’s why Zappanale 2018 left such a strong and beautiful impression on us. Some people were still hanging out at the campsite afterward — it was just a wonderful evening all around.

Hopefully we can pick up right where we left off!
Since then, we’ve released two new albums: one is a studio album "Witchy Activities And The Maple Death" released 2023, it is full of new pieces that revolve around the theme of witches, and a live album "Witchy Activities - Live" which is brand-new.

"Witchy Activities - Live" album artwork

UniMuta: With 18 musicians in your band and by performing adventurous music, I can imagine that this is not the easiest band to manage and to find opportunities to perform.
What’s the hardest part: matching the agendas of the musicians, or finding clubs or festivals that are interested in your music?
Earlier this year, the BigBand performed at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival in Portugal. Is this something that you would like to do more often? Gigs abroad?

Monika Roscher: Planning for the Big Band is completely crazy — sometimes it feels like hell! But not because of the people — they’re all dear friends, and there’s nothing better than being on the road with this bunch. It’s just that everything adds up: booking trains (we try to travel eco-friendly), organizing hotels and rehearsals… and with the band spread all over Germany — from Berlin to Munich to Innsbruck — it gets complicated fast. Then there are always surprises: someone gets sick, a train is canceled, a laptop is left behind, even a person is left behind… Looking back, it’s actually pretty funny what we’ve already been through.

It’s exhausting at times, but once we’re on stage, all the stress disappears. It’s totally worth it. And the band makes it easier — everyone’s quick to respond and super helpful. We all want to have a good time, and that spirit is what makes our group so special: we’re not just making music, we’re living shared adventures.

As for your question — what’s harder: organizing the musicians or finding places to play? Honestly, both! We get a lot of messages from fans wanting us to come to their cities, but finding clubs or festivals open to our kind of adventurous music isn’t always easy — especially without a booking team. But we’re definitely eager to play more internationally.
Performing at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival in Portugal earlier this year was amazing — such a beautiful festival. We’d love to do more gigs like that abroad!

UniMuta: Frank Zappa was known to push his musicians to the limit of the technical capabilities, and sometimes even further. When you compose for the BigBand, do you have the musicians in mind? Do you write parts that match their sound or personalities?

Monika Roscher: Absolutely! I always have the musicians in mind when I write music. Everyone in the band has their own unique style—that’s something I really love—and I try to incorporate that as much as possible. I know where each musician’s strengths lie, and together we constantly explore how to navigate limits. For example, if there’s a section where it’s impossible to breathe, we find ways to distribute the parts so there are no gaps. Or we talk through what’s realistically doable and adapt accordingly.

When I compose new pieces, I often call individual players to ask if they can record certain passages for me, just to check whether something is playable. I love this kind of close creative exchange.

That said, I compose much slower than Zappa! I’m happy if I manage to release a new album every five years. I get obsessed with every detail—I want to try out everything, fill in every blank. On the way to completing one piece, I’ll often throw away 15 others because they don’t quite come to life the way I imagine. No one hears those, because I didn’t think they were good enough. A lot happens behind the scenes, but in the end, only the music I’m 100% happy with makes it out into the world. If something doesn’t feel quite right, I pull it back and keep working on it.

UniMuta: For your previous album, “Witchy Activities And The Maple Death", you produced some otherworldly videos (and I use ‘otherworldly’ in the most positive way): ‘8 Prinzessinnen’, ‘Firebird’, ‘Witches Brew’, … Do I sense a fantasy / sword & sorcery fascination? Did you compose the music with the visuals in mind? Or how did this come about?

Monika Roscher: The music always comes first — from pure nothingness, or maybe from the entire universe, I honestly don’t know where it comes from. You’re just messing around and suddenly, an idea appears. It’s strange, and I don’t fully understand how it happens.

But as the process unfolds, images start to emerge, and ideas begin to take shape. For our music videos, though, it varies. For '8 Prinzessinnen', we left most of the concept to the video crew of Juri Beythien. My only initial idea was the candle being carried through beautiful German landscapes, slowly burning down. I liked the idea of being followed — but by yourself — without realizing you’re running from your own shadow. And at the end, you think you’ve arrived because you meet your idols, in this case the eight princesses, and believe you’ve become one of them. But that’s an illusion. They only recognize you if they choose to. So, chasing after a fantasy can be misleading — sometimes you have to reach the goal to realize it wasn’t the right path. That connects with the theme of the song, which is loosely about influencers.
We didn’t want to literally recreate the lyrics in the video, but rather add a new layer. Filming it was a blast — we had a small but wonderful team and a great time together!

I’m so happy you asked about 'Firebird'! I absolutely love that video. It was created by my friend Sascha Back from Fürth. She’s an incredible painter — I adore her use of color, her playfulness, her whole aesthetic. She wanted to turn one of her paintings into a music video, and she taught herself the entire animation program from scratch! I’m still amazed. She also paints all our album artwork, and I now have my first original painting hanging at home — it’s the artwork for "Witchy Activities and the Maple Death" our third album. It completely transformed the room.

And one of our most special videos is also 'Starlight Nightcrash', created by Patrick Buhr. He developed an incredibly unique and abstract visual world that perfectly matches the energy and complexity of the music.
Because it’s quite experimental, it hasn’t been watched as much as some of our other videos — but I honestly think it’s one of our best. I’m a big fan of Patrick’s idea and how he brought it to life. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth a watch!

UniMuta: You have just released “Witchy Activities - Live”. On LP and on CD. The music is amazing, and you’ve also added some fine live videos to YouTube. Did you consider releasing a DVD or blu-ray?

Monika Roscher: Our very first live album Witchy Activities – Live was released in mid-June 2025. We recorded it at Ampere in Munich — it was such a cool experience, though we definitely felt the pressure for everything to go smoothly. In the end, we were thrilled that nothing went wrong, the solos turned out great, and we’re honestly really proud of the recording!
You can get the album on our website or on Bandcamp. Every direct purchase means a lot to us — Big Band is a bit of a wild operation, so every order really helps support the whole group!

As for a DVD or Blu-ray — I actually hadn’t thought about that yet. For now, producing LPs and CDs is already quite a big project for us, and Blu-ray would definitely be a next-level challenge. So I don’t think we’ll go there just yet — unless the demand turns out to be huge. Then we might consider it!
But! We did make some new t-shirts for the live album — brand new designs are available now! ;)

UniMuta: Thank you very much, Monika !
Looking forward to some Witchy Activities.

The Monika Roscher BigBand will be performing on the Zappanale main stage on Saturday, 19/07, at 18h30.
Not to be missed !

THE FALL - REFORMATION! POST-TLC

• The Fall: Reformation! Post-TLC
      (2020, 4cd, UK, cherry red)

Initially, The Fall released "Reformation! Post-TLC" in 2007. As a single CD and as a 2LP set on the Slogan Records label.

The enhanced U.S. CD release (on Narnack Records) included some bonus videos, including a live video recording of 'Hungry Freaks, Daddy' (recorded in 2006).
This version got released with different album cover artwork.

In 2020, Cherry Red Records decided to do an expanded 4 CD re-release: the original album plus lots of alternative and bonus tracks, plus one live disc. No videos. Only audio.
The live disc also included The Fall's performance of 'Hungry Freaks, Daddy' (recorded in 2007).
(The live disc got previously released as "Last Night At The Palais April 1st 2007" on the Sanctuary record label, in 2009)"

Here's the video from the 2007 U.S. album:

HEAVY CRUISER - LUCKY DOG

• Heavy Cruiser: Lucky Dog
      (1973, lp, USA, family productions)
      (2025, lp, Spain, out-sider records)

L.A.-based band Heavy Cruiser released two albums in the early seventies.
"Lucky Dog", their second album, featured Kerry McNabb as engineer.

Re-issued on the Spanish out-sider records label.

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

 

DAVID BOWIE - LAZARUS

Earlier today, my buddy Harald mentioned David Bowie in an e-mail...

Which reminds me, I should give Frank Zappa's "Civilization Phaze III" another spin before we kick off our Zappanale trip.

A SHORT CHAT WITH VALENTINA SCHELDHOFEN CIARDELLI

The Ciardelli-Drago-Strano Trio will be performing twice at this year’s Zappanale festival.
Expect compositions by Frank Zappa, but also by other composers, in a baroque, classical setting.
A Short Chat with double bass player, arranger and composer Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli felt necessary.

UniMuta: Hi Valentina,
We’ll be seeing you at Zappanale soon, where you will be performing as part of a trio with Anaïs Drago (violin/ voice) and Riccardo Angelo Strano (countertenor) with whom you recently recorded and released the beautiful “Sheik Your Duty” album (out on the Parco Della Musica record label).
Next to Bad Doberan, you’ve also performed a pre-concert at the St.Katharinenkirche in Hamburg a couple of times. Always with different projects. How do you look back on these? And how does it feel to return to Zappa Town Bad Doberan?

Valentina: Looking back at my performances at the St. Katharinenkirche in Hamburg, I always feel a strong connection with that space. I’ve performed there several times with very different ensembles (like Vibes Duo with the fab Benjamin Boo from Singapore in 2017 and Napoleon Murphy Brock in 2018). Each time I’ve felt artistically free and respected. That church holds a deep, resonant silence that listens with you while you play. And on top of that Hamburg is the city where I have roots, my mother was born and raised there so Hamburg has a special place in my heart.

(Valentina & Benjamin Boo at the St. Katharinenkirche, 2017)

Returning now to Bad Doberan feels like returning to family, to a place where curiosity and bold creativity are welcomed with open arms. Zappanale is unique in its openness to genre-blending and boundary-pushing — and I love that spirit and I hope it will last in the future, we need a festival like that, we need it because we need to keep Frank's legacy!

UniMuta: This year, you will be performing twice. Once on the main stage, but also at the expo. Is there a different approach in playing? Open air and amplified versus an acoustic setting?

Valentina: Playing twice at Zappanale, once on the main stage (One Size Fits All), and once at the expo is exciting because it demands two completely different approaches. On the main stage, the amplification and outdoor setting give you the chance to project powerful gestures and larger-than-life energy. It becomes theatrical and grand: the sound it’s being filtered and carried by a PA system into an open space which is a challenge for an acoustic set-up as ours.

 
At the expo, in contrast, the acoustic setting calls for intimacy and more close listening, the true chamber music experience for me. Every small dynamic detail and expressive breath matters. As performers, we must adapt our phrasing, articulation, and even our mental energy to suit the size of the room and the audience's proximity. Both performances are equally challenging but in opposite ways. I find it enriching to be able to switch between the two and showcase the trio in these two different settings! Can't wait!

(The Ciardelli-Drago-Strano Trio)  

UniMuta: November last year, we saw you in concert in Rotterdam, NL, with Letizia Maulà, with your “From Puccini to Zappa” program. It was a passionate performance. How difficult is it to find like-minded musicians to participate in your projects? Do you meet musicians and then start a project, or do you come up with a project first and then have to search for the other musicians?

Valentina: Your question about how I find musicians really touches the core of my artistic path. I met Letizia Maulà during a festival at Teatro Argentina in Rome, and we immediately started discussing how the double bass and clarinet blend beautifully in a chamber music context. We began rehearsing and seeking out performance opportunities. To me, the dynamics within a chamber group are very similar to those of a friendship, a romantic partnership or a family relationship. There must be mutual respect, trust, and a shared artistic vision. Especially today, with the massive transformations and crises within the music industry, particularly in classical and contemporary fields, it’s increasingly common to find highly skilled virtuosos who are willing to invest time and energy in building something unique and authentic. Artists are carriers of meaning, and now more than ever, despite the effort, the disappointments, and the resilience it requires, we need performers who stand for something on stage. It’s the only way to reconnect with an audience that often feels disillusioned or distanced from classical music. Live music is a treasure, a vital part of human identity that has existed since the dawn of time. Music is a universal language, capable of conveying stories, emotions, and messages. The audience is just as active as the performers. When we play, there is no “us” and “them”, there is only a single community, exchanging something meaningful together. That, for me, is the greatest value of music and performance, and I always seek collaborators who share that same approach.

I’d say that finding the right musicians is a mix of instinct, chance, and vision. I met extraordinary artists and kindred spirits, like Anna Astesano, my partner in The Girls in the Magnesium Dress, and a natural synergy gives birth to a new project. Like in our repertoire Ruutsu or How I Met Puccini, it was our shared love for theatrical storytelling and genre-blending that brought us together almost instantly. Other times, I already have a clear concept in mind, and I actively search for the right musical personalities to embody it. What matters most is curiosity, openness, and a willingness to take risks. I’m drawn to artists who listen deeply and treat music not as a fixed form but as a living, breathing organism. Art is not polite, art is not on-demand, art is our tool of expression, we give voice to human psychological, emotional and social needs. Working with Anaïs Drago and Riccardo Angelo Strano on Sheik Your Duty was exactly that: three strong, unique identities uniting to tell a story — with no compromise, but with deep mutual respect and love for art and performance.

 

("Shake Your Duty", album cover)

UniMuta: Dispite your busy schedule, or should I say: “because of your busy traveling schedule”, you recently started a campaign to capture and to improve the rules for the transportations of musical instruments.
I also learned that you don’t always travel with your double bass. Sometimes you hire or lend an instrument to avoid travelling with it?
People can sign the petition for support, but they can also, voluntarily, show their support by making a donation.
How has the petition been going so far?

Valentina: Yes, the petition is something I care about deeply because I’ve lived the nightmare of traveling with a musical instrument far too many times. Transporting a musical instrument is logistically complex, emotionally stressful, and mostly financially unsustainable. Inconsistent airline policies, oversized baggage fees, damage risks, and a general lack of understanding from travel staff, it's a serious obstacle to our work. Sometimes I’ve had to rent or borrow instruments locally, which always feels like giving up a part of myself. That’s why I launched the petition at the end of May 2025 to advocate for fair, clear, and consistent international rules for traveling with musical instruments. Our instruments are not cargo. They're part of us. They deserve dignity and care. So far, the petition has reached thousands of signatures, and many colleagues and institutions have shared it and supported it. Some have also made donations, which are helping the platform to reach over more people. But it is not enough, we need everyone in this campaign because, Music is for everyone and not a luxury service. We need even more visibility especially from festivals, orchestras, and venues that rely on traveling artists.

Here’s the petition link to sign, share and support:

👉 https://www.change.org/p/rules-for-the-transport-of-musical-instruments

It’s not just a personal cause — it’s about creating a better and fairer future for all professional musicians. For all of us. My instrument is NOT a Luggage. It's an extension of my body, the tool that allows me to express myself and deliver an artistic message to the community.

 
As Frank Zappa said :

Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is THE BEST.

I don't know why, but to me this quote is the most human thing ever written, and it makes me cry all the time.
Thank you, Frank, for everything you brought to this crazy world.

UniMuta: Beautiful words. Thank you very much , Valentina.
We’ll see you soon and we’re extremely looking forward to it.

The Ciardelli-Drago-Strano Trio will perform at the main stage on Friday at 20h30, and at the expo in the centre of town on Saturday, at 11h00.
We’re in for a treat. Don’t miss this !!

JOE SATRIANI & NED EVETT

Joe Satriani and Ned Evett have launched Satchtoons Media.

www.satchtoons.com

The first (?) 'release' is some sort of tablet that presents some animated videos and audio files.
I picked it up at a recent SatchVai Band gig.

It's a fun gadget, and I do hope that the website will become operation soon so that I can check out if it can do more than just play the videos.

HELMUT KING

Graphic artist Helmut King will be presenting his "Artworks / Monografie" catalogue at Zappanale.

300 pages of graphic madness.

Here's a picture of the "Music Is The Best" (2017) postcard:

FZ IN THE MAGAZINES

German 'Good Times' magazine, issue 169, 6/2020, had a 4-page articles on Frank Zappa: 2 pages on his discography and 2 pages on Pauline Butcher's book.

The Nov/Dec 2008 issue of "Record Collector" magazine, had FZ on the cover. and 7 pages inside (about the Joe's Garage music, and about FZ's "Mystery Disc" album.