THE RATCHET ORCHESTRA - ALIVE - 2023

• Ratchet Orchestra: Alive – 2023
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

"Alive - 2023" presents more weird noises from the Ratchet Orchestra.
Beautiful.

HIBUSHIBIRE - PHANTOM FUZZY EXOTICA

 

• Hibushibire: Phantom Fuzzy Exotica
      (2026, lp, --, riot season records) – crystal clear vinyl + poster / 250 copies
      (2026, lp, --, riot season records) – red swirl vinyl / 300 copies

Next to the purple vinyl version of Hibushibire's "Phantom Fuzzy Exotica", the album has also been made available on crystal clear, and on red swirl vinyl.

It included ‘Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The Electric Nonsense’, for which the Bandcamp page added:
Hard psychedelic jazz rock. The title is a little nod to Frank Zappa.

Beautiful packaging, including an obi.

MARBIN TOURDATES

 

ANGINE DE POITRINE RADIO SHOW ALBUM

Previously released as a 12" by the band (?), Angine De Poitrine's appearance on KEXP in Seattle has now also been released as a 'radio show album'.
LP + CD

= a semi-official release on the Indie's Live record label.

NEW ED PALERMO BIG BAND ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

"It's An Ed Palermo Christmas! God Bless Us, Everyone" is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

SQUAREPUSHER - HELLO EVERYTHING

• Squarepusher: Hello Everything
      (----, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2006, cd, --, warp records)

Bass player and drum programmer Tom Jenkinson is better known as Squarepusher.
His 2006 "Hello Everything" album is quite different from the "Kammerkonzert" album that I mentioned a couple of days ago.
It sounds like some sort of weird video game soundtrack, but in a good way.

-- info: Harald Häring

THE RATCHET ORCHESTRA - HALLOWEEN - 2012

During their 2012 Halloween concert, the Ratchet Orchestra performed several pieces by Sun Ra.
Reason enough to investigate !

A recording of the concert got released on Bandcamp:

• Ratchet Orchestra: Halloween – 2012
      (2020, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      Incl. ‘Eve’, ‘Big Charles’, ‘Overtones Of China’, ‘El’ (Sun Ra)

 -- info: Danny Mathys

SUN RA RE-ISSUE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER

The Cosmic Myth record label will be releasing Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Infinity Arkestra's "The Night Of The Purple Moon" in December. The album will be made available on CD and as a 2 LP set.

 

MUSIC FROM TIME & SPACE VOL. 60

• Various Artists: Music From Time & Space Vol. 60
      (2016, cd, Germany, eclipsed) – supplement to Eclipsed Rock Magazin

The CD sampler that came with Eclipsed Rock Magazin, issue 03/2016, presented a nice set of songs including Dweezil Zappa's ‘Funky 15’ (from “Via Zammata”) and Lazuli's 'Le Lierre' (from "Nos Mes Saoules").

LUSTMORD LOMBARDO - THE PULSE OF ATOMS

• Lustmord Lombardo: The Pulse Of Atoms
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd)
      (2026, 2lp)

Lustmord Lombardo's debut album, "The Pulse Of Atoms", pairs the dark ambient soundscapes of Brian Williams with the complex percussion of drummer Dave Lombardo.
Distopian and cinematic.

I received the album with the message: "Very dark ambient music. Happy Halloween!".
A spot on description.

TONY LEVIN'S "THE BOOK OF BEAT"

TONY LEVIN, the legendary bass icon has the new book of photographs - The BOOK of BEAT!

https://tonylevinmusic.com/the-book-of-beat

 

THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - FREAK OUT

Next to the "Freak Out" box sets, the album was also re-issued as a 2 LP set on multi-colored vinyl.
As far as I know, only available from the Zappa dot com shop.
It looks pretty neat (& comes with the Freak Out Hot Spots map)

FILA BRAZILLIA - LUCK BE A WEIRDO TONIGHT

• Fila Brazillia: Luck Be A Weirdo Tonight
      (1997, cd, Germany, pork recordings)

Fila Brazillia is Steve Cobby and David McSherry.
Track number four on their “Luck Be A Weirdo Tonight” album is called ‘Hells Rarebit’. It sampled sped-up drums from of FZ’s ‘Apostrophe’ throughout the piece.

Out on CD and available on Bandcamp.
A 2 LP vinyl re-issue saw the light of day in 2021.

It wouldn't be the last time the duo used a Zappa sample. 'Ridden Pony' from the 1999 "A Touch Of Cloth" album, sampled 'Eat That Question' !!

Here's "Luck Be A Weirdo Tonight":

NEW ALBUM BY MEN & VOLTS

David Greenberger keeps on releasing material by Men & Volts at a steady pace.

I COMPANI

Dutch ensemble I Compani released "Circusyears, '91, 92, 93" on CD in 2025.
The album included ‘Theme From Lumpy Gravy & Let’s Make The Water Turn Black’ (F. Zappa), and also ‘Bolero For Hugo Zamoratte’ (M. Ravel, arr. Bo van de Graaf, F. Zappa).

More info soon.

Here's I Compani in concert in 2024:

-- info: HP Schmidt

TRACKLIST FOR THE UPCOMING ED PALERMO BIG BAND CD

 

FABI SPAMPINATO

Fabio Spampinato has a new album out. He recorded some Zappa tunes in the past which is reason enough to check out his latest release: "MY STORY WITH HIROMI".

Un nuevo álbum. Conceptual. 8 temas cantados fragmentos en japonés, ingles y castellano. Estilo jazz rock japones 80's era.

NEW ZAPPA TITLES ON THE OLDAYS RECORD LABEL

The Oldays record label is keeping a nice tempo in releasing the old Zappa / Mothers albums.

Here's what the latest three look like:

SQUAREPUSHER - KAMMERKONZERT

My pal Harald recently introduced me to Squarepusher's "Kammerkonzert" album and I'm completely blown away.

This is great stuff.
Funky jazzy stuff that also reminds of some  to Frank Zappa's synclavier output.

Check it out !!

THE FOOLZ

R.I.P. Remco Aalhuizen.
Great guitar player and very nice guy.

ARTHUR BARROW - THE WISH

Arthur Barrow released another track on Bandcamp !

 

WIDESPREAD PANIC - - - OCT 31, 2001 - - - JOE'S GARAGE

Widespread Panic & The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
2001/10/31
Chicago

THE JOE'S GARAGE ENSEMBLE

Joe’s Garage Ensemble will bring music by Frank Zappa to Tremendous Brewing in St. Peter on Halloween night.

SELAH SUE & THE GALLANDS - - - FULL CONCERT ON YOUTUBE

Le concert de Selah Sue and The Gallands en intégralité à Jazz à la Villette 2026 !

Taken from a TV broadcast.

ALI N. ASKIN IN CONCERT IN BERLIN

ARTICLE ABOUT FRANK ZAPPA IN DUTCH NEWSPAPER DE VOLKSKRANT

 from De Volkskrant:

2026/10/12

https://www.volkskrant.nl/muziek/frank-zappa-is-lastig-los-te-zien-van-zijn-gitaar-maar-maakte-ook-veel-goede-klassieke-partituren~bf43aeb7/?

CABALLERO REYNALDO & THE GRAND TIEMERSMA

Scheduled to be released on November 15:
"We're Only In It For The Monkey"
by Caballero Reynaldo & The Grand Tiemersma.

Two teasers :

-

NEW ALBUM BY THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND

 A message from Ed Palermo:

ATTENTION! Announcing our newest release.
THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND, IT'S AN ED PALERMO CHRISTMAS! GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!
CD design by legendary artist Cal Schenkel (Frank Zappa, Capt. Beefheart, Tom Waits).
If you've never seen one of our holiday shows, this is the perfect way to experience Palermo's Xmas Extravaganza right in your own home.

Album Drop on Nov. 13, 2026. Available right here on bandcamp. Stay tuned.

MIKE KENEALLY / BANNED FROM UTOPIA - SLEEP DIRT

 

NEW WEBSITE FOR MANDAÏ

Mail order specialist and distributor Mandaï has a new website.
If you're looking for music outside the norm (and live on the Eurepean mainland), you should know about Mandaï.

https://www.mandai.be/index.php

GREETINGS FROM PAMPLONA

We, Zappa fans, see clues to our musical hero everywhere.

Below picture was sent in by Jeroen, taken in Pamplona. He added:
"Although the resemblance to Zappa is probably more a matter of chance than anything else."

MIKE KENEALLY / THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA

 

THE 180Gs

 The 180Gs have recorded a cappella versions of Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica", The Residents' "The Commercial Album", and The Cardiacs' "Sing To God".
Three albums that you should have checked out in the past.

The next project by The 180Gs is "Son Of Guns", their reworking of The Cardiacs' "Guns" album.

And while at Bandcamp, also give "Reverse Engineering: Remix Contest Music 2009-2012, vol. 2" a listen. David Minnick (the 180G mastermind) isolated the vocal part of some famous songs, and added new music to it, changing harmony, rhythm and temp.
Quite interesting.
On a side note: the album has 'Well' (Don Van Vliet), taken from the 180Gs "Trout Mask Replica" as a bonus track.

PAMELA DES BARRES

 A Czech version of Pamela Des Barres' "I'm With The Band" book, is being prepared.

STEPHEN STEINBRINK - UTOPIA TEASED

• Stephen Steinbrink: Utopia Teased
      (2018, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2018, cd, UK, melodic)

Stephen Steinbrink's "Utopia Teased" album arrived a couple of days ago.
As mentioned last month, the album includes a piece entitled 'Zappa Dream', written by Rosie Steffy and previously recorded by La Dee Da.

"Utopia Teased" presents low-fi pop music. The background of this album is heavy. Devastated by the tragic Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, which claimed the life of a close friend, Steinbrink processed his immense grief by isolating himself in his studio. Taking LSD daily and refusing sleep, he poured his fractured psyche directly onto tape, deliberately driving preamps to reflect how "fried" and pulverized his brain felt.

Despite the heavy blanket of trauma, the 12-track album glimmers with surprising lightness, floating somewhere between the delicate pop and the hazy, psychedelic drifts.

HIBUSHIBIRE - PHANTOM FUZZY EXOTICA

• Hibushibire: Phantom Fuzzy Exotica
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, lp, --, riot season records) – purple vinyl / 300 copies

Japanese psychedelic rock trio Hibushibire's 5th studio album got released in 2026: “Phantom Fuzzy Exotica’.
It included ‘Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The Electric Nonsense’, for which the Bandcamp page added:
Hard psychedelic jazz rock. The title is a little nod to Frank Zappa.

Released as a digital download through Bandcamp, the album was also made available in different vinyl variations.

The "retail version" was on purple vinyl and limited to 300 copies. Also sold during the recent EU tour.

Bandcamp:

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA

The Banned From Utopia is still touring !

Here's one of the highlights from their recent concert at De Boerderij, NL

And a fine recording from De Singer, BE

-

17 HIPPIES - BIESTER

• 17 Hippies: Biester
      (2014, cd, Germany, hipster-records hip 016)
      (2014, lp, Germany, hipster-records hip 016 lp)

Fascinating: there are two different versions of the CD. It was made available in both a 3-panel digipack and in a 2-panel digipack. Same label, same reference number.
All versions included 17 Hippies' version of Frank Zappa’s ‘Peaches En Regalia”.

Here's 'Peaches En Regalia':

ALTERATIVE TV - THE IMAGE HAS CRACKED - THE ALTERNATIVE TV COLLECTION

• Alternative TV: The Image Has Cracked – The Alternative TV Collection
      (1994, cd, UK, anagram records cd punk 24)

Somehow, I had missed this 1994 re-issue of Alternative TV's 1978 album.
It's not just a re-issue as it includes 10 bonus tracks !

It included ‘Why Don’tcha Do Me Right’, originally on the 1978 album.

BEAT - - - CITY OF TINY LITES

BEAT (Belew, Vai, Levin, Bozzio): "City of Tiny Lites" (Zappa)
(10/9/2026; Santa Cruz, CA, USA)

Wow !!

Terry's drum solo

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

ANDREA ROSSI ANDREA / GROUND PLANE ANTENNA - QSL FROM WEB

• Andrea Rossi Andrea – Ground Plane Antenna: QSL From Web
      (2003, cd, Italy, splas(h) records cdh 2503.2)

Musician and artist Andrea Rossi used Andrea Rossi Andrea as his artist moniker.

His “QSL From Web” album included a piece entitled 'Idioterne'. The full title was mentioned on the back of the digipack:
‘ “Frank Zappa: Quando George Impazzi Asoltando I Pink Floyd Credevamo Scherzasse”. DIOTERNE’,
which would translate to:
‘ "Frank Zappa: When George went crazy listening to Pink Floyd, we thought he was joking”. The idiots’.

SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA - EAST TWO + 7

• Sun Ra: East Two + 7
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp) – 2026 06 19
      (2026, cd, USA, cosmic myth records) = "East Two + 7"
      (2026, lp, USA, cosmic myth records) - retitled “East Two + 5”

Released in June, earlier this year, but it took some time for the CD to arrive.
An excellent archival release !

Great music, beautiful package and extremely detailed liner notes.

The album kicks off with 'East Two' and has 7 additional tracks, hence the album title.
The LP only has 5 additional tracks.
But also available as a download from Bandcamp as "East Two + 7".

Give it a listen over at Bandcamp !

TORY SLUSHER - - - AMNERIKA

Frank Zappa's 'Amnerika', performed by Tory Slusher

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

BEAT, PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF KING CRIMSON

 

DOUBT - NEVER PET A BURNING DOG

douBt's "Never Pet A Burning Dog" got released on CD on the MoonJune Records label in 2010 ! 

It featured some amazing music by

• Alex Maguire: Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, synthesizers
• Michel Delville: electric guitar, Roland GR-09
• Tony Bianco: drums
  and special guest:
• Richard Sinclair: vocals (Tracks 1 & 5), electric bass (1, 2)

More recently, it has been made available as a digital download / streaming album on the Off record label.

FLAB - THE BLUE MONK

•  Flab: The Blue Monk
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, --, --)

Flab features Wolfram Klug and Matthias Zimlich.

In previous years, Wolfram Klug released “Burt The Nerd” (2020) and “Speaking To Ray” (2022), both presenting some Frank Zappa compositions. 

The Bandcamp liner notes for “The Blue Monk” mentioned:

The album explores adventurous auditory landscapes deeply inspired by the playful, boundary-pushing spirit of pioneers like Frank Zappa and Brian Eno.

ORSON CLAEYS - OTHELLO

Belgian pianist and composer Orson Claeys has just released his first album.
It's out on Sdban Records and you can give it a listen over at Bandcamp.

Cinematic contemporary jazz spiced with hip-hop and middle eastern flavours.

THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - FREAK OUT - 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

No surprise. The Japanese edition of the "Freak Out" box is on SHM CDs:

5 shm-cd + blu-ray

TWO NEW BOOKS ABOUT FRANK ZAPPA

Two new books, but unfortunately with miserable AI generated cover artwork.

THE IKE WILLIS MEMORIAL BARBECUE AT THE MOSAE ZAPPA FESTIVAL

In about a month, the MOSAE ZAPPA Festival will take place in Heerlen, NL.

It will be the tenth edition already!
https://mosaezappa.wordpress.com/

As a special event, MOSAE ZAPPA will feature The Ike Willis Memorial Barbecue, where Roddie Gilliard and Co de Kloet will share some of their memories, moderated by Tim op het Broek.

Looking forward to it.

 

Let me share three of my Ike Willis moments with you.

My favourite one happened when I was queuing to get enter some club in Delft, NL, to catch a concert by Cuccurullo Brillo Brullo, a fine Frank Zappa tribute band. And on this occasion, Ike Willis would be featured as special guest.
October 2006.
So I’m in line, or I just bought my ticket, and I hear someone explaining to the counter clerk that he is Jeff Hollie and that he’s a friend of Ike Willis. If someone could fetch Ike.
By coincidence, I had just been updating the United-Mutations website with Jeff’s whereabouts (Jeff was performing with Wicked Jazz Sounds and had been living in The Netherlands for some years at the time) so when some of the Cuccurullo Brillo Brullo band members came down to check out this tall, dark fellow, I could explain who he was and they called for Ike.
My mind can be blurred a bit, but I remember it as a touching moment when Ike and Jeff finally saw each other again in person after quite a number of years.
I was happy to be invited to join them at their table while they were reminiscing.
And, yes, Jeff had brought his saxophone and performed a couple of tunes with the band…
What a night.
And it was Jeff’s re-entry into the Zappa world.

The most impressive memory happened at Zappanale #22 in 2011 (if my notes are correct). As those who have attended Zappanale know, Zappanale is a very ‘open’ festival. There are great opportunities to chat with everyone.
Anyway, Doctor Nerve performed at Zappanale in 2011 and at a certain moment, and I don’t recall how this came about, I’m standing next to Nick Didkovsky and Ike Willis.
Nick explained to Ike how he joined the Zappa band on stage during a certain show, as some sort of audience participation, and Ike not only remembered this but started adding details to that story with his infectious enthusiasm, but above all with an incredibly impressive memory.
Loved it.

The most bizarre memory took place in Eeklo, Belgium, when Ike was touring with The Muffin Men. I don’t remember the year.
We were there well in advance and we were not the only ones.
A couple of Dutch guys came in, searched for Ike, and they left together with Ike.
When the concert was about to start, no one knew where Ike was. He had disappeared and only returned much later. He did have issues at the time…

Anyway, November 21, Heerlen will be the place to be.
And add November 20 as well if you’re up for a pre-party with Project Z.

CAN - LIVE IN ARLES 1975

• Can: Live In Arles 1975
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, --, spoon records)
      (2026, lp, --, spoon records)

Overseen by Irmin Schmidt, the last surviving founding member of Can, "Live In Arles 1975" is the seventh volume in a series of Can live albums.

• Michael Karoli – Guitar, Vocals
• Irmin Schmidt – Keyboards
• Holger Czukay – Bass
• Jaki Liebezeit – Drums, Percussion

What makes the Arles concert so extraordinary—and widely considered by the band members themselves to be one of their absolute finest live hours—is how it highlights Can's supreme mastery of instant composition. These aren't just extended, loose jams or simple rehashes of studio tracks; they are fully realized, living sonic architecture constructed on the fly.

From the opening minutes, the band locks into that uncanny, hypnotic synchronicity. Liebezeit’s rhythms aren't just keeping time—they are sculpting space, providing an immovable foundation that allows Karoli's jagged, soaring guitar lines and Schmidt's atmospheric, sometimes confrontational keyboard textures to collide and spark. Czukay pulls it all together with heavy, pulsating bass loops that feel forward-thinking even by today's standards.

Beautiful.

-- info: Danny Mathys

ROBEONE

Keyboardist and composer Robeone's new instrumental album, “If You Don’t Know What It Is, It Must Be Jazz,” is out on Transglobal Records. The seven‑track album blends progressive rock, jazz fusion, electronic textures, and playful experimentation. 100% of the album’s proceeds will support The Bob Moog Foundation, continuing Robeone’s long relationship with the organization.

MARBIN - - - MAESTRO PART 1 (SET 2)

From the "Spicy Noodles" VIP package.

"Spicy Noodles"

TREY GUNN & DAVID FORLANO - SUBPLANE 16

"Subplane 16"
a live recording by Trey Gunn and David Forlano that has just been released through Bandcamp.

I guess that the album title could be interpreted as a musical and spiritual journey to the next level (of existence) but I don't really know about that. I can only say that I like it a lot.

NUBIYAN TWIST - HOMECOMING

A bit of Afrobeat...
If this doesn't get you in a good mood...

 

GOV'T MULE

Gov’t Mule takes over The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY for two nights on December 28 & 29, with special guest Audley Freed joining the band for both shows. 

These two nights kick off the Mule Year’s Eve run, leading all the way to the big night in Boston on December 31. And if you know Mule, you know there’s no better way to close out the year than a few nights of music, friends and a whole lot of rock ’n’ roll.

HARDY FOX - DEAD CREATURE

• Hardy Fox: Dead Creature – Original Soundtrack
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, Austria, klanggalerie)

Catching up in The Residents' related section, I'm overwhelmed by Hardy Fox' 'Dead Creature' album.

Hardy Fox’s posthumous release, "Dead Creature", is an eerie, yet beautiful minimalistic album.
Released by Austrian record label Klanggalerie, this project stands as the primary composer and co-founder of The Residents' last ever full album, submitted just days before his tragic passing in 2018.

Subtitled as an "Original Soundtrack," the record represents Fox entirely unmasked. Having shed his long-running "Charles Bobuck" moniker and the eyeball-headed anonymity of his former band, "Dead Creature" strips experimental electronica down to its bare, haunting bones.

The album functions through minimalist arrangements built out of simple, repeating numerical track titles ("Four One," "Two Four," "Threw For Four," "Four Is Four").
Melancholic, mechanical, but also deeply personal. It carries the DNA of classic Residents vaudeville futurism but isolates it into a quiet, nocturnal chamber.
It balances the thin line between a creepy, abandoned laboratory soundtrack and a deeply touching farewell.

Essential listening !

PRINCE LIVE ALBUM ANNOUNCED FOR RECORD STORE DAY BLACK FRIDAY

Prince 3121 Las Vegas Live / Live In Las Vegas 2007 Black Friday Record Store Day 2026 Edition

The CD “3121 Las Vegas Live,” released by Sme Us, documents recordings from Prince’s acclaimed 3121 residency in Las Vegas. The concert series took place at the Rio Hotel & Casino from November 11, 2006, through April 29, 2007, combining Prince’s recent work with the extensive repertoire of his career.

“3121 Las Vegas Live” will be released as a CD edition as part of Record Store Day Black Friday 2026. The release makes a previously unreleased live show from Prince’s 3121 era available in physical form for the first time; a vinyl version has also been announced.

The concert recordings themselves take center stage: Prince presents himself as a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader in the distinctive atmosphere of his extended Las Vegas performances. The 3121 residency was not a standard tour stop but a specially developed concert series that took place regularly over several months at Club 3121. As a result, “3121 Las Vegas Live” represents a focused document of the period when Prince permanently relocated his stage work to Las Vegas.

With “3121 Las Vegas Live,” Sme Us is releasing a Prince concert recording previously known in connection with the residency as a standalone live document. The title combines the recording’s time period with the name of the concert series and expands the artist’s official live discography with material from 2006 and 2007.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA ON TOURING IN 2026

50 YEARS OF ZOOT ALLURES

The Zoot Allures 50th Anniversary Edition is here, cracking open the vault on the 1976 classic with the newly remastered original album, previously unreleased recordings, alternate mixes and edits, rare archival treasures, immersive audio, and a complete 1976 concert live from Paris.

The new 5CD & Blu-ray Super Deluxe Edition unearths Zappa’s previously unreleased 2LP configuration, tentatively titled “Night of the Iron Sausage,” alongside unheard studio outtakes, radio ads, and plenty more peculiar treasures from the vault.

50 years of "Zoot Allures" will be celebrated by releasing:

- a 2 LP set
- a 3 LP set
- a 5 CD / blu-ray box set

RUDY TROUVÉ'S 2007 PROJECT RELEASED ON BANDCAMP

Originally released on CDR in 2007 and now also available on Bandcamp.

ED KOMARA - RUBEN (RECORDS U BUY & ENJOY)

•  Ed Komara: Ruben (Records U BUY & Enjoy)
      (2025, book, USA, scott parker books)

Follow-up to Ed Komara's "ZaFTIG (The Zappa Family Trust Issues Guide".
The issues being the albums that got issued by the ZFT.

In this latest book, Ed Komara discusses ZFT albums 100 up to 127.

A MESSAGE FROM THE COMET IS COMING

RETROSPECTIVE

Ten years ago we released our first LP entitled Channel The Spirits.

We had no idea at the time where this would take us, as we documented the inception of our newfound synergy, sound waves billowing out of our collective imagination straight to tape right from the first moment.

We celebrate this milestone by bringing together all of our music from that period, including the Prophecy & Death To The Planet EPs, with additional tracks never heard before - both from the studio and for the first time, live performances.

While searching back through the archives, we discovered an unreleased gem, aptly titled 'Late Night Party Jam 2'. Guests had been invited into the studio to dance and play percussion while we jammed into the night, elevated by the collective experience.

This is our first offering from Exploding In Slow Motion: The Complete Channel The Spirits Recordings 2013-2017CE, released November 20 on The Leaf Label.

Available on polychromatic ‘Ring Nebula’ limited edition 3LP (Bandcamp & Rough Trade exclusive), coloured vinyl 3LP, 2CD and Bandcamp exclusive double cassette.

thecometiscoming.bandcamp.com/album/exploding-in-slow-motion-the-complete-channel-the-spirits-recordings-2013-2017ce

ZOOT ALLURES 50TH - ARCHIVAL EXCAVATION WITH JOE TRAVERS

Zoot Allures 50th: Archival Excavation with Joe Travers

FRANK ZAPPA ZOOT ALLURES BOX SET ANNOUNCED FOR LATER THIS YEAR

5 CD box set,
release date: December 4, 2026.

Here's the tracklist:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/son-of-canard-du-jour-single-edit/6818338544?i=6818339060

' Son Of Canard Du Jour'

NEW ALBUM BY THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT

The Rudy Schwartz Project has just made "Happy Maggot Makes Flopping  Sound !" on Bandcamp.

It's also out on CDR-on-demand by Kunaki:

https://kunaki.com/MSales.asp?PublisherId=148137&PP=1

MARBIN'S LATEST PROJECT - - - SPICY NOODLES

Marbin has just released the sessions for their new album.
They performed and recorded the 12 new album tracks during each session, and they did five sessions.

So now they have 60 tracks from which to choose the tracks that will make the final album.

These five sessions are now available on Bandcamp as a VIP package.

The explanation:
https://youtube.com/shorts/8PbQiLwJB5g?si=LziPsLnkujltHSqD

The VIP Package:

ZAPPANALE SPECIAL ON THE MUSIC ACROSS RADIO SHOW

MUSIC ACROSS
Every first Monday of the month, at 21h00
RADIO ORANGE - ORANGE 94.0
https://o94.at/de/sendereihe/413/music-across
https://cba.media/podcast/music-across

by Gernot Friedbacher

Folge 140 – Zappanale 2026 – #2 – Music Outside the Norm – Die Warm-Up Party – 05.10.2026, 21 Uhr

In this second of four programmes on the Zappanale 2026, you can hear interviews and live recordings of the German bands ‘Superthousand’, ‘Smalltape’, ‘Ikarus Burns’ and ‘Blanck Zappath’, who wowed the audience at the warm-up party on 16 July. Amongst others, Peter Görs, the guitarist with “Blanck Zappath” who founded the Zappanale in 1990, also has his say.

https://o94.at/de/sendereihe/413/music-across/sendung/58637/zappanale-2026-2-music-outside-the-norm-die-warm-up-party

RUBEN AND THE JETS

The life, music, and activism of Chicano rock pioneer Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara.

https://www.pbssocal.org/events-resource-library/con-safos

-- info: Andreas Rausch on FB

ANOTHER UNMATCHED (FRANK ZAPPA TRIBUTE) SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER

Caballero Reynaldo & The Grand Tiemersma just announced "We're only in it for the monkey". 

Hello everyone, the new Unmatched Vol. 28 is already on pre-sale (Spanish Zappa Tributes). 

"We're Only in It for the Monkey" is a gloriously unfaithful recreation of the legendary 1968 album, made halfway with Irene Villar Tiemersma, with whom I will go on tour next year.
The album will be officially released on November 15. 

If you buy it now in streaming, you can listen and download the songs that I will be unlocking every week until the publication of the full album.

In addition, if you buy the CD, you will be reserving your physical copy of a limited edition of 100 units, in CD Digibook format with an 8-page booklet. 

Thanks for the support. Luis González

AN UPDATE FROM THE 180GS

A message from David Minnick/The 180Gs

I am pleased to announce that the 180Gs are ready to release their a cappella cover version of Cardiacs' 1999 album "Guns"! This has been over 5 years in the making and we're super excited for it to finally see the light of day. Pre orders will begin on October 11 and the album will be released (digitally and on CD) on November 06. We are also pressing 100 more copies of the other Cardiacs cover album "Sing to God"; it's been out of print for way too long. More news later, but in the meantime, here's a brand new video from this record "Son of Guns". Thank you for all of your support and encouragement! 

JON - カセット盤

• JON: カセット盤
      (1999, cd, Japan, oz disc ozd-066)

Uehara Shoko is a mysterious musician. She performs and records as Jon The Dog.
A dog who dreams of being a wolf, and performs in a high-pitch voice, accompanying herself on a pump organ.

In 1994, JON released a cassette tape called "Singapore". It included JON's version of FZ's 'Let's Make The Water Turn Black'.
I've not been able to locate a copy of that cassette (yet), but I was happy to find out that it got included in JON's 1999 compilation album entitled "カセット盤" (which translates as "cassette").

There's a fascinating interview with JON here: 
https://www.shy.center/p/jon-interview

And here's Jon, The Dog with 'Sasatteru':

THE BAND FROM UTOPIA IS TOURING

Here's a set of pictures of yesterday's gig at the Heimathaus Twist in Germany, provided by Jan.
Jan added:
An excellent concert. Despite Ray White being there (still in fine voice!), there was plenty of instrumental music. Highlights included ‘Sleep Dirt’ and the guitar duel between Mike and Jamie.

I'll be seeing them this evening in Tilburg !!

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-- pictures: Jan van Kemenade

ECHOES OF ZOO - COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE

• Echoes Of Zoo: Collective Intelligence
      (2026, cd, Belgium, zephyrus)

Contrary to their previous releases, the latest album by Echoes Of Zoo is not only made available on vinyl but also on CD.

"Collective Intelligence" is all about performing together.
Or as the Bandcamp liner notes add:
Echoes of Zoo is back with "Collective Intelligence" — an album that grooves like a pack on a mission. Inspired by the clever coordination of animals, these tracks celebrate the magic that happens when individuals move as one. Drawing from the intelligence of swarms, flocks, and ecosystems, the record invites listeners to rethink how we, as humans, might face global challenges together. Deep African grooves and wild oriental melodies, all tangled up with Western twists and turns. Music that feels both primal and futuristic. Every beat buzzes with urgency and curiosity, inviting us humans to dance our way toward smarter, shared solutions. "Collective Intelligence" is not just a listening experience, but a call for awareness, connection, and shared responsibility.

A great message. Yes, but the way that they bring it is truly amazing.
Nathan Daems (sax), Falk Schrauwen (drums & percussion), Lieven Van Pée (bass), & Bart Vervaeck (guitar).
The interplay, the rhythms, the non-Western influences,...

Superb !!

THE FALL - CEREBRAL CAUSTIC

• The Fall: Cerebral Caustic
      (2026, lp, UK, cherry red) – black vinyl
      (2026, lp, UK, cherry red) – yellow/ brown marbled coloured vinyl
      (2026, 5cd, UK, cherry red)

Originally released in 1995, a remastered LP version of The Fall’s “Cerebral Caustic” got released earlier this year. The album included The Fall’s version of FZ’s ‘I’m Not Satisfied’.
Next to the vinyl re-issues on black and on yellow/ brown marbled coloured vinyl (the latter limited to 500 copies) of The Fall’s 1995 “Cerebral Caustic” album, the Cherry Red record label also issued a 5 CD box set, presenting alternative versions and a live concert.

Each disc was housed in a separate album cover.

Disc 1, “Cerebral Caustic”, presented the remastered version of the original album, including The Fall’s version of FZ’s ‘I’m Not Satisfied’.

Disc 2, “Sessions & Mixes”, presented a John Peel session and some pre-release rough mixes, including the one for FZ’s ‘I’m Not Satisfied’.
This material was also included as a bonus disc with the 2006 re-release.

Disc 3, “Live In Rennes, April 1995”, presented a concert recording, including a live performance of the aforementioned Frank Zappa piece.

Disc 4 & 5, “The “Twenty-Seven Points”, presented a re-release of the 1995 live compilation that carried the same name.

BRAND X - THEORY OF NOTHING

Enjoying this excellent release !

https://officialbrandx.bandcamp.com/merch/brand-x-theory-of-nothing-2cd-limited-edition-2nd-pressing

The iconic progressive jazz-rock fusion band Brand X revisit their 1977 US tour amid the successful salvage of a heap of reel to reel tapes from Robin Lumley's attic after nearly 50 years.

Over the decades since Brand X released its seminal Livestock, recorded during its 1976/1977 UK tours, hardcore fans may have collected a few bootlegs of varying quality levels. For most bands, that's business as usual, but in the case of Brand X, these sub-standard recordings were made all the more painful since the band never earned a penny from those pirated releases.

Bootleg collectors or faithful fans who purchased retrospectives of live material in the 1990s, often heard substandard recordings from the band's 1977 US tour, since none of the bootlegs, poorly produced FM broadcasts such as Squared or long out of print collections ever yielded a penny for the band, it made sense for Brand X to finally issue its own live album from these reel to reel tapes found in Robin Lumley's personal collection; if a few of these tracks are already familiar to dedicated fans, the double album Theory Of Nothing finally represents a complete concert experience from North America in the fall of 1977. A period which road manager Pete Donovan recalls as the happiest in the band's short stint through the 1970s. It showcases what can arguably be described as "the band at its peak performance”.

Theory Of Nothing was remastered by Percy Jones from a set of stereo reel to reel tapes once intended for broadcast. Audio was meticulously restored so that every number played in these shows could be presented on this record. The band features the usual cast of suspects, John Goodsall, Percy Jones, Robin Lumley, Morris Pert and Kenwood Dennard. And curiously, three tracks from what would become Masques a year later are already performed in earlier arrangements, with Robin on keys and copious live banter from the stage in between numbers.

This live album by Brand X, released in collaboration with MoonJune Records - and take note: for the first time ever, fully owned by the legitimate band owners, and all proceeds go to Percy Jones and estates of John Goodsall and Robin Lumley. This album is a nod to all Brand X fans, and also an homage to the long lost era of Hipgnosis inventions, when opening the box and leafing through the photos and graphics was the start of the journey!

This is the first in what is sure to be a new series of exceptional archival releases.

ANDREAS RAUSCH'S "ZAPPAESK" BOOK

as mentioned on the BooksOnDemand website:

https://buchshop.bod.de/zappaesk-andreas-rausch-9783696780029

A completely fictional story based on true events in the life of Frank Zappa, Surrealism & Philosophy in the work of Frank Zappa, One Size Fits All & Freak Out! This is the Book.
This is ZAPPAesk.
Zappaesk - In the spirit of Zappa

Hilarious.
Essential for every Zappa fan !!

Andreas also has this fabulous YouTube channel:

EDDIE JOBSON U.K. REVISITED - - - EUROPEAN TOUR DATES

The first dates have been confirmed, and tickets are (becoming) available !

Eddie Jobson's U.K. Revisited
feat. Eddie Jobson, Marc Bonilla, Alex Machacek en Marco Minnemann.

2027 01 18 - Studio Club, Krakow, Poland
2027 01 19 - Palladium, Warsaw, Poland
2027 01 20 - Cosmopolite, Oslo, Norway
2027 01 21 - Pustervik, Gothenburg, Sweden
2027 01 23 - Nya Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden
2027 01 25 - 013, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2027 01 26 - Boerderij, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands

JAKE REICHBART - - - SLEEP DIRT

'Sleep Dirt' (F. Zappa)
Fingerstyle Guitar, Jake Reichbart

AN OTTLA UPDATE

Bert Dockx' Ottla ensemble is working on some Thelonious Monk tunes. They're even considering releasing an album with all Monk tunes.
As a teaser, here's 'Bye-Ya': 

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY FLASHBACK

• Various Artists: FES XLS
      (2014, 3cd, Belgium, igloo)

In 2014, the Belgian Igloo record label released a 3 CD slipcase box set. The set included Flat Earth Society's "Boot & Berg" and "Call SHeets, Riders & Chicken Mushroom", plus X-Legged Sally's "(1986-1997) X-Legged Sally Compilation" album.
Common denominator being composer and bandleader Peter Vermeersch.
Next to the 3 CDs, the slipcase also presented a card with download codes for 12 previously released albums (by FES and by XLS).

You may find it interesting that one of these albums, X-Legged Sally's "Fired", included a fine rendition of Frank Zappa's 'City Of Tiny Lites'.

Anyway, I wanted to listen to some older FES material today, so I went for the "FES XLS" box.
An enjoyable decision, even if I say so myself.

Here's FES, December 2025.

EIDON - STRING FRIEZE

'String Frieze'
by Eidon

NEW RELEASE FROM JOHN TABACCO

"Farben Voices"
by John Tabacco

 

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY - - - THE COLTRANE MUTATIONS

If you have the opportunity to catch the Flat Earth Society Orchestra performing their "Coltrane Mutations", don't hesitate !
It's a must-see / must-hear show.

2026

THE COLTRANE MUTATIONS
100 years John Coltrane

01-10 Chassé Theater, Breda, (NL)
11-10 Het Speelhuis, Helmond (NL)
13-10 Jazz i Halmstad, Halmstad (SE)
14-10 Kulturhuset Spira, Jönköping (SE)
17-10 Amare, The Hague (NL)
18-10 Casa da Música, Porto (PT)
30-10 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam (NL)
04-11 Festa Do Jazz, Sons da Lusofonia, Lisbon (PT)