CHAWATA

 Talking about bands that have been inspired by the music of Frank Zappa, I recently discovered Chawata.

Paris, France-based band that released 2 albums. A first one in 1997 and a second one in 2003.

Here's a piece from their second release:

PALO ALTO

 Palo Alto's latest release : Différence et Répétition.

This new album (the tenth in their discography) was born from two ambitions: to pay tribute to Soft Machine's Third on form (4 sides / 4 titles) and to philosopher Gilles Deleuze (Difference and Repetition is the title of his thesis) on the contents. The 4 long pieces of this double concept album were developed over 2 years and each has a different style and climate. Bold and kaleidoscopic, Difference and Repetition perfectly synthesizes the musical and literary obsessions of Palo Alto.

Here's a sample

PIERRE VERVLOESEM - FOLKLORIK

• pierre vervloesem folklorik
      (2021, download, belgium, bandcamp)

Pierre Vervloesem released "Folklorik" last Friday.
It's another excellent release by Belgian's best kept musical secret.

Twisted and upgraded folkloristic dance music.
And it works. I'm dancing to it. Well, in my head, that is, but I'm still dancing.

Essential listening.

FRIED DÄHN

 Electric cello player Fried Dähn has just released a new album :

https://www.flavoredtune.com/produkt/fried-daehn-now-then-2/

I've seen Fried in concert at Zappanale a couple of times and I love the sounds he gets from his cello.

SUN RA - ON JUPITER

Sun Ra's 1979 "On Jupiter" album got remastered and digitally released through Bandcamp earlier this month.
The album also included a bonus track.

Bandcamp:
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/on-jupiter

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

HARDSCORE

Available on Bandcamp, and there's even some physical copies available as well:

https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/album/methane-1998-11-01-full-album

Frank Nuyts' Hardscore ensemble : "Methane" 

If you're into Frank Zappa, you need to check this out.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA'S GUITAR COLLECTION

In this episode of “The Collection,” host Mark Agnesi travels to Los Angeles, CA, to check out the incredible guitar collection of Dweezil Zappa. Growing up the son of musical icon Frank Zappa, Dweezil began playing guitar as a young child, and by age 12, had released his first single. Dweezil has performed as a solo artist, as well as recreating his father’s music with the project Zappa Plays Zappa. Over his career, Dweezil has amassed a massive collection of odd and obscure guitars, including many of his father’s original instruments, fretless and half-fretted guitars, a microtonal guitar, and a Kramer guitar given to him by Eddie Van Halen during a soundcheck at his middle school talent show. His love of modifying guitars and his quest for new sounds makes Dweezil’s collection anything but ordinary.

THE LAMA HOME BAND

 New corona-free video of the Lama Home Bands second LP "Sparebed Birthmarks" on Bananafishin' Records.

Limited edition of 150 copies.

JOE DENINZON - COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

 Joe Deninzon released 'Cognitive Dissonance' on Bandcamp.
It's a single 5-minute track with a strong message.

Check it out.

PHISH - SIGMA OASIS

• phish: sigma oasis
      (2020, 2lp, usa, jemp records)

 A couple of months ago, Phish released "Sigma Oasis", a studio album that featured a lot of strings and even some additional vocals next to the familiar Anastasio - McConnell - Gordon - Fishman quartet.

Laid-back and uplifting.
I like this a lot.