R.I.P. IKE WILLIS

I'll be listening to "Joe's Garage" tomorrow...

 

AMYGDALA

Today, my guided tour of the world of Zeuhl took me to Japanese duo Amygdala.

Amygdala is a Japanese avant-prog and Zeuhl band known for their dark, heavy, and complex instrumental music. Characterized by intricate rhythmic patterns, apocalyptic atmospheres, and virtuoso keyboard and guitar work, their compositions draw heavy inspiration from Western progressive rock pioneers like Univers Zero, Magma, and Present.

Featuring Yoshihiro Yamaji (guitar, bass & vocals) and Yoshiyuki Nakajima (keyboard), the duo released two albums: "Amygdala" (2004), and "Complex Combat" (2008), both released on the French Soleil Zeuhl record label.

Recommended listening.

• Amygdala: Amygdala
      (2004, cd, France, soleil zeuhl sz 11)

• Amygdala: Complex Combat
      (2008, cd, France, soleil zeuhl sz 18)

-- info: Danny Mathys

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Fugato In 5/4'
by Eidon

CABALLERO REYNALDO

Caballero Reynaldo recently performed the music of Frank Zappa at a Portuguese festival.
But he's also releasing original music.

Here's 'Civilizacion Subnormal' :

 

CARMINA - HAMRA

• Carmina: Hamra
      (2026, cd, France, soleil zeuhl sz 64)

Carmina's "Hamra" is another fascinating release on the French Soleil Zeuhl record label.

French band Carmina formed in 1974.
The Soleil Zeuhl record label recovered some of their archive recordings from 1976 & 1977 and released these on CD (in 2026!).

Three recordings of the same composition, 'Hamra'.
But this is not just an archival exercise. 'Hamra' is a beautiful piece of music and it's great to have these three versions available.

WAX'IN - WAX'IN

• Wax’In: Wax’In
      (2016, cd, France, le triton tri-16536)

Band created in December 2015 at the suggestion of Jean-Pierre Vivante, manager of Le Triton, who saw the reunion of these 4 musicians as the "dream team" for his concert venue. Although Franck Vaillant, Christophe Godin, Médéric Collignon and Philippe Bussonnet had never met nor played together before, the musical alchemy was there and the band was born. They released their first eponymous album one year after their first concert together.

Featuring jazz drummer Franck Vaillant, guitar wizard Christophe Godin, jazz trumpet player Médéric Collignon, and (former) Magma bass player Philippe Bussonnet.

I probably mentioned this album shortly after it got released. I'm a huge fan of Christophe Godin's guitar playing and I try to listen to every project he's involved in.
Unfortunately, Wax'In only recorded one album. I would have loved to hear more from this amazing quartet.

As the album got recommended to me recently, I thought it was only appropriate to give it another mention (while giving it another spin).

NOLAN COOK / NIFNAR

Nolan Cook used to be the guitar player for the Residents.
His latest project is called Nifnar.

'I'll Give You One Day To Remember' will out on Bandcamp on June 5.
Here's the promo video.

FERNANDO MOLINARI

Bass player and composer Fernando Molinari has released another couple of tracks on Bandcamp.
Both feature Marco Minnemann.

https://fernandomolinari.bandcamp.com/

You can also check Fernando out on YouTube

• Fernando Molinari - Bass/Vocals/Percussion
• João Hanysz - Acoustic & Eletric Guitar/Synth
• Arthur Rezende - Drums
• Cristian Del Giorgio - Keyboards and Effects

• Fernando Molinari - Bass
• Andre Nieri - Guitar
• Marco Minnemann - Drums
• Herbert Medeiros - Keyboards and Effects

• Fernando Molinari - Bass
• Andre Nieri - Guitar
• Marco Minnemann - Drums
• Daniel Felix - Keyboards and Effects

THE RESIDENTS - ANIMAL LOVER - EVOLUTION EDITION

• The Residents: Animal Lover – Evolution Edition
      (2026, 3cd, UK, cherry red)

The Residents’ "Animal Lover - Evolution Edition" got released via Cherry Red Records a couple of months ago.
The 3CD set maps the project of one of one the avant-garde group’s 21st-century masterpieces, "Animal Lover".
While the original 2005 release was highly praised for its unique perspective on human behavior seen through the eyes of animals, this 3-CD box set serves as an audio time capsule. It unearths 44 previously unreleased tracks that reveal how the band navigated creative roadblocks and structural shifts between 2001 and 2004.

From the original release:

MARCO DALPANE - FRANK ZAPPA SUITE

Frank Zappa Suite
(Let's Make the Water Turn Black/ Harry, You're A Beast/ Orange County Lumber Truck/ Oh No, Son of Orange County/ Theme from Lumpy Gravy)
___________________________________________________

Live Recording

Date: 4.12.2013
Audio e Video: Davide Cristiani @ BombanellaSoundscapes
www.bombanellastudio.it