MEN & VOLTS

Men & Volts have released another collection of songs on Bandcamp.
This time, it's different versions of 'Bad Luck Bye Bye', a song that originally got released on their  1987 "The Mule" album.

UNIT WAIL

Unit Wail is a French Zeuhl/Avant-Prog band formed in 2009, known for their dark, intense, and heavily instrumental fusion style.
Founded by guitarist Franck Fromy—a key member of the influential 1980s Zeuhl band Shub-Niggurath—Unit Wail is often characterized as a more aggressive and modern evolution of that dark Zeuhl sound, frequently incorporating "King Crimson-in-hell" guitar riffs, filthy, prominent bass lines, and dense synthesizer layers.

The band has released four albums.
I recently enjoyed three of these: "Pangaez Proxima", "Retort", and "Egares".
Recommended listening !!

• Unit Wail: Pangaea Proxima
      (2012, cd)
• Unit Wail: Retort
      (2013, cd)
• Unit Wail: Beyond Space Edges
      (2015, cd)
• Unit Wail: Egares
      (2019, cd)

-- info: Danny Mathys

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'nalÈ'
by Eidon

RÊVE D'ÉLÉPHANT ORCHESTRA - JUNGLE BINGE

• Rêve d'Eléphant Orchestra: Junge Binche
      (2026, cd, Belgium, igloo)

Album number six for the Rêve d'Eléphant Orchestra.
In their usual delightful quirkiness, the ensemble offers 9 tracks on this new album.

...a joyful, danceable album blending West African rhythms, carnival brass fanfare, and contemporary jazz. Marking 25 years for the Belgian ensemble, this album is noted for its "hip-swaying" grooves, rich collective improvisation, and a fresh, intergenerational energy.

Let them take you to a trip in the jungle !!

KAREN MANTLER - BUSINESS IS BAD

• Karen Mantler: Business Is Bad
      (2014, cd, Germany, xtrawatt)

Saying that Karen Mantler has a distinctive and minimalist style is an understatement.
I got introduced to her "Business Is Bad" album recently, where she continues on her same lovely path.

Nonchalantly and disarmingly, Karen sings of homeless people in the park, the disappearance of friends, the frustrations of being monolingual, the challenge of improvisation, music with a mind of its own, and encounters with bill collectors, lawyers, snowstorms, and ash-spewing volcanoes.

-- info: Danny Mathys

SETNA - GUÉRISON

• Setna: Guérison
      (2013, cd, France, soleil zeuhl)

French Zeuhl fusion band Setna released their debut, "Cycle I" in 2007.
Their second album, "Guérision" followed in 2013.

Although the band is classified as Zeuhl, the music on "Guérison" is also said to be more spiritual, ethereal and uplifting than the typical darker Zeuhl music.

Three long pieces: 'Cycle II', 'Triptyque', and 'Guérison', plus two shorter pieces from the same session.

Beautiful !!

Here's 'Triptyque':

-- info: Danny Mathys

XING SA - CRÉATION DE L' UNIVERS

• Xing Sa: Création De L’Univers
      (2010, cd, France, soleil zeuhl)

Nicolas Goulay (Keyboards), Christophe Blondel (Bass) and Nicolas Candé (Drums) are part of French Zeuhl fusion band Setna.
Xing Sa was a (one-off) side project.

"Création De L'Univers" got released in 2010 on the Soleil Zeuhl record label.
As the label name predicts, this is indeed music in the style of Magma / Zeuhl.

Instrumental (for the most part), and keyboard-driven.
A fine discovery.

-- info: Danny Mathys

FULANO - TRABAJOS INÚTILES

• Fulano: Trabajos Inútiles
      (1997, cd, Chile, private release / fulano)

Chilean jazz-fusion band Fulano included a piece entitled ‘Nadie Nos Conoce (El Cielo Tiene Su Escrutinador Central)’ (Nobody Knows Us – Heaven Has Its Own Central Scrutinizer) on “Trabajos Inútiles”, their third album.
The piece was dedicated to Frank Zappa.

Originally released in 1997, “Trabajos Inútiles” would get a re-release in 2003 (on the Brazilian Record Runner label) and in 2016 (on the Chilean El Templo Rekords label).

STEEL PANTHER - ON THE PROWL

• Steel Panther: On The Prowl
      (2023, cd, USA, private release / steel panther)

Steel Panther is a comedic, satirical glam metal band that parody 1980s Sunset Strip hair metal with highly profane, sex-heavy, and hedonistic lyrics. Their music is characterized by technically brilliant musicianship, featuring wailing solos, "gluey" melodic hooks, and authentic 80s-style rock production that simultaneously honors and mocks the genre.

"On The Prowl" was Steel Panther's final album. It featured Dweezil Zappa on guitar on 'Is My Dick Enough'.

XAVI REIJA ELECTRIC QUINTET - NU BREED

• Xavi Reija Electric Quintet: Nu Breed
       (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / moonjune)
       (2026, cd, --, moonjune records)

Spanish drummer and composer Xavi Reija has a new album out.
"Nu Breed" got released about ten days ago and offers some exiting and energising music.

Featuring Xavi Reija on drums, Dusan Jevtovic on guitar, Tomás Fosch on Fender Rhodes and mini moog, Rafael Garacés on sax, and Brnat Hernandez on electric bass, the album presents 8 funky jazz fusion tracks.

Together they make high-voltage music that derives directly from the music of King Crimson and the freedom of Miles Davis. The result is a proposal of an uncommon emotional intensity, as the original compositions serve as fuel for a collective improvisation that gives the eye no respite.

Superb.
Highly recommended !!

Out on Bandcamp, but also on CD.
Released on the MoonJune Records label.