FROGHAT

Froghat recently uploaded a fine version of Frank Zappa's 'Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus' to YouTube.

And that wasn't the end of the surprise.
www.minnowland.net revealed more exiting music by Froghat, including a sublime surf version of FZ's 'Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance'.

The track made it to three Froghat Bandcamp releases and, again, proved that bands that cover a Zappa tune are worth checking out.

Listen to "Meet Froghat" (with a little album-artwork-nod to The Residents).

DAI KAHT

Dai Kaht, a band from Finland. Obviously inspired by Magma.

This is great !!

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-- info & more: Danny Mathys 

THE RETURN OF AL DOUM & THE FARYDS

About a week ago, I mentioned two fine albums by Al Doum & The Faryds: "Cosmic Love" (2014) and"Spirit Rejoin" (2018).

In the meantime, my exploration continued with "Freaky People" (2021) and (the brand-new) "Ipnagogico" (2026).

Spiritual exotic jazz.

Perfect to get in a good mood.

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RECORD COLLECTOR PRESENTS FRANK ZAPPA

Due out in April :

-- info: Andrew Greenaway (on Facebook)
 

FULANO - - - NADIE NOS CONOCE

Fulano released 'Nadie Nos Conoce' on their "Trabajos Inutiles" album in 1997.
The piece is said to be a tribute to Frank Zappa.

 

MEDIABANDA - - - CHILEAN WIKEN AGAIN

Mediabanda's 'Chilean Wikén Again' includes a snippet of a Frank Zappa song.
The piece can be found on their "Entre La Inseguridad Y El Ego"album.
The Zappa reference starts with the bass solo, around 05:30 into the song

-- info: Charly

EIDON - FOUR PATTERNS

a new piece by Eidon:
'Four Patterns'

 

GHOST RHYTHMS - SEPT CERCLES

• Ghost Rhythms: Sept Cercles
      (2008, cd, France, laboratoire d'exploration musicale)

The name Ghost Rhythms' record label says it all: Laboratoire d'Exploration Musicale.
For French band Ghost Rhythms, it's indeed all about the exploration of sounds and rhythms.

That being said, the band does not produce free form experimental music. "Sept Cercles", for instance, presents 9 pieces (10 if you count the hidden track). Instrumental, melodic and well structured modern jazz, with the emphasis on the rhythmic aspect.

Very nice.
An excellent discovery.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

GARY LUCAS RELEASED "THE EDGE OF HEAVEN VOLUME 2"

On Chinese New Year Feb. 7th 2026 (Year of the Fire Horse), Gary Lucas released “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2,” featuring Chinese vocalist and erhu virtuoso Feifei Yang and multi-instrumentalist Jason Candler;

It's a Digital Music Platform-only release.

 

CRAIG SMITH / MAITREYA KALI - APACHE INCA

• Craig Smith / Maitreya Kali: Apache Inca
      (2025, 2lp + 7”, --, maitreya apache music)

Craig Smith, changed his name to Maitreya Kali in the late 1960s. He recorded and privately released a 2 LP set in 1972 entitled “Apache Inca”.
In fact, these were two separate albums, but they got issued as a 2 LP gatefold release.

The back of the “Apache” record sleeve included a message by Frank Zappa:
“Voodoo Spell” is probably the best item on this tape.
-- Frank Zappa

The album got re-issued in 2019 in the U.S.
Counterfeits have also been spotted. Both on vinyl and on cd:
(2019, 2lp, Germany, little Indians)
(2020, 2cd, Germany, shadoks music)

In 2025, Record Store Day saw a more luxurious re-release with the 2 LP set housed in a slipcase, adding a booklet, an insert and an additional 7” record.

The bandcamp version :