Tuesday, April 29, 2014

ZITA SWOON GROUP - NEW OLD WORLD

I never hesitate when Zita Swoon (or Zita Swoon Group as they are called nowadays) release a new album. I buy it.

"New Old World", however, did surprise me. First of all, it's an instrumental album. And second, it's the soundtrack of a production that included movies, theater and dance.
It still has the Zita Swoon groove, but it does sound a bit odd at times.
I've never seen the actual production, so I can't lose the feeling that I'm missing something. I read somewhere that an added picture book would have been nice. Or a DVD.

Still, this is not bad. This is not bad at all.
But it will need another couple of listening sessions.

Out on the Starman label.



VARIOUS ARTISTS - EVERYTHING IS LOW, 15 HIGHLIGHTS FROM LOWLANDS

Lowlands is an Antwerp-based Belgian distributor / record-label.
Their first sampler, entitled "Everything Is Low, 15 Highlights From Lowlands" presented quite a number of fine tracks.
Besides the Fukkeduk track, this album is most noteworthy because of the included Palinckx track. 'The Psychedelic Years Phase Two (Pink Floyd)' was recorded live by NOS-radio on the Dutch Jazz Marathon in Groningen. It has only been released on this sampler.

Here's Fukkeduk with 'Fnuk', from another Lowlands release.



THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - WINTER DANCE OF THE KOALA SPERM HARVEST

The new Rudy Schwartz Project album will be entitled "Winter Dance Of The Koala Sperm Harvest".
RSP is Joe Newman's eccentric alter ego. On "Winter Dance...", Joe blends every possible musical style with a vast amount of humor.
Polka, doo-wop, surf, country, caribian, jazz, collages, ... It's all in there somewhere.
Fans of Spike Jones, Raymond Scott and Frank Zappa should most definitely check this out.

This is great.
My favorite track is 'Typical Philadelphia Splat", a sort of contemporary, jazz-from-hell, mash-up joy-ride with a guitar solo. Love it.

"Winter Dance Of The Koala Sperm Harvest will be out on DC-Jam Records on May 6 and will be available as a download album from iTunes, Amazon, etceteras.

Essential listening !

Here's two tracks from "Winter Dance Of The Koala Sperm Harvest". Check them out.




Sunday, April 27, 2014

17 HIPPIES - PHANTOM SONGS

17 Hippies are a rock/folk band from Berlin, Germany. They perform songs in German, in English, and in French.
"Phantom Songs" includes an excellent version of Don Van Vliet's 'Gimme Dat Harp Boy'.
Sounds very jazzy. Nice instrumentation. Tom Waits comes to mind...

Give it a listen !!

17 Hippies : 'Gimme Dat Harp Boy' :



JOE SATRIANI - THE COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS



Sony Records rleased a box with 15 CDs, collecting all Joe Satriani's studio albums up until today.
All the discs are in cardboard sleeves. The details can be found in the booklet.
And disc number 15 presents the bonus tracks. 16 bonus tracks.

Quite a package.
And a fine opportunity to add a bunch of album data to Joe Satriani's entry over at the United Mutations Archives.

Here's the set of pictures of the cardboard sleeves :

















KAMERA QUINTET - KAMERA IN ROCK

There's nothing like diving in to the Others Of Invention and listening to bands and ensembles that perform the music of Frank Zappa.
It's a never ending adventure, but that's just the beauty of it.

I recently came across "Kamera In Rock", a 1998 release by the Kamera Quintet on which they perform a number of prog rock classics.

Emilio Galante: flute, alto flute
Fabio Righetti: oboe & english horns
Mauro Pedron: clarinet
Leopoldo Armellini: bassoon
Stefano Rossi: horn

Pieces by Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson, Gentle Giant AND Frank Zappa get a classical revision.
Arrangements by Emilio Galante.
Nice. Very nice.


VARIOUS ARTISTS - RARE EPISODES - FRANK ZAPPA'S UNMINED NUGGETS

We're getting spoiled, my friends.
We're only four months in 2014 and Zappa's music is more alive then ever: various people, bands and ensembles are performing and recording Frank Zappa's music. It seems like the world is finally catching up (although that might be a deceiving presumption).

"Rare Episodes" is one of these gems.
I mentioned the album a little while ago, but I really have to draw your attention to it again.

"A CD conceived by Andrew Greenaway of The Idiot Bastard website and author of "Zappa the Hard Way" (the definitive account of Frank's last tour). The idea was that some of the world's foremost Zappa-influenced bands would record thirteen Zappa compositions that he either didn't record, didn't release or, if he did, he changed them quite a lot first."

Here's track 10, once more :
10. ROLLO by Chato Segerer Officially released in instrumental form only on the albums Imaginary Diseases, Apostrophe, QuAUDIOPHILIAc and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1. In 1972, the piece has the lyrics presented here. (This version also appends the rare 'Village Of The Sun' intro/outro that appeared on the recent Road Tapes, Venue #2 release.)




http://www.idiotbastard.com/RareEpisodes.htm

Available from Cordelia Records
http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/Buy%20Records.html



THE ROXY BY PROXY LICENSE

You might recall that a little while ago, the Zappa Family Trust offered a license for the "Roxy By Proxy" album.
At first, I thought that some freaks would pay the 1.000 US $ just to put the "Roxy By Proxy" CD master in a frame and on their wall, but it seems that some of the people that went along with the ZFT on this endeavor are actually producing copies.

As far as I understand it, the licencees are only allowed to change the CD label. All the other artwork has to remain the same.

the ZFT-release

Mark Logan's release
Availabe at : http://www.copticcat.ca/news/view/frank_zappa_-_roxy_by_proxy/
He's selling copies through ebay.

And then there's Chendu1959's version, who put the CD in a 12" package :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44642074@N04/with/13884575531/
He's selling copies through amazon.




CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - SON OF DUST SUCKER - THE ROGER EAGLE TAPES



Saturday April 19 celebrated Record Store Day 2014.
Record Store Day is all about independently owned record stores with special releases, concerts and much more.

One of the releases that did not make it to Belgium, was the Ozit Records' "Don Van Vliet and The Magic Band : Son Of Dust Sucker - The Roger Eagle Tapes".
It's a vinyl release of a part of the "Son Of Dust Sucker" CD that Ozit put out in 2012.
The 2012 CD presented the recordings of the tape of the original and Zappa-produced Bat Chain Puller album that Don Van Vliet had sent to promoter Roger Early some 40 years ago, plus some bonus live material.
This 2014 vinyl version only includes the 12 Bat Chain Puller tracks.
Limited edition of 1000 copies.
On purple vinyl.

Why they call it a Don Van Vliet release and not a Captain Beefheart one, is beyond my comprehension.
I do like the artwork, however.
By Steve 'Jacuzzi' Hardstaff.


Saturday, April 26, 2014

GRUPPO DI PAWLOWSKI - NEUTRAL VILLAGE MASSACRE

Mauro Pawlowski is going strong. Earlier this year, he released "Sincerely Average" with his Hitsville Drunks band. In the meantime, he's doing concerts with Flat Earth Society, performing "Terms Of Embarrassment", and more recently, he released "Neutral Village Massacre" with his Gruppo Di Pawlowski project.

Experimental and exhilarating.
Exaclty my cup of tea.

The below snippet has Gruppo Di Pawlowski performing at the Studio Brussel radio station.
They're bringing 'Jonge Helden', originally by Arbeid Adelt!


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

LES BOUCLES ABSURDES - LINES


  • les boucles absurdes: lines
        (2014, download, bel, off records)

For "Lines", Jean-Pierre Jonckheere (mastermind of Les Boucles Absurdes) asked four collegues to rework, reconstruct and remix the music of Les Boucles Absurdes.
The result is quite fascinating
Seesayle takes the mysterious approach. Subdued vocals and eastern elements make her contribution a perfect and impressive start.
Pierre Vervloesem continues with a (re)mix that adds powerful beats and enchanting guitar lines. Great.
Next up is Clémentine Collette (also know as DJ Clémix). This must be the club / dub version. A great beat with a fine bass line. Nice. Very nice.
The final 'Line' is drawn by Gilles Mortiaux. Gilles remix begins rather spooky and chaotic, and slowly turns into a rock song. Almost. Beautiful layers.

The funny thing is that these four different remixes and approaches fit together very well.

Out on the Off Records label:
http://off-recordlabel.blogspot.be/2014/04/ovd003-les-boucles-absurdes-lines.html

Check it out.




SINISTER SISTER IN CONCERT AT THE JAZZ A LIEGE FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 10, 2014, Sinister Sister will be performing at the Jazz à Liege festival.


Sinister Sister Performs Zappa

Line-up :
  • Maayan Smith (sax)
  • Jan Ghesquière (gt)
  • Pieter Claus (vbes, marimba)
  • Michel Hatzigeorgiou (Fender bass)
  • Xavier Rogé (dms)


Samedi 10 mai 2014 / 21h30 / Salle Win For Life

http://www.jazzaliege.be/

A RESIDENTS UPDATE

Yesterday, The Residents released "Wonder Of Weird".
The 2CD-set is a recording of last year's Amsterdam concert.
It's a limited edition of 400 copies.


Next up is a re-release of the famous "Santa Dog" 7" vinyl single, and a re-issue of the "Residue" vinyl album.
Both on the Superviaduct label.



In the meantime, MVD will be re-issuing "Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats / The Census Taker".



OCTAFISH IN CONCERT IN REUTLINGEN (GERMANY) 2014 05 08

Octafish will be doing a concert at 'Franz.K' in Reutlingen, Germany.
They will be sharing the bill with Elliot Sharp's Terraplane !





Tuesday, April 15, 2014

THE THURSTON LAVA TUBE - THE POODLE COLLECTOR

Alan Jenkins and the Thurston Lave Tube play surf music.
"The Poodle Collector" presents a couple of original tunes, plus a bunch of superb coverversions.
The collection also includes fine versions of Zappa's 'Mr.Green Genes' (originally published on "Lemme Take You To The Beach") and 'The Idiot Bastard Son' (taken from "20 Extraordinary Renditions").

Here's the Thurston Lave Tube's version of 'Surf Rider' (from the 2005 "The Pink Elephant..." album)



HITSVILLE DRUNKS - SINCERELY AVERAGE

"Sincerely Average", the latest album by the Hitsville Drunks.

Mauro Pawlowski: guitar & vocals
Sjoerd Bruil: guitar
Herman Houbrechts: drums
Jan Wygers: bass

Mauro shows his love for 1970's pop and rock music. He did it before on his excellent "Mauro" album (from 2001) and now he's doing it again.
Exquisite.



Monday, April 14, 2014

NEW ZAPPA TRIBUTE ON CORDELIA RECORDS


There is a new Cordelia Records CD - as usual available from the record shop page at www.cordeliarecords.co.uk and CD Baby in the fullness of time.
This is another Frank Zappa related one that was organised in conjunction with the people at http://www.idiotbastard.com/ - it's a collection of new recordings of unreleased Zappa compositions. 

"Rare Episodes"
Frank Zappa's unmined nuggets
New recordings of compositions he didn't get round to recording himself.

A CD conceived by Andrew Greenaway of The Idiot Bastard website and author of "Zappa the Hard Way" (the definitive account of Frank's last tour). The idea was that some of the world's foremost Zappa-influenced bands would record thirteen Zappa compositions that he either didn't record, didn't release or, if he did, he changed them quite a lot first.

These are the tracks:

1. VARIANT #1 by Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra

One of a number of pieces Frank wrote "must record" - see The MOFO Project/Object booklet - and then actually did: at TTG Studios in Hollywood on 10 June 1966, during sessions for the Burt Ward single Boy Wonder I Love You.

2.  FALLING IN LOVE IS A STUPID HABIT by The Vegetarians

A song Frank denied knowing, yet a tape exists of him demonstrating it to drummer Jimmy Carl Black. Jimmy told The Idiot Bastard that Frank said he "could have the song and we even discussed the instruments that would sound good on it. It was Frank playing the piano in his studio with Andy Cahan and me there. The year was 1981 and I was in California rehearsing for the first Grandmothers tour of Europe."

3.  BOGNOR REGIS by Jerry Outlaw & Friends

An instrumental originally recorded during the Hot Rats sessions in 1969, and intended to be released as the b-side of a single version of 'Sharleena' that never happened.

4.  RALPH STUFFS HIS SHOES by Todd Grubbs Group feat J Todd Plant and Daniel Swartwood
In September 1974, shortly before it became 'Can't Afford No Shoes' on One Size Fits All, Frank's lyrics poked fun at drummer Ralph Humphrey.

5.  MICE by Evil Dick

According to Frank, the first thing he ever composed: "a piece for snare drum...I wrote that when I was about 14 and performed it at school."

6.  PORTUGUESE LUNAR LANDING by Fuchsprellen

Performed live during the 1975 Bongo Fury tour, and rehearsed by the 1981 band, but like all of these songs, not officially released thus far.

7.  MO'S VACATION by Marc Atkinson

An early version of 'Mo 'N Herb's Vacation' in a basic arrangement, described by drummer Terry Bozzio as "like 'The Black Page', but more of it!" Performed live with Vinnie Colaiuta and Arthur Barrow in 1978, Chad Wackerman told The Idiot Bastard he also "did a studio recording for Frank."
8.  CLOWNS ON VELVET by Lex Bronkowitz Orchestra

First performed at New York's Ritz Theatre in November 1981, with special guest Al DiMeola on lead guitar. Frank then added studio overdubs to a fragment of this live recording and had the Thing-Fish rap over it.

9.  LITTLE DOTS by Gumbo Variation

An instrumental similar to 'Approximate', only ever performed live by the Petit Wazoo in 1972.

10. ROLLO by Chato Segerer

Officially released in instrumental form only on the albums Imaginary Diseases, Apostrophe, QuAUDIOPHILIAc and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1. In 1972, the piece has the lyrics presented here. (This version also appends the rare 'Village Of The Sun' intro/outro that appeared on the recent Road Tapes, Venue #2 release.)

11. BRUTALITY by Neither Beasts, Nor Gods

A Synclavier composition from a cassette titled Resolver + Brutality that Frank handed to someone he'd had an 'intensive artistic relationship' with for several years.

12. VELVET SUNRISE by Spanner Jazz Punks

Another piece performed live during the 1975 Bongo Fury tour, providing Frank with an opportunity to tell various tales about life on the road.

13. WE ARE NOT ALONE by ZAPPATiKA

The instrumental track on The Man From Utopia album had these lyrics when rehearsed by the 1981 band.



Other Zappa related CDs available from Cordelia are "Lemme Take You To The Beach" (The Surf instrumental bands of the word perform the tunes of Frank Zappa) - and three previous collaborations with the Idiot Bastard web site: "20 Extraordinary Renditions" (of the song "The Idiot Bastard Son"), "21 Burnt Weeny Sandwiches" (21 condensed versions of the Burnt Weeny Sandwich album) and "On Broadway: Covers Of Invention" (Zappaesque versions of other people's songs covered by Zappa on the '88 tour).


Sunday, April 13, 2014

ZAPPA / MOTHERS - ROXY BY PROXY



It's out and it's fabulous.
With wonderful liner notes by Ruth Underwood.

It also carries the number 99 which makes one wonder...


THE RITUAL OF POPE DECAPITATION

The Ritual of Pope Decapitation is (or will be) a documentary about the U.S. counterculture through the lives of Vito Paulekas, Carl Franzoni and Szou, also known as the early 1960's L.A. Freaks.

A financial support of minimum € 50 will get you a DVD of the movie when it comes out, plus the "Le Dispositif" DVD box set.

Episode 46 of Le Dispositif carries the trailer for the movie.

I received my copy of the DVD-box a couple of days ago and it's fascinating.
These guys need your support.

Read more here:
http://www.popedecapitation.com/


A picture of the cover of the box has been added to the United Mutations Archives.


  • le dispositif
        (2013, 4 dvd-box + book, france, sycomore films)


17 HIPPIES UPDATE

The next album by 17 Hippies will be called "Biester" and it will be including their version of Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia'.

-- info: Luc Reniers

If I'm not mistaken, they recorded a Don Van Vliet composition on one of their earlier albums as well. More info soon.


VARIOUS ARTISTS - MOTHER PEOPLE RIPPED OUR BLUNDERLAND

Cosmic Pancake Productions released this 3" CDR in 2010. The disc comes in a beautiful fold-out sleeve and presents the following bands and tracks:
  1. The Poops : Let's Make The Water Turn Black
  2. Poopy Necroponde : Chunga's Revenge
  3. Butt Socrates : Beatle Stones 'n Smokin' Stones
  4. Ogo Dys : Bläther
  5. Poopy Necroponde : Sharleena
  6. Butt Socrates : Plastic Factory
Quite a collection of tracks : 3 Frank Zappa compostions, 2 by Don Van Vliet, and then there's 'Bläther', a mash-up of Zappa tunes and melodies.
This is great. I love it.

Here's another piece of music by Ogo Dys, from the "Azynder!" album.



PANOPTICON - LIVE @ ZEBRA BAR


  • panopticon: live @ zebra bar
        (2007, cdr, bel, pan0704)

I've added data of another fine recording of Domenico Solazzo's Panopticon project to the United Mutations Archives.
Live in concert at the Zebra Bar in Brussels.
October 2013.

With Fred Becker, Olivier Catala, Antoine Guenet, Jean Paul Lossignol, Daniel Wang and Domenico Solazzo.

Improvised jazz.

http://enterpanopticon.blogspot.be/2008/06/domenico-solazzo.html







NICHOLAS GREENWOOD - COLD CUTS

Nicholas Greenwood's "Cold Cuts" album is one of these hard-to-find early seventies gems.
Re-released in 2004 on the Akarma label, both on CD and LP, the album is getting another reissue on the Kismet label.

The album features one Bunk Gardner on woodwinds.


Here's a snippet :

Saturday, April 12, 2014

FLATH EARTH SOCIETY ON DUTCH RADIO 6

Saturday March 29 and Sunday March 30, Dutch Radio 6 included parts of a recent Flath Earth Society concert in the Vrije Geluiden radio show.

The recording was made in Roosendaal, NL, where FES performed their new Modernski program.

http://www.npo.nl/vrije-geluiden-op-radio-6-29-3-2014/29-03-2014/POMS_VPRO_459726

http://www.npo.nl/vrije-geluiden-op-radio-6-30-3-2014/30-03-2014/POMS_VPRO_459722


NEW ED PALERMO GIGS ANNOUNCED

Here's a message from Ed Palermo:

Still buzzin' from my band's 4 star review in Downbeat Magazine, I celebrate the only way I know how-by moving forward!

SATURDAY, APRIL 12-LIVE AT THE FALCON-ZODD ZUNDGREN-a mash-up of the music of Todd Rundgren and Frank Zappa!
http://www.liveatthefalcon.com/#!0412/c1g87

1348 Rte 9w, Marlboro, NY 12542
(845) 236-7970


FRIDAY, APRIL 18-PROCTORS in Schenectady, NY. ALL ZAPPA!
https://www.proctors.org/events/party-palermo

Both BEAUTIFUL venues!

Thanks, everybody for SO much love and support!

ed

ARJEN LUCASSEN - LOST IN THE NEW REAL

Dutch prog metal/rock artist / producer / guitar player Arjen Lucassen's "Lost In The New Real" is an excellent concept album. Arjen doesn't hide his influences. There are lots of musicial references to Pink Floy, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin,...
Very enjoyable.
Arjen's version of Frank Zappa's 'I'm The Slime' fits in perfectly.





DAVID MOSS & HANNES STROBL - AT THE BEACH : MUSIC FOR VOICE AND ELECTRIC BASS

  • david moss and hannes strobl: at the beach - music for voice and electric bass
        (2014, cd, poland, monotype rec)
Somewhere in 1992, David Moss was part of the Markus Stauss Project. He can be heard on Stauss' "New Duos And Trios" album.

June 2000, I saw David Moss performing with the Ensemble Modern as a part of the Holland 2000 Festival. It was the "Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions" program that toured Europe and that eventually got released on an album by the Ensemble Modern.
More recently, February 2011, David took part in another concert where he performed Zappa's music with the PMCE.

Anyway, the Polish record label Monotype Rec. just released "At The Beach : Music For Voice And Electric Bass" where David Moss teams up with Hannes Strobl.

Here's a fragment:



FRANK ZAPPA, RETURN OF FATHER AND SONS

No details... Just the flyer that came with(out) a message from The Central Scrutinizer...
April 17, 2014
In Paris, France.





Friday, April 11, 2014

LEE SANTA - A JOURNEY INTO JAZZ


  • a journey into jazz
        (2014, book, usa, round bend press books)

Lee Santa started going to jazz concert in the 1960's.
He started taking pictures at concerts around 1967 and boy am I glad that he has such a good taste in music.

"A Journey into Jazz" has Lee talking about his love for jazz.
In his introduction, Lee mentions his fascination for the esoteric and elaborates on Gurdjieff's concepts of subjective and objective art. Things that I have to investigate.
As for his journey, there's a bunch of fine pictures of fabulous artists in his book: Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra and his Arkestra, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Rollins, and many more, spiced with anecdotes and memories.

If you're familiar with Sun Ra's "Live At The Red Garter" (Transparency 0319) you must have seen Lee Santa's pictures. The album includes a disc with all of the photos that Lee took at those shows.

Lee Santa's "A Journey into Jazz" is available from Round Bend Press.

Worth checking out !

http://roundbendpressbooks.blogspot.be/2014/01/latest-releaselee-santa.html


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

THE THURSTON LAVA TUBE

The latest release by The Thurston Lava Tube, "The Poodle Collector", includes a couple of Frank Zappa compositions.

http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/


THUMBSCREW - S/T

  • thumbscrew: s/t
        (2014, cd, usa, cuneiform)
Thumbscrew is Michael Formanek (double bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums) and Mary Halvorson (guitar).
On their eponymous debut album, eacht member of the trio offers 3 compositions which adds up to 9 excellent compositions.
Modern jazz at its best.

Out on the Cuneiform Records label.
www.cuneiformrecords.com

Available from Mandaï
www.mandai.be

Check it out :



Thumbscrew Spring/Summer Tour
April - September 2014

April 12 - New Haven, CT - Firehouse 12, 45 Crown St, New Haven, CT
April 19 - Philadelphia, PA - Center City Jazz Festival @ Fergie's Pub

European Dates
May 22 - Warsaw Poland - Polish Radio Concert Hall
May 24 - Prague, Czech Republic - Agharta Jazz Centrum, Lublaská 57
May 26 - Innsbruck, Austria - Verein Verbale/The Early Bird
May 27 - Schwaz, Austria - Eremitage, Innsbrucker Str 14, 6130 Schwaz
May 28 - Villach, Austria - Details TBA
May 30 - Vienna, Austria - Porgy and Bess, Riemergasse 11, 1010
May 31 - Bielefeld, Germany - Details TBA

USA Dates
June 17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Blue Whale, 123 Astronaut Onizuka Street
June 19-22 - Oakland, CA - Duende, 468 19th Street
June 23 - Sacramento, CA - Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th Street
June 25 - Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar Street

September 11 - Ann Arbor, MI - Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave.
September 12 - St. Louis, MO - New Music Circle, Location TBA
September 13 - Chicago, IL - Constellation, 3111 N Western Ave


DANE RUNYON - UNDER GRAND SUGGESTION

Two years ago, Dane Runyon released "Looking Below", a nice album that featured Mike Keneally and Marco Minnemann.
Dave is back with a second album and he's keeping the tradition of inviting fascinating guests. This time Bryan Beller and Jeff Campitelli added bass and drums to most of the tracks.



DWALMACAT 558

More music from the other side of the fence over at Dwalmacat :


GIORGIO MORODER - From here to eternity
LOUIS & BEBE BARRON - Forbidden planet
PATRICK COWLEY - Nightcrawler
ENNIO MORRICONE - Brontolone
ECTOPLASM GIRLS - Put her in a pie
FIFTY FOOT HOSE - If not this time
KRZYSSZTOF KOMEDA - Panic (Rosemary's baby)
ALEX - Patella black
JIMMY SULLIVAN - Johnny
ALAIN GORAGUER - Les hommes
JEAN-PIERRE FERLAND - Le chat du café
BERNARD HERRMANN - The cave glow
MALAKAI - Snowflakes
THE INSECT SOLDIERS OF THE SKY - Old fashioned guilt
PONY - Grand hotel
SPEED KING - Hearts and flowers
JAMES MURPHY - Don't follow me

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

SUSAN CLYNES - LIFE IS...

I got introduced to Susan Clynes through The Wrong Object's "After The Exhibition" album where she sang "Glass Cubes".  It's a beautiful composition. Written by Antoine Guenet and performed by The Wrong Object with Susan Clynes guesting on vocals.

Susan also participated to the CD-release-concert in Liège. A nice surprise. And she did a great job.

"Life Is..." is her international debut. Out on the MoonJune Records label where she's in the excellent company of douBt, Machine Mass, The Wrong Object and Sh*tg*n. It seems like Leonardo Pavkovic and his MoonJune Records label has a sweet spot for Belgian talent.

The tracks on "Life Is..." were collected from three live performances. Besides Susan Clynes (vocals and piano), the first of these concerts featured Nico Chkifi (drums) and Pierre Mottet (bass); the second one was a solo gig, and the third one featured Simon Lenski (cello) of DAAU (Die Anarchistische Abundunterhaltung).
In all, a fine mixture of endearing compositions, presenting a new and beautiful voice in the musical landscape.

http://www.moonjune.com/



[SIC] - RAY

  • [SIC] - Ray
    (2014, cd, ??, radical pigeon)
[SIC] combines a heavy, distorted bass with passionate drumming and melodic funky horns, producing instrumental music that sounds like you're watching a cartoon.

The "Ray" album offers five tracks.
25 minutes.
Out in May on both mini-CD and 10" vinyl.

Available from Mandaï.



KENEALLY PRODUCTS NOW SOLD FROM THE U.K.

Mike Keneally says:

BurningShed.com has long been a deeply respected online portal for the works of King Crimson, Steven Wilson and many other progressive acts, so we at Exowax were delighted to learn that they were interested in carrying some of my work (Andy Partridge was kind enough to pass along word to us of their interest). The upshot of this is the brand new Mike Keneally Store at Burning Shed. At present they are carrying three of the newer releases. This is great news for us as it's an honor to be on such a highly-regarded site, and also great news for any Europe-based Keneally fans who have fallen foul of the increasingly punitive postage rates required to get product mailed from the US. I'm delighted to be a part of the Burning Shed family now.

https://www.burningshed.com/store/mikekeneally/


THE DON AND BUNK SHOW - S/T

The latest materialization on Don Preston's Brain Records is a recording of the Bunk Gardner / Don Preston duo.
These guys have been playing together ever since they were in The Mothers Of Invention. Their most recent entanglement was in The GrandMothers.

The Don And Bunk Show.
Their third album.
All three were published by Don Preston on his Brain Records label.

don and bunk:
    don preston: keyboards, vocals
    bunk gardner: saxaphone, flue & bass clarinet

produced by don preston

all compositions by don preston

1. sweet 15
2. amsterdam
3. how are you doing
4. milky way
5. new age mumbo jumbo
6. solo piece
7. eyes of the dead
8. progress
9. barbeque solos
10. not so cute
11. i can't breathe
12. horta babies

Here's Don and Bunk in quite another adventure: jamming with The Muffin Men (in 1993 !!)





MIKE KENEALLY U.S. TOUR IN MAY 2014


Mike Keneally says:

Hi pals!

Having done two "research mission" performances in San Diego and Los Angeles last month, the trio of Keneally-Bendian-Lunn will now apply the lessons learnt to a slate of performances in May 2014. A scant few weeks from now. We'll begin in Nashville (5/15), then move on to St. Louis, Chicago, Greenwood, Columbus, Baltimore, NYC, Long Island, Philly, Dunellen, Cambridge, Charleston, and wind up at a festival in Scottsville, KY (5/31).

I think we as a trio really began to gel as a unit during the second set at the Baked Potato recently - things got severely powerful and I am excited to continue along that line with Gregg and Doug, two of the more forward-thinking and adventurous musicians I've ever encountered.

Also, it's great fun to return to the world of the trio, which was my preferred mode of performance when I started doing shows under my own name in the early '90s and throughout most of that decade. I've loved being able to do more orchestrated things with larger ensembles in the years since then, and will continue to do so in the future no doubt, but have to admit that there's something about a trio which is incredibly liberating and special to me.

More tour details coming soon, and see you on the road I hope!


OISEAUX TEMPETES - S/T

  • oiseaux tempêtes: s/t
        (2014, cd, be, sub rosa)
Sub Rosa recently released the debut album of Oiseaux-Tempête, an French ensemble that consists of Frédéric D.Oberland (guitar), Stéphane Pigneul (bass) and Ben McConnell (percussion).

If you're in to experimental, floating soundscapes, you need to check this out.

from the Sub Rosa website:
OISEAUX-TEMPÊTE  is an instrumental, free rock & ambient trio formed in Paris in 2012 by musicians Frédéric D. Oberland, Stéphane Pigneul [both members of FareWell Poetry and Le Réveil des Tropiques] and Ben Mc Connell [Beach House, Rain Machine, Au Revoir Simone, Marissa Nadler].  On their self-titled debut album, they intertwine their creative process with the work of French photographer and filmmaker Stéphane C, who has documented the existential conflicts brought on by the political and economic turmoil in Greece, resulting an emotionally charged vision and eliciting visceral response to the floundering failures of the dysfunctional West.

"Alternating moments of inexorable tension and luminous respite, the Oiseaux-Tempête's debut  album takes flight and slowly unfolds in an implacable ascension, the rich photographic contributions  fleshing out the poetic narrative. Oiseaux-Tempête's first release is carrying us beyond the stoner, free rock and experimental labels. How can music voice the violence and confusion that fuels discontent and protest? Oiseaux-Tempête offers an answer to this question."  SUB ROSA

available from Mandaï on CD and on 2LP




NEW BEEFHEART ALBUM : HARPO'S DETROIT

There's a new Captain Beefheart album announced for release on the 18th of April.
A concert recording.
"Harpo's Detroit Dec 11th 1980".