Sunday, June 29, 2014

SKORDATURA PE - HOW TO CHASE A MINUTE IN ONE SECOND

Somewhere in 2005, Jakob Hagheaert (guitar), Thomas Vanhauwaert (keyboards), Joshua Dellaert (bass) and Sebastiaan Vekeman (drums) started Skordatura PE. The quartet brings a raw and unbridled mix of fusion, jazz and rock. No surprise as the full bandname should be read as the Skordature PunkJazz Ensemble.
"How To Chase A Minute In One Second" is the band's first album. Self-released.
The CD present 11 original compositions, written by the various members.
I hear traces of Zappa, Weather Report, Aka Moon,... but most of all, I hear excellent compositions performed by an energetic quartet.

Recommended listening !

http://www.skordatura.be/







Saturday, June 28, 2014

THE MAELSTRÖM PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE - WHIRLED MUSIC



Here's another Zappa-coverversion that I had never heard of. The Maelström Percussion Ensemble with "Whirled Music". From 1998.

The album does indeed include music from all over the Whirled: music from Puerto Rico, Senegal, Bulgaria, Cuba, Ghana, and from the United States. The latter one being Frank Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia'.

A bit of a hodgepodge, but worth a listen.
'Peaches En Regalia' is performed in trio: marimba, drums and mallets.
Nice.


ALON NECHUSHTAN - VENTURE BOUND

When I heard that Alon Nechushtan had a new album out, I was quite curious to hear it. I had been quite impressed by Alon's two previous album, "Words Beyond" (2011) and "Ritual Fire" (2013).

"Venture Bound" was indeed a nice surprise. Besides Alon Nechushtan (piano), the album features Donny McCaslin and John Ellis on tenor saxophones, Chris Lighcap on bass and Adam Cruz on drums. Special guests include Duane Eubanks on trumpet, Roggerio Boccato on percussion and Brahim Brigbane on oud.
There's a lot of variation in the instrumentation and in the compositions, yet  the sound is very coherent.

In the liner notes, Alon explains: "Venture Bound is without a doubt my most personal album to date, a culmination of my New York years, drawing from an eclectic pallet of sounds, people, places; a continuous journey through a New York night seeking adventure; seek and you will find dive bars with basement jams, old school uptown swing clubs, while crossing the bridge to Brooklyn's playground turns the trip into a joy ride."

An excellent album.

Out on the Enja Records label.

Alon Nechushtan's website :
http://musicalon.com/



ALESSANDRO FABBRI - ROSSO FIORENTINO

Italian jazz drummer and composer Alessandro Fabbri was part of the If Six Was Nine ensemble. They recorded a number of Frank Zappa compositions on their "Adante Allegro (Con Testo A Fronte) album in 1998.
In 2005, Alessandro Fabbri recorded and released another Frank Zappa composition. This time on his "Rosso Fiorentino" album. The disc had been on my search-list for quite a while. I stumbled upon it recently and I'm glad that I found it.
"Rosso Fiorentino" is an impressive jazz album, including some impressive original compositions ('Strange Blues'!!). It also presents an excellent version of Frank Zappa's 'Little Umbrellas'.
Double bass, soprano sax, violin, guitar, flute and drums.
Nice. Very nice.


Thursday, June 26, 2014

ETRON FOU LE LOUBLAN

Etron Fou Le Loublan

Their 1976 album : "Batelages"





Monday, June 23, 2014

THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - WOLLMAN RINK, CENTRAL PARK NY, AUGUST 3rd 1968

Another 'new' Zappa album announced :



http://www.spincds.com/live-at-the-galaxy-la-july-1967-lp-42400

or

http://www.resident-music.com/productdetails&path=168&product_id=30915


  • the mothers of invention: wollman rink, central park ny, august 3rd 1968
        (2014, cd, ??, ??)

1. Jazz Rock Improvisation
2. Help I’m A Rock
3. Baby Love
4. Big Leg Emma
5. Holiday In Berlin
6. Trouble Every Day
7. Orange County Lumber Truck


Sunday, June 22, 2014

ALCATRAZZ - DISTURBING THE PEACE TOUR - LIVE IN JAPAN DVD

Japanese DVD release of the 1985 "Power Live" video.
Features a young Steve Vai.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.



THE CRIMSON PROJEKCT

New album out by The Crimson ProjeKCt : Live In Tokyo
With Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter, Julie Slick and Tobias Ralph.

And the band will be playing at Zappanale on July 19 !!



The Crimson ProjeKCt

24/06/2014 - the Studio, Auckland, New Zealand
26/06/2014 - The Hi-Fi, Melbourne, Australia
27/06/2014 - The Hi-Fi, Sydney, Australia
28/06/2014 - The Hi-Fi, Brisbane, Australia
02/07/2014 - Fly By Night, Fremantle, Australia
04/07/2014 - Tolhustuin, Amsterdam,Netherlands
05/07/2014 - Theater Heerlen, Heerlen,Netherlands
06/07/2014 - Der Hirsch, Nürnberg, Germany
07/07/2014 - Udin & Jazz, Udine, Italy
10/07/2014 - Kiev, Ukraine
12/07/2014 - Garana Jazz, Garana, Romania
14/07/2014 - Gru Village, Torino, Italy
16/07/2014 - Arena Sant'Elia, Cagliari, Italy
18/07/2014 - Castle Buchlovice, Buchlovice, Czech Republic
19/07/2014 - Zappanale, Bad Doberan,Germany

21/07/2014 - Kulturtage, Oldenburg, Germany
31/07/2014 - Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg,Germany
01/08/2014 - Burg Herzberg, Breitenbach am Herzberg, Germany
05/08/2014 - Blues Sotto le Stelle, L'Aquila, Italy





Saturday, June 21, 2014

DWALMACAT 568

This week's Dwalmacat radio show :

http://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-568-willy-dirckx-de-brassers/

  • JONWAYNE – You can love me when I’m dead
  • JAMES WHITE & THE BLACKS – Stained sheets
  • THE FALL – Fiery Jack
  • SCOTCH FORCEY – On descend
  • THE SOUND – I can’t escape myself
  • JOHN LEGEND – Who did that to you?
  • EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN – Kalte Sterne
  • CAN – Paperhouse
  • THE MEKONS – Where were you
  • WIRE – Mannequin
  • ALTERNATIVE TV – Still life
  • DE LA SOUL – Eye know
  • SERGE GAINSBOURG – Lola Rastaquouere


EZ POUR SPOUT - DON'T SHAVE THE FEELING



My pal Burkhard mentioned this album on his fabulous Viva Vincent website recently.
http://www.vivavincent.de/
This album is quite a nice find.

Instrumental experimental jazz / rock versions of pieces by Pink Floyd, Burt Bacharach, Mike Post,... and Frank Zappa. With Briggan Krauss on alto sax !
Last track on the album : 'My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama'.

Another excellent addition to The Others Of Invention.
http://www.united-mutations.com/z/frank_zappa/fz_ooi_albums.htm


MAGIC MUSHROOM BAND - LIVE '89

My quest for and research into bands that have performed and/or recorded the music of Frank Zappa has turned up quite a number of gems the last couple of decades.
The Magic Mushroom Band is an unfortunate exception.
"Live '89" is a recording of a 1989 concert where the band performed 50 seconds of Zappa's 'What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?'
It's the second track on the CD, the first one being 'Burning Like The Sun', and I haven't even listened to the rest.
Out of tune.
Stay away from this one.


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

SIMPLE - UNDELETABLE

The last couple of years, the Brussels-based Off record label has released quite a number of fabulous albums that can be linked to producer, composer and guitar player Pierre Vervloesem. Next to Pierre's solo work, Off has released material by Kings Of Belgium (improvised / experimental rock trio), Les Boucles Absurdes (industrial beats), Codswallop (eighties pop with a dark edge), Caca (rock + saxophone quartet) and The Claude Zac Ensemble (RIO / prog), just to name a few.

Pierre Vervloesem's most recent project is called Simple and their latest album is called "Undeletable".

Pierre explains:
"The aim of Simple is simply to play music, my music. This is Simple."
And I'm happy to add that the result sounds excellent.

The album features Pierre Vervloesem on bass, Bruno Vansina on sax (Bruno Vansina Quartet, Flat Earth Society), Joris Caluwaerts on keyboards (Rudy Trouvé, Zita Swoon, Franco Saint De Bakker) and Didier Fontaine on drums (A Group, Flat Earth Society, Codswallop).
As you can see, there's quite a number of familiar names in the list of references which also means that it's not the first time that these musicians are playing together.

As for "Undeletable", the music is great. Simple and playful melodies slowly mutate into complex and multi-rhythmic pieces. The performances are excellent. These are top musicians.
Didier Fontaine displays some great drumming, emphasizing the melody lines and keeping everything fluent.
Both Joris Caluwaerts and Bruno Vansina sound very powerful, very energetic. Especially when they're playing in unison. Sometimes even in trio with the bass. And there's some great phrasing going on on the keyboard. For a moment, I even thought that I was listening to a (synth) guitar.
It's also very clear that Pierre is having a lot of fun on the bass. Beautiful lines and sounding really good in the mix.

"Undeletable" is a very fine album.
Rumour has it that it had to be re-recorded after a poor soul had erased the original recordings from the computer. There should be a severe penalty on deleting an album like this…

Some might call this experimental or avant rock. Othes might say that it’s a mix of progressive rock and jazz, but there’s only one label that sticks: this is “Pierre Vervloesem”.

Essential listening.

http://off-recordlabel.blogspot.be/2014/05/opv008-simple-undeletable.html

This little gem is available as a download, but also as an old-fashioned CD !!
Check it out !!






Tuesday, June 17, 2014

NEW SUN RA ALBUM ANNOUNCED BY LEO RECORDS


Sun Ra; Live in Ulm, 1992
Leo Records GY 30/31

The music world is marking the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra's birthday. We are happy to join the celebration by releasing the performance in Ulm, Germany, in 1992. This double CD documents the concert as it happened — 100 minutes of relentless drive, 17 compositions with hardly any poses between the pieces.

http://www.leorecords.com/


MOO-AH 2015


MARCH 20 & 21 -  2015

THE RAVEN HALL, THE RAVEN HOTEL, ROCKINGHAM ROAD, CORBY,
NORTHANTS NN17 1AG ENGLAND

starring

IKE WILLIS with ZAPPATiKA & Jeff Hollie,
John Etheridge’s ZAPPATISTAS
and
THE MUFFIN MEN

plus
Inventionis Mater
MagNiFZnt
and other acts still to be announced

Zappa music and much, much MOO-AH!



AN ED PALERMO UPDATE


Great news! This Saturday's show will be streamed LIVE at 7:30.

As always, thru CONCERT WINDOW:

https://www.concertwindow.com/shows/7048-ed-palermo-big-band

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!

ed








POIL

Meet Poil.
The band performed at the Rock In Oppositions festival last year and is about to release a new album.





Sunday, June 15, 2014

DANS DANS - WORM

The latest Dans Dans release is from 2013. Recorded in concert at 'Worm' in Rotterdam, NL and released on a clear vinyl 10" album.
Experimental rock music.

Bert Dockx: guitar
Fred Lyenn Jacques: bass, synth
Steven Cassiers: drums, percussion

Four tracks.
  • Au Hasard
  • The Sicilian Clan
  • Mothers Of The Veil
  • Some Are
Nice. Very nice.



ED PALERMO PERFORMING ZAPPA AND MORE AT THE FALCON

a message from Ed Palermo

SATURDAY, JUNE 21. 7:30 PM. 2 SETS. NO COVER CHARGE!
1348 Rte 9w, Marlboro, NY 12542
(845) 236-7970

Hi, everybody! Just want to let you know that I am currently in rehearsals with my big band for our next concert at the Falcon in Marlboro, NY.

This will be our most ambitious show yet. It will feature the most insane 2 sets of music I've ever put together.

I'm dying to post the set list but I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone planning to come.

Suffice it to say, there will be a lot of Zappa, but also a crazy mixed bag of music that I have fallen in love with thru the years.

-- Ed Palermo




THE ARISTOCRATS ON TOUR IN ASIA

The Aristocrats
Culture Clash World Tour
Asia Leg

Aug 4 - Seoul - Gunguk University Auditory - KOREA
Aug 6 - Beijing - Mao Live House - CHINA
Aug 8 - Shanghai - Q.House (QSW) - CHINA
Aug 10 - Tai Peh - Riverside Live Music House - TAIWAN (clinic + concert)
Aug 11 - Hong Kong - KITEC MusicZone - HONG KONG (clinic + concert)
Aug 13 - Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC Music Center - VIETNAM
Aug 15 - Manila - Amber Ultra Lounge - PHILIPPINES (clinic + concert)
Aug 17 - Bangkok - Overdrive Magazine Anniversary (Aksra Theater) - THAILAND
Aug 19 - Tokyo - Club Citta - JAPAN
Aug 20 - Osaka - Big Cat - JAPAN

And more

Aug 28 - Rock On Festival (free entrance) - Martirano Lombardo (Catanzaro), IT
Sep 3 - Harpa/Norðurljós - Reykjavik, ICELAND
Sep 5 - P60 - Amstelveen, NL
Sep 6 - The Woolley Festival - Merkins Farm, Bradford Leigh, Bradford on Avon, UK


MATS / MORGAN - [SCHACK TATI]

It has been quite a number of years since Mats Öberg and Morgan Ågren made a new album.
This new album is called  [Schack Tati] (combining the game of chess with movie-maker Jacques Tati) and it presents 12 fine pieces of music.

[Schack Tati] sounds peculiar and yet very familiar at the same time. From their first albums on, the duo has recorded the music that they wanted to make. The result may not be considered easy listening, pushing the limits for both the performers and the listeners, but it lead to an incomparable set of albums, with an immediately recognizable sound.

[Schack Tati] has Morgan Ågren not only performing drums, but also guitar, bass, programming, violin and even melodica. Mats Öberg takes care of the keyboard, an occasional synth bass and the exceptional harmonica.
This is right up my alley.

Released by Cuneiform.
www.cuneiformrecords.com

Available from Mandai.
www.mandai.be

'Rubber Sky' is the first track of the album. Check it out. It has Alvin Ågren on vocals !




THE EVIL SUPERSTARS

One of the best bands ever to emerge from Belgium.

The Evil Superstars.
  • dave schroyen: drums
  • marc requillé: keyboards and samples
  • tim vanhamel: guitar
  • bart vandebroek: bass guitar
  • mauro pawlowski: guitar, vocals
While listening to some of their older albums, I added a bunch of album cover pictures and data to the United Mutations Archives.













THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA UPDATE

At this very moment, Banned From Utopia is trying to schedule a tour in Europe for a whole month, from November 6 to December 6.

The line-up will be :
  • Robert (Bobby) Martin - vocals, keyboards, sax, French horn, harmonica
  • Ray White - vocals, guitar
  • Tom Fowler - bass, violin
  • Chad Wackerman - drums
  • Albert Wing - saxes, flute
  • Jamie Kime - guitar
As you see, the band will feature Jamie Kime (from Zappa Plays Zappa fame) on guitar !

Here's a clip from last year's tour:



Saturday, June 14, 2014

WIZARDS OF OOZE

Belgian band Wizards Of Ooze started out in the early ninetees.
They released some seven albums (1992 - 1999) and did their last concert in 2001.




GARY LUCAS AND GODS & MONSTERS


NYC avant-supergroup GARY LUCAS & GODS AND MONSTERS celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a special concert at Le Poisson Rouge NYC on Fri. June 27th from 8--10pm.



Friday, June 13, 2014

LOST WRITINGS OF SUN RA VOLUME 1

Kicks Books will be releasing the first volume (of three) of "Prophetika", a collection of Sun Ra poems and writings.

http://kicksbooks.blogspot.be/2014/04/prophetika-sun-ra-book-launch-friday.html

The release will be accompanied by a special 7" single release and by a perfume.
(yes, a perfume)

http://nortonrecords.gostorego.com/prophetika-book-one-by-sun-ra.html


TV MANIA


2013 saw the release of "Bored With Prozac and The Internet", a TV Mania project that Warren Cuccurullo and Nick Rhodes started in 1995. It was some sort of a side project during their Duran Duran days.
To my knowledge, there's about five different releases by TV Mania.
The actual album was called "Bored With Prozac And The Internet?" and it got released as a download. At the same time, it was made available as a 2LP set (with a bonus 7"), and as a very limited deluxe 3LP set.

A short while later, Tape Modern released a 7-track, download only remix EP.
An 8-track promotional CD got released around the same time.

Here's the official video for 'Beautiful Clothes':




Tuesday, June 10, 2014

WARREN CUCCURULLO ON FACEBOOK

If you're on Facebook, you might want to check out Warren Cuccurullo's page:

https://www.facebook.com/warrencuccurulloofficial


Monday, June 9, 2014

NADAV LAZAR'S ZAPPA LULLABIES

Zappa lullabies.

Arranged by Nadav Lazar.

Arranged and recorded for his niece's first, second and third birthday !!




And there's more.



-- info: Ive Hapers

OFF RECORDS TO RELEASE 11 DIGITAL ALBUMS BY PIERRE VERVLOESEM

An Off Records newsflash !!

OVD004 : Pierre Vervloesem / Home Made ( Remastered and Augmented )

First in a chronological series of 11 digital only remastered releases (6 solo (5 augmented with bonuses, lives and remixes), 1 duo, 1 unreleased duo and 3 pots-pourris (with absolutely every tune possible ever recorded by Pierre and never released)) and coming at the pace of one every month is the fabulous first solo album from Pierre Vervloesem: Home Made ( 1994).

http://www.off-recordlabel.blogspot.be/2014/06/ovd004-pierre-vervloesem-home-made.html

Digital release only on the 16th of June 2014.



NOLAN COOK - FROM THE NC LAB

Nolan Cook should be known to you as the guitar player for The Residents and for Ostrich Von Nipple.

Here's a shot by Eyeballmuseum from the recent Residents tour.


But the main reason for this little write-up, is Nolan Cook's "From The NC Lab" album that he made available through Bandcamp.
Check it out. It's great.



SIMPLE - UNDELETABLE

The latest project by Pierre Vervloesem is called Simple.

Pierre explains:
"The aim of Simple is simply to play music, my music. This is Simple."

Pierre Vervloesem: bass
Bruno Vansina: sax
Didier Fontaine: drums
Joris Caluwaerts: keyboards

And especially for us old folks, it'll be released on old-fashioned CD as well !!

http://off-recordlabel.blogspot.be/2014/05/opv008-simple-undeletable.html


OSTRICH VON NIPPLE ON BANDCAMP

a message from Ostrich Von Nipple

Greetings friends. We have just posted a free promotional sampler from the Cosmos days on Bandcamp. This rare CD was handed out in Atlanta in 2011 and contains a collage-based track that represents various aspects of the Ostrich Von Nipple Contemplates the Cosmos record. Please feel free to download for free (although we do request your email) or offer a small donation. This music contains the incredible guitar work of Nolan Cook and r0b0t, the hypnotic percussion of Savage Joe, and the young and innocent voice of Havyn the Hatchling. Thanks, and tell your friends/enemies!!! 

http://ostrichvonnipple1.bandcamp.com/album/cosmos-condensed




Sunday, June 8, 2014

SKORDATURA PUNKJAZZ ENSEMBLE

Meet Belgian fusion / rock band Skordatura PE.





NEW ALON NECHUSHTAN ALBUM ANNOUNCED

Alon Nechushtan is releasing a new album on the Enja Records label.
The album will be called "Venture Bound".
More info soon.


Alon Nechushtan - Snow Flow from alon nechushtan on Vimeo.


Alon Nechushtan - Secret Short / Short Secret from alon nechushtan on Vimeo.


Alon Nechushtan - Sneak Peak from alon nechushtan on Vimeo.


WARREN CUCCURULLO & USTAD SULTAN KHAN - THE MASTER



The Six Degrees Records label is about to release a superb album by (former Zappa, Missing Persons & Duran Duran) guitar player Warren Cuccurullo and (the late) sarangi virtuoso Ustad Sultan Khan.

I have to admit that I haven't really been following Warren Cuccurullo's musical adventures lately. I didn't care too much about his Duran Duran excursion, and I never succeeded in getting a CD or vinyl copy of his more recent projects (TV Mania and Chicanary).
Anyway, Warren Cuccurullo is back. He's about to release an album that he recorded with Ustad Sultan Khan in 1998 (!!).
I was able to give this new album a listen and it's superb. This is world music at its best : beautiful melodies, merging strings, mesmerising soundscapes. Superb.

Here's the fascinating story behind the album:

Warren Cuccurullo and Ustad Sultan Khan’s Long Lost Masterpiece, The Master
Former Duran Duran and Frank Zappa guitarist teams up with India’s sarangi legend

Lost tapes always raise an eyebrow. Unexpected sessions by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob Marley and the Beatles suddenly emerge to great fanfare. When dealing with India’s greatest sarangi player of modern times, Ustad Sultan Khan, an entire planet of classical Indian music fans are certain to turn up the volume.

Khan’s collaboration with former Duran Duran and Frank Zappa guitarist Warren Cuccurullo weren’t exactly lost, just put on hold since the 1998 recording session in London. Recorded during a predominantly spontaneous weekend, The Master (Six Degrees Records) features Khan’s inimitable sarangi playing and singing with a lushly textured ambient guitar soundtrack provided by Cuccurullo. You’ve never heard either of these musicians in such a context.

‘My first exposure to Indian music was the Ed Sullivan show with Ravi Shankar via George Harrison,’ says Cuccurullo from his home in Venice, CA. ‘I was 10 years old. When that sound came over here, I was instantly attracted to it—just the Indian classical music itself, forget about ‘Within You, Without You’ and the stuff on Revolver.’

While Cuccurullo was entranced by Shankar’s hypnotic sitar playing, it was Alla Rakha’s tabla that truly seduced him. The young musician threw himself into the world of classical Indian sounds being introduced to America by the Beatles and Shankar’s tireless efforts. The young guitarist proved to be an open-minded musician: enamored with the music of Frank Zappa, he went from loving fan to the man who played all the rhythm guitar and some vocals on the Joe’s Garage albums, as well as touring the world with Zappa.

A few years later, when Zappa stopped touring, Cuccurullo co-founded the new wave band, Missing Persons, alongside Dale and Terry Bozio, before joining Duran Duran in 1987. He went on to co-write some of their most famous songs, including ‘Ordinary World’ and ‘Come Undone.’ One of the top pop songwriters in the world, Cuccurullo never forget his passion for Indian music, especially the one sound that kept playing in his mind: the sarangi, a bowed, short-necked stringed instrument that figures prominently in Hindustani music.

‘The first time I ever saw the actual instrument played live it was on stage in 1991 at Royal Albert Hall,’ says Cuccurullo. ‘Duran Duran was doing a benefit concert, and Sultan Khan and Zakir Hussain were performing at the same show. It was him sitting there, the guy playing on all those records with George Harrison in the Dark Horse period. I was able to see who makes that noise.’

Khan was legendary in India until his passing in 2011. He single-handedly kept the sarangi tradition alive, awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010, India’s third highest civilian award. Like Shankar, his outreach efforts were ambassadorial: he composed for Hollywood blockbusters, joined Bill Laswell’s East/West supergroup Tabla Beat Science and cut a record with Swedish bassist Jonas Hellborg.

Cuccurullo remained a fan after the benefit concert. In 1996 while working on the Duran Duran song, ‘Buried in the Sand,’ he remembered an alap by Khan that he thought would fit perfectly. Cuccurullo secured a contact at Navras Records and cleared the sarangi line, perhaps the first time that instrument was heard in American pop music.

A year later Khan’s management contacted the band when they were in New York, wondering if they wanted the maestro to perform with them. Cuccurullo was floored; suddenly the sound of his youth was being performed with him at the Roseland Ballroom live on stage. Thus began their friendship.

A few months later Khan visited Cuccurullo’s house in London; his living room doubled as Duran Duran’s recording studio. Cuccurullo previewed an album of acoustic and ambient guitar music that he was about to release, when Khan told him he had to play and sing over it. The guitarist was about to call his engineer when Khan informed him that it was Ramadan. There would be no playing that day. He returned in July 1998.

The piece that Khan referred to is now ‘The Holy Man’s Plea,’ the album’s gorgeous, cinematic opener. What follows is ‘4D Suite,’ an epic, sweeping 12-minute landscape of guitar and sarangi. ‘We only had one day to do that one,’ Cuccurullo reminisces.  ‘We did all the other tracks on Saturday. There was a lot of drama. The mridagnam [cylindrical double-head drum] player couldn’t do it—the time signatures looked like phone numbers.’

The bass and drums were added in 2014, after Cuccurullo had dug out the tapes. Yet no changes exist to the guitar or sarangi playing. It was written as a duet; Cuccurullo had no intention on changing the magic that occurred over those two days. Sixteen years is a long time, though. When asked why it took so long for The Master to be released, the guitarist turns reflective.

‘One day I typed in my name and Sultan Khan’s name to see where he was at,’ he says. ‘We had that Chicanery album [Khan played on ‘Cut Me From the Mirror’] on a label with a dodgy deal so it never came out. A Times of India article came up with an obituary. I had no idea. Then I realized I have to get these tapes, I need to make his family aware of them, and I had to finish 4D.’

Recorded on outdated 24-track Tascam tapes, Cuccurullo was able to retrieve the three cassettes from a stack of boxes marked ‘WCSK.’ While he remembered the music as sweetly as the weekend it was recorded, the first pass of ‘4D’ was initially shelved, now released as the five-minute ambient ‘The Lost Master.’ The cinematic masterpiece, ‘Mirror Margana,’ is also close to Cuccurullo’s heart, his shimmery guitar playing buoyant above Khan’s earthy intonations.

Since he was given his first sitar when visiting Frank Zappa in 1977, Indian music has circulated throughout Warren Cuccurullo’s life, predominantly as a fan, occasionally as a player. With the release of The Master, Cuccurullo is the same age that Khan was when they sat together in his London apartment sixteen years ago. The rest, as they say, is history…one that we can listen to now, for the first time.

‘The growth in your forties and fifties is incredible,’ Cuccurullo says. ‘There’s a curiosity factor built into musicians that helps you get through these levels. By the time you reach my age, 58, you realize you’re going to be learning until you die. You’re going to enjoy the wonderment of it until you drop.’

The album will be released by Six Degrees Records on July 22, 2014.
http://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/






KING DALTON

I never mentioned King Dalton before?

Shame on me.





DODSON AND FOGG - AFTER THE FALL



Dodson and Fogg have made new album available on YouTube.
If you're into psychedelic folk music, you should check this out.


Saturday, June 7, 2014

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH ON TOUR

Since the end of the last European tour in November of 2012, Allan Holdsworth has performed only 3 shows with his own band, made one guest appearance with local Los Angeles musicians, and made one special appearance at the Crossroads Festival in New York City as guest of Kurt Rosenwinkel's band.

Now, the guitar master is back, accompanied by JIMMY HASLIP on bass and VIRGIL DONATI on drums (from August 13 until September 4), and GARY HUSBAND on drums JIMMY HASLIP on bass (from September 17 until October 5).

http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/allanlive.htm


STEVE VAI

Here's a nice picture of Steve Vai from some thirty years ago.
By Marco LLanos.

Nice t-shirt, don't you think?


"Mark Of The Mole", released in 1981.


Friday, June 6, 2014

PHILOZAPPIA

I added a nice picture of PhiloZappia to the United Mutations Archives.
Snapped it from Facebook.




ALCATRAZZ - DISTURBING THE PEACE TOUR - LIVE IN JAPAN 1984.10.10



Last week, I mentioned the re-release of "Disturbing The Peace", one the first projects that Steve Vai participated in after his Zappa years.
The bonus disc of the re-release (an audio version of the "Power Live" video) was made available in Japan as a seperate album a couple of years ago.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.


Thursday, June 5, 2014

DWALMACAT 566

This week's Dwalmacat radio show !!

http://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-566-didi-de-paris/

  • THE VALERIE SOLANAS – Psycho therapy
  • THE BOWLING BALLS – God save the night fever
  • VRIL – Supersonic canteen
  • COOLHAVEN – Locker flockig flott
  • ANDREAS AMMER & FM EINHEIT – Canto 5
  • X-TG – Janitor of lunacy
  • LENNAERT MAES & ANDRIES BOONE – Kom naar de rivier
  • THE RESIDENTS – Amber
  • BERND ALOIS ZIMMERMANN – Requiem 2
  • NOEMIE SCHELLENS & DIDI DE PARIS – Misère à Louvain
  • HEINRICH IGNAZ FRANZ BIBER – Le chemin de Croix
  • RIVERCREST – Shangodjango Kutikuti (Excerpt)
  • ANDREAS AMMER & FM EINHEIT – Canto 6 / Canto 7 / Canto 8 / Canto 9
  • HEINRICH IGNAZ FRANZ BIBER - Le chemin de Croix (continuing)
  • RIVERCREST – Shangodjango Kutikuti (Excerpt 2)
  • BERND ALOIS ZIMMERMANN – Dona Nobis Pacem
  • X-PULSION – Heaven only knows / Schmucks – Castration
  • DE TROEBADOER VAN HET HEILIG HART - Moeder


FRANK ZAPPA - PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ


  • frank zappa: puttin' on the ritz
        (2014, 2cd, usa, goldfish records golf009)

I guess a little correction is in place.
At first sight, "Puttin' On The Ritz" might not look like a legit release, but I think Goldfish found a little loophole somewhere.
As far as I understand it, the rights for this recording are owned by the broadcast company and not by the ZFT. Goldfish Records made a deal with the broadcasting company and that's it.
Please welcome "Puttin' On The Ritz" in the Frank Zappa discography.
I don't mind anyway, because the sound is okay and the show is FABULOUS !!


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

EVIL SUPERSTARS - GALAXIAN REGRESSION

January 2013, Dave Schroyen, Marc Requillé, Tim Vanhamel, Bart Vandebroek and Mauro Pawlowski teamed up to re-invent The Evil Superstars.
No 'Satan Is In My Ass' (their 1996 single), but 'a cosmic synth set' as Mauro called it.

"Galaxian Regression" is the vinyl ectoplasm of the concert. Two times 20 minutes of sounds and soundscapes from another universe.
Released on Record Store Day 2014, and begging for your attention.

Amazing.

Here's the complete concert:


And here's 'Satan Is In My Ass':

 


HEADS OR TAILS - SPEEDY SPENDER



Here's another fine addition to The Others Of Invention (artists performing the music of Frank Zappa).
Guitar duo Heads Or Tails? included both 'Montana' and 'Blessed Relief' on their "Speedy Spender" album.

Adalbert Dörsam and Bernd Hoffmann sure know their way around the guitar. The album is nice, but the Zappa pieces are excellent. The seven plus minute version of 'Montana' includes the parlando / vocal part and includes a superb solo. Very Zappa inspired. Great arrangement.
'Blessed Relief' clocks at 03:50 and is very impressive as well.

I'm not sure about the year of release, but 1987 would be my best guess.
If you can find the album, you shouldn't hesitate.


Monday, June 2, 2014

PHILOZAPPIA

PhiloZappia Guitar Duo, with Rainer T. Pappon and Nelson Coelho perform the music of Frank Zappa.

I love it !!



HUMBLE GRUMBLE UPDATE

Wednesday, the 4th of June, the Pure Radio Kaos radio show at CKCU-FM will focus on Humble Grumble.


Sunday, June 1, 2014

THE SOURS - THE SOURS

This new album by The Sours is out on Zoze Music, distributed by MoonJune Records. Being quite familiar with the Moonjune Records output, The Source are definitely the odd man out.
The Source is singer/songwriter (and graphic artist) Sarah Shrift on vocals and Sasha Markovic on guitar.

This eponymous debut album is quite impressive. Using just the guitar and vocals, The Sours succeed in presenting a beautiful and diversified set of songs.
Think Joni Mitchell. Think Neil Young.

Distributed by MoonJune Records.
www.moonjune.com

Check out the following link for samples:
http://www.moonjune.com/mjr_web_2013/catalog_mjr/zoze3_THE-SOURS_The-Sours_ZM003/

www.thesoursmusic.com

Here's Sasha Markovic and his Sashasonia project, to give you an idea.



SNAKEFINGER ON 7"

More 7"'s = more additions to the United Mutations Archives.


  • snakefinger: the spot
        (1978, 7", usa, ralph)


  • snakefinger: the man in the dark sedan / womb to worm
        (1980, 7", france, cel 6214)


  • snakefinger: i gave myself to you
        (1986, 7", australia, aim fan 005)


THE RESIDENTS ON 7"

There's nothing like receiving a bunch of 7"'s as a gift.
Nice additions to the United Mutations Archives.


  • the residentssatisfaction
        (1978, 7", usa, ralph rr7803) - re-issue of the 1976 7" with a different cover and on yellow vinyl


  • the residentsduck stab
        (1978, 7"ep, usa, ralph rr1177) - 2nd pressing has a picture sleeve


  • the residentscommercial single
        (1980, 7", uk, pre 9)


  • the residentsthe black single
        (1984, 7", usa, ralph rz8422) - also released as 'the white single' picture disc


  • the residentskaw-liga / jambalaya
        (1986, 7", nl, torso70022)


  • the residentshit the road jack
        (1987, 7", usa, ralph rr8722)


  • the residentsdiskomo - live in san francisco
        (1988, flexi, usa, reflex magazine 10371900-1)


  • the residentsdon't be cruel
        (1990, 7", nl, torso 70166)


LISA POPEIL - PRIMO MAN / DON'T TURN ME OFF & ON



December 1981, Lisa Popeil did a couple of concerts as part of Frank Zappa's band. She can be heard on Zappa's "Ship Arriving Too Late..." and the "Stage Vol.6" albums.

In 1983, she released her one-and-only album, logically called "Lisa Popeil".
The above picture is the cover of the promotional 7" for 'Primo Man / Don't Turn Me Off & On'.
It features a certain Steve Vai on guitar (who was also in the 1981 Zappa band).

Lisa later contributed to albums by Van Dyke Parks and Weird Al Yankovic.

Here's a recording of Lisa with Al Yankovic, doing backin vocals on a song about her father !!