Sunday, November 30, 2014

UNMATCHED

Hall Of Fame records will be re-releasing the first six volumes of the fabulous Unmatched series (Zappa compositions performed by various artists) in one box.

http://www.halloffame.es/unmatched-series-spanish-zappa-tributes-vol-1-6/



LAZULI HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT

Lazuli has a new album out :
"Tant Que L'Herbe Est Grasse"

Check out the Lazuli website & shop.

http://www.lazuli-music.com/


THE LATEST MESSAGE FROM THE ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST

November 27, 2014

Dear Thanks Giving Celebrants,

What you ZPZ fans out there have all been waiting for, The Official Tour Dates, ta dah!

Here’s the official press release from Dweezil Zappa’s Peeps:

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA ANNOUNCES 1st LEG OF "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" 40th ANNIVERSARY TOUR

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA announces today the 1st leg of dates on their "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" 40th Anniversary tour. Entering into it’s 10th year of touring, the Grammy Award Winning band will perform the 1975 Frank Zappa record, “One Size Fits All”, as part of the evening’s show, along with a mix of other Zappa songs covering all eras. The tour features stops in new cities like Athens, GA, Oklahoma City, OK, and San Antonio, TX, along with the band’s first ever show at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA. As usual, Dweezil will be doing daytime Masterclasses on most stops of the tour.

Dweezil Zappa has been busy lately, as he is in the middle of recording his first album of solo material in 10 years. This is all happening via his Pledge Campaign, which can be found here http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dweezilzappa

More Dweezil Zappa and Zappa Plays Zappa can be found here
http://www.dweezilzappaworld.com
http://www.zappa.com/
https://www.facebook.com/zappaplayszappaofficial

Gobble, Gobble!

(and thanks!)


TOM WAITS - MULE VARIATIONS



I'm spinning Tom Waits' "Mule Variations" while typing.
What a great album this is.
The first track, 'Big In Japan', features special guests Brain Mantia, Les Claypool and Larry Lalonde next to Tom Waits and veteran Ralph Carney.
Beautiful.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.


ARANIS - ARANIS



Shortly after the release of their second album Aranis released a sampler. On vinyl.
Two times four tracks.

The album was a private release by Aranis and it got distributed by Lowlands.

Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.


UGLY RADIO REBELLION WITH IKE WILLIS IN CONCERT IN AKRON 2014 12 20



Ugly Radio Rebellion with Ike Willis
performing the music of Frank Zappa


at 'Rippers Rock House',
Akron, OH, usa


Saturday, December 20, 2014.


CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & THE MAGIC BAND - LIVE FROM PARIS 1977



Data for this new Gonzo record label release has been added to the United Mutations Archives.
An audience recording of the 1977 Paris concert on 2 CDs.

Not the best audio quality, but an enjoyable concert.


THE TUBES - DON'T TOUCH

"Don't Touch", the live album The Tubes that I mentioned a couple of months ago, is out.
Recorded in concert in San Francisco in 1976, it includes their version of Captain Beefheart's 'Gimme Dat Harp Boy'.



FLYING HORSEMAN - WILD EYES

About four years ago, Antwerp-based rock band the Flying Horseman released their first album. It's the playground of composer, guitar player and vocalist Bert Dockx (Dans Dans).
Dark, hypnotizing blues.

Here's the opening track from "Wild Eyes", performed live on a session for Belgian national radio.



DEUS - SELECTED SONGS 1994 - 2014

If someone would ask  me, I'd probably say that you have three options.
If you don't know dEUS, you need to hear "Selected Songs", the celebration of their 20th anniversary.
The second option is a far more pleasant one: buy the seven albums that dEUS has released the last 20 years. You won't just be able to listen to the tracks that made it to this compilation, but lots and lots more.
The final option combines the two previous ones. You already have the seven dEUS albums, and you still think that you need to hear this compilation. Well, good for you. According to my psychiatrist there's nothing wrong with that. It's a bit weird (and I'm paraphrasing here) but not harmful.



THE RESIDENTS - MARCHING TO THE SEE


  • the residents: marching to the see
        (2014, cd, usa, mvd6472a)
from the MVD website:
Holding up the underground since 1972, The Residents celebrate four decades of unbridled creativity with "The Wonder of Weird," their 40th anniversary tour. This album, "Marching to the See," collects the musical highlights from that tour. Having recently come out as Randy, Chuck and Bob after years of anonymity, the group now presents itself in concert as the ultimate offbeat power trio, pared down to guitar, keyboards and vocals. Shrugging its collective shoulders, the band re-interprets and devours its classic material like a hungry horse inhaling hay, while still stumbling along at full speed. Sex, shrugs and anti-rock'n roll - it's all there in The Residents' "Marching to the See."



Friday, November 28, 2014

SUN RA RE-RELEASES

Two Saturn label album have been re-released on 180 g vinyl : "Discipline 27-II" and "Secrets Of The Sun".



Monday, November 24, 2014

DANS DANS - 3

Dans Dans did a concert at jazz club 'De Singer' last Friday.
The trio with Bert Dockx on guitar, Fred Lyenn Jacques on bass and Steve Cassiers on drums, played a very impressive set.
A fine mixture of melodic jazz, rock and avant garde.


It's quite impressive to see (and hear) the sounds that Bert Dockx gets out of his guitar (a semi acoustic George Benson signature Ibanez). Just take a look the gear that he uses...


The trio is promoting their latest album, "3".
I brought it home after the concert, and I've been playing it at least two times each day.
From the first seconds, you get the typical and familiar sound that is Dans Dans.
8 compositions, three of which were written by Frederic Lyenn Jacques, three by Bert Dockx, one by Stelios Chrisinis and one by Duke Ellington.
Highly recommended.



Sunday, November 23, 2014

DRAGON MASTER

Dweezil Zappa's new album will include 'Dragon Master', the track that he wrote with his dad.

support the new Dweezil Zappa album here :
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dweezilzappa


SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA - A QUIET PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE



Recorded in concert around 1976 and 1977, "A Quiet Place In The Universe" shows Sun Ra & His Arkestra in great shape.
Released by the Leo Records label in 1994.
Data added to the United Mutations Archive in 2014.


JONATHAN BADGER - VERSE

  • jonathan badger: verse
        (2014, cd, usa, cuneiform)
Jonathan Badger is a composer and performer based in Baltimore, Maryland. Formally trained as a classical guitarist, he went on to study music theory and composition at Duke University and arranged and composed music for theatre and dance. He then studied in Guitar Craft, a guitar school founded and guided by Robert Fripp of King Crimson.

He has traveled extensively, performing his riveting style of “guitaristic” electronic music, processing guitar through an assortment of customized software and hardware - folding and weaving signals together into complex patterns of interlaced rhythm, harmony and texture.

The music on "Verse" is fascinating.
Beautiful melodies are embedded in nice soundscapes.

Out on the Cuneiform record label
www.cuneiform.com

Available from Mandaï:
www.mandai.be

Check it out :







YVAR MIKHASHOFF - PANORAMA OF AMERICAN PIANO MUSIC



"Panoram Of American Piano Music" is a 4CD collection of pieces that Yvar Mikhashoff performed on the grand piano. It's his unique perspective on trends in American piano music from the last one hundred years.
This collection is enormous. Both in quantity as in quality.
62 works, 48 composers, 4 hours and 34 minutes.
John Cage, Morton Feldman, Lou Harrison, Conlon Nancarrow,...
Plus Yvar's performance of Frank Zappa's 'Piano Introduction To 'Little House I Used To Live In' '.

Incredible.
Essential.


Thursday, November 20, 2014

THE RESIDENTS PRESENT A CHARLES BOBUCK CONTRAPTION - CODGERS ON THE MOON


  • the residents: codgers on the moon
        (2014, cd, usa, mvd)

Earlier this year, The Residents' 2012 "Codgers On The Moon" album got re-worked and re-released by the MVD label.
If I'm not mistaken, there was also a limited edition of 250 copies on vinyl.


STEFANO BOLLANI - SHEIK YER ZAPPA

I saw Stefano Bollani and his band in concert a couple of years ago. Performing Zappa. They played six or seven clubs in Italy and one in Belgium. The Belgium club was located in Antwerp and was called 'De Roma'.
I'm still wondering if the promotor had booked the gig at 'De Roma' because he thought that it was in Italy as well...

Anyway, I thought it was about two years ago, but the booklet says that Stefano's "Sheik Yer Zappa" tour took place in 2011 already.
Stefano Bollani on piano, the fabulous Jason Adasiewicz on vibraphone, Josh Roseman on trombone, Larry Grenadier on double bass, and the fascinating Jim Black on drums.

And now there's the album. Nine compositions, six of which were written by Frank Zappa.
Recorded on the 2011 tour.
Fabulous.

Essential listening for every Zappa fan.



THE RESIDENTS PRESENT A CHARLES BOBUCK CONTRAPTION - ROMAN DE LA ROSE (THE PINK ROMANCE)

  • the residents present charles bobuck: roman de la rose
        (2014, cd, usa, mvd audio mvd6532a)
Earlier this week, I received the recently released "Roman De La Rose (A Pink Romance)", a Charles Bobuck contraption.

I was already middle-aged when I first saw him in a cafe near the beach in Cassis. I had wrapped a Residents tour and the South of France seemed an inviting break. I inquired in French if I could join him. He smiled in English. The next day we hired a small boat to a callanque and drank white wine. In time we married and grew old together. I remember those days, and nights, and it goes like this.
-- Charles Bobuck


"Roman de la Rose" or "Romance of the Rose" is a medieval French poem about courtly love.
Is Charles Bobuck showing his romantic side?

www.residents.com


CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - FULL MOON IN COWTOWN



The Captain Beefheart "Full Moon In Cowtown" CD got released on vinyl by the Let Them Eat Vinyl record label.
A deluxe 2LP set.



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

DWALMACAT 588


This week's Dwalmacat radio show :

http://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-588/

  • JACQUELINE TAIEB – 7 heure du matin
  • THE SHOWER SCENE FROM PSYCHO – Turn up your radio
  • ADD N TO (X) - Fyuz
  • TAKAKO MINEKAWA – Picnic at loose rock
  • MATMOS – You
  • THE CRAVATS – The shroud of New York chapter 1
  • JOE LALLY – Lidia’s song
  • STEAMING COILS – Diamond pillow
  • THE STEVE MILLER BAND – Abracadabra
  • CLINIC – Male stripper
  • SHINY TWO SHINY – Waiting for us
  • SLY & ROBBIE – Boops (here to go)
  • THE BEASTIE BOYS – Something’s got to give
  • WAYNE HORVITZ – Conjunction for C.B.
  • CATHERINE JAUNIAUX – The dansers under the hill
  • THE YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS – Wind in the rigging
  • THE HIGHER INTELLIGENCE AGENCY – Elapse



Sunday, November 16, 2014

UGLY RADIO REBELLION

Ugly Radio Rebellion, featuring Ike Willis, will be performing the music of Frank Zappa on :

Tuesday, December 16, 2014
at 'The Grey Eagle' in Asheville, NC

Friday, December 19, 2014
at 'Sam's Uptown Cafe' in Charleston, WV


SASKIA RAO - DE HAAS & SHUBHENDRA RAO

Saskia Rao-de Haas - indian cello
Shubhendra Rao - sitar

from the Dutch "Vrije Geluiden" tv-show, nov 9, 2014.



In concert :



Saturday, November 15, 2014

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA

In the middle of their European Tour.
The Banned From Utopia playing the music of Frank Zappa.
The real deal.
Catch them while you can !!


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

PRINCE - ART OFFICIAL AGE

"Art Official Age" got released together with Prince and 3rdEyeGirls' "Plectrumelectrum".
"Plectrumelectrum" is the rock one out of the two.
"Art Official Age" is the funky ballads one.



ZAPPANALE #25 - PART 21 - LEBOCAL

One of the absolute highlights of the latest Zappanale festival : French bigband LeBocal !

The ensemble played an amazing concert.
Here's the setlist, with some Zappa stuff !!

- Jungle Boc
- Afrique - Mon Fric
- Little Umbrellas
- The Idiot Bastard Son
- Oranienstraße
- Breathe Together
- Chippendoom
- Oh No
- All Of My Friends (feat. Guillaume Perret)
- Zoot Allures
- Cosmik Debris
- White Clouds
- Mad Song
- Disko Mobile
- King Kong 

Here's a little snippet, from the audience :


The concert got recorded by the Arf Crew and got released on DVDR in a very limited print run after the concert.



PETER VERMEERSCH, JOSSE DE PAUW, FLAT EARTH SOCIETY & ROLANDE VAN DER PAAL - BOOT & BERG



"Boot & Berg" (boat & iceberg) premiered in Antwerp on April 14, 2012.
100 years after the Titanic disaster.

Written by Peter Vermeersch and performed by Flat Earth Society plus Josse De Pauw (reciter) and Rolande Van Der Paal (soprano).
The play tells the story of the Titanic and the iceberg. How they were made for each other. How they longed for each other.
The tale ends with the iceberg that melts. Another unthinkable, unimaginable event...

A great story and beautiful music.

"Boot & Berg" has been released by Igloo Records both as a seperate album and as part of the FES XLS box (two new Flat Earth Society albums and one X-Legged Sally compilation album).

http://www.igloorecords.be/



TOM WAITS - FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Originally released in 1977.
That's almost 40 years ago.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.



BIRD STAUSS AND HIS ART COMPANIONS RICHARD KOCH & REMI STRÄULI - EN ROUTE



About three weeks ago, Markus Stauss' Fazzul Music label released a new (and excellent) Zauss album. The Zauss project has Markus collaborating with guitar player Francesco Zago. The album is called "Diafonia Leitmotiv Waves" and it's the fourth Zauss album to date. You definitely need to check it out.

But there's more, as the Fazzul record label lets us become acquainted with Bird Stauss and his Art Companions (or Vogel Stauss und seine Art Genossen as they're called in the German language), the Art Companions being Richard Koch on trumpet and Rémy Sträuli on drums and weird background keyboards noises.
"En Route" sounds very fresh and open. Composed, and yet with a lot of space for improvisations.
As Markus Stauss added : "(it sounds) almost 'happy' compared to other Fazzul productions."

http://www.fazzulmusic.ch/


Sunday, November 9, 2014

ARF IN CONCERT

French band ARF will be doing a Zappa concert in Paris on Thursday, December 4, 2014.

The concert will take place at the 'Club 56' in the 11th district in Paris, France.

56 rue de la Fontaine au Roi
métro Goncourt ou Parmentier
at 21h




EUGENE CHADBOURNE'S DREAMORY BOOK



After years in preparation, the Good Doctor has released his most intimate venture
into the realm of Fine Literature: 
DREAMORY.
Dreamory is a soft cover perfect bound book with more than 1000 pages.
It weighs in at a bit over 3 pounds, so earns the all important status of "thick"
as established by legendary guru Pinky Das Gupta.

It is a collection of my tour and dream diaries, teenage and draft dodging memoirs and much more. It is my life, up til now, and I am very proud of it. List price is $36 + shipping.


DWEEZIL ZAPPA / PLEDGE MUSIC

a message from Dweezil Zappa 

Hello Everyone,

I'm excited to announce that today I am officially "breaking ground" on my new album. I begin in the studio today with engineer co-producer Joe Baressi (Queens Of The Stone Age, Tool) recording the basic tracks for my first solo record in 10 years.
I have decided to partner with Pledge Music for the release of my new record. I've made a video which chronicles the events leading up to this event. http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dweezilzappa

Because of this partnership there is now a fantastic way for any folks out there who are interested in taking part with me on this musical journey. I will be able to offer everyone an unprecedented look inside my creative process, what instruments are being used and many other studio details of note.
With Pledge Music you can be a fly on the wall throughout the making of my new record if you like. You'll be able to receive weekly updates and unique opportunities to get involved in the record in various ways.

This record is a collection of songs and a few instrumentals. It is going to be filled with diversity and will most definitely be a departure from anything I have ever done. Undoubtedly there will be a few surprises along the way too!

For the last decade I have been working on developing new guitar skills and blazing a new trail for myself. Along the way I have worked hard to fuse unusual musical influences within my playing. I've always been fascinated by the sound of Arabic and Indian music as well as Balkan rhythms and melodies. Check out the extra 1/4 tone fretted Stratocaster!


Now it's time to see where those influences take me as a musician and songwriter. Accompanying me on this new musical project are my Zappa Plays Zappa band members, Scheila Gonzales, Kurt Morgan, Ryan Brown, Ben Thomas and Chris Norton.

I hope to see you all on http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dweezilzappa to follow my new record.

Thanks, DZ


TOM WAITS - ALICE

Adding data to the United Mutations Archives.
Now where's did I store my copy of "Blood Money"...


RICK WAKEMAN TALKS TO IAN ANDERSON

Rick Wakeman talks to Ian Anderson.

Around 17:30 min, Ian mentions being on the same bill as Zappa & The Mothers, and Captain Beefheart...


-- info: Jan van Kemenade


CORDELIA RECORDS UPDATE

Here's a message from Cordelia Records regarding their recent Stones / Surf complilation:

Here's the link for "Surfin' Jack Flash" CD at CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/surfinjackflash

These other Cordelia Records CDs are also available through CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/VariousArtists170 - they are all to do with either surf instrumentals or the music of Frank Zappa and, in one case, both.



ITALIAN BLACK SAINT LABEL RE-RELEASES FOUR SUN RA ALBUMS IN ONE BOX

The Italian Black Saint label has just released a 4CD Sun Ra box entitled "The Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint & Soul Note".

=
- "Reflections In Blue"
- "Hours After"
- "Mayan Temples"
- "A Tribute To Stuff Smith"

The latter one of these albums is a project that Sun Ra contributed to.
Here's the original album cover :


ENSEMBLE MODERN / UWE DIERKSEN - ROOR



In recent years, various soloists of the Ensemble Modern are getting the opportunity to put together an album of EM recordings.
These recordings are collected and released on a Super Audio CDs.
Trombone player Uwe Dierksen's selection includes the ensemble's version of Frank Zappa's 'Revised Music For Low Budget Orchestra'.
From the "Greggery Peccary and Other Pursuasions" album.



YVAR MIKHASHOFF - PANORAMA OF AMERICAN PIANO MUSIC



The United Mutations Archives tell me that Belgian national radio BRT1 did a broadcast around 1991 of Yvar Mikhashoff performing Frank Zappa's 'Piano Introduction To Little House I Used To Live In'.
I don't know the source for the 1991 broadcast, but I do know that Yvar Mikhashoff's rendition of this Zappa composition can be found on the recently released "Panorama Of American Piano Music" 4CD-set.


MUSIKFABRIK - GRAFFITI

The latest album by the MusikFabrik ensemble includes the band (and special guest Frank Gratkowski) performing two Sun Ra compositions: 'Outer Nothingness' and 'Pleiades'.


Saturday, November 8, 2014

ZAPPANALE #25 - PART 17 - THE CRIMSON PROJEKCT

July 19, 2014.
Saturday afternoon at the Zappanale festival in Bad Doberan, Germany.
Zappatown.
The Crimson Projekct takes the stage and plays a perfect set.

picture by Dieter Jakob

The Crimson Projekct's double trio featured Adrian Belew on guitar and vocals, Tony Levin on chapman stick and bass, Pat Mastelotto on drums, Markus Reuter on guitar, Julie Slick on bass, and Tobias Ralph on drums.
  • b'boom
  • thrak
  • dinosaur
  • frame by frame
  • sleepless
  • neurotica
  • crack in the sky
  • larks' tongues in aspic, part II
  • 3 of a perfect pair
  • matte
  • e
  • breathless
  • b
  • one time
  • red
  • indiscipline
  • talk
  • thela
A video recording of the Zappanale concert was made available on DVDR in a very small print run after the concert.
Those who were familiar with the "Live In Tokyo" album knew what to expect.
Loved it.




Wednesday, November 5, 2014

ZAPPANALE #25 - PART 25 - THE GOODBYE SESSION

Each and every year, the Zappanale festival ends with a so-called 'Good-Bye Session'. Musicians from different bands gather on the main stage and jam a bit, performing Frank Zappa tunes.
Always unrehearsed and a bit sloppy, but a good habit nonetheless.

This year, The Wilmington School Of Rock took the stage at the start of the Good-Bye Session, later to be joined or to relieved by members of The Muffin Men, Max Kutner (of The Grandmothers), Eric Klerks (of The Magic Band) and Denny Walley (of Zappa's Mothers and Captain Beefheart), to name a few.

The show got recorded and was made available on DVDR in a very limited quantity (about 20 copies) shortly after the concert.

Here's a YouTube snippet. Not recorded from the stage as the above mentioned DVDR, but from the audience. Still, an excellent recording.




MIKE KENEALLY - DANCING DEMOS

Ealier this year, Mike Keneally's label manager found the demos for Mike Keneally's 2000 excellent "Dancing" album.
9 tracks.
Just Mike on guitar, keyboards and vocals.
Superb.

Download only.
Available from http://www.keneally.com/


DWALMACAT 586

http://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-586-thierry-martens/

NEW ORDER – 586
THESE NEW PURITANS – Organ eternal
SNAP ANT – Cavaliers
TAMAIOS – Alto là
SERGE GAINSBOURG & MICHEL COLOMBIER – Psychastenie
FIERY FURNACES – Another romance on another planet
THE FALL – Butterflies 4 brains
STEREOLAB – Ironman
KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS – A girl named Alex
THE AMAZING SNAKEHEADS – Every guy wants to be her baby


Sunday, November 2, 2014

SUN RA - SUPERSONIC JAZZ + FATE IN A PLEASANT MOOD


  • sun ra: supersonic jazz + fate in a pleasant mood
        (2012, cd, eu, solar records 4569933)

Solar Records released this compilation album about two years ago. Two classic Sun Ra albums on one shiny disc. And there was enough space to include a bonus track from the "Super Sonic Jazz" session: an alternate take from 'Medicine For A Nightmare'.

Data has been added to the Sun Ra discography over at the United Mutations Archives.

MEET THE CROSSWALKERS

Talking to Chato Segerer at the Zapperlot! festival last August, he mentioned the latest project that he was involved in : The Crosswalkers.

http://www.the-crosswalkers.de/

Playing funky, jazzy instrumental versions of Beatles songs :



SUN RA IN SAN FRANCISCO 1989

From the Hinds Brothers Archives :

sun ra & richie goldberg san francisco april 1989...sun ra research



HALLOWEEN WITH THE RESIDENTS

Celebrating Halloween, The Residents offered two tracks for free download at their bandcamp site.
They were up for a couple of days only.

  • the residents: picnic in the jungle
        (2014, bandcamp download, usa, --)
With Snakefinger. Made available on October 27, 2014.

  • the residents: vampire
        (2014, bandcamp download, usa, --)
From "Demons Dance Alone". Made available on October 30, 2014.


Both tracks are still to be found on YouTube :


--


STRATOSPHEERIUS - BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Two years after the release of "The Next World", Joe Deninzon and his Stratspheerius band are back with 'Behind The Curtain'.
One track. Download only.
Pretty powerful.

joe deninzon: electric 'viper' violin, lead vocals
lucianna padmore: drums
aurelien budynek: guitars
jamie bishop: electric bass
benny koonyevsky: percussion