CHAWATA

 Talking about bands that have been inspired by the music of Frank Zappa, I recently discovered Chawata.

Paris, France-based band that released 2 albums. A first one in 1997 and a second one in 2003.

Here's a piece from their second release:

PALO ALTO

 Palo Alto's latest release : Différence et Répétition.

This new album (the tenth in their discography) was born from two ambitions: to pay tribute to Soft Machine's Third on form (4 sides / 4 titles) and to philosopher Gilles Deleuze (Difference and Repetition is the title of his thesis) on the contents. The 4 long pieces of this double concept album were developed over 2 years and each has a different style and climate. Bold and kaleidoscopic, Difference and Repetition perfectly synthesizes the musical and literary obsessions of Palo Alto.

Here's a sample

PIERRE VERVLOESEM - FOLKLORIK

• pierre vervloesem folklorik
      (2021, download, belgium, bandcamp)

Pierre Vervloesem released "Folklorik" last Friday.
It's another excellent release by Belgian's best kept musical secret.

Twisted and upgraded folkloristic dance music.
And it works. I'm dancing to it. Well, in my head, that is, but I'm still dancing.

Essential listening.

FRIED DÄHN

 Electric cello player Fried Dähn has just released a new album :

https://www.flavoredtune.com/produkt/fried-daehn-now-then-2/

I've seen Fried in concert at Zappanale a couple of times and I love the sounds he gets from his cello.

SUN RA - ON JUPITER

Sun Ra's 1979 "On Jupiter" album got remastered and digitally released through Bandcamp earlier this month.
The album also included a bonus track.

Bandcamp:
https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/album/on-jupiter

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

HARDSCORE

Available on Bandcamp, and there's even some physical copies available as well:

https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/album/methane-1998-11-01-full-album

Frank Nuyts' Hardscore ensemble : "Methane" 

If you're into Frank Zappa, you need to check this out.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA'S GUITAR COLLECTION

In this episode of “The Collection,” host Mark Agnesi travels to Los Angeles, CA, to check out the incredible guitar collection of Dweezil Zappa. Growing up the son of musical icon Frank Zappa, Dweezil began playing guitar as a young child, and by age 12, had released his first single. Dweezil has performed as a solo artist, as well as recreating his father’s music with the project Zappa Plays Zappa. Over his career, Dweezil has amassed a massive collection of odd and obscure guitars, including many of his father’s original instruments, fretless and half-fretted guitars, a microtonal guitar, and a Kramer guitar given to him by Eddie Van Halen during a soundcheck at his middle school talent show. His love of modifying guitars and his quest for new sounds makes Dweezil’s collection anything but ordinary.

THE LAMA HOME BAND

 New corona-free video of the Lama Home Bands second LP "Sparebed Birthmarks" on Bananafishin' Records.

Limited edition of 150 copies.

JOE DENINZON - COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

 Joe Deninzon released 'Cognitive Dissonance' on Bandcamp.
It's a single 5-minute track with a strong message.

Check it out.

PHISH - SIGMA OASIS

• phish: sigma oasis
      (2020, 2lp, usa, jemp records)

 A couple of months ago, Phish released "Sigma Oasis", a studio album that featured a lot of strings and even some additional vocals next to the familiar Anastasio - McConnell - Gordon - Fishman quartet.

Laid-back and uplifting.
I like this a lot.

CURVED AIR BOX SET

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a new clamshell boxed set featuring all four of Curved Air’s classic albums recorded between 1970 and 1973. “The Albums” features newly remastered versions of “Air Conditioning”, “Second Album”, “Phantasmagoria” and “Air Cut”, along with bonus tracks ‘It Happened Today’ (single version), ‘What Happens When You Blow Yourself Up’ and ‘Sarah’s Concern’, all originally issued as singles.

 "Air Cut" features Eddie Jobson.

More info:
http://exystence.net/blog/2021/01/28/curved-air-the-albums-1970-1973-2021/

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

STEVE SWALLOW, CHRIS POTTER, ADAM NUSSBAUM - DAMAGED IN TRANSIT

• steve swallow, chris potter, adam nussbaum: damaged in transit
      (2003, cd, --, xtrawat)

I'm enjoying "Damaged In Transit" at the moment, a fine album by Steve Swallow (bass), Chris Potter (sax) and Adam Nussbaum (drums). 
The album got recorded live in France in 2001 and got released on CD in 2003.
Steve Swallow provided the scores for the three of them to improvise on.
It sounds great. And Chris Potter blows his horn as his life depends on it.

Beautiful.

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY IN CONCERT ON BELGIAN NATIONAL RADIO

 Next Sunday, Flat Earth Society in concert, on radio Klara

January 31, 2021 - radio Klara - "Theater Thuis" - 18h00 - 20h00

MOKER HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT

Well. Not really new.
Belgian band Moker has made their 2005 album, "Konglong", available as a digital download on Bandcamp.

• Bart Maris: trumpet, electronics
• Zeger Vandenbussche: tenor saxophone
• Mathias Van de Wiele: guitar
• Dajo De Cauter: double bass
• Giovanni Barcella: drums

-- info: Danny Mathys

FRANK ZAPPA IN BELGIAN NEWSPAPER DE STANDAARD

Yesterday's edition of De Standaard, a Belgian Newspaper, had an article on FZ.

I don't know if was in both the paper and the on-line edition, but the intro of the on-line edition looked like this :

-- info : André Oomen

LITTLE ROSIE'S KINDERGARTEN

Gernot Friedbacher's next radio show will focus on Little Rosie's Kindergarten.

The Vienna, Austria-based ensemble has just released a new album.

https://o94.at/programm/sendung/id/1847384

Folge 71 – Der Kindergarten zu Gast – Little Rosies Kindergarten – 27.1.2021, 20 Uhr

ZAPPA DOCUMENTARY RELEASE ANNOUNCED

https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/876964017114

"Zappa", the DVD and/or blu-ray

I thought it would be released on Record Store Day.

Andrew Nicollet added:
Not on Record Store Day. This year's first RSD has been postponed from April 17 to June 12.

EAK - ZOOT ALLURES

Eric Trøim - Guitar 
Armin Beck - Drums
Kevin Crosby - Bass/Keys

D.A.F.T. = THE DAEVID ALLEN FAMILY TRUST

The “Daevid Allen Family Trust” (D.A.F.T) Preserves Daevid Allen’s Legacy of Poetry, Music & Hand Drawn Illustrations - Come and Be Daft!

In 2015 Gong legend Daevid Allen sadly passed away at the age of 77. He is survived by his four sons Toby, Orlando, Tali, & Ynys. Prior to his passing Daevid set up the “Daevid Allen Family Trust” or D.A.F.T. for short for his children. The aim and focus with D.A.F.T. is to preserve Daevid’s legacy of Poetry, Music & Hand Drawn Illustrations for the fans and future generations in one place.

And now we are happy to announce that 2021 is the year to be D.A.F.T!

First of all, the web store .... is now open selling a wide selection of official D.A.F.T. merchandise and music.

Secondly, we are also happy to announce that there will be a box set coming soon called “Deya Dreaming” which is a collection of unreleased music from Daevid’s time in Deia, Mallorca.

2021 promises to be a busy year with a lot more stuff to come!

Daevid Allen, who sometimes was credited as Divided Alien, Captain Capricorn and Dingo Virgin, was an Australian poet, guitarist, singer, composer and performance artist. He was co-founder of legendary music groups Soft Machine and Gong. He left Gong in 1975 to begin a solo career (though his first solo album, “Banana Moon,” was released in 1971 while he was still in the band). Daevid went on to release several innovative solo albums over the next 4 decades. His solo work also included collaborations with artists like Kramer, Acid Mothers Temple, and California-based bands University of Errors and Spirits Burning. Daevid would also record and tour with various incarnations of Gong throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s. Daevid continued to release numerous live sets and one-off collaborations in limited editions on various independent labels under his own and various group names up until his passing in 2015.

D.A.F.T. official website: https://www.musicglue.com/daevid-allen-family-trust-daft/

SHUT UP 'N PLAY YOUR GUITAR ACETATES

 

-- info: Roddie Gilliard

NICOLAS SLONIMSKY INTERVIEW

Slonimsky speaks about Frank Zappa (4:40), demonstrates conducting quintuple time with one hand and duple time with the other (7:21), tries to demonstrate his perfect pitch (10:51) and plays Chopin's "Black Key" Étude with an orange (12:08). 

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

LADY BIANCA

 
Excellent info on a project Lady Bianca contributed to before she joined Frank Zappa's band:

http://exystence.net/blog/2021/01/16/bridge-crying-for-love-2020/

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

1965 SOUNDTRACK BY THE MOTHERS

 "Ride For Your Life", a 1965 NFB short movie about Mike Duff w/ music by the Mothers.

Frank Zappa was introduced to a film director by the name of Robin Spry. Spry was in the process of editing a film about Mike Duff, a Canadian Grand Prix motorcycle champion who had been severely injured following a crash in Japan during a race there in 1965. Spry decided to make a short documentary about Duff’s recovery and return to the track, which he entitled Ride For Your Life. Having heard the Freak Out! album, an impressed Spry prevailed upon Zappa to contribute a musical score for the short film, which ran a mere ten minutes. For a fee of $1000 American dollars, Zappa agreed. Trooping into the recording studios of the National Film Board of Canada (who was financing the film), Zappa led The Mothers through a series of abstract improvisations similar to what they had been whipping out onstage to stunned audiences. The recorded material was edited down to a little over four minutes and used in the film, which was released later in 1967.

Parker, Scott. DISCORPORATE! Frank Zappa In The Studio 1966-1967 (Kindle Locations 392-399). 

MAGICALLY DELICIOUS

 Magically Delicious performs a Zappa medley.

LON MOSHE & SOUTHERN FREEDOM ARKESTRA

Lon Moshe & Southern Freedom Arkestra

"Love Is Where The Spirit Lies" 

JAN STURIALE - ROADMAPS

• jan sturiale: roadmaps
      (2017, cd, usa, private release)

U.S. jazz guitar player Jan Sturial recorded FZ's 'Blessed Relief' with his quintet (guitar, sax, piano, bass, drums) and released it on his 2017 "Roadmaps" album.

Very nice.

Digital download available through Bandcamp.

ASK THE SLAVE - KISS YOUR CHORA

Iceland band Ask The Slave recorded FZ's 'Who Are The Brain Police' and released it on their "Kiss Your Chora" album.

Fine album & super version of the Zappa tune.

From 2007.
Check it out on Bandcamp :

MARBIN IN CONCERT

 
Marbin said :

Tomorrow is the big day! We played a full set of Marbin classics at Sweetwater Studios. The concert will air on FB live 9pm eastern tomorrow 1/15/2021 ! Tickets are $9.99!

www.facebook.com/events/185215739985691/

J.M. SMIG

a message from J.M. Smig :

Inauguration special: Free download of "Peaches En Regalia" on #Bandcamp now through January 20!

jmsmig.bandcamp.com/track/peaches-en-regalia

LA OLA INTERIOR

Unfortunately, the Bongo Joe record label only shares one track from the upcoming "La Ola Interior" collection.
But that one track does sound pretty impressive. 

LA OLA INTERIOR Spanish Ambient & Acid Exoticism 1983​-​1990

BERLINDE DEMAN AND MIRKO BANOVIC

hum. is a duo.

Berlinde Deman: serpent
Mirko Banovic: electronics

 

LOLOCAUST - HOMOCAUST

• lolocaust: homocaust
      (2013, cd, italy, private release)

Italian band Lolocaust sampled Frank Zappa’s ‘Willie The Pimp’ on ‘Ho Il Cazzo Come’, a track on their “Homocaust” album.
The album was also made available through Bandcamp (with a different album cover).

THE RESIDENTS - IN BETWEEN DREAMS - LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO

• the residents: in between dreams - live in san francisco
      (2020, cd/dvd + 7", uk, cherry red)

U.K.-based Cherry Rec records released The Residents' "In Between Dreams - Live In San Francisco" in December 2020.
The CD / DVD package presents recordings from The Chapel, in San Francisco, April 2018. 
The CD sounds great. Haven't checked the DVD yest.
Initial orders received a bonus 7". A nice surprise.

• the residents: picnic/loser / god's magic finger
     (2020, 7", uk, cherry red)

Here's a live snippet from the Prague show:

FLO & EDDIE - ILLEGAL, IMMORAL & FATTENING / MOVING TARGETS

• flo & eddie: illegal, immoral and fattening / moving targets
      (2020, cd, uk, bgo)

The BGO record label reissued a remastered version of two Flo & Eddie albums on one CD. 

In Zappa's band Flo & Eddie were refered to as The Phlorescent Leech (Mark Volman) and Eddie (Howard Kaylan).
“Illegal, Immoral And Fattening” included their version of of a track they co-wrote with FZ, ‘Eddie, Are You Kidding?’.

Jewel case in slipcase release.

NOLAN POTTER'S NIGHTMARE BAND - NIGHTMARE FOREVER

• nolan potter's nightmare band: nightmare forever
      (2019, lp, czech republic, casteface records)

Austin, Texas-based Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band released "Nightmare Forever" in 2019. Colored splat vinyl and CD.

The album is getting a re-issue on black vinyl.

This sounds really good.
When you're over at Bandcamp, to check this out, don't forget to give Nolan Potter's performance of FZ's 'Dog Breath' a listen.

THE PROG COLLECTIVE

from GlassOnyonPR

World’s Largest Prog Rock Supergroup THE PROG COLLECTIVE Preview New Album With First Single “Two Trajectories” Featuring GEOFF TATE!

The album features performances by Todd Rundgren, Derek Sherinian, Jan Akkerman, Steve Hackett, Steve Hillage, Patrick Moraz, Sonja Kristina, Joe Lynn Turner, L. Shankar, Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Roine Stolt, Graham Bonnet, David Johansen and more!

Los Angeles, CA - The prog rock supergroup The Prog Collective, spearheaded by much heralded producer/musician and member of prog royalty Yes, Billy Sherwood, returns with a timely and magnificent new studio album, Worlds On Hold! This is the first release under the Prog Collective moniker since 2013’s Epilogue, which was the follow-up album to the massively popular self-titled debut album released in 2012. Just as with those previous efforts, Sherwood has gathered some of the most proficient and prolific artists from all over the globe including Rock Hall Of Fame nominee Todd Rundgren, Rock Hall member Steve Hackett (of Genesis), founding guitarist of Dutch legends Focus Jan Akkerman, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, electric violinist L. Shankar, renowned keyboardist and former Dream Theater member Derek Sherinian, and so many more!

For Worlds On Hold, producer and band leader Billy Sherwood chose to split the album between new compositions on one side and spectacular versions of familiar classics on the other. The songs covered include Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill,” Alan Parson’s Project’s “Eye In The Sky,” Procol Harem’s “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” and The Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin.” In addition, the set includes 3 previously released bonus tracks of Billy Sherwood produced cover versions. It truly is the best of both worlds!

For a taste of what’s in store, check out the album’s first single “Two Trajectories” featuring founding vocalist for prog metal icons Queensrÿche, Geoff Tate, which has been released as a digital single. The song is a complex and moving composition that showcases not only Tate’s incredible range but also the sleek and stupefying guitar work of superstar shredder Ron Thal.

Sherwood declares, “It was an honor and a pleasure to work with Geoff Tate on the song. He brought so much emotion and character to the vocal. I’m looking forward to people hearing this track along with all the others on the new Prog Collective record!”

The feeling is mutual for Tate, who says “Yes was one of my earliest influences and working with Billy was very special to me. I loved singing the track ‘Two Trajectories.’”

MAGMA TO RELEASE RETROSPEKTIW I - II - III

 From GlassOnyonPR

MAGMA RETROSPEKTIW I - II – III plus Bonus Track (3CD) Remastered Edition Now Available!

Featuring bonus track of more than 15 minutes - the first studio recording of the song “Rétrovision”!

It was at the Olympia in June 1980 that the 10th anniversary of Magma was celebrated during three memorable evenings.

This retrospective, bringing together most of the musicians who were part of the group, saw the light of day in the form of 2 albums, one double, Retrospektïw 1/2 the other single, Retrospektïw 3 which was, despite its numbering, published in first. Three titles make up the menu of this Retrospektïw 3: “Retrovision,” a long piece in the continuity of the spirit of the music of the album Attahk, where, on a hellish train, the voices of Stella Vander, Guy Khalifa and Maria Popkiewicz display an astonishing ease, “Hhaï,” in a supercharged version where the Lockwood/Paganotti/Widemann trio performs wonders, and finally “La Dawotsin” where, in a much calmer register, the voice of Christian Vander captivates by its mastery and its depth sensitivity.

A bonus of more than 15 minutes appears on this reissue, it is the first studio recording of the song “Rétrovision,” a pre-production demo for a studio album made in January 1980. Finally, “Rétrovision” will never exist in a studio version.

Recorded as Retrospektïw 3 during the evenings of the Olympia in June 1980, Retrospektïw 1/2 is a fundamental album insofar as it finally presents “Theusz Hamtaahk,” the first movement of the trilogy of the same name, of which we already knew the second movement, “Ẁurdah Ïtah,” as well as the third, “Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh.”

A piece performed on stage since 1974, “Theusz Hamtaahk” waited years before being engraved for eternity, because Christian Vander wanted each note to be beautiful, magical, essential and definitive. It is with the same respect for the music that he also offers us on this double album a magnificent version of “Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh,” a version which allows itself two great moments with the hallucinating improvisations of Bernard Paganotti and Didier Lockwood. Klaus Blasquiz, who did not appear on the Retrospektïw 3 album, provides lead vocals this time.

Without a doubt, Magma has left the legacy of constantly evolving music, which defies all standards and connivance of rock, evolving in a universe of their own creation.

Here's the vinyl version, from 1981

MIKE KENEALLY, BOB RICE, MERL SAUNDERS AND THOMAS NORDEGG UPDATE

 
The Sean Tonar FB interview with Mike Keneally, Bob Ric, Merl Saunders and Thomas Nordegg that was mentioned a little while ago, is up on YouTube :

-- info: Andrew Nicollet

DYLAN POSA - IN MY OWN WAY

• dylan posa: in my own way
      (2016, cd, usa, private release)

Lebanon, Ohio-based Dylan Posa released a set of songs that had influenced him in some way or another.
The album was entitled “In My Own Way” and included Dylan’s version of FZ’s ‘You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here’.
The album was also made available as a download through Bandcamp.

MF DOOM - DOOM!

• mf doom: doom!
      (2008, cd, usa, tdm)

MF Doom’s “Doom!” compilation album got released in 2008. It included ‘Mash’s Revenge’, a reworking of J Dilla’s ‘Mash’ that sampled Frank Zappa’s ‘Black Page Dance Contest’.
The “Doom!” album got re-released with different album cover artwork and a different track order in 2010. 

SUN RA - ANGELS AND DEMONS AT PLAY / SOUND SUN PLEASURE / WE TRAVEL THE SPACE WAYS

• sun ra: angels and demons at play / sound sun pleasure / we travel the space ways
      (2012, cd, europe, solar records)

The Solar Records label re-released three classic Sun Ra albums on one CD.
And even added a bonus track.

Can't remember why or when I picked this up.
Probably because it had the album cover of the 1974 re-release of "Angels And Demons At Play".
This CD / re-issue got released in 2012 !

The bonus track is 'The Blue Set' (Sun Ra), originally released as a single.
Recorded in Chicage, June 1960.

IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT - ALPHAVILLE

• imperial triumphant: alphaville
      (2020, cd, ger, century media)

Mixing death metal vocals with prog rock and featuring Trey Spruance (synth and samples), New York City-based band Imperial Triumphant released "Alphaville" last year.
Stunning artwork (even for the digipack-sized CD) and a cover version of The Residents' 'Happy Home'.

Nice !!

MIKE KENEALLY, BOB RICE, MERL SAUNDERS AND THOMAS NORDEGG DISCUSS FRANK ZAPPA'S GUITARS AND MORE

 
Sean Tonar talked to Mike Keneally, discussing Frank Zappa's guitars and guitar style.
Sean also invited 3 guitar technicians that worked with FZ: Bob Rice, Merl SaunderS Jr, and Thomas Nordegg

The complete interview is over three hours long and it's great !!

You can check it out  on Facebook on Sean's profile.
I do hope it will be made available on Youtube. Everyone needs to hear this.

During the first part, Mike discusses the projects he's working on including a new solo album and his collaboration with Todd Rundgren.

Very nice !

update :
Andrew Nicellet added:

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - CARNEGIE HALL

• frank zappa & the mothers of invention: carnegie hall
      (2011, 3cd, usa, zappa records / vaulternative records)

2020 saw the re-release of "Carnegie Hall". It omitted the first disc (= The Persuasions opening show).
Still a great package, although I don't understand why The Persuasions aren't part of the set anymore.

ALESSIO RICCIO - DIALEKTOS - THE EARLY TAPES

• alessio riccio: dialektos - the early tapes
      (2003, cdr, italy, private release)

Florence, Italy-based drummer and percussionist Alessio Riccio released FZ’s ‘The Black Page #1’ on his “Dialektos – The Early Tapes” album in 2003 !
“Dialektos – The Early Tapes” was made available on CDR in a cardboard sleeve (with insert) and as a digital download through Bandcamp. 

MONSTRE / EUGENE CHADBOURNE / JIMMY CARL BLACK - THE CHAD BLACK MONSTER SHOW

• monstre / eugene chadbourne / jimmy carl black: the chad black monster show
      (2007, cdr, france, l'eglise de la petite folie)

French improvised music ensemble Monstre teamed up with Eugene Chadbourne and Jimmy Carl Black at the Festival Invisible in April 2006. A recording of the concert got released on CDR. It was also made available through Bandcamp.

I just love this kind of stuff.

You can check it out here :

JUAN ZARPPA - DESATASCOS Y LIMPIEZAS

In an attempt to clean up my desk & to add stuff to the United Mutations Archives, here's another nice find.

I mentioned Juan Zarppa a little while ago as he recorded FZ 'The Torture Never Stops' on one of his albums. The album cover of his more recent "Desatascos Y Limpiezas" shows him with a Zappa t-shirt.
Nice album as well.

AKA MOON - ELOHIM

Record label owner Guy Segers says : "... one of the best CDs of the decade.", and I can't really disagree with him. 

Aka Moon's "Elohim" got released in 1997 and it's a superb album.
It still is. I'm listening to it now.

Guy still has some copies for sale.
Or you can check it out & get it from Bandcamp.

https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/album/elohim-1997-06-01-full-album

LIOR ZELERING - STORIES OF HOME

• lior zelering: stories of home
      (2019, cd, canada, private release)

Lior Zelering recorded FZ's 'Blessed Relief'. It can be found on his "Stories Of Home" album.

Digital download is available through Bandcamp.

ALTERNATIVE TV - LOVE LIES LIMP

• alternative tv: love lies limp
      (2002, cd, uk, the devils own jukebox)

 In 2002, Alternative TV released "25 Years Of Alternative TV", a live album recorded at CBGB's on August 5, 2001.
The same album got re-released by The Devils Own Jukebox record label in a Special Limited Edition album as "Love Lies Limp".
Both albums included ATV's version of Zappa's / The Mothers' 'Why Don'tcha Do Me Right'.

LIONEL WENDLING - STEEL WORLD

•  lionel wendling: steel world
      (2016, cd, france, private release)

Pedal steel, ukulele and dobro guitar player Lionel Wendling released his version of FZ's 'It Might Just Be A One Shot Deal' on his "Steel World" album.

The album is also available as a digital download through Bandcamp.

THE RESIDENTS - MUSIC TO EAT BRICKS BY

• the residents: music to eat bricks by
      (2019, cd, usa, cryptic corporation)

I remember mentioning this CD and the book when it was announced or got released.
Afterwards, I must have said something about the book (as the main figure refers to a Frank Zappa song at a certain moment).
And earlier today, I added the album cover to the United Mutations Archives, over at The Residents entry.

from The Residents Wiki Page:
https://meettheresidents.fandom.com/wiki/Music_to_Eat_Bricks_By
Music to Eat Bricks By is a limited edition CD-R release sold by The Residents in July 2019 their website as a bonus with copies of their 2018 novel The Brick-Eaters purchased through their website. The CDs come in cardboard envelopes with the title stamped on the front and an "Official Product" logo stamped on the back - an unknown number are also signed by a Resident.
Much of the music was previously heard in 2006 as the soundtrack to the group's serial drama The River of Crime, however, the mixes on this are their original, unedited instrumental versions and also include previously unheard tracks, compared to the earlier soundtrack album. Most of the materiel had previously been released on The Residents' Free! Weird! page.

 

THE RESIDENTS - GOD IN 3 PERSONS

• the residents: god in 3 persons
      (2020, 2lp+cd, usa, cryptic corporation)

One of the most impressive albums that got released in 2020 : The Residents and John Sanborn redid "God In 3 Persons".
The show premiered at the museum of modern modern art and got released on LP and CD as part of a fundraiser.

With Nolan Cook, Eric Drew Feldman and Laurie Amat (!!)

Beautiful.

NICK DIDKOVSKY

 
New material by Nick Didkovsky (Doctor Nerve):

BOB UCK AND THE FAMILY TRUCK - ODDITIES 2013 - 2015

• bob uck and the family truck: oddities 2013-2015
      (2020, cd, austria, klanggalerie)

With Bob Uck being the alias for Charles Bobuck, this fine disc presents 24 pieces by the late Hardy Fox, composer for The Residents.

From Klanggalerie:
Hardy Fox was the primary composer of The Residents. He created an incredible body of work, using all kinds of names other than The Residents, amongst them Combo De Mechanico, Sonidas De La Noche, Dead Eye Dick, Charles Bobuck or Black Tar And The Cry Babies. The Tar projects were generally created to help raise money for needy projects for poverty, mass destruction in fire, and to fight the evil of Trump uprising. Before Hardy died, he sent us several albums to be released after his passing. One of these is this collection of obscure tracks recorded between 2013 and 2015, entitled Oddities. Hardy also made the cover design for it and we are proud to give this to you as a limited edition TOOK release. This is the only time Hardy used the name Bob Uck and The Family Truck. We jokingly called Mr. Bobuck Bob or Bobby Uck, this explains the project name. 

Limited edition CD release.

http://www.klanggalerie.com/gg360

WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA - VIVA LIVE LOCOS

• white bell oklahoma: viva live locos
      (2011, cd, germany, herzberg verlag)

Released by the Slick Monkey label in cooperation with the Burg Herzberg festival.
White Cowbell Oklahoma's "Viva Live Locos" included their performance of FZ's 'Magic Fingers'.
Out on CD.

SNARKY PUPPY - TELL YOUR FRIENDS - REMIXED AND REMASTERED

• snarky puppy: tell your friends - remixed & remastered
      (2020, cd, usa, ground up)

 Album-wise, Snarky Puppy released "Live At The Albert Hall" and reissued "Tell Your Friends" in 2020.
Compared to the original 2010 edition, this reissue of "Tell Your Friends" includes three bonus tracks (but not the bonus DVD that came with the 2010 release).

Anyway, essential listening.
Great album.

DIE ÄRZTE - HELL

Earlier today, I received my vinyl copy of "Hell" by Die Ärzte.
Frank Zappa is mentioned in the lyrics of two of the songs, and according to some sources, 'Warum Spricht Niemand Über Gitarristen?' should include a reference to FZ's 'Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station'.
Reason enough to check it out.

The 2 LP set is part of a 12", album-sized hard cover book. Pretty heavy and quite impressive.
18 tracks. Nice. I like it.
'Warum Spricht Niemand Über Gitarristen?'  (Why Does Nobody Talk About Guitar Players?) sure takes inspiration from FZ.

If it actually includes a musical reference to 'Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station' isn't clear to me, but I do like the track.

 

UxSxO

I mentioned UxSxO earlier today as they recorded and released FZ's 'Easy Meat' on a split release with Dysrupter in 2016.

Since then, UxSxO has released two mini albums: "Sex Cauldron" and "Nilbog".
No FZ-links as far as I can tell, but quite funny, actually.
Both out on digipack CD.

THE RESIDENTS - BEAUTIFUL EYES

• the residents: beautiful eyes
      (2020, cd, austria, klanggalerie)

Released together with "Anganok", "Beautiful Eyes" also was a CD re-release of an album that was previously only available as a digital download.

RSD release in 2010. CD release in 2020.

Beautiful Eyes contains mostly previously released material, however, it does feature a handful of tracks which were previously unavailable

https://meettheresidents.fandom.com/wiki/Beautiful_Eyes

Another fine project by Klanggalerie.

THE RESIDENTS - ANGANOK

• the residents: anganok
      (2020, cd, austria, klanggalerie)

Originally released in 2009 as a digital download through RSD.

"Anganok was a mini opera written with San Francisco artist Spoonman in 1991. Pieces of it have been pilfered by The Residents for other uses, but the full recording with vocal has never been released. The opera was performed only a few times and was not recorded. This is an early rehearsal." (note from residents.com)

There were two tracks released on RSD, both called Anganok. The first one was 19 minutes long, the second one almost 13 minutes.
This CD presents 3 pieces : 21, 19 and 19 minutes long.

Here's more info : https://meettheresidents.fandom.com/wiki/Anganok

UxSxO & DYSRUPTER - ELECTRO-SEXO-CUTION

 

• UxSxO & dysrupter: electro-sexo-cution
      (2016, cd, usa, private release)

The "Electro-Sexo-Cution" mini album is a split released by UxSxO and Dysrupter, two heavy metal / trash metal / death metal bands.
The fun part is that UxSxO released their version of Frank Zappa's 'Easy Meat' on this disc.

Out on CD and also available as a digital download on Bandcamp.

A ROMANTIC GUIDE TO KING CRIMSON

from GlassOnyonPR

“A Romantic's Guide To King Crimson” by The Mastelottos Featuring Drum Legend Pat Mastelotto!

Valentine’s Day 2021 delivers an unexpected and welcome surprise with the release of “A Romantic’s Guide to King Crimson,” the new 12-track album of reinvented King Crimson material by the husband-and-wife duo Deborah and Pat Mastelotto. The collection, which spans the band’s entire history, revisits classics including “Matte Kudasai,” “Heartbeat,” “Moonchild,” “Elephant Talk,” “Peace,” “Exiles,” and “Sleepless.”

Pat Mastelotto is an American rock drummer and record producer who has worked with King Crimson, Mr. Mister, XTC, The Rembrandts and many others. Pat has served as one of King Crimson’s drummers from 1995 to the present day. This album resulted from Pat’s observations and Deborah’s insights made after she intermittently joined Pat on tour as part of the King Crimson entourage from 2008 onwards.

“It’s always been a joke in the King Crimson camp that there’s never a line for the women’s restrooms during intermissions,” said Deborah. “King Crimson plays loud and it’s often intense and raucous. But it can also be haunting and melodic, with some of the most beautiful lyrics ever. We wanted to help uncover that sweetness and introduce the songs to a different type of audience with ‘A Romantic’s Guide to King Crimson.’”

Digital download on Bandcamp but also released on a limited edition CD.

FRANK ZAPPA WOULD HAVE TURNED 80

FZ would have turned 80 last December.
It got him on the cover of this Italian jazz magazine :

on the cover of German Mint magazine :

And on the cover of French Jazz Magazine

DEEP IN THE DEEP - SNAKE EAR

 

• deep in the deep: snake ear
      (2000, cd, belgium, j.a.s.)

Belgian modern jazz from 20 years ago.
Featuring Bo Van Der Werf (sax), Otti Van Der Werf (bass), Antoine Prawerman (clarinet & compositions), Stéphane Galland (drums), Pierre Van Dormael (guitar) and Kris Defoort (piano).

Beautiful.

Here's a little snippet.
Check it out !

THE ARSONISTS - LOST IN THE FIRE

• the arsonists: lost in the fire
      (2018, 2cd, usa, private release) 

The Arsonists' "Lost In The Fire" album included 'Fat Laces', a track that kicks off with a Zappa sample from 'Po-Jama People' and that already got released in 1999 on the "Defenders Of The Underground" sampler...

VARIOUS ARTISTS - THE DEFENDERS OF THE UNDERWORLD

• various artists: defenders of the underworld
      (1999, 2lp, europe, jazz fudge)

The Jazz Fudge label released the  "Defenders Of The Underworld" sampler in 1999.
It actually was Volume 1 as the follow-up, "Volume 2" got released in 2000.

"Defenders Of The Underworld" got released as a 2 LP set and also on CD.
Track number 3 of side C,The Arsonists' 'Fat Laces', starts with a FZ sample.

WAILIN' WALKER - NO REGRETS VOLUME 1

• wailin' walker: no regrets volume 1
      (2014, cd, canada, private release)

Originally released on CD in 2014 and still available as a digital download: Canadian blues guitar player Wailin' Walker's "No Regrets" album.
It includes his version of Jeff Simmons & FZ's 'Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up'.

SILENSTVI - LIVE 1999

 

• silenstvi: live 1999
      (2020, cd, czech republic, guerilla records)

Milan Hlavsa's Silenstvi project recorded FZ's 'Trouble Every Day'.
Brand-new release on the Guerilla Records label.

Milan Hlavsa used to perform with Plastic People Of The Universe.

JUAN ZARPPA'S EXPERIENCE - TORTURA POPULAR

 

• juan zarppa's experience: tortura popular
      (2001, cd, spain, private release)

You might know Juan Zarppa's Experience from his contributions to the Unmatched series.
In 2001, Juan Zarppa had already released two FZ tunes on his "Tortura Popular" album:
'The Torture never Stops' and 'Tell Me You Love Me'.

Digital download available through Bandcamp.

 

• cabbagehead: age
      (2017, cd, usa, private release)

Cabbagehead recorded FZ's 'Pound For A Brown' and released it on their 2017 "Age" album.
Also available on Bandcamp.

JOHN MAILANDER - FORECAST

• john mailander: forecast
      (2019, cd, usa, private release)

John Mailander recorded FZ's 'Blessed Relief' and released it on his "Forecast" album.

Out on CD and LP.
Also on Bandcamp.

SCHIZOPHRENIC SPACERS COVER CAPTAIN BEEFHEART

The Schizophrenic Spacers recorded Captain Beefhearts's 'Harry Irene' for their "The COV Sessions" album.

ORANGE CLAW HAMMER, THE BAND

 
U.K.-based Orange Claw Hammer will be releasing their new album, "New Beef Dreams", in a couple of months.

Here's the previous one :

SCHERZOO - 5

Scherzoo.

I can't tell you much about this French quartet, except for the fact that they produce some sensational instrumental music.
Influenced by Avant-Prog, Zeuhl, RIO and the Canterbury scene.
The band just released their fifth album.
I love it.

ELTON DEAN - HYMNPROVISED

 
July 2020, a 20-minute improvised piece by (the late) Elton Dean, Paul Rogers and Mark Hewins got released on Bandcamp.

Improvised jazz.
Amazing.

DIE ÄRZTE

German band Die Ärzte mentions Frank Zappa in the lyrics of 'True Romance' and also in 'Morgens Pauken'.
From their recent "Hell" album.

True Romance :

Von meinem Alter Ego H.P. Baxxter
Und von Frank Zappa, diesem Saitenhexer
Die hör' ich dann gemeinsam mit Alexa

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year !
Wishing you a fine and healthy 2021.