Sunday, August 22, 2021

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WOULD YOU LIKE A SNACK ?

Cordelia Records did it again !
"Would You Like A Snack?" is another fine tribute to the music of Frank Zappa.
Compiled by Andrew Greenaway and released by Alan Jenkins on his Cordelia Records label, the album celebrates the 50th anniversary of FZ's "200 Motels" with contributions of artists that were to appear at the 2021 edition of the Moo-Ah Festival.
I love it.

The album kicks off with a couple of amazing performances!!
The Fraz Knapp's Fusion Project produced a fabulous mash-up of 'Overture', 'She Painted Up Her Face', 'Half A Dozen Provocative Squats', 'What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning', 'Magic Fingers' and 'This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich';
Mike Kidson does an amazing thing with toys, performing 'Mystery Roach';
Z.E.R.O.'s rendition of 'What's The Name Of Your Group' is my favourite track (at least for today), with Juliana Brandon on vocals. Instant goosebumps.
Occasional band Johnny Hawk & The Pavement Oysters add 'Would You Like A Snack?': perfect whistling by Andrew G., and superb backing by Treacherous Cretins' Sam Ward & John Parkinson, and Z.E.R.O.'s Kevin Crosby.
Burger & The Beast contributed a laid-back version of 'Lonesome Cowboy Burt'.
Aunty Owl (Helen Tate & Graham Davis) deliver a short and impressive experimental / psychedelic version of  'Dew On The Newts We Got '/ 'Little Green Scratchy Sweaters & Courduroy Ponce' / 'A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes' / 'Lucy's Seduction Of A Bored Violinist & Postlude'.

Next up is Hakan Tuna with a medley of 'She Painted Up Her Face' / 'Janet's Big Dance Number' / 'Half A Dozen Provocative Squats'. Impressive but unfortunately a bit shaky in the vocal part.
The album continues with Valentina Ciardelli's version of 'Mysterioso'. Great !!

The London Zappa Collective brings a live version of 'Shove It Right In' to the "Would You Like A Snack?" collection. If I'm not mistaken, I was at the Moo-Ah edition where this got recorded. I remember finding their performance a bit sloppy. This recording confirms that I was right.
Aunty Owl returns with a rather dissonant version of 'Lucy's Seduction Of A Bored Violinisit'.

The next track is another highlight: Treacherous Cretins with their fine recording of 'What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning'.
And again, Aunty Owl. This time with 'A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes'. Nice.

The pace is picked up again with Turbulator's percussive version of 'Magic Fingers'. This is great!!
The album goes into the final section with Dan Spanner's great version of 'Daddy, Daddy, Daddy'. With the horns supplying a doo-wop backing.
Hans Annéllsson & Mats Öberg (and Pia Aprea on vocals!!) are next up with the Zappa-approved translated version of 'Penis Dimension'. Previously released by Hans Annéllson in 2005.
Aunty Owl continue with the experimental 'Little Green Scratchy Sweaters' and then it's up to Fred Händl to add a solo piano version of 'Strictly Genteel'. Nice. Very nice.
The end, as it should be, is reserved for the Muffin Men with their 'Squats Medley'.

In all, another beautiful Zappa-related release and a fine tribute to FZ's "200 Motels".
Available from Cordelia Records
http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/Buy%20Records.html


 

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