Wednesday, January 31, 2024

ARF DOSSIER VOL. 118

  • the arf dossier vol.118
        (2023, fanzine, Germany, arf society)
The latest issue of the Arf Dossier presented:
  • The Hot Platters Heaven From The Arf Office
    (the MSRBL HRNSHNE booklet, the new Over-Nite Sensation box)
  • The Greenaway Essays
    (on Nervous Norvus)
  • The Fine But Unauthorized CD Kaleidoscope
    (Wisconsin '69 CD, Beat Club Live Sessions 1968 DVD)
  • Kosmische Brocken
    (screening data)
  • The Vinyl Bootleg Releases
    (Live Montreal 1971, The Young Sophisticate, King Biscuit Flower Hour)
  • The Rare Picture Gallery
  • News From Belgium - Live From United Mutations
    (by yours truly)
  • Back In Time
    (pictures from the 1979 Norway concert)
  • Ullis Ecke
    (with zappaeque insider news)

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

HAWKESTREL - PIONEERS OF SPACE

  • hawkestrel: pioneers of space
        (2020, cd, usa, purple pyramid)
Enjoying some more Hawkestrel.
This time, it's "Pioneers Of Space" that's delivering my current daily dose of psychedelic space rock.

Again, it's master mind Alan Davey and a long list of (amazing) guests.
  • Nik Turner - sax
  • Joel Vandroogenbroeck - flute
  • Paul Rudolph - guitar
  • Mick Slattery - guitar
  • Huw Lloyd-Langton - guitar
  • Mick Taylor - guitar
  • Todd Rundgren - guitar
  • Wayne Kramer - guitar
  • Simon House - violin
  • Lakshminarayana Shankar - violin
  • David Cross - violin-viola-cello
  • Ginger Baker - drums
  • Adam Hamilton - drums
  • Carmine Appice - drums
  • Bridget Wishart - vocals
  • Robert Calvert - vocals
  • Michael Moorcock - vocals
  • Gilli Smyth - vocals
  • Larry Wallis - vocals
  • Arthur Brown - vocals
  • Josie Davey - vocals
  • Wyatt Davey - vocals


A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Mari' by Eidon.


Monday, January 29, 2024

BENOIT DELBECK AND BART MARIS IN CONCERT IN GHENT OF THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY

 Benoit Delbeck (piano) and Bart Maris (trumpet),
performing at Citadelic at SMAK in Ghent, BE

February 1, 2024.
20h15

https://citadelic.be/


CHEER-ACCIDENT - HERE COMES THE SUNSET

  • cheer-accident: here comes the sunset
        (2022, cd, usa, skin graft records)
About a year ago, Cheer-Accident's "Here Comes The Sunset" was album of the day on Bandcamp Daily.
The album got a fine review :
https://daily.bandcamp.com/album-of-the-day/cheer-accident-here-comes-the-sunset-review

I was quite happy to give it a listen early this morning.
Quirky and without any restrictions, Cheer-Accidents delivered a very beautiful and varied album.
You definitely need to check it out.

Out on vinyl, CD and on Bandcamp.


DEAN BROWN

Bill Evans project with he late Dean Brown on guitar.
RIP Dean Brown,

-- info & link: Harald Häring

FRENCH TV - A GHASTLY STATE OF AFFAIRS

  • french tv: a ghastly state of affairs
        (2023, cd, usa, cuneiform)
American progressive rock / RIO (Rock In Opposition) band French TV has been around since the early eighties.
There are a lot of different line-ups in the band's history, with constant factor composer and bass player Mike Sary.

According to those who keep lists, "A Ghastly State Of Affairs" is their 16th album !
And it's nice listening.
Don't expect energetic excesses, but rather meandering melodies that are further explored.

Nice !


Sunday, January 28, 2024

YONDER POND

Remy Sträuli plays the drums for Fido Plays Zappa, one of the top Zappa tribute bands.
Remy recently released his second solo album.

Bandcamp says:
Yonder Pond is the brainchild of Swiss drummer Remy Sträuli. Gaining his chops in numerous bands from Basel, ranging from Avant-Jazz, Glam Punk, Zappa tribute, Psych and Power Pop he considered his 40th birthday to be the right time for his own solo project, which musically takes place in the wondrous world of Progressive Rock, his first love (along with The Beatles of course).

-


Saturday, January 27, 2024

I.P.A. - GRIMSTA

  • I.P.A.: Grimsta
        (2023, cd, usa, cuneiform)
Free jazz quintet I.P.A. recently released "Grimsta".
The ensemble features
  • Magnus Broo - trumpet
  • Atle Nymo - tenor sax-bass clarinet
  • Ingebrigt Håker—Flaten - bass
  • Håkon Mjåset Johansen - drums
  • Mattias Ståhl - vibes-soprano sax
which reads a bit as the who's who in the Scandinavian improvised jazz scene.

The band excels in combining beautiful melodies with energetic improvisations.
This is I.P.A.'s sixth release and their third on the Cuneiform label.

Recommended listening !



dEUS

Keeping my files up to date, I came across this 2 for 1 compilation CD of one of my favourite bands.

  • dEUS: Worst Case Scenario / In A Bar, Under The Sea
        (2017, 2cd, Belgium, universal music)
Re-release in Universal Music’s 2 for 1 series of the first two dEUS albums, originally released in 1994 and 1996.
“Worst Case Scenario” included ‘W.C.S. (First Draft)', a piece that sampled Frank Zappa’s ‘Little Umbrellas’.




PIERRE VERVLOESEM - GRAVITON

Pierre Vervloesem has just released "Graviton", an album he recorded with Teun Verbruggen on drums.

As always, you don't really know what to expect when Pierre releases a new album.
This time, Pierre explained:
my new album, without melody, without humor, and sonically different and superior,
on Bandcamp because I can do whatever the fuck I want!

I enjoyed listening to it.
I really like the fierce drumming against the drone soundscapes.

Check it out !

 

A NEW FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW ALBUM ANNOUNCED

Haven't seen the actual album but it's said to be released in January 2024.
Digipack,
County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, 23rd May 1975.

If I'm not mistaken, this recording was one of the first shows that I got when tape trading was still a thing...


THE WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND - A DOOR INSIDE YOUR MIND

  • the west coast pop art experimental band: a door inside your mind
        (2023, 4cd, UK, grapefruit records / cherry red records)
I probably mentioned this album a couple of times in the past, but as I finally bought a copy, I can now give you some additional details.
It's a beautiful little box with each of the 4 CDs a separate cardboard sleeve.

Subtitled “The Complete Reprise Recordings 1966-1968”, the “A Door Inside Your Mind” 4 CD box set includes mono and stereo mixes of the three albums The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band recorded for Reprise Records, plus one CD, “Underneath Butterfly Skies”, with outtakes, alternative versions and single edits.
As such, the set presented both the mono and stereo mix of “Part One”, the 1967 album that featured the band’s version of FZ’s ‘Help, I’m A Rock’, plus the single edit (on the disc with bonus material).

Yep, that's three versions of 'Help, I'm A Rock'.


ZOPP - DOMINION

  • zopp: dominion
        (2023, cd, UK, flat circle)
Zopp's second album.
Composed and performed by Ryan Stevenson, with Andrea Moneta on drums.

A well-balanced mix of jazz rock and canterbury jazz, with zappa-esque twists and turns.

I love it !!
Essential listening.

Friday, January 26, 2024

EVIL DICK & THE BANNED MEMBERS

Evil Dick is on a roll as this is his second release this month.
Archive material.
From 2018.


SNARKY PUPPY - - - THE GROUNDUP MUSIC FESTIVAL

GroundUP Music Festival will be streaming live from Miami Beach from February 2-4, exclusively on Volume.com.

Performing all three nights, Snarky Puppy will deliver full length sets along with a very special Family Dinner Set & Experience to kick off the weekend. Followed by an array of international stars, including Cuban legends Los Muñequitos de Matanzas and Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas, multi instrumentalist Nate Wood, and many more incredible artists.




GARY LUCAS & YASS BODY RELEASE AN EP

Gary Lucas / Yass Body: "Here Is The Ocean" 

Available as a 12" and as a CDEP.

https://myfunkyfriendmff.bandcamp.com/merch


Thursday, January 25, 2024

IKP - IKP

  • ikp: ikp
        (2023, cd, usa, cuneiform)
Itoken, Klimperei and Frank Pahl.
Well-known names in the world of DIY and improvised, experimental music and sounds.

On "IKP", Kenji Ito, Christophe Petchanatz and Frank Pahl collaborate in the most beautiful way.
According to the Bandcamp liner notes, their paths had crossed on different occasions, but the three of them had never worked together.

The result is mesmerizing.
A fascinating album.

Out on the Cuneiform label. Both on CD and as a digital streaming / download album.



FRESNO BOB - ESTIMATED PROPHETS

  • Fresno Bob: Estimated Prophets
        (2023, cd, Italy, the swamp records)
        (2023, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
Fresno Bob’s “Estimated Prophets (2023)” album included a piece entitled
“A Cynical Point Of View (Frank Zappa)’.

Bandcamp explained:
Fresno Bob is a solo project featuring a heavily distorted bass and dirty drums with voice samples taken from interviews with legendary outsiders.

The album was made available on CD, on cassette, and as a digital download / streaming album on Bandcamp.

A CYNICAL POINT OF VIEW (FRANK ZAPPA)
“I take a very simple point of view, i think that being cynical is a positive value, i think that nobody should trust anybody else, I think that all people are assholes until proven different and I think that if you take that point of view you ‘ll be disappointed less in life. Don’t expect friends, don’t expect fun, don’t expect a good life, don’t expect anything and if you get something is a bonus.”—"I think that lot of what I’m doing is space time reporting, I see something and I report what I’ve seen based on my point of view. My point of view is not a normal point of view and I tell people about what I see, they can agree with it, they can say is bullshit, however, I don’t care.”


ZOPP - ZOPP

  • zopp: zopp
        (2020, cd, uk, bad elephant music)
Recommended by both Mick and Danny, I'm happy to revisit Zopp, 
Zopp is Ryan Stevenson (on lots of different instruments) and Andrea Moneta (drums & percusiion), with guests Mike Benson (sax), The Travis (flute), Andy Tillison (keyboards), and Caroline Joy Clarke (vocals).

Zopp released three album with "Live At The Sumac Centre" being from about a month ago.
Their eponymous album was their first release. It's from 2020 and it's indeed great fun to listen to.

Ryan Stevenson is a composer for film and television but he's also the man behind Zopp.
Playful, progressive rock.

Recommended listening.

An interview with Ryan Stevenson, with loads of musical fragments :
Zopp started out as a Frank Zappa pastiche project


SPIRITS BURNING & BRIDGET WISHART - MAKE BELIEVE IT REAL

  • spirits burning & bridget wishart: make believe it real
        (2014, 2cd, uk, gonzo multimedia)
Don Falcone's Spirits Burning collective has released quite a number of albums already, with the 2014 "Make Believe It Real" being number eleven in their discography.

For "Make Believe It Real", Don Falcone teamed up (again) with Bridget Wishart, Hawkwind's vocalist from 1989 to 1991.
With an impressive list of guests, both Spirits Burning and Hawkwind fans will know what to expect.



UNCONVENTIONAL RESIDENTS III

The Klanggalerie record label has just released the third volume of Alieno de Bootes' "Unconventional Residents" series.

https://klanggalerie.com/gg466

 

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

JOO KRAUS - UNTIL NOW...

  • Joo Kraus: Until Now…
        (2016, 2cd, Germany, künstlerhafen)
“Until Now…” was a compilation album that presented various recordings that German trumpet player Joo Kraus had participated in.
It included Saxofourte’s version of Frank Zappa’s ‘Sofa’ from their 2004 “We Are Not Alone” album.

Joo Kraus :


SPIRITS BURNING - ALIEN INJECTION

  • spirits burning: alien injection
        (2008, cd, europe, black widow records)
"Alien Injection" was my first encounter with Don Falcone's "Spirits Burning" collective.

The Spirits Burning website (https://www.spiritsburning.com/) explains:

Spirits Burning celebrates space rock, progressive rock, new music, and other music.
Since 1998, Spirits Burning has brought together over 250 musicians (from the family trees of Blue Öyster Cult, Gong, Hawkwind, Van Der Graaf, and many, many more groups).
Musicians (such as Daevid Allen and Cyrille Verdeaux) have recorded parts in our home base in Northern California, while captain Don Falcone has also done remote recordings (such as flying to Austin to record Michael Moorcock).
Other crew members (such as Bridget Wishart and Albert Bouchard) have recorded their parts in their respective local studios. The result is an ongoing series of albums created by an incredible array of musicians.


"Alien Injection" got released on 2LP and on CD in 2008, but was made available on Bandcamp as well, more recently.



FRANK ZAPPA IN THE MAGAZINES

French Rock & Folk  magazine, February 2024

Good Times magazine, issue 187 (6/2023), December 2023

Shindig magazine, issue 145, November 2023

Jazz magazine, issue 766, December 2023


ANOTHER NEW PIECE BY EIDON - - - ELEVEN DAYS

Eidon has just released a new piece through Bandcamp.


Monday, January 22, 2024

NIK TURNER - THE FINAL FRONTIER

  • nik turner: the final frontier
        (2019, cd, --, purple pyramid records)
Here's another Hawkwind-related release.
Former Hawkwind sax and flute player, plus vocalist Nik Turner released "The Final Frontier" in 2019.
Released on CD, on vinyl, and made available through Bandcamp.

"The Final Frontier" is a bit sharper and has a bit more attitude than your average space rock album.
According to my pal Danny's files, this is Nik's 20th album !!

I like it !
Check out out.


ANTHONY JOSEPH LANMAN - SYNESTHESIAC

  • Anthony Joseph Lanman: Synesthesiac
        (2014, cd, USA, private release)
        (2014, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
Ten years ago, Bloomington, Indiana-based composer Anthony Joseph Lanman released his ‘Hommage à Frank Zappa’ on his “Synthesisiac” album, a collection of contemporary chamber music pieces.
It got released on CD and was made available through Bandcamp.

The vinyl versions (limited editions with original artwork by different artists) only included 5 tracks, omitting the Frank Zappa tribute.


DOC WÖR MIRRAN - EARLY STUFF

  • Doc Wör Mirran: Early Stuff
        (1994, cassette, Germany, masking tapes)
US / German duo Doc Wör Mirran released a tape on the Masking Tapes label in 1994 entitled “Early Stuff”. The cassette tape included material that had been recorded in the summer of 1981, even from before the band name was thought up.

The tape included their version of FZ’s ‘It Can’t Happen Here’.

Artwork by Joseph B. Raimond.
Released in a limited edition of 50 copies;

Here's another early release from Doc Wör Mirran :


SPACE RITUAL - OTHER WORLD

  • space ritual: otherworld
        (2007, cd, uk, esoteric recordings)
Space Ritual is another must-have release for fans of Hawkwind.
Not only has the band been named after a Hawkwind album, it also includes several former Hawkwind members (Nik Turner, Terry Ollis, Dave Anderson, Thomas Crimble and Mick Slattery), and the music is pretty amazing, to say the least.

Psychedelic space music, but in a perfect dosage.
Never too trippy or too far out.
This is an excellent release !
If you need a shot of psychedelic space rock, try Space Ritual !



Sunday, January 21, 2024

EVIL DICK

 Evil Dick has released a new album, with material he recorded in 1999.


CHROMIUM HAWK MACHINE - ANNUNAKI

  • chromium hawk machine: annunaki
        (2017, 2cd, usa, black widow records)
Black Hawk Machine released "Annunaki" in 2017.
The band featured Helios Creed (Chrome), Nik Turner (Hawkwind),  and Jay Tausig, with a band name that referred to their former projects.

"Annunaki" stands for the ancient Babylonian upper gods and that's exactly what one should expect: high-energy psychedelic space rock.



Saturday, January 20, 2024

IHSAHN

Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer Ihsahn might be best known for his work with metal band Emperor, but he also has a number of solo albums out.
His name might also ring a bell because of his link with Devin Townsend. Both of them have guested on each other's albums.

Here's the orchestral version of 'Pilgrimage To Oblivion':

The vocal version:

-- info: Harald Häring

WET ILLUMINATUS - 2023-03-09 JAM

The Wet Illuminatus "2023-03-09 Jam" release included a jam based on FZ's 'Muffin Man'.

 

JOSH RUDE - A ROCK SO BIG I CAIN'T

A little Zappa reference in the first track of Josh Rude's "A Rock So Big I Cain't" album.
Released last year.

 


HERMINE - LONELY AT THE TOP BIS

  • hermine: lonely at the top bis
        (2006, cd, UK, ltm)

Singer Hermine (Demoriane) released het “Lonely At The Top” album in 1984.
It included her version of Ray Collins’ ‘Anything’.

A remastered version of the album got released on CD as “Lonely At The Top Bis” in 2006, with 8 live bonus tracks.

I hadn't played the album in years and now I remembered why.
Fragile voice, to put it politely.


LES PROJECTIONNISTES - VUE

  • les projectionnistes: vue
        (2005, cd, Canada, rif rif)
Released in 2005, "Vue" was the second album by Les Projectionnistes.

The 12 tracks, all composed by band leader and trombone player Claude St-Jean, display a zappa-esque Wazoo vibe.
Beautiful !!

Out on CD, and through Bandcamp.
The Bandcamp page adds:

In the musical vignettes of Les Projectionnistes you will hear many divergent strains: St-Jean’s love of brass bands (as most clearly displayed in L’Orkestre des Pas Perdus) and film soundtracks (noir atmospheres and frenetic chase scenes included), but also modal jazz, Raymond Scott-styled eccentric cartoonishness, scorching Hendrixian guitar rock, avant-garde textures, tight funk horn riffing, some Hammond B3 flavors, a Latin tinge, and maybe even a bit of punk for good measure. But “Vue” is no random pastiche of sounds thrown together willy-nilly; rather, it’s another example of St-Jean’s ability to unite. Les Projectionnistes merge all of the aforementioned influences and more together into a unique and singular sound, one that seems utterly familiar because you have heard these stylistic antecedents before, but never combined together in quite the same way.


Friday, January 19, 2024

UNDERGROUND COMIC BOOK


I think I mentioned the French version of this excellent comic book somewhere last year.
And now, the good news is that an English version has been published as well.

UNDERGROUND - The Illustrated Bible of Cursed Rockers and High Priestesses of Sound
Paperback
2023
English edition by Arnaud Le Gouëfflec (Auteur) & Nicolas Moog (Illustrations)

-- info: Ad Hendrickx

NEW MUSIC BY EIDON

Eidon adds:
I'm writing a lot for jazz piano trio these days! This is one such piece: "Yuki". I love how piano and double bass dance together here. And, of course, I adore percussion, which fuels the dance with rhythm. "Let the dance begins!" ^_^ Here I'm particularly happy with the double bass part: I had it play slightly off key occasionally, and this creates a nice contrast with the "straight" piano (well, it's actually a grand XD)

 

SOFT MACHINE BOX SET ANNOUNCED, "HØVIKODDEN 1971"

a message from Cuneiform

Soft Machine - Høvikodden 1971 : 4 x vinyl lps in heavy slip case

The link to the Wayside shop:
http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Products/Soft-Machine-H%C3%B8vikodden-1971-4-x-vinyl-lps-in-heavy-slip-case-(due-to-size-and-weight-this-price-for-the-USA-only-Outside-of-the-USA-the-price-will-be-adjusted-as-needed)__Rune-spc-530-v.aspx

NOTE: There WILL be a four CD set of this show available for sale soon, if you prefer CDs.

NOTE: This is a preorder for this huge and beautiful set.

There are 200 COPIES to sell of this title in the USA.

People OUTSIDE OF THE USA should wait and order it from our European / Asian dealers because the postage outside of the USA will be atrocious.
  • Elton Dean: alto sax, saxello, Hohner pianet
  • Hugh Hopper: bass
  • Mike Ratledge: Hohner pianet, Lowrey Holiday Deluxe organ, Fender Rhodes
  • Robert Wyatt: drums, vocals
While the two sets from the second night (February 28, 1971) have been released before, this is the first time that the entire two-night stand has been released. So half of this is previously completely unreleased.


NEW ALBUM BY YIN YIN

Dutch band Yin Yin has a new album out.
It's their third one, "Mount Matsu".
East meets West in Maastricht, as the comment section in Bandcamp said.


STEVEN WILSON - ANOTHER WEEKENDER

  • steven wilson: another weekender
        (2019, cd, --, private release)
Apparently only available at Steven Wilson's concerts in 2019, this "Another Weekender" is a fabulous album.
I received a digital copy a little while ago and I had no choice but to add this CD to my want-list. It's just too good.

Three tracks, although the first track actually is one large (60 minutes) recording of six pieces that got performed in concert in 2013.
For the 2013 tracks (previously made available on CD as part of a VIP promo package), the line-up is unbelievable:
  • Theo Travis: trumpet
  • Nick Beggs: bass
  • Adam Holzmann: keyboards
  • Chad Wackerman: drums
  • Guthrie Govan: guitar
  • Steven Wilson: guitar, keyboards, vocals

I couldn't fine a date for the second track, but the final one got recorded in concert in 2016: David Bowie's 'Space Oddity'...

What an album...

Here's the first track !!


Wednesday, January 17, 2024

THE MOVING TONES - KING KONG

The Moving Tones performed a concert at the Téâtre Cité Du Refuge in Paris, France, on November 24, 2008.
The band featured Frank van der Kooij (sax), Michel Delville (guitar), Catherine Smet (keyboards), Benoît Moerlen (vibes), Guy Segers (bass) and Ivo Sans (drums).
Other pieces from this concert were released previously through Bandcamp.
Earlier today, the band’s version of FZ’s ‘King Kong’ was made available.

 

THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND - LIVE AT GEORGIA THEATER

  • the derek trucks band: live at georgia theatre
        (2004, 2cd, europe, columbia)
Jamband galore with The Derek Trucks Band.
From the first notes of 'Kam-Ma-Lay', Derek Trucks' slide guitar sets the tone.

The plentiful percussion of Yonrico Scott & Count Mbutu, the flute and keyboard of Kofi Burbridge, plus the bass of Todd Smallie deliver the perfect platform for Derek Trucks (guitar) and for Mike Mattison (vocals).

Love it.
If you're not familiar with the Derek Trucks Band, this might just be the perfect introduction.


KEVIN KASTNING & SOHEIL PEYGHAMBARI - THE SECOND REALM

  • Kevin Kastning & Soheil Peyghambari: The Second Realm
        (2024, cd, usa, greydisc records)
Kevin Kastning (contra- and subcontraguitar) and Soheil Peyhgambari (bass clarinet and Bb clarinet) have joined forces to bring us "The Second Realm". As the title suggest, this is their second release.

The album presents 6 tracks on which both artists communicate, search and go on a journey together, through their instruments.
The result is fascinating, emphasized by the beautiful sounds of the instruments.
Contemporary, dream-like soundscapes.


Out on the Greydisc Records label.
Recommended listening.


Tuesday, January 16, 2024

PAKT TO TOUR THE USA WEST COAST IN FEBRUARY

From GlassOnyon PR

Progressive Jam-Fusion Supergroup PAKT Featuring Brand X Bass Legend Percy Jones Heading To West Coast USA Tour To Promote New Album “No Steps Left to Trace”

PAKT, a true super group of master musicians merging & colliding new music in the realms of progressive rock, electric jazz, experimental, ambient, psychedelic and beyond, is an experience as much as a musical project. An IMAX film for the ears, PAKT takes its listeners on an improvised sonic voyage with no preconceived destination, minimal pre-planning and little use for forms and conventions. Rare is the musician who can thrive in such a spontaneous environment but Percy Jones (fretless bass guitar), Alex Skolnick (guitar), Kenny Grohowski (drums) and Tim Motzer (guitar and electronics) are all up to the task. Armed with enough tastefully used effects to stock a small music store, Motzer and Skolnick create sounds so atmospheric and ethereal that one might not guess their source is a guitar. Meanwhile, Grohowski and Jones approach their instruments in textural manners that seamlessly intertwine with each other and the quartet as a whole. The music runs the gamut from highly sensitive to intense, with all four musicians’ listening skills so strong that their collective playing is as cohesive as it is unpredictable. Welsh bassist Jones (now a New York resident) is known for his tenure in the legendary jazz fusion group Brand X (whose classic lineup included drummer Phil Collins, yes that one) and extensive studio work (especially with Brian Eno). Skolnick is a diverse improviser whose jazz and world playing and instrumental associations (including bass virtuosos Stuart Hamm and Michael Manring) forms a Jeckyll & Hyde dynamic with his high profile as lead guitarist of the metal band Testament. Grohowski's many recent associations include John Zorn, a reincarnated version of Brand X and masked avant-metal outfit, Imperial Triumphant. Motzer has a long background in free improvisation, including the bands Bandit65 (with fellow guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel) and Orion Tango, plus many other recorded collaborations for his 1k Recordings label.


 
Before this album, all of PAKT’s releases had been taken from live performances. This studio session took place during the band’s East Coast tour in December, 2021. Primed from several successful shows in Upstate New York (including musician Daryll Hall’s thriving venue in Pawling, NY, Daryl’s House), the band took the day off in the Catskills Mountains, where they tracked live at NRS Studios. NRS is located in the home of musician/recording engineer Scott Petito, whose studio has hosted such luminaries John Scofield, Chick Corea and James Taylor. The PAKT musicians set up in a circle, all in the same room and performed, just as they would at a live concert. This began in the late morning and continued past dusk. By day’s end, they had accumulated a bunch of material—quite a nice document of where the band was musically back in 2021.

Tim Motzer, who produced this recording as well as providing artwork, says the following: “One of the things we all realized is that this band isn't going backward...it may be fueled by what we've done in the past, but really it’s a forward-evolving band composing in-the-moment, finding new language, and discovering our music as we go along. It's in that feeling that the title, ‘No Steps Left To Trace’, came to me because our music is a continuum, and more like a journey or an experience. We are, in a sense, tunneling or boring through the musical abstract toward and through to the ‘other side’.” Skolnick adds “From the moment we did our first performance together, it was clear that this project had a special chemistry that doesn’t happen all that often. The fact that we found this chemistry in our favorite Brooklyn venue, called Shape Shifter Lab, is fitting. It being the height of the 2020 Pandemic, that first show was streamed, with no audience present. Our first studio album ‘No Steps Left to Trace’, is a return to us just playing to each other, only this time, we have a number of live shows and touring under our belt, recorded in a high-quality studio. It’s a great document of PAKT in 2021.”

Live, of course, they have an audience that takes the ride with them. It is a real shared experience in that regard. Motzer curated five such journeys for the Live CD, one from Buffalo, three from NYC (Nublu), and one from Philadelphia. Adding the live album to the double release shows the growth and evolving chemistry in PAKT from the 2021 studio recording to the newer live recordings in 2023. It's a nice contrast with a lot of great interplay and listening happening from all the players. It also makes the album an excellent introduction to the band’s music for anyone new to it, as well as a fine addition to their discography.

PAKT
with
PERCY JONES - bass
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums
TIM MOTZER - guitars, electronics

“PAKT recalls the fearless attitude and daring approach that originally defined progressive music: where the magic of the moment always triumphed over preconception. Templates be damned ... this music blazes its own path! This is truly exquisite fare, serving as a reminder to aficionados of what initially drew them to this most creative, visionary of genres.”

WEST COAST TOUR DATES
  • Feb 01 - Seattle, WA (Funhouse)
  • Feb 02 - Portland, OR (Alberta Abbey)
  • Feb 03 - Eugene, OR (WOW Hall)
  • Feb 04 - Redding, CA (The Dip)
  • Feb 06 - TBA
  • Feb 08 - Mill Valley, CA (Sweetwater Music Hall)
  • Feb 09 - Fresno, CA (Fulton 55)
  • Feb 10 - Los Angeles, CA (Baked Potato, 2 shows)
  • Feb 11 - Los Angeles, CA (Baked Potato, 2 shows)
  • Feb 12 - Costa Mesa, CA (Wayfarer)
  • Feb 13 - Phoenix, AZ (The Rhythm Room)
To purchase PAKT “No Steps Left to Trace” (2CD, 2LP, 24bit Download):
https://pakt-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/no-steps-left-to-trace


UNCLE MEAT

Another copy of the Japanese version of "Uncle Meat" turned up for sale on ebay recently.
Or, at this price, probably got offered again.

It's the Japanese vinyl version that came with an obi that had the size of the entire album cover. Don't know if one would still call that an obi, but I hope that you know what I mean.


WILD CHILD

"Wild Child - Girlhoods In The Counterculture",
a book by Chelsea Cain,
from 1999,
foreword by Moon Zappa


THE WRECKING CREW

Wikipedia has an interesting article on The Wrecking Crew.
Check out your copy of "Freak Out" to find the matching names.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_(music)

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

MATTEO MANCUSO & JONAS HELLBORG

Matteo Mancuso & Jonas Hellborg - Sept. 22nd 2023

Live at Guitar Summit


 

Monday, January 15, 2024

JELLE VAN GIEL

Drummer, composer and band leader Jelle Van Giel has just released "Close Distance", a 4 track EP.

Contemporary jazz.

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve


THE RESIDENTS' SECRET SHOW CD/DVD ANNOUNCED FOR FEBRUARY 16 RELEASE

The Residents' "Secret Show - Live In San Francisco - Faceless Forever" has been announced for a February 16 release.

CD/DVD package, but also out on vinyl (2LP set) !


Sunday, January 14, 2024

NEW ALBUM BY KRAAN

German krautrock / jazz / fusion band Kraan's latest release is called "Zoup".
It's hard to imagine that these guys formed the band in 1970 !

Here's a snippet.


GENTLE GIANT'S "THE MISSING PIECE" REMIXED BY STEVEN WILSON

Producer and musician Steven Wilson has remixed Gentle Giant's 1977 "The Missing Piece" album.
The remix is issued in a CD/blu-ray package that will present Dolby Atmos, stereo and 5.1 surround sound remixes as well as an instrumental mix and the original 1977 stereo mix.

Here's 'I Lost My Head' :


CHANAN HANSPAL TALKS TO STEVE VAI ABOUT FLEX-ABLE AND PASSION AND WARFARE

In this interview legendary guitarist Steve Vai talks about the inspiration for his first solo album Flex-Able and the steep learning curve he experienced during the recording and mixing process. Vai also shares with us how he prepared for his follow up album years later, "Passion and Warfare", and how its success took him by surprise and set the path for a brilliant and illustrious career.


VOLTO! - INCITARE

  • volto!: incitare
        (2013, cd, usa, fantasy)
Heavy prog band Volto! released "Incitare" about ten years ago.
Cover artwork by Rick Griffin (of Zap Comics fame).
I received a digital copy of the album a little while ago and I'm extremely happy with it.

Volto! featured Lance Morrison on bass, Danny Carey (of Tool fame) on drums, John Ziegler on guitar, and Jeff Babko on keyboards.
And these guys rock.

Instrumental prog rock. Quite heavy at times but also a bit spacy. I love it !!
As far as I know, "Incitare" was Volto!'s only album.

Released on CD worldwide and as a (limited) 2LP set in the US.

Check it out !!


DJ SHADOW - ACTION ADVENTURE

  • dj shadow: action adventure
        (2023, cd, usa, mass appeal)
In the late ninetees, DJ Shadow collaboratied with DJ James Lavelle. The duo was called UNKLE and sampled FZ's 'Apostrophe' on their "Psyence Fiction" album.
We're 25 years later now, and DJ Shadow has released about 10 albums since that time.

His latest release, "Action Adventure", is all about beats and breaks.
Personally, I would have preferred it to be a bit more adventurous or maybe that's just the expectations I got when I saw the album cover.


COPELAND, KING, COSMA& BELEW - GIZMODROME LIVE

  • copeland, king, cosma & belew: gizmodrome live
        (2021, 2cd, eur, ear music)
In 2017, Stewart Copeland, Mark King, Vittorio Cosma and Adrian Belew recorded and released an album as Gizmodrome.

The quartet toured with the project and released "Gizmodrome Live" in 2021.
Incredible songs, experienced top-notch musicians, and superb vocals.
A supergroup indeed.

I only picked up my copy of "Gizmodrome Live" a couple of weeks ago and I've been playing it quite a lot since.
The perfect mix of pop / rock / progressive rock.



Saturday, January 13, 2024

CLASSICAL ZAPPA

The Zappa dot com website lists a handful of classical performances

  • 01/27/2024
    SAN FRANCISCO CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PLAYERS
    RE:VISITATIONS
    SAN FRANCISCO

    https://www.bandsintown.com/e/105024844?

    San Francisco Contemporary Music Players perform "The Perfect Stranger" (1984) at Hume Hall.

  • 02/03/2024
    CONTEMPORARY DIRECTIONS ENSEMBLE
    AT MCINTOSH THEATRE
    ANN ARBOR

    https://www.bandsintown.com/e/105024940?

    The U-M Contemporary Directions Ensemble pays tribute to rock and roll through works by Zappa. 
    • THE DOG BREATH VARIATIONS / UNCLE MEAT (aka DOG/ME) for Chamber Orchestra
    • G-SPOT TORNADO
    • BE-BOP TANGO (Chamber Orchestra Version)

  • 03/28/2024
    OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
    CORVALLIS

    Oregon State University performing THE DOG BREATH VARIATIONS for wind ensemble and rock band.

  • 04/19/2024
    UTAH SYMPHONY
    SALT LAKE CITY

  • 04/20/2024
  • UTAH SYMPHONY

    https://utahsymphony.org/event/id/30696/

    • STEVE MACKEY: “Turn the Key”
    • ARR. JOE GORE & DAVID ROBERTSON: Falling Through Time: Music from the 1300s
    • (April 19) JAMES MOORE: Sleep is Shattered for Electric Guitar and Orchestra
    • (April 20) STEVE MACKEY: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra
    • ARR. LEO BROUWER: Beatlerianas (From Yesterday to Penny Lane)
    • RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez
    • ZAPPA: G-Spot Tornado


ICH BIN WALLOU

French band Ich Bin Wallou has a brand-new video clip out.
It shows that Frank Zappa's spirit is still very much alive.

'La Vie Des Bêtes'.

And be sure to check out this clip from two years ago:

'MA CHATTE (is prettier than your fucking face)'

Both tracks from their fabulous "La Vie Des Bêtes" album.


J. M. SMIG - FEAR BULLSHIT AND TENDERNESS (THE NU JAZZ ARRANGEMENT)

J. M. Smig has been Working on an alternate arrangement of 'Fear Bullshit and Tenderness'. 
The Nu Jazz arrangement is up on Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/sophischizo/fear-bullshit-and-tenderness-nu-jazz-arrangement-demo?


THE MOTHERS & ROLAND KIRK

I'm listening to the Mothers' 1969 Boston Globe Jazz Festival concert again.
With special guest Roland Kirk !
It's pretty amazing that this recording popped up last year.

Also on Zappateers:

https://zappateers.com/torrents/4797


LAMP OF THE UNIVERSE - KALEIDOSCOPE MIND

  • lamp of the universe: kaleidoscope mind
        (2023, cd, --, sound effect records)
I had never heard of Lamp Of The Universe, so I was happy to give "Kaleidoscope Mind" a try.

The Bandcamp page adds:
New Zealand Multi-instrumentalist and Psychedelic guru Craig Williamson returns with an album of classic Lamp of Universe tunes. Full of artifacts from the original era, including Mellotron, fuzz guitar, Sitar, swirling effects and trippy vocal harmonies, this album touches the Psychedelic Psoul.

I was afraid that this would be too trippy for my taste, but I couldn't be more wrong.
This is perfect for a Saturday morning (or any other relaxing moment of the day).

My pal Danny added that this is Lamp Of The Universe's 13th album. He'll probably also say that I should be ashamed that I wasn't familiar with Lamp Of The Universe...


Thursday, January 11, 2024

BASH - LIVE AT CLUB 7 1973

  • Bash: Live At Club 7 1973
        (2023, lp, Finland, jazzagression records)
The Finnish Jazzagression Records label has just released a concert recording by Norwegian band Bash, recorded in concert in Oslo, at the ‘Club 7’ in 1973.
The setlist (and the LP) included ‘Anything’, written by Ray Collins (and attributed to Ray Collins & Frank Zappa on the album).

I'm only aware of one other cover version of 'Anything'. (by Hermine on the 'Lonely On The Top' album, from 1984).

The LP got released on 180 g vinyl in a limited edition of 250 (hand-stamped and numbered) copies.
Bash had only released one 7”. In 1971.

A fine 8-minute (!!) tribute to the early music of The Mothers Of Invention.


HAWKESTREL - THE FUTURE IS US

  • hawkestrel: the future is us
        (2019, cd, US, purple pyramid)

Hawkestrel is another Hawkwind related project.
It got initiated by the Purple Pyramid record label when they asked Alan Davey to start the project with various ex-members of Hawkwind (and other guests).

"The Future Is Us" was the first release by Hawkestrel.

  1. Do What You Need To Do
    - feat. Alan Davey & Simon House
  2. World For Fear
    - feat. Nik Turner & Paul Rudolph
  3. Sea Of Sand
    - feat. Bridget Wishart & Ginger Baker
  4. Nyx Of Khaos
    - feat. Ginger Baker & Mick Slattery
  5. The Future Is Us
    - feat. Nik Turner, Ginger Baker & Paul Rudolph
  6. Sonic Attack
    - feat. William Shatner
  7. 12 String Shuffle
    - feat. Ginger Baker & Huw Lloyd-Langton
  8. May Sun
    - feat. Nigel Potter, Ginger Baker & Simon House
  9. Goodbye Death Valley
    - feat. Paul Rudolph
  10. Free Like Us
    - feat. Bridget Wishart
  11. Old Dinah
    - feat. Kevin M Sommers, Ginger Baker & Mick Slattery
  12. Hawkestrel
    - feat. Alan Davey
  13. Bad Boys For Life
    - feat Lemmy (2019 AD Version)
Nice.
Very nice.


DOC WÖR MIRRAN - FRESSING HEADS

  • doc wör mirran: fressing heads
        (1994, cd, germany, musical tragedies)
Bernard H. Worrick and Joseph B. Raimond moved from San Francisco to Nürnberg, Germany, in 1982.
Their DWM project was to combine music, graphic art, paintings, sculpture, poetry and any other artform. 

The liner notes of Doc Wör Mirran’s “Fressing Heads” album said:
“This recording is dedicated to Frank Zappa”.

Released on CD in 1994 by the Musical Tragedies record label.

Two years ago, Doc Wör Mirran could be heard on the "Songs For Nambia" 12", a recording they shared with The Residents !


Wednesday, January 10, 2024

NEW ALBUM BY MARK WINGFIELD

The MoonJune Records label will be releasing Mark Wingfield's new album, "The Gathering", on March 15, 2024.
The album will feature Gary Husband, Asaf Sirkis, Tony Levin & Percy Jones.


ARISTOCRATS NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

A message from The Aristocrats :

Our new album “DUCK” is available for pre-order at: 

https://linktr.ee/AristocratsBand

Drops February 16. And the first new Aristocrats studio track in nearly five years is here! 

Check out the visualizer video for “Hey, Where’s MY Drink Package?”, the kickoff cut.


NEW ALBUM BY STUDIO DAN

From the Studio Dan newsletter:

New CD
As part of our first concert on January 26th, 2024, we will not only be playing the premiere of Julia Purgina's piece Hydra, we will also be releasing the CD of the same name with other pieces by the composer from our ranks. In the past few years we have recorded Hydra (2022), games (2020) and 5pm Istanbul (2012) and are now presenting them on our in-house label records & other stuff.

«To this day, developing pieces with Studio Dan means that I don't write them entirely alone, but that they can be created together through improvisation. The composition is only finished when everyone has contributed to it. That was the case with the first piece that I was allowed to write for Studio Dan (Dog Food) and is also the case with the three pieces that can be heard on this record: 5pm Istanbul, games and Hydra» (Julia Purgina)

The CD is out on January 26th available at MuTh at an exclusive price and then in our virtual grocery store https://records-and-other-stuff.at.

https://studiodan.at/shop/


3/4 PEACE - RAINY DAYS ON THE COMMON LAND

  • 3/4 peace: rainy days on the common land
        (2015, cd, belgium, el negocito)
Second release by the 3/4 Peace trio, featuring Belgian saxophone and flute player Ben Sluijs together with Belgian-Peruvian pianist Christian Mendoza and the French bassist Brice Soniano.

Contemporary jazz.

Beautiful.
Recommended listening.



HAWKLORDS - SPACE

  • hawklords: space
        (2023, cd, uk, hawklords)
An offshoot of  space-rock band Hawkwind, The Hawklords recently released "Space".
9 tracks an lots of fun.

The band featured Jerry Richards (guitar, vocals) and Mr. Dibs (bass, vocals), who both were part of Hawkwind at a certain moment in time, and Dave Pearce (drums).


Tuesday, January 9, 2024

NEW MUSIC BY ROBBIE SEAHAG MANGANO ON BANDCAMP

That's right. New music by Robbie Seahag Mangano on Bandcamp !
'I'm So Mad'.

With Adam Minkoff on lead vocals !

 

Monday, January 8, 2024

JEAN-LUC PONTY GUESTS ON THE NEW ALBUM BY BRIAN TARQUIN

The new album by Brian Tarquin & his Heavy Friends will feature Jean-Luc Ponty on one track.


01 “Behind the Iron Curtain” w/ Chris Poland
02 “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes” w/ Jean-Luc Ponty
03 “Common Valor” w/ Larry McCray
04 “Faith & Hope” w/ Steve Morse & John Tropea
05 “The Gates of Valhalla” w/ Eric Johnson & Dean Brown
06 “La Sierre Del Norte” w/ Carl Verheyen
07 “Quiet Desperation” w/ Robben Ford
08 “A Soldier’s Journey” w/ Steve Kindler & Budapest Symphony Orchestra
09 “These Colors Don’t Run” w/ Steve Morse & Phil Naro


Saturday, January 6, 2024

PATRICK O'HEARN - SLOW TIME

  • patrick o'hearn: slow time
        (2006, cd, USA, private release)
Thirty years. It has been thirty years since Frank Zappa passed away.
Since then, quite a few artists have recorded a tribute to FZ.
So did Patrick O'Hearn, on his "Slow Time" album.
The first track on the disc was entitled ‘Music For Three Vibraphones’.
The liner notes mentioned:
“Track 1, Music For Three Vibraphones, is dedicated to the memory of my early mentor Frank Zappa, American Composer, 1940 – 1993. I miss you.”

I like the music that Patrick O'Hearn makes as a solo artist and 'Music For Three Vibraphones' is a fascinating piece.
In my list, "Slow Time" was his 15th release.