DATA ON THE NEW FIDO ALBUM

Fido will be releasing their new album on LP and on CD.
Another tribute to the music of Frank Zappa.
Recorded during their 2023 tour, it  features Robert Martin on sax, keyboards and vocals.
It is scheduled to be out in May.

Check out that track list ! 

R.I.P. DAVE

My passion for music has created friendships for life.
Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to some friends way too soon.

Luuk (who passed away a couple of years ago) & Dave (who left us earlier this week).
Next to the FZ statue in Bad Doberan.

Rest in Peace.

THE MESSTHETICS

The Messthetics is an instrumental trio formed by former Fugazi members bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty with guitarist Anthony Pirog

-- info: Danny Mathys

BONDAGE FRUIT - VII

• bondage fruit: VII
      (2024, cd, japan, maboroshi no sekai)

The package from Italy that brought me the latest Bondage Fruit album, arrived earlier today.
Quite fast as I had only ordered it two days ago.

I had gotten a bit of an impression from YouTube, but I had deliberately kept that to a minimum as I wanted to focus on the album when it arrived.

Beautiful, long compositions. Very varied and starring the guitar, violin and vibraphone.

Love it !

STEVE STEVENS - BILLY SHERWOOD - DARKEST HOUR

 from GlassOnyon PR

As longtime guitarist and co-writer for the powerhouse rock hitmaker Billy Idol, Steve Stevens is widely celebrated as a master of composing forceful, electrifying rock melodies that balance their intensity with an undeniable mainstream appeal. It’s that melodic sensibility matched with an impressive technical mastery that has made Stevens one of the most sought after collaborators in music today. Recently, Stevens accepted an invitation to contribute to the new album from The Prog Collective and the result is one of the purest expressions of Stevens’s creativity ever captured.

For the uninitiated, The Prog Collective, founded and helmed by producer/multi-instrumentalist and famed bassist for Yes Billy Sherwood, has united some of the finest musicians of rock, jazz, metal, pop and everything in between since its founding in 2012. The group’s newest studio effort, entitled Dark Encounters, takes a deliberate turn toward a more brooding and melancholic musical path, filled with haunting ambience and eerie melodic passages. All of this makes Stevens the perfect partner for an exploration into the darker side of prog rock. Check out the album’s first single and the album’s leadoff track, “Darkest Hour,” which is released today on all music platforms.

GRAVEHUFFER

Gravehuffer combined cover versions of FZ’s 'Inca Roads' with Black Sabbath's 'Children Of The Grave' and released it on Bandcamp in 2022.
The track got added as a bonus on their brand-new 2024 “Mile High Live” album.

"Mile High Live" is already out on Bandcamp, and will be released on CD in March !!

 

SNAKEFINGER REISSUE ON THE KLANGGALERIE LABEL

Klanggalerie already reissued Snakefinger's "Chewing Hides The Sound" (his collaboration with The Residents) in 2016.
They're re-releasing it again, but this time as a 2CD set, with lots of bonus stuff.

https://www.klanggalerie.com/gg220-2

BONDAGE FRUIT

Tokyo, Japan-based progressive rock band Bondage Fruit has a new album out, aptly entitled "VII".
Exiting new in my world as their previous album got released in 2005.

Music composed by guitarist Kido Natsuki.

FRANK ZAPPA - UNDER THE COVERS

• frank zappa: under the covers
      (2019, cd, --, leftfield media)

"Under The Covers", subtitled "The Songs He Didn't Write", is quite a mix of tunes.
Old doo-wop classics (my favorites !), next to inspirations of the moment, next to coincidences.

The CD got issued in 2019 and there's also an LP version that got released in 2020.

A 'radio show' album release.

01. Bacon Fat (A.Williams, D.Brown)

02. Bolero (Maurice Ravel)

03. No, No Cherry (L. Caesar, J. Gray) 

04. Baby Love (B.Holland, L.Dozier, E.Holland) 

05. Nite Owl (T. Allen) 

06. Those Lonely Lonely Nights (E.King, J.Vincent) 

07. The Girl From Ipanema (A.C.Jobim, V.De Moraes) 

08. I Am The Walrus (J.Lennon, P.McCartney) 

09. Ride Like The Wind (C.Cross) 

10. Happy Together (Garry Bonner, Alan Gordon) 

11. Stranded In The Jungle (Johnson, Smith) 

12. Jungle Boogie (Thomas, Brown, Mickens, Bell) 

13. Stairway To Heaven (J.Page, R.Plant)

14. Murder By Numbers (A.Summers, G.Sumner)

15. Little Girl Of Mine (M. Levy, H. Cox) 

16. The Closer You Are (E.Lewis, M.Robinson) 

17. Ol’ 55 (T.Waits)

18. Octandre (E.Varèse) 

19. This Is My Story (G.Forrest, E.Levy) 

20. Blue Suede Shoes (Perkins) / Hound Dog (Leiber, Stoller) 

21. Agon (I.Stravinsky) 

22. Louie Louie (R.Berry) 

23. Hang On Sloopy (Farrell, Russel)

PIERRE VERVLOESEM - SAUCERS

• pierre vervloesem: saucers
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

I don't know how Pierre does it.
"Saucers" is yet another amazing release.

It's part three of his trilogy about the universe.
This time, it's all about flying saucers, but that's just the vehicle to some extraordinary compositions.

Mysteriously, adding eastern sounds, the album kicks off with 'Roskovec', a place in Albania where numerous famous UFO sightings took place. And the travel and musical influences continue as a lot of the track names are linked to Unidentified Flying Objects from all over the world.

Featuring Pierre on musical madness, plus Teun Verbruggen on drums.
(and there's even a shout out to Claude Vorilhon, the French UFO guru who currently lives in a villa by the sea in Japan.)

STICK MEN - 2024 02 22 WOODLANDS TAVERN - COLUMBUS - OHIO

• stick men: 2024-02-22 woodlands tavern, columbus, oh
      (2024, download, --, bandcamp)

The Stick Men release recordings of their concerts on a regular basis.
Their latest one, "2024-02-22 Woodlands Tavern, Columbus, OH", is a matrix recording and it sounds great.
Check it out !

• Tony Levin: Chapman Stick, Voice
• Markus Reuter: Touch Guitars® U8, Live Looping
• Pat Mastelotto: Drums, Loops, Samples
• Robert Frazza: F.O.H. engineer

MEYTAL COHEN

Meytal Cohen covers / drums Tool's '46 & 2".
Pretty cool.

Great setting as well.
From the YouTube comment section : 
Imagine busting a hike through the great outdoors and all of a sudden you hear the drum track from 46 and 2 echoing through the valley.

-- info: Harald Häring

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING - KING CRIMSON AT 50

I watched the "In The Court Of The Crimson King" documentary this morning.
It's from 2022 but I hadn't seen it before.

It's not a real music documentary as such, but it lets you peak inside the head of Robert Fripp (and some of the other musicians).
Captivating.

 

KLANGGALERIE ANNOUNCES A NEW HARDY FOX RELEASE

The Residents are an American art collective best known for their over 60 studio albums that were recorded over a period of over forty years. They also created some outstanding multimedia works, mainly three CD ROM projects and more than ten DVDs. Charles Bock was a pseudonym that Hardy Fox, co-founder and primary composer for the group, used from 2012 to 2017. About a dozen albums were released using that name until Fox started using his real name for his solo recordings.

"GOD O" was the opening music for a Homer Flynn art exhibition in Oakland, CA (April-June 2011). This track was originally released in March 2012 as a download MP3 file only and later as a small run CD by The Cryptic Corporation. In addition, three reworked tracks were released as download only.

Klanggalerie are now collecting these songs together with a new version of God Damn Chickens that is half an hour long and was most likely created by Hardy in 2017.This double CD has been carefully remastered and uses both the original CD design as well as new artwork created by Hardy Fox. Full tracklist: Disc 1: 1. God Damn Chickens 2. Nada Dago's Eye 3. Spring Song 4. GOD O Disc 2: 1. GDC New 2. Goshdern Checkens 3. Nada Dago 4. Spring Song.

https://www.klanggalerie.com/gg480

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is making video recordings available of their concerts.

a message from KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
Summer 2023 Videos

It was one of the hottest tours of 2023 and we're stoked to announce that 13 shows from King Gizzard's US Residency are coming to our on-demand video catalog! Night one from the Caverns is available to watch now in 4K, with more from Tennessee, Red Rocks, The Salt Shed and Remlinger Farms coming in the next month. Sign up for a free 7-day trial now to access the official King Gizzard video and audio catalog, and be sure to catch KGLW on their massive world-wide tour that kicks off in March.

https://www.nugs.net/king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-concerts-live-downloads-in-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming-1/

MIX MASTER MIKE "BANGZILLA "UPDATE

The Australian CD edition (2004) of Mix Master Mike's "Bangzilla" (Scratch 001) had "Beastie's DJ" printed on the album cover. 
This was no longer present on other editions (Scratch 002) of the album.
(This is indeed the stuff that I find interesting.)

-

The Japanese edition (2005) had a completely different album cover.

All versions included the track 'Bangzilla' on which Mix Master Mike sampled some Frank Zappa.

TU-NER FOR LOVERS

A message from 7D Media

7D Media is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of "Tu-Ner for Lovers," a new CD from the ensemble of Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter, and Trey Gunn. Scheduled for release on May 3rd, this album is a prelude to the much-anticipated US Tu-Ner tour in May.

"Tu-Ner for Lovers" is taken from their live shows in 2023. It weaves together an immersive audioscape that blends the churning rhythms of Mastelotto, the dripping touch guitar layers of Reuter, and the seductive Warr Guitar of Gunn.

• TREY GUNN - Warr guitar
• PAT MASTELOTTO - drums, electronics
• MARKUS REUTER - touch guitar

Pre-order now at Bandcamp :

• May 9 - Phoenix, AZ (The Rhythm Room)
• May 10 - San Marcos, CA (The Bornemann Theater)
• May 11 - Los Angeles, CA (The Baked Potato)
• May 12 - Los Angeles, CA (The Baked Potato)
• May 14 - Mill Valley, CA (Sweetwater Hall)
• May 15 - San Jose, CA (The Ritz)
• May 16 - Stockton, CA (Haggin Museum)
• May 17 - Redding, CA (The Dip)
• May 18 - Arcata, CA (Arcata Playhouse)
• May 19 - Bend, OR (Volcanic Pub Theater)
• May 20 - Eugene, OR (WOW Hall)
• May 22 - Portland, OR (Alberta Abbey)
• May 23 - Seattle, WA (Triple Door)
• May 26 - Vancouver, BC (Rickshaw Theater)

ZAPPOSTROPHE 151 ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH / APRIL

The next issue of the Czech Frank Zappa Fanzine is scheduled for March / April 2024.

Bohous added: It will be my tribute to Cal Schenkel.

ZAPPRAP, THE LATEST ZAPPA TRIBUTE ALBUM ON THE CORDELIA RECORDS LABEL

A video for the latest track by The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra from the new ZappRap CD;
Compiled and overseen by Andrew (the Idiot Bastard),
Released on Cordelia records...

http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/Buy%20Records.html

https://www.zappanews.co.uk/product

J.M.SMIG - TWELVE-TONE ALCHEMY

• j.m.smig: twelve-tone alchemy
      (2024, download, --, bandcamp)

I'm revisiting J.M.Smig's "Twelve-Tone Alchemy in the Hall Of Corruptible Saints And Masters" while I'm typing this.

This is nice.
Check it out !
Contemporary sounds and soundscapes.

FRANK ZAPPA - THE RARE TAPES BROADCAST

While working on some sort of overview of the Frank Zappa radio show albums, I came across the CD version of "The Rare Tapes Broadcast", an album I hadn't mentioned previously.

So here we go:
"The Rare Tapes Broadcast", presenting concert outtakes from several 1973 concerts, also known as the "un-concert" recording.
The ntieth release of this concert.

• Frank Zappa: The Rare Tapes Broadcast
      (2016, cd, --, hobo 013)

SPIRITS BURNING & BRIDGET WISHART - EARTH BORN

• spirits burning & bridget wishart: earth born
      (2008, cd, UK, voiceprint)

I recently mentioned the "Make Believe It Real" album,  a collaboration by Spirits Burning and Bridget Wishart. "Make Believe It Real", from 2014, actually was the second album that they recorded together. The first one was the 2008 "Earth Born".

Spirits Burning is Don Falcone's project. Lots of musicians from the space rock world contributed to Spirits Burning. Among others, next to Don Falcone and Bridget Wishart, "Earth Born" featured Daevid Allen.

Psychedelic and spacy !

Here's 'Ace Of Spades', not released on the "Earth Born" album, but on a 2008 sampler entitled "Sheep In Wolves' Clothing'.

SNARKY PUPPY RECORD STORE DAY RELEASE

Oops, looks like a missed one in the lists.
There's also a Snarky Puppy album scheduled for RSD 2024.

Snarky Puppy - Live At Band On The Wall

THE QUESTIONNAIRE TALKED TO EIDON VEDA

https://www.thequestionnaire.fr/2024/02/eidon-veda.html

 

PERFECT SOUNDS FOREVER DID AN INTERVIEW WITH LEONARDO 'MOONJUNE RECORDS' PAVKOVIC

In two parts.
Click for part two at the bottom of the first part.

https://www.furious.com/perfect/moonjune.html

 

NEW RELEASE BY DMYTRO RADZETSKYI

Dmytro Radzetskyi
'Ukraine On Fire'

ANDREAS SCHAERER

Andreas Schaerer:

What a great pleasure to be on tour with Kalle Kalima and Tim Lefebvre. I am very happy that some live moments of our tour have been captured. Over the next few weeks we will be releasing some videos of our concerts. Today we start with a live recording of our premiere at last year's Jazzfestival Saalfelden. The track «Song yet untitled» from our new album Evolution is now available on YouTube.

 

THE ARISTOCRATS - DUCK

• the aristocrats: duck deluxe
      (2024, cd+usb, usa, boing bm000130)

The brand-new album by The Aristocrats comes in different packages.
The "Duck Deluxe" version is issued as a box and includes the CD and a USB stick (plus a laminated card and a lanyard).

Guthrie Govan, Bryan Beller and Marco Minnemann .
Guitar - bass - drums
An instrumental progressive rock power trio, with the emphasis on power.
Outstanding musicians and beautiful compositions.
Album artwork by Lance Myers !

I love it.

Here's 'Sgt.Rockhopper' :

If you want to go for a physical copy, you can order it locally :
https://linktr.ee/aristocratsband

 

SUN RA RECORD STORE DAY RELEASES

Record Store Day 2024 will see the release of three new Sun Ra albums.

They sure look pretty.

MIX MASTER MIKE

Mix Master Mike is in the house !!
Well, not really, but his "Bangzilla" CD arrived so I just must tell everyone how much I'm enjoying this album.

As I said earlier, there's a couple of Frank Zappa references to be found in the third track, coincidentally also called 'Bangzilla', but the entire album is lots of fun to listen to.

Here's the opener, 'Trigger Man' :

BLANCK ZAPPATH - "DANCE ME THIS ZAPPANALE"

• blanck zappath: "dance me this zapanale"
      (2023, cd-promo, Germany, private release)

The Zappanale pre-party takes place in Bad Doberan, one day prior to the start of the festival.
It's the date when everybody's arriving in Bad Doberan, so it coincides with pleasant reunions and refreshing conversations.

It's always a lot of fun and there are always a couple of bands that will lift the experience to a higher level.
Blanck Zappath is a band from around Stralsund, performing alternative versions of the music of Frank Zappa and Black Sabbath.
The band recently issued a promotional CD that presents their July 13, 2023 concert from the Zappanale pre-party.

Great !!

Here's an audience recording of 'Latex Solar Beef' & 'Willie The Pimp'.
The actual album, however, is the soundboard recording !!

GIRL IN SPORTSCAR - NEON NAPKINS

Girl In Sportscar reworked Frank Zappa's 'Black Napkins'.

 

THE RESIDENTS RSD 2024

The bad news is that The Residents had to cancel their upcoming UK tour due to lack of ticket sales.

The good news is that there will be another RSD release : "Leftovers Again? Again?"

Here it is! Volume 2, following on from the hugely popular 2021 original, LEFTOVERS AGAIN!? AGAIN!?!?! features a treasure-trove of exclusive and completely unreleased material spanning the fan favourite years 1977-1985

Including previously unknown alternate versions of the classics ‘Hello Skinny’, ‘Semolina’, ‘Santa Dog ’78’ and ‘Diskomo’.

Also featuring a side of lost Mole Trilogy era material. Released on highly unusual black vinyl.

GIORGIO LIBERA - WHAT'S ALL THIS NOISE FOR ?

• giorgio libera: what's all this noise for?
      (2004, cd, --, private release)

I bought Giorgio Libera's "What's All This Noise For?" after reading about it in (an older issue of) the Arf Fanzine.
I can't tell you much about Giorgio Libera except for the fact that he's an amazing multi-instrumentalist and composer.

Zappa-esque, featuring Rémy Sträuli on the drums, and including a couple of Beatles tunes. Sounds like a perfect mix to me.

This is an album that really gets me in a good mood !!

Check it out !

Zappa inspired...

Two Beatles classics...

An actual video clip

FRANK ZAPPA - LIVE AT THE PALLADIUM NEW YORK 1977

Released both on CD and on LP in 2017.
"Live At The Palladium New York 1977".

It's the famous "King Biscuit Flower Hour" broadcast.
It's one of the better radio show albums, out on the Keyhole label.
I gave the CD another spin this morning.

LOWELL GEORGE RSD 2024

Lowell George's "Thanks I’ll Eat It Here" is getting a 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

To be released on RSD 2024.

Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the cult classic solo album from Little Feat founder Lowell George. Released weeks before his untimely death in 1979, this exclusive Record Store Day reissue Includes the original album cut from the original master tapes and a bonus album including previously unreleased alternate versions and outtakes from the recording sessions plus liner notes from the George family.

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART RSD 2024

Captain Beefheart's "Spotlight Kid" is getting an RSD 2024 release :

MARBIN TOURDATES

A message from Marbin :

Only a week until tour begins and I hope to see y'all at one of our upcoming shows this month! Even if you can't make it please let your friends know when/where we're playing or even better, buy them a ticket. Our shows are never more than $20 and it's really quite an experience even for people that don't traditionally listen to fusion.

• Feb 25, 2024 Chicago, IL
• Feb 26, 2024 Milwaukee, WI
• Mar 01, 2024 Louisville, KY
• Mar 02, 2024 Atlanta, GA
• Mar 03, 2024 Columbus, GA
• Mar 04, 2024 St. Augustine, FL
• Mar 05, 2024 Gulfport, FL
• Mar 13, 2024 St. Cloud, FL

BERND BLICKENSDORFF - ZAPPZARAPP

A friend sent me a copy of Bernd Blickensdorff's "ZappZarapp", a project that Bernd finished earlier this year.
The CDR presented ‘Ein Musikalischen Mosaik In Vier Sätzen”, a suite in four pieces in which Bernd reassembled and rearranged the music of several contemporary composers (mostly F.Zappa, but also E.Varese, H.Eisler, G.Bizet, H.Naumikat, and I.Stravinsky).

A very interesting home-made project

• 1. Satz – Auf Dem Markt
   - incl. fragments of - Peaches En Regalia - Let’s Make The Water Turn Black - Oh No
• 2. Satz – Auspacken
   - incl. fragments of - Baby, Take Your Teeth Out - Sharleena
• 3. Satz – Aufteilung Und Erholung
   - incl. fragments of - Hungry Freaks, Daddy - Twenty Small Cigars - I’m The Slime - Mr. Green Genes - Watermelon In Easter Hay
• 4. Satz – Erinnerungen
   - incl. fragments of - Transylvania Boogie - Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar - Uncle Meat - Brown Shoes Don’t Make It

FRANK ZAPPA - ZOOT ALORS !

• frank zappa: zoot alors !
      (2017, 4cd, --, coda cplcd248)

According to discogs, this 4 CD set recently got a re-issue on the same label and with the same reference number, but in an altered packaging that now says: "Limited Edition 4 CD set" on the front cover.

Anyway, this 4 CD set presents selected material from concerts : 

disc one = 1981/11/17 the ritz, nyc

disc two = 1975/04/26 providence college, rhode island

disc three = 1980/05/25 ahoy, rotterdam, nl

disc four = tv rarities = 1978/10/13 Passaic + the Saturday Night tracks

A nice set, although my copy has errors on tracks 9 & 10 of disc 4...

It's a radio show release. Unofficial and unauthorised, but not illegal.

 

STEVE VAI - STILLNESS IN MOTION - VAI LIVE IN L.A. - DELUXE

I got up quite early this morning.
The perfect time to enjoy a Steve Vai concert.

"Stillness In Motion", originally released in 2015 on CD and on DVD, got a blu-ray re-release in 2019.
I couldn't resist, so the blu-ray package arrived a couple of days ago.

from "Stillness In Motion" : 'Frank', Steve's beautiful tribute to FZ.

VARIJASHREE VENUGOPAL

This is nice.
Soon to be released on the GroundUp music label,

Varijashree Venugopal's upcoming "Vari" album.

Here's 'Ranjani' :

STICK MEN TOURDATES

Stick Men tourdates

Feb 16 - Natick, MA (The Center For Arts Natick)

Feb 18 - Old Saybrook, CT (The Kate)
Feb 20 - Rochester, NY (Lovin Cup)
Feb 21 - Cleveland, OH (The Beachland Ballroom)
Feb 22 - Columbus, OH (The Woodland Tavern)
Feb 23 - Pittsburgh, PA (This is Red)
Feb 24 - Allentown, PA (Egner Memorial Chapel at Muhlenberg College)
Feb 26 - Raleigh, NC (Lincoln Theater)
Feb 28 - Ashville, NC (The Grey Eagle)
Feb 29 - Nashville, TN (3rd and Lindsley)
March 1 - Chattanooga, TN (Barrelhouse Ballroom)
March 2 - Athens, GA (Live Wire)
March 5 - Jacksonville, FL (Underbelly)
March 6 - St. Petersburg, FL (Cage Brewing)
March 8/13 - Miami FL, Jamaica, Grand Cayman (Cruise to the Edge)

LIMITED CD SET BY MARBIN

Marbin has just released a limited (100 copies !) 3 cd set entitled

"Radio Shreddin' Party"

https://marbinmusic.myshopify.com/products/copy-of-dirty-horse-cd

CHESTER THOMPSON

Renowned drummer/percussionist Chester Thompson (Genesis / Weather Report / Zappa /...) presents an album of sizzling Fusion and Jazz Funk highlighting his peerless ability and compositional ambition.

Out on CD, limited numbered blue vinyl and numbered black vinyl (both in gatefold sleeve).

-- info: Danny Mathys

JODY AND THE CREAMS - LORDS OF THE GROMET CANNING FACTORY

• jody and the creams: lords of the gromet canning factory
      (1998, cd, uk, pink lemon records) 

Alan Jenkins, Blodwyn P. Teabag, Ariadne Metal-Cream Pie, Johnny Lemon and Sherree Lawrence are / were Jody and the Creams.
With most of the music written by Alan Jenkins, one never knows what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Two very long pieces (about twenty minutes each) and 18 shorter snippets.

It reminds me a bit about the early Mothers.
"Lords Of The Gromet Canning Factory" does not disappoint !

JEAN-LUC PONTY

The BGO record label is re-issuing a remastered version of "The Gift Of Time", "Storytelling" and "Tchokola" in one 2 CD package.

RSD 2024 - FRANK ZAPPA FOR PRESIDENT

Released in 2016 in CD format only, the "Zappa For President" compilation album will see its first vinyl release as part of RSD 2024
Splatter vinyl (White, Red and Blue) and remastered from the original tapes.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - PREEMPTIVE HYPE VOL 4.5

• various artists: preemptive hype vol. 4.5
      (2004, cd, USA, hiphopsite records)

This little CD hit my mailbox yesterday.
Cardboard cover, hip hop compilation, with MF Doom on the album cover artwork ! Nice.

I bought it because it includes Mix Master Mike's 'Bangzilla', a piece with a couple of FZ references, but I enjoyed the entire album, y'all  :-)

Enhanced content features Wale Oyejid's 'This Is Dedicated', feat. MF Doom.

THE ALMOST THREE - BIG MUFF

 

• The Almost Three: Big Muff
      (2012, cd, Germany, private release)

This album was on my want list for quite a while. And then, as it sometimes happens, I found several copies for sale on-line at the same time.
Anyway, this German funk trio released a handful of albums between 2012 and 2020 and they sound great.
Their "Big Muff" album got released a bit over ten years ago, and it includes a beautiful version of FZ's 'Sleep Dirt'.
At first, it sounds a bit out of place between all the other tracks, but it's a superb version.

The entire album is fun to listen to.
A fine discovery.

https://almostthree.de/

 

NEW ALBUM BY J.M. SMIG

J.M. Smig collected his latest pieces in one album : "Twelve-Tone Alchemy in the Hall of Corruptible Saints and Masters"

You can check it out here :

 

MARK LETTIERI & METROPOLE ORKEST

Mark Lettierie (of Snarky Puppy fame), will do a concert with the Metropole Orkest as part of the Bridge Guitar Festival in Eindhoven on June 2, 2024.

The Mark Lettieri Group :

 

ONE WEEK OF FRANK ZAPPA IN FIRENZE, ITALY

 One week of FZ in Firenze,

with an expo, the presentation of the "Zappa Il Fumetto" book, and more.

at LA MINERVINA & PRIVÉ (accanto alla sede ACSI) - Via della Fornace 9 - FIRENZE

MIX MASTER MIKE - BANGZILLA

• mix master mike: bangzilla
      (2004, cd, USA, scratch records)

Mix Master Mike (real name Michael Schwartz) sampled ‘I’m The Slime’ (That’s Right Folks, Don’t Touch That Dial), and ‘Zomby Woof’ (Just About As Evil As You Could Be) in ‘Dangzilla’, the third track on the album with the same name.
I really like these kind of references, and this one is just great.

 

The very same Mix Master Mike would contribute to the 2010 Frank Zappa Birthday Bundle (with Ahmet Zappa) !!

DWEEZIL ZAPPA

From the VRT radio show:
"Dweezil Zappa pays tribute to his father by remixing Deep Purple' 'Smoke On The Water'. Available in the box set that'll be out at the end of March."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtmax/luister/radio/c/classic-stories~11-74/classic-stories~11-25961-0/

It's in Flemish, but they tell the story of 'Smoke On The Water' & play the Dweezil remixed version.

KINGA GLYK

Live at the Leverkusener Jazztage, 2023

• Kinga Głyk - bass
• Pawel Tomaszewski - keyboards
• Michat Jakubczak - keyboards
• Hailey Niswanger - saxophone, aerophone
• Greg Clark Jr. - drums

With the Frankfurt Radio Big Band

 

ZAPPED

Zapped, Chato Segerer's latest musical project will be doing a concert at the Jazzstudio in Nürnberg, Germany, on April 24, 2024.

https://www.jazzstudio.de/

Chato added:

My new band is called ZAPPED and it's kinda the sequel to my former band CHATO!

Major changes:
- we have mallets instead of keyboards
- the focus of our material is approx. 50% Zappa + 50% original compositions

• Chato Segerer: guitar, composer, arranger, occasional vocals
• Linus Ansky: saxophone, occasional vocals
• Alex Gregarek: vibes, optional marimba
• Aaron Wanitschek: bass
• Johannes Noderer: drums

LES PROJECTIONNISTES

The last couple of years, trombone player and composer Claude St-Jean has released several recordings / albums by Les Projectionnistes, his adventurous Canadian funky brass ensemble, through Bandcamp.

Check it out !
And if you like it, you should also try L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus !!

Camera Obscura

Brik à Brak

Splash à Ste Thérèse

Festival Des Musiques De Création 2004

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ZAPPARAP

The best news that I heard all week, comes from the UK.
Andrew Greenaway compiled another Zappa tribute for Cordelia Records !!

In celebration of 50 years of hip-hop, Ol' Idiot Bastard helps answer Frank's 40 year old question "Does Humour Belong In Music?" with ZappaRap, a new compilation of Zappa covers. Featuring Robert Martin, Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie, Craig 'Twister' Steward, Ben Watson, The Notorious A.G. and many more."

Available from Andrew's and from Cordelia's webshop:

01. Ziggy Pop: You Are What You Is
02. The Squirrels: Ms. Pinky
03. Palina & Chato Project: Dumb All Over
04. The Totally Amazing Graham Davis Band feat. Beelzeben Watson: Titties & Beer
05. Ninjas Without Attitude: Nig Biz
06. Z.E.R.O. feat. Robert Martin: Teen-age Wind
07. 50 Pence feat. Lil' Heli Tataj: Yo' Mama
08. Fuchsprellen: Dog Breath (In The Year Of The 808)
09. The Vegetarians The Torture Never Stops
10. Fred Händl feat. Mark Watson & Craig 'Twister' Steward: Stink-Foot

https://www.zappanews.co.uk/product/zapparap

http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/Buy%20Records.html

DWARF TONES

Dwarf Tones = Fred Händl & Mark Watson

And they have just released a track on Bandcamp :

TAYLOR EIGSTI

GroundUp artist Taylor Eigsti !

Taylor Eigsti - piano
Maya Kronfeld - rhodes
Oscar Seaton Jr. - drums
David Ginyard - bass
Charles Altura - guitar

CIRCULINE

From GlassOnyon PR

Prog Ensemble Circuline Releases Official Video For “Tempus Horribilis”

Prog ensemble Circuline’s 2024 “C.O.R.E.” Virtual Tour began Friday, January 12th, 2024, and will consist of 57 events in 48 weeks, with Single releases, Lyric videos, Official videos, “Behind the Scenes” videos, and Livestream Q&A events where the band is able to connect with their fans around the world.

Says keyboardist Andrew Colyer, “With this international virtual tour, we have two goals: 1.) We want to get our music exposed to as many people as possible, to continue to grow our fan base worldwide. 2.) We want to deepen our relationships with the fans who are the most passionate. Releasing singles, lyric videos, and Official Videos accomplishes the first goal, and by doing these in-depth, ‘Behind the Scenes’ videos, we accomplish the second goal. Packaging everything together into a single 12-month celebration of the new album will hopefully capture more attention for future opportunities for live performing and touring, with this fantastic new lineup. For this first Official Video for “Tempus Horribilis” since it’s the lead single off the album, we really wanted to present ourselves in a new way, as a reinvigorated band, with new members and a new sound. We simply wanted people to see who we have evolved into. Producing this cinematic performance music video was the best thing that we could think of, so that fans, industry professionals, booking agents, and festival promoters could see us in a new light.”

Says Andrew about the new video, “I had worked with Don Chaffin of DCity Productions twice before, with the progressive metal band Awaken. Don and his team are amazing, so I knew that they would do a great job of capturing our personalities, as well as the intensity of our music, and translate that with the editing into something cinematic that we could be proud of. We got the entire band here for a week in August 2023, and shot six Official Music Videos in five days! For this particular video, we chose to shoot outside in an industrial area, and it was super hot and sunny in the middle of the afternoon, and right when we were filming and sweating it out, a big storm appeared, with tons of wind and clouds, and we thought that nature was going to overtake us! Luckily it created a really dramatic background to go with the song and the music. The rest of the videos for this 2024 CORE Virtual Tour are being produced in other creative ways. We’ve had so much fun creating all of the videos for this Virtual Tour - we’ve been ‘on location; in train stations, on rivers, in parking lots, and on soundstage studios. This has been a lot of work, and a ton of fun! We hope the fans enjoy it. Please watch the videos, like, and comment! We want to hear from you - what do you think? If you like it, please share across your own social platforms. We hope to see you on the Livestream Q&A calls!”

Six years in the making, Circuline’s new album “C.O.R.E.”, released on the Inner Nova Music label on Friday, September 20th, 2024, will be available as an album of eight tracks available in a gatefold digipak CD, with an eight-page booklet of lyrics and liner notes. The album explores themes in romantic relationships, surviving abuse, finding one’s own personal power, and the turbulent times in which we live.

Circuline has a new lineup, with new band members Shelby Logan Warne (Kyros) on bass and vocals, and Dave Bainbridge on guitars (Strawbs, IONA, Lifesigns). Guest Artist Joe Deninzon (Kansas, Stratospheerius) on electric violin. Keyboardist/vocalist Andrew Colyer (Robert Berry’s 3.2 Band, The Tubes), drummer Darin Brannon (Downing Grey, Surface Tension), and lead vocalist Natalie Brown (Evita, Rocky Horror Picture Show) complete the band’s lineup.

Number #1 in Portugal. Top 10 in Japan. Prog-Award Nominated. Global Music Award Winning. With sales in 23 countries, Circuline’s fan base is growing daily. The band has toured with Glass Hammer, repeatedly co-headlined the three-day Sonic Voyage Festival, and toured England opening for IO Earth. Circuline has performed at the International Rites of Spring festival (RoSfest), Philadelphia's Liberty Music Fest, Chicago’s Progtoberfest, New Jersey’s ProgStock, and England’s Harmonix Festival.

CORE Virtual Tour Dates:
Friday, February 9th - Song #1 - Official Video
Friday, February 16th - Song #1 - Behind the Official Video
Sunday, February 18th - Song #1 - Livestream Q&A
Friday, February 23rd - Song #2 - Single Release
Friday, March 1st - Song #2 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, March 8th - Song #2 - Lyric Video
Friday, March 15th - Song #2 - Story Behind the Song
Friday, March 22nd - Song #2 - Official Video
Friday, March 29th - Song #2 - Behind the Official Video
Saturday, March 30th - Song #2 - Livestream Q&A (Sunday is Easter)
Friday, April 5th - Song #3 - Single Release
Friday, April 12th - Song #3 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, April 19th - Song #3 - Lyric Video
Friday, April 26th - Song #3 - Story Behind the Song
Friday, May 3rd - Song #3 - Official Video
Friday, May 10th - Song #3 - Behind the Official Video
Saturday, May 11th - Song #3 - Livestream Q&A (Sunday is Mother’s Day)
Friday, May 17th - Song #4 - Single Release
Friday, May 24th - Song #4 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, May 31st - Song #4 - Lyric Video
Friday, June 7th - Song #4 - Story Behind the Song
Friday, June 14th - Song #4 - Official Video
Friday, June 21st - Song #4 - Behind the Official Video
Sunday, June 23rd - Song #4 - Livestream Q&A
Friday, June 28th - Song #5 - Single Release
Friday, July 5th - Song #5 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, July 12th - Song #5 - Lyric Video
Friday, July 19th - Song #5- Story Behind the Song
Friday, July 26th - Song #5 - Official Video
Friday, August 2nd - Song #5 - Behind the Official Video
Sunday, August 4th - Song #5 - Livestream Q&A
Friday, August 9th - Song #6 - Single Release
Friday, August 16th - Song #6 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, August 23rd - Song #6 - Lyric Video
Friday, August 30th - Song #6 - Story Behind the Song
Friday, September 6th - Song #6 - Official Video
Friday, September 13 - Song #6 - Behind the Official Video
Sunday, September 15th - Song #6 - Livestream Q&A
Friday, September 20th - Album Release Day!
Friday, September 20th - Song #7 - Single Release
Saturday, September 21st - Album Release Livestream
Friday, September 27th - Song #7 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, October 4th - Song #7 - Lyric Video
Friday, October 11th - Song #7 - Story Behind the Song
Friday, October 18th - Song #7 - Official Video
Friday, October 25th - Song #7 - Behind the Official Video
Sunday, October 27th - Song #7 - Livestream Q&A
Friday, November 1st - Song #8 - Single Release
Friday, November 8th - Song #8 - Gear Behind the Music
Friday, November 15th - Song #8 - Lyric Video
Friday, November 22nd - Song #8 - Story Behind the Song
Friday, November 29th - Song #8 - Official Video
Friday, December 6th - Song #8 - Behind the Official Video
Sunday, December 8th - Song #8 - Livestream Q&A



To purchase: www.CirculineCORE.com

ADRIAN BELEW INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE - - - "ON THE RECORD"

--info: Harald Häring

FRANK ZAPPA - LIVE IN EL PASO 1975

• frank zappa: live in el paso 1975
      (2024, 2cd, --, timeline tln2cd3081)

Another radio show release on the Timeline label.

Zappateers info:

1975 05 23 - County Coliseum, El Paso, TX
90 min, SBD, A
With Jimmy Carl Black on guest vocals (*)

Improvisations, Apostrophe, Stinkfoot, I'm Not Satisfied, Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy, Velvet Sunrise, A Pound For A Brown, You're So Fine*, Lonely Lonely Nights*, Debra Kadabra, Montana, improvisations (incl. The Hook, q: Hall Of The Mountain King), Advance Romance, Florentine Pogen

It's not bad, but I'm guessing better quality copies of this recording should exist. I'd have to dive into the Zappateers recordings to find out.
And it's too bad that Jimmy Carl Black's guest appearance is not his best performance...

JONAS LINDEBERG - IN FOCUS

• Jonas Lindeborg: In Focus
      (2024, streaming, --, spotify)

Jonas Lindeborg’s recordings of FZ’s ‘The Black Page’ got released as a single through Spotify in 2022.
Both tracks would get re-released on Lindeborg’s ““Fanfares And Fuckoffs” EP, also on Spotify, and on iTunes as part of the “European Gramophone Subversive Hits” compilation album.

Last month, both pieces got released on Lindeborg’s “In Focus” album.

• The Black Page I
• The Black Page II

NI TOUR DATES

From the Dur & Doux newsletter

01.02 Ni – Le Gorille (GAP – FR)
02.02 NI – Bistro des Tilleuls (ANNECY – FR)
03.02 NI – Ebullition (BULLE – CH)
26.02 NI – Wurlitzer Ballroom (MADRID – ES)
27.02 NI – Plug In The Gear (BENICARLO – ES)
28.02 NI – Ateneu Popular 9 Barris (BARCELONA – ES)
29.02 NI – 16 TOLEDONES (VALENCIA – ES)

The same Dur & Doux newsletter also mentioned an upcoming PoiL concert

08.02 PoiL UEDA – AUDITORIUM (CHALON SUR SAÔNE – FR)

BOB LIND - SINCE THERE WERE CIRCLES

Bob Lind's "Since There Were Circles" featured Carol Kaye on bass, Paul Humphrey on drums, and James E. Bond on bass. They all worked with FZ.
The album also features Bernie Leadon (The Eagles). 

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

LOS CABALLEROS DEL AMOR HERMOSO

From the ashes of Caballero Reynaldo arises, by pure chance, a new project between Luis González, Manoel Macía and Román García (also responsible for Los Visionarios) in which they collect original songs from the Reynaldo songbook and pass them through a filter of exquisite and turgid pop with the classic components of a lifelong pop band (vocals, guitars, bass and drums) to make them new and dazzling. Sophisticated arrangements and fast-paced rhythms with classic pop lyrics: love, vanity, social criticism, raw realism, brutal skepticism, surrealism and hate. In 2022 they released the first volume (Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) and in 2024 the second (El Misterio de la Santísima Trinidad), exclusive studio works for pre-apocalyptic times.

El Misterio de la Sant​í​sima Trinidad

by Los Caballeros del Amor Hermoso

DEEP PURPLE REMIX BY DWEEZIL ZAPPA

From Consequence.net

https://consequence.net/2024/02/deep-purple-super-deluxe-machine-head-new-mix-smoke-on-the-water

Deep Purple have announced a “Super Deluxe Edition” of their classic 1972 album Machine Head, featuring new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes by Dweezil Zappa.

1 LP / 3 CD / 1 blu-ray box

To be released on 29/03/2024

A ZAPPANALE UPDATE

Steffen and Klaus announced the following bands for Zappanale in their ZappaTime radio show on Rockradio.de

• Dutch ensemble Fuse (they'll also be in Hamburg) with Napoleon Murphy Brock
• Gong
• Birth Control
• Pygmy Twylyte
• The Miserablen HuSos
• Yuval Ron
• The David Cross Band
• The Jeff Hollie Quartet (Jeff Hollie, Fred Händl, Armin Beck, Kevin Crosby)
• Inventionis Mater (maybe with Napoleon Murphy Brock)
• Cats And Breakkies (from Berlin)
• Fused Trio (from Vilnius)
• Frank Out! with Napoleon Murphy Brock

ANOTHER SUN RA RE-ISSUE

SUN RA & HIS OUTER SPACE ARKESTRA
A Fireside Chat With Lucifer (reissue)
Modern Harmonic US
sulfur yellow vinyl LP !!

FRANK ZAPPA'S MUSIC IS MORE ALIVE THAN EVER

OK, so maybe that's a bit of a bold statement, but just have a look at the upcoming concerts list over at Andrew's over at https://www.zappanews.co.uk/diary.

And don't forget to check https://www.zappanews.co.uk, with the latest on Dweezil's upcoming tour in August.

But, as I was saying, check this out :

Pygmy Twylyte are touring the UK,
The Banned From Utopia is performing at The Baked Potato and going to Northern Europe after that.
One Shot Deal is doing another couple of gigs,
Treacherous Cretins will be doing concerts in the UK with special guest Robert Martin shortly after Robert's concerts with the BFU,
And that's only the next couple of months...

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NIK TURNER - SPACE FUSION ODYSSEY

• nik turner: space fusion odyssey
      (2015, cd, USA, purple pyramid)

Nik Turner released "Space Fusion Odyssey" in 2015.
On vinyl (6 tracks) and on CD / digital download (with 4 additional tracks.

I received a digital copy of the album and I quite enjoyed listening to it.
I fact, I'm listening to it right now (again).

Space rock, but with the emphasis on the rock (and jazz) part.
Nik refers to the impressive list of special guests as his Intergalactic Arkestra, so you will know what to expect.

Jürgen Engler - guitar-synthesizer-bass / Nicky Garratt - guitar / Steve Hillage - guitar / Chris Poland - guitar / Robbie Krieger – guitar / John Weinzierl - guitar / John Etheridge - guitar / Billy Sherwood - guitar-synthesizer-drums / Joel Vandroogenbroeck - sitar / Chris Lietz - mellotron / Kephera Moon - keyboards / Klaus Henatsch - keyboards-mellotron / Osam Ezzeldin - keyboards / Rick Wakeman - keyboards / Jerry Goodman - violin / Jeff Piccinini - bass / Robert Pagliari - bass / Kai Eckhardt - bass / Jimmy Haslip - bass / Jason Willer - drums / David Eagle - drums / Billy Cobham - drums / Gilli Smyth - vocals

I have enjoyed several Nik Turner albums the last couple of weeks, but "Space Fusion Odyssey" is by far my favourite.

Recommended listening !

MARBIN RELEASES FREE SAMPLER

Marbin has just released a free sampler through Bandcamp.
A collection of songs from their eight (!!) albums.

STEVE VAI - STILLNESS IN MOTION

Steve Vai's "Stillness In Motion" got released in 2015.
As a 2 DVD set and as a 2 CD set.
A fine concert and, for those who keep track, it included 'Frank', a piece that Steve had written in tribute to FZ.

I only learned (remembered) earlier today that, in 2019, the recording got re-released as a blu-ray set (that also included a 2 CD audio set).
Slight update of the album artwork as it now says "deluxe".

ALPHA TIGER - ALPHA TIGER

• Alpha Tiger: Alpha Tiger
      (2017, 2lp + cd, Germany, steamhammer)
      (2017, cd, Germany, steamhammer)

Alpha Tiger is / was a metal band from Germany.
Their ‘The Last Encore’ kicked off with a part of a FZ interview.
The piece could be found on their eponymous 2017 album, released as a 2 LP set (with CD),and as a digipack CD release by the German Steamhammer record label.

ALIENO DEBOOTES - UNCONVENTIONAL RESIDENTS III

• alieno debootes: unconventional residents III
      (2024, cd, Austria, klanggalerie)

The third volume of Alieno DeBootes' Residents tributes arrived yesterday.
I'm really enjoying this series.
Beautiful arrangements and fine performances (with a lot of familiar sounding names on the guest list!).

Remember that I told you that there was already a little Zappa reference on the "Demos & Outtakes" (download-only) album, on 'You Yesyesyes'?
Well, there's another one on the second track of this Volume III release. 'Moisture' also includes the 'Inca Roads' theme, and it fits in perfectly.

"Unconventional Residents" is essential listening for all Resifriends.
And it comes in a beautiful package !

Klanggalerie released in in their TOOK series, so it might be sort of limited...
If you want it, don't wait too long.

Highly recommended.

https://klanggalerie.com/gg466

JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS IN CONCERT AT THE IRIDIUM ON FEBRUARY 9 2024

A message from Joe Deninzon:

Stratospheerius is thrilled to be making our return to the legendary Iridium jazz club in NYC on Feb 9th.

As you know, my touring commitments with Kansas limit the amount of shows Stratospheerius is able to do, so when we DO play, it’s a very special event.

Last May, we celebrated the release of our new double live album/DVD, “Behind the Curtain: Live at ProgStock.”

I’ll never forget that night. It was the day before I flew out to Pittsburgh to play my first ever show with Kansas!

We packed the Iridium, and are grateful to all the fans and friends who came out to mark the occasion. Let’s see if we can pack it even more the second time around!!

This time, we will be joined by our good friends, Ad Astra. This is one of our favorite instrumental fusion bands in New York, led by the brilliant guitarist, Joe Nardulli. Our bands have been each others’ cheerleaders over the years and we’ve played many shows with these guys. It’s a perfect fit!

We’ll be playing some of the old favorites, as well as brand new music from our upcoming studio album.
The band will be:

• Joe Deninzon-electric violin/lead vocals
• Jason Gianni-drums/vocals
• Michelangelo Quirinale-guitar/vocals
• Doug Odell-bass/vocals
• and possibly some special guests…

From the above mentioned new double live album:

HOPPY KAMIYAMA

"Wowie Zowie !!"

I stumbled upon Hoppy Kamiyama's "A Meaningful Meaningnessless" on YouTube and all I can say is, "Wowie Zowie. This is great !!"

Another one for my want list.

FRANKLY ZAPPA

https://franklyzappa.com/

An Unauthorized Biography by John Klein Sloatman, III.

According to the timer on the home page, Part One should be out now.

-- info: J.M. Smig

 

NEW (DOWNLOAD-ONLY) ALBUM BY MIKE KENEALLY & BEER FOR DOLPHINS

Out of nowhere comes Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins' "Live at Lynagh's - Lexington, KY - May 18, 2001" recording / album.

Out on Bandcamp.

NI - FOL NAÏS

I'm very happy with my Ni "Fol Naïs" CD, but if would need it on vinyl, this brand-new edition would surely be an option.

Beautiful.

Great artwork for a master piece.