SUN RA ARKESTRA UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARSHALL ALLEN - LIGHTS ON A SATELLITE

Sun Ra Arkestra Under The Direction Of Marshall Allen
"Lights On A Satellite"
on CD
and

on 2 LP, on colored vinyl: red and orange

In + Out Records

3BELOW

From GlassOnyon PR

3Below “Live in Mérida”, featuring Michael Manring (Jaco Pastorius), Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Alonso Arreola, releases November 8, 2024

 
3Below features three extended range instruments played by Michael Manring (Jaco Pastorius alumni, creator of the Hyperbass), Trey Gunn (Warr Guitarist with King Crimson), Alonso Arreola (Mexican bassist, writer and poet).

Their latest release, “Live in Mérida”, was recorded on November 5, 2023 at the Palacio del La Música de Mérida in the Yucatan in Mexico. During this performance, they were joined by special guest Emmanuel Pina on the oud.

3Below began in a small but significant way when Arreola and Gunn, along with Gunn’s daughter Harper, traveled across Mali and The Dogon in West Africa in 2012. They took their baritone ukuleles with them hoping to touch base with local musicians. Mali is known for its deep musical traditions and by the third day they had found their way in: go into each small village and ask for lessons from the local master drummer or ngoni player (African string instrument). This led to a string of lessons and playing sessions with a variety of musicians from Bamako, Séguo, Mopti, Djenne and throughout the Dogon where they ended up participating in a late-night festival and jam session with the king and queen of Begnemato.

These experiences and the musical languages they learned in Mali set the groundwork for 3Below. This exploded further with bringing in bass legend Michael Manring. Manring is most known for his jaw-dropping solo performances, but he is also a brilliant ensemble player.

3Below first began with live shows in Mexico about one year after their return from Mali. Combining roots from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe, the first part of a 3Below live show is acoustic-based with Arreola and Gunn on ukulele and acoustic bass. The second half of the show is full-on electric, with the addition of solo pieces by Gunn and Manring.

• Alonso Arreola: Percussive Electroacoustic & Electric Basses
• Trey Gunn: Warr Guitar, Baritone Ukulele
• Michael Manring: Fretless Basses, Caxixi Shaker
• Emmanuel Pina: Oud

MARBIN RELEASES NEW ALBUM

Marbin's next release, "Marbinico" has just been offered as a VIP package deal:

"Marbinico" on CD, plus a DVD with music from "Radio School" and concert footage, plus a t-shirt.

More info:
https://marbinmusic.myshopify.com/products/marbinico-vip-package

DWEEZIL ZAPPA 2025 TOUR DATES - - - THE LIST

Dweezil Zappa says:

By popular demand, we've extended the RoxPostrophy tour. Tickets go on sale November 1st and we will have VIP experiences as well. More info soon!

The only city currently that won't have VIP is New York City because the venue won't allow it.

Concert Ticket links are posted to dweezilzappa.com

We are excited to come to the following North American cities!

1/09/25 Monterey, CA Golden State Theatre
1/10/25 Napa, CA The Uptown Theatre
1/11/25 Riverside, CA Fox Performing Arts Center
1/12/25 Tuscon, AZ Rialto Theatre
1/14/25 San Antonio, TX Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
1/15/25 Houston, TX House of Blues Houston
1/16/25 Dallas, TX The Factory in Deep Elllum
1/17/25 New Orleans, LA The Fillmore New Orleans
1/18/25 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
1/20/25 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall
1/21/25 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
1/22/25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL The Parker
1/23/25 Clearwater, FL The Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
1/24/25 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
1/26/25 Nashville TN CMA Theater
4/10/25 Chattanooga, TN Walker Theatre
4/11/25 Charlottesville, VA The Paramount
4/12/25 Wilmington, DE The Grand Opera House
4/13/25 Northampton, MA Academy of Music
4/15/25 Rochester, NY Kodak Center Theater
4/16/25 New York, NY The Town Hall
4/17/25 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
4/18/25 Burlington, VT The Flynn
4/19/25 Newton, NJ The Newton Theatre
4/21/25 Montreal, QC Place des Arts - Théâtre Maisonneuv
4/23/25 Beverly, MA The Cabot
4/24/25 Portsmouth, NH The Music Hall
4/25/25 Quebec City, QC Le Palais Montcalm
4/26/25 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall
4/29/25 Buffalo, NY Kleinhans Music Hall
4/30/25 Columbus, OH KEMBA Live!
5/01/25 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
5/02/25 Des Plaines, IL Des Plaines Theatre
5/03/25 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theatre

We hope to see you on the road again soon!

FYI, We filmed shows in 2024 so I'm planning to make concert materials available on my site for those of you living in cities we aren't scheduled to visit.

Thanks for your continued support. Best, DZ

AKA MOON

During its existence, the Carbon 7 record label released a couple of compilation albums.
The second one, called "The Carbon 7 Compilations - Volume 2" was entirely dedicated to Belgian modern jazz band Aka Moon.
Released in 1998.

It only occurred to me today that the final track, 'Invisible Targets' was only released on this compilation.

Furthermore, the album exists in two editions: one with an orange album cover and one with a black album cover. Other than that, they are the same, although I do have to admit that they look nice on the shelf, next to each other...

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DWEEZIL ZAPPA 2025 TOUR DATES

 

SOULSHINE BENEFIT CONCERT

“SOULSHINE” BENEFIT CONCERT at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
FEATURING…
Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes Band, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Goose

Aiding Relief and Recovery Efforts in Western North Carolina and Florida from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

General on sale for tickets begins on Friday, 11/1 at 10AM ET. Pre-sale will be Thursday at 10a via Ticketmaster (PW: ASHEVILLE)

“SOULSHINE,” a benefit concert to aid relief and recovery efforts in Western North Carolina and Florida in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, was announced today. The all-star event will take place at MadisonSquare Garden on Sunday, November 24, following DMB’s sold-out, two-night stand (November 22 & 23), and features Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes Band (whose hometown is Asheville), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Goose. The evening also includes very special guests Trey Anastasio, MavisStaples, Robert Randolph, Joe Russo, Trombone Shorty, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and more to be announced.

“The damage and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene to my beloved home of Asheville and all of Western North Carolina has truly devastated me,” shares Warren Haynes. “Every year, it is my honor to host the Christmas Jam and give back to the community there, but this year, we need to do things a bit differently. I’m thrilled to partner with my good friends in Dave Matthews Band and so many other musician friends to bring ‘SOULSHINE’ to the iconic Madison Square Garden and help raise money for all those affected by both hurricanes throughout North Carolina and Florida. My heart is with you all and we look forward to creating a really special night!”

Net proceeds will benefit the SOULSHINE Concert Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, which will benefit Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Hurricane Recovery fund and will also support a variety of non-profits on the ground in North Carolina and Florida. Visit SOULSHINEMSG.COM to learn more or make a donation.

GIANTS - GIANTS (FEATURING BIANCA ODIN)

Jazz / rock / latin / funk / soul band Giants featured Carlos Santana and Herbie Hancock to name just two, although some people might be interested to learn that it has Bianca Thornton-Oden on vocals.
Yes, that's the same Bianca that toured with Frank Zappa.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

UZ JSME DOMA & RANDY - MORAVIAN MEETING

From the Meet The Residents Wikipedia:

Moravian Meeting was a one-off live performance by Randy Rose, lead singer of The Residents, in Olomouc, Czech Republic, on October 20th 2010, featuring Už Jsme Doma as his backing band.

Loosely based on The Residents' then-current Talking Light touring project, the Moravian Meeting performance was professionally filmed and recorded, and was released as a live album a decade later, by Klanggalerie on June 7th 2020. 

The Klanggalerie CD release:

The Czech CD version, retitled "Moravské Setkání", & with different artwork. Also from 2020:

And I recently got hold of the Czech vinyl versions.
These got released in 2022.
There's a standard black vinyl version, although the vinyl has to be played at 45 rpm, and then there's the picture disc version. The latter is limited to 400 copies, comes with an obi (not pictured here), and presents two 'shaped' picture discs.

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The concert can be watched on YouTube:

FRANK ZAPPA - - - FREQUENTLY UNASKED QUESTIONS

Lots of info plus the expected chuckles while reading Andrew Greenaway's "Frank Zappa - Frequently Unasked Questions" book.

Essential reading, and I can promise that you will be taking notes while reading it.

https://www.zappanews.co.uk/product/frank-zappa-fuq

ADRIAN BELEW TALKS ABOUT BEAT

https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2024/10/25/king-crimson-alumni-regroup-to-continue-their-musical-journeys-with-beat

 

OREN AMBARCHI

I immersed myself in Oren Ambarchi's soundscapes today.

Calming music. Slowly moving forward.
Excellent to unwind.

Here's Mick Z's selection :

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VIBRAVOID

The Fruits de Mer Records label will be releasing "An Introduction To Vibravoid" (a 2 CD compilation of the German krautrock / psychedelic rock band).

Here's what Keith from Fruits de Mer added:

Christian Koch's band, probably the finest psychedelic/krautrock rock band in Germany over the last 35 years, started releasing tracks on the Fruits de Mer label back in 2009 - primarily through a series of 7" singles featuring covers of classic 60s tracks.

The band have gone from strength-to-strength, releasing a series of superb albums, the latest being on the Tonzonen label, so it meant a lot when Christian said he'd be happy for FdM to release an 'Introduction to' CD.

But 'An Introduction to Vibravoid' has turned out even better than I could have hoped - Christian has gone back to the band's original recordings and remastered them for the first CD (including covers of songs originally recorded by Kraftwerk, Pink Floyd, Can, HP Lovecraft, etc) and then he's put together a bonus CD comprising previously unreleased live recordings of some of the tracks from CD1 PLUS more 60s covers from the Vibravoid back-catalogue.

Vibravoid has released 22 studio albums, countless live albums, singles and EPs over the last 35 years. 'Live At Finkenbach 2015' made it to No. 2 on the official German vinyl sales charts, 'Live At Rheinkaut Festival' stayed for several weeks in the Top 20 of the German CD sales charts.

The teaser, "Vibrations From A Cosmic Void", from 2018:

ETERNAL TRIANGLE - MOVING ON

Eternal Triangle = saxophone player Trevor Watts' ensemble with with Jamie Harris on percussion and Veryan Weston on keyboard.

Their brand-new "Moving On" album got recorded live in concert in Nijmegen in November 2023.

Trevor Watts has been one of the great innovators in British jazz since the 1960s, just like Veryan Weston, a 'leader of the 'London Scene' and a 'forerunner' in jazz and improvisation music. In 1965 he formed the free jazz supergroup Spontaneous Music Ensemble with drummer John Stevens, followed in 1967 by the progressive Amalgam, which connected free jazz with progressive jazz rock until the early 1980s and was part of bassist Barry Guy's renowned London Jazz Composers' Orchestra until the 1990s.

In the early eighties his musical concept changed significantly, with the free approach making way for a mixture of jazz and African rhythm. In large ensembles such as Moiré Music and the Moiré Music Drum Orchestra (with drummers from various African cultures) and later also the Moiré Trio, his improvisations built on structures of overlapping percussion patterns. He performed with his Moire Music groups, which initially also included pianist Veryan Weston, at many major festivals worldwide, from the major jazz festivals in the USA to Glastonbury and Womad. 

Although Watts was initially strongly identified with 'free jazz' and avant-garde, he is in fact a very versatile musician who works in a multitude of styles and contexts, from 'straight jazz' to rock and blues to his hybrids of jazz and African music . For twenty years he has led an improvising duo with pianist Veryan Weston and another duo with percussionist Jamie Harris, mainly based on rhythmic and melodic ideas, with which he has appeared at clubs and festivals worldwide. 

Watts' latest group ETERNAL TRIANGLE with Jamie Harris (percussion) and Veryan Weston (piano/keys) and Trevor Watts (alto and sop sax, compositions) merges both previous duos and focuses on new compositions and the possibilities of trio interaction, where new territory is still being broken. From jazz mixed with complex South American and African rhythms to delicately grooving compositions, interspersed with the energetic, clear improvisation style and the characteristic sound of Watts on alto and soprano sax.

SUN RA

Sun Ra's "Inside the Light World: Sun Ra Meets the OVC" was made available on a 2 CD set by the Strut label earlier this year.
It's now also available on Bandcamp.

PIERRE VERVLOESEM - EASY SOLOS

• Pierre Vervloesem: Easy Solos
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

On his latest release, Pierre Vervloesem explores the sonic possibilities of the guitar.

Impromptu expeditions. Improvised soundscapes.
I love it !!

MELANOIA & QUATUOR IXI - RED (MUSIC BY LUZIA VON WYL)

• Melanoia & Quatuor iXi: Red (Music By Luzia Von Wyl)
      (2016, cd, Hungary, budapest music center records)

Dejan Terzic's Melanoia ensemble teamed up with French string ensemble Quatuor iXi to record pieces by Luzia Von Wyl (plus two pieces by Dejan Terzic).

The result is fascinating to say the least.
Highly recommended !!

Save the Elephants. Down with ivory towers. Dejan Terzic’s Quartet Melanoia has always been a fount of empathy become sound. Four musicians – saxophonist Hayden Chisholm, pianist Achim Kaufmann, guitarist Ronny Graupe and drummer Dejan Terzic – who unfold jazz from the other side. The premise is mutual listening, catching each other, and responding to each other. Against this background solos never sound like solos, but are always part of a spontaneous or calculated composition. The borders of the moment open up, with those of other moments in a chain of unavoidable impulses toward a living process. Making music without vanity: four individual voices which in this context are derived from the togetherness of Us.

NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Hoopoe Dream'
by Eidon

 

THREE AFTERNOONS OF MAGMA IN PARIS

Three afternoons of Magma at Le Triton in Paris, France, the next couple of months.
And the message also mentioned that day number 3, December 14, is already sold out.

For almost 25 years, Magma and Le Triton have been writing their respective histories together, in perfect symbiosis. And as always, there's no shortage of ideas to take this precious partnership even further. This year, we're inviting all Zeuhl fans to come and enjoy a unique experience over three days of ‘work in progress’.

From 2pm to 8pm, you'll be immersed in the very heart of Magma's Mekanïk. Three 100% Magma afternoons, at the tempo of the musicians, during which you will attend the band's rehearsals, as well as the screening of the film ‘Tristan et Iseult’ directed by Yvan Lagrange, whose soundtrack is none other than the mythical ‘Ẁurdah Ïtah’ then in its primitive stage. Three exceptional days to immerse yourself in the intimacy of the band, who will be working with the Triton's brand new immersive system. You'll be impressed by the immersive sound, moved by the warm atmosphere of the rehearsals, captivated in the courtyard chatting to the musicians, enjoying the film, and in the restaurant (open all day) for a drink and a bite to eat... All we can say is that you won't soon forget these three days. For your convenience, the number of places is limited.

PIERRE BOULEZ

Yesterday, the "360° Boulez" concert series kicked off at De Bijloke in Ghent, BE.

For the occasion, a series of four podcasts was made available :

https://open.spotify.com/show/0DXFrupuVxYUHvI4NI2xWi

HAWKWIND LIVE ALBUM

"Live At The Royal Albert Hall".
by Hawkwind.
To be released in December 2024.

3 CD set and/or 3 LP set.

R.I.P. PHIL LESH

Photo Credit: Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images

A message from The Grateful Dead

Today we lost a brother. Our hearts and love go out to Jill Lesh, Brian and Grahame. Phil Lesh was irreplaceable. In one note from the Phil Zone, you could hear and feel the world being born. His bass flowed like a river would flow. It went where the muse took it. He was an explorer of inner and outer space who just happened to play bass. He was a circumnavigator of formerly unknown musical worlds. And more.

We can count on the fingers of one hand the people we can say had as profound an influence on our development - in every sense. And there have been even less people who did so continuously over the decades and will continue to for as long as we live. What a gift he was for us. We won’t say he will be missed, as in any given moment, nothing we do will be without the lessons he taught us - and the lessons that are yet to come, as the conversations will go on.

Phil loved the Dead Heads and always kept them in his heart and mind. The thing is… Phil was so much more than a virtuoso bass player, a composer, a family man, a cultural icon...

There will be a lot of tributes, and they will all say important things. But for us, we’ve spent a lifetime making music with Phil Lesh and the music has a way of saying it all. So listen to the Grateful Dead and, in that way, we’ll all take a little bit of Phil with us, forever.

For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long ago…

- Mickey, Billy and Bobby

GREETINGS FROM DOOKIETOWN, FELLOW EYEBALLERS!

Behold!

As autumn begins to suggest winter here in the UK, we bring the latest from the endlessly weird world of your friends and ours, The Residents. You may have heard, the Thriving Five (as they were for the evening) just performed a whizz-bang show in Paris, alongside the artist Loris Greaud. Featuring all-new material, the show, we're contractually obliged to report, was a pleasure to be a part of, and a thrill for those who were there. Watch the skies for some kind of official recording of the performance!

Meanwhile, The Residents' new EP, 'Dookietown', will be upon us on November 1st - it's all new, definitely NOT part of the 'Dr Dark' story and available on nice, neat 10" vinyl right here:
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/the-residents-dookietown-10-inch-vinyl-ep
If everything has gone to plan, you can also find the lead track 'Duck Sauce' out there across the interworld.

  

And what of 'Dr Dark', the new album? Well..... it's done! Everything is finally in place and we anticipate a release sometime in late February. It's different. Very different. A narrative story piece, accompanied by something called a libretto (Renaldo M tells me that's a fancy Dan way of saying some text), it's a REMARKABLE piece of work. If you enjoy eclectic song cycles, intense in parts, thoughtful and unpredictable and full of the usual lovesexdeath triumvirate, then this may well be the album for you. Due on double LP and CD, it'll be available for pre-order sometime in November, apparently.

Elsewhere, the band's contribution to 2025's Record Store Day event is in the can, and a real treat for fans of their 1980s work. For clarity, we all understand the mixed feelings that persist around Record Store Day and some of the products it enables, but the Eyeballed Entities are fans and have provided yet another release comprising entirely unheard material from deep, deep within the archive. So deep, it was considered "lost" until early last year. It's a lovely LP, and, in all honesty, a labour of love for all involved.

But! It doesn't stop there - The Residents are also promising us at least two new pREServed releases for 2025, alongside a proposed new book featuring their collected screenplays and film and TV treatments, most of which will be entirely unknown to even the most ardent of fans. As ever, there are a million other kernels of ideas bubbling away too, but for now The Residents would like you to have a little something to remember them by....

Enjoy!

Til next time.

You Pals @ NRT

SPINIFEX ANNOUNCES A NEW ALBUM

 "Undrilling The Hole".
New album by Spinifex.
Set for release on November 22

The ensemble will also be celebrating their 20th anniversary.

Spinifex MAXXIMUS 2025
celebrating Spinifex 20 years, extended line-up

• Tobias Klein – bass clarinet
• Bart Maris – trumpet
• John Dikeman - tenor saxophone
• Jasper Stadhouders – guitar
• Gonçalo Almeida – double bass
• Philipp Moser – drums

featuring special guests

• Jessica Pavone – viola, Elisabeth Coudoux – cello
• and Evi Filippou –vibraphone, percussion

Dates to be announced.

In the meantime, here are two clips from 2023

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SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA - KINGDOM OF DISCIPLINE

Out today !

Sun Ra & His Arkestra
"Kingdom of Discipline"

Next to the Bandcamp release, Sun Ra's "Kingdom Of Discipline" got released on vinyl and on cd (both in an extremely limited edition of 75 copies) by the Dead Currencies record label.

Announced as a collection of live tracks. From rehearsals and concerts.
Check it out.

 

UNCLE MEAT CONCERT IN THE HAGUE, NL

We went to see Zappa tribute band Uncle Meat in Den Haag (The Hague, NL) yesterday.
Not exactly nearby, but worth the trip.
Last minute decision.
But best decision of the day.
Loved it.
& we were in good company.

It had been 15 years (!!) since their previous concert as Uncle Meat, so they renamed themselves The Uncle Meat Reunion Band.

-- picture by Evelien

HNITA

Wouter Adriaensen wrote a book (in the Dutch language) about the Hnita jazz club, located in Heist Op Den Berg in Belgium.

There's half a page in there about Wouter and club owner Juul Anthonisen visiting the Amougies festival, where Frank Zappa was the master of ceremony !

-- info: Ad Hendrickx

ALPHONSO JOHNSON

Chester Thompson, Ian Underwood and Ruth Underwood contributed to Alphonso Johnson's "Yesterday's Dream" album, released in 1976.

Ruth is only featured on 'Flight To Hampstead Heath', but Ian and Chester can be heard on most of the tracks.
And there's Sheila E. ...

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

NEW G3 ALBUM ANNOUNCED

JOE SATRIANI, ERIC JOHNSON And STEVE VAI Announce G3 'Reunion Live' Album

https://blabbermouth.net/news/joe-satriani-eric-johnson-and-steve-vai-announce-g3-reunion-live-album

2 CD set

4 LP box

"Reunion Live" will be available on January 31st as a 2CD set (+ photo booklet), a 4LP Gatefold in black and a deluxe edition, that includes the 2CD, three colored artist vinyls, one further splattered jam vinyl and a 64-page photo book.

JOHN ZORN - NEW MASADA QUARTET VOL. 3

• john zorn: new masada quartet vol.3
      (2024, cd, USA, tzadic)

If you lack energy in the morning, try a John Zorn album.
"New Masada Quartet, Vol. 3" features John Zorn on alto sax, Julian Lage on guitar, Jorge Roeder on bass, and Kenny Wollesen on drums.

Beautiful !!

I quote:

Wonderful music in which influences from klezmer, Eastern music and classical emerge. Get ready for fiery solos, moving lyricism and passionate ensemble playing.

The New Masada Quartet, captured live:

DET SKANDALØSE ORKESTER AT ZAPPANALE 2025

Dear Zappanale fans,

we would like to contribute to the first musical evening of the week with the next band.

We are looking forward to “DET SKANDALØSE ORKESTER” in 2025

Det Skandaløse Orkester is a very stupid rock band from Bergen, Norway, with jazz, punk, folk, prog, humor, cabaret, Zappa, techno and football influences.

They are notable for being great musicians, but at the same time they look like complete lunatics. Not since Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention has the world seen anything like it. Wild energy, dancing insanity, crazy horns, absurdities and a guitar hero out of this world are things you will experience from this band.

Here's the band's 2019 performance at Zappanale:

THE NECKS

In about two weeks, Australian trio The Necks will be performing at De Singel in Antwerp, Belgium.
I'm listening to their latest album ("Bleed") while I'm typing this, and I have to admit that the music pulls you in. Completely.

The Necks features Chris Abrahams on keyboards, Lloyd Swanton on bass, and Tony Buck on drums.
And they improvise.
The result, with "Bleed" as an example, sounds quite experimental. Jazzy at times, but mostly as an experimental musical wandering.
"Bleed", the album, only includes one piece, also called 'Bleed' and it's about 40 minutes long.
Amazing and bewildering.

DR. LONNIE SMITH - BREATHE

• Dr. Lonnie Smith: Breathe
      (2021, cd, USA, blue note)

Hammon B-3 organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith did a series of concerts in New York City in 2017, celebrating his 75th birthday.
For this particular recording, the band featured Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar, Johnathan Blake on drums, John Ellis on tenor saxophone, Jason Marshall on baritone saxophone, Sean Jones on trumpet, and Robin Eubanks on trombone.
Add two studio tracks that feature Iggy Pop, and you've got "Breathe", a beautiful, soulful album.
I enjoyed it as a digital download, but it's also out on CD and on 2LP.

Here's the opening track:

LA REVUE DESSINÉE #45

Issue number 45 of La Revue Dessinée, automne 2024.

Below pictures of from "Face B" by
Arnaud Le Gouëfflec & Nicolas Moog

R.I.P. HERMAN SELLESLAGS

(Belgian) photographer Herman Selleslags passed away on Friday 18 October 2024 at the age of 86.

He was best-known for being HUMO's in-house photographer.

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FREAK KITCHEN - EVERYONE GETS BLOODY

• freak kitchen: everyone gets bloody
      (2024, cd, --, thunderstruck productions)

Freak Kitchen released "Everyone Gets Bloody" earlier this year. It's their tenth release !

"Everyone Gets Bloody" shows Mattias IA Eklundh's view on the current world and he does not paint a nice picture.

The music, however, does fit the message and the emotions perfectly.

If you're familiar with Freak Kitchen's output, you know what to expect.
Intense, with strange rhythms, but with beautiful melodies and amazing guitar stuff.
I love it.

3000 - UNREPEATABLE

In 2007, Jan Klare, Bart Maris, Wilbert de Joode and Michael Vatcher released an album entitled "Unplayable".
Inspired, they named the project 1000.

As 1000, they recorded different albums. And when the line-up changed, they also changed the name of the project.
1000 + 1 added Eugene Chadbourne;
2000 featured Steve Swell and Elisabeth Coudoux;

There's a certain logic to it.

Their latest album, "Unrepeatable", features the initial quartet, plus Steve Swell.
And the new line-up is called 3000.

Two long, exiting pieces of improvised music.
Out on CD (limited to 30 copies !!), but also available on Bandcamp.
Check it out:

'NEW' SUN RA 7"

In time for Christmas as it's scheduled for a November release:

Performed and recorded by The Qualities somewhere in the 1950's, and co-written by Sun Ra.
Originally released on Sun Ra's Saturn record label: 'It's Christmas Time' / 'Happy New Year To You'

SUPERSISTER - - - THE ELTON DEAN SESSIONS

50 years ago, Supersister toured The Netherlands and Europe with Elton Dean as a brand-new member of the band.

Recently discovered recordings have now found their way to a new release:

"The Elton Dean Sessions".

Out on CD and on 2 LP (coloured vinyl).

ZAPPANALE 2025

 In the meantime, several bands have been announced for Zappanale 2025 :

• The Breed
• Silas & Saski
• The Dorf
• Yuval Ron
• The Monika Roscher Bigband
• Ozric Tentacles

Details : https://www.zappanale.de/de

& more info soon...

HOPPY KAMIYAMA & BRADFORD REED - BUBBLEMAN 2 (A DAY OF THE IRON SAUCAGE)

• Hoppy Kamiyama & Bradford Reed: Bubbleman 2
      (2000, cd, Japan, consipio records)

Hoppy Kamiyama and Bradfore Reed released an album entitled “Bubbleman” in 1999.
“Bubbleman 2” followed one year later. It got subtitled “A Day Of The Iron Sausage”, also the name of the 7th track on the album.
In total, three tracks of the album referred to album titles that Frank Zappa once wanted to use for a box set release.

• Day Of The Iron Saucage
• Warts And All I
• Ein Monster In Der Musikhalle

The CD got presented in a mini-lp, fold-out cardboard packaging, and comes with an obi.
Ten tracks. Ten interesting pieces of music, but all quite different.

The following track is not on the album, but it might give you idea of what to expect:

 

SECRET RECORDS RELEASES A RESIDENTS CONCERT ON VINYL AND ON CD

Secret Records has just released "Shadowland: Live In Fribourg 1​-​30​-​2016", a live concert by The Residents.

The album is available in different editions :

• 2 LP - Cyan Blue Inside Neon Magenta limited edition vinyl - 225 copies
• 2 LP - Milky Clear with Neon Pink Splatter limited edition vinyl - 225 copies
• 2 CD - Limited edition, hand-numbered double CD - 250 copies

THE ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE DOSSIER ON BANDCAMP

The Acid Mothers Temple Dossier

https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/the-acid-mothers-temple-dossier

SEAN NOONAN - ZAPPANATION

• Sean Noonan: Zappanation
      (2022, cd, USA, private release / noonanmusic)
      (2022, download, --, noonanmusic)

American drummer and composer Sean Noonan’s “Zappanation rock opera premiered at the Sant’anna Arresi Jazz Festival in Italy on the 2nd of September in 2016.
The ”Zappanation” album got recorded in a London studio two days later, but it was only released on CD in 2022.

The German premiere of “Zappanation” took place on May 12, 2018, at the Alte Kaserne, in Landshut. A link to the video recording of this concert got shared in the album’s liner notes. Sean Noonan added:
Zappanation is a surreal rock opera in the provocative and inventive spirit of Frank Zappa and Edgard Varese. It began in 2016 at the Sant'Anna Aressi Jazz Festival in Sardinia. The story refracts Mozart's brothel-set opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio" through the bawdy humor and musical inventiveness of Zappa and the percussive abstractions of Varese.

This is great fun !
Check out https://seannoonanmusic.com/listen-purchase-physical-cd-vinyl-digital-here for additional info (and a musical sample)

Sean Noonan's Picnic project will be performing in Würzburg on November 3, sharing the bill with Chato Segerer's Zapped project.
Try to catch them.
It will also be a good opportunity to buy a copy of Sean's excellent "Zappanation" CD.

SUN RA

Sun Ra's "When Angels Speak of Love" has been re-issued on LP.

ROCKTAILS (WITH AHMET ZAPPA) HAD STANLEY JASON ZAPPA AS A GUEST

(you can skip the first 17 minutes)
Funny stuff.

 

ZAPPA UNION 2025

MILWAUKEE ZAPPA FEST ON DECEMBER 14, 2024

Zappa fans! We're just over 2 months away from our next Milwaukee Zappafest!!! Were you there last year when we celebrated our 25th anniversary?!?! If you didn't see it, you missed one helluva celebration! Don't miss this year, cuz we're bringing the one and only Ray White ,the assistant Illinois Enema Bandit here to Milwaukee to headline with us!

Here's the 2023 shows :

 

FRANK ZAPPA'S AMERICA

 Coming out next spring: "Frank Zappa's America" by Bradley Morgan.

-- info: Robert Samler

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND - - - 1999

Tedeschi Trucks Band performed Prince's '1999'
10/1/24 Boston, MA

NUBIYAN TWIST - FIND YOUR FLAME

Nubiyan Twist

 

LIFESIGNS TOUR WITH SUPPORT FROM MIKE KENEALLY

From LeightonMedia:

Lifesigns to Embark on US Tour following ProgStock Festival in October 2024, with support from Mike Keneally, Gregg Bendian, Teddy Kumpel, and Matt Dorsey

UK Band, Lifesigns, is touring the US for the first time with a headlining performance at ProgStock Festival in Rutherford, NJ, and shows in Albany, NY, Buffalo, NY, and Chicago, IL

After playing their first-ever show on US soil at ProgStock Festival on October 20, 2024, UK Band Lifesigns will take to the road for a one-week tour with support from Mike Keneally (Zappa, Satriani, Devon Townsend, ProgJect) and Matt Dorsey (Beth Hart, Sound of Contact, ProgJect, Dave Kerzner Band).

The first show of this mini tour will take place at the Strand Theater in Hudson Falls, New York on Tuesday, October 22. This show only will feature a special performance by “The Mike Keneally Trio,” with Mike Keneally (of course), Gregg Bendian and Teddy Kumpel, and an opening set by Matt Dorsey.

The tour will then move on to Electric City in Buffalo, NY, on Wednesday, October 23, and a private concert in Chicago, IL, on Saturday, October 26, where Mike Keneally and Matt Dorsey will open the show for Lifesigns.

Lifesigns is an independent UK-based band of virtuoso professional musicians. Members of Lifesigns have worked with artists ranging from Asia and The Scorpions through to pop and jazz icons like Bonnie Tyler and Quincy Jones.

Their latest studio album, Altitude, was crowdfunded by their dedicated fans in 40 countries worldwide (including 36 US states) and has been compared to everything from Steely Dan to Pink Floyd to U.K.

Their previous album, Cardington, got to number 4 in the UK Indie chart without so much as a play on mainstream radio. The band has toured the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Lithuania and have played on five sailings of the iconic Cruise To The Edge out of Florida, USA. On the 2024 Cruise, Simon Phillips (Toto, Protocol) guested on drums as our regular drummer was unavailable. In July 2023, Lifesigns released a live album recorded at De Boerderij in the Netherlands.

Lifesigns’ touring band includes John Young on lead vocals and keyboards (Asia, Scorpions, Bonnie Tyler), Jon Poole (Cardiacs, Dr. Hook) on bass and backing vocals, Dave Bainbridge (Iona, The Strawbs, Celestial Fire, Circuline) on guitars and keyboards, and Chris Mack (Iluvatar, Oblivion Sun, Edison’s Children) on drums and percussion.

Mike Keneally is long acclaimed as one of the world’s most creative and intense guitar and keyboard players, with talents as a vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist nearly unequalled in rock music. Keneally has released 24 albums of his original music since 1992 and has built a body of work of remarkable inventiveness and originality.

Keneally played in Frank Zappa’s last touring band, performing as a vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist. He’s appeared on many Zappa albums, is currently a touring member of both Dethklok and the Joe Satriani Band, and has also recorded or performed with Robert Fripp, Wayne Kramer, Kevin Gilbert, Solomon Burke, Steve Vai, Chickenfoot, Bear McCreary, Henry Kaiser, Michael Manring, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Andy Prieboy, Mullmuzzler, The Persuasions and many others.

Keneally’s most recent album is You Must Be This Tall, featuring Mike playing all instruments on several pieces, as well as performances from Marco Minnemann, Bryan Beller and Andy Partridge.

Gregg Bendian is a percussionist/composer/producer/educator/podcaster from Teaneck, New Jersey. During his wide-ranging career he has toured internationally and recorded with jazz and progressive artists Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman, Todd Rundgren, Jan Hammer, The Mahavishnu Project, Cecil Taylor, Keneally-Bendian-Lunn, John Zorn, The Musical Box, Derek Bailey, Nels Cline, and Zoot Horn Rollo, among many others. An accomplished percussionist and a composer of over 200 works, Gregg has created a body of innovative instrumental music for jazz, rock, percussion (solo and ensemble) ands mixed chamber groups, which include his Interzone and Trio Pianissimo bands.

Teddy Kumpel played guitar on the Grammy winning album Home by Tim Kubart, sang backgrounds with Nine Inch Nails on the MTV music awards; toured and/or recorded with Joe Jackson, Rickie Lee Jones, Goodie Mob, Feist, Toots Hibbert; played on many soundtracks including Anchorman and Talladega Nights; produced, engineered and helped develop many artists, all while nurturing his own art and unique vision over his 30 year + career.

Matt Dorsey is a California-based multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter known for his work with Sound of Contact, In Continuum, The Dave Kerzner Band, Circuline, the progressive rock “super-group” cover band ProgJect, and most recently his solo project The Matt Dorsey Band. Matt wrote and produced his first solo album entitled Let Go, with Matt on guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and singing both lead and background vocals, and guest drummers Marco Minnemann and Jonathan Mover. Joining him on keyboards for the song Waiting For The Fall is his Sound of Contact bandmate, Dave Kerzner. The Matt Dorsey Band, with Matt on guitar/vocals, Randy McStine (Steven Wilson Band, Porcupine Tree) on bass/backing vocals, Andrew Colyer (Circuline, The Tubes) on keyboards/backing vocals, and Chris Dorsey on drums/backing vocals debuted at ProgStock Festival 2023. Following the festival, Matt opened for Progressive Rock giants Marillion at Marillion Weekend in Canada. Matt will return to ProgStock in 2024 on bass and backing vocals with the band Circuline and then head out on this tour opening for the UK band Lifesigns with his friend and former bandmate, Mike Keneally, on Lifesign’s first tour in the US.

• Sunday, October 20, 8:30 PM: ProgStock Festival, Williams Center, 1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070 
• Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 PM: Strand Theater, 210 Main St, Hudson Falls, NY 12839 
• Wednesday, October 23, 7:00 PM: Electric City, 433 Pearl St, Buffalo, NY 14202

AYREON FEAT. ARJEN LUCASSEN, ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN & THIJS VAN LEER

Recorded in concert at 013 Poppodium in Tilburg, The Netherlands, on Sunday September 15,  2019.

 

MEGAWAJOOKA

The Zappa tribute concert that Megawajooka did at Le Triton in Paris, France, earlier this year, is available for subscribers in the video archive of Le Triton. 

https://vod.letriton.com/content/megawajooka-joue-frank-zappa

PAULINE BUTCHER VISITED PRAGUE TO PROMOTE THE CZECH VERSION OF "FREAK OUT! MY LIFE WITH FRANK ZAPPA"

Invited by the Czech Frank Zappa Fan Club, Pauline Butcher visited Prague to present the Czech version of her "Freak Out! My Life With Frank Zappa" book.

-

-

Pauline, her husband Peter, and Bohous

JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS - IMPOSTOR !

• Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius: Impostor !
      (2024, download, --, bandcamp)

The brand-new Stratospheerius album has been made available as a digital download / streaming album on Bandcamp, and also on CD (although I don't know if it's available in Europe without customs harassment).

Again, Stratospheerius succeeded in producing a fine prog rock album. The leading role is reserved for violinist Joe Deninzon, who's also part of Kansas nowadays, but there's some great guitar playing going on as well. And the band sounds tight. Really tight.

9 tracks. All original music, except for the (excellent version of) Adrian Belew / King Crimson's 'Frame By Frame'.

There's quite a number of guests featured on the album. It provides some beautiful, extra seasoning.

Rachel Flowers makes a guest appearance as well. Adding a beautiful flute solo to 'Storm Surge'.
Nice. Very Nice.

Check it out.

Recommended listening.

MANUEL HERMIA & CHRISTINE OTT - THE LOTUS PATH

• Manuel Hermia & Christine Ott: The Lotus Path
      (2024, cd, Belgium, igloo)

Manuel Hermia: tenor saxophone, bansuri, flute
Christine Ott: ondes martenot (sort of a Theremin but controlled by a keyboard)

Recorded live as part of Manuel Hermia's Carte Blanche at the Gaume Jazz festival in 2023, this duet with Christine Ott is essentially composed from musical material from the Rajazz.

Rajazz are a form of note organization and are represented as musical mandalas.

The concept of rajazz comes from a cross between tonal music and Indian modal music. The name is a contraction of raga and jazz: rajazz.
All the compositions on this album evoke in one way or another the idea of ​​transformation. As the Yi Jing (or Yi King, I Ching or "book of transformations") already professed almost 3000 years ago: the only thing that never changes is that everything changes all the time.
A reflection and pause on the very nature of change, both in our inner life and in our perception of the outside world, constitutes the common thread of the compositions presented here.

"The Lotus Path" is a stunning musical document that highlights the collaboration between Manuel Harmia and Christine Ott.
I love the sound of the ondes-Martenot. It adds a beautiful, mysterious layer to the mesmerizing melodies.

https://www.igloorecords.be/album/manuel-hermia-christine-ott-the-lotus-path/

WIGWAM

The Svart record label is re-releasing two Wigwam albums on colored vinyl:

Wigwam - Hard'N'Horny, LP (Transparent Magenta/White/Black Marble) - limited edition of 100 copies

Wigwam - Tombstone Valentine, LP (Turquoise/Pink Marble) - also limited to 100 copies

WIGWAM'S FIRST TWO ALBUMS REPRESSED

WIGWAM’s two first albums reissued on vinyl in February 2025 via Svart Records

Due to high demand, Svart Records will release represses of Wigwam's early works on vinyl once again. The Finnish legends in Wigwam are no strangers to fans of Progressive Rock around the world. Their debut album Hard N’ Horny from 1969 and the following Tombstone Valentine from 1970 are a couple of cornerstones among many in their impeccable discography. The previous Svart editions of these absolute classics by the pioneers of early progressive rock date back to 2019, so it was about time to bring back these must-haves to the market.

Hard N’ Horny started the legacy of Wigwam. Album’s A-side is jazzy, early prog-rock by the keyboardist Jukka Gustavson, with an exception on the first track written by the original bass player Mats Huldén. Lots of heavy organ, jazzy piano, and some vocal parts by Gustavson. The B-side is ‘60s psychedelia written by the British-born vocalist Jim Pembroke. It consists of songs about a man called Henry, together forming a mini Rock opera.

Wigwam's sophomore album Tombstone Valentine uniquely stands on its own as not only a precursor to what was still to come but also a spectacular album bubbling over with soul searching folk/psych/prog leanings. Kim Fowley, a producer from America, was so excited about Wigwam's debut album Hard N’ Horny, that he decided to come to Finland to produce their second album Tombstone Valentine. The album is not as experimental as their debut, but partly because of that it's also a more coherent and a better-balanced effort. The line-up had changed slightly, as this was Pekka Pohjola's debut with Wigwam. Guitarist Nikke Nikamo left the band during the recording of the album, so the guitar parts are delivered by Jukka Tolonen and Heikki Laurila, who never officially joined the band.

Hard N’ Horny and Tombstone Valentine are out on limited vinyl pressings on February 7th, 2025.

LUZIA VON WYL ENSEMBLE - THROWING COINS

• Luzia von Wyl Ensemble: Throwing Coins
      (2018, cd, switzerland, hatology)

Modern jazz in a contemporary classic package, with added world music flavours.

With a beautiful instrumentation: piano, flutes, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, violin, violoncello, bass, marimba and drums.

I love it.

Here's a live performance of 'Antumbra' with special guest Faisal Al Saari on oud:

AYRON TO PERFORM IN TILBURG NL IN SEPTEMBER 2025

AYREON - 30TH ANNIVERSARY - AN AMAZING FLIGHT THROUGH TIME

Arjen Lucassen announces 5 shows at the 013 venue in Tilburg on 12, 13, and 14 September 2025

https://www.ayreon.com/live/

After five sold-out performances of Ayreon - 01011001 - Live Beneath the Waves at the 013 venue in The Netherlands in 2023, attended by 15,000 fans from 64 countries, and following four sold-out Ayreon - Electric Castle Live & Other Tales shows in 2019, as well as three sold-out Ayreon Universe shows in 2017, Ayreon is ready to add another exciting chapter to its live history. The new production, Ayreon - 30th Anniversary - An Amazing Flight Through Time, will mark 30 years since the release of the debut album, The Final Experiment, in 1995. This massive, state-of-the-art live production will take the audience on a journey through Arjen Lucassen's entire discography, featuring a massive, one-of-a-kind stage design, stunning visuals, spectacular special effects—and much more.

Ayreon Mastermind Arjen Lucassen, alongside lead producer and keyboardist Joost van den Broek, has assembled a remarkable cast of many fan-favorite Ayreon vocalists and special guests, plus an outstanding group of instrumentalists to bring the music to life at the highest possible level. Lucassen himself will also perform on vocals.

Titled An Amazing Flight Through Time, the setlist will span Ayreon’s 30-year history, offering a wide range of songs, including some that have never been played live before, alongside fan favorites. Besides that, some songs of Arjen’s side projects will be performed as well. No effort will be spared in transforming the 013 venue into an immersive "Ayreon world," where fans will be transported to another dimension. This show is set to be the ultimate Ayreon celebration, paying tribute to Arjen's music in its most complete form.

While the two previous Ayreon live shows focused on performing full studio albums, this anniversary show will be the ultimate 'Best of Ayreon'. In 2019, Electric Castle Live & Other Tales was atmospheric and dynamic, while 2023’s 01011001 - Live Beneath the Waves brought a mysterious, industrial, and bombastic energy. The 30th-anniversary shows, however, will be an eclectic mix of everything that is Ayreon, creating the perfect event for Ayreonauts to unite and share their love of Arjen's music at the Ayreon party of the decade. Expect further details and surprises in the coming weeks!

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY - - - THE ONE TOUR 2024

The One Tour 2024

 
Flat Earth Society Orchestra
presents THE ONE and a selection from 25 years of music
October 18 > November 9

FES is touring Europe and North America with their new album
THE ONE, combined with a wide and wild selection of previous material from the FES planet, a musical universe without boundaries or idiomatic rules.

Always unpredictable and never disappointing,
the madhouse maximalist Flat Earth Society Orchestra celebrates its 25th anniversary with a jubilee tour in Portugal, Germany, USA and Canada!


The One Tour

• 18-10 Casa da Música, Porto (PT)
• 19-10 Multiphonics Festival, Comedia, Cologne (GER)
• 25-10 Angel City Jazz Festival, Los Angeles (USA)
• 26-10 San Jose Jazz, Breakroom, San Jose (USA)
• 27-10 California Jazz Conservatory, Berkeley (USA)
• 29-10 Earshot Jazz Festival, Town Hall, Seattle (USA)
• 01-11 Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon (USA)
• 02-11 PDX Jazz, Jack London Revue, Portland (USA)
• 03-11 Music On Main, The Roundhouse, Vancouver (CAN)
• 05-11 University of Toronto, Walter Hall, Toronto (CAN)
• 06-11 Ottawa Jazz Festival, NAC Fourth Stage, Ottawa (CAN)
• 07-11 Lincoln Center, New York (USA)
• 09-11 Jazz Meeting Wuppertal, Insel, Wuppertal (GER)

HILDEGARD LERNT FLIEGEN CONCERT DATES AND MORE

A message from Hildegard lernt Fliegen:

"HILDEGARD!"

Dear ones

She's on the road again – good old Hildegard! Before we set off on an anniversary tour in 2025, we're getting her out of the hangar for two crispy concerts.

• 10.10. Unterfahrt, München DE
• 11.10. Jazzclub, Bamberg DE

4 EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN SHOWS WITH BASS LEGEND TIM LEFEBVRE

Together with my dear friend Kalle Kalima, we have composed a wonderful songbook. Under the title ‘Evolution’, we have been on the road with it for almost a year now. Our autumn tour starts in Paris on 12 October. The extraterrestrial Über-bassist Tim Lefebvre, who I'm particularly looking forward to, will be joining us.

• 12.10. Radio France, Paris F
• 20.11. Mühle Hunziken, Rubigen b. Bern CH
• 22.11. Nica, Hamburg DE
• 26.11. Bayerischer Hof, München DE

... AND BOOK YOURSELF A CONCERT ? !

Paris is too far away for you? Due to a communication error by my former agency, a concert on our tour was unfortunately cancelled at short notice. This means that we now have an offday on 21 November. So if you want to book this amazing band for a concert, this is your unique chance.

Please send your ideas directly by mail to info(at)andreasschaerer.ch I'm looking forward to hear from you !

NEUE DUO VIDEOS UND LIVE DATEN

We have a nice video recording of our duo. Recorded last May at the Jazz in E. Festival Eberswalde 

You prefer to listen to our duo live instead of from your laptop speakers. Very good idea:

• 17.10. Leise am Markt, Coburg DE 
• 18.10. Jazz am See, Feldafing DE 
• 19.10. Kloster, Dornach CH 
• 23.10. Stummste Reithalle, Neunkirchen DE 
• 24.10. Dekadenz, Brixen IT 
• 26.10 Landhaus Liebefeld, Bern CH

EVOLUTION INVITING JULES MARTINET

… and! This wonderful musician has been on my radar for a long time, and now we're on stage together for the first two concerts. Exciting: Evolution inviting le magnifique Jules Martinet:

• 15.10. Saison Dudelange, Dudelange LUX 
• 19.10 Kloster, Dornach CH

ATTENTION DEFICIT

I mentioned Attention Deficit a little while ago.
Instrumental prog rock / fusion  with Michael Manring on bass, Tim Alexander on drums, and Alex Skolnick on guitar.

In the meantime, I was able to find both of their albums on CD and I'm not disappointed.
Quite the contrary from disappointed.
These is great stuff !

• attention deficit: s/t
      (1998, cd, --, magna carta)

• attention deficit: the idiot king
      (2001, cd, --, magna carta)

Both albums are also available on Bandcamp.

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