THE ULLULATORS - WHERE THE WILD THINGS GROW

• The Ullulators: Where The Wild Things Grow
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

The Ullulators add:
At last, after 7 months in the making, here is our latest release.
This is a studio album that sees us return to the roots of our original tape release genre - with basically an eclectic mix of styles, with elements of ambient, rock, space, fusion, latin, trip hop, and some pretty punchy riffs and eclectic world flavours.
We have had a real blast recording this album, and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it!!

Nice !!
Also out on CD, in a limited run of 200 copies.

CULPHO DOG GYMKHANA

Culpho Dog Gymkhana is a bit of a mystery, although it can be assumed that Alan Jenkins is part of the band.
They have just released their fourth album.

WINNE - WINNE ZONDER STRIJD

• Winne: Winne Zonder Strijd
      (2022, lp, The Netherlands, universal / top notch) – red vinyl

Dutch-rapper Winne’s 2009 CD, “Winne Zonder Strijd”, sampled ‘Uncle Remus’ on his ‘W.I.N.N.E.’ track.
In 2022, the album got released on standard black vinyl but also on red vinyl. The latter as a limited Record Store Day release.

I recently found a copy for a fair price.

(discogs picture)

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NOXPOX

• Noxpox: Electric Dreams Vol.1
      (2023, download/streaming, --, --)

German experimental, industrial artist Noxpox released two Frank Zappa pieces on his “Electric Dreams Vol.1” album: Noxpox’ version of The Black Page, and a Noxpox mix of ‘Watermelon In Easter Hay’.

https://archive.org/details/electric-dreams

A NEW (LIVE) ALBUM BY MATS/MORGAN

• Mats & Morgan: Make Mats/Morgan Great Again
      (2025, download/streaming, --, bandcamp)

“Make Mats/Morgan Great Again” presents the recordings of the Mats Öberg and Morgan Ågren concert at Fasching, Stockholm on November 24, 2023. Next to Mats on keyboard, harmonica and vocals, and Morgan on drums, the band featured Dan Berglund on double bass.

The album title sets the tone. I need a red baseball cap that says MMMGA.

This is a joy to listen to. From the first seconds of 'Propellerhäst', you enter another universe.
The rhythm, the phrasing, the melodies,...
AMAZING !

For those of you who keep track of this:
The album included ‘Sylox’, a piece with a reference to an unreleased Frank Zappa riff that had previously been used by Steve Vai on his “Flex-Able” and his “Passion And Warfare” records.

But even more important, the show will be released on video as well !!
Can't wait to see it.

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SCHOOL OF ROCK SAN RAMON - SPRING 2020-THE SOUNDS OF LAUREL CANYON

• School Of Rock San Ramon: SPRING 2020-The Sounds Of Laurel Canyon
      (2020, download/streaming, --, bandcamp)

California-based The School Or Rock San Ramon made their “SPRING 2020-The Sounds Of Laurel Canyon” available as a free download on Bandcamp.

The 16-track album ended with the SoRSR’s version of FZ’s ‘Call Any Vegetable’, ‘Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin’, and ‘Soft-Sell Conclusion’.

An excellent choice of tunes, if I may say so.
And another addition to The Others Of Invention.

 

21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID BAND - LIVE IN BARCELONA

• 21st Century Schizoid Band: Live In Barcelona
      (2024, 2cd, USA, cleopatra records)

The 21st Century Schizoid Band, dedicated to the music of King Crimson.
Recorded in concert in Barcelona in 2003 !

The current spotlight on the music of King Crimson is the perfect excuse to give "Live In Barcelona" a try. Especially if you're into a more jazzy approach.

Nice !

THE CARDIACS

Melodic Virtue, the publishing company that released two amazing coffee-table books with artwork and more from The Residents, has just released a book on The Cardiacs.
Also compiled and designed by Aaron Tanner.

Cardiacs: A Big Book and a Band and the Whole World Window
is OUT NOW!

Compiled and designed by Aaron Tanner, Cardiacs: A Big Book and a Band and Whole World Window spans the group’s formative years as Cardiac Arrest to their last single, Ditzy Scene.
This book features rare and unseen photos, artwork, and other ephemera that will captivate long-time fans and newcomers alike.
With an introduction by Shane Embury (Napalm Death), this fully authorized book is both a tribute and a comprehensive chronicle of the band’s artistry as a whole, providing a wealth of behind-the-scenes looks from the perspectives of band members past and present, alongside fans and contemporaries such as: Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More), Billy Gould (Faith No More), Todd Sucherman (Styx), Boff Whalley and Dunstan Bruce (Chumbawamba), Mike Keneally (The Zappa Band), Joanna Wang, Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd), Rob Crow (Pinback), Amon Tobin, Rhodri Marsden (Scritti Politti), Charlie Harper (U.K. Subs), Ego Plum, Pitchshifter, Dan Mongrain (Voivod), Paul Masvidal (Cynic), J.G. Thirlwell (Foetus) and many more!

 

THE BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND

 The Madfish record label is releasing a gigantic Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band box set:

"Still Barking".

a limited 17 CD box set + 3 DVD + hard-back book

At 270 UK £, this does not sound like a bad deal.

SOFT WORKS - ABRACADABRA IN OSAKA

• Soft Works: Abracadabra In Osaka
      (2020, 2cd, --, moonjune records)

Discogs:
Soft Works was a first attempt to resurrect the legendary band Soft Machine, and was formed with ex-members of the band at the request of Leonardo Pavkovic for a Japanese tour in 2003. But soon, Allan Holdsworth would leave and history repeated itself when he was replaced by John Etheridge - who already replaced Holdsworth in Soft Machine in 1975 - and the band changed its name to Soft Machine Legacy.

Soft Works featured 

• Elton Dean
• Allan Holdsworth
• Hugh Hopper
• John Marshall

and released "Abracadabra" in 2003.

Almost 20 years later, the MoonJune Records label released the recording of the 2003 Osaka concert.

Beautiful.

HASCO ENJOYMENTS - WOW!

• Hasco Enjoyment: Wow!
      (2025, download, --, bandcamp)

Being the influencer that I am, I would like to introduce you to Hasco Enjoyment's "Wow!" album.

Scheduled for a 12" vinyl and a CD release in a couple of weeks, the album is already available for download and streaming through Bandcamp.

Hasco Enjoyments is a musical group featuring baritone guitar, flute, synthesizers and saxophones played by an ensemble of iridescent bubbles. The soundtrack to pleasant characters eating discount hot dogs at a baseball game while coupons for decorative wax fruit drift in the wind.

Floating between ambient and pop, "Wow!" is a fine listening experience.
Instrumental and calming, it offers an beautiful mood-setting for the start of the day.

Someone will have to explain the artwork to me, but the music is great (and the song titles are hilarious).

The CD is being released by the Warsaw-based Rope Worm record label. Both as a regular CD, but also in a clam shell box.

https://ropeworm.bandcamp.com/album/wow

Check it out :

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Huracàn',
a new piece by Eidon.

 

AMOEBA SPLIT - A TIEMPO - UNA RETROSPECTIVA 2016 - 2018

• Amoebe Split: A Tiempo – Una Restrospectiva 2016-2018
      (2019, cdr + dvdr, Spain, private release / discos pat)

Amoeba Split is a Spanish progressive rock band, formed in 2001. The band has released several albums.

Discos Pat released “A Tiempo – Una Restrospective 2016-2018” in a limited edition of 100 numbered copies.
The DVDR offered excerpts from four Amoeba Spit concerts. The 2018 Uma, Malaga concert excerpt included the band’s version of FZ’s ‘Eat That Question’.

I couldn't find a clip of the jazzy version of 'Eat That Question', but here's another fine track, 'About Life Memories And Yesteryears'.

COR MUTSERS & GEERT CHATROU

Cor Mutsers & Geert Chatrou - Lumpy Gravy (F. Zappa)

 -- link: Jan van Kemenade

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing everyone a joyful and peaceful new year !
With lots of music !!