THE ARCHITECT OF TRUTH - THE RITE OF SPRING (PERCUSSED)

'The Rite of Spring (Percussed)'
by Architect of Truth

EXPO MARCEL GOTLIB IN PARIS

The attentive reader must have come across some Frank Zappa references in (the late) comic book artist Marcel Gotlib's oeuvre.

Gotlib.
Displaying a fine musical taste and always fun to read.
One of the greats.
And he's getting an expo in Paris, France, at Huberty & Breyne.

PARIS | 36 avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris

GOTLIB
Rétrospective

Exposition Du vendredi 4 septembre au samedi 10 octobre 2026

ORANG-UTAN

From the Think Like A Key record label:

Eight tracks. One afternoon. Five guys who didn't even know the record existed until it was already in American shops. A young London impresario named Adrian Millar marched a hard-rock outfit called Hunter into one of London's great studios, cut the album with engineer Louis Austin (early Fleetwood Mac, Queen) at the desk, then drove off in a Rolls-Royce with the tapes. The album surfaced stateside in 1971 under a name the band never chose, became a collector's grail, and has been bootlegged ever since — but never from the original source.

Millar's master session tape — recovered from his family's loft years after his passing — is the only tape that matters. The Producer's Cut is the first edition sourced from that multi-track reel. Every previous reissue and bootleg pressed an LP transfer. This is the multi-track itself, freshly remixed, and corrected for the first time: the original tape ran approximately 2% slow, meaning the album the world knows has always been slightly flat and sluggish. Not anymore.

The circulating recording:

STICK MEN - SWIMMING IN TEA

 'Swimming In Tea'
by Stick Men

Three versions / remixes, released as a teaser for the upcoming "Let's Thrak Again" album.

KAPLAN - EVANS - GREENBERGER - QUANTUM FIDGETS

From the David Greenberger (Men & Volts) vault:

Improvised music by Phil Kaplan, Michael Evans and David Greenberger.

HAPPY THE MAN

From the Bandcamp page:

Progressive rock pioneers Happy the Man have been recording and developing Fourth of July: An American Suite, a large-scale musical work composed by Ron Riddle — originally created in the 2000s during Riddle’s years scoring television for Discovery Channel and TLC. 

The music traces its origins to the landmark Houston fireworks spectacular featured in the television series Detonators, where Riddle served as composer for the series. At the time, the Houston event was widely recognized as one of the largest fireworks productions in America, combining massive pyrotechnic displays with live-event drama on an enormous scale.

Written to accompany both the spectacle and the emotional tension behind the production itself, the music moved fluidly between progressive rock, orchestral passages, cinematic Americana, and rhythmically driven soundtrack composition.

Quite theatrical and a bit too much patriotism for my taste, especially if you compare the YouTube movie with the current situation in the USA...
Anyway, here it is:

Also out on Bandcamp.

WIM T. SCHIPPERS SPECIAL ON DWALMACAT

 Dwalmacat dedicated episode 962 to Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers (1942-2026)

CLOUS VAN MECHELEN & WIM T. SCHIPPERS - Eufonie royal
JACQUES PLAFOND & HIS PLAFONNIÈRES - Life is so surprising
JACQUES PLAFOND & HIS PLAFONNIÈRES - Hark ouverture
HENK PAL - De gekgeworden bever
JACQUES PLAFOND, WILHELMINA KUTTJE & JAN VOS - Hersenschimmenrimbim
HENK PAL - Live in BukBuk te Heiloo
ERNIE EN BERT - Ik ben een kerstbal
JACQUES PLAFOND - De lachende scheerkwast
SJEF VAN OEKEL - Wordt het toch nog gezellig
WILHEMINA KUTTJE - De rimbim
DE GLEUFJES - Wat een lul
JACQUES PLAFOND & HIS PLAFONNIÈRES - I’ll just die!
ANNEKE ROL - Een tulp al in een vaasje
JACQUES PLAFOND & HIS PLAFONNIÈRES - Don’t do that
SJEF VAN OEKEL - Vette jus
JACQUES PLAFOND - Op zoek naar Yolanda
JACQUES PLAFOND - Kenide Koda
GERRIT DEKZEIL - Ik ben Gerrit
RONFLONFLONTUNE ‘Met zijn bek vol tanden’
SJEF VAN OEKEL - Oh prachtvolle gloed dezer eeuw

NEW SUN RA RELEASE

A new (download-only) Sun Ra album popped up:

Available from Qobuz.
https://www.qobuz.com/be-nl/album/at-the-crossroads-of-destiny-sun-ra/s1c9wvh78v8xb

 

DWEEZIL ZAPPA 2019 CONCERT UP ON YOUTUBE

Dweezil Zappa's 2019 Bergen Performing Arts Centre concert turned up on YouTube.

UPCOMING RELEASES ON THE CUNEIFORM RECORD LABEL

"Horns & Hooves" by Honey Ride Me A Goat.
To be released on July 31.
Bandcamp & LP.

"Mirrors, Shapes, Objects" by Michael Columbia
To be released on July 31.
Bandcamp & LP.

ECLECTIC MAYBE BAND - DOMESTIC DRAGON

• Eclectic Maybe Band: Domestic Dragon
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / discus music)
      (2026, cd, UK, discuss music)

Thank God for people like Guy Segers who aren't afraid to experiment.
Thank God for a label like Discus Music who has the courage and the risk to release such albums. Not just on Bandcamp, but also on CD.

Bandcamp adds:

Once again studio master / composer / bassist Guy Segers assembles a huge cast of progressive musicians to perform / improvise 8 new pieces. Guy's methods of composition and collage remain as before, but each new Eclectic Maybe Band release brings a new perspective to the music. This time round harder, more brittle sounds emerge from an album with a very punchy attitude. A mixture of avant pop and progressive complexity.

Beautifully packaged and including the detailed credits.
Love it.

BOOGIE STUFF - HAVE MERCY!

• Boogie Stuff: Have Mercy
      (2004, cd, Germany, sky records)

Another nice find.
German band Boogie Stuff released "Have Mercy!" in 2004.
The album presented 15 tracks and featured Jimmy Carl Black doing vocals on three (live) tracks:

• The Indian Of The Group
• Who Did You Love
• Black Limousine

Boogie Stuff is a great blues band. Jimmy Carl Black's guest appearance is the icing on the cake.

Here's 'Black Limousine' !

KOMMISSAR HJULER

Visual and experimental music artist Kommissar Hjuler is not new to this blog.

Pictured below are two books by Kommissar Hjuler: "Der Napfkuchenman" and "Der Napfkuchenman - Part 2".
Next to the standard edition of the books, 100 copies were made available with original art.

The books refer to the Napfkuchenman / Muffin Man, an 18th century murderer from London.
Nothing to do with FZ, except for the name.
Nevertheless, I asked der Kommissar to provide a link with FZ in the artwork  :-)

THE ALMOST THREE - VOL 5

• The Almost Three: Vol 5
      (2026, --, --, digital music platforms)
      (2026, cd, Germany, pottpeople)

The latest album by The Almost Three got released earlier this year, both on Bandcamp and on CD.
The trio did go through quite a change.
Leading man Martin Ettrich is still there, of course, but there are two new faces in the band:
Hannes Vesper on bass, and Mickey Neher on drums.

"Vol 5".
It's actually the 6th album in their discography if you count the "Limited" album the band did in 2019, but it's another excellent album.
Great blues / funk guitar work, plus a fine cover of Frank Zappa's 'Black Napkins' !!

The album can be ordered and streamed through their website.

https://almostthree.de/

MAURO PAWLOWSKI - UNSPECTACULAR TIMES

• Mauro Pawlowski: Unspectacular Times
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, --, unday records)

Mauro Pawlowski remains Belgium's premier musical shapeshifter, a man whose DNA is permanently intertwined with the avant-garde, rock, and experimental scenes. From the noise-driven frenzy of Evil Superstars to the art-rock heights of dEUS and his various free-jazz and electronic alter-egos, predictability is not part of his vocabulary.

With "Unspectacular Times", his first proper solo album in two decades, Mauro pulls off his most shocking stunt yet: he delivers a meticulously crafted art-pop record, referred to by Mauro and his producers (Bruno Coussée and Stephane Misseghers) as a typical Yachtrock album.

The album got released about a week ago, I've enjoyed it at least once every day.
How's that for a recommendation.

ZAPPATITE

 

DARKO THE SUPER - EVERYTHING IS DARKO - THE MIXTAPE

Darko The Super's latest release has a couple of Frank Zappa references in the lyrics.

In 'Liquid Swords'

I’m like Van Gogh’s ear, plus the one from Blue Velvet
Seldom seen in public, too hell bent on the outcome
Of wild rhymes and loud drums
Conceptual albums I write on the daily
Feet don’t fail me
Frank Zappa Wowee Zowee
Holy cannolis and homemade raviolis

In 'Raspy Shit'

My name featured on the marquee
Next to Frank Zappa and Biz Markie
E-40 and Skateboard P
Kurt Cobain, Ghostface in Clark Wallabies

Out on Bandcamp.

FROGHAT HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT, "WET SOUNDS"

Check it out !
"Wet Sounds", the new album by Froghat.
And yes, it's a a surf album. Sort of.

HENRIK OLSSON - ANTUMBRA ENSEMBLE

The Cuneiform record label has just released Henrik Olsson's "Antumbra Ensemble.
Download and streaming through Bandcamp, but also available on CD.

This sounds great.
Henrik Olsson !!
His fist release on the Cuneiform record label where he will fit in nicely as the label is known for: releasing avant-garde and boundary-pushing music.

GOOD TIGER - WE WILL ALL BE GONE

• Good Tiger: We Will All Be Gone
      (2018, cd, USA, metal blade records)

I don't remember when or why I bought Good Tiger's "We Will All Be Gone"...
Maybe I received it as a gift?
It's been on my desk for quite a while and I've listened to it a couple of times already.

Anyway, I'm very pleased with this second release by London-based progressive rock band Good Tiger. Dynamic music. Heavy, complex rhythmic structures, and great vocals.

To date, the band has released four album. "We Will Be Gone" was their second album, released in 2018.

Check them out.
"We Will All Be Gone" got released on CD and on LP, and it's also available as a digital download / streaming album.

NEW ALBUM BY GARY LUCAS

Gary Lucas teamed up with Lukas Ligeti to record a new album: "Omnidirectional".

Bandcamp / Cuneiform digital download / streaming only, as far as I can tell.

ZAPPALOUS

I assume the name of the band is Zappalous, or maybe Tokyo Zappalous.
Here's their December 6, 2025 concert

ANDY MERTENS - REGYPTIAN STRUT

 

J.M. SMIG - MARY MIRROR

a message from J.M. Smig

Musical work in progress: "Mary Mirror", a virtual piano and string quintet inspired by the unpainted reflecting pool at the Christian Science Center in downtown Boston.

J. M. Smig · Mary Mirror (Work in Progress)

DIGGING DEEP WITH VAULTMEISTER JOE TRAVERS

 

MEAT LOAF - HANG COOL TEDDY BEAR

• Meat Loaf: Hang Cool Teddy Bear
      (2010, cd, --, mercury)

(The late) Meat Loaf released "Hang Cool Teddy Beer" in 2010.
Lots of guests on this typical Meat Loaf album, including Steve Vai (on ‘Love Is Not Real / Next Time You Stab Me in the Back’ and ‘Song of Madness’), and Brian May (also on 'Love Is Not Real / Next Time You Stab Me in the Back’).

BANDCAMP RE-RELEASE OF THE WRONG OBJECT'S "STORIES FROM THE SHED" HAS A BONUS TRACK

The Wrong Object's 2007 "Stories From The Shed" album has been made available on Bandcamp.
And it includes a bonus track: a 10-minute live version of 'The Unbelievable Truth' !

NEW ALBUM BY THE ECLECTIC MAYBE BAND

New album by the Eclectic Mayby Band, Guy Segers' progressive music project.

"Domestic Dragon",
out in July,
on the Discus Music record label.
Bandcamp & CD release.

Once again studio master / composer / bassist Guy Segers assembles a huge cast of progressive musicians to perform / improvise 8 new pieces. Guy's methods of composition and collage remain as before, but each new Eclectic Maybe Band release brings a new perspective to the music. This time round harder, more brittle sounds emerge from an album with a very punchy attitude. A mixture of avant pop and progressive complexity.

BEAT PLAYS BOWIE

In concert in Berlin.

SUN RA'S "EAST TWO + 7" IS OUT

 'East Two' + 7 other tracks.
The CD got released a couple of days ago.

FRENCH TV - THE SPANISH CAPER

• French TV: The Spanish Caper
      (2026, cd, USA, cuneiform rune 544/545)

The Cuneiform record label has released a beautiful 2 CD album by Louisville-born avant-prog veterans French TV.
Disc One offers complex instrumentals written in Northern Spain, while Disc Two delivers an obscure collection of late-60s/early-70s heavy-rock and psych covers.

Disc One sounds great, but check out this great list of tracks on Disc Two.
There's a lot of nice things to discover here !

Disc Two

1. 20th Century Man (R. Davies)

2. Nantucket Sleigh Ride (to Owen Coffin) (F. Pappalardi, G. Collins) = Mountain

3. Goin' a Little Crazy (B. Cummings, K. Winter) = The Guess Who

4. Fresh Garbage (J. Ferguson) - Spirit

5. Butterfly Bleu (D. Ingle, L. Dorman, R. Bushy) = Iron Butterfly

6. Deadman's Dream (G. Brooker, K. Reid) = Procol Harum

7. Take a Look Around (J. Walsh) = James Gang

8. Funky Judge (A. Williams, L. Hutton) = Bull & The Matadors

9. Freedom Rider (S. Winwood)

10. Days and Nights (S. Hill, W. Ham) = Bloodrock

11. A Million Miles Away (R. Gallagher)

12. Renegade (J. McKay, G. McJohn, G. Biondo) = Steppenwolf

CHEER-ACCIDENT - YOU SMILE - THE SONG IS OVER

• Cheer-Accident: You Smile – The Song Is Over
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / cuneiform)
      (2026, cd, USA, cuneiform)

Cheer-Accident's "You Smile – The Song Is Over" is sprawling, hour-long avant-prog masterpiece.
It marks the Chicago group's 27th studio release, or even their 37th release if you count every album in their vast output.
Made available on the legendary Cuneiform Records, "You Smile - The Song Is Over" offers dense, adventurous math-rock next to experimental (almost pop) songs and meditative soundscapes.

While the deluxe edition of the album bundles the CD with a DVD of live performances, the Studio Album Only Bandcamp version strips the package down to its core 11-track studio narrative, adding  an edited version of 'They Won't Talk To Me' as a bonus track.

Pure Avant-Prog / RIO (Rock in Opposition) / Math-Rock.
Love it.

-- info: Danny Mathys

RAY MARCHICA WITH EDDY'S CHEMISTRY SET TO PERFORM AT BIRDLAND ON JUNE 28

Ray Marchica is one of New York City’s most versatile and accomplished drummers. Drawing from his extensive musical world he will be bringing Eddy’s Chemistry Set, the smaller ensemble from the renown Ed Palermo Big Band, to join him on the Birdland stage.

https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/ray-marchica-with-eddys-chemistry-set/

Oz Noy, Ray Marchica, Ugonna Okegwo

THE MUSIC ACROSS RADIO SHOW

Special Live Broadcast
Live Radio Concert with the Friedemann Dähn Trio – 21 June 2026, 11.00 pm

This time, “Music Across” is broadcasting live from the radio studio on Gaußplatz in Vienna. Our guests in the studio is the Friedemann Dähn Trio. Friedemann “Fried” Dähn has appeared on “Music Across” several times before with various groups, and we’re delighted that he’s back with us live this time with his trio. Great music and interesting conversations are guaranteed, and we’re also happy to take calls from listeners during this live broadcast.

About the Friedemann Dähn Trio:

Together with drummer Bernd Settelmeyer and saxophonist, clarinettist and flautist Carsten Netz, cellist Friedemann ‘Fried’ Dähn has created an ensemble that moves with ease between contemporary jazz, free improvisation and polyphonic sound sculpture, whilst constantly exploring new forms of expression. The trio invites the audience to embark on a musical journey centred on curiosity, openness and immediate experience.

Auf ORANGE 94.0 dem Freien Radio in Wien:
Internet Live Stream: http://o94.at
(click on the green line on the top of the page, the line with the 'play' triangle)

 

PIERRE BOULEZ - ARNOLD SCHOENBERG

The Pierre Boulez series by Sony Classical is joy to discover.
Beautiful packaging and adventurous music.
Today's focus is on Arnold Schoenberg.
It's hard to believe that this music was composed over 100 years ago.

• Pierre Boulez: SCHOENBERG – Serenade – 5 Pieces For Orchestra – Ode To Napoleon
      (1993, cd, --, sony classical smk 48 463)

• Pierre Boulez: SCHOENBERG – Suite, op. 29 – Verklärte Nacht – 3 Pieces
     (1993, cd, --, sony classical smk 48 465)

ANGINE DE POITRINE

Canadian costumed math-rock duo Angine de Poitrine is currently in the middle of a massive international tour. After shooting to internet fame from a viral KEXP performance, the mysterious pair has been touring, playing festivals, and releasing their music worldwide.

For those who are catching up, the duo has released two albums.
Recommended listening.

• Angine de Poitrine: Vol. I
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      also out on CD and on LP

---

• Angine de Poitrine: Vol. II
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      also out on CD and on LP

Fun facts: both CDs include an untitled bonus track & both CDs come with a fan club card, hidden behind the tray.

THE CRAMPS - LOOK MOM NO HEAD

The Cramps' "Look Mom No Head" album is getting a re-issue on red vinyl.

The album includes The Cramps' version of 'Hardworkin' Man', a song written by Jack Nitzsche and originally performed by Captain Beefheart (with Ry Cooder on the guitar) for the "Blue Collar" movie.

THE 2ND COMING

Of interest for those how enjoy late sixties psychedelic rock and southern rock music !

The 2nd Coming issued one 7" in 1968.
They also recorded an album but that never got released. Until now, that is.

https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/the-2nd-coming-evaluations-interview

NEW BANDCAMP RELEASE BY ANDREW LATIMER

Guitarist, composer and founding member of Camel, Andrew Latimer.has just released "From The Vault" through Bandcamp.

SENDELICA - AN INTRODUCTION TO SENDELICA

• Sendelica: An Introduction To Sendelica
      (2026, 4cd, UK, fruits de mer)

"An Introduction To Sendelica" is an impressive 4-disc retrospective from the Fruits de Mer Records label.
For fans of hypnotic space rock and psychedelic jazz.

It also includes the band's excellent version of Frank Zappa's 'Don't Eat The Yellow Snow', a track that they had previously released on 7", a split release with Superfjord, from 2017.

A great collection of music and, indeed, a great introduction to Sendelica.

Here's the sneak preview for the Superfjord / Sendelica 7", from 9 years ago.

RICHARD RAY FARRELL & JIMMY CARL BLACK - CATARACT JUMP

• Farrell & Black: Cataract Jump
      (1996, cd, Spain, big bang bb-116-cd)

I didn't know about this Spanish edition of Richard Ray Farrell & Jimmy Carl Black's "Cataract Jump" album.

Originally released in 1996 on the German Fritz Records label.
Re-issued in Spain on the Big Bang record label. Also in 1996.

The album included FZ’s ’Road Ladies’ and Don Van Vliet’s’Sho Nuff N’ Yes I Do’, and sported a different album cover.

The artwork for the (original) German release:

-

CUNEIFORM ANNOUNCED A LIVE RECORDING BY BOUD DEUN

Cuneiform Records just announced "Pronounced Booed Dee-un : Churches : Live Boud Deun at Orion April 5, 1997" by Boud Deun

THE ALMOST THREE - IT'S JUST MUSIC

• The Almost Three: It’s Just Music
      (2020, cd, Germany, pottpeople)
      (2020, lp, Germany, pottpeople)

The Almost Three is familiar with Frank Zappa's output as they already covered a Zappa tune or two.

"It's Just Music, their 2020 album, included a track entitled 'Zoppo', of which I assume that it's a nice nod to FZ.
Not necessarily musically, just the title.

Out on LP and on CD.

BSQRD

BSQRD released a Frank Zappa tribute on her "Yesterday's Tomorrow" album.
From 2013 !

Growing up, our father would make my brothers and I mixed CDs of all my dad's favorite music from the 70s. Every CD he made us had to have Frank Zappa's Mudshark on it, because the Secret Word for tonight is Mudshark!

The track is called 'Secret Word (Tribute To Frank Zappa)' and it samples Frank Zappa.

THE MAN FROM UTOPIA

Nothing can beat Tanino Liberatore's artwork for Frank Zappa's "The Man From Utopia" album, but this Rick Griffin comic book from 1972 (from the comixjoint archives) would also have been nice :-)

https://comixjoint.com/manfromutopia.html

-- info: Danny Mathys

PIERRE BOULEZ - BARTÓK / SCRIABIN

• Pierre Boulez: BARTÓK – The Wooden Prince – Music For Strings, Percussion And Celestra – Dance Suite // SCRIABIN – Le Poeme De L’extase
      (1994, 2cd, --, sony classical smk 64 100)

Today, my musical adventure will start by exploring the works of Béla Bartók and Alexander Scriabin.
Music performed by the New York Philharmonic and by the BBC Orchestra, under the direction of Pierre Boulez.
Released in the beautiful Sony Classical series.

GENT JAZZ FESTIVAL - JULY 2 TO JULY 18, 2026

Gent Jazz,
Ghent, Belgium

July 2 - July 18

https://www.gentjazz.com/line-up

NORAH JONES

Norah Jones Is Playing Along with Ron Carter & Bill Frisell

Norah Jones Is Playing Along with Pino Palladino & Blake Mills

DWEEZIL ZAPPA TALKS PEDALS

 

AK'CHAMEL, THE GIVER OF ILLNESS

 

"ZAPPA AND ME" MOVIE UPDATE

Zappa And Me Movie News
It's one of the most iconic portraits in rock'n roll.
Our film tells that story and the story of Robert Davidson, the photographer who made the portrait.

We started the film back in 2019 and we're hoping to complete it this year with your help and support.

Kickstarter Campaign Launch
Our campaign has been 'approved' and we are now making some final tweaks before a prelaunch.

However, with the football World Cup on, followed by the holidays, we think it is wise (based on some reading and advice) to launch the campaign in September, when we will not be competing for oxygen with the footie.

We plan to use this time to build our network of supporters.

For the Kickstarter to be a success, so that we stand a chance of being able to complete this film, need to grow our project supporter base, so please share the film's webpage with friends and help us spread the word on social media!

https://www.wilddogworld.com/zappa-and-me-the-image-that-created-an-icon/

Seeking Executive Producers
While we wait for the launch of the Kickstarter, we're not planning to lounge about. We're aiming to shoot several key interviews over the summer with Pauline Butcher (Zappa's PA), Chris Welch (Melody Make Journalist) and Piers Secunda (Tony Secunda' son) as well as lining up several other contributors (names to be announced soon!). We also have a filming trip to the Zappanale festival in July planned.

To do all this though, we do need to secure some extra funding. So we are looking for people to invest in the project early and come on board as Executive Producers.

There will be an Executive Producer reward offer in the Kickstarter campaign, but that will not come with the possibility of a share in the film's profits.

Executive Producers who would like to come on board early will be offered a share in film profits, IMDB credits, invitations to the cast and crew screening in London and a bundle of other goodies including signed movies posters etc.

Drop us a line if you can help!

Newsletter Bonus
As a bonus for our newsletter crew, we're really please to share this little snippet from an interview with Candy Zappa (Frank's sister) by Tom Spence on the KVTA Morning Show in California earlier this week. Candy speaks about Zappa and Me.

https://soundcloud.com/wilddogltd/candy-zappa-on-kvta-60-secs

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE - PROGABLY YOU'RE WRONG

• Øresund Space Collective: Progably You’re Wrong
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

The Øresund Space Collective is famous for three things: they play an instrumental, fully improvised style of psychedelic space rock; they have released over 80 albums to date; and their slashed o messes up the alphabetical system on many hard drives (at least on mine).

Featuring lots of phasing effects and trippy echoes, the label "psychedelic space rock" is not incorrect.

A lot of their albums are also made available on CD and on LP, but you can also check them out on Bandcamp:

-- info: Danny Mathys

SONY CLASSICAL

Does anyone remember this Sony Classical series from the early 1990's?
Performances on contemporary classical music, conducted by Pierre Boulez, with superb album covers and lots of info included?

Searching for additional albums in this series was not easy and it's still far from complete, but I did add some of the below titles on my want list.

• Stravinsky, Pierre Boulez, New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra – Pétrouchka / Le Sacre Du Printemps
• Stravinsky, Pierre Boulez, BBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic – The Firebird Suite / Pulcinella Suite / Scherzo Fantastique / Suites Nos. 1 & 2
• Ravel - Pierre Boulez – Boléro - Alborada Del Gracioso - Le Tombeau De Couperin - Concerto For The Left Hand - Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte
• Ravel - Pierre Boulez – Shérérazade / Rapsodie Espagnole / Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales / Ma Mère L'Oye
• Ravel - Pierre Boulez – Ravel Daphnis Et Cloe
• Berg - Pierre Boulez – Chamber Concerto - Three Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6 - Violin Concerto
• Bartók - Pierre Boulez , Scriabin – The Wooden Prince - Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta - Dance Suite - Le Poème De L'Extase
• Bartók - Pierre Boulez, New York Philharmonic – The Miraculous Mandarin / Four Orchestral Pieces / Three Village Scenes
• Schoenberg - Pierre Boulez - John Shirley-Quirk, David Wilson-Johnson, Ensemble Intercontemporain, BBC Symphony Orchestra – Serenade - 5 Pieces For Orchestra - Ode To Napoleon
• Schoenberg - Pierre Boulez, Members Of The Ensemble InterContemporain* – Suite, Op. 29 / Verklärte Nacht / 3 Pieces
• Messiaen / Stravinsky - Pierre Boulez – Et Expecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum, Couleurs De La Cité Céleste / Symphonies Of Wind Instruments
• Mahler - Pierre Boulez - Evelyn Lear, Elisabeth Söderström, Grace Hoffman, Stuart Burrows, Ernst Haefliger, Gerd Nienstedt, London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus – Das Klagende Lied

BEAT - - - THE PARIS SHOW

The entire BEAT concert.
June 10, 2026
L'Olympia, Paris, France

Adrian Belew/Tony Levin/Steve Vai/Danny Carey

The second set has sync issues, but you can find the corrected upload of the second set below.

The second set, with the sync problems resolved:

GRUPPO SPORTIVO'S FINAL CONCERT

The final concert of Gruppo Sportivo's final tour will be at the Bibelot Poppodium in Dordrecht, NL, on June 26, 2026.

This is the same Gruppo Sportivo that used Frank Zappa's 'Takes You Clothes Off When You Dance' as an intro for their 'Superman' song, originally released in 1977 on their "10 Mistakes" album.
Later Gruppo Sportive would perform at one of the Dutch Frank Zappa Days, organised by Guus Veldhuis. They re-named themselves The Rubbers Of Prevention for the occasion and even performed at Zappanale later on.

A clip from 10 years ago, performing a song from over 40 years ago:

RPWL

RPWL will start an extensive tour in April 2027.

The German prog rock band RPWL was formed in 1997, originally as a Pink Floyd tribute band – frontman Yogi Lang’s voice bears a striking resemblance to that of David Gilmour. After a few years, RPWL switched to original material and, on albums such as World Through My Eyes (2005), Beyond Man And Time (2012) and Tales From Outer Space (2019), developed their own accessible prog rock sound in the style of Porcupine Tree and (the later) Marillion – though, of course, Pink Floyd is never far away. 

NEWS FROM THE RESIDENTS

Santa Already?

Behold! Welcome to the latest, long overdue Residents newsletter, direct from the shared desk of The Cryptic Corporation and New Ralph Too. The Residents are well, having resumed work on their new sure-to-be-a-masterpiece album following the recovery of one of their number, and as we speak are preparing to announce rescheduled ESKIMO tour dates - interested parties should keep an eye on all of the band's social media platforms, and of course residents.com for the new dates, details on tickets and so on, all of which will be shared with the wider world the moment everything is set in stone. ​

Rejoice! Meanwhile, The Residents are also preparing to formally announce the release of a brand new EP of 'Eskimo Folk Tales' to accompany the tour, featuring five brand new songs inspired by a collection of stories handed to them by their mentor The Mysterious N. Senada almost a decade ago. We're told a late September release date is planned - as ever, keep 'em peeled for details as they land via the Cherry Red and MVD websites, as well as your local independent record stockist if you're lucky enough to still have one. We're contractually obliged, of course, to tell you it's a fantastic record, but it really is. Not quite a new side of 'Eskimo' (although their second three-sided album would be kinda cool), but certainly a companion piece to the 1979 original, and must-hear stuff for anybody planning to go to one of the shows and desperate to fit in by knowing all of the words. ​

And as ever, the group are also deep into several other projects, both new and resurrected after the enforced layoff during the first half of this year. Stage shows, books, musicals (!?) and assorted collaborations are all being discussed, worked on, reworked, discussed again and so on - any long term Residents fan will know that's nothing new, but given the health concerns of the past six months we're sure you'll agree it's particularly good news right now. ​

And, as ever, rest assured you'll be the first to know as everything comes together and 2027 begins to plan itself. Oh, and they haven't forgotten the long promised Bandcamp site either. ​

But what with the recent 'Animal Lover pREServed' offering, the 'Randy, Chuck & Bob In The Studio' Record Store Day LP and this new 'Eskimo Folk Tales' thing, the group have been overly-conscious of desensitisation, fatigue and Rez-blindness among their millions of fans. But it'll happen soon, they assure us. ​

And that's just about that. All that remains is a gift for you, the patient reader. Some of you may be familiar with the work of Mr Ego Plum, and will be excited to know that he has been working with The Residents a lot recently, including co-producing the new 'Eskimo' EP. Well, back in 2023 he appeared at the band's 'Secret Show' in San Francisco, performing 'Santa Dog', and has kindly given us permission to hand out his demo recording of that performance - if all goes to plan, you can find it right here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dyjb8n78yznazw26smyec/Santa-Dog-The-Residents-Secret-Show.mp3
We think it's rather wonderful, and hope you'll enjoy it. And, of course, if you haven't already heard the live version and the rest of the 'Secret Show' album (and seen the film) you really ought to add it to your to do list.

Your pals,
New Ralph Too

GOOSE - - - UPCOMING TOURDATES & LIVESTREAMS

With livestreams on nug.net

LOUISE VAN DEN HEUVEL ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE AT THE 2027 BRUSSELS JAZZ FESTIVAL

For its twelfth edition, Flagey once again presents an innovative jazz program, open to young European and international talents.
This year, the festival welcomes Louise van den Heuvel as artist-in-residence, who will present three new projects.

https://www.flagey.be/en/brussels-jazz-festival-2027-zkl4

NEW ALBUM BY GOOSE

Today, June 12, 2026, marks the release date for the new Goose album: "Big Modern!".

RHÙN - EVIL ERBEZ

• Rhùn: Evil Erbez
      (2026, cd, France, baboon fish label bfl 23)

French Zeuhl and R.I.O. (Rock in Opposition) pioneers Rhùn released their first demo in 2008.
Their latest album, recorded live in 2024, captures their frenetic energy in peak form.

Recorded at the Soleil Zeuhl festival in Belleville, this 7-track album documents the 5-piece band's multi-instrumental lineup as they showcase their trademark avant-garde sound.

Compared to their previous albums, "Evil Erbez" is a departure from the tightly controlled, studio wizardry. Where "Tozïh" (2023) and "Tozzos" (2024) allowed for layered, astral noodling, "Evil Erbez" trades atmospheric pacing for raw, explosive, high-octane velocity.
Koenjihyakkei comes to mind.
I'd even call it avant-garde jazz.

"Evil Erbez" proves that Rhùn also is an incredible live act. And excellent addition to their discography.
Out on the Baboon Fish record label, and on Bandcamp.
Check it out:

-- info: Danny Mathys

SEBASTIAN GRAMMS' HELIX PROJECT

"Sebastian Gramss' HELIX" Documentary by Maurice Graf.

GOOSE - 2026/05/25 LA MADELEINE, BRUSSELS, BE

• Goose: 2026/05/25 La Madeleine, Brussels, BE
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

American jam-band Goose has the good habit to make recordings of their concerts available through Bandcamp.
I didn't attend their recent gig in Brussels, but I am more than happy to enjoy the recording.

Great atmosphere. Superb sound, beautiful pieces and lovely improvisations.
And, yes, 'I Would Die 4 You' is the Prince song.

Feel-good music.

Around 2019, Goose included Frank Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia' in their setlist a couple of times.
Also available through Bandcamp.

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

NEAL SCHON - UNIVERSE

• Neal Schon: Universe
      (2020, cd, USA, straxar)

If you're into instrumental rock guitar music, you definitely need to check out Neal Schon's "Universe" album.
Neal Schon joined Carlos Santana's band at a young age, only to become part of Journey at the age of 19.

"Universe" was Neal's eleventh album. The unlikely aspect of the album is the choice of songs.
Imagine having been a guitar hero all of your life, both as a solo artist and as part of one of the biggest rock bands around. And then you decide to record a bunch of songs that you like. Original material but also songs by Prince, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix,... All as instrumental versions.

Simply brilliant.

Neal Schon: I Believe (S. Wonder)

PINO PALLADINO & BLAKE MILLS - NOTES WITH ATTACHMENTS

• Pino Palladino & Blake Mills: Notes With Attachments
      (2021, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2021, cd, --, impulse)
      (2021, lp, --, impulse)

Yesterday, I received a digital download copy of "Notes With Attachments", the 2021 album by Pino Palladino and Blake Mills.
The first piece of the album, 'Just Wrong', had me all puzzled. It felt like there were a lot of clues to Frank Zappa's early music / Mothers Of Invention area. Was it the chord structure, parts of the melody, the instrumentation? I still can't lay my finger on it. But it sure got me intrigued.

Did I get the same reaction to the other tracks on the album?
Well, not really, but I did really enjoy the other pieces as well.

 All instrumental.
Experimental, jazz-adjacent, and genre-defying soundscapes.

ROBERT DAVIDSON'S ICONIC PICTURE OF FRANK ZAPPA

Andrew Greenaway posted some excellent news on https://www.zappanews.co.uk/.
Kickstarter coming soon to help Wild Dog Film finish this documentary about Robert Davidson and his iconic photo of Frank Zappa

https://www.wilddogworld.com/zappa-and-me-the-image-that-created-an-icon/

K² - BOOK OF THE DEAD

• K²: Book Of The Dead
      (2004, cd, --, progrock records)

American progressive rock band K² got founded by Ken Jaquesss in 2001 in Los Angeles.
The band released two albums and two DVDs.

Their first album, "Book Of The Dead", featured Allan Holdsworth on the guitar !

Prog rock with an Allan Holdsworth lead guitar fusion injection...

I stumbled upon the below YouTube video by accident and ordered the CD right away.
Awesome.

DIVINE HAND ORCHESTRA - ARIA 51 (PICTURE DISC)

• Divine Hand Orchestra: Aria 51
      (2024, lp picture disc, USA, private release / label51recordings)

Led by Mano Divina Giannone on Theremins and on Tesla Coils, the eleven-piece Divine Hand Orchestra also features Dave Hartl on accordion and organ (who released an album with Frank Zappa tunes in 2019).

“Aria 51” was the ensemble’s fist release.

Subtitled “Songs From The 20th Century Voiced With Singing Electricity” the album offered classical pieces as well as pop songs.
The first piece on the album was FZ’s ‘Peaches En Regalia’.

Made available as a digital / download release on Bandcamp, the album also got issued on CD, on 5 color confetti vinyl LP, and (as I only recently learned) even on picture disc LP.

Here's a promising concert fragment. It's from a while ago already, but as the ensemble is preparing a Zappa tribute album at this very moment, this might be one of the pieces...

 

UNIT WAIL - PETROCHEMICALS CORP.

• Unit Wail: Petrochemicals Corp.
      (2026, cd, France, soleil mutant 65)

 After 7 years, French rock band Unit Wail is back with a new album.
"Petrochemical Corp." is a conceptual album with song titles focusing heavily on the ecological, social, and physical impacts of the petroleum industry.

"Petrochemicals Corp." still maintains strong Zeuhl ties, but the band expands their sound into much heavier and darker musical territory. While their early albums were firmly rooted in Magma-inspired Zeuhl and avant-prog, this fifth release heavily incorporates dystopian atmospheres.

Recommended listening !

-- info: Danny Mathys

PILI COÏT ET LES EXOCRINES

For their latest project, Pili Coït uses King Solomon's "Song Of Songs" as an inspiration.
The duo got expanded and the sound got more complex.

Experimental and fascinating.

AYRON

In September 2025, Tilburg, the Netherlands, was transformed into Ayreon City as six spectacular shows took over the 013 venue. All 15,000 tickets were snapped up within minutes, with fans travelling from an astonishing 71 countries to witness the latest Ayreon live experience.

For one unforgettable week, Tilburg lived and breathed Ayreon. On stage, the setlist spanned three decades of Ayreon history—from beloved fan favourites to songs never performed live before —and featured highlights from Arjen Lucassen’s many side projects, woven seamlessly into the experience.

Ayreon’s 30th-anniversary celebration in Tilburg was a unique moment—etched forever into the hearts and minds of those who experienced it live. Now, the wider world will finally have the chance to step into the Ayreon Universe and experience the magic from the comfort of your own home.

The event marked 30 years since the release of Ayreon’s debut album, The Final Experiment (1995). This massive, state-of-the-art production involved over 100 cast and crew members, featuring a one-of-a-kind stage design, stunning visuals, and spectacular special effects that elevated the show beyond a concert into a true theatrical happening.

PANZERBALLETT TOUR 2026

And they'll even play in Belgium !!

JOE LOVANO - PARAMOUNT QUARTET

• Joe Lovano: Paramount Quartet
      (2026, cd, --, ecm)

The Joe Lovano Paramount Quartet featured Joe Lovano (sax), Julian Lage (guitar), Asante Santi Debriano (bass) and Will Calhoun (drums).

Released on ECM Records, the album showcases Joe Lovano's warm saxophone melodies with Julian Lage’s crystalline guitar work.
Add Asante Santi Debriano’s bass lines and Will Calhoun’s polyrhythmic fills and you get seven beautiful pieces of music.

Contemporary jazz.

-- info: Danny Mathys

ZAPPA '66 Vol. 1

The latest Frank Zappa album, "Zappa '66 Vol. 1" has also been released in Japan.
Even available in Europe.
And as it happens, so is the recent "Whisky A Go Go" set.

PURBAYAN CHATTERJEE & MARK LETTIERI - FEATHERED CREATURES

• Purbayan Chatterjee & Mark Lettieri: Feathered Creatures
      (2026, download / streaming, --, digital music platforms)

Over the nine expansive tracks on "Feathered Creatures", celebrated sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee and genre-bending jazz guitarist Mark Lettieri chart a path through myriad subgenres of music – IDM’s skittering breakbeat tension, progressive rock’s epic, flowing sweep, and the entrancing lushness of Indian classical music – making for a true sonic journey that’s remarkable in its effortlessness. Chatterjee and Lettieri make boldness sound easy on "Feathered Creatures", and as a result their work sounds like two interlocking pieces of one brilliant puzzle.

The bones of "Feathered Creatures" were already being excavated by Chatterjee, as he’d been hard at work on some of the music featured on the record before meeting Lettieri near the end of 2023. The pair first came in contact as jazz fusion collective Snarky Puppy’s tour schedule rolled through India, which resulted in Chatterjee sitting in for a performance or two. “He played a couple songs with us and I was totally blown away by his skill,” Lettieri recalls. “I’d never really heard sitar played like an electric guitar. I immediately cornered him in the green room and was like, ‘You got to show me how you do that.’”

I've only heard a couple of tracks YouTube, but this sounds excellent.

INTIGE TALUURE - BANANAFISHING

14 paintings, 36" x 36";
Each cut into 9 12" squares;
Which totals to 126 unique album covers.

Here's one of the larger paintings, also depicting 9 album covers :

• Intige Taluure: Bananafishing
      (2026, lp + bonus cd, Belgium, bananafishin’ records 015)

The driving force behind Intige Taluure is two persons: Jean-Marie Mievis and Kim Duchateau.
Their music is unpredictable (to say the least) and "Bananafishing" is no exception.

From ethereal scenes to eclectic pieces, "Bananafishing" presents 5 tracks. The title track has to be played at 45 rmp and takes up the entire side A. The four remaining songs on side B are at 33 rpm

Theatrical. Experimental.
Songs but also spoken word sections.
A variety of guest vocalists.
Diverse instrumentation and an organ / synth sound that makes me think of The Residents.

This is an amazing record.

NEW ALBUM BY STICK MEN

A message from Stick Men

Stick Men Returns: Let's THRAK Again
The 10-year wait is over. Pre-orders begin today.



Today is June 5th, and we are opening pre-orders for the first full-length Stick Men album in ten years: "Let's THRAK Again". But before we talk about the music, we need to celebrate something monumental. Tomorrow, June 6th, is Tony Levin's 80th birthday.

Tony has spent decades anchoring some of the most iconic rhythm sections in music history, but Stick Men is his personal vehicle, his main band, his passion project, and a creative home where he completely shines on the Chapman Stick. There is no better way to honour Tony's incredible legacy and his entry into his eighth decade than by helping this music step completely out of the shadows.

Here is how we can celebrate Tony together:
When tomorrow hits, flood social media with your birthday wishes. Let's make some noise for him! When you post your congratulations, use the hashtag #LetsTHRAKAgain and share the link to our new website, stickmenband.com. Tell the world that Tony is turning 80 and celebrating by dropping a massive, boundary-pushing new record with his own band. Let’s get this trending for him.

The Evolution of the Trio

Now in our 16th year in this formation, the band has grown immensely.
Let's THRAK Again lives deeply within the spiritual world where King Crimson compositions dwell, even pulling in specific motivic elements from the classic THRAK album. We describe it as instrumental chamber music, but the chamber is enormous, loud, dark, and experimental. We purposely designed and arranged these pieces to be performed live as a raw trio, without leaning heavily on electronic safety nets. It is intricate, beautiful, and in your face.

"Repeated listening will be absolutely necessary to fully grasp everything happening beneath the surface."

The Tale of Two Reels

We aren't just releasing one version of this album. We are releasing two entirely distinct experiences mixed by two different Italian masters: Reel One (mixed by Stefano Castagna) and Reel Two (mixed by Fabio Trentini).
These aren't just slightly tweaked audio files. They feature completely different mixes and entirely different track orders. Let each reel wash over you as its own separate journey. The shifting track sequences and sonic architectures allow an entirely different emotional landscape to unfold.

 

THE FURIOUS BONGOS - BROWN MOSES (DEDICATED TO IKE WILLIS)

 

200 MOTELS PREVIEW

Later this month, "200 Motels" will be performed in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here's a short preview: