JUNE TYSON - SATURNIAN QUEEN OF THE SUN RA ARKESTRA

• June Tyson: Saturnian Queen Of The Sun Ra Arkestra
      (2019, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2019, cd, USA, modern harmonic mhcd-014)
      (2019, lp, USA, modern harmonic mh-8014)

It is no secret that June Tyson was the glowing, celestial heart of the Sun Ra Arkestra. While Herman Poole Blount (Sun Ra himself) and John Gilmore provided the cosmic philosophy and foundational acoustic fire, Tyson gave the Arkestra its human—and superhuman—voice. Released by the archival wizards at Modern Harmonic, "Saturnian Queen Of The Sun Ra Arkestra" is the definitive, multi-vinyl/CD retrospective that Tyson has long deserved.

For the United Mutations community (and seasoned Ra collectors), this compilation is an absolute treasure trove. It spans her incredible tenure with the Arkestra from 1968 until her passing in 1992. It is not just a best-of compilation; it is a meticulously curated testament to a vocalist who could pivot from standard big-band jazz phrasing to avant-garde space chants in the blink of an eye.

What makes this Modern Harmonic release essential is the inclusion of rare, unreleased takes and live recordings where Tyson’s presence is palpable. Her performance on 'Enlightenment' is a masterclass in cosmic theater, showcase-singing alongside John Gilmore with a chemistry that sounds as vibrant today as it did decades ago.

As expected from Modern Harmonic, the packaging is top-tier. It features gorgeous, rare archival photographs of June in her full, magnificent Arkestra regalia—looking every bit the Saturnian Queen. The extensive liner notes provide crucial historical context, detailing her entry into the Arkestra via Marshall Allen and her evolution into the band's wardrobe designer, choreographer, and multi-instrumentalist (her violin work on select tracks is a haunting bonus).

Saturnian Queen Of The Sun Ra Arkestra is a mandatory addition to the Sun Ra shelf. It rescues June Tyson from the margins of liner notes and rightfully places her on the throne as the matriarch of Afrofuturism.

The album was difficult to get hold of when it got released in 2019. I'm glad that I finally caught up and got hold of the CD recently.

Highly recommended. Space is still the place, and June Tyson is our guide.

EMPERICAL - LIKE LAMBS: TO THE SLAUGHTER

• Emperical: Like Lambs: To The Slaughter
      (2026, cd, --, whirlwinds recordings)

The award-winning UK jazz vanguard, Empirical, returns with a new album entitled "Like Lambs: To The Slaughter". Following the relocation of long-standing vibraphonist Lewis Wright to the US, the core trio of Nathaniel Facey (alto sax), Tom Farmer (double bass), and Shaney Forbes (drums) has adapted beautifully into a shape-shifting unit. For this expansive project, they have enlisted long-time collaborators Ivo Neame on piano and David Preston on guitar, forming a stellar quintet that navigates the album's dense textures with sheer brilliance.

The foreboding album title refers to the surrender of our individual autonomy. According to composer and drummer Shaney Forbes, the phrase "Like Lambs: To The Slaughter" represents entering a dangerous situation completely unaware, mirroring how modern society surrenders independent thought and an inner voice to the comfort of mass consensus, algorithms, and fragmented media manipulation.

Musically, the record is an uninterrupted, multi-part suite that mirrors this heavy philosophical weight. It bridges the gaps between post-bop, fiery free jazz, and contemporary classical arrangements.

-- info: Danny Mathys

NEW RELEASE BY MEN & VOLTS

• Men & Volts: At The Square Root
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Only two weeks after releasing "Tramps In Bloom", David Greenberger is making another Men & Volts album available on Bandcamp.

This time, it's a live concert from 2022 to which the liner notes add:
This is an expanded line-up of the band performing all the songs from the then newly released EP, Amber Supreme, and more.

NEW RELEASE FROM GOOSE

• Goose: 2026/08/19 WAMU Theater, Seattle, WA
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Going for the long-term jam band treatment as a remedy for the current political chaos in the world.

Another fine show by Goose.

A J. M. SMIG UPDATE

In case you've been wondering what J. M. Smig has been up to lately...

From J. M. Smig :

My laptop arrangement of John Cage's "4'33" is now available at

Sheet Music Plus: www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/4-33-23859318.html
Sheet Music Direct: www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/2099829/Product.aspx

TWO ALLAN HOLDSWORTH LIVE ALBUMS TO BE RELEASED IN NOVEMBER

Each album will be released as a blu-ray + 2CD set (and at least one of the two also as a 4 LP set).

The first album got recorded at Yoshi's on Friday 29/09/2006 and the second on Saturday 30/09/2006.

Featuring Allan Holdsworth plus Alan Pasqua, Jimmy Haslip, and Chad Wackerman !

NEW HARDY FOX RELEASE ANNOUNCED BY THE KLANGGALERIE LABEL

Klanggalerie on Bandcamp:

Hardy Fox was the primary composer of The Residents. He created an incredible body of work, using all kinds of names other than The Residents, amongst them Combo De Mechanio, Sonidas De La Noche, Dead Eye Dick, Charles Bobuck or Black Tar And The Cry Babies. Hardy first stopped touring with The Residents due to health issues. Soon afterwards, he left the group completely to concentrate on his solo work. After several albums as Charles Bobuck (later only Bobuck), the name given to him when still a member of The Residents, he later dropped all pseudonyms to work as Hardy Fox. His first self-titled solo recording was an album full of minimal love songs, a portrait of the young Hardy Fox. The second, "Nachtzug" was about his last days touring with The Residents. It was followed by "Rilla Contemplates Love", a concept album about the thoughts and feelings of a gorilla. A few days before his untimely passing, Hardy sent this album to us - his last ever full album (we have more material left that needs to see the light of day), Dead Creature. An absolutely essential item for all Residents and Hardy Fox fans with artwork that Hardy himself made for the CD!

FRED HÄNDL - INTIMATE OUTTAKES

• Fred Händl: Intimate Outtakes
      (2026, cdr, The Netherlands, private release)

To make the wait for his next official album a little easier, Fred Händl prepared “Intimate Outtakes”, a live recorded CD with seven tracks plus one bonus piece.
Tracks 1 – 7 were recorded live on July 9, 2026; track 8 got recorded live on June 5, 2026.
Music by Frank Zappa, arranged and performed by Fred Händl on piano.

The first batch of “Intimate Outtakes” counted 55 copies. Available from Fred.

01. Filthy Habits
02. How Could I Be Such A Fool
03. Watermelon In Easter Hay
04. The Idiot Bastard Son
05. Treacherous Cretins
06. Mom & Dad
07. Sleep Dirt
08. -untitled-

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Lichtinvallen'
by Eidon

MENTAT ROUTAGE

French collective Mentat Routage performed at Zappanale last month as the Brothers Of Dimension with Médéric Collignon as special guest.

The band released one eponymous album in 2010.

• Mentat Routage: Mentat Routage
      (2010, cd, France, musea mp3099)
      - incl. ‘Zörn Mask Replica’ (Simon Dutay), = Frank Zappa / Captain Beefheart reference

Later, although I don't know exactly when, the band released a DVDR with a 2011 concert.

• Mentat Routage: Live In Sargé
      (????, dvdr, France, mentat routage private release)

Here's a sample (from YouTube):

Both the CD and the DVDR are recommended listening and viewing !

And completely different, but also fascinating, Mentat Routage's Zappanale concert (The Brothers Of Dimension feat. Médéric Collignon):

TEMUR KVITELASHVILI

'21 Guitars'
by Temur Kvitelashvili
( 1990 )

Improvisation

FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA - FEMBOT IN A WET T-SHIRT

• Fido Plays Zappa: Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Fido Plays Zappa released a second track from their 2026 Sud Basel concert on August 18, 2026.
Is this becoming a series? Is this an announcement for a new live album?

The band featured Stef Strittmatter (guitar, vocals), Oli Friedli (keyboards), Martin Medimorec (percussion), Pascal Grünenfelder (bass, vocals), and Rémy Sträuli (drums). 

Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt (F. Zappa)

HAWKESTREL - COVER YA TRACKS

• Hawkestrel: Cover Ya Tracks
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, USA, cleopatra)

The ever-proactive former Hawkwind bassist Alan Davey is back with his Hawkwind-adjacent space rock vehicle, Hawkestrel, delivering a stellar sonic trip titled "Cover Ya Tracks".

Released via Cleopatra Records, this 11-track collection shifts the focus heavily onto cosmic cover versions and jaw-dropping archival guest performances, crafting an alternate-dimension tribute to both space rock royalty and classic rock heavyweights.

The roster of guest musicians assembled here reads like a dream lineup from the outer edges of the universe. Alan Davey masterfully weaves historic and newly arranged tracks, integrating contributions from legendary, dearly departed Hawkwind alumni alongside unexpected icons.

There is the celebration of Hawkwind with renditions of 'Hall of The Mountain Grill' and 'Brainstorm',  but where "Cover Ya Tracks" truly surprises, is in its bold reimaginings of classic rock songs.

Check it out at Bandcamp.
Also available on CD and on LP.

-- info: Danny Mathys

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TOMMY MARS IS HANGING OUT ?

 Check this out !

-- info: Mose

NEW ALBUM BY JOHN TABACCO

"Kaleidiosonic"
by John Tabacco

John adds:
Blues, R&B, Pop Rock, Soft Quirky Ballads, Latin, Fusion and Musical Theater can be found on this collection. Very much a Clam Radio playlist. In other worlds... All over the place!

MORE GOOSE CONCERTS ON BANDCAMP

2026/08/15 Frost Amphitheater, Stanford, CA

2026/08/16 The Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV

NEW ALBUM BY ECHOES OF ZOO

Echoes Of Zoo
"Collective Intelligence"
to be released in October.

SØREN BEBE TRIO

Over the past few days, I’ve been immersing myself in the music of the Søren Bebe Trio.

Recommended by my pal Mick and I am quite impressed.

Led by Danish pianist and composer Søren Bebe, the trio produces a nice balance of sparse piano chords, smooth percussion, and a powerfully gentle double bass, resulting in quite lyrical and melancholic voyages.

-

-

-

-- info: Mick Zeuner

TU-NER - RENDEZVOUS RODEO

• Tu-Ner: Rendezvous Rodeo
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, USA, 7d media)

Tu-Ner’s Rendezvous Rodeo is a splendid example of hyper-disciplined avant-garde rock, capturing a high-wire live performance that blurs the line between tight structural math rock and raw, unpredictable improvisation.

Released on 7d Media, this third album from the power-trio - featuring King Crimson veterans Pat Mastelotto (drums) and Trey Gunn (Warr guitar) alongside Markus Reuter (Touch Guitar) - was recorded completely live in a single night at The Stone Church in Brattleboro, Vermont, on August 25, 2025.

I'm very happy with the download that I received over here at the United Mutations headquarters as this record delivers the exact kind of dense, boundary-pushing complexity we thrive on.
That's exactly why "Rendezvous Rodeo" demands your immediate attention.

-- info: Harald Haering

THE FUNK 'N' BLUES KITCHEN - THE FUNK 'N' BLUES KITCHEN

• The Funk ‘n’ Blues Kitchen: The Funk ‘n’ Blues Kitchen
      (2014, cd, Germany, pottpeople)

The Funk 'n' Blues Kitchen's 2014 self-titled CD is an excellent, genre-bending masterpiece that seamlessly blends real instruments with modern digital samples and loops. 

Released on the German POTTpeople label, this 13-track instrumental album is the brainchild of guitarist and composer Martin "Ludi" Ettrich.

Instead of capturing a standard live studio band, as he does with The Almost Three, Ettrich acts as a musical chef in his "kitchen," assembling a highly unique instrumental menu. He uses several distinct guitar and production techniques across the album. There's funky rhythms, a vocoder / talk box, Texas blues licks, nice jazzy octaves, ... 

For "The Funk 'n' Blues Kitchen', Ludi recruited eight of his talented bass-playing friends (including musicians associated with progressive outfits like Birth Control, Helge Schneider, and N.O.H.A.) to record independent, live bass lines, adding different flavours to each track.

Perfect party and/or road trip music (although I enjoyed it through my headphones while working on my computer).

THE PINK FAIRIES - NEVER NEVER LAND

• Pink Fairies: Never Never Land
      (2020, cd, --, bang records)

The Pink Fairies’ first and maybe also their most famous album, “Never Never Land”, has been re-issued several times.
One of these remastered CD versions included FZ’s ‘Trouble Coming Everyday’ as one of the bonus tracks, performed by Mick Farren who was part of the Pink Fairies for a very short time during their formation. It's the same version that Mick released on one of his solo albums.

Released on the Bang Records label in a limited edition of 500 copies.

The original 1971 LP was co-produced by Neil Slaven who would later write “Zappa, Electric Don Quixote”, a 350 page book.

WARREN HAYNES ON TRACK STAR

 

THE MALLETS OF INVENTION

 For those of you who want to know more about Frank Zappa's percussionists.

https://pas.org/publication-articles/the-mallets-of-invention-a-listening-guide-to-frank-zappas-percussionists/

And you may also enjoy The USM Percussion Ensemble, performing FZ's 'The Black Page'.

ASTRAL MAGIC & PAUL ROLAND - LIGHT OF THE WORLD

• Astral Magic & Paul Roland: Light Of The World
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, --, astral magic music)

The cosmic gears are turning once again over at the Astral Magic clubhouse.
For "Light Of The World", Santtu Laakso has teamed up with England’s resident psych-pop master and gothic-folk bard, Paul Roland, for a magnificent dive into the deep space.

If you are expecting ambient noodling, you have come to the wrong sector of the galaxy. This is riff-oriented space rock.
Hawkwind-esque synthesizer arrays collide head-on with Roland's hallmark storytelling, acoustic undertones, and eerie psych-pop hooks.

-- info: Danny Mathys

SPIT - SONGS IN THE KEY OF E FLATULENCE

• Spit: Songs In The Key Of E Flatulence
      (1999, cd, USA, spit records)

Vinnie Spit is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer. He formed his band SPIT in 1985 and began recording and performing in Wilmington, DE and surrounding areas. He was also a member of Batz Without Flesh and Zoccola.

This one, I brought back from the Zappanale festival.

Raw and aggressive rock.
Combined with provocative imagery, song and album titles.
Fortunately, without fart noises.

His "Songs In The Key Of E Flatulence" included a piece entitled ‘Why Frank Zappa, Who Not Joe Cocker?’.

The Zappa reference is only in the title.

From another SPIT album:

SQUARES

• Squares: Squares
      (2019, cd, --, ear music)
      (2019, lp, --, ear music)

A couple of weeks ago, I read about this CD.
Early demos from Joe Satriani's pre-fame band Squares.
Dusted off and produced by John Cuniberti in 2019.
Being the curious person that I am, I ordered the CD.

Before finding international fame as an instrumental guitar virtuoso, Joe Satriani fronted the 1980s power-pop trio Squares. In 2019, Joe dug into his archives to officially release their long-lost music on a self-titled archival compilation album titled Squares.

The band was formed in December 1979 in Berkeley, California, by Joe Satriani and his brother-in-law, Neil Sheehan. Sheehan served as the band's manager and lyricist.

Despite building a dedicated local club following in the San Francisco Bay Area and opening for larger acts, they struggled to secure a major record deal because record labels found their genre-bending sound difficult to categorize. The group disbanded around 1984 when Satriani briefly joined the Greg Kihn Band before launching his solo career with his 1986 debut, "Not of This Earth".

For fans of early eighties pop music...

GOOSE ON TOUR AND ON BANDCAMP

Goose is continuing their tour and their on the west coast now.
At least as important is that they're releasing all of their concerts on Bandcamp.

Here's the San Diego concert from two days ago: 

STICK MEN TO HIT THE ROAD THIS SEPTEMBER

Stick Men tour dates.

- Tony Levin: Stick
- Markus Reuter: Touch Guitars U8 Deluxe
- Pat Mastelotto: Acoustic and Electronic Drums and Percussion

• September 8: The 13th Floor, Austin, TX
• September 13: Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, BC
• September 15: Star Theater, Portland, OR
• September 16: WOW Hall, Eugene, OR
• September 17: Whiteside Theatre, Corvallis, OR
• September 19: Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
• September 20: UCSC Music Center, Santa Cruz, CA
• September 21: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, CA
• September 22: Winters Tavern, Pacifica, CA
• September 24 and 25: Baked Potato, Studio City, CA
• September 27: California Center for Arts, Escondido, CA
• September 29: Walter Studios, Phoenix, AZ

ASTRAL MAGIC WITH VESA PARTTI - FLOATING IN SPACE

• Astral Magic With Vesa Partti: Floating In Space
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2024, cd, --, astral magic music)

It's not easy to keep track of the musical output of Astral Magic.
"Floating In Space" is the bands 40th album !!

Astral Magic (= former Dark Sun member Santtu Laakso) joins forces with Finnish multi-instrumentalist Vesa Partti to deliver an album that perfectly balances space rock with modern psychedelic mastery.

The CD release has some bonus tracks !!

Trippy !!

-- info: Danny Mathys

R.I.P. EARLE DUMLER

Earle Dumler passed away last month.

He can be heard on The Mothers' "Grand Wazoo" album, on Zappa's "Orchestral Favorites", "Joe's Garage", and on several posthumous releases.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

TOO NOISY FISH TO RELEASE A NEW ALBUM

Too Noisy Fish will be releasing a new album: "Tolstoy".

Too Noisy Fish = Peter Vandenberghe (piano), Kristof Roseeuw (double bass) and Teun Verbruggen (drums).

Music composed by Peter Vandenberghe.
Out on CD on the Challenge Records label.

Too Noisy Fish first made its mark in the Belgian jazz landscape in 2011, when the rhythm section of the Flat Earth Society Orchestra decided to start pushing boundaries as a trio too. They created four albums, including ‘Too Many Fish: 10 Years Too Noisy Fish’, a record celebrating the ten year anniversary of the trio by inviting musician and artist friends to join them in the studio and on stage. With their upcoming album, they are once again establishing themselves as a singular trio.

AN UPDATE FROM THE RESIDENTS

Hi there,

We hope this finds you well and thriving. Another missive from your pals The Residents is here - you're in the right place!

You may have heard that the rescheduled Eskimo tour has been announced since we last spoke - as ever, all the details can be found at residents.com/tourdates. For the first time ever the Freaky Foursome will be heading to Hawaii in September, then to Tokyo for some shows for their beloved Japanese fans, before an extensive US trip through October and November. We hear dates further afield are also imminent. As ever, watch this space...

And of course there's the new 'Eskimo Folk Tales' 10" EP due this September - you can pre-order a copy and find out all about it RIGHT HERE. A Teaser track, ' A Tale Of Two Tupilaqs' will also be released into the wild on August 28th.

Meanwhile, the guys have finished recording their next surefire hit album, and eagerly await the final mixes before they declare it a done deal and get to thinking about artwork and all of that stuff they love. The demos ('Almost Alien', 'Strange Insect' and so on) have been.... interesting, and as things stand you can expect a fresh copy of this new record around February 2027.

Meanwhile, The Residents are busy, as they always are, on several other projects. At any given moment you might find one Resident over here working on a theatre piece with an old friend, whilst another is over there editing a proposed book of screenplays and scripts. There's a Record Store Day album in the works too, and one lucky Resident has been tasked with going through everything they recorded during the Randy, Chuck & Bob era, with a view to producing an extended CD release based on this year's fantastic 'Randy, Chuck & Bob In The Studio' LP.

Yep - as ever there's a lot to take onboard, but it's all gold. So all that remains is a little something to say thanks for reading this far. A particularly interesting curio, actually - whilst exploring the tapes for the group's classic 'The Residents Play The Beatles....' single recently, a dutiful New Ralph employee noticed two previously overlooked pieces labelled 'Polar 1' and 'Polar 2' right in the middle of the session (dated early 1977). The rhythm track was co-opted into 'Walter Westinghouse', but as far as we can tell the recordings themselves were experiments related to the ongoing 'Eskimo' sessions. They're fairly basic and didn't really go anywhere, but The Residents figured you might like to hear them anyway, so they've edited together a concentrate for your listening pleasure. You can find RIGHT HERE - enjoy!
​
And that really is all for now.
If we haven't done what we could've done, we've tried.
Your Pals @ NRT

AGITATION FREE - LIVE IN BERLIN

• Agitation Free: Live In Berlin
      (2026, 2cd, Germany, mig)

Agitation Free’s "Live in Berlin" got released last month. Around the same time that the band performed at the Zappanale festival.
"Live In Berlin" is out on MIG Music and it's a spectacular testament to the enduring power of Krautrock.
Captured on December 1, 2025, at Berlin’s Kesselhaus, this new double-live album proves that the band’s mastery of hypnotic, open-ended sonic exploration remains fully intact more than 50 years after their debut.

While original keyboardist Michael Hoenig has stepped back from the stage to serve as the group's off-stage spiritual leader, founding members Lutz “Lüül” Graf-Ulbrich (guitar) and Burghard Rausch (drums) continue to guide the ship. They are joined by Axel Heilhecker on lead guitar, Tim Sund on keys, and Daniel Cordes on bass. Together, they bridge the gap between their cosmic 1970s roots and modern live experimentation.

An excellent album !!

Here's the entire Zappanale concert, in SBD quality:

-- info: Danny Mathys

SOME STUPID WITH A FLARE GUN

Ritchie Blackmore joined Deep Purple on stage yesterday.
Guess what song they played.

Jump to 4:45 if you don't want the previous song.

 https://alanpaul.substack.com/p/ritchie-blackmore-reunites-with-deep

SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA - SUPERSONIC JAZZ (EXPANDED EDITION)

• Sun Ra And His Arkestra: Supersonic Jazz (21st Century Expanded Edition)
      (2025, 2cd, USA, cosmic myth records cmr-009)

Cosmic Myth Records is continuing their excellent work, re-issuing classic Sun Ra albums with loads of additional material.
"Supersonic Jazz" was Sun Ra's second album, released in 1957.
It has been re-issued quite a number of times. This re-issue, however, is essential listening for every Sun Ra fan.

Official expanded 2xCD edition features 14 tracks of alternate versions and studio takes, and an additional four bonus tracks. Liner notes by avid Sun Ra fan Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, and additional essay from longtime Ra blogger Rodger Coleman (NUVOID Sun Ra Sundays).

AVALANCHES

A cup of coffee and Avalanches.
An excellent way to start the day.

The French band Avalanches from Nantes is an instrumental trio that creates a powerful math / progressive rock.

The band released one mini album in 2023, "Megalithe" and first full album, "Fragile", earlier this year.

-

PUNKY MEADOWS

so Punky Meadows was on stage during a FZ show?

From Wiki:
"The band's glam rock image was said to be the antithesis of Kiss,[2] and Meadows became the most strongly associated with the persona, so much so that Frank Zappa satirized his trademark pout and hair in the song "Punky's Whips". The song was first released in 1977 on Zappa In New York, but was deleted from most early copies due to a dispute between Zappa and Warner Bros., his record distributor. Meadows, however, was a fan of Zappa and was "flattered" by the song. Meadows eventually appeared onstage at a Zappa concert in his Angel costume."

source:
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/258930/angel-on-his-shoulder/

-- info: Jan van Kemenade
 

PROGDAY 2026

ProgDay takes place Saturday, September 5 & 6 at Storybook Farm, 190 Storybook Farm Lane, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516. This year marks the 31st edition of the world’s longest-running progressive rock festival. The 2026 lineup includes Bruteus, Consider The Source, Discipline, French TV, and Isolation Tank Ensemble. More information is available at ProgDay.

ProgDay is a non-profit cultural event and an official production of the Musical Arts Progressive Society, Inc. (MAPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for, educating about, and promoting national and international artists creating progressive and innovative music.

SNARKY PUPPY - LIVE AT BAND ON THE WALL

• Snarky Puppy: Live At Band On The Wall
      (2024, lp, USA, groundup) – RSD
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Snarky Puppy released the "Live At Band On The Wall" LP on April 20, 2024, as a limited-edition exclusive for Record Store Day, with a wider retail vinyl release following later on November 22, 2024. The performance itself was originally recorded live in April 2014 at Manchester's Band on the Wall venue.

Earlier this year, the album was made available on Bandcamp.
The perfect opportunity to (re)visit the album (again).
Four tracks.
Brilliant.

SUN RA - DO THE IMPOSSIBLE

• Sun Ra: Do The Impossible – Original Soundtrack To The Documentary
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, 2cd + blu-ray, USA, modern harmonic)
      (2026, 2lp + blu-ray, USA, modern harmonic)

The next time that someone asks me for the best introduction to Sun Ra, I have my answer ready.
"Do The Impossible" presents both an excellent documentary plus a fine soundtrack.

Absolutely beautiful.

SENDELICA'S "AN INTRODUCTION TO SENDILICA" IS OUT ON BANDCAMP

Fruits de Mer Records recently released Sendelica's "An Introduction To Sendelica",
a fine 4cd set that included the band's version of Frank Zappa's ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow’.

The 4 CD set is sold out but the entire set is now being made available on Bandcamp.

A PANZERBALLETT CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

The message from Panzerballett : 

Dear qB fans,

Today is the day. Our crowdfunding campaign is live!

This September, we'll be hitting the road across Europe together with Virgil Donati. And we have one big dream:

We want to capture this tour forever.

Live shows are magical. They only exist in the moment, and once they're over, they're gone forever. That's why we want to preserve the energy, the spontaneity, the improvisation, and all those unforgettable moments on an official Panzerballett live album.

An album that lets you experience this special tour again and again.

But there's one catch:

This album will only exist if we make it happen together.

That's why we've launched our crowdfunding campaign on Startnext today.

This is about much more than funding a live album. It's your chance to become part of this project and get closer to Panzerballett than ever before.

During the campaign you'll find exclusive experiences and strictly limited rewards that will only be available through this crowdfunding campaign. Once it's over, they're gone for good.

Some of the highlights include:

• VIP Tickets & Meet & Greets
• Exclusive online sessions with Jan
• Limited edition merchandise
• The exclusive CD & Tour Shirt Bundle
• Official Song Announcer: announce one of our songs live on stage before we play it
• Producer's Commentary: a full length commentary in which Jan takes you through the entire live album, sharing the stories, arrangements, and behind the scenes details of every track
• ...and many more exclusive surprises.

None of these rewards will be available in our regular merch store later.

This is the first time we've ever invited our fans to become part of a Panzerballett project in such a direct and personal way.

If you'd love to hear this live album become reality, if you'd like this tour to live on long after the final encore, we'd be truly grateful for your support.

Let's make this live album happen together.

https://www.startnext.com/en/panzerballett-live-album

MALCOLM SCARPA BOX SET TO INCLUDE A FRANK ZAPPA PIECE

Next September, celebrating 30 years of music by Malcolm Scarpa, the Caballero Reynaldo Producciones Psicotropicas label will be releasing a 3 CD box set with outtakes, demos, live takes, and more.

The box will also include Malcolm Scarpa's version of 'Twenty Small Cigars' (F. Zappa), previously released on one of the (unrivalled) "Unmatched" albums.

AN ED PALERMO UPDATE

 

NEW RELEASE BY SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA

"Elliptical Orbits"
by Sun Ra & His Arkestra

Download / streaming album on Bandcamp.

KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD

A new King Gizzard album has been spotted !
As you know, KG&LW allows fans and independent labels to press and sell physical copies (vinyl, CD, cassettes) of the downloads that are offered by the band.
As long as they send a fair trade of copies back for the band to sell.

"Europe '25 Vol II" is such a release. It has been made available by the Reverberation Appreciation Society in July as a 3 LP set.

BEAT IS TOURING NORTH AMERICA THIS FALL

 

JONATHAN CROSSLEY, DAVID KOLLAR AND LUKAS LIGETI

From 7D Media

Santa Fe, NM — 7D Media is proud to announce Solace, a dynamic new set of wholly improvised works from Jonathan Crossley, David Kollar and Lukas Ligeti. Recorded in June 2024 during an artistic residency at the University of Liverpool, the project captures three singular musical minds in deep, real-time dialogue.

On this recording, the digitally enabled guitar practices of Crossley and Kollar intersect with the polymetric, Africa-inflected drumming of Ligeti, generating environments that move between ambient, pulsating and rhythmically intricate states. Crossley's playing fuses guitar, synthesis and real-time digital control into an expanded, gestural improvisational language, while Kollar treats the guitar as a vehicle for expansive, genre-defying expression, ranging from tonal abstraction to avant-garde interplay. Ligeti's drumming draws on experimental, jazz, contemporary and world traditions, weaving overlapping polyrhythms and cross-cultural influences into a percussive approach that is both grounded and exploratory.

SNARKY PUPPY'S "17" AVAILABLE ON BANDCAMP

• Snarky Puppy: 17
      (2019, 4lp, --, groundup)
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Snarky Puppy’s live compilation 17 has finally landed a digital home via Bandcamp, giving fans unprecedented, high-fidelity access to the jazz-fusion collective's peak 2017 touring era. 

Originally pressed exclusively as a ultra-limited, four-LP physical vinyl set back in 2019, this long-awaited digital re-release is a massive win for fans who missed the physical drop. And even for those who own the box set, it's great to have the album available in the digital format.

For readers of the United Mutations blog—who thrive on complex, boundary-pushing arrangements, mutant grooves, and exceptional musicianship—this sprawling collection is an absolute goldmine.

The album captures Michael League’s rotating mega-ensemble across various global tour stops in 2017, functioning as a definitive live retrospective of their mid-2010s creative peak.
Seventeen tracks from twenty-seventeen.
Re-energizing absolute fan favorites from 'We Like It Here', 'Culcha Vulcha', and  'Lingus' and transforming familiar arrangements into explosive, improvisational marathons, this is essential listening.

The sound is massive, punchy, and crystal clear. Every layer of the massive rhythm section, horn line, and multi-guitar attack is pristine.

For an album that was previously locked behind expensive out-of-print vinyl paywalls, having it fully dynamic, uncompressed, and ready to stream or download on the Snarky Puppy Bandcamp page is a gift. It is highly recommended for anyone who loves their jazz fried in funk, prog, and experimental world rhythms.

WENDY & LISA PLUS SHENKAR

I'm watching the final episodes of season one of "Heroes" on Netflix.

The sci-fi drama series Heroes features an iconic original score composed by the duo Wendy & Lisa (Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman) featuring the distinctive, ethereal vocals of virtuoso singer and violinist L. Shankar, credited as Shenkar.

from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Heroes

From the original soundtrack: 'Fire and Regeneration'

GOV'T MULE WILL CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE IN BOSTON

The Gov't Mule NYE Tradition Continues in Boston.

Warren Haynes & Gov't Mule add:
We're bringing our Mule Year's Eve tradition to Boston, MA for the very first time with a special Gov't Mule & Friends performance at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on December 31.

If you've ever spent New Year's with us, you know this isn't just another show. It's a one-night-only celebration filled with incredible music, unforgettable collaborations, and surprises you won't see anywhere else. This year, we are thrilled to welcome an incredible lineup of friends to help us celebrate, including Jaimoe, Marc Quiñones, Reese Wynans, Chuck Leavell, Steve Gorman, Audley Freed, and Kevn Kinney.

“Playing the Beacon Theatre in New York City for New Year’s Eve has been amazing for the past 20 years but now it’s time to try something new,” shares Haynes. “Boston has always been an amazing audience for us. We’re excited to open a new chapter. It’s gonna be fantastic to have a lot of our friends and special guests there with us blowing it out.”

Whether you've been ringing in the New Year with us since the early days or you're joining the tradition for the first time, we can't wait to celebrate with you in a brand-new city.

THE BEAT UPDATE FROM MWM

 

A MESSAGE FROM PANZERBALLETT

Something special is coming.

This September, Panzerballett feat. Virgil Donati will be touring Europe. Our goal is to capture this tour in an official live album.

To make it happen, we'll launch our Startnext crowdfunding campaign this Sunday at 12:00 PM (CEST).
You'll find exclusive rewards available only during the campaign, including:

🎸 CD & Tour Shirt Bundle
🤝 Meet & Greet + Concert Ticket
🎤 Official Song Announcer
…and much more.

📅 Launch: Sunday, 12:00 PM (CEST)
We can't wait to share this project with you! 🤘

 

TOM PENAGUIN - TOM PENAGUIN

• Tom Penaguin: Tom Penaguin
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Tom Penaguin.
If the name doesn't ring a bell, you're missing out.
(I only learned about Tom Penaguin last week when I received a digital download of the album.)

This is spectacular.
Contemporary Canterbury scene instrumental progressive rock.

Composed, played, recorded and mixed by Tom Penaguin...

French multi-instrumentalist Tom Penaguin (known for his work with psych-rockers Djiin and avant space-rock outfit Orgöne) surprised everyone in 2024 with his spectacular self-titled debut solo album.

For this project, Penaguin locked himself away in his home studio, surrounded by a mountain of vintage analog hardware, and recorded every single instrument himself. The resulting thirty-seven minutes of music act as a direct portal back to the golden era of the 1970s Canterbury Scene.

The album kicks off with 'The Stove Viewpoint Introduction', a short, electronics-laden piece full of modulated oscillations that feels very much like an invitation into a strange new landscape.

This effortlessly crossfades into the album's centerpiece, the magnificent 14-minute epic 'Housefly Leg'. Here, Penaguin showcases a staggering grasp of jazz-fusion and progressive interplay, calling to mind Bundles-era Soft Machine, Egg, and Hatfield and the North, while retaining the complex rhythmic vocabulary of Frank Zappa's Waka/Jawaka period. The shifting odd meters, heavy organ pads, and fluid guitar work are brilliantly executed, yet always maintain a playful, melodic accessibility.

'Aborted Long Piece No2', is a tight, classically influenced exercise driven by a syncopated drum beat and a heavy bass line that cuts out right before it overstays its welcome.

It breaks for 'Arrival of the Great Hedgehog', where Penaguin layers beautiful, understated electric piano chords before absolutely tearing into a soaring, emotional guitar solo that nods toward Steve Hillage.

Finally, 'The Stove Packed Up and Left' closes the album with a wonderfully pastoral, acoustic-leaning atmosphere reminiscent of Caravan or Camel.

This is an exceptionally strong, vibrant debut from an artist who doesn't just copy the past, but breathes fresh, imaginative life into it.

Highly recommended for any fan of classic progressive rock, complex jazz-fusion, and vintage Canterbury sounds.

You can listen to and purchase the album directly via the áMARXE Bandcamp page.

RUINS - COSA ? (EXPERIMENTAL WORKS)

• Ruins: Cosa ? (Experimental Works)
      (2026, cd, Austria, klanggalerie)

Ruins.
Not the Japanese, Magma-inspired duo, but the Italian duo that has been producing experimental music since 1978.

Featuring Alessandro Pizzin (who you might also know as Alieno de Bootes and who released the exiting "Unconventional Residents" Tribute-To-The-Residents-series) and Piergiuseppe Ciranna.

They have just released a new album on the Klanggalerie record label: "Cosa ? (Experimental Works)

'REFLEKCTIONS II' BY EIDON, DEDICATED TO BILL BRUFORD

'RefleKtions II'
by Eidon

dedicated to Bill Bruford

 

BOOTES INVISIBLE RADIO SHOW - LA FRANCE

 a journey to the French music scene by Alieno De Bootes.

00:06 - 03:24 - Moving Gelatine Plates - Memories (1971)
03:24 - 09:28 - Veronique Chalot - La chanson de mai (1978)
09:28 - 13:38 - Noëtra - Mesopotamie (1982)
13:38 - 18:24 - Noir Desir - Le Vent Nous Portera (2001)
18:24 - 21:39 - Robin Fredrick - Been smoking too long (2003)
21:39 - 26:09 - Popera Cosmic - L.S.D (1969)
26:09 - 30:23 - Pierre Bensusan - Nice feeling (1981)
30:23 - 32:56 - Christian Vander Offering - Tïlïm M'Dohm (1986)
32:56 - 37:32 - Aut'Chose - Nancy Beaudoin (1975)
37:32 - 41:42 - Etron Fou Leloublan - Phare plafond (1984)
41:42 - 1:32:19 - Magma - K.A (live 2005)

https://www.mixcloud.com/AlienoDeBootes/bootes-invisible-radio-la-france-episode-01/

TUNGU & HENRY KAISER - THE UNEXPLAINED

• Tungu & Henry Kaiser: The Unexplained
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, Austria, klanggalerie)

"The Unexplained" is Tungu's and Henry Kaiser's second collaboration.

Adventurous and experimental !!

FRANK ZAPPA - ZAPPATITE

Released in different versions, some of which have been slightly delayed.
But the Japanese (SHM)CD is out !

NEW RELEASE BY MEN & VOLTS

Selections from David Greenberger's archive !
13 different versions of 'Tramps In Bloom' by Men & Volts.
Live and rehearsal sessions.

NICO CHIENTAROLI & MICHAEL MOORE - THE CARD PLAYERS

• Nico Chientaroli & Michael Moore: The Card Players
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Recorded, on February 14th, 2026, at independent music club Splendor in Amsterdam, NL, "The Card Players" album features Nico Chientaroli on piano and Michael Moore on alto sax and clarinet.

Four chamber music-style improvisations.
Beautiful.

DECEMBER 20 - - - CRANK SOME FRANK

 December 2026, 'Musicon', The Hague, NL

"ZAPPA & CO", OCTOBER 30 AT DOMICIL IN DORTMUND, GERMANY

The Zappa Orchestra Hamm is giving a special concert with a number of guest performers at the Domicil. Alongside the magnificent music of the master Frank Zappa, the programme will also feature music by Prince, Stevie Wonder and others. The Zappa Orchestra Hamm comprises 30 professional musicians, all of whom are or have been associated with the Hamm Municipal Music School. The orchestra was founded in 2015 to mark the music school’s 75th anniversary by Bernd Kortenkamp, a great admirer of Frank Zappa’s music. After a few years’ hiatus, they have been performing regular concerts again since 2023. The large ensemble’s repertoire includes more than 30 Zappa songs. No Zappa fan should miss this special concert. Tickets are available for €20.80 from numerous ticket outlets.

"FREAK OUT !"

 

In 1966, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention released the album that started it all. Sixty years later, the Freak Out! 60th Anniversary Edition is officially unleashed and ready for pre-order.

The brand-new 60th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition presents 5 CDs of material, featuring the newly remastered 1966 stereo mix, a previously unreleased pre-master mix, the long-awaited mono master mix, The Mothers live at The Fillmore, 1966 rehearsals, demos, rarities, vocal reference mixes, session outtakes, and a cornucopia of bonus material. It’s the mother lode of mother lodes.

In addition to that glorious monstrosity, the Blu-ray contains ATMOS, 5.1, and high-res audio options. The set is rounded out with an expanded booklet with rare photos, new essays, a very special new section of even more “Relevant Quotes,” and an original double-sided fold-out Freak Out! Hot Spots Map.

Also available on a 5LP Box Set, as well as a multi-colored 2LP vinyl edition. Arrives everywhere on September 25th.

FREAK OUT! WITH JOE TRAVERS AND JOHN POLITO

Frank Zappa - Freak Out! 60th with Joe Travers and John Polito

THE PLASTER CASTER BLUES BAND - THE PLASTER CASTERS

 

• The Plaster Caster Blues Band: The Plaster Casters
      (1969, lp, USA, blues time)
      (2024, lp, Russia, --)

“The Plaster Casters” album by The Plaster Caster Blues Band did not include the actual Plaster Casters Of Chicago (Cynthia Albritton and her assistant(s)) but was a group of session musicians improvising on a number of blues themes.
The album included ‘You Didn’t Try To Ball Me (Dedicated To Frank Zappa)’, a track that also got released on the B-side of their only 7” single release.

The LP got re-released in 2024 on a Russian (?) label.

MADLIB - ROCK KONDUCTA PART 2

• Madlib: Rock Konducta Part 2
      (2014, lp, USA, madlib invazion)
      (2023, lp, USA, madlib invazion) – smoke vinyl

American DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper Madlib, released a follow-up to his 2013 ”Rock Konducta Pt. 1” album in 2014.

"Rock Konducta - Part 2" included :

• 'Galactic Supermaket'   - sampled Lumpy Gravy pt.2 (FZ)
  and
• 'Stürmischer'   - sampled Apostrophe (‘) (FZ, Bruce, Gordon)

In 2023, "Rock Konducta - Part 2" got re-released on smoke vinyl.

MICHAEL MOORE UNIVERSE QUARTET - LISTEN !

• Michael Moore Universe Quartet: Listen !
      (2026, download / streaming, -, ramboy recordings)

Starting the day with the latest album by the Michael Moore Universe Quartet is always a pleasure. Reed master Michael Moore, a crucial component of the ICP Orchestra, has delivered another beautiful album, "Listen !".

Michael Moore's warm, melancholic alto saxophone tone, combined with Guillermo Celano's guitar lines are joy to listen to.

On the Bandcamp page, Michael adds:
The rather presumptious title, the 'Universe' quartet, has to do with it being an exploration of my universe. It's a repertoire band, these guys are ready and willing to play anything I give them, and I am grateful for that.
My intent is, rather than break new ground, to explore older forms and make enjoyable music.
The advantage of being DIY one's whole life is that you have total freedom from commercial pressures; I can follow my muse anywhere, and this is where it has taken me!

The result is a beautiful album.

Take the album title as a strong recommendation and "Listen !":

-- info: Danny Mathys

FREAK OUT 6 CD / BLU-RAY SET

Announced for September :

https://www.dustygroove.com/item/261610/Mothers-Of-Invention-Frank-Zappa-:Freak-Out-6CD-blu-ray-set?

TERRY BOZZIO TO JOIN BEAT ?

 According to the newsflash from the Phoenix venue:

- info: reddit

SUN RA AND HIS INTERGALACTIC SOLAR ARKESTRA - SPACE IS THE PLACE - MUSIC FROM THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

• Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Solar Arkestra: Space Is The Place - Music From The Original Soundtrack
      (2023, 2cd+dvd+blu-ray)

Having the "Soundtrack To Space Is The Place" album that got released on the Evidence record label in 1993 as well as the "Space Is The Place" movie on DVD, the 2023 "Space Is The Place" box set was always pushed backwards on my priority list.

Our recent visit to Hamburg was going to solve this inconvenience. The "Space Is The Place" box set was moved from the bottom to the top of my priority list, together with some other recent Sun Ra albums.
Unfortunately, as things turned out, I wasn't able to find a copy. Out of the four Sun Ra releases on my list, I only found one. Too bad. 

I had no choice but to resort to trying to find and to placing an order online. That wasn't easy either. It seems like this box set is close to becoming sold out.

After a bit of a search, earlier this week, the "Space Is The Place - Music From The Original Soundtrack" box set finally arrived.
Two CDs in one digipack: “Space Is The Place” (modern harmonic mhcd-267), plus another digipack with the "Space Is The Place" DVD and blu-ray, and a booklet. All in one nice little box.

I've only listened to the CDs and the sound is great. I'm very happy with the second disc, presenting unreleased material that got recorded at the same sessions.

The box was also released with three LPs replacing the two CDs.
But this CD/DVD/blu-ray box set is great as well.

Recommended. Especially if you don't have the previously released soundtrack or the movie.

"It's after the end of the world. Don't you know that yet?"

THE ALMOST THREE - THREE

• The Almost Three: Three
      (2017, cd, Germany, pottpeople)

With "Vol. 5" released earlier this year, it looked like a fine opportunity to revisit "Three", released almost ten years ago on the POTTpeople record label.

Hailing from Mülheim an der Ruhr, the band—led by guitarist/vocalist Martin Ettrich alongside bassist Max Schmitz and drummer Benny Korn—showcases their love for blues, heavy funk, and avant-garde rock. For those who are into high-energy, genre-bending power trios, this album is a masterclass in heavy groove.

I love the songs. Especially the gritty vocals, the guitar tone, and the fine choice of cover versions (Joseph Bowie's 'Funk #2015', David Bowie's 'Let's Dance', The Allman Brothers' 'Whippin' Post',...) next to the excellent original material.