Monthly Archives: March, 2016
CLUSTER 1971-1981.
CLUSTER 1971-1981. The Cluster story began in the Zodiak Free Arts Lab in West Berlin. That’s where Hans-Joachim Roedelius first met Dieter Moebius. Little did they know that they were about to embark upon a musical journey that would last five decades. During that period, Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius were part of three of …
SØLYST-THE STEAM AGE.
SØLYST-THE STEAM AGE. Time management is important for any musician. Especially when they’re trying to juggle several projects at once. Some musicians struggle to do so, while others make it look ridiculously easy. This includes Düsseldorf based drummer Thomas Klein. He has been combining musical projects over the last three decades. Originally, Thomas Klein was …
DAN WHITEHOUSE-INTRODUCING.
DAN WHITEHOUSE-INTRODUCING. When Birmingham based Dan Whitehouse came to record his debut album, he didn’t head to one of the city’s many recording studios. Instead, his flat became a makeshift studio. That was where Dan Whitehouse recorded the eleven songs that became his eponymous debut album. It was released in 2012, and introduced Dan Whitehouse …
BLACK MOON CIRCLE-SEA OF CLOUDS.
BLACK MOON CIRCLE-SEA OF CLOUDS. Last year, I described Norwegian space rock pioneers, Black Moon Circle as one of the rising stars of the Norwegian music scene. Since then, Black Moon Circle’s star has been in the ascendancy. Their third album, The Studio Jams Volume I: Yellow Nebula In The Sky was released to widespread …
YURI GAGARIN-AT THE CENTER OF ALL INFINITY-VINYL EDITION.
YURI GAGARIN-AT THE CENTER OF ALL INFINITY-VINYL EDITION. Since the dawn of the internet age, the way music has been made, released and consumed has been totally transformed. For unsigned bands this has been a game-changer. Yuri Gagarin are proof of this. Swedish space rockers Yuri Gagarin were formed in Gothenburg, in early 2012. For …
JON BALKE-WARP.
JON BALKE-WARP. There aren’t many twelve year olds that switch from classical music to the blues. That’s apart from the Norwegian pianist Jon Balke. He grew up learning to play classical piano. However, by the time he was twelve, Jon Balke was ready to turn his back on Bach and Beethoven. The year was 1967, and psychedelia …
CAUSA SUI-RETURN TO SKY.
CAUSA SUI-RETURN TO SKY. Nowadays, not many groups manage to release eleven albums in eleven years. Instead, they spend two or three years ‘perfecting’ their future Magnus Opus. It’s changed days indeed. Back in the early seventies, bands were often contracted to release two album each year. Groups like Yes rose to the challenge, and …
WHOLEWHEAT-SONGS FROM MY PARENT’S BASEMENT.
WHOLEWHEAT-SONGS FROM MY PARENT’S BASEMENT. A degree of mystery surrounds New Jersey based singer-songwriter, Wholewheat. Musically, Brian Austin a.k.a. Wholewheat is something an enigma. Very little is known of him. However, in September 2014, Wholewheat released his debut album Songs From My Parent’s Basement. It features songs that Wholewheat recorded between 1995 and 2003. Songs From …
STEVE KHAN-EYEWITNESS, MODERN TIMES AND CASA LOCO.
STEVE KHAN-EYEWITNESS, MODERN TIMES AND CASA LOCO. During the seventies, Steve Khan was one of the top session musicians in New York. He seemed to work non-stop, and was the go to guy for anyone looking for a guitarist. Steve Khan had worked with some of the biggest names in music; including Steely Dan, Blood …
THE PRISONERS-THE WISEMISERDEMELZA.
THE PRISONERS-THE WISEMISERDEMELZA. Musical history is littered with groups whose report card said could have done better. This includes The Prisoners, who were formed in Rochester, Kent in 1980, and released four albums, before splitting up in 1986. However, things could’ve been very different for The Prisoners. That’s if The Prisoners hadn’t been determined to …
LAU-THE BELL THAT NEVER RANG-VINYL EDITION.
LAU-THE BELL THAT NEVER RANG-VINYL EDITION. Ever since the release of their 2007 debut album. Lightweights and Gentlemen, Lau have been variously described as “adventurous,” and “modern folk’s most innovative band.” That’s no exaggeration. Lau are, without doubt, one of the most exciting and ambitious folk bands of their generation. That’s why Kris Drever, Martin …
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY-VINYL EDITION.
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY-VINYL EDITION. In August 1972, when The O’Jays’ released Back Stabbers, little did they realize how important an album it would become. Back Stabbers was certified gold, and fourteen years after The O’Jays were formed, were on their way to becoming one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful groups in …
THE CHARLATANS-THE LIMIT OF THE MARVELLOUS-VINYL EDITION.
THE CHARLATANS-THE LIMIT OF THE MARVELLOUS-VINYL EDITION. Between 1964 and 1969, The Charlatans’ star shawn bright. However, The Charlatans were larger than life mavericks. They dressed like 19th Century outlaws, and embraced the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. L.S.D. and pot were part of The Charlatans’ diet. It fuelled The Charlatans as they took San Francisco …
SUN-WANNA MAKE LOVE (COME FLICK MY BIC)/SUN-POWER AND SUNBURN.
SUN-WANNA MAKE LOVE (COME FLICK MY BIC)/SUN-POWER AND SUNBURN. During the seventies, Dayton, Ohio was the funk capital of America. The region produced some of the greatest and most successful funk bands of the era. This included Funkadelic, Parliament, The Gap Band, The Ohio Players, Lakeside, Zapp, Slave and Platypus. However, they weren’t alone. …
KEV BEADLE PRESENTS THE BEST OF INNER CITY RECORDS.
KEV BEADLE PRESENTS THE BEST OF INNER CITY RECORDS. When Irv Kratka and Eric Kriss decided to found a new jazz label, Inner City Records in 1976, they seemed the perfect partnership. Irv Kratka was music industry veteran, who was the CEO of MMO Music Group. What he didn’t know about the music industry, wasn’t …
EDDI READER-THE BEST OF EDDI READER.
EDDI READER-THE BEST OF EDDI READER. Eddi Reader was twenty-eight when Fairground Attraction signed to RCA. The next three years were a roller coaster for Fairground Attraction. Their debut single Perfect was released in April 1988, and reached number one in the British singles charts. Fairground Attraction slice of pop perfection whetted record buyer’s attention …
CIRCLES-CIRCLES AND MORE CIRCLES.
CIRCLES-CIRCLES AND MORE CIRCLES. Between 1969 and 1977, German music was thriving. In towns and cities, new groups were being formed. Many of these bands eschewed the Anglo-American, jazz-blues tradition, and decided to plough their own musical furrow. What followed, was a musical revolution…Krautrock. The Krautrock era lasted for eight years, and nowadays, is regarded …
ALOHA GOT SOUL.
ALOHA GOT SOUL. The 21st of August 1959 was the day the Hawaiian history was changed forever. That day, Hawaii became the fiftieth and most recent American state. This changed Hawaii forevermore; including its cultural identity. From that day onwards, Hawaiian music changed. The next generation of Hawaiian musicians would be influenced the British Invasion …
BOY-WE WERE HERE.
BOY-WE WERE HERE. Valeska Steiner and Sonja Glass first met in 2005, at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. They were both students on a pop music course. Singer Valeska Steiner had travelled from Zurich in Switzerland, to join the course. Bassist Sonja Glass was local. She had been born in Hamburg, and lived …
RAY STEVENS-FACE THE MUSIC-THE COMPLETE MONUMENT SINGLES 1965-1970.
RAY STEVENS-FACE THE MUSIC-THE COMPLETE MONUMENT SINGLES 1965-1970. In a career that’s lasted the best part of sixty years, Ray Stevens has been a singer, songwriter, session musician, arranger and producer. He’s a member of various Halls Of Fame and has won two Grammy Awards. Ray Stevens is also a truly prolific, and has released …
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