Monthly Archives: May, 2016
KLAUS GESING, BJORN MEYER, SAMUEL ROHRER-AMIIRA.
KLAUS GESING, BJORN MEYER, SAMUEL ROHRER-AMIIRA. Collaborations are nothing new. Musicians have been collaborating for over a hundred years. Some of the earliest collaborations took place between delta blues’ singers. Then as music evolved, and new genres were born, artists continued to collaborate. Especially jazz musicians, who have collaborated on many intriguing and innovative albums. …
LAU-THE BELL THAT NEVER RANG-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE.
LAU-THE BELL THAT NEVER RANG-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE. 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 …
CHVRCHES-EVERY OPEN EYE-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE.
CHVRCHES-EVERY OPEN EYE-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE. It was 10.30pm, when there was a knock at the door. The old couple from up the stairs stood there almost embarrassedly. “Could you possibly turn it down a wee bit. We’re trying to sleep?” This actually happened to Chvrches during the recording of their new album Every Open Eye which recently …
THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC: MORE COUNTRY HITS.
THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC: MORE COUNTRY HITS. For many people, the golden age of country music was the late fifties and early sixties. During that period, country music provided the soundtrack to much of American life. Providing the soundtrack were giants of country music like Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, Carl Perkins, George …
IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS-WE BE ALL AFRICANS.
IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS-WE BE ALL AFRICANS. By the time The Pyramids arrived at the UC Berkeley Jazz Festival in 1977, they had established a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative live bands on the international circuit. The Pyramids shows were unique, and were a mixture of percussive, spiritual and space-age …
MOSKUS-ULV ULV.
MOSKUS-ULV ULV. The roots of pioneering jazz trio Moskus, can be traced to the prestigious Trondheim Conservatory of Music. That’s where bassist Fredrik Luhr Dietrichson first met drummer Hans Hulbækmo and pianist Anja Lauvdal. Little did they realise at that first meeting, that they would go on to form one of the most innovative groups …
RM HUBBERT- TELLING THE TREES.
RM HUBBERT- TELLING THE TREES. Twenty-five years ago, in 1991, RM Hubbert made his first tentative steps into Glasgow’s vibrant musical scene when he joined Me, Hubby and Thom. Since then, the man that’s known to all as Hubby, has become a stalwart of the Scottish music scene. He’s been a club promoter, and a …
EMMA POLLOCK-IN SEARCH OF HARPERFIELD-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE.
EMMA POLLOCK-IN SEARCH OF HARPERFIELD-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE. Most people haven’t heard of Castle Douglas. Why should they? It’s a small market town in Dumfries and Galloway, in south-west Scotland. However, Castle Douglas has been home to some famous faces over the last 224 years. This includes a potter, politician, footballer and two rugby players. However, they’ve …
ADMIRAL FALLOW-TINY REWARDS-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE.
ADMIRAL FALLOW-TINY REWARDS-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE. Often, the hardest thing about forming a new band is coming up with a name. It can be a long and tortuous process. Especially, in the internet age. A new band have to ensure the dot com address hasn’t been taken. If it has, it’s a case of starting the process …
GET ME HOME FOR TEA-RARE PSYCHEDELIC ROCK FROM THE UK.
GET ME HOME FOR TEA-RARE PSYCHEDELIC ROCK FROM THE UK. This year, more than any other, Record Store Day seemed to divide the opinion of record buyers. There were a number of reasons for this. Partly, it was because many veteran record buyers felt Record Store Day was being hijacked by the major labels. Their …
BRIAN ENO-THE SHIP-COLLECTOR’S EDITION.
BRIAN ENO-THE SHIP-COLLECTOR’S EDITION. Back in the early seventies, having recorded and released an album, bands headed out on tour. These tours could be gruelling, and last over a year. Some bands embraced touring, and the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle that came with it. Bands partied through the night, consuming copious amounts of drinks and …
THE INDEPENDENTS-JUST AS LONG-THE COMPLETE WAND RECORDINGS 1972-74.
THE INDEPENDENTS-JUST AS LONG-THE COMPLETE WAND RECORDINGS 1972-74. When Charles Jackson first met Marvin Yancy at Chicago’s Black Writer’s Workshop in 1971, he was already twenty-six, and had been working as an art director for Playboy magazine. That was why Charles Jackson had moved to the Windy City in the late sixties. However, Charles had …
COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN-COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN/TALES FROM THE OZONE/WE’VE GOT A LIVE ONE HERE.
COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN-COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN/TALES FROM THE OZONE/WE’VE GOT A LIVE ONE HERE. By 1975, it was all change for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After releasing four albums for Paramount, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen moved to Warner Bros. They were hoping …
MOP MOP-LUNAR LOVE.
MOP MOP-LUNAR LOVE. Growing up, music was always a huge part of Andrea Benini’s life. He started to play the guitar when he was ten. By the time he was fourteen, Andrea Benini had switched to drums. This would stand him in good stead later in life. Towards the end of 1999, twenty-two year old …
MIAOUX MIAOUX-SCHOOL OF VELOCITY-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE.
MIAOUX MIAOUX-SCHOOL OF VELOCITY-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE. Following up a critically acclaimed debut album is never easy. It never has been, and never will be. That’s why many artists labour long and hard over their sophomore album. In some cases, three years pass by. During this creative struggle, an artist is said to be suffering from second …
RACHEL SERMANNI-TIED TO THE MOON-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE.
RACHEL SERMANNI-TIED TO THE MOON-S.A.Y.A. NOMINEE. At this time of year, Scottish musician’s thoughts turn to the most prestigious prize in music, the Scottish Album Of The Year Award. Albums released between April 2015 and March 2016 were eligible for the 2016 Scottish Album Of The Year. However, now only twenty albums remain. The ‘great and good’ of …
SCRATCH MY BACK! PYE BEAT GIRLS 1963-1968.
SCRATCH MY BACK! PYE BEAT GIRLS 1963-1968. During the swinging sixties, Pye Records and its sister label Piccadilly Records were housed in London’s West End. Both labels had an enviable roster of artists. This included some of the top British female pop singers. Two of the biggest names were Petula Clark and Sandie Shaw. They …
LANIAKEA-A POT OF POWDERED NETTLES.
LANIAKEA-A POT OF POWDERED NETTLES. It was Charlie Rich who once famously sang: “who knows what goes on behind closed doors?” Everyone has probably thought that, as they make their way across an unfamiliar city. Often though, the weary traveller won’t even see the doors. Instead, doors are hidden away by privet hedges. Privacy in …
BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-I’M NOT JIVIN’.
BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-I’M NOT JIVIN’. It’s no exaggeration to describe Louisiana as a musical hotbed. For over a century, it has given the world blues, cajun, creole, Dixieland, swamp pop and zydeco. That’s not all. Many blues, country, jazz and rock artists were born and bred in Louisiana. Despite its enviable musical pedigree, for …
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