Monthly Archives: September, 2017
OLAFUR ARNALDS-EULOGY FOR EVOLUTION.
Ólafur Arnalds-Eulogy For Evolution. Label: Erased Tapes Records. When most people reach the age of thirty, it’s a time when they take stock, and reflect on what they’ve achieved so far. When composer, multi-instrumentalist and BAFTA-award- winning producer Ólafur Arnalds looked back at the first thirty years of his life, there was much to celebrate. He …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MUSICAL MAVERICK AND INNOVATOR HOLGER CZUKAY.
The Life and Times Of Musical Maverick and Innovator Holger Czukay. Although the word innovator is one of the most overused words in the English language nowadays, it perfectly describes Holger Czukay who cofounded Can in 1968. This was the start of a near fifty year career where Holger Czukay continued to make groundbreaking music, and push musical boundaries to their limits, and …
THE MONKEES’ PSYCHEDELIC YEARS AND BEYOND.
The Monkees Psychedelic Years and Beyond. On September the ‘8th’ 1965, the Daily Variety contained an advert that said: “Folk & Roll Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series.” This was a new sitcom that had been written by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider about a struggling rock band from Los Angeles. The new …
AVANT GARDE IS HAPPENING.
Avant Garde Is Happening, Label: Dirter Promotions. For many people who are passionate about avant-garde music, The Avant Garde Festival in Schiphorst, Germany, was “three days of utopia.” It was a chance to discover new and innovative music and meet with likeminded people. They enjoyed the opportunity to see some of the leading lights of …
MERIDIAN BROTHERS-DONDE ESTAS MARIA?
Meridian Brothers-Donde Estás Maria? Label: Soundway Records. Nearly two years after the release of their sixth album Los Suicidas in November 2015, musical shape-shifters the Meridian Brothers return with their much-anticipated seventh album Donde Estás Maria? on the ‘8th’ of September 2017. It’s the fourth album that the Bogota-based Meridian Brothers have released since signing …
PHONOPHANI ANIMAL IMAGINATION.
Phonophani-Animal Imagination. Label: Hubro Music. Just like many other Norwegian musicians, Espen Sommer Eide has always divided his time between a variety of different projects. That has been the case throughout a career that has spanned three decades. It’s certainly been the case since 2010, when Phonophani, which is Espen Sommer Eide’s occasional musical moniker, …
BEN LUKAS BOYSEN AND SEBASTIAN PLANO-EVERYTHING.
Ben Lukas Boysen and Sebastian Plano-Everything. Label: Erased Tapes Records. Nowadays, not every musician dreams of embarking upon a career as a rock star, and leading a life where many people think that excess and debauchery are the norm. That used to be the case during the golden age of rock, when bands survived tours …
MOGWAI-EVERY COUNTRY’S SUN-INDIES ONLY VINYL EDITION.
Mogwai-Every Country’s Sun-Indies Only Vinyl Edition. Label:Rock Action Records. It’s safe to say that 2017 hasn’t been a vintage year for Scottish music. Instead, much of the music released during the first nine months of the year has been mediocre at best. That comes as no surprise, as there was a similar problem last year. …
NON GROUP AND BEYOND.
Non Band and Beyond. During the summer of 1978, a musical revolution took place in Japan, which changed music forevermore,..punk. The Japanese punk rockers were christened Tokyo Rockers, and initially were disregarded by the mainstream music industry. Record company executives made the mistake of thinking that the Japanese punk movement was just a passing fad, …
ARTHUR BLYTHE-ELABORATIONS, LIGHT BLUE ARTHUR BLYTHE PLAYS THELONIUS MONK AND PUT SUNSHINE IN IT.
Arthur Blythe-Elaborations, Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk and Put Sunshine In It. Label: BGO Records. By 1982, alto jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe was forty-two and had been signed to Columbia since 1978. Since then, he had already released a quartet of albums for his new label. This began with two critically acclaimed albums …
RANKY TANKY-RANKY TANKY.
Ranky Tanky-Ranky Tanky. Label: Self-Released. When South Carolina natives Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Charlton Singleton and Clay Ross first met in 1998, they had just left university, and were wondering what the future held for them? The meeting proved to be a game-changer for the four musicians, and soon, they had formed what’s still remembered …