Monthly Archives: December, 2018

NAT BIRCHALL-COSMIC LANGUAGE-VINYL

Nat Birchall-Cosmic Language-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records.  Manchester-based jazz saxophonist Nat Birchall has come a long way since releasing his debut album The Sixth Sense in January 1999, and nowadays, is regarded as one of the leading lights of the vibrant British jazz scene. Nat Birchall is also one of the most talented and inventive British …

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A NEW LIFE VOLUME II-VINYL.

A New Life Volume II-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records Three years ago in 2015, Jazzman Records released A New Life, their critically acclaimed compilation of British jazz. This is no ordinary jazz compilation though. Instead, A New Life featured tracks from private pressings and hidden gems released by independent labels. So successful was A New Life …

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ABSTRACT ORCHESTRA-MADVILLAIN VOLUME 1-VINYL.

Abstract Orchestra-Madvillain Volume 1-Vinyl. Label: ATA. On the ‘30th’ of June 2017, the Abstract Orchestra, who are led by saxophonist Rob Mitchell, released their debut album Dilla to plaudits and praise. Buoyed the response to Dilla, the Abstract Orchestra headed out on a lengthy tour of Britain where the all-star hip hop band’s music found …

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ALAN HAWKSHAW AND BRIAN BENNETT-SYNTHESIS.

Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett-Synthesis. Label: Be With Records.   During the last few years, many record labels have issued compilations of library music, which has been growing in popularity. The rise and rise in popularity of library music continued during 2018, and hardly a week seemed to go by without a new  library music …

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MAXINE BROWN-THE BEST OF THE WAND YEARS-VINYL.

Maxine Brown-The Best Of The Wand Years-Vinyl. Label: Kent. In 1960, twenty-one year old Maxine Brown signed to the small, New York-based Nomar label who released her All in My Mind. The deep soul ballad which was written by Maxine Brown and reached nineteen in the US Billboard 100 and number two on the US …

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MOGWAI-THE STORY SO FAR.

Mogwai-The Story So Far. The Mogwai story which began in 1991, when Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison met in Scotland’s musical capital, Glasgow. Four years later, they met drummer Martin Bulloch and formed Mogwai, which film buffs will remember, is a character from the movie Gremlins. Mogwai was always meant as a temporary name, until they …

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JIMI HENDRIX-BOTH SIDES OF THE SKY-VINYL.

Jimi Hendrix-Both Sides Of The Sky-Vinyl. Label: Sony Music. From the moment that Jimi Hendrix saw T-Bone Walker playing his guitar with his teeth he took it as a challenge, and was determined that one day, he would be able to replicate what he had just witnessed the veteran bluesman do.  In years to come, …

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WAKE UP! MUSIC USA-UK-NU-HOUSE: THE START OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.

Wake Up! Music USA-UK-Nu-House: The Start Of Something Special. Label: Wake Up! Music Group. In early 2018, I was asked by Maddy Gomez, who runs Wake Up! Music Group to write the liner notes to Music Is My Life, the comeback album from Chicago-based DJ and producer Matt Warren. Mostly, when writing liner notes, it’s …

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SOUL OF A NATION: JAZZ IS THE TEACHER, FUNK IS THE PREACHER-VINYL

Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher-Vinyl. Label: Soul Jazz Records. Just fifteen months after the release of their critically acclaimed compilation Soul Of A Nation, Soul Jazz  Records release the much-anticipated followup Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher as a three LP set. …

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PAUL BUCHANAN-FROM THE BLUE NILE AND BEYOND.

Paul Buchanan-From The Blue Nile and Beyond. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best describe The Blue Nile, who were the complete opposite to most bands. To say that The Blue Nile were publicity shy is something of an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and P.J. Moore formed the Blue Nile in 1981, …

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JON SAVAGE’S 1968-THE YEAR THE WORLD BURNED.

Jon Savage’s 1968-The Year The World Burned. Label: Ace Records. When the Rolling Stones released Street Fighting Man as a single in America in August 1968, it was called their most political song to date. The song started life as Did Everyone Pay Their Dues, but it’s alleged became Street Fighting Man after Mick Jagger …

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PHIL ALVIN-UN “SUNG” STORIES. 

Phil Alvin-Un “Sung” Stories. Label: Big Beat. After the demise of The Blasters in 1985, founder member, lead singer and guitarist Phil Alvin wondered what the future held for him? He knew he could join another group, or even form another band. However, eventually Phil Alvin decided to embark upon a solo career and record …

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C. J. & CO-AIN’T IT AMAZING THE UNRELEASED WESTBOUND MASTERS.

C.J. & Co-Ain’t It Amazing-The Unreleased Westbound Masters.  Label: Westbound. The C. J. & Co story began in Detroit, Michigan, in the mid-sixties when they were known  as The Strides. By the early seventies,  The Strides featured Curtis Durden and his wife Connie, Cornelius Brown Jr and Joni Tolbert. This was the lineup that signed …

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THE BETA BAND-HEROES TO ZEROES.

The Beta Band-Heroes To Zeros. Label: Because Music. The Beta Band was formed in Edinburgh in 1996, and a year later, in July 1997 released their Champion Versions EP, which was the first of a trio of innovative EP’s the folktronica pioneers released. In March 1998 The Beta Band released their sophomore EP The Patty Patty Sound, with Los …

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SHE’S A DOLL! WARNER BROS’ FEMININE SIDE.

She’s A Doll!-Warner Bros’ Feminine Side. Label: Ace Records. One of Ace Records’ most popular compilation series’ over the past few years has been Where The Girls Are. There’s already been nine volumes of the critically acclaimed Where The Girls Are, with another due for release in 2019. This hasn’t stopped Ace Records compiling and …

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HOLGER CZUKAY, JAH WOBBLE, JAKI LIEBEZEIT-FULL CIRCLE-VINYL.  

Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit-Full Circle-Vinyl. Label: Gronland Records. Having released eleven albums in eleven years, Can called time on their career in 1979. By then, Can were rightly regarded by critics as one of the most important, influential and innovative bands of the Krautrock era. However, like many of the Krautrock bands, Can …

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VENEZUELA 70 VOLUME 2: COSMIC VISONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH: VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 1970S AND BEYOND-VINYL.

Venezuela 70 Volume 2: Cosmic Visions Of A Latin American Earth: Venezuelan Experimental Rock In The 1970s and Beyond-Vinyl. Label: Soul Jazz Records. During the seventies, Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in South America after oil was discovered in the North West of the country in 1914. Soon, there was the equivalent …

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BUILDING INSTRUMENT-MANGELEN MIN.

Building Instrument-Mangelen Min. Label: Hubro Music  Ten years ago, Building Instrument was formed in 2008, by Mari Kvien Brunvoll, Øyvind Hegg-Lunde and Åsmund Weltzien in Bergen, Norway, with a view to making electronic music. It wasn’t long before Building Instrument decided to change direction. After a musical rethink, Building Instrument settled on a very different …

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JOHN COLTRANE-1963: NEW DIRECTIONS-VINYL.

John Coltrane-1963: New Directions-Vinyl. Label: Impulse! As 1963 dawned, John Coltrane was at the peak of his powers and was already regarded as one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of his generation. However, the previous year 1962, had been somewhat disappointing by his high standards. Neither of the two albums he released in 1962, Ballads …

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COVER ME-THE EDDIE HINTON SONGBOOK.

Cover Me-The Eddie Hinton Songbook. Label: Ace Records. When Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler saw Eddie Hinton playing in Muscle Shoals he called him “the  next big thing.” By then, Eddie Hinton was a talented songwriter who regularly collaborated with Marlin Greene, Donnie Fritts and Dan Penn, and played guitar on nearly every session held at …

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