Monthly Archives: January, 2020
CULT CLASSIC: CIRCLES-MORE CIRCLES.
Cult Classic: Circles-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 …
SCOTT WALKER MEETS JACQUES BREL.
Scott Walker Meets Jacques Brel. Label: Ace Records. Release Date: “31st” January 2020. It’s no exaggeration to say that Scott Walker and Jacques Brel were two of the most influential singer-songwriters of their generation. However, if it wasn’t for Scott Walker covering nine of Jacques Brel’s songs on his first three solo albums, the Belgian …
EZE-NRI ROYAL DRUMMERS VOL. 1
Eze-Nri Royal Drummers Vol. 1. Label: BBE Africa. One of the most important labels in the history of African music is Tabansi Records, which was founded in Onitsha, a trading centre in the Igbo southeast of Nigeria, in 1952. Chief (Dr) G.A.D. Tabansi had watched as Decca, and then Philips, closed the doors on their …
CULT CLASSIC: AGITATION FREE-2ND.
Cult Classic: Agitation Free-2nd. Berlin, in 1967 was where the Agitation Free story began. That was when Lutz ‘Lüül’ Ulrich, Michael ‘Fame’ Günther, Lutz ‘Ludwig’ Kramer and Christoph Franke formed Agitation. This new band quickly established a reputation as one of the pioneers of Berlin’s underground music scene. When Agitation played live, their sets were …
CULT CLASSIC: CAN-FUTURE DAYS.
Cult Classic: Can-Future Days. In the history of modern German music, Can were undoubtably one of the most ambitious and innovative groups of the past fifty years. Their music was constantly evolving and was always groundbreaking. So much so, that it was always way ahead of the musical curve. Ca’s music is also timeless and has influenced several generation of musicians. …
CULT CLASSIC: BERT JANSCH-L.A. TURNAROUND.
Cult Classic: Bert Jansch-L.A. Turnaround. On New Year’s Day, 1973, Glasgow-born Bert Jansch announced his intention to leave folk-jazz band Pentangle, and concentrate on his burgeoning solo career. This resulted in the headline: “Pentangle Split” featuring on the first edition of Melody Maker released in 1973. For some of Pentangle’s fans, this came as a surprise, …
STEVEN TAYLOR-SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND OF EXPERIENCE: SHEWING THE TWO CONTRARY STATES OF THE HUMAN SOUL.
Steven Taylor-Songs Of Innocence and Of Experience: Shewing The Two Contrary States Of The Human Soul. Ace Records. Nowadays, many critics consider that the enigmatic William Blake was England’s greatest ever poet and artist. Some critics have gone as far as to say that he was the greatest poet and artist and artist ever. Blake …
CULT CLASSIC: RIM KWAKU OBENG-RIM ARRIVES.
Cult Classic: Rim Kwaku Obeng-Rim Arrives. For collectors of Afro-funk and disco, many albums remain tantalisingly out of reach. This includes Ghanian drummer Rim Kwaku Obeng’s legionary lost debut album Rim Arrives. It was released in 1977, four years after a perilous time for Rim Kwaku Obeng. He found himself stranded in London, without money, …
CULT CLASSIC: KLAUS SCHULZE-CYBORG.
Cult Classic: Klaus Schulze -Cyborg. By the time Klaus Schulze released his debut solo album Irrlicht in 1972, he had already been in what would prove to be two of the most important, innovative and influential Krautrock bands, Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel. Both groups would write their names into the history books. However, …
CULT CLASSIC:REQUIEM-FOR A WORLD AFTER.
Cult Classic: Requiem-A World After. For six months, George A. Speckert and Massimo Grandi laboured long and hard in Sparky Studios to record Requiem’s debut album For A World After. Eventually, the two men had completed what was an ambitious and innovative concept album, For A World After. It had been written by George A. …
CULT CLASSIC: STOMU YAMASHTA-RED BUDDHA.
Cult Classic: Stomu Yamashta-Red Buddha. Too often, Stomu Yamashta’s role in the popularisation of world music is overlooked by critics and cultural commentators. They forget that Stomu Yamashta helped popularise world music back in the sixties. Right through to the seventies, Stomu Yamashta was one of the leading lights in the burgeoning world music scene. …
CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA-TIM MAIA (1977).
Cult Classic: Tim Maia-Tim Maia (1977. As 1977 dawned, Tim Maia had already released seven albums since his 1970 eponymous debut, and although some of these album had been released to critical acclaim and were a commercial success, the charismatic Brazilian singer found himself financially embarrassed. Things had been going from bad to worse over the …
CULT CLASSIC: GURU GURU-UFO.
Cult Classic: Guru Guru-UFO. By the late sixties, the members of many British and American bands were well on their way to becoming multi-millionaires. Especially groups like The Beatles and Rolling Stones who had been at the top for the best part of a decade, and were now enjoying wealth beyond their wildest dreams. To …
CULT CLASSIC: SKID ROW-34 HOURS.
Cult Classic: Skid Row-34 Hours. By late 1967, Dublin’s vibrant rock scene was thriving with many newly founded bands playing in universities and clubs around the city. Some were already spreading their wings, and heading further afield taking their music to other parts of the Republic of Ireland. Its music scene had come a long …
CULT CLASSIC: SYLVIAN AND CZUKAY-PLIGHT AND PREMONITION.
Cult Classic: Sylvian and Czukay-Plight and Premonition. By early 1986, former Can bassist Holger Czukay was now a successful solo artist, and was working on his fourth solo album was eventually released in 1988 as Rome Remains Rome. It was being recorded at Can Studio, in Cologne, and Holger Czukay was joined by drummer Jaki …
CULT CLASSIC:JOE TURNER-THE REAL BOSS OF THE BLUES.
Cult Classic: Joe Turner-The Real Boss Of The Blues. After enjoying a renaissance in its popularity during the early sixties, blues music was in doldrums. Soul had replaced the blues in popularity, and Stax, Atlantic and Motown were among the most successful labels. However, many of the new breed of rock bands had been inspired by the blues. …
CULT CLASSIC: CROMWELL-AT THE GALLOP.
Cult Classic: Cromwel-At The Gallop. By 1975, Dublin had an eclectic and vibrant music scene , and there literally was something for all musical tastes. This ranged from the traditional showbands that had long been part of the Irish music scene, right through to traditional Irish music and sentiment-laden pop music. However, this was only …
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