Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 8.
Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 8. Nordic Circles-Under The Clouds. Label: AMP Music and Records. Over the last few years, the Scandinavian jazz scene has been enjoying another golden period. Proof of that is Nordic Circles which is a relatively new Norwegian jazz project whose raison d’être is to create unique jazz recordings where well-known …
BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 9.
Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 9. Schneider-Kacirek-Radius Walk. Label: Bureau B. In 2017, two of the leading lights of the German music scene Schneider-Kacirek returned with their sophomore album Radius Walk. It features Sonia Jernberg on three soundscapes, which was something of a masterstroke, as she’s a truly talented singer who has honed her own inimitable …
BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 10.
Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 10. The Souljazz Orchestra-Under Burning Skies. Label: Strut Records. Fifteen years after The Souljazz Orchestra was founded in Ottawa, Canada, in 2002, they returned with their seventh album Under Burning Skies. It’s without doubt, the finest album of their career, which has been said before. However, with every album they …
AKSAK MABOUL-UN PEU L’AME DES BANDITS-VINYL REISSUE.
Aksak Maboul-Un Peu de L’âme Des Bandits-Vinyl Reissue. Label: Crammed Discs. Nearly three years after releasing their seminal avant pop album, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine in the summer of 1977, Aksak Maboul returned with their much-anticipated 1980 sophomore album Un Peu de L’âme Des Bandits. It was the first album Aksak Maboul released …
FIRE!-THE HANDS.
Fire!-The Hands. Label: Rune Grammofon. When the Swedish power trio Fire! was founded ten years ago in 2008, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer and percussionist Andreas Werliin were determined to bring a new approach to improvised music which they were all passionate about. They also knew that their new band Fire! would …
THE REAL SOUND OF MARK GRUSANE.
The Real Sound Of Mark Grusane. Label: BBE. Eight years ago, on the ’26th’ of January 2010, Mark Grusane made his BBE debut, when he co-compiled The Real Sound Of Chicago with Mike Cole, his partner in Mr. Peabody Records. It was then one of Chicago’s premier record shops, and was the first port of …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 2.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 2. Cromwell-At The Gallop. Label: Got Kinda Lost Records. By 1975, Ireland had a vibrant music scene, and one of its rising stars Cromwell, was about to release its debut album, At The Gallop. It was an album guaranteed to get any party started, and feared an irresistible fusion of …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 3.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 3. Erasmo Carlos-Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 Label: Light In The Attic Records. When Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 was released in 1972, this was the last instalment in a trio of albums that featured Erasmo Carlos at his creative zenith. His bubblegum beginnings seemed a long time ago, and he was …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 4.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 4. Iggy Pop-The Idiot. Label: UMC. When Iggy Pop released his debut solo The Idiot in March 1977, it was a stylistic departure from the former leader of The Stooges. The Idiot seemed to have been influenced by Kraftwerk, James Brown and David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy. As for the title, …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 5.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 5. Melissa Manchester-Home To Myself, Bright Eyes, Melissa and Help Is On The Way. Label: BGO Records. Success didn’t come overnight for Melissa Manchester. She released her debut album Home To Myself in 1973, which was well received by critics, but reached just 156 in the US Billboard 200. In …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 6.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 6. Radiohead-OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 – 2017. Label: XL Recordings. In June 1997, post rock pioneers Radiohead released the album that transformed their career, and catapulted them to music’s premier league. OK Computer with its abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic range of disparate influences was very different to …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 7.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 7. Stoneground-Stoneground and Stoneground 3. Label: BGO Records. When Stoneground released their eponymous debut in early 1970, critics were won over by a fusion of blues, folk, pop, psychedelia, rock and soul. Seamlessly, Stoneground switch between and fuse musical genres and influences. To do this they deployed seven separate vocalists …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 1.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 1. Every week of the year, dozens of compilations are released by independent and major record labels which makes choosing just a few of the highlights of 2017 no easy task. However, after much consideration I’ve managed to choose The Best Compilations Of 2017. Acetone-1999-2001 Label: Light In The …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 2.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 2. Conrad Schnitzler-Filmmusik 2. Label: Bureau B. Filmmuzik 2, just like Filmmuzik 1, is the perfect starting place for newcomers to the music of Conrad Schnitzler. Both albums are a gateway to the rest of Conrad Schnitzler’s back-catalogue. These compilations will be the first step on a voyage of …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 3.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 3. Innerpeace-Rare and Spiritual Funk and Jazz Gems: The Supreme Sound Of Producer Bob Shad. Label: Wewantsounds. Nowadays, the music Mainstream Records released between 1964 and 1978 is more popular than ever. It seems that with every passing year more people discover the delights of Mainstream Records’ illustrious back-catalogue. …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 5.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 5 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins-The Planet Sessions. Label: Ace Records. Inimitable and unique describe the late Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. He was one of the great musical showmen, whose performances were designed to leaving a lasting impression. They always succeeded in doing so. So did his music including the songs on The …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 6.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 6. The Monkees-Summer Of Love. Label: Rhino. Even today, The Monkees divides the opinion of many critics and record buyers. Partly that is because of the perception that The Monkees were a manufactured band that was the brainchild of television executives. Despite that, The Monkees went on to enjoy …
THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2017.
The Best Box Sets Of 2017. Each and every year, hundreds, if not thousands of box sets are released by independent and major record companies, and usually there’s something for every budget. That is also the case on list of the Best Box Sets of 2017, which features box sets that cost £10 right up …