Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
THE ORIGINAL SOUNDS OF MALI.
The Original Sounds Of Mali. Label: Mr. Bongo Although Mali only gained independence from France on the ’22nd’ of September 1960, this relatively new country, already has a rich musical heritage. The golden age of Malian music began after Mali’s first president Modibo Keïta was overthrown in a bloodless coup d’état on the ’19th’ of November 1968, …
ANE BRUN-LEAVE ME BREATHLESS.
Ane Brun-Leave Me Breathless. Label: Balloon Ranger Recordings. In her native Norway, forty-one year old Ane Brun is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of her generation. Her career began in May 2003, when Ane Brun released her debut album Spending Time With Morgan. This was the start of a glittering career for Ane Brun, …
MELVIN SPARKS-I’M FUNKY NOW.
Melvin Sparks-I’m Funky Now. Label: Westbound Records. By the mid-seventies, jazz was no longer as possible as it had once been, and many artists were struggling to make a living. Record buyers weren’t interested in jazz music, and sadly, disco, had overtaken jazz, soul and blues in the popularity stakes. It was a sad day …
CYMBELINE 1965 – 1971.
Cymbeline 1965-1971. Label: Guerssen Records. Nowadays, Norway and Sweden both have vibrant and thriving music scenes, where pioneering musicians record and release some of the most ambitious, important and innovative music that is currently being released in Europe. This is nothing new, and both countries have a long and illustrious musical history stretching back to …
THE ZODIAC-COSMIC SOUNDS.
The Zodiac-Cosmic Sounds. Label: Cherry Red Records. By 1967, many critics and record buyers regarded Elektra Records as a folk rock label, that had released albums by some of the genre’s finest exponents including Judy Collins, Love, Tom Rush and Tim Buckley. Many of these albums would later become important and influential albums, and some …
THE STORY OF SWEENEY’S MEN.
The Story Of Sweeney’s Men. One of the bands that emerged from the mid-sixties Irish roots revival was Sweeney’s Men, who were formed in Dublin in May 1966, by Andy Irvine, “Galway Joe” Dolan and Johnny Moynihan. Sweeney’s Men were together for just three years, and released two albums which feature one of the most important …
JAMES CARR-THE BEST OF JAMES CARR.
James Carr-The Best Of James Carr. Label: Kent Soul. By 1964, Memphis was a musical hotbed, and home to many up-and-coming soul singers and songwriters looking to make a breakthrough. Roosevelt Jamieson was a friend of many of these songwriters and soul singers, including OV Wright and James Carr, who were both looking for a label. …
EMILIO APARICIO MOOG EXPANSION GALACTICA.
Emilio Aparicio Moog Expansión Galáctica. Label: Mental Experience. Nowadays, the words pioneer and innovator tend to be overused, and musicians who create truly groundbreaking music seem to be sadly, few and far between. While there are some pioneering musicians whose music continues to push musical boundaries, there are no longer as many as there once …
BETTYE SWANN-THE MONEY MASTERS-VINYL.
Bettye Swann-The Money Masters-Vinyl. Label: Kent Soul. All too often, talented singers fail top to enjoy the commercial success and critical acclaim that their talent deserves. That was the case with Bettye Swann who had the potential, talent and voice to become one of the great soul singers of the sixties. She released her debut single …
THE JOHNSTONS-WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
The Johnstons-What Might Have Been? During the mid-sixties, folk music on both sides of the Atlantic was growing in popularity, in America and Britain. It was a similar case in Ireland, where a number of folk bands were founded, including The Johnstons in Slane, County Meath, whose original lineup featured Adrienne Johnston, her younger sister Lucy …
DEUTSCHE ELEKTRONISCHE MUSIK: EXPERIMENTAL GERMAN ROCK AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC 1971-83.
Deutsche Elektronische Musik: Experimental German Rock And Electronic Music 1971-83. Label: Soul Jazz Records. Over four years have passed since Soul Jazz Records released the second instalment in their criticality acclaimed Deutsche Elektronische Musik compilation series. Deutsche Elektronische Musik 2 was released in February 2013 and was the eagerly awaited followup to Deutsche Elektronische Musik …
ERLEND APNESETH TRIO-ARA
Erlend Apneseth Trio-Åra. Label: Hubro Music. Just a year after the Erlend Apneseth Trio released their critically acclaimed debut album Det Andre Rommet, they recently returned with their sophomore album Åra, which was released on Hubro Music. Åra finds the talented triumvirate return with another album of original music that is regarded as an almost …
NILS OKLAND BAND-LYSNING.
Nils Økland Band-Lysning. Label: Hubro Music. Nowadays, fifty-six year old composer and Hardanger fiddle virtuoso Nils Økland is regarded as one of the elder statesman of Norwegian music, and a truly versatile musician whose played everything from folk, jazz, baroque and rock to art rock and improv. Regardless of what type of music Nils Økland …
FUNKADELIC REMIXED BY DETROITERS.
Funkadelic Remixed By Dettroiters. Label: Westbound Records. Although George Clinton was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina in 1941, he grew up in New Jersey, where he formed the doo wop quintet The Parliaments in the late fifties, whilst straightening hair at a barber salon in Plainfield he co-owned. George Clinton became the leader and manager …
AKSHARA-IN TIME.
Akshara-In Time. Label: Akshara Music. It was in 2008, that composer, vocalist and percussionist Bala Skandan founded Akshara in New York. Seven years later, and Akshara’s Mohana Blues won the Best World Traditional Song award at the 13th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2015. This made all Akshara’s hard work worthwhile, and spurred them on to …
PHIL SEYMOUR-PRINCE OF POWER POP-HIS VERY BEST AND 11 MORE.
Phil Seymour-Prince Of Power Pop-His Very Best and 11 More. Label: Big Beat Records. Sadly, not every artist goes on to enjoy a long and successful musical career, and their star shines only briefly. That was the case with Nick Drake and Gram Parsons, whose tragic and untimely deaths cut short what could’ve and should’ve …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 