Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
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 …
SUBHI-SHAITAAN DIL (NAUGHTY HEART).
Subhi-Shaitaan Dil (Naughty Heart). On September the ‘15th’ 2017, Chicago-based singer-songwriter Subhi will release her much-anticipated, accidental debut album Shaitaan Dil (Naughty Heart). For Subhi, this is something she has dreamed about all her life. Even when she was working in finance on Wall Street. However, a career in finance wasn’t for Subhi, who remembers: …
SKID ROW-SKID AND 34 HOURS.
Skid Row-Skid and 34 Hours. Label: BGO Records. 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 …
JOEY NEGRO + SEAN P PRESENT THE BEST OF DISCO SPECTRUM.
Joey Negro + Sean P Present The Best Of Disco Spectrum. Label: BBE. Nearly eighteen years ago, BBE released the first volume in their critically acclaimed Disco Spectrum series. It was compiled by DJ, remixer and crate digger extraordinaire Joey Negro. He was responsible for a compilation that stood head and shoulders above the competition …
THE RADIATORS FROM SPACE-TV TUBE HEART 40TH ANNIVERSARY VERSION.
The Radiators From Space-TV Tube Heart-40th Anniversary Version. Label: Ace Records. When The Ramones played at the Roundhouse in London on the ‘4th’ of July 1976, this was a catalyst for punk movement. Many of the future leading lights of the punk movement have since claimed to have been present that night. In the audience …
JOHNNY RIVERS-HELP ME RHONDA.
Johnny Rivers-Help Me Rhonda. Label: BGO Records. By 1975, Johnny Rivers was approaching his thirty-third birthday, and had already spent nearly twenty years as a musician. His career began while he was still a student at Baton Rouge Magnet High School. That was where John Henry Ramistell had formed his first band, The Spades. They …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 