Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
BEAT FUNKTION-GREEN MAN.
BEAT FUNKTION-GREEN MAN. Originally, Beat Funktion were formed in 2007 to play a one-off concert at a Swedish nightclub. For the six musicians involved, they were looking no further than that one concert. Little did the members of the Beat Funktion realise, that they would still be together ten years later. A lot has happened …
A PROJECTION-FRAMEWORK.
A PROJECTION-FRAMEWORK. Two years after releasing their critically acclaimed debut album Exit, Stockholm based A Projection recently returned with their much-anticipated sophomore album Framework. It was released by the Hamburg-based label Tapete Records. They were one of the record labels in the race to sign A Projection after hearing their eponymous debut EP. Eventually, Tapete …
KLAUS SCHULZE-THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOOG BOX SETS.
KLAUS SCHULZE-THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOOG BOX SETS. By 1994, Berlin School pioneer Klaus Schulze was a veteran of German music. He had been making music for twenty-five years. His recording career began back in October 1969, when Klaus Schulze played on Tangerine Dream’s debut album Electronic Meditation. Eight months later, Electronic Meditation was released …
FAREWELL WILLIAM ONYEAEBOR.
FAREWELL WILLIAM ONYEAEBOR. Enigmatic. That was the perfect word to describe synth funk pioneer, William Onyeabor who died on January 16th 2017 aged just seventy. Nigerian music lost a musical pioneer. However, William Onyeabor was, without doubt, one of the most mysterious and elusive musicians in musical history. There’s a good reason for this, Much of William Onyeabor’s life …
YES-TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS-DELUXE EDITION BOX SET.
YES-TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS-DELUXE EDITION BOX SET. After a three month break, Yes’ 1972-1973 Close To The Edge Tour was due to resume on the 8th of March 1973. This was the fifth leg in what had been a gruelling world tour. The new lineup of Yes had criss-crossed the world, playing North America and …
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1973-1977.
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1973-1977. In 1970, Birmingham based songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood decided to form a new band with drummer Bev Bevan. This new group they christened the Electric Light Orchestra. At first, the Electric Light Orchestra was regarded as an offshoot of The Move, which Jeff Lynne, …
CHIP WICKHAM-LA SOMBRA.
CHIP WICKHAM-LA SOMBRA. Manchester like Glasgow, Liverpool and London is regarded as one of Britain’s musical cities. That has been the case for over fifty years. During that period, Manchester has always had a vibrant, thriving and eclectic music scene. One man who has been a familiar face on the Manchester music scene is reed …
LEONARD COHEN-YOU WANT IT DARKER.
LEONARD COHEN-YOU WANT IT DARKER. In 2004, Leonard Cohen’s daughter Lorca started to suspect her father’s manager of financial impropriety. Deep down, this was something Lorca didn’t want to believe. Kelley Lynch wasn’t just a business manager, but a close personal friend. So close was the friendship that Kelley Lynch was almost regarded as part …
IKARUS-KRAUTROCK’S NEARLY MEN.
IKARUS-KRAUTROCK’S NEARLY MEN. In Greek mythology, Icarus, the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, who created the Labyrinth, met a tragic ending. Icarus and Daedalus were desperate to escape from Crete. So Daedalus constructed wings made of feathers and wax. As Icarus prepared to make his escape, Daedalus warned his son of complacency and hubris. …
BUDGIE-MCA ALBUMS 1973-1975.
BUDGIE-MCA ALBUMS 1973-1975. By 1973, Budgie were one of the rising stars of British rock. The hard rocking Welsh trio had been formed in Cardiff in 1967. Originally, Budgie were known as Hills Contemporary Grass. However, after playing several gigs in 1968, Burke Shelley, Tony Bourge and Ray Phillips decided to changed the band’s name …
MELISSA MANCHESTER-HOME TO MYSELF/BRIGHT EYES/MELISSA AND HELP IS ON THE WAY.
MELISSA MANCHESTER-HOME TO MYSELF/BRIGHT EYES/MELISSA AND HELP IS ON THE WAY. It was almost inevitable that Melissa Manchester would end up embarking upon a musical career. The Manchester family were a highly creative family, and music played an important part in everyday life. That was no surprise. Melissa’s father was a bassoonist in the New …
CONRAD SCHNITZLER/SCHNEIDER TM-CON-STRUCT.
CONRAD SCHNITZLER/SCHNEIDER TM-CON-STRUCT. One of the most important and influential figures in German music was Conrad Schnitzler. He was a composer, concept artist and one the leading lights of Germany’s electronic music and avant-garde scenes. Conrad Schnitzler was also a musical pioneer, who created music that was innovative and often, way ahead of its time. …
TIM MAIA-1972 AND 1973.
TIM MAIA-1972 AND 1973. After the success of his sophomore album Tim Maia 1971, the Brazilian singer-songwriter headed to London to celebrate his newfound success. He had just enjoyed two successful albums, after six years of struggling to make a breakthrough. Tim wanted to celebrate, and enjoy the fruits of his labour. It was during …
MANUEL GOTTSCHING-E2-E4
MANUEL GOTTSCHING-E2-E4 It was late 1981, when Manuel Göttsching returned home after a lengthy tour with Klaus Schulze. The two pioneers of the Berlin School of electronic music had spent much of 1981 touring their latest albums. Manuel Göttsching’s most recent album was Belle Alliance. This was his fifth solo album, and the fourth to …
KATE BUSH-BEFORE THE DAWN.
KATE BUSH-BEFORE THE DAWN. Touring isn’t for every artist or band. Some like Free, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath loved touring, and spent much of their career on tour. Kate Bush never enjoyed touring. So much so, that for thirty-five years, Kate Bush never took to the stage. She toured once in 1979. After that …
THE RISE OF THE PARIS SISTERS.
THE RISE OF THE PARIS SISTERS. The Paris Sisters weren’t an overnight success. Far from it. It took nearly a decade of hard work and dedication before they made a commercial breakthrough. Suddenly, all the hard work was worthwhile. Especially when I Love How You Love Me reached five on the US Billboard 100 in …
ASHRA-CORRELATIONS COMPLETE BOX SET.
ASHRA-CORRELATIONS COMPLETE BOX SET. When Manuel Göttsching released Inventions For Electric Guitar in 1975, this was meant to be the start of a new chapter in his career. Inventions For Electric Guitar was meant to be Manuel Göttsching’s debut solo album. Some eagle eyed record buyers weren’t so sure about that. Atop the album cover …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 