Category Archives: Ambient

KLAUS SCHULZE-CRIME OF SUSPENSE.

Klaus Schulze-Crime Of Suspense. Label: MIG Music. By 1998, fifty-one year old Berlin School pioneer Klaus Schulze had been making music for twenty-nine years, and had achieved more than most during a career that already spanned four decades. His career began in 1969 when he was the drummer in Psy Free, and met Edgar Froese in …

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BEATCHILD AND THE SLAKADELIQS-HEAVY ROCKIN’ STEADY. 

Beatchild and The Slakadeliqs-Heavy Rockin’ Steady. Label: BBE. While many of Byram Joseph’s classmates at junior school  Sarnia, a small city in Southwestern Ontario, in Canada were interested in sport, the future Slakah The Beatchild was much more interested in music. He already had a small record collection which his parents had given him, and …

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THE BEST VINYL RELEASES OF 2017 PART 1

The Best Vinyl Releases Of 2017-Part 1.. Bettye Swann-The Money Masters. Label: Kent Soul. Bettye Swann had the talent and potential to become one of the greatest soul singers of her generation. A remainder why can be found on The Money Masters which covers Bettye Swann’s time at Money Records, and includes singles, B-Sides and …

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THE BEST VINYL RELEASES OF 2017 PART 3.

The Best Vinyl Releases of 2017 Part 3. Motörhead -What’s Worth Words. Label: Big Beat Records. When Motörhead released What’s Worth Words on the ‘5th’ of March 1983, critics called the album one of the greatest live albums ever release. That was no exaggeration. What’s Worth Words featured a barnstorming, speed fuelled performance from Motörhead …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 1.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 1. At this time of year, the lists of the best albums of the previous year are published. This year, I’ve delved deep into the all the releases from 2017 and picked my 100 Best New Albums Of 2017. 1982-Chromola. Label: Hubro Music. Norwegian power trio 1982 celebrated their tenth anniversary with the release …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 2.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 2. Ben Lukas Boysen and Sebastian Plano-Everything. Label: Erased Tapes Records. When it came for games designer David O’Reilly to commission composers to produce the score for Everything, he turned to German composers Ben Lukas Boysen and Sebastian Plano who were tasked with producing a sprawling four-hour, immersive soundtrack. This would …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 3.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 3. Cluster-Konzerte 1972-1977.  Label: Bureau B. Although Cluster released seven studio albums between 1971 and 1979, they were also a legendary live band, whose marathon concerts usually lasted six hours or more. Sadly, Cluster never released a live album during the seventies. The nearest most people got to hearing Cluster …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 4.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 4. Erland Dahlen-Clocks.  Label: Hubro Music. When Erland Dahlen recorded his third solo album Clocks, he followed in the footsteps of American composer, music theorist and creator of bespoke musical instruments Harry Partch. He successfully transformed everyday items into musical instruments and inspired Erland Dahlen when he came to record …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 5.

Best New Albums Of 2017 Part 5. Gjermund Larsen Trio-Salmeklang. Label: Heilo. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Gjermund Larsen Trio, they return with their fourth album Salmeklang. Just like previous albums, bandleader Gjermund Larsen writes most of the music on Salmeklang. The result is an album where the music is atmospheric, melodic album …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 6.

Best New Albums Of 2017 Part 6. Jon Balke and Siwan-Nahnou Houm. Label: ECM Records. Eight years after releasing their debut album Norwegian keyboardist, composer and arranger Jon Balke and Siwan return with Nahnou Houm, which marks the debut of the new lead singer Mona Boutchebak from Algeria. She joins a multitalented band and plays …

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BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 7.

Best New Albums Of 2017 Part 7. Linda Perhacs-I’m A Harmony. Label: Omnivore Recordings. Three years after releasing her long-awaited and much-anticipated sophomore album The Soul of All Natural Things in 2014, the Queen of psychedelic folk Linda Perhacs returns with I’m A  Harmony. It’s a flawless genre-melting album that veers between ambient and atmospheric …

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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 …

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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 …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 1.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 1. Airto Fogo-Airto Fogo. Label: Pharaway Sounds Three years after releasing the spiritual jazz classic Israel Suite/Dominante En Blue in 1973, Paris born drummer and percussionist Sylvain Krief returned with a new band Airto Fogo in 1976. They released their eponymous debut album on Decca later in 1976. Sadly, Airto …

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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 …

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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 …

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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, …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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