Category Archives: Avant Garde

THE MUSIC OF MICHAEL ROTHER KOMISCHE PIONEER.

The Music Of Michael Rother Kosmische Pioneer. During the early seventies, the German music scene was thriving, and  was one of the most vibrant in Europe. Some of the most influential and innovative music was being recorded and released by German bands. This included the holy trinity of Can, Kraftwerk and Neu!. Along with Amon Düül II, Ashra, …

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MUSICAL MAVERICK HOLGER CZUKAY.

The Life and Times Of Musical Maverick 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 sometimes way …

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DIETER MOEBIUS-LIFE AFTER CLUSTER: THE SOLO YEARS.

Dieter Moebius-Life After Cluster: The Solo Years. Ten years after Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius formed Cluster in 1971, the first chapter in the Cluster story drew to a close 1981, after the release of their seventh studio album, Curiosum. Hans-Joachim Roedelius said: “Cluster had run its course. We decided to concentrate on other projects. …

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CYMBELINE-SWEDEN’S LOST GROUP.

Cymbeline-Sweden’s Lost Group. 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 early …

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAN.

The Life and Times Of Can. Having released eleven albums in eleven years, Can called time on their career in 1979. By then, Can were rightly regarded by critics as one of the most important, influential and innovative bands of the Krautrock era. However, like many of the Krautrock bands, Can hadn’t enjoyed the commercial …

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THE INIMITABLE SUN RA, INNOVATOR AND MUSICAL PIONEER.

The Inimitable Sun Ra, Innovator and Musical Pioneer. Nowadays, music journalists are guilty of using the words innovator and musical pioneer all too freely, but that is the perfect description of the inimitable Sun Ra. He’s now regarded as one of the true pioneers of free jazz and a truly innovative and influential musician who pushed musical …

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NAT BIRCHALL-COSMIC LANGUAGE-VINYL

Nat Birchall-Cosmic Language-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records.  Manchester-based jazz saxophonist Nat Birchall has come a long way since releasing his debut album The Sixth Sense in January 1999, and nowadays, is regarded as one of the leading lights of the vibrant British jazz scene. Nat Birchall is also one of the most talented and inventive British …

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A NEW LIFE VOLUME II-VINYL.

A New Life Volume II-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records Three years ago in 2015, Jazzman Records released A New Life, their critically acclaimed compilation of British jazz. This is no ordinary jazz compilation though. Instead, A New Life featured tracks from private pressings and hidden gems released by independent labels. So successful was A New Life …

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MOGWAI-THE STORY SO FAR.

Mogwai-The Story So Far. The Mogwai story which began in 1991, when Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison met in Scotland’s musical capital, Glasgow. Four years later, they met drummer Martin Bulloch and formed Mogwai, which film buffs will remember, is a character from the movie Gremlins. Mogwai was always meant as a temporary name, until they …

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THE BETA BAND-HEROES TO ZEROES.

The Beta Band-Heroes To Zeros. Label: Because Music. The Beta Band was formed in Edinburgh in 1996, and a year later, in July 1997 released their Champion Versions EP, which was the first of a trio of innovative EP’s the folktronica pioneers released. In March 1998 The Beta Band released their sophomore EP The Patty Patty Sound, with Los …

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HOLGER CZUKAY, JAH WOBBLE, JAKI LIEBEZEIT-FULL CIRCLE-VINYL.  

Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit-Full Circle-Vinyl. Label: Gronland Records. Having released eleven albums in eleven years, Can called time on their career in 1979. By then, Can were rightly regarded by critics as one of the most important, influential and innovative bands of the Krautrock era. However, like many of the Krautrock bands, Can …

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VENEZUELA 70 VOLUME 2: COSMIC VISONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH: VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 1970S AND BEYOND-VINYL.

Venezuela 70 Volume 2: Cosmic Visions Of A Latin American Earth: Venezuelan Experimental Rock In The 1970s and Beyond-Vinyl. Label: Soul Jazz Records. During the seventies, Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in South America after oil was discovered in the North West of the country in 1914. Soon, there was the equivalent …

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BUILDING INSTRUMENT-MANGELEN MIN.

Building Instrument-Mangelen Min. Label: Hubro Music  Ten years ago, Building Instrument was formed in 2008, by Mari Kvien Brunvoll, Øyvind Hegg-Lunde and Åsmund Weltzien in Bergen, Norway, with a view to making electronic music. It wasn’t long before Building Instrument decided to change direction. After a musical rethink, Building Instrument settled on a very different …

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JOHN COLTRANE-1963: NEW DIRECTIONS-VINYL.

John Coltrane-1963: New Directions-Vinyl. Label: Impulse! As 1963 dawned, John Coltrane was at the peak of his powers and was already regarded as one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of his generation. However, the previous year 1962, had been somewhat disappointing by his high standards. Neither of the two albums he released in 1962, Ballads …

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BITTESCHON PHILOPON! VOLUME 1.

Bitteschon Philophon! Volume 1. Label: Philophon. Release Date: ‘7th’ December 2018. The Berlin based Philophon label will release their first ever label compilation Bitteschon Philophon!Volume 1 on the ‘7th’ December 2018. Bitteschon Philophon!Volume 1  is essentially a best of compilation, that features  ten tracks from the first fifteen seven-inch singles released on Philophon. These fifteen …

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THELONIOUS MONK-MONK-VINYL.

Thelonious Monk-Monk-Vinyl. Label: Gearbox Records. Over the last few years, the fashion has been for a minimalism within the hipper home, and it has been fashionable to declutter and adopt a less is more look. Some people have been so keen to declutter that they don’t seem to care about what they thrown away. However, …

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THE ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO AND ASSOCIATED ENSEMBLES.

The Art Ensemble Of Chicago and Associated Ensembles. Label: ECM Records. As 2018, dawned, the pioneering avant-garde jazz group the Art Ensemble of Chicago were preparing to celebrate fifty years making ambitious and innovative music. This includes the five Art Ensemble Of Chicago albums that features on The Art Ensemble Of Chicago and Associated Ensembles, …

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HOLGER CZUKAY-MOVIES.

Holger Czukay-Movies. Label: Gronland Records. By 1979, Holger Czukay’s career was at a crossroads, after Can the group he cofounded in 1968, had split-up.  After releasing eleven albums in eleven years, one of music’s most innovative groups were no more. This came as no surprise to Holger Czukay, who was about to resume his solo career. …

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SOUL OF A NATION: JAZZ IS THE TEACHER, FUNK IS THE PREACHER.

Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher. Label: Soul Jazz Records. Release Date: ‘23rd’ November 2018. Just fifteen months after the release of their critically acclaimed compilation Soul Of A Nation, Soul Jazz  Records will release the much-anticipated followup Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The …

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JOHN COLTRANE-1963: NEW DIRECTIONS.

John Coltrane-1963: New Directions. Label: Impulse! As 1963 dawned, John Coltrane was at the peak of his powers and was already regarded as one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of his generation. However, the previous year 1962, had been somewhat disappointing by his high standards. Neither of the two albums he released in 1962, Ballads …

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