Category Archives: Avant Garde
BUILDING INSTRUMENT-KEM SOM KAN Å LEVE.
BUILDING INSTRUMENT-KEM SOM KAN Å LEVE. Just over two years have passed since Norwegian trio Building Instrument released their eponymous debut album in March 2014. The album was released to widespread critical acclaim, and great things were forecast for Building Instrument. Since then, Building Instrument have been working on their much anticipated sophomore album, Kem …
STARLESS-STARLESS.
STARLESS-STARLESS. Paul McGeechan, it’s fair to say, is a veteran of Scottish music. After all, he’s spent over thirty years making music. His career began in 1982, when he was cofounded the short-lived, but much missed Friends Again. Friends Again’s recording career began in 1983, when they released the first of eight single and EPs. …
ELECTRI CITY_2.
ELECTRI CITY_2. At this time of year, most people’s thoughts turn to holidays. Some people are easily pleased, while others struggle to find the perfect holiday. They spend an inordinate amount of time flicking through holiday brochures. Part of the problem though, is the amount of choice. However, one group of people seem to be …
MOGWAI-SCOTLAND’S POST ROCK PIONEERS.
MOGWAI-SCOTLAND’S POST ROCK PIONEERS. Although Scotland have produced many successful bands over the past forty years, there aren’t many that have enjoyed the longevity, commercial success and critical acclaim that Mogwai have. They were founded in 1995, and since then, have released eight albums of pioneering post rock. That’s not forgetting the four soundtracks that …
JESSICA SLIGTER-A SENSE OF GROWTH.
JESSICA SLIGTER-A SENSE OF GROWTH. When Dutch musician Jessica Sligter released her sophomore album Fear And The Framing in 2012, many people could’ve been forgiven for thinking that this was her debut album. After all, Fear And The Framing was the first album bearing Jessica Sligter’s name. While this was true, Jessica Slighter’s solo career began …
ERLEND APNESETH TRIO-DET ANDRE ROMMET.
ERLEND APNESETH TRIO-DET ANDRE ROMMET. Practise makes perfect. So the old proverb says. Erlend Apneseth is proof of this. He’s one of Norway’s top young fiddlers, and is already competing at the highest level. That has been the case for some time. Erlend Apneseth competes at the elite level in Norway’s National Contest For Traditional …
KLAUS SCHULZE-CYBORG.
KLAUS SCHULZE-CYBORG. By the time Klaus Schulze released his debut solo album Irrlicht in 1972, he had already been in what would prove to be two of the most important, innovative and influential Krautrock bands, Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel. Both groups would write their names into the history books. However, being in a …
BLACK MOON CIRCLE-SEA OF CLOUDS.
BLACK MOON CIRCLE-SEA OF CLOUDS. Last year, I described Norwegian space rock pioneers, Black Moon Circle as one of the rising stars of the Norwegian music scene. Since then, Black Moon Circle’s star has been in the ascendancy. Their third album, The Studio Jams Volume I: Yellow Nebula In The Sky was released to widespread …
ORNETTE COLEMAN-THE ATLANTIC YEARS.
ORNETTE COLEMAN-THE ATLANTIC YEARS. A year ago, on June 11th 2015, that Ornette Coleman passed away, aged eighty-five. Music had lost a true legend, whose album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation lent its name to a musical genre, free jazz. It’s the genre that Ornette Coleman became synonymous with. However, two years earlier, this nascent …
DIE KRUPPS-STAHLWERKREQUIEM.
DIE KRUPPS-STAHLWERKREQUIEM. In 1978, German music began to change. The Krautrock era which began in 1969, had ended in 1977. There was then a shift more towards electronic music. This wasn’t new. The Berlin School had been around since the early seventies. It was also a precursor of ambient music, and went on to influence …
TYLL-SEXPHONIE.
TYLL-SEXPHONIE. During 1975, a number of Krautrock’s most innovative bands released new albums. The year began when Neu! released their third album Neu! 75 in January 1975. This got the ball rolling. Over the next eleven months, many of the leading lights of the Krautrock scene released new albums. Harmonia released their sophomore album Deluxe; …
HOLGER CZUKAY-MOVIE!
HOLGER CZUKAY-MOVIE! In 1979, Holger Czukay’s career was at a crossroads. 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. During the ten …
KLAUS GESING, BJORN MEYER, SAMUEL ROHRER-AMIIRA.
KLAUS GESING, BJORN MEYER, SAMUEL ROHRER-AMIIRA. Collaborations are nothing new. Musicians have been collaborating for over a hundred years. Some of the earliest collaborations took place between delta blues’ singers. Then as music evolved, and new genres were born, artists continued to collaborate. Especially jazz musicians, who have collaborated on many intriguing and innovative albums. …
IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS-WE BE ALL AFRICANS.
IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS-WE BE ALL AFRICANS. By the time The Pyramids arrived at the UC Berkeley Jazz Festival in 1977, they had established a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative live bands on the international circuit. The Pyramids shows were unique, and were a mixture of percussive, spiritual and space-age …
MOSKUS-ULV ULV.
MOSKUS-ULV ULV. The roots of pioneering jazz trio Moskus, can be traced to the prestigious Trondheim Conservatory of Music. That’s where bassist Fredrik Luhr Dietrichson first met drummer Hans Hulbækmo and pianist Anja Lauvdal. Little did they realise at that first meeting, that they would go on to form one of the most innovative groups …
BRIAN ENO-THE SHIP-COLLECTOR’S EDITION.
BRIAN ENO-THE SHIP-COLLECTOR’S EDITION. Back in the early seventies, having recorded and released an album, bands headed out on tour. These tours could be gruelling, and last over a year. Some bands embraced touring, and the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle that came with it. Bands partied through the night, consuming copious amounts of drinks and …
MOP MOP-LUNAR LOVE.
MOP MOP-LUNAR LOVE. Growing up, music was always a huge part of Andrea Benini’s life. He started to play the guitar when he was ten. By the time he was fourteen, Andrea Benini had switched to drums. This would stand him in good stead later in life. Towards the end of 1999, twenty-two year old …
LANIAKEA-A POT OF POWDERED NETTLES.
LANIAKEA-A POT OF POWDERED NETTLES. It was Charlie Rich who once famously sang: “who knows what goes on behind closed doors?” Everyone has probably thought that, as they make their way across an unfamiliar city. Often though, the weary traveller won’t even see the doors. Instead, doors are hidden away by privet hedges. Privacy in …
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