Category Archives: Experimental
COLOGNE CURIOSITIES-THE UNKNOWN KRAUTROCK UNDERGROUND 1972-1976.
COLOGNE CURIOSITIES-THE UNKNOWN KRAUTROCK UNDERGROUND 1972-1976. Within Krautrock circles, the words “Pyramid Records” are guaranteed to provoke debate. Especially since the rediscovery of the Pyramid Records’ tapes just over twenty years ago. This should’ve been an exciting discovery. After all, it wasn’t every day that a hitherto small, unknown private record label’s back-catalogue was discovered? …
THE PICTISH TRAIL-FUTURE ECHOES.
THE PICTISH TRAIL-FUTURE ECHOES. In 2002, Johnny Lynch was a student at the prestigious University of St. Andrews. He was approaching the end of his degree course. Most students would’ve been thinking about the life after University. Not Johnny Lynch.Instead, Johnny Lynch began performing as The Pictish Trail in 2002. Later that year, Johnny began …
ARBEIT SCHICKERT SCHNEIDER-A S S.
ARBEIT SCHICKERT SCHNEIDER-A S S. For the best part of fifty years, Berlin has produced many truly innovative musicians. This includes Can, Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra and Cluster. They consistently produced groundbreaking music which even today, is influencing a new generation of musicians. Since then, Berlin has consistently produced many more talented and inventive musicians. …
VENEZUELA 70-COSMIC VISIONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH-VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 70S.
VENEZUELA 70-COSMIC VISIONS OF A LATIN AMERICAN EARTH-VENEZUELAN EXPERIMENTAL ROCK IN THE 70S. Over the last twenty years, the compilation market has been totally transformed. Nowadays, the compilation market is bigger, with many more labels regularly releasing compilations. A turning point was the mid to late nineties, when many small, independent labels began to release …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
MAJA S.K. RATKJE-CREPUSCULAR HOUR.
MAJA S.K. RATKJE-CREPUSCULAR HOUR. By the time Maja S. K. Ratkje graduated from the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2000, the twenty-seven year old had already won one of the most prestigious awards in Norwegian music, an Edvardprisen. This came in 1999, when Waves 11b won an Edvardprisen in the contemporary music minor work category. …
FIRE! ORCHESTRA-RITUAL.
FIRE! ORCHESTRA-RITUAL. For their fourth album Ritual, the Fire! Orchestra has undergone a change in lineup. This isn’t unusual. Many groups, including Pink Floyd, Genesis, The Rolling Stones and even The Beatles’ lineup changed. Usually, this happened when one member of the group left. However, what has happened to the Fire! Orchestra is very different. …
STIAN WESTERHUS-AMPUTATION.
STIAN WESTERHUS-AMPUTATION. Over the last few years, Stian Westerhus has established a reputation as one of Europe’s most accomplished and innovative abstract guitar players. This has been the result of a lifetime’s work. That is how long it has taken Stian to hone and tame his unique sound. This dedication has paid off, and nowadays, …
SKADEDYR-CULTUREN.
SKADEDYR-CULTUREN. Between the late sixties and the early eighties, a musical revolution took place in Germany. Groups like Amon Düül II, Ash Ra, Can, Cluster, Harmonia, Kraftwerk, Neu! and Popl Vuh released truly groundbreaking music. Sadly, much of that music was way ahead of its time, and passed the German record buying public by. It …
RED SQUARE-RARE AND LOST 70S RECORDINGS.
RED SQUARE-RARE AND LOST 70S RECORDINGS. Far too often, innovative music falls to find the audience it deserves. Instead, it’s enjoyed by a small, discerning and appreciative audience. These musical connoisseurs recognise the importance of music that could, and should, influence another generation of musicians. Sadly, all too often this doesn’t happen. To rub salt …
KLAUS SCHULZE-IRRLICHT.
KLAUS SCHULZE-IRRLICHT. In 1969, Berlin’s vibrant musical scene was thriving. At the heart of Berlin’s music scene was the Zodiak Free Arts Lab. It was the cultural centre of the city. This was where some of Germany’s top bands took their tentative steps towards greatness. However, the Zodiak Free Arts Lab was also a meeting …
DIETER MOEBIUS-NURTON.
DIETER MOEBIUS-NURTON. Although the late, great Dieter Moebius is best known for his groundbreaking work with Kluster, Cluster and Harmonia, he also enjoyed a successful solo career. However, Dieter Moebius’ solo career had to fit round his other musical commitments. So solo albums were sporadic. In total, Dieter Moebius released just five solo albums during …
FIRE!-SHE SLEEPS, SHE SLEEPS.
FIRE!-SHE SLEEPS, SHE SLEEPS. During the sixties and seventies, jazz musicians thought nothing of releasing two and sometimes three albums a year. Often albums were recorded in a few days. This included many a classic album, including John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. Nowadays, recording an album can be a long, drawn out process. That’s been …
SPLASHGIRL-HIBERNATION.
SPLASHGIRL-HIBERNATION. When doom jazz trio Splashgirl released their sophomore album Arbor in 2009, it was the first release on the newly formed Hubro Music label. Since then, a lot has happened to both Splashgirl and Hubro Music. Both Splashgirl and Hubro Music’s star have been in the ascendancy. Splashgirl have released two critically acclaimed albums, …
GURU GURU-UFO.
GURU GURU-UFO. By the late sixties, the members of many British and American bands were well on their way to becoming multi-millionaires. Especially groups like The Beatles and Rolling Stones. They had been at the top for the best part of a decade, and were now enjoying wealth beyond their wildest dreams. To look after …
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