Category Archives: Psychedelia
SOHO SCENE ’66 ‘67-JAZZ GOES MOD.
Soho Scene ’66 ’67-Jazz Goes Mod. Label: Rhythm & Blues Records. During 1966, the mods with their carefully cultivated image were still a familiar sight and sound in towns and cities the length and breadth of Britain as they rode around on their Lambretta or Vespa scooters. They still sported tailor-made suits, button-down collar shirts, thin …
MOTORPSYCHO-THE ALL IS ONE.
Motorpsycho-The All Is One. Label: Rune Grammofon. Format: 2CD. Motorpsycho was formed in Trondheim, in October 1989 and released their debut album Lobotomizer in 1991. Since then, they’ve been one of hardest working and prolific bands in Norway. Last year, the Norwegian rockers released two albums and toured Norway and Europe twice. That would’ve been …
GIRLS WITH GUITARS KNOW WHY!
Girls With Guitars Know Why! Label: Ace Records. Format: LP. There are very few compilation series that are still going strong after thirty-one years. Often, the compiler has run out of material or musical tastes have changed. However, Ace Records’ Girls With Guitars compilation series is still going strong after thirty-one years and six volumes. …
BRAINCHILD-HEALING OF THE LUNATIC OWL.
Brainchild-Healing Of The Lunatic Owl. Label: Magic Box. Format: LP with CD. Progressive brass rock pioneers Brainchild were formed in Somerset in the late-sixties, and by the 1970 the septet had signed to A&M. This was perfect timing as the brass rock boom began in 1969 and continued until 1972. By then, Chicago, Blood, Sweat …
IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS- SHAMAN!
Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids-Shaman! Label: Strut. Nowadays, not many groups are still together after forty-seven years. Many groups call time on their career after three or four albums citing “artistic differences” but are keen to reassure their fans that they’re “still friends” and that the band had “run its course.” This has happened to some of …
LUIZ CARLOS VINHAS-O SOM PSICODELICO DE L.C.V
Luiz Carlos Vinhas-O Som Psicodélico De L.C.V. Label: Mad About Records. Format: LP. Within his native Brazil, Luiz Carlos Vinhas is remembered and regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the Bossa Nova movement. He was one of the genre’s founding fathers and was a founder member of Bossa Três in 1961. They became one …
KLAUS SCHULZE-THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOOG YEARS.
Klaus Schulze-The Dark Side Of The Moog Years. By 1994, Berlin School pioneer Klaus Schulze was a veteran of German music and 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 by Ohr Records, …
CULT CLASSIC: CAN-SOON OVER BABALUMA.
Cult Classic: Can-Soon Over Babaluma. When Can released their fifth studio album Soon Over Babaluma in In November 1974, it was another ambitious album of innovative music that saw the Cologne-based band continue to push musical boundaries to their limits. This is what they had been doing since they Can was founded in 1968. Although they would release six more albums, what …
CULT CLASSIC: SHINA WILLIAMS AND HIS AFRICAN PERCUSSIONISTS-AFRICAN DANCES.
Cult Classic: Shina Willians and His African Percussionists-African Dances. By 1979, Afrobeat had grown in popularity in Nigeria, and was influencing and inspiring a number of Western musicians including the legendary vibes player Roy Ayers. He was just one of many musicians who had started to incorporate elements of Afrobeat into his unique and inimitable …
BOBBIE GENTRY-THE DELTA SWEETE.
Bobbie Gentry-The Delta Sweete. Label: UMC. Format: CD. Less than three weeks after Bobbie Gentry released Ode To Billie Joe as a single on the ‘10th’ of July 1967 the song topped the US Billboard 100 and US Country charts. The song was penned by Bobbie Gentry and was the twenty-five year old’s debut single …
CULT CLASSIC: DAVID AXELROD-SONGS OF INNOCENCE.
Cult Classic: David Axelrod-Songs Of Innocence. By the time David Axelrod began work on his debut album Songs Of Innocence in 1968, the thirty-seven year arranger, composer, drummer and producer old had enjoyed a chequered career. He had started off as a boxer, before changing direction and finding work in film and television. However, in …
CATAPILLA-CATAPILLA AND CHANGES.
Catapilla-Catapilla and Changes. Label: Trading Places. Format: LP. The story of Catapilla is another case of what might have been. They were formed in West London around Christmas 1970, and signed to Vertigo Records and released two ambitious and innovative albums where they combined progressive rock with experimental fusion. Sadly, neither their 1971 debut album …
THE OHIO PLAYERS-PAIN.
The Ohio Players-Pain. Label: Westbound. Format LP. It wasn’t until The Ohio Players signed with Westbound, and released their sophomore album Pain in 1972, that commercial success came the way of a group that was founded in 1959. Originally, they were known as The Ohio Untouchables, and had a chequered history. Initially, The Ohio Untouchables …
CREAM-DISRAELI GEARS.
Cream-Disraeli Gears. Label: UMC/Polydor. Format: Vinyl. Release Date: 10th July 2020. Nowadays, the British rock group Cream are regarded as the world’s first ever supergroup. They were founded in the summer of 1966, and split-up in November 1968, having released four albums that sold over fifteen million copies worldwide. This included their critically acclaimed sophomore album Disraeli Gears, which was released in November 1967 and hailed a classic by …
CULT CLASSIC: DIES IRAE-FIRST.
Cult Classic: Dies Irae-First. For many new bands, their main objective is to release an “album” and they want to do this as quickly as possible. This will be a sign that they’ve “arrived” and have one foot on the musical ladder. Sadly, for some bands, that’s as far as it goes. The album fails to …
HEDVIG MOLLESTAD-EKHIDNA.
Hedvig Mollestad-Ekhidna. Label: Rune Grammofon. Format: CD. In May 2018, award-winning Norwegian guitarist, vocalist, bandleader and composer Hedvig Mollestad was thirty-six and one of the leading lights of the vibrant Nordic music scene. Her band the Hedvig Mollestad Trio had already released five albums and had already recorded their sixth album Smells Funny. Despite the …
MARTIN FREEMAN AND EDDIE PILLER PRESENT JAZZ ON THE CORNER TWO.
Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller Present Jazz On The Corner Two. Label: Acid Jazz. Anyone with even a passing interest in the Acid Jazz will have heard of Eddie Piller. He has been a stalwart of the scene for over thirty years, and during that time, the fifty-six year old has been a DJ, promoter and founded …