MWE3.COM
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
JULY
2011 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
BANDOLERA
RECORDS - Mixing good old Texas style kick-ass rock & roll
with a kind of Spanglish, bandolero inspired Latin-rock groove, singer-songwriter
Patricia Vonne really comes alive on her 2011 CD entitled Worth
It. Filled with infectious grooves and a thoroughly
captivating vocal performance from Ms. Vonne, the ten track CD features
a number of fine players and guitarists who support the singer throughout.
Vonne is being compared to a number of singer-songwriters recently,
including Chrissie Hynde and Lucinda Williams, yet on Worth It
she stakes out a unique sound of her own, especially on the solid
lead off track, Worth It and certainly the Spanish lyric
based rock sound of track 3, Fuente Vaqueros, which just
sizzles with a neo-surf rock groove, castenets and all. www.PatriciaVonne.com
BISMEAUX
RECORDS- Releasing their first self-produced album, Austin, TX
based band The Wheeler Brothers show some interesting new sounds
of musical life on the 11 track Portraits. Breezy
folk-rock that often comes with a solid one, two punch, these guys
could be construed as unplugged or folk-based but when
they rip out the songs innards, the place catches fire. For
those only interested in downloads, invest in the actual CD release
which features bizarre cover art and booklet with a unique feel to
the actual cover art. Looks like leather to me. Assisting the three
Wheeler brothersNolan Wheeler (guitar, keyboards) Patrick
Wheeler (drums) and Tyler Wheeler (bass)are two more
guitarists A.J. Molyneaux and Danny Matthews. Austin
night life hits a new high with Portraits. www.WheelerBrothersMusic.com
BLACK
HEN MUSIC - Although he has an impeccable record as a guitarist
making instrumental recordsin addition to his work as the guiding
light of Black Hen Musicguitarist Steve Dawson also knows
how to wrap his vocal pipes around a set of lyrics. Case in point
is Dawsons 2011 CD, Nightshade. The deleterious
effects of the nightshade plants and vegetables aside, the 12 cut
Nightshade is a pretty upbeat, bluesy album that serves as
a showcase for Dawsons songs, his singing and fabulous electric
and slide guitar skills. Featuring Dawsons guitar and vocals
backed up by a solid band, Nightshade is more in the spirit
of Dawsons production on Black Hens various artists tribute
album to roots / blues legends The Mississippi Sheiks than say Telescope,
Dawsons rootsy guitar instrumental album from 2008, yet theres
still plenty of infectious bluesy pop-rock tracks here to keep Dawsons
many fans happy. Black Hen Records, home base for Dawsons record
label enterprise, has been making music fans happy since they started
releasing music on disc way back in 1998 and clearly Nightshade
is one of Black Hens best releases to date. www.BlackHenMusic.com
BLUE NOTE RECORDS -Back in the 50s and 60s, Blue Note
was the worlds biggest jazz label and 50 years later, theyre
still at it. Blues, jazz and rock are now the main focus of the NYC
institution and case in point as to how eclectic Blue Note has become
over the past decade is the 2011 CD from singer-songwriter Priscilla
Ahn. Produced by pop legend and guitarist Ethan Johns,
the 12 track When You Grow Up does have a kind of childhood
innocence. Somewhere between Judy Collins (perhaps a modern Kirsty
MacColl) and Brian Wilson, the songs are deep and throughout the album
the production is quite interesting. Performing a range of instrumentselectric
/ acoustic guitars, banjo, autoharp, keyboardsMs. Ahn partners
with a number of co-writers, including the great Inara Georgeand
a number of musicians including guitarist Gus Seyfrett (also
on moog and lap steel) and drummers Joey Waronker and
Jeremy Stacy (latter of the Syn). The sound is really full
bodied and even lush in places, and while she can bring it all nearly
down to a whisper, Ms. Ahn implements plenty of studio gagetry and
retro L.A. vibes to make much of When You Grow Up a most scenic
sonic tour. www.PriscillaAhn.com
DECCA RECORDS - That magic Decca Records touch continues on with
Standing On The Rooftop by singer songwriter Madeleine
Peyroux. This CD is a perfect late night spin although, because
its so spatial and quiet in a progressive kind of way, although
I could see people listening to it early in the morning too. Recorded
in Brooklyn NYC, the CD starts off with a kind low brow cover the
Beatles' Martha My Dear, which is the lead off track on
side two / disc one of the Beatles White Album. The
penchant for covers continues with Peyroux covering I Threw
It All Away, written by Bob Dylan while another highlight is
a chilling Peyroux cover of Robert Johnsons Love In Vain,
that sounds almost deconstructed, even when compared to the Stones
Let It Bleed version from 1969. Ms. Peyroux teams with several
notable co-writers, including Bill Wyman, while her band here
sounds like a dream NYC band come true, including guitarists Marc
Ribot and Christopher Bruce, Allen Toussaint (piano),
Jenny Scheinman and more. Ms. Peyroux mixes in just the perfect
blend of music and musicians, making the mood and atmosphere perhaps
the best reason to hear Standing On The Rooftop. www.DeccaRecords-US.com
E1 MUSIC - Based out in beautiful Port Washington on Long Island,
E1, formerly Koch Records, continues releasing vital new rock records
on CD including a 2011 comeback by The Smithereens entitled
2011. That pretty much quickly establishes the
year of the albums release but it might as well be 1966 again
as far as the Smithereens go. Singer guitarist Pat DiNizio and
drummer Dennis Diken are renowned in the power pop world and,
joined here by Jim Babjak (guitars) and The Thrilla (bass),
theyve crafted a rock and roll album that sounds like a kind
of music The Archies might have made if theyd been given a chance
to grow up. Perhaps the icing on the cake here is the production of
rock legend Don Dixon, the producer / artist who also discovered
the genius of Marti Jones, the singer Don went on to marry. Dixons
story book legacy of turning to rock to gold whenever he produces
or records with an artist, stays in the plus column on a CD that reestablishes
The Smithereens as bona fide 21st century rock and roll messengers.
www.OfficialSmithereens.com
EER
RECORDS - Back in the late 60s and early 70s, cartoon
genius Robert Crumb was blowing many a mind with his electrifying
artwork on the early Zap Comics. Looking back in 2011, times have
sure changed since that late '60s psychedelic heyday, but R. Crumbs
devotion to country blues from the 1920s and 30s continues
in this modern age with his artwork and occasional performance
on the latest CD from NYC based Eden & Johns East River
String Band. Released by EER Records in 2011, the 14 track CD
release of Be Kind To A Man When Hes Down captures
that funky, down home, acoustic based jug-band / country blues sound
that Crumb first explored in the 70s with his own group The
Cheap Suit Serenaders. In addition to featuring R. Crumb on mandolinalong
with several other guest artistsBe Kind To A Man When Hes
Down mainly spotlights the combined talents of Eden Brower
(vocals, ukulele) and John Heneghan (guitar, mandolin, vocals).
In keeping with the old-timey vibe that Crumb himself so well excels
at, Be Kind To A Man When Hes Down consists mainly of
traditional music thatf evokes a kind of bluesy, depression era sensibility
resulting in the current fascination with Americana roots era music.
Funny how, the more things change the more they stay the same, and
that pretty much applies to Eden & Johns music. And as for
American art work legend Robert Crumb, well his artwork is just one
of the reasons to pick up on Be Kind To A Man When Hes Down.
Although some of the music featured on Be Kind To A Man When
Hes Down was written as far back as 1848 (Oh Suzanna),
1851 (Swanee River) and even 1929, Eden & Johnas
well as Crumbs fansalready know that both great
music and great artwork will never go out of style. www.EastRiverStringBand.com
FANTASY RECORDS - An awesome rock group with a female Cambodian
lead singer, Dengue Fever are set to breakthru with their latest
album and first on the fabled Fantasy Records label. Having released
a number of albums themselves, this first Fantasy Records
CD by Dengue Fever, entitled Cannibal Courtship is a
reason to celebrate. More than the Cambodian version of Blondie, Martha
& The Muffins or even Cibo Matto for that matter, the band's sensibilities
go on to include other influences like the B-52s and even Talking
Heads. Sure the World Beat groove is never far behind but this is
solid rock with Joe Meek style overtones that easily blends in all
forms of exotica and occasional erotica. One look at the bizarre album
art and you just know something wild is gonna happen. This is one
band thats not afraid to combine all manners of pop with any
sound from jazz to surf to psychedelica and beyond. Brothers Ethan
Holzman (keyboards) and Zac Holzman (guitars) have done
a great job since starting this unique band back in 2001, while the
lead singer from Cambodia, Chhom Nimol sounds greatly inspired
by Double Fantasy era Yoko Ono as well. With the CD release
of Cannibal Courtship, Dengue Fever establish themselves as
one of the first truly original rock bands of the 21st century. www.DengueFeverMusic.com
GLOBAL RECORDING ARTISTS - GRA seems to have a proclivity for
finding near forgotten pop heroes from the 60s and 70s
and case in point is the 2011 CD release of The 13 Dalis
from singer-songwriter Patrick Campbell-Lyons. With
his impressive resume, Lyons goes way back to the late 60s scene
in the U.K. when he co-founded the group Nirvana in 1967, going on
to record a number of albums as well as working with numerous U.K.
pop icons, including members of Thunderclap Newman and Jade Warrior
was well as famed producer Chris Thomas early in his career. Somewhere
between recent orchestral Neil Young and the baroque pop of the late
60s, the 13 Dalis album in a genuinely rare and
tasteful up to date play on the classic late 60s psychedelic
pop era and is a most welcome return to form from Lyons, who is supported
here by musicians from all over the globe. Another musical touchstone
here is a 13 Dalis cover of the Arthur Lee and Love classic
Live And Let Live. www.PsychedelicDays.com
HEAR
MUSIC - Although the lead off track Getting Ready For Christmas
Day sounds a little distant in early July, the 2011 CD release
of So Beautiful Or So What is a nevertheless a welcome
return to form from folk-rock pioneer Paul Simon. Ostensibly,
the ten track CD has a somewhat similar
vibe to Simons ground-breaking 1971 self-titled Lp debut, although
there really isnt a track in 2011 quite as singles friendly
or pop-ish as say Mother And Child Reunion. Even small
quibbles aside, turning 70 in 2011, Simon has evolved into one of
the surviving elder statesmen of rock music. Produced by Simon and
the legendary Phil Ramoneand mastered by the golden ears
of Greg CalbiSo Beautiful Or So What sounds great
and features Simon getting his familiar sound while backed up by a
wide cast of players including backup vocals from Edie Brickell
and Lulu Simon, Jim Oblon (guitar, bass, drums), Gil
Goldstein (arranger), Vincent Nguini (guitars), Sonny
Terry (harmonica) along with various wind and string players.
The full-bodied title track comes alive with a slight rock groove,
yet without a solid Top 40 style singlesome catchy pop-rock
track ala Simon & GarfunkelSo Beautiful Or So What
will make a more favorable impression on fans who might have first
caught on to Simon during his mercurial 80s Graceland periodmore
so as opposed to the early Simon & Garfunkel fans who remember
just how ground breaking Sound Of Silence and Red
Rubber Ball sounded way back in early 1966. www.HearMusic.com
J&R ADVENTURES - Guitar hero Joe Bonamassa continues
onward and upward with the second album from his side project Black
Country Communion. Teaming with Deep Purple and Trapeze vocalist
Glenn Hughes, fusion keyboard wizard Derek Sherinian and
drummer son of Led Zep founder John Bonham, Jason Bonham, the
sound of Black Country Communion 2 is very much hard
rock but with some solid edges that helps it stand out from the pack.
Bonamassafresh from the acclaim of his early 2011 album Dust
Bowlis in prime form and he really connects with his BCC
band mates. Commenting on the second BCC album, drummer Bonham explains,
It went from a side project to a band. The new album...is definitely
more of a group effort. I was able to get involved more with the writing
part of it this time. Although Hughes takes lead vocals on most
of the tracks, Bonamassa takes center stage on vocals here too while
top production from studio genius Kevin Shirley gives the BCC
sound a wondrous sonic edge. Fans of Bonamassas many fine albums,
as well as the Led Zeppelin legacy, Deep Purple and of course Sherinians
impeccable jazz-rock legacy, owe it to themselves to get blown away
by Black Country Communion. www.jbonamassa.com
/ www.bccommunion.com
MATTY GROOVES - Festival Bell is the first album
from Fairport Convention since the 2007 CD release of Sense
Of Occasion. Perhaps the preeminent folk-rock band from England,
Fairport has over the years, released consistently on the mark albums
featuring the band's unique blend of stellar English folk music and
Festival Bell continues on in the finest Fairport Convention
tradition. Superbly packaged and featuring 14 new studio tracks, Festival
Bell features songs written by U.K. folk heroes including Ralph
McTell, Richard Shindell, Sandy Denny. Overall, Festival Bell highlights
excellent performances from current Fairport members Simon Nicol,
Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway and Ric
Sanders. Also on hand are other U.K. music legends like Joe
Brown and a host of other U.K. folk-rock luminaries. www.FairportConvention.com
MEGAFORCE RECORDS - Back in 1969, Simon Kirke hit American
shores as the drummer in Free, when they were opening for Blind
Faith at Madison Square Garden. After years with Free, Bad Company
and Ringo Starrs All Star Band, Simon is back with a new album
on NYC based MPCA Records. Hard to believe after 40+ years playing
with and backing up some of the greatest singers and guitarists, Simon
is making new history in 2011 with his first ever solo album Filling
The Void. In Free, Simon was one of the top rock drummers
of the late 60s and early 70s but on Filling The Void,
Simon picks up guitars, bass and more including writing and co-writing
all the original tracks. Commenting on the CD, Simon add, I've
been writing songs for many, many years and I just wanted to get them
out, like an exorcism. Kind of an autobiographical look back
at where hes been this past ten years, Filling The Void also
features some fine players and guitarists including Bad Company fretboard
ace Mick Ralphs and guitarists John Conte, Steve
Conte, GE Smith, Howard Leese and more. Upbeat,
mostly uptempo, sometimes breezy pop songs with Simon on drums and
lead vocals, Filling The Void is the latest chapter in the
legacy of a true rock & roll all star and drumming legend. www.freewebs.com/simonkirke/
NEW FOLK RECORDS - Many of the greatest art-rock and fusion guitaristsfrom
Mike Oldfield to Steve Morsehave been influenced by the reels
and jigs from Ireland. You can hear why on a 2011 CD on New Folk Records
called The Sailors Cravat. Subtitled Irish
Traditional Music And Song, the 17 cut CD features
a number of artists including Paddy OBrien (accordion),
Tom Schaefer (fiddle), Paul Wehling (bouzouki) and Erin
Hart (vocals). The CD is primarily folk-based, acoustic music
but theres an undeniable magic in these timeless traditional
melodies that will get you reeling and jigging in no time. Recorded
in Minnesota, the CD booklet features information on the history of
these classic Irish folklore tunes. New Folk also released another
Irish music classic in 2011. Lost River: Vol.1 features
singer / guitarist Dáithí Sproule in the company
of some fine players including Peter Ostroushko (mandolin),
Dean Macgraw (guitar) and many more. Recorded in Minnesota,
this twelve track CD is a great pick for Irish music enthusiasts.
Even with their devotion to traditional music, New Folk is also on
the cutting edge of modern rock too. Last year, New Folk released
the latest studio album from Peter Bruntnell and in 2011 they
also release the latest CD from Badfinger guitarist Mark Healey
called Inside Out. Although the CD was also
released in the U.K. on Angel Air, New Folk handle the U.S. release
of this amazing power pop classic. Described as classic rock with
a modern pop flavor, the CD features Mark backed by a number of fine
players including long time Badfinger member Joey Molland.
Put it this way: if you loved Badfinger in 1970, youll also
love where Healey is taking the Badfinger legacy 40 years later. Somewhere
in heaven, Tom Evans and Pete Ham are giving Healey a thumbs up. www.NewFolkRecords.com
OGAN MUSIC - I had not known that Oregon pop maestro Gary Ogan
has a number of albums out under his own namewith 1972s
Portland and the self-titled Gary Ogan dating back to
1977. That 77 album was released on Warner Brothers Records
and also featured co-production credits by Leon Russell, one of Ogans
mentors no doubt. Commenting on working with Leon back in the 70s,
Ogan adds, Writing with Leon was a very serious regime. We would
sit a separate typewriters and type stream of consciousness prose
that we would later attempt to find musical homes for if possible.
Well, a whole slew of albums later, Ogan is back with his latest solo
albuma 2010 CD release called Sound Ground.
Essentially, a one man band affair, Sound Ground proves
to be yet another Ogan masterpiece influenced by pop icons like Todd
Rundgren, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. In the spirit of those
music heroes, Ogan performs every note himselffrom keyboards
and vocals to guitars and drumsall played and sang by Ogan himself.
In the soulful spirits of McCartney and Wonder, Sound Ground is
a smooth pop trip filled with scenic music and memorable pop magic.
Commenting on the album, Ogan adds, I wanted to reach back to
that wonderful place in time when those guys were making records by
themselves. Other influences like Michael Frank and even Steely
Dan hover high above Ogans sound. As Ogans fans and followers
will tell you, Sound Ground is the sound of soul triumphing
over technology. www.GaryOgan.com
ROUNDER
RECORDS - Rounder continues breaking ground in the pop world with
the 2011 CD release of Rare Bird Alert from Steve
Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers. As the founding comic genius
of the fabled NYC based Saturday Night Live TV show back in 1975 or
so, Martin is also a devoted musician of the bluegrass persuasion
but that doesnt prevent him from breaking new ground for pop
in general. Case in point is Martins new album, featuring a
track with a lead vocal cameo from Beatles bass ace Paul McCartney
while another track here spotlights The Dixie Chicks. Martins
banjo skills are as right on as his comic wit, although this album
is in no way a laughing matter. The lead off track, a banjo-fusion
instrumental brings to mind jazz banjo master Bela Fleck. Martins
interaction backed by The Steep Canyon Rangers borders on ESP while
having banjo master Tony Trischka producing Martins own
banjo-based album is a blessed event. Having McCartney on hand will
no doubt ensure exposure to a wider audience but theres plenty
here to make Martins name a household word in the banjo world
as well as the pop music world too. www.SteveMartin.com
STRUT RECORDS - One of the true guitar legends of the international
soul-jazz and funk-rock explosion of the late 60s and 70s,
Dennis Coffey may be turning 70 late in 2011 but he keeps his
guitar sound everlasting on his self-titled 2011 CD, Dennis
Coffey. In 2004 Coffey published his biography book
Guitars, Bars And Motown Superstars, which retells his story
as a founding member of the fabled Funk Brothers and well as his legacy
as the guitarist behind the sound of classic wah-wah guitar flecked,
psychedelic soul Motown 45 rpm classics from The Temptations, Freda
Payne, The Isley Brothers and The Supremes. Coffeys sizzling.
psychedelic. acid-funk guitar sound comes sharply into focus on the
2011 Dennis Coffey album. Throughout the Dennis Coffey CD,
the guitarist gets plenty of help from a range of top players, andwhile
the album is primarily instrumentalwith the primary focus on
Coffeys guitar, theres also a few tracks that spotlight
some hot singers in the spirit of the Temptations and Isley Brothers
late 60s sound. With offices in both England and NYC, Strut
Records is doing some amazing things sound-wise for the art of modern
Soul Jazz, house / dance music and World Beat jazz. One of Struts
finest CD releases yet, the eleven cut, 39 minute Dennis Coffey
will amaze fans of modern R&B as well as instrumental soul-jazz
guitar enthusiasts looking to see what became of R&B guitar pioneer
Dennis Coffey. www.DennisCoffeySite.com
/ www.Strut-Records.com
/ www.DennisCoffey-thealbum.com
TERMO RECORDS - Over in Norway, Termo Records is having a field
day releasing some truly unusual prog-rock and wild fusion and top
of the bill among their album releases in early 2011 is the CD release
of Rites At Dawn by the group Wobbler. They describe
the band as symphonic progressive rock and quite rightly so, the lead
vocalistAndreas Wettegreen Strømman Prestmosings
quite a bit like YES founder / bassist Chris Squire. On Rites At
Dawn Wobbler also displays some bright talent including guitarist
Morten Andreas Eriksen, the Wakeman-esque keys of Lars Fredrik
Frøislie, Kristian Karl Hultgren (bass) with all
backed up by the drumming of Martin Nordrum Kneppen. Very much
in the spirit of the first YES album from 1969, the quintet also cites
musical influences and prog heroes Gentle Giant, Egg, Banco and Gryphon
to name a few. Clearly, prog-rock fans will feel right at home listening
to Wobbler. www.WobblerMusic.com
/ www.TermoRecords.com
XL RECORDINGS - Weaned on a musical diet of early R&B
and pop, the U.K.'s latest singing sensation, Adele strikes
soul-pop gold with her second album 21. That
whole Northern Soul craze in England over the past decade has yielded
some impressive new singer-songwriters and Adele Adkins is right up
there with the best. On a number of tracks here, Adele mixes a more
pure soul-pop vibe with a slightly progressive pop sound, especially
evident on the albums centerpiece Set Fire To The Rain,
which sounds like Fontella Bass singing with Roxy Music. That particular
song was written by Adele and Fraser T. Smith (guitar, bass).
Of course that smooth as silk R&B sound, partly inspired by Adeles
singing icon Beyoncé, is up front for much of 21, yet
the album really sounds spectacular when she conjures up musical magic
with the cool Euro-pop vibe of Set Fire To The Rain. Overall,
21 is without a doubt Adeles finest moment on record
yet. www.adele.tv
INSTRUMENTAL
BURNS
LONDON - Although early American guitar gods like Les Paul, Buddy
Holly, Nicky Sullivan and Tommy Allsop are credited with inventing
the rock guitar solo between 49-59, in England in the late 50s
that rock n roll guitar thing was catching on big time. Funny
thing was, back in 1961 Hank Marvin even looked and played guitar
and sang almost as good as Buddy did! That whole English rock and
roll guitar college started by Hank, with a nod to Burt Weedon and
Lonnie Donegan, had a huge impact on guys like guitarist Barry
Gibson, who skillfully carries on the art of the Shadows inspired
instrumental guitar tradition with the 2011 CD release of Two
Of Our Shadows Are Missing by his group Barry Gibsons
Local Heroes. Hank Marvin of course was renowned for playing the
first Strat imported to England back in 1959 but by 1965 he developed
a fondness for the Burns Guitar instruments that in fact, the Shadows
helped put on the map. Fittingly, Barry is the head of the current
Burns guitar company in the U.K. and he puts his Burns guitars to
the test on the ten track CD, which by the way, decked with some keen
retro artwork, looks as cool as it sounds. www.BurnsGuitars.com
E1
RECORDS - After Koch Records changed their name and image to E1
or E One Records a few years back they begin revamping their repertoire
and the hits keep coming with a 2011 CD from Béla Fleck
& The Flecktones titled Rocket Science.
The CD marks the return of Howard Levy (on harmonica) to the
fold for the first time since the 1991 lineup. Teaming with Levy,
Vic Wooten (bass) and Roy Futureman Wooten,
Flecks cosmic bluegrass meets jazz, blu-bop sound
pays off quite nicely throughout this endlessly entertaining CD. Sounding
like jazz harmonica hero Toots Thielemans jamming with country fretboard
virtuoso Roy Clark and banjo-billies Flat & Scruggs, Rocket
Science comes across as cosmic country style progressive instrumental
music. Mix one part Steve Morse with one part refried banjo boogie
and voila! The Morse comparison to Fleck, when applicable, comes across
quite succinctly on track six here, Storm Warming, when
Béla electrifies his banjo for a minute and cranks out a solo
(said to be on banjo) that might indeed give Morse a run for his money!
The comparisons between Levy and the great Thielemans is inevitable
and mixing that polite form of country jazz with that very continental
harmonica sound is still a trick worth repeating. Oh yeah, the CD
was superbly recorded and with all kind of fancy eye candy artwork,
Rocket Science is a modern text book example of what youd think
a CD is supposed to sound and look like. www.flecktones.com
SONIC
CANVAS - One of Americas top jazz-rock instrumental guitar
exponents, Denny Jiosa returns in 2011 with Jiosa
- On The Edge album. Among modern jazz guitar enthusiasts,
Jiosa is renowned for his smooth jazz guitar stylings that sometimes
mixed one part Earl Klugh with one part Jeff Beck. That Jeff Beck
side of his playingthe more cutting edge Jiosacomes out
in full force on the 2011 CD release of On The Edge. Throughout
the 12 track CD, the guitarist gets solid support from his bandJohn
Toomey (drums) and Jon von Boehm (bass). Denny even gets
in a vocal track that keeps in spirit with the overall edgy rock fusion
style throughout. Jiosa continues to impress and the sonically appealing
On The Edge may very well be his best album to date. www.DennyJiosa.com
ULTIMAE
- Perfectly described as a series of hypnotic and cinematic soundscapes,
the 2011 CD release of Fahrenheit Project Part 7 is
just that and a whole lot more. Based over in Lyon, France, Ultimae
has established themselves among the finest purveyors of electronic
music on Earth. Having released some amazing CDs from electronic entourages
like AES Dana and Solar Fieldseach impeccable
examples of instro electronicathe 2011 release of Fahrenheit
Project Part 7 is truly astounding. The French have always been
at the forefront of electronic music going way back to the mid 70s
explorations of Jean Michel Jarre. Much more atmospheric and impressionistic
than say, the more commercial music of Jarre, Fahrenheit Project
Part 7 is actually a compilation of sort featuring key contributions
from e-music trendsetters from all over the globe who add their music
to this sonic jigsaw puzzle that yields fresh musical fruit for eager
ears to enjoy. Fahrenheit Project Part 7 features key contributions
from international artists such as Asura, Solar Fields,
Scann-Tec, Field Rotation, Maurizio Piazza, Hol
Baumann remixed by Max Million and talented new comers
to the Ultimae realm, Cygna, Gaiana and Astropilot.
Circular join in and pay their tribute to Norways Green
Poet Rolf Jacobsen with words from "Landskap med
gravemaskiner", courtesy of his family. Lush and hypnotic e-music
soundscapes, Fahrenheit Project Part 7 was selected by AES
Dana and mastered at Ultimae studios in France. www.ultimae.com
REISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES
BGO RECORDS - Back in the mid 70s while living in Los Angeles
I became introduced to that art of Ragtime guitar as taught by guitar
virtuoso and musicologist Stefan Grossman. Although from NYC,
Grossman migrated to England during that fabled 1968 period and cut
a number of acclaimed albums including the 1970 release of Ragtime
Cowboy Jew. The self-deprecating title aside, it's
quite ironic that Grossman should seek musical inspiration in England
during the incredibly sad Vietnam War period that killed so many young
American men Grossmans age. You can hear Grossmans devotion
to Ragtime as well as rock and even early guitar fusion on an album
that not only displays his acoustic guitar work as well as some rock
oriented electric guitar work and several cuts feature Grossmans
vocals. A 24 track double album originally released on Englands
acclaimed Transatlantic label in 1970, Ragtime Cowboy Jew features
a number of acoustic tracks, while others feature some of Englands
best session players of the era including drummer Gerry Conway
and guitar icon Jerry Donahue to name just a few. The original
liner notes as well as a new in depth perspective on Grossman written
by John Tobler serves as a fitting introduction to Grossmans
star-studded career as one of the penultimate guitar impresarios.
Also out in 2011 on CD on BGO is a 24 cut CD compilation from British
Invasion superstars, The Hollies, best known as the first band
of rock legend Graham Nash, who later co-founded Crosby, Stills
& Nash. Of course in 1965, the Hollies were on the US based Imperial
Records label and on this 2 on 1 CD remaster BGO interestingly combines
two 1966 American album releases on Imperial, Bus Stop and
Stop! Stop! Stop! Both album title tracks were two huge chart
topping hits in the U.S. for the English pop hitmakers, yet, whereas
the early 66 Bus Stop album
was still geared around the early British invasion sound and Motown
covers, the late 66 release of Stop! Stop! Stop! found
the Hollies mainly focusing on originals, with a slight pre-psychedelic
edge, as composed by Nash and Hollies band mates Allan Clark and
Tony Hicks. Either way, the Hollies had it covered back then.
In depth, 2011 liner notes by David Wells fills in the history
behind these Hollies' pop classics. Also current in 2011 on CD from
BGO are several titles from Dutch jazz / rock flautist / keyboardist
Thijs van Leer, who was the cofounder, along with guitarist
Jan Akkerman, in the Dutch rock group Focus. Van Leer is also renowned
throughout Europe for his "beautiful music" albums, which
featured a Neoclassical orchestral vibe, not unlike Swedens
flute / keyboard master Bjorn J:son Lindh. Of course when Van Leer
recorded both Introspection 3 and Introspection
IV in the late 70s, the world was a kinder gentler place
than it is now. Working with co-producer Rogier van Otterloo,
Van Leer gets light orchestral backing for his meditative Neoclassical
flute instrumentals. With their connections to The Beatles, U.K. British
invasion singing duo Peter & Gordon recorded some of the
most pleasurable soft-pop of that young and innocent mid '60s period.
BGOs 2011 Peter & Gordon double CD combines three different
Peter & Gordon albums including Lady Godiva,
Knight In Rusty Armour with disc two here featuring the
eleven track In London For Tea. Amazingly, all
three albums were recorded during that heady 1967 paisley pop era
in London. Topping off this BGO Peter & Gordon retrospective are
2011 liner notes by David Wells. Released on Lp in 1977 on the RCA-related
Grunt Records, Flight Log (1966-1976) is a pretty amazing,
double album best-of from Jefferson Airplane. BGO has done
a pretty neat job on the 2011 double CD remaster of Flight Log.
Best known for that amazing front cover album artwork, Flight
Log features key Airplane tracks, from the start of the band,
all the way through till Long John Silver in 1972 while also
including various album tracks from Hot Tuna, Grace Slick
and Jefferson Starship. BGOs 2011 remaster of Flight
Log features good sound quality with near voluminous liner notes
by John Tobler. The late, great Billy Preston is paid
honors by BGO with the 2011, 22 track, double CD release of I
Wrote A Simple Song paired here with Music Is My Life.
Released on A&M Records during 1971/72, both albums feature
Preston in fine form while backed up by by a solid band including
guest spots by guitarist George Harrison on I Wrote A Simple
Song. Both albums are history laden remembrances of Prestons
unique contributions to rock based R&B music. And who can forget
hearing the amazing Outa-Space, Prestons early funk
fusion instrumental featured on the I Wrote A Simple Song album?
Another double CD released by BGO in 2011 is a pairing of Hobo
With A Grin with The Candidate from Cockney
Rebel founder Steve Harley. BGO has a number of Harley remasters
in their catalog including several CDs released with Harley and his
70s glam rock group Cockney Rebel. BGO has a number of
American artists represented on their label including rock 'n' pioneer
Phil Everly, cofounder of The Everly Brothers. BGO comes through
with a 2011 CD remaster of Phils 1983 album, the self-titled
Phil Everly. With a pair of bonus cuts, the Phil
Everly album features a number of guest artists, including Cliff
Richard, Mark Knopfler, Christine McVie and many
more. Last but not least is a 2011 CD remaster of the all time Mountain
classic, Nantucket Sleighride. Its
been nearly 30 years since Gail Collins shot her husband Felix
Pappalardi to death in 1983, and till today she claims the shooting
was an accident. Either way, for Mountain and Cream fans that loss
was beyond tragic yet, we still have the classic Mountain albums as
legacy. Leslie West may now be missing a leg now and Corky
Laing is still kicking around, while this latest CD reissue of Nantucket
Sleighride on BGO features October 2010 liner notes written by
John ORegan. www.BGO-Records.com
MARKET
SQUARE RECORDS - Over in England, Market Square Records reintroduces
the legacy of English folk-rock legend and folk-jazz guitar hero Michael
Chapman. The third CD release in a series of unreleased archival
recordings from Chapman, the twelve cut Growing Pains 3,
goes way back to 1969 and leads up to modern times with recordings
made as recently as 2005. Part live, part studio, and a mostly vocal
album, Growing Pains 3 accurately portrays Chapman as a most
eclectic guitarist and vocalistvery obscure in the U.S. yet,
as this CD accurately points out, he's one who is nevertheless worthy
of rediscovery. Having recorded four albums for the original Harvest
Records in the early 70s, then going on to record an instrumental
New Age classic called Heartbeat for the Coda label during
the mid 80s all the way to his latest millennium return with
the mysterious instrumental folk-jazz sounds of Time Past &
Time Passing, Chapman remains a most noteworthy curio in the pantheon
of great English guitarists. Even with its acoustic flavors, Growing
Pains 3 does feature Mike's guitar and vocals backed up on certain
tracks by renowned musicians such as singers Maddy Prior and
Ann Jenkins, bassist Rick Kemp as well as a track featuring
Sonic Youth founder Thurston Moore and Jim ORourke.
Although the vocals are cool, when the CD does feature Chapmans
instrumental side, things get really interesting. Track ten, Untitled,
echoes Chapmans spacey, New Age side to great effect. To their
crediteven working with a wide scope archival release of raritiesMarket
Square packages Growing Pains 3 with an eye-opening booklet
loaded with scads of photos and information pertinent to Chapmans
ever growing legacy. www.MarketSquareRecords.com
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed in MWE3.COM
Send to CD Reviews MWE3, P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
e-mail: info@mwe3.com