|
JAI BABA
on Eel Pie
|
SO YOU WANNA BE A ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR
on Classic Pictures
|
MORRISSEY
on Attack / Sanctuary
|
SEPTEMBER
/ OCTOBER 2004
MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
ACCEPTABLE
RECORDS - Based in Pennsylvania, Jim Cohen released Four
To The Bar—his latest steel guitar masterpiece on his
self owned Acceptable Records imprint. A master of the pedal
steel, Cohen is assisted by some fine players including his producer
/ keyboardist Dan Kleiman and his son Jaji Hulting-Cohen
on sax. Cohen serves up a number of tasty instrumental pedal treats
on his ten track CD including covers of “Yardbird Suite”
(Charlie Parker), “Surfer Girl” (Brian Wilson),
“Tenor Madness” (Sonny Rollins) and more capped off
by a stirring “Nights In White Satin”—featuring Cohen
on the CD’s one vocal cut. From the liner notes Cohen adds, “This
CD might well have been entitled “Further Adventures In Steel
Guitar”, for it’s production has indeed been a musical adventure,
taking me once again to places I didn’t necessarily expect to
go when I started out on this trip.” www.jimcohen.com
AHEAD BEHIND MUSIC - One of the great things about progressive
instrumental music is that you can combine so many influences that
fall into different sub genres. The fifth album from San Francisco-based
Jack West & The Curvature is such an album that skillfully
wends around numerous musical curves. At the root of the Curvature
sound is West’s eight string acoustic guitar, paired on the 2004
release of Around About Now, with the workmanship
of steel virtuoso David Phillips and Joel Davel on marimba.
There’s definitely an interest with Hawaiian guitar here yet
West’s musical fabric is more durable and industrial, revealing
a solid rhythmic edge with near dub-like effects. West’s skillfully
picked acoustic paired with a lush steel and marimba backdrop creates
a hypnotic instrumental edge while the cleverly recorded studio sound
enhances the listening experience. www.aheadbehindmusic.com
ALACTRIC - Primarily a rock guitarist, U.K.-based Lachlan Horne
honed his skills at the Guitar Institute in London where he studied
under notables like fretboard great John Etheridge. Citing early influences
like Frank Gambale, Jeff Beck and Richie Kotzen, Horne cuts loose
on his 11 track CD debut on his own Alactric Music. Backed by several
drummers, Horne kicks things into overdrive with his blazing guitar
solos, cunning guitar tricks and rock-solid riffs. A hard hitting,
guitar-based instrumental CD bristling with sheer hard rock might,
The Time Has Come is a sonic journey into the realm
of rock, metal, funk and blues and offers splendid confirmation of
Horne’s stature as a rising guitar hero. www.lachlanhorne.com
APPLE / EMI - Collector’s Choice is making available
the first four albums from Badfinger as released on Apple back
in the early ‘70s on CD. For fans of the Beatles great record
label, these albums were heaven sent back when those were the days.
Apple’s reissue of Magic Christian Music features
their breakthrough hit “Come And Get It” and the CD tags
on a pair of bonus tracks. Also from 1970, their perennial favorite
No Dice featured “No Matter What”—a power
pop classic still being covered nearly 35 years later. With the release
of 1972’s Straight Up, Badfinger’s
powerful pop blend really matured. Apple’s CD adds on six bonus
tracks including production from George Harrison, Beatles engineer
Geoff Emerick and Nazz founder Todd Rundgren. By the
time of their 1973 Apple release—Ass—the band
signed to Warner Brothers. Each CD features bonus tracks, detailed
liner notes and discography information and in the case of Ass,
a voluminous account of just how despondent Badfinger main man
Pete Ham felt about leaving the protective wing of the Beatles
empire—in fact, a disastrous move that would lead to Ham’s
premature self-inflected demise and the eventual dissolution of Badfinger
as a musical entity. That said, there’s enough classic pop on
these posthumous remasters to make it a literal curriculum for teaching
a course on how to write an intelligent, memorable pop song.
When The Beatles revved up Apple back in ‘68, among their
breakthrough releases was a stellar album set from Liverpool rocker
Jackie Lomax. In fact, the only Beatle not in attendance on
the 1969 release of Is This What You Want? is chief
Beatle John Lennon, although with key songwriting and producing credits
by George Harrison and Paul McCartney, the album remains,
35 years later, clearly one of the highlights of that magical summer
of ‘69. Ringo also lends his drumming skills, blazing
away on the legendary Harrison composed “Sour Milk Sea”.
A range of top players including Eric Clapton and Nicky
Hopkins add to the superstar feel of the album, which is expanded
on this EMI reissue with five bonus tracks, including the McCartney
productions and further Harrison produced tracks recorded between
‘68-70. On this essential remaster, EMI further stacks the deck
with discography, liner notes, rare photos and restored album art.
www.ccmusic.com
/ www.jackielomax.co.uk
ASTRALWERKS - When it comes to pioneering electronic instrumental
music and e-rock, it doesn’t get any better than Roxy Music founder
and David Bowie cohort Brian Eno. Eno’s early catalog
on EG Records was upgraded in early 2004 on NYC-based Astralwerks.
Remastered ‘as they were intended to be heard’, using class
A analog electronics are Here Come The Warm Jets (from
1973 w/ Robert Fripp, Phil Manzanera, John Wetton,
Chris Spedding), Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
(1974 w/ Manzanera, Robert Wyatt, Phil Collins), Before
And After Science (1977 w/ Manaznera, Fred Frith, Percy
Jones) topped off by Eno’s ‘70s masterpiece, 1975’s
Another Green World. Featuring sidemen such as
John Cale, Phil Collins, Robert Fripp and many more, AGW
remains one of the critical albums leading to the popularity of
minimalist, New Age instrumental and avant-gard pop music. No liner
notes or lyrics on these 2004 Eno remasters yet top DSD sound quality,
complete credits and spruced up artwork fulfills their essential status.
www.astralwerks.com
/ www.enoshop.com
ATTACK - According to Morrissey, “This is the album
that I've wanted to make for quite a while. I believe You Are
The Quarry has something for everyone." Long time fans
of Smiths founder Morrissey will love You Are The Quarry and
on his first solo album in seven years the controversial U.K. rocker
has lots to say about the dire state on planet earth in 2004. Recorded
in L.A. and London and released on the newly reactivated Attack
Records, the combined CD/DVD release features a dozen new Morrissey
originals co-composed with guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain
Whyte. Long time fans will be intrigued by the sheer pop dynamism
and overt drama on You Are The Quarry, yet as quickly Morrissey
points out, “There are no links to the past. This is a much brighter
sounding album, than much of my previous work. We've turned the page
with Quarry. It's a dynamic album and I couldn't be any happier.”
Rounding out the lush-sounding CD, are vital contributions from producer
Jerry Finn and pop keyboard wiz Roger Manning, a founder
of the power pop band Jellyfish. According to producer Finn, “This
is one of the best records I've produced. It's just purely organic
and it sounds incredible." You Are The Quarry reinforces
Morrissey’s cult-status as a post-punk pop innovator. The packaging
is awesome and the combined DVD video with instant accessibility to
lyrics makes it essential.
www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.co.uk
BUS STOP - Their record company is named after a classic ‘60s
pop hit and and after years of fun covers of obscure sixties tunes
and soundtrack themes, guitarist Lane Steinberg & keyboardist
Steve Barry set out to reestablish their own expert pop credentials
with their new outfit, Tan Sleeve and they couldn’t have
picked a more opportune time to introduce their 2004 CD. Bad
From Both Sides crisscrosses genres with it’s modern
pop edge yet clearly the two remain true to early influences like
The Beatles and Big Star. Experts at reactivating a nostalgic ‘60s
pop mood (witness the lush pop strains of the Bacharach flavored “Take
A Piece While You Can”), the two NYC-based singer-songwriters
cover all the instruments with assistance from a pair of drummers
and well-placed female back-up singers. www.tansleeve.com
CAP -On his solo debut as a leader for Consolidated Artists
Productions, guitarist James Silberstein makes a favorable
impression on a selection of instrumentals, and one vocal, that
combine influences from the jazz, pop and Brazilian music worlds.
On Song For Micaela, the NYC-based guitarist
is joined by a range of players including bassist Tony Cimorosi,
who also co-produced the twelve track CD, horn greats Randy
Brecker (trumpet) and Eric Alexander (sax), Vince
Cherico (drums), Harvie S (bass), Carla Cook (vocal) and
keyboardist Bruce Barth. With a guitar sound comparable in
tone and style to jazz giants like Pat Martino, Tal Farlow and Joe
Diorio, Silberstein is right at home on appealing covers of the Anthony
Newley classic, “Who Can I Turn To” and the evergreen
“Baubles, Bangles & Beads”, while also demonstrating
his own compositional gifts on the lead off track, “Red Carpet”,
"Aquas," a medium-tempo groover and a rousing 7+ minute,
jazzy, post-bop romp entitled “House Party”. The lone vocal
track, “So Many Stars”, featuring singer Carla Cook,
caps off one of the finest guitar-based, instrumental jazz albums
of 2004. www.jamessilberstein.com
CLASSIC PICTURES - Showcasing twenty four classic live videos
that no self-respecting ‘60s music fan should miss, So
You Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star is a veritable
gold mine of groundbreaking ‘60s pop. Mostly culled from the
‘60s Euro-pop show Beat Club, highlights of the Classic
Pictures DVD include live video tracks from The Who (“Pictures
Of Lily”, “I’m Free”), Cream (“Strange
Brew”), The Byrds (“So You Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’
Roll Star”), The Kinks (“Waterloo Sunset”),
Small Faces (“Lazy Sunday”), Manfred Mann (“Mighty
Quinn”). Many other other key video tracks featuring The Beach
Boys, Procol Harum, The Everly Brothers and more
are featured yet perhaps the definite highlights are rarely seen videos
from Thunderclap Newman (“Something In The Air”),
the three piece Traffic (“Here We Go Round The Mulberry
Bush”) and Spencer Davis Group (“Keep On Running”),
both featuring Steve Winwood, with the kicker being
a live Beat Club rave up of “I Really Haven’t Got The Time”
from Mike Pinder & The Moody Blues. Fly trans-love
airways back to the coolest time of the 20th Century to be a music
fan with So You Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star. www.classicpictures.co.uk
CORD INTERNATIONAL / HANA OLA RECORDS - There is nothing more
beautiful than the sound of Hawaiian slack key and steel guitar guitar.
One of the finest Hawaiian music labels, Cord International
and their off-shoot label Hana Ola Records continues to release
state of the art instrumental and vocal CDs of music from the 50th
state. Among the latest CDs on Hana Ola is a new recording from Ken
Emerson & Friends entitled Hawaiian Tangos, Hulas &
Blues. Currently one of Hawaii’s most prominent slack
key and steel guitarists, Emerson is joined on his 2004 release by
a number of players including rock legend Todd Rundgren, who
lives in Hawaii now. Described as an “acoustic musical journey
where American roots meets traditional Hawaii with tasteful and inspiring
Latin & Caribbean influences”, the 16 track mix of bluesy
/ jazzy vocal and instrumental tracks features Emerson’s fine
vocals and guitar work on a number of instruments including his 1930’s
National Style O Resonator guitar. Other recent CD releases of Hawaiian
music on Cord / Hana Ola includes a retrospective of traditional Hawaiian
vocal and instrumental music entitled, The History Of Slack
Key Guitar. Featuring historic Hawaiian music performances
from the past 60 years (including 1940’s recordings by Gabby
Pahinui), this 20 track various artist compilation was produced
by George Winston—the New Age guru long regarded as one
of the leading authorities of vintage Hawaiian recordings. Other recent
Winston reissue productions on Cord includes a pair of various vocal/instrumental
compilations from Hawaiian slack key master Leonard Kwan. Well
worth the time for World Music and Hawaiian music fans, each Cord
title is packed with colorful artwork and intriguing, detailed liner
notes. www.cordinternational.com
CUNEIFORM RECORDS - Still America’s premier label when it
comes to classic progressive Euro and American artists, MD.-based
Cuneiform have released some intriguing CD titles in 2004 from
three bonafide legends from England’s fabled Canterbury music
scene. First off, Solar Flares Burn For You, from
Soft Machine drummer Robert Wyatt, compiles thirteen
tracks Wyatt recorded for two BBC radio broadcasts, from ‘72
and ‘74, a film soundtrack from ‘73 (along with the actual
film in Quicktime) and more recent music recorded in 2002-2003 with
Wyatt’s co-founder in the Softs, bass great Hugh Hopper.
Although he remains paralyzed as the result of an accident in June
of 1973, Wyatt has kept up his musical legacy with a multitude of
acclaimed releases since and Cuneiform’s Solar Flares furthers
his icon stature. Wyatt’s early co-founder in Soft Machine, Daevid
Allen, is best known for forming ‘70s Euro space-jazz greats,
Gong, and like Wyatt, he’s recorded a wealth of trendsetting
solo albums since the early ‘70s. Well into his ‘60s now,
Allen rocks out like a wild man half his age on his 2004 album with
University Of Errors, entitled Jet Propelled Photographs.
The kicker here is that, for this album, Allen has taken the fabled,
earliest Soft Machine tracks and has rerecorded them in true space
cadet fashion. Assisted here by talented players such as Michael
Clare (bass) and Josh Pollock (guitars), Allen remains
on the cutting edge of progressive rock and he’s really done
something magical with these ‘60s classics. He wasn’t in
Soft Machine, but drummer Pip Pyle has played with the best
prog-rock bands in Europe including Gong, Hatfield & The North
and National Health. Decades later, Pip’s still at it and he’s
in top form on his latest with Pip Pyle’s Bash. Entitled
Belle Illusion, the CD features a sizzling set
of instrumental jazz-rock featuring Pyle assisted by French guitar
wiz Patrice Meyer and others. Recorded in Paris and Seattle
in 2002-2003, Belle Illusion is right up there among Pyle’s
finest. Like always, Cuneiform has packaged their noteworthy titles
with eye-catching artwork and descriptive liner notes. www.cuneiformrecords.com
DUSTIN EHRLICH - A stylistic mixture of atmospheric jazz and post-bop
spontaneous combustion, the 2003 CD from N.Y.C.-based guitarist Dustin
Ehrlich features a cool combination of instrumental tracks. Ehrlich
claims, “Since many of my influences have been musicians associated
with the ECM record label, A Distant Star has that type of
expansive, yet-intimate sound...almost a meditative musicality.”
Multi-tracked to great effect by Ehrlich on electric guitar, acoustic
guitar, classical guitar, bass and synthesizer, A Distant Star
is like a sublime soundtrack. Having studied with Bay-area jazz guitarist
Mark Stefani and N.Y.C. guitar legend Sal Salvador, Ehrlich clearly
has the chops and from another viewpoint, he’s well versed in
a variety of musical genres. Commenting on his musical influences,
Ehrlich adds, “Mike Rutherford and Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake
& Palmer were my primary influences for many years. Both were
guitarists, bassists, and composers. They knew when to play mellow
acoustic passages, when to engage in tight riffing, and when to let
loose and wail. Style was not a limiting factor.” The introspective
and intimate arena in which Ehrlich works makes him a suitable choice
for music fans interested in neo-jazz fusion guitar sounds. www.dustinehrlich.com
DOUBLE D RECORDS - It may be have taken Dan Dugmore 32
years to record his first solo album, but since buying his first pedal
steel from Sneaky Pete after the first Flying Burrito Brothers album,
Dugmore earned a stellar reputation through his work with Linda Ronstadt,
between 1974-88, and James Taylor, between 1980-1988. Moving to Nashville
in 1990, Dugmore has become one of the town’s most sought after
steelers and in 2004 he gives his fans plenty to ponder with his Off
White Album. Dan’s steel guitar tribute to The
Beatles, the 12 track instro CD features laid back, country-twang
renditions of classic Fab Four tracks like “Fool On The Hill”,
“Something” and “Across The Universe”. Arranging
them for steel guitar, Dugmore has done something special with these
musical gems adding, “the real challenge was to give those beautiful
melodies that we all know by heart a new voice. I wanted people to
hear them in a way they’ve never heard them before.” Supporting
his steel guitar mastery with his own acoustic guitar and bass work,
Dugmore’s Off White Album is most satisfying salute to
the magic of The Beatles. www.dandugmore.com
EEL PIE RECORDING PRODUCTIONS - Culled from three different devotional
albums Pete Townshend made in honor of Meher Baba (1894-1969),
Jai Baba is a 2004 double CD retrospective on Townshend’s
Eel Pie imprint. First anthologized on Eel Pie as the triple
CD Avatar box set, (which quickly sold out) in
1999, these three original ‘70s releases—Happy Birthday,
I Am and With Love—feature a range of
solo music from Townshend, Billy Nichols, Ron Geesin,
the late, great Ronnie Lane and other Baba disciples. Highlights
of Jai Baba includes a Townshend demo of the Who classic, “The
Seeker” and tracks found on Townshend’s famous Who Came
First album. There’s also a live version of the WCF
classic “O’ Parvardigar” recorded live by Townshend
in 1972 at Baba’s tomb in India. Essential for Who fans and anyone
looking to reexplore some of Townshend’s most inspiring (though
least appreciated) solo work from the ‘70s, the 32 track Jai
Baba is a constant reminder of the enormous impact Baba had on
Townshend, Nichols, Lane and the other gifted musicians featured here.
www.eelpie.com
EPHEMERA - Described as a pop delight along the lines of the cozy
city-folk sound of Simon & Garfunkel and the anthemic Euro-pop
of The Cardigans, the fourth CD from Norway’s Ephemera
offers a winning mix of angelic female vocals and impressive melodic
arrangements. Going strong for the past six years, the trio of Inger
Lise Størkse, Christine Sandtorv and Jannicke
Larsen write and perform their own music. Huge in Norway, the
gals are also all the rage in Japan, Denmark and the U.K. and this
past June, Ephemera opened for David Bowie in Norway. The blissful,
thirteen track Score is one of the finest pop
efforts to come out of continental Europe in recent memory. www.ephemeramusic.com
FUNCTION 8 - More a recording project than a band, the new release
from Jet Black Crayon comes across like a cinematic opus for
an imaginary flick. Featuring founding members Monte Vallier and
Tommy Guerrero, the all instrumental 2004 CD, Inaccuracies
Of The Mind Machine borders on a number of genres—soundtracks,
drum & bass, hip-hop and experimental—yet never comes up
short on innovative musical ideas. Featuring a number of guest players,
the 14 track CD sounds also greatly influenced by prog-rock legends
King Crimson and should be just the ticket for those looking for fresh
and innovative progressive sounds. www.function8.com
HECK - It’s not that Wisconsin-based guitarist Bill Heck
doesn’t have alot to say, it’s just that he let’s
his fingers do the talking. On his 2003 CD Calm Before The Storm
Heck cuts loose on an eight cut instrumental CD that blends
guitar fusion with a more meditative New Age feel that sounds superb.
Heck covers lots of ground on electric and acoustic guitars, bass
and keyboards and he’s well complimented by Pat Hunkins on drums
and percussion. Creating his album with sonic depth and precision,
Heck makes good use of his Ovation acoustic, Fender American Strat,
Carvin DC400, Korg Triton ProX synth, and Fostex digital multi-track
recorder. And he wears his influences—from Joe Satriani to George
Winston—quite well. www.billheck.com
KULTUR - New Jersey-based DVD experts Kultur—and their
subsidiary SRO Entertainment) made alot of people happy with
recent Moody Blues and Julian Bream DVDs and now they take on the
‘60s with Casey Kasem’s Rock & Roll Goldmine.
On the cover of the 5 DVD box set you’ll see pictures of
greats like Jerry Garcia, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder,
Jimi Hendrix, Ray Davies and none other than rock’s
impresario Casey Kasem! In this five part musical documentary, Kasem
accurately portrays the ‘60s as a time of unprecedented cultural
and social upheavals. The five DVDs in the box includes The
Sixties (with live performance footage from The Who,
Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, The Doors, Cream,
interview footage with The Beatles and more),.The Soul
Years (w/ James Brown, Sam & Dave, Otis
Redding and more), The British Invasion (w/ The
Kinks, Procol Harum, Peter & Gordon, Traffic
and more), Elvis...The Echo Will Never Die (A ten
part documentary on The King covering his “Memphis Roots”
to “Blue Suede Heaven”) and The San Fransisco Sound
(w/ The Grateful Dead, Santana, Big Brother
& The Holding Company, Steve Miller Band and more).
In addition to incredible live performances from each of the above
artists, the series subtly weaves in newsreel footage of all many
major social events of the ‘60s—from JFK and Civil Rights
to Vietnam and the lunar landing. Another major 2004 DVD release on
Kultur / SRO is a three DVD box set entitled 20 Years After
- A Woodstock Reunion Concert. Everyone knows just
how significant the original Woodstock festival was back in 1969,
and here’s a chance to reexperience the 1989 20th anniversary
concert celebration of the original Woodstock with some of the original
artists and a whole lot more. Original Woodstock artists reappearing
at the ‘89 reunion includes Country Joe McDonald, Melanie,
Canned Heat, while other artists celebrating at the 1989 Woodstock
reunion gig include The Chambers Brothers, Iron Butterfly,
Blood, Sweat & Tears, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk),
Buddy Miles, Spencer Davis Group, Humble Pie (w/
Jerry Shirley), Iron Butterfly and a fine performance
from Leon Russell & Edgar Winter. This ain’t the original
Woodstock by a long stretch yet prime 1989 concert footage featuring
some of rock’s most notable groups coupled with fitting interviews
with the late, great Dr. Timothy Leary (who better to relive
the Woodstock experience with?) makes 20 Years After a suitable
relic for anyone who can’t get enough of Woodstock—now 35
years after the original event that shaped a generation. www.kultur.com
MAGIC - Two songs in the twang hall of fame—”Apache”
(written in the U.K. for The Shadows by Jerry Lordan)
and “Ghost Riders In The Sky” (written by Stan Jones)—are
the subject of a pair of 2004 CD releases on the French Magic imprint.
Kicking off with the original Shadows hit version from 1960, the 22
track Apachemania CD goes on to feature 22 rockin’
covers of “Apache” from The Ventures, Bert Weedon,
The Spacemen, Davie Allan & The Arrows, Hank
Marvin solo from ‘97, The Shadows live in Paris in ‘75
and from a group known as, what else but The Apaches. Kicking
off with a faithful 2004 cover of the song by French guitar ingenue
Matilda, Magic’s 24 track Ghost Riders In The Sky
features a fine array of covers from The Ventures (1961), The
Spotnicks (from 1961) The Shadows (from 1980), The Chantays (from
‘63) along with more decade spanning “Ghost Riders”
tracks from various Euro and U.S. rockers. www.magic-records.com
MIKE PERLOWIN - Featuring music composed by the late, great Leonard
Bernstein, West Side Story is one of the
most successful musical productions of the 20th Century. Now in 2004,
L.A.-based pedal steel guitarist Mike Perlowin has adapted
Bernstein’s timeless music as an instrumental opus arranged for
pedal steel guitar. Assisted by Dave Beyer (drums) and other
fine players, Perlowin’s musical masterpiece should find a home
with steel guitar aficionados and just about anyone who ever enjoyed
West Side Story. Perlowin’s guitar craft spans his expertise
on pedal and Hawaiian steel guitars, electric 6 and 12 string guitars,
acoustic steel and nylon string guitars, fretted and fretless basses,
five and six string banjos, mandolin and auto-harp. Perlowin’s
19 track adaptation of West Side Story features those popular
songs from the Broadway show, as well as other Bernstein pieces from
the film and operatic version. One critic claimed that Perlowin’s
CD would make great listening for those who appreciate greats like
Pat Metheny, Bela Fleck and Bill Frisell, yet Mike’s steel magic
transcends category and genre, clearly making it a modern day American
music classic. The CD is topped off by eye-catching cover artwork
and fitting liner notes. Perlowin’s other solo CD—Stravinsky:
Firebird Suite—is yet another set filled with his brilliant
steel guitar expertise. www.mikeperlowin.com
MUSICK RECORDINGS - One of the hottest instrumental rock bands
on the scene today, Pollo Del Mar released their 2004 album,
The Golden State on MuSick and it’s a good one.
Sounding like Neil Young fronting The Ventures, The Golden State
rocks with a vengeance and also skirts the borders of symphonic
surf music. Featuring the ultra hot guitar interplay of Ferenc
Dobronyl and Jono Jones, The Golden State may be
a bit too heavy to be considered traditional surf, yet there’s
enough fury in the waves of sound to make it of interest to long time
surf-rockers and progressive guitar instrumental fans. In addition
to the group’s spellbinding originals, The Golden State
offers a rockin’ instro of “Hall Of The Mountain King”
written by legendary 19th Century classical champion Edvard Grieg.
www.musickrecords.com
MUSTANG MUSIC - Over in England, guitarist Zoe McCulloch
released her fifth solo album and though she’s just turned 18,
she’s hit her stride with the 2004 release of Gypsy Noodle.
Meeting and hooking up with the great Mason Williams sparked
a new interest in his song, “Classical Gas”, resulting in
a 2004 Zoe version of the instro classic. Williams also composed the
CD opening title track for McCulloch. Bearing the Williams circular
instro sound, Zoe underscores the track with her searing guitar leads.
Her true to life cover versions of five different Williams tunes,
two covers of Mark Knopfler and more, brings the vintage Jet Harris
/ early Shadows sound up to date with style. Obviously delighted with
Zoe’s latest hit, Mason Williams also contributed cool liner
notes for the album, linking the instro generations, young and old.
www.zoemcculloch.com
PMM - Guitarist Chris Rodler, his brother / drummer Brett
Rodler and lead guitarist Mike Ohm may be going deaf for
a living, but what a way to go! The Rodler brothers have been making
musical waves for over a decade on a variety prog-rock albums and
they hit their stride on Going Deaf For A Living, their 2004
all-instrumental CD release on the PA-based Progressive Music Management.
In the words of Chris Rodler, “I suppose this CD could be described
as loud, complex, high-energy, rhythmically challenging, harmonically
sophisticated, metal-coated, instrumental prog-rock with a bad attitude.”
Teaming with G.I.T. grad / session guitarist Mike Ohm, the Rodler
brothers take no prisoners on a razor sharp instrumental CD that breaths
new fire into the rock fusion sound pioneered by guitar greats like
Steve Morse and Steve Vai. Topped off by state of the art studio technology
and mastering, Going Deaf For A Living makes quite a bold instrumental
hard rock statement. www.pmm-music.net
PAPAMICHAEL - Having studied with jazz guitar great Joe Pass,
Astoria, N.Y. native Anthony Papamichael released his own remarkable
guitar instrumental record in 2004. Mass Appeal by
Papamichael World Group strikes a goldmine with it’s unique assortment
of wide ranging guitar moods. Throughout the CD Papamichael demonstrates
amazing guitar chops and, combined with a propensity for easy on the
ears smooth jazz sounds, he’s made an upbeat groove-based jazz
CD that swings and cooks at the same time. Backed by a tight band
of kindred players, Papamichael makes fine use of his Larrivee Guitars
and Tacoma Guitars. Much like the colorful melting pot neighborhood
in NYC from where he emerged, PapaMichael World Group never comes
up short of colorful and exciting musical ideas, all of which seems
to effortlessly flow from the inner city groove of Mass Appeal.
www.papamichael.com
PASTE - The band of choice for President Bush, The Brindley
Brothers caught the ear of big W who hailed them in a speech before
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as “confident people”, that
“define the entrepreneurial spirit in America.” Who knew
Bush had an ear for pop music? Clearly, the Brindley’s clearly
rise to the executive level on their CD debut on the Decatur-based
Paste imprint. Comparisons abound including twangy roots pop
pioneers like Big Star, Wilco and even Tom Petty. Based in the Washington,
D.C. area, Luke Brindley (guitar, vocals) and Daniel Brindley
(keys, vocals) are joined by a range of players on their nine
track Playing With The Light. In addition to their gathering
pop status, the brothers are also known in the nation’s capitol
as the proprietors of Jammin’ Java—a 200 seat music venue
with a recording studio and music school on site—the brothers
clearly have it going both ways with the ripping, infectious roots
pop groove of Playing With The Light. www.brindleybrothers.com
SANCTUARY - The tale of just how Keith Relf and Jim
McCarty transformed The Yardbirds and Renaissance into rock royalty
can be traced back in time on a 2004 double CD retrospective taking
a look at just how Renaissance started. Like Fleetwood Mac, the original
Renaissance developed the concept and like the pioneers they gave
it all away it to collateral innovators to carry the brand name into
the end zone. As Innocents & Illusions skillfully
debates, Relf and McCarty’s first post-Yardbirds project, Renaissance
remains epic—a defining musical moment from the dawn of the ‘70s.
Not only has the first complete Renaissance album been reissued
with excellent remastering, but’s it’s been repackaged by
Sanctuary as a double set with another CD featuring a round
of more great music Relf and McCarty made in the few years before
Relf’s untimely passing away in 1976 at age 33. Like all their
great reissues, Sanctuary’s double CD reissue features voluminous
notes from David Wells. Although it was reissued a couple years back
(with the original Elektra Records artwork, Sanctuary has possibly
released the definitive story with Innocents & Illusions.
With America roiling from a decade long turmoil of war, political
assassinations and racial/social unrest—reflected by the mid
‘60s protest / hippie based revolution sounds—over in Mother
England, the Brits were busy saving our planet, refining a true musical
artform called progressive rock, springing forth fully formed on musical
masterpieces like Sgt. Peppers and In Search Of The Lost
Chord finally hitting the trifecta with In The Court
Of The Crimson King. A serendipitous union of Robert Fripp, Ian
McDonald, Mike Giles, and a gifted singer named Greg Lake,
King Crimson were a huge phenomenon in the Fall of 1969, blowing minds
and yet a second later the band was gone...but not forgotten. After
Crimson carried on without him, Lake joined Keith Emerson and
Carl Palmer for a fabled keyboard, bass & drum experiment,
and the tale once again recalled on a 2004 double CD reissue compilation
on Sanctuary entitled Emerson Lake & Palmer - The Ultimate
Collection. With Keith Emerson currently on tour with
a 2004 version of The Nice, Greg Lake’s solo career is reexamined
on two compilation CDs of various demos and live tracks available
from his website www.greglake.com From The Underground Vol 1 &
2 combine for a comprehensive bootleg style retrospective of Lake’s
various recordings including revealing tracks by his pop-based, pre-Crimson
outfit, The Shame, as well as rarities from the heyday of ELP, Emerson
Lake & Powell, Asia, King Crimson and more. Also available on
Lake’s site is a collectible ELP DVD chronicling the Works
Orchestral Tour (Montreal ‘70) and The Manticore Special
(with highlights from their ‘75 World tour) and a CD reissue
of Lake’s 1983 effort Manoeuvres (with Gary Moore). While
perusing Lake’s web site check out the CD release of King
Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Ringo & A His New All Starr Band,
featuring Lake’s stellar performance cover of “Lucky
Man”, captured for posterity on Ringo’s 2002 tour. www.greglake.com
/ www.pilato.com
SIVLE RECORDS - Featuring the smart guitar and bass work of
Tom “Tremolo” Pervanje, Cleveland’ premier spy-surf
band—Spy-Fi have released a number of titles topped off
by two excellent CDs releases in late 2003. The latest in the label’s
Music For Spies, Thighs & Private Eyes series—both
CDs blend a wealth of ‘60s beat group style instrumental classics
with a few group originals. Vol 1., The Thigh Who Loved
Me spotlights ‘60s inspired Spy-Fi covers of icons like
P.F. Sloan, Dimitri Tiomkin, Neal Hefti, Jerry Goldsmith, Joe Meek
and more, while Vol. 2, Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
keeps the pot boiling with further Spy-fi forays into the song book
of Lalo Schiffrin, Henry Mancini, John Barry and more. Pervanje and
his Spy-fi band mates pay close attention and deftly summon up the
spirit in which this music was made—straight down to the ardent,
zesty ‘60s style cover art adorning both titles. Recommended
for surf-rock and ‘60s TV soundtrack enthusiasts, both volumes
are dedicated to the late great Henry Mancini, England’s
greatest living soundtrack composer John Barry and Barry’s
long time guitarist, the L.A.-based Vic Flick, and, an icon
who as acted as a mentor to Pervanje and many other fans of his work
on those great ‘60s Barry soundtracks. Where to begin? How about
with Vol. 1 with it’s cool recreations of all time classics
like “Secret Agent Man”, “Man From U.N.C.L.E.”
and Joe Meek’s dawn of the ‘60s icon “Telstar”.
www.Spy-fi.com
SLIPT DISC RECORDS - Any guitarist worth his weight that cites
Tales From Topographic Oceans as a main influence is worth
at least a listen, and on his latest with the band Land Of Chocolate,
guitarist John Covach scores with a savory set of freewheeling,
yet studied prog-driven rock. According to Covach, "The band's
music blends aspects of 70s progressive rock with elements drawn from
contemporary rock, so I tried to balance the stylistic eclecticism
of the prog tradition with the aggressive edge of more recent music.
I played my Heritage Millennium 155 and 575 Custom mostly, with a
bit of G&L Comanche and Rickenbacker twelve-string thrown in here
and there for timbral contrast. I also used my Kohno classical in
the solo section that begins 'Mechanical Pencil'." www.johncovach.com
/ www.landofchocolate.com
SPIRITONE RECORDS - True to the title of his 2004 CD, Spirits
In The House, Kenn Fox evokes the feel
of guitar greats like Michael Hedges, Davey Graham and John Fahey.
On his fifth instrumental CD, Spirits, Fox keeps the settings
sparse, yet he vividly gets his point across—with able support
from Dave Finley (bass) and Randy Mueller (drums)—on
fifteen tracks of acoustic-based instrumental guitar magic. Much like
Americana guitar maven John Fahey, Fox makes a unique musical statement
with each original guitar instrumental. As cool as his acoustic forays
are, the other side of Fox is best explored on a dazzling 2003 album
with his group Voltage Unit, entitled Send.
Assisted again by drummer Mueller and percussionist Raj Alaw,
Send is a most masterful CD that blends in the vibe of King
Crimson, achieving a heady mixture of electrifying guitar-based progressive
sounds. As a principal founder of Spiritone Records, Fox brings
a wealth of performance and production skills to the table, and—although
wearing a number of musical hats—he readily admits, “In
one respect, I like only one kind of music...good music.” Other
guitar-based CDs by Kenn Fox on Spiritone includes Brave Face,
Near Life Experience, and Epiphany. www.spiritonerecords.com
STUPIDO - Starting out in the mid ‘90s as one of Finland’s
most promising instrumental rock bands, The Hypnomen, featuring
the music of group guitarist Pekka Laine, have been on a self-proclaimed
mission, “to spread the pagen gospel of instrumental rock and
the unholy teachings of Master Link Wray all over creation.”
With several albums under their belt The Hypnomen now sound like they’ve
been dropping acid and listening to early Dead and Allman Brothers
records! From a group who’ve dabbled in cool soundtrack tones,
‘60s style Latin go-go music and space age psychedelia, their
2004 CD, Crystal Skies embraces a heavy instrumental
jam band vibe. Sounding more like String Cheese Incident than The
Ventures in places, Crystal Skies is foot-tapping set of friendly
instro tracks. With plenty of Hammond organ, fuzz guitars and percussion
on hand, Crystal Skies vividly embraces a fascinating West
Coast psychedelic twist. www.stupido.fi
TCC - Back in the ‘70s, years before they would strike
it rich with The Rolling Stones and Lenny Kravitz, Virgin Records
cultivated a reputation for signing some of the most incredible
progressive rockers of the 20th Century including Mike Oldfield, Gong,
Wigwam and Robert Wyatt. Perhaps their most fantastic band were German
space-rockers Tangerine Dream. T. Dream, as they became known,
almost single-handedly invented the ‘70s Euro techno/electronica
music movement. While their ‘80s and ‘90s releases aren’t
rated quite as highly as their early ‘70s album, T. Dream nevertheless
staked out quite a reputation as a live act during the past 30 years.
Their history as a live force to be reckoned with is reexamined on
a new series entitled The Bootmoon Series. T.
Dream founder and brainchild and resident electronic wizard / guitarist
Edgar Froese has done a great job personally overseeing this
limited edition series. The first five T. Dream double live Bootmoon
CD sets includes Montreal - April 9th 1977, Aachen
- January 21st 1981, Paris - February 2nd 1981,
Sydney - February 22nd 1982 and Ottawa - June 20th
1986. Decked out with vivid artwork and superior ‘bootleg
quality’ sound, the T. Dream Bootmoon series provides
comprehensive insight into a group highly regarded as being among
the prime innovators of European electronic music. www.tangerine-dream.de
VARESE VINTAGE - The Godfathers of American instrumental
rock, The Ventures may already be in their early ‘70s
but they blow away the competition with their eternally summer-sounding
Surfin’ To Baja. Still rockin’ out
in style, group founders Don Wilson and Bob Bogle are
joined by other notable Ventures alumni including Nokie Edwards,
Gerry McGee as well as drummer Mel Taylor (a Venture
from 1962 till his passing in 1996) and Mel’s replacement, his
son Leon Taylor. The Ventures are still huge in Japan and this
19 track CD collection collects sides from a number of various Nippon-only
Ventures album releases from 1992-2000. Rounding out the current Ventures
lineup of players are Jeff Baxter on lead guitar and David
Carr on keyboards and synthesizers. Varese have done a
fine job on this impressive Ventures collection topping it off with
detailed discography and first hand account notes from Bill Dahl.
After spinning this classic instro CD a few times, who can argue with
the comparison of The Ventures to Beethoven catching a wave on Waikiki
beach! www.theventures.com
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed
in www.mwe3.com and 20th Century Guitar. Send to CD Reviews Editor
Robert Silverstein, P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
e-mail: rss54@mwe3.com
