MWE3.COM
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
DECEMBER
2011 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
ANGEL AIR - Among the 2011 CD releases on Angel Air, Robin
George’s Lovepower - LovePower And Peace features the
multi-talented Robin George in the studio together with 50 musicians.
A charity album, LovePower is solid U.K. pop-rock featuring
numerous musicians from bands such as The Climax Blues Band, King
Crimson, Uriah Heep, Mott The Hoople, Asia and much more. The album
is newly released in 2011 and Robin himself wrote many of the tracks
here while also adding in guitars, backing vocals and more. With plenty
of crunching guitars and a musical spirit that echoes those bands
mentioned above, George has crafted an album that borrows from the
spirit of 1970’s rock yet also looks towards the future. Another
winner from Angel Air released in 2011 is Ten Commitments from
singer-songwriter Steve Ellis. In 2010, Angel Air released
a 1969 soundtrack from Ellis called Loot, and likewise, the
newly recorded Ten Commitments is equally easy on the ears.
Ellis plays the role of musical interpreter on Ten Commitments,
adding in several covers including “Please Please Me”
and the Neil Young / Buffalo Springfield classic “On The Way
Home”, which gets a nice overhaul and stays true the the upbeat
nature of the original. Cool, upbeat, driving, blue-eyed soulful pop-rock
is Steve’s forte, and there’s plenty of that on his newly
recorded return to form. Who says Angel Air is strictly a reissue
label? Label boss Peter Purnell strikes pop-rock gold with these 2011
CD releases from Robin George and Steve Ellis. www.AngelAir.co.uk
LONELY
LLAMA - Singer songwriter Ken Dixon returns in 2011 with
his long awaited return, entitled Motives. Despite
suffering from Parkinsons, Ken makes Motives his signature
album. Once again assisted by a fine group of musicians, including
Heart guitarist / co-producer Craig Bartock, on Motives
Ken has penned some truly memorable pop jewels that cross pollinate
a rock solid Beatles / Nilsson type pop hybrid, combining 21st century
studio smarts topped off by some truly amazing album packaging and
cover art. With his wide screen pop smarts in full flight—and
with the excellent support from the great Craig Bartock—Ken coalesces
his unique sound with one killer track after the next. Fans of Flaming
Lips, late period Pink Floyd, Super Furry Animals, Eels and Heart
will do good to pick up on Ken Dixon’s Motives—a
truly tuned-in pop-rock album classic. www.KenDixon.co.uk
MT
RECORDS - Guitarist / singer-songwriter Meagan Tubb has
garnered some well earned praise in the guitar world for her 2011
CD Cast Your Shadow by Meagan Tubb & Shady People.
The Texas based singer sounds influenced by various Southern rock
legends like Gregg and Duane Allman—both in her lap steel guitar
based approach and her bluesy vocal approach, winning the crowd over
with songs that really hold up and rock hard. Meagan’s band sounds
completely convincing and also teaming her own guitar work with the
lead guitar / slide guitar sound of Jason Nunnenkamp, the sound
of Cast Your Shadow is a rock guitar lovers dream come true.
www.MeaganTubb.com
NOT
LAME RECORDS - Back in 2004 one CD that I unfortunately overlooked
was Classic Christmas Songs With A Dash Of Pepper.
The CD was subtitled St. Nick’s Christmas By The Lonely
Hearts Band. Hard to believe it’s been 7 years
since the CD came out on Bruce Brodeen’s Not Lame label. Sadly,
Bruce folded his label in 2010 after years of ground breaking power
pop releases. Put simply, Brodeen helped revolutionize the indie-pop
world. Anyway, as I said, back in 2004 Bruce released this amazing
Christmas CD—an all instrumental Christmas take on the Beatles’
‘67 classic Sgt. Pepper’s album. Using the Fab Four’s
incredible sense of style and instrumentation, the album instead implants
Christmas melodies where there are Beatles melodies, yet it keeps
a lot of the original spirit. The brainchild of legendary studio genius
and music producer Tommy Marolda—assisted here by Bruce
Foster, Jackson Woodney and Maria Balakin—St.
Nick’s Christmas is just a joy to behold start to finish.
The CD is a must for fans of The Beatles and is chock full of classic
Christmas melodies. St. Nick’s Christmas is just fab,
start to finish and instro rock fans especially will be amazed at
how well the album hangs together. Instead of using the melody of
“For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite” you get the Fab Four’s
arrangement but in its place is the melody from “”Little
Saint Nick.” (Think it's easy? You try mixing Beatles style arrangements
with Christmas songs!) George Harrison’s Indian pop music classic
“Within You Without You” automatically becomes “I Saw
Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, sitars and tablas and all! “When
I’m 64” mutates into “Jingle Bell Rock”. Astounding,
but it all works and you have to hear it to believe it. Following
the 13 track, instrumental St. Nick’s Christmas, Tommy
adds on two of his vocal tracks, the only two vocals on the album—”Fake
Christmas” by The Toms and “Surviving Christmas”
from the Horizontal Ladies Club. The rights for the St.
Nick’s Christmas CD reverted back to Tommy following the
tragic collapse of Not Lame so, thankfully it’s still out there.
Get it while you can! In the past Tommy has worked with Rod Stewart,
The Bee Gees and more and his ongoing pop project, Horizontal Ladies
Club is planning a new 2012 album, so fans can expect to hear more
from this gifted pop maestro soon. www.TommyMarolda.com
ROCK
REBEL RECORDS - There’s some mean rocking sounds on the 6
track, 2011 CD from the group known as J.P. Hopfelt’s L.A.
Vintage Rock. Written, produced and arranged by singer-songwriter
/ guitarist Pete Hopkins and guitarist / co-producer Jimmy
Steinfeldt, the CD also features key contributions from Gary
Mallaber (drums) and Chad Watson (bass). Pulling double
duty as lead vocalist and lead guitarist, Hopkins admits his guitar
sound is influenced by guitarists ranging from the metal rock bliss
of Joe Satriani and Kirk Hammett through to jazz-rock guitar god Al
DiMeola. There’s a solid mix of vintage rock and good old time
rock and roll but there’s also a cool L.A. vibe running through
these tracks, guaranteeing a wide sweep of sound. In the words of
J.P. Hopfelt himself, ‘This is not a mellow recording we’ve
done. It’s a rock record.’ Well said, and quite true. Crank
up the volume. www.jphopfelt.com
RUF
RECORDS - Back in 1969, Savoy Brown released one of the
all time U.K. blues rock classics, A Step Further. That album,
and even the earlier release of Blue Matter established guitarist
Kim Simmonds and the group Savoy Brown as saviors of modern
electric blues-rock. Sure, Clapton and Peter Green made more noise
and bigger bucks but Simmonds and Savoy Brown has kept the fire high
for the past 44 years. Although he’s been living for much of
these past years in Upstate New York, Kim continues to release consistently
appealing CDs. In addition to his solo career, Kim continues on with
Savoy Brown and the 2011 CD release of Voodoo Moon
is another all around winner. Assisted by Joe Whiting (vocals,
sax), Pat DeSalvo (bass), Garnett Grimm (drums) and
others, Simmonds turns in a fine performance on guitar and occasional
lead vocal. Overall, Voodoo Moon is a most worthy follow up
to the 2007 Savoy Brown release entitled Steel. On his web
site, Simmonds reminisces about how he was among the early disciples
of rock gods like Clapton, Page and Beck. Feted in his own right for
his notable contributions to late ‘60s / early ‘70s rock,
Simmonds might not have the instant name recognition of those players
but, true to his blues rock roots, Simmonds keeps the Savoy Brown
blues-rock flag flying high. www.SavoyBrown.com
TAPETE
RECORDS - A fine bouncy power-pop style rock album, Appearances
is the 2011 CD from the group known as Me And Cassity,
featuring German pop maven Dirk Darmstaedter. Having released
some cool records as a solo artist, Dirk sounds really immersed in
this breezy So-Cal pop thing from Me And Cassity and there's also
some blue-eyed soul influences from legends like Todd Rundgren and
even a cool Beatles streak. Dirk even sings like Todd in places. Interestingly,
Dirk was born in Hamburg and moved to New Jersey age 5 in 1970 yet,
recording in Germany and Sweden, I guess he made it back to the mother
country. The Germans have always been big supporters of pop music
in general and they can claim musical greatness for one of their own
with Dirk’s latest pop masterpiece from Me And Cassity. There’s
some fine production work with some tasty electric guitar from Dirk
along with some solid backing musicians and backing vocals. The new
Me And Cassity CD is well worth the time for serious pop students.
www.DirkDarmstaedter.com
/ www.tapeterecords.de
VISION
MUSIC - Recent albums from Nils Lofgren have leaned toward
the acoustic—case in point being his 2008 CD The Loner - Nils
Sings Neil—but with the 2011 CD release of Old School
Lofgren gets back to his rock solid Crazy Horse / Springsteen
band vibe and roots. A number of players back up Nils but he more
than holds his own composing, playing guitar, adding some rocking
and refined piano and synth keyboards and taking lead vocals on these
tracks. Also in the CD spotlight are cameo vocals from rock legends
Paul Rogers, Lou Gramm and Sam & Dave R&B superstar
Sam Moore. Looking back on memories as well as taking a dynamic,
realistic stand about the way things are for many in 2011, Nils is
at his most caustic and cutting edgy on what could only be described
as a Bowie-esque punk-rock anthem for people nearing senior-hood called
“60 Is The New 18”. From Neil Young inspired country wave
to the rage at the dying of the light vibes, old’s cool again,
indeed on Nils Lofgren’s Old School. www.NilsLofgren.com
INSTRUMENTAL
BLAZZ
MUSIC - Ben Rogers—by day surf rock guitar hero, by
night, Gypsy Jazz and swing guitar protagonist, composer and true
fretboard artiste. Compared to Ben’s 2010 CD, the surf-rocking
Instrumentally Disturbed, by Ben Rogers’ Instrumental
Asylum, the 2011 CD release of Windfarms Of Your Mind
serves as an intimate guitar trio affair. Released by The Ben
Rogers Trio, Windfarms finds Ben in the company of his
Asylum pals Romana Geermans (violin) and Nikki Scarlett
(bass/ukulele). Ben cites an early music teacher as the influence
behind this return to his swing music roots with the guitarist adding,
‘This is the album I’ve wanted to make for a few years now.
It’s a collection of both new and old tunes, the earliest of
which is my very first composition, written as a young student of
the guitar in the early ‘60s. Even so, Ben’s stamp as an
original guitarist and composer is all over the album, to which he
confesses, ‘Some years down the track, I discovered the music
of Django Reinhardt, and this has become a strong influence on my
playing and appreciation of the guitar. For me Django remains an endless
source of inspiration.’ The era may evoke the acoustic swing
of Django, but the guitar sound is truly Ben Rogers 2011. There’s
an air of musical authenticity here that cannot be denied. Blending
steel guitar and a range of other guitar sounds, track 5 “National
Banjo” is almost an instro guitar anthem that could work as a
folk song as well as a fully fledged, soaring Hank Marvin-esque production.
Anyone who dug Ben’s Instrumental Asylum, will find much to admire
on Windfarms Of Your Mind. Same as much could be said about
track seven, “Laika’s Flight”, which although ostensibly
a long and winding drum-less guitar solo, is actually a most interesting
guitar trek that would also work as the foundation of a more production
laden rock extravaganza. Either way, the diversity of guitar sounds
and styles Windfarms makes for a most promising first recorded
album by The Ben Rogers Trio. www.BenRogers.com.au
BOWE MUSIC - On his first album from early 2011, Finest
Hour, U.K. guitar wiz Steve Bowe presented an instrumental
album depicting the Battle Of Britain. A brilliant moment on disc
in and of itself, that album is followed up by an even cooler and
more rocking set of instrumental electronica, Soundscapes released
late in 2011. Bowe’s guitar work was exemplary on Finest Hour,
while the 2011 CD release of Soundscapes sounds
somewhat more synthesized and keyboard driven. There’s still
plenty of Bowe’s driving and super kinetic keyboard / guitar
interplay but, at least compared to Finest Hour it sounds much
more digitized and computerized. Track 2 here, the completely brilliant
“Queen Of The Nile” sounds like Kraftwerk produced by Brian
Eno circa early Roxy Music. Clearly the vast array of Bowe’s
keyboard electronics brings the entire instro synth pop sound well
into the now, but his musical integrity sounds like it was shaped
by Eno and Bowie during the Low period circa 1977. It's rewarding
to see up and coming artists with talents as worthy as Steve Bowe,
committing to releasing replicated silvers of such intensely dynamic
music. www.BoweMusic.com
CONCORD
MUSIC GROUP / HEADS UP - Going strong for 25 years now,
Acoustic Alchemy strikes back in 2011 with their latest CD
Roseland. Featuring the twin acoustic guitars
of Greg Carmichael and his AA co-pilot Miles Gilderdale,
the Acoustic Alchemy sound is alive and well on Roseland. With
the patented acoustic guitar sound front and center, Roseland also
manages to bring in a mix of electric guitars. Backing up the acoustic
/ electric guitar front on Roseland are fine performances from
a number of players including the Acoustic Alchemy touring band featuring
Fred White (keys), Julian Crampton (bass) and Greg
Grainger (drums). Like most of the Acoustic Alchemy albums released
over the years, Roseland is laid back sounding and is filled
with a keen, precise instrumental smooth jazz / New Age-y kind of
pop sound, minus the vocals of course. The Roseland album was
recorded
at Gilderdale’s studio in the U.K. to which Carmichael adds,
‘We used the studio as a place to write. We would just throw
ideas at each other. You try things as you go along. That’s the
beauty of having your own studio.’ Roseland may be homegrown
but there’s plenty of fine instrumental guitar jazz to make it
an all around winner and as such should fine a home with long time
Acoustic Alchemy fans as well as guitar lovers and jazz buffs looking
to check out a true legend of the music world. www.Acoustic-Alchemy.net
DOUG YOUNG GUITAR - Rhythmic and varied are a couple of words
that spring to mind upon hearing Closing Time—the
2011 CD from California guitarist Doug Young. There’s
a definite laid back Pat Metheny vibe in Young’s music and style,
and it’s balanced out by some very lush sounding acoustic guitar
sounds. Young cites guitar acousticians like Peppino D’Agostino
and Teja Gerken among his influences, yet whatever finger style acoustic
guitar style you like, chances are Young does it and does it well.
Several artists stop by for cameos, including Teja, who adds in second
guitar on a track here. Young cites a number of download choices for
the album but in my opinion the best way is to pick up the CD version,
already made and plus you get that great woody looking CD cover art
and packaging with credits and fine liner notes by Young. www.DougYoungMusic.com
E1 MUSIC - It’s been a while since eOne was Koch Records,
but they continue on releasing CDs under their new moniker. In 2011,
the label released The Three Kings by blues rock guitar
ace Jeff Golub, here recording as the Jeff Golub Band Featuring
Henry Butler. Blues rock belter Butler adds balls to Golub's soulful
sting, which balances a mostly vocal blues-rock set with several instrumentals
added in for good measure. Drummer Josh Dixon also kicks in
some fine vocals, balancing Butler’s rough and ready growl. Golub
and company also get support from blues guitar legends Robben Ford
and Sonny Landreth, adding further highlights to this mostly
rocking, bluesy tribute album to the three kings of the blues, Albert,
B.B. and Freddie. Two fine instrumentals with Ford and Landreth, on
one a piece, and a set closing instrumental over of the B.B. King
signature song “The Thrill Is Gone” seals the deal on Golub’s
rocking tribute to the blues. www.JeffGolub.com
FAVORED
NATIONS ACOUSTIC - Just in time for Christmas 2011, Australia’s
guitar hero Tommy Emmanuel released his new CD All I
Want For Christmas. Kicking off with “Rudolph
The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, the twelve track all instrumental CD
features Tommy in the studio with co-producers John Knowles and
Kim Person on a CD that transcends holiday music and just puts
Tommy’s acoustic guitar based instrumentals front and center.
Commenting on working with John Knowles—who also plays guitar
on the album—Tommy adds ‘We’d trade ideas back and
forth, working up key changes and places to go with the songs that
would make our versions unique, yet still simple and direct, true
to how they were written.’ So many highlights, All I Want
For Christmas is bound to become a Christmas favorite for years
to come. In addition to Tommy’s Christmas CD, also this year,
the new Tommy Emmanuel Web 3.0 web site was launched. Designed to
create a comprehensive online experience for Tommy’s fans worldwide,
it interconnects three sites—TommyEmmanuel.com with the latest
news, artist/tour information, CertifiedGuitarPlayer.com, home to
the Tommy Emmanuel storefront for music, DVDs, merchandise, lesson
books, and gear and TommyEmmanuel.TV—an online social / educational
experience featuring footage of live performances, lessons, interviews
and a behind-the-scenes view of Tommy on the road as he tours the
world. www.TommyEmmanuel.com
GDI RECORDS - Ostensibly an instrumental nuevo flamenco guitar
group, The Missing Parts blend all kinds of musical sounds
and styles on their 2011 CD, entitled Sueños.
Two guitarists—Douglas Francisco (lap steel) and Paul
Wright (guitar / percussion) interplay perfectly with Oliver
Blaylock (violin) and Brian Hullfish (cello) and the result
comes across as a charming neo-classical / flamenco guitar chamber
group. Not surprisingly, The Missing Parts cite eclectic influences
such as Ry Cooder, Bela Bartok and Astor Piazzola along with Euro
soundtracks kings like Morricone and Rota. The steel string acoustic
guitars are dynamically recorded and are as clear as a bell. Nuevo
flamenco, fingerstyle guitar fans and modern neo-classical instrumental
listeners will undoubtedly enjoy the whimsical yet quite serious sound
of The Missing Parts. www.TheMissingParts.net
HARP
GUITAR MUSIC - A forerunner of the harp guitar movement, Greg
Miner joins forces with his fellow finger style harp guitarists
for the 2011 release of Further Beyond Six Strings.
Subtitled Killer Fingerstyle Harp guitar Instrumentals,
the 13 track various artists CD features many of the guitarists
who have recorded on Miner’s Harp Guitar Music label including
Muriel Anderson (here with Danny Gottlieb), Brad
Hoyt, Stephen Bennett, Dan Alder, Philippe Fouquet
and more. Miner’s latest harp guitar extravaganza makes a
superb introduction to the unique sounds these expert guitarists get
from their double neck and sometimes triple neck acoustic harp guitars.
Also in time for Christmas 2012 on Harp Guitar Music is their new
Christmas album entitled Christmas Present—16 harp
guitar instrumentals featuring many of the same artists on the Further
Beyond album serving up your favorite Christmas classics, all
performed instrumentally, harp guitar style. www.HarpGuitarMusic.com
HUBRO
MUSIC - The 2011 CD from Norwegian alt-jazzers Splashgirl,
Pressure is dark, somber album yet it is filled with
illuminating and alternatively fascinating instrumental music. The
Splashgirl trio— Andreas Stensland Løwe (keys,
synths, electronics), Jo Berger Myhre (double bass, drone commander?)
and Andreas Lønmo Knudsrød (drums, percussion)—sound
like they possess an intricate form of musical ESP. Anyone who wonders
where that ECM spirit went to after the label got way too predictable,
should check these guys out. A number of guests appear backing the
trio, including some sprightly electric guitar work of Juhani Silvola,
who really enhances the piano driven Splashgirl sound. The CD sounds
amazing and one look at the excellent CD packaging shows, Splashgirl
do it right. www.splashgirl.no
MORETTO
MUSIC - Filled with swinging modern guitar jazz, The Martin
Moretto Quintet introduces the talents of New Jersey based
guitarist Martin Moretto. Backed up by a solid group of players,
Moretto sounds inspired by the bop / swing jazz era groove of Charlie
Parker as well as the vintage cool sound of Kenny Burrell and a swinging
Pat Metheny. In addition to his recording career, Moretto is an established
teacher of guitar, piano and bass who excels in musical theory, harmony,
arranging and more. On his quintet’s self-titled debut album,
Martin Moretto puts it all together on a truly swinging set of jazzy,
original guitar instrumentals. www.MartinMoretto.com
/ www.CDBaby.com
ORGANIC
ROBOT RECORDS - Led by master synthesist Rich Brodsky,
the San Francisco based group known as Atomic Skunk continues
to successfully mine the field of dreamy, surrealistic electronic
music originally explored in the 1960s and ‘70s by Tangerine
Dream, Clearlight Symphony and other computer driven musical entities.
Brodsky also cites The Grateful Dead, Robert Rich, The Orb, Pink Floyd,
Frank Zappa and ethnic music spanning the globe among his big musical
influences and you can hear a whole swath of musical influences on
the 2011 Atomic Skunk album Alchemy, released
on the Organic Robot label. Overall, the Alchemy CD is quite
easy on the ears and almost serves as an instrumental soundtrack to
some science fiction movie. More experimental and sinister sounding
than New Age or healing music, Atomic Skunk designs instrumental,
experimental electronic music for the future. On the impressive Atomic
Skunk web site you can give a listen to a variety of music Brodsky
and Atomic Skunk have recorded and released over the past decade.
Electronic music lovers—try to pick up the CD of Alchemy.
The CD sounds great and the 6 panel, digi-pak artwork and packaging—designed
by Michal Karcz—is brilliant too. www.AtomicSkunk.com
SAVOY
JAZZ - The day we lost John Lennon was the worst day in
NYC history. It was like satan came to town on an unassuming, balmy
Monday night and swallowed us alive. Of course, 31 years later it’s
all history and of course, from that day on, the music of John Lennon
and The Beatles became text book history. Although geniuses like Wes
Montgomery and Booker T. & The MGs covered Beatles music back
in the ‘60s, it continues to be a source of endless fascination
for musicians to cover their favorite Lennon / Beatles track. In 2011,
avant jazz guitar ace Bill Frisell takes Lennon and the Fabs
around the block for a sonic test drive with the 16 track All
We Are Saying. In addition to Lennon solo standards
(“Imagine”, “#9 Dream”, “Mother”, “Beautiful
Boy”), Frisell stacks the deck, including and rearranging a number
of Beatles tracks that Lennon sang lead on and presumably had a lot
to do with on the writing / arranging side. Hearing classic Beatles
songs like “Nowhere Man”, “Please Please Me”,
“Revolution” and “Across The Universe” (among
others) performed instrumentally by Frisell and his accomplished band
makes for a truly illuminating musical experience. Joining Frisell
in the studio for his jazzy, instrumental rock-jazz Lennon experience
is producer Lee Townsend and fine players including Greg
Leisz (guitar), Tony Scherr (bass) and Kenny Wollesen
(drums). Commenting on the CD, Frisell adds, ‘John Lennon’s
music has been with me, the band, everybody, the world...seems like
forever. The songs are part of us. There was nothing we really needed
to do to prepare for this. I feel blessed having the chance to play
this music with these people.' It’s safe to say that John Lennon
would have loved this jazzy, instrumental take on his solo and Beatles
classics. Frisell fans will also want to hear his other recent Savoy
Jazz CD release—also produced by Lee Townsend—entitled Sign
Of Life. Joining Bill of Signs Of Life is Jenny
Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kan (viola) and Hank Roberts
(cello). Pop instrumental and Beatles fans, start with
All We Are Saying, but with Signs Of Life being such
a captivating and intimate “Americana” musical experience,
Frisell fans will want to hear both. www.BillFrisell.com
SOUNDSCAPE
PRODUCTIONS - A veteran of the New Age and ambient / electronic
computer based music world, master guitarist / synthesist Robert
Rich continues to break new ground with his 2011 CD Medicine
Box. After recording 30 albums of instrumental avant
gard music, Rich still proves he can move his sound forward. Sounding
more like a World Music scientific experiment than any definable musical
genre, Medicine Box features Rich in his studio working with
some notable musicians including bass ace Edo Castro, cellist
Hans Christian, background singer Cheri Chuang, who
adds in some heavenly, ethereal wordless vocals and guitarist Haroun
Serang. In addition to synths, flutes, piano, bass and percussion,
Rich adds in some steel guitar sounds that often appears as subliminal
sounds in the mix. Experimental, avant gard, electronic and adventurous
New Age music fans owe it to themselves to give a listen to the magical
world of Robert Rich. www.RobertRich.com
STRAUGH
HOUSE PUBLISHING - A masterful, orchestral, neo-symphonic work
of sonic art, Gravity is the 2011 CD from multi-instrumentalist
Michael Straugh. Even though primarily a piano player who cites
everyone from George Winston to Elton John as influences, Staugh also
performs and adds in guitars, bass and percussion, rounding out his
symphonic, New Age approach, no doubt thanks in part to his self-admitted
rock based influences from bands like Jethro Tull and the Moody Blues.
Balancing out the primarily instrumental tracks on this, Straugh’s
fourth solo album, are a couple songs featuring Straugh vocals while
the drumming, where used, is added in by Chris Brown. Straugh’s
overall orchestral studio sound on Gravity is further enhanced
by superb audio mastering handled by Sean Magee at the fabled
Abbey Road studios in London. www.MichaelStraugh.com
VEE
TONE - The surf never sets on the California sun. Fifty years
of electric guitars and fun in the sun gives way to a 2011 Christmas
instrumental tribute from The Vara-Tones entitled Have
Yourself A Vara Merry Christmas. The 12 track CD is impeccably
recorded and mastered and features appealing instro-rock takes a number
of holiday season songs we all know and love, along with a few lesser
knowns. For instance the song “O Holy Night”, written in
1847, is not well known in the Christmas canon but this swinging bouncy
surf inspired Vara-Tones version—along with a great vocal jangle
pop take on the song by Jim Hitchcock on his 2011 Christmas album—offer
perfect opportunities to reintroduce this amazing melody to Christmas
and surf-rock music fans. Surf guitar ace Bill Epps gets solid
support from his band mates. Epps and Co. sets up the 21st century
surf guitar sound in style on Have Yourself A Vara Merry Christmas.
www.varatones.com
REISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES
ABBEYWOOD RECORDS - Growing up in Africa and being influenced
by all sorts of African music, New Age synthesist Hennie Bekker
moved to Canada in 1987. Since then he’s recorded an assortment
of instrumental music albums that are filled with an array of state
of the art sounding, relaxing New Age tracks. Having experimented
with environmental, soundtrack type sounds, Hennie has built a most
impressive repertoire of tranquil and gently rocking albums. The best
of Hennie Bekker can be heard on his 2011 compilation CD entitled
Spectrum: An Anthology Of Relaxing Instrumental Music.
Mixing New Age electronic soundscapes, African impressions, romantic
piano interludes and modern ambient sounds, Spectrum is a fine
introduction to Bekker’s magical and timeless approach to relaxing,
sublime and quite meditative instrumental music. www.HennieBekker.com
CAPITOL
RECORDS - Back
in 1967, when the teenybopper fans of The Beach Boys found
out there was a new album called Smiley Smile on the way, they
were overjoyed. With their 1967 single “Heroes And Villains”—the
bands' crowning glory in the studio—The Beach Boys were on a
roll. Turns out the teenyboppers had no idea of all the in fighting
and turmoil that was going on between Brian Wilson and the
‘Boys. Turned out Smiley Smile was just the tip of the
iceberg of a much bigger conceptual project Brian had planned called
SMiLE—the album that never was. So, just
why did it take 45 years (1966-2011) for Brian Wilson and his inner
circle to finally assemble a multitude of original tracks from 1966
and ‘67 into what very may well be the conclusive album—a
newly compiled 19 track mono version of the original SMiLE album?
Just seven years ago Brian Wilson, Darian Sahanaja and The
Wondermints recorded and released a new studio version of SMiLE
in 2004. So it’s really strange and totally ironic to hear
this mono version of the original 1967 SMiLE album written
and produced by Brian Wilson and his lyricist back then Van Dyke
Parks. Of course Brian’s studio geniuses who worked with
him on compiling this 2011 SMiLE collection—Alan Boyd
and Mark Linett along with Dennis Wolfe—have
done an amazing job. Devoted fans of Brian Wilson and The Beach
Boys will recall that the original SMiLE album conceived by
Brian and Van Dyke had three killer hit singles—“Good Vibrations”,
“Heroes And Villains” and the centerpiece of the original
SMiLE, “Surf’s Up”, a song referred to as Brian
Wilson’s greatest compositional achievement. There was the original
Brian only at the piano version of the late 1966 “Surf’s
Up” that has appeared on various collections starting with the
1993 Beach Boys box set. That said, on the 2011 SMiLE it is
truly amazing to hear the first ever band version of “Surf’s
Up” featuring Brian’s lead vocals. It’s either that
or by mixing and matching all the studio tapes Brian made of “Surf’s
Up”, Boyd and Linett have assembled what is truly the first ever
definitive Beach Boys’ band version of the song “Surf’s
Up”. Just for that revelation alone it's worth picking up the
2011 Capitol CD set of SMiLE, which also goes by the name here
The SMiLE Sessions. The sound of this first ever mono SMiLE
is another amazing thing as are the array of bonus cuts—following
the 19 track reassembled SMiLE topped off by truly amazing
CD packaging and a host of souvenirs including a second CD of more
out takes and, (wait for it...) a SMiLE button! In his three
pages of liner notes, Brian Wilson speaks of missing brothers Carl
Wilson and Dennis Wilson, and you really feel he means
it. One of the stumbling blocks behind the downfall of the original
SMiLE, and erstwhile Brian Wilson cohort / antagonist, Mike
Love will probably never understand the song “Surf’s
Up” or probably even the perfect compositional beauty of what
Brian and Van Dyke Parks had set out to do with the original SMiLE
but even those teenybopper fans knew deep inside what SMiLE
was all about and this is what they’ve been waiting for since
1966. In 2011 the original 1966 SMiLE album has finally been
restored and preserved for future generations to enjoy. www.BrianWilson.com
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