MWE3.COM
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
JUNE
2012 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
10T
RECORDS - Adding to a growing progressive rock scene on the American
West Coast, the band Mars Hollow are making sonic waves with
their 2012 CD World In Front Of Me. Perhaps the
Mars Hollow prog-rock meets instro math-rock sound can be best described
as sounding influenced by album producer Billy Sherwood, who
adds his sonic seal of approval. With surging rock fusion dynamics
and 4 part harmony vocals, the Sherwood inspired late 1990’s
YES influence runs through center of the 50 minute, 7 track album.
Comparisons to other prog superstars such as Rush and Spock’s
Beard aside, Mars Hollow makes a statement all their own with World
In Front Of Me. www.MarsHollow.com
CA RECORDS - Bringing a little bit of southern hospitality to
her West Coast pop sound, singer songwriter Carolann Ames will
make a whole lotta music fans happy with her 2012 
album
Laurel Canyon Road. A solid backing band gives
Ms. Ames a fresh sound but the center is really on her amazing sounding
voice, which kind of sounds somewhat like 1980’s pop superstar
Marti Jones, almost to a startling degree. Of course Marti Jones was
influenced by vocalists like Jackie DeShannon and Dusty Springfield
and in some ways Ms. Ames offers a 21st century modern pop equivalent
of those unmistakable voices. While the accent is on her voice and
her well produced songs, there’s a good down home Americana sound
on Laurel Canyon Road. www.CarolannAmes.com
CROWVILLE MEDIA - On his 2012 CD, Gloryland,
singer-songwriter and Louisiana native Kevin Gordon has
a bad case of the blues. Gordon's singing and song writing is spot
on but key to his sound is his sizzling electric guitar work. On the
11 cut CD, Gordon sounds like a dead ringer for blues-rock icon Rory
Gallagher, he’s just that good. With a shared affinity for blistering
electric blues, Gallagher would appreciate where Gordon is coming
from on on Gloryland. On his well constructed web site, Gordon
bemoans the state of the music world or as he puts it, ‘With
the collapse of many labels, retail record store chains and most conventional
music business models, the industry has been turned upside down.’
So what’s an enterprising electric blues rock guitarist to do
these days? Clearly, once blues and rock fans get a chance to hear
Gloryland, Gordon’s name will travel far and wide. Assisted
by producer / guitarist Joe McMahan, Gordon’s album features
some excellent backing musicians. The CD sound and packaging is first
rate too. On his fifth solo album, guitarist Kevin Gordon takes listeners
straight to blues-rock nirvana. www.KevinGordon.net
DECCA RECORDS - Best known for his torch song approach to modern
pop, Rufus Wainwright returns with a solid pop-rock 
album.
Some critics are actually comparing parts of the 12 track, 2012 CD
release of Out Of The Game to some of Bowie’s mid
‘70s albums, like the blue-eyed psychedelic soul sound of Young
Americans. Produced by Mark Ronson, the CD benefits thanks
in part to some swirling worthy pop-savy Wainwright originals and
a studio backing band that sounds totally in sync with the music herein.
A number of gifted musicians, including guitarist Thomas Brenneck,
create quite a full bodied, indescribable sonic palette of sounds
that would even make Van Dyke Parks blush. www.DeccaRecords.com
DRUCKFARBEN - A whole new younger generation of progressive rock
bands are taking hold in the music world and you can count Druckfarben
among the most aspiring. Formed in Canada way back in the mid 1980’s
by guitarist Ed Bernard and drummer Troy Feener, Druckfarben
have been gaining well earned accolades for their 2011 self-titled
Druckfarben CD. Both Bernard and Feener cite YES and
Gentle Giant among huge influences and you can also add Rush in there
too. Filling out the Druckfarben sound stage are Phil Naro (vocals),
Will Hare (keyboards) and Peter Murray (bass). In the
spirit of mid ‘70s YES, Druckfarben have chops to burn and in
fact, one of their first gigs way featured Druckfarben performing
their own version of the early YES magnum opus “Close To The
Edge”. Featured on the Druckfarben CD are a range of prog-vocal
based tracks filled with instrumental passages that showcase Druckfarben’s
daredevil approach to 21st century prog. Echoing the best progressive
rock fretboard giants, Bernard’s guitar work is truly amazing
and, in addition to producing the CD, he gets noteworthy song-writing
assistance from his band mates. From the cover art down to achieving
a stellar sound and vision, Druckfarben honors the prog-rock spirit
with their remarkable CD debut. www.druckfarben.ca
EAR MUSIC - Over in the EU, the German based Ear Music continues
onwards into 2012 with King Of Number 33 by prog-rockers
DeeExpus. The 5 track CD includes a 27 minute “King Of
Number 33” suite with six parts. On King Of Number 33
DeeExpus mastermind Andy Ditchfield joins forces with Marillion
founding member, keyboardist Mark Kelly. Written by Ditchfield
and group lead vocalist Tony Wright, the music sounds inspired
by 21st century prog-rock bands like Dream Theater and Rush, yet there’s
also some mid ‘80s YES like about them. There’s some fine
lead guitar work from Michael McCrystal, along with John
Dawson (bass) and Henry Rogers (drums). King Of Number
33 just blows you away with its massive proportions of progressive
rock sound. www.Ear-Music.net
LOJINX - Every pop group in England wanted to sound like the Beatles
back in the 1960s. 40+ years on, in fact it’s pretty much the
same in the case of the 2012 CD from Pugwash. Of course no
one could write or sing as John or George so it was up to Paul to
be the guy most could identify with. Inspired by the McCartney side
of the Fabs, and lead by singer-songwriter Thomas Walsh, the
band Pugwash really deliver the pop goods with their 5th studio album
entitled The Olympus Sound. Walsh and his Pugwash
cohorts sound like a modern day ELO on “Be My Friend Awhile”
and so it goes throughout the superbly mastered CD, which is neatly
encased in retro packaging with lyrics booklet. www.PugwashTheBand.com
PARAPLY
RECORDS - Back in late 2009, Sweden's Paraply Records released
an album masterpiece from pop maven Citizen K and now in early 2012
the label have put out Innocent Again, the third
CD from the Gothenburg, Sweden based band known as Little Green.
While listening to Little Green, one can’t help but admire just
how skillfully this 
Swedish
band has adapted and assimilated a musical style kindred to the best
1970s folk-rock bands of both the U.S. and the U.K. One can hear echoes
of both bands like The Eagles and Poco as well as U.K. folk legends
like The Strawbs, while some music critics have also compared Little
Green to Americana icons The Jayhawks and Son Volt. On Innocent
Again, Little Green not only write memorable songs but they have
the chops to back it up. Innocent Again features fine playing
all around, including the mandolin and guitars of Thomas Pontén
and the lead vocals and guitar of Andreas Johannesson, who
get backup from Karl Wassholm (bass) and Jonas Holmberg
(drums). Accenting their sound with seasoning from Swedish music,
Little Green also enhance their sound with a number of fiddle players,
lead and backing vocalists and several additional guitarists and keyboard
players. Some tracks like the Little Feat flavored “Don’t
Tell Me It’s Over” (featuring guest vocals from Ted Russell
Kamp) just spin in your head and hold up great under repeat spins.
There’s a host of superb rootsy pop sounds and infectious vocal
harmonies in play on Little Green’s wonderful Innocent Again
album. www.LittleGreen.se
PLAYGROUND MUSIC - The country of Sweden continues to amaze with
the 2012 Playground CD release of Youth from the band
Simian Ghost. Sounding like a mix between Joe Jackson style
lounge pop mixed with kind of Pet Shop Boys type grooves, the band
centers around the intelligent pop of songwriter Sebastian Arnström.
Nothing too heavy, the breezy 21st century pop sound in play is further
bolstered by effective cover art and excellent recording sound. www.PlaygroundMusic.com
POSITION MUSIC - On his fourth solo album, entitled Where
We Meet, singer-songwriter Tyrone Wells continues
onwards and upwards with his seamless blend of rock, pop, soul and
acoustic based sounds. For the 2012 CD release of Where We 
Meet,
Tyrone teams with producers Thomas Doeve and Bill Lefler
and the result is a powerful rock album that is both singer-songwriter
based as well as sounding big production wise. Commenting, Tyrone
adds, ‘I always wanted to make an album that was both sparse
and intimate but also had these epic moments.’ In addition to
the fine production work, Tyrone gets support from his band. The combined
chemistry of top flight production, catchy songs and stellar band
work just makes the songs on Where We Meet sparkle and shine.
Making great music that soars into the skies doesn’t always add
up to great financial success but Tyrone is off to the races in style
with the solid production of Where We Meet. www.TyroneWells.com
ROUGH TRADE / RABBLE ROUSER MUSIC - Singer songwriter Rachael
Unthank and her sister Becky Unthank are featured artists
on the new album from The Unthanks called Diversions
Vol. 1 released by rough Trade through their own label.
Interesting that it should be a live album that sounds like it was
recorded very spartan-like, near acoustic yet superbly recorded. The
fare finds the Unthanks delving into the songbooks of cult rockers
Antony & The Johnsons and jazz-rock pioneer turned goth-prog
pioneer Robert Wyatt, each of whom adds in some back cover
liner notes. A live album superbly recorded at the famous Union Chapel,
the 15 track CD finds the sisters sounding inspired by angelic pop
singer Sarah McLachlan, for example, at least vocally, as backed by
the stately chamber pop sound of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra. There’s
plenty of pleasant Diversions here to whet the musical senses.
www.the-unthanks.com
SECRETLY CANADIAN - The group known as Here We Go Magic have
a pretty cool new album out called A Different Ship.
Released in the U.K. during the spring of 2012, the ten track
CD mixes soft rock with a more cutting edge electronic effect, sort
of a hip-hop version of Pink Floyd. The album was produced by Radiohead
producer Nigel Godrich who coaxes some pretty astounding sounds
from the group. Some writers in the U.K. have compared Here We Go
Magic to the German art-rock group Neu! and even Danny Kirwan era
Fleetwood Mac in places. A Different Ship fatures some pretty
strange and beautiful sounds from singer-songwriter Luke Temple
and company, with some kind of wild experimental Velvet Underground
meets Eno meets Crosby Stills & Nash vibe in play. www.HereWeGoMagic.com
UMBILICAL - Okay here’s a strange one, new on Umbilical Records
for 2012 is a double CD set from a U.K. band called Omnia Opera.
Anyone who remembers how great Gong was with singer / guitarists David
Allen and Steve Hillage back circa 1974 or say Syd Barrett era Pink
Floyd should check these guys out. The double CD release of Nothing
Is Ordinary contains some of the most far-out, free form psychedelic
rock experimentalism since that mid ‘70s heyday. There’s
a multitude of download options but best to invest in the double CD
set, which is packaged with a display of psychedelic artwork, a full
libretto with lyrics and eye-popping booklet that must be seen to
be believed. As you can see from their web site, it’s been about
15 years since Omnia Opera released an album but, with the action
packed, double CD release of Nothing Is Ordinary, that late
‘60s Pink Floyd / early ‘70s Gong sound is making quite
a resurgence in 2012. www.OmniaOpera.co.uk
WARNER BROS. - With famed guitarist John Frusciante out of The
Red Hot Chili Peppers, he’s been replaced by newcomer Josh
Klinghoffer. Sounding in places like a modern day Hendrix, Klinghoffer
mixes up a white hot variety of hard rock guitar riffing on the 2011
CD release of I’m With You. There’s
plenty of hard-rock grooving and pop schmoozing from Chili Peppers
members Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (bass), Chad
Smith (drums) and of course Klinghoffer, who joined in 2009. Even
with so much pop, funk and stadium rock goodness in play, perhaps
the coolest thing about the CD release is the amazing artwork which
is nothing less than stellar and must be seen to be believed. www.RedHotChiliPeppers.com
WORONZOW - Since the early 1980's Nick Saloman has headed
up the group known as The Bevis Frond. Still sounding musically
inspired and living the dream from that ‘67-71 era of early Syd
Barrett and Bowie, The Bevis Frond return in a big way with the 2011
CD release of The Leaving Of London. Nick’s
band is spot on throughout the 18 track CD with loads of retro-tinged
rock psychedelia as brought to life again in 2012. In bands since
the late ‘60s and ‘70s, Saloman has also been on the indie
music scene with a prolific catalog on the Woronzow and Flydaddy labels
since 1987. www.bevisfrond.bandcamp.com
XTRA MILE RECORDINGS - The group known as Mull Historical Society
released City Awakenings in early 2012. The CD features
the vocals and music of Colin MacIntyre backed up by a number
of musicians topped off by excellent album production from Dom
Morley. Commenting on the album Colin adds, ‘The songs are
breezy pop, some are wide screen things and some are more minimalist,
punchy tales of finding yourself in the city. They are mostly upbeat
songs about people living their lives.’ Morley is a Grammy winning
producer and together, MacIntyre and Morley get a solid modern pop
sound that echoes groups like Crowded House. www.MullHistoricalSociety.com
INSTRUMENTAL
BLUE DUCHESS - Whether cutting vocal sides or jazzin’
out on a platter of appealing instrumentals, guitarist, singer, songwriter
and producer Duke Robbilard hardly misses a chance to blow
you away with his superb taste. Case in point is, Wobble Walkin’,
a 13 track of jazz flavored instrumentals. Mixing bop style jazz,
ala Wes Montgomery with a post modern kind of Pat Martino style jazz
groove, Wobble Walkin’ finds Duke in the groove while
getting solid back up by the dynamite rhythm section of Brad Hallen
(acoustic bass) and Mark Teixeira (drums). www.DukeRobbilard.com
DiN - The label of U.K. based electronic musician Ian Boddy,
DiN has several 2012 releases out or coming including a CD entitled
Frontiers by Ian Boddy & Erik Wollø.
The 2012 CD of Frontiers is the latest chapter in the working
relationship between Wollø and Boddy. When these two record
together, there’s a icy, glacial feel to the sonic vibe. Between
Boddy’s synths, keyboards, samplers and field recordings and
Wollø’s electric, slide, e-bow and fretless guitars as
well as guitar synths, synths and field recordings, there’s plenty
to marvel at on the ten track Frontiers, which mixes vintage
1980’s electronic music with a futuristic 21st century sound.
For a look back at Ian Boddy’s early work take a listen to the
double CD Pearl, which examines a wealth of Boddy’s
recorded output including rare music recorded way back in the 1980’s
with the second CD featuring Boddy collaborating with seasoned electronic
musicians such as Robert Rich, Markus Reuter and Mark
Shreeve. Another recent release on DiN worth hearing is Music
By Mirrors the group known as Mazmoneth. Featuring
the pooled talents of Nigel Mullaney and Ray Sherwin,
the Mazmoneth sound is even more stark than the Boddy & Wollø
CD yet clearly both albums fit into the same genre and will hold the
fascination of ardent electronic music followers. www.IanBoddy.com
/ www.Wollo.com
/ www.din.org.uk
EGO RECORDINGS - Although he grew up listening to his fathers
collection of Shadows LP’s, Al Marconi evolved into one
of the most acclaimed nylon string guitarists in the UK. No doubt,
Richie Blackmore and Tony Iommi held sway over the younger Marconi
yet his love of instrumental guitar music—specifically the Baroque
lute music of J.S. Bach—led him to discover the joys of The Gipsy
Kings which in turn led him to the rumba flamenco instrumental guitar
style. That blend of nuevo flamenco is at the core of Marconi’s
2011 solo album entitled Insomnia, released on
his own Ego Recordings. Since his 1997 solo album Equilibrium,
Marconi has staked out some interesting guitar terrain and the
resulting Insomnia album makes a fine choice for fans of the
time-honored nuevo flamenco guitar sound. Thanks to some well placed
system software and synthesized string and things, Marconi sounds
like a mini flamenco band, yet, even so, on Insomnia the central
focus is on Marconi’s finely tuned guitar sound. www.AlMarconi.com
GREYDISC - A sonic reflection looking back on the winter of 2011-2012,
In Winter is the latest guitar opus from New
England guitarist Kevin Kastning. A collaboration between
Kastning and electric bass icon Michael Manring, the 20 track,
73 minute In Winter CD is filled with more amazing Kastning
guitar extrapolations that tastefully blur the musical borders 
of
jazz, New Age, neo-classical and acoustic guitar instrumental. In
the CD liner notes, Guitar Player editor Barry Cleveland describes
the CD as creating a sense of ‘reflective quietude and tranquility,
a mélange of colors’ and he’s quite right about the
depth of musical expression both Manring and Kastning possess and
are quiet capable of executing and encompassing. Even though there
is a strong sense of musical experimentalism on In Winter, that
feeling is almost superseded by a warm, fuzzy feeling that creates
a sense of deja vu, guiding you to a kind of musical place you feel
you’ve been before and also want to go back to. For those keeping
score, Kastning’s guitars of choice on In Winter include
his famous 14 string Contraguitar, which adds in shimmering, harp
like sounds throughout the CD, while Manring helps the CD soar into
the sonic stratosphere thanks to his amazing work on his Zon basses.
Echoing the spirit of Kastning’s other current CD releases—including
Triptych with guitarist Sándor
Szabó
and percussionist Bálazs
Major and Dreaming AS I Knew with horn player Carl
Clements—In Winter was mixed and mastered by his musical
cohort Sándor
Szabó
in
his native Hungary. Guitar fans who blissed out to ‘70s ECM album
classics from original masters like John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner,
as well as some of Pat Metheny’s more experimental albums will
find much to enjoy here. A work of veritable musical wonder by two
gifted, kindred virtuosos, In Winter is one of the most awesome
sounding musical collaborations thus far in the 21st century. www.KevinKastning.com
HOUSEHOLDER RECORDS - Heading up his band The Retroliners,
guitarist Michael Welch goes all out on the 2012 CD release
of Lucifer’s Lounge. Subtitled Soul,
Sin & Surf, the 13 track album features Welch backed
up by his Retroliners band, including former Wings member Steve
Holly on drums. The all instrumental album benefits from the Retroliners’
devotion to the surf-rock instrumental sound of bands like The Ventures,
Link Wray and more. More jazzy than your usual surf-rock instrumental
fare, Lucifer’s Lounge also benefits in places thanks
to some fine B-3 organ work of Andy Burton. If you like your
Ventures style instro rock a little on the jazzy, funky side, guitars
and B-3 in full flight, The Retroliners are for you. Either way, Lucifer’s
Lounge sounds great and is a welcome addition to the growing Retroliners
catalog of CD releases. www.retroliners.com
MAGNA CARTA - One of the top hard rock / heavy metal guitarists
in the USA today, Chris Poland, and bassist Robbie
Pagliari, join forces with members of the rock group Umphrey’s
McGee for the 2012 CD release of Posthaste by the group
OHMphrey. Joining Poland and Pagliari from OHM are Umphrey’s
guitarist Jake Cinniger, Kris Myers (drums) and Joel
Cummins (keys). If you like your instro jazz-rock fusion played
hard and fast with a lot of rock energy, then OHMphrey is for you.
There’s plenty of frenzied, hard rock riffing in places and of
course Poland is well known for that in his band called OHM, which
also features Pagliari, so let’s just say Posthaste combines
the hard instro rock of OHM with the freaky atmospheric jam / metal
sound of Umphrey’s, Steve Morse and the Dixie Dregs and beyond.
It’s not lost on the fans that Poland was actually a member of
Megadeth in the 1980’s. Much more than just a hard rock instrumental
album, the nine track, 74 minute Posthaste has ample guts and,
while jazz fans may scratch their heads in skepticism, the hard rock
instro guitar crowd will lap up this brilliantly played and recorded
CD by Chris Poland, who adds, ‘We all have this kind of synchronicity.
It’s kind of an overused word, but we have it. Whatever we’re
doing, it works.’ www.MagnaCarta.net
ORIGIN RECORDS - Chicago based guitarist Bobby Broom may
have spent a number of years in the windy city, yet 
he
pays homage to his NYC roots on his 2012 CD Upper West Side
Story. In his own words, ‘This music is my ode
to where I’m from.’ Compared to his 2009 tribute Bobby
Broom Plays For Monk, the Upper West Side Story music is
all Broom originals. Assisting are fine players including bass player
Dennis Carroll and a pair of drummers Kobie Watkins and
Makaya McCraven. Carrying forth the sound and vision of legends
such as Wes Montgomery and George Benson, Bobby Broom breathes new
life into the guitar jazz genre with Upper West Side Story. www.BobbyBroom.com
REAL WORLD RECORDS - The space where cutting edge World Beat meets
avant gard electronica is where you’ll find Real World Records.
Started by Genesis founder Peter Gabriel, Real World break more records
with the early 2012 CD release of the self-titled album from Portico
Quartet. If avant card classicists like Edgard Varese and jazz
guru John Coltrane were alive today, they’d be listening to Portico
Quartet. Imagine Charlie Parker or Coltrane jamming with Edgard Varese
as produced by Fripp and Eno and you have some idea about the self-titled
Portico Quartet CD. A sonically rich palette of near indescribable
electro-acoustic music, Portico Quartet is an instrumental
album in search of a soundtrack and in doing so, it invents a whole
new musical language that simply must be heard to be believed. Produced
by the group and engineered by Greg Freeman, the ten track
CD features the combined genius of Jack Wyllie (sax, electronics),
Duncan Bellamy (drums, electronics), Milo Fitzpatrick (bass,
electronics) and newest member, classically trained keyboardist Kier
Vine (electronics). Portico Quartet is thoroughly modern
instrumental music—complete with a multitude of sampling and
hi-tech sonics that draws on the finest elements of past greatness
while creating something completely fresh and invigorating. www.PorticoQuartet.com
ROLLTOP
MUSIC - San Diego based guitarist Tim Coffman launched
his 2012 album Island Breezes in May 2012. A tasty follow
up to The Longboard Collection, the 10 track Island Breezes
CD is the second release in Tim’s ongoing Cruisin’
Pacific Coast Highways: Instrumental Soundtracks music
series. Inspired by the beauty of California’s legendary 
Pacific
Coast Highways, Coffman’s music evokes the classic ‘60s
instrumental surf-rock sounds of The Ventures and The Sandals and,
in a less direct way, late, great exotica musicians including Les
Baxter and Martin Denny—two key American musicians responsible
for introducing mainlanders to the sights and sounds of Hawaiian music.
One of the most underrated American guitarists recording in 2012,
Tim Coffman gets some amazing tones from his vast array of electric
guitars. The full bodied tone of “Low Tide” is brilliant,
while helping Tim out on some tracks with his lush steel guitar sounds
is Greg Sardinha. As he admitted in various interviews, Coffman
experiments quite a bit with his guitar sounds to get just that perfect
West Coast instro guitar sound, yet when he hits that perfect note,
he’s just as effective as West Coast guitar giants like Bob Bogle
and John Blakeley. On the 2012 CD release of The Island Breezes
Collection, Tim Coffman combines a multitude of guitar tones and
sounds and the result is another note perfect album of instrumental
guitar excellence. www.RolltopMusic.com
SPLEEN RECORDS - Interesting name for a record label, Spleen released
Fine Arts Avenue, the 2011 CD from L.A. based guitarist Andrea
Balestra. With his skillful approach to instrumental jazz and rock
guitar, Andrea seems to have settled nicely 
within
the L.A. jazz-fusion music scene. A number of players fill out Andrea's
band on Fine Arts Avenue and even hard rock guitar hero George
Lynch guests on a track here. Backed up by a solid band, Balestra’s
electric guitar work sounds inspired by any and all of the big name
instro guitar heroes—from Robben Ford to Holdsworth and Scofield
and as such should be of interest to instrumental guitar watchers.
Commenting on the CD, Balestra adds, 'The idea was simply to create
something that would be very compelling, and use contrast as a tool
to help accomplish it. I try to think of an album in a cinematic direction,
that way it can go places and be organic at the same time.' One minute
moody and introspective, the next hard rocking blues and funky, Balestra
has his guitar sound totally covered on the ten track Fine Arts
Avenue. www.AndreaBalestra.com
email: balestrastaff@gmail.com
STAR FAITH RECORDS - Commenting on his new instrumental album
Shape Shifter guitarist Carlos Santana says,
‘It feels like it’s the perfect time to give people something
that they have been asking for a long, long time. We just want
to hear Carlos play his guitar! So, this is it.’ Made in
honor of the original native American Indians, Shape Shifter takes
its title from the American Indian belief in reincarnation. Describing
the melody as ‘the universal language’, Carlos recorded
his long awaited instrumental music masterpiece at Fantasy studios
in Berkeley. The first release on Santana’s own Star Faith record
label, Shape Shifter features Carlos in the studio with a tight
band of players including jazz great, keyboardist Chester Thompson
and drummer Dennis Chambers as well as his son, keyboardist
Salvador Santana. With the instrumental rock and fusion emphasis
on Shape Shifter Carlos breaks free of the very commercial
sound he was going for on various albums since 1999 and as such will
undoubtedly make a quite a few instro guitar heads quite happy. Even
though Shape Shifter is primarily instrumental, that unmistakable
guitar and spiritual vision remains the central focus of the Santana
name. www.santana.com
REISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES
DISQUES MERITE - Based up in Canada, Disques Mérite
released several collections of instrumental guitar-based music in
2011 including Le Top 30 from guitarist Arthur Cossette
and Les Jaguars. The Jaguars CD features 30 tracks, mainly
guitar-based rock instrumental, and the sound echoes the spirit of
‘60s guitar bands like The Shadows and even The Ventures. Most
of these tracks were cut in the ‘60s, ‘70s and the ‘80s
as well. Several French vocal tracks get mixed into the instrumental
sound but there’s plenty of guitar sounds on hand to please even
the most diehard surf-rock fan. Another fine instrumental guitar collection
on Disques Merite comes from the Quebec based group Les Mégatones.
Like the CD from Les Jaguars, Le Top 30 from Les Mégatones
features a cross-section of tracks mainly recorded in the 1960s with
several ‘70s cuts added in for good measure. A great Mégatones
versions of Bach’s “Bourree” is followed by a vocal
cover of the Eddie Cochran classic “Twenty Flight Rock”.
A fitting tribute to the sounds of the 1960’s, both CD compilations
on Disques Mérite are a solid find for guitar fans. www.DisquesMerite.com
MPL
/ HEAR MUSIC / CONCORD MUSIC GROUP -With a back
catalog that’s longer than the road that stretches out ahead,
Paul McCartney is taking his time and savoring a raft of reissues
coming out by way of his deal with Concord Music and Hear Music. Recorded
in NYC and released on Apple Records back in 1971, RAM was
in some ways McCartney’s first real solo album following the
self-made McCartney album from 1970. Officially on board was
wife Linda McCartney, joined by drummer Denny Seiwell and
guitarists Hugh McCracken, Henry McCullough and David
Spinozza. This 2012 RAM CD reissue on Hear Music
/ MPL is really exemplary on a number of levels. First among the various
versions of the reissues is a rare mono mix of RAM in a 5 disc
box set version for ninety dollars makes it a collectible. The best
thing is the new single disc remaster of the stereo mix is that it's
the best sounding version of RAM yet while the more standard
triple disc version features a second CD of out takes, a few surprises
and period piece McCartney cult favorites while the addition of a
bonus DVD fleshes out the triple disc RAM with several original
McCartney videos. www.PaulMcCartney.com
UME - The Beatles related event of 2011 was the release of
the comprehensive Martin Scorsese documentary on the life and
times of Beatles legend George Harrison. Years in the making,
the 3 and a half hour George Harrison: Living In The Material
World documentary is a true cinematic triumph that makes you
remember just what seeing a great movie is all about. Released through
Universal Music Enterprises, the movie is available as either a double
DVD set and/or a single 210 minute DVD. With one riveting scene after
the next, once you start watching the DVD, it’s almost impossible
to stop. All the usual suspects are here, a cast of hundreds including
the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector, the wives and George’s
son Dhani Harrison. This was a huge deal on HBO in late 2011
so clearly, with the movie being a total Beatle-esque revelation,
it’s impossible for George Harrison fans to go wrong with this
DVD. To coincide with the May 2012 DVD release of the Living In
The Material World DVD, UME also have released a CD of high quality
demo recordings by George entitled George Harrsion - Early Takes
Volume 1. With ten tracks clocking in at thirty minutes,
Early Takes Vol. 1 features some up close and personal versions
of George doing favorites from All Things Must Pass with unreleased
Harrison versions of The Shadows favorite “Let It Be Me”
and Bob Dylan’s “Mama You’ve Been On My Mind.”
The sound of the demos, mostly George with Ringo Starr on drums,
is clear and crisp and you almost feel like you’re in the room
with George. The one, two punch of the DVD and the CD is quite a Harrison-esque
revelation. Well with George Martin’s son Giles Martin working
on the CD sound what would you expect, considering the younger Martin’s
incredible remastering work on the amazing Let It Roll: Songs By
George Harrison from 2009. Like Let It Roll, the CD features
liner notes by Martin as well as rock musicologist, artist and big
time George Harrison fan Dr. Warren Zanes, who, commenting
on the movie in the CD liner notes adds, Living In The Material
World will likely be remembered as one of the great archeological
digs in rock and roll history.’ www.GeorgeHarrison.com
/ www.UniversalMusicEnterprises.com
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