MUSIC
NEWS & NOTES SPOTLIGHT
MARCH
2011 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
ANGEL
AIR - Okay here’s a weird one for you. Remember the hit single
from late 1969, “Sugar, Sugar”? Well that chart topping
hit was written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim. Out of the public
eye and ear for years, Andy is back in 2011 with a new solo album
called Happen Again. That whole innocent Nixon era,
end of Top 40 radio / Archies era Kim is eclipsed on a powerful solo
album that also borrows from the MTV era and the power-pop resurgence
of recent decades and comes up with a new hybrid for L.A. rock in
the 21st century. Happen Again almost sounds like Phil Spector
producing The Archies! I guess after writing a timeless song like
“Sugar Sugar” and selling 30 million you’re set for
life, because up till now the Canadian song writer hasn’t been
heard much of, despite some work with Barenarked Ladies and Ron Sexsmith.
Backed up by a solid pop band—with some well tooled rocking guitar
work from Gannin Arnold—Kim has put pen to paper again
and with Happen Again, he’s reinvented the art of pop-rock
for a whole new generation. www.AngelAir.co.uk
/ www.AndyKimMusic.com
ANOVA
- You don’t have to be Jewish...I mean you don’t have
to necessarily speak Hebrew to enjoy the 2010 Rockfour album,
which translates to Beautiful World in English. After their
2007 English language classic Memories Of The Never Happened, the
best rock group in the Holy Land is back with a Hebrew language masterpiece.
Because after all, even sung in another language other than English,
it is about the music and the arrangements that make Rockfour such
an internationally acclaimed band. If you can absorb the foreign language
lyric on this and even dig the Israeli rock exoticness you will clearly
detect the same high quality of progressive art-rock melodies and
arrangement so apparent on their earlier English language albums.
Core members Marc Lazare (bass) and Baruch Ben Izhak (guitars)
are aided by drummer Issar Tennenbaum and keyboardist Yaki
on an album of innovative, genre bending century 21 art rock.
www.rockfour.com
BLUGRASCAL
RECORDS / CRACKER BARREL - Down Nashville way, the Cracker
Barrel label has recently released some fine CD titles by the Dailey
Brothers, Smokey Robinson, George Jones and Dolly Parton and they
team with The Grascals on the thirteen track album release
of The Grascals & Friends: Country Classics With A Bluegrass
Spin. The CD starts off with the Grascals and friends
covering two certified country music classics—the Buck Owens
favorite “Tiger By The Tail” (here with guitar licks courtesy
Brad Paisley) followed by a rousing cover of the Johnny Cash
classic “Folsom Prison Blues” with Dierks Bentley.
A definite keeper here is a bluegrass, guitar-flecked version of “White
Lightning”, the amazing '50s rocker made famous by the late,
great Big Bopper, who died with Buddy Holly in Iowa. The core Grascals
band—a six piece with guitarist / vocalist Terry Eldridge—is
supplanted here by Paisley, Bentley and more friends including
Charlie Daniels, Tom T. Hall, The Oak Ridge Boys,
Dolly Parton and more. If you enjoy mainstream and traditional
country music mixed with bluegrass sounds, there’s plenty here
to admire and plus a portion of the proceeds from sales of this album
will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.CrackerBarrel.com
GRANDMONO RECORDS - There’s been such a resurgence in late
‘40s and early ‘50s retro-rock, rockabilly and Les Paul
style sounds over the past few years. I can cite Imelda May and of
course, Imelda’s work with Jeff Beck on the Rock ‘n’
Roll Party tribute concert DVD to Les Paul but also high on the
list in 2011 is the debut CD from Holland’s Caro Emerald entitled
Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor. Truly
a successful retro sound prevails and in the spirit of Imelda May,
Caro describes her sound as a mix of ‘50s inspired ballroom jazz,
cinematic tangos, groovin’ jazz and primal early rock ‘n’
roll sounds. A fine vocalist in the spirit of Les Paul’s partner
Mary Ford, Caro superbly handles all the vocal arrangements here and
gets superb backup from a range of gifted players as well as top flight
arrangements and production from Jan van Wieringen and David
Schereurs, who really imbues the album vibe with a true to life
‘50s Americana kind of sound and style. www.CaroEmerald.com
/ www.GrandMono.com
KAYO STEREOPHONIC - Coming out of the late ‘70s NYC scene—including
a stint in Bleaker St. Incident with the brilliant Ann Magnuson—singer-songwriter
and keyboardist Kristian Hoffman also worked with Dave
Davies in the early part of the double 0’s. With an already impressive
track record as a solo artist, Hoffman rises to the occasion on the
Kinks / Zombies / Love inspired CD release of Fop.
Okay, Fop you ask? Either way, this CD has to been heard
and seen to be believed. If Phil Spector had a chance to produce The
Kinks it might sound a little like Fop. In addition to that,
one can also detect elements and influences from mid ‘70s T.
Rex and Bowie. Merging his soaring vocals with some very curious sounding
synth / mellotron induced keyboards, Hoffman nails it into place with
solid backup from brothers David Bongiovanni (guitars) and
William Bongiovanni (bass) backed up by the superbly tracked
drums of Joe Berardi. All told, a textbook example on how to
create a retro-tinged pop-rock album in the 21st century. www.KristianHoffman.com
LOUISE AUBRIE - Louise Aubrie is a real do-it-yourself
success story in 2011. Recorded in Portugal, mixed in London, mastered
in 
L.A.
and designed in NYC, the 2011 CD release of Fingers Crossed
is filled with nine cuts of solid rock and pop. Louise is
a natural rock singer, but the atmospheric vibe sounds quite a bit
like R.E.M. for example, yet there’s plenty of authentic rock
atmospheres to make it sound completely original. Interestingly, the
album was superbly produced by Boz Boorer—the guitarist
/ keyboardist who is regarded as one of the pioneers of the British
rockabilly movement as well as a long-term co-writer and musical director
for Morrissey. Louise gets solid support from her band including guitarist
Rob Richie. Fingers Crossed by Louise Aubrie offers
proof that a convincing lead singer fronting a tight band with a set
of memorable pop-rock tunes never goes out of style. www.LouiseAubrie.com
PRESENCE
RECORDS - The second album on Presence by Finland’s hottest
new musical export Jeavestone, the nine track 1+1=OK
is time well spent for fans of European progressive rock and
what we used to call art-rock back in the late ‘70s. Presence
did a great job on the 2011 album by Kataya and likewise, the new
Jeavestone will leave its mark upon prog-rock fans worldwide. The
lead off, two part track instrumental “Laser Fluxus / Bombus
Interruptus” sounds a bit like late ‘70s Camel, while the
album moves on to bridge the musical gaps between rock, pop and a
kind of 21st century rock fusion with ease. The lead off track is
so cool, one would hope Jeavestone would pursue another instrumental
track in the future. Even so, singer / guitarist Jim Goldworth
is a great singer in the Finnish rock tradition. In the spirit
of the second Jeavestone album Spices, Species And Poetry Petrol,
the 2011 release of 1+1=OK nevertheless brings the sound
up a notch. Some prog fans have even compared Jeavestone to sort of
a 21st century version of Gentle Giant. Track four here, “Mirror
Monologue” is a 21st century hard rock / prog classic with a
killer arrangement and a melodic bridge that would make Pekka Pohjola
smile although my choice for single here is the Beatles inspired “Factory.”
Guitarist Mickey Maniac leads the band through the paces and
there’s plenty of catchy musical hooks and mind blowing rock
landscaping to keep your musical imagination peaking throughout the
disc. Also the CD cover art is really great. It’s just so off
the wall and the visual shock captures the cutting edge Jeavestone
spirit. www.jeavestone.com
ROUNDER
RECORDS - The Massachusetts based Rounder Records is venerable
institution among record labels. Rounder is sort of the New England
version of Elektra Records. I knew they were up to good things back
in the mid ‘90s when they added surf-music label Upstart to their
ranks. During the first decade of century 21, Rounder has proven to
be a powerhouse rock album label thanks to huge selling albums from
rock legends like Robert Plant and country superstar Willie Nelson.
That trail of recording comebacks on Rounder continues with the 2011
CD release from Gregg Allman entitled Low Country Blues.
Produced by T Bone Burnette, the eleven track excursion
into the blues is actually Allman’s first solo album in 14 years.
The voice and keyboard sound on the debut album from the Allman Brothers
Band back in the late ‘60s, Allman remains an icon among Southern
rock legends and Low Country Blues will go far towards furthering
his legacy. T Bone is the hottest rock producer on the planet today
and backed up by key musicians—including Doyle Bramhall II,
Mac Rebennack, drummer Jay Bellerose and Burnette on
guitars himself—Allman brings a wealth of experience to the sound
and vision here. The key track here “Just Another Rider”—composed
by Allman and Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes—is
one of Allman’s best while the top notch production, CD packaging
and superb CD booklet makes Low Country Blues a valuable investment
for any serious Allman Brothers fan. www.rounder.com
V12 RECORDS - Cofounder of Procol Harum and guitar prodigy
Robin Trower is gearing up for a huge 2011 tour of the U.S.
and it’s worth noting his latest album The Playful Heart
was released in early 2011. Trower worked great with lead
singer Davey Pattison and after working with Jack Bruce on
the acclaimed Seven Moons album, Robin is back in the studio
with a solid rock trio with Davey featured on five of the vocals here.
With a fine distinctive voice, Robin made mark with the occasional
song on those historic Procol Harum albums and he gives his voice
a workout on a number of cuts here. Trower’s forte is clearly
his amazing guitar tone and like in the spirit of Hendrix and late
‘60s Clapton, Trower continues blazing a trail for the art of
the electric guitar in the 21st century. To prove that, he’s
also included several atmospheric Hendrix style instrumentals which
always seem, quite rightly so, to work out in his favor. www.TrowerPower.com
INSTRUMENTAL
BOLERO
RECORDS - One of the most prolific of all the modern nuevo flamenco
guitar masters, Armik continues to amaze with his amazing classical
guitar techniques and virtuosity. It hasn’t been too long since
Armik’s 2009 Serenata album release on Bolero, yet Armik
delves right back in and furthers his recording legacy with the 2010
release of the twelve track Besos album. Produced by
Armik, and once again engineered by Annette Dashchi and mixed
by Armik and Annette, Besos comes across like a pleasurable,
scenic trip-tik filled with classical guitar soundscapes that suitably
conveys Armik’s impeccable songs and sentiments. The nonstop
Spanish inspired castenet flavored percussion effects carry Armik’s
brilliant guitar work across the sound stage. If you like the idea
of bringing the time honored traditions of flamenco guitar into the
21st century with often dramatic results, then the instrumental guitar
sound of Armik is for you. www.Bolero-Records.com
CHANGES MUSIC - Even though L.A. has the weather and that great
“West Coast” sound, New York City is and always will be
the center of the jazz world. Musicians flock here from the four corners
of the world and case in point is Scandinavian guitarist Tomas
Janzon, who resides in NYC. Recording on the Changes Music label,
Janzon breaks fresh ground in the jazz guitar world by paying tribute
to the past masters with his 2010 CD Experiences.
Jazz writers correctly cite influences in Janzon’s instrumental
mainstream jazz guitar based music—from Metheny and Scofield
to legends like Wes Montgomery. Perhaps looking for some respite from
those brutal New York winters, Janzon recorded Experiences in
L.A. back in February 2010, with the exception of the set closer—a
Swedish folk song adapted for a jazz group called “En Dejlig
Rosa”—a live cut recorded way back in 2002 at the famous
Facshing club in Stockholm. Janzon’s CD is made even greater
thanks to some solid backup from his group, including Art Hillery
(keyboards), Jeff Littleton (bass) and Albert “Tootie”
Heath (drums). With several Janzon originals, Experiences is
mainly filled up with covers of jazz classics from the pens of giants
like Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery and
more. www.TomasJanzon.com
CHICKADEE MUSIC - The beauty of the acoustic guitar is that it
can not only fit into the context of a rock band, but in and of itself—played
by just one man or woman—it can have a sublime relaxing effect.
Sometimes you need to kick back and slow down with the guitar which
is just the effect you get upon hearing Slow Times—the
2010 CD from guitarist Mortimer Nelson. For the CD release
of Slow Times—produced by Mark Muldaur—Mort
combines his usual acoustic guitar magic that combines various finger
style acoustic guitar stylings that are specifically designed to be
slow and quiet, with just enough space for the sound of the vibrating
steel and wood to breathe. Apparently, Mort lost his thumbnail sometime
before recording Slow Times and in his words, ‘I’d
planned on recording a couple of other CDs before getting to this
stuff.’ Thankfully he did record and release Slow Times and
acoustic guitar fans are lucky he did. Give a listen to Mortimer Nelson
on the Guitar9.com web site. www.Guitar9.com
EXOTIC RHYTHMS PUBLISHING - California guitarist Prashant Aswani
may have a pretty exotic sounding name but his music isn’t
really exotic at all. In fact, Prashant makes easy on the ears hard
instrumental rock music that skirts the edges of heavy metal and fusion
yet with his typical grasp of genres, he leaves the door open for
wide interpretation. For example, on the lead off cut of his 2010
album Sonically Speaking—entitled “Stephanie”—Prashant
opens the door of sound quite subtlety, yet by the time track two
rolls in, the heavy sound is back in motion and so the CD really begins.
Handling most of the guitar chores himself—as well as the production
and arrangments—Prashant proves decent as a composer throughout
the ten track CD. Prashant gets support from a range of players here,
including Rhonda Smith (bass) and Joey Heredia (drums)
along with guest spots from famed rock guitar hero Brett Garsed
and tabla master Abhijit Banerjee. Hard rock, fusion jazz,
heavy metal are all styles and sounds in play on Prashant’s latest
guitar release. www.PrashantAswani.com
FAVORED
NATIONS - Combining elements from folk and jazz to a hybrid New
Age kind of vibe, finger style guitarist Pierre Bensusan makes
fans on both side of the Atlantic happy with the 2010 CD release of
Vividly. Stateside, Favored Nations founder,
guitarist Steve Vai is a huge advocate for acoustic guitar
music and, armed with his Favored Nations Acoustic label, he has released
Bensusan’s latest to American ears. Since his album debut, thirty
five years ago, Bensusan has dabbled sonically in a wealth of guitar
genres—from American bluegrass to Celtic music and North African
rhythms. Many of the tracks on Vividly were co-written by Bensusan’s
wife and co-producer Doatea Cornu Bensusan. Although primarily
an acoustic guitar experience, several tracks here feature Bensusan
singing, quite atmospherically, in both English and French. A truly
sublime musical experience, Vividly redefines the art of acoustic
guitar music in the 21st century. www.PierreBensusan.com
IN + OUT RECORDS - A true cross-pollination of acoustic based
instrumental jazz from around the world, the 2010 CD release of The
Way We Talk is a collaboration between Croatian guitarist
Ratko Zjaca and Italy’s Simone Zanchini on accordion
and electronics. Ratko is also backed up here by the rhythm section
of Martin Gjakonovski (from Macedonia on acoustic bass) and
Adam Nussbaum (from America on drums). Recording the album
in Germany, Ratko aims to make jazz fans happy on a CD that blends
a wide cross-section of guitar-centric jazz and continental European
style music in the romantic musical spirit of Astor Piazzolla. The
Croatian born Ratko has played and recorded with top jazzers including
Gary Peacock and John Patitucci and he adds that his guitar heroes
include Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and John McLaughlin, although he
claims ‘the biggest influences on my playing have come from composers
such as John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Igor Stravinsky.’
Those just picking up on Ratko’s releases should also give a
listen to his 2009 album Continental Talk—recorded
in NYC in 2008 and featuring contributions from John Patitucci
(acoustic bass), Steve Gadd, (drums) and more. www.inandout-records.com
MAX
GOLDSTON - Atlanta guitarist Max Goldston struck
guitar gold with his 2009 Emancipation album and likewise he
once again serves up a fine album of acoustic guitar instrumental
wonders with his 2011 CD Awakening. Played and
written in the spirit of his earlier Will Ackerman assisted release—and
produced by long time accomplice Toni Colomar—on Awakening
Goldston once again does a masterful job entertaining listeners with
just his acoustic guitar. Like the windswept prairies of America from
which he draws his musical inspiration, Goldston is truly a most promising
American guitar master. Flowing with meditative guitar-based ideas,
Awakening just sounds better with each repeat spin. Fans of
Windham Hill’s Ackerman and Hedges, as well Leo Kottke and Tommy
Emmanuel should get a buzz from Goldston’s impeccable finger
style solo acoustic guitar sounds. www.MaxGoldston.com
PDR - Acoustic guitarist Peppino D’Agostino gained
acclaim for his CD on Steve Vai’s Favored Nations Acoustic label
and in 2010 he’s released yet another fine studio album entitled
Nine White Kites. Released on his own Peppino
D’Agonstino Records, the 13 track CD is filled with a sense of
solo finger style acoustic guitar magic and might even be considered
a classic of the instrumental music genre. Reflecting on the title,
with its soaring and quite colorful graphic imagery, Peppino adds,
‘Music is weightless. But if you think about it, it can create
very deep and heavy feelings. The kite is very light, like music,
but it also can evoke feelings. Plus it symbolizes a sense of freedom,
and kites are universal, found all around the world.’ Metaphors
aside, much like the appealing CD booklet artwork, Nine White Kites
is a good example of style versus content—it’s not only
a great CD sound and sonic definition but it has the music to back
it all up, giving acoustic guitar lovers a reason to celebrate. www.PeppinoDagostino.com
ULTIMAE - The French are truly masters of sonic art. That country’s
devotion to electronic music is historic—even going back to the
early 1970’s and the dawn of electronica and synthesized musical
art forms. It would take quite a few paragraphs to express the wonders
of French music and musicians but suffice to say—at least for
this review—that one of the top new labels of France, 
Ultimae,
continues breaking new ground for the art of sonic electronica as
it applies to far out rock based concepts and even New Age music.
Case in point is both Ultimae’s Solar Fields album entitled Origins
#01 and, I’m happy to say the 2011 CD release of Ultimae’s
latest release by AES Dana entitled Perimeters.
Featuring the music and vision of Vincent Villuis, the
eleven cut, all instrumental Perimeters album is in some ways,
the 21st century version of Jean Michel Jarre. I’m sure Jarre’s
fans will love this AES Dana album. There’s also a slight Teutonic
influence here brought to light by Vincent’s music encounter
with German composer Chistoph Berg. Now that you mention it,
there is also a definite Tangerine Dream influence in AES Dana, although
the album’s merger of neoclassical space music brings it into
the now thanks to an array of warm sounding down tempo chill music
grooves which hypnotically merge with soft e-drum effects. All this
ingenious music is suitably topped off by fantastic artwork a great
booklet and packaging making AES Dana state of the art of electronica
in the 21st century. www.ultimae.com
REISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES
EXPRESSION
- The perfect label name for U.K. guitar hero Phil Manzanera
to express himself, Expression Records continues to expand on
the genius of Phil Manzanera with 2011 CD remasters of Phil’s
most quintessential ‘70s albums. Both the Quiet Sun album
Mainstream and Phil’s other album from that period
Diamond Head are brother and sister albums, both recorded
in that heady ‘74/75 period of the 20th century U.K. rock. To
some in the know fans during that time, Quiet Sun represented
the epitome of progressive instrumental art-rock fusion. Backed by
his Quiet Sun bandmates—bass ace and Expression Records cofounder
Bill MacCormick, Charles Heyward (drums) and Dave
Jarrett (keyboards)—Phil just pulled out all the stops on
the Mainstream album. Expressions super deluxe Quiet Sun CD
remaster is packaged in an attractive hard backed book—the keepsake
design recreating, in fine design, the fascinating story of the album
along with several key unreleased bonus cuts, including an interview
track on the CD. In contrast, kicking off with Robert Wyatt singing
“Frontera,” Diamond Head—also from that amazing
1975 period—was the shades of light in contrast to the dark and
fiery Quiet Sun sound. Balanced out by several whimsical yet effective
vocals featuring Robert, Brian Eno and John Wetton,
the instrumentals on Diamond Head fit right in perfectly with
what Phil was trying to do and did accomplish on the one Quiet Sun
album. No bonus cuts on Expression’s 2011 Diamond Head remaster
but, the packaging is first rate. Combined, these albums comprise
a musical time capsule depicting the most enduring musical era of
the 20th century. www.manzanera.com
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