MWE3.COM
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
The
SPRING 2018 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
ANGEL
AIR RECORDS – As time marches relentlessly onward, our great
heroes die and shattered lives slowly slip into footnotes of faded
history books, it’s clear that one band that will live on for
posterity is The Yardbirds. The band’s key members were the late,
great singer, lyricist and visionary Keith Relf and founding
drummer and Relf’s song-writing partner Jim McCarty. Although
other members of The Yardbirds, including people like famed Cat Stevens
co-producer Paul Samwell-Smith and Chris Dreja were important, as
well as the unnamed three superstar guitar heroes who would later
go on to plunder the Yardbirds’ iconic contributions for their
own musical ends, on reflection, it was really the symbiotic team
of Relf and McCarty who were the most important to not only The Yardbirds
but also for their incredibly important songs and visions which are
still viable now over 50 years after their heyday. Which kind of,
long story short, brings us to the 2018 Jim McCarty solo album Walking
In The Wild Land. Perhaps Jim’s greatest solo
achievement to day, on this album you can almost hear the ghost of
the late great Keith Relf, who would have loved this album. Angel
Air has done a great job with a number of albums by Jim as well as
his brilliant album with Shoot! and other recorded documents with
the other band started by Relf and McCarty, called Renaissance, who
gave the band to Annie Haslam, after being hired by Jim and Keith.
So these guys invented Renaissance and then gave the others the fame.
True to form and as it always is / was on anything Jim does, every
song on Walking In The Wild Land is a gem, complete with exquisite
album art and lyrics. Musicians backing Jim’s songs, drums, acoustic
guitars and lead vocals include guest guitarist Alex Lifeson,
Hugh Syme (orchestrations, keys, guitars), legendary Renaissance
keyboardist John Hawken, drummer Ben Riley and many
others topped off by superb contributions by bassist / producer George
Koller. Although Jim sings about how he doesn’t want to talk
about 1969 anymore and also on the song “Stop Living Life In
The Past”, it’s nearly, virtually impossible to not link
the name Jim McCarty to the brilliant legacy of U.K. rock, pop and
progressive rock. A most pleasant surprise to long time Yardbirds
fans and Renaissance fans, Walking In The Wild Land is a most
fitting testimony to Jim McCarty’s historical and still prolific
presence. www.angelair.co.uk
JENNY
VAN WEST MUSIC – Crossing country music with an at times
rustic New England folk sound, singer-songwriter Jenny Van West
combines the best of both genres on her 2081 CD, Happiness
To Burn. With her breathy hushed singing style, Jenny
sometimes echoes 1980’s pop chanteuse Martie Jones, but the toe-tapping
tracks on Happiness To Burn are more rural and even rootsy.
The lead off track is the title track and it’s a definite highlight
with its influences from tin-pan alley and postwar 1940’s Americana
pop-jazz. The production by Shane Alexander is quite sparse
and one wonders if the production was brought up a notch or two, as
these songs are well worth it. Overall, Happiness To Burn is
a fine collection of tracks, written by a gifted singer-songwriter
and performed by an impressive range of musicians who help to do them
justice. www.jennyvanwestmusic.com
MANATEE
RECORDS – In 2017 California-based singer-songwriter Kelley
Ryan released her 8th album Telescope and for pop
fans it’s a breath of fresh air. Assisting Kelley on her low-key
pop effort are the great team of singer Marti Jones and producer
Don Dixon the latter adding in bass and strings, while drums
are played by Jim Brock. Those familiar with Marti’s first
three A&M albums will want to hear this as she adds backing vocals
on many of the tracks, backing up Kelley’s similar sounding lead
vocals. The intensity of that youthful vigor of the early 1980s are
replaced here with a seasoned pop approach, nothing too heavy but
the inclusion of Marti and Don Dixon really elevates the proceedings.
Kelley’s songs dominate yet there is a Marshall Crenshaw track
here called “Passing Through”. www.kelleyryan.net
ST.
AUGUST RECORDS – Las Vegas based Mark Stoermer is
turning heads around with his 2017 album called Filthy Apes
And Lions. Stoermer is a well-known producer and bass
player, yet he’s also something of a pop music maven. On his
third solo album Filthy Apes And Lions, Mark Stoermer reinforces
his stature as a pop force to be reckoned with. Co-produced by the
team of David Hopkins and Robert Root, Filthy Apes
And Lions is very much rooted in late 1960s psychedelia in the
spirit of Beatles, Kinks and Pink Floyd during their heyday with Syd
Barrett. This comparison doesn’t come lightly but clearly Stoermer
and his widescreen musical imagination, with a little help from his
friends, live up to the hype on an album that has more layers then
an giant sonic onion, minus the tears. Pop-rock fans will thrill to
the immense musical progress in play on Mark Stoermer’s Filthy
Apes And Lions. www.markstoermer.com
TAPETE
RECORDS – One of the finest, good-time pop-rock albums of
2018, Maisieworld is yet another sonic delight from
The Monochrome Set. The follow-up studio CD to the group’s
2016 album Cosmonaut, the early 2018 release of Maisieworld
will no doubt strike a chord of glee in the fans of this long
time favorite pop band. Although Monochrome Set started out in the
post punk era of the late 1970s, they’ve evolved over time in
an adept and essential pop-rock band that approaches their craft with
kinder, gentler musical etchings. Over the years, the band’s
lead singer and main singer Bid, (real name: Ganesh Seshadri)
has refined his craft and the Maisieworld songs exude charms,
ebullience and catchy pop, dance music grooves. Cranking out the crunchy
power pop chords and lead lines, guitarist Lester Square sounds
also in fine form on this latest Monochrome Set release. The title
track “Maisieworld” sounds like a rare Ray Davies knees-up
and is rich with sonic details. Half-American, half Indian and quintessentially
British, Bid, backed by his Monochrome Set band mates, sets the scene
on the pop-rock grooves of Maisieworld. www.monochromeset.co.uk
WOODSTOCK
RECORDS – Hot
on the heels of Crowin’ The Blues, the 2017 CD by Upstate
New York rockers Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, comes
the release of The Lost Band Tracks. There’s
a great story behind the songs on this six track EP release on Woodstock
/ Funzalo Records and it’s pretty much spelled out in the EP
liner notes. Long story short, these songs were penned by New York
rocker Jules Shear and members of The Band way back in 1991
for a new album by The Band, in the years after Robbie Robertson
left the group. Shear co-wrote these songs with the intention of making
the first post-
Robertson
Band album but Columbia dispensed with the idea and the songs laid
in limbo for 25 + years. Revisiting these Jules Shear songs meant
for The Band, Professor Louie rerecorded the tracks for a new Crowmatix
album and, the results now heard for the first time in early 2018,
are stellar. With a stellar career, Shear, who wrote classics for
The Bangles and others, was at the top of his game back then and these
new versions recorded exclusively for The Lost Band Tracks make
them ripe for rediscovery among fans of Professor Louie as well as
fans of The Band and Jules Shear. Speaking in his liner notes, Louie
adds, “It’s like coming full circle for me.”
With Professor Louie adding in lead vocals and all keys, the Crowmatix
also features Miss Marie (backing vocals), John Platania
(guitars), Gary Burke (drums), Frank Campbell (bass,
backing vocals) with guests Jules Shear (lead
and backing vocals) and
Larry Packer (from The Last Waltz on mandolin). The
Lost Band Tracks proves that even without Robbie Robertson, The
Band and their producer Professor Louie were never short of valid
musical ideas, even despite the changing musical terrain of the post-1970s
music scene. Featuring six powerhouse cuts, The Lost Band Tracks
revisits some stellar rock song classics that, even better late
than never, still deserves to be heard. www.woodstockrecords.com
ZEELLEY
MOON MUSIC - With many long respected artists backing off what
is now known as “physical” product, and now going the download
/ web-based approach, (which is the trend), then along comes U.K.
based Zeelley Moon with their self-titled album debut. And
a winner it is. With appealing hard bound book like CD packaging,
the artwork is excellent with complete lyrics and intriguing and sometimes
shocking photography. A well-timed 21st century modern rock quartet,
Zeelley Moon centers around the songs, vocals and keyboards of Patrick
Molesworth. Not exclusively considered prog-rock, and sounding
more like Phil Collins era Genesis than classic Genesis, the ten cut
CD sounds like modern pop-rock composers influenced by piano rock
legends like Billy Joel and Elton. The sizzling electric guitars of
Tony Dubinski and Geoff Bolam gives the sound a cleverly
tracked Frampton / Supertramp influence. Different musicians play
on various tracks while keeping the rock quartet sound in focus. With
additional refinement of his productions and melodic ideas on future
Zeelley Moon recordings, Patrick Molesworth will no doubt be a prog-pop
force to be reckoned with. www.facebook.com
INSTRUMENTAL
ANAYA
MUSIC – Most music lovers know Brazil thanks to the timeless
music of that country’s greatest composer Antonio Carlos Jobim,
yet in recent years there’s been a rise in the number of gifted
Brazilian jazz-fusion and even New Age composers. To that list of
New Age artists shaping a new Brazilian instrumental music sound you
can add the name Aonki. Featuring the music and keyboards of
Tania Maria Botelho, who simply shines on the 2018 CD release
of Gateway To Love. The ten track, 48 minute
CD is filled with blissful, meditative instrumentals that will calm
and delight even casual listeners but clearly Gateway To Love is
an album to spin and spin again. Blending her background in computer
sciences with a true appreciation for all things spiritual and all
things musical, Tania has arrived with an album that will fascinate
all fans of 21st century New Age instrumental music. Although her
resume also includes work as a dancer and singer, Gateway To Love
is a great representation of her New Age, keyboard based instrumental
sound and it’s also a fine addition to her growing repertoire
of CD releases. From her web site, Tania adds, “Our best instrument
is the universal harmony of being.” www.anayamusic.com
BLAZZ
MUSIC – Ben Rogers’ Instrumental Asylum strikes
instro-rock gold on the 2017 CD release of In Search Of Lasseter’s
Riff. The 13 track CD is the most eclectic lineup of
tracks yet by guitarist Ben Rogers and his Instrumental Asylum
seekers Nikki Scarlett (bass) and Denis Cose (drums,
guitar). Several guest artists appear and the total effort proves
the album to be Ben’s finest yet. Of note is the lead off track
“Heroes”, which takes one of David Bowie’s most revered
songs quite successfully into the realm of instrumental rock. “Take
The ‘A’ Train” as well creates an excellent RI tribute
to the famous Duke Ellington standard. Several other covers ensue
but the best parts are the originals by Ben, drummer Denis Close and
also rock solid take of “Waves Of Apollo”, written by Australian
folk-pop legend Louey Hesterman. What makes In Search Of
Lasseter’s Riff so enjoyable is the impeccable recording
quality, which lifts the whole thing to a new sonic level. If an award
could be given for creative visuals in CD packaging, this is the album
that should get it. With the late 2017 release of In Search Of
Lasseter’s Riff, 2018 is shaping up to be an excellent year
in the life and times of Australia’s great rock instrumental
guitarist Ben Rogers. www.benrogers.com.au
BLUJAZZ
PRODUCTIONS – On
his 2016 debut solo album Plugged In, guitarist / composer
Galen Weston paid homage to his jazz-rock influences. On
his 2017 solo album The Space Between, Galen
knocks down the barriers and comes up with a truly solid album of
new music marked by its own vision. Back from Plugged In are
fellow Toronto-based players, Richard Underhill (alto sax),
David Woodhead and George Koller (bass), Matt Horner
(keys) and Al Cross (drums) and others. Producing the album
is Steve Rodby, noted for his work in Pat Metheny’s
band. Galen proves to be a true sonic multi-tasker on The Space
Between. All forms of 21st century instrumental jazz-rock merge
with a bluesy edge and in fact, there’s hardly a form of rock
instrumental not covered here. For example, on the track “Remembering”,
Galen braves his way into progressive jazz-rock waters, combining
electrifying fusion with a movie music melody that is truly 
haunting.
A set-closing cover of the classic standard “The Shadow Of Your
Smile” is given an honorable jazz-rock dusting off while keeping
the song’s low-key image in tact. Infusing the tracks with horn-based
electricity, Underhill’s sax backs Galen in the same way that
Clarence Clemons’ rock-based horn backed Springsteen. Rather
than a call and response type free-jazz context, the pair often play
unison lines, underscoring Galen’s haunting melodies, although
there’s plenty of freewheeling, soaring soloing too. Today’s
younger musicians who have the luxury of hindsight can really benefit
by combining all kinds of sounds and styles from the past and in that
way Galen Weston takes guitar-based instrumental jazz-rock genre into
some mighty interesting directions. www.galenweston.org
BLUE
NOTE RECORDS – Under the guidance of music icon Don Was,
Blue Note released the 2017 self-titled CD by Brian Blade &
The Fellowship Band. Featuring 9 tracks that clock in under 32
minutes, the CD is short but sweet. Featuring a set of all-original
tracks, Brian’s drums are accompanied by an excellent band including
Jon Cowherd (keyboards), Chris Thomas (bass), Dave
Devine (guitars) and various tracks feature sax and clarinet.
There’s almost an ethereal prog-jazz sound on the gothic sounding
lead-off track “Within Everything” and that spirit follows
with a range of instrumentals. The CD cover art is excellent and perfectly
fits the unique nature of the music. Overall, Brian Blade & The
Fellowship Band take jazz into some deep and dark sonic waters and
the results are surprising and completely authentic sounding. www.brianblade.com
BLUE
NOTE RECORDS – American jazz legend Charles Lloyd turned
80 years young in 2018 and to help honor the man, Passin’
Thru may be the ticket to turn on long time fans and newcomers.
Back in the 1970s Charles released his incredible Waves album
on A&M, an album which featured members of the Beach Boys. I can
still remember watching Charles jam with the 'Boys at their fabled
1971 Carnegie Hall debut, me mesmerized in row 5 orchestra as Carl
Wilson got all the word right to “Feel Flows”, which also
featured Charles at that historic show (as well as him playing on
the Surf’s Up track). So on his 2017 CD (recorded live
at the Montreux Jazz Festival on June 30th, 2016), Passin’
Thru Charles may have been 78 looking at 80, but the sound is
sheer brilliance. All instrumental jazz, featuring his sax and flute,
the seven track Passin’ Thru features Charles in the company
of a fine band, including Jason Moran (piano), Reuben Rogers
(bass) and Eric Harland (drums). Just one of the many highlights,
track five “Tagore On The Delta” sounds incredible, its
folkloristic melody grooving to a jazzy flute-driven shuffle. Only
a master like Charles Lloyd could make this work so elegantly. The
CD sound of Passin’ Thru is masterful as well, with the
booklet featuring track info, pics of Charles and the band as well
poetry from Charles. www.charleslloyd.com
/ www.bluenote.com
BLUE
NOTE RECORDS – Jazz organ / keyboard legend Dr. Lonnie
Smith made his name on Blue Note way back in the 1960’s and
in 2018 he returns to the fabled jazz label with a new live album
called All In My Mind. The second Blue Note album
by Dr. Lonnie Smith since his 2016 Homecoming album, All
In My Mind features an all-instrumental set recorded at The Jazz
Standard in NYC. The seven cut album also features key musicians including
Jonathan Kreisberg (guitar and album associate producer), Johnathan
Blake (drums) and Joe Dyson (drums on track 3) along with
guest vocalist Alicia Olatuja. The CD features a couple original
tracks with others featuring jazzy instrumental covers from the pens
of Paul Simon, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and more. A master of
the live jazz experience, Dr. Lonnie explains, “It’s so
hard to capture what I’m feeling at the moment in the studio.
Hearing me live is catching me playing in the moment. It’s a
good vibe.” Among the many highlights on All In My Mind
is new cover of Wayne Shorter’s “Juju”, which Lonnie
first recorded on his 1965 Blue Note album, a live remake of the title
track first recorded in the 1970s and a very guitar-centric version
of Paul Simon’s classic “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover.”
All In My Mind is a total jazz experience guaranteed to please.
www.drlonniesmith.com
/ www.bluenote.com
BOOGIE
POST RECORDINGS – Swedish guitarist / composer Samuel
Hällkvist continues to amaze music fans worldwide, and he
reaches yet another sonic plateau with his 2017 CD, Samuel Hällkvist
& Variety Of Rhythm. For some unknown reason Samuel
has chosen to connect the dots and make the 43 minute Variety Of
Rhythm one contiguous suite, in other words, stick it in your
CD player and you’ll see only one track that reads 45:47 minutes.
A daring sonic move like that has 
been
done before but not in recent memory, it's in a word: amazing. Speaking
about making his latest album a one block of sound time, Samuel explains,
“It was important for me to keep the suite in one piece to
challenge the listeners patience in a way, and also not putting it
up on streaming sites - and it actually sells more than my other releases,
which perhaps doesn’t say much, but, you know how it is. I just
wanted to try this format. No shorter tracks for radio format. Well,
the Swedish National Radio did actually cut it and played a part from
it.” Assisting Samuel on his Variety Of Rhythm album
are a range of talented, yet relatively unknown musicians with the
exception being American guitarist David Torn, who seemingly
fits it quite well on an instrumental avant-rock fusion album that
startles as much as it entertains. Sweden has a history of experimental
rock / electronic composers such as Lars Hollmer and even Ragnar Grippe
yet not too many Swedish avant-gardists have been guitarists. In other
words, Samuel Hällkvist & Variety Of Rhythm
is most probably among the most unusual sounding avant-rock instrumental
albums of the early 21st century. Another useful mention is how incredibly
well the CD was recorded, mixed and mastered for CD. Having broken
the sound barrier with his prior works, including the Orbit Stern
album as well as his album, Samuel Hällkvist Return To
Center, the 2017 release of Variety Of Rhythm is a
most welcome return to form by Samuel and will most definitely help
bring him further attention in the music world of 2018. www.boogiepost.com
CANDYRAT
RECORDS – Candyrat Records is among the finest acoustic-based
instrumental guitar labels on the planet today. New for 2018 on Candyrat
is Earth Suite by guitar maven Ian Ethan Case.
Known for his acoustic double neck guitar prowess, and inventive instrumental
guitar tracks, Ian was described by veteran finger style guitarist
Don Ross as being one of the finest guitarists he’s ever seen.
Ian’s 2018 CD Earth Suite is an impressive achievement
and the album features a range of players, giving the overall album
a lush, superbly recorded sound. Commenting on the large cast of musicians
performing with him, Ian adds, “For my whole life, I’ve
always been way more interested in playing in a composing for a full
band. That’s what I hear in my head all the time.” A
wide range of drummers and percussionists appear on Earth Suite
as does New Age cello icon Eugene Friesen. Produced by
Ian and mostly recorded in Connecticut in 2017, the six track, 70
minute CD features eye-popping full color packaging, including a number
of pictures from the recording sessions. Fans of Don Ross, the late
Michael Hedges as well as the jazzy fretboard versatility of Pat Metheny
will catch a buzz from the colorful and creative sound of Ian Ethan
Case and his 2018 CD Earth Suite. www.ianethancase.com
CHESKY
RECORDS – One of the top jazz guitarists in the NYC area,
Mark Whitfield released Live & Uncut in 2017
on the NYC based Chesky Records label. The CD features a number of
extended jazz workouts featuring Mark’s guitar backed up by the
rhythm section of Ben Allison (bass) and Billy Drummond
(drums). Several rare covers penned by music composing giants
like Vincent Youmans, Thelonious Monk and Ann Ronell are offset by
originals written by group drummer Billy Drummond. Recorded live in
concert in early 2017 at the famous Rockwood Music Hall, the sonics
of Live & Uncut are pristine and clear as a bell. In fact,
there are so many layers of musical depth that it’s hard to catch
it all in one spin, so listening several times is essential. Mark
Whitfield’s Live & Uncut is a stellar example of the
timeless power of instrumental jazz guitar music in an intimate concert
setting. www.chesky.com
DAFNISON
MUSIC – Cuban instrumental jazz is at its finest on the 2018
CD release of Back To The Sunset by Cuban-born drummer,
composer and bandleader Dafnis Prieto. Back To The Sunset
features the horn-driven, 17-piece Dafnis Prieto Big Band and
it was produced by Eric Oberstein—a well known producer
of large ensemble and big band records. The nine track album runs
over 75 minutes and for fans of the genre it’s a nonstop action
packed album. On Back To The Sunset, Prieto honors his jazz
mentors, including legends like Eddie Palmieri, Michel Camilo and
the CD also features contributions well known horn-based jazzers such
as Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman and Brian Lynch.
Recorded in Brooklyn in 2017, and featuring some of the world’s
best Latin jazz musicians, Back To The Sunset establishes Dafnis
Prieto as the musical leader on one of the finest Latin big band,
instrumental jazz albums of the year. www.dafnisonmusic.com
DAN
CHADBURN MUSIC – A mix of original piano improvisations and
refined traditional religious hymns, Held In The Light is
an intimate-sounding, all instrumental solo album, released in late
2017 / early 2018 by Maryland-based recording artist Dan Chadburn.
In his brief yet insightful CD liner notes, Dan states that among
his fondest memories remain as a youngster attending church every
Sunday morning with his parents and also playing church organ in the
same church. Also in the Held In The Light liner notes, Dan’s
parents are also praised in as being an encouraging factor in his
musical career. As always on his unique sounding piano albums, Dan
makes you feel he’s performing just for you, with a rare musical
gift that often times sets him apart in a field of crowded competitors.
With its up close and personal studio sound, Held In The Light
was recorded in Sedona Arizona with mixing and mastering engineer
Joe Bongiorno and the album was co-produced by Dan and longtime
partner
Tom Nichols. What is even more amazing on Held In The Light
is how Dan recreates a kind of hallowed spirit and aura of these hymns
that he first heard and played so early on in his life. Many of the
hymns, as revoiced for piano by Dan, date back to the late 1800’s
although, in his approach to playing them as instrumentals, Dan also
shows how important the chord structures were and still are to 20th
century music and even to rock music. For example, track nine is Dan’s
solo instrumental version of the famous hymn “Morning Has Broken”,
which dates back to 1931 when it was first heard and appreciated later,
in recent times in a mass consciousness kind of way, thanks to Rick
Wakeman’s piano performance and composed piano solo in the song
covered as a pop song on the 1971 Cat Stevens album Teaser And
The Firecat. As Dan intended it to be, each of these hymns has
a rich and unique history and, while ten of the 13 tracks on Held
In The Light are Dan’s own piano versions of these timeless
hymns, three of the tracks—including the title track—are
actually recent, original piano improvisations composed by Dan. All
of Dan’s albums are filled with a rich, sonic texture and fine
attention to detail and with Held In The Light, Dan Chadburn
reaches yet a new level of piano artistry. www.danchadburn.com
DAN
SIEGEL MUSIC – On his 2018 CD release, entitled Origins,
keyboardist Dan Siegel has assembled a stellar crew of
musicians. Among the players taking part in the ten track Origins
album are Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Brian Bromberg (bass),
Allen Hinds (guitars), Lenny Castro (percussion) with
other fine musicians filling up the soundstage. The overall sound
is very jazzy, cosmopolitan, piano-centric instrumental music. Some
of the players on Origins have long standing links to Siegel.
Castro’s work with Siegel goes back to 1981 and regarding the
legendary percussionist says Siegel, “He brings joy and groove
to everything he plays on”, while of drummer Colaiuta, Siegel
adds, “He knows what the song is about before I do, and I wrote
it!” Origins is very piano-centric with Siegel further
explaining, “In the last decade, I’ve gravitated towards
working in a more acoustic environment... I think it gives the music
authenticity.” Siegel’s seasoned approach to mainstream,
piano-based instrumental jazz-fusion shines like a beacon on Origins.
Recorded in North Hollywood, California during the summer of 2017,
Origins is a total jazz trip filled with sublime sounding,
easy-groove instrumental music played by the best in the business.
www.dansiegelmusic.com
DAPHNE
RECORDS – Sweden’s Daphne Records is one of the top
classical labels in that Nordic country. Devoted to classical artists,
Daphne has a fine CD from classical guitarist Sebastián
Caldas Zeballos. Born in Uruguay and living in Sweden since age
two, Sebastián has a fine CD out on Daphne called Nowruz,
featuring his classical guitar paired with percussionist Ismael
Bétola. The subject of the music on this CD is guitar-centric
tango music in the style Astor Piazzolla, who is one of the
composers featured on the twelve-track, 56 minute CD. Other composers
featured include Quique Sinesi, Carlos Gardel, Anibal
Troilo and Zeballos himself with the CD closing title track. Classical
guitar and fans of Astor Piazzolla and his South American classical
/ tango instrumental music will find much to like about this CD. Recorded
in Uruguay and Sweden, the sound of Nowruz is varied and Sebastián’s
guitar sound is very precise yet emotional at the same time. www.daphne.se
DAVE
KERZNER MUSIC – A man of many talents, Dave Kernzer released
his second solo album, Static, in 2017. Known
for his work with Simon Collins in the band Sound Of Contact, Kerzner’s
latest solo album reads like a who’s who of 21st century prog-pop,
including guest spots by Steve Hackett, Colin Edwin,
Nick D’Virgilio, Fernando Perdomo and many others.
The CD cover art was designed by Ed Unitsky so you know the
creative music will match the bizarre cover art. The guitar work by
Perdomo, Randy McStine and a guest guitar spot by guitarist
Steve Hackett helps to elevate the sound into a first tier musical
experience. Commenting on Static, Kerzner adds, “I aim
to bring forward some of my favorite qualities of classic rock and
prog albums and blend it with something new that feels right today.”
Florida-based prog-rock maven Dave Kerzner will make lots of music
fans quite happy with his 2017 Static album. www.davekerzner.com
DESTINY
RECORDS – Brooklyn-based Cameron Mizell is a true
advocate of the electric guitar. On his 2017 CD for Destiny Records,
Cameron demonstrates his guitar prowess on Memory / Imagination—a
nine track CD that combines solo electric guitar with all kind of
loops and effects such as backwards guitar sounds and all kinds of
weird stuff. The CD is definitely not heavy metal or rock or even
New Age per se, but rather a type of experimental CD that serves as
a kind of atmospheric mediation on the power of music. There’s
something truly haunting and even slightly austere about this music
and also the cover art, which features a misty, shrouded forest covered
in a half fog. As Cameron describes in the cover art, “Art lives
in the space between our memory and imagination.” Truer words
were never spoken. Recorded in Brooklyn, NYC on November 9th, 2016,
Memory / Imagination takes the solo guitar music of Cameron
Mizell into deep and mysterious waters. www.cameronmizell.com
DOUBLE
CROWN RECORDS – Double Crown is of the top record labels
anywhere for instrumental guitar-based rock releases. Case in point
is a fab 2016 CD called Rocket Tales, by Germany-based
band The Splashdowns. In the spirit of instro surf-rockers
from the 1960’s, The Splashdowns are obsessed with outer space—hence
the album title Rocket Tales. Guitarists Joergensen and
Andreasen make a fine lead / rhythm team and the big beat gets
pounded deep into the cosmos by Linntosswanksen (drums) and
Thomsen (bass). With titles like “Micrometeorites”,
“Pulsar” and “Moondust”, The Splashdowns keep
listeners firmly in their rock instro orbit. “Joe Cuba Meets
The Splashdowns” indicates these German surf-rockers also have
a sense of humor to boot. The studio sound and album production is
excellent and overall, the CD gets high marks for inventiveness and
originality. Instrumental rock fans are advised to hop aboard and
take a trip on Rocket Tales by The Splashdowns. www.the-splashdowns.de
DOUBLE
CROWN RECORDS – The country of Finland continues to be home
base for some of the most gifted rock guitarist on Earth today. The
time-honored RI sound (rock instrumentals) of The Shadows and The
Ventures continues to be popular in Finland and throughout Europe
and North America too, and The Doltones carry the spirit forward
into 2018 with their latest album Dance Or Die. Described
as the “best spaghetti space surf music ever”, the 13 track
Dance Or Die CD clocks in around 36 minutes and it’s one
nonstop rock instrumental extravaganza from start to… finish.
Featuring members of Finland’s excellent band The Charades, Dance
Or Die features fine group interplay from Hannu Könönen
(lead guitar), Marko Rahikainen (rhythm guitar) Jukka Väisänen
(bass) and J-P Harju (drums). Rarely heard instro classics
from yesteryear are offset by a bunch of originals from Hannu, yet
it’s all played so tastefully, you’d be hard-pressed to
pick them apart. With its long and winding history, Finnish music
has always 
sounded
exotic to many outside of Finland, yet on Dance Or Die, The
Doltones have discovered a common ground that will pleasure the ears
of RI fans worldwide. www.dblcrown.com
EARTHSIGN
RECORDS – The 2018 CD by Terra Guitarra is called
Spirit Wheel and it’s their best album yet. Perhaps
it’s a sign of the times but the music by Terra Guitarra on Spirit
Wheel is more darker and slightly more mournful than say, their
flamenco-flecked 2015 album Firelight. The interplay between
guitarists Bruce Hecksel and Julie Patchouli is as perceptive
as ever, yet it seems there is also a kind of reflective mood or ambiance
on Spirit Wheel. Other guitaristic influences detected include
German guitar maestro Michael Rother and his motorik beat, which,
intentional or not, seems to permeate Spirit Wheel. Without
failing to amaze long time fans of this New Age guitar-centric outfit,
from start to finish Spirit Wheel is undoubtedly the finest
album yet from Terra Guitarra. www.terraguitarra.com
INFINITA
RECORDS / BAJA TSR RECORDS – Nuevo flamenco guitarist
and contemporary instrumental music composer Lawson Rollins has
released a number of excellent albums over the past decade. In early
2018, Lawson puts his career in perspective with an 18 track best
of anthology CD called Airwaves: The Greatest Hits.
Some of Lawson’s instrumental pieces are quite extensive
in length, yet Airwaves makes a great spin and puts the tracks
into concise order with tracks that generally clock in 
under
four minutes. Many tracks here are radio edits, specifically cut down
in length to garner radio airplay, hence the title Airwaves. Produced
by Lawson Rollins and mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sound
in NYC, Airwaves consists of tracks drawn from a number of
Lawson’s albums and in addition, the Airwaves CD features
a pair of newly recorded tracks featuring long time Rollins cohorts,
including musicians Mads Tolling (violin), Stephen Duros
(electric guitar) and members of 3rd Force on keyboards
and drum programming. With its 18 tracks of pure guitar bliss, Lawson
Rollins’ Airwaves is an excellent anthology of upbeat
21st century Nuevo Flamenco and contemporary guitar instrumental music.
www.lawsonrollins.com
INNSBRUCK
RECORDS / HEY BOY MUSIC – NYC-based drummer / guitarist
Aaron Comess transcends musical genres with his 2018 CD called
Sculptures. A true wakeup call to anyone who
likes to stereotype jazz, Sculptures benefits further thanks
to the appearance of several fine musicians, including synthesist
Leon Gruenbaum, who is credited with playing an instrument
called Samchillian on all songs. Samchillian is actually a unique
synthesizer that Leon created to which Aaron further adds, “I
really love the sonic scope Leon gets on the Samchillian, which he
invented himself. He really is the secret weapon of this record.”
The addition of Grey McMurray (electric guitar), Oli Rockberger
(Fender Rhodes) and John Davis (bass) is further put into
focus thanks to excellent album mixing and mastering by Roman Klun.
Although Aaron has a background as the drummer in rock legends The
Spin Doctors, on the 37 minute Sculptures he creates a whole
new genre of progressive instrumental rock-jazz fusion, which features
both his music and his acoustic guitar work too. Fans of The Spin
Doctors may be in for a surprise, but those listeners, from across
the board, who enjoy brilliant, depth-defying, genre-crossing, instrumental
jazz-rock will enjoy Sculptures, spin after spin. www.aaroncomess.com
INSIDE
OUT MUSIC – Sad to say but with the 2018 release of Nexus,
Virgil Howe is no longer walking on this earth. The unique
musical pairing of Virgil and his Dad, YES guitarist Steve Howe,
Nexus carries forth the Howe family sound with class. Most
tracks feature Virgil on keyboards and drums with Steve contributing
his multilayered guitars. The same class and quality Howe brings to
YES can be heard on Nexus. With its sorrowful, minor key cadences
and musical interplay, track six “Moon Rising” is a definite
highlight, just to single out one as all the tracks are excellent
in their own right. There’s plenty of cool guitar-centric guitar
instrumental tracks that fuse electronica and the neo-classical guitar
sound Steve Howe is well known for. The entire eleven cut CD has a
very YES-influenced sound and clearly, with the loss of Virgil Howe
at such a young age, while also considering the loss of a major talent
who was just finding his recording style, is quite a shock. One can
hypothesize over YES and their long and winding history but the outpouring
of Nexus is one turn in the YES story that will leave you in
a heavy-hearted yet simultaneously, a kind of blessed out state of
musical inspiration. www.insideoutmusic.com
JARNOS
MUSIC – Finland’s hot new surf-rock instrumental quartet
The Jarnos keep the spirit of guitar rock alive and well with
their 2017 CD Surfin’ & Rollin’. The
16 track CD features the keen lead guitar work of Jarno Tiihonen,
who also wrote much of the music here. Covers include “Harlem
Nocturne”, “Mr. Moto” and an unexpected thrill is a
cover of Black Sabbath’s chestnut “Paranoid”. The cover
art is a bit of a spoof on the early Ventures album, complete with
a red-haired Finnish beauty. Much could be said about the originality
of this music with some tracks truly standing out, such as “Surfer
On The Moon”. There’s hardly a note out of place and the
rockin’ spirit keeps things rollin’, making the Jarnos album
essential listening for fans of instrumental, guitar-based surf-rock
sounds—both new and classic. Check out The Jarnos on Facebook.
www.facebook.com
LAUGHING
MESSIAH MUSIC – Based in the Garden State of New Jersey,
guitarist Keith Calmes covers a lot of musical ground on his
recent album releases. A good choice for any holiday season is Holiday
Guitar Music, a 24 track, 2014 CD release, featuring
a wealth of Christmas music played by Calmes, instrumentally on classical
guitar. Many of the tunes are well-known yet the beauty of the album
is that many are lesser known covers making it a fine seasonal guitar
album. Showing off Calmes’ mastery of the classical guitar is
the 16 track, 2012 CD release of All We Know Is Now,
subtitled New Music For Classical Guitar. Many
of the classical guitar pieces on this album were actually written
for Calmes by a range of contemporary classical music composers. Perhaps
the most intriguing album yet from Calmes is his 2017 release entitled
Surf Guitar Classics, a 15 track CD featuring
adaptations of well known surf-rock instrumentals performed by Calmes
on classical guitar. Although Keith Calmes is a Juilliard graduate
and an established classical guitarist, his recording of these well
known surf-rock instrumentals including “Apache”, “Pipeline”,
“Telstar” and “Walk, Don’t Run” makes Surf
Guitar Classics a natural choice for classical guitar fans and
guitar-centric surf-rock instrumental aficionados. www.keithcalmes.com
LEGACY
RECORDINGS – It’s hard to believe that What Happens
Next is the 16th solo album from American guitar legend Joe
Satriani. Fusion fans in the know will remember how Joe basically
exploded from out of nowhere back in the late 1980s with his early
albums on Relativity Records, who started out of the Important Records
company, who were based on the periphery of JFK airport. Wow, time
flies as they say but any way, Satch is back in early 2018 with a
smokin’ new CD of guitar instrumentals and What Happens Next
has no question mark after the title because obviously Joe knows
what happens next! Backed up by a blazing rhythm section of Glenn
Hughes (bass) and Chad Smith (drums), and excellent album
production by Mike Fraser, the twelve track CD is superbly
packaged and true to form, the music fits it to a tee. Guitar instrumental
fans will be in a tizzy with the dozen new Satch instrumentals but
on early spins, track four, “Cherry Blossoms” is masterful
with its faux drum sound and very jazzy 1960s melodic cadences, piano
stabs, pizzicato strings and all. What Happens Next is released
around the same time at Joe’s latest G3 tour with John Petrucci
and Phil Collen as well as an upcoming Satch documentary called Beyond
The Supernova, shot by Joe’s son ZZ. With its spectacular
hard rock, fretboard-based anthems and overall good vibe / instrumental
feel, Joe Satriani’s 2018 album What Happens Next is a
truly spectacular guitar event. www.satriani.com
LMH
RECORDS – When she’s not performing with the Hawaii
Symphony, violinist Nancy Shoop-Wu can be heard recording her
own solo music. Nancy’s latest album, Rainbow Road is
a good example of her skillful, neoclassical approach to atmospheric
New Age instrumental music. Rainbow Road is sort of a combination
of 21st century light classical with a slight New Age direction, mostly
because the album is so supremely relaxing. Rainbow Road combines
the eight track album with four bonus tracks taken from her EP Beautiful
Manao. Accompanying Ms. Shoop-Wu’s peaceful, soaring
violin on Rainbow Road are some excellent musicians including
Derek Nakamoto (keys, co-production), a couple excellent Hawaiian
slack key guitarists, acoustic bass and several drummers and percussionists.
One of the year’s most relaxing sounding instrumental albums
from Hawaii, Rainbow Road is sublime sounding, meditative musical
journeys you could take without leaving the comfort of your living
room. www.nancyshoopwu.com
LONG
TALE RECORDINGS / REAL WORLD WORKS /BOB HOLROYD MUSIC
– A master of the 21st century instrumental ambient music
art-form, U.K. based Bob Holroyd released The Cage in
early 2018 and fans of the genre will be most pleased by this extraordinary
release. Inspired by Eno and more recent masters like John Metcalfe,
composer Holroyd uses a montage of synthesized soundtracks to create
otherworldly sonic paintings. Ostensibly keyboard / synth based music
that borrows from minimalist music World Music, electronica and even
jazz, The Cage also benefits from contributions from several
other musicians including Peter Gregson (cello), Craig Joiner
(guitars) and more. The CD sounds excellent and comes in user
friendly digi-pak artwork with intriguing looking artwork. In addition
to The Cage, Bob has also recently worked on the soundtrack
to a new movie narrated by Jeff Bridges and U.K. fans should keep
an eye out for Bob appearing at Winchester Planetarium which will
feature The Cage in surround sound with intergalactic cinema
screen backdrop. www.BobHolroyd.com
MARLIN
RECORDS - One of America’s coolest surf-rock instrumental
bands, The Insect Surfers released their album Infra Green
back in 2013 and in 2018 they follow up with Datura Moon.
Featuring spooky cover art, the music here is as upbeat as ever.
Influenced by the great California surf-rock legends of the past,
lead guitarist Dave Arnson keeps the instro rock flame burning
brightly on an album that shines as bright as anything The Insect
Surfers have done. Recorded in Venice California, the ten track CD
features Dave working up a storm in the studio backed back his Insect
Surfer comrades including Jonpaul Balak (Fender Precision bass),
Michael Abraham (guitars) and Chris Roberts (drums).
Every track shines in its own right but the highlight is clearly the
neo-progressive surf-rock sound of the title track, which closes out
the album while clocking in at just under nine minutes. Speaking about
the title of the album and the title track, Dave tells mwe3.com, "Datura
is a frequently desert-dwelling plant with beautiful blossoms but
has properties as a toxic hallucinogen as well. Our album titles have
always tended towards oxymorons or synaesthetic meanings- Reverb Sun,
Death Valley Coastline, Mojave Reef, Infra Green... , so Datura Moon
is a suitable follow-up! The title track is a slow dark psychedelic
jam...it was actually edited down from 12 minutes to 8 minutes!"
Long time Insect Surfer fans will love this track and this superbly
recorded surf-rock album. www.insectsurfers.com
MICHAEL
WHALEN MUSIC – NYC-based composer musician Michael Whalen
has a number of albums out under his name and his latest is called
Kiss The Quiet. The ten cut CD is a good example
of relaxing New Age ambient instrumental music. Although well established
in the world of soundtracks and music production going back to his
1993 Narada album Sea Power, Michael will make long time fans
of his solo album quite happy with his 2018 album Kiss The Quiet.
Michael performs all the instruments used in the recording including
piano, electric piano, synths, electronics and various processing.
It’s interesting but Michael doesn’t consider himself to
be a pianist in the typical meaning of the art form, yet he uses the
piano and its related synth keyboards to express himself as a composer,
which is done splendidly on Kiss The Quiet. A perfect piano-centric,
instrumental soundtrack, featuring excellent album artwork, Kiss
The Quiet will truly awaken your senses and calm your mind. www.michaelwhalen.com
MUSICK
RECORDINGS – The name of RI mogol Art Bourasseau is
legendary in the rock instrumental world. He’s produced a number
of guitar instrumentals in the past and in 2018, Art’s label,
MuSick released Taste The Blood Of Guitaracula by Russian
surf-rock aficionados The Messer Chups. There's a cool cover
depicting Russian vampires munching on Fender amps with a black cat
lurking in the foreground. Showing off their diverse yet quite authentic
compositional and recording styles, Messer Chups tackle a range of
rock instrumental styles and they even get spacy and add in an occasional
Russian-esque theremin moment. After all, Leon Theremin was a Russian
genius yet hearing an RI band of this caliber from Russia is quite
a rare event, even for a seasoned surf-rock fan. Essentially a trio
propelled by lead guitarist Oleg Guitaracula, backed up by
the key rhythm section of Rockin’ Eugene (drums) and Zombierella
on bass, the 16 track CD was recorded in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Several guest artists appear and, with its pristine recording, fans
of the classic surf-rock instrumental genre will enjoy this Messer
Chups album on MuSick. www.musickrecordings.com
/ www.messerchups.com
ORIGIN
RECORDS – Recently released on the Origin label is Destinations,
the 2017 CD by the group called Scenes. Featuring jazz guitarist
John Stowell, supported by the rhythm section of Jeff Johnson
(bass) and John Bishop (drums), the ten-track Destinations
CD is a completely entertaining collection of instrumental fusion
jazz with a solid mainstream jazz edge. For those music fans just
tuning in, Destinations is actually the sixth Scenes CD while
the group have been playing together for the past fifteen years. Recorded
and mixed in Seattle by Floyd Reitsma, the CD sound is excellent
and cover art and packaging adds to the album’s enjoyment. Most
of the music is all original but there is a Miles Davis cover called
“Solar”. Guitarist John Stowell continues to release fine
albums on Origin, and this latest album with his group Scenes is well
worth the time to check out. www.originarts.com
REAL
MUSIC – After eleven albums of New Age instrumental electronic
majesty, composer and recording artist Chuck Wild brings his
Liquid Mind project in a fresh direction with Peace:
Liquid Mind XII. On the twelfth Liquid Mind studio
album, Chuck Wild is inspired by the concept of peace. Chuck adds
that peace between feuding nations takes time to heal yet peace between
people, specifically one-on-one is the subject the album is dedicated
to. From his liner notes, Chuck explains, “Peace on a person-to-person
basis is possible between any two willing individuals, regardless
of their backgrounds.” The CD features tracks with titles like
“At The Center Is Love”, “Person To Person”, “Trust”
and “Spirit Of Peace”. The calmness and serenity of the
album is very clear, making Peace: Liquid Mind XII an excellent
album for chilling out and also meditation. In the past Chuck Wild
has proclaimed that Liquid Mind makes music to promote wellness, manage
stress, alleviate pain and to help remedy other human conditions exacerbated
by stress in the modern age. Perhaps Liquid Mind: XII is the
perfect album to bring peace to a person, a relationship or even a
planet. Whether you’re seeking a restful state or a state of
enhanced regeneration, tune in to the peaceful sounds of Chuck Wild
and Liquid Mind on the sublime sounding meditative sound of Liquid
Mind XII: Peace. www.realmusic.com
/ www.liquidmindmusic.com
REAL
MUSIC – Grammy winning recording artist Peter Kater returns
to California-based Real Music for his 2018 album, simply called She.
On She, Peter teams with a very gifted singer called Peia
Luzzi. She also benefits from adding contributions from
Matt Hefner (bass) and Michelle Ancheta (cello). The
resulting nine track, 54 minute She album is an hour of pure
musical bliss. On the opening track “She Awakens In The Garden”,
there’s a kind of Bach inspired, neo-progressive rock melody
tempered in the New Age genre, with soaring synths and delicate piano
cadences. Coupled with Peia’s wordless vocals, the sound of She
is both meditative and enthralling. With Peia’s female vocals
perfectly matching Peter’s compositions, the sound of She
brings out the muse element in Peter’s music. In an earlier
mwe3.com interview Peter has stated that “I’m more committed
to my muse than anything else. I try to keep true to my creative instincts
and passion.” With She, Peter Kater sings the praises
of the female divinity in music and in life. John Lennon said his
final song “Woman”, was dedicated to the other half of the
sky and Peter corresponds with his most recent instrumental music,
adding “She is everywhere, in everything and in everyone.
This album is an offering and homage to the endless wellspring of
inspiration and healing that She nourishes within me.” Echoing
the spirit of the modern day goddess divinity, Peia’s vocals
perfectly match Peter’s piano and keyboard based sound, as clear
as a bell. As Peter states in his She liner notes “there
was no auto tune or vocal correction programs used on her vocals.”
Another intriguing aspect on She is the interwoven effects
of nature sounds, including waterfalls, beaches and bamboo forest
that were each recorded by Peter in Hawaii. Several of the She
album tracks are actually presented in two versions thanks to
the creative art of abridged and extended remixes. The title track
“She” closes the album. With a thrilling sensation of sonic
Déjà-vu, New Age keyboard icon, Peter Kater reinvents
his muse yet again on the sublime, soothing sounds of She. www.realmusic.com
/ www.peterkater.com
ROLAND
BÜHLMAN MUSIC – Over
in Switzerland, guitarist / composer Roland Bühlmann continues
releasing unique sounding instrumental fusion albums. Much like his
2014 album Aineo, Roland’s 2017 album Bailenas features
a staggering array of intriguing music. With Roland performing all
the guitars, the five-track 50-minute album features several drummers
who add some fine powerful grooves. Roland cites King Crimson founder
Robert Fripp and Norwegian fusion guitar hero Terje Rypdal as big
influences while on Bailenas, Roland reinvents 21st century
guitar fusion but think electronic jazz-fusion with a postmodern Euro-centric
twist. Speaking with mwe3.com about the unique musical 
chemistry
he attains on the album, Roland explains, “While I recorded
and produced my first album I have never thought about it. But now
I think it’s prog rock with fusion and soundscape / minimal elements.
So I like acronyms I found the following term: Prim-Rock: ‘PRogressive-Instrumental-Minimal’.”
The closing track, “Pange Chorda” runs 18:09 and the
entire album is filled with intricate, detailed tracks that make the
most of Roland’s intriguing electric guitar based fusion sound.
kinor.net
SOUNDSCAPE
PRODUCTIONS – In a world of ubiquitous synthesized soundscapes
everywhere you turn, electronic music master Robert Rich truly
stands out as unique. With The Biode, Rich returns
in 2018 for his most unusual electronic music album. The ten track,
57 minute CD release of The Biode sounds like sci-fi
soundtrack yet it’s also quite musical. There’s plenty of
unique sounding electronic sounds yet the sound also offers a kind
of early 1970s King Crimson backdrop of drama and intrigue, with a
solid slice of the kind of otherworldly guitar/synth patterns explored
by Fripp & Eno in the late 1970s as well as a touch of Berlin
School style teutonica. On his website page, Rich talks about putting
his music to images genomes, mitochondria and DNA. That in and of
itself is quite an interesting matter for a sci-fi documentary and
fittingly The Biode is the perfect soundtrack for an intense,
audio docudrama. The music of Robert Rich takes over where words dare
not go. www.robertrich.com
SPOTTED
PECCARY – Oregon-based Spotted Peccary continues making New
Age music fans happy with the 2018 CD release of Eclipse,
featuring Frore & Shane Morris. A collaboration between
Frore founder and synth maven Paul Casper and percussionist,
flutist and synthesist Shane Morris, the eight track CD conjures
a realm of otherworldly instrumental sounds that are truly beguiling
and hypnotic. What separates Eclipse from other New Age instrumental
albums is the blend of digital and analog synths with a range of exotic
percussion, including electronic percussion as well as all types of
timeless percussion like rattle, shells, shakers, bells, gongs and
much more. Frore and Shane are both masterful synth players and their
overlapping sounds creates an endless tapestry of electronic effects
that will completely amaze listeners. Every Spotted Peccary album
since the mid-1990s has had something to offer music fans and Eclipse
is right up there with the label’s finest releases. www.frore.org
ULTIMATE
VIBE RECORDINGS – Guitarist Chris Standring is synonymous
with the whole smooth jazz movement. Sort of the easy listening side
of 21st century mainstream jazz, smooth jazz has been around for a
while yet in Chris Standring’s hands, the 2018 CD release of
Sunlight is a most welcome addition to the genre. Commenting
on his latest album, Chris explains, “Overall, Sunlight has
got a joyful, upbeat vibe. It’s got an upbeat spirit to it.”
A bunch of gifted players help Chris attain that upbeat groove that
goes hand in hand with his guitar instrumental sound. Musicians backing
Chris up include keyboardists John Novello, Mitchel Forman,
Rodney Lee and Bob James, along with notable studio
cats like the rhythm section of Andre Berry (bass) and Chris
Coleman (drums) along with guest vocalists who bring some extra
pizzazz to the mostly instrumental guitar sound. Even with so many
ace players on hand, it’s really Standring’s guitar sound
and original tunes that will put a smile on your face. An instrumental
cover of Brian Wilson’s timeless, haunting melody from the Beach
Boys’ Pet Sounds album, “God Only Knows” melts
like butter in Standring’s hands. Smooth jazz hardly gets any
smoother or cooler than Chris Standring’s Sunlight. www.ChrisStandring.com
WESTERNMOST
RECORDS – Hot on the heels of his 2016 solo album Guitar
Stories as well as Slackers In Paradise—his 2016 CD
with guitarist Ken Emerson—Jim “Kimo” West makes
fans happy again with his 2018 solo album Moku Maluhia –
Peaceful Island. Released on Kimo’s Westernmost
label, the twelve track Moku Maluhia CD brings an impressive
repertoire of newly recorded Slack Key guitar instrumentals that Kimo
says, “transports the listener to their own peaceful island.”
The sound of Slack Key guitar music is virtually intrinsic to the
culture and whole vibe of Hawaii and its beautiful islands and, 
there’s
no better guitarist than Jim Kimo West to represent the sound of that
magical land. Well known in the pop music world as electric lead guitarist
in the band of “Weird Al” Yankovic, in a wonderfully contrasting
manner, Jim Kimo West is equally well respected as a cutting edge
advocate of the timeless, acoustic Slack Key guitar sound. Kimo’s
track-by-track liner notes include recording info and insights into
each song—as well as the various guitar tunings used on each
track. Dedicated to Kimo’s composer friend Ried Kapo Ku,
Moku Maluhia also features superb, picturesque album artwork
created by acclaimed Hawaiian painter Harry Wishard that almost
instantly provides you with a sublime, scenic backdrop for Kimo’s
meditative slack key musical experience. Pure slack key guitar magic
by one of the world’s finest fretboard masters, Moko Maluhia
is like a sonic treasure hunt into the lore and legend of Hawaii.
www.jimkimowest.com
REISSUES
& RETROSPECTIVES
ANGEL
AIR RECORDS – Founding member and keyboardist with progressive
rock greats Procol Harum, Matthew Fisher left the band after
producing and co-creating the 1969 classic A Salty Dog. After
producing Robin Trower’s early solo albums, Matthew went on to
record a number of critically acclaimed, tho’ often overlooked
solo albums. Angel Air has done a good job reestablishing some of
the history behind Matthew’s solo career and they follow suit
with the 2018 CD release of Matthew Fisher / Strange
Days. The self-titled Matthew Fisher was released circa
1980 with the follow up, Strange Days in 1981. A number of
UK session greats play on both albums including guitarist Tim Renwick
and drummers Dave Mattacks as well as Peter Van Hooke.
Fisher’s vocals were never featured a lot in Procol Harum, yet
he was always a fine, if slightly understated vocalist, especially
when compared to Procol Harum icon Gary Brooker. Strange Days is
quite unique in that many of the tracks were co-written and co-produced
by Zombies / Argent legend Chris White. Rod Argent also
appears on backing vocals and Procol guitar icon Mick Grabham also
appears on electric guitar here as well. Both albums are superbly
recorded and produced and provide fresh insights into Matthew Fisher’s
creative whereabouts in the ultra-strange daze of 1980/81. Liner notes
by Austin Powell are excellent and as usual, the CD features
all the vital names and dates and who’s who. www.angelair.co.uk
MUFFIN
MUSIC – Back during the fateful summer of 1980, the song
of that season was “Echo Beach” by Canadian pop superstars
Martha And The Muffins. The band later shortened their name
to o M+M and, following their early post-punk pop origins,
and went on to blaze a daring musical trail of catchy, dance music-based
pop albums. To the delight of long time fans, M+M made a most welcome
comeback with their 2010 album Delicate as well as a
solo album, called Solo-One from their lead vocalist Martha
Johnson. M+M cofounder Mark Gane is still very much involved
in chronicling the band’s colorful history. Speaking to mwe3.com
about the CD reissues of the early M+M albums, over the past ten years
Mark Gane tells mwe3.com, “Our first full album reissue on
our own label, Muffin Music was Danseparc (1983), supplemented with
Parctalk - A One-Sided Conversation About Danseparc both from 2008,
Mystery Walk (1984) in 2014 and The World Is A Ball (1986) in 2016.
When we could afford to do so, we would put one out! The last two
reissues plus Martha's 2013 solo album, 'SOLO•ONE' have been
done through crowdfunding campaigns with PledgeMusic.” Of
course when Martha & The Muffins made “Echo Beach” and
their first three studio albums, including their breakthrough album
Metro Music, there was no compact disc yet and hardly any indie
bands released cassettes. Recalling their 1980s album releases, Mark
also explains, “None of our albums were originally on CD.
They were all vinyl including The World Is A Ball in 1986 and at that
point RCA Canada would only let us master for vinyl not CD. It was
only when we did our own full album remasters that they came out in
CD format. There was one Virgin UK compilation CD released in 1987
without our input, which was garbage and another one on One Way Records
in 2000, again without consulting us. Since 1992 when Modern Lullaby
came out, we've always done our mastering and remastering with Peter
J. Moore here in Toronto.” There’s no denying the historic
albums released by Gane, Johnson and company, yet for many fans the
early Martha & The Muffins will always have irreplaceable musical
importance to which Gane also tells mwe3.com, “Thanks to changes
made in U.S. copyright law in the 1970s, we are in the process of
regaining the masters and publishing rights in the U.S. for our first
3 albums done with Virgin in the UK and the masters for the subsequent
3 albums with Current/RCA Canada. It's a fairly long process but once
it's done we will have the ability to release whatever material we
want from those albums. It's quite exciting.” With the release
of the M+M comeback from 2010 and the Martha Johnson Solo-One album
the future looks bright for M+M to which Gane also adds, “Working
on more music, I had a painting retrospective
a year ago which went well. I’m also doing a lot of improvised
music with like-minded players (John Oswald, Eugene Martynec, Ray
Dillard etc, and Martha writes with younger songwriters and artists
as well.” Martha & The Muffins created so many great
memories for the music fans of the 1980s. Those who are still here
to tell of the history can only rub their eyes and with much gratitude
and hope, I can't believe Echo Beach is 38 this summer… Summer
'80 forever! www.marthaandthemuffins.com
RHINO
RECORDS – There’s
so many incredible musical highlights on the 2017 Steve Howe release
of Anthology 2: Groups & Collaborations that it’s
hard to know where to begin. For starters, just about every musician
Steve Howe ever played with has got to be somewhere on this 52 track,
three CD set. Liner notes by Steve are understated, yet meaningful.
Early track, “On The Horizon” (a Leiber-Stoller cover) produced
by Joe Meek and featuring Howe’s early band The Syndicats
is brilliant, as are his fine recordings with lead singer Keith
West and their band Tomorrow, as well as three rarities
featuring the overlooked David Lawrence Atkins—the latter
the phenomenal Curtiss / Maldoon singer (stage name Dave Curtiss)
from Steve’s lesser explored bands Canto and Bodast.
The brief instrumental by YES, “Montreux’s Theme”
is noteworthy but represents a sound that was tragically under-explored
in YES, while the full length Fragile version of “Roundabout”,
the band’s breakthrough track, hardly needs any introduction.
Other insertions of additional YES material is offset by tastes of
1980’s era Howe in both GTR and ASIA. Disc two
starts off with a fantastic rock edit version of “Brother Of
Mine” from Anderson Bruford Wakeman & Howe yet, slightly
less-played YES tracks from Keys To Ascension and humble choices
from The Ladder and Open Your Eyes are not the best
representatives of that underrated, fleeting late 1990’s YES
period. For long time Howe fans who have already tasted some of the
above material, the best part of Anthology 2 is disc 3, which
features rare rock tracks that Steve made with Billy Currie,
singer Fish, Oliver Wakeman and Annie Haslam.
Annie Haslam is latter featured on the hardly-ever-heard and overlooked
track “Lily’s In The Field”, which is the studio version
of what became the theme song from Steve and Annie’s fabled live
concert event in New York, organized by Steve, Annie and 20th Century
Guitar magazine, at Irving Plaza in the borough of Manhattan on the
21st of November 1995—just as YES were in the throes of their
big mid decade comeback starting off the second half of the 1990’s.
Despite the release of this ear-opening three CD set, 2017 was not
a good year for Steve as his son Virgil Howe, brother to Dylan
Howe, tragically died in September 2017. Virgil, at a very young
age is featured drumming on some excellent songs here that Steve chronicles
as being recorded in 1988. Those tracks, on disc three, featured Steve
reunited with Tomorrow vocalist Keith West and a 13 year old Virgil
on drums and man, that boy can play! Essential and ultra cool Howe
rock instrumentals from ASIA (“Masquerade”) and Ray Fenwick
& Steve Howe with Virgil (“Slim Pickings” from 2002)
as well as another rare instrumental from 1988, called “Curved
Ball”—featuring Steve, Keith and Virgil blasting forth—are
alone worth the price of admission to Anthology 2. www.stevehowe.com
Attention
Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed in MWE3.COM
Send to: CD Reviews at MWE3.com
2351 West Atlantic Blvd. #667754
Pompano Beach, Florida 33066
e-mail: mwe3nyc@gmail.com
New York address (for legal matters only) :
P.O. Box 222151, Great Neck, N.Y. 11022-2151
