Dungen - Stadsvandringar (2002)

Dungen - Stadsvandringar 

 Stadsvandringar was the second album released by Sweden's artrock-psychers who insuppose were in transition having just signed to Virgin records and were under some expectations to write a more pop infused album than their stunning debut album.   The end result is yet another excellent Dungen album with way too cool psycheyness and alternative art rock venting.

  Standout track is "Solen stiger upp Del 1 & Del 2" which takes the music of CAMEL and fuses it with JETHRO TULL into one amazing song. 

Every song on this album is great and offers quite a wide variety of moods throughout.

Bill Nelson - Practically Wired (1995)

Bill Nelson - Practically Wired 

  Since his Be Bop Deluxe days, Bill Nelson has been a very prolific musician!   In 1995 he released this instrumental gem totally devoted to showcase his guitar skills.  Of course in typical Bill Nelson styling there are plenty of interesting and edgy bits, lush atmospheres and drabs of rock and funky art rock pieces all intertwined.  

 One thing about Bill Nelson albums is that they are never static or boring and seems endlessly creative.

  There are some superb songs on this album and some amazing guitar, dub and electronic moments.....even a sonic nightmare or two along the way

 Although there is not any singing on this album there is plenty of vocal dubs and talking bits tossed in giving the impression that this album is made up of a series of short vingettes and story boards.

  Everything is left up to your imagination,.......

Gordon Lightfoot - Sit Down Young Stranger (1970)

Gordon Lightfoot - Sit Down Young Stranger 

  Originally titled "Sit Down Young Stranger" and almost immediatly after re-titled as the better known "If you could read my mind" following the success of this song from the album.   I would hope that everyone has heard this album and is as much in love with this classic folk album as I have been!  

  Lightfoot hit his peak on this album with each song getting that special magic touch as each story is unfolded.   Highlight for me are "Approaching Lavender" and perhaps my favourite folk song of all time "If You Could Read My Mind".

The album was recorded with the trio of Lightfoot, Red Shea (guitar) and Rick haynes (bass) with string arrangements by Randy Newman and Nick DeCaro and guest assistance from Ry Cooder, Van Dyke Parks and John B. Sebastian.

 This is a beautiful album that I still adore as much now as when I first heard it.......

An essential album

Maceo and All The King's Men (1970)

Maceo and All The King's Men  180g vinyl

  Ex-James Brown Funk'ers under the working title of Maceo and All The King's Men released this gem in 1970.   Doing their own thing was aptly titled and the 8 musicians had all left James Brown and ventured into their own paths.   

  Funk-a-holics will love this album !  

Of course led by tenor of Maceo Parker, Melvin Parker (drums), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Elvonzo Kellum (guitar), Bernard Odum (bass), Joseph Davis (trumpet), Richard Griffith (trumpet) and L.D. Williams (sax) push out some deep down groovy grooves!

  My favourite is "Funky Women" where Maceo and the lads get to really wind this thing fully out..".and each member of the band gets their chance to add to this musical funk exploration.

  Maceo once said that this album is 2% jazz and 98% funk.....

They even do a soul ballad titled "dont waste this world away" which is fantastic and breaks the funk mold for a few mins.

This is a fun record to listen to and fans of FUNK will need to own this piece of music history.

 

Lee Morgan - City Lights (1957)

Lee Morgan - City Lights 

    As I get older I keep digging deeper into the wonderful Blue Note vaults and this time we are graced by the clever trumpet of lee Morgan.  City Lights was recorded six years before the classic THE SIDEWINDER.

  On this groovy jazz album Morgan hooks up with some of the usual suspects including Curtis Fuller (trombone), George Coleman (sax), Ray Bryant (piano), the very well used Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor on the drums.

 The whole album is fantastic and i think my fav is "Tempo de Waltz" which previously was known as "Waltz Fantasy" originally written by Benny Golson.   

  Morgan plays in mood very fitting to a cool jazz relaxed City Lights never getting to complex or loud for my liking.   All the music on this tempered album were hand picked by Lee Morgan and together they exude a mood that only the lonely late night urban crowd would fully understand.

The 180g Blue Note vinyl sounds superb and presents this album in the richest of possible tones for you to enjoy.

David Byrne - Rei Momo (1989)

David Byrne - Rei Momo

   Rei Momo was Ex Talking Heads lead singer's first solo album breaking away very much from his past.    This album explores Latin and South American tempos and structures, yet carries that unmistakeable "Bryne" vision.

  In fact Byrne brought in quite an array of  South American musicians and native instruments to help create this wonderful album.  The one element that still carries a heavy Talking Heads aspect is the lyrics and vocals.  Bryne wrote a set of lyrics as equally inane as anything he and the Heads ever released.

  Congas, bongos, timbals and paint cans......along with Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz of Fania Records, Herbert Vianna of EMI Brazil and producer Steve Lillywhite's wife Kirsty MacColl.

  Overall Rei Momo is a fun and very cool album to do the Limbo to on Saturday nights !

Chet Baker - Sings...It Could Happen To You (1958)

Chet Baker - Sings...It Could Happen To You

   Every trumpet player is really a singer...they just sing thru their instrument but on "It Could Happen To You" Chet actually uses his voice!

   This album is way too cool and relaxed.......lounge meets cool jazz !  On this album Chet picked 10 standards of the day and used his voice as a trumpet!   But there are no "Bla Bla's or nonsense syllables here just Chets soft voice singing as if he was playing trumpet  . 

The Beatles - Live At The BBC Volume 2

The Beatles - Live At The BBC Vol. 2 (3x 180g Vinyl Set)

Ladies and gentlemen.............(enter hysterical screaming)..... THE BEATLES !!!!!This was one of my most anticipated albums in the last ten years I can remember and all I can say is that the wait was worth it.....

Live at the BBC Vol 2 is a lovely continuation of vol 1 with speech and music interwoven into a radio-like program featuring the four mop tops.

 

In 1994, The Beatles' Live at the BBC was released worldwide and reached number one in the U.K. and number three in the U.S. and sold more than 5 million copies.   "Live at the BBC Volume 2" Contains 63 newly released tracks of which 37 are previously unreleased performances and 23 previously unreleased recordings of  in-studio banter and conversation between the band's members and their BBC radio hosts.

LP # 3 is entirely devoted to the interviews of John, Paul, George and Ringo which are fascinating BBC transcriptions LP that were never released to the public but appeared live on Radio back in the day.    There are way too many highlites and this is a MUST for all Beatles fans.  

 

The Beatles - Live At The BBC Volume 1

The Beatles - Live At The BBC Vol.1  (3x 180g Vinyl set)

  Ladies and gentlemen.....(enter hysterical screaming).....THE BEATLES !!!! 

The Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game (2005)

The Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game 

Calling all "headphonaunts"............  

If there was just one post circa 2005 electronica album to own, then this would be my recommendation.......

....prog meets psychedelic meets electronica !!!!!!

The Cosmic Game is an  Uber Trip Hop album 

Tablas....sitars......psychd out kaleidoscopes and this Porcupine Tree Voyage 34'ish vibe throughout.....

I have been a BIG fan of TTC for some time and The Cosmic Game is THE Electronica album to own .........lounge and trip hop galore !

  With contributions from David Byrne and The Flaming Lips this album is dripping in cosmic juices !

Simply breathtaking music..........


 

David Bowie - S/T (1967)

David Bowie - 180g vinyl (mono and stereo)

Years ago I bought Bowie's first album and I was really taken back by just how good it was....i played the album a lot and found the more I listened to it the more I loved it.  Of course this was the stereo CD version which lacked a lot of dynamics and was not very well mastered.

  This 2 LP set features on 180g vinyl both the original mono and stereo version of this gem of a debut album.   Like most of the early mono and stereo version we find the artist had been heavily involved in the mono mastering but less so with the stereo version.  I had never heard the rare mono mix but it is way better IMHO than the stereo version!

  David Bowie was an originator and right from the first song "Uncle Arthur" you know that there is something special about him.

One of my favourite Bowie songs "Sell Me A Coat" is from this debut album which carries a rather brilliant creative English spirit to it.

Jess And The Ancient Ones (2012)

Jess And The Ancient Ones - S/T.       180g vinyl

  Jess And The Ancient Ones who are also known as Antti Bowman and the Ancient Ones are Finnish psych-rock band who released this excellent debut album in 2012.

  Lead female vocalist Jess has tons of power and control to give to her excellent psych-pop band.  Dont let the gothic cover art throw you off ......this is not goth metal or doom grunge but pure heavy psych with some rock and pop twists and turns.

In many ways Jess reminds me of a young Debbie Harry with her distinct vocals and octave range put to some heavier rock.    The band that supports Jess are superb with three guitarists, bass,  drum and keyboard.

I first read about this band in Prog Rock magazine (June 2012 issue) and was interested in checking them out. After hearing a bit of this album I placed my order  !  

  The band never get too dark or heavy for my liking and always give jess lots of room to crank out her powerful and beautiful voice.   Her voice shines thru the band and this is what i love about this album.  Also some sumptious guitar, bass and drumming here which will appeal to those prog heads who dont mind a bit on the heavier side.   The keyboard work is also excellent and layers it into the music as needed but never over the top.

Cosmic psych at times......heavy metal....prog...pop......all in one album!

 

Bill Nelson - Red Noise (1979)

Bill Nelson - Red Noise 

  Sound On Sound was Nelson's first album after the break up of Be Bop Deluxe and marks a definite change in direction from his past. No question Bill Nelson has a highly imaginative musical imagination and this solo album gets to continue to show off his ability to write great pop synth art rock music.

   Some songs actually border on the sound of DEVO and GARY NUMAN and even XTC but the end result is very much Bill Nelson!    

  Songs like "Furniture Music", and "A Better Home in The Phantom Zone" mark this album as a fantastic solo effort and a great stepping stone for Bill Nelson.     The song "Art/Empire/Industry" is my personal favourite from this album with its "KRAFTWERK" VOX ode and catchy as hell chorus.  

  A great little solo album from the genius of Be Bop Deluxe

The Spotnicks - In Stockholm (1964)

The Spotnicks - In Stockholm

The Spotnicks were Sweden's answer to the Ventures with their original guitar-driven astral surf music.   These four lads actually were one of Sweden's best selling groups of all time (next to ABBA) with over 20 Million albums sold worldwide.

The music of the Spotnicks was guitar, bass and drum with some organ worked into a surf rock vibe with some pretty cool tunes.   On some of their albums they brought in some vocals as well as is the case with "In Stockholm" which actually adds another entire dimension to their music.

 

Man Man - On Oni Pond (2013)

Man Man - On Oni Pond
 "On Oni Pond" is the 5th album by Philadelphia INDIE rockers that have turned out their most pop-infused symphonic artrock album todate!   I have been a fan of this band since their debut album released back in 2004 and was truely excited to snag their latest on 180g vinyl!

  This is a beautiful album that truly SHINES!  

  Man Man have a very distinct style somewhere I guess in the "WEEN" - "Of Montreal" - "Talking Heads" school of indie rock.   Utilizing a wide varied palate of instrumentation, Man Man take you on a creative voyage that you will never forget......or remember.......

  The song Pyramids is simply killer with one heck of a catchy chorus and a song that will harken you back to your Art Rock days of the 70's !

Jónsi - go (2010)

Jónsi  - go 

   Jónsi (aka Jón Thor Birgisson) is the voice and tone behind Iceland’s Sigur Rós who finally has released a solo album of great character.   

  Of course all the Sigur Rós elements are there with huge epic atmospheres, Jónsi's signature vocals and a vast abundance of harmonic tones that build to emotive peaks. Many of the songs on this album are sung in English which surprised me.  

 Muiscally this collection of songs will take you right to the playground edges of your past while providing a hopeful glimpse into the future.   Jónsi's music is always creative and addictive and this guy has the ability it seems to write endlessly great music.  

  Although "go" has a strong Sigur Rós vibe it really does have an overall different feel about it and I think the english lyrics and less cinematic polish has something to do with it.  I also think the mood is less foreboding and a bit more upbeat.  

  My favourite song on the album is "hengilas" which simply takes my breath away everytime I hear it!   

Instrumentally this album is rich and full of life with a large variety of  supporting talent.  Instruments contributing include clarinet, bassoon, oboe, trumpet, flutes, trombone, french horn, violin, viola, cello and double bass.

All you need is your imagination and a bit of quality time to listen to this album and the rewards will make you "go"........

Go!!!!!

Sarah Vaughan - live (1977)

Sarah Vaughan - live at Ronnie Scotts

Any time you can hear Sarah Vaughan is a good time!  

   Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's on June 10th and 11th 1977 featuring a dynamic set of songs and a great band to showcase "the divune one".    For those who dont know Sarah will discover her uniquely powerful voice that is rich in tone and vibrato wi a rage of full of intesity and feelings.

  The great band behind Vaughan is Carl Schroeder (piano), Jimmy Cobb (drums) and Walter Booker on the drums.

  The  songs are playful and the band  are amazing and this give sarah a nice wide place to deliver her emotive vocals too.  

Chet Atkins - Alone (1973)

Chet Atkins - Alone

  What an awesome album....I love this one......

  Its just Chet and his guitar playing a nice cross section of different music.  His guitar is crystal clear and is a perfect "guitar album".  Hi-lite for me is his interpretation of Dave Brubeck's "Take five" played on his guitar.

  Most of the music on this album was arranged by Chet himself

The Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)

The Cocteau Twins - Treasure 

  The Cocteau Twins were one of the signature 4AD label bands along with Dead Can Dance with TREASURE representing their best album IMHO and  a defining album on the 1980's.

  Angelic.......atmospheric.........and experimental all at the same time as told thru the creative minds of Robin Guthrie (guitars), Simon Raymonde (bass) and unique vocalist Elizabeth Fraser.  

 I bought this album back in University after a friend told me that because of my adoration for Jane Siberry and Kate Bush that I would like Cocteau Twins.   I will admit that it took me a few listens before I became hookedTreasure was the album that i first bought and remains my personal favourite from them.   

  The 4AD label was always high quality audiophile pressed vinyl recordings and Treasure sounds fantastic.
  

Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus (1956)

Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus  180g Vinyl

   Saxophone Colossus is one of the jazz desert island picks for me .....no question about it.....

  The album was recorded one afternoon in Rudy Van Gelder's living room/studio with the assistance of  drummer Max Roach, pianist Tommy Flanagan, and bassist Doug Watkins.   This quartet manage to cover quire a wide spectrum of sound on this album and do so with tons of zest and energy.   There is also quite a lot of tempo and tone changes throughout this album and never really stands too still for too long!

" Moritat" is Rollins' spin on Jack The Knife from which he takes us on quite a journey....and no Bobby Darin!  

  The Prestige 180g vinyl sounds excellent and offers a lovely warm vibe throughout the album.  This album is a treasure of the jazz genre and should be in every music lovers collection.

  

The Electric Prunes - Stockholm 67 (1967)

The Electric Prunes - Stockholm 67

I am a huge fan of the e-prunes and for years I was searching out this recording but the CD was always too wildly priced for my liking so I was delighted to find the 180g Vinyl version!

First let me say that I was hugely impressed with this vinyl transfer.....the sound is very live and not as "bootleggy" as I was expecting.....in fact this sounds great cranked!

It opens with the guys tuning their instruments and a few mins rolls by before they break out into some great psychy jams and tunes.

Fans of psych will love this live sound ....they just dont make em like this anymore.........

Of course they cover "I had too much to dream last night" which is presented much like thier single, but it is the other tunes that really grabbed me like "I got my Mojo Working" with its hugley fuzzed out guitar and long psych jam......kind of sounds like The Doors meets Pink Floyd meets the Animals....

They also play a wild version of "Long day's flight" and "Smokestack Lightning" which totally fuzz out and get pretty psychy.........

Simply essential if you are a psych fan

Ike Quebec - Blue and Sentimental (1963)

Ike Quebec - Blue and Sentimental

Many years ago I bought a double vinyl compilation celebrating the 1961-1964 Blue Note era and I remember the title track from this album make a huge impression on me. I ended up buying later both this album and "Heavy Soul" both which I fell in love with. Blue and Sentimental is likely Ike's most celebrated album which showcases his smokey-blues infused sax work with a sensational support band featuring the brilliant guitar work of Grant Green , bass of Paul Chambers and drumming skills of Philly Joe Jones.

This album reallly breathes with nothing too rushed or loud and a soundstage where Ike plays with tones and space. Fans of Grant Green will also love this album as he also share a lot of the limelight with Ike. In fact the song "Count Every Star" is actually a number from Green's " Born To Be Blue" album.

This is one of those great albums that you want to dim the light, turn off the outside world to and pour a lovely glass of fine wine as you thrill to Ike's talents.

The SACD is superb.......Hoffman and Gray do another amazing job in remastering this jazz treasure. Each instrument is brought to life and gives you the sensation that they are playing right in your living room! There is a ton of instrument seperation and clear sonic definition making this a wonderful album to own.

Steeleye Span - Below The Salt (1972)

Steeleye Span -  Below The Salt 

   "Below The Salt" was British folk-rock Steeleye Span's 4th album and represents for me one of their finest albums.   Maddy's vocals are bold, sharp and definite and i think is one of her strongest contributions.   There is a slightly harder edge to this album and what is crazy is that although there are no drums on the album the instruments do a great job to fill this gap.....especially the bass guitar work (check out the tune King Henry with its percussive bass work!)

  Steeleye Span added Bob Johnson and Rick Kemp in place of  Martin Carthy and Ashley Hutchings on this album which bring in a harder folk edge.  Every song on this album is fantastic and the albums runs right thru with great song after song. 

  The Christmas hymnal "Gaudette" is a classic Steeleye Span track with heavingly 19th century-like vocal harmonies and holiday flare.  

  A hearty album that you just gotta hear !!!

Barclay James Harvest - Live Tapes (1978)

Barclay James Harvest - Live Tapes 

  Live Tapes captures the poor mans moody blues live in concert performing mostly songs from their mid period (known as the polydor era).   This live album was released just before keyboardist Woolly Wolstenholme left the band who had started to veer too far off course for his liking.   The only non-Polydor track is Mockingbird which they do a killer version of.   

  Although the songs dont wonder too far off the studio interpretations, I do like the live feel on these songs.  If you were going to make a "best of" mid period compilation by Barclay James Harvest i think you'd pick most of the songs on this live album!   

   Barclay James Harvest were a very special band and this album showcases why they were.........lovely soft pastelle vocals with haunting melodies and superb songwriting and musicianship. 

  If you are a fan then I suspect you already have this but if not then dont hesitate and it is four sides of pure bliss,

Klaus Schulze - La Vie Electronique Volume 3 (2013)

Klaus Schulze - La Vie Electronique Volume 3

  This ain't for the young at heart......

  However, if you are a space cadet.....or fan of early polyphonic analogue synth music then this is right down your alley!

  Of course Klaus Schulze was one of the pioneers of vintage electronica with a rich and large past volume of work for you to discover.     I have been a fan of Schulze for a long time and own a ton of his 70's albums.    I was pretty excited to discover the rerelease of these lost gems as i did not invest in the previous bootleg lots available back a number of years ago (Silver Edition, Historic Edition, and Jubilee Edition).  But dont let the bootleg word or fact that these were not officially release as the music is stunning......as is the sound.

   Volume 3 is a 3 cd set that cover unreleased and studio work from Schulze's golden 70's era where he was very prolific.  The SPV label have pressed these vintage recordings onto silver cd's and NOT CDR's like the MIP label did on earlier cd pressings.....    There is also a small booklet to detail a bit about each song which helps from a collectors perspective.  

  Fans of Klaus' Seminal 70's albums like TIMEWIND or MOONDAWN will die for this 3 disc collection.   There are two killer 20 mins + songs that will teleport you into another dimension!

Steeleye Span - Rocket Cottage (1976)

Steeleye Span - Rocket Cottage

 in the mid 70's, Steeleye Span began to make a more natural shift into a more folk-rock based sound and IMHO "Rocket Cottage" is THE watermark album from this "Span"-era to own.
  

  While still containing all the trace folk elements they began to turn up their amplifies to 11 resulting in a different sounding band.   Of course all the trademark Steeleye Span elements are here .....macabre lyrics, powerful harmonies, , innocent sounding vocals and that certain English flare.

Brendan Perry - Eye Of The Hunter (1999)

Brendan Perry - Eye Of The Hunter 

  Brendan Perry has the voice of a ghost......meditative, baritone, tranquil and precise with unparalleled emotion and conviction.   Of course Perry is likely better known as one of the pair that make up the band DEAD CAN DANCE where he shares the spotlight with Lisa Gerrard.

  "Eye of the Hunter" is Perry's debut album on 4AD label (the same label that brought you all the vintage DCD albums) so taht should provide a bit of insight into the artistic approach.    

  Each song is dark and foreboding with deep tones and gothic-like sonics.    Right from the start of the album the listener is drawn under Perry's trance which reveals a beautiful journey as you get deeper into the album.   This is a very special artist who makes every inch count on his album and puts every bit of what he can of himself into the music.  


   This is one of those albums that put on, dim the lights and enjoy your glass of red wine to.  The whole album is moody yet chalked full of character and depth. 

   The music of Brendan Perry is music to Live by !

      

   

Bill Evans Trio - Sunday At The Village Vanguard (1961)

Bill Evans Trio - Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Chet Baker - Chet (1959)

Chet Baker - Chet (1959)
  Just as the album cover suggests tenderness, loving and seduction....welcome to one of the finest jazz albums you will ever hear!   Baker and company pulled off something very special with this recording....the music is as deep as you can get and full of rich melodies and instrumentation.  Baker is assisted by quite a cast of players......Pepper Adams, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.

  This has been for a long time one of the Sunday am "go-to" jazz albums in my household.  There is no better way to start your day off than a bit of CHET playing on the stereo.     Baker creates a very serene world where things are very soft, pastelle and not rushed and offers some of the warmest tones you will ever hear on a jazz record.

  Simply an endearing album from start to finish !

Stan Rogers - Turnaround (1978)

Stan Rogers - Turnaround

  If it weren't for my wife's aunt  I may never have seriously listened to Canada's Stan Rogers.  after being absolutely hooked on "Fogarty's Cove" (1976) I had to pick up his second album "Turnaround".

 The structure of Stan's music never really wanes too far from pure Folk but on Turnaround he added a slight Celtic-Rock element into the album.  The song "Oh No...Not I" has a very strong "Jethro Tull feel" to it and if it weren't for the accordion solo (vs flute) your swear Mr. Ian Anderson just came on the LP !

I think "Turnaround" is an amazing album and contains some of Rogers' best songs he ever wrote and recorded.   "Dark Eyed Molly" and "Song Of A Candle" are also great examples of just how good a song writer Stan was!


  Sadly we lost Stan Rogers in 1983 on a fatal plane accident with apparently his ashes being spread out fittingly in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia.

  Stan Rogers blended some new elements into his Maritime-infused sound on this album and thus the fitting title of "Turnaround".   Stan had a very distinctive and IMHO fantastic baritone voice and was an excellent guitarist.

  His albums were very well recorded and I think this one gets also top marks for recording clarity and sonic beauty.

  Turn this music up and head to the East Coast my friends..........