The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies (1971)

The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies, 1971 Konk Records

  Yes......if it wàs not for Lola I dont think this album would have ever seen the light....but thank god for Lola !    Muswell Hillbillies was the follow up to 1969`s controversial concept album ``Lola vs. the Powerman & the Money-Go-Round, Pt. 1` and was an album that remains to this day one of my personal favourite Kinks albums and is an album that does not boast a hit or a true single for the kinks!  Each song undoubtedly like the whole albums itself shares a similar theme, namely the lives of the working class which is conveyed thru Davies music and lyrics.  In classic Ray Davies style the whole album reflects the mood and theme of working class and carefully blends American and British roots music.

Ambrosia - Somewhere I`ve Never Travelled (1978)

Ambrosia - Somewhere I`ve Never Travelled (1978), Warner Bros. Records  
    After the release of their sensational debut album Ambrosia decided to enlist Alan Parsons as a producer and Andrew Powell to help create a bigger symphonic progressive rock album as follow up album....and that is exactly what they did.    Somewhere I`ve Never Travelled is a truely wonderful album full of both pop and prog genres with wonderful vocal harmonies and melodies that you can only dream of. 
  Somewhere I`ve Never Travelled is a magical album that I treasure like the early Alan Parsons albums ! 
 

Mansun - Attack Of The Grey Lantern (1997)

Mansun - Attack Of The Grey Lantern,  1997 EMI Records

   "Attack of the grey lantern" is one of those albums that you won't believe !    Very few new bands can deliver on a debut album the kind of punch, sting and depth that Mansun were able to do !   "Attack of the Grey Lantern" is a grandiose concept album which reaches heights that few bands can muster!  This album is a dark yet highly seductive blend of new wave, '90s indie rock and even PROGRESSIVE ROCK ! (happy Jimmy).  Fans of Kula Shaker, Blackfield and Marillion will love this album with it`s heavy lyrics, phased guitar work and excellent song writing.
  Mansun is the genius of Paul Draper who wrote all the music and lyrics to this modern day epic album !
  Oh yeah...I almost forgot.............this album even has some mightly mellotron !

The Nazz (1968)

The Nazz - S/T , 1968 Rhino Records

  When I was just a kiddy boo boo I picked up Utopia's "Deface the Music" mostly because of the album cover that was reminiscent of The Beatles.  Years later I started to track down Rundgren albums and more and more from Utopia.....until my uncle introduced me to his first real band called The Nazz.  I love all of the 3 Nazz albums but the debut is still my favourite of the lot!   Psychy and Beatles'esque with a good tinge of Garage Psych (Which I am a huge fan of).   The thing that will really surprise you are the great vocal harmonies and excellent melodies this band created.  It was a time of exploration musically and this album rises to the top of the US 60's psych albums for me.  Essential album !

Marshmallow Coasting (2000)

Marshmallow Coast - Coasting, 2000 Kidercore Records
  
  Marshmallow Coast is the genuis of avant-garde popster Mr. Andy Gonzales who may be best known for his work as a guest musician with Texas Psychonauts "Of Montreal".   But 'the Mallow' are really their own beast folks and this album is just killer !  Wildly original and bong-tastically psychedelic album with a folksy twang not unlike the Fleet Foxes actually in many ways.
  Coasting is a wonderfully creative album that after a few listens will become one of this summers great hits !    

NIghtmares On Wax - Mind Elevation (2002)

Nightmares On Wax - Mind Elevation (2002), Warp Records

  Nightmares On Wax (NOW) are the duo of George Evelyn and Robin Taylor-Firth and would be best known fo their house-techno fusion work from the late 90's.  Mind Elevation was the fifth album by this band and my favourite of the lot........Great bass and drum riff's and a huge wall of electronica without sounding overtly electronic.   Fans of Stereolab will love this stuff....a guess less Krautrock'ie and more soulful sounding though.   I love the hypnotic beats and wide range of tunes on this gem of an album.   I played this album last night as we sat around the pool enjoying a cocktail or two.....it really worked !  

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - En Concert A Paris (1985)

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - En Concert A Paris (1985), Radio France Records Vol 2.