Tommy Roe - Phantasy (1967)

Tommy Roe - Phantasy (1967)

  In my early grade schools days at E.T. Carmichael Mrs. Rinaldo taught us to dance to a song "Dizzy" and many years later I discovered the other magic of Tommy Roe's Phantasy album.   Its funny how sometimes things connect like the music in this case of Tommy Roe.....who would have ever thought?

  "Phantasy" is a great pop-psych album with a good dose of flower inspired psychedelia and memorable songs.  Roe had a very plain but expressive voice that really fits the paisley-infused  music on this album.  

  The song "Melancholy Mood" is one of the great 60's underground psych tunes IMHO!  

  The whole Album is quite a little trip actually albeit on a 27 mins album.

  Fans of sunshine psychedelic music will need to get this album!

Anathallo - Floating World (2006)

Anathallo - Floating World 

   Anathallo's "Floating World" is a wonderfully expansive album that is full of character and life. This seven-piece ensemble wrote and recorded this creative album as a concept album telling the story of a Japanese ancient fairly tale.   

  Musically Anathallo mix brass with rock instrumentation over which Matt Joynet adds his fragile voice and enriched lyrics which works very well to the muisc.  Musically this band would be kind of a symphonic version of say a mix of The Flaming Lips and The Fleet Foxes.   Sound effects are used throughout the album too to add to their working concepts and ideas.

  A times this album almost plays like a movie soundtrack with some really moving and theatrical-like musical moments.

 This is truely a beautiful album full of rich creativity and interesting song construction that is not to be missed.

Ange - Le Cimetiere des arlequins. (1973)

Ange - Le Cimetiere des arlequins

  Ange were kind of looked at as France's answer to Genesis and ended up gaining huge popularity world-wide back in the day.   They recorded a pile of albums in the '70s and '80s with "le Cimetiere des arlequins" and "Au-Delà du Délire" standing out as their finest albums IMHO.    Ange was led by the dynamic lead  vocalist Christian Desamps with an excellent band including his brother Francis, guitarist Jean-Michel Brezovar, bassist DanielmHas and percussionist Gerard Jelsch.

 On "Le Cimetière des Arlequins" Ange hit the heart of prog rock with the use of a ton of mellotron and recorded a very theatrical album.    The album kicks off with Ange's interpretation of Jacques Brel's "Ces Gens-Là," and never really looks back.     

   The album has some absolutely stunning musical moments and songs that will stick with you.  I have owned this album for a long time now and love it more and more as time goes on.  

The Zombies - Greatest Hits (1964-1968)

The Zombies - Greatest Hits (1964-1968) SACD

   Colin Blunstone had the voice of an angel.....

  The Zombies are one of my favourite bands of alltime and sadly they really only released  a few albums in their short life.   Normally I would not review a greatest hits albums as "an album that you just gotta hear" category, but this one deserves the exception.    

 First off this is just a great collection of 20 Zombies songs...a few that unless you own the Zombies box set you likely have not heard before.  I would have prefered of course a larger representation from "Odyssey and Oracle" but hey.....that may just be me!  But on the other hands I was pleased that  "Just out of reach" was included from the movie soundtrack "bunny lake is missing".  Most of the songs featured on this compilation are from the first LP "Begin Here" which is more in the early Beatles mode and slightly less mature than "Odyssey".  There is even a few B-side cuts which again makes this a nice little compilation for fans of The Zombies.

  This disc was compiled and mastered for SACD by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray......so you know that the sound is going to be good......and that is an understatement!    Hoffman has brought these 20 songs to life with a wide soundscape and depth that I never would never have thought possible.  For example the song "i remember when i loved her" has a full vocal harmony as if Colin was sitting right beside you as he sings along to the vividly clear acoustic guitar work of Paul Atkinson.
  The other great aspect with this SACD is the deep and full bass lines......something I never really heard until I experienced this disc.   

  This disc is a treasure and if you have a SACD player and a fan of 60's rock then you NEED to own this disc...........

Nat King Cole - Where Did Everyone Go? (1963) SACD

Nat King Cole - Where Did Everyone Go? (1963)

  All of the early Nat King Cole albums are superb.....how can you miss ?  The velvety voice of King Cole and the lush and slightly vulnerable orchestration of Gordon Jenkins....

  "Where Did Everyone Go ?" was sadly the third and final album that Jenkins that Cole would record after several simply stunning LP's.   

  "Love Is The Thing " and "The Very Thought Of You" have been a part of the soundtrack to my life and these remastered SACD's are simply essential if you are a fan of these albums.     

Cole was not the progressive vocal engineer of Sinatra, but he just had a way of getting me right there..........his voice is very soothing and comforting and full of feeling.......and always nostalgic......at least it is for me...and there was just something magical about him......

On "Where Did Everyone Go? " Nat King Cole recorded an album in many ways not unlike the vibe on Sinatra 's "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" with a bluesy yet heart-breaking crooner thing going on.....the album is sad and full of longing...yet alive and full of smokey promise.......

I was so excited to hear Hoffman's mastering of these gems that I ordered every one!

 No question this SACD is as brilliant as the other Nat King Cole releases with deep tones and a clarity and richness you would expect from Steve Hoffman.  Audiophiles will love these SACD's as they really are signature audio quality and I honestly have not heard an album of this era sound quite this good!  

  Simply an essential recording to own if you are a fan !!!!!

Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973)

Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973) SACD

Billy Joel's "Piano Man" is an album that I think just about everyone grew up listening to......or if not then everyone has heard the title track umpteenmillion times!   But the fact is that this album is just so much more than that great piano bar infused mega-hit!

  "Piano Man" is a little bit pop.....a litle bit country.....a little bit folk....and a little bit rock..

  The "Ballad of Billy The Kid" or "Somewhere Along The Line" for example could have been lifted off any of the early Elton John albums with a full fusion of piano, honky tonk'isms, pop , rock and orchestra.

  This is the 2010 Mobile Fidelity SACD version mastered from the original master tapes using their Gain 2 system which has produced some other excellent discs.   I was greatly impressed with Mofi's other Billy Joel's SACD's and this one I feel is equal to them.  This may be the warmest and most balanced recording actaully of all the Mofi's I own.   At higher volumes this disc just keeps its warmth and richness.  At times I can hear things that only a high res recording like this could possibly reveal with as much definition as it does.

   I especially love  the tone and mix of the bass on this recording........nice and definite with deep plunks.....

  My personal favourite song on the album is "Captain Jack" which I think really ends this album on a "high" note.........get it ?

The music is fantastic.....and so is the sound !

Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now? (2012)

The Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now?

   "Movement and Location" grabbed me right from the opening few seconds and without a pause this album just took me over!     One of my best friends recommended this album to me and boy-oh-boy am I ever glad I picked this one up!  "Who's Feeling Young Now" is an album that literally made me stop in my tracks ....its just that good!

   The Punch Brothers stars Chris Thile that you may know from the band Nickel Creek who sings and adds some fantastic mandolin and compliments Chris Eldridge's guitar, Paul Kowert's standup bass, Noam Pikelny's twangy banjo and Gabe Witchers's fine fiddling!

  Their combined sound is perhaps best described as progressive bluegrass......really !    They are hard to peg really and play a soulful bluegrass with a soft rock influence and a somewhat alternative demeanor.  Vocally at times they remind me a bit of Scotland's Travis with a slight country alt-rock twang.

  What i think really distinguishes The Punch Brothers is their creative approach to their songs and each song is really unique and yet this remains a pretty cohensive album.  Muscially these 5 guys are amazing and I would highly recommend this album to all music lovers.
  The title tune and "Hundred Dollars" are my favourite song from the album if I had to pick 2......
  Go get this album!!!!!!

Johnny Griffin - The Little Giant (1959)

Johnny Griffin - The Little Giant XRCD

   If you looking for a very cool jazz album that just never stops then look no further my friends.......

  Don DeMicheal in Downbeat magazine said that "this is fist-clenching, head shaking jazz filled with exclamation marks" which is the perfect discription for this album.

  Griffin was one of T-Monk's band of merry men way back and was considered one of the great post-bepop artists from the 50's. "The little giant" deserves a lot more recognition than it has received and is sadly overlooked far too often.    And just look at the line up with Blue Mitchell on the trumpet and Wynton Kelly on the piano and the amazing Albert "Tootie" Heath on the drums.   Of course Johnny Griffin plays his heart out on the tenor sax and although known for his rather frenzied approach actually plays in a more reserved manner on this album.
  This album offers amazing drumming and great piano work all the way through and everone gets to really help support Griffin.  This was actually one of the albums that hooked me on Wynton Kelly as he does such a great job on through this recording.
  This is the Japanese XRCD release from 1995 and sounds beautifully bright , electric and alive!
An absolute essential jazz album !

Caravan - In The Land Of Grey and Pink

Caravan - In The Land Of Grey And Pink SACD

  Of all the great prog rock albums I have in my collection, Caravan's "In The Land Of Grey and Pink" has always been amongst my favs......i also love their debut album which really got me into the whole Canterbury art-rock scene.

  Originally released in 1971 marking their 3rd album and still stands up as one of the finer prog albums of the early 70's.  This album was lavishly packaged too with its pink and grey colored hues and Tolkein-ish art set it apart from others right from the start.

    Every songs is excellent and the watermark is the 22 mins epic track "Nine Feet Undergroud" with its strangely names sub movements.   Musically Caravan fuse parts of folk, rock, jazz and progressive elements with excellent vocals and harmonies.  I have a few different versions of this treasured album but the top of the foodchain is this SACD mix!

    This SACD version was skilfully and lovingly remastered by same guy that was responsible for the excellent 40th Anniversary King Crimson remasters and the Depeche Mode SACD transfers that received audiophile attention years back Kevin VanBergen.  This SACD sounds clear...crisp and absolutely rich ......the way SACDs should sound!

Mark Knopfler - Privateering (2012)

Mark Knopfler - Privateering
   Mark Knopfler is of course best known for his band the Dire Straits, but he has been busy releasing great solo albums since the 80's!
 "Privateering" is Knopfler's ode to the South which he unfolds over 2 CD's full of softer country-blues inspired rock tunes.   Complete with fiddle, cittern, uilleann pipies, accordian, harp and the guitar work of Knopfler.  His music is sincere and heart felt on the softer tracks and smoothtly blues-rock on the faster more upbeat numbers!

   This is Knopfler's first double album and he sure covers a wide spectrum here on this set with some fantastic song writing. No question that fans of Knopfler will like this album !   The song "Dream of the drowned submariner "  is one of the absolute killer tracks that Mark ever recorded....a bit of a Peter Green thing going on too at times.

  Overall a splendid album from start to finish.

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Billie Holiday - Songs For Distingue Lovers

Billie Holiday - Songs For Distingue Lovers

    Billie Holiday was IT!

  At the time of these recordings her body and arguably voice were in disarray but not her conviction , soul and feeling !

  Amongst all of the crooner jazz albums i have In my collection I treasure this album and "Lady In Satin" as top picks of this genre and era.

  As usual Holiday is backed by an all-star band including Harry Edison (tenor sax), Ben Webster (sax),  Jimmie Rowles (piano) Barney Kessel (guitar),  Red Mitchell (bass) and kAlvin Stoller /Larry Bunker (drums).   I think this SACD really brings out the band to full life which previous releases sadly just did not accentuate.  No question Rowles piano is central to this album and he really compliments the blues voice of Holiday.  

    I was very happy to see that George Marino at Sterlingsound labs was remastering this delicate treasure to glorious SACD....and wow what a job he did!

  The sound on this SACD is pristine and rich in detail.     Holiday's voice sounds like an angel and her voice is mixed well with the band not over exposing her voice to that of her glorious band.  No question this is a soft tempo album and is great for those cold January nights and is a perfect compliment to a glass of red vintage!

Ola Gjeilo - Northern Lights

                                                       Ola Gjeilo - Northen Lights SACD

If you are a fan of choral harmonies and deeply emotional absolutely breathtaking sounds than this recording is a must have!!!
"Northern lights" celebrates life and shines with a heavingly charm and will touch your soul in a way only a few can do. After buying and listening to this disc I reached out to the composer Ola Gjeilo directly to simply thank him for this gift. I was simply mesorized by the tranquil harmonic beauty of this little unassuming album....it really caught me off guard.

I had heard the song "The Ground" and after doing some research discovered it was written by Ola Gjeilo and I ordered this SACD immediately. I can not stop playing this album......it is just that good!
Gjeilo blends symphonic soundscapes reminiscent of the finest movie soundtracks with deeply moving harmonic and spiritual choral parts. Ola contributes piano all the way thru and at times it almost feels like "Mike Oldfield meets Gabriel Faure!".

The end result is a peaceful, yet deeply moving spiritual album that will simply take you past the edge of the universe and enable you to see the Northern Lights like never before.

The sound is on par with many of the better Chandos SACD's and clearly sound and feeling was the total goal of this album for Ola! ..............goal achieved.

If i had to take one album with me to the stars it just might this album

This is an achievement album and a sonic beauty....

Fans of movie soundtracks , classical choral work and symphonia will adore this album!

Buck Owens - Tall Dark Stranger (1969)

Buck Owens - Tall Dark Stranger

  Here is one of the great Buck albums....and perhaps one of Country music's finest !!!

 

Joe Jackson - Body and Soul (1984)

Joe Jackson - Body and Soul

  My first real time seeing Joe Jackson live on Saturday Night Live made me take notice of this artist. I will admit Joe Jackson is a bit of an acquired taste and I am not a mega huge fan of all his work but "Body and Soul" sure stands out as an excellent album!   Jackson mixes soul, jazz, rock and pop to create a very memorable art rock album that offers a lot on one album.

   In a total ode to the great Blue Note and Verve jazz album covers, Jackson sets the record up as a vintage replica with a head shot clutching his sax to a sepia colored album.
  Body and soul was digitally mastered and recorded and is an audiophile discovery for sure !
  This album sounds great with so many different instruments and so many cool songs and tempo shifts.  I love the percussion on this album too which really stands out.
   The big hit from this album was "be my number two" which i remember well from the 80's and my highschool dances.
 Overall an excellent album and IMHO his finest moment.....absolutely essential.

Shooter Jennings - Electric Rodeo (2006)

Shooter Jennings - Electric Rodeo

   This is just a fantastic album by Shooter Jennings..........excellent mix of southern rock, country and good ol foot stompin' music.  Very likely his music will be filed under country and although not wrong you equally could put under rock.  Electric Rodeo is an excellent album that rocks and then winds out with ballads.......heavier numbers and mid tempo country flared ditties.  Jennings loves the heavy duty analog country Southern rock "thing" in many way not unlike another one of my other fav bands The Drive-By Truckers.
  No question his old man opened the door into music for him,but this guy is anything but living only behind his name......he is the "real deal".....and this album proves it.

Frank Sinatra - Only The Lonely (1958)

Frank Sinatra - Only The Lonely

  Growing up with a musical mother who adored Frankie and simply loved this album made it extra special for me to play it again after all these years.   Sinatra was often spining on my mom's Akai turntable thru her Pioneer tube amp andbyes the sound of "only the lonely" graced my ears.

   "Hey drink up....all you people" emotes a very solemn Frank Sinatra as he delivers one of his finest and truely deepest moving albums.     This album follows the same formula as his previous recordings, but the tone is noticely darker and more desperate.   Sinatra recorded this with Nelson Riddle who employed a larger orchestra for the album than in the past, which gave this album a different feel and mood.

  This is THE perfect late night cafe album......and the perfect album when you need a little melancholy feeling or just feel like a slower pace to life!

  Sinatra was just so brilliant and this album really captures IMHO one of his finest Capitol Records moments.

The Sonics - Introducing the Sonics (1966)

The Sonics - Introducing the Sonics

   Psych-punk rock masterpiece!   Fans of psych will know The Sonics from the cherished tune "The Witch" which is just to die for!   ....and so is the rest of the album....
  The sonics were the "real deal" and this was their third album and I think best.   Lead vocalist Gerry Roslie has one of those classic garage psych band sounds with a bit of an edge (think of a mix of Eric Burdon meets Jim Morrison).  I love the fuzzed out wild guitar work of Larry Parypa who plays way out there....truely wild.  The bass and drum combo of Andy Parypa and Bob Bennett keep it all never ending and are electric.  Rob Lind adds his tenor sax in there as well which helps give these guys an original sound.
  This is one of those albums that you will never stop listening to once u start as it is just so endearing.  The sound is very dated ......vintage i think is the term!   The sound production is very typical of young 60's Garage Psych bands ....grainy.....barely stereophonic.....not for the audiophiles out there......
 When i was deeply into my garage psych days this album was the holy grail.....and songs from this album have been used on so many compilations that u almost have to chuckle.   I just pulled this one off the shelf, put it on and thought that I had to write this wee review for others.
  My personal favorite songs from this album is a little soul psych gem aply titled "High Time" which  just rocks the roof off the house.

Nino Ferrer - Métronomie (1971)

Nino Ferrer - Métronomie

   Nino Ferrer's "Métronomie" was released in 1971 and basically blended French pop, folk , Psychedelic elements that culminate into a great little art rock album that needs to be rediscovered!  
  Prior to Métronomie, Ferrer had not stepped too far from the pop scene but as things changed so too did his approach as captured on this album.  IMHO this is Ferrer's most creative and interesting album from his discography. 
    The albums up with an awesome 10 minute epic instrumental title track that sounds like something of a mix of Caravan meets Le Orme meets Emerson Lake and Palmer..complete with seagulls, TV clips and a number of liftoff countdowns (everyone's favorite!).  

  The whole album is a definite concept approach with songs blending into each other and offers a wide musical spectrum.  Lots of great percussion on this album and tons of excellent keyboard work too.  Ferrer uses lots of sound effects throughout the album making this an excellent headphone experience album. My favourite song is a tune called "cannabis"......gee i wonder what inspired this one ??????? But regardless of the puzzling inspiration this song is just a stone cold winner!  

This is the  kind of music that mothers will claim is far out!!!!!

  My CD copy is actually I think a vinyl transfer, but is a very good one that offers very good playback sound.  This is a great album to put the ol headphones on for......lots of stereo panning and complex things going on that really keep you moving.

In many ways this album feels like one of those vivid nightmares you had as a kid !!

An excellent album !!!

Kitaro - Sacred journey of Ku-Kai - Volume 1

Kitaro - Sacred journey of Ku-Kai - Volume 1

My last encounter with Kitaro was his TENKU album which I grew tired of and eventually traded in years ago. After that I really didnt have a lot of interest in his music until one day hearing a sampling of this album and I knew I had to pick it up.

I am pleased to report that I love this album and think it is was less new age as much of his other stuff although still meditative in style. Kitaro really explores sound on this album and with a candle burning and light dimmed you will swear you are in deep space. Kitaro uses tons of synths, samples and tons of bells and percussion to translate his musical vision. This album is as poppy as it is prog rock as it is new age as it is electronic.....Vangelis meets Enya meets Brian Eno meets a bit of David Gilmour......

The sound from this SACD is superb......nice deep sound and rich warm textures. The albm has been very well mixed and offers great speaker seperation and excellent balance. Everything sounds cohesive yet distinct with bright highs and tonal bass lines.

If u perhaps like me were not all that sure of Kitaro I think you should sample this disc and it might just change your mind.

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1964)

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme , SACD

  A masterpiece of musical expressionism and one of my most beloved jazz albums !   This album has been reviewed a million times and considered by jazz affectionados as one of the pinnacle jazz album so not uch really to add.

   Essentialy this is Coltrane doing what he does best......conveying feeling thru his music.   A Love Supreme really is an emotional rollercoaster ride moving from sad to happy to high to low emotions.    Trane draws on his jazz mates of Elvin Jones, McCory Tyner and Jimmy Garrison  who helped create IMHO one of the most thought-provoking, emotive and technically pleasing jazz albums of all time.
  This was intended very much to be a spirtual prayer album with Coltrane playing some of his most emotive reed work ever!
  I think this album really breathes.......it is not Coltrane on heroin.....but rather Coltrane creating a very unique sound scape where he can covey his music spiritually.
  If you are a jazz lover then you already know this album and have discovered it's inner beauty....for those new to jazz this is a great place to start.

  The Impulse SACD was restorred and mastered for SACD by Rudy Van Gelder in 2002 and was one of the first SACD's I had to own after buying my SACD player!   This SACD has a few of the original source limitations which You can hear but was left intact purposefully by Van Gelder to ensure the integrity of the master is passed on.     The mix is excellent too with great instrument clarity and the right amount of seperation.  I think the drums are mixed very clear and seem very bright and accentuated a bit more than other recordings I have which helps I think make this SACD feel so fresh.

My Morning Jacket - Z (2005)

My Morning Jacket - Z
   
   In the family of Wilco, Neutral Milk Hotel and Fleet Foxes sits this little country-alt rock styled band who have been releasing some pretty cool albums over the past few years.   
Hard to peg down this band in any one style as they seem to really play in a lot of musical camps....often at the same time.
  No question the vocals of Jim James will remind you immediatly to those of Robin Pecknold of one of my favorite current alt rock bands The Fleet Foxes.
  
         "Z" is an excellent album that does not have a bad moment on the album and plays like a bit of a concept album really.   My morning jacket carry many influences and play everything from the power pop infused "what a wonderful man" to the progressive rock inspired "Dondante" to the symphonic majestic tune "Gideon" to the "KNACK" 70's inspired tune "Off The Record" (yup.......that knack!!!!!)
   
  

The Flower Kings - Retropolis (1996)

The Flower Kings - Retropolis Foxtrot Records

   Back in the day i discovered the wondrous stories of Sweden's The Flowerkings and "Retropolis" was one of the albums that i just couldnt get enough of.   Right for the beginning with the stereo ping pong game and the huge wall of sound these guys create.....its just not human !!!!
  Most of this album was written by longtime progger Roine Stolt who was a key member also in 70's Swedish band KAIPA (who have also made a come back of sorts).

    Retropolis is an excellent album full of great BIG progressive and creative rock ideas with a ton of crazy punctuations, tempo changes and mood shifts.  Tomas Bodin adds his keyboard arsenal to the music with deep mellotron, hammond and various synths.

    I had the pleasure of seeing this lineup of the band live and they were really amazing .....
  
    Roine's voice reminds me very much of Asia's John Wetton while guest vocalist Hans Froberg adds some great harmonies on two of the longer tracks.

     Roine Stolt is an excellent world class guitar player who plays in many different styles and does not believe that everything has to be a lead solo!  His playing on this album is stellar !

Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On (1969)

Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On 

  "Then Play On" was one of the albums that got me into the pre-Stevie "Mac".   The song "Oh Well" got my progressive ears to check out his album and years later I discoverd the beauty of "Rattlesnake Shake" and the whole album.  Blues rock with some fantatsic song writing makes this album absolutely essential.   Danny Kirwan was added into the lineup on this album as a second guitarist and songwriter and he adds a different chemistry to Fleetwood Mac.   Kirwan split the songwriting with Peter Green with one penned by McVie and one by Mick himself.   This was the breakthru album in the US and in Canada and reached no. 5 on the UK charts. 
      
     One of best things about this album is the combo of guitars ......electric with electric and acoustic with electric.....i guess its the chemistry of Green and Kirwan......these guys sound amazing when playing together.  
   
    The other aspect i love about this album is that it breathes and never get too crowded or loud.   Peter Green was a genius.....and for those who dont know this era of Fleetwood you have really missed out!   The Peter Green era is some of the best blues rock you will ever hear on the planet and he was an extra special musician.
   
    

     

Lucio Battisti - Umanamente Uomo (1972)

Lucio Battisti - Umanamente Uomi:  Il Sogno (1972)

  The music of Lucio Battisti reaches deep into the depths of your very soul.   "Umanamente uomo: Il sogno" (Humanly human: The dream) is a great album to follow in the steps of his masterpiece "Amore e Non Amore" (1971) and although far less "folk-prog at its core" still hits the very essence of your soul.  The same year Lucio release "Il Mio Canto Libero" which is equally a fulfilling album.
  Lucio partnered again on this album with guy named Mogol who wrote all Battisti's lyrics. What a great partnership Battisti and Mogol had over the years.....In many ways not unlike Elton John's relationship with Bernie Taupin
    Battisti loved dense orchestration which he combined with his timeless music on this album to produce a record of true eclectic beauty.
  Fans of Ital-progressive rock will like these early Battisti albums for sure as they have lots of unexpected bits but never straying too far from his folk-pop sensitivities.
  Musically this album is rich in melody with rich instrumentation and eloquent lyrics.
  

No-Man - Flowermouth (1993)

No-Man - Flowermouth

   With odes to minimalism, chill beat and art rock genres,  No-Man's Flowermouth is an album like no others.   Flowermouth is full of lavish orchestration, deep and resonating tones and a certain tranquility with a creative calmness all surrounding it. Musically this is deep contemplative music as sung by Tim Bowness put to the creative instrumentation of Steve Wilson.  
   On a number of No-Man albums King Crimson's Robert Fripp made a guest appearance as he did on Flowermouth.  Wilson also ropes in the likes of Richard Barbieri , Steve Jansen, Chris Maitland (the usual suspects) to assist in musically portraying this album.  
   And to top it all off Lisa Gerard's voice of Dead Can Dance graces this album on "Simple".  Steve Wilson sampled her voice and incorporated it into the song and liked it so much that he gave her credit for guest appearing on the album !
   Flowermouth is a great pop-synth-aart-rock album that get my vote as an album you JUST GOTTA HEAR ! 

Klaatu - Hope (1977)

Klaatu - Hope

   The debut "3:47 EST" album carried promise of the Beatles reunited under the name KLAATU.  At the time it was the biggest compliment John Woloschuk, Dee Long and Terry Draper could ever have imagined!  But after a huge surge and interest in Klaatu and the final validation that they were not in fact the Bealtes sales tapered off.
  Along the way Klaatu left us a handful of great albums that I am very fond of with Hope remaining as one of their best albums for me.
   HOPE was another total concept album that doesnt have a weak song on the album as it runs track by track.  The album was produced and engineered by Rush's Terry Brown.