Donald Byrd - Kofi (1969)

Donald Byrd - Kofi , 1969 Rare Groove Series 

  The 70's was a creative time for music and jazz started to change with the dawn of fusion. Miles was breaking new ground with "Bitches Brew" and Donald Byrd was doing the same as you can hear on Kofi! This is a superb album with some amazing musicianship and killer beats and grooves. In fact this is from Blue Notes' rare groove series ( which is one my personal favourites) so you just know that it must really groove baby! On "Kofi" Byrd is very concerned with sound and space.... Musically this is fusion era Hancock meets Miles Davis. I love the heavy use of the echoplexed, Herbie Hancock-like Fender Rhodes on "Perpetual Love" provide lush and vivid backdrops for Byrd and tenor saxophonist Frank Foster (who is absolutely fantastic on this record) to undertake some of the best soloing of their respective careers. Keyboardist Duke Pearson, bassist Ron Carter, Byrd, Foster, and drummer/percussionist Airto who makes his debut appearance on this album!!!!! The title epic song which opens the albums song features the standout flute of Lew Tabakin who sounds like Jethro Tull meets Miles Davis.... A fantastic album that I would highly recommend to all lovers of space jazz or for those who are willing to step out of the ordinary.

Sigur Rós - Valtari (2012)

Sigur Rós - Valtari 180g vinyl edition


  There is just something so unreal about this band......perhaps it's their mystical songwriting or their heavy symphonic landscapes one perhaps their surreal songs....one of my friends described their music as dreams.........dreams....what a great metaphor!

   Valtari is another great album from this Icelandic band who have released a number of great albums over the years and this one is another awesome chapter. I personally think this is right up there with their second album "()". For those who are not familiar with Sigur Ros you will discover a band who have not limits or boundaries

Sigur Rós - Takk (2009)

Sigur Rós - Takk, 2009

  Takk is simply breathtaking music that you must hear! Deeply moving...rich and full.....another masterpiece from this Icelandic band. Like all the Sigur Ros albums this plays pretty much like a movie soundtrack. Musically Sigur Ros blend symphonic rock and epic soundscapes into a tranquil energy building album that you will love.
  This was the first album sung in Icelandic rather than their own made-up "Hopelandic" (not that this listener could tell the difference).  Takk is BIG....WIDE.......JOYOUS....CREATIVE and most of all EMOTIONAL.  
  This is an album you need to SIT and listen to without any interference or disturbance in the force!
  Simple...yet brilliant and beautiful music 

The Kinks - State Of Confusion (1982)

The Kinks - State Of Confusion SACD

  State of confusion was the 80's kinks album of my highschool days......."don't forget to dance" and "come dancing" we're staples on the DJ lists.

Donald Fagan - the night fly (1982)

Donald Fagen - The Nightfly 
 
Steely Dan's Donald Fagan took a brief departure in 1982 to write a record a superb solo album. Fagan brings along old time friends Randy Brecker and Rick Derringer who help define this jazz rock album. The music of Steely Dan is very much an acquired taste and this album is very much in that vein too with clean jazz elements and storytelling lyrics. The Nightfly album has long been considered one of the holy grails of "sound" having been skillfully and carefully recorded digitally. This album is timeless and although recorded 20 years ago plus it still feels magical.

Astra - The Black Chord (2012)

Astra- The Black Chord

The Black Chord is the second album released 3 years after The Wierding and is another nice bit of progressive rock and a worthy follow up recording. I like the production on this album better than their debut album! Once again we are treated to some great epic tracks with tons of vintage equipment and vintage musical style of the days gone by......the 70's progressive rock movement.

Astra - The Wierding (2009)

Astra - The Wierding

Wow.......this album took me a bit by surprise as I had no ideamitmwas just soooooo vintage progressive rock! Mellotrons, vocal harmonies and nice long tracks with a wide range of themes, emotions and tempos. Too many influences to really narrow it down but I hear YES, Pink Floyd with a mix of Black Mountain and Sabbath. The slow tune "Broken Glass" sounds like John Lennon meets YES all the way. The band is excellent and considering this was the first album it shows a nice deep skill and musical prowess. I like the way these guys don't hide behind their love for progressive vintage 70's rock and play a very convincing album here. They are the real deal