Fiori - Séguin - Deux cents nuits à l'heure (1978)

Fiori - Séguin - Deux cents nuits à l'heure 

  Deux cents nuits à l'heure (Two Hundred Nights Per Hour), was the collaborative efforts of  Québec folk-prog singer-songwriters Serge Fiori and Richard Séguin.   In many ways this album marks for me the end of the 70's prog Québec music scene.   

 At the time of this recording Serge Fiori had left Harmonium, while  les Séguins, had also recently folded, leaving the two artists finally free to collaborate on this new project.

 Fiori and Séguin are backed up by a great lineup of musicians that had performed and toured in support of Harmonium's L'Heptade.  The band included Neil Chotem – electric piano, Michel Dion – electric bass, Denis Farmer – drums, tambourine, Monique Fauteux - vocals (4 tracks), Libert Subirana - flutes, saxophones (6 tracks), Jeff Fisher - keyboards (4 tracks), Robert Stanley - electric guitar (5 tracks) And Pierre Cormier - congas (2 tracks).  

Musically the album covers a wide range of styles and tempos, incorporating many of the sounds and stylings familiar to that of Harmonium.  

Neal Morse - Momentum (2012)

Neal Morse - Momentum 

Momentum is the ninth solo album (not counting his live, demos albums etc.) for ex Spock's Beard lead vocalist Neal Morse and represents another milestone is his discography and for me one of his most complete albums.    I have followed Morse pretty close over the years and have snagged a number of his albums and Inner Circle ditties and I would put Momentum in the superb category!

   Joining Morse are his 2 "faithful" companions.......Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy and bassist Randy George who seem to work so well all together.   

   Like all of Neal's solo albums they draw musically on the symphonic progressive rock genre with pop tinges and a heavingly halo of the lyrics.  

  On Momentum his music feels deeply inspired and as always very creative and catchy!   

Just how does he does this time and time again ????????

Of course the watermark on this album is the 33 minute epic track "World Without End" with its 6 part interludes and is an amazing song!   Side one is comprised of 5 shorter songs with varied tempos and themes including an ode to Spock's Beard with "Thoughts Part 5" and its associated Gentle Giant bits of harmonic craziness and wild semi- structured parts.

  Overall a fantastic album that feels inspired and has some great breathtaking moments.
  

   

  

Lyres - A Promise Is A Promise (1988)

Lyres - A Promise Is A Promise + bonus LP

  Somewhere between garage rock, power-pop, psych rock and punk rock lies Boston's Lyres....a band that were local heroes and a band that just rocked!    Imagine the Ramones meet the B-52's meet Bubble Puppy meet The Fuzztones!

      I love all their albums but I think on "A Promise Is A Promise" they expanded their music playing and went for a less garage psychy feel and took a more power pop avenue.   If you have never heard the vocal of Jeff Conolly then you are in for quite a ride my friend!   

This album rocks...from start to finish and is a mixed bag of goodies from old and new tracks with some live numbers too from their European tour and a number of covers too!   There is a killer version of The Sonics' classic "Witch" taken from a concert in France they did. 

  My version of the album is a double vinyl on Oshawa's own local Star Records label and comes with a bonus 7 track LP of additional material from a Boston radio station visit spanning their first 3 albums and opens with a total kiss-ass version of "she pays the rent".  

  How this band didnt make a bigger splash I will never know ...........

   

Perth County Conspiracy - Alive (1971)

Perth County Conspiracy - Alive (1971)

   Years ago i downloaded a poor quality bootleg mp3 version of this album and i was very pleased to have found this double vintage vinyl in great shape at a recent record shop for $6.99!

  According to the liner notes this live album was recorded at the Bathurst St. United Church in Toronto way back in 1970 and was engineered by A very young Terry Brown who would go on to produce the music of RUSH.

  Musically the Perth County Conspiracy play very much in the classic folk psych vein and very remiscent of Crosby, Stills Nash and Young with excellent vocal harmonies and that spirtual acoustic vibe.   There is some great music on this 2 LP set and they were a very good band !   

  The album's inner art and documentation is quite awesome too with lots and lots of psych craziness all done by Bart Schoales.

 The band was guitarist Richard Keelan (formerly of the American band The Spike Drivers) and Cedric Smith, who were joined by Terry Jones (guitar, vocals), Michael Butler (bass) and George Taros (piano, vocals) and other friends and family members all who lived on a commune.

  There is some major tripping going on i think at times on this album.......like the song about an old John Deere 2 stroke engine.........

An excellent album and a bit of Cancon history on this one too !

 The final song "Uncle Jed" was recorded at the old Toronto tavern the Black Swan !

Klaus Wunderlich - Hammond Pops 4 (1969)

Klaus Wunderlich - Hammond Pops 4 (1969)

  I have to admit I was a bit sketchy on this one too from the cheesecake'y cover but I was totally surprised by the content.   This album was another fine $ 1.00 pick up from my local Thrift Store and I bought it totally on a whim......and what a find !
  Klaus Wunderlich recorded a number of Hammond Pops albums in the late 60's and early 70's all featuring his creative and modern sounds of the Hammond organ.

  I think when listening to this album you need to keep in mind that this was late 60's and recording technology was still in progress.
  
  Klaus was able to overdub and create some very unique sounds out of the Hammond almost as if at times you'd think it was a vintage 70's synths.  His interpretations of the music is also very interesting and does not simply put the music to hammond.  The coolness for me on this album is that Wunderlich reinterprets the music and produced this thru the analogue hammond.

  The album plays non-stop which is kind of cool too.....not unlike the "Stars on 45" or "hooked on__ Series" with no clear vinyl delineation between tracks...in fact they all just run on together.

  This album would be a great addition to your next pool party or bachelor pad get together ! 

Bud Powell - Inner Fires (1953)

Bud Powell - Inner Fires

  Here is great jazz trio at work waaaaaay back in 1953 with Bud Powell in the spotlight with his adventurous piano, Charles Mingus' big bass lines and the percussive touches of Roy Haynes.   Audiophiles should take note that this album is NOT for you....repeat this album is NOT for you.
  What "Inner Fires" loses in sound it more than makes up for in musicianship!   Recorded live April 5th 1953 at the Club Kavakos in Washington DC this album is like a real little musical snapshot....a time capsule into an evening that was extra special.

  The album does sadly suffer from a poor source tape and engineering Jack Towers did his very best to preserve and remaster this treasured recording.  What you will hear is Powell at the height of his prowess and nonquestion having Mingus right beside you on stage made him play his very best!    

  This is very exciting music and for any true fan of piano-centric jazz (ie, Art Tatum) will need to own a copy of this gem.  

Sigur Rós - Kveikur (2013)

Sigur Rós - Kveikur

  Sigur Rós have done it again....they have managed to release another epic album that will take you into the far reaches of the universe!

  "Kveikur" is a bit more aggressive in nature and offers another different approach than their previous masterpiece "Valtari" but maintains their epic sonic landscapes and grand building cresendos. 

    Sigur Rós have a real flare for writing these songs that build up to a huge release that usually tear out your soul.....and I am pleased to say that they have once again achieved this objective.