Kontiki Suite - “The Greatest Show on Earth” (2015) review

Kontiki Suite - The Greatest Show on Earth (2015)

https://kontikisuite.bandcamp.com/album/the-greatest-show-on-earth

The Greatest Show On Earth is Kontiki Suite’s second formal album, with some of the material being available in other places. Nevertheless, the band still manifests that early evening hippie Laurel Canyon vibe that was laid down so long ago … and coming from the UK, has been done surprising well.

JAZZ CORNER Presents: The Dave Brubeck Quartet - “Time Out” (1959)

Without a doubt Time Out, with one of the most beautiful album covers of all time, is among the most subtle and signature releases by Dave Brubeck, where the Quartet float in a cool smooth blend of West Coast jazz that stands out for several reasons. The first being that it does not rivet the listener in place, but more gives the listener a space in which to allow the music to encompass them. The second is that the album features Brubeck and his players adding their own touches to what would be considered traditional sounds, ebbing out what was important within that construct and moving it forward, where with their non-common time signatures, they deliver something the world had never experienced before.

Hund - “Is It Really What You Need” premiere

Mixing pop melodies with more experimental sounds and structures, Hund offers a dreamy melancholic indie which features harmonized guitars, strong dynamic changes and introspective lyrics.

Megaritual interview with Dale Walker

Megaritual is a solo project by Australian multi-instrumentalist Dale Walker, who is also member of Sun Of Man and Drug Cult.

The Auras - “The Auras” (2012) review

The Auras - The Auras (2012)

In consideration of the band’s catalog in general ...

Many years ago, one of the first things that drove me to cassettes was the fact that I often felt too many bands were padding their albums with filler or were at times off on musical tangents where they’d lace their albums with ‘so-called’ tripped out nonsense, that while fun for the first couple of listens, soon became tiring, boring, even embarrassing, forcing me to edit out material, often saving only the songs that road most comfortably in my back pocket.

Lexi Disques

The Brussels based Lexi Disques label is celebrating ten years of existence. Two personal favourites: the paddo one (City Hands - A Place In The World, 2014) and the dandy one (Edgar Wappenhalter - Zingt Hendrik Marsman en Karel van de Woestijne, 2012). 

The Jelly Bean Bandits interview with Michael Raab

Chuck Stewart shot. When we were told to dress for the LP cover, Bob Shad said “dress like what you would think Jelly Bean Bandits look like.” Notice Jack on the right. He is wearing what ladies of the time called a cover-up when they went to the beach in their bathing suit. And notice that Jack’s guns are around his knees. He took us out to Times Square in Manhattan 1967 to make these shots. Sure couldn’t do that nowadays.

Interview with Michael Raab of The Jelly Bean Bandits. In 1968, The Jelly Bean Bandits put out their debut LP on Mainstream Records Inc.

Healing Spells - “Past Lives” (2018) review

Healing Spells - Past Lives (Self-released, 2018)

https://artist.landr.com/music/800739316126

I know, I know. You’re judging the album art. I get it. That was my first instinct too. I suppose the moral here is that a phenomenally talented musician can also be a completely inept visual artist.

Healing Spells, the solo project of a Tokyo-based producer, put out a staggeringly gorgeous EP this January. What surprises me is that it holds its own when put up against IDM masters like OneOhtrix Point Never, Dan Deacon, and Andy Stott. Spanning just five tracks, Past Lives weaves together a gleaming synthetic tapestry of future house, downtempo, and neo-psychedelia.

Spirit - “It Shall Be: The Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972” (2018) review

Spirit - It Shall Be: The Ode & Epic Recordings 1968-1972 (Esoteric Recordings, 2018)

The late 1960s and early 1970s were a most fertile time in musical history, especially in the rock genre. While many of the seminal bands came from the UK, such as The Beatles, Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, there were also incredible groups who originated in the United States. One hotbed of music was on the West Coast, with centers in San Francisco and Los Angeles in particular. One of the most interesting and talented of these ensembles was the quintet known simply as Spirit. Between the years of 1968 and 1970, Spirit released four wonderful albums as well as a movie soundtrack that went unreleased at the time and some most interesting singles. Cherry Red Records, UK, has gathered these recordings as well as a 1972 album released by the band, albeit in a much different configuration, album outtakes, alternate versions, non-LP single sides and mixes done for the 1991 compilation “Time Circle”, the result being the simply sublime 5 CD box set “It Shall Be” which is reviewed here.

The Beatles - “The Beatles in Stereo” (2009) review

The Beatles - The Beatles in Stereo (Parlophone, 2009)

To my way of thinking, one can’t say enough about the most influential band of my life, and for anyone who doesn’t think that The Beatles have influenced their small corner of the musical universe, all I can say is, “You are deeply mistaken.”

The Rising Storm ‎- “Calm Before...” review / interview

US group The Rising Storm emanated from out of a small, but isolated scene outside of the main commercial rock circuit that was happening in and around the Boston area during the mid-sixties. The group’s main activities centred around Phillips Academy, the prep school in Andover, MA, where all six members of the group studied during the early-to-mid 1960s. The ‘Storm dug the sounds of local groups like the Rockin’ Ramrods, and the Remains - going so far as to name their embryonic group the Remnants, before hitting on the idea of a cooler, more historically poignant moniker in the Rising Storm. And, like thousands of young folks around the world at that time, they were thoroughly fascinated by the music of the Rolling Stones.