Gipsy Kings - "You've Got A Friend In Me (Para El Buzz Espanol)" (2:14)
Randy Newman - "We Belong Together" (4:00)
Review: Who doesn't love Toy Story? It's an on going classic with a heart of gold, some of The best animation in the film world and most loveable characters to ever make the silver screen. Whether young or old, snuggling down to watch this sone is always a treat, and now you can bring some of that magic onto your decks with the red vinyl compilation album. It brings together some of the best tracks and favourite musical moments of the movie such as, of course the most notable song of them all, 'You've Got A Friend In Me (Para El Buzz Espanol)' as well as 'I Will Go Sailing No More' and 'We Belong Together.'
Review: Caito Sanchez lives in New York but was born in Panama and is a dedicated drummer who has spent years as a sideman. He's been honing his craft since the early 2000s and has played with the likes of Charles Bradley, Lee Fields and Brian Jackson. Now he finally makes the big step of going it alone and this debut single shows what he is capable of. He takes care of drums, but also bass, guitar and lead voice on a pair of nuggets that are heavy and psychedelic Spanish rock tunes full of fresh new wave sounds.
Review: Famous as the nephew of the world famous sitarist Ravi Shankar, Ananda Shankar carried the torch by contributing several greats to the continuing tide of prog rock and Western electronica. One such project was Sa-Re-Ga Machan, first released in 1981, and which lent a jungle-safari theme to the already established electronic rock fusions he'd laid down on his earlier self-titled record. Seguing through rollicking, schools-out psychedelic odysseys, not to mention humid, wonderfully sublime tropical soundscapes on which we can't tell what's synthetic and what isn't, this is an worthy new reissue from Life Goes On; worth every penny.
Review: Fabled jazz-rock group Soft Machine present this heartfelt tribute to one of the greats of British jazz - trumpeter Harry Beckett - covering his stunning 'The Dew At Dawn' on this limited edition 7" vinyl, with a cover of a classic Softs tune on the B-side. This is the second 7" in My Only Desire Records' Brit Jazz 45s series, which sees some of their favourite contemporary jazz acts each making brand new studio recordings of two classic compositions from the golden era of 60s and 70s British jazz.
Review: Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros' 'Johnny Appleseed,' now released on 45 rpm, is a standout track that blends Strummer's punk roots with a newfound warmth. The song opens with a soft acoustic guitar and evolves into a vibrant mix of shimmery organs, sprightly mandolins, and a rousing chorus. Unlike the raw energy of Strummer's Clash days, this track exudes a sunny, campfire vibe. Lyrically, Strummer's incisive commentary remains sharp. Lines like "if you're after getting the honey / then you don't go killing all the bees" and the poignant "Look there goes / Martin Luther King / notice how the door closes / when the chimes of freedom ring" showcase his enduring humanist spirit. The choruses, filled with joyous singalongs, transform the song's underlying grimness into an uplifting celebration of solidarity. 'Johnny Appleseed' masterfully marries Strummer's past and present, making it a compelling and joyful listen.
Review: Japanese jazz drummer Takeshi Inomata is a little-spoken-about figure in the jazz-rock scene; The Japan Jazz All Stars alumn, We 3 trio leader and Rhythm Clinic Center founder has made well over 300 recordings in his career - this being the third in a year-long trilogy enthusiastically and successively released under the Sound Limited name alongside Kimio Mizutani and Shigenori Kamiya - amongst others - largely influenced by European musicians like Donovan and The Beatles. A notable and funny inclusion is 'London Bridge is Falling Down', a quite literal jazz groove cover interpolating the famous nursery rhyme. Opening track 'Something' is a cracking piece of relaxing jazz, nothing eye-popping, just some glossy, well-played, easy listening. 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' is a fast-paced funk cut with striking psychedelic guitars over a frantic flute line - the project showed Inomata's vision for a more approachable and instantly catchy jazz rock that still retained a lot of character and left, evidently, lots of room for experimentation.
Review: This compilation brings together ten standout tracks from Jefferson Airplane's influential descendants, Starship and its predecessor. Opening with the smooth, soulful 'Miracles,' the collection spans the evolution from Airplane's psychedelic roots to Starship's polished rock anthems. Side-1 features the dreamy 'With Your Love,' the uplifting 'Count on Me,' and the classic 'Runaway,' offering a diverse glimpse into the bands' extensive catalog. The side concludes with the quintessential hit 'Jane'. Side-2 is dominated by Starship's most iconic tracks, including the anthemic 'We Built This City' and the rousing 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' both embodying the band's 80s rock ethos. The side also includes 'Find Your Way Back' and 'Sara', each track highlighting the band's ability to craft enduring pop-rock hits. The final track, 'It's Not Enough', wraps up the compilation with a dynamic flourish. The enduring legacy of Jefferson Airplane's and Starship can not be denied.
Review: Syd Barrett recorded a special set just for the legendary John Peel Sessions for the cult Top Gear show which was presented by Peel himself on February 24, 1970. This is a record that captures exactly what he played and the selection also includes three extra unreleased songs recorded for a Bob Harris Sounds of the Seventies show almost exactly one year later. The tunes are paired with an equally historic Pink Floyd performance and the whole lot comes on a nice coloured slab of vinyl. It's a great way to relive a great time in prog.
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