Arnold Layne (Recorded live At The Barbican Centre, London At The Syd Barrett Tribute Concert) (3:47)
Review: Here's a Record Store Day 2020 special that all Pink Floyd fans will want to take a look at: an etched, single-sided seven-inch single featuring a previously unreleased version of Piper at the Gates of Dawn-era favourite 'Arnold Lane'. It was recorded at The Madcaps Last Laugh concert in 2007, a tribute to band co-founder Syd Barrett. It features three Floyd members - David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright - alongside vocalist Jon Carin, whose singing is very similar to that of Barrett, and bassist Andy Bell. It's a fairly faithful rendition all told, and one with added weight given the travails of Barrett after he left Pink Floyd in the late 1960s.
Review: Fresh from delivering killer dancefloor jazz covers of classics cuts by Galaxy 2 Galaxy and Avicii (really), Japanese trio Polyplus deliver a fine sequel to last year's Good Luck Sound Tracks EP. They go for the dancefloor jugular from the off, wrapping snaking sax solos, fuzzy guitar licks and elongated solos around a breathlessly rapid punk-funk groove on 'Massive', before fusing Brit-Funk and sweat-soaked jazz-rock on 'Speedy Gold'. This hybrid jazz-funk/rock sound continues on 'Ranki 2025' (whose heavy beats and memorable piano riffs nods to classic house). Elsewhere, 'Ocean Breeze' re-frames wide-eyed city-pop as jaunty jazz-funk and 'Natural Born' is a drum solo-sporting slab of jazz-rock/jazz-fusion insanity straight from the top drawer.
Review: Project Gemini led by Paul Osborne presented its latest album Colours & Light recently and it again made an impact with its folk rock, psych soundtracks and cinematic funk sounds showing a more confident and layered sound compared to his debut. This is a limited 7" taken from the upcoming Deluxe Edition of the album with a distortion-laden, progressive rock remix by Jack Sharp of Wolf People/Large Plants, along with an unreleased original track from the album's recording sessions.
Review: P'Cock are perhaps not as celebrated as you might expect given Klaus Schulze's suggestion that their catalogue contains some of "the best fusions of electronics and rock music". This double disc set offers up remastered versions of their first two albums, which were released in 1980 and 1981 respectively. On Prophet (CD1), the German band outlines their take on post-krautrock progressive rock - all synth-heavy instrumental, soaring songs, surprisingly funky workouts (see the excellent 'Silver Swallow') and proto-Balearic ('N1, 4'). Its sequel, In'Cognito, is an altogether mellower and more jazz-fusion influenced affair, with nods towards the kind of music Todd Rundgren made with his Utopia project, guitar-solo laden space rock, and intergalactic, ambient-leaning soundscapes ('My Pollution').
Review: Alan Parsons' The Time Machine stands as a remarkable achievement in his discography, set to be released on clear green 180-gram vinyl in a striking gatefold package with a four-page booklet. This album showcases Parsons at his creative zenith, featuring a blend of stellar tracks that highlight his evolving sound. The album flourishes with emotional ballads such as 'Ignorance Is Bliss' and the poignant 'The Very Last Time', enhanced by a standout female vocalist. The ethereal 'The Call of the Wild' and the intriguing mix of electronic and classical elements in 'Far Ago and Long Away' reflect Parsons' willingness to explore new musical landscapes. Featuring guest performances from renowned artists like Tony Hadley and Colin Blunstone, alongside contributions from Ian Bairnson and Stuart Elliott - who are no strangers to Parsons' work - it perfectly encapsulates his musical journey making it a valuable find for those who appreciate his legacy.
Review: On Air is the second solo release by Alan Parsons, following the split of The Alan Parsons Project. One of the creative forces behind this album was APP long-time guitarist Ian Bairnson; the concept of the album revolves around the history of airborne exploration. The theme of 'Too Close to the Sun' is escaping the labyrinth of the Minotaur; 'Brother Up in Heaven' is an emotionally driven song, about the unfortunate death of Ian Bairnson's cousin; 'One Day to Fly' is a song about Leonardo da Vinci's search to design a flying machine. A who's-who of lead vocalists are featured on the album, be they Christopher Cross, Eric Stewart, Neil Lockwood, Steve Overland or Graham Dye. Although On Air might be the most underrated Alan Parsons albums, many consider this as one of his best albums - it now comes back around as a limited edition reissue of 1500 individually numbered copies on translucent red coloured vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve and including an insert with lyrics and pictures.
Review: Brighton outfit Phoria have rightfully received plenty of critical acclaim over the course of their previous two albums - and it isn't likely to abate now they drop their third. River Oblivion builds on previous works in that it blends all the electronic intricacies of their debut with the newly added orchestral manoeuvres of their second. This fresh, supersonic journey takes us through the mind of writer Trewin Howard as it was during the many different highs and lows of those dark pandemic days. A real rollercoaster that will keep you coming back for more.
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