Back catalogue: Progressive Rock

Review: Weirdo guitar visionary Frank Zappa released his acclaimed fourth LP 'Waka/Jawaka' in 1972, after the phrase appeared to him miraculously on an ouija board. A pinnacle of jazz fusion, near-classical orchestral influences and prog rock, it serves as a lesser-known sequel-ish to the generally agreed classic Hot Rats. It's also a shining example of time signature-core, with the moustached axe mage modulating all manner of tempos like it's nobody's business, also setting a high bar for what would eventually become post-rock in the process.

Review: It's not easy to pick out obvious hits from Frank Zappa's frankly intimidating musical legacy, but 1969's Hot Rats must surely be one of his most widely adored albums. As such, this special archival project is the stuff of dreams for his devotees, of which there are more than a few. Much has been said about the reams of unreleased material hidden away in his vaults, but now an attentive team have pored over sessions recorded in 1970, not long after Hot Rats was released, and they've pieced together a whole new album of songs never previously heard by anyone bar those who were in the studio at the time.

Review: Over-Nite Sensation has been long-hailed as the gateway drug into Frank Zappa’s extensive musical universe, after which there really is no going back. Now reissued and expanded by the Zappa estate, the album returns to the foreground again, in several formats, including one CD with over 57 unreleased and rare studio and live tracks piled on top of the original seven magnum opi. This edition, however, is an audiophile standard 2xLP edition, just as Uncle Meat intended from the jump. From the opening princely funk of ‘Dirty Love’ to the midway scattings of ‘Dinah-Moe Humm’ and the closing yippee-ki-yays of ‘Montana’, this album should be best remembered not only as FZ's sexiest, but coincidingly as the one on which music’s most notorious Bonnie & Clyde, Ike and Tina Turner, were enlisted to aid Zappa for the closing track, but were ultimately not credited due to a poor performance, by Zappa’s assessment.

Review: Frank Zappa's Apostrophe (') stands as one of his most acclaimed works, achieving both commercial success and critical acclaim. It was Zappa's first Gold Record and top ten hit in America while 'Don't Eat the Yellow Snow' reached the popular charts as well. This 50th Anniversary edition, released on a striking metallic gold vinyl, features a new remaster by Bernie Grundman, celebrating an album that has been a cornerstone for discovering Zappa's unique musical style. The album blends Zappa's trademark humor with intricate musicianship, featuring a mix of incomplete narratives and clever satire. 'Don't Eat the Yellow Snow' introduces listeners to Zappa's peculiar sense of humor with its distinctive guitar fills and drumming. 'Nanook Rubs It' continues the story with fast-paced guitar work and playful horn arrangements. 'St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast' showcases excellent horn and xylophone work in a brisk, energetic track. 'Father O'Blivion' is an eccentric blend of spacey effects and zany lyrics, while 'Cosmik Debris' stands out with its compelling guitar riff and biting social commentary. Tracks like 'Apostrophe' feature a powerful collaboration with Jack Bruce of Cream, marked by exceptional bass and guitar performances. 'Uncle Remus' impresses with its uplifting piano and engaging solos, and 'Stink-Foot' rounds out the album with bluesy riffs and humorous lyrics. Apostrophe (') remains a seminal album that captures Zappa's eclectic genius and continues to impress new listeners with its inventive spirit.

Review: Frank Zappa once told KPFM-FM Radio that 'Sinister Footwear' is "a ballet about a guy who designs the ugliest shoe in the world and then all the things that happen before you get to wear it. And the shoe has been designed and I just saw like about ... twenty pairs of it, sitting around this place, it's really great." Ever the enigma, 'Sinister Footwear' could refer to the Frank Zappa track itself, 'Theme From The 3rd Movement of 'Sinister Footwear', or 'Sinister Footwear II'. Or this album, which collects highlights from his legendary New York City broadcast on 17th November 1981. A spectacular artefact from the height of his creative expression, at least some of the atmosphere, energy and creativity that captivated back then have survived onto this recording.

Review: Not to be confused with Zoot Allures, the 22nd studio album by American rock enigma Frank Zappa - released in 1976 - but purposefully confusable with that record, Zoot Alloors is just one artefact from the artist's critically acclaimed and technically astounding broadcast from New York City in November 1981. Like everything else Zappa, this mini-LP is part of a wider universe he constructed for himself before inviting fans to exist in it with him, and his inimitable performances style is captured here beautifully. Even the recording does its best to suck us right in there and leave us to explore. Tracks aren't so much tracks, but jumping off points for intense rock & roll, jazz, blues, glam and psyche jam movements that are invigorating, captivating and disorientating. A true original.

Review: The Frank Zappa Live Broadcast Collection is an in-depth look for fans into the brilliant live talents of the legendary performer, offering a 6xCD box set packed with rare radio broadcasts from the 70s and 80s. Featuring many iconic tracks, some available on disc for the first time, this collection captures Zappa's legendary live performances with unmatched energy. The limited edition set serves as a time capsule, showing Zappa's unique blend of wit, musical talent and boundary-pushing creativity. A true treasure for collectors, it's a rare opportunity to experience the magic of Zappa's live shows and celebrate his lasting influence on music history.

Review: A retrospective compilation of previously unreleased Frank Zappa tracks, anyone? The enigma left behind an incredible legacy in his 30 year career, time on stage spanning the majority of a life that was cut far too short, although by that point he'd already been lucky to survive an arson incident in Switzerland that left him with head trauma, numerous fractures, back, neck, and leg injuries and a crushed larynx that caused his voice to drop significantly after recovery. The incident also gave audience members Deep Purple inspiration for their seminal track, 'Smoke On The Water', but that's another story. Digressions aside, the tracks here are plucked from different periods in that inimitable storied history, but they all share political themes with an overriding anti-establishment message. A number also involve the Synclavier, one of the earliest digital synths, polyphonic sampling systems and music workstations ever created.

Review: Originally released in 1972, The Grand Wazoo is the eighth album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers. It was the second album Zappa had to record in a wheelchair following an on-stage assault in 1971, and it found the psychedelic jazz rock fusionist expanding his musical stamp with a bigger band dynamic. The music on the album is largely instrumental, following on from Hot Rats, Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Waka/Jawaka as another bold, bonkers excursion into the furrows of Zappa's highly creative mind. It's been some time since this gem was in print, and it's now comfortably resting into the chunky grooves of an 180 gm pressing, no less.