Review: After Dinner is like one of those molecular gastronomy adventures, where dishes are both playful and highly complex, not necessarily revealing themselves until the very end. Done with talk of food? Let's just say this is a loose art collective led by a composer called Haco, who were concerned with taking musical plurality and splicing disparate elements together to create a kind of friendly Frankenstein's monster of sound.
And friendly it definitely is. Considered a true one-off of Japanese pop-art rock-avant garde, Paradise of Replica is jaunty, it's amusing, it's beguiling and, ultimately, incredibly immersive. There are moments where the clash of pianos plucked straight from a comedy of manners opera and rough electric guitars (to give one example of the juxtapositions) feel rather strange, but it doesn't take too long for you to get sucked right into the centre of this insane sonic universe.
Medley: There Is Loving/Among Us/There Is Ioving (7:17)
Margaret (3:18)
Oh My (2:59)
Song From The Bottom Of A Well (4:37)
Whatevershebringswesing (8:04)
Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes (3:23)
Champagne Cowboy Blues (3:53)
Lullaby (1:37)
Review: A stunning journey across musical landscapes, courtesy of Ayers' diverse artistic vision, the album opens with the expansive and orchestral 'There is Loving/Among Us/There is Loving,' a progressive epic that sets a grand tone, followed by the dreamy and affectionate 'Margaret,' a psychedelic ode to Ayers' girlfriend at the time. 'Oh My' sees proceedings taking a playful turn, infusing New Orleans jazz influences into a catchy singalong track that exudes charm. 'Song From The Bottom Of A Well' ventures into psychedelic territory with its haunting atmosphere and experimental soundscapes as Ayers pushes the boundaries. Whatevershebringswesing, the title track, unfolds beautifully over its eight-minute duration, featuring the soulful vocals of his Soft Machine comrade Robert Wyatt and stellar guitar work by Mike Oldfield. It's a highlight praised for its laid-back vibe and intricate musicality. 'Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes' injects a dose of old-fashioned rock 'n' roll energy with infectious piano riffs and memorable lyrics. 'Champagne Cowboy Blues' offers a nod to country-western music, enriched by Mike Oldfield's evocative guitar solos and subtle fiddle embellishments. The album closes with 'Lullaby,' a serene and enchanting piece enhanced by Didier Malherbe's flute and soothing piano, creating a perfect conclusion to Ayers' musical narrative.
Review: Dando Shaft were a British folk rock band active during the early 70s, and at the time of the release of their debut self-titler, all seemed to be looking up. This is reflected in its sound as much, with the album combining original songwriting and a sunny acoustic disposition with regional folk musics, whether they hailed from or near their local Coventry, or the furthest-Eastern corners of the globe. Trading Places do well to reissue this one, as it's a time-honoured classic that does solid justice to Dando Shaft's cache as one of the foremost group figures in the English folk revival movement of the 1960s and 70s.
Gilgamesh Mata Hari Duo - "Florian Schneider-Esleben" (6:12)
Kosmischer Laufer - "In Der Stadt Und Auf Dem Land" (2:18)
Sankt Otten - "Hymne Der Melancholischen Programmierer" (4:27)
Pyrolator - "Die Geschichte Vom Heissgelaufenen Reisswolf" (previously unreleased) (4:48)
I:Cube - "Vantableu" (8:31)
Organza Ray - "Preen Scene" (previously unreleased) (5:22)
Sula Bassana - "Tropfsteinhohle" (3:30)
Halwa - "Drehwurm" (previously unreleased) (7:19)
Lionel, Julien, Marceau Et Rainer - "Reise" (previously unreleased) (5:20)
Fred Und Luna - "Outro (Auf Wiederhoren)" (previously unreleased) (2:08)
Review: Perhaps in the future, we'll eat sauerkraut pills instead of having to actually pickle cabbage in order to make it. Such are the musings that compilations like The Future Sounds Of Kraut inspire - but also, perhaps by pure happenstance, they also lead us to wonder: what about the evolution of the contemporary German electronic rock genre of the same name? Celebrating the legacy and influence of the genre and movement that emerged in Germany in the late 1960s and early 70s - but not indulging derivations of your usual Clusters and Cans - this full-length compilation from Compost brings together 19 contemporary krautrock masterpieces, with choice, twinkly cuts from bands and solo artists including Musiccargo, Listening Center, Kosmischer Laufer and Pyrolator. Listen no further than here to hear the changing tide of kraut.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Echoes (part One) (13:16)
Careful With That Axe, Eugene (7:42)
A Saucerful Of Secrets (9:44)
Us & Them - One Of These Days (8:43)
Set The Control Of The Heart Of The Sun (9:55)
Mademoiselle Nobs (1:45)
Echoes (part Two) (14:34)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
For this outing, the mighty Dusty Donuts crew return to Queensbridge where they cross paths with a 'Lost Girl' which featured on a legendary mixtape by one of QB's finest. The bouncy, choppy Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop Late Night Remix is guaranteed to energise any crowd with its well-programmed beats. On the flipside, the vibe shifts from Queensbridge to Staten Island and brings a unique sound that woos in a different fashion. This heavy soul classic arrives in true Shaolin style with dark, choppy soul chords and classic hip-hop beats. Both of these tracks command attention with powerful drums while the synths connect with both mind and soul.
Careful With That Axe, Eugene (alternate take) (5:50)
A Saucerful Of Secrets (Unedited) (12:44)
Review: The newly re-mastered release of Pink Floyd's legendary Pompeii performance from 1972 - released as a film initially and recorded without an audience - immerses the listener in the eerie grandeur of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. Steven Wilson, in charge of reworking the audio, breathes fresh life into the familiar, giving tracks like 'Echoes Part 1' and 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' a heightened sense of space and detail. The alternate take of 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' and the unedited 'A Saucerful of Secrets' show the band's ever-evolving approach at this most productive stage in their career. A raw, expansive reflection of Pink Floyd's creative journey as they morphed from psychedelic garage stars to prog rock giants.
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.
2nd Day (CD2: November 1973 Phaedra Out-takes Volume 1)
Flute Organ Piece
Phaedra Out-Take Version 2A
Phaedra Out-Take 1 (CD3: November 1973 Phaedra Out-takes Volume 2)
Phaedra Out-Take 2B
2nd Side Piece 1
2nd Side Piece 2
Organ Piece
The Victoria Palace Concert (CD4: live At The Victoria Palace Theatre, London 16th June 1974 - part 1)
The Victoria Palace Concert (CD5: live At The Victoria Palace Theatre, London 16th June 1974 - part 2)
The Victoria Palace Concert - Encore
Phaedra (Blu-ray: Phaedra 5.1 Surround Sound mix By Steven Wilson)
Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares
Moments Of A Visionary
Sequent C
Review: Phaedra is the fifth studio album by German electronic group Tangerine Dream, recorded in November 1973 at The Manor in Shipton-on-Cherwell, England, and released in 1974 through Virgin. An icier, tempoless departure for a band otherwise better recognised for their sequencer-led, soundtrack-bred sound, this was a hidden moulin for frost-drone fanatics, and a deviant pupil of the otherwise strict Berlin School. Despite receiving little to no airplay, Phaedra gained significant traction through word of mouth when it was released by a rather more hippified Richard Branson's fledgling Virgin label, eventually reaching number 15 on the UK Albums Chart and remaining on the charts for 15 weeks. Its long-form pieces, such as 'Sequent C' and 'Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares', represent an indifference to constraints of timing, instead washing over the ears as diachronic, swirling, crisp ice ambient smirrs.
Faust - "I've Heard That One Before/Watch Your Step"
Eno, Moebius, Roedelius - "Foreign Affairs"
Harald Grosskopf - "Emphasis"
Cluster - "21:32" (Bureau B edit)
Moebius & Plank - "Rastakraut Pasta"
Roedelius - "Glaubersalz"
Pyrolator - "Minimal Tape 3/7 2"
Riechmann - "Himmelblau" (Bureau B edit)
Kluster - "Kluster 2" (Bureau B edit)
Gunter Schickert - "Apricot Brandy II" (Bureau B edit)
Asmus Tietchens - "Falter-Lamento"
Review: Krautrock is a long established genre whose name has recently been questioned. Whether or not it is a slur is an ongoing conversation. The music labelled as such has become iconic, with books like Julian Cope's Krautrocksampler and Alan and Stephen Freeman's Crack in the Cosmic Egg diving deep into its nuances. The debates over 'Krautrock' v 'Kosmische Musik' only add to its allure and Krautrock Eruption by Wolfgang Seidel explores some of these distinctions. The compilation presents tracks from twelve albums, focusing partly on Bureau B's catalogue, and entirely essential for fans of this sort of sound.
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