Recommendation: SOT - Kind of Saltz (2011)

If Saltz means 'Awesome', that it's more than just "Kind Of..."

Review: Humble Grumble - Flanders Fields (2011, AltrOck)

If you wish for an album to elevate your spirits, if you want happy and jovial music, if you want groove, excitement, jazziness and a bit of eclecticism, you’re in the right “field”.

Review: Accordo Dei Contrari - Kublai (2011)

Accordo Dei Contrari return to the public’s ear in 2011 with their second full-length album, Kublai. This new album follows their 2007 release, Kinesis, which to my ears was a pleasant, energetic and enjoyable listen and signaled a promising future.

Recommendation: Morpheus - Rabenteuer (1976)

Here's a groovy and enjoyable fusion/prog album that I got as a gift a few years ago. Morpheus were (and still are) a German band playing instrumental jazz rock, with lovely melodies and a nice warm live feel.

Bandcamp Discoveries: Red Army

Here's a reversed Bandcamp discovery; it found me.

A Tune to Get Your Night Going: The Wrong Object - Sonic Riot At The Holy Palate

The Wrong Object - Sonic Riot at the Holy Palate



Buy here.

Recommendation & Review: Boud Deun - Astronomy Made Easy (1997, Cuneiform)

Are you ready for almost an hour of intricate rock-fusion, a mélange of fusion and RIO, with influences from Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dixie Dregs, King Crimson (refer to Red era)?

Band In The Spotlight: Vortex (France)

Here is the bio I wrote for their Prog Archives page using as a source, the chronology in the inner sleeve of the 2 album pack "1975-1979", written by Aymeric Leroy

Review: Secret Oyster - Sea Son (1974, re-issue 2006)

Here's a(nother poor) review I wrote in 2006.
This time it's about this Danish progressive/jazz rock outfit, Secret Oyster and their excellent 1974 album Sea Son.

Musician in the Spotlight: Jean-Paul Prat

This post is dedicated to Jean-Paul Prat and in particular, his 1982 album Masal.

Review: Utopianisti - s/t (2011, Lusti Music)

Utopianisti

Finland is a cold place. It’s also dark for a lengthy period of time. In fact, that’s exactly the kind of place I’d like to live in! With a depressive atmosphere and gloomy music being played by the local bands and musicians.

But then you have folks like Markus Pajakkala, who come and ruin the whole thing for you… They play this upbeat and energetic music that makes you want to move your head and feet, music that you can’t help but have your senses shaken and your spirit lifted upon listening to it. Damn it, I’m trying to be depressed here! Those young kids and their damned upbeat and excellent music!

Ok, Let me start again.

Songs by crazy Swedes...: Samla Mammas Manna - Tärningen & Svackorpoängen

Whenever I want some wacky, humorous music, there is a multitude of options to choose from (Zappa, Komintern, Ma Banlieu Flasque, Mr. Bungle and others).

A very good option, though, is Swedish band Samla Mammas Manna, a band which incorporated various influences into its sound (folk, jazz-rock and other vegetables) and created their own sound.

The band consisted of great musicians including drummer Hasse Bruniusson (Flower Kings) and Lars Hollmer (who passed away two years ago in December 2008).

They were part of the RIO movement and participated in the RIO Festival in London in March 1978.

They have undergone several incarnations and have related projects (Von Zamla and Zamla Mammas Manna and Ramlösa Kvällar), all worth while listening to as well.



The following youtube clip is in fact two songs from their second album, Måltid, released in 1973.
They are the 6 and 7 tracks:
6. Tärningen (3:33)
7. Svackorpoängen (3:11)

Recommendation: Soft Mountain - Soft Mountain (2007)

Soft Mountain

Improvised live in the studio by the quartet of Hugh Hopper (bass), Elton Dean (sax), Yoshida Tatsuya (drums) and Hoppy Kamiyama (keyboards). Although, only released in 2007 (and in some places in 2006), this was recorded in 2003, during Dean's and Hopper's tour in Japan with Soft Works. By contacting Hoppy ahead of time, they agreed to get into a studio and just play... They start nicely and calmly with some "regular" sounding jazz, and slowly and progressively advance towards the more experimental and daring parts of this free style playing, of which a major part if free-form. The drums, while at times a bit too much in the back, are just a wild ride, relentless and with non-stop energetics, as if on steroids. It's made up of only two tracks - Soft Mountain Suite parts 1 & 2, and each is around half an hour. It might get too much at times, but when in the proper mood or state of mind, this is very rewarding. In any case, a fine release, very enjoyable, dynamic with mostly non-stop action.

Soft Mountain

Track 1: Soft Mountain Suite Pt. 1 (30.40)
Track 2: Soft Mountain Suite Pt. 2 (27.55)

Total running time: 58.40

Recorded 10th August 2003 in Tokyo, Japan

Elton Dean sax
Hugh Hopper bass
Hoppy Kamiyama keyboards
Yoshida Tatsuya drums

Music composed by E. Dean, H. Hopper, H. Kamiyama & Y. Tatsuya

Recommendation: Guillaume Perret & the Electric Epic - s/t (2009)

Guillaume Perret & the Electric Epic is a French group led by Guillaume Perret with:
Philippe Bussonnet - electric bass , effects
Yoann Serra - drums, sampler
Jim Grandcamp - electric guitar, vocals

You can stream their s/t album on Bandcamp here:
http://electricepic.bandcamp.com/

It's a heavy, fuzzy, experimental and psychedelic jazz-rock based album.



More links:
http://www.myspace.com/guillaumeperret
http://www.guillaume-perret.com/?page_id=37