MWE3.COM
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
MAY
2012 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL / SHANGRI-LA - Kids today have no idea what
a big deal Bob Dylan was in the early, middle and late ‘60s.
To music fans who came of age in the 1960s, Robert Zimmerman wrote
the soundtrack to our lives. From the stark, early ‘60s visions
of the early JFK-era folk music and civil rights, to the raging mid
‘60s anti-war period and then psychedelic folk rock and finally
the invention of country rock, Bob Dylan paved the way. By the time
Bob released New Morning in early 1970, 
the
dream was over and the corporations had all but taken over the American
music world. Of course, Dylan fans will tell you all the past six
decades have yielded classic Bob, but as this 4 CD tribute points
out, it will be Bob’s music as done by The Byrds, The Band and
Jimi Hendrix that will be the stuff written about in the history books.
The four CD, 75 track set Chimes Of Freedom celebrates
50 years of Dylan as interpreted by a collection of more than 80 artists
including Pete Townshend, Eric Burdon, Taj Mahal,
Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, Sting, Seal
& Jeff Beck, Carly Simon, Adele, Natasha
Bedingfield, Sinead O’Connor, and a whole lot more
and even Bob Dylan himself appears with a set closing version of the
title track—the original from 1964 being the final track on CD
4. It’s a ton of new Dylan versions as done by legends and newcomers
alike but, even with some fitting liner notes, there’s no track
numbers on the packaging as to know who’s doing what. (The track
number are on the CDs themselves.) Bob Dylan, The Band, The Byrds
and Jimi Hendrix is a hard act to follow but hey, Amnesty International
does a good job so pick it up for that reason alone. www.amnestyusa.org/chimes
AMPLIFIER THE BAND - Over in Manchester, England the group
known as Amplifier are making waves with their 2011 double
CD set entitled The Octopus. Featuring the music
and guitar work of vocalist Sel Balamir, the group is fleshed
out 
with
the contributions of Neil Mahony (bass) and Matt Brobin
(drums). The place where progressive rock meets hard rock and
even some metal type sounds is where you’ll find Amplifier. True
to form, the 16 track CD set spans over two CDs and covers a wealth
of musical styles. Prog fans who like late ‘70s Pink Floyd will
like this as will fans of groups like Motorhead. The CD sounds great
thanks to some imaginative mastering by pop hero Jon Astley
and in addition the CD is creatively packaged with several inserts
and a bunch of tiny octopus stickers. For a better idea who they are
check out the spooky looking Amplifier web site. www.AmplifierTheBand.com
ANGEL AIR RECORDS - Sometime after Procol Harum released Broken
Barricades, founding guitarist Robin Trower left the fold and
for what turned out to be temporary (he returned in 1991) but his
replacement was guitarist Dave Ball. Although Dave only appeared
on one Procol Harum album—the late 1971 release of Live With
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, he would be replaced by Mick
Grabham, who would record the remaining 1970’s albums with Procol.
It’s unbelievable but after 40 years, Dave Ball is back with
a recently finished 2012 CD called Don’t Forget Your Alligator.
Featuring Dave and his brother Denny Ball, the 14 track
CD was recorded over a five year period and features a cross-section
of bluesy, rock based singer-songwriter tracks along with Dave’s
patented Trower like approach to progressive blues and rock guitar
stylings. The songs range too and as such should appeal to fans of
Procol Harum and Trower fans too. Ball fans looking for insight into
his early ‘70s, post-Procol work with the group Bedlam are
advised to track down a 2012 CD released by Angel Air entitled In
Command 1973. Recorded live at Command studios in London
in October 1973, the CD features the Ball brothers with drummer Cozy
Powell and singer Frank Aiello who lay down a live in the
studio set of hard rocking songs with Dave’s guitar front and
center. www.AngelAir.co.uk
BLACK BROWN AND WHITE - Released in late 2011, Looking
Up Feeling Down features guitarist Paul Wassif in the
company of fine players such as the late Bert Jansch and Cream
co-founder Eric Clapton. Stylistically, with a mix of bluesy
rock and melodic tear-jerker ballads, Wassif is kinda like Clapton
in some ways and, both as a singer-songwriter and a guitarist, (note
the excellent slide work on “I Missed It All") he can certainly
hold his own. For the most part, Wassif is joined by a core band including
drummer Robin Clayton among others. Interestingly, several
tracks here are even historically relevant, with Clapton and Jansch
playing together on track three, a real tear-jerker called “Please
Don’t Leave.” With an album of standout tracks, for the
most part, Wassif’s CD should appeal to post-Cream Clapton fans.
www.BlackBrownAndWhite.com
CLEOPATRA RECORDS - One of the brightest and best of
the American indy record labels, Cleopatra has a comeback album from
veteran funk-rock master Sly Stone entitled I’m
Back! Family & Friends. Inserting a few new for
2011 tracks, the 14 track album basically centers around new versions
of Sly’s classic music from the heyday of his band Sly &
The Family Stone. Although approaching 70 in 2013, Sly and his band
sound really kinetic on these excellent remakes. In addition, the
CD features guest slots from rock icons Ray Manzarek (from
The Doors), Ann Wilson (from Heart), guitar hero Jeff Beck
and many others. Even with these star artists fitting in, the
focus is Sly’s vocals and songs, which remain ever vital five
decades later. Sly was at the forefront of bringing soul and funk
into the American Top 40 FM radio scene during the late ‘60s
and early ‘70s and, as these songs indicate, he was truly a soul-rock
pioneer. Hat’s off to Cleopatra head Brian Perera as the
sound of the CD is very good and even better is the amazing CD packaging
with its multi-fold panels and eye-popping color scheme. www.CleoRecs.com
DAMAGED
GOODS - The irrepressible Angela Penhaligon goes by the
stage name of Piney Gir. Her 13 track 2011 CD, Geronimo!
released on the U.K. based Damaged Goods label creates a toe-tapping,
kind of 21st century Phil Spector meets the Bangles style country
pop set against a solid beat, also lending the music the aura of classic
U.K. style mid ‘60s pop. On that level Piney Gir succeeds while
overall, her album will appeal to fans of Emmylou Harris and Elvis
Costello and even those country style pop fans who wonder what Patsy
Cline might sound like if she was alive in 2012. www.PineyGir.com
DORIS MUSIC - The band known as Doris is the brainchild
of singer-songwriter Paul Adelstein backed up by a number of
unknown yet gifted players. Interesting that some of the tracks sound
inspired by the L.A. rock sound of Brian Wilson, while others take
off in a more harder rocking and sometimes even more theatrical manner
sounding inspired by Robbie Robertson and The Band. Back in 2005 Doris
released Between You And Me and in 2012 they follow suit with
All The Details. Recording All The Details
in L.A., Adelstein deftly tackles keyboards and Hammond B-3 and some
guitar while he’s really backed up to the max by a number of
guitarists, mellotron players and drummers. Second generation 21st
century L.A. pop at it’s finest, All The Details is well
served by that ultimate of all kitsch CD cover / artwork concepts.
www.DorisMusic.net
FIRE RECORDS - One of the great pop comebacks of 2012, the
ten track Hymns reunites the group known as Cardinal.
Featuring singer-songwriters Richard Davies and Eric Matthews,
Cardinal was described early on as “orch-pop”, mixing Beatles,
BeeGees and other baroque rock influences with a post-punk rock sophistication.
It’s been 18 years since the 1994 release of the self-titled
Cardinal album and amazingly, after years of recording as solo
artists, Hymns sounds like Davies and Matthews haven’t
missed a beat. Davies wrote many of the tracks with Matthews putting
on his producer / arranger hat and the results are an uncanny though
satisfying mix of sophisticated 1960’s era Beatles style pop
for 21st century ears. www.FireRecords.com
GLITTERHOUSE RECORDS - Over in Germany, Glitterhouse is making
waves with the 2012 CD from singer-songwriter Penelope Houston.
Her latest CD, On Market Street is a far cry from the
early ‘80s sound of her early San Francisco punk-rock band The
Avengers. Overall, On Market Street is the work of a mature
artist, filled with a dark, disturbing mix of rock, folk and cabaret
style of music explored in the late ‘70s by artists, for instance,
such as John Cale. For On Market Street, Ms. Houston is joined
by notable players including co-producer Jeffery Wood, long
time guitarist Pat Johnson and more. Rock for the 21st century,
On Market Street is filled with a solid mix of memorable sounds.
www.glitterhouse.com
INTERSCOPE RECORDS - Pop icon Madonna pushes past her
disco roots on what can almost be deemed a pop masterpiece—the
2012 CD release of MDNA. Perhaps Madonna is in
our DNA at this point. Mixing pop smarts with a white hot club beat,
MDNA delivers both hypnotic dance grooves and lush melodic
etchings. Pop fans who thrilled to the late ‘90s release of Ray
Of Light will find much to applaud on MDNA. Ray Of Light producer
William Orbit receives credits here along with a wide range
of producers and musicians. One of the coolest tracks on MDNA—“I’m
A Sinner” is among the great Madonna / William Orbit productions
and is enhanced by electrifying percussion and drums from Alan
Tilston and backup vocals from the song’s co-composer Jean
Baptiste. Every track on MDNA sets itself apart from every
other track here, making for a very unique listening experience. With
MDNA, Madonna truly arrives with a 21st century modern pop
music masterpiece. www.madonna.com
HENTA MUSIC - New Age music and the Grammys make strange bedfellows
and case in point is the singer-songwriter known as Henta Ellis, mostly
known as Henta. In the 52nd Grammy Awards in January 31, 2010,
Henta was nominated in a 
category
with legends like that year’s winner David Darling, as well as
Kitaro and some other classic New Age heroes. I remember some New
Age guru almost besmirching Henta’s innocence. Turned out, Henta
sounding like Enya’s fairy god mother from a more rooted musical
galaxy was very impressive indeed. That Henta sound so succinctly
captured in the Grammy nominated Laserium For The Soul is carried
forward on the 2012 release of Butterfly Song. Bursting
out of a musical cocoon, the 12 track Butterly Song CD should
appeal to fans of other female singers like Enya and Buffy St. Marie.
There’s even a great CD closing instrumental called “Whisper”
Some of Henta’s friends appear including Northwest guitarist
/ singer-songwriter Ethan Matthews but the accent here is on
Henta’s songs and voice and her superb keyboard / electronic
accompaniment. www.hentamusic.com
JAM RECORDS - Based out in Michigan, JAM Records is owned and
operated by pop maverick Jeremy, who records prolifically under
his own name as well as releasing a slew of trendy sounding pop albums
on JAM. Jeremy’s latest pop creation features him as a member
of a band of ‘60s music mavens called The Lemon Clocks.
On the 13 track Now Is The Time Jeremy’s guitar
work is in full flight reverberating throughout this retro-sounding
album that sounds like a 21st century version of Pink Floyd meets
Traffic meets Pretty Things. Supporting Jeremy’s guitar and vocals
is Stefan Johansson (guitar / drums / keyboards) and Todd
Borsch (bass / guitar) All in all, Now Is The Time is
essential listening for ‘60s psych-pop enthusiasts and the album
doesn’t disappoint. While The Lemon Clocks satisfy Jeremy’s
pop penchant, fans of his progressive instrumental leanings will want
to give a listen to his other new album for 2012 entitled Guitar
Heaven. With its sublime approach to acoustic instrumental
guitar sounds, the CD release will be of interest to fans of big name
guitarists like Steve Hackett, Gordon Giltrap, Leo Kottke and beyond.
Either way, prog or pop, Jeremy has it covered on these two inviting
CD releases. www.JamRecordings.com
JANET RECORDS - One of the great ambient pop albums of 2011, Here
Is Where We Used To Sing, makes a fine introduction
to the music of the group known as Fovea Hex. One person raving
about Fovea Hex is Brian Eno, who adds his 
performance
on a track here. All very Eno-esque, Fovea Hex features the ethereal
sonic vocals, keyboards and music of Clodagh Simonds with additional
electronic keyboard treatments by Michael Begg. The CD, featuring
a mix of eight songs and three short instrumentals, is amazingly packaged
with some really out there artwork, but it’s really for the music
that ambient music lovers will want to hear this. A bunch of artists
appear in supporting roles. Sort of gloom and doom type stuff specializing
in mesmerizing drone sounds, Fovea Hex is somewhat reminiscent of
Cocteau Twins, Durutti Column (sans guitars) and other far out artists
from England, while Ms. Simonds sounds like Kate Bush from another
world. In addition to the full length CD, Janet Records is also making
another bonus CD available, entitled Three Beams,
that features remixes of three tracks. Lush sounding, otherworldly
music from another dimension are just another couple ways to describe
the music of Fovea Hex. www.JanetRecords.com
MESA BLUE MOON - A founding member of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,
country rock legend and banjo picker extraordinaire John McEuen
returns with The McEuen Sessions on long time jazz-rock
label Mesa / Blue Moon—a label started by in the ‘80s by
ex-Jem Records exec Jim Snowden. McEuen is joined by two of his sons,
Jonathan McEuen and Nathan McEuen on an album that tastefully
combines country pop with a real generation spanning kind of Americana
vibe. In his liner notes, John reflects back on his unique combination
of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Beatles (the McCartney influence
in play on “Love Word” presented here with two different
versions) and various influences from long time McEuen cohort Dave
Mason as evidenced here by a fresh McEuen cover of Mason’s 1970
post-Traffic rave-up “Only You Know And I Know”. Further
commenting on The McEuen Sessions, the elder McEuen adds, ‘The
album is a culmination of my sons’ influences that come from
everything from Phish to Johnny Cash to The Beatles to The Band. Then,
throw into the mix their having had a dad who’s been in a band
for 45 years, and what that meant growing up.’ www.JohnMcEuen.com
OLD
CALIFORNIO RECORDS - Another fine CD from this post punk, R.E.M.
inspired band, Sundrunk Angels is the 2012 CD from Old
Californio. While listening you might recall the sound of The
Grateful Dead circa the first New Riders album. The songs are great
and sometimes combine ‘60s pop influences into the more rootsy
tracks. Some music critics have been comparing Old Californio to bands
like The Jayhawks and The Eagles as well, yet OC retains a real post
modern sheen that carries the Americana rock sound deeper into the
21st century. www.OldCalifornio.com
OPEN SKY RECORDS - Going strong since the late 1980’s (seems
like a lifetime ago), the U.K. group known as IONA returned
strong with their double CD set entitled Another Realm.
The double CD set was released in 2011 and features a strong set
of tracks featuring group vocalist Joanne Hogg, guitarist /
keyboardist and producer Dave Bainbridge and much more. For
those unfamiliar with their brand of sophisticated prog-pop, IONA
sounds quite influenced by the early ‘70s sound of Annie Haslam’s
Renaissance. The tracks stick in your head while the production and
recording sound of Another Realm is first rate. The artwork
and CD packaging really enhances the overall listening experience
while Ms. Hogg’s voice is a really heavenly experience. A number
of IONA members have also recorded solo albums including Dave Bainbridge,
whose 2004 solo album Veil Of Gossamer features his own performance
on more than twelve instruments. www.iona.uk.com
SONY MUSIC MATERWORKS - These songs are in their blood so it’s
quite fitting that the children of Brian Wilson and John Phillips—the
group known as Wilson-Phillips sing the songs of the ‘60s
on Dedicated. Although the album sticks to the
hits, there’s a finely honed pop vibe in play on the 12 track
CD. Commenting, Carnie Wilson adds, ‘The basic arrangements
and rhythms are really true, but vocally we’ve added some new
twists and tag endings.’ With Carnie supported by sister Wendy
Wilson and Chynna Phillips, the CD features performances
by a number of backing musicians, including a vocal performance from
Owen Elliot—daughter of the late, great Cass Elliot, to
which Carnie Wilson adds, ‘She’s been my best friend for
25 years. I know this is a Wilson Phillips album, but in honor of
Cass, we wanted her to be part of it. We were literally all bawling
hysterically every time we did a take, because she sounds so much
like her mother that it came out beyond the beyond!’ Produced
by Rob Bonfiglio, Dedicated is a welcome, 21st century
addition to the ongoing saga of classic West Coast pop. www.WilsonPhillipsMusic.com
VIZZTONE - One of the top labels in the US when it comes to releasing
rocking blues based albums, Vizztone has a winner on their hands with
Inside Out, the latest CD from The Phantom
Blues Band. With their mix of bluesy rock, and the occasional
instrumental added in, Phantom Blues Band features some top notch
players including keyboard / organ legend Mike Finnigan, who’s
joined on the 13 track CD by top players like Johnny Lee Schell
(guitars), Larry Fulcher (bass), Darrell Leonard (sax),
Joe Sublett (trumpets), Tony Braunagle (drums) with
some high profile guest artists too. With all band members adding
vocals and backing vocals, the music of Phantom Blues Band superbly
evokes the spirit of classic ‘70s roots-rock bands like The Band,
Little Feat and more. With its no holds barred, rocking down the house
effect in full flight, fans of The Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Leon
Russell and Elton John would dig this album. www.PhantomBluesBand.com
VIZZTONE - Carrying on the tradition of the old school Chicago
Blues style made famous by blues legends such as blues giant Muddy
Waters, guitarist / vocalist Bob Margolin strikes gold with
the 2011 CD release of Steady Rollin’. Featuring
Bob with The Mike Sponza Band, the 12 track Steady Rollin’
(subtitled Blues Around The World) includes a number of
rocking blues based tracks co-written by Bob and fellow guitarist
Mike Sponza, who also co-produced the album. Also included
in the mix are hard-hitting covers of the classic blues tracks, “Love
In Vain” and a rousing “Rollin’ And Tumblin’”,
the latter a track made famous by Cream and also given a rousing Margolin
workout here. The electric guitar work by Margolin and Sponza is on
fire while additional support from a solid band of support players
keeps the blues rock action at a fever pitch. The Steady Rollin’
CD is well recorded and features fine packaging including informative
liner notes from both Bob Margolin and Mike Sponza. www.BobMargolin.com
WHALING CITY SOUND - Back in the 1960’s crooners like Tony
Bennett, Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra made some solid inroads on
the pop charts especially during the Beatles era, when quality music
ruled the day. One artist in 2012 who pays homage to that great ‘63-69
era of the 20th century is singer-guitarist Frank D’Rone,
caught in full flight on his 2012 album from Whaling City Sound entitled
Double Exposure. Arranged and conducted by Phil
Kelly, the 11 track CD features D’Rone breathing new life
into a number of classic, near vintage pop standards, from the Great
American Songbook, that really sounds like it was recorded in the
‘60s. With its Creed Taylor like wide screen scope, the CD features
D’Rone stretching out in the studio backed by a wide range of
players including trumpets, trombones, saxes, piano, percussion, EFX,
drums and fretless bass. Like a newly created flashback to a vintage
Sinatra album from 1962, D’Rone works musical magic on Double
Exposure. Oh yeah, Frank's new CD also features back cover notes
from Tony Bennett himself. www.WhalingCitySound.com
WOODSTOCK RECORDS - Back in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s,
Woodstock (the town) was a big deal. Home to Dylan and The Band 
back
when, in 2012 the town is also home to a fine record label, Woodstock
Records. Released on CD by Woodstock in 2012, 17 Pine Avenue
is yet another fine set from hippie rock heroes New Riders
Of The Purple Sage. Still featuring key members David Nelson
and long time NRPS pedal steel ace Buddy Cage, the album
also features key contributions from Michael Falzarano, Ronnie
Penque and Johnny Markowski. Contributing to the new songs
is Nelson song writing partner and long time Grateful Dead icon Robert
Hunter. Guesting here is Professor Louie. Many of these
tracks pick right up from that classic “psychedelic Americana”
period on that first NRPS album with Jerry Garcia from 1971. On 17
Pine Avenue, the New Riders keep their freak flag flying high
on an album that further honors their heritage. www.WoodstockRecords.com
INSTRUMENTAL
ABSTRACT LOGIX - Who ever says jazz-fusion is passé
should give a listen to U.K. drumming ace Gary Husband. Gary
is keeping the entire instro fusion art form alive and well on his
two CD releases entitled Dirty & Beautiful.
The first volume of Dirty & Beautiful Volume 1 blew many
a jazz-rockers mind and likewise, the same is being said about Dirty
& Beautiful Volume 2, released in late 2011 on the Abstract
Logix label. Like volume 1, released in 2010, this second volume finds
Gary in the studio recording with jazz-rock giants including guitarists
Ray Russell, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, John
McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Herring, Robin
Trower as well as keyboard icon Jan Hammer and many more.
The sound is cutting edge yet it harkens back to that fabled late
‘70s period when jazz fusion was at its zenith. Much more than
a dedicated musician keeping an art form alive, Dirty & Beautiful
makes for a great jazz-rock experience for true believers and
newcomers to the time honored genre. www.GaryHusband.com
AMD RECORDS - Guitar fans who caught up with Irish guitar ace
Austin Durack and his 2009 CD entitled A Guitar Journey
will be happy to see and hear Austin’s 2012 CD Drops
Of Jazz. Although meditative and guitar based, the
15 track CD is just that—a jazz mix of instrumental and vocal
based jazzy guitar tracks that all serve to underscore Austin’s
deft touch on acoustic guitar. On A Guitar Journey, Austin
mixed his original tracks with a number of covers and likewise, Drops
Of Jazz mixes both Durack originals with covers, including some
unusual choices like a haunting solo guitar instrumental of the Bob
Dylan classic “Blind Willie McTell”, George Gershwin’s
“Summertime” and Austin’s impressive reworking of an
A.C. Jobim favorite, here entitled “Callin’ Ipanema.”
Despite being a fine composer in his own right, Austin states in his
liner notes that Drops Of Jazz is ‘more about my arrangements
of standard tunes.’ Several players assist, including jazz singer
Judy O’Connor, who sings up a storm on the lead off title
track, but clearly the focus of Drops Of Jazz is on Austin’s
wide depth of experience as a jazz stylist and guitar virtuoso. www.Austin-Durack.com
BURCUBE MUSIC - Cosmic space music is nothing new yet in the right
hands it still packs a solid, convincing musical punch. Fans of the
genre should have a listen to the latest CD from multi-instrumentalist
Robert Burger and his musical entity called The Gak Omek.
Released in 2011, the Gak Omek CD (just try and pronounce it!) Nonrenormalizability
will take your mind far and wide and you don’t even have
to leave your living room! Some astute listeners have compared Burger
and The Gak Omek to U.K. space music masters Ozric Tentacles and there’s
a little bit of a late ‘70s Mike Oldfield / Phillip Glass vibe
in play, but even so, there’s plenty here to separate The Gak
Omek from the Ozrics. Open your mind and your ears will follow. Turn
on to The Gak Omek. www.TheGakOmek.com
INAKUSTIK - The German jazz label Inakukstik has a fine 2 hour
live concert DVD from jazz fusion guitar ace Al DiMeola. Captured
live in 2009 at the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco, Morocco
Fantasia features the Return To Forever guitar ace joined
by a number of musicians including Peo Alfonsi (on second guitar)
as well as Peter Kasza on drums and a number of local Moroccan
musicians. Bonus features include excerpts from the rehearsals from
the sound check and Al performing a session while visiting a bazaar
and a photo gallery. Liner notes from DiMeola describing the concert
event is featured in a colorful booklet complete with full credits
and band pics. www.AlDiMeola.com
MIND YOUR HEAD MUSIC - Joining Squeeze as their bass player in
1979, John Bentley has played on classic Squeeze albums as
well as appearing as a side man with a number of classic rock acts.
Little is known of it but John has a couple a great impressionistic
sounding rock-pop instrumental albums that borrow from a number of
genres like soundtrack music, light jazz and even reggae and a surf-flecked,
Hank Marvin style guitar sound. Featuring Bentley playing electric
upright bass, double bass, acoustic guitar, drums, keyboards and percussion,
Mind Your Head is enhanced by a fine performance by
guitarist Duncan McKenzie who adds in National steel, acoustic
and electric guitars. McKenzie also appears on a track on Bentley’s
nearly completely self-played 2006 album The Man Who Never Was.
Mind YOur Head is much more guitar-centric but they’re both
worth a listening for those instro heads. www.JohnBentley.tv
NILS WEINHOLD RECORDS - Recorded in 2011, Shapes is
an engaging instrumental jazz set from NYC based guitarist Nils
Weinhold. On the eight track Shapes Nils is joined
by a range of players including Adam Larson (sax), Fabian
Almazan (keyboards), Luques Curtis (bass) and Bastian
Weinhold (drums). Although it’s Weinhold’s debut album,
Shapes sounds like the recorded work of a mature jazz guitar
man. Having studied with some of the jazz greats, including Phil Markowitz
and Dave Liebman, Weinhold steps out in style on his own with the
thoroughly satisfying, contemporary jazz groove of Shapes. www.NilsWeinhold.com
OKTAF MUSIC - New age instrumental music guru and pianist extraordinaire,
Harold Budd is an icon among ambient music enthusiasts. Budd’s
recordings with Brian Eno is still the stuff of electronic ambient
music legends and fittingly, in 2012, a 
number
of younger artists have joined together to pay homage to Harold on
a 13 track, various artists tribute album called Lost In The
Humming Air - Music Inspired By Harold Budd. Released
on the German-based Oktaf Music & Art Label, the CD is filled
with the same spirit Budd originally set out to craft throughout his
prolific repertoire of New Age inspired electronic instrumental music,
before, during and after Eno. Although many of the younger artists
paying their tributes here to Budd are unknown, their kindred spirit
is unmistakable. The 2012 CD release is superbly mastered and overall
it captures the essence of Budd’s importance and significance
in the ambient music world. In addition to the hypnotic sonic soundtrack
within, the CD artwork is also very Budd influenced while liner notes
from two the key artists taking part here—Martin Juhls and
Rafael Anton Irisarri—paints a fitting picture of Budd’s
importance among today’s ambient music enthusiasts. www.oktaf.com
ROLLER RECORDS - Over in Germany, Roller Records is releasing
some interesting CDs by Norwegian guitarist Berdon Kirksaether.
A guitar player on the rise, Berdon’s 2010 CD Ray Of Light
is an intriguing, New Age type affair filled with 
relaxing
instrumental sounds. Too laid back to be considered jazz, the 12 track,
37 minute CD just kind of floats along and makes a great soundtrack
to some late night, imaginary type of fantasy. The other side of Berdon’s
guitar styles can be heard on his late 2011 CD, simply entitled Blues.
The 12 track, 48 minute CD is a rocking affair, featuring Berdon’s
electric guitar and vocals backed up by his group The Twang Bar Kings.
Sounding kind of influenced by Dire Straits and even ZZ Top, Blues
makes an interesting contrast especially when compared to the
instrumental New Age vibe of Berdon’s 2010 Ray Of Light CD.
www.RollerRec.com
SUNNYSIDE RECORDS - Guitar fans who caught up with Joel
Harrison during his 2005 Harrison On Harrison tribute to
the Beatles guitarist, will equally appreciate his 2012 CD entitled
Search by the Joel Harrison 7. Backed up by a
mini jazz orchestra, including strings and horns, Harrison’s
specialty is deeply rooted orchestrated chamber jazz that at times
echoes various recordings by guitarists such as John Scofield and
Bill Frisell, yet Harrison carries on the jazz fusion maestro mantle
with his own unique guitar sound. Originally planned as a showcase
for bringing Harrison’s classical music influence into jazz,
Search took on a life of its own and, amid the impressionistic
neo-jazz fusion there’s even a jazzy / rocky kind of out there,
with that style taken to the extreme on Harrison’s instrumental
version of “Whipping Post”—originally a track on the
1969 Allman Brothers Band debut album. There’s also a cover of
classical avant gardist Oliver Messiaen while the title track was
co-composed by Joel Harrison 7 keyboardist Gary Versce. All
in all, Search is one of the most adventurous, guitar-centric
jazz fusion albums of the year. Commenting on working with the NYC
based Sunnyside label, Harrison adds, ‘Sunnyside is putting out
some of the best jazz music in the world right now. Their taste is
similar to mine: progressive. They are good with artists who "fit
between the cracks" stylistically like me. I just met them by
being in New York. Francois knows what's happening in town. You see
him and Bret at a lot of shows’. After seeking out Search,
Harrison watchers will also want to give a listen to his previous
Sunnyside Records release—a neo-classical jazz guitar meets strings
tribute to jazz drumming legend Paul Motian, by the Joel Harrison
String Choir, appropriately entitled The Music Of Paul Motian.
www.SunnysideRecords.com
TELARC - Classical guitar master David Russell continues
making great CDs of his recordings with the 2012 release of The
Grandeur Of The Baroque. The 21 track CD was released
in early 2012 and features Russell covering a number of classical
masters including J.S. Bach, George Frederic Handel, François
Couperin and lutist Silvius Leopold Weiss. Produced by María
Jesus Rodríguez, The Grandeur Of The Baroque was
recorded at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio and, thanks in part to the
superb sonic mastering by Paul Blackmore, the CD maintains
a high level of sonic superiority. Commenting on the album Russell
explains, ‘I have chosen a group of pieces from the Baroque period
by composers that have meant much to me over the years. All of them
have brought me great pleasure both in the enjoyment of studying and
playing their music and also in listening to their great works being
performed by others. I hope that you enjoy the recording as much as
I have enjoyed playing this wonderful music.’ In depth liner
notes and a number of color pics enhance the listening experience
of David Russell’s tribute to four of the most celebrated and
renowned Baroque masters for the guitar. www.DavidRussellGuitar.com
TOKEN BOY RECORDS - An innovative power jazz trio featuring Scott
Hamill (guitars), James Day (keyboards) and Christopher
Brown (drums), Random Touch reach a new zenith with their
2011 double CD set, Tributary. The sprawling
two disc set mixes jazz, avant gard with a wild futuristic sound.
It’s amazing to witness the degree to which they guys can improvise.
This isn’t some retro jazz sound as Random Touch mix their jazz
side with fresh inspirations, while drawing on key influences such
as King Crimson, Weather Report and 20th century avant gardists like
Wendy Carlos, Fred Frith and Morton Subotnick. Influenced by Phil
Manzanera and Bill Frisell, guitarist Scott Hamill has a guitar pedigree
going back to the 1970’s, while keyboardist Day cites Giorgio
Ligeti’s soundtrack work in 2001 as another sonic signpost
to live up to. After some serious listening, you realize that
on their 15th album, Random Touch aren’t traditional anything
and they clearly break new musical ground on this double CD masterwerk.
www.RandomTouch.com
ULTIMAE - One of the best European electronic music labels,
Ultimate continue onward with an amazing instrumental CD from Solar
Fields entitled Until We Meet The Sky. mwe3.com
reviewed the first Solar Fields album—Origin #1—back
in 2011 and likewise, the 79 minute, 2012 Solar Fields release Until
We Meet The Sky is equally beguiling and hypnotic. Once again
Solar Fields is helmed by Swedish e-music maestro Magnus Birgersson
who edges forward with a fine performance on guitars, bass and
all manners of scintillating electronics. Kick in the fine studio
wizardry from from Ultimae founder Vincent Villuis, and you
come away with one of the most amazing albums of instrumental, Euro-based
electronic of the 21st century. Check it out for the music, but the
packaging is also truly a sight to behold so, while it is available
as a download, so serious electronic music buffs should consider investing
in the actual CD release. A slightly different, yet equally intriguing
release on Ultimae—Greenosphy is a collection of
electronic collected by Swiss activist / DJ Cyril Miserez (aka
mizoo). The February 2012 CD release features nearly 80 minutes
of music from various artists from around the world, including Solar
Fields (Sweden), mnnsk (Switzerland), Rildrim (Spain),
Liquid Stranger (USA) and many more. Mizoo works electronic
music magic on yet another amazing Ultimae CD release filled with
deep ambient grooves and what he describes as being ‘fresh chlorophyll
visions, leafy rhythms and luxuriant melodies.’ Not quite as
hard hitting or intense as a complete album from Solar Fields, Greenosophy
is a most meditative and illuminating sonic treatise indeed. www.ultimae.com
ÜVCD - The trend of beautiful, Euro-based guitar-based instrumental
pop and rock started by Hank B. Marvin and The Shadows back in 1958
continues on, 55 years later. Of course, Hank had his influences too,
like Duane Eddy and Cliff Gallup to mention but two, yet in a lot
of ways, Hank was and still is the man. Case in point is a 2011 CD
from Hungarian guitar ace László Üveges entitled
Dalaim II. There’s plenty of superbly executed
and sonically pleasing instrumental guitar tracks on Üveges’
CD and even though the track titles are all printed in Hungarian,
there’s a lot for instrumental guitar fans, and especially fans
of Hank and the Shadows to admire here. Even though Üveges plays
all the instruments, the sound is full-bodied and the CD proudly takes
its place among the more interesting and sonically rewarding instrumental
rock CD releases of 2011. For more information contact Üveges
directly. uvegeslaszlo5107@freemail.hu
REISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES
BGO RECORDS - Over in the U.K. BGO Records keeps breaking records
with their amazing CD reissues. Among the hot BGO reissues for 2012
include Love Is from Eric Burdon & The Animals.
Originally released back in 1968 as a double Lp set, Love Is was
a a far cry from the heyday of the Animals during the 1964 British
Invasion but there’s plenty on this for long time fans to admire.
The beat group craze was history and the the hippie / flower power
dream was in full bloom in 1968 and Burdon’s band made the most
of the scene. The Animals at that point included Burdon, piano / keyboard
legend Zoot Money, guitarists Andy Summers and John
Weider and Barry Jenkins on drums. Essentially the final
Animals album before Burdon created WAR, Love Is is filled
with psychedeli-sized covers of “River Deep Mountain High”,
“Coloured Rain”, “To Love Somebody” and much more.
Despite being overlooked at the time, the 66 minute CD is a fitting
tribute to the Animals while the CD features amazing performances
by all including Zoot Money and Andy Summers, who, by the next decade
would become take over the world with Sting and The Police. The BGO
CD remaster features fitting liner notes surrounding the history of
Love Is from BGO’s resident music historian David Wells.
Also newly released on CD from BGO is a 2 CD set from Steve Gibbons
Band. The CD combines two early 1980’s albums—Street
Parade with Saints & Sinners—making
for 24 tracks in total. Another reissue from Loggins & Messina—Finale
features the dynamic duo of country rock in fine form while capturing
performances from 1975 and 1976. To their credit L&M made a great
comeback in 2005 yet this 16 track, 2012 BGO reissue is a long sought
after masterpiece. Also reissued in 2012 is double CD set from British
Invasion superstars Peter & Gordon. BGO’s 2012 reissue
pair three Peter & Gordon albums on one double CD set including
Sing & Play The Hits Of Nashville Tennessee (11
tracks), Woman (11 tracks) with Hot Cold &
Custard (11 tracks on disc 2). “Woman” was a huge
Peter & Gordan track written by Paul McCartney, under the
pen name Bernard Webb, yet there’s a ton a great music
from the legendary folk-rock duo to make this BGO classic a must for
their many fans. www.BGO-records.com
CHRYSALIS
/ EMI RECORDS - Guitarist Robin Trower is a legend
among U.K. guitar gods and rock heroes. The original guitarist in
the original Procol Harum, Trower left Procol in 1971 yet his solo
career has been filled with an enormous amounts of highlights. Starting
out with his 1974 Matthew Fisher produced solo album debut, Twice
Removed From Yesterday, Trower’s career has proved to be
a text book example on how to craft hard rocking blues albums. As
a follow up to the A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years 1974-1977,
Chrysalis / EMI follow up in 2012 with Robin Trower: Farther
On Up The Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983. Featuring
both rock hall of famer and Cream founder Jack Bruce and original
Trower group vocalist, the late, gerat James Dewar—along
with lyrics sometimes written by the great Procol Harum lyricist Keith
Reid and Cream lyricist Pete Brown—the three disc
Farther On Up The Road is loaded with 58 killer tracks tracks—incuding
a couple single edits and b-sides—spanning six different Trower
solo albums including two made with Jack Bruce during the BLT years.
Mastered for perfect CD sound by Abbey Road engineer Peter Mew,
the 3 CD set features an extensive CD booklet filled with rare pics,
CD artwork and insightful liner notes—with interviews from Robin—written
by musicologist Malcolm Dome. There isn’t much that Trower
has not done over the past 45 years, yet as Farther On Up The Road
underscores, Trower’s past musical glories are still very
much vital and worth reexploring, even in 2012. www.TrowerPower.com
ANGEL AIR RECORDS - What more can be said about Stackridge?
Simply one of the great post-Beatles rock bands from England, Andy
Davis, James Warren, Crun, Mutter Slater &
company are remembered yet again with a new best of on Angel Air entitled,
Preserved - Best Of Volume Two. Angel Air has
the entire Stackrige back catalog in their catalog and this second
volume of choice favorites and rarities is a dandy. Much more esoteric
then the first best of on Angel Air, Preserved compiles tracks
as far back as the early ‘70s and adds in some early and mid
2000 era Stackridge, somehow making it all fit together. In fact,
by including some rarely heard Stackridge music, the first four track
here sounds like a long lost Stackridge album from the mid ‘70s.
The booklet features song by song liner notes which further credits
Andy, James and long time Stackridge manager Mike Tobin with
various production credits. www.AngelAir.co.uk
MOONJUNE - Based in NYC, Moonjune is headed up by musicologist
/ producer Leonardo Pavkovic. Over the past decade Moonjune
has worked with some of the finest cutting edge progressive rock and
jazz-rock bands the world over. Guitar fusion fans will flip for a
pair of reissue CDs from electric guitar pioneer Allan Holdsworth.
Supporting Allan’s 2012 live tour, Moonjune has 2012 CD reissues
of two Holdsworth albums—Hard Hat Area (1993) and
None Too Soon (1997). Both albums have been superbly
remastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and
both titles feature 2012 liner notes by Guitar Player editor Barry
Cleveland. For those who might have missed them, Hard Hat Area
features Allan performing his usual instrumental fusion wonders
backed up by fusion legends including drummer Gary Husband while
None Too Soon is yet another Holdsworth instrumental jazz-rock
extravaganza featuring the iconic guitar hero in the fine company
of long time Holdsworth cohort Gordon Beck, drummer Kirk
Covington and Gary Willis on bass. Both of these classic
fusion reissues from Holdsworth have stood the test of time and still
amaze. Guitar fans miss these CD classics at your own peril. www.moonjune.com
LOST GROVE ARTS / MVD - MVD is handling distribution
on Toulousology, subtitled Definitive Guitar
Soli 1976 - 2009. Toulouse Engelhardt has a
long standing history as a guitar based instrumental music trendsetter
who is sometimes mentioned in the same breath along with acoustic
guitar legends such as his one time Takoma Records label mates John
Fahey and Leo Kottke. Described by some as the “Segovia of Surf”,
Engelhardt mixes acoustic guitars the way Neil Young writes songs—full
of intertwining, cinematic sounding guitar instrumentals that combine
for a wall of sound that engulfs you. Released on his own Lost Grove
Arts label, Toulousology features an entertaining compilation
of various Engelhardt tracks recorded between 1976 and 2009. Excellent
sound, CD cover art and concept helps to make Toulousology a
winning collection of instrumental guitar magic. www.ToulouseMusic.com
REAL MUSIC - The last word on healing New Age instrumental
electronic, the Real Music label have had a strong presence in the
music world for for the past couple decades. Real Music stay real
with their most recent CD releases including the 2011 CD from therapeutic
music genius Chuck Wild. Chuck’s 2011 CD, entitled Dream
- A Liquid Mind Experience contains some of Chuck’s most
sonically relaxing and meditative soundscpaes yet. Wild is still on
the forefront of New Age, often espousing the benefits of his sculptured
slow music that promotes the benefits of meditation, rest and deep
relaxation. Taking some of his most dreamlike and relaxing pieces
of music, Chuck elongated the music and, with the three tracks here
clocking in at ten, twenty and thirty minutes each, Dream will
have you in a sublimely relaxing state in no time. This music should
not be listened to while driving! Turn the lights of, put on your
lava lamp and just chill out with Chuck Wild. www.LiquidMindMusic.com
/ www.RealMusic.com
SEQUOIA RECORDS - One of the great American New Age based instrumental
music labels, Sequoia Records was founded by the Gordon brothers—David
Gordon (synths, sequencers) and Steve Gordon (acoustic
/ electric guitars, bass guitars)—back in the late 1980’s.
With a multitude of fascinating instrumental and occasional vocal
CDs, Sequoia moves forward with the 2012 release of Celestial
Zen. Interestingly, the six track album was recorded
way back 1984 and was released on black vinyl Lp and cassette under
the name Celestial Suite. In preparation for this, the first
ever CD release, the original reel to reel master tapes were located
and the end result features the original album greatly enhanced by
today’s superior audio technology. Owing more to artists such
as Eno and even electronic music pioneers like Morton Subotnick, the
54 minute Celestial Zen is very much an early ambient / electronic
instrumental album filled with a unique mix of spacy electronics mixed
with processed organic instruments like acoustic guitar. 2012 liner
notes from the Gordon brothers shines a fresh light on this still
essential space music masterpiece. Carrying on their original mission
from the 1980’s, the brothers Gordon also have several other
titles newly released in 2012 on their Light Of Mind label—two
metaphysical musical therapy / creative visualization collaborations
with Dr. Arlene Alexander—entitled Inner Journeys
To Tranquility and Astral Meditations: Out Of Body Explorations.
www.SequoiaRecords.com
/ www.TheGordonBrothers.net
TALKING ELEPHANT - Two tragic occurrences for the EMI label
took place in 1980. First of course was the assassination of John
Lennon, which basically stopped the future of the Beatles dead in
its tracks. Second blow to EMI, was that after 22 years recording
on EMI, The Shadows released Change Of Address,
their prophetically titled first album for Polydor Records. That
period between 1980 and 1990 was a fantastic and prolific era for
both The Shadows and the band’s lead guitarist Hank B. Marvin,
who also went on to release numerous solo albums for Polydor during
1982-2010 period, most recently with 2010’s Guitar Man CD.
Anyway, where it all began for Hank and the Shads on Polygram is with
the appropriately entitled Change Of 
Address.
Typical of the Shads approach to recording during that post-EMI
period, COA features a mix of memorable originals and covers—most
notably a stirring CD closing cover of the Jean Michel Jarre favorite
“Oxygen”, a stirring version of the Peter Green / Fleetwood
Mac classic “Albatross” and a remake of their own amazing
cover of “Temptation”—a song written in 1933 and featured
in the movie “Singin’ In The Rain”—that first
appeared as an instrumental on the 1964 Shadows’ album Dance
With The Shadows. The CD for Change Of Address came out
at least 20 years ago on Polydor but it’s been long out of print
so those who missed the reissue the first time around should pick
up on the 2012 remaster of Change Of Address on the U.K. based
Talking Elephant label. No in depth liner notes, nor interviews with
any of the Shads, and no bonus cuts on this Talking Elephant remaster,
but it’s good to see this timeless instrumental album classic
in print on CD again. Also available on Talking Elephant in 2012 is
a double CD set entitled Edge Of Twilight that compiles
early works from groundbreaking progressive rock pioneers Gentle
Giant. In fact, a double CD set of a 1996 Polygram remaster of
the same name, Talking Elephant’s version of Edge Of Twilight
remasters and restores the original version with 2011 liner notes
from Ian Milton. For those who might have missed Gentle Giant,
during their 1970s heyday, they were a hard act to follow, releasing
one fantastic album after the next throughout that magical decade
while giving bands like YES and Jethro Tull a run for their money.
The band’s early years and their first four studio albums on
the Polydor owned Vertigo label form the core of Edge Of Twilight.
www.TalkingElephant.co.uk
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