Canterbury jazz-rock legends Soft Machine need little introduction, but this release might. This release comes from a Norwegian gig the band played, and though the master tapes aren’t absolutely pristine, the sound, for a live recording, is quite good. “Soft Machine’s two concerts at the Henie-Onstad Art Center near Oslo, Continue Reading
Rudy Carrera
Exit North – Anyway, Still
Exit North is a revelation to me. The instrumentation reminds of the sort of progressive rock one would expect to hear from Tim Bowness, Steve Jansen (who happens to provide backing vocals on this album), or in parts, David Sylvian, but singer Thomas Feiner is blessed with a voice so Continue Reading
Matt Berry – Heard Noises
I thank my dear friend Hubert for pointing me to this disc. Matt Berry is a new name for me, but this album, which combines psychedelic folk, Americana and elements of soundtrack music, is a pleasantly heavy listen. This compares well with similar music which came out during the 1970s. Continue Reading
Help Fund a New Short Film by Acclaimed Composer
My friend and composer/director Gregory Ayriyan is in the process of seeking funding for a new film he is working on. Please consider donating to his GoFundMe website, as he is one of the most talented people I know.
Breichiau Hir – Y Dwylo Uwchben
Though I’m a little disappointed that the band only offer one track to hear on their Bandcamp site, it’s not everyday you get to hear Welsh post-rock sung in actual Welsh. Breichiau Hir mix a basic rock sound with emo, post-rock and post-metal touches to it. Solid.
Christophe Bailleau – Insight and Vision
Before I get to the promotional blurb on the website for Mahorka Records, I can give my thoughts on the album. Christophe Bailleau’s Insight and Vision crosses so many genres that one would think, based on the description, that the music would be unlistenable. Nothing could be further from the Continue Reading
Various Artists – Ostinato Records: Synthesizing the Silk Roads: Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock & Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia
I know it must be troublesome to actually click on the link when you can read most of the review from the comfy confines of social media, but this time I implore you to actually click on the link and read the story of how this album came to be. Continue Reading
The Brooklyn Sounds – Libre-Free
Though it has tones of underground and perhaps even a type of mafia culture (certainly the imagery of Hector Lavoe records could spread that misconception), salsa is fun music by its very nature. It’s danceable, rather passionate at times, and full of horns. The Brooklyn Sounds are a long-forgotten group Continue Reading
Luca Calabrese – I Shin Den Shin
MoonJune Records is one of those labels that consistently excels, especially in progressive rock and maybe even more so in jazz fusion. The latest release by Luca Calabrese is from 2024 and has six tracks of the sort of high-quality fusion you would expect from the label, and its focus Continue Reading
Ray Russell Quartet – The Complete Spontaneous Event: Live 1967-1969
Though I have heard a fair number of British jazz records, all excellent, Ray Russell is one who escaped me. I regret that now, considering how absolutely smoking this set is. From the Jazz In Britain Bandcamp site: “The tracks on this album were recorded between 1967 and 1969 and Continue Reading