A new label out of Poland called GAD Records has been documenting seminal jazz and jazz-rock albums out of Poland, but now they’re venturing into the former Czechoslovakia with this release. Jazz Q were a progressive rock band who managed to incorporate blues rock and even a bit of free jazz into their oeuvre. This album documents them at their peak of their live powers in a 1975 concert held in Bratislavia, now Slovakia’s capital.
From my friend, the rather legendary Drem Bruinsma‘s project, BlindººCoyote manages to expertly weld together wild electronic music with a relaxed back beat, making the music adventurous but, ultimately, pleasant to listen to. From BlindººCoyote’s Bandcamp site: “This 33-piece album consists of a deep reflection on a period, albeit a difficult one, from Covid and Confinement to hospitals and surgery, from treatment and opiates, from chronic pain to hope and fear, from social isolation to remaining in touch with the outside world by being online. With this album ends a chapter, a period with a very demanding character. I hope…
Alphaxone are a Tehran-based project who put out profoundly deep and lush dark ambient music.
Saadet Türköz is an international treasure. Born to Kazakh and Turkish parents in Istanbul in 1961, she has developed a style that comfortably blends Central Asian traditional music with free jazz. A very pleasant listen.
No reviews today as I will be out and about, so I leave you with a haunting instrumental track by the Turkish band Yabancılar.
This is the first time I had the pleasure of reviewing something from Start-Track, a fine small label run by our friend Filip Zemčík. Porch Kiss’ music is sparse and lo-fi, reminding me of a lot of British indie band from the 1980s with lower production values and fine songwriting. Pensive music, and a great listen.
I had no idea who Mancunian soul singer Bô’vel was until our esteemed friends over at Athens Of The North released this album of long-forgotten tracks recently. Bô’vel was a darling of pirate radio during the mid-1990s, and judging by how soulful and funky these tracks are, she deserved a lot more exposure and due than what she received. Kudos to AOTN for continually unearthing little gems like this. For a deeper look at her story, consider going to the AOTN Bandcamp release site.
From the Acid Jazz Bandcamp site: “To mark the 35th Anniversary of Acid Jazz, we have been reissuing seminal records from our catalogue on colour vinyl. The final instalment – and the second James Taylor Quartet release in the series – is this this version of ‘Mission Impossible’ is pressed on a fitting red vinyl. The original release track-listing showcases JTQ’s sixties soundtrack odyssey – driving organ instrumentals from the beginnings of Acid Jazz, showing James and the original lineup in their prime. Alongside Lalo Schifrin’s iconic title track appear tracks by Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon and Bacharach & David,…
Work was busy today, so in lieu of a review, here is a rather joyful offering from Cameroon.
Eyriahrk Nunshkar is the latest project of a beloved friend of the blog, Amandine Fradejas. The music crosses drone, metal, and even a touch of Zeuhl. Magnificent.