Review: When keyboardist Thomas Jonsson, guitarist and bassist oMar Gudjonsson, saxophonist oSkar Gudjonsson and drummer Magnus Trygvason Eliassen take the stage, they channel the raw resilience of Northern Europe's islanders who have endured long, icy winters for centuries. Their energy transcends genres and has proven to captivate jazz enthusiasts, rock fans and ravers alike. This primal, non-verbal expression predates language yet remains deeply contemporary by blending cosmic vastness with free imagination and profound mysticism. Their music is a convergence of timeless human impulses and fresh creativity. It's challenging but hugely rewarding.
Review: Stones Throw has tapped up the brilliant psychedelic jazz group Apifera for a second album to follow on from the greatness of their debut. That once came back in 2021 in the form of Overstand, which was a widescreen and cultural mix of all manner of weird and wonderful sounds. Now, Keep Teh Outside Open builds on that and finds keyboardist Yuval Havkin and Nitai Hershkovits, drummer Amir Bresler and bassist Yonatan Albalak all colliding Israeli folk, Afrobeat, post-rock and jazz into richly colourful and absorbing sound worlds full of lush broken beat grooves.
Review: Born in Kent and central to the UK's 70s jazz modernism, Neil Ardley composed with the precision of a scientist and the vision of a cosmic philosopher. This long-overdue reissue from Analogue October captures a project that translates planetary orbits into a nine-note harmonic systemitoo vast for acoustic instruments, brought to life instead through early synthesisers. 'Arcturus' and 'Spiral Nebula' interlace fluid sax work from Barbara Thompson with John Martyn's signature reverb-drenched guitar, while Geoff Castle's synths evoke deep-space drift. 'Rainbow Four' channels modal funk, and 'Neptune' floats into ambient abstraction. Produced at Morgan Studios with a full ensemble of jazz heavyweightsiTony Coe, Ian Carr, Billy Kristian, Richard Burgess, and Trevor Tomkinsithis is a record that swings between science fiction and symphonic elegance. For all its high concept, it remains rooted in groove and human touch. A meticulous AAA cut from the Decca master tapes seals the experience: a bold and beautiful reminder of how far British jazz once dared to travel.
Review: BaBa ZuLa, Istanbul's most experimental band, continues to push the boundaries of Turkish psych-rock. Known for their hypnotic blend of Turkish percussion, electric saz, and electronic elements, they've gained a cult following across the globe. With influences from legends like Einsturzende Neubauten and Can, their latest album Istanbul Sokaklari is a sonic and political statement. Combining deep rhythms, glitchy electronics and dual male-female vocals, BaBa ZuLa's music transports listeners into a world where tradition meets modernity, offering a glimpse into both the future and the heart of Istanbul's streets.
Review: Complex Emotions, the 16th album from The Bad Plus, confirms the band's endless creative energy and evolution. Featuring the talents of guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed, the album is a bold leap forward, beginning with Reid Anderson's 'Grid/Ocean'ia shape-shifting opener that morphs between turbulence and calm. The track clears the way for the exhilarating 'French Horns', where Monder's structured yet frenzied solo captures the band's fearless spirit. With standout contributions like Speed's vibrant 'Cupcakes One' and Anderson's blistering 'Deep Water Sharks', the album straddles the boundaries of jazz and rock, tapping into an electrifying synergy reminiscent of guitar icons like Jeff Beck. Quiet moments like 'Carrier', 'Casa Ben' and 'Tyrone's Flamingos' offer dreamy, introspective counterpoints, showing King's percussion and Speed's airy lyricism. The Bad Plus, with Monder and Speed joining founding members Anderson and King, continue to defy genre labels, blending rock, jazz and ambient textures. From blistering intensity to melodic subtlety, Complex Emotions encapsulates the band's drive to innovate and redefine.
Review: Nature documentary series The Living Planet very much captured the imagination of Raoul Bjorkenheim back in 1986. It featured erupting volcanoes and plumes of molten lava and some of that drama and energy is captured in this fine jazz album which now gets a new extended reissue. Bjorkenheim studied at the Helsinki Conservatory for a year and the Berklee College of Music in Boston for three years and worked with composer and drummer Edward 'Eetu' Vesala. For this album, he played with reed virtuosos Jorma Tapio and Tapani Rinne, bassist Sampo Lassila and drummers Michel Lambert and Heikki 'Lefty' Lehto. It is a hot and raw record that contains an album's worth of previously unheard material.
Review: Jack Bruce's classic album Songs For A Tailor receives a new official gatefold LP vinyl release, offering fans a chance to experience this seminal work in its full glory. Remastered from the original master tapes and cut at Abbey Road Studios, the album showcases Bruce's distinctively diverse style, drawing on influences from jazz, folk, classical, and rock. Produced by Felix Pappalardi, the recording sessions at London's Morgan Studios brought together some of Britain's finest musicians, including Chris Spedding, Jon Hiseman and Dick Heckstall-Smith, among others. Notably, George Harrison also made an appearance during one session. Originally released as Jack Bruce's first solo project after the demise of Cream in 1968, Songs For A Tailor achieved chart success in both the UK and the USA. Now considered a masterpiece, this LP edition faithfully restores the original artwork, offering fans a chance to revisit and rediscover one of Jack Bruce's most seminal works.
Review: Sandro Brugnolini's Overground stands as a rare gem in library music and is also generally regarded as some of this artist's best work alongside his formidable Underground from 1970. Originally released on Sincro Edizioni Musicali, it served as the soundtrack to Enrico Moscatelli and Mario Rigoni's documentary Persuasione having been commissioned by Ente Provinciale Per Il Turismo Di Trento. Featuring top Italian musicians like Angelo Baroncini, Silvano Chimento, Giorgio Carnini, Enzo Restuccia, and Giovanni Tommaso, the album traverses from underground psychedelic prog rock with swirling organs and fuzzy guitars to sophisticated lounge grooves with avant-garde orchestrations. Now remastered from the original tapes, it is one to add to the racks tout suite.
Review: Some tempos are pivotal to certain genres and 140 is one of those when it comes to dubstep. For that reason it is the title of this fine on going All Stars series from DUPLOC. Volume four is another masterful one with all niches explored starting with the low-end wobble of Mob Killa's 'Hattori' which is a brilliantly moody and late night saunter through a desolate urban landscape. Oudjat's 'Losing Control' is just as menacing and dark, and Ego Death pairs to back further to lush echoing hits and warped synths that hang in the air on 'Run It.' The flip side offers three more sparse but impactful cuts of hefty 140 bass brilliance.
Make Me Smile (Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon) (1:57)
So Much To Say, So Much To Give (2:06)
Anxiety's Moment (2:43)
West Virginia Fantasies (1:34)
Colour My World (1:48)
To Be Free (1:34)
Now More Than Ever (2:00)
Fancy Colours (4:50)
Saturday In The Park (6:02)
Mother (5:26)
It Better End Soon (17:41)
I'm A Man (6:44)
Free (7:18)
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (Free Form intro) (5:22)
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (4:47)
25 Or 6 To 4 (6:09)
Review: This comprehensive special edition of this classic album comes across eight sides of vinyl and captures the iconic band at the peak of their early career. Performing in the nation's capital, Chicago delivered a wonderfully dynamic set that showcases their unique fusion of rock, jazz, and brass. It features plenty of great work from the band's well known and distinctive horn section and intricate arrangements. A magnificently captured live recording, it features hits from their early albums such as Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago II, and also takes in fan favourites like 'A Song For Richard & His Friends' and 'Beginnings.' The performance is a testament to Chicago's musical versatility and powerful live presence and this version of it takes you right back to the heart of it all.
South California Purples (with Steve Vai - short version)
Poem 58 (with Steve Vai)
I'm A Man (with Chris Daughtry & Robert Randolph)
Dialogue Part 1 & 2 (with Robert Randolph)
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long
Mongonucleosis
Street Player
Make Me Smile (with Christone"kingfisher" Ingram)
Colour My World (with Christone"kingfisher" Ingram)
Now More Than Ever (with Christone"kingfisher" Ingram)
Call On Me (with Robin Thicke)
Alive Again (with Judith Hill)
Wishing You Were Here (with VoicePlay)
Happy Man (with VoicePlay)
If You Leave Me Now (with VoicePlay)
Look Away (with VoicePlay)
Old Days
Hard Habit To Break (with Chris Daughtry)
Just You 'N' Me
Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Getaway
In The Country (with Robert Randolph)
Saturday In The Park (with Robin Thicke)
Free
You're The Inspiration (with Judith Hill)
Feelin' Stronger Every Day (with Judith Hill)
25 Or 6 To 4 (with All Guest Artists)
Review: Chicago's Live at 55 sees the legendary band celebrating over five decades of music with a performance full of energy and nostalgia. Featuring a mix of classic hits and deeper cuts, the set is a celebration of their enduring legacy. The performance builds with brass-heavy anthems like '25 or 6 to 4' and the smooth 'If You Leave Me Now', proving their ability to mix rock, jazz, and pop seamlessly. With guest appearances adding a fresh layer to the familiar sound, the album captures the essence of Chicago's rich musical history, while continuing to demonstrate their dynamic stage presence.
Review: The Tele Music catalogue follows a long tradition of library music mores; stock patterned album art and themed series included. Originally from 1973, Rhythmiques functions as one of the label's most iconic releases. Written entirely in collaboration between French composer and percussionist Pierre Dahan and synthesist Mat Camison, it features tense funk, blunted jazz and heavy breaks all the way. It is considered the rightful sequel to Continental Pop Sound, and despite the origin as library music intended for TV and film, has endured as a vital album for producers and DJs.
Review: Jazz audio arborist Dr Tree is itself a multi-branched organism, having first emerged from the (urban) forests of New Zealand as the inosculated union of session musicians Frank Gibson Jr. and Murray Macnab. After catching the attention of EMI, the pair released the eponymous Dr Tree in 1976, which came as an all-instrumental prog excursion into territories already settled by the likes of Weather Report and Return To Forever, yet not fully developed until Dr Tree's prognosis. These roots hold a tight grip; star album cuts 'Transition', 'Affirmation' and 'The Drum' demonstrate a complete, master musicianship, and combine this with studio trickeries of the weirdest and most arcane ilk, making for an unforgettable prog magnolia of minimally treated sound, but still grandly impressive proportions.
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