A Document Of John Zorn Channeling Terry Riley Ready For Release

December 22, 2023

It’s simultaneously fascinating and difficult to be following John Zorn for the 70-years-old multi-instrumentalist’s discography is immense and rather labyrinthine, yet it’s also often can be compartmentalized into series – such as one that he recorded with a loose conglomerate of kindred spirits named MASADA, “Alhambra” and “Incerto” – which includes “The Hermetic Organ” running from 2012 into the present. The latest in the last-mentioned string of albums, the series’ 11th volume, feels very special, being a tribute to the American master’s mentor Terry Riley.

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IMAGINATION And SHAKATAK Singers Team Up To Shine Together

December 21, 2023

It may take an aficionado to name a few British funk bands of the early ’80s, yet when there’s a connoisseur one can bet among the first ensembles to get recalled would be SHAKATAK and IMAGINATION. Although the former approached their chosen genre from a jazz angle and the latter from a soul vector, they had a lot in common, and still a degree of thrill is guaranteed to accompany the news of these collectives respective vocalists Bill Sharpe and Leee John joining forces to issue an album to share space on.

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Refreshed SOFT MACHINE Honor Harry Beckett

December 20, 2023

Their first album may have been issued 55 years ago, yet SOFT MACHINE don’t seem to be slowing down – and not only in terms of restless touring but also from the new releases point of view. Yes, there was a half-decade gap between the ensemble’s latest platter “Other Doors” from 2023 and its predecessor “Hidden Details” – their last with veteran bassist Roy Babbington, who retired in 2021 – only the band’s fresh recording will see the light of day very soon, on February 2nd.

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MODERN ENGLISH Count Their Blessings

December 19, 2023

Next year will see new-wave veterans MODERN ENGLISH celebrate their 45th anniversary, and though the ensemble’s timeline was intermittent, it’s as good an excuse for festivities as any, especially when there’s a fresh record to mark the date. Titled “1 2 3 4” and ready for release on February 23rd, the band’s first album in seven years – a full-length studio offering, as 2016 “Take Me To The Trees” was followed by the lockdown version of their 1982 hit “I Melt With You” – features the same foursome who started the ball rolling back in 1979 – vocalist Robbie Grey, guitarist Gary McDowell, bassist Mick Conroy and keyboard player Stephen Walker – with a new drummer, and is produced Mario McNulty who previously worked with David Bowie and Prince. The music must be good, then.

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Interview with Roger Earl (FOGHAT)

December 18, 2023

Back in 1973 FOGHAT informed the world that they had a long way to go; fast-forward fifty years, and the veterans are still going from strength to strength. Neither fame nor fortune prevented the ensemble – steered towards eternity by the collective’s last-standing founding father, drummer Roger Earl – from having a hell lot of fun doing it for decades, and their latest album "Sonic Mojo" – the quartet’s first in quite a long time and first release of the current line-up – is a great example of it. And a great excuse to speak to Mr. Earl.

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