When Chick Corea passed away on February 9th, 2021, our world became a much poorer place, and hearing in what a great form he was only four months prior to leaving this mortal coil should be extremely poignant – and listening to how it was will be possible – properly, on CD or vinyl, as opposed to the streaming option now – on February 27th, 2026 upon the release of the late genius’ “Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance” album.
For any other band apart from BLACK SABBATH to name their new work after its place in the ensemble’s studio discography, or for the number of its tracks, would be quite tasteless, as CHICAGO proved time after time. However, when SOFT MACHINE decided to bestow the title of “Thirteen” on a platter which will be released on March 13th, 2026, it could only mean further return to form the band have never lost anyway, to the mental and creative place where platters like “Six” and “Seven” used to exist. Laid down as a quartet of John Etheridge on guitar, Theo Travis on sax, Asaf Sirkis on drums and Fred Baker on bass, it also features Daevid Allen, the group’s founding member who didn’t appear on any of their official records but joined them for a session in 2001 whence his parts came,
As controversial a figure as she was, Nico blazed a remarkable trail through the world of art-rock, and not only with VELVET UNDERGROUND but also with quite a few other great musicians, including Kevin Ayers and Brian Eno as well as, which was less documented, TANGERINE DREAM. Only a few of those collaborations saw release outside of bootlegs, yet there’s a new box set now, issued on November 7th, that gathers a lot of previously unheard material – of limited appeal yet interesting nonetheless.
For all their proto-punk and psychedelic originality and underground leanings, PINK FAIRIES have always been partial to interpreting other people’s material. A couple of borrowed pieces augmented the British band’s second longplay, “What A Bunch Of Sweeties” from 1972, and comprising more than a half of the “Live at the Roundhouse 1975” album, but an entire platter consisting of covers seemed an unlike endeavor for the veterans… Until now.
I decided to try and launch my YouTube channel, where audio versions of my interviews will appear. And the first one is the chat with Greg Lake whose birthday is today.
Hit “Subscribe: if you’re up for following it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iedLzKB1mcc
