Review: Kevin Ayers serves up an intoxicating blend of folk, rock and avant-garde whimsy, his voice at once languid and commanding. With its rich, layered arrangements and a sense of playful irreverence, the album feels like a mischievous wink to listeners. Tracks range from the jazzy, free-form spirit of 'The Confessions of Dr. Dream' to the lush and introspective tones of 'Don't Let It Get You Down', showcasing Ayers' knack for both levity and depth. A record that's as enigmatic as it is charming, effortlessly bridging the gap between the eccentric and the sublime.
Trial Of Tears: I) It's Raining/II) Deep In Heaven/III) The Wasteland
Review: Dream Theater's 1997 recording finds the band balancing their complex progressive roots with a newfound accessibility. The intricate instrumental passages and shifting time signatures remain intact, but the melodies lean towards a more streamlined approach, offering a sharper focus on hooks and emotive delivery. There's an underlying tension between technical virtuosity and a desire to connect on a broader level, creating a record that feels as exploratory as it is deliberate. The production captures the weight and precision of their sound while adding a polished edge, making for a deeply layered yet approachable listen.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Down & Out
Undertow
Ballad Of Big
Snowbound
Burning Rope
Deep In The Motherlode
Many Too Many
Scenes From A Night's Dream
Say It's Alright Joe
The Lady Lies
Follow You Follow Me
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Genesis's And Then There Were Three is a pivotal album in the band's history, marking their transition to a trio following Steve Hackett's departure. Released in 1978, the album showcased a blend of progressive rock roots with shorter, more concise songs, reflecting a response to the changing music scene and indicating the future path on which the band would travel. Lead single 'Follow You Follow Me' became a chart-topping success, propelling the album to platinum status in the US and the LP's sound, despite being dominated by Tony Banks' keyboards and Mike Rutherford's guitar work, signalled a departure from their earlier style but retained the band's signature sound. Critics praised the album's strong, confident compositions, noting tracks like 'Ballad of Big' and 'Down and Out' and despite initial scepticism about their ability to continue as a trio, Genesis proved their resilience and their musical depth remains clear on this 2024 reissue.
Review: Takeshi Inomata's Drum Method reissue is jazz-rock at its fiercest, transforming a drum instructional into a relentless groove machine. Inomata's legendary, boundary-pushing stick work shines, leading Sound Limited through a heady mix of originals and covers like 'Runaway Child' and 'Smack Water Jack.' The album, filled with dizzying solos and Norio Maeda's standout arrangements, is a masterclass in rhythm and energy, showing Inomata's unstoppable drive to reshape the genre. This reissue is pure, high-octane funk and groove at its finest.
Review: Nektar were never your average progressive rock band. For starters, it was made up of British musicians based in Germany, and it was that country (or West Germany at least) where they earned their reputation for combining loud but pristine sound with genuinely psychedelic visuals. While they eventually rose to international fame, their earliest music was self-released. This album, their 1971 debut, was amongst that list and despite prior reissues, is still hard to find on CD. This edition pairs the fully remastered original studio album - a conceptual musical meditation on the potential for nuclear war with added sci-fi flourishes - comes paired with a second CD containing one the best-known bootleg recordings of the band. This was captured on tape a year or so before the album came out in 1970.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Aubade (1:48)
The Tale Of Taliesin (7:15)
Ban-Ban Caliban (9:40)
Song Of Aeolus (4:08)
Out Of Season (5:31)
Second Bundle (2:29)
Kayoo (3:21)
The Camden Tandem (2:07)
Nexus (0:49)
One Over The Eight (5:18)
Etika
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Softs marked a pivotal moment in Soft Machine's evolution, departing from their experimental roots towards a refined jazz fusion sound. Following Bundles in 1975, this album found the group embracing a more structured approach while still delivering intricate and dynamic compositions. Keyboardist Karl Jenkins takes a more prominent role, with his compositions blending beautifully with John Etheridge's fiery guitar and Alan Wakeman's expressive saxophone. Highlights include the energetic 'The Tale of Taliesin', featuring a blistering guitar solo, and 'Ban-Ban Caliban', where the band's fusion of synths and sax creates a rich, textured sound. The album also includes softer moments like 'Song of Aeolus' and the piano-acoustic guitar duet in 'Out of Season', offering a contrast to the intensity of the faster tracks. Drummer John Marshall shines with a powerful solo in 'Kayoo' and the album concludes with Etheridge's gentle acoustic piece 'Etka'. While Softs diverges from the classic Soft Machine style, it stands as a strong jazz fusion album with undeniable charm. It's an excellent listen for fans of the genre, though some purists may find it a departure from the band's psychedelic roots.
Review: Softs marked a pivotal moment in Soft Machine's evolution, departing from their experimental roots towards a refined jazz fusion sound. Following Bundles in 1975, this album found the group embracing a more structured approach while still delivering intricate and dynamic compositions. Keyboardist Karl Jenkins takes a more prominent role, with his compositions blending beautifully with John Etheridge's fiery guitar and Alan Wakeman's expressive saxophone. Highlights include the energetic 'The Tale of Taliesin', featuring a blistering guitar solo, and 'Ban-Ban Caliban', where the band's fusion of synths and sax creates a rich, textured sound. The album also includes softer moments like 'Song of Aeolus' and the piano-acoustic guitar duet in 'Out of Season', offering a contrast to the intensity of the faster tracks. Drummer John Marshall shines with a powerful solo in 'Kayoo' and the album concludes with Etheridge's gentle acoustic piece 'Etka'. While Softs diverges from the classic Soft Machine style, it stands as a strong jazz fusion album with undeniable charm. It's an excellent listen for fans of the genre, though some purists may find it a departure from the band's psychedelic roots.
Review: Kiyoshi Sugimoto's Babylonia Wind is a mesmerising dive into deep, mysterious grooves that entice you while challenging your surrender. Celebrated by peers like Terumasa Hino and Akira Ishikawa, Sugimoto's guitar work represents the pinnacle of modern jazz and jazz rock. This album beautifully showcases the collective talent of his band, featuring Hideo Ichikawa's electric piano creating ripples, Yoshio Ikeda's rich bass anchoring the sound, and Motohiko Hino's dynamic drumming. From the oceanic depths of the title track to the ethereal charm of 'Hieroglyph,' this reissue is an essential listening experience.
Review: A landmark progressive rock album that showcases each band member's unique talents and their synergy as a group. The album opens with 'Roundabout', a dynamic piece featuring Steve Howe's classical guitar, Chris Squire's powerful bass, and Rick Wakeman's masterful keyboard work, drawing listeners into its complex structure and vivid musical landscape. Tracks like 'We Have Heaven' and 'Cans and Brahms' highlight individual members' creativity, while 'South Side of the Sky' and 'Heart of the Sunrise' feature full-band performances with intricate arrangements and memorable melodies. Wakeman, the band's new keyboardist at the time, brought a fresh, vibrant sound that complements Bill Bruford's precise drumming and Jon Anderson's ethereal vocals. Squire's bass is particularly prominent throughout, adding depth and inventiveness to the album's sound. The album marked Yes's rise to international fame and became one of their best-selling albums, cementing their reputation as pioneers of the genre. This new gatefold vinyl properly presents it as the legendary album it is.
Review: The Frank Zappa Live Broadcast Collection is an in-depth look for fans into the brilliant live talents of the legendary performer, offering a 6xCD box set packed with rare radio broadcasts from the 70s and 80s. Featuring many iconic tracks, some available on disc for the first time, this collection captures Zappa's legendary live performances with unmatched energy. The limited edition set serves as a time capsule, showing Zappa's unique blend of wit, musical talent and boundary-pushing creativity. A true treasure for collectors, it's a rare opportunity to experience the magic of Zappa's live shows and celebrate his lasting influence on music history.
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