Playlist ~ 11th September 2008
Bill Nelson ~ Mazda Kaleidoscope
The latest album by the legendary musician. This is his 3rd this year and there is another two on their way!! I love Bill and all he does. He can do no wrong in my book. His cottage industry of musical production is always inspired and the music on this disc is beautifully executed.
Blancmange ~ 2008 Remasters
I have a thing for 80’s synth pop and Blancmange were one of the better duos of the period. They had a funky edge to them helped in no small way by Random Hold and Peter Gabriel guitarist David Rhodes. Edsel are doing a remarkable job in remastering and re-issuing some great stuff from the 80’s. The recent Thompson Twin 2CD packages were a real treat (I remember having those cassette mixes back when super ferro was king). I am looking forward to the John Foxx releases later this month. Again these will be 2CD packages.
Black Bonzo ~ Sound Of The Apocalypse
This was recommended to me by a reader of this blog (hi Rob) and is incredible 70’s retro prog from another wonderful Swedish band. If it wasn’t for the internet I would never have come across this band as I had never heard of them at all! Thanks again Rob.
Elbow ~ The Seldom Seen Kid
A thoroughly well deserved Mercury prize winner. Good to see a well established band get this rather than the usual flavour of the month no hoper. It is an excellent album by the way!
Deus Ex Machina ~ Cinque
Missed this when first released. I love this Italian band. Mixing 70’s prog, fusion and the operatic vocal pyrotechnics of the remarkable Alberto Piras.
Guapo ~ Elixirs
This is weird. Their earlier albums were of the definite Magma/Zheul persuasion, but this latest sees Daniel O’Sullivan going off in an even stranger direction.
Richard Barbieri ~ Things Buried
Strange to believe but this is the first solo album by Porcupine Trees keyboardist. Though he has made many albums with his ex-Japan mates. Anyone expecting some kind of ambient, atmospheric knob-twiddling stuff will be surprised. These instrumentals are tightly arranged and extremely tuneful. Percy Jones on bass on a few tracks is beguiling as ever. Richard has a new solo album out later in the month.
The latest album by the legendary musician. This is his 3rd this year and there is another two on their way!! I love Bill and all he does. He can do no wrong in my book. His cottage industry of musical production is always inspired and the music on this disc is beautifully executed.
Blancmange ~ 2008 Remasters
I have a thing for 80’s synth pop and Blancmange were one of the better duos of the period. They had a funky edge to them helped in no small way by Random Hold and Peter Gabriel guitarist David Rhodes. Edsel are doing a remarkable job in remastering and re-issuing some great stuff from the 80’s. The recent Thompson Twin 2CD packages were a real treat (I remember having those cassette mixes back when super ferro was king). I am looking forward to the John Foxx releases later this month. Again these will be 2CD packages.
Black Bonzo ~ Sound Of The Apocalypse
This was recommended to me by a reader of this blog (hi Rob) and is incredible 70’s retro prog from another wonderful Swedish band. If it wasn’t for the internet I would never have come across this band as I had never heard of them at all! Thanks again Rob.
Elbow ~ The Seldom Seen Kid
A thoroughly well deserved Mercury prize winner. Good to see a well established band get this rather than the usual flavour of the month no hoper. It is an excellent album by the way!
Deus Ex Machina ~ Cinque
Missed this when first released. I love this Italian band. Mixing 70’s prog, fusion and the operatic vocal pyrotechnics of the remarkable Alberto Piras.
Guapo ~ Elixirs
This is weird. Their earlier albums were of the definite Magma/Zheul persuasion, but this latest sees Daniel O’Sullivan going off in an even stranger direction.
Richard Barbieri ~ Things Buried
Strange to believe but this is the first solo album by Porcupine Trees keyboardist. Though he has made many albums with his ex-Japan mates. Anyone expecting some kind of ambient, atmospheric knob-twiddling stuff will be surprised. These instrumentals are tightly arranged and extremely tuneful. Percy Jones on bass on a few tracks is beguiling as ever. Richard has a new solo album out later in the month.
posted by Barrie Sillars at
1:17 PM
5 Comments:
I'm glad you like Black Bonzo. Their sound is pretty amazing IMO because they have done 70's prog but made it sound fresh and new.
I love 80's synth pop as well! I don't remember listening to Blancmange. My favourite is Propaganda. Recently, by accident, I found music by an artist called Kavinsky. The music was made recently but he has captured the 80's sound and done it even better than the originals IMO. Quite an achievement.
I will check out Richard Barbieri. Emusic has "Things Buried" as well as an advance copy of his new album.
This week I have been listening to Pallas's Blinding Darkness and Martin Orford's solo album.
All the best,
Rob.
Black Bonzo work for the reasons you mentioned. But the writing and arrangements are exceptionally strong. These guys know what they are doing. Looks like they are recording a new one already.
Propaganda were very good. Shame the original band only made one proper album. Though Claudia Brucken went on with Thomas Leer to form Act whose Laughter, Tears and Rage album is nearly as good in my opinion.
Pallas's latter albums for InsideOut have been very good.
Thanks for the information about Act. I'll check that out.
I downloaded an Act track today from emusic - sounds really good. Thanks for that.
There are a couple of sample tracks on Richard Barbieri's site. Drops of Mercury is too slow and sad for me but Light On Glass is really great.
Hi Rob,
Glad you liked the Act track you heard. I really like that big, cinematic, opulent sound they had.
I was surprised by the Richard Barbieri album. I was expecting something more ambient and atmospheric, whereas its actually quite "rocky"! I wish Percy Jones was on the whole album. Still looking forward to his new on.
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