Sakalli
Freedom to Music
Freedom to Music
11 Jan 2009
(Review from wishboneash.co.uk, progarchives.com)
Following the departure of John Wetton, ex-Uriah Heep Trevor Bolder stepped in for the tour of “Number The Brave” and also participated in the recording of the band’s next album, “Twin Barrels Burning”.
The sessions marked a drastic change in musical direction for the band, with a sound that eschewed the classic Wishbone allmarks of harmony and melody in favour of a more direct, heavy-rock sound (the album coincided with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement which was sweeping the UK at the time and had spawned the likes of Iron Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard).
As a result “Twin Barrels Burning” is a straightforward blues-influenced hard rock album. There are guitar-god love songs (“Genevieve”), back- seat lust songs (“Can’t Fight Love”), missing-my-gal-so-I’m-calling-her-in-the-middle-of- the-night-songs (“Hold On”), picking up skank on the street songs (“Streets of Shame”), you and me against the world songs (“Wind Up”), and a couple of god’s gift to women songs (“Can’t Fight Love”, “No More Lonely Nights”). Only “Angels Have Mercy” is an odd ball and that’s only because the mix on this one is particularly fuzzy.
Weaving all of this together is a two-guitar attack that is sort of like the twin-axe attack the band was known for in the 70s, but not quite. In most cases there is a definitive lead guitar, with the other embellishing somewhat but mostly just providing accompaniment.
The album initially seemed to be a success, yet the band’s new direction alienated many long-time supporters.
Line-up:
- Laurie Wisefield / Vocals, Guitar
- Andy Powell: Vocals, Guitar
- Trevor Bolder / Vocals, Bass Guitar
- Steve Upton / Drums
Track List:
01. Engine Overheat – 4:06
02. Can’t Fight Love – 4:00
03. Genevieve – 3:37
04. Me And My Guitar – 4:01
05. Hold On – 4:51
06. Streets Of Shame – 4:37
07. No More Lonely Nights – 5:17
08. Angels Have Mercy – 3:55
09. Wind Up – 5:04
Link in comments.
10 Jan 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
Taking their name from Mervyn Peake’s gothic fantasy novel, Titus Groan was a quartet lead by guitar/keyboardist and singer Stewart Cowell and wind player Tony Priestland. Their sound approaches the early UK progressive, all tracks being over 5 minutes long and often fronted by promising wind instruments. Centred around the great 12-mins Hall Of Bright Carvings track (also a Peake theme), the album was released in early 1970.
Thanks to the flute and oboe playing and bassist John Lee’s contributions, the album has an almost martial sound that isn’t very complex but gives the music a depth that serves to ground it in the sort of timeless setting reminiscent of many Jethro Tull’s albums. The harmonizing vocals are pure early seventies. Stuart Cowell’s intense electric guitar riffs, which along with his organ bleating on tracks like “I Can’t Change” make for a hard-rocking sound that was quite popular at the time.
Titus Groan also released a three track single the same year, all three tracks appearing as bonus on this edition of the album.
Line-up:
- Stuart Cowell / keyboards, guitar, vocals
- John Lee / bass
- Tony Priestland / saxophone, flute, oboe
- Jim Toomey / drums
Track List:
01. I Wasn’t For You – 5:33
02. Hall Of Bright Carvings – 11:39
03. I Can’t Change – 5:41
04. It’s All Up With Us – 6:09
05. Fuschia – 6:06
06. Open The Door Homer (Bonus) – 3:29
07. Woman Of The World (Bonus) – 4:27
08. Liverpool (Bonus) – 5:53
Link in comments.
10 Jan 2009
Thanks to Man in Silence for the review contribution.
(Review from dustedmagazine.com, homestead.com)
Zen’s third album, Tanbul is an outstanding psych-rock record that takes the best of what you know about Turkish psychedelia and updates it with taste and mastery.
The jams here were improvised and patchworked together dub-style with radical mixing techniques. Overdriven baglama, saz and electric guitars meet heavy percussion and electronics with alien voices ranting in all pitches. It just has to be heard to be believed.
Nice drums, perfectly placed sound textured additions, crafty and powerful electric guitar, electric bass, weird vocals with sense. Where former releases had a murkier feeling, the professional production on this release with some creative echoes and effects on the sounds makes the sound much more modern.
Track List:
01. Ariza Oyun Havasi – 2:12
02. Derdimi Anla – 4:53
03. Duz Gel – 6:26
04. Tanbul – 5:28
05. Asir Hasta – 2:01
06. Yalan – 2:39
07. Iki Teker – 1:49
08. Ben De Yalnizim – 7:10
09. Baaartma Beni – 3:00
10. Yavastan Gel – 1:26
11. Uzun Dus – 14:20
Link in comments.
09 Jan 2009
(Review from wishboneash.co.uk)
Following the departure of founder member Martin Turner, the remaining members of Wishbone Ash invited respected British bassist/vocalist John Wetton (ex-UK, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Family, Uriah Heep, Mogul Thrash) to join them for the recording of their next album, “Number the Brave”.
“Loaded” opens the album and sets the blueprint for much of the album, which has a funkier feel than previous Wishbone Ash offerings. “Where is the Love” comes next – a workmanlike boogie number. There then follows one of the albums true highlights, the anti-nuclear message “Underground”, which features some fine guitar picking from Andy Powell, whose lead vocal blends effectively with Claire Hamill’s voice. “Kicks on the Street” is pretty standard hard rock, while “Open Road” is perhaps the band’s most successful venture into funk-rock territory.
“Get Ready” is an adequate cover of the Smokey Robinson hit. “That’s That” is John Wetton’s sole songwriting and lead vocal contribution to the album, while the next two tracks both features Laurie Wisefield on lead vocal. Album closer “Number the Brave” is another of this album’s triumphs, perfectly mixing the Ash sound of old with a (then) modern sound and direction for the eighties.
During the sessions, it soon became clear that John Wetton was not going to be a direct replacement for Martin Turner. Wetton believed he was joining the band to take over Turner’s duties of bassist and lead vocalist, yet this would not prove to be the reality. Although John Wetton offered several songs to the band, most of these would be rejected as unsuitable for the band’s style. Wetton was frustrated by Andy Powell and Laurie Wisefield’s decision to take the majority of the lead vocals.
Before the album’s release John Wetton and Wishbone Ash had parted company, Wetton going on to achieve enormous success with Asia.
Line-up:
- Andy Powell / Vocals, guitar
- Laurie Wisefield / Vocals, guitar
- Steve Upton / Drums
- John Wetton / Vocals, bass, keyboards
with
- Claire Hammill / Back vocals
Track List:
01. Loaded – 4:11
02. Where is the Love – 3:20
03. Underground – 4:15
04. Kicks on the Street – 4:16
05. Open Road – 5:20
06. Get Ready – 3:15
07. Rainstorm – 4:55
08. That’s That – 3:04
09. Roller Coaster – 3:18
10. Number the Brave – 4:56
Link in comments.
05 Jan 2009
I’m going to be swamped for the rest of the week days and won’t be able to post new albums.
See you on Saturday.
05 Jan 2009
(Review from allmusic, amazon)
Georgia funk rock band Mother’s Finest might appear to be only a blip on the radar screen of rock history, but not to any of the headlining bands they’ve stolen shows from — or any of the audiences who saw it happen. Mother’s Finest blended white guitarist Moses Mo and drummer B.B. “Queen” Borden with black vocalists Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock, bassist Wyzard, and keyboardist Mike.
The 1979 album “Mother’s Finest Live” is the closest any album came to actually conveying the kind of nonstop excitement, spontaneity, and unpredictability of their live shows. It features not only original staples like “Watch My Stylin’” and “Give You All the Love”, but also Kennedy singing a stunning cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” and the musicians shining on a rearranged version of Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride”.
Great rock guitar leads, thundering double base drumming, grooving heavy bass and keyboards, soaring soulful vocals, … That’s Mother’s Finest!
Line-up:
- Mike Keck / Percussion, Keyboards
- Joyce Kennedy / Vocals, Percussion
- Mo Moses / Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
- Glenn Murdock / Vocals, Percussion
- B.B. Queen / Drums, Percussion
- Jerry “Wizzard” Seay / Bass, Drums, Vocals
Track List:
01. Somebody to Love – 5:55
02. Fire – 4:10
03. Mickey’s Monkey – 6:03
04. Give You All the Love – 6:30
05. Baby Love – 4:13
06. Magic Carpet Ride – 5:11
07. Love Changes – 5:21
08. Watch My Stylin’ – 4:46
09. Don’t Wanna Come Back – 3:28
10. Can’t Fight the Feeling – 4:34
Link in comments.
05 Jan 2009
(Review from psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com)
Zen’s second studio album was released in 1996.
Their improvisations are still very dark, but there’s more added percussion, giving it an extra ritual music flair. Musically it’s even more experimental. They succeed to create a certain mood, very underground.
On one longer track, “Badi Badi” the improvising finally overcomes the mood of doodling and directs in its own energy. Also “Gaz” goes over the top, but in an experimental underground way.
Line-up:
- Merih Oztaylan / Vocals, sampler
- Levent Akman / Rhythm machines, hand cymbals, percussion
- Bill Macbeath / Double bass, bass guitar
- Murat Ertel / Saz, guitar, vocals
- Emre Onel / Darbuka, sampler, percussions
- Cevdet Erek / Drums
Track List:
01. Eveleme Develeme – 3:24
02. Bugun Senden Mektup Aldim (Gotta Letter From You Today) – 2:09
03. Bu Da Gecer (This Will Be Over Too) – 3:39
04. DuB – 1:17
05. Calmakla Calismanin Ne Farki Var (What’s The Difference Between Practicing and Playing) – 3:20
06. Jever (When You Hit Me) – 1:34
07. Uzun Yolun Hikayesi Bol Olur (A Long Road’s Story’s Long) – 3:55
08. Ispanyol Kerranesi (Spanish Whorehouse) – 2:43
09. Koyun Kizi Derya (Derya, The Girl of The Village) – 2:43
10. Badi Badi – 7:42
11. Hidayet Abi – 7:17
12. Gaz – 4:56
Link in comments.
05 Jan 2009
(Review from progarchives.com, wishboneash.co.uk)
Seven years after their brilliant 1973 “Live Dates” double album comes this 1980 collection, six tracks made at Hull, Bristol, Wolverhampton and London. The same sparkling sound quality, the same amazing cover art, but a different set of songs and a different line-up, Laurie Wisefield replacing Ted Turner on guitar and vocals, but not at all to the band’s detriment, “Live Dates 2″ traces the Wishbone saga from Wishbone Four to Just Testing.
Side one of the first LP represents the biggest Ash cross-section. ‘Doctor’ from Wishbone Four album kicks the album off nicely. ‘Living Proof’ delivered on a windy night at Bristol Colston Hall has beefy chords and dirty words sweetened by a long solo at the end. ‘Runaway’ and ‘Helpless’ culled from Wolverhampton Civic Hall are perennial Ash…two roustabout tracks where the warmth of the audience begins to kindle.
Second side contains two longer, 9-minute prog-rock inclined jamming suites, “FUBB” (from “There’s the Rub”) and “Way of the World” (from “No Smoke Without Fire”). Both are very good compositions with extended twin guitar solos, convincing bass and strong drums with frequent change of themes and rhythmic structure.
The second LP features much lilting Ash with ‘Lorelei’, ‘Persephone’ and ‘You Rescue Me’, all very smooth and magnificently paced especially the delicacy of ‘Persephone’. ‘Time Was’ which opens the second side has mellowed greatly over the years and the handling this time around is particularly soft.
Wisefield gets his vocal solo glory on “Goodbye Baby”. His usual rendition is helped by a strong chorus line. And so we close with ‘No Easy Road’ again considerably reworked with some particularly swaggering vocals from Turner. It’s so good you won’t even miss the blasting brass section of the original. Ash live and rampant.
Line-up:
- Andy Powell / guitars & vocals
- Laurie Wisefield / guitars & vocals
- Martin Turner / bass & vocals
- Steve Upton / drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Doctor – 5:40
02. Living Proof – 5:45
03. Runaway – 3:10
04. Helpless – 3:35
05. F*U*B*B – 9:40
06. The Way Of The World – 10:15
CD2 (Bonus)
01. Lorelei – 6:20
02. Persephone – 8:20
03. You Rescue Me – 6:50
04. Time Was – 6:45
05. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend – 5:20
06. No Easy Road – 7:20
Links in comments.
04 Jan 2009
(Review from kunstradio.at, psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com)
Formed in the second half of the 80s in Istanbul, the band took the name ZeN in 1988 (meaning “woman” in Persian, as well as standing for “the one who plays” -a musical instrument- when used as a suffix). The band played their own blues and punk based songs until 1989. In time they widened the improvised section and eventually giving up their compositions, turned to complete collective improvisations.
Zen’s first official album, recorded in 1994, shows the group playing in an experimental way. Various tracks reminds at krautrock like moods like Faust. It’s very dark, dense, deranged mostly acoustic music with cloudy woolly structures. Near the second half of the album, the music delves into too much an underground improvising, in a way Amon Düül or Can did as well in their early days. Yet it is much more acoustic and has a certain middle eastern touch in experimental improvising.
Line-up:
- Merih Oztaylan / Vocals, sampler
- Levent Akman / Rhythm machines, hand cymbals, percussion
- Bill Macbeath / Double bass, bass guitar
- Murat Ertel / Saz, guitar, vocals
- Emre Onel / Darbuka, sampler, percussions
- Cevdet Erek / Drums
Track List:
01. Cok Su Ictim – 1:18
02. Suda Balik – 3:55
03. Aman Dur Bekle – 3:31
04. Seslen Bana – 3:51
05. Ses Nefes – 2:59
06. Inkilap Vapuru – 6:15
07. Caktir – 8:22
08. Karsilama – 3:40
09. Acikli Ama Aldatici – 4:18
10. Plaj Havasi – 4:06
11. Dadidi – 3:57
12. Yali Ciftetellisi – 4:36
13. Bu Yol Hic Bitmeyecek – 7:06
14. Hidden Track – 3:25
Links in comments.
03 Jan 2009
(Review from wishboneash.co.uk, progarchives.com)
Released in January 1980, “Just Testing” was Wishbone Ash’s tenth studio album and coincided with the band’s tenth anniversary celebrations. The title came from a phrase that Laurie Wisefield had made up in earlier recording sessions, when he would say “just testing” if he made a mistake which brought the session to a standstill.
Highlights of the album include the opener and initial single release “Living Proof”, an incredibly catchy song with its pulsing beat and dual harmonies. It would become a concert staple for many years to come.
“Master Of Disguise” marked Andy Powell’s debut solo songwriting for Wishbone Ash. The song has a strong melody which, when combined with more orthodox Ash guitar work and some background organ playing, make for a pleasant diversion.
The epic closer “Lifeline” evolved out of studio jamming. It has pleasing guitar work.
A massive 62-date tour of Britain and Europe was undertaken throughout much of 1980 to promote the album. However, internal conflicts over the future of the band led to Martin Turner quitting in October 1980, thus ending the longest period with the same line-up in the history of Wishbone Ash.
Line-up:
- Andy Powell / Guitars
- Laurie Wisefield / Guitars
- Martin Turner / Bass, Vocals
- Steve Upton / Drums
Track List:
01. Living Proof – 5:44
02. Haunting Me – 4:34
03. Insomnia – 5:09
04. Helpless – 4:03
05. Pay the Price – 3:34
06. New Rising Star – 3:58
07. Master of Disguise – 4:25
08. Lifeline – 6:29
Link in comments.
03 Jan 2009
(Review from musical-discoveries.com)
The last progressive rock project of Japanese singer Yoko Royama was Theta’s Seeds Of A Dream. She later passed away in 2004.
Nine tracks featuring soaring angelic vocals adorn the stunning album. The singer had received significant notariety on the Vermillion Sands’ 1988 album Water Blue, largely due to the band’s similarity to Renaissance and Yoko Royama’s vocal style to their lead singer Annie Haslam.
The album opens with a light contemporary ballad-like track featuring lovely violin and keyboard arrangements entitled “Footprints” sung by Yoko Royama in English. The full spledour of the band is evident as the song develops. “Afterglow” is a lovely instrumental featuring Yoko’s flute and as the arrangements develop is a tribute to the virtuosity of the band members.
While some will compare Theta and Vermillion Sands to that Renaissance featuring Annie Haslam, the harpsichord, flute and basic structure of “Beyond the Wall of Time” is most reminscent of Renaissance Faire music. Sung in Japanese with Yoko’s vocalise excursions joined by male vocals as well, it is a lovely albeit short track. A similar style is evident in “Tasogare no nakade” led by its violin part and Yoko’s perfectly complimenting Japanese language vocal. Multi-tracking in the final choruses adds a lovely texture blending vocals with string arrangements. Layers of harmonizing vocals accompanied by acoustic guitar in “Summer Night Dream” also produce a Renaissance Faire sound. A lovely flute solo is a highlight of the track.
Clearly the highlights of the album are the progressive tracks “The Toy-Airplane” and “Mourning for a Falling,” Instrumental movements perfectly compliment soaring vocals sung in Japanese. With vocals introduced between major instrumental parts, the band clearly demonstrates a sound of classic Renaissance. Keyboard and string solo excursions work well within the overall arrangement and are especially well played.
The Parisian sound of “IZUMI” from the dark side…” is a tribute to the band’s label (Musea), a lovely epic-length, cabaret-style track sung in English! We especially enjoyed Yoko’s vocal excursions in the concluding passages of the song. The album concludes with “Muscial Box of Nostalgia.” A potpurri of classic melodies are initially woven together with Yoko’s stunning lead vocal, mixed way up with a noticable reverb nicely offsetting the violin part and keyboard effects. Most classical in its arrangement, it is a stunning little ballad.
Theta’s Seeds of the Dream features stunning vocals and well-produced instrumental arrangements.
Line-up:
- Yoko Royama / vocals
- Youko Tsushiya / keyboards
- Kasuhito Kawakami / bass guitar
- Naroyuki Harada / drums
with
- Junko Minobe / violin (1, 2, 4, 5)
- Masahiro Yamada / keyboard live support (2-6)
- Harumi Nishimaki / vocal
- Tamao / vocal
- Eigi Nishigori / electric guitar (2)
- Ai Keisuke / acoustic & electric guitar (3, 6, 7)
- Akihisa Tsuboy / violin (7, 9)
Track List:
01. Footprints – 6:36
02. The Toy-Airplane – 7:37
03. Beyond The Wall Of Time – 2:37
04. Mourning For A Falling – 4:37
05. Tasogare No Nakade – 4:48
06. Afterglow – 6:55
07. Summer Night Dream – 3:22
08. IZUMI- From The Dark Side – 8:56
09. Musical Box Of Nostalgia – 4:39
Link in comments.
03 Jan 2009
(Review from amazon, dtodo1poco.com)
Smooth Ball, their second album, featuring new bassist Richard Tepp is heavier, more psychedelic, features longer tracks and shows a more technically competent band who make full use of the studio.
The twin guitars of William Richardson and Larry Byrom are center stage on “Smooth Ball” and the result is quite pleasing to the ear.The centerpiece of “Smooth Ball” is the 10 minute tour-de-force “Morning Come” featuring Byrom at his finest. Their blues influence is evident on tracks like “Lazy Day Blues”, while “See Me As I Am”, “Trust In Men Everywhere” and “Flowers” are examples of their attempts to get to grips with the predominant psychedelic influences of the time.
Line-up:
- Larry Byrom / guitar
- Bill Richardson / guitar
- Richard Tepp / bass
- Steve Rumph / drums
Track List:
01. Preparation G – 0:52
02. Leavin’ My Home – 3:08
03. See Me as I Am – 5:47
04. I Think You’d Cry – 4:21
05. I’ll Write a Song – 4:21
06. Lazy Day Blues – 1:44
07. Do You Feel It – 2:28
08. Flowers – 2:39
09. Morning Come – 10:03
10. Trust in Men Everywhere – 5:01
Link in comments.
03 Jan 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
After the decent but uncharacteristically laid back “Front Page News”, Wishbone Ash re-united with their original producer Derek Lawrence for “No Smoke Without Fire”.
The results are immediately apparent on the opening “You See Red” with the jamming twin guitars back where they belong, right up front. The pace of the song is not overtly quick, but it has a driving basis while telling a troubling tale of domestic violence.
The troubled themes continue throughout the album, with the exception of the closing song “Way of the World”, which finally evokes optimism. Musically however, this is far from a darkalbum. There are softer songs, such as the brief “Leaf and Stream” like “Ships in the Sky”, but as a whole, this is a far more traditional Ash album than those which preceded it.
“Anger in Harmony” features a striking change of tempo midway to play out with a spirited twin guitar jam. “Like a Child” features some of the strongest harmonies and one of the finest melodies the band has delivered in a long time, a real overlooked gem.
The closing 9˝ minute “Way of the World” is very much a “Time Was, Part 2″. The slower acoustic opening vocal section eventually gives way to a lengthy upbeat guitar jam.
This is an unjustly forgotten album in the band’s back pages.
Line-up:
- Martin Turner / Bass & Vocals
- Andy Powell / Guitar & Vocals
- Laurie Wisefield / Guitar & Vocals
- Steve Upton / Drums
Track List:
01. You See Red – 6:04
02. Baby the Angels Are Here – 4:47
03. Ships in the Sky – 3:02
04. Stand and Deliver – 7:27
05. Anger in Harmony – 5:04
06. Like a Child – 5:00
07. Way of the World, Pt. 1 – 4:09
08. Way of the World, Pt. 2 – 5:30
Link in comments.
02 Jan 2009
(Review from amazon)
TIME (Trust In Men Everywhere) was one of the more talented bands to come out of California in the late 1960s. Blending pop, blues, and psychedelia, “Time” produced two fine albums.
Their first album, “Time” recorded in 1968, features not only future Steppenwolf Byrom but also former Sparrows and future Steppenwolf bassist Nick St. Nicholas. It is a gentler, poppier album. The opening track, “Tripping Into Sunshine”, starts with a typical psychedelic introduction, setting the intended tone for the album. Other highlights include “I Really Love You” and the closing track “Take Me Along”.
Line-up:
- Larry Byrom / guitar
- Bill Richardson / guitar
- Nick St. Nicholas / bass
- Steve Rumph / drums
Track List:
01. Tripping into Sunshine – 3:07
02. Label It Love – 2:27
03. Finders Keepers – 3:11
04. Love You, Cherish You – 2:28
05. Make It Alright – 2:04
06. Let the Colors Keep On – 2:11
07. You Changed It All – 2:31
08. I Really Love You – 2:43
09. Make Love to You – 3:37
10. I Can’t Find It – 2:59
11. What Can It Be – 2:20
12. Take Me Along – 3:09
Link in comments.
02 Jan 2009
(Review from allmusic)
Cacophony’s second (and last) effort improves on the formula established on their “Speed Metal Symphony” album. The brainchild of guitarists Marty Friedman and Jason Becker, Cacophony is basically an arena in which the two shredders can indulge their most decadent instrumental ideas. The songs are as influenced by speed metal as they are by neo-classical progressive rock, which makes them even more intense than many of their brethren.
On “Go Off!”, the duo clean up the sound a bit and pare back the guitar excesses just a tad, allowing for a slightly more song-oriented approach. “Stranger” even has a decent pop hook in its chorus. Lead singer Peter Marrino adds some rather overwrought heavy metal braying. Yet Friedman’s and Becker’s guitars are still the stars of the show here. Their preference for dissonance, odd time signatures, and unpredictably complex arrangements make “Go Off!” a very interesting listen at times.
Though the second album was a commercial failure, it spawned cult followings around the band. Cacophony broke up with Jason Becker joining David Lee Roth and Marty Friedman joining Megadeth.
Line-up:
- Jason Becker / Guitar
- Marty Friedman / Guitar
- Peter Marrino / Vocals
- Jimmy O’Shea / Bass
- Deen Castronovo / Drums
Track List:
01. X-Ray Eyes – 5:10
02. E.S.P – 6:06
03. Stranger – 3:24
04. Go Off! – 3:46
05. Black Cat – 7:45
06. Sword Of The Warrior – 5:09
07. Floating World – 5:10
08. Images – 3:42
Link in comments.