More Titles Available Through Wayside Including Nektar, Tangent...
Date: Saturday, May 07 @ 18:00:00 UTC
Topic: Album Release News


Here are some of the newer offerings available through Wayside, beginning with Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Pink Lady Lemonade - You're From Inner Space (Alien 8, $16.00): "Anyone who has ever witnessed Acid Mothers Temple live has more than likely heard them perform 'Pink Lady Lemonade.' It's a staple of their live sets and has been released in various forms over the years on of now out of print releases. It is offered here for the first time in a single CD edition.

"While 'Pink Lady Lemonade' is a single piece of epic proportions, it comes off more like a very cohesive full-length recording, as the tune is broken down into four separate movements. The record's first movement runs for about 30 minutes and introduces the album's central motif, a mesmerizing and repetitive guitar riff. The track eventually dissolves into a particular jazzy section that has the band frantically freaking out somewhere between ragtime and Sun Ra. This jazz-inspired section ends rather abruptly after just under six minutes, yet it's enough to radically alter the previous vibe and prepare oneself for the third movement.

"The third segment marks the return of main riff being played in a very gentle manner with slight processing on Kawabata Makoto's guitar and additional synth action from Higashi Hiroshi being panned in and out of the mix. The results are very intriguing and verge into psychoacoustic territory. The effect of the layered sounds is reminiscent of that experienced when listening to the music of contemporary classical composer Luigi Nono, whose compositions created something entirely new out of manipulating taped recordings of vocalists and orchestras. Pink Lady Lemonade maintains the same heavy spiritual qualities that so much of the Acid Mothers output does, but the hippy elements are kept a little further at bay and instead replaced with an artier drone component. The effect of the cascading drone alongside the full band playing is both refreshing and strange, almost as if you were listening to two different pieces of music being performed simultaneously."

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John Luther Adams - Four Thousand Holes (Cold Blue, $14.00): "Four Thousand Holes is a sometimes lush, sometimes fragile, rhythmically complex and technically demanding work for piano and mallet percussion (performed by the extraordinary pianist Stephen Drury and percussionist Scott Deal) and ghostly electronic 'auras' -- electronic sounds created by processing the acoustic instruments' sonorities. Unlike Adams's other works, the pitch material used in Four Thousand Holes is drawn exclusively from Western music's most basic elements: major and minor triads. In this case they are superimposed upon one another in multiple tempo streams, creating a beautiful yet continuously fracturing sound world -- from splintering glass shards to nearly seismic disturbances. The other work on this CD, '...and bells remembered...,' performed by the Callithumpian Consort, is a more introspective piece."

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Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny - Ebbets Field 1974 (Itsaboutmusic.com, 2CDs, $15.00): The first time ever legit release of this famous radio recording from Denver, CO in May, 1974. This is mid period, but it captures them when Sandy had returned and anything with Sandy is of interest!

"British Folk-Rock legends, Fairport Convention recorded LIVE in 1974 with the late Sandy Denny, Dave Mattacks, Jerry Donahue, Dave Pegg, Trevor Lucas & Dave Swarbrick. A magic evening from May 1974. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk-rock movement."

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Flied Egg - Dr. Siegel's Fried Egg Shooting Machine (Phoenix, $18.00): "Japan's proggers Flied Egg, consisting of former Strawberry Path alumni Shigeru Narumo and Hiro Tsunoda, supported by former Brush leader, Masayoshi Takanaka, released two albums in the early '70s, Dr. Siegel's Fried Egg Machine being the first and undoubtedly the better of the two. Dr. Siegel's..., originally released in 1972, is a much more keyboard-oriented affair, with Narumo adding a Moog, celeste and harpsichord to his usual Hammond and piano line-up. On this album, the musical influences are more Uriah Heep than the previous Hendrix-inspired leanings, although touches of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Deep Purple, Birth Control and even Black Sabbath find their way into the musical mèlange. Dr. Siegel's... presents a rich selection of musical styles, culminating with 'Guide Me To The Quietness,' a glorious prog epic that brings an inventive and enjoyable album to a climactic finale. Digitally remastered. Numbered, limited collector's edition housed in an LP-replica gatefold card wallet."

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Ryan Francis - Works For Piano (Tzadik, $13.00): "Ryan Anthony Francis is a remarkable young composer who was born in Portland, Oregon, studied at Julliard and now resides in New York City. His work is brilliant and dynamic, combining the imagination of Ligeti with the minimal language of Steve Reich and John Adams. Fluid and fascinating, his work for solo piano is some of his very best. Performed here by the virtuoso pianist Vicky Chow, a long time colleague of Francis, the music is lush, beautiful and endlessly inventive."

Vicky Chow: Piano

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Sugar Cane Harris - Cup Full Of Dreams (Promising Music, 24-bit remastering/mini-lp sleeve, $20.00): First time on CD for this title originally released on MPS, this features Harvey Mandel, Larry Taylor, Dewey Terry, Paul Lagos and others.

"Hi Fiddlety - The Hot Rats Connection Presents Part 1. Sugar Cane Harris was one of the featured violinists on Zappa's may-be-best album ever. Violin wizardry in perfection: Sugar Cane's fourth out of six MPS recording is a jaw-dropping masterpiece that shows the man with the blue fiddle at the zenith of his career..."

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Mazal - Axerico En Selanik (Tzadik $13.00): "A remarkable duo out of France performing traditional and original Sephardic-Jewish songs in an electronica/dance context, Axerico En Selanik is one of the most surprising CDs in recent years to come out on the Tzadik Jewish Series. Charming and endlessly creative, these imaginative interpretations combine a hypnotic rhythmic drive with heartfelt vocals. A modern take on tradition with an ecstatic edge."

Thomas Baudriller: Programming, Sampler, Bass, Double-bass, Mandolin
Emmanuelle Rouvray: Vocals, Percussion

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Nektar - A Tab In The Ocean (expanded) (Itsaboutmusic.com, 2CDs, $15.00): This was the second album released by this English-by-way-of-Germany spacerock band. It was recorded in 1972 and features Taff Freeman (mellotron, pianos, organ, vocals), Roye Albrighton (guitars, vocals), Mo Moore (bass) and Ron Howden (drums). Despite my fondness for the pure psychedelic progressiveness of Journey To The Centre Of The Eye, A Tab In The Ocean is the first release where they really gain their very unique sound and sense of self. Another excellent spacerock release. Additionally (and this is a big deal for fans) you get a second disc of the group from their very earliest days - a 40' demo tape of more than reasonable quality recorded in Boston (!?!?) in 1970 (!!)

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Nektar - Remember The Future (expanded) (Itsaboutmusic.com, 2CDs, $15.00): The third and best-known release by this English group who spent their most popular years in Germany, and are usually thought of as a German band. This was a hugely popular release in the mid 70s, selling hundreds of thousands of copies! Really! Kinda jammy, definitely somewhat Pink Floydy, Nektar were a quartet of vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass and drums. This includes a bunch of extras, including the entire album done live (but not identified as to where and when) and on the second disc, a live show from Brazil in 2007!

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Mani Neumeier - Smoking The Contracts (Atavistic, $14.00): Includes the wonderfully titled song, "Go Ahead, Oren."

"Drummer legend Mani Neumeier meets up with guitar extraordinaire Oren Ambarchi and others. Smoking The Contracts consists of two extended tracks recorded live in Melbourne in 2007 and 2009. One a duet between Mani and Oren and the other a quartet where the two are joined by Brandan Walls (guitar) and Edmondo Ammendola (bass). Only musicians of this caliber could conjure up a performance as powerful and interwoven as these recordings."

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Jean-Luc Ponty - Open Strings (Promising Music, 24-bit remastering/mini-lp sleeve, $20.00): First time on CD for this title, which was the last album he released under his own name before he formed his famous 70s fusion group and released Aurora!

"Hi Fiddlety - The Hot Rats Connection Presents Part 2. Jean-Luc Ponty was one of the featured violinists on Zappa's may-be-best album ever. Just before his American breakthrough the French violin star opened his mind towards bridges between pop, rock and free structures, stimulated by some of the most interesting personalities of these days like Joachim Kuhn and Philip Catherine (and Steve Lacy's drummer Oliver Johnson!)."

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Seabrook Power Plant - II (Loyal Label, CD $12.00, LP $16.00 (US only/more elsewhere)): [Wayside says:] I've seen this wild, great and extraordinary power trio of electrified banjo, bass and drums twice and the second time was signficantly better than the 'already great' 1st time. Their mixture of the banjo's unique sounds combined with skronk/punk-jazz makes for a unique take on the 2011 version of 'the downtown sound' (now relocated to Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Take 10% no-wave, 50% punk jazz ala Zevious/Massacre and 40% something completely original and that's what these guys present. A fine release and a just slaying live outfit! Highly recommended!

"Frank Zappa got it right when he referred to Steve Vai's style as 'stunt guitar,' and up to a point, Brandon Seabrook champions that strain of metalloid virtuosity (e.g., 'Black Sheep Squadron' above). But on 2010’s Seabrook Power Plant and the new Seabrook Power Plant II, the guitarist *****s with our heads by playing much of his crazy-impossible music on banjo (e.g., 'Lamborghini Helicopter,' 'I'm Too Good For You,' 'Sacchetto Mal D'Aria,' 'Forcep Protection'). The extraordinary sonic color, rhythmic daredevilry and sheer filth coming from Seabrook’s instruments can be downright alarming -- if someone can explain what is happening at 1:15 on 'Kush Lamps Ablaze,' please do. Drummer/brother Jared Seabrook and bassist Tom Blancarte help keep it fun. Catch 'em live and you're surely in for it." -David R. Adler.

"Seabrook Powerplant II, the follow-up to their incendiary debut release, with tenor banjo/guitarist Brandon Seabrook focusing on composition and in-studio production to pursue the trio's destruction of the walls separating punk, folk and jazz. Following their critically acclaimed self-titled debut, which stunned NPR’s 'A Blog Supreme' by terrifyingly sustaining a 'crazed state of improvisation,' and numerous live dates, one of which alarmed the New York Times with its 'grimly combative clamor,' the group returns with a fresh book of 8 electrifying, category-demolishing compositions on vinyl and CD.

"Seabrook Power Plant started, says Brandon Seabrook, 'as an outlet for my writing and a chance to experiment with sound approach and improvisation on tenor banjo.' Jared Seabrook on drums and bassist Tom Blancarte, the trio was designed to articulate the unique and underexplored percussive capacities of the tenor banjo, an instrument Brandon first engaged while a student at New England Conservatory. Initially inspired by drummer Bob Moses, with whom he studied closely in Boston, Brandon’s diverse influences are evident in his unrivaled approach to the instrument. 'Slayer’s Dave Lombardo and Zeppelin’s John Bonham,' he claims, 'inspire me equally, as does Thelonious Monk.'

"While the group's debut leaned heavily on improvisations built around Brandon's wild banjo explorations, on Seabrook Power Plant II they emphasize constructing a vigorous band dialogue grounded on a remarkable set of original compositions. After a year and a half of concentrated rehearsals and feverish gigs, this muscular document shows them unleashing the full force of their musical arsenal... From the Minutemen’s jazz-centric econo-punk to the bristling twang-rock of the Meat Puppets, Seabrook Power Plant joins a wide array of musical references without ever slipping into the grips of replication. In part due to their unique instrumentation, the band’s unyielding vision and superb ability as a musical unit sets them apart from their contemporaries. Alongside Sun City Girls, Frank Zappa, and Henry Flynt, Seabrook Power Plant is crafting a sonic universe of its own through daringly unusual and adventurous music."

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The Tangent - Going Off On Two (Sally Collyer Music, CD + NTSC (all region) DVD, $27.00): "The Tangent release Going Off On Two is their second live DVD/CD. As an independent Fan-funded release, this DVD shows the new band performing over 90 minutes of music from different areas of their career. Filmed in a studio environment the DVD is energetic and vital, beautifully recorded and filmed. Showcasing the five piece lineup of the all British band in an entirely LIVE situation with no overdubbing, the band work their way through classics like 'In Darkest Dreams' and 'GPS Culture' and jawdropping live versions of songs from the Down & Out In Paris & London album like 'Where Are They Now?' and 'Perdu Dans Paris.' in addition there's a completely new song 'The Mind's Eye' (unavailable anywhere else at present) which is a preview of the new studio album COMM due for release later in 2011. Theo Travis (Sax & Flute) joins up again with band leader Andy Tillison (Keyboards & Vocals), Jonathan Barrett (Bass), Tony Latham (Drums) and the incredible 22 year old guitarist Luke Machin, whose work on this DVD will amaze everyone! This is a 2 disc set that includes the DVD with extra subtitled commentary, interviews and photo gallery and audio CD that contains most of the music from the video."

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TheRhythmIsOdd - Raw Material (self-released, $13.00): TheRhythmIsOdd were formerly known as Trio, and we [Wayside] have stocked a previous album by them entitled From Nowhere To Eternity. On that one, they played a sort of heavy power trio fusion music. Here, they've not only changed their name, but they have changed their approach. This is a heavy, psych/out/jammer, which will remind you of groups like early Guru Guru, Sepsis and Loch Ness. The band plays with total authority and also with total abandon. Unbelievably great if you like this style; highly recommended.

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John Zorn - The Satyr's Play: Cerberus (Tzadik, $17.00): "Two dramatic new worlds in sound from our downtown Alchemist who continues to confound and defy expectations well into his fourth decade of recorded activity. Scored for two percussionists, The Satyr's Play is a dramatic work that mysteriously evokes the decadent excesses of Bacchanalia and Saturnalia. Presented in book form accompanied by a esoteric text beautifully illustrated with rare drawings by the great mystical artist Austin Osman Spare, this is a work of subtle nuance and sexuality. In contrast, Cerberus, is a flamboyant and dynamic trio for brass. A demonic piece featuring three undisputed Brass virtuosos, it jumps styles, moods and genres in classic Zorn fashion. Radical, moody and colorful chamber works for the 21st century."

Cyro Baptista: Percussion
Marcus Rojas: Tuba
David Taylor: Bass Trombone
Kenny Wollesen: Percussion
Peter Evans: Trumpet

Find it here at Wayside

[Source: Wayside Music, label websites]







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