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BACKLOG OF REVIEWS
I am sorry to keep harpjng on about this but I thought it might be helpful if I listed the music it will take me some time to listen and review it. This is on my To Do list. Help! If you haven't reviewed before I will give you 25 years of experience. I have no problem with sharing reviews with other sites either, not at moment anyway, Labels requiring review MOON JUNE CUNEIFORM MARACASH MYLODON GREYDISC JAZZ LABELS previously reviewed on DISS and some new ones perhaps, Also w
Oct 221 min read
THE CHEMISTRY SET - THE TRAGIC FRIDGE MAGNET / STP (Regal Crabomophone) 7" (On sale 15th December)
Advance orders are being taken for this popular band. Its driving rock reminded me of The Bevis Frond and there's not many lyricists mention the National Geographic nor fridge magnets as it happens. 'STP' (Space time deception) is far out psychedelia taking me back to the Syd Barretts or and Kevin Ayres of this world - with a touch of Hendrix- loved the heavy bass. and phased drumming btw.
Oct 221 min read
ANOTHER IMPORTANT MESSAGE
Due to the backlog of reviewing because of a lengthy stay in hospital I am not only looking for other reviewers to help out but also must prioritise physical product i.e. CDs, vinyl or tape. Well done FRUITS DE MER! If you need my postage details please do not hesitate. There must be potential or established reviewers out there to join me in keeping this 10,000 plus visitors in 18 months going.
Oct 221 min read
CRYSTAL JACQUELINE AND FRIENDS - SMOKE ROAD (double LP) (Fruits de Mer) (2025)
Listening to this album at the moment. I am sorry I don't have time for my usual detailed reviews. Followers of FdM will be familiar with Jacqueline and The Honey Pot, and members of Tir Na Nog and Icarus Peel also lend a hand (there are 19 songs). "Smoke Road" is acid folk and psych of the highest order. If this is your scene this ambitious project ranks as essential.
Oct 221 min read
ATOMIC ROOSTER - CIRCLE THE SUN (Esoteric Antenna) (2025)
Fans of the band's proto-metal-prog will find much to appreciate in this music with a dark, modern edge, Notwithstanding that the 'sole survivor; Steve Bolton is joined by a band of keen apprentices, the new Atomic Rooster are undertaking a UK and Europe wide tour to promote the album, in the true spirit of the Rooster.
Oct 221 min read
FRUITS DE MER - BEHIND THE SUN COLLECTIVE
BEHIND THE SUN COLLECTIVE (Fruits de Mer 7", 2025) Impressing at the FdM 2024 summer festival, this genre defying band has produced a faithful rendition of Marc Bolan's 'Children of the Revolution' b/w a cover of Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain', Check them out!
Oct 221 min read
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Phil is back home after a prolonged stay in hospital. New reviews are being added again to the site again. We thank you for your patience. If you would like to join what is essentially a one man reviewing show, your help would be much appreciated to clear the backlog of reviews. Simply e-mail me at phil7jackson@madasafish.com (Having trouble with Outlook at the moment).
Oct 221 min read
JOHN WETTON - CONCETUS II - LIVE COLLECTION VOLUME 2 (CHERRY ROAD 10xCD) (2025)
How this for a list? King Crimson, U.K., Asia, Roxy Music, Family, Uriah Hepp, Wishbone Ash. The box set had been curated by the Wetton estate culled from live performances. To name just a few of the highlights 1) Heat of the Moment 2) Easy Money 3) In the Dead of Night 4) Starless and Bible Black 5) The Night Watch 6) Book of Saturday 7) Sole Survivor Need I go on? There is quite a bit of repetition in set lists spanning Tokyo (1997/1999) and quite a few surprises such as gu
Oct 221 min read
SKAZKA FOR BOYS (No. 13) by GARY HUSBAND & STEVE HACKETT (MOON JUNE) (2024)
Gary: 'Composed by Alexander Shulgin the mainstay of material was for solo and double tracked acoustic piano. A special request came from Alexander to involve a special guest performer of my choice for composition number 13! Since I had a vaguely Indian flavour to my arrangment of this piece (in a count of 7 beats) I decided acoustic guitar would be pretty 'nice'. The response from Bandcamp has been striking as another little gem emerges. Credits: Gary Husband - Piano, Arrang
Oct 221 min read
GERRY MULLIGAN/THELONIOUS MONK: MULLIGAN MEETS MONK (RIVERSIDE CONTEMPORARY SERIES/CRAFT RECORDINGS) (1957/2025)
A classic no doubt but why another version? Simply put this mono edition has a more equitable division of labour in rectifying the predominance of Mulligan in the stereo mix. The choice of material is ace, ably assisted by an emphatic rhythm section of Wilbur Ware and Shadow Wilson. The duo is equally at home on swing and blues modes with Mulligan's 'Decidedly' and Monk's jazz standards. 'Straight No Chaser' and 'Round Midnight' illustrating the timeless strength of the album
Oct 221 min read
HAWKWIND-IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL (7xCD+2 Blu Ray) (2025)
CD 1 is the original album remastered with the A and B sides of singles. CD 2 and 3 are live at Edmonton Sundown (1974) and previously unreleased with only a couple of tracks of the actual album. There's a new mix of the Live in Chicago concert from 1974 on CDs 4 and 5 and the Cleveland concert on CD 6 and 7. There is also a surround sound Blu Ray mix of the album and the Cleveland concert (18 tracks in all) is also captured on Blu Ray. A true collector's piece for Hawkwind d
Oct 221 min read
BRAD MEHILDAU – RIDE INTO THE SUN (2025)
The strength of this album lies in its arrangement and orchestrations. I loved the quirky piano break on ‘Tomorrow Tomorrow’. ‘Sunday’ brought Nick Drake to mind. These 16 interpretations of songs by Elliott Smith are very cleverly done.
Oct 221 min read
CHARLES LLOYD – FIGURE IN BLUE (2025 2XLP) (Blue Note)
‘Figure in Blue’ on the cover is Charles Lloyd, the gifted, innovated saxophonist, who is enjoying a renaissance. On the title track ‘Memories of Duke’ (Duke Ellington) both he and pianist Jason Moran excel. The album opens reverently with ‘Abide with Me’. ‘Desolation Sound’ showcases Lloyd at his fluid best as he unleashes flurries of notes with a deft piano solo in its midriff. ‘Rumination’ is a bit more abstract than expressionist. ‘Chulahoma’ evokes Delta Blues. Two track
Oct 221 min read
PETER HAMILL UK TOUR
PETER HAMILL ANNOUNCES FIRST UK TOUR IN SEVEN YEARS Exciting new for Peter Hamill fans as he announces gigs at Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh...
Jul 161 min read
JETHRO TULL -LIVE FROM BALOISE, SWITZERLAND 15/11/2008 (e-a-r Music) (2 x CD) (2025)
Ian Anderson describes the concert as “a fine venue in the beautiful city of Basel and “a memorable occasion for all”. The rapport with...
Jun 301 min read
HAWKWIND – ASTOUNDING SOUNDS, AMAZING MUSIC (Cherry Red) (RM LP) (1976/ 2025) (Release date: 25th July, 2025)
An exact facsimile of the original Charisma Records LP with a inner bad and liner note insert, “Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music” lays to...
Jun 301 min read
ASTRALASIA – THE SEVEN-POINTED STAR (Cherry Red) (4 x CD) (1996/2025)
Magic Mushroom and Astralasia were sister groups originating from 1990. The latter were part of the dancefloor trance scene along with...
Jun 301 min read
BACK DOOR – VIENNA BACKGROUND – THE RECORDINGS 1971-1976 (RM 5 x CD) (Cherry Red) (2025)
Back Door seemed to excel more as a live band than a studio band; their numbers tended to be fairly short, Ron Aspery’s flurry of sax...
Jun 282 min read
THE RESIDENTS - THE CLASSIC 1980s ALBUMS REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAPES, PLUS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN SONGS, DEMOS, REMIXES, LIVE RECORDINGS, NON-ALBUM TRACKS AND LATER EVOLUTIONS (Cherry Red) (2025)
With 13 previously unreleased tracks this will be an essential purchase for Residents fans and the curious. As the press release says...
Jun 281 min read
MeM – FOGLIA DI RUGIADA (DL/ 100 ltd, LP (Maracash Records) (2025)
Just released is the debut album of Mem, led by multi-instrumentalist Antongiulio Moneta aided by Davide Moneta whose sax first appears...
Jun 241 min read
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