Wednesday 30 May 2012

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe - People's Club Special (1982)



Gorgeous! Osadebe is always popular with me, but this music really comes into its own when the sun comes out.  So, if the sun is shining where you are then you've really got no excuses not to grab this one.

Robert Christgau said Osadebe's band make relaxation a creative principle and that just about nails it.  So,  sit back, relax, and let these magical highlife sounds unwind in your mind.

Tracklist:

01 People's Club Special (Part 1)
02 People's Club Special (Part 2)

Get it HERE.

Tuesday 22 May 2012

The Flamingo Group featuring Marie Rottrová & Petr Němec - This Is Our Soul (1971)



Fabulously funky sounds from the Soviet Bloc.  These tracks are mostly cover versions of songs by American artists but there's enough energy and personality here to make this album a very worthwhile listen with some great party starters.  And both sides end with a mind-melting instrumental freak-out!

Tracklist:

01         Big Chain         
02         The Weight         
03         Hey Lonely Girl         
04         Ain't No Way         
05         Sunny         
06         Chain Of Fools         
07         I've Got Dreams To Remember         
08         Oh! What A Fool I've Been         
09         Nothing's Too Good For My Baby        
10         Purple Angels         
11         Quasimodo's Dream

Get it HERE.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Jad Fair & Kramer - Roll Out the Barrel (1988)



Jad Fair and Kramer's first album of twisted pop songs is a rich and dense work that is constantly surpising and will reward your attention.  Some of the songs are sharp, dissonant and jarring whilst others are warm and elegant, like this...

 
Tracklist:

01 Cheerleaders Wild Weekend
02 Double For Me
03 Bird Of Prey
04 Subterranean Homesick Blues
05 If It's O.K.
06 Better Safe Then Sorry
07 Den Of Angels
08 Blind Hope
09 California
10 When Is She Coming
11 Second Thought
12 Best Left Unsaid
13 By And By
14 Help
15 Around And Around
16 What I've Been Waiting For
17 Load And Mount
18 Nosferatu
19 Twist And Shout
20 King Kong
21 Rockin' Chair
22 Easy To See
23 On The Sunny Side Of The Street
24  Paths Of Glory

Get it HERE.

Thursday 10 May 2012

Voices & Instruments (Obscure 1976)


Alright people, I'm back after the house move and you'll all be glad to hear that I got my priorities straight and now have the records sorted and the stereo up and running so Snap, Crackle and Pop is now back in business.

This little gem from Brian Eno's short lived Obscure label is a real grower.  Jan Steele and John Cage are given a side each but somehow their compositions really hang together and sound like a whole LP.  Both sides feature some sublime vocal performances with Janet Sherbourne performing on the Jan Steele pieces,  Robert Wyatt and Carla Bley on the John Cage tracks.  Steve Beresford and Fred Frith also perform on some of the songs

These songs are definately late night/small hours smokey material.  There's something dark and sensuous about this music, and I find it fills the air with some strange erotics.  Or maybe that's just me.



Let me know your thoughts please.

Tracklist:

01 Jan Steele - All Day
02 Jan Steele - Distant Saxophones
03 Jan Steele - Rhapsody Spaniel
04 John Cage -Experiences No 1
05 John Cage - Experiences No 2
06 John Cage - The Wonderful World of Eighteen Springs
07 John Cage - Forever and Sunsmell
08 John Cage - In a Landscape

Get it HERE.