AWOLnation – "Megalithic Symphony" (2011)

I heard Awolnation for the first time on the radio in November 2012, it was the song Kill Your Heroes that came out of the speakers. An interesting, different, but still accessible song with a catchy chorus. I sat alone in the car on my way from Norrkoping to Uppsala (Sweden). A moment of tranquility in a hectic life. It’s only in the car I listen to radio, except intellectual documentaries I download to my mp3 player. Yes, I actually have one. Since I don’t drive very often I don’t hear much radio, and therefore I have a rather poor perception of the world in terms of current, commercial music. If one should define an album from 2011 as "current" music.

Anyway, Kill Your Heroes was interesting enough to justify further investigations on the subject Awolnation, and here I sit today with their first, and so far only, album.

 

Awolnation is Aaron Bruno who is the composer of all the music, he has previously been a member of Under The Influence Of Giants, amongst other bands. On Megalithic Symphony he was helped by Drew Stewart on guitar, Kenny Carkeet on guitar and keyboards, and Hayden Scott on drums.

The initial feeling when I listened to the album was that it was so-so. It felt a bit too electronic and Aaron also sings in a special way that is more a sort of screaming-singing. This in combination with up-beat songs made the sound environment quite messy. There are clear beats, danceable songs and a lot of energy. But perhaps a little impersonal. This was the first feeling. It changed.

After listening to the album a number of times, I think it's really, really good. One of the few records where all the songs are good with no weak numbers. I still think it’s a somewhat too electronical sound for my taste and I would appreciate more guitar-drums-bass (says the same person who enjoys Kraftwerk, Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream). But since the songs are so good I believe they would stand out even more clearly in a bit more stripped down production. At the same time, the electronical sound/production makes it a fun and varied listening experience.

It's hard to pick out any particular song from the album since the quality is so high throughout. The song Sail can be mentioned as it was a single that reached relatively high on the charts and has been featured in a number of television productions. Knights Of Shame, the album’s final epic 15-minute song might also be mentioned as it, despite its length, doesn’t bore the listener, which is impressive. That is, it’s 15 minutes long if you count the hidden final track and the silence before that. Even the rap works in this final number, which otherwise often feels a bit superimposed in music like this. I enjoy epic tracks like these where the listener is taken on a journey through a varied musical landscape, full of beauty and surprises.

I, who have a deep mistrust of modern music played on the radio, think it's fun to find a modern album to expand my collection with. It's fun to be in touch with today! If that is what I am.

The electronic sound/production and the sometimes noisy acoustic environment meant that it took a while to really embrace this album, now that I've done, it stands out more and more as a masterpiece.

 

The vinyl is a double album and as the companies in their kindness sometimes do (in this case Red Bull Records), the vinyl buyer also gets the album in digital format with the purchase. Even more use for my mp3 player!

Dance baby, dance like the world is ending!
　
Tracklist

Side A
1. Megalithic Symphony 0:58
2. Some Sort Of Creature 0:27
3. Soul Wars 3:37
4. People 3:58

Side B
1. Jump On My Shoulders 4:08
2. Burn It Down 2:45
3. Guilty Filthy Soul 3:33
4. Kill Your Heroes 2:59

Side C
1. My Nightmare’s Dream 0:27
2. Sail 4:19
3. Wake Up 3:03
4. Not Your Fault 4:02

Side D
1. All I Need 3:38
2. Knights Of Shame 14:56

Maxi Singles

I will depart from the usual 33 1/3 road today and enter the 45 rpm world and the so-called maxi singles. My collection does not contain many of this ancient creatures, there are only four of them. For those who don't remember, a maxi single was a disc of normal size (12'') but spun on 45 rpm and had 1-2 songs per side. Since the tracks wasn't as close, the sound became more dynamic. It was when the DJ culture gained momentum these discs filled a need.



Kate Bush - "Experiment IV" (1986)
To promote Kate's Greatest hit album The Whole Story this single was released, both as a "normal" single and a maxi single. The A-side is the title track and is not on any of Kate's studio albums. I think this song is pretty boring and relatively bland, if one may say so about Kate and her music. The lyrics is about a secret military plan to create a weapon which  kill people with sound.
If you flip the record it starts with the classic and breakthrough song Wuthering Heights from 1978, with new vocals. It's a beautiful song with a sweeping chorus. Can't go wrong with that. Finally you reach the album's peak, the Christmas song December Will Be Magic Again which was recorded in 1979 but was released as a single just before Christmas 1980, and here it appears again. You don't get that song either on any of Kate's studio albums, but is one of my personal favorites with Kate, and without a doubt a top favorite when it comes to Christmas songs. One of few examples that a Christmas song can be really good.

Side A
1. Experiment IV 6:38

Side B
1. Wuthering Heights 4:57
2. December Will Be Magic Again 4:50





Kate Bush - "The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix)" (1986)
The A-side is (of course) the title track which is taken from Kate's album Hounds of Love, but as the title suggests, it is a remixed version. I've gotten used to hear the song in its original form and it's therefore a bit difficult to really enjoy this version. However, it's an OK song that wants you to dance, especially in this meteorological mix.
The B-side opens up with Not This Time, a song that does not appear on any of Kate's studio albums and a song that I don't especially like. Unusually mainstream to be Kate, and with a strong 80s vibe. It doesn't stand out in any way. The single ends with another song from Hounds Of Love; The Morning Fog.


Side A
1. The Big Sky (Meteorological Mix) 7:49

Side B
1. Not This Time 3:40
2. The Morning Fog 2:33





Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill" (1985)
This was the first single released from Hounds Of Love and Kate's second most successful single ever. It started out as the number nine on the charts in England and got to a third position as its peak. It's a good song, and many believe it is one of Kate's best. Originally the title was A Deal With God but EMI were worried how people would react to the word "God" in a song title? Scary. Kate changed the name, but the on the LP the original name was included in parentheses. This single version of the song is an extended version, but follows the LP's version pretty close.
The B-side opens with a very beautiful creation, Under The Ivy. A song that doesn't appear on any studio album and an instant favorite when I heard it. Kate's voice, a piano and a some choir. I guess the song should be defined as a ballad, the kind that almost induces tears. Last of all, Running Up That Hill comes back in an instrumental version.

Side A
1. Running Up That Hill (Extended Version) 5:47

Side B
1. Under The Ivy 2:06
2. Running Up That Hill (Instrumental) 5:00






Ganges Orchestra - "The Dream" / Ganga - "Meditasian" (1983)
After my Kate Bush maxi singles we come to the collection's more rare bird. Odd in that the band / artist is a bit more obscure, moreover, it's not purely a maxi single. One side spins at 45 rpm while the other spins at 33. The label is the English Indipop which does not refer to 'independent', it's about dance music with Asian / Indian influences. On the energetic A-side, The Dream, you'll hear the tabla, African log drum, Indian bells, morcing, conga, saxophone, Shenai, sitar, bass, slide guitar, etc. The vocals consist largely of traditional hindi singing. And all created to the dance floors in the 80's club scene in England. And one can only say that it is dance friendly! Full speed ahead!
Some people involved in this album played the year before in the band Monsoon which apparently was a successful band in the genre, if you believe marketing sheet that comes with the album. Sheila Chandra and Steve Coe are two of the names. Steve Coe ran Indipop and Sheila Chandra has released some solo albums at this label but also on her own label later on.

The B-side is a much longer track of the more meditative kind, only a sitar (I think) is heard, and the sound goes in a loop. Relaxing and soothing.

The first 5000 copies of the album were hand painted with unique motifs and were numbered, I'm the proud owner of number 858. I think that's a rain cloud and ... yes ... something else. The sea and a periscope? Another interesting detail is that it came with an incense stick inside the cover, and mine is still intact. However, many incense sticks "managed to warp several boxes of export vinyl copies in the process! But at least the warped vinyl smelt good ..." Sheila's own words from the album information on discogs.com.
I found this album on a record fair in the 90s and paid what I then thought was a relatively large amount of money (= more than $ 15).

Side A
1. The Dream 7:17

Side B
1. Meditasian 24:39

MFSB – "Love Is The Message" (1973)

I found this record in Quebec a few years ago, and apart from the price of 1 or 2 dollars, the album attracted me with its contradictions. A skull, a nuclear bomb, a swastika, KKK, assault rifles and children who seem to suffer. Heavy stuff. Whith a title that says exactly the opposite. Of course I had to investigate what kind of album this was.

A knower of music should probably know who MFSB were, in other words, I can’t define myself as one. MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) was a group of about 30 musicians who were the house band in the studio Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. There they recorded a large amount of music for the classical label Philadelphia International, mostly as studio musicians for other artists, but also under their own namne. Philadelphia International was created and managed by the producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.


Sigma Sound Studios

MFSB was a key part of The Philly sound that was big in (especially) the first half of the 70s, and was an important part of creating disco. Wikipedia describes that The Philly sound "is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a vibraphone can often be heard in the background of Philly soul songs. "

I have a compilation CD with Philadelphia soul (as it’s also called, Sweet Philly is another name) in my collection and I must admit that it’s quite groovy music.

Love Is The Message is a nice album. It’s instrumental and clocks in at just over 35 minutes. Lots of horns, lots of strings, lots of electric organ, fat arrangements. If I have a record that smells the 70s, it’s this one. Yes, it's probably as much 70s as it possible can be. I see countless of TV series from that decade in my head when I hear the songs. It's pretty gentle and comforting music on the album, and allmusic.com have as a couple of (many) definitions of the music Easy listening - Smooth Soul. Sometimes it's a little too nice and sweet, and my mean moments I think that some of the songs would fit well on a Saturday night in a club for retired people. Personally, I think feel good music would fit well as a definition. The darkness, anxiety and neuroses are far away on this album. Instead life is good, the ladies (and gentlemen) are beautiful, the money is flowing in and we are among groovy and cool friends. A perfect party where no one gets too drunk and everyone is happy in a relaxed way.

There are two classic songs on the album, the first one is the title song. A beautiful creation that became a big underground hit in New York's disco world a few years later. The second one, which even I recognize, is T.S.O.P (The Sound Of Philadelphia). It was written as the theme song to the TV show Soul Train and was released as a single which reached number one on the charts. A beautiful song probably everyone can like, and the only song on the record where some vocals are heard in the form of a few female voices.

The music is in stark contrast to the cover, which I guess was the point. To the wicked, hard world we live in perhaps music like this is the right medicine.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Zack’s Fanfare 0:23
2. Love Is The Message 6:35
3. Cheaper To Keep Her 6:52
4. My One And Only Love 4:34

Side B
1. T.S.O.P (The Sound Of Philadelphia)
2. Zack’s Fnafare (I Hear Music) 0:50
3. Touch Me In The Morning (6:21
4. Bitter Sweet 5:26

Shawn Phillips - "Spaced" (1977)

Shawn Phillips is described as "the most well kept secret in music business" and "one the most fascinating and enigmatic musicians to come out of the early -70s singer / songwriter boom." I'm therefore forgiven for not knowing who he was until this album landed in my home a couple of months ago. If you read about him on the net, you notice collaborations with names like Donovan, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood. He sings on the Beatles' Lovely Rita and was assigned the lead role in Jesus Christ Superstar (but withdrew). In total, he has released about 20 albums. So it's still kind of strange that this man has passed unnoticed in my life.

Shawn Phillips was the son of a writer and spent his childhood on almost every continent on Earth, which made him meet lots of different kinds of music. He started playing guitar at the age of seven and is considered a very accomplished musician, he masters various forms of guitars and also plays the sitar. His voice reportedly covers three octaves.

Spaced consists mostly of songs that were deselected from previous albums, often due to an album's limited time frame (according to the text on the cover). The oldest song is from 1969 and was featured on an intended trilogy of albums that never was to be (but was compressed to one record). There are also a few songs from 1977 which I assume were recorded new to Spaced.

I have to my knowledge never heard Shawn Phillips before so I have nothing to compare with, but I like this album. It has really grown from the first listening. I came across the record via a friendly partner in my job, who I was going to lose contact with. It turned out she had a large number of vinyl records she had no use for, and as a farewell gift she offered me to look through the albums and pick the ones I wanted. Such kindness makes you happy.

The music is difficult to define. There is jazz, prog, psychedelia, rock and the album ends with a 16 minute long funk jam. Shawn Phillips' music is described on various sites as folk rock, jazz rock, singer / songwriter, psychedelia, garage, soft rock, etc. Eclectic, to say the least. Apparently you should thank his travelings while growing up for this, since he, in meeting all the different kinds of music, didn't get trapped in the usual musical boundaries. Spaced has the traditional rock instruments like guitar, bass, drums, some saxophone, keyboard / piano of various kinds. No sitar this time. When I hear this album I sometimes get vibes of Tim Buckley. I don't know, maybe it's the voice.

Today, Shawn lives in South Africa and continues to write music. He also works as an emergency medical technician, a firefighter and navigator in South Africa's Sea rescue.

Overall it's an OK album, one thing that bothers me a little, though, is Shawn's words on the inside cover: "Today it appears that almost anyone who puts on a cowboy hat and / or has played an instrument for two or three years can be designated as a musician. All of the people who have played on my albums are musicians who have dedicated the majority of their lives to music. "
In my world it smells a little snobbery, disdain and superiority towards all the hobby musicians who find joy in creating, which darkens the image of Shawn bit. Or is it just me as a half mediocre bassist and a drummer rookie with dreams that feel insulted. But at least I don't wear a cowboy hat. Yet.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Rant 3:25
2. Italian Phases 2:22
3. The Light From Between Your Eyes 4:33
4. Stranded 4:48
5. From All Of Us 3:42

Side B
1. Parisian Plight I 3:42
2. Prelude To A Leaving 2:37
3. All Our Love 1:32
4. I Don't Want To Leave You, I Just Came To Say Good-Bye 16:08

Ravi Shankar - "Inde"

When Ravi Shankar a short time ago ended his earthly life, one must say that it was a legend that left us. Many people associate him with the Beatles and his influence on popular western music through this connection has been great. All psychedelic songs, both contemporary and ancient, where a sitar is included we have Mr. Shankar to thank (and George Harrison who was the man who welcomed this instrument). Yes, even non-psychedelia can actually include a sitar to beautify the experience.

But of course Ravi Shankar had a life before the Beatles and a long and successful career afterwards. You may correct me if I'm wrong, but he is probably the practitioner of traditional non-Western music that has reached out to the most and whose name almost everyone knows. He received the Polar Music Prize in 1998.

I'm no great knower of either Ravi Shankar or the music from India in general. In my collection there are a few titles with traditional Indian music of various kinds, of which today's theme is one. The reason I got these albums were initially simply because I thought it was pretty druggy and fuzzy music. The tones of the sitar and rhythms the tabla created a cozy and mysterious atmosphere. Throw in a nice flute to add some variety and the dish was complete.

On Inde we hear Ravi Shankar play sitar and Chatur Lal on tabla. I don't know what year the album was released, but I guess somewhere in the 60's. The label is Fontana and Inde was part of a French serie of releases with music from different parts of the world, as I understand it. We hear Ravi Shankar play the sitar relatively quickly. It's not an album if you want to lie down, close your eyes and fly away on a floaty Indian sound carpet. Some songs may start at a lower pace, but soon Ravi has increased the speed and his fingers seem to fly over the sitar. Perhaps India's answer to Yngwie Malmsteen? Accompanied only by a tabla, the sitar is in the center of the music.

I think the album is OK. Generally, I like the calmer and slower Indian music better, so sometimes it is a little too fast for me at Inde. But there is no doubt Ravi mastered the sitar to the fullest, it is a dazzling display given. At times one wonders how it's possible to play so many notes in such a short time.

Do I recommend this album? In general I find it difficult to give recommendations on traditional music, just because it's so different. It's more than usual a question of individual taste. But if you like Indian music this is surely an album as good as any other. And in general, I encourage people to explore other continents traditional music as there are lots of exciting discoveries to make.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Kafi-Holi

2. Dhun

3. Mishra Piloo

Side B

1. Raga Puriya Dhanashri

2. Raga Charu Keshi

Darxtar – "Aged To Perfection" (2012)

To get in the right mood for this album the right company is probably a magic mushroom omelette, combined with a well-filled bong. Now, the album ends after about 40 minutes, while the effect of the omelette lasts all day. So I guess you’ll have to listen to the record from the beginning again. Or put on some Hawkwind.

Space rock is a genre I'm not completely familiar with, except a number of albums with Hawkwind my record collection is pretty empty when it comes to this art form. I guess you should be careful to define music too rigid, but I think I have now increased my space rock collection. Darxtar offers music that bears clear similarities with bands like the already mentioned Hawkwind with long druggy space jams, blipping syntheizer sounds, half psychotic violin and fuzzy text themes. A few pinches of psychedelia and the dish is complete. Or is it called neo-psychedelia when a modern band plays "psychedelic" music? And isn’t space rock in itself very psychedelic? Definitions ...

Darxtar is a Swedish band formed in the late 80's by Sören Bengtsson. They have over the years released a number of albums, Aged To Perfection seems to be their eighth, including an obscure live album that was made in 100 copies. Today the band consists of Sören Bengtsson (vocals, guitar), Patric Danielsson (vocals, drums), Marcus Pehrsson (vocals, bass), Fredrik Sundkvist (violin) and Per Hillbom (Synth / Keyboard). They have collaborated a few times with Nik Turner, so the Hawkwind connection is not entirely wrong.

However, there are not only long space jams on the album, there are also more acoustic tracks (with vocals) which is nice as it would become tiresome and boring with only spacey, drawn out jams / sound collages. But I must honestly say that this isn’t really my kind of music today, 20 years ago I would certainly have appreciated it more. I have some issues with songs that continues for 10 minutes and sounds about the same all the time. No matter how good and / or druggy the song is, I get bored. Long songs (usually) need a greater variety to work. Maybe I need a clearer structure in music today. Darxtar’s songs that are more "normal" and not long jams / sound sculptures / sound collages are OK, but not more.
This is what I also think of Hawkwind, in the context a well-known and successful band, and in my ears Darxtar reaches at least the same level of quality as Nik Turner & Co. So seen in its own genre, Darxtar is a good band.

Although this isn’t really my kind of music, I have the deepest respect for Darxtar. This is a genre that doesn’t reach the masses, which was probably bigger in the 70's and now exists in the shadows. 2012 some would even call the genre a relic. Darxtar choose nonetheless to continue to walk this path. I like that. And a song title like Fiska På Gräsmattan (Go Fishing On The Lawn) is fun, makes you wonder. What do they really mean? Surely has something to do with psychedelic drugs, what else?

For people who like to pause from reality with bands like Hawkwind, or Moose Heart Faith Stellar Groove Band (yes, I managed to name drop the other modern space / psych band I know of), Darxtar certainly is a nice trip. Put on your spacesuit, launch the rocket, Saturn - here we come! One way ticket, please.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Aged To Perfection 3:34
2. In Green Heat 5:05
3. Mörkret 2 2:26
4. Tired Nature 8:39

Side B
1. Some Things 3:46
2. In A Time 6:56
3. Moving Along 5:02
4. Fiska På Gräsmattan 11:36

Caravan – ”In The Land  Of Grey And Pink” (1971/2011) 

 2011 was the 40th anniversary of the release of the excellent album In The Land Of Grey And Pink, Caravan's third album. To really celebrate this they released a limited edition of 500 copies of the vinyl. Not only the limited number of albums, each disc had a unique pattern in pink and gray! Can you resist such a thing? Some might call me a victim of vanity or an easy-to-fool consumer, but obviously this was a record I immediately had to own.

I've owned the CD for a long time, but to own this limited edition vinyl made me feel very special. Jehovah's Witnesses claim that 144,000 people will end up in heaven. 500 selected people on the planet own this vinyl. I belong to an extremely rare group.

Caravan belongs to the so-called Canterbury scene that gave us bands like Gong, Camel, Hatfield and the North, Soft Machine, Egg and many more during the years around 1970. What all these bands have in common is that they are from the city of Canterbury in England (or nearby). Canterbury was at the time apparently a very conservative town, the music these bands created was not conservative, though. Rather the opposite.

Caravan is regarded as a progressive band which might scare some people. Fear not, the music they created was really groovy and not at all difficult. In The Land Of Grey And Pink is considered by many to be their best album, which yours truly is prepared to agree on. Who can not love a song like Love To Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly)? Pop prog which makes even the most stiff-legged stamp their feet and take a spin on the dance floor in the living room.

The limited edition vinyl is a double album. The first disc is the original music while the second disc has some of the songs in alternative recordings / mixes / demos and some previously unreleased tracks.
The A-side consists of four tracks, all really great. When you mention progressive music some people frown and think it's difficult music primarily created for other musicians. Caravan's version of progressive music is not so. Many of the songs on this album have a clear pop touch and is fairly gentle music. But be sure, it's not a safe, sun-soaked, clearly mapped path to walk on. The listener is offered interesting challenges, in just the right dose. The songs on side A are all strong cards, with both half silly pop prog and more melancholic moods.

The B-side consists of the almost 23 minute long song Nine Feet Underground. Now again someone may frown and think that 23 minute songs aren't anything that should be on an album. But think again. As usual with songs like these, it's divided into a number of shorter pieces woven together into a whole. The B-side is also a great creation and ends with the really heavy part 100% Proof of that same song.

The second disc contains the already mentioned alternative recordings of some of the songs, as well as some previously unreleased tracks. These songs are also of high quality and don't feel like just some sort of time fillers. It's none other than Porcupine Tree's singer Steven Wilson, who has made these new mixes, which is possibly a guarantee of quality. Although the other disc is also really good and interesting, it is problably the original version I will listen to mostly.

Obviously, I recommend this beautiful album. Now I understand that you are all dying to get this limited edition vinyl, and that feelings of extreme jealousy fill your insides. But if you realise that the feelings that fill my body is extreme pride, joy and superiority, you might feel better.

By the way, it is said that the lower number you have on a numbered vinyl, the better. I've got number 491.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Golf Girl 5:01

2. Winter Time 7:36

3. Love To Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly) 3:04

4. In The Land  Of Grey And Pink 5:00

Side B

1. Nine Feet Underground 22:44

Side C

1. Aristocracy 3:15

2. It’s Likely To Have A Name Nxt Week (’Winter Wine’ Instrumental Demo) 7:48

3. Love To Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly) (First Version) 3:26

4. Frozen Rose (I Don’t Know Its Name Alias The World) 6:08

Side D

1. Nine Feet Underground (Alternate Mix) 22:40