Music Reviews

Black Children Sledge Funk Co.- Band – “Vol. 3 – Aviation Grand Father” – [PMG Audio.CD]

Medusa of Troy   8/21/2019   CD, Soul

Nigerian psych rock. Re-issue of 1979 album. This was the band’s third album, Vol. 3: Aviation Grand Father, is soul, funk, jazz and a little bit of early synth. In the mid-sevens Nigeria, everybody loved the Black Children Sledge Funk Co. Band. Blasting out of the bustling river port of Onitsha, their infectious, feel-good grooves were the perfect antidote to the dark economic clouds gathering over the country. Everyone in the band changed their last name to Black. Last track is an instrumental. – Reviewed by Carson Street, January 31, 2018.

Birmingham Sunlights – “For Old Time’s Sake” – [Flying Fish]

Medusa of Troy   8/21/2019   CD, Soul

The Sunlights are a dynamic young a cappella gospel group. They hail from Jefferson County, Alabama, where gospel music has flourished since the turn of the century. The Sunlights have received priceless instruction from groups like the Four Eagles and the Sterling Jubilees, and have taken that technical know-how and combined it with unusual syncopation for a fresh sound. This is lively, fervent, joyous stuff. Please enjoy.

P.S. Note there are 5 singers in this quartet — a fifth voice was added so the lead singer can “step out front” for long solo passages without sacrificing the groups 4-part harmony. – Reviewed by Peggy O, August 26, 1992

Biggs, Travis – “Challenge” – [Universal Sound]

Medusa of Troy   8/21/2019   CD, Soul

Multi-instrumentalist, martial artist, and magician Travis Biggs recorded and self-released this debut album in the mid-70s, then went on to work with higher-profile artists including The Supremes and Isaac Hayes. The current reissue comes to us in conjunction with Soul Jazz’s NEW THING! compilation, which featured the very best track here, “Tibetan Serenity.” While Travis plays several instruments on the album, his most obvious (and unique) contributions are the acoustic and electric violins, which make him sound like a funkier version of Jean-Luc Ponty. Check his Stevie Wonder cover, “I Wish,” or the instrumental track “Solar Funk for more highlights. – Reviewed by Rococo, January 11, 2006.

Del Novas, The – “A Surf Odyssey” – [Aural Films]

Cousin Mary   8/21/2019   A Library, CD

This four-piece band is from Sonoma County. Although they have traditional surf music influences such as spy, space, and Tiki, their jazz influence is especially interesting. For example “Surfin’ Wes” is referring to jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. Some nice dreamy stuff, well played with a delightful difference.

Shoup, Wally / Bill Horist / Paul Kikuchi – “Chemical Language” – [New Atlantis Records]

abacus   8/16/2019   CD, Jazz

free and expressive rock more than anything, heavy on both on creative on sonic levels, this seattle jazz improv power trio rips throughout. wally is the ultimate party man, rip roaring with jazz heads for decades, bill’s precise preparations and explorations redefine what guitars are meant to do, and kikuchi flows freely within the intuitive improv these heads carry (and with a wealth of technical and extended techniques to boot). the album title basically lays it out for you, cuz i guess sound is psychoactive on a chemical level or something?

Kale, Karsh – “Up” – [Six Degrees Records]

Medusa of Troy   8/14/2019   CD, International

UP is …

… the title of this album distributed by Six Degree Records, with vocals in English & Hindi, with no obvious FCCs.

… the beats by Karsh Kale (pronounced “Kursh Kah-lay“), a British-Indian New York resident who plays drums, guitar, piano.

… the tempo of most of the songs on this release, which mixes Indian and Western instruments: traditional tabla & drum machines, guitar & sitar, flute & strings & piano.

… the unspoken command to rise up and dance to these tunes. Faves are 4 & 7, the rhythms going beyond energetic to nearly ecstatic.

Naxatras – Live Rituals At Gagarin 205

carsonstreet   8/8/2019   A Library, CD

Naxatras/ Live Rituals at Gagarin 205

Naxatras is a psychedelic rock band from Greece. This is their first live album. Recorded at the release show for their album “III” in Athens. The band continues to expand stylistically towards progressive rock, jazz and acid-rock. Naxatras is John Delias on guitar, John Vagenas on bass and vocals and Kostas Harizanis on drums. The band says: “Naxatras comes from the word “Nakshatras” that refers to the various phases of the moon in Hindu astrology. It sounded cool and fitting with our music, maybe because of the connections that Hinduism has to psychedelia and spirituality, but we spell it differently because it looks better with an “X”!”.

Bell, William – “Soul of a Bell, The” – [Atlantic]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

William Bell was the best-kept secret on the entire Stax/Volt roster. He was there from the very beginning, and continued recording with the label ’till the end. A versatile musician, he was both a writer and a singer. As a singer, he could hang with anybody – as his gutsy cover of Otis’ “Loving You Too Long” attests – and he possessed a sweet, understated voice. The first half of this is ballads, the other half more up. Both are sublime. Do yourself and your listeners a favor and play this … a lot (especially the ballads). – Reviewed by Johnny P., October 9, 1991.

Basehead – “Play with Toys” – [Emigre]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

Inventive Washington D.C. duo that uses mostly live instrumentation mixed with imaginative samples. Languid, clever stories of a lovelorn individual over slow non-cliche mixes. A whole new approach here: had a good one. – Reviewed by Lucifer, January 29, 1992.

Basehead – “Not In Kansas Anymore (Unedited)” – [Imago Recording Company]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

Follows in the style of their “Plays With Toys” CD. Michael Ivey’s voice is predominant, as is his attitude – he’s definitely pissed off with social and criminal justice – racism – police treatment. Humor on some tracks – but not as enlightened as on “Play With Toys.” Some tracks deal with the pleasure of smoke (try playing together with Ring Tee.) Overall, a step down from “Toys”. Reviewed by Ned Walker, February 24, 1993. [N.B – lots of FCCs]

Bar-Kays – “Soul Finger” – [Rhino Records]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

I don’t know why Stax Records they they needed a younger clone of Booker T & the MGs but they did, and even got Book and MG drummer Al Jackson to mentor them. A more aggressive, maybe even more energetic and enthusiastic than the MGs, but lacking in that rock solid, yet slinky panache. Still, quite a nice record, this. Reviewed by Johnny P., 1994.

Ramuntcho Matta – “96” – [Akuphone]

ravensparks   8/7/2019   A Library, CD

Miguel Matta Echaurren, (Ramutcho Matta) sound artist from the early 80’s to now. Works on a variety of sound collaborations to explore different aspects of sound and noise. This CD plays with enunciation, (articulation, elocution, pronunciation, speech pattern, manner of speaking, intonation, inflection) 

of French word art mixed with electronic-instrumental and noise (squeaky floorboards, buzzing, carnival sounds, etc) 

Favorite Track: 05 Radis Courgettes Carottes. A love ode to produce.

Guitar-like

01 Au Moment de S’endormir(slow eloquence in word art)

04 Un Couer Blanc (circus-like carnival sounds at end)

11 J’avais Oublie

Fun Word Art Enunciations

**05. Radis Courgettes carottes—A Must Play! A love ode to produce! Lots of rolling RRrrr’s. Love the slow loving pronunciation of produce with a gentle buzz cut sound noise slicing and reverberating in the background.

Cette Semaine

L’Apres Fete

More atmospheric

Ni Un Ni Deux

Ceci Et Celia

Au Fond Du Fond

La grande plein 

Ballard, Hank – “Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters” – [Rhino Records]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

Hank Ballard wrote “The Twist” – Chubby, born and raised in Detroit, Ballard was discovered singing on a Ford Motor Co. assembly line (so the liner notes say). Ballard’s connections go way back: Johnny Otis picked him over Jackie Wilson – out of an amateur bank contest – to win a recording contract. Ballard is a good friend and singing buddy of Mr. James Brown. Some tracks on this CD are bluesy (3)(7). Some are gospelly (10), most are R&B. – Reviewed by Ned Walker, May 11, 1994

Baker, LaVern – “Soul on Fire” – [Atlantic]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

One of the earliest Atlantic superstars — a versatile singer who could torch up a ballad or growl out an uptempo number, who sounds little-girl sweet or make nonsense syllables a non-refusable proposition. This is a fine, fine re-issue. – Reviewed by Johnny P., 1994

Baby Huey & the Baby Sitters – “Baby Huey Story, The” – [Curtom]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

370 lbs. of pure soul … Baby Huey never got a chance to get off the ground … he died the same months of Jimi & Janis’ demise … this is a powerful soul/rock/funkfest produced by Curtis Mayfield and later released on his label after Baby Huey died … this record is so f****** amazing … the liner notes are very interesting as well … words can not describe the power & emotion in Huey’s voice … a couple of instrumentals to round it out and you got it … phenomenal!!! – Reviewer unknown, October 27, 1999

Amnesty – “Free Your Mind: The 700 West Sessions” – [Now-Again]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

Forgive those transgressions brothas & sistas! Free your minds as you grasp this tight & cut your teeth on some seriously psychedelic Indianapolis soul funk! Prog rhythms & rock structures fortified & glistening with a smooth groovin’ soul gloss. Fat bottom bass vibes, funky horn infusions & effortlessly fresh vocal harmonies. Soul salvation complied from the original obscure 7-inch cuts & B-sides onto a single LP/CD. Sensational transitions throughout though by album’s end, the remaining grooves merely suffice as stripped guitar & vocals. Satisfactory enough but it’s almost like they ran out of steam. Funk-ee skillful soul o’ the early 70’s! – Reviewed by Guy Montag, May 23, 2007

Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir – “Shakin’ The Rafters” – [Columbia]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

The sounds captured here feature celebrity gospel singer Alex Bradford and the 120-voice Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir of Newark in a program of Bradford compositions. All songs are characterized by the big, booming organ accompaniment and echoing sound of in-church recording. Call-&response lyrics, lots of shrieking, clapping and carrying on. Great historical significance and great fun. – Reviewed by Peggy O, April 2, 1992

Axiom Funk – “Funkcronomicon” – [Axiom]

Medusa of Troy   8/7/2019   CD, Soul

A f****** mind blowing interstellar funk exploration. “This is your brain, this is your brain on funk.” There shouldn’t be any questions. An all-star line-up from Herbie Hancock, Brain, Buckethead, Bernie Worrell, Bootsie, etc. just check the liner notes. 2 CDs of funk, baby. The last track on Disk Two has Umar Bin Hasan of the Last Poets ripping out your guts for all the world to see with his spoken word. This is a variety of styles, so check it the funk out. – Written by Vinny Fink, August 2, 1995

Trabants – "Freakout" – [Lolipop]

Cousin Mary   8/7/2019   A Library, CD

Eric Penna is a guitarist and in this release a multi-tasking musician, composer and recording engineer. The album is instrumental and certainly can pass for surf music but is much more giving us glimpses of psych, spaghetti Western, and exotica. Nice touches of the Hammond B-3 and trumpet on some tracks. Interesting, different and well played.

(Trabants are East German automobiles.)

Niyaz – “Nine Heavens” – [Six Degrees Records]

ravensparks   7/31/2019   CD, International

Niyaz Nine Heavens is an Iranian Canadian trio started in 2004, this is their 2nd collaboration of mixing traditional Persian,Indian, Mediterranean folk and mystical poetry as lyrics with electronica.

“Mystical music with a modern edge”.

This is a two disc album, first CD contains their electronica editions. The second CD showcases their songs in their traditional acoustic form to better understand the traditional foundations they blended into modern beats.

Mesmerizing voice of Azam Ali combined with Carmen Rizzo’s beats reverberate to make this album a sumptuous celebration of the ethereal. A must play!

A few notes from first disc—
Track 1-“Beni Beni”- folk singing, strong beat and strings—folk dancing music

Track 3- “Feraghi- Song of Exile”-soft beginning, voice of longing, ethereal electronics, 2nd wave passionate banquet celebration music, lost in trance

Track 4- “Ishq-Love and the Veil”-dulcimer, padded beats, addictive beat and melody
Flirtatious flute… Love trance

Track 5- “Allah Mazare” -strings and beat, calling passionately out for something…