The BellRays - In the Light of the Sun (1992)

The BellRays - Let it Blast (1998)

The BellRays - Grand Fury (2000)

Here are the 1st three efforts by the californian rock'n'soul cult band The BellRays.
I remember talking with my friends about comparisons that were made at the time about The BellRays being a sort of a fusion between Aretha Franklin and The Stooges.
It's a funny definition, but I think it really makes sense, especially if we take into consideration their astonishing masterpiece "Let it Blast".
Highly recommended!

Recorded and mixed in our 15x15 foot practice room on a Sansui 6-track cassete recorder they don't make anymore and an 8-channel Tascam mixer, then slapped on a DAT. So now you know.
Everything was cut "live" - no overdubs.
This is the Soul-Punk Revolution.
(Taken from "Let it Blast" liner notes)

V/A - Cinema de Funk [Soundtrack Grooves 1968-1976 Vol. 1] (2001)

Here's the 1st volume of this compilation that gathers funky soundtracks from the late 60's and early/mid 70's, embracing some really great music performed by Trade Martin, Nick Perito, Pat Williams and Billy Strange, among others.
Enjoy!

V/A - Afro-Rock Volume 1 (2001)

Really great compilation of african funk music, mostly made of 70's recordings by names such as Geraldo Pino, Yahoos, Bokoor Band or Dackin Dackino.
Don't miss it!

...the music here is terrific, full of extended workouts that will please ears open to Funkadelic, the Bar-Kays, and the Meters, but always leavened with a heaping helping of the sounds of the motherland. The sounds are raw, the grooves are tight, and the record as a whole is a magnificent testament to the fact that Africa had and has music to please people other than ethnographers. (Taken from AMG)

Bhundu Boys - Friends on the Road (1996)
Well, I must confess that I first took acquaintance with this zimbabwean band on a MTV show presented by the late John Peel back in 1993 or 1994 and these guys surely captured my attention then.
The record begins with a wonderful track - "Radio Africa" - and it has a very amusing cover version of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire".
Collaborations of the country singer Hank Wangford and of the Latin Quarter.
Hope you like it!

The Bhundu Boys - Friends on the Road (1996)

Hi folks, it's mUsistenZ's anniversary!!!

mUsistenZ started its activity a year ago exactly.
There have been a lot of posts and a lot of visitors as well, so I would like to thank to everyone who dropped by, in particular to those of you who contributed by sharing musical tastes, opinions and experiences through the comments or, in some cases, by leaving your feedback via email.

Cheers!

Ghost - Snuffbox Immanence (1999)

Ghost - Tune in, Turn on, Free Tibet (1999)

Ghost - Overture: Live in Nippon Yusen Soko 2006 (2007)
Three more records by the japanese mystics Ghost
("Hypnotic Underworld" was posted in January).
Two great studio albums, released at the same time in 1999, and the one track only live recording from 2006.
Don't miss it!

Random Mindmachine - Bastard (1995)

Random Mindmachine is an alias for the german musician/producer Marcus Giltjes.
This record is kind of related to Sleeping Dogs Wake, for it has its singer, Karin Sherret, doing the vocals.
Hope you like it!

Sleeping Dogs Wake - Understanding (1989)

Sleeping Dogs Wake - Sugar Kisses (1993)

Sleeping Dogs Wake - Under the Stars (1995)

These are some of the albums released by SDW, a goth rock band formed in 1988 in the United States.
Originally, Sleeping Dogs Wake were Robert Wilcocks and Karin Sherret, although they were joined later by Jens Langkniv.
Wilcocks also collaborated in other similar groups such as Girls Under Glass, The Cassandra Complex or Cobalt 60.
Enjoy!

The Danse Society - Looking Through (1986)

The Danse Society - Seduction [The Society Collection] (2001)

Two items more from The Danse Society.
The group's final album, "Looking Through" (CD edition - 2007), and a collection of The Danse Society's early singles, recorded between 1981-1983, that goes by the same name of their debut LP, "Seduction".
Hope you like it!

Khonnor - Handwriting (2004)

Khonnor is one of the aliases for Connor Kirby-Long, an american musician from Vermont, who works under many other names such as Grandma, I Cactus or Gaza Faggot.
"Handwriting" was his debut album.
An amazing and beautiful record, combining ambient and dream pop elements, remniscents of some of the best soundscapes produced by such well known names as Fennesz, Ulrich Schnauss, Slowdive or My Bloody Valentine.

Dreamlike digitally manipulated guitar noise and wavering synths form the foundation for most of the tracks, complimented by Khonnor’s frank and open lyrics throughout, breathing life into his tracks with an ease and unforgettable beauty as he charts the ups and downs of teenage love, pocket change and lost hazy nights. (Taken from Type Records)

The Black Heart Procession - Six (2009)

This is The Black Heart Procession's most recent effort.
Very good record, following the same path of their previous ones.
You can also find The Black Heart Procession's "The Spell" on the January posts, here on mUsistenZ.
Enjoy!

Chris Connelly - Whiplash Boychild (1991)

Chris Connelly - Phenobarb Bambalam (1992)

Chris Connelly - Shipwreck (1994)

Chris Connelly & The Bells - The Ultimate Seaside Companion [Revisited-Bonus Tracks] (1997)

Chris Connelly & The Bells - Blonde Exodus [Bonus Tracks] (2001)

Chris Connelly - Private Education (2002)

Chris Connelly - Night of Your Life (2004)
Scottish musician Chris Connelly became quite well known as a member of a few industrial/metal legends such as Ministry, Revolting Cocks or Pigface.
Despite Connelly's important role in the Chicago industrial scene of the 80's and 90's, he pursued a solo career as a pop songwriter much in the likes of David Bowie and Scott Walker, including even a cover version of Walker's "The Amorous Humphrey Plugg" on his debut album "Whiplash Boychild".

Juantrip' - Balmy Under the Stormy (1999)

Juantrip' - Shadows [Remixes] (1999)

Juantrip' is the alias for the french producer/musician Basil Compain who has been making music since the early 90's.
"Balmy Under the Stormy", issued under the F Communications label, was an excellent debut album with great, amazing tracks such as "Downward Rush of the Streams", "Electronic", "Fly to the Moon" and, of course, the single "Shadows", an obvious parody to the iconic guitar rock band of the same name.
Hope you like it!

Johnny Dowd - The Pawnbroker's Wife (2002)

Johnny Dowd - Wire Flowers: More Songs From the Wrong Side of Memphis (2003)

Almost a year ago, I've posted Johnny Dowd's "Temporary Shelter", my favourite album of his.
Now I'm posting "The Pawnbroker's Wife" and "Wire Flowers", two extraordinary records that followed immediately "Temporary Shelter".
Enjoy!

Bill Frisell - In Line (1983)

Bill Frisell - Rambler (1985)

Bill Frisell - Have a Little Faith (1993)

Bill Frisell - Go West: Music for the Films of Buster Keaton (1995)

Bill Frisell - Quartet (1996)

Bill Frisell - With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones (2001)

Bill Frisell - Unspeakable (2004)

No great introduction needed on this one.
These are some of my favourite works by the guitar genius Bill Frisell.
Hope you like it!

V/A - Stereo Ultra (1998)

V/A - Stereo Ultra [Volume Two] (1999)

V/A - Stereo Ultra [Volume Three] (2000)

Excellent trilogy this is!
Vintage 60's, 70's & 80's french music from the radio, television, movies and advertising, featuring some iconic legends such as Georges Delerue, Francis Lai, Claude Bolling, Karl Heinz Schäffer, Daniel Humair, Eddie Louiss, Andre Arpino or Sauveur Mallia.
Enjoy!

This is an exciting delve into the obscure and forgotten music libraries of french chic (...)
Here you will hear an eclectic selection of rumbling bass lines, intoxicating fat beats & solid instrumental jams. (Taken from Stereo Ultra's liner notes)

CoEx - Synaesthesia (1995)

Klaus Vormehr is a musician who as collaborated with Dead Can Dance and Elijah's Mantle and has released two albums as CoEx - "Synaesthesia" was his first.
Great record with guest appearance of Brendan Perry from Dead Can Dance.

CoEx is the recording project of Klaus Vormehr, who has been involved in creating and producing his own style of electronic music since the early nineties. Heavily influenced by minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and West African poly rhytnms adding melodic content lead to two album releases ,Synaesthesia' and ,Ascents Meteora' in 1994 and 1996. After studying Afro-Brazilian Percussion for several years and subsequent teaching percussion programmes around Ireland he's back in his studio working on a new album to be released in September 2009. (Taken from CoEx's MySpace)

Mão Morta - Mão Morta (1988)

Mão Morta - Corações Felpudos (1990)

Mão Morta - O.D., Rainha do Rock & Crawl (1991)

Mão Morta - Mutantes S. 21 (1992)
Mão Morta are, undoubtedly, one of the most important and influential bands on the portuguese alternative scene of the last 25 years.
To prove it, they've made a career of almost 15 records and inumerous gigs, including some great historical performances such as the ones with Gun Club, Wire, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Young Gods.
These were the groups' first 4 albums and, in my opinion, still their best.

Mão Morta were the band most likely to become the Swans' Portuguese followers and brethren. Like their American favorites, the European crew pursue the search for the scarcest alternative sounds composed with dark experimentation and shadowy lyrics. Mão Morta definitely figure as the most appalling squad on the Portuguese rock scene. (Taken from AMG)

Faleceu o radialista António Sérgio, o «John Peel» português - 1950-2009 (Fonte TSF)

António Sérgio, último dos radialistas com programa de autor, morreu sábado à noite em consequência de um problema cardíaco, mas a sua influência nas ondas hertzianas estendeu-se ao longo dos anos, na divulgação da chamada música alternativa.
Homem da rádio, António Sérgio, de 59 anos, começou em 1968 na Rádio Renascença, seguindo as pisadas do pai, mas foi no final da década de 1970, quando ingressou na Rádio Comercial, que a sua popularidade se consolidou, ajudando a divulgar novos estilos e tendências da música moderna.

Programas como Rotação (de 1977 a 1980), Rolls Rock, Som da Frente (de 1982 a 1993), Lança-Chamas, O Grande Delta (de 1993 a 1997) e A Hora do Lobo foram a sua imagem de marca nas ondas da rádio.
António Sérgio fazia actualmente o programa Viriato 25 da rádio Radar, tendo inclusivamente gravado em estúdio o programa da próxima semana, que será posto no ar tal como previsto, garantiu Luís Montez, um dos proprietários daquela emissora.

Antes de entrar na Radar, em Dezembro de 2007, António Sérgio viu-se envolvido numa polémica na Rádio Comercial, quando a Hora do Lobo, o programa que aí mantinha foi cancelado, decisão que motivou uma onda de reacções e protestos de ouvintes.
«As pessoas que foram responsáveis [pela Comercial] consideraram que a manutenção daquele programa de autor era prestigiante para a rádio, mas agora já não acham», lamentou António Sérgio nessa altura.

João David Nunes, um dos fundadores da Rádio Comercial e que levou António Sérgio para a emissora da Rua Sampaio Pina, na década de 1970, disse hoje à Lusa que o radialista deixa uma "marca indelével" na rádio portuguesa.
Era «uma das pessoas que estava mais à frente em termos musicais em Portugal», considerou hoje o músico Rodrigo Leão.
«Era uma pessoa fantástica, talvez uma das primeiras pessoas que eu conheci da rádio. Foi há 28 anos, quando editámos o primeiro disco da Sétima Legião», acrescentou o músico, fundador dos Sétima Legião e dos Madredeus.Rodrigo Leão recordou que a primeira entrevista que fez foi, precisamente, com António Sérgio e destacou o «Som da Frente» como o programa que ouvia na adolescência.
Já Adolfo Luxúria Canibal disse que este nome «sempre foi uma referência».
Para Adolfo Luxúria Canibal, fundador, letrista e vocalista do grupo Mão Morta, António Sérgio «era a referência de quando eu era adolescente, de quando o rádio era o instrumento por excelência».«As memórias são muitas. Fazia parte do meu crescimento musical. Pessoalmente deixa-me muito boas memórias», acrescentou.Embora nunca tenha trabalhado com António Sérgio, Adolfo Luxúria Canibal destacou o facto dos Mão Morta sempre terem dado a conhecer em primeira-mão os seus trabalhos ao radialista.
«Sempre lhe dei primazia nos trabalhos que íamos fazendo. Era uma espécie de agradecimento pelo trabalho que ele fez e pelo crescimento musical de gerações nas quais eu me incluo», acentuou.David Ferreira recorda o momento em que conheceu António Sérgio quando este foi despedido da Valentim de Carvalho por ter feito um disco pirata, «porque achava que as editoras estavam completamente ignorantes com o punk que passava em Inglaterra».
Luís Montez, dono da Radar, onde actualmente António Sérgio trabalhava, considera que este é «um mestre da rádio», «uma referência» ou o «John Peel português».António Sérgio gravou ainda o programa da próxima semana, que será colocado no ar tal como previsto, garantiu o dono da Radar.

O velório realiza-se a partir das 18:00 de hoje na Basílica da Estrela, em Lisboa e o funeral, para o Cemitério dos Prazeres, realiza-se segunda-feira, depois da missa de corpo presente, às 15:00.



Um enorme obrigado António. Sentiremos a tua falta.


António Sérgio was the greatest portuguese radio announcer/producer/DJ of the last 30 years.
He made history with such mythical radio shows as "Som da Frente", "Lança-Chamas" and "Grande Delta".
I grew up hearing him almost everyday and, today, it was with terrible sadness that I was informed he passed away Saturday night.
Sérgio was working at the moment in Rádio Radar with a program called "Viriato 25".

Deep thanks António. You'll be sadly missed.

Philippe Rombi/Krishna Levy - Bandes Originales des Films de François Ozon [Swimming Pool/Sous le Sable/Les Amants Criminels/8 Femmes] (2003)

Philippe Rombi is a talented french composer who has built a solid career in the soundtrack field since the mid 90's.
This collection focuses on the movies of François Ozon, where the main point of reference is obviously "Swimming Pool", a marvellously haunting soundtrack, much in the vein of Krzysztof Komeda's "Rosemary's Baby".
It is also included in this record the main theme of "8 Femmes", composed by Krishna Levy.
Enjoy!