Wednesday 30 December 2009

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)

Monday 28 December 2009

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!

Friday 18 December 2009

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)

Tuesday 15 December 2009

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!

Sunday 13 December 2009

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!

Friday 11 December 2009

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!

Thursday 10 December 2009

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!

Monday 7 December 2009

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!

Thursday 3 December 2009

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)

Wednesday 2 December 2009

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!