Review: Discodelic comes correct again with a new 7" that features a pair of rather lesser-known and brilliantly obscure Latin psych-rock gems. Conjunto Raza' 'African Dream' is all crackly and immediately nostalgic because of it, with noodle acoustic guitar sounds making way for a more upbeat and driving 60s garage rock sound but all in loveable lo-fi. Add in a red-hot vocal and you have a flame cut full of funk. On the reverse, The Scepters 'Message' is another well-aged jam that brings rawness and emotion in equal measure.
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity - "Indian Rope Man" (3:23)
Brian Auger & The Trinity - "Black Cat" (3:24)
Review: Heavy Jazz Records have fully licensed this brilliant reissue of one of the biggest Hammond Mod dancefloor-fillers of all time. It comes in the form of a hugely limited edition 7" with Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity's 'Indian Rope Man' on one side. It's a real bomb, its driving chord work and fizzing guitar licks all topped with raw, passionate vocals that add great intensity. On the flip is another standout gem for Mod lovers with 'Black Cat' racing along under more hard edged vocals and raw brass, scintillating drums and epic chord work. A real pair of heavy hitters from the vaults here.
Review: Timeless, or out of time? Either way, "the world's greatest two-person rock 'n' roll band" are back with more vibes that take you back to some other era, some other place. That said, there's always been more than pure nostalgia going on with the Aalborg, Denmark-via-Brazil duo. A simple rehash with a sepia Instagram filter this isn't. For their latest, Flavia Couri and Martin Couri offer up another two-tracker that's as immediately catchy and infectious as it is dense. 'Keep Dancing' is hyper-emotional reflective stuff, whether you resonate more with the "dancing alone" or "dancing on your grave" angle, while 'Boom Boom Boom' feels grander, louder and larger in instrumental scope. Another sure fire hit among fans, again The Fabulous Courettes have shown themselves to be one of the world's least compromising groups.
Review: Straop yourself in and prepare for a cosmic trip on psyched out cosmic polyrhythms with kosmische overtones at the hands of newcomer Glass Beams. This debut on Research Record is a stunning one from the enigmatic producer but will have you googling t find out as much as you can while you get lost in the sliding bass and transcendent synthwork. It's tinged with a certain retro charm and 70s prog magic but also feels decidedly new and fresh. Masterful.
Review: 'Miss Your Life' is a punky new wave track that was originally penned as a poem before evolving into a song. It critiques British apathy, complacency, and a pervasive sense of powerlessness and pessimism that we can all relate to. The song itself serves as a rallying cry to resist and take action before it's too late. The James Taylor Quartet's guitarist Mark, typically known for his more intricate parts, nails the punky intro with precision and the track captures this outfit's defiant spirit and youthful energy while also blending joy and rebellion as they revisit their adolescent years with a powerful message.
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45's series brings us two Brazilian classics: Rita Lee & Tutti Frutti's 'Agora E Moda' and Pete Dunaway's 'Supermarket'. 'Agora E Moda' from Lee's 1978 album Babilonia is a psychedelic disco-boogie groove highlighted by squelching guitar licks, funk drums, and cosmic vocals. Rita Lee, the former lead singer of Os Mutantes and a key figure in the Tropicalia movement, left a lasting legacy upon her passing in 2023. On the flip side, Dunaway's 'Supermarket' is a rare groove/AOR gem with a standout bassline, swaggering guitar, and lush strings, showcasing his talent as a composer and multi-instrumentalist. This release celebrates the enduring influence of Brazilian music.
Review: This reissue of the 1965 Mexican proto-punk garage 45 is a gem for collectors and music enthusiasts. Originally created by Hesiquio Ramos, Jorge Bracho, and Jose Antonio Fernandez de la Mora, this artifact showcases a uniquely wild sound. Notably, the pioneering punk bands were unaware of each other, yet their music emerged spontaneously across various regions, as if inspired by ancient deities like Viracocha or Pachacamac. This 7" reissue, available in 2024, brings back the raw energy and spirit of the original, highlighting a crucial piece of music history. It's a rare chance to own a piece of the legendary imprint on beat, garage and early punk music from Mexico.
Review: This is a very special gold vinyl version of the soundtrack for the tokusatsu science fiction superhero television series Spectreman. It ran in the early 70s and had three seasons in all with a cult following who will go nuts to finally have these sounds on wax all these many decades later. It has one Japanese side and one American side and is the work of Ricardo Cruz and Kunio Miyauchi. Instrumentals and the theme song all feature to make this a real retro classic.
Review: Rain Parade’s Last Stop On The Underground EP marks a significant return for the band, following their long break from the music scene. Known for their role in shaping the Paisley Underground sound in the 1980s, the EP showcases original members Matt Piucci and Steven Roback continuing their signature neo-psychedelic style. The release comes alongside their first full-length album in nearly forty years, Last Rays of a Dying Sun. The EP’s features 'Surprise, surprise' and 'Didn’t know what not to say,' blending the band’s familiar jangly guitars with reflective lyrics. Also included is the title track 'Last stop on the underground' and 'Happy to leave,' which capture a mix of nostalgia and progression. Their 1983 release Emergency Third Rail Power Trip was hailed as one of the standout albums of the Paisley Underground, earning high praise from critics. With this new material, Rain Parade reinforces their place in the psychedelic rock landscape once more.
Review: In the early 1970s, Ananda Shankar travelled to Los Angeles and collaborated with various contemporary musicians. Upon returning to India, he continued his musical experimentation and that culminated in the release of his critically acclaimed 1975 album Ananda Shankar & His Music. The album blended Eastern sitar with Western rock guitar, tabla, mridangam, and Moog synthesizers to create a unique jazz-funk sound. After a period of working in India throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Shankar's profile in the West surged in the mid-1990s as his music gained popularity in club DJ sets, especially in London, reaching a wider audience. A couple of the standout tunes from that album now appear on this limited 7".
Review: This is a brilliant and rare funk treasure from ReGrooved Company. The limited 7" release of Snapdragon's 1975 single features El Carey, a key member of the Crowd Pleasers, and was a local underground sensation back in the day. Both tracks, recorded, produced, and performed by El Carey, are remastered in analogue for this special edition and the A-side, 'Hardluck,' delivers classic '70s psychedelic funk with a captivating groove and soulful flair, while the B-side, 'My Heart Concedes,' complements it perfectly to make for a very tidy and effective 45 that sounds as good now as it ever did.
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