Double Visions

Sometimes it might be helpful to give your band a strange name to get more attention. This is the reason I searched for more information when I heard that MNNQNS released a new album. The band is pronounced mannequins and based in Rouen, France and the make a modern post-punk with a good groove and pop melodies. They have also some jangling riffs and great harmonies in their repertoire. As the frontman Adrian D'Epinay said We are a rock band that hates rock and roll it is just another great album of this year.

Dance The Night Away

After the news arrived that Ginger Baker died a few days ago I came home and grabbed out my old records and listened to Cream's album Disraeli Gears after a very long time. Even if it is not the kind of music I prefer these days I have to admit that this record was perfect 50 years ago. Based on early 60's blues rock the three individuals on their instruments made great music. Many praised Clapton as the lead figure but for me Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Baker on drums were responsible for the sound. Just another step back in history that made fun for an hour.

Cream - dance the night away

Ginger Baker RIP

Today I heard the news that Ginger Baker died at the age of 80 after a short time suffering. I was never a fan of him and knew him as a member of Cream and several other bands from the 60's until I saw the documentary of him Beware of Mr. Baker. If you want to know what kind of madman he was take 90 minutes and watch it. After this documentary I checked out a few of his releases and changed my point of him. He was mad, a devil and a wizard on drums and he made a step to Nigeria in the early 70's to join Fela Kuti in his band when many other artists didn't knew that music was alive in Africa. Now Ginger Baker has died at the age of 80 years. Where he goes, John Bonham already plays for a while his drum kits and Keith Moon smashes there further his drums. Maybe they already wait for him, the devil with the red hair.

Rest easy Ginger.

Until The Lights Go Out

During the last years more and more bands from Italy showed up with new and fresh material mostly in the category of psychedelic music. One of those is Julie's Haircut from Reggia Romana. They released their ninth album a few weeks ago and it is very good and don't have to hide behind productions from other countries ruling this genre. Their music is spread between Mercury Rev and Spiritualized one one side and Can and JAMC on the other. It is great to hear that they make a very true and unique sound of their influences. Great songs with a motorik beat and some feedbacks make this record worth playing.

Mondays Long Song

English-French avantgarde rock duo Stereolab is one of those bands that are hardly to characterize. They combine influences of krautrock, lounge, 60's pop on one hand and funk, jazz and dub on the other hand to a very unique sound. Not always easy to listen but if you sink into the music you get requited to the beauty of their music. I couldn't decide which song to present at this place so here is one song from Empereor Tomato Ketchup and one from Dots and Loops to show their abilities in making fantastic music.

Stereolab - Metronomic Underground
Stereolab - Refractions in the Plastic Pulse

Automatic

Automatic is a new fascinating all female post-punk trio from Los Angeles and they made me listen to their debut album several times during the last days. Their roots and influence are in the early 80's best shown by singer Lola Dompé because she's the daughter of Kevin Haskins, the former drummer of Bauhaus and Love and Rocket. They borrowed their name from a song by the Go-Go's but their sound combines more than catchy vocals. They create a compelling sound over an anxious mood filled with slow driving beats and New Order-like basslines

Bandstand

A few days ago I was out with a couple of fellows after we moved in into our new building for a few beers to check out the locations around. We found a fine little pub and the music from the radio wasn't too bad. In the background they played a mixture of mass compatible 80's rock sound and I have to agree that we didn't listen much to this because we were all in good conversations. But as I heard the opening of one the worst songs I know I started to listen. I don't like Mike Oldfield's Shadow On The Wall because he tried heavy accords but failed. The only thing this song has a right to exist is the voice of Roger Chapman. When I came home this evening I started to listen to Bandstand, Family's sixth regular album. Family were a progressive rock band from Leicester and had their time for seven years from 1966 on. I liked their sound because it was not only heavy music and they combined other genres like folk, psychedelia and jazz fusion into their sound. But the main ingredient  and trademark was the fabulous voice of Chappo. Something between a shouter for heavy songs but also able to make ballads great with his raspy voice. A good rediscovery for me after ages.

Family - Burlesque
Family - Glove
Family - My Friend The Sun