It is not easy to get my attention on new records when tons of new bands appear on the scene. One of them made me to investigate because they brought back memories of my early childhood. Probably some of you can  still remember the TV series Flipper back in the 60's when Sandy had a great friendship to a dolphin called Flipper. Flipper was the pet of Porter Ricks a Chief Warden of a sea park in Southern Florida. Some might call this the series the nautic Lassie but for me it was great fun watching the series every week. I got the news that a band called Porter Ricks released a new record. I thought by myself this could be worth further investigations. What I found was that this is a band long existing dub-techno project by Thomas Köner and Andy Mellwig. They returned after more than a decade of absence with their new album Anguilla Electrica. Mellwig and Köner have taken a typical techno framework, adding drums, snares and claps on every beat and finished with a lots of echoes. Their dub techno stamped by artists like Aphex Twin, who has the same quality working with repetitive elements. Not the sound you like from the first time you listen to but the more you listen the more you can enjoy.

Live Music In German TV

The Remo Four were another band from Liverpool form the late 50's/early 60's playing mostly on air bases in France and Germany in these days. They were famous for their instrumentals and playing in the same class like The Shadows and The Ventures. Looking at the footage from 1966 and more than 50 years ago Peter Gunn sounds still great. It is just a memory but not the worst to remember.

Does Anyone Remember Terry Reid?

It was decades back when Terry Reid appeared on the scene as a fantastic guitar player. He started his career at the age of 14 and impressed many popular musicians in the early 60's. Jimmy Page wanted him as a guitar player and singer after he left The Yardbirds to form another band. Sadly he denied this offer and Robert Plant got the job singing for Led Zeppelin. It was not the only fault in his career. He also signed a contract with Mickie Most who wanted to make him a balladeer. He didn't got out of his contract and had to earn his money as a side musician for many artists like Jackson Browne, UFO or Bonnie Raitt. Sadly his name is forgotten because many other artist that made hit records while he was trying to find his own way in music. I remembered him while I was sorting my albums during the last weeks and it is great to listen to him once again. One more forgotten giant of blues influenced rock music.

Terry Reid - Stay With Me Baby
Terry Reid - Seasons Of The Witch
Terry Reid - Bang Bang

And as a bonus 11 minutes of playing live in German TV back in 1969

The Ghost And The Host

If anyone remembers Deerhunter a band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, more than 15 years ago you might remember their drummer and and maestro for sound Moses Archuleta as well. They called their sound as ambient punk and that's totally correct. Mixing noise with ambient, garage rock, krautrock  and some pop they were very different in these days. They didn't made it great but their records are still worth to listen sometimes to them. They were forgotten like many others and the more I was surprised to hear that Moses Archuleta released a new album under the name of Moon Diagrams. It is a record that sounds far away of mainstream. It is not rock, not techno, not ambient - it is a very unique mixture of all. The main song is a 14 minute long trip of an animated instrumental which features massive percussive textures and rhythms in addition. You might describe it as a low-fi house track - I name it an excursion into space.

Back In The Late 1970's

It was back in 1976 when Graham Parker released his first album Howlin' Wind and this record was on heavy rotation on my turntable 40 years ago. It was the ultimate link between pub rock and the upcoming punk scene. Produced by Nick Lowe and members of Brinsley Schwarz they released one of the classic albums of the late 70's. Graham Parker developed his very own sound with the best ingredients of rock and roll, R&B, folk and the new sound of reggae. Professional musicians made the soundtrack to his soulful and deep voice. After his first masterpiece he made with Squeezing Out Sparks a few years later another great record. Good to listen to this great songs after all this years.

Graham Parker - Don't Ask Me Questions
Graham Parker - Nobody Hurts You
Graham Parker and the Rumour - Protection

Mythological Beauty

About a year ago Big Thief released their first album Masterpiece a record I used to play often during the the last months of 2016. I was impressed by Adriane Lenker and the indie/folk rock this Brooklyn based band made. Now they announced their second album a few weeks ago and this is the first song they released. It shows everything the band is able to do. A fragile voice over a reduced indie beat with tempted guitars. Something for the more quiet part of the day.

How The West Was Won

The post's title has nothing to do with the REM and their song with the same title. It's more about history and present times. Most of you will know The Only Ones, one of the first bands that worked on the musical field of pub rock, power pop and punk. Their song Another Girl, Another Planet is still heard in my house. So I was surprised that Peter Perrett, former singer by The Only Ones, announced his first solo album after more than 35 years after the band disbanded. Back from his days in the twilight of heroin and crack he surprised me with this song. A sweet Jane-like riff decorated with a ghostly slide guitar opens the song and then Perrett sings with his nasal Souuh London drawl. He didn't lost his cynicism when these words come out The Indians and the Mexicans are the first to feel the rope. One of the best new songs during the last weeks.