1
Ebo Taylor - Twer Nyame
2
Ebo Taylor - Peace On Earth
3
Ebo Taylor - Atwer Abroba
Ebo Taylor “Twer Nyame” is being reissued on vinyl by Comet Records, pressed on high quality vinyl, with label designs
and artwork as per the original release.
Originally released in 1978 on Philips-West African-Records. Classic highlife sounds; uptempo grooves, vocals, tons of
percussion, guitar, horns and organ lines. Featuring
the stand-out ‘Atwer Abroba’.
Ebo Taylor is one of Ghana's finest producer/arrangers.
Taylor was heavily influential in the unique sound that emerged from the country in the 70's; a combination of traditional
Ghanaian with Afro-beat, jazz, and funk rhythms.
He worked with bands including Stargazers Band, Broadway Dance Band, Black Star Highlife Band (with Teddy Osei and
Sol Amarfio who later joined Osibisa), Apagya Show Band and fellow musicians C.K.Mann, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and the
legendary Pat Thomas.
TRACKLIST:
Side A
A1. Twer Nyame
Side B
B1. Peace On Earth
B2. Atwer Abroba More
and artwork as per the original release.
Originally released in 1978 on Philips-West African-Records. Classic highlife sounds; uptempo grooves, vocals, tons of
percussion, guitar, horns and organ lines. Featuring
the stand-out ‘Atwer Abroba’.
Ebo Taylor is one of Ghana's finest producer/arrangers.
Taylor was heavily influential in the unique sound that emerged from the country in the 70's; a combination of traditional
Ghanaian with Afro-beat, jazz, and funk rhythms.
He worked with bands including Stargazers Band, Broadway Dance Band, Black Star Highlife Band (with Teddy Osei and
Sol Amarfio who later joined Osibisa), Apagya Show Band and fellow musicians C.K.Mann, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and the
legendary Pat Thomas.
TRACKLIST:
Side A
A1. Twer Nyame
Side B
B1. Peace On Earth
B2. Atwer Abroba More
More records from Ebo Taylor
1
Ebo Taylor - Maye Omama
2
Ebo Taylor - My Love And Music
3
Ebo Taylor - Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara
4
Ebo Taylor - Will You Promise
Repress!
Originally released in 1975 on Gapophone Records, George Prah’s label, hailing from Ghana. Only available in very limited quantity (reportedly 500 copies) due to the musical vacuum imposed by the military dictatorship in the country at the time.
Laid back, lush, highlife vibrations from start to finish, with noticeable reggae influences throughout. More
Originally released in 1975 on Gapophone Records, George Prah’s label, hailing from Ghana. Only available in very limited quantity (reportedly 500 copies) due to the musical vacuum imposed by the military dictatorship in the country at the time.
Laid back, lush, highlife vibrations from start to finish, with noticeable reggae influences throughout. More
1
Ebo Taylor - Saana
2
Ebo Taylor - Ntsir A
3
Ebo Taylor - Bra
4
Ebo Taylor - Ohye Atar Gyan
5
Ebo Taylor - Heaven
6
Ebo Taylor - Amponsah
Repress!
Originally released in 1977, Ebo Taylor's self-titled album is a rarity that truly exposes the genius of the Ghanaian producer and arranger. Having spent most of the 1970s involved in Ghana's afro-funk output, working with different bands and musicians alike, Taylor put forward his own unique blend of Ghanaian highlife and afro-beat with this self-titled release.
The six songs that make up the album exemplify Taylor's desire to experiment and move beyond the constraints of colonial influences on Highlife and African musical traditions. Saana combines highlife guitars and jazz horns with a funked up rhythm and the sweetest chants, a vibe carried over on Ntsir A with its funky horns and Ghanaian singing. Throughout the album Taylor injects elements of funk, jazz and afrobeat into his compositions without being obvious, instead channelling the experimentation he once referred to as ?a way to develop our African music to enable us to get global attention.' Heaven is perhaps the album's highlight and widely recognised as one of the finest examples of Ghanaian afrobeat from the late 70s. Its popularity has endured through the decades and the song even found a new lease of life after Usher sampled it.
This vinyl LP features fully reproduced original artwork. Pressed on heavyweight vinyl. CD in a digipack format with Obi. More
Originally released in 1977, Ebo Taylor's self-titled album is a rarity that truly exposes the genius of the Ghanaian producer and arranger. Having spent most of the 1970s involved in Ghana's afro-funk output, working with different bands and musicians alike, Taylor put forward his own unique blend of Ghanaian highlife and afro-beat with this self-titled release.
The six songs that make up the album exemplify Taylor's desire to experiment and move beyond the constraints of colonial influences on Highlife and African musical traditions. Saana combines highlife guitars and jazz horns with a funked up rhythm and the sweetest chants, a vibe carried over on Ntsir A with its funky horns and Ghanaian singing. Throughout the album Taylor injects elements of funk, jazz and afrobeat into his compositions without being obvious, instead channelling the experimentation he once referred to as ?a way to develop our African music to enable us to get global attention.' Heaven is perhaps the album's highlight and widely recognised as one of the finest examples of Ghanaian afrobeat from the late 70s. Its popularity has endured through the decades and the song even found a new lease of life after Usher sampled it.
This vinyl LP features fully reproduced original artwork. Pressed on heavyweight vinyl. CD in a digipack format with Obi. More
Following his recent studio album with Afrobeat Academy, ’Love And Death’, his first international release, Ghanaian highlife guitar legend Ebo Taylor teams up again with Strut for a long overdue definitive compilation of his seminal 1970s recordings, ‘Life Stories’. During Ghana’s highlife explosion during the 1950s and ‘60s following wartime highlife pioneers like E.T. Mensah, Ebo Taylor made his name as a prolific composer, arranger and frontman leading two of Ghana’s greatest big bands - Stargazers and Broadway Dance Band. Moving to London to study music in 1962 alongside West African luminaries like Fela Kuti and Peter King, Taylor formed the Black Star Highlife Band and began incorporating
jazz elements into traditional highlife forms. Returning to Ghana, Taylor became an in-house arranger and producer for Dick Essilfie-Bondzie’s Essiebons label, working with other major Ghanaian stars like C.K. Mann and Pat Thomas. Through the ’70s, he then recorded a number of solo projects, exploring unique fusions and borrowing elements from regional Ghanaian folk music, Afrobeat, jazz, soul and funk.
Tracklisting_
A1. EBO TAYLOR - HEAVEN
A2. EBO TAYLOR - ATWER ABROBA
A3. EBO TAYLOR & UHURU-YENZU - WHAT IS LIFE?
B1. THE APAGYA SHOWBAND - TAMFO NYI EKYIR
B2. EBO TAYLOR - PEACE ON EARTH
B3. EBO TAYLOR & UHURU-YENZU - VICTORY
B4. ASAASE ASE - OHIANI SUA EFIR
C1. EBO TAYLOR - ABA YAA
C2. EBO TAYLOR - OHYE ATAR GYAN
D1. EBO TAYLOR & UHURU-YENZU - LOVE AND DEATH
D2. EBO TAYLOR & THE PELIKANS - EGYA EDU
D3. PAT THOMAS & EBO TAYLOR - ENE NYAME 'A' MENSURO
More
jazz elements into traditional highlife forms. Returning to Ghana, Taylor became an in-house arranger and producer for Dick Essilfie-Bondzie’s Essiebons label, working with other major Ghanaian stars like C.K. Mann and Pat Thomas. Through the ’70s, he then recorded a number of solo projects, exploring unique fusions and borrowing elements from regional Ghanaian folk music, Afrobeat, jazz, soul and funk.
Tracklisting_
A1. EBO TAYLOR - HEAVEN
A2. EBO TAYLOR - ATWER ABROBA
A3. EBO TAYLOR & UHURU-YENZU - WHAT IS LIFE?
B1. THE APAGYA SHOWBAND - TAMFO NYI EKYIR
B2. EBO TAYLOR - PEACE ON EARTH
B3. EBO TAYLOR & UHURU-YENZU - VICTORY
B4. ASAASE ASE - OHIANI SUA EFIR
C1. EBO TAYLOR - ABA YAA
C2. EBO TAYLOR - OHYE ATAR GYAN
D1. EBO TAYLOR & UHURU-YENZU - LOVE AND DEATH
D2. EBO TAYLOR & THE PELIKANS - EGYA EDU
D3. PAT THOMAS & EBO TAYLOR - ENE NYAME 'A' MENSURO
More
More records from Comet Records
1
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - C’è Una Stanza Per Te
2
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - Chiedo Scusa
3
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - J’ai Vu
4
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - Fratellacci
5
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - Costiera
6
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - J’oublie
7
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - Rose Bianche
8
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - Quarta Domenica
9
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia - Mare Blu
Edoardo Florio Di Grazia is a Cantautore (singer-songwriter) and story collector from the Amalfi coast, born in Florence and living in Paris, of a Neapolitan family..
Edoardo tries, like an antenna, to pick up signals and transform them into songs. Writing songs allows him to travel and unite distant worlds, to create imaginary landscapes on which to dream up new music: the Amalfi rocks of Tangier harbor can lead directly to a house in Belleville overlooking a Florentine piazza.
Edoardo is also a writer, with a PhD in medieval history from the University of Florence, a podcast author, radio show host, and DJ Selector, a compulsive Digger constantly on the lookout for the rare gem. He will publish next spring "Italia Express" the podcast produced by Radiooooo. (https://radiooooo.com) It is a journey in five stages through the main Italian cities (Naples, Rome, Bologna, Milan, and Genoa) to discover music and history, from the post-war period to today.
After a first EP “Indossare Il Mare” released in June 2023, the spring of 2024 will see the release of “Ambra e Corallo”, Edoardo Florio Di Grazia’s first album, produced by the Parisian afro-beat label Comet Records (Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, etc.). 9 songs about journeys, a small collection of stories found in the deep and mythological Mediterranean Sea. Like bottles in the sea, these songs belong to no one and are timeless, messages whispering us the dream of a new path to explore. The story of his first album, "Ambra e Corallo" has the flavor of a novel, the aftertaste of a contemporary fairy tale.
A1 - C’è Una Stanza Per Te
A2 - Chiedo Scusa
A3 - J’ai Vu
A4 - Fratellacci
B1 - Costiera
B2 - J’oublie
B3 - Rose Bianche
B4 - Quarta Domenica
B5 - Mare Blu More
Edoardo tries, like an antenna, to pick up signals and transform them into songs. Writing songs allows him to travel and unite distant worlds, to create imaginary landscapes on which to dream up new music: the Amalfi rocks of Tangier harbor can lead directly to a house in Belleville overlooking a Florentine piazza.
Edoardo is also a writer, with a PhD in medieval history from the University of Florence, a podcast author, radio show host, and DJ Selector, a compulsive Digger constantly on the lookout for the rare gem. He will publish next spring "Italia Express" the podcast produced by Radiooooo. (https://radiooooo.com) It is a journey in five stages through the main Italian cities (Naples, Rome, Bologna, Milan, and Genoa) to discover music and history, from the post-war period to today.
After a first EP “Indossare Il Mare” released in June 2023, the spring of 2024 will see the release of “Ambra e Corallo”, Edoardo Florio Di Grazia’s first album, produced by the Parisian afro-beat label Comet Records (Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, etc.). 9 songs about journeys, a small collection of stories found in the deep and mythological Mediterranean Sea. Like bottles in the sea, these songs belong to no one and are timeless, messages whispering us the dream of a new path to explore. The story of his first album, "Ambra e Corallo" has the flavor of a novel, the aftertaste of a contemporary fairy tale.
A1 - C’è Una Stanza Per Te
A2 - Chiedo Scusa
A3 - J’ai Vu
A4 - Fratellacci
B1 - Costiera
B2 - J’oublie
B3 - Rose Bianche
B4 - Quarta Domenica
B5 - Mare Blu More
1
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - Enye Nyame Nko
2
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - Gyae Su Na Nkomo
3
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - Reality
4
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - Egya Edu
5
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - Mber No Aso
6
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - Come Along
7
Ebo Taylor And The Pelikans - If You Care
A Ghanaian funk LP from the afrofunk master. one of Ebo Taylor's rarest and most sought-after!
Ebo Taylor and The Pelikans is being reissued on vinyl by Comet Records, pressed on high quality vinyl, with label designs
and artwork as per the original release.
Originally released by Ghanian Abookyi label in 1976, Ebo Taylor and The Pelikans is one of Taylor’s most elusive releases,
and marked the first time he sang on the seminal Ghana Funk anthem “Come Along”.
The album saw the legendary musician, producer, composer and arranger joining forces with 12-piece Cape Coast Ghanian
band ‘The Pelikans’ led by Bessa Simmona with rhythm guitarist Fifi Orleans Lindsay.
Put simply, there has never been a musician and artist quite like Ebo Taylor. As an artist, arranger, musician and producer
he’s a combination of James Brown, Nile Rodgers and Quincy Jones: He not only created some of the greatest funk songs
ever recorded but as much if not more than that, his genius as an arranger gave the signature sound to high life and afrobeat
that was made famous by his one-time London roommate (from when they were both music students, in The early 1960s)
Fela. And his funky guitar brought a percussive sound to the rhythm section that didn't exist before.
TRACKLIST:
A Side
A1. Enye Nyame Nko
A2. Gyae Su Na Nkomo
A3. Reality
B Side
B1. Egya Edu
B2. Mber No Aso
B3. Come Along
B4. If You Care More
Ebo Taylor and The Pelikans is being reissued on vinyl by Comet Records, pressed on high quality vinyl, with label designs
and artwork as per the original release.
Originally released by Ghanian Abookyi label in 1976, Ebo Taylor and The Pelikans is one of Taylor’s most elusive releases,
and marked the first time he sang on the seminal Ghana Funk anthem “Come Along”.
The album saw the legendary musician, producer, composer and arranger joining forces with 12-piece Cape Coast Ghanian
band ‘The Pelikans’ led by Bessa Simmona with rhythm guitarist Fifi Orleans Lindsay.
Put simply, there has never been a musician and artist quite like Ebo Taylor. As an artist, arranger, musician and producer
he’s a combination of James Brown, Nile Rodgers and Quincy Jones: He not only created some of the greatest funk songs
ever recorded but as much if not more than that, his genius as an arranger gave the signature sound to high life and afrobeat
that was made famous by his one-time London roommate (from when they were both music students, in The early 1960s)
Fela. And his funky guitar brought a percussive sound to the rhythm section that didn't exist before.
TRACKLIST:
A Side
A1. Enye Nyame Nko
A2. Gyae Su Na Nkomo
A3. Reality
B Side
B1. Egya Edu
B2. Mber No Aso
B3. Come Along
B4. If You Care More
1
Melanie - Mélanie
2
Melanie - L’Alpha Beta
3
Melanie - It’s Not Too Late
4
Melanie - Paris
5
Melanie - La Folia
6
Melanie - Le Pornographe
7
Melanie - La Belle Histoire
8
Melanie - Nausica
9
Melanie - Le Soleil
10
Melanie - Cri D'amour
11
Melanie - C’est Dans l’Air
12
Melanie - Folk Silencio
13
Melanie - Les Croisés
True concept albums are actually few and far between. While it can be said that The Who’s Tommy and Quadrophenia, or Pink Floyd’s The Wall were designed from the ground up, that’s not necessarily the case for equally mythical, yet composite, albums such as Bowie’s The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust…, or Lou Reed’s Berlin. In France, the genre established its pedigree in the 1970s with Serge Gainsbourg, then in the early 1980s with Léo Ferré. Cri d'amour by Mélanie Chédeville adds to this list of albums that tell a story through characters.
Cri d'amour was produced in a seaside setting, which may explain its flowing, organic character. It is all by herself that the violinist-by-training composed, wrote and arranged this collection of string-drenched songs that recall Jean-Claude Vannier’s work for Serge Gainsbourg. The latter would undoubtedly have been impressed by Mélanie’s fine-cut lyrics and melodies that are as raw as they are sophisticated, vocalized in a sprechgesang recalling his own. The deliberately retro palette, up to the bass sound so typical of 1960s English rock, betrays an artist indebted to the creator of Bonnie & Clyde and Initials B.B. through a sensual, clear tonality. Yet, polyrhythms borrowed from the late afro-beat legend Tony Allen, and the touches of guitar, piano, percussion and synthesizers distilled here and there by Éric and Mélanie, end up giving the whole affair a resolutely atemporal color.
Mélanie was sixteen with a head full of Beethoven and Brahms when she succumbed to an unexpected fascination for the world of Éric, a pianist, composer and sound engineer, who regularly delivered scores for Marc Dorcel’s X-rated films. She evokes him in L'Alpha-bêta and Le Pornographe, through whispered choruses that would suit the late Julee Cruise or Vanessa Daou to a tee, and explicit allusions to a “sword of Damocles” of “XXL” dimensions.
These are not the only texts on this album that remind us of the Franco-American author Anaïn Nin’s erotic poems, a model that Mélanie willingly takes on, adding to the list of her literary influences alongside Apollinaire and his Debauched Hospodar:
Some may find this album old-fashioned, which, far from being a flaw, is a credit to the fine musician that Mélanie is. Others will call it a charming album, which is not a bad way to describe it, provided that it is a powerfully relentless charm.
Tracklist:
A1 - Mélanie
A2 - L’Alpha Beta
A3 - It’s Not Too Late
A4 - Paris
A5 - La Folia
A6 - Le Pornographe
A7 - La Belle Histoire
B1 - Nausica
B2 - Le Soleil
B3 - Cri D'amour
B4 - C’est Dans l’Air
B5 - Folk Silencio
B6 - Les Croisés More
Cri d'amour was produced in a seaside setting, which may explain its flowing, organic character. It is all by herself that the violinist-by-training composed, wrote and arranged this collection of string-drenched songs that recall Jean-Claude Vannier’s work for Serge Gainsbourg. The latter would undoubtedly have been impressed by Mélanie’s fine-cut lyrics and melodies that are as raw as they are sophisticated, vocalized in a sprechgesang recalling his own. The deliberately retro palette, up to the bass sound so typical of 1960s English rock, betrays an artist indebted to the creator of Bonnie & Clyde and Initials B.B. through a sensual, clear tonality. Yet, polyrhythms borrowed from the late afro-beat legend Tony Allen, and the touches of guitar, piano, percussion and synthesizers distilled here and there by Éric and Mélanie, end up giving the whole affair a resolutely atemporal color.
Mélanie was sixteen with a head full of Beethoven and Brahms when she succumbed to an unexpected fascination for the world of Éric, a pianist, composer and sound engineer, who regularly delivered scores for Marc Dorcel’s X-rated films. She evokes him in L'Alpha-bêta and Le Pornographe, through whispered choruses that would suit the late Julee Cruise or Vanessa Daou to a tee, and explicit allusions to a “sword of Damocles” of “XXL” dimensions.
These are not the only texts on this album that remind us of the Franco-American author Anaïn Nin’s erotic poems, a model that Mélanie willingly takes on, adding to the list of her literary influences alongside Apollinaire and his Debauched Hospodar:
Some may find this album old-fashioned, which, far from being a flaw, is a credit to the fine musician that Mélanie is. Others will call it a charming album, which is not a bad way to describe it, provided that it is a powerfully relentless charm.
Tracklist:
A1 - Mélanie
A2 - L’Alpha Beta
A3 - It’s Not Too Late
A4 - Paris
A5 - La Folia
A6 - Le Pornographe
A7 - La Belle Histoire
B1 - Nausica
B2 - Le Soleil
B3 - Cri D'amour
B4 - C’est Dans l’Air
B5 - Folk Silencio
B6 - Les Croisés More
1
Full Moon Ensemble - 43 W. 77 Street sur Mémoire de Guerre
2
Full Moon Ensemble - Samba Miaou
3
Full Moon Ensemble - 43 W. 77 Street sur Peut Etre
4
Full Moon Ensemble - W. 85th Street
5
Full Moon Ensemble - King Kong
Comet Records present the first release out of the Comet new reissue series with this cult French Free
Jazz LP from 1974, Crowded with Loneliness by Full Moon Ensemble was produced by Claude Delcloo,
check the classic ‘Samba `Miaou’, like a lost Pharoah Sanders tune mixed with politically-engaged French
poetry! The whole LP is varied, avant-garde and spiritual and now available as Vinyl LP with Gatefold cover,
set to become collectible as the original is impossible to find.
TRACKLIST:
A1. 43 W. 77 Street sur Mémoire de Guerre
A2. Samba Miaou
A3. 43 W. 77 Street sur Peut Etre
B1. W. 85th Street
B2. King Kong More
Jazz LP from 1974, Crowded with Loneliness by Full Moon Ensemble was produced by Claude Delcloo,
check the classic ‘Samba `Miaou’, like a lost Pharoah Sanders tune mixed with politically-engaged French
poetry! The whole LP is varied, avant-garde and spiritual and now available as Vinyl LP with Gatefold cover,
set to become collectible as the original is impossible to find.
TRACKLIST:
A1. 43 W. 77 Street sur Mémoire de Guerre
A2. Samba Miaou
A3. 43 W. 77 Street sur Peut Etre
B1. W. 85th Street
B2. King Kong More
1
Tony Allen - African Man (Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer Remix)
2
Brighter Nights - Cotton’s Field (Jeff Sharel Minimal Edit)
3
Theo Parrish, Tony Allen & Eska - Day Like This (Molo Remix)
4
Donso - Awakening (Krazy Baldhead Remix)
5
Tony Allen - Afrodiscobeat (Africaine 808 Rework)
Comet Records presents Afro Rhythms Vol. 2, the first repress of Comet’s singles and
Remixes from 2009 – 2017 with floor filler tracks from Tony Allen Afrobeat pioneer 'African Man"
remix by Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer along with the afro deep house reedit of "Cotton’s
Field" by French producer Jeff Sharel, the "Awakening" remix from Krazy Baldhead, former artist
of Ed Banger and producer of electro malian band Donso and finally Africaine 808 to end this Afro
Rhythms comp with their stunning remix of Afrobeat classic tune "Afrodiscobeat". A proper trawl
through the vaults of Comet Records.
A1. Tony Allen – African Man (Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer Remix)
A2. Brighter Nights - Cotton’s Field (Jeff Sharel Minimal Edit)
B1. Theo Parrish, Tony Allen & Eska - Day Like This (Molo Remix)
B2. Donso – Awakening (Krazy Baldhead Remix)
B3. Tony Allen - Afrodiscobeat (Africaine 808 Rework) More
Remixes from 2009 – 2017 with floor filler tracks from Tony Allen Afrobeat pioneer 'African Man"
remix by Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer along with the afro deep house reedit of "Cotton’s
Field" by French producer Jeff Sharel, the "Awakening" remix from Krazy Baldhead, former artist
of Ed Banger and producer of electro malian band Donso and finally Africaine 808 to end this Afro
Rhythms comp with their stunning remix of Afrobeat classic tune "Afrodiscobeat". A proper trawl
through the vaults of Comet Records.
A1. Tony Allen – African Man (Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer Remix)
A2. Brighter Nights - Cotton’s Field (Jeff Sharel Minimal Edit)
B1. Theo Parrish, Tony Allen & Eska - Day Like This (Molo Remix)
B2. Donso – Awakening (Krazy Baldhead Remix)
B3. Tony Allen - Afrodiscobeat (Africaine 808 Rework) More
Customers who bought this also bought this
1
Nucleus - Song For The Bearded Lady (7:22)
2
Nucleus - Sun Child (5:16)
3
Nucleus - Lullaby For A Lonely Child (4:21)
4
Nucleus - We’ll Talk About It Later (6:13)
5
Nucleus - Oasis (9:44)
6
Nucleus - Ballad Of Joe Pimp (3:45)
7
Nucleus - Easter 1916 (8:49)
Format Notes: 2023 reissue, 140g vinyl, remastered from the original Vertigo Master Tapes for this edition by Simon Francis, original gatefold die-cut sleeve replicated in fine detail
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Song For The Bearded Lady (7:22)
A2 : Sun Child (5:16)
A3 : Lullaby For A Lonely Child (4:21)
A4 : We’ll Talk About It Later (6:13)
--
B1 : Oasis (9:44)
B2 : Ballad Of Joe Pimp (3:45)
B3 : Easter 1916 (8:49)
Release Notes:
Their masterpiece? With breaks for dayyyyyys and an almost ambient, heavy jazz atmosphere throughout, *this* is the apex of British jazz-rock fusion. We'll Talk About It Later was first released on Vertigo in 1971 and original copies are now very tricky to score. Like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has kept relevant. To steal a line from a review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
We'll Talk About It Later is arguably Nucleus's best album. Not only that, it's in the top 5 of all fusion albums. By the time Nucleus entered Trident Studios in September 1970 to record Elastic Rock's successor, they had already won a best group award at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Once again presented in a Roger Dean designed die-cut gatefold sleeve it continued to demonstrate the chemistry and interplay that worked so brilliantly on Elastic Rock; Carr's sumptuous trumpet and flügelhorn lines, Karl Jenkins's funk-filled electric keyboards, Chris Spedding's wah-wah guitar, Brian Smith's sax and the rhythmic foundation of drummer John Marshall and bassist Jeff Clyne.
The group work and insane musicianship Nucleus were famed for is in evidence from the off. The intensely funky "Song for the Bearded Lady" is absolute FIRE, blasting out the speakers to leave listeners floored. Counterpoint riffing segues into a spacious groove and a Carr trumpet solo demonstrating the influence of electric Miles from the period. The stop-start funk of "Sun Child" would appeal to Soft Machine devotees whilst the genuinely touching "Lullaby for a Lonely Child" is a lovely downtempo ballad. Featuring an understated, reflective horn line from Carr and Smith and atmospheric, shimmering bouzouki from Spedding, there's an exotic flavour which contributes to the bliss. The ominous, sleazy title track retains a swaggering menace and is not the only track to lend a sort of heavy stoner rock atmosphere. The guitars and bass are deep and low throughout, conjuring heavy psych moments to go with the actual jazz and even funk. To say this album was in conversation with Bitches Brew would not be overstating the sheer brain-frying brilliance.
The Weather Report-adjacent "Oasis" opens Side B, a colossal track featuring nearly 10 minutes of steadily building melodic horns, keys and choppy guitar riffs. So ace, it could easily go on for another 10. Mesmeric. Spedding adds unique vocals to the undeniable groove of "Ballad of Joe Pimp" whilst saxophonist Smith's duet with drummer Marshall at the conclusion of "Easter 1916" - inspired by the Yeats poem about the Irish nationalist uprising in Dublin - adopts the wildness of the most incendiary free jazz.
This Be With edition of We'll Talk About It Later has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Cicely Balston's cut at AIR Studios to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The stunning die-cut sleeve has been restored with the original gatefold window pane depicting the Irish uprising in 1916. Incredible, timeless, guaranteed spine-chills.
More
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Song For The Bearded Lady (7:22)
A2 : Sun Child (5:16)
A3 : Lullaby For A Lonely Child (4:21)
A4 : We’ll Talk About It Later (6:13)
--
B1 : Oasis (9:44)
B2 : Ballad Of Joe Pimp (3:45)
B3 : Easter 1916 (8:49)
Release Notes:
Their masterpiece? With breaks for dayyyyyys and an almost ambient, heavy jazz atmosphere throughout, *this* is the apex of British jazz-rock fusion. We'll Talk About It Later was first released on Vertigo in 1971 and original copies are now very tricky to score. Like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has kept relevant. To steal a line from a review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
We'll Talk About It Later is arguably Nucleus's best album. Not only that, it's in the top 5 of all fusion albums. By the time Nucleus entered Trident Studios in September 1970 to record Elastic Rock's successor, they had already won a best group award at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Once again presented in a Roger Dean designed die-cut gatefold sleeve it continued to demonstrate the chemistry and interplay that worked so brilliantly on Elastic Rock; Carr's sumptuous trumpet and flügelhorn lines, Karl Jenkins's funk-filled electric keyboards, Chris Spedding's wah-wah guitar, Brian Smith's sax and the rhythmic foundation of drummer John Marshall and bassist Jeff Clyne.
The group work and insane musicianship Nucleus were famed for is in evidence from the off. The intensely funky "Song for the Bearded Lady" is absolute FIRE, blasting out the speakers to leave listeners floored. Counterpoint riffing segues into a spacious groove and a Carr trumpet solo demonstrating the influence of electric Miles from the period. The stop-start funk of "Sun Child" would appeal to Soft Machine devotees whilst the genuinely touching "Lullaby for a Lonely Child" is a lovely downtempo ballad. Featuring an understated, reflective horn line from Carr and Smith and atmospheric, shimmering bouzouki from Spedding, there's an exotic flavour which contributes to the bliss. The ominous, sleazy title track retains a swaggering menace and is not the only track to lend a sort of heavy stoner rock atmosphere. The guitars and bass are deep and low throughout, conjuring heavy psych moments to go with the actual jazz and even funk. To say this album was in conversation with Bitches Brew would not be overstating the sheer brain-frying brilliance.
The Weather Report-adjacent "Oasis" opens Side B, a colossal track featuring nearly 10 minutes of steadily building melodic horns, keys and choppy guitar riffs. So ace, it could easily go on for another 10. Mesmeric. Spedding adds unique vocals to the undeniable groove of "Ballad of Joe Pimp" whilst saxophonist Smith's duet with drummer Marshall at the conclusion of "Easter 1916" - inspired by the Yeats poem about the Irish nationalist uprising in Dublin - adopts the wildness of the most incendiary free jazz.
This Be With edition of We'll Talk About It Later has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Cicely Balston's cut at AIR Studios to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The stunning die-cut sleeve has been restored with the original gatefold window pane depicting the Irish uprising in 1916. Incredible, timeless, guaranteed spine-chills.
More
1
Nucleus - 1916 (1:11)
2
Nucleus - Elastic Rock (4:05)
3
Nucleus - Striation (2:14)
4
Nucleus - Taranaki (1:38)
5
Nucleus - Twisted Track (5:19)
6
Nucleus - Crude Blues (Part 1) (0:54)
7
Nucleus - Crude Blues (Part 2) (2:38)
8
Nucleus - 1916 (The Battle Of Boogaloo) (2:58)
9
Nucleus - Torrid Zone (8:41)
10
Nucleus - Stonescape (2:39)
11
Nucleus - Earth Mother (5:15)
12
Nucleus - Speaking For Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think… (1:31)
13
Nucleus - Persephone’s Jive (2:14)
Format Notes: 2023 reissue, 140g vinyl, remastered from the original Vertigo Master Tapes for this edition by Simon Francis, original gatefold die-cut sleeve replicated in fine detail
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : 1916 (1:11)
A2 : Elastic Rock (4:05)
A3 : Striation (2:14)
A4 : Taranaki (1:38)
A5 : Twisted Track (5:19)
A6 : Crude Blues (Part 1) (0:54)
A7 : Crude Blues (Part 2) (2:38)
A8 : 1916 (The Battle Of Boogaloo) (2:58)
--
B1 : Torrid Zone (8:41)
B2 : Stonescape (2:39)
B3 : Earth Mother (5:15)
B4 : Speaking For Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think… (1:31)
B5 : Persephone’s Jive (2:14)
Release Notes:
Nucleus's Elastic Rock is undisputedly a milestone in Jazz-Rock. A beautiful and vital debut album, it was first released on Vertigo in 1970. Original copies are now very tricky to score and, like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well. This Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has kept relevant. To steal a line from a review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
The very title Elastic Rock could be regarded as the group's MO, describing a melting point between their rock and jazz impulses. Indeed, housed in a memorable gatefold jacket designed by Roger Dean, the die cut molten teardrop shape on the front sleeve opens to reveal a fiery volcanic crater. On the back, Dean's drawing has Carr with saxophonist Brian Smith, guitarist Chris Spedding, drummer John Marshall, bassist Jeff Clyne and sax, oboe and pianist Karl Jenkins in a circle, the central core of a movement and the basis for its activity.
Recorded over four days in January 1970, Elastic Rock didn't sound like any other British jazz album. Exploding out the gate, "1916" opens with Marshall's frantic pounding before melancholic horns enter. The smooth title track, "Elastic Rock" is just a gorgeous electric blues track. Light drums, gentle melodic horns, piano and a solid bassline serve as the perfect bed for Spedding's graceful bluesy guitar melodies. The serene "Striation", a Clyne and Spedding collaboration, is led by bowed bass and is the epitome of calm before the late night laid back vibe of "Taranaki" breezes along sweetly and smoothly with great trumpet and tenor.
The truly emotional "Twisted Track" is elegant with horns, while guitar is gently played with drums and bass. Initially deeply soothing, it gradually builds with various solos and duets. "Crude Blues (Part 1)" features an excellent oboe part by Jenkins with laconic guitar helping out. "Part 2" is livelier, with a heavy backbeat and great wind parts. "1916 (Battle Of Boogaloo)" features a steady bassline and great call and response parts from the horn section.
The highly-charged centrepiece of the record, the mesmeric epic "Torrid Zone" features an hypnotic bassline and hi-hat with some of the ensemble's best soloing. Brilliantly encapsulating the jazz fusion aesthetic so desired by the group, the rhythm section is rock-influenced but magically retains a laid-back jazz vibe. Just perfection. Spacey jazz in the style of In a Silent Way, the semi-ambient "Stonescape" features smooth, muted brass, warm, smokey keys and a barely-there rhythm section. Heavenly.
The bubbling, fragile restraint of "Earth Mother" partially utilises the "Torrid Zone" bassline but takes the energy in a different direction with Marshall's frenetic drumming and Spedding's unpredictable riffing. Next comes the very idiosyncratic drum solo track by Marshall in the appropriately-titled "Speaking for Myself, Personally, in My Own Opinion, I Think." The album closes with the raucous "Persephones Jive", a track that ends the album frantically, riotously, just as it began.
This Be With edition of Elastic Rock has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Cicely Balston's cut at AIR Studios to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The stunning die-cut gatefold sleeve has been restored in all its molten glory.
More
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : 1916 (1:11)
A2 : Elastic Rock (4:05)
A3 : Striation (2:14)
A4 : Taranaki (1:38)
A5 : Twisted Track (5:19)
A6 : Crude Blues (Part 1) (0:54)
A7 : Crude Blues (Part 2) (2:38)
A8 : 1916 (The Battle Of Boogaloo) (2:58)
--
B1 : Torrid Zone (8:41)
B2 : Stonescape (2:39)
B3 : Earth Mother (5:15)
B4 : Speaking For Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think… (1:31)
B5 : Persephone’s Jive (2:14)
Release Notes:
Nucleus's Elastic Rock is undisputedly a milestone in Jazz-Rock. A beautiful and vital debut album, it was first released on Vertigo in 1970. Original copies are now very tricky to score and, like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well. This Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has kept relevant. To steal a line from a review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
The very title Elastic Rock could be regarded as the group's MO, describing a melting point between their rock and jazz impulses. Indeed, housed in a memorable gatefold jacket designed by Roger Dean, the die cut molten teardrop shape on the front sleeve opens to reveal a fiery volcanic crater. On the back, Dean's drawing has Carr with saxophonist Brian Smith, guitarist Chris Spedding, drummer John Marshall, bassist Jeff Clyne and sax, oboe and pianist Karl Jenkins in a circle, the central core of a movement and the basis for its activity.
Recorded over four days in January 1970, Elastic Rock didn't sound like any other British jazz album. Exploding out the gate, "1916" opens with Marshall's frantic pounding before melancholic horns enter. The smooth title track, "Elastic Rock" is just a gorgeous electric blues track. Light drums, gentle melodic horns, piano and a solid bassline serve as the perfect bed for Spedding's graceful bluesy guitar melodies. The serene "Striation", a Clyne and Spedding collaboration, is led by bowed bass and is the epitome of calm before the late night laid back vibe of "Taranaki" breezes along sweetly and smoothly with great trumpet and tenor.
The truly emotional "Twisted Track" is elegant with horns, while guitar is gently played with drums and bass. Initially deeply soothing, it gradually builds with various solos and duets. "Crude Blues (Part 1)" features an excellent oboe part by Jenkins with laconic guitar helping out. "Part 2" is livelier, with a heavy backbeat and great wind parts. "1916 (Battle Of Boogaloo)" features a steady bassline and great call and response parts from the horn section.
The highly-charged centrepiece of the record, the mesmeric epic "Torrid Zone" features an hypnotic bassline and hi-hat with some of the ensemble's best soloing. Brilliantly encapsulating the jazz fusion aesthetic so desired by the group, the rhythm section is rock-influenced but magically retains a laid-back jazz vibe. Just perfection. Spacey jazz in the style of In a Silent Way, the semi-ambient "Stonescape" features smooth, muted brass, warm, smokey keys and a barely-there rhythm section. Heavenly.
The bubbling, fragile restraint of "Earth Mother" partially utilises the "Torrid Zone" bassline but takes the energy in a different direction with Marshall's frenetic drumming and Spedding's unpredictable riffing. Next comes the very idiosyncratic drum solo track by Marshall in the appropriately-titled "Speaking for Myself, Personally, in My Own Opinion, I Think." The album closes with the raucous "Persephones Jive", a track that ends the album frantically, riotously, just as it began.
This Be With edition of Elastic Rock has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Cicely Balston's cut at AIR Studios to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The stunning die-cut gatefold sleeve has been restored in all its molten glory.
More
Label:Lilith Records Ltd.
Cat-No:999051LPP
Release-Date:24.02.2023
Genre:Indie Rock/Alternative
Configuration:LP
Label:Lilith Records Ltd.
Cat-No:999051LPP
Release-Date:24.02.2023
Genre:Indie Rock/Alternative
Configuration:LP
1
Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning
2
Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For My Man
3
Velvet Underground - Femme Fatale
4
Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs
5
Velvet Underground - Run Run Run
6
Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow's Parties
7
Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror
8
Velvet Underground - Heroin
9
Velvet Underground - There She Goes Again
10
Velvet Underground - The Black Ange's Death Song
11
Velvet Underground - European Son
12
Velvet Underground - Chelsea Girls
Repress.
The Velvets legendary debut album with the Warhol's Banana cover art printed on vinyl. Although Warhol, who was listed as producer on the album, allegedly gave the Velvets free reign over their sound, it was on his insistence that Nico performed on this album. However, this does not detract from the fact that when this album was made the Red Sea parted, and the Velvet Underground crossed into the Promised Land. 180 gram picture disc LP in deluxe sleeve, with 2 bonus tracks. More
The Velvets legendary debut album with the Warhol's Banana cover art printed on vinyl. Although Warhol, who was listed as producer on the album, allegedly gave the Velvets free reign over their sound, it was on his insistence that Nico performed on this album. However, this does not detract from the fact that when this album was made the Red Sea parted, and the Velvet Underground crossed into the Promised Land. 180 gram picture disc LP in deluxe sleeve, with 2 bonus tracks. More
1
Nucleus - Elements I & II (2:28)
2
Nucleus - Changing Times (4:44)
3
Nucleus - Bedrock Deadlock (6:52)
4
Nucleus - Spirit Level (9:20)
5
Nucleus - Torso (6:12)
6
Nucleus - Snakehips’ Dream (15:28)
Format Notes: 2023 reissue, 140g vinyl, remastered from the original Vertigo Master Tapes for this edition by Simon Francis, original gatefold sleeve replicated in fine detail
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Elements I & II (2:28)
A2 : Changing Times (4:44)
A3 : Bedrock Deadlock (6:52)
A4 : Spirit Level (9:20)
--
B1 : Torso (6:12)
B2 : Snakehips’ Dream (15:28)
Release Notes:
What a record! The outstanding Solar Plexus, the much-loved third album from Ian Carr and Nucleus, was first released on Vertigo in 1971. Inevitably, original copies are now very tricky to score and, like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well. This Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has kept relevant. To steal a line from a review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
We'll let Ian describe this one: "I wrote Solar Plexus' last year with the help of an Arts Council grant. It is based on two short themes which are stated at the beginning (Elements I & I1). The first theme is angular and has a slow, crab-like movement: the second theme is direct, simple and diatonic. CHANGING TIME and SPIRIT LEVEL explore the first theme and BEDROCK DEADLOCK and TORSO explore the second one. SNAKEHIPS DREAM tries to fuse both themes. (The title is a reference to the famous dancer 'Snakehips' Johnson)."
Solar Plexus features the same lineup as Elastic Rock and We'll Talk About It Later, but they're augmented by six guests, three of which play brass. Carr himself had almost full control of the writing and it does feel very different to the previous albums. It's more of a jazz record loosely based on a rock foundation rather than jazz fusion jamming.
The haunting synth-and-bass soundscape "Elements I and II" opens the album in dramatic, experimental fashion. It gives way to the bright, funky feel-good jazz of "Changing Times". An elegant onslaught of horns, courtesy of guests Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett, ride a solid groove for the duration. How the brass refrains have eluded samplers is beyond us. The melancholic "Bedrock Deadlock" features the brooding majesty of Jenkins' oboe and Clyne's mournful, skittering double bass. Wah wah guitar, drums and funky percussion then take over before the horns ride us out over frenetic beats. The dark, angular "Spirit Level" is a real highlight, by turns harmonic and beautiful then dissonant and wayward. Wonky jazz with no apparent structure or melodic bones. Regardless, it represents a great showcase for each virtuoso performer.
The breezy soul of "Torso" feels like a breath of fresh air, skipping along in the uptempo style with guitar, horns, drums and bass. A track which truly sounds scintillating, featuring sax solos, fantastic propulsive interplay from all the group around the halfway stage before Marshall gets his chance to really shine in closing out with a polyrhythmic drum solo. Final track "Snakehips' Dream" stretches cooly out over 15 minutes to round out a spellbinding album. An epic, suave groove, it's a relaxing piece with warm electric keys, laconic guitar and languorous horns. Truly sophisticated soulful jazz. An absolute masterclass. We could easily listen to this all day long.
This Be With edition of Solar Plexus has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Cicely Balston's cut at AIR Studios to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The stunning gatefold sleeve has been restored to complete this sensational package. More
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Elements I & II (2:28)
A2 : Changing Times (4:44)
A3 : Bedrock Deadlock (6:52)
A4 : Spirit Level (9:20)
--
B1 : Torso (6:12)
B2 : Snakehips’ Dream (15:28)
Release Notes:
What a record! The outstanding Solar Plexus, the much-loved third album from Ian Carr and Nucleus, was first released on Vertigo in 1971. Inevitably, original copies are now very tricky to score and, like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well. This Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has kept relevant. To steal a line from a review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
We'll let Ian describe this one: "I wrote Solar Plexus' last year with the help of an Arts Council grant. It is based on two short themes which are stated at the beginning (Elements I & I1). The first theme is angular and has a slow, crab-like movement: the second theme is direct, simple and diatonic. CHANGING TIME and SPIRIT LEVEL explore the first theme and BEDROCK DEADLOCK and TORSO explore the second one. SNAKEHIPS DREAM tries to fuse both themes. (The title is a reference to the famous dancer 'Snakehips' Johnson)."
Solar Plexus features the same lineup as Elastic Rock and We'll Talk About It Later, but they're augmented by six guests, three of which play brass. Carr himself had almost full control of the writing and it does feel very different to the previous albums. It's more of a jazz record loosely based on a rock foundation rather than jazz fusion jamming.
The haunting synth-and-bass soundscape "Elements I and II" opens the album in dramatic, experimental fashion. It gives way to the bright, funky feel-good jazz of "Changing Times". An elegant onslaught of horns, courtesy of guests Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett, ride a solid groove for the duration. How the brass refrains have eluded samplers is beyond us. The melancholic "Bedrock Deadlock" features the brooding majesty of Jenkins' oboe and Clyne's mournful, skittering double bass. Wah wah guitar, drums and funky percussion then take over before the horns ride us out over frenetic beats. The dark, angular "Spirit Level" is a real highlight, by turns harmonic and beautiful then dissonant and wayward. Wonky jazz with no apparent structure or melodic bones. Regardless, it represents a great showcase for each virtuoso performer.
The breezy soul of "Torso" feels like a breath of fresh air, skipping along in the uptempo style with guitar, horns, drums and bass. A track which truly sounds scintillating, featuring sax solos, fantastic propulsive interplay from all the group around the halfway stage before Marshall gets his chance to really shine in closing out with a polyrhythmic drum solo. Final track "Snakehips' Dream" stretches cooly out over 15 minutes to round out a spellbinding album. An epic, suave groove, it's a relaxing piece with warm electric keys, laconic guitar and languorous horns. Truly sophisticated soulful jazz. An absolute masterclass. We could easily listen to this all day long.
This Be With edition of Solar Plexus has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Cicely Balston's cut at AIR Studios to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The stunning gatefold sleeve has been restored to complete this sensational package. More
1
Nucleus - Phaideaux Corner (6:17)
2
Nucleus - Alleycat (14:15)
3
Nucleus - Splat (11:41)
4
Nucleus - You Can’t Be Sure (4:14)
5
Nucleus - Nosegay (4:51)
Format Notes: 2022 re-issue, 140g vinyl, remastered from the original tapes
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Phaideaux Corner (6:17)
A2 : Alleycat (14:15)
B1 : Splat (11:41)
B2 : You Can’t Be Sure (4:14)
B3 : Nosegay (4:51)
Release Notes:
Come for the leopard, stay for the stone cold jams. Yet another thrilling, funky-prog jazzy-rock fusion beauty from Ian Carr’s Nucleus. Originally released on Vertigo in 1975, Alleycat was never re-pressed so those original copies are now very tricky to score. Like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has stayed relevant. To steal a line from a recent review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
Alleycat was the last Nucleus album recorded for the Vertigo label. Released in 1975, it was again meticulously produced by Jon Hiseman and is every bit as sinuous as anything else the group had recorded. As far as riff-laden accidental cop-funk goes, there’s so much energy coursing through the music that at times it sounds like a live recording. It’s pretty unbeatable.
Uptempo opener “Phaideaux Corner” is a funk-flavoured opus with a groove that simply swaggers. This trademark Roger Sutton piece benefits from Trevor Tomkins’s percussive expertise and some excellent sax and keyboard soloing. Check out Geoff Castle on squelchy, stabbing Moog duties. Ian Carr’s elegantly laidback title track is a lengthy suite of magisterial themes. Typically complex, it still gets you hooked and is just riddled with the funk. Carr builds up his initially “straight” trumpet solo with later use of echo to mesmeric effect. And there’s some excellent wah-wah guitar shredding by Ken Shaw too. Nice.
The second side opens with the killer “Splat” and finds Nucleus really ripping it up. A fat, funky bass guitar riff introduces us to the track and stays with us until the end. The often mangled bass groove is pushed along by rattling drums and percussion, dropping out for some restful moments of spacey calm, and along the way picking up some lengthy keyboard noodling by Castle. So so good.
The cool “You Can’t Be Sure” is a gentle jam with Shaw on 12-string acoustic guitar, together with Carr’s muted trumpet and some marvellous fretless work from Sutton for extra colour. The album closes with Bob Bertles’ galloping “Nosegay”, written perhaps as a response to some of the faster Mahavishnu Orchestra pieces. It’s an example of well crafted jazz-rock that doesn’t compromise any of its jazziness, yet it still very definitely rocks.
This Be With re-issue of Alleycat has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Pete Norman’s cut to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The cool AF cover - that leopard was just a cat before he heard Nucleus, you know - has been restored as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Phaideaux Corner (6:17)
A2 : Alleycat (14:15)
B1 : Splat (11:41)
B2 : You Can’t Be Sure (4:14)
B3 : Nosegay (4:51)
Release Notes:
Come for the leopard, stay for the stone cold jams. Yet another thrilling, funky-prog jazzy-rock fusion beauty from Ian Carr’s Nucleus. Originally released on Vertigo in 1975, Alleycat was never re-pressed so those original copies are now very tricky to score. Like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has stayed relevant. To steal a line from a recent review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
Alleycat was the last Nucleus album recorded for the Vertigo label. Released in 1975, it was again meticulously produced by Jon Hiseman and is every bit as sinuous as anything else the group had recorded. As far as riff-laden accidental cop-funk goes, there’s so much energy coursing through the music that at times it sounds like a live recording. It’s pretty unbeatable.
Uptempo opener “Phaideaux Corner” is a funk-flavoured opus with a groove that simply swaggers. This trademark Roger Sutton piece benefits from Trevor Tomkins’s percussive expertise and some excellent sax and keyboard soloing. Check out Geoff Castle on squelchy, stabbing Moog duties. Ian Carr’s elegantly laidback title track is a lengthy suite of magisterial themes. Typically complex, it still gets you hooked and is just riddled with the funk. Carr builds up his initially “straight” trumpet solo with later use of echo to mesmeric effect. And there’s some excellent wah-wah guitar shredding by Ken Shaw too. Nice.
The second side opens with the killer “Splat” and finds Nucleus really ripping it up. A fat, funky bass guitar riff introduces us to the track and stays with us until the end. The often mangled bass groove is pushed along by rattling drums and percussion, dropping out for some restful moments of spacey calm, and along the way picking up some lengthy keyboard noodling by Castle. So so good.
The cool “You Can’t Be Sure” is a gentle jam with Shaw on 12-string acoustic guitar, together with Carr’s muted trumpet and some marvellous fretless work from Sutton for extra colour. The album closes with Bob Bertles’ galloping “Nosegay”, written perhaps as a response to some of the faster Mahavishnu Orchestra pieces. It’s an example of well crafted jazz-rock that doesn’t compromise any of its jazziness, yet it still very definitely rocks.
This Be With re-issue of Alleycat has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Pete Norman’s cut to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The cool AF cover - that leopard was just a cat before he heard Nucleus, you know - has been restored as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More
1
Minas - Num Dia Azul (In A Blue City)
2
Minas - Sinal Verde (Green Light)
3
Minas - So Danço Samba (I Only Dance the Samba)
4
Minas - Calma Mulher (Cool It Woman)
5
Minas - Canção Da Chuva (Song of the Rain)
6
Minas - Samba Walk
7
Minas - Choro Sambaião
Minas 'Num Dia Azul' is a sublime slice of private press bossa nova meets jazzy MPB perfection. Warm and bubbling with youthful spirit, the music is simultaneously loose in swagger, yet slick and tight. The album was originally released in 1983 and reflects the great music coming out of Rio at the time, yet 'Num Dia Azul' wasn't recorded in Rio, but actually in the USA.
Recorded in North Carolina just after Patricia and Orlando Haddad had graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts, the record was only released for the Brazilian market on their own Blueazul Records imprint. As with most private press labels, they could only afford to have it pressed in small quantities. To add to its later obscurity, hundreds of copies were also destroyed in a house fire. They say cream always rises to the top, and fast forward to the 2010s, the word amongst collectors and DJs was spreading about this mythical under-the-radar recording. People from across the globe were contacting Patricia and Orlando for more information, hoping to secure themselves a copy. Luckily the original tapes had remained with the artists and were in great condition, so in 2016 the pair ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to have it remastered and repressed.
For this Mr Bongo 2023 re-issue, we have tried to keep it as close to the original 1983 version as possible, both in the packaging and audio presentation. The CD version comes with bonus tracks. We are super proud to keep Patricia and Orlando's serene recordings in the circulation that they deserve to be. One for fans of Brazilian artists such as Burnier & Cartier, Edu Lobo and Joyce. We are sure those fans will lose themselves in the alluring textures of 'Num Dia Azul'. More
Recorded in North Carolina just after Patricia and Orlando Haddad had graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts, the record was only released for the Brazilian market on their own Blueazul Records imprint. As with most private press labels, they could only afford to have it pressed in small quantities. To add to its later obscurity, hundreds of copies were also destroyed in a house fire. They say cream always rises to the top, and fast forward to the 2010s, the word amongst collectors and DJs was spreading about this mythical under-the-radar recording. People from across the globe were contacting Patricia and Orlando for more information, hoping to secure themselves a copy. Luckily the original tapes had remained with the artists and were in great condition, so in 2016 the pair ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to have it remastered and repressed.
For this Mr Bongo 2023 re-issue, we have tried to keep it as close to the original 1983 version as possible, both in the packaging and audio presentation. The CD version comes with bonus tracks. We are super proud to keep Patricia and Orlando's serene recordings in the circulation that they deserve to be. One for fans of Brazilian artists such as Burnier & Cartier, Edu Lobo and Joyce. We are sure those fans will lose themselves in the alluring textures of 'Num Dia Azul'. More
This volume "French Rare Groove", offers us a one-way ticket to France from the late 60's to the early 80's. From confidential releases to forgotten movie soundtracks, discover the grooviest tracks from the french scene. Have a good trip!
Tracklist:
1. Jean-Jacques Perrey - E.V.A.
2. Janko Nilovic - Drug Song
3. Vladimir Cosma - Exkalibur (O.S.T. "Sam Et Sally")
4. Michel Magne & David Gilmour - I Must Tell You Why (O.S
5. Syntaxe - L'Anthropofemme (Chanson)
6. Philippe Sarde - L'Appartement (O.S.T. "Deux Hommes Dan
7. Paul Martin & Jean-Pierre Castaldi - Le Troublant Témoi
8. Bernard Lloret - Digen
9. Jacques Arconte - Movie Town
10. Cliff Cardwin - Work City
11. Janko Nilovic - Soul Impressions
12. Jean-Claude Pierric - Move man
13. dition Spéciale - Monsieur Business
14. Jean-Claude Petit - Skyway
15. Christian Chevalier - Tecumseh
16. Francis Lai - Somewhere In The Night (O.S.T. "Madly")
17. Eden Rose - Reinyet Number
18. Karl-Heinz Schäfer - Kidnapping (O.S.T. "Les Gants Blan
19. Bruno Leys - Dans La Galaxie
20. Francis Lai - Young Freedom
21. Daniel Janin & Jean Luc Ferré - Dig Yourself Up
22. Le Patchwork - Patchwork
23. Roger Renaud - Turn Me On More
Tracklist:
1. Jean-Jacques Perrey - E.V.A.
2. Janko Nilovic - Drug Song
3. Vladimir Cosma - Exkalibur (O.S.T. "Sam Et Sally")
4. Michel Magne & David Gilmour - I Must Tell You Why (O.S
5. Syntaxe - L'Anthropofemme (Chanson)
6. Philippe Sarde - L'Appartement (O.S.T. "Deux Hommes Dan
7. Paul Martin & Jean-Pierre Castaldi - Le Troublant Témoi
8. Bernard Lloret - Digen
9. Jacques Arconte - Movie Town
10. Cliff Cardwin - Work City
11. Janko Nilovic - Soul Impressions
12. Jean-Claude Pierric - Move man
13. dition Spéciale - Monsieur Business
14. Jean-Claude Petit - Skyway
15. Christian Chevalier - Tecumseh
16. Francis Lai - Somewhere In The Night (O.S.T. "Madly")
17. Eden Rose - Reinyet Number
18. Karl-Heinz Schäfer - Kidnapping (O.S.T. "Les Gants Blan
19. Bruno Leys - Dans La Galaxie
20. Francis Lai - Young Freedom
21. Daniel Janin & Jean Luc Ferré - Dig Yourself Up
22. Le Patchwork - Patchwork
23. Roger Renaud - Turn Me On More
A modern day mashup classic from AMERIGO GAZAWAY that takes the Afrobeat rhythms and music of FELA KUTI and mixes it with the rap stylings of DE LA SOUL. Awesome.
More
1
Sai Galaxy - Rendezvous Feat. Vanessa Baker
2
Sai Galaxy - Obio Feat. Gabriel Otu
3
Sai Galaxy - Don't Wanna Be Your Lover Feat. Raymond Lédon
4
Sai Galaxy - Get It In The Sun Feat. Olugbade Okunade
Tracklist:
Side A
1. Rendezvous
feat. Vanessa Baker
2. Obio feat. Gabriel Otu
Side B
1. Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover feat. Raymond Lédon
2. Get It In The Sun feat. Olugbade Okunade
As the name suggests, Sai Galaxy represents a star-studded cluster of artists from around the world – their varied styles colliding to form a refreshing fusion of classic Afrobeat, disco and West African funk.
Drawing from the influence of 70s and 80s Nigerian artists such as Nkono Teles, Jake Sollo and Mike Umoh, the Sai Galaxy collective is on a mission to reproduce the analogue warmth and groove from those decades. Consequently, they lean heavily on 70s production techniques - free from the predictable rigidity of digital sequencing. Combined with a wealth of live music experience between them, the result is a melting pot of musicians flying in such tight formation you’d be forgiven for assuming they’d passed through quantisation.
It comes as no surprise then that many of the musicians on the Get It As You Move EP have previously collaborated on other projects. The symbiotic relationship is undeniable - from the raw unadulterated drums, to the wobbly bass, squelchy synth, smoky vocals and spontaneous percussive jams.
Spearheaded by Australian multi-instrumentalist Simon Durrington (who also produces under the moniker Sai Galaxy), the members include Olugbade Okunade - former trumpet player from Seun Kuti’s Egypt 80 - as well as guests Gabriel Otu, Ray Lédon and Vanessa Baker.
Several of these artists appear with Digital Afrika, the live electronic outfit from Simon Durrington and Zhonu Moon, which signed in 2020 to Carl Cox’s imprint Awesome Soundwave. Others include Papua New Guinean musician Ray Lédon, who performs alongside Durrington in Sorong Samarai, a political band primarily made up of West Papuan indigenous tribes living in exile.
While the EP seeks to reflect 70s production, glimpses of contemporary elements can be found in the arrangements and harmonies, at times reminiscent of modern artists such as Lord Echo, Bosq and Voilaaa. On the lead single ‘Rendezvous’, featuring the sultry vocals of Vanessa Baker, the drums temporarily slip out of four-to-the-floor and into a shuffling breakbeat, while Ray Lédon’s voice gets a distorted, filtered treatment on ‘Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover’.
Channelling West African funk with a touch of psychedelia is the single ‘Obio’, featuring lyrics in the language of Ga, as sung by Ghanaian artist Gabriel Otu. On each track, the ensemble explores the theme of the dancefloor experience - finally epitomised by ‘Get It In The Sun’, a joyful rallying call to join the festivities. As Durrington believes: “dance is vital to health and community”. And with an EP that urges you to dance from start to finish, consider Sai Galaxy a cosmic tonic for the modern lifestyle.
Mastered by Daniel San
Lacquers cut by Lewis Hopkin at Star Delta
Original artwork by Lewis Heriz More
Side A
1. Rendezvous
feat. Vanessa Baker
2. Obio feat. Gabriel Otu
Side B
1. Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover feat. Raymond Lédon
2. Get It In The Sun feat. Olugbade Okunade
As the name suggests, Sai Galaxy represents a star-studded cluster of artists from around the world – their varied styles colliding to form a refreshing fusion of classic Afrobeat, disco and West African funk.
Drawing from the influence of 70s and 80s Nigerian artists such as Nkono Teles, Jake Sollo and Mike Umoh, the Sai Galaxy collective is on a mission to reproduce the analogue warmth and groove from those decades. Consequently, they lean heavily on 70s production techniques - free from the predictable rigidity of digital sequencing. Combined with a wealth of live music experience between them, the result is a melting pot of musicians flying in such tight formation you’d be forgiven for assuming they’d passed through quantisation.
It comes as no surprise then that many of the musicians on the Get It As You Move EP have previously collaborated on other projects. The symbiotic relationship is undeniable - from the raw unadulterated drums, to the wobbly bass, squelchy synth, smoky vocals and spontaneous percussive jams.
Spearheaded by Australian multi-instrumentalist Simon Durrington (who also produces under the moniker Sai Galaxy), the members include Olugbade Okunade - former trumpet player from Seun Kuti’s Egypt 80 - as well as guests Gabriel Otu, Ray Lédon and Vanessa Baker.
Several of these artists appear with Digital Afrika, the live electronic outfit from Simon Durrington and Zhonu Moon, which signed in 2020 to Carl Cox’s imprint Awesome Soundwave. Others include Papua New Guinean musician Ray Lédon, who performs alongside Durrington in Sorong Samarai, a political band primarily made up of West Papuan indigenous tribes living in exile.
While the EP seeks to reflect 70s production, glimpses of contemporary elements can be found in the arrangements and harmonies, at times reminiscent of modern artists such as Lord Echo, Bosq and Voilaaa. On the lead single ‘Rendezvous’, featuring the sultry vocals of Vanessa Baker, the drums temporarily slip out of four-to-the-floor and into a shuffling breakbeat, while Ray Lédon’s voice gets a distorted, filtered treatment on ‘Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover’.
Channelling West African funk with a touch of psychedelia is the single ‘Obio’, featuring lyrics in the language of Ga, as sung by Ghanaian artist Gabriel Otu. On each track, the ensemble explores the theme of the dancefloor experience - finally epitomised by ‘Get It In The Sun’, a joyful rallying call to join the festivities. As Durrington believes: “dance is vital to health and community”. And with an EP that urges you to dance from start to finish, consider Sai Galaxy a cosmic tonic for the modern lifestyle.
Mastered by Daniel San
Lacquers cut by Lewis Hopkin at Star Delta
Original artwork by Lewis Heriz More
Side 1
1. "Incubation" (3:14)
2. "Wilderness" (2:58)
3. "Twenty Four Hours" (4:38)
4. "The Eternal" (8:37)
5. "Heart & Soul" (5:03)
Side 2
1. "Shadowplay" (3:46)
2. "Transmission" (3:18)
3. "Disorder" (3:28)
4. "Warsaw" (2:42)
5. "Colony" (4:12)
6. "Interzone" (2:25)
7. "She's Lost Control" (4:55) More
1. "Incubation" (3:14)
2. "Wilderness" (2:58)
3. "Twenty Four Hours" (4:38)
4. "The Eternal" (8:37)
5. "Heart & Soul" (5:03)
Side 2
1. "Shadowplay" (3:46)
2. "Transmission" (3:18)
3. "Disorder" (3:28)
4. "Warsaw" (2:42)
5. "Colony" (4:12)
6. "Interzone" (2:25)
7. "She's Lost Control" (4:55) More
Label:London Records
Cat-No:LMS5521230
Release-Date:22.03.2019
Genre:Indie Rock/Alternative
Configuration:2LP Excl
Label:London Records
Cat-No:LMS5521230
Release-Date:22.03.2019
Genre:Indie Rock/Alternative
Configuration:2LP Excl
1
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Naxalite
2
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Buzzin’
3
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Black White
4
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Assassin
5
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Hypocrite
6
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Charge
7
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Free Satpal Ram
8
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Dub Mentality
9
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Culture Move
10
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Operation Eagle Lie
11
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Change
12
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - Tribute To John Stevens
Rights: World excl. France & UK; 2LP vinyl edition with 2 coloured white vinyls in gatefold sleeve printed on reversed cardboard. Printed inner-sleeves and a 4-page 60x30cm insert printed on uncoated paper.
Tracklist:
A1. Naxalite / A2. Buzzin’ / A3. Black White / B1. Assassin / B2. Hypocrite / B3. Charge
C1. Free Satpal Ram / C2. Dub Mentality / C3. Culture Move / D1. Operation Eagle Lie / D2. Change
D3. Tribute To John Stevens
Short info:
“Right here, right now ADF are the most important band in Britain.” NME 1997
Rafi’s Revenge originally peaked at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart and was shortlisted for the 1998 Mercury Music Prize, with Bobby Gillespie hailing them at the time as ‘the best live act in Britain’. This 21 year anniversary reissue includes a limited edition, coloured 2xLP plus expanded digital & CD editions with bonus tracks selected by Adrian Sherwood. To celebrate the release the band are playing at Rich Mix, London on 28th March.
By the time they recorded Rafi’s Revenge in 1998, Asian Dub Foundation were primed to explode. Having initially emerged from East London’s grassroots Community Music project as a largely studio-based collective, the band had galvanised themselves into a riotously exciting touring machine by the late Nineties. Their extraordinary live shows around this period were electrifying to witness, kinetic and dynamic, incendiary and euphoric, confrontational yet celebratory. For sheer roof-raising energy, they were unrivalled. ADF have evolved enormously over the last two decades, of course, but their breakthrough album remains a fascinating chapter in the real, complex, unwritten history of Britpop. Expanded and enlarged for this anniversary edition, these multi-layered musical treasures still dazzle and delight with their grandiose ambition and riotous energy.
• Band to play ‘Rafi’s Revenge’ gig at Rich Mix London 28th March 2019 + Paris gig TBC (March / April)
• Band part of Music & Immigration major exhibition Paris: London from March 2019
• Short form documentary on band to be placed with online partner/Vevo
• Full press, online, radio service - updates to follow More
Tracklist:
A1. Naxalite / A2. Buzzin’ / A3. Black White / B1. Assassin / B2. Hypocrite / B3. Charge
C1. Free Satpal Ram / C2. Dub Mentality / C3. Culture Move / D1. Operation Eagle Lie / D2. Change
D3. Tribute To John Stevens
Short info:
“Right here, right now ADF are the most important band in Britain.” NME 1997
Rafi’s Revenge originally peaked at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart and was shortlisted for the 1998 Mercury Music Prize, with Bobby Gillespie hailing them at the time as ‘the best live act in Britain’. This 21 year anniversary reissue includes a limited edition, coloured 2xLP plus expanded digital & CD editions with bonus tracks selected by Adrian Sherwood. To celebrate the release the band are playing at Rich Mix, London on 28th March.
By the time they recorded Rafi’s Revenge in 1998, Asian Dub Foundation were primed to explode. Having initially emerged from East London’s grassroots Community Music project as a largely studio-based collective, the band had galvanised themselves into a riotously exciting touring machine by the late Nineties. Their extraordinary live shows around this period were electrifying to witness, kinetic and dynamic, incendiary and euphoric, confrontational yet celebratory. For sheer roof-raising energy, they were unrivalled. ADF have evolved enormously over the last two decades, of course, but their breakthrough album remains a fascinating chapter in the real, complex, unwritten history of Britpop. Expanded and enlarged for this anniversary edition, these multi-layered musical treasures still dazzle and delight with their grandiose ambition and riotous energy.
• Band to play ‘Rafi’s Revenge’ gig at Rich Mix London 28th March 2019 + Paris gig TBC (March / April)
• Band part of Music & Immigration major exhibition Paris: London from March 2019
• Short form documentary on band to be placed with online partner/Vevo
• Full press, online, radio service - updates to follow More
1
Nucleus - In Procession (2:52)
2
Nucleus - The Addison Trip (3:53)
3
Nucleus - Pastoral Graffiti (3:28)
4
Nucleus - New Life (7:01)
5
Nucleus - A Taste Of Sarsaparilla (0:40)
6
Nucleus - Theme 1 - Sarsaparilla (6:45)
7
Nucleus - Theme 2 - Feast Alfresco (5:56)
8
Nucleus - Theme 3 - Rites Of Man (9:58)
Format Notes: 2022 re-issue, 140g vinyl, remastered from the original tapes
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : In Procession (2:52)
A2 : The Addison Trip (3:53)
A3 : Pastoral Graffiti (3:28)
A4 : New Life (7:01)
A5 : A Taste Of Sarsaparilla (0:40)
B1 : Theme 1 - Sarsaparilla (6:45)
B2 : Theme 2 - Feast Alfresco (5:56)
B3 : Theme 3 - Rites Of Man (9:58)
Release Notes:
Under The Sun is the follow-up to the astonishing Roots and contains yet more absolutely essential Nucleus material. Originally released on Vertigo in 1974, Under The Sun was never re-pressed and of course those original copies are now very tricky to score. Like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has stayed relevant. To steal a line from a recent review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
Under The Sun opens with the crisp, medium tempo “In Procession”. It’s a typically inventive Carr track with layers of dramatic, riff-led themes and repeating brass blasts. Bryan Spring’s “The Addison Trip” is a moody funk piece, with Kieran White guesting on wordless vocals. Roger Sutton contributes some fine bass guitar on this track, particularly the great solo at around the two minute mark. The excellently-named cool, jazzy ballad “Pastoral Graffiti” paints bucolic pictures with its mellow sonics, plaintive horns and Bob Bertles’ flute.
Sutton’s superb, bass-driven “New Life” brings a different dynamic. Horns, guitar and electric piano swirl over the head-nod bass motif and a killer Ken Shaw guitar solo. A false fade out halfway through brings in a new bass riff that’s picked up by the whole ensemble as Carr wah-wah noodles over the top. It’s full-on. The gorgeous, laidback “A Taste of Sarsaparilla” is exactly that - closing out the first side with a cute blast of what is to come over on the killer flip.
The whole of Under The Sun’s second side is a suite of three “Themes” written by Ian Carr. The uptempo first theme “Sarsaparilla” is comfortably one of Nucleus’ best. What would’ve been a cluttered mess in the hands of most is instead an effortless lesson in clarity and zing. Between Geoff Castle’s electric piano solo, the relentless funky drumming and more wild wah-wah trumpet from Carr, Nucleus show you how it’s done.
The languid groove of second theme “Feast Alfresco” is much more typical of “classic” Nucleus and sounds like something that might’ve been on Roots. A Bertles baritone solo and a guitar solo from Shaw weave around the core, serpentine brass theme.
The darker “Rites of Man”, the third and final theme, is a slow build to a solid bass and electric piano riff, shored up by some tricky brass. Carr takes the theme even further and there’s still plenty of room for soloing from all corners of the Nucleus. As usual, the dynamic Sutton/Spring, bass/drums duo is holding down the rhythm for the rest to jam around.
This Be With edition of Under The Sun has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Pete Norman’s cut to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The bleak, rain-dappled cover matches the melancholic vibe of the record and has been restored as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : In Procession (2:52)
A2 : The Addison Trip (3:53)
A3 : Pastoral Graffiti (3:28)
A4 : New Life (7:01)
A5 : A Taste Of Sarsaparilla (0:40)
B1 : Theme 1 - Sarsaparilla (6:45)
B2 : Theme 2 - Feast Alfresco (5:56)
B3 : Theme 3 - Rites Of Man (9:58)
Release Notes:
Under The Sun is the follow-up to the astonishing Roots and contains yet more absolutely essential Nucleus material. Originally released on Vertigo in 1974, Under The Sun was never re-pressed and of course those original copies are now very tricky to score. Like all the Nucleus records, it’s aged ridiculously well and this Be With re-issue, re-mastered from the original analogue tapes, shows off just why this deserves to be back in press.
Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was one of the most respected British musicians of his era. He was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Regarding music as a continuous process, Nucleus refused to “recognise rigid boundaries” and worked on delivering what they saw as a “total musical experience”. We can get behind that.
Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. This constant evolution and revolution was all part of the continuous musical exploration and discovery that took jazz to new levels. And the music has stayed relevant. To steal a line from a recent review of our re-issue of Roots, when it comes to anything Nucleus “it’s basically already hip-hop”.
Under The Sun opens with the crisp, medium tempo “In Procession”. It’s a typically inventive Carr track with layers of dramatic, riff-led themes and repeating brass blasts. Bryan Spring’s “The Addison Trip” is a moody funk piece, with Kieran White guesting on wordless vocals. Roger Sutton contributes some fine bass guitar on this track, particularly the great solo at around the two minute mark. The excellently-named cool, jazzy ballad “Pastoral Graffiti” paints bucolic pictures with its mellow sonics, plaintive horns and Bob Bertles’ flute.
Sutton’s superb, bass-driven “New Life” brings a different dynamic. Horns, guitar and electric piano swirl over the head-nod bass motif and a killer Ken Shaw guitar solo. A false fade out halfway through brings in a new bass riff that’s picked up by the whole ensemble as Carr wah-wah noodles over the top. It’s full-on. The gorgeous, laidback “A Taste of Sarsaparilla” is exactly that - closing out the first side with a cute blast of what is to come over on the killer flip.
The whole of Under The Sun’s second side is a suite of three “Themes” written by Ian Carr. The uptempo first theme “Sarsaparilla” is comfortably one of Nucleus’ best. What would’ve been a cluttered mess in the hands of most is instead an effortless lesson in clarity and zing. Between Geoff Castle’s electric piano solo, the relentless funky drumming and more wild wah-wah trumpet from Carr, Nucleus show you how it’s done.
The languid groove of second theme “Feast Alfresco” is much more typical of “classic” Nucleus and sounds like something that might’ve been on Roots. A Bertles baritone solo and a guitar solo from Shaw weave around the core, serpentine brass theme.
The darker “Rites of Man”, the third and final theme, is a slow build to a solid bass and electric piano riff, shored up by some tricky brass. Carr takes the theme even further and there’s still plenty of room for soloing from all corners of the Nucleus. As usual, the dynamic Sutton/Spring, bass/drums duo is holding down the rhythm for the rest to jam around.
This Be With edition of Under The Sun has been re-mastered from the original Vertigo master tapes, Simon Francis’ mastering working together with Pete Norman’s cut to weave their usual magic with these wonderful recordings. The bleak, rain-dappled cover matches the melancholic vibe of the record and has been restored as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More