Thursday, 26 April 2012

THE NEW ANTHONY PHILLIPS ALBUM

I have only heard fragments of it so far, but I think that the new Anthony Phillips/Andrew Skeet album Seventh Heaven is really going to be one of the major releases of this spring.

The release sheet describes it as:


A brand new studio 2 CD set from ex-GENESIS guitarist ANTHONY PHILLIPS and composer ANDREW SKEET.

ANDREW SKEET is a composer primarily for television and film, and is much in demand as a conductor and arranger and has worked with GEORGE MICHAEL, SUEDE, UNKLE, SINEAD O’CONNOR, as well as establishing his own orchestra. His music has been featured in The Apprentice, Banged up Abroad, and What Katie Did Next amongst many others.

Featuring on the album is BELINDA SYKES who sings on the track ‘Seven Ancient Wonders’. Belinda has performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York, and has recorded with KARL JENKINS and directs the medieval band JOGLARESA.

Also performing is JOHN PARRICELLI, one of the key figures on the British Jazz scene co-founding the jazz orchestra LOOSE TUBES. He has featured on over 200 movie scores including Lord of the Rings, Shakespeare in Love and The Constant Gardener. He has also recorded with LEONA LEWIS, DUFFY, WESTLIFE, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, RUMER, amongst many others.

All in all an amazing package.

Tracks:
Disc 1: Credo In Cantus, A Richer Earth, Circle of Light, Grand Central, Kissing Gate, Pasquinade, Rain on Sag Harbor, Ice maiden, River of Life, Desert Passage, Seven Ancient Wonders, Desert Passage, Under The Infinite Sky, Forgotten Angels, Courtesan, Ghosts of New York, Shipwreck of St Paul, Cortege.

Disc 2: Credo In Cantus (instrumental), Sojourn, Speak of Remarkable Things, Nocturne, Long Road Home, Golden Leaves of Fall, Credo, Under The Infinite Sky, The Stuff of Dreams, Old Sarum Suite, For Eloise, Winter Song, Ghosts of New York, Daniel’s Theme, Study In Scarlet, The Lives of Others, Pas de Deux, Forever Always.

Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips (b. 23 December 1951, Chiswick, west London) is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis.

He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass. He left due to suffering from stage fright, after being told by his doctor that the best thing would be to leave the band.

He is known for his twelve string guitar work, and his influence can be heard throughout Genesis's early output. Genesis's first album after Phillips's departure, Nursery Cryme, featured two songs which were holdovers from the days when Phillips was in the band: "The Musical Box" (originally called F#) and "The Fountain Of Salmacis." "The Musical Box" especially remains a favourite of fans.

After leaving Genesis, Phillips studied classical music (especially classical guitar) and made recordings in collaboration with Harry Williamson, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, among others.He played the keyboards on the demos for Peter Gabriel in 1976. His first solo album, The Geese and the Ghost, was issued in 1977.Phillips released his second album in 1978, entitled Wise After the Event. This was followed the next year by Sides. Both of these albums were produced by Rupert Hine and were intended to reach a mainstream audience, though neither album was successful in that regard.

In its initial release in the UK, Sides was accompanied by a more experimental album entitled Private Parts and Pieces; in the U.S. and Canada the two albums were issued separately. Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion followed the next year, and several further sequels were issued in the 1980s and 1990s.

Phillips began writing material with Andrew Latimer of Camel in 1981, and was a featured performer on that band's album, The Single Factor (released in 1982).Phillips released a mainstream pop album entitled Invisible Men in 1983. He later claimed that this project went "horribly wrong" as a result of commercial pressures, and would subsequently eschew mainstream success in favour of more specialised material.Phillips remains involved in a variety of musical projects, including extensive soundtrack work in England often for the label Atmosphere part the Universal Music Group. In the mid-1990s, he released an album entitled The Living Room Concert, which featured solo acoustic versions of his earlier material. He also provided archival material for the first Genesis box set, Genesis Archive 1967-75, released in 1998.Several of his albums feature artwork by Peter Cross.

Check out the Gonzo page for this album

ERIC BURDON, TONY PALMER AND ME

Back in the autumn of 1977 I was unemployed and eighteen years old. The BBC showed Tony Palmer's All My Loving which is now available on Gonzo Multimedia, and as I mentioned some weeks ago it changed my life. Amongst the amazing artists that I heard for the first time that night was a bloke called Eric Burdon. Well, no, actually I didn't hear him for the first time that night. I had been aware of his magnificent rendition of 'House of the Rising Sun' whilst the lead singer of Newcastle R&B merchants The Animals and as a wannabe guitar hero I had ploddingly learned the chords myself. But it wasn't until seeing Tony Palmer's film that I first heard Eric Burdon the bonkers solo artist. And I fell head over heels in love.

It depends who you believe. Some folk have written that Burdon discovered the dreaded heaven and hell drug, and became imbued with the San Fransisco peace and love thos. Others say he had a breakdown, others an epiphany, but whatever the cause, in the mif 1960s this Geordie bruiser changed and started producing some of the most gloriuously insane music I have ever heard.

The soundtrack to 'All My Loving' included this song:



And it blew me away.

Then, today, whilst I was out stocking up the wine cellar and trying to buy a new shelter for my parakeet aviary, a parcel of DVDs arrived from Anne-Marie at Gonzo HQ. And guess what? It included a DVD in our acclaimed 'Lost Broadcasts' series featuring the man himself. Eric Burdon, with War recorded in 1970.

Watching it I nearly cried with joy. This is the first time I have ever danced in my office chair whilst watching a review DVD. This version (or rather, this complete re-imagining) of The Rolling Stones song 'Paint it Black' is only the firt of four magnificent songs on this DVD.



LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY THIS DVD. YOUR LIFE WILL NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT IT.

There. I have spoken.

PS. Much to my great joy I have found that there are two other Eric Burdon DVDs out on Gonzo. I will be covering them in great detail very soon. In the meantime check out his Gonzo Artist Page.

Also check out All my Loving on DVD. You know it makes sense.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

GENRE PEAK: Blue Filter

I was out all evening giving a lecture for those jolly nice people at 'Friends of Appledore Library', and you know what it is like when you have a tune going round your head? Well, all evening I have had this one from Genre Peak and being a terribly lazy journalist, rather than try and explain what it sounded like, I thought that it would be easier to just show you...







In the meantime check out his page at the Gonzo website, where you can read his biography, and buy the new album...

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/artists/6773/Genre%20Peak

SILVERHEAD LIVE

I have been mildly disappointed that Silverhead's Japanese fans seem to have been so well-behaved. I have been scanning YouTube each day hoping for some cameraphone bootleg footage of Michael and the guys on stage last weekend. (Memo to Le Grande Fromage: Is it totally out of order for me to be asking for bootleg footage on an official blog?). The answer is probably a resounding 'YES' but, the Facebook descriptions of the show have been so enthusiastic I would break whatever bounds necessary to see some footage.

But there isn't any, so here is Silverhead back in the day with 'Rolling with My Baby'.

SPOOKY TOOTH: The Weight

I actually posted this about a month ago, but considering last week's death of Levon Helm, drummer and singer with The Band it seems appropriate to post it again. This cover version of 'The Weight', one of the best known and best loved songs from The Band's debut album Music from Big Pink comes from the Gonzo DVD Spooky Tooth: The Lost Broadcasts.

Rest in Peace Levon

LINK: Fascinating Auburn article...

Read the whole article here

Auburn’s ‘Indian Summer’ consists of ten atmospheric tracks; with Lenten’s compelling vocal leading the listener through a myriad of heartfelt experiences. Lyrics, although tinged with melancholy, are peppered with the seeds of optimism, unashamedly inviting you into the mind and soul of the writer….Marvellous stuff.

Interestingly, each individual track has a dedication contained within the sleeve notes, and also this very interesting quotation:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

Liz Lenten didn’t write that, but one does get the impression that she sure as hell believes in it!

Auburn is:

Max Gilkes – Guitars & piano

Jevon Beaumont – Bass

Pat Garvey – Percussion

Rob Lewis – Cello

The band is also taking the album on tour – and here are the details!

Live dates UK starting May 2012…..

4th – South Holland AC, Spalding

5th May – Terry O’Toole Theatre, Lincoln

6th May – The King Albert, Brighton

7th May – The Slaughtered Lamb, London

29th July – Exhibition Road Festival, London

Why not book your tickets now?

KajaFax have been fortunate enough to be given a pre-release copy of the CD by the band, and can thoroughly recommend Indian Summer as a truly great album and one not to be missed!

For more information, please visit http://www.auburn.org.uk/.

We wish the band and the new album every success!

AUBURN: Premiering the new album



Indian Summer - Liz Lenten & Auburn - Fri 4th May, 7.30pm

Come and hear the premiere performance of Liz Lenten & Auburn’s brand new album before its national release this May. Liz’s songs relate to the triumphs and tribulations of everyday life, family, relationships and love. Support will be from local singer Lee Carpenter and guest appearance by Vibe youth choir.

Rootsy, bluesy, husky and raw blood-bubbling naughtiness. Liz Lenten sings so sweetly it’ll make your hair curl - Circa Magazine

http://www.visitlincolnshire.com/events/indian-summer-liz-lenten-auburn-fri-4th-may-7-30pm-p486181