Your last listen

[CN211276]

Buffy Sainte-Marie - Illuminations

[terrybooth]

Garfunkel and Oates

[Fretless]

Soft Machine 'Live at the Baked Potato' (2019)



Absolutely superb live disc from the current incarnation of the seminal jazz-rock outfit. 70's stalwarts John Etheridge, Roy Babbington and John Marshall are joined by multi-instrumentalist Theo Travis and plunge into the classic Softs back-catalogue to celebrate a half-century of great music.

Recording quality is excellent and the musicianship is of extreme experience and proficiency. A trip down memory lane in a new and totally enjoyable interpretation.

Recommended.

[CN211276]

Bob Dylan - The times they are a changin'

[Nearlymusical]

The Alan Parsons Project - I robot

Originally bought this on vinyl due to the DSOM connection. I was a bit dissapointed it wasnt more like Pink Floyd , but still nice to listen to now and again

[Fretless]

Allan Holdsworth 'Leverkusen 97' (2021)



CD+DVD from a 1997 jazz festival performance in Getmany. Holdsworth is at his absolute peak here, in between two of his best albums '16 Men of Tain' and 'None Too Soon'. Backing him are the legendary Chad Wackerman on drums and a great bassist called Dave Carpenter.

Superb recording and wonderful complex, melodic music. A must for Holdsworth fans.

[CN211276]

Bob Dylan - Tempest

[Fretless]

On a Soft Machine / Allan Holdsworth trip at the moment and getting hold of some interesting live albums that I haven't previously heard. And then Esoteric records announce a brand-new remastering of the incredible 'Bundles' including a second CD of a live concert from Nottingham (previously released as 'British Tour '75').



This is the album where the Softs shook off the dust and blasted into new territory, Holdsworth dominates this album and the music is powerful, melodic and structured. The excellent live CD has John Etheridge on guitar, who sets his own mark on the 'Bundles' material.

The new release has a fresh remaster that is sonically superior to the previous Esoteric release from 2010. And the live disc is also noticeably clearer than the earlier Cuneiform issue. Looks like there is a vinyl release of Bundles coming as well.

Recommended for all Soft Machine / Holdsworth / Jazz-rock fans.

[Fretless]

Allan Holdsworth 'Jarasum International Jazz Festival 2014' (2022)



A late-period live set recorded some 2 years before his untimely death in 2016. Here Holdsworth is audibly more restrained and introspective, the fireworks coming from the brilliant veterans Jimmy Haslip on bass and Gary Husband's drums. You couldn't wish for a more sympathetic, supportive and powerful rhythm section.

AH may be older, but his playing has matured, with a greater emphasis on melody and feel. An intriguing concert from a South Korean festival. Definitely a late-night listen.

[Grumpytim]

Hawkwind - The Machine Stops
The Chameleons - Elevated Living. This is a collection of early recordings for TV on DVD & CD. well worth having for some early versions of their songs. some of the performances are less than polished, but they are honest, unlike the current crop of auto tuned clones.