Your last listen

[CN211276]

The Faces - Best Of

[George Hincapie]

The Hope Blister 'Smile's OK' (1998)



Playing the closing track from Slowdive's incredible 'Souvlaki' album I thought "I've heard this before.". That song 'Dagger' opens the first album by The Hope Blister - the later incarnation of 4AD records supergroup This Mortal Coil.

All vocals here are provided by the hauntingly wonderful Louise Rutkowski and the whole is a dreaming monument of a record full of gorgeous interpretations of an eclectic selection of songs.

Another highpoint is the version of David Sylvian's 'Let the Happiness In'.

Recommended for those who experience beauty as shivers down the spine.

[George Hincapie]

[CN211276]

Alice Cooper - Detroit Stories

[Nearlymusical]

Donavon Frankenreiter - On my mind

Jack Johnson-esque

[CN211276]

Marillion - An hour before it's dark

[antonio66]

Listening to Gert Emmens - Obscure Movements in Twilight Shades right now, here's a sample:-
Loved everything we have heard so far and definitely one for @Fretless.

[antonio66]

Listening to Gert Emmens - Obscure Movements in Twilight Shades right now,
Loved everything we have heard so far and definitely one for @Fretless.

Hi Antonio,

Yes, Gert Emmens is a master of melodic, sequencer-driven synth music. I have about 15 albums from him, plus a couple of collaborations with Ruud Heij of Free System Projekt.

Gert is one of the main artists on the Dutch 'Groove Unlimited' label run by Ron Boots, who has this to say about streaming services:

Musicians are barely getting paid for their recordings by the streaming services and mega-label corporate conglomerate overlords. As a small label I want to get as much as possible of the money that comes in to the artists.

During my last two encounters with major!! musicians, both of whom have had great previous career success, one held up a monthly streaming royalty check for $1.14 and the other for 16 cents.

If you follow me, buy stuff as directly as possible from small labels / musicians.
One LP, CD, or download pays artists infinitely more than the 100% based,streaming universe.

Someone is making billions of dollars through streaming music, and I assure you it is not the musicians. It is wholesale theft of livelihoods, period.

Groove's catalogue is to be found on Bandcamp:
https://grooveunlimited.bandcamp.com/
and there are some excellent Electronic Music artists on there.

[CN211276]

Def Leppard - Diamond star halos

[CN211276]

Roger Glover 'Elements' (1978)



Deep Purple were not a band who were scared of Rock / Classical crossover projects and their longstanding bassist/producer Roger Glover wasn't afraid of this either. He had left DP in the mid-70's to broaden his horizons and 'Elements' was his first proper solo outing (if you discount the 1974 'Butterfly Ball' project).

This album is in five symphony-style sections - one movement for each of the four elements (Earth, Fire, Water & Air) and a short, climactic finale. It runs through a variety of styles from Hard Rock, classical symphonic, synthesizer, Jazz, world music and pretty well all points in-between. Add soulful female vocal contributions and you have something for everyone.

This is a great listen and meant to be heard as a whole as the sections flow into each other, morphing from style to style. I had this on a cassette as a teenager and played it to death. Looking back, it now fits comfortably alongside the likes of The Alan Parsons Project or Pink Floyd (!), this overlooked album has aged well and still deserves the attention of those who enjoy adventurous music. .

Go listen !