Paradox One
WEARING
MY REVIEWER’S HAT- RECOMMENDED RELEASES
As
some of you may know I am not only Paradox One but also a reviewer
for ‘Acid Dragon’, and contributor to ‘Background’,
prog glossies ‘Colossus’ (Helsinki) and ‘Mellotron’
(Buenos Aires) and ‘Virgin All Time Top 1000 Albums’.
I have published two booklets on progressive rock music as well
as various articles.I am committed to and besotted with the unfairly
maligned genre of progressive rock but not exclusively so. For more
information on my written output, click here.
As
you will see from my play lists I never listen to music solely on
the basis of category. The reason I asked Stuart to add this section
to my web site is to acknowledge these brilliant, inspirational
artists who produce excellent music which deserves a much wider
audience.
Please let me know what you think of this section and share your
own thoughts on music with me.
RECOMMENDED
RELEASES OF 2002
HATFIELD AND THE NORTH- LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM
It doesn't tell you on the sleeve but this a one-off gig
from 1990 previously released in 1993 and appearing here in remastered
version with original artwork by Roger Dean. The line-up isn't specified
either but you can work it out.Sophia Domanchich was the keyboard
player and her own composition 'Blott' is a very worthwhile' addition
to the repertiore.Sinilarly Pip Pyle's lengthy and atmospheric 'Shipwrecked'
is quite brilliant. Pip has resurfaced in the wonderful Absolute
Zero of course. Hatfield and the North were of course much more
accessible, getting into some great jazz grooves, witty lyrics,
Richard Sinclair's distinctive voice that prompted Camel to seek
him out as replacement for the unfortunate Doug Ferguson. 'Halfway
between Heaven and Earth' was included on the 'Afters' compilation
recorded between 1973 and 1975 but not released until 1980. The
opener and closer 'Share It' and 'It Didn't Matter Anyway' were
on the classic 'Rotters' Club' album. There is another Pyle composition
'Cauliflower Ears' to complete the set. Any band that produced titles
like '(Big) John Wayne Knocks Psychology on the Jaw' (The joke continued
on 'All the Way (with John Wayne's Single Handed Liberation of Paris'
on Caravan's 'Blind Dog at St. Dunstan's') is alright by me. But
wait- no 'Fitter Stoke Has a Bath' live?- that can't be right! Essential
budget priced release. (Classic Rock Productions series)
GEORGE HARRISON- BRAINWASHED
'Harrison has left his fans plenty to proud of' said Time Out and
I would agree with that sentiment. Now I just need to sit down and
watch 'Concert for George' again. Eric Clapton's choice of songs
for that show his deep appreciation of a great artist's work
FLAMING LIPS- YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS
All of the superlatives on the jacket are entirely justified
as this classic album lives up to all the 'hype'. 11 tracks of sheer
genius from Dave Fridmann and Scott Booker. (Warner Bros)
SONIQ
THEATER- A SECOND OF ACTION Alfred Mueller is a great musician,
arranger and sampler- if you love progressive rock, you'll love
this. Great keys work and some of the best drum programming you'll
hear. Alfred has a new CD out that I hope to hear shortly so watch
this space! Contact: andromadeus@12move.de
JONI
MITCHELL- TRAVELOGUE double CD- Sumptious is the word for this
lavish package. Joni singing 22 songs with a band that includes
Klein, Preston, Hancock and Shorter and a full (and I mean FULL)
orchestra. The choice of songs is interesting and my only disappointment
is the non appearance of 'Song for Sharon' (off Hejira') I'd love
to hear Joni doing some of these songs 'unplugged' with just guitar
and piano- it would be totally different of course! (Nonesuch Records)
PORCUPINE TREE- IN ABSENTIA
TRIGON- HEIZEN
THE RABBIT'S HAT- BBC & RELATED ACOUSTIC SESSIONS
CENTRIC JONES- PHASE ROTATOR RETARD
TYPEWRITER- SKELETON KEY- Mark Bandola's eclectic 'soundtrack
to life' is adventurous and bold- read the review in Zeitgeist
TIM MUNGENAST-The Un-Stableboy- Remarkable music- you must also
hear 'Birth of Monsters' by the same artist. Review on Zeitgeist
Contact: www.mungenast.com
ELEGANT SIMPLICITY- ARCHITECT OF LIGHT
PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES- MORE EXOTIC WAYS TO DIE
SPOCK'S BEARD- SNOW
ESCAPADE- RULE #3
THE
BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES
TANTALUS-
LUMEN ET CALIGO I
CENSUS
OF HALLUCINATIONS- 7TH HEAVEN
RICK
RAY- GUITARSONIST
CAMEL- A NOD AND A WINK
THE FLOWER KINGS- UNFOLD THE FUTURE
RECOMMENDED
RELEASES OF 2000/01
THE
BEVIS FROND- WHAT DID FOR THE DINOSAURS- Where has this CD been
all my life? One of the longest and BEST CDs ever- an album of the
decade if ever there was one! Thanks to Ade Shaw for sending a copy
but- hey- the rest of the world shouldn't miss out. I can't believe
Woronzow
are selling this and other Frond CDs for a mere £3. Get 'em
quick before they disappear!
HELIGOLAND-HELIGOLAND
A serious omission by me not to include this in my list before.
This is one album I return to again and return and is heavily influenced
by Radiohead- or in my crazy chicken and egg thinking should that
be the other way round?- after all it does say 'File under Talk
Talk'.Certainly I was reminded of some of the marvellous stuff on
Talk Talk's 'Missing Pieces' and the majority of the playing and
singing on 'Heligoland' is done by none other than Tim Friese-Greene.
Quite simply 'Heligoland' is fast becoming one of my essential albums.
Greene's at times envenomed singing will not to be everyone's taste
but to me this is a quite brilliant and remarkable album- the one
that Radiohead should have made perhaps!
THE NICE- THE SWEDISH RADIO SESSIONS
STEREOKIMONO- STEREOKIMONO www.stereokimono.com
and www.sublimelabel.com
HOSTSONATEN- SPRINGSONG www.sublimelabel.com
THE ASHQELON QUILT- THE EVENT www.hinotemusic.com
HERMETIC SCIENCE- EN ROUTE www.hermeticscience.com
FUMITAKA ANZAI- EXCLUSIVE SEQUENCES http://www.anz123.com/index.html
DREADNOUGHT- THE AMERICAN STANDARD www.dreadnoughtrock.com
QUARKSPACE- DROP www.quarkspace.com
CLEAR BLUE SKY- MIRROR OF THE STARS and OUT OF THE BLUE (Live
and Unreleased) www.clearbluesky.co.uk
and www.hi-note.com
DREAM THEATRE- SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE
ARS NOVA- ANDROID DOMINA
MR QUIMBY'S BEARD- THE DEFINITIVE UNSOLVED MYSTERIES OF
THE SHAPE OF THE RAIN- www.hinotemusic.com
CIRCLE'S END- IN DAILOGUE WITH THE MOON
CENSUS OF HALLUCINATIONS- THE 4TH DIMENSION
TRANSATLANTIC- BRIDGE ACROSS FOREVER
T-TAURI- MUSSORGSKY'S PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION
RADIOHEAD- AMNESIAC
RICK RAY- MANIPULATED DNA and INSANITY FLIES
KROMLEK- COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUS
IN CAHOOTS- OUT OF THE BLUE
ABSOLUTE ZERO- CRASHING ICONS
NO MAN- RETURNING JESUS
DFA- WORK IN PROGRESS LIVE
THE FLOWER KINGS- RAINMAKER
PAUL
McCARTNEY - Driving Rain
Please
e-mail me at phil@paradoxone.co.uk
for further information on any of these albums
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