Danny Bonte

Rock On! Wednesday, 3 February – Roxy Music (Roxy Music, 10CC, Quatermass, Kevin Ayers, Sparks)

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Wednesday December 23rd. Dan’s pick of the week: Roxy Music (Roxy Music), 10CC (10CC), Quatermass (Quatermass), Kevin Ayers (Whatevershebringswesing) & Sparks (A Woofer In Tweeter’s Clothing).

Roxy Music werd 50 jaar geleden opgericht door zanger en toetsenist Bryan Ferry die, samen met een aantal van zijn bandleden, van dezelfde Engelse kunstacademie afstamde als The Who en The Rolling Stones. Roxy Music voelde dan ook altijd conceptueel aan – ze waren doelbewust experimenteel, decadent en futuristisch, en er was altijd een opzettelijk visueel element in hun imago.

Zachary Hoskins van Spectrum Culture: “More to the point, Roxy’s self-titled debut is simply a great album. Few other groups have arrived on the scene with such a distinctive, fully-formed aesthetic: the ever-so-slightly queered glamour of cover model Kari-Ann Muller; the stilted, quavering vibrato of Ferry’s vocals and the art-damaged analogue synth noise of resident conceptualist Brian Eno.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Senpai III (Week 5)

Deze week stellen we Sithu Aye aan u voor. Hij is een Schots-Birmese gitarist, muzikant en producer uit Schotland. Sinds 2011 heeft hij niet minder dan vijf volledige albums en zes EP’s uitgebracht.

The Prog Mind review: “Sithu has that knack for purposeful guitar licks that I hear in Plini’s music, and in many up and coming bands. This means that he thinks a lot about his riffs and licks, and nothing feels sloppy or like filler. Overall, his music, to me, sounds “gracious”, though I’m not exactly sure what I mean by that. I can detect that smooth and inspired tone, and he’s had it in spades from the very first album. In fact, I first came across his work when he opened for Haken in the US a few years ago, and I was immediately impressed not only by his skill, but also by his humility.… Read more...

Art Rock Show – Tomorrow Is Delayed (Week 4)

Professor Tip Top is de wat vreemde naam van een Noorse band uit Bergen. De groep speelt een soort progressieve rock die sterk doet denken aan de jaren zeventig. Het klinkt in ieder geval erg aangenaam en relaxed.

Prog Archives review: “Erebus is a glorious start to the album, and one of its strongest songs. The spacey sounds are captivating, and despite the heaviness of the lyrical theme, there is a lightness of touch in the instrumentation that prevents the song from being too weighed down. I absolutely love the vocals of Sonja Otto, too. In a way, her presence could have made or broken this album, as Professor Tip Top were so associated previously with the singing of Svein Magnar Hansen. For me, they elevate this album to the best yet from the band.… Read more...

Rock On! Wednesday, 20 january – Arbeit Macht Frei (Area, Osanna, Perigeo, New Trolls, Blocco Mentale, De De Lind)

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Wednesday December 23rd. Dan’s pick of the week: Area (Arbeit Macht Frei), Osanna (L’Uomo), Perigeo (Abbiamo tutti un blues da piangere), New Trolls (Concerto Grosso Per 1), Blocco Mentale (Poa) & De De Lind (Io Non So Da Dove Vengo E Non So Dove Mai Andrò, Uomo È Il Nome Che Mi Han Dato).

Arbeit macht frei is het debuutalbum van de Italiaanse jazz rockband Area. De muziek is verbazingwekkend anders en wonderbaarlijk complex. Een zeer geëngageerde plaat en die tot de top van de Italiaanse progressieve rock in de jaren zeventig moet gerekend worden.

Prog Archives review: “These guys are at the top, so far. I just love Stato’s voice with its twists and turns, bellows and warbles, he flys all over the place.… Read more...