GALACTIC
- We Love 'Em Tonight - Live At Tipitina's
The
last CD I bought recorded live at Tipitina's was by the Neville Brothers,
so this had a lot to live up to. And it did, in spades.
13
tracks of pure New Orleans funk, mixing and matching originals and covers.
The groove ridden covers include songs by Duke Ellington ("Blue
Pepper"), Allen Toussaint ("Working in a Coal Mine"),
Chocolate Milk ("My Mind Is Hazy"), and a quite stunning reworking
of Black Sabbaths "Sweet Leaf". Fortunately, the original
tracks more than hold their own in such elevated company with the Meters
like "Moog Marmalade" being particularly fine.
Not
being a resident of the USA, I can only imagine the full life affirming
joy of a Galactic live show (but I amssured that a fabulous light show
and the stench of patchouli oil are de riguer).
This
is primarily an instrumental set, but Theryl de Clouet adds souldful
vocals when required, and a special mention goes to Robert Mercurio
who defines the funk bass. Even if you don't normally go for jam bands,
this could be the one to turn your head.
DIRTY
DOZEN BRASS BAND - Medicated Magic
The
Dirty Dozen Brass Band have been getting their Mardi Gras thing on since
1977, and they are celebrating 25 years’ of Crescent City grooves
by releasing a tribute to New Orleans, chock full of classic reinterpretations,
alongside a host of guest stars, including Dr John, Norah Jones and
Widespread Panics John Bell, amongst others. Now guest stars can spell
'bad album', as Dr John will know from his "Anutha Zone" folly,
but the Dirty Dozen manage to make this their album.
As
if Kicking things off with the exuberant sound of “Ain’t Nothin’
But a Party”, things just get better with Widespread Panic singer
John Bell’s ripping a hole through the Dr. John classic , “Walk
On Gilded Splinters.” The Night Tripper turns up to cover himself
on a reinterpretation of his very own “Everything I Do Gon’
Be Funky,” and gets to grip with one of his own heroes, Professor
Longhair, on a boogiefied strut through “Big Chief.”
As
this is a New Orleans tributem, props have to out to the Meters. Here
they go to work on a version of “Cissy Strut, and pull it off.
A truly fabulous album.
Various -
The International League of Telepathic Explorers
You
may have noticed Free City Media appearing across at Zeitgeist Distro
and wondered 'waht's that all about then?' Well, sit down, shut up,
and pay attention.
This
17 track CD is a benefit for Free City Media, an online music magazone
and independent label. So, even if it was crap, you should buy it. But
it isn't. There's really no excuse. In fact, this acts as an excellent
stand alone primer to the current psychedelic rock scene, and if you're
looking for a quick way in, this could be the way forward for you. And
even if you're a wizened old hobgoblin, you'll end up kicking yourself
if you miss out on the previously unreleased material on offer from
the likes of The Bevis Frond, Lucky Bishops and thebrotheregg.
If
that wasn't enough there's an excellent remix of "Symbiosis"
by ex Hawkwinder Adrian Shaw, and of the acts new to me, I was particularly
taken with "Horse-race On A Rollercoaster" by the splendidly
monickered Mandra Gore Lighthouse Society and Motorpsychos "Go
To Claifornia".
An
excellent release which you should buy now. A good cause made better
by a quality CD.
www.freecitymedia.com
Free
City Media releases are available at The
Rocker
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