Psych /
Lord Sitar
*2023 stock* "Big Jim Sullivan's rock'n'roll credentials go back as long as British Rock's family tree existed. Big Jim's career started in 1959 after meeting Marty Wilde in the 3'i's coffee bar. He's played on fifty nine number one UK hit singles, and his lengthy career included stints with Tom Jones and the James Last Orchestra. Naturally, his Sitar technique was far superior to virtually anyone elses in the western world (yes even Bill Plummers!), although he still is no Ravi Shankar of cours…
Bright City
*2023 stock* His 1971 debut Bright City was released on the legendary Deram, sub-label of Decca, and is such a stellar example of modern folk with lush strings arrangements. A brilliant songwriting alongside a pastoral feeling, gentle melodies and a solid background with several amazing players literally bridging the gap between contemporary pop and blues. The album – faithfully remastered – offers a vision of urban Scotland with a bluesy feel and it has to be ranked alongside the work of lumina…
Hot Summer Day
Multifaceted San Francisco psyche-delic band It’s A Beautiful Day drew on aspects of folk, classical, jazz and world music, their outstanding differences driven by the lead vocalist and violinist David LaFlamme, his keyboardist wife Linda, and harmony singer Patti Santos. This engaging compilation joins the anthem ‘White Bird’ and the spirited ‘Hot Summer Day’ with ‘Don And Dewey’ (based on ‘Wring That Neck’ by Deep Purple, who nicked one of their musical themes for the intro to ‘Child In Time’)…
Gryphon
Non-standard prog act Gryphon made their mark by incorporating abandoned instruments and ancient classical elements in their work, giving their self-titled 1973 debut outstanding differences to standard rock fare. With co-founder Richard Harvey on recorders, mandolin, harpsichord, and glockenspiel and Brian Gulland, on bassoon, crumhorns, and vocals, backed by guitarist Graeme Taylor and drummer/percussionist Dave Oberlé, GRYPHON expertly channelled contemporary English folk through forgotten me…
Holywood Songs
This group is made up by Mino Di Martino (I Giganti, Telaio Magnetico e L'albergo Intergalattico Spaziale). Maddalena Bianchi with her clear voice, Angelo Avogadri on flute and Torunn Brigitte Sortvich on violin. Special guests: Ares Tavolazzi and Alessandro Papes.
Lee Hazlewoodism - Its Cause And Cure
The mid-to-late ’60s were strange days for Lee Hazlewood. Having struck gold as songwriter and vocal foil for Nancy Sinatra, he signed up to MGM as an artist in his own right, and between 1966 and 1968, produced three ambitious solo albums that were eclectic, idiosyncratic, and most of all, unpredictable. It was a happy time for Lee; his music was hot on the charts, he was fully immersed in his collaboration with his muse, Suzi Jane Hokom.
The second of his MGM trilogy–1967’s peculiarly named Le…
Hydromedusae
*200 copies limited edition* Hydromedusae is the new project of long-time friends and collaborators Jessica Bailiff and Annelies Monseré. Their debut self-titled LP as Hydromedusae was patiently sketched through years and over seas, and comprises of eight minimal songs that weave darkly hypnotic melodies with drone-folk structures. On some songs the repeating vocal patterns, whispered, close-by and offset by distant guitar, create an diaphanous fog. Other tracks are harder edged, with garish key…