This article from five years ago. Just the other night after a long gap, I watched The Song Remains the Same again with a chum who hadn’t seen it before. Even on a first viewing, the in-your-face pomposity of it all, still didn’t detract from the music that steamrollers one into complete submission. guitarjimmy pageLed…
As usual AllMusic gets it. The deeply funky grooves are down to Chaz Jankel, quite possibly the UK’s greatest funkmeister. The Sly influence is palpable and as a consequence this is solid party music to ring in the new year. There is humor in this music in bushels. But all of that humor points to the heart…
Here are my favourites from this year’s releases. In effect, a masterclass by each. OffBeat reviews here and here. Cajuncountryfunkin businessLouisianamusicnew orleansShamarr AllensoulYvette Landry
Born on this day — the radical individualist that was FZ. Look out for the forthcoming Who the Fuck is Frank Zappa? movie and also The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa hologram tour. Also well-worth a read is Barry Miles’ excellent biography reviewed by the redoubtable Camille Paglia in the NYT. Barry MilesCamille PagliaConservatismcultural criticismFrank Zappafree speechLibertarianismmusic
The Telegraph — NME Buzzcocksmusicnew wavePete Shellypower poppunk
A long-overdue writeup on Jan in the Columbia Journalism Review. Bravo Jan — NOLA is deeply indebted to you and your team. Check the mag out beginning via my favourite NOLA-based band — Deltaphonic. DeltaphonicJan Ramseyjournalismmusicnew orleansOffBeat
Just released — hoping it’s a cracking read. Ennio Morriconemusicphilosophical cinema
Interesting to see the theoretical inroads stigmergy is now making into the field of music. [t]he idea for this research is to create a new rhythmic generator technology. This system will be capable of generating multiple lines of percussion that sound natural. The synchronization will be self-organising and thus will be governed by a Stigmergic…
Another fabulous evening in the company of Nick Lowe and the razor-sharp Los Straitjackets. A lovely balanced set from across his amazing back catalogue. I’m pleased to learn that a biography of Nick is forthcoming: here is an interview with biographer Will Birch. country and westernLos Straitjacketsmusicnick lowerockabillyWill Birch
B. Getz outlines the history of funk. Allen ToussaintDr. JohnFats Dominofunkjames brownmusicneville brothersnew orleansprofessor longhairpsychedelic funksecond line
manwithoutqualities 