Sunday 30 June 2013

Parfitt finds stunt double trouble

Status Quo star Rick Parfitt with a man that was used as his 'double' for some scenes in his movie debutStatus Quo star Rick Parfitt has revealed he used a "double" for some scenes in his movie debut - who is actually black.
The guitarist - whose film Bula Quo receives its premiere in London on Monday - said they got in a replacement after he hurt himself during filming in Fiji.

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

I AM HALFWAY THROUGH THIS BOOK

it is a cliff hanger,with excitement every chapter
i am made aware every time i read
just how fortunate we are to still be here
Ancestors are reading over my shoulder
Perhaps they know about the ending
but if they did-why did that knowledge not help them?
Friends say certain pages are their favorites-
that the excitement continues ad infinitem
I do not know whether to believe them
Yet they are the ones still reading
and we all hope for happy endings.
Young who text and Tweet
may not yet know the joy of epics-
marathon races,film festivals,War and Peace
We must pass the baton on eventually-0
often with a set of prescribed reading glasses...

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

LOVE THE LIVING

before they tour with an antique band with missing members
before they only play their hits from the 70s
before eccentric lifestyles present the bill "for services rendered"
before another compilation CD is re-released to a diminishing market
before people start to notice lines,baldness,fluffed lyrics
before they date your daughters/and the daughters remember Freud
before they lose the plot,the wife,the house,the car,the cash
before people forget "OGDEN'S NUT GONE FLAKE"
before carbon footprints cease all possible touring 
before genius is found guilty of ageism
before no one buys any thing-upload this to your memory banks!
LOVE THE LIVING (while they are still here to defy your fear
of being them!

GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Judy Dyble - Grey October Day



CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Flow and Change
CD - £9.99

Talking With Strangers
CD - £9.99

Yes, prog-rock of the Seventies is back, says Rick Wakeman


Clubbers who have made "Get Lucky" this summer's dance-floor anthem will be shocked to hear that Daft Punk aren't the robot-friendly sound of the future – but revivalists of Seventies progressive rock, once the most derided of genres.

Prog, a bombastic mutation of rock and classical genres typically performed by highly skilled musicians in outrageous capes, could once be heard echoing from student halls and stadiums across the land. 

Supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer sold 40 million copies of their symphonic rock while Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes and Rush became prog's most commercially savvy flag-bearers.

In the end it was punk that swept away those highly designed concept albums with their epic or medieval themes and ostentatious, lengthy, and, some would say, self-indulgent displays of musical proficiency.
But now prog is back, freed from rock's closet of shame, and claiming such favourites as Radiohead, Elbow and Muse as acolytes. A new wave of bands, such as Scottish electro-prog explorers North Atlantic Oscillation, is also finding favour.

Meanwhile, Rick Wakeman, keyboardist with Yes, is about to capitalise on the revival with a new multimedia touring version of his 1974 landmark solo album, Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Wakeman says Daft Punk, the French techno duo responsible for the million-selling single "Get Lucky", are as prog as they come. Inspired by Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon, the band employed live musicians on vintage synthesisers for their album Random Access Memories, which included one nine-minute song.

"They are going back to the prog ethos that there are no rules, no one is going to stop you experimenting. You aren't restricted to the three-minute single any more," said Wakeman. "That goes back to the early days of prog.


CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Video Vaults
6DVD box - £85.00

The Burning 
CD - £9.99

Cirque Surreal 
CD - £7.99

Gole 
CD - £9.99

Cost Of Living 
CD - £9.99

GONZO MAGAZINE #32


I have been promising for some weeks that the Gonzo Daily publishing empire would spread "into more traditionally magaziney areas", and I wasn't lying. I have just sent out #32 of the Gonzo Weekly newsletter, together with its swish new layout,  to nearly 2,000 subscribers.

Check it out below:



Newsletter #30
Newsletter #29
Newsletter #28
Newsletter #27
Newsletter #26
Newsletter #25
Newsletter #24
Newsletter #23
Newsletter #22
Newsletter #21
Newsletter #20
Newsletter #19 
Newsletter #18
Newsletter #17
Newsletter #16
Newsletter #15
Newsletter #14
Newsletter #13
Newsletter #12
Newsletter #11
Newsletter #10
Newsletter #9
Newsletter #8
Newsletter #7
Newsletter #6
Newsletter #5
Newsletter #4
Newsletter #3
Newsletter #2
Newsletter #1

THIS WEEK WE BRING YOU MICK FARREN, THE DEVIANTS, CANTERBURY SCENE, MAX BLAKE, DAVE BRAUND-PHILLIPS, THE ROLLING STONES, PRIMAL SCREAM, DAEVID ALLEN, STUART MACONIE, PINK FLOYD, PANDORA RADIO, KEITH EMERSON, BOBBY 'BLUE' BLAND, GARY PICKFORD-HOPKINS, JUDY DYBLE, DUTCH WOODSTOCK, ROGER McGUINN, HAROLD HOULDERSHAW, RUPERT HAYES, PHIL COLLINS, CORINNA DOWNES, A.A.MILNE, CORKY LAING, PARADISE 9, CRISTIANO ROVERSI, MATTHEW WATKINS, HAWKWIND, YES,  C.J.STONE, THOM THE WORLD POET,  PETER McADAM, THE NINE HENRYS,  NEIL NIXON,  STRANGE FRUIT, THE WEIRD WEEKEND,  BART LANCIA, ALAN DEARLING,  BOB CALVERT, JON ANDERSON, STEVE HOWE, RICK WAKEMAN, CHRIS SQUIRE, PATRICK MORAZ, CAPTAIN FRUNOBULAX THE MAGNIFICENT

Saturday 29 June 2013

DUTCH MR AVERELL REVIEW



Classic Rock Radio Dot EU
21 May 2013
Classic Rock Radio Dot EU - New Music Review
Spotlight: Mr Averell - Gridlock (Equally Tuned / Gonzo Multimedia 2013)
I been spending the last part of the week getting to know Mr Averell. It's a AKA for Dutch visual sound artist René van Commenée. I'm actually focused on the second offering of Mr Averell's sound projects called Gridlock. Every time I play it over my stereo's speakers, I hear something that I had not noticed before. The artist's roots are in Avant Garde, but they also branch out into the more traditional areas such as rock. Still don't mistake this for a mainstream rock album. Closer to progressive rock if I had to label it. Lots more freedom for musical expression, which is what you find here.

The name Mr Averell is used by Rene' in order to record and release song-based recordings. He sees it as a band in which he is main writer and performer. As a listener to what CommenĂ©e creates I can say whatever it is he is doing, it works exceptionally well. The tracks, twelve unique cuts interwoven on Gridlock, are indeed worth investigating. 
Joining Rene' on Gridlock are the following; Mike Garson (D. Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins), Lene Lovich, David Jackson (VDGG, P. Gabriel), John Ellis (The Vibrators, The Stranglers, P. Gabriel, P. Hammill), Judge Smith (VDGG), Hugh Banton (VDGG), Stuart Gordon (P. Hammill, P. Gabriel, Massive Attack), Ninca Leece, Willem Tanke, Martijn Alsters, Tammo Heikens, Dyane Donck (Daisy Bell), and Lisa Weiss. Each do a wonderful job of complimenting Mr. Commenée's performance.
My first impression of Mr Averell's Gridlock was it played, each track, like a theatrical play. One where its acts are uplifting or sorrowful. In the music, I hear influences such as The B-52's, with hints of early Blondie, or Springsteen. The vocals are distinct. The recording itself contains sounds that can be annoying yet fit the presentation. Together I find it a unique listening experience that stays in the mind long after the disc has stopped playing.

I mentioned vocals. They are somewhat uncommon, in which I conclude the voice is yet another instrument which to create melody, yet stand separate, such as on the long carried note on "Rideehoo!!" Located at the very end of the composition. Turn the volume way up to appreciate. Like a Beatles hidden sound bite you finally notice after hearing whatever song with a pair of good headphones on. Then I immediately recommend turning the volume down again, or else be overwhelmed with a wall of sound next time played.

Track one, the introduction sound recording called "Lock" is forty one seconds of something that at first one may wish to dismiss, but I haven't yet. Then it's followed up by a song that I recommend getting rid of all mirrors beyond reach before listening to. For the power of suggestion is very strong. From that track, solid entertainment till the last note in which I already mentioned and spoke highly of. For reasons mainly because it snapped me to attention. Words that caught my imagination while getting my approval. Over all very likeable, and something that will grow on you with every listen.  
Rating: Using the one to five star rating system, I give Mr Averell's Gridlock five stars. I appreciate its originality. A collection of music that's meant to be heard and played from start to finish. Not a chore by any means. A CD that I'm glad to add to my collection and one that I guarantee will get played time and time again. A solid production. When one is seeking to get away from the typical mainstream sound, and feeling a tad musically adventurous, I'd recommend driving full speed ahead in this direction. So to get voluntary stuck...in the Gridlock.

Gary Brown -- American Corespondent for Classic Rock Radio Dot EU

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Gridlock
CD - £9.99


Classic Rock Radio Dot EU Interview Spotlight: Mark Murdock

A few months back I reviewed independent recording artist Mark Murdock's new CD, 'Cymbalic Encounters', along with my positive review, many more followed. Due to good word of mouth and wonderful promotion, 'Cymbalic Encounters' is now being unleashed on the world with a previously unheard of bonus track on June 17th. I welcomed the opportunity to ask Mark a few questions.

CRR Dot EU: Mark, Can you start off by telling us about this new release date?

Mark Murdock: On June 18th 'Cymbalic Encounters' is being released worldwide via Gonzo MultiMedia which houses a host of notable Prog artists. I feel 'Cymbalic Encounters' has found a nice home with Gonzo. Up to the Gonzo release, the CD has been exclusively available through diskunion Japan and as a digital music download via cdbaby, iTunes, and Amazon. There will be a Bonus Track and an expanded insert with lyrics and more photos on the Gonzo release.

CRR Dot EU: What has been the most rewarding response to 'Cymbalic Encounters'?

Mark Murdock: I have received a number of thumbs up for bringing John and Percy together on record, most likely from Brand X followers. I believe it has been a number of years since they have collaborated on any given project. More importantly, of course, is that the music has been for the most part well received. Some key radio programs like CRR Dot EU and stations in Europe aired it and there have also been numerous reviews featured in many key music magazines, all of which I wasn't really expecting. I initially envisioned the CD would have a sort of an underground appeal amongst some shady group of characters from the late seventies.

CRR Dot EU: Have their been any attempts to play this music live?

Mark Murdock: There was an attempt to bring everyone together as a Brand X reunion and Cymbalic Encounters set here in Tokyo. Actually, I was asked by a promoter to do a Japan tour, and had agreement from all Brand X members but one key member. So to make a long story short, without this one key member it was an unlikely sale. So, at the moment I have a three piece group of local musicians, here in Tokyo, where we are rehearsing selected songs in hopes of playing a few local gigs.

CRR Dot EU: Regarding the songs, I was wondering what was the inspiration behind the song titles?


CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
Cymbalic Encounters
CD - £9.99

VANGELIS BIOGRAPHY

Vangelis Biography from Pear Films on Vimeo.

GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: UFO - This Kids with Michael Schenker



CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
Live In Texas 1979
CD - £7.99

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD LIKE A SONG

he tried to live on nothing/sang for his supper
she slept in her car(until it got towed)
now they are both hungry buskers
out on the streets before long
open mikes hear their plaintive plainsongs
thin soup and diluted water.They know Spirit feeds
but they have become used to the hunger.Thin as guitar strings
Wanting to publish a CD(who buys Cds?)/uploading downloadings
between dreams they write recipes for future lives.
in trust  that a self-made screenplay might translate
a meal for tomorrow from the songlines of today

Liam Davison – A Treasure of Well-Set Jewels

Liam Davison is best known as guitarist for Mostly Autumn. When he left the band at the end of 2006 he stated that he was to work on a solo album. In the end it would be three years after he rejoined the band before the album was to see the light of day.
Liam is something of an enigmatic figure on stage with Mostly Autumn. He prefers to shun the spotlight and lurk at the back of the stage; but his playing is not that of a typical rhythm guitarist, playing melodic fills and lead runs rather than merely strumming chords. His name has only appeared a couple of times in MA’s songwriting credits to date, both for folk-flavoured numbers. But he’s also been playing a live improvisation on tour with echoes of Robert Fripp. Which made it difficult to predict the direction his solo album might take.
The music varies from the indie-flavoured opening hard rocker “Ride the Seventh Wave”, the electronica loops on “Into the Setting Sun”, and the acoustic ballad “One in the Lifetime”. But throughout there’s a strong emphasis on atmospheric progressive rock with a very strong Pink Floyd flavour. Standouts for me are “Eternally Yours”, ending with that epic slide solo featured in the album’s promo video, and “Heading Home”, with it’s wonderful interplay between Liam’s soaring lead guitar, Iain Jennings’ swirling Hammond organ and Paul Teasdale’s propulsive bass riff. It’s a big, rich, cinematic sound, superbly engineered and mixed by John Spence.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Friday 28 June 2013

CORKY LAING: College Girls

Regular readers will remember that some months ago we ran a three part feature on an exciting new project from the Legendary Corky Laing, drum daemon with Mountain. You can read it:

HERE
HERE
and
HERE

Now I have a real treat for you. With the kind permission of the lovely Tuija Takala, here is an exclusive slice of the album; a track called College Girls. And I hope you understand why I compared it to Jan and Dean jamming with Dr Dre.

DUTCH REVIEW OF 'THE DUTCH WOODSTOCK' (does this make it Double Dutch?)

http://neoprog.eu/critique/artistes_divers/the_dutch_woodstock



CD Genre
Group Various artists
Album The Dutch Woodstock
Label Gonzo Multimedia
Year 2013
Note
    Various artists-In August 1970 held a festival in the Netherlands, the Stamping Ground Festival, which is also called the Dutch Woodstock. An outdoor festival, which certainly did not have the physical or media Woodstock dimensions but still a beautiful poster. hippie period in the middle of our elders and even some of our readers (not younger), were able to taste cost to the joys of festivals in the sun for some naked or almost inhaling illegal substances, dancing on the grass and listening during a beautiful plethora of artists more or less junky who performed on stage. I was not there, too young ... Too bad because the lake under the sun, full music ears, it should not be so bad. Gonzo Records had the good idea to edit in both CD and DVD this memorable festival where artists such as Pink Floyd, Canned Heat, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds have succeeded on stage. This is a live 1970, then inevitably sound, even after much work remains a bit noisy. Still need to hear that, even though some artists are completely gone, there are passages anthology of instrumentals that go into a spin, another short time we cared less probably where the scenic perfection The trip had its importance, even if sometimes it was a bad trip ... The double CD suffer as I said, a pretty average or poor sound on a beautiful facility, but the discovery or re discovery of some songs live is an inexhaustible source of happiness. Rub blues, folk, rock, psychedelic and out of all kinds unclassifiable. DVD pass him on a good way home cinema range and image, between concert and documentary gives an extraordinary insight into what was this festival. Between the concerts we are entitled to beautiful views of the public living his life, cultivating mushrooms, eating, smoking, making love, wandering in the nude, the musicians getting ready, talking heatedly with organizers, and the whole festival, probably saw a helicopter. We see of course the bands play, but it is almost trivial if we do not talk about the music itself. More than a concert, this double CD is a DVD documentary about a long gone era of music, the beginning progressive rock and major festivals. Not to be missed! Written by the Classico 04/06/2013 

    AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    The Dutch Woodstock 1970
    2CD1DVD - £11.99

    Incredible days of psychedelic folk rock in Leamington


    Back in the psychedelic day, your street credibility would depend to a large extent on the albums ostentatiously tucked under your arm as you wandered the streets of, by way of example, Leamington Spa.
    The Incredible String Band book cover
    The Incredible String Band book cover
    BACK in the psychedelic day, your street credibility would depend to a large extent on the albums ostentatiously tucked under your arm as you wandered the streets of, by way of example, Royal Leamington Spa.
    And one of the sleeves guaranteed to confirm you as a man (it was, almost exclusively, a masculine affectation) of impeccable taste and avant-garde intellectualism was The Incredible String Band’s The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion – basically the Summer Of Love condensed into a square foot of multi-coloured cardboard.
    Incredible String Band
    Incredible String Band
     
    It was the second collection they produced after being signed by Elektra, the iconic label whose roster ranged from traditional folk to acid rock, and they occupied a unique niche somewhere in the middle, stirring in elements of medieval mummery and Eastern mysticism and employing an arsenal of weird and wonderful instruments to embrace world music long before the term had been coined.
    The line-up changed several times down the years but revolved around the core of Edinburgh-born Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, not so much a partnership as musical pugilists who slugged it out track by track, and that competitive creativity made them a highly effective live act.
    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    The Lost Broadcasts
    DVD - £4.99

    GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Wally - The Martyr



    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    That Was Then - Harrogate 2009
    DVD - £12.99

    To The Urban Man
    2CD - £11.99

    Valley Gardens
    CD - £9.99

    Wally
    CD - £9.99

    Montpellier
    CD - £9.99

    THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem


    Rob Ayling writes: 

    "Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

    POP  UP MEDIA TARTS

    I sat through all of LIVE AID-great world music
    of not great benefit for Africans ,nor those charities representing their needs
    Concert For Bangla Desh likewise-the music fine
    the finances murky in deed.Must this always be the way?
    We are led astray via Kayne West and Jay-Z?
    Benefits do not change brutal politics.Donations do not cure cancer
    Starving orphans in Russia may not be happy adopted by Americans
    Biafra babies bloated starving,might benefit from local gardens
    not by bulk food aid flown in huge carbon footprint airplanes
    Remember yellow food parcels dropped in Afghanistan?
    Sane color as the cluster bombs that maimed them
    Those countries seeking consumer markets emerging
    might donate foods whose USE BY dates have long expired
    It may be half the world goes to bed hungry each night
    The other half on diets.

    THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Bobby 'Blue' Bland (1930-2013)

    Thursday 27 June 2013

    ANT-BEE AT ARLEQUINS

    This is the direct link to the review of ANT-BEE's album:
    http://www.arlequins.it/pagine/articoli/alfa/corpo.asp?ch=5360

    In the wake of the biggest "irregular" of the American musical scene, Todd Rundgren and the misunderstood genius R. Stevie Moore (Cuneiform began in 1984 with his own album), Billy James, aka Ant-Bee, is a musician-producer and biographer rock that is dedicated to Zappa verb and the libertarian spirit of Sixsties: within five years between the end of the eighties and the first half of the nineties has published a series of albums soon became objects of worship for the fans and for the remarkable creative talent and content and for the involvement in the study of some old components of the original Mothers Of Invention , especially in the third album "With My Favorite Mothers & Other Bizarre Muzik" of 1992, whose title is quite explicit! 

    To achieve the latter "Electronic Church Muzik", Ant-Bee has made his fans wait for well over ten years from the release of the previous "Lunar Musik" job very surprising and highly lysergic where lived together as well as the old Mothers also some veterans of the old Alice Cooper band, Harvey Bainbridge of Hawkwind and also the always welcome pair Gilly Smith and Daevid Allen's part in "Electronic Church Muzik" then proceeds to the path already taken by "Lunar Musik", although as in all the work of Billy James the music guide us in the most unexpected directions, in fact this is perhaps less explicitly the disc Zappa's discography Ant-Bee and while not failing to use once again the valuable contribution of Mothers Don Preston and Bunk Gardner (songs like "Eye Of Agamoto" and "The Language Of The Body" are worthy of the best sound collages of the first Zappa), Ant-Bee now seems more focused to propose a strange hybrid-psychedelic avant-garde alternates a handful of songs acid- rock and highly effective "stoned" to some strange and intense experiments in musique concrete and electroacoustic, with some small raid on the borders of ambient, so it is particularly significant is the presence of the late Peter Banks (author of the dreamlike gem "Endless Journey"), Peter Frohmader and Artemiy Artemiev as well as the significant contribution of Jan Akkerman with folk visionary "Mannah". "Electronic Church Muzik" takes place, however, in the manner of the classic concept album, in its kaleidoscopic labyrinthine and the music flows quite well through the thread of a matrix of mainly Christian spirituality, the impression is that of a joyous ceremony freak ( "Dedicated To God") tinged with melancholy, which opens and closes symbolically with the whispers of the galactic Smith ...

    Among the many curiosities of this album there are two excellent cover: Mass at the beginning of the CD are euphoric version of "Living" excerpt from the first album of Alice Cooper ("Pretties For You", when he was still under the 'wing of Zappa in 1969), coincidentally played along with former guitarist of Alice, Michael Bruce, and as the last piece is a faithful reproduction in perfect style Rundgren's "Do not You Ever Learn", sung by the Consistently great Napoleon Murphy Brock, here specifically joined by legendary keyboardist of the first Utopia, Moogy Klingman. There is only a little regret for the packaging of cd edited by Cal Schenkel, reproduction of the Bible on a thin cardboard ... but, given the substantial content, after all, are trifles ... If the name of Ant-Bee was there for some strange reason remained unknown, then I would say that it is now time to remedy!


    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO
    Pure Electric Honey
    SCD - £9.99

    ISRAELI CRIS ROVERSI REVIEW

    CRISTIANO ROVERSI – AntiQua

    From the bottom of the garden to the bottom of the sea: a prog maestro goes for a solo shape-shifting.

    Having made his name as part of MOONGARDEN who, in the ’90s, made a serious attempt to restore Italian art rock to its ’70s glory, recently Cristiano Roversi has been involved in a series of collaborations with the genre’s coryphaei, which resulted in the decision to embark on a personal quest of grand proportions. Cue “AntiQua” that sees the artist in mostly instrumental atmosphere, so perfect for a journey in the titular fairy land, but it would be just wrong for an Apennine kind of album to flow with singing, and who can deliver a quasi-operatic ballad better than former PFM warbler Bernardo Lanzetti, who voices the central section of “Tales From Solitude Suite”, and LE ORME’s Aldo Tagliapietra who’s all over “L’Amore”? Yet if the vocals are elegantly effusive, Roversi’s strings and keys sculpt gentle emotions from the classically informed acoustic fiber of “Morning in AntiQua” to the piano-led “AntiQua’s Evening”, while Mellotrons and electric guitars conjure up much more fantastic imagery than the brilliant Ed Unitsky’s artwork outlines.
    Recurring themes keep elusive narrative together and melodic passages, for all their airiness and watercolor, both transparent and arresting in “Nessie Revealed”, never lose focus. It works in favor of integrity and intrigue, especially in the Arcadian delicacy of “Celestial Slowfall”, where flute imparts painfully sweet melody to the strum, and in the gauze-like treble which carries “Dimlit Tavern” from a reedy reverie to a folk dream that blooms on in the title track, until its heartbeat drums grow in scope and attract cosmic electricity. And it’s a demanding adventure: easy on the ear, “AntiQua” begs for repeating spins to see all the strains of its fabric. It’s that wonderful.
    ****4/5

    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    AntiQua
    CD - £9.99

    Rick Wakeman Journeys To The Centre Of The Earth

    Rick Wakeman


    Rick Wakeman will mark 40th anniversary of his concept album, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth based on the novel by Jules Verne, with a world tour launched at Birmingham’s NIA on Tuesday, April 29, 2014.
    The former Yes star and The Jules Verne Symphony Orchestra are promising a "state of the art, dramatic, live arena presentation of this epochal, classical-rock crossover work touring the world".
    A spokesman said: "Designed by Roger Dean, the creative mastermind behind the distinctive artwork of million-selling albums by Yes and Uriah Heep, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth is a must-see show, a thrilling spectacle for all the family, to rival blockbuster presentations like Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds and Roger Waters' touring production of Pink Floyd's The Wall.
    "This new live show is set to thrill the millions who grew up with the original album and the many film and TV adaptations of the novel, and introducing Wakeman, Dean and Verne to a new generation of concert-goers."
    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    Video Vaults
    6DVD box - £85.00

    The Burning 
    CD - £9.99

    Cirque Surreal 
    CD - £7.99

    Gole 
    CD - £9.99

    Cost Of Living 
    CD - £9.99

    THE DUTCH WOODSTOCK



    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    The Dutch Woodstock 1970
    2CD1DVD - £11.99

    John Shuttleworth: Out of Our Sheds – The Oldham Coliseum


    John Shuttleworth – a character created in 1986 by Graham Fellows (of Jilted John fame), gentle, early 50’s, old fashioned, a bit nerdy – famous for his brown leather coat, red polo neck, slicked back hair, glasses and banging on about the Dronfield bypass. And then of course there’s his Yamaha portable key board.
    My memories of John Shuttleworth are of late night TV appearances in the 90’s, the Vic and Bob years. And who could forget the classic Pigeons in Flight and the bid for it to become our Eurovision entry?!
    John’s gentle observational comedy is a trip into the thoughts we all have but never bother to voice. Every intricate detail of the mundane and the normal bought to life with side splitting aplomb! “Ooofff”
    With just John and his organ on stage, he steered his audience through a mega mix of Shuttleworth classics:
    He warned of the perils of the ‘buy one get one free’ offers with “Two margarines on the go – it’s a nightmare scenario.” Yes it is John – I’m married to a BOGOF addict. Just where am I supposed to store a bale of toilet rolls in a two bedroom terrace with limited storage?
    CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
    The Shuttleworths 5
    2CD - £11.99

    Southern Softies
    DVD - £12.99

    Shuttleworths Series 1
    DCD - £11.99

    Open Mind
    DCD - £11.99

    Radio Shuttleworth 1
    DCD - £11.99

    Blue John
    CD - £9.99

    The Shuttleworths 3
    2CD - £11.99

    The Dolby Years
    CD - £9.99

    Shuttleworths 2
    DCD - £11.99

    4 Rather Tasty Tracks 
    CDS - £3.99

    It's Nice Up North 
    DVD - £12.99

    500 Bus Stops 
    DVD - £11.99

    The Shuttleworths 4
    DCD - £11.99

    The Yamaha Years
    CD - £9.99

    Radio Shuttleworth 2 
    DCD - £11.99

    The Shuttleworths Specials
    CD - £9.99
    ...BECAUSE SOME OF US THINK THAT THIS STUFF IS IMPORTANT
    What happens when you mix what is - arguably - the world's most interesting record company, with an anarchist manic-depressive rock music historian polymath, and a method of dissemination which means that a daily rock-music magazine can be almost instantaneous?

    Most of this blog is related in some way to the music, books and films produced by Gonzo Multimedia, but the editor has a grasshopper mind and so also writes about all sorts of cultural issues which interest him, and which he hopes will interest you as well.