Two bros from Home Town Hero hooked up with Audiovent's drummer and made some funkay music together in 2006, resulting in one of the few quintessential pop/rock/funk albums of the Noughties. Sounds pretty good, capiche?
To put it another way, amalgamating Maroon 5, Earth Wind & Fire and the edgier side of classic Prince into something simultaneously stunning yet cohesive is no small feat, but these boys bring home the bacon with extra munchies to spare!
There ain't no cure for the summertime blues, but there's more than enough ironclad acid-blues rock to go around on this excellent proto-prog. proliferation, not unlike a more straightforward rarity that belongs to a grand pantheon previously populated by the magnificent Flower Travellin' Band and Black Sabbath.
I'm sure most of you probably know a little something or other about this rather famous (or infamous) Electronic/Dance musical project from guitarist/producer Michael Cretu. Yes, the first album had that one Gregorian chant house cut called 'Sadeness' which is overplayed to shit and singlehandedly helped define the first half of the 90's sonically. Yes, this sophomore release has that one song from the car commercial where the "Aye-oh-AH-eeya-ahyaaa" is sampled. And, yes, this is one of the most well known New Age albums on the face of planet Earth, a frontrunner for "exotic" music that most people hate...
...but this is still still freakin' awesome! Everything from Led Zeppelin to Genesis to obscure classical opera is sampled within this record, and nowhere has such a mismash of muzakal sensibility and progressive songwriting idealism melded so profoundly and strongly in the world of ambient dance than here in Thε Cяoѕѕ Of Chαngεs.
Stellar neo-prog. project by Polish multi-instrumentalist Kamil Koniecznika and a couple of interesting cohorts to spice things up with vocals, sax, etc. Keyboard/guitar led for the most part, giving things a distinctly Camellian feel that makes one feel perfectly at peace when the clock strikes twelve and the waking world begins to seem a distant place.
Another late-80's smooth fusion classic from the masterful Mr. Wαlkεя to melt your nights away! Lots to like here, with drumming and keyboard work in particular as classy as such can be, and on the whole sonically this release gives off a glorious layered vibe which recalls the best of Pat Metheny during his "world music" period, albeit less guitar oriented.
This record, therefore, comes with my highest recommendations, with a big nod specifically to fans of the previously mentioned Metheny and The Rippingtons.
The king of U.K.singer/songwriters once again teamed up with drum guru Phil Collins in 1981 to establish a foothold in an era that didn't care too much for men and their 6-strings. Thus, a change in musical direction for mistah Martyn was called for: jazz fusion-rock with an infatuation for synths, a style which would predominate his music for the next couple of releases.
Jam-packed with spellbinding instrumental interplay whilst remaining pop-oriented yet lyrically interesting under the tight reins of a distinctive gravely-toned voice, this is one slick outing that illustrates just how talented the late Joни Mαяtyи was back in his prime, and thus essential listening in more ways than one.
Mixed and partly produced by the legendary Alan Parsons, this glorious sun-dazed West Coast progressive pop debut is not only one of the best albums of the 1970's, but remains one of the best art rock crossover records in the entirety of recorded music history.
Intriguingly, although outfits like The Alan Parsons Project and Toto would be influenced by this album's sound to a substantial degree in the second half of the 70's, nothing sounds quite like it before or since. 'Nice, Nice, Very Nice' sports an addictive groove and some Kurt Vonnegut derived lyrical content, resulting in one helluva good idea, but it's on fine-tuned cuts like 'Holdin' On To Yesterday' and strange sprawlers along the lines of 'Drink Of Water' and 'Mama Frog' where this band's uncanny talent at blending killer melodies with proggy pathos is unveiled to a glorious maximum.
Many albums come great, yet will not last long in the grand scheme of things. An album this perfect, thankfully, doesn't seem to have that kind of problem. It's a tried and true American progressive rock classic, and still just as distinct and wonderful sounding today as it was nearly forty years ago.
Another vacuum packed classic from the lords of space rock, complete with a (then) fantastic new frontwoman Bridget Wishart. Unlike past releases though, this one emphasizes atmosphere and post-punk obstrusiveness in favor of shredding asteroids to dust with amp n' axe in hand. That being said, the opening 9-and-a-half minute astral grind of 'Images' is worth the price of admission in and of itself, a classic in all but name.
Although this album's reputation is one that is unfairly maligned, more astute listeners will give it the attention it deserves and let those solar winds take them for the ride of their lives.
Smooth groovin', tripped out jazz-fusion masterpiece from the late 70's, complete with psychedelic keyboard ebb/flow and space horns! Easily on par with the best of Lonnie Liston Smith as far this sort of vibe goes, so don't pass it up!
Lush and pacific in a moody sort of way, this solo effort from a former Camel keyboard whiz Jαи Schεlhααs is a fine record that listlessly sails to new neuron pathways via waves of synth and a camaraderie of other instruments. Vocals aren't too bad either: layered yet whimsical in neo-Canterburian tradition. Rawkin'.
Instrumental jazz-funk concept album that follows the story of the cult classic children's book by Neverending Story artist Ul De Rico, complete with English narration and robotically vocoded backing vocals!
And yes, this may indeed be the greatest album ever recorded in the history of mankind.
Although his last couple of releases since signing with Blue Note have been hit and miss musically, pianist/producer Robεяτ Glαspεя demonstrates just how far he's come as both an artist and performer with Blαck Rαdio, bringing his jazzy talents into the realm of electronically-tinged neo-soul & hip hop with creative, even inspiring, ablomb.
Featuring diverse guests ranging from Erykah Badu to Mos Def, you'll be hard pressed to find a cooler set of cuts this side of 2012.
Another smooth jazz-fusion masterpiece from the late 80's, and the ideal soundtrack to someone's harebrained cocaine-fueled highway blitz or Miami Vice-inspired escapades.
Oh, and get this band's 1982 masterpiece Night Birds while your in the neighborhood. It's the ideal rub to this cut of steak.
