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Reviews

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Nick_Lees (U14141320) on Thursday, 24th September 2009

  Thought it might be a good idea to have a review section for stuff we might have discovered recently that could interest FZ denizens? I'll kick it off with...
  
  Tim Buckley - Live At The Folklore Center NYC - March 6th 1967
  
  In many ways I think Tim Buckley epitomises the Freak Zone – someone who, until the last two albums at least, was never content to remain in one place musically and was always pushing his boundaries back in ways that sometimes left us a bit bewildered but never bored.
  
  Tompkins Square have released a recording made in a small folk music store in New York in early 1967 and it’s a stormer.
  
  Recorded (really rather well considering the conditions) by the store owner in front of just 35 people crammed into a smallish room, it features Buckley on 12-string and that amazing voice rattling through songs from the 1st and 2nd (yet to be released at the time) albums, plus 6 songs never before recorded. Whilst none of the latter can truly said to be of the top rank it’s a bonus to hear any new stuff from him and the overall set-list makes for a great concert.
  
  For Buckley fans this is something not to be missed – through the speakers it’s a thrilling and intense experience as his voice is in superb shape, and I can only begin to wonder at what those lucky 35 people felt at first hand.
  
  Nice booklet too, with quotes from Buckley himself about his efforts to find the right place for himself in the business, noted down by the store owner at the time.
  
  Highly recommended.
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Mondofreaky (U14125661) on Thursday, 24th September 2009

  Excellent idea Nick.
  I'll be sure to post some reviews here myself. My purchases so far this week have been pretty varied but once i've had more chance to absorb them perhaps i'll add some comments on Gordon Beck's Dr Dolittle Loves Jazz, as the title suggests a jazz reworking of the soundtrack to the Rex Harrison film, & on some of The Troggs hilarious attempts at floaty psychedelia on their Cellophane LP.
  
  Are you familar with this clip of Tim Buckley on ´óÏó´«Ã½2's Late Night Line Up ?
  There's a very young Danny Thompson in the background.
  
  I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Starsailor given your comments on Free Jazz elsewhere on the board.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Mondofreaky (U14125661) on Thursday, 24th September 2009

  Here's the clip I meant to add to that last message.
  
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Nick_Lees (U14141320) on Thursday, 24th September 2009

  Thanks for that MF - Danny with hair!
  
  As for Star Sailor, I suppose we'd been given some preparation by the rather dark, bleak Lorca, but yes it was a shock . But there was enough in there to grab hold of (Song To The Siren, Down By The Borderline and Moulin Rouge even if the latter was perhaps even stranger by being so straight on that album!).
  
  Listening to it these days, a bit like Bitches Brew, it sounds (almost) normal...

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by The_Purple_Gooroo (U14143748) on Sunday, 27th September 2009

  I didn't realise that Buckley gig had been released - I've got it on an *koff*unauthorised*koff* disc.
  
  I'll have to buy the Tompkins Square edition.
  
  I always found "Lorca" a more difficult album to get into than "Starsailor", but maybe that's just me.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Mondofreaky (U14125661) on Monday, 28th September 2009

  I'm with you Purple G, find Lorca a much harder listen than the perenially billed as challenging Starsailor.
  
  Yesterday evening I was mostly listening to Popul Vuh's beautiful Hosianna Mantra, leading me to wander over today to that there youtube. Thought i'd post this for the enjoyment of other Children Of The Zone who might dig this kinda thing...
  
  
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Mondofreaky (U14125661) on Monday, 28th September 2009

  Wow ! and here's another one, this one from Hosianna Mantra...
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by The_Purple_Gooroo (U14143748) on Sunday, 27th September 2009

  I hadn't realised that Tim Buckley show has got an official release now - I've got it on a *koff*bootleg*koff*. I'll have to pick that Tompkins Square CD up.
  
  I've always found "Lorca" a more difficult record than "Starsailor" to get into.
  
  I also think Elektra should pull their collective finger out and re-issue the Buckley catalogue - perhaps as SACDs - like the Can and Moody Blues re-releases, which seemed excellent to me.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by The_Purple_Gooroo (U14143748) on Wednesday, 30th September 2009

  @Mondo: I really dig Popol Vuh..."Hosianna Mantra" seems to be an incredible record. I'm trying to get most of the re-issued CDs - there's quite a few. I've got the first four so far.
  
  Check out Deuter's early stuff, too - if you like P.V. - Deuter's "D", "Aum" & "Celebration" sound very similar, to my ears.

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Mondofreaky (U14125661) on Thursday, 1st October 2009

  Thanks for the tips PG.
  Don't know those records at all, though you can be sure i'll be checking out Ebay, GEMM etc today...

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by Nick_Lees (U14141320) on Saturday, 6th March 2010

  John Cale (with The Heritage Orchestra & Band) – Paris 1919.
  
  RFO
  
  Performed with a (really quite large for this sort of thing) orchestra. This is one of my favourite albums of all time, so to say I was excited at the prospect is the understatement of the year so far.
  
  Not disappointed – Cale looks incredibly well for a gent of 68, though when he launched straight in to the album with Child's Christmas In Wales his voice was a little uncertain and you did wonder for a moment. However, he warmed up quickly and the rest of the album was superb with hair-raining moments such Paris 1919 itself and Antarctica Starts Here. There were odd balance issues between the band (tucked at the back) and the orchestra, but they were slight.
  
  So, standing ovation, off for a quick break, then back for a brief-ish middle set as a four-piece band, where Cale really let rip with that strange and eerie loping segue of Femme Fatale and Rosegarden Funeral of Sores and a belting Fear, but the highlight of this section was the monstrously deconstructed and heavy Heartbreak Hotel (only the lyrics remain really). Magnificent.
  
  Back came the orchestra for a couple more songs, ending with a tremendous (and lengthy) version of Hedda Gabler.
  
  More deserved standing ovation and (after long, long calls for an encore) the four-piece finished up with Dirty Ass Rock ‘N’ Roll.
  
  For anyone unfamiliar with Paris 1919, just buy it – it’s a classic of orchestral rock with wonderful tune after wonderful tune with arrangements to die for.

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