Category Archives: Electronic

ENCHANTMENT-UTOPIA.

ENCHANTMENT-UTOPIA. Enchantment’s sixth album Utopia, may not have resulted in Enchantment heading off in pursuit of Sir Thomas More’s mythical and idealized island, but it did mark a change in the lives and music of the veteran band. They maybe never knew it when they began recording Utopia, but seventeen years after they were formed …

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ALMUNIA-PULSAR.

ALMUNIA-PULSAR. Often when I’m looking for new music, it’s an album cover that grabs my attention. That was the case with Almunia’s new album Pulsar. It was released on Paul Murphy’s Claremont 56 label, on 27th May 2013. Released without publicity or fanfare, Almunia’s sophomore album Pulsar was a low key release to say the …

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PSYCHEMAGIK PRESENTS MAGIK SUNRISE.

PSYCHEMAGIK PRESENTS MAGIK SUNRISE. By far, one of the best compilations of 2012 was Leng Records’ Psychemagik Presents Magic Circles. Released in October 2012, it’s best described as a compelling and captivating collection of music. Not only that, but it brought new meaning to the word eclectic. Fusing cosmic disco, Balearica, psychedelic funk, ambient, soul, …

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MIAOUX MIAOUX-LIGHT OF THE NORTH.

MIAOUX MIAOUX-LIGHT OF THE NORTH. When the long-list for 2012s Scottish Album Of The Year was announced, this celebration of Scottish music, demonstrated just how eclectic the music Scotland’s musicians have been producing. The twenty albums featured everything from indie rock, pop, electronica, folk, jazz, dance and R&B. One album incorporated not just variety of …

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THE UNWINDING HOURS-AFTERLIVES.

THE UNWINDING HOURS-AFTERLIVES. Maybe I’m getting old and/or cynical, but music just isn’t what it used to be. Looking through what’s about to be released in the next few weeks and it’s disappointing fare. There’s either the umpteenth rerelease of albums by bloated sixties and seventies rock band, compilations that appeal to people who buy …

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THE GAP BAND-THE GAP BAND VII.

THE GAP BAND-THE GAP BAND VII. For The Gap Band, commercial success didn’t come overnight. Quite the opposite. Instead, it took three albums. Neither 1974s Magician’s Holiday nor 1977s The Gap Band charted. Then when The Gap Band signed to Mercury Records, their third album The Gap Band reached number seventy-seven in the US Billboard …

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RODION G.A.-THE LOST TAPES.

RODION G.A.-THE LOST TAPES. Rodion G.A’s The Lost Tapes is the most eagerly awaited albums of 2013. It’ll be released Strut Records on 27th May 2013. However, Rodion G.A. aren’t a new band. Quite the opposite. Instead, Rodion G.A. were formed by Rodion Rosca between 1975 and 1976. The ten tracks that comprise The Lost …

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STEPHANIE MILLS-MERCILESS.

STEPHANIE MILLS-MERCILESS. Sometimes, when an artist enjoys commercial success and critical acclaim early in their career, they spend the rest of their career trying to match this success. In the case of Stephanie Mills, this was the case. Her third album Whatcha Gonna Do With My Loving, this proved to be the most successful album …

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DONNA ALLEN-PERFECT TIMING.

DONNA ALLEN-PERFECT TIMING. Donna Allen, whose 1986 debut album Perfect Timing will be rereleased by BBR Records on 25th February 2013, career started ten years before her debut album was released. However, Donna Allen’s career was almost accidental. She’d originally been a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in 1976, as a favor to …

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DELEGATION-DEUCES HIGH.

DELEGATION-DEUCES HIGH. By the time Delegation came to record their fourth album, 1982s Deuces High, which BBR Records will released on 25th February 2013, the group’s lineup had changed several times. It seemed Delegation’s lineup was constantly evolving. Members joined, then left. When Delegation came to record their fourth album, Deuces High, Ricky Bailey was …

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CHANGE THE BEAT-THE CELLULOID RECORDS STORY 1979-1987.

CHANGE THE BEAT-THE CELLULOID RECORDS STORY 1979-1987. In 2012, Strut Records released Only For You: The Sound of Cajmere and Cajual Records, which paid homage to Cajmere, one of the innovators of the Chicago house scene and his label Cajual Records. This proved to be one of Strut Records’ most critically acclaimed and commercially successful …

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DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-ONE STEP HIGHER.

DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-ONE STEP HIGHER. By 1982, Voyage had established themselves as one of Euro Disco’s most innovative groups. Since 1978, Voyage had released a trio of critically acclaimed, cutting-edge albums. Their debut was 1978s Voyage, with Fly Away following later in 1978. Two years later, in 1980, came  Voyage’s third album Voyage 3. Now …

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RONNIE LAWS-MR. NICE GUY AND CLASSIC MASTERS.

RONNIE LAWS-MR. NICE GUY AND CLASSIC MASTERS. Having spent two years at university in Texas, Ronnie Laws decided the world of academia wasn’t for him. He left university to join a new band who were fusing funk and soul. Ronnie played flute and saxophone on their third album Last Days and Time, released in November …

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THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2012-PART 2.

THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2012-PART 2. The Best New Albums of 2012-Part 2, covers the period between May and June 2012. These two months proved to be good months for new music. Two veterans of music, Paul Buchanan and Eddie Levert somewhat belatedly, released debut solo albums. Then there were three truly innovative albums, …

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BLUE NILE-HATS.

BLUE NILE-HATS. For most groups, a gap of five years between albums would be unthinkable. It just wouldn’t happen. Either the group would be keen to get a new album released, or their record company would be pressurizing them to do so. Not the Blue Nile. In fact, the five years between their debut alum …

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BLUE NILE-A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS.

BLUE NILE-A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe the Blue Nile, whose 1984 debut album A Walk Across the Rooftops was rereleased just two days ago. The Blue Nile are the complete opposite of most bands. Describing the Blue Nile as publicity shy, is an understatement. Indeed, …

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THE BEST OF BBE 2012.

THE BEST OF BBE 2012. Probably one of the most difficult jobs in music came when BBE Music decided to compile their latest digital release, The Best of BBE 2012 which will be released on 3rd December 2012. After all, BBE Music have been on something of a roll during 2012. That’s something of an …

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INTERNATIONAL FEEL-A COMPILATION.

INTERNATIONAL FEEL-A COMPILATION. During my whistle-stop, worldwide search for new, exciting and innovative compilations, I’ve reviewed compilations from all over the world. Recently, this has included compilations from record labels based not only in the UK and US, but Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Japan. Next stop is Uruguay, home to International Feel Recordings. International Feel was …

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SWITCH-AM I STILL YOUR BOYFRIEND.

SWITCH-AM I STILL YOUR BOYFRIEND. When Switch moved from Motown imprint Gordy, to Total Experience Records in 1982, great things were forecast for them. Total Experience had beaten other labels to the signing of Switch and announced their signing of Switch in a December 1982 issue of Jet magazine. There was talk of Switch contributing …

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PRIME TIME-FLYING HIGH.

PRIME TIME-FLYING HIGH. During the early to mid eighties, the production team of Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis seemed to have the Midas touch. Every group or artist they seemed to work with, enjoyed commercial success. Whether it was the Change, The S.O.S. Band, Cheryl Lynn or Thelma Houston, it seemed Jimmy and Terry …

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