Robert Wyatt: The next step

When I am searching through old school media (newspapers and such) and social media like Twitter, blogs and Facebook, for news on Robert Wyatt, I´m always happy to see all those people who like our man. Most people dig his latest albums and lots of them mention "Shipbuilding" (written by Elvis Costello) or the album "Rock bottom". Not strange at all!

If any newcomers to Wyatt end up in here for some reason, let me suggest you try some of his not so rock or pop influenced stuff too. I have already mentioned Wyatt´s works with Michael Mantler in this blog, but one more time won´t hurt (look here and here).
Please check Un DIscographie de Robert Wyatt for albums where Wyatt participates.
How about Wyatt singing John Cage on "Jan Steele/John Cage", on Eno´s Obscure label (1976), or a reading/singing of Harold Pinter´s "Silence" (Watt 1976)?
You know I dig Robert Wyatt as a pop singer just as much as all of you, but I would not mind some more with a touch of contemporary classical or jazz either.

I am a bit surprised that I have hardly mentioned "Nick Mason´s Fictitious Sports" (1981), with Michael and Karen Graft, Carla Bley, Nick Mason, Chris Spedding, Gary Windo, Gary Valente and Howard Johnson! Borrow or buy this together with the horror album "The hapless child and other inscrutable stories", with Michael Mantler´s music and lyrics by Edward Gorey (with Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Terje Rypdal and Jack DeJohnette).

Classic Vuvuzela

A couple of you may find it strange that I have not blogged from the the soccer world cup, but today we are getting close! The vuvuzela may turn into a popular concert instrument too! Or, perhaps not?
Ravel´s Bolero will never be the same again.

Sirens and Us

The Norwegian music library blog Musikkprat made me aware of the band Sirens And Us. On their MySpace page their music is described like this: "With deep roots in early progressive rock ( King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator, Procol Harum, Yes, Genesis) Sirens and us meets a more approachable genre in the alternative rock (Radiohead, dEUS, Sonic Youth). This mixture of genres results in a brand new honest sound."

I must admit I´m not a big prog fan, but appreciate the prog flavors in bands like Jaga Jazzist and Shining, and since Sirens and Us list Soft Machine and Robert Wyatt among their favorites, let´s listen to these guys.

The band is: Bård Ingebrigtsen / voc, guitar, different things, Eirik Øien / guitar, bass, voc, things, Kjetil Bremer / drums og Øystein Frantzvåg / bass.

Album: "The Trap" (RRM 2010), with Sissy Wish and Mathias Eick guesting.

Stian Westerhus BBC session

I better watch out so this blog is not turning into Stian Westerhus and Stuff, but I just have to post a part of his BBC session from last autumn (?) too!
Watch the whole thing over on his YouTube channel.

Soft Machine and Caravan

Esoteric Recordings offer remastered versions of two post-Wyatt Soft Machine albums: "Bundles" (1975) and "Softs" (1976).
The musicians on "Bundles" are Mike Ratledge (keyboards), Karl Jenkins (Oboe, Piano, Soprano Sax), John Marshall (Drums), Roy Babbington (Bass) and Allan Holdsworth (Guitar). Ray Warleigh plays flutes on one track.
Reg Cartwright painted the man with the dove.
The band on "Softs" is: Mike Ratledge (keyboards), Karl Jenkins (Oboe, Piano, Soprano Sax), John Marshall (Drums), Roy Babbington (Bass), John Etheridge (Guitar) and Alan Wakeman (Sopran sax, Tenor sax).

You may also get (if you hurry up I guess) remastered Caravan albums "Cunning stunts" (1976) and "Blind dog at St Dunstans" (1976), in vinyl replica format. Take a look over at Burning Shed.

Aaron Parks on a very strange guy

The piano player Aaron Parks is interviewed in Ottawa Citizen. He is talking about liking different kinds of music, and mentions a friend of ours: "There's a songwriter, a very strange guy from the '70s, he's still working now, Robert Wyatt, I really like his work".

Parks is now playing in James Farm, the band being Joshua Redman (sax), Aaron Parks (p), Matt Penman (b) and Eric Harland (dr).

Big Sun Falling In The River

I have already mentioned this, but let me just repeat that Richard Thompson´s new live album "Dream Attic" will arrive in August. You may download one of the songs (Big Sun Falling In The River) already, all for free and all legal, if you just agree to hand over your e-mail adress.
Check it out!