Last night...


Soft Machine - Fourth LP (CBS) 1971



and...

Soft Machine - Fifth LP (CBS) 1972



^I never know if I should put these guys in my Rock section or my Jazz section. Ultimately they end up in my rock section since the founders of the band were basically a psych\prog rock band, but they could just as easily fit into the free jazz section too since they clearly are masters of that as well. Unlike the more rockish earlier releases, these are less vocalized, more free jazz. While they are clearly influenced by the synths of Sun Ra, they take a softer approach to the free form expression of keyboardisms. They aren't all up in your face about it like he was on a lot of his albums. This is another band I've been religiously collecting for another upcoming best of compilation that I'll eventually make. I've got a long way to go before I'm versed enough in their releases though, a lot more albums must be copped before I can compile it properly. If you had to start with one of their albums I'd recommend their self titled first album or the second or the third, but I've got all of them up to the 7th and really they are all pretty great albums.

---

“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
OP OP Blog CDC
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Beat Junkies Blog

Right now...

Them Crooked Vultures ‎– Them Crooked Vultures LP (DGC) 2009



Literally right now. Had to put the breaks on it to drop props for a minute. Joshua Homme and Dave Grohl of Queens of the Stoned Age recruit virtuoso bassist Led Zep's John Paul Jones for a one-off rock album about 4 years ago. I've bumped this a few times already, but it's taken this long to realize how cool this is.... it's finally sinking (syncing?) in right now... this is top notch rock.

---

“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
OP OP Blog CDC
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Beat Junkies Blog

listening to some Richie Havens, today....













peace.

I'm streaming that new Toro Y Moi record "Anything In Return," some might scoff at this stuff (synth-pop type shit) but I think he's on point and smart as shit. Dope!