Radio Spiral Scratch: Recent Episodes
radiospiralscratch
A music-naut forays into Punk, Krautrock, Prog, Psych, Post-punk, Post-rock, Avante-Garde & Experimental, Jazz, and World Music.
Radio Spiral Scratch takes a look at the 'softer' side of the B-section. Of course, 'Easy Listening' is a bit of a misnomer - most of what you hear here has its 'edge' - the dangerous haze of Bongwater and Carlangas, the politics of Billy Bragg... and we eventually get into the rock 'n' rolls towards the end, for those who need the guitar fix... but we never quite get to 'Punk Rock'. It's the music for a lazy summer afternoon, courtesy Spiral Scratch.
Bonzo Dog Band - History of the Bonzo's - The Intro and the Outro Bongwater - The Power Of Pussy - Great Radio Bongwater - The Power Of Pussy - Kisses Sweeter Than Wine Bongwater - The Power Of Pussy - Folk Song Bongwater - The Power of Pussy - What If Carlangas - Judgement of a Throne - Loveliness Carlangas - Soul Stalker - Charming The Dusk Carlangas - Soul Stalker - Begin To Rise Billy Bragg - Live's a Riot with Spy vs Spy - New England Billy Bragg - Talking With the Taxman about Poetry - Levi Stubbs Tears Billy Bragg - Talking With the Taxman about Poetry - Power In a Union Boiled in Lead - Old Lead - Twa Corbies Blivet - S/T - Bad Paper Blivet - S/T - Friction Brainiac 5 - World Inside - Working Cold Coffee and Salty Boots - Cold Coffee and Salty Boots - Cold Coffee and Salty Boots Bushpilots - Seven Ways To Broadway - Eurosexy Big Dipper - Heavens - When Men Were Trains Big Dipper - Heavens - Younger Bums
Radio Spiral Scratch does take a bit of pride in presenting some of the more... out of the way... bands. In fact, due to my Community Radio Ideals, I try to avoid 'Classic Rock'... but we have hit that spot in the collection that hosts 2 of my earliest band 'loves'. bands that I cut my teeth drumming to and that informed my musical preferences ever afterwards: Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. I don't need to say much more, other than Episode 17 is Spiral Scratch's homage to Rock Gods.
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath - The Wizard Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath - Wicked World Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Fairies Wear Boots Black Sabbath - Master of Reality - Children Of The Grave Black Sabbath - Master of Reality - Into The Void Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - National Architect Black Sabbath - Sabotage - Symptom of the Universe Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult - Transmaniacon MC Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult - Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll Blue Oyster Cult - Tyranny and Mutation - The Red and the Black Blue Oyster Cult - Tyranny and Mutation - 7 Screaming Diz-Busters Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties - ME 262 Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties - Harvester of Eyes Blue Oyster Cult - On Your Feet, On Your Knees - Buck's Boogie
Radio Spiral Scratch rolls through the Early-'B' section of the collection, and, as we are coming down from the Bevis Frond overdose of episode 15, we're locked into the acid rock, some early-60's material, and a little jazz-rock. Included in this are 3 tracks from the first couple of Blue Cheer, and 4 tracks from Blodwyn Pig... and, breaking the 'alphabetical' nature of Radio Spiral Scratch, a mid-90's cover of a Blodwyn Pig track that comes from an unexpected source...
Graham Bond Org - Live at Klooks Kleek - Wade in the Water Blues Project - Projections - Steve's Song Blind Faith - S/T - Sea of Joy Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum - Doctor Please Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum - Second Time Around Blue Cheer - OustideInside - Just a Little Bit Bloodrock - 3 - Breach of Lease Blodwyn Pig - Getting to This - San Fancisco Sketches Blodwyn Pig - Getting to This - The Squirrelling Must Go On Blodwyn Pig - Ahead Rings Out - Ain't Ya Comin' Home Blodwyn Pig - Ahead Rings Out - See My Way Sibling Rivalry - In A Family Way 7" - See My Way
Radio Spiral Scratch is back on the show-long feature trail! This time the episode balloons to over two hours, mostly by virtue of the fact that the final track is 42 minutes long... but time is no barrier where the Bevis Frond is concerned! Formed in 1985 by Nick Saloman, already a 15+-year veteran of playing music around the UK. To keep it brief, and the gushing to a minimum, I will say that I bought 'Bevis Through the Looking Glass' because it 'spoke to me' from a record bin in '88... and I never looked back. Even though I went thru a 20-year love affair with punk, Bevis was always with me... for the inestimable Mr Saloman's infinite variety could appeal to almost everyone - to the punk with the heavy guitar and penning some downright stomping tunes... to the songwriter, creating an almost limitless wellspring of earworm-worthy melodies... to the folkie who can find the quintessentially British bucolic acoustic tunes... to the 'stoner' who can float away on the expansive, guitar driven, trippy jams... to the guitar-hero-fetishist, for Nick's protean playing, from stentorian feedback roars and acid-inspired wailing, to concise, melodic playing 'for the song' ticks all the boxes. The world would be a better place if everyone had a little Bevis Frond in their lives.
Bevis Frond - 1986 - Miasma - She's In Love With Time Bevis Frond - 1987 - Bevis Though the Looking Glass - In Another Year Bevis Frond - 1987 - Bevis Though the Looking Glass - I Can't Get Into Your Scene Bevis & Twink - 1990 - Magic Eye - Bag Drip Bevis & Twink - 1990 - Magic Eye - She Darks the Sun Bevis Frond - 1990 - Ear Song 12" - Radio Bloodbeast Bevis Frond - 1990 - Any Gas Faster - Olde Worlde Bevis Frond - 1991 - New River Head - Undertaker Bevis Frond - 1996 - Son of Walter - You Saw Me Coming Bevis Frond - 1999 - Vavona Burr - Don Lang Bevis Frond - 1999 - Vavona Burr - National Drag Bevis Frond - 2015 - Example 22 - Are We Nearly There Yet Bevis Frond - 2015 - Example 22 - Where is Egon Schiele Room 13 - Compilation: Woronzoid - Cowboy Bevis Frond - 1987 - Bevis Though the Looking Glass - The Shrine Bevis Frond - 2013 - White Numbers - Homemade Traditional Electric Jam
Radio Spiral Scratch gets harsh. Starting out with some post-punk in a late-80's kinda way, then lay into a set of Big Black - a band that is still the gold standard for bad-tempered abrasive racket... and I love it so. Towards the end we start doting on a few Ottawa bands that are plying those waters unafraid to alienate!
Bitch Magnet - Umber - Motor Bitch Magnet - Umber - Navajo Ace Bastro - Sing The Troubled Beast - Krakow, Illinois Bastro - Sing The Troubled Beast - I Come From a Long Line of Shipbuilders Bastro - Rode Hard and Put Up Wet - I've Ben Brown Big Black - Atomizer - Bazooka Joe Big Black - Atomizer - Kerosene Big Black - Atomizer - Cables Big Black - Songs About Fucking - Pavement Saw Big Black - Headache - Readymen Big Black - Atomizer - Jordan Minnesota Big Black - Songs About Fucking - Columbian Necktie Big Black - Songs About Fucking - L Dopa Big Dick - S/T - Wolves Big Dick - S/T - Mayday Big Dick - Disappointment - On and On Big Dick - Disappointment - Out on a Limb Bird Blobs - Settle Down and Breed Bonnie Doon - S/T - Panty Twister Beautifuzz - S/T - 4 Bucks in NYC
Back to Radio Spiral Scratch's miscellany from the early 'B's, focusing mostly on the influence that jazz had on rock... especially when mixed with amplified guitars. We have some solo work from Peter Bardens (pre-Camel) and Ginger Baker (post-Cream), some bands that never released anything during their life-span (Armada), and even a few 'new' things (Badge Epoque Ensemble, Banquet of the Spirits). It's a bit of a variety, but held together with a concept... kinda...
Peter Bardens - The Answer - Homage to the God of Light Peter Bardens - Peter Bardens - Down So Long Il Balletto di Bronzo - Sirio 2222 - Missione Sirio 2222 Armada - Beyond the Morning - One in Ten Ginger Baker - Air Force - Don't Care Ginger Baker - Stratavarious - Tiwa Badge Epoque Ensemble - S/T - Milk Spilt On Eternity Banquet of the Spirits - Caym- the Book of Angels, Vol. 17 - Briel Ben - Ben - Gismo
Here's another Radio Spiral Scratch's feature (yes, it's long - I might have split it into a 2-part-er... but live and learn, eh?): a look at Brian Auger's work from 1967-1976, from the Trinity to Oblivion Express. His unique fusion of jazz, soul, wiggy late-60's Brit-pop in the Trinity to the more funk-and-soul-infused jazz-rock of the Oblivion Express, this music is immaculately played, uplifting, complex and yet accessible. He is still making music to this day, releasing a live album a scant 5 years ago - I invite you to delve his catalogue further.
Brian Auger & Trinity w/ Julie Driscoll - Open 1967 - Isola Natalie Brian Auger & Trinity w/ Julie Driscoll - Open 1967 - Goodbye Jungle Telegraph Brian Auger & Trinity - Definitely What! 1968 - John Brown's Body Brian Auger & Trinity - Definitely What! 1968 - Red Beans and Rice Brian Auger & Trinity w/ Julie Driscoll - Streetnoise 1969 - Ellis Island Brian Auger & Trinity w/ Julie Driscoll - Streetnoise 1969 - When I was Young Brian Auger & Trinity - Befour 1970 - Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock) Brian Auger & Trinity - Befour 1970 - Just You, Just Me Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Oblivion Express 1971 - Dragon Song (John McLaughlin) Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Oblivion Express 1971 - Oblivion Express Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Closer To it 1973 - Light on the Path Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Straight Ahead 1974 - Change Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Live Oblivion Volume 1 1974 - Don't Look Away Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Live Oblivion Volume 2 1976 - Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris) Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Live Oblivion Volume 2 1976 - Second Wind Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Live Oblivion Volume 2 1976 - Inner City Blues (Marvin gaye) Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Live Oblivion Volume 2 1976 - Straight Ahead Brian Auger & Oblivion Express - Live Oblivion Volume 2 1976 - Compared to What (Les Mcann)
It's time for Radio Spiral Scratch's Time to ROCK, so this episode deals with ROCK - there's no punk, no jazz, no prog or krautrock experimental excesses. Yes, there is some country-ish rock from Ottawa's Black Boot Trio, and Arbouretum, the drifty alt-rock of Bailter Space... and even classic rock from BTO (yes, BTO, quit bugging me...)... so sit back, nod your head and ROCK...
Black Boot Trio - Pony Ride - Almost Living In Los Angeles Black Boot Trio - Pony Ride - Ballad Of Davey Thompson Arboretum - Song of the Rose - Fall from an Eyrie Beasts Of Bourbon - Low Road - Low Road Arcwelder - 7" - I am the Walrus Area Resident - Delano - Eight Track Mind Bailter Space - Tanker - Grader Spader Bailter Space - Thermos -Present Bailter Space - The Aim EP - The Aim Bailter Space - Thermos - Hard Wired John Berenzy Group - Vice Versus Alice Cooper - Pretties For You - Living Black Mountain - IV - Tyrants Better Living Through Chemistry - Burn Burn Burn - Dead Stars Shine Asexuals - 7" - Love Goes Plaid Allah-Las - S/T - No Voodoo BTO - S/T - Stayed Awake All Night BTO - Four wheel Drive - Four wheel Drive
This time Radio Spiral Scratch digs deep into my punk rock past - I was a dyed-in-the-wool punk rocker from the mid-80's to the early-00's.. and still love it, would never ask it to be turned off and always love seeing it live. There is a fair amount of it in my collection that I refuse to sell, whether it's simply because it's Canadian, or that it speaks so clearly of my younger self. This episode runs the gamut from Pub rock to early punk, hardcore, pop-punk, rock-n-roll-style punk... it's all in here. As a milestone, this episode is the first that breaks the 'B'-barrier - to fill the hour, I needed to look forward into the 'B's... because the songs are so short. Witness 'the list':
Battered Wives - Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll Action - Downtown Boy Avengers - We Are the One Brand New Unit - Deep Inside Bum - Your Disciple Bella Bombs - Just Because You Can Bad Luck 13 - Get off the Phone Action Swingers - Song Action Swingers - Incinerated Anti-Nowhere Leaugue - I Hate People Alan Milman Sect - Stitches In My Head / I Wanna Kill Somebody Antiseen - Haunted House Antiseen - Fuck All Y'all Angry Samoans - Egyptomania Angry Samoans - Lights Out Bubai Skull - Diamond Back Brontocrushrock - A Titanic Mistake Bunch of Fucking Goofs - Total Breakdown Bad Religion - Do What You Want Bad Religion - I Want Something More Bad Brains - Pay to Cum Bad Brains - I Against I All - Check One Assertion - Don Giovanni Brandon Walsh - Boiling Rubber Nipples
Another Radio Spiral Scratch 'Twofer', in a manner of speaking - last episode, we looked at 2 new bands, in fairly equal quantities... this time it's less-balanced. First, we're going back into the early-70's for one band that was a great influence on me (Atomic Rooster) with their dark proto-prog/hard rock... and it's possible that I should have just concentrated on Atomic Rooster... but I was all aflame about putting Kevin Ayers' 'Confessions of Dr. Dream' epic in this episode, so I did... because it's my podcast.
Kevin Ayers - The Confessions of Dr. Dream (1974) Atomic Rooster - Atomic Rooster (1970) - Friday the 13th Atomic Rooster - Atomic Rooster - And So to Bed Atomic Rooster - Atomic Rooster - S.L.Y. Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You (1970) - Death Walks Behind You Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You - VUG Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You - Seven Streets Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You - Sleeping For Years Atomic Rooster - In Hearing Of... (1971) - Breakthrough Atomic Rooster - In Hearing Of... - A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down Atomic Rooster - In Hearing Of... - Head in the Sky Atomic Rooster - In Hearing Of... - The Price
This is a Radio Spiral Scratch 'Twofer', where we look at the works of only two bands. The concept here has worked out to these three functional properties: "Power Trio"; "Instrumental"; "From Paris, Île-de-France" . The First, AutorYno - are they jazz-rock? Punk? Math/noise/jazz? They've been called all these things... The second, Aluk Todolo - are they Occult Rock? Psychedelic Rock? Krautrock? Doom Metal? Once again, they've been categorized as all these things... but I think they both rise above all genre classifications. Listen and judge!
AutorYno Formed 2008, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Personnel: BertrandDelorme: Bass Cyril Grimaud: Drums David Konopnicki: Guitars
AutorYno - Pastrami Bagel Social Club (2010) - Highway to Stertziv AutorYno - Pastrami Bagel Social Club (2010) - Kelev AutorYno - Cosmopolitan Traffic (2013) - Warsaw AutorYno - Cosmopolitan Traffic (2013) - Wroclaw AutorYno - Flauros: Book of Angels Volume 29 (2016) - Saelel AutorYno - Flauros: Book of Angels Volume 29 (2016) - Adoyahel AutorYno - Flauros: Book of Angels Volume 29 (2016) - Qaddsin AutorYno - Flauros: Book of Angels Volume 29 (2016) - Shahariel
Freakdom - Session One - Chant Records
Personnel: David Konopnicki – Fretless Guitar Shanir Blumenkranz – Double Bass Kenny Grohowski – Drums
Freakdom - Session One - Down Freakdom - Session One - Round and Round
Aluk Todolo, 2004, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Personnel: Shantidas Riedacker (guitar) Matthieu Canaguier (bass) Antoine Hadjioannou (drums)
Aluk Todolo - Descension (2007) - Marbas Aluk Todolo - Finsternis (2009) - Totalite Aluk Todolo - Occult Rock (2012) - V Aluk Todolo - Voix (2016) - 929
This is Radio Spiral Scratch's 'Prog in the A-Section' - Classic guitar histrionics (Jan Akkerman), obscurities (Älgarnas Trädgård), the art-y side (Art Bears), jazz-oriented 70's Quebecois Prog (Aquarelle) and more! Challenging, yes, but also easy on the ears!
Jan Akkerman - Profile (1972) - Fresh Air Älgarnas Trädgård - Delayed (Archival, 1973-1976) - Interstellar Cruise Ash Ra Tempel - Starring Rosi - Interplay of Forces Aquarelle - Live at Montreux 1978 - Récital des grenouilles Art Bears - Winter songs (1979) - The Song of the Monopolists Area - gli dei se ne vanno, gli arrabbiati restano!gli dei se ne vanno, gli arrabbiati restano! (1978) - Guardati Dal Mese Vicino All'aprile Area - Are(A)zione (1975) - La Mela di Odessa
Radio Spiral Scratch veers off into jazz territory - I haven't gone deeply into the jazz rabbit-hole, but I have developed a taste for the more eclectic/electric side, as well as keeping track of some Ottawa Jazz (Atlantis Jazz Ensemble) and delving a bit of Afrobeat. I hope you enjoy this, and I will be meandering back to rock territory next episode.
Dorothy Ashby - Afro-Harping (1968) - Soul Vibrations Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Oceanic suite (2016) - Pillars of Hercules Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Oceanic suite (2016) - Blue Nile Cannonball Adderley - The black Messiah (1971) - The black Messiah Airto - Free (1972) - Return To Forever Atmospheres Featuring Clive Stevens - Voyage To Uranus (1974) - Inner Spaces and Outer Places Atmospheres Featuring Clive Stevens - Voyage To Uranus (1974) - Voyage to Uranus Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information (2009) - Addis Black Widow Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information (2009) - An Epic Story Tony Allen & the Africa 70 - Progress (1977) - Progress
Radio Spiral Scratch continues in the vein of Episode 4 with some of the more 'challenging' musics, and introduces something special: the first 'Episode-length Feature'. Episode 5 will deal with the music of Chile's Akineton Retard. They began in 1994, and released their latest album in 2015, creating a legacy of challenging 3-sax/guitar/bass/drums Rock-in-Opposition/jazz/rock... but is also fun, listenable - not as alienating as some bands in the genre.
Personnel:
Tanderal Anfurness (Vicente García-Huidobro) - guitarra y voz Estratos Akrias (Leonardo Arias) - saxo tenor, soprano y clarinete bajo Bolshek Tradib (Cristián Bidart) - batería Edén Ocsarrak (Edén Carrasco) - saxo alto y tenor Jay Michel Adams (Jaime Concha) - bajo eléctrico Petras Das Petren (Rodrigo Depetris) - saxo baritono
Akinetón Retard - Akranania (2001) - Survector Akinetón Retard - Akranania (2001) - Recurrancias Akinetón Retard - 21 Canapés (2003) - Akineforn Akinetón Retard - 21 Canapés (2003) - Hawai Akinetón Retard - 21 Canapés (2003) - Farmacologias Akinetón Retard - 21 Canapés (2003) - Bipolarextea Akinetón Retard - Azufre (2015) - Jason Torelli Akinetón Retard - Azufre (2015) - Azufre Akinetón Retard - Azufre (2015) - Loop Akinetón Retard - Akineton ao Vivo (2004) - Cansacio Akinetón Retard - Akineton ao Vivo (2004) - Copenhaguen Schtorba Akinetón Retard - Akineton ao Vivo (2004) - Gansos, Patos y Gallina Akinetón Retard - Akineton ao Vivo (2004) - Dementia Absorbant
Radio Spiral Scratch moves from the more accessible 'rock' of the previous 3 episodes to something a bit more challenging - Krautrock, Rock In Opposition, and Psychedelic Dub. Lose yourself in the sound, expand your headband!
Ahora Mazda - S/T (1970) - Fallen Tree Agitation Free - Malesch (1972) - Sahara City Amon Duul II - Tanz der Lemminge (1971) - Syntelman's March of the Roaring Seventies Art Zoyd - Symphonie pour le jour où brûleront les cités (1981) - Deux images de la cité imbécile Marc Hollander/Aksak Maboul - Onze danses pour combattre la migraine (1977) - Glympz African Head charge - My Life in a Hole in the Ground (1981) - Primal One Drop Daevid Allen & The Majick Brothers - Live at the Witchwood (1991) - Trial By Headline
Radio Spiral Scratch gets back to the hour-long format after the almost-2-hour monster that was Episode 2. Episode 3 rolls through a short list of tracks of 70's acid rock, hard rock and old-school Heavy Metal in search of enlightenment.
Allman Brothers Band - Live at The Fillmore East (1971) - In Memory of Elizabeth Reid
Ashton, Gardiner, Dyke & Co. – What a Bloody Long Day It’s Been (1973) - It's a Drag, I'm a Drag
Armageddon – Armageddon (1975) – Buzzard
Ainigma – Diluvium (1973) - You Must Run
Arzachel – Arzachel (1969) – Metempsychosis
Apryl Fool – Apryl Fool (1969) - The Lost Mother Land (Part 1)
Radio Spiral Scratch starts out hard rocking material and then we move to something lower-key - a look at a few tracks from the Angels of Light, Michael Gira's project between iterations of the Swans.
Jason Anderson - Private release (2019) - Eye of Sybil Davie Allen & the Arrows - Fuzz Fest (1996) - 6-String Highway Yardbirds - 'Blow Up' Film Soundtrack (1967) - Stroll On Aerosmith - Get Your Wings (1974) - Train Kept a Rollin' Foghat - Live (1978) - Honey Hush
I got over-enthused with versions of 'Train Kept-a-Rollin' and played 3 in a row, throwing the 'alphabetical' nature of Radio Spiral Scratch out the window... all in the name of RAWK.
All - Allroy Saves (1991) - Simple Things Action Friend - Bon.Ho.Mie (2019) - LMNOP Whole The Aints - Ascension (1991) - It's Still Nowhere The Aints - Ascension (1991) - Both Worlds
Abronia - The Whole Of Each Eye (2019) - New Winds For The Warming Sand Abronia - The Whole Of Each Eye (2019) - Half Hail Ad Astra Per Aspera - Cubic Zirconia (2004) - Bi-Pedal, Ungrateful, Empty & Awake
Angels Of Light - New Mother (1999) - Praise Your Name Angels Of Light - New Mother (1999) - The Garden Hides The Jewel Angels Of Light - New Mother (1999) - The Man with The Silver Tongue Angels Of Light - How I loved You (2001) - Evangeline Angels Of Light - Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home (2003) - Nations Angels Of Light - We Are Him (2007) - The Visitor Angels Of Light - We Are Him (2007) - Sometimes I Dream I'm Hurting You
Radio Spiral Scratch's inaugural episode, which has a look at 4 bands from the 'A' section!
Acid Mothers Gong - Live in Nagoya (2003) - Lady Lemonade Acid Mother's Temple & the Melting Paraiso UFO - Wake to the Dawn of a new Astro Era (2016) - Force in the 3rd System
Acid Jam 2 (2000) - Funeral Ballet Music Acid Jam 2 (2000) - Tanz Mekanik
Amoeba Starfish - Oceans Older Than Life (2012) - El Nino
Amakudari - S/T (1986) - The Little Smoke Amakudari - Hypnotistique (2008) - Round and Round
Remember: April 29th Acid Mother's Temple comes to The 27 Club here in Ottawa!