Goblin: Roller (1976)

Untangling the convoluted and fragmented evolution of Italian soundtrack legends Goblin may very well be an exercise in futility. The history up to the point of Roller, their 1976 non-soundtrack album is pretty easy, though: bunch of kids got together and played live a few times as Oliver, changed a few members and got picked up by a label who randomly changed their name to Cherry Five. They recorded an eponymous album of progressive, fusion-ish tunes with a vocalist (we’ll get around to reviewing it this month) before hooking up with Giorgio Gaslini to help score Dario Argento’s Deep Red. Gaslini left the film, and Argento had the band do the composing themselves. To ensure this work didn’t conflict with the about to be released Cherry Five album, they changed their name to Goblin. Make sense? Who knows, but after the classic Deep Red score the band went and created Roller. And here we are.

ChrisMay 8, 2025Leave a comment

Neil Ardley: A Symphony Of Amaranths (1972)

Man, what a delight. That was the first thing I thought to myself when getting swept up in the opening minutes of A Symphony of Amaranths, the incredible jazz orchestra composition from Neil Ardley, noted composer and writer of over 100 books on science, technology, and music. This was a complete blind buy: not being available on streaming services I only noticed it when browsing through the new stock on LaserCD and based on the description took a chance as I was already ordering a few other albums. I’m so glad I did; Ardley masterfully combines the two genres into a moving piece of art that is rich and vibrant and joyous, something my body and soul desperately required.

ChrisMay 1, 2025May 1, 2025Leave a comment

Vinyl

Les Rallizes Dénudés: ’77 Live (1991)

When people write about bands or artists that cross genres, they usually denote it by using some kind of punctuation, typical a slash. The near-mythical Les Rallizes Dénudés are that slash, the punctuation between their unique and mesmerizing blend of psychedelia, pop, and garage rock. Pierce the layers of squalling feedback and noise and you can hear the bubblegum pop and 60s R&B the legendary Takashi Mizutani used as a springboard to carve out one of the most interesting niches in music. To cap off Live Month we’re going to spend a week with the band, who never put out a proper studio album, only live, archival releases starting with ’77 Live, their blazing set at the Tachikawa Social Education Hall in Tokyo.

ChrisApril 21, 2025April 22, 20251 Comment

Vinyl

The Doors: Live In Detroit (2000)

The WiFi in Aruba is spotty at best, so Live Month will be abbreviated this week as we dive into Archive week. The May 8, 1970 Detroit show at the Cabo Arena has long been considered one of the top performances from The Doors. One of their longest set ever performed, it’s long been considered “the” live recording of the band to get. Rhino finally collected the show in its entirety back in 2000 on CD and last year put out a gorgeous box set on vinyl for RSD. I had only known it in digital form thanks to the band’s Bright Midnight Archives Concerts series, where it lived with two sets from Aquarius Theater in 1969. But now Live In Detroit is here, so let’s get into it…briefly, before the terrible WiFi cuts out again.

ChrisApril 15, 2025April 15, 20251 Comment

Pink Floyd: Live At Wembley Empire Pool (1974)

To be clear, this is NOT the standalone release The Dark Side Of The Moon Live at Wembley 1974 that came out in 2023, which I THINK was taken from the November 15-16 shows and is just the Dark Side of the Moon part of the show. Live At Wembley Empire Pool is the full show (with a mammoth bonus up front) presenting to my ears Pink Floyd at their absolute best: this is not only my favorite live recording of the band; it’s grown to become my go-to album anytime I want to listen to Floyd – at least the post Syd Barrett era of the band. Full of gargantuan solos and massive jams that almost but never lose sight of the fantastic song structures the group were known for it’s a fascinating document of the band not only playing with established classics but exploring the breadth and scope of songs that would become classics on future albums.

ChrisApril 9, 2025April 9, 2025Leave a comment

Led Zeppelin: Inner City Blues (1973)

Legend has it Led Zeppelin had recorded a number of concerts from late 1972 to early 1973 in anticipation of a live album. The band made a stop in Southampton, and after a lackluster first night amped it up for their second show, with was recorded for local radio. So think of Inner City Blues captured in the Old Refectory on 1/22/73 as a could have been, a contender for what was eventually released as The Song Remains The Same, and one of the best sounding bootlegs I’ve ever heard. The song selection is superb, the improvisational takes are inspired, and everyone is in fifth gear, these songs so completely embedded in their DNA. Even the flubs make it inspired, and this is one where the immersion is large and firmly in place.

ChrisApril 8, 2025April 8, 2025Leave a comment

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Tag: 1970s