This week, AnalogPlanet begins a multi-part exploration of Japanese synthpop pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). Through reviews of their core releases and YMO-era side projects, we’ll dissect how, by incorporating elements of exotica, video game music, musique concrete, and more, the trio of Haruomi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi, and Ryuichi Sakamoto transformed electronic music. They gained massive success in Japan but are also credited for influencing hip-hop and Detroit techno. First, however, we’ll explore the individual members’ pre-YMO work.
"Today, Ghostly International, Numero Group and Secretly Group record labels Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian all join forces to announce Paved Paradise, a traveling expo bringing their music to parking lots this fall. Over the course of September 9th-26th, a 24-foot Penske truck helmed by several of Secretly's sonic specialists will visit 15 cities in the eastern United States. From the birthplaces of Secretly, Ghostly and Numero in Bloomington, Detroit and Chicago, to Third Man Records in Nashville, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and a community of breweries, flea markets and independent venues in between, Paved Paradise will take the record store experience outdoors, with special guests and local collaborations set for every stop."
The Los Angeles & Orange County Audio Society just announced AUDIOcon—a new "world-class" international high-end audio show at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Hotel, January 14th-16th, 2022, organized under the direction of Sarah Tremblay and Michel Plate, the duo behind the successful and long-running Montreal and Toronto Audiofests.
Third Man Records recently announced this 4 LP box set containing 42 tracks not available on the Sony/Legacy 2 LP set edition of Bob Dylan-Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 (1980-1985) (the tracks will be included in the deluxe 5 CD box set). To purchase this set you must subscribe to Third Man Records Vault ($65/quarter) and you'll automatically receive it.
Glaring errors in music criticism, whether out of ignorance, misunderstanding, rushed deadlines, personal happenings, or whatever else, are at some point in the fields unfortunately commonplace; at some point in the field, you’re bound to make mistakes. When revisiting my past reviews, I balked at my original review of The 1975’s 2020 double LP art pop extravaganza Notes On A Conditional Form. Back then, I called it “frontman Matty Healy’s overblown vanity project [...] a miserably scattered, fake deep musical torture session.” How did that happen? Before dissecting my oversight, however, I’ll provide extended context and a much-needed reassessment.
On March 6, 1961, world-class tenor saxophonist and vibes player Tubby Hayes (1935-1973) regarded as the finest musician on the British modern jazz scene signed a contract to record for the U.K. Fontana label. He had previously recorded for small jazz specialist label Tempo. Though the new contract didn’t provide for an advance or a money guarantee, Fontana was a major label that issued all types of recordings and could provide for his records better distribution and promotion including possible U.S. distribution. Hayes was the first bop generation British musician awarded a major label contract. Hard as it may be to imagine today, the signing was not only jazz news, but major music news worth of a “Melody Maker” cover story.
Run Out Groove Records Announce today the upcoming release of More of The Monkees (Deluxe Edition) cut by Kevin Gray and Andrew Sandoval from the original analog tapes, complete with gatefold "tip on" jacket, expanded to a double LP with the addition of "debut vinyl" rarities.
Sumiko and Pro-Ject USA just introduced the handsome new Debut PRO turntable. Cosmetics are based around a satin black and brushed-nickel color scheme. Beyond the clearly great looks, there's a new 8.6" arm featuring a one-piece carbon fiber wrapped aluminum arm tube said to produce excellent rigidity and to reduce resonances.
Zappa ’88: The Last U.S. Show contains mostly unreleased material capturing Frank’s full Nassau Coliseum Long Island, NY performance plus additional tracks from MD and RI shows. The ’88 band, a well-oiled machine intended to be Frank’s Fox television show “house band”, included some of the finest musicians that had ever worked with him. Naturally, Frank was to have complete show control including guest selection. He intended to choose people with wildly different backgrounds and viewpoints, but at the last minute, Fox pulled the plug.
(Review Explosion is a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don't have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, Review Explosion focuses on the previous few months' new releases. This particular Review Explosion discusses Vinyl Me, Please’s Essentials releases from February-May 2021.)