All posts by mandevm

Big Big Train: Welcome To The Planet

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On January 28, 2022, “English Electric” label released “Welcome to the Planet”, the fourteenth Big Big Train studio album. It was recorded in 2021, at “Real World” in Box, Wiltshire, England, “Sweetwater” in Fort Wayne, Indiana, “Aubitt” in Southampton, England, “Castlesound” in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was produced by David Longdon, Gregory Spawton, Nick D’Virgilio, Richard Sjöblom, Dave Foster and Clare Lindley.

Personnel:

  • David Longdon – vocals, tambourine, mellotron, piano, flute
  • Dave Foster – acoustic and electric guitar, 6-and 12-string electric guitars
  • Rikard Sjöblom – Hammond organ, mellotron, guitar, ARP synthesizer, accordion, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer piano, piano, 12 string acoustic guitar
  • Carly Bryant – vocals, backing vocals, piano, synthesizer
  • Clare Lindley – vocals, violin
  • Gregory Spawton – bass guitar, bass pedals, 12 string-acoustic guitar, 6 string-acoustic guitar, mellotron, organ, synthesizer, backing vocals, spoken voice
  • Nick D’Virgilio – vocals, drums, vibraphone, mellotron, percussion loops, keyboards, sleigh bells, Fender Rhodes, organ, synthesizer; percussion
  • John Storey – euphonium
  • Nick Stones – French horn
  • Dave Desmond – trombone, brass arrangementс
  • Ben Godfrey – trumpet
  • Jon Truscott – tuba
  • Derek Reeves – violin
  • Aidan O’Rourke – violin, soundscapes
  • Riaan Vosloo – double bass
  • Stuart Hamilton – engineer
  • Bobby Dellarocco, Shawn Dealey – engineer
  • Rob Aubrey – engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Sarah Louise Ewing – artwork
  • Ioan Hazell – engineer assistant
  • Rachel Leonard – engineer assistant

Track listing:

  1. Made from Sunshine – lyrics by David Longdon, music by Dave Foster
  2. The Connection Plan – Nick D’Virgilio
  3. Lanterna – Gregory Spawton
  4. Capitoline Venus – Gregory Spawton
  5. A Room with No Ceiling – Richard Sjöblom
  6. Proper Jack Froster – Gregory Spawton
  7. Bats in the Belfry – Nick D’Virgilio
  8. Oak and Stone – lyrics by Gregory Spawton, music by Gregory Spawton, Nick D’Virgilio, Richard Sjöblom
  9. Welcome to the Planet – Carly Bryant

ARC: …At This

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In January 1971, “Decca” label released “…At This”, the only ARC album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Mick Gallagher, John Turnbull, Tom Duffey and David Montgomery.

Personnel:

  • Mick Gallagher – vocals, piano, organ, guitar
  • John Turnbull – vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Tom Duffy – vocals, bass
  • David Montgomery – drums, percussion
  • David Wedgbury – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher, except where noted.

  1. Let Your Love Run Through
  2. It’s Gonna Rain – Tom Duffy
  3. Four Times Eight
  4. An Ear Ago
  5. Great Lager Street
  6. Hello, Hello, Monday
  7. Sophie’s Cat
  8. You’re in the Garden

Sly Dunbar

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On January 26, 2026, Lowell Fillmore “Sly” Dunbar died aged 73. He was musician (drums, percussion), best known as one half of the Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie. Sly performed and recorded with The Aggrovators, The Upsetters, The Revolutionaries, Peter Tosh, Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones, Joan Armatrading, Serge Gainsbourg, Larry McDonald, Gary Barlow, Dennis Brown, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Cliff, Bootsy Collins, Carlene Davis, Ian Dury, Gwen Guthrie, Nona Hendryx, Mick Jagger, Garland Jeffreys, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Jenny Morris, Yoko Ono, Sinéad O’Connor, Barry Reynolds, Carly Simon and Simply Red.

Japandroids: Near to the Wild Heart of Life

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On January 27, 2017, “ANTI-” label released “Near to the Wild Heart of Life”, the third Japandroids studio album. It was recorded 2015 – 2016, at “Rain City Recorders” in Vancouver, Canada, and was produced by Jesse Gander, Damian Taylor, Brian King and David Prowse.

Personnel:

  • Brian King – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • David Prowse – lead and backing vocals, drums
  • Louise Burns – backing vocals
  • Melissa Gregerson – backing vocals
  • Olga Straffon – backing vocals
  • Jesse Gander – engineer
  • Damian Taylor – engineer
  • Peter Katis – mixing, additional production
  • Greg Giorgio – mixing assistant
  • Greg Calbi – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Near to the Wild Heart of Life
  2. North East South West
  3. True Love and a Free Life of Free Will
  4. I’m Sorry (For Not Finding You Sooner)
  5. Arc of Bar
  6. Midnight to Morning
  7. No Known Drink or Drug
  8. In a Body Like a Grave

Yusef Lateef: The Gentle Giant

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In January 1972, “Atlantic” label released “The Gentle Giant”, the 30th Yusef Lateef album. It was recorded April 1970 – September 1971, at “Regent Sound Studios”, “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone, flute, bamboo flute, pneumatic bamboo flute, oboe, bells, tambourine
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Kenny Barron, Ray Bryant – piano, electric piano
  • Neal Boyar – vibraphone, chimes 
  • Bob Cunningham, Sam Jones – bass 
  • Bill Salter – electric bass 
  • Chuck Rainey – electric bass
  • Albert Heath – drums, flute
  • Jimmy Johnson – drums
  • Ladji Camara – African percussion
  • Kermit Moore – cello
  • The Sweet Inspirations – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Yusef Lateef except where noted.

  1. Nubian Lady – Kenny Barron
  2. Lowland Lullabye – traditional
  3. Hey Jude – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. Jungle Plum – Kenny Barron
  5. The Poor Fisherman
  6. African Song – Kenny Barron
  7. Queen of the Night
  8. Below Yellow Bell

Fabiano Nascimento & Sam Gendel: The Room

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On January 26, 2024, “Real World” label released “The Room”, album by Fabiano Nascimento and Sam Gendel.

Personnel:

  • Fabiano Nascimento – 7 strings acoustic guitar
  • Sam Gendel – soprano saxophone
  • Thomas Jacobi – engineer
  • Jason Hiller – mixing, mastering

Track listing:

  1. Foi Boto
  2. Capricho
  3. Astral
  4. Flowers
  5. Kewere
  6. Cores
  7. Txera
  8. Até de
  9. Manhã
  10. Poeira
  11. Tupi
  12. Daiana

Courting: New Last Name

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On January 26, 2024, “PIAS” label released “New Last Name”, the second Courting studio album. It was recorded in 2023, and was produced by Sean Murphy O’Neill.

Personnel:

  •  Sean Murphy-O’Neill – vocals, programming, creative direction
  • Josh Cope – guitars
  • Sean Thomas – drums
  • Connor McCann – bass guitar
  • Mike Hillier – engineer, mastering
  • Sebastian Westwood – additional engineering
  • Robert Whiteley – co-production, mixing
  • Gary Jarman – additional production
  • Ryan Jarman – additional production
  • Kyler Garrison – deisgn

All track by Sean Murphy O’Neiil, Josh Cope, Sean Thomas and Connor McCann, except where noted.

  • Throw
  • We Look Good Together (Big Words) – additional writing by DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ.
  • The Hills
  • Flex
  • Emily G
  • Babys
  • The Wedding
  • Happy Endings
  • America

Bright Eyes: Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

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On January 25, 2025, “Saddle Creek” label released “Digital Ash in a Digital Urn”, the seventh Bright Eyes studio album. It was recorded in February 2004, at “Presto” in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was produced by Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott.

Personnel:

  • Conor Oberst – vocals, guitar, bass, piano, Wurlitzer, keyboards, samples, baritone
  • Mike Mogis – guitar, Wurlitzer, keyboards, timpani, chimes, theremin, baritone, programming
  • Nate Walcott – trumpet, string arrangements
  • Andy LeMaster – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, additional programming
  • Nick Zinner – guitar, keyboards
  • Nick White – keyboards
  • Maria Taylor – vocals
  • Stella Mogis – voice
  • Clay Leverett – voice, drums
  • Clark Baechle – drums
  • Jason Boesel – drums, percussion
  • Jiha Lee – flute
  • Donna Carnes – violin
  • Kim Salistean – violin
  • Thomas Kluge – viola
  • Karen Becker – cello
  • Sabrina Duim – harp
  • Jimmy Tamborello – programming

Track listing:

  1. Time Code
  2. Gold Mine Gutted
  3. Arc of Time (Time Code)
  4. Down in a Rabbit Hole
  5. Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
  6. Hit the Switch
  7. I Believe in Symmetry
  8. Devil in the Details
  9. Ship in a Bottle
  10. Light Pollution
  11. Theme from Piñata
  12. Easy/Lucky/Free

Low: The Great Destroyer

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On January 25, 2005, “Sub Pop” label released “The Great Destroyer”, the seventh Low studio album. It was recorded May – September 2004, at “Tarbox Road Studios” in Cassadaga, New York, and was produced by Dave Fridmann, Mimi Parker, Zak Sally and Alan Sparhawk.

Personnel:

  • Mimi Parker – vocals, percussion, mixing
  • Zak Sally – bass guitar, mixing, painting, illustrations
  • Alan Sparhawk – vocals, guitar, mixing
  • Dave Fridmann – keyboards, mixing
  • Hollis Mae Sparhawk – vocals
  • Gerry Beckley – backing vocals
  • Tom Herbers – engineer
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Jeff Kleinsmith – layout

Track listing:

 All tracks by Mimi Parker, Zak Sally, and Alan Sparhawk

  1. Monkey
  2. California
  3. Everybody’s Song
  4. Silver Rider
  5. Just Stand Back
  6. On the Edge Of
  7. Cue the Strings
  8. Step
  9. When I Go Deaf
  10. Broadway (So Many People)
  11. Pissing
  12. Death of a Salesman
  13. Walk into the Sea

Rose City Band: Sol y Sombra

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On January 24, 2025, “Thrill Jockey” label released “Sol y Sombra”, the fifth Rose City Band studio album. It was recorded in 2024, and was produced by Barry Walker, Paul Hasenberg, John Jeffrey and Sanae Yamada.

Personnel:

  • Ripley Johnson – vocals, guitars, bass, piano, mandolin, percussion
  • Barry Walker – pedal steel guitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Hasenberg – keyboards
  • Sanae Yamada – synthesizer, backing vocals
  • John Jeffrey – bass, drums, percussion
  • Colin Stewart – mixing, drum recording
  • Amy Brages – mastering
  • Taylor Rushing – artwork, design

Track listing:

  1. Lights on the Way
  2. Open Roads
  3. Rolling Gold
  4. Evergreen
  5. Sunlight Daze
  6. Radio Song
  7. Seeds of Light
  8. La Mesa
  9. Wheels
  10. The Walls