New Releases for December 2007

Index of New Releases for December 2007

EM RECORDS (JAPAN)

Artist:	MODERN SOUND QUARTET
Title:	Otinku
Label:	EM RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	EM 1072CD

The Modern Sound Quintet was formed by Rudy Smith, a Trinidadian master of the "pans" and a genuine jazz bebopper, in late 1960s Sweden. This international group of musicians features John Rochford (piano) from Barbados, Sigfried McIntosh (bass) from Surinam, George Allyn (drums) from Trinidad and Kofi Ayivor (congas) from Ghana. Lars Samuelson, a jazz trumpet player and producer in Sweden who heard this quite unique quintet, was captivated by their concept and sound, and asked them to record an album. Otinku, the resulting album, was recorded in Stockholm in 1971, produced by Samuelson, and originally released on the Odeon label, a subsidiary of EMI Finland. With an Afro-jazz/Caribbean orientation, the selections are a rich mixture of jazz standards and original compositions, including recently re-discovered killer funk tunes "Otinku" and "Sugar Daddy,"and a fine steel jazz version of "Bags Groove." The album was their only release and is now a sought-after item for steel pan/Caribbean music fans and vinyl diggers.

Artist:	SMITH, RUDY QUARTET
Title:	Still Around
Label:	EM RECORDS (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	EM 1073CD

The album Still Around is the first record Rudy Smith made under his own name, and it is considered a classic and one of his best. In the long history of Pan music, both in Trinidad and internationally, this is one of the very few albums to feature Pan as the leading voice in a pure jazz setting. His group the Modern Sound Quintet played disco/reggae/jazz fusion, changing their name to the Modern Sound Corporation in the late 1970s. After extensive touring throughout Europe, they broke up in 1980. Rudy Smith moved to Denmark in 1983, where he decided to return to the music he loved, jazz and be-bop, forming the Rudy Smith Quartet. The group included Ole Mathiessen (piano), Niels Præstholm (bass) and a South African drummer, Gilbert Matthews. There is an international inspiration for the music on the 1984 album Still Around, featuring an Asian element, mixed with a dash of European, as well as American jazz. Rudy Smith is referred to as the jazz king of steel pans, and in Denmark as the father of the steel pan.

ESKIMO (BELGIUM)

ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)

Artist:	EGG
Title:	The Civil Surface
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2003CD

"Egg were exponents of the so-called 'Canterbury' style of rock music and were focused around the compositional and keyboard playing skills of Dave Stewart (later in Hatfield & The North), Mont Campbell and Clive Brooks. The band recorded two superb albums for Decca Records between 1969 & 1971 before going their separate ways. In 1974 they recorded their final album for the newly-established Virgin record label. Featuring guest musicians such as Steve Hillage and members of the unique Henry Cow, The Civil Surface is now regarded as a classic of the 'Canterbury' and progressive genres. This Esoteric Recordings release has been remastered from the original tapes and is certain to the many who made the reissues of Egg's previous work such a success. The first official CD release of this classic album in sixteen years."

Artist:	ALLEN, DAEVID
Title:	Good Morning!
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2004CD

"In 1975, following his departure from Gong, the highly influential group he had founded, Daevid Allen sought musical solace in the village of Deja on the island of Mallorca. Here he encountered a group of Catalan musicians, Euterpe, with whom Allen began a collaboration. Recorded in Mallorca, the album Good Morning! was released by Virgin Records in 1976 to great acclaim, being a unique work that was regarded by fans and critics as being equally as good as anything he recorded with Gong, if not better. Filled with Allen's startling original musical observations, Good Morning! appeared briefly on CD in the early 1990s and vanished quickly. Long sought-after by the legions of Gong/Daevid Allen followers, Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the reissue of this album with fully-restored artwork and superb 24-bit digitally-remastered sound. The first-ever official CD release for this classic album in sixteen years."

Artist:	MARSUPILAMI
Title:	Arena
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2007CD

"Released in March 1971, Arena was the second and final album by the group Marsupilami. Initially a folk-based group, the band evolved into one of the most adventurous, if unsung, bands of the early 1970s, producing two stunningly original Mellotron-soaked albums. Featuring a line-up of brothers Fred and Leary Hasson (lead vocals, harmonica and keyboards respectively), Dave Laverock (guitar), Richard Lathan Hicks (bass), Jessica Stanley Clarke (flute, vocals) and Mike Fouracre (drums), Marsupilami drew early comparisons to such contemporaries as Quintessence and Gryphon, although in truth the group were far more experimental and powerful. Produced by Peter Bardens (soon to form Camel), the CD release of Arena will be welcomed by the legions of progressive rock aficionados. With this 24-bit remastered edition from Esoteric Recordings, the conceptual Arena has never sounded better. The first-ever official UK CD release for this classic album -- now 24-bit remastered."

Artist:	JONESY
Title:	Masquerade - The Dawn Years Anthology
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2009CD

"Recently cited by Classic Rock magazine as 'the best prog band you've never heard,' Jonesy were one of the most innovative British bands of the early 1970s. Placing a Mellotron at the center of their sound and taking influences from the worlds of jazz, rock, classical music and folk, Jonesy recorded a single and three albums (No Alternative, Keeping Up & Growing) for Pye's progressive Dawn imprint. Drawing comparisons to King Crimson and Yes, Jonesy were more that. Classic Rock's Malcolm Dome declared recently; 'Jonesy were more than mere mimics of any Fripp-ery. They made some fascinating records.' Now, for the first time, Esoteric gathers all of Jonesy's recorded output for Dawn Records and gathers it on this deluxe 2CD set, with all tracks remastered from the original master tapes. Masquerade is certain to attract an excellent response."

Artist:	MAN
Title:	Man
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2012CD

"Man's first classic album for Liberty/UA -- now 24-bit remastered from the original master tapes with a previously unreleased bonus track. Man's importance in the history of Welsh rock music cannot be understated. Fusing the worlds of psychedelia, blues, rock and roll and West Coast inspired rock, they were simply one of Britain's most original groups of the 1970s. Recording a series of classic albums for Liberty/United Artists, Man, along with label mates Hawkwind, were true champions of the 'underground' spirit. Esoteric Recordings are proud to undertake the reissuing of Man's entire legacy for United Artists beginning with their debut for the label released in March 1971. The reissue features a previously-unreleased 17-minute bonus track and liner notes exclusively penned by Man guitarist and raconteur Deke Leonard. The time is right to re-experience the musical ages of Man!"

Artist:	MAN
Title:	Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2013CD

"Man's second classic album for Liberty/UA -- now 24-bit remastered from the original master tapes with previously unreleased bonus tracks. Man's importance in the history of Welsh rock music cannot be understated. Fusing the worlds of psychedelia, blues, rock and roll and West Coast inspired rock, they were simply one of Britain's most original groups of the 1970s. Recording a series of classic albums for Liberty/United Artists, Man, along with label mates Hawkwind, were true champions of the 'underground' spirit. Esoteric Recordings are proud to undertake the reissuing of Man's entire legacy for United Artists continuing with their 2nd album for the label released in November 1971. The reissue is expanded by 35 minutes featuring 3 previously unreleased live bonus tracks from 1971 and liner notes exclusively penned by Man guitarist and raconteur Deke Leonard. The time is right to re-experience the musical ages of Man!"

Artist:	MAN
Title:	Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2019CD

"Man's importance in the history of Welsh rock music cannot be understated. Fusing the worlds of psychedelia, blues, rock and roll and West Coast-inspired rock, they were simply one of Britain's most original groups of the 1970s. Along with label mates Hawkwind, Man were true champions of the 'underground' spirit. Esoteric Recordings are proud to undertake the reissuing of Man's entire legacy for United Artists continuing with their 4th album, hailed by many as their defining moment, released in November 1972. The reissue features fully restored artwork and is expanded by 25 minutes featuring two previously unreleased 'live in the studio' tracks recorded in June 1972 and liner notes exclusively penned by Man guitarist and raconteur, Deke Leonard. The time is right to re-experience the musical ages of Man!"

Artist:	MAN
Title:	Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2020CD

2CD Expanded Edition. "Esoteric Recordings are proud to undertake the reissuing of Man's entire legacy for United Artists continuing with their 1974 Top 30 album hailed by many as their defining moment, released in May 1974. The reissue is expanded with an extra previously unreleased CD recorded in Los Angeles in 1974 featuring 'American Mother' never recorded by Man. The booklet includes liner notes exclusively penned by Man guitarist and raconteur Deke Leonard. The time is right to re-experience the musical ages of Man!"

ESPERANZA (SPAIN)

Artist:	KASPER & PAPOL & JORGE SAVORETTI
Title:	Magic Keys EP
Label:	ESPERANZA (SPAIN)
Format:	12"
Price:	$11.50
Catalog #:	ESPERANZA 008EP

"Esperanza comes back for its eighth release introducing to us a Madrid/Rosario collaboration. Kasper, Papol and Jorge Savoretti got together on the studio to develop 'Magic Keys.' This track, which happens to be on the whole A-side, was inspired by the experience they all had together playing in the north of Spain. Do you want to know the result of this mind tour? A cyber jungle of trippy hypnotic sounds, driving bass and crispy percussion that will set any dancefloor on fire. On the B-side, we have no other than Rosario's wizard Franco Cinelli, who used his 'Magic Keys' to open the door to his amazing remix. A number that keeps the original flavor but adds an irresistible funky touch to it, making great usage of his trademark sounds. Also, keep an eye on the bonus digital remixes. And remember all versions already have big support from all the interplanetary DJs around the solar system."

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Artist:	FEDI, SIMONE
Title:	Belzebù Tales
Label:	ESKIMO (BELGIUM)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	ESK 501974

Artist:	MAN
Title:	Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth
Label:	ESOTERIC RECORDINGS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$21.00
Catalog #:	ECLEC 2014CD