Do yourselves a favour and head over to Save Your Face for an extensive look at the early live days ('82-'83) of the Dream Syndicate, expertly and lovingly compiled by Matthew Specktor. Wild guitar duels and unexpected covers a specialty, even when they don't know all the words and their souls are possessed by Jackson Browne. The stuff of legend.
The Dream Syndicate - Folsom Prison Blues (live '83)
The Dream Syndicate - Morning Dew (live '83)
You're probably familiar with Rain And Snow, for it was often covered by the good old Grateful Dead, retitled Cold Rain And Snow. But have you heard the version Garcia & co based it on? Here's that timeless beauty, as performed by Appelachian banjo player Obray Ramsey.
Obray Ramsey - Rain And Snow
It's a relatively small step from Denmark to Sweden, where psychedelic vibes run wild, too. Take Djinn: a collaboration between members of Goat and Hills, so quite the pedigree. No wonder their brand new Transmission record grooves and grooves. Only when they venture too deep in Ayler/Pharoah territory do they lose me, as that's frankly above their paygrade. But altogether, their exciting and remarkably organic-sounding mix of free jazz fusion, psychfolk, krautrock and everything in between made jaws drop around here. One for the end-of-year lists for sure.
Djinn - Creator Of Creation
And while we're on the subject of Hills, their hypnotic Frid album from 2015 remains in heavy rotation at FTSOTS headquarters. Much recommended if you like your psych way krauty, if you know what I mean.
Hills - Kollektiv
The Danish sunship explores the galaxy again. As expected, Wildfire's yet another heavy trip, but less jazzy this time, as if Quicksilver's Happy Trails replaced Sun Ra's Space Is The Place on their collective turntable. A step back? Maybe so, and Another Shape Of Psychedelic Music remains my favourite of theirs. Still plenty to enjoy here though.
Mythic Sunship - Redwood Grove
And let's stay with the Danes a while longer, by way of southern California: last year's collaboration between Jonas Munk (of Causa Sui fame) and Brian Ellis definitely deserves to be heard, too. A modern day Bitches Brew? That maybe too much praise, so let's just say that if innovative and heavy fusion is your thing, you gotta dig their San Diego Sessions.
Ellis/Munk Ensemble - Electric Saloon
Fort Lauderdale meets Cape Town, or: mister Shepp teams up with mister Brand. What can possibly go wrong?
Archie Shepp & Dollar Brand - Left Alone
Wild and wacky nederbiet thingy from '66. Channels the Troggs, Abraham, and mustard. Flute solos a specialty. Solo! Those were the days, pop kids.
The Eurfians - Waaro?
Every roots reggae lover worth his ganja should at least own mighty Mr. Zukie's MPLA, Man Ah Warrior and In Dub albums, but this compilation of tracks he produced for his own Stars label is not to be missed either. Here's a couple of sparkling highlights, my brethren.
Linford Nugent - Black Princess
Ronnie Davis - No Weak Heart
Could do with some peace and quiet today, so let's head down to the desert for a while. That special atmosphere, that's what we're after.
Ikue Mori with Robert Quine & Marc Ribot - Mojave
Marisa Anderson - Mojave
SUSS - Mojave
Time for Terlazzo today. This much recommended '83 debut never made it to compact disc, while vinyl rips found on the web were often scratchy affairs. The good news? Just discovered that the moving Honor Among Thieves is available for download - and in impeccable sound quality at that - at the man's Bandcamp page, and for a name-your-price at that. Right, what are you waiting for?
John Terlazzo - He Wears His Black Heart On His Sleeve
Very welcome of course: a crisp new live registration from the Allman heydays. Sax player Juicy Carter sits in on most songs, and brother Duane's cooking as usual. Historical, but be warned: if you can't stand a bit of tape hiss, better save your money.
The Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out (live Austin '71)
Meanwhile back in Shakey country, the archives are opening like there's no tomorrow. The aptly named Young Shakespeare is the most recent treasure: an intimate solo gig at the Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut. Lovely stuff in pristine sound quality.
Neil Young - A Man Needs A Maid/Heart Of Gold (Medley) (live Stratford '71)
