Bomb the Bass - Into the Dragon (1988)

I first heard Bomb the Bass on an old bodyboarding video. It was a track called "Bug Powder Dust" off 1995's "Clear". Having only heard this single track prior to buying this record, I had no idea what to expect. I was not even aware that it was made in the late 1980s!

What a cool surprise! If there has ever been a reason to pay attention to sample-based UK hip hop, this record is most certainly it. Bomb the Bass, which is comprised solely of producer Tim Simenon, first found success with the release of the truly samplific "Beat Dis" on 12" format, primarily as a club tune. This track is also featured on this record, which also features some similar style tunes and also some acid house and pop gems. Other than the really cool hip hop, a cover of Burt Bacharach's "Say a Little Prayer" is a great addition and shows the then young Simenon's versatility.

I picked this up at Khaya Records and it is in absolute MINT condition! This is an original first pressing on the Rhythm King label and features some cool, colourful artwork. I suppose this record is a harbinger of what was to come out of the UK dance scene in the 90s, but it has stood the test of time very well in comparison the the majority of output in this genre over that period.

"Into the Dragon" is not something that I will listen to very regularly, but it certainly does serve as a foil to compare later recordings to, for example those by The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers, which were most likely influenced by the productions techniques contained on the record.

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Rare Earth - Ecology (1970)

I only own this because Rare Earth's "Ma" is one of the most awesome funk/soul inspired rock records ever; and I happen to have a particularly fierce liking for anything remotely funky played on electric guitar. I also have to get anything that was released by Motown Records in the 70s, this being one of them!

"Ecology" is worth the asking price purely for the Norman Whitfield-produced, 11 minutes of "I know I'm Losing You", originally performed by the Temptations. The refrain is just pure funk, whether on sax and bass or wah guitar and bass; but its the drum and percussion pieces that make the tune for me. Some awesome work on the congas by Ed Guzman and Pete Riviera's drumming combine to put to shame most pretenders to the throne that arose in the late 60s and early to mid 70s.

Aside from that the rest of the record is pretty much a big whack of above-average funk rock jamming with the usual lyrical themes for the genre.... yep, you guessed it, trying to get woman to either go to bed with you or trying to explain why she cannot anymore!

The final track on the album is also pretty cool, it is a great rendition of Lennon and McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby", which soars high above the few preceeding tracks. It takes a soulful approach to the song that actually makes the meaning of the lyrics stand out very prominently.

What is also pretty interesting is the guitar tones used on the record. Sometimes it sounds like a fuzzed-out Tony Iommi sledgehammer and at others the kind of standard Gibson blues sound and then finally the requisite wah pedal tomfoolery. So even if the music becomes a bit "standard" at times, there is always an interesting production note to enjoy here and there.

I picked this one up from Khaya Records (like ALOT of the stuff I buy!). Had to clean it up and it came out ok, now to get rid of that static! It's an American pressing that is pushing 40 years of being alive! Quite insane to think that it is more than one third of my lifetime older than I am! The age is shown by the logo on the rear cover that states "Stereo - Also Plays in Mono". Mono.... that was a while back!

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The Mahavishnu Orchestra (with John McLaughlin) - The Inner Mounting Flame (1971)

Whilst researching progressive music, the name of John McLaughlin comes up fairly regularly. It never ceases to surprise me how musicians in the 1970s managed to create such awesome art and get it commercially released on major record lables. This album is the epitome of experimentation, yet was released on Columbia Records all over the globe. I guess that says something about your average music listener, or even your average musician in our times.

"The Inner Mounting Flame" is a major achievement of avant-garde jazz-rock fusion and, other than the virtuoso talents of McLaughlin, features one of my all time favourite drummers, Billy Cobham. Ever since hearing Cobham's "Spectrum" album, which I will post here sometime, I have been obsessed with Cobham's work. This record truly does not dissappoint as he and bassist Rick Laird lay a foundation for McLaughlin on guitar and Jerry Goodman on violin to blaze a trail of mind-melting brilliance. Not to be outdone, Jan Hammer weighs in heavy with some awesome fusion piano. All in all, this record lurches from massively technical improvised experiments to dyed-in-th-wool funk bits and ballads. It really has to be experienced to be appreciated.

I got this record from my dealer at Khaya Records. Thanks Paul!!!! It is an American pressing and has endured some wear on the cover, but the actual record is pretty much in good shape. Definitely worth the few Rand I spent on it!

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Can - Ege Bamyasi (1972)

This band was a discovery for me that was borne mainly out of my fascination with Krautrock and 70's-era electronic music than anything else. I only heard of them after researching my favorite Krautrock band, Neu. Having said that, I can now state categorically that Can appear to be one of the most influential bands for the crossover brand of music, like trip hop and electro-rock that came out of the 90s. I can also say that rhythm is what this band is about!

Got this LP, which is a South African pressing, from my faithful dealer at Khaya Records. Had to give it the once-over with the toothbrush and sunlight liquid, but it came out perfect! The cover is a bit damaged though, showing its age; and the general neglect with which people seem to treat such gems! I really like the back cover (which has the shape of the record worn in from a lack of protection over 38 years...) The photograph fits so well with the "improv jam" style of the songs, one of which exceeds the 10 minute mark.

The album is a really interesting exploration of jazzy experimental rock that fuses some really awesome groove work, in particular Jaki Leibezeit's drumming, with strange atmospherics and electronic sounds. It does require some added attention at first, but locks you in for the ride once you get into the groove. Definitely one for fans of the avant-garde!

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Slayer - Reign in Blood (1986 : 2008 re-release)

A prize from the good souls that inhabit ebay. It's a Geffen re-release of the 1986 thrash metal classic from Slayer, originally released on Def Jam Records. It was pressed in Germany and it is limited to 125 copies! Mine is number 82. It is pressed on marbled white vinyl and comes complete with the original lyric sheet reprinted on high grammage paper.

Personally, this is one of my favorite albums of all time. It, alongside Metallica's "Master of Puppets" ushered in an era of extremely high quality thrash metal which has served as an influence to almost anyone who has picked up a guitar to play metal music.

This copy has never been played; and it probably never will be!

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Tangerine Dream - Rubycon (1975)

If there ever was an album that has polarised the music-listening community, this is most certainly one of them! Tangerine Dream were caught up in the heady days of early electronica experimentation and the krautrock scene. This record is a sprawling collection of anti-rock dark psychedelic meditation, or, if you hate it, a load of un-artistic and tasteless, soulless codswallop.

I personally sit on the "like it" side of the fence, this is a great record to play late at night and early in the morning - depending on your state of mind. It is at once exploritory and demanding as well as brooding and driving. Whatever your particular bent, it is definitely a damn interesting pre-Eno era "ambient" sort of record. A winner in my books.

This copy is an original 1975 German pressing (West Germany to be precise). It was imported into South Africa by a company called Universitas - hence the "Universitas Import" sticker on the front cover. Virgin released it only once on vinyl, with the remaining releases in subsequent years being on CD. I managed to get one of my family members to part with it on the condition that I take care of it... What did he expect?!

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Thom Yorke - The Eraser (2006)

XL have released some pretty seminal British music. Take for example The Prodigy's "The Fat of The Land", which was one of electronic music's all-time greatest records. However, it was with some trepidation that I approached a solo Thom Yorke record, even if it was on this prestigious label. Would it be the sort of wishy-washy blathering nonsense that came out of the likes of Scott Weiland (from Stone Temple Pilots) on his solo stuff? Or would it be more straightforward, like Phil Collins post Genesis?

Thankfully the answer is that it is surprisingly somewhere close to Radiohead, with more of a focus on creating a rich, moving, ambient environment with synths and drum machines for Yorke to deliver his vocals that we all know and love. Make no mistake, this is no Radiohead light, but it does bear some of the hallmarks, without seeming like Yorke has plagarised his main band.

This is another one of those albums that I have only ever listened to on vinyl and I think I could count the number of listens on one or maybe one-and-a-half hands; yet it has remained in my mental music banks for ages. I picked this record up off the trusty vaults of Amazon.co.uk on preorder and was truly smitten from the first listen.

For vinyl junkies, this record has less-than-common packaging; the cover is open at the top, instead of the right-hand side as is commonplace for records. I have very few records with this type of packaging setup in my collection.

All-in-all, this is truly a lovely record from a super-talented artist; a solo-record that, for once, allowed the artist to indulge himself without lowering our opinion of him. That is the most awesome part of the record for me

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Comets on Fire - Avatar (2006)

What an incredible album this is! My favourite Sub Pop album of all time, "Avatar" is a pure trip across the astral plains and straight into 1970s psych-rock played over 21st century sound systems. It was the follow-up to the utterly lysergic "Blue Cathedral" where Comets on Fire really pushed the boundaries of psych-rock, free-jazz and pure noise. Luckily, they did not disappoint and really refined their craft on this record, making a greater effort to reach back to their roots and let them shine through the chaos.

I found this record on a website recommended to me by a friend and immediately bought it. Such is my love for this record that I have never heard it on any other format other than wax! It really is an album that you need to experience on vinyl, at exceedingly high volumes.

My appreciation for the intricacies of this release can spur me to write page upon page about how rich and deep the sound is, how delicate and yet simultaneously crushing the playing is and how truly blessed you will be once you hear it for the first time. But, I reckon its best if you grab yourself a copy and see what all the fuss is about.

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Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien (1987)

Joe Satriani's "Surfing with the Alien" is possibly one of the first "guitar" albums that I ever heard. It represents a pinnacle of 1980's guitar music and has inspired a wealth of melody-concious shredders since. The title track is probably one of my favourite instrumentals of all time and has seriously influenced the way in which I appreciate electric guitar music.

I was lucky enough to pick up a VG+ condition, original Food For Thought pressing from 1987 at an obscure fleamarket in Johannesburg, South Africa (see the cool Food For Thought logo below) . A seriously great find! There have been two official vinyl re-releases of the record by Relativity in 1990 and again in 2008 on Legacy/RSM.

This record put me on to Satriani and I have enjoyed most of his work since, especially his work on the G3 DVDs where some super shred ability is on display.

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Opeth - Orchid (1995) (Double Picture Disc - 2006 release)

I thought we'd start with the first album from my all-time favourite band, Opeth.

This is a 2006 double picture disc release of Opeth's first album "Orchid", on Candlelight Records. It is limited to 2000 copies worldwide and is currently a rather sought-after piece of wax. "Orchid" is a great foray into progressive death metal with an epic twist.

Opeth have gained in stature since signing to Roadrunner Records for their 2006 release "Ghost Reveries", thus their earlier material has become fairly scarce of late! Lucky I got in early! Many thanks are due to my lovely partner in crime, Dom, for her gift of this record!

Back on Black re-issued this on a limited edition 180g vinyl run in 2008. I am still hunting one down.

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