National Health

Turning Point were a late 1970s fusion band from the UK. The band was formed by Jeff Clyne (bass) and Brian Miller (keyboards), who had previously played together in Isotope, and Pepi Lemer (wordless vocals). Also in the band were David Tidball (saxes) and Paul Robinson (drums). They recorded two albums: Creatures of the Night (1977) and Silent Promise (1978), both on the Gull label. They toured the UK, including supporting National Health in 1977. Their final tour in 1980 included Allan Holdsworth and Neil Ardley.

As long-time fans of the 'Canterbury School' style of jazz/rock, a very appealing, very English, sometimes slightly whimsical blend of electric jazz with complex rock have sadly learned, this style and sound is rarely invoked nowadays. Planeta Imaginario are a creative and extraordinary six piece Spanish jazz/rock band that take some of the best influences from Canterbury style music and blend it with an original, very Mediterranean feel for a end result that is strongly their own but that is also redolent of 40 years of creative work in bringing jazz and rock together. To get an idea of what their third album, Optical Delusions, has to offer, think of a great rhythm section of keyboards (Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes piano, acoustic piano, synths), electric bass and drums, influenced by creative rock bands like The Muffins, Hatfield, Caravan, National Health…

Collaborative project featuring German guitarist Rolf Munkes, Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Company Of Snakes), Gerald Kloos, Lance King (Balance Of Power) and guests Don Airey (Rainbow, Whitesnake, Ozzy), Yngwie Malmsteen, Mark Boals (Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire) and Hammerfall drummer Anders Johansson - all names that you know. Now you can get them all on one CD, under the banner of EMPIRE.

"Trading Souls" was the sophomore release from Empire, the super-group project from guitarist Rolf Munkes. Alongside the German axe slingers skills we have the formidable vocal talents of Tony Martin (ex Black Sabbath), the keyboard wizardry of Don Airey (Deep Purple / ex Rainbow), whilst bass legend Neil Murray (ex Whitesnake) forms a tight rhythmic unit with drummer Gerald Kloos (Winterlong / Condition Red). There’s even a special guest in drummer Anders Johansson (Hammerfall / ex Yngwie Malmsteen) who plays on two tracks. Originally released in 2003, "Trading Souls" saw Empire return after their 2001 debut "Hypnotica" with an album full of killer songs in a classic melodic hard rock setting. These 10 tracks perfectly showcase the combined decades of experience and talent from this super group. The end result is a hard rock record brimming with catchy anthems and great ensemble playing.

This DVD features the Whitesnake founding members performing Whitesnake’s greatest hits live! Guitarists Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody with bassist Neil Murray are joined by a host of well known guest musicians to perform all the classic songs that launched Whitesnake into the stadiums of the world. Their combined musical ability produce a phenomenal live show recorded in front of a sold-out audience in June 2004 at Mechanics in Burnley (UK).

Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise - We Are Falling (2005) {Konnex KCD5150}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 308 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 115 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 35 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2005 Konnex | KCD 5150
Jazz / Fusion / Spiritual Jazz / Progressive / Drums / Keyboards

Israeli ex-pat Asaf Sirkis has been gradually insinuating himself into the UK scene since moving to London in 1999. His most visible work to date has been with the controversial saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's Oriental House Ensemble where, in addition to playing drums, he's been able to take advantage of his background in ethnic percussion instruments. His broad orchestral approach to kit and hand percussion may, however, be best heard on woodwind multi-instrumentalist Tim Garland's sweeping and ambitious If the Sea Replied (Sirocco, 2005).

With a strong Canterbury influence implanted into their sound, Egg's first album has the band looking to establish their niche as a progressive group, with Dave Stewart's sharp, effective keyboard work outlining much of the album's overall feel. Mixing jazz and progressive rock drifts, the tracks on Egg contain rhythms and meters that are never at a standstill, with ongoing instrumental action encompassing nearly every track. Numerous classical overtones make for a familiar listen against a backdrop of loose-ended jazz fusion and an unordered yet inviting array of haphazard progressive spillages.

Almost stereotypically overreaching early-'70s progressive rock; quasi-operatic vocals, spinning guitar solos, lengthy suite-like tracks on the order of "Stargazers" and "Hollow Stone (incl. Escape of the Space Pilots)." The highlight is Stewart's effervescent organ work during the gentle and meditative passages. An obscure footnote of early-'70s British art rock, Khan featured guitarist Steve Hillage, keyboardist Dave Stewart, and ex-Crazy World of Arthur Brown bassist Nick Greenwood. Their sole album from 1972 was dominated by Hillage's lengthy, ambitious compositions and Stewart's organ, which owed much to the Canterbury Scene of British prog rock. The group didn't offer much to distinguish themselves from the many other British outfits exploring similar territory, and disbanded after one LP. Hillage went on to join Kevin Ayers and Gong before establishing a solo career; Stewart played with Hatfield & the North and National Health.

A year and 5 albums after he has brought the Manna/Mirage project to a close, ex-Muffins musician / composer Dave Newhouse has produced a new album under the moniker of 'Dave Newhouse', this one titled “Natura Morta”, Latin for Still Life. Many of the same musical suspects (guest musicians) from around the world are involved, this one is a bit longer than the aforementioned Manna/Mirage albums clocking in at around 43 minutes. It still has that signature AmeriCanterbury / Muffins compositional ethic as well as fast and furious examples of fusion / jazz rock, RIO, World Music, Americana, and alt-jazz. Even John Greaves (Henry Cow / Kew Rhône / National Health) makes a lovely appearance here. as does Guy Segers (Univers Zero / Eclectic Maybe Band).

French based multi-instrumentalist and composer Tom Penaguin presents his spectacular self-titled debut album. The album showcases some of the most impressive Canterbury Scene progressive rock sounds since the genre’s inception in the 1970s. Tom (guitarist of Djiin and former keyboardist of Orgöne), began playing guitar at the age of 6 and later learnt how to play drums, piano and organ to a professional standard by the age of 15. Influenced by the likes of Frank Zappa and the Canterbury Scene, Tom set out to build an analog music studio in his house in 2020, where he recorded the entire album using a plethora of vintage studio hardware and equipment. The result is a masterful ode to bands like Egg and National Health. The songs are complex in structure, with Stravinsky-inspired patterns, glorious melodies, whilst allowing room for lengthy improvisations akin to the fusion scene of the early 70s.