Arthur Brown had practically owned the radio one summer with the insane hit "Fire" (1968), while Black was a former member of the Mothers of Invention, which under the leadership of Frank Zappa became perhaps the most notorious rock band in American history. These Austin sessions are more about the roots rock both Black and Brown love, and one could say they really didn't dig too far to find songs to cover, sticking to warhorses. Some listeners may find the list of titles a bit discouraging, in fact. Once past this roadblock, though, and the scenery gets nice as the musicians in the backseat find effective grooves and the two leaders keep things interesting, Brown with his original vocal style and Black with his soulful drumming.
The first female Professor at the Paris Conservatoire, the first female player in the Queens Hall Orchestra and the first female American Symphonist to be published. The Neave Trio celebrate these three outstanding pioneers on this captivating album. Since forming in 2010, Neave Trio violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura has earned enormous praise for its engaging, cutting-edge performances. WQXR explains, ""'Neave' is actually a Gaelic name meaning 'bright' and 'radiant', both of which certainly apply to this trio's music making."" The Boston
Esoteric Recordings are pleased to release a deluxe 2CD edition of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown. The Psychedelic Rock classic burst forth in 1968, topping the albums charts on both sides of the Atlantic and spawning the hit single Fire. The rock world discovered the delights of rocks supreme showman Arthur Brown and his influence would be felt the following decade when Alice Cooper acknowledged his debt to Arthur's genius. Produced by Who manager Kit Lambert and Who guitarist Pete Townshend, this classic album has been re-mastered and expanded to a two disc edition by the inclusion of rare single tracks, a BBC Radio One session from April 1968, alternate Mono mixes from the album sessions, and a version of Nightmare from the 1968 film, The Committee. Lavishly packaged in a slipcase with an extensively illustrated booklet with new essay, this is the ultimate edition of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
So Arthur Brown's name remains irremediably attached to the late-'60s freakout hit "Fire." So his numerous subsequent albums and projects never eclipsed that one fulgurous shot at stardom. Yet the man kept on going, re-emerging periodically with a new serving of songs. And in all of them remains one element: the voice. That unusually powerful, charismatic voice upon which aging seems to have no hold is what gives Tantric Lover its soul. Beyond the battered-up Summer of Love lyrics and the acoustic guitars, the voice is still a strange attractor and enough reason to turn your ear to this album. That is not to say that Brown's writing doesn't deserve your attention…