Masami Kawaguchi
Self Portrait

Groupe montpelliérain dont on va sans doute entendre parler dans les années qui suivent ! Figurz présente "Another Kid Comedy" !!!Veritable film Auditif, ce consept album raconte l'histoire issue de l'imaginiare d'un enfant enfermé...Chaque titre traite d'un protagoniste voire d'une mise en situation d'un ou plusieurs d'entre eux pour former la bande originale de cette fiction...Figurz apporte une sonorité toute particulière aux titres, enregistrés en studio éphémère dans 3 lieux insolites : Une ancienne grange remplie de cuves, utilisées comme caisses de résonance pour les parties instrumentales, une abbatiale pour les choeurs et un mas cévenol pour les voix lead..."Incontestablement l'une des meilleurs surprise rock du moment" France Bleu

Bristol based band Cousin Kula announce their debut album Double Dinners. With co-signs from the likes of BADBADNOTGOOD and newly signed to Rhythm Section, Cousin Kula have created their own musical universe of otherworldly pop serenity with vastly distinct, but complementary elements: “the possibilities of jazz, the emphatic energy of club culture, and the sonic tapestries of psychedelia” CLASH Magazine remark.Living and recording together, nestled in the sun-drenched hills on the outskirts of Bristol, Cousin Kula are masters of their craft, and also of restraint; widely regarded by their fans for their superior live show. Having performed live in various bands for the past 10 years since their early teens, not being able to hit the stage during lockdown took its toll on these musicians. Ever resourceful, however, Cousin Kula began a series of their own home-made live sessions, which lead in turn to a Boiler Room Session and further a request from XL signees BADBADNOTGOOD to record a live adaptation of their new single.Now, Cousin Kula flutter into the collective consciousness with a timeless slice of psychedelic soul on debut album Double Dinners. The latest band to emerge out of the buoyant Bristol music scene,they have stripped back all excess baggage for their most accomplished recordings to date. Existing on a similar plane to contemporaries such as Connan Mockasin, Mildlife, Toro Y Moi, Mac DeMarco and HOMESHAKE, the band caught the attention of renowned tastemaker Bradley Zero with their 'Casa Kula Cassette' EP at the end of 2020, with the Rhythm Section founder swiftly taking the 5 piece under his wing, with him commenting:“The band balance an outsider approach with more hooks than you can shake a stick at... the result being a gently beguiling sound that effortlessly draws you in, revealing more character with each listen.”

It’s spring again, and this uplifting little masterpiece may just be the perfect soundtrack for it: Looks Like You’ve Already Won (MA 64) – the long awaited second album from Boston’s pop duo Ashby, following up their critically acclaimed 2001 debut Power Ballads (“Luxurious, intelligent pop” – Q Magazine).Ashby have expanded their sound quite significantly – with intricate multi-layered arrangements, a shimmering widescreen production and great contributions from an array of guest musicians, incl. Brazilian arranger Zé Luis (Bebel Gilberto, Brazilian Girls). The album’s ten tracks were recorded in Boston, New York City and Los Angeles.Richly layered horn arrangements are a trademark throughout the album courtesy of New York City wunderkind arranger Jeremy Adelman. The atmospheric instrumentation is offset by hard hitting funky drums played by multi-instrumentalist Bill Cowie, one half of the duo. The icing on the cake is Evelyn Pope’s pure, understated and floating voice that somehow manages to sound light and deep at the same time.And Ashby’s greatest signature are, of course, still simply beautiful melodies.Check it out, folks! And you’ve already won…

In 1970, Kevin and David met whilst they were working in the Labour Exchange Office on Aytoun St, Manchester. Both played guitar and had been searching for other musicians who played atmospheric music. Kevin had been playing in small clubs in Manchester and David performed in a few local bands. One evening, they jammed together at Kevin’s family home, and quickly realized that their playing blended together to form the basis of the sound they had been looking for. In the late ‘70s, the music scene in Manchester was bursting with new bands and music.However, Kevin and David had little in common with the local acts, being disciples of a more meditative approach. They followed a path of their own, reaching for an otherworldly sound that they heard from artists like John Martyn, David Crosby, Erik Satie, Terry Riley, Eberhard Weber, Alice Coltrane, and Ralph Towner. They experimented combining their acoustic guitars and David’s bass with various effects pedals and techniques to try and achieve a warm and expansive sound that rides the line between ambient, jazz, and psychedelic folk Music.Towards 1981, they had written eleven songs and accompanied a few with Moog synthesizer laid down by Rob Baxter. All were recorded on cassette decks in their simple home studios. They named this collection of music “Light Patterns”, after a poem Kevin had written. With Light Patterns complete, they set out to find a label to represent their music. They started playing a few gigs in Manchester; Band On The Wall, the Gallery, and other venues, such as Rotters which local promoter Alan Wise had organized. They set up with small amps along with their effects and played as though they were back at home. As Kevin remarks, “It was unusual, to say the least, to play such venues in a low volume chilled out way. However, people listened, often in shocked curiosity, and some even asked for tapes.”Peter Jenner, of Blackhill Enterprises, eventually picked up the album for his new label, “Sheet”. Peter had managed lots of experimental bands and solo artists, including Pink Floyd in their early Syd Barrett days. He always favored outsiders! The tapes were taken to Strawberry Recording Studios in Manchester, who were surprised when Kevin and David walked in with just a couple of home-produced cassette tapes. Fortunately, they liked them and agreed to master the album. It was then sent to Portland Recording Studios in London for final mastering to vinyl. George Peckham, aka “Porky”, did the pressing with a personal message in the deadwax; “Kaftans, Candles and be Cool Man”. The artwork for the album cover was done by the late Barney Bubbles, a truly visionary artist.After the album’s release, the pair continued to play together regularly until David moved away from the city. Kevin still resides near Manchester in the rolling hills outside of the city. He continues to experiment with dreamy music in his loft, and we are set to share a selection of his ethereal archival and current compositions in the coming months. David lives a quiet life in a small coastal town in the South, he likes to sail and is an avid cricket fan. We’re excited to make Light Patterns accessible again for the first time in nearly 40 years, remastered from the original tapes. As the original press release said, “Put the album on, lie back and enter the land of no floors”.

13 ans après « Meets A.S Dragon », ‘La Nuit est Là’ est un nouvel album en public, enregistré avec A.S Dragon aux Trois Baudets cet automne. Il comprend également cinq titres au New Morning en 2009 avec AQUASERGE, ainsi que des improvisations au piano.Invités sur cet album: Winston McAnuff, Jef Barbara, Sen-Yattanoel, Anouk Ross, Louis & Joseph BonaSortie aujourd’hui lundi 3 mars 2014 en version numérique, CD et vinyle (tirage limité à 500 ex)

The Green Flamingos ‎– The Southern OracleLabel:Ave The Sound ‎– AV037, Echo Orange ‎– none, Le Pop Club Records ‎– PCR025, Urgence Disk Records ‎– KAB176Format:Vinyl, LPTracklistA1 The Silver Voice On Doomsday Drums A2 Up And Away A3 The Ruch Kicks In A4 Beware A5 Rome Is Burning B1 The Last Sinner B2 Detonate B3 End Of Summer B4 To The Rescue B5 The Southern Oracle