WAR 'I'm About Somebody'

WAR 'I'm About Somebody'

Obscure funk/reggae crossover tune from WAR's first album for RCA released in 1982. The 'somebody' they sing about on this slow-burning low tempo juggernaut must be Dr. John AKA Mack Rebennack AKA 'The Night Tripper' surely? A Google search brings up nothing on this song. Any further interpretations warmly welcomed...

Tony Joe White 'The Change'

Tony Joe White 'The Change'

An ode to the browning leaves and chilling winds of Autumn from big Tony.

Love - Revelation

Love - Revelation

'Revelation' is a 19 minute psychedelic blues jam that hogs the whole of one side of the album 'Da Capo'. Some critics see it as a let down to the album - a kind of flabby afterthought compared to the focussed and territory staking songs of the first half. Be that as it may, this tune has a rolling charm of its own, punctuated by the agitated yelps of Arthur Lee, rousing harmonica parts and a low end that perseveres like a used car salesman on performance enhancing drugs.

Leonard Cohen - Night Comes On

Leonard Cohen - Night Comes On

As the nights draw in noticeably faster during these days of mellow fruitfulness, you start to think about buying a new jacket and making some cider. If you are Leonard Cohen you probably go and pen a hauntingly attractive song about the night coming on.

Phil Upchurch - Sitar Soul

Phil Upchurch - Sitar Soul

Upchurch fills a hole with super noodles smothered in clattering percussion.

Alternative Rock Routes - Mixtape

Alternative Rock Routes - Mixtape

To make up for a combination of lethargy, distraction, hangovers, love interests and other non-excuses for a lack of postings recently, here's over an hour's worth of rock-orientated fare cobbled together recently to form a mix. It comprises obscure re-edits from labels like Blackdisco, Messalina, History Clock and Mindless Boogie, as well as some gin-u-wine original tunes too!

Angelo & Eighteen 'Flight 2'

Angelo & Eighteen 'Flight 2'

Obscure and rhythmically kicking B-side from 1972, produced under the light saber skills of RAK records owner Mickie Most (who also produced The Animals, Donovan and Jeff Beck amongst others).

Seahawks 'High On You'

Seahawks 'High On You'

Seahawks come correct with this classy downtempo psychedelic dub-rock trip to Tramadol Island. Subtly re-creating the sweet confusion of a hot session on the sun-lounger after a clutch of rum punches, its all reverberating bliss and anesthesia. Check out their album 'Ocean Trippin' for more beats to help you drift from the quayside to the wide open waters of your mind. Or something!?

The Animated Egg 'Inside Looking Out'

The Animated Egg 'Inside Looking Out'

Furred-up psychedelic surf excursion from The Animated Egg.

Kak 'Trieulogy'

Kak 'Trieulogy'

The flying tambourine on the front cover of Kak's self-titled album appears to be in the ascendency, but according to the old adage (and basic laws of physics) "what goes up must come down." With a collection of tunes this strung-out its hardly surprising the band headed back towards pacha mama like a granite balloon. 'Trieulogy' is pretty dirgy West Coast rock for the first two thirds of the song - its only in the last third that the band really wake up and find a higher gear.

Bangor Flying Circus 'Violent Man'

Bangor Flying Circus 'Violent Man'

Swinging dynamically from mild annoyance at the fairer sex in Joe Beck's song yesterday to skittish, almost paranoid avoidance of them in this. "I'm not a violent man, so I'll having nothing more to do with you" suggests the woman in question here either has a mean right hook or enjoys being beaten up. Whatever the case it sounds best avoided. Lyrics aside, this tune off Bangor Flying Circus' relatively obscure, hit and miss album is notable for some nifty guitar mimicry in the lead singers voice and a phase of horizontal organ grooving. In case you were wondering the group aren't from the North Wales but Chicago.

Joe Beck 'Ain't No Use In Talking'

Joe Beck 'Ain't No Use In Talking'

Whilst another Beck was hogging all the limelight in the late 60s and early 70s, this one was operating under the radar with his own take on folk rock incorporating a jazz guitar and soul seam. This number attends to the situation of his girlfriend being a slight pain in the arse at times.

Alexander Skip Spence 'Little Hands'

Alexander Skip Spence 'Little Hands'

Standout album opener from Alexander 'Skip' Spence's acid-fried solo LP 'Oar'. Often described as an American counterpart to Syd Barrett, Spence released this album in 1969 following a big meltdown that culminated in the sometime Jefferson Airplane drummer and member of Moby Grape venting his energy in a recording studio with a fire axe and being committed to New York's Bellevue Hospital as a result. 'Oar' is peppered with moments of brilliance and of nuttiness, but never indifference. 'Little Hands' is probably the most accessible and cogent song on there.

Relatively Clean Rivers 'Easy Ride'

Relatively Clean Rivers 'Easy Ride'


A tidy slice of west coast folk-rock psychedelia from one-album-wonders Relatively Clean Rivers. Their user friendly if somewhat derivative sound summons the spirit of Grateful Dead circa 'Workingman's Dead' if somewhat more constrained in tempo and expansiveness of composition. Other comparisons with Quicksilver and David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' might also be warranted. The whole LP coasts along at a scenic hog-ride pace.

Robert Belfour 'My Baby's Gone'

Robert Belfour 'My Baby's Gone'

Biting blues from Robert 'Wolfman' Belfour off his first album 'What's Wrong With You' released on Fat Possum Records in 2000. It took 61 years for that record to come out. Plenty of time spent in research and development at the university of life one suspects, busting up with ladies, liasing with the devil and knocking back strong bourbon to get that authentic hollering sound.

Slim Harpo 'Baby Scratch My Back'

Slim Harpo 'Baby Scratch My Back'

Not sure what instigated Slim Harpo's bout of itching, but he doesn't sound all that concerned about it on record. In fact he sounds quite excited at the prospect of the situation being rectified by the long manicured nails of his baby, and rightly so. 

Junior Wells 'Yonder Wall'

Junior Wells 'Yonder Wall'

After a holiday of sorts, the Danceflawed blog is back in business, opening July's account with a track off one of the best Chicago blues albums of all time. Pretty hard to pick just one off this puppy, the whole thing is complete a schooling in simple, fluid and down-to-earth bluesmanship. 

Dennis Coffey 'Back Home' (Edit)

Dennis Coffey 'Back Home' (Edit)

Earnest low-note piano riffs and dancing flute lines exchange pleasantries, as Dennis Coffey goes under the scalpel in an operating theatre decked out in tan leather and fake palm trees.

The Shadows 'The Rise And Fall Of Flingle Blunt'

The Shadows 'The Rise And Fall Of Flingle Blunt'

With the Wimbledon tennis championships kicking off today, thoughts momentarily leap back to the competition's standout musical event (read: horror show), when cheese merchant Sir Cliff Pilchard hijacked centre court during rain-stop-play in 1996.  Talk about a captive audience - the call for a sniper was strong that day. The Shadows were his backing band many moons ago, but also struck out on their own to peddle a strong line in skiffle, surf instrumentals. Hank Marvin was the engine room of the band, with a totally singular and vital guitar sound heard on classics like 'Wonderful Land' and 'Apache'. This is a cool, instrumental stroller of a record, unshackled from the creeping schmaltz of Sir Cliff's bogus musical visions.

Billy Cobham 'Stratus'

Billy Cobham 'Stratus'

A restless, surging bassline paves the way for an artillery of instruments on this 7 minute trip to the statosphere, whilst Billy knocks seven shades of shit out of a drum kit the size of a holiday cottage.

Slim Gaillard 'Fuck Off (Chicken Rhythm)'

Slim Gaillard 'Fuck Off (Chicken Rhythm)'

Novelty rhythm 'n blues cut from Slim Gaillard - a jazz performer who was 'accidentally left behind' on the island of Crete by his father at the age of twelve and stumbled into the world of music after training to be a mortician. He also invented his own language called 'Vout'.

The Zombies 'Time Of The Season'

The Zombies 'Time Of The Season'

It's the time of the season for loving. Amen to that. One of the great sunshine psychedelic pop songs of all time, layed down at the Abbey Road Studios a matter of months after 'Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' and 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' had been made there. Begs the question as to just what exactly was in the water at that studio in 1967?

Santana 'Jam In E'

Santana 'Jam In E'

This is what Santana were all about - explosive, percussive jamming. Proper rug-swaying, freak-your-shit-out rock. Taken from the 'Acapulco Sunrise' demo recordings from 1968, when big ropey perms and bandanas were most definitely 'in'.

Patrick Abrial 'Slag Machine'

Patrick Abrial 'Slag Machine'

Bonkers, over-sexed and misogynistic Frenchman Patrick Abrial was a lot more miss than hit in his time, but this is a cool two minutes of trippy guitar instrumental and some of the funkiest jaws harp ever committed to record. 'Go away, come back' is what you can only imagine he said to most of the girls.

Episode Six 'Jak D'Or'

Episode Six 'Jak D'Or'

Relatively obscure B-side from a band formed in Harrow (some members of whom would go on to play for dodgy prog outfit Deep Purple). This is a simple psych jam with seismic drum breaks that you could imagine being put to quite good use in a TV advert for a high-strength continental lager.

Steve Winwood, Remi Kabak & Abdul Lasisi Amao (AKA Third World) 'Irin-Ajo'

Steve Winwood, Remi Kabak & Abdul Lasisi Amao (AKA Third World) 'Irin-Ajo'

Third World (not the cheesy reggae outfit) AKA Steve Winwood, Remi Kabak and Abdul Lasisi Amao released this African rock-fusion record in 1973. It's a further demonstration Stevie's almost boundless musical talents. Fragrant flute, eleccy guitar and rickety percussion interplay for hot, lazy days.

Gala Drop 'Drop'

Gala Drop 'Drop'

Nothing to do with bingo as far as I know, Gala Drop are four musical experimentalists from Lisbon, Portugal. This is the standout track on their 'Overcoat Heat EP' from 2010, which to their credit really does sound completely new and pioneering. Words like lilting, meandering and mesmerising also spring to mind. There's a short interview with one of the members over at the (always excellent) Test Pressing site, along with a mixtape for download. Also worth checking is GD's album from 2008 (pictured 'cos its got a better cover than the EP) for more involving and intrepid fusions of electronics and instruments.

Iron Butterfly 'Get Out My Life Woman'

Iron Butterfly 'Get Out My Life Woman'

Psych-tinged cover of Lee Dorsey's hit single from 1967. As well as being one of the most covered songs of the era, the drum break from 'Get Out My Life Woman' became one of the most sampled beats of all time and the foundation for innumerable hip-hop tunes. The original is still the best, lean and direct song crafting from the great Allen Toussaint.

Holger Czukay 'Fragrance'

Holger Czukay 'Fragrance'

As opposed to trying to describe in a few sentences the ants-in-his-pants, forward thinking sonic weirdness of Can's main man, just check out the video for 'Fragrance' instead. 'Cool In The Pool' is  another solo effort that represents unbeatable potential for deck chair shenanigans.

Sir Victor Uwaifo 'Atete (Ekassa 38)'

Sir Victor Uwaifo 'Atete (Ekassa 38)'

Skillful and inventive guitar work from one of Nigeria's great musical exports, backed up by a patchwork of uplifting percussion and vocals. Soundway Records continue to rule the arena of afro-related re-issues.

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble 'Tightrope'

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble 'Tightrope'

There's not a lot left to be said about The Raygun that hasn't already been yelled from the mountaintops by his devoted following. A titan of the blues guitar in his time, this track is off his first and last solo album as a sober man. Having battled with serious alcoholism for the best part of the 80's, he released 'In Step' in 1989 having kicked the sauce. He checked out in spectacular fashion the following year, killed in a helicopter crash in 1990 - a sad but befitting end to a life walking the tightrope. Also check out youtube footage of the man covering 'Little Wing'

Swamp Rock, Country Funk & Road Songs mixtape

 Swamp Rock, Country Funk & Road Songs

A little mix for the open road...

Beaver & Krause 'Another Part Of Time'

Beaver & Krause 'Another Part Of Time'

Beaver & Krause were a pair of pioneering experimental musicians who tested the limits and capabilities of early models of the Moog synthesizer in the late '60's. They introduced said gadget to bands like The Monkees, The Byrds and The Doors. This track is taken off their 1970 album 'In A Wild Sanctuary' which also features a track called 'Spaced' - the end of which was the basis for the famous gliding synth soundtrack to the THX logo in cinemas. Another track off the album 'People's Park' was recently incorporated in an excellent mixtape called Purple Brain, for lovers of sonic weirdness and obscure musical marriages.

Erik Satie 'Trois Gymnopedies: Deuxieme Gymnopedie'

Erik Satie 'Les Trois Gymnopedies: Deuxieme Gymnopedie'

About as clued up on classical music as on advances in eye surgery here, but this little piano piece from avant-garde French composer Erik Satie is beautiful. Stripped of any pomp or grandeur whatsoever, its maudlin, reflective and uplifting all at the same time and liable to turn on the waterworks if you're in a delicate frame of mind. May also be conducive to beard growth and massive red wine and brie consumption.

Letta Mbulu 'Mahlalela (Lazy Bones)'

Letta Mbulu 'Mahlalela (Lazy Bones)'

Check out the voice on Letta if you haven't done so already. Lawd knows what she's inferring about lazy people, but this track is enough to get even the most entrenched couch potato up on two feet and busting a few moves.

Flying Burrito Brothers 'Hot Burrito No. 2'

Flying Burrito Brothers 'Hot Burrito No. 2'

Continuing from the country visions of Gene Clark yesterday, here's a band Gene was affiliated with for a while along with a raft of other heavyweights including Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. Top draw country rock with added salsa picante.

Gene Clark 'Lady Of The North'

Gene Clark 'Lady Of The North'

In addition to an older post about Gene Clark's jaw-droppingly good solo album 'No Other', here's the parting shot to that masterpiece. Words can't really justice to the beauty of this track.

Bruce Springsteen 'State Trooper' (Trentemoller Mix)

Bruce Springsteen 'State Trooper' (Trentemoller Mix)

This re-rub of The Boss has been knocking around the interweb for a while now and garnering a degree of hype in the process. It's with good reason as Trentemoller teases the infectious low-fi groove of the original from the 1982 album 'Nebraska' into a floor-friendly stomper.

Annette Peacock 'Pony'

Annette Peacock 'Pony'

Annette Peacock married jazz bassist Gary Peacock, studied zen macrobiotics and was given one of Robert Moog's first prototype synthesizers in the 60's. These factors must have contributed to the wildly experimental and a bit mental album 'I'm The One' that stunned ears in 1971. The album has just recently been given a timely re-issue on CD available through her website.

Oil Tasters 'Emma'

Oil Tasters 'Emma'

The Oil Tasters were three blokes from Wisconsin on drums, saxaphone and bass guitar who ramped out a brand of jumpy, jazz-flecked, humorous and danceable music unlike any of their peers in the early 80's. This cover of Hot Chocolate's 'Emma' transforms the ponderous and mournful original into a kind of celebration of dreams that inevitably go south. Their self-titled album is crammed with great records like 'That's When The Brick Goes Through The Window' and 'I Don't Want To Be (An Encyclopedia Salesman)'. Click here for more background on the band.

Tony Joe White 'I Want You'

Tony Joe White 'I Want You'

The 'Swamp Fox' Tony Joe White lays down some trademark yelps and driving swamp blues guitar on this track from his excellent second album 'Continued...' from 1969.

Okay Temiz 'Denizalti Ruzgarlan'

Okay Temiz 'Denizalti Ruzgarlan'

More heady Turkish rock, this track lifted from the excellent 'Bosporos Bridges' compilation from 2005.

Esin Afsar 'Zuhtu'

Esin Afsar 'Zuhtu'

After a much-needed hiatus in Anatolia on a kebab and Turkish rock music pilgrimage, the blog reawakens to this saz-laden excursion into the swirling waters of the Bosphorous courtesy of Esin Afsar.

The Aliens 'Sunlamp Show' (Disco Bloodbath remix)

The Aliens 'Sunlamp Show' (Disco Bloodbath remix)

Psychedelic, housed-up, dubbed-out, discofied rock beats for the sun lounger. It's all about the nagging piano riffs that come in half way through this cosmic chugger.

Disco Blaze 'Plastic Feelings'

Disco Blaze 'Plastic Feelings'

Kicking Nigerian psych-funk from the mid-seventies. There's nothing very disco about this or any of the other tracks on 'Jump Back' - a collection of percussive stompers intermittently peppered with pidgen English lyrical efforts. The album was recently discovered by some geezer on a trip to Lagos and got a subsequent re-release on African Sun Records last year. Presumably the album title refers to the evasive action one might need to take when encountering the sheer hotness of the Disco Blaze talent?

Sly Dunbar 'Inner City Blues'

Sly Dunbar 'Inner City Blues'

Going to start branching out from the rock-based fare on here a bit in future. Here's a portion of rrrrrreggae-rock from rhythm titan Sly Dunbar off his 1982 solo album 'Sly-Go-Ville'. Kind of the suits the general tensions and unrest being felt around London at the moment.

Jim Ford 'You Just-A' (Full Version)

Jim Ford 'You Just-A' (Full Version)

Sly Stone called Jim Ford "the funkiest white man I know." He penned songs for a host of artists including Bobby Womack and The Temptations and in 1969 released an album called 'Harlan County' which sold poorly on original release. The wider public probably weren't ready for the experimental blend of country, soul, funk and Appalachian elements but the record has since been hailed as one of the greatest albums you've never heard. Two more albums for Paramount and Capitol were never released until Bear Family Entertainment did the world a favour in 2008 and put them out, along with a CD release of the Harlan County album with additional out-takes and bonus material.

Tommy McLain 'Before I Grow Too Old'

Tommy McLain 'Before I Grow Too Old'

Strong birthday resolution song alert. Tommy McLain is a Louisiana legend and this cut features on the excellent compilation called 'Another Saturday Night' which serves as a good introductory primer to the swamp pop/cajun sound. Check out the amazing and beautifully shot documentary film 'Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey' directed by Matt Wilkinson. It tracks the formation of a swamp pop supergroup featuring McLain, C.C. Adcock, Warren Storm and other legends of the genre.

Bob Dylan 'All The Tired Horses' + 'Abandoned Love'

'All The Tired Horses'

'Abandoned Love'

Two for one deal on current Dylan favourites! 

El Gusano 'Work Your Hand To The Bone'

El Gusano 'Work Your Hand To The Bone'

Tex-Mex psych and soul instrumental with weird mimimoog inflections and a super laidback feel. El Gusano's concept album 'Fantasia Del Barrio' was botched together during a few cerveza and bolgnese sandwich-fuelled days in the mid-seventies and has just recently been re-released by Heavy Light Records.