New Review and News

Thanks to Amplified magazine for the review:

SHECKLEY
SUNBURST
INDEPENDENT
Sheckley are basically a duo, created by Phil Jackson (keyboards, percussion, also in Paradox One) and Richard Gorman (guitar, vocals, percussion), although they are joined by Thierry Sportouche (Silver Hunter) on one song where he provides keyboards and vocals. This is music with a great deal of space within it, and a rawness that one rarely finds within progressive rock. At times I am reminded of Gong, at others Robert Wyatt, while Hawkwind have also been an influence. It also has a lot in common with the more ambient workings of Brian Eno, but never falling into the trap of New Age. This isn’t always easy music to listen to, with songs such as “Solar Flares” channeling a RIO feel to proceedings with repetitive and contradictory musical themes, with drums that make an appearance here and there almost as an afterthought, but having an important part to play. By the time I had finished playing it the first time I couldn’t actually say that I enjoyed the album, possibly more “endured”, but there was something about it that did make me go through it again. There really is something quite compelling about this, even though it is hard to put it into words. With this one it really is a case of listening to it and everyone making their own decision. Available as a cut-price CD, it is also possible to stream through Bandcamp where you can hear the songs.

ALSO SOME NEWS:
Richard and I have made some progress with the ‘Liveships’ project- haven’t decided on a title yet. It should be released around Easter time. This will be the second Sheckley release. Any reviewers interested in a copy please e-mail phil@paradoxone.co.uk

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Paradox One Festive 15

FESTIVE 15

I can’t remember a year that has ever been so quiet for reviewing. Rising postal costs seem to have been a factor in that not many CDs come through the letter box these days. Some of my regular sources seem to have forgotten about me or have become exceedingly irregular. What record labels need to understand is that downloads are all very well but I do not get paid for reviewing, it is very time consuming, a labour of love yes, but all done in my own time amidst a never ending sequencing of competing demands. Indeed I have now taken the decision not to review files. I like to see the physical product in front of me. I don’t want to have to shift back and forth on the computer, print off sleeves etc. I don’t think that is too much to ask. My own music always goes out to review in physical CDs at personal cost. This year I decided to restrict my festive recommendations to music send to me for review rather than music I have purchased myself. So it is with regret that I now publish not a festive 50 or 40 but a festive 15. The way things are going it could be that this is the last festive list after- how many years is it, Stuart? (* – see bottom of page for the oldest one I have – SAH) Anyway, here goes:

REISSUES:

BILL NELSON: CHANCE ENCOUNTERS IN THE GARDEN OF LIGHT (Esoteric)

NIRVANA: LOCAL ANAESTHETIC (Esoteric)

FUCHSIA: FUCHSIA (Fruits de Mer LP)- also ‘SONG’ (2 x 7”) (Fruits de Mer)

PATTO: MONKEY’S BUM (Esoteric)

CLEAR BLUE SKY: CLEAR BLUE SKY (Esoteric)

NEW MUSIC:

MACHINE MASS PLAYS HENDRIX (Moon June)

SHAMBLEMATHS (Self released)

THINKING PLAGUE: HOPING AGAINST HOPE (Cuneiform)

MAGIC BUS: REAWAKEN YOUR THIRD EAR WITH PHILLIP THE EGG (Self released)

SIDDHARTHA: TRIP TO INNERSELF (Trail)

CHEER ACCIDENT: PUTTING OFF DEATH (Cuneiform)

MINAMI DEUTSCH: MINAMI DEUTSCH (Sulatron)

ELECTRIC MOON: STARDUST RITUALS (Sulatron)

OLD/ NEW

SIDEWALK SOCIETY: STRANGE ROADS: THE SONGS OF ROLLED GOLD (Fruits de Mer LP)

 

*

THE FESTIVE 40 – The Best Of 2007!

In no particular order and omitting ones I haven’t heard yet but have heard good things about like Robert Wyatt’s ‘Comicopera’ and Ben Weaver’s ‘Paper Sky’. Come to think of it I haven’t heard The Flower Kings latest opus yet either!

ANEKDOTEN “A Time of Day” (Possibly their best to date).
GWYN ASHTON “Prohibition” (Some great blues rock)
BIG SLEEP “Bluebell Wood” (originally released in 1971 but new to me!)
BOB BROZMAN “Post Industrial Blues” (Amazing guitar sounds!)
CARPTREE “Insekt” (Continue to develop as one of the top prog rock bands)
ROGER CHAPMAN “One More Time for Peace” (A return to form)
CLEAR BLUE SKY “Gateway to the Seventh Dimension” (Nice package!)
D’ARCANA “Premonitions” (double CD) (Amazing presentation, amazing music!
RAY DAVIES “Working Man’s Café” (Amazingly a give away with a Sunday newspaper! His Electric Proms concert wasn’t half good either!)
DR WILL “Itching Again” (Thanks to Tim and Terri for introducing me- sorry I didn’t get around to reviewing it. One of the best albums of 2007 to me invoking the spirit of Beefheart, Waits, Mississippi John Hurt and most of all Dr Will’s unique take on life and music!)
DUTY FREE AREA “Kaleidoscope” double CD (Two albums with live bonus- bafflingly good progressive rock! (Talking of Kaleidoscope, their –the psych band that is- vinyl reissue of ‘Beacons from Mars’ is a highlight)
EGG “The Civil Surface” Another of my all time favourite bands resurfaces on Esoteric Recordings
FAR CORNER “Endangered” (Challenging but also heartwarming).
SUE FOLEY, DEBORAH COLEMAN, ROXANNE POTVIN “Time Bomb” Three of Ruf’s finest blues ladies together!
FROMUZ “Audio Diplomacy” (CD/DVD) (Stunning concert from brilliant Uzbekistan group)
HAMFATTER “What Part of Hamfatter Do You Not Understand?” (A hit single at last!)
HUGH HOPPER “Hopper Tunity Box” (Another oldie but goodie!)
JUST JACK “Overtones” (Not my usual thing but cleverly done and nicely satirical take on modern life)
PETER LACEY “Permanent Waves” (Brian Wilson fans know where to go!)
MAGIC PIE “Circus of Life” (Becoming a top prog rock band)
MAN “Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In?” +3 (originally released in 1971)
MAN “Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth” (double CD) (another oldie brought back to live with bonus)
ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE “The Black Tomato” (Their best yet)
PALADIN “Paladin” (Another oldie that was new to me)
RARE BIRD “As Your Mind Flies By” (Esoteric reissue) (An oldie, more familiar to me but as Rare Bird is one of my all time favourite bands I couldn’t resist!)
REVEREND AND THE MAKERS “The State of Things” (Satirical take on modern life, saw them on Jools Holland)
ROOT DECO “Rain, Steam, Speed” (Timely reminder of what a good band they are)
SHAY TAL “Tambourina” (Something a bit different!)
THE SHINS “Wincing The Night Away” (not sure this is an improvement on previous impressive releases but the best bits are among their finest)
SIGUR ROS “Hvart/ Heim” (double CD) (Soundscapes that would only fail to move a statue!)
SILVER LINING “The Inner Dragon” (By way of a belated apology to Thierry Sportouche- have been promising to review his band’s melodic prog concept opus for two years. Its moment will come!)
JOHN SLADE BAND “Broken Finger” (Zappa fans will drool. Clever stuff!)
SPACE DEBRIS “Three”/ “Live at Burg Herzberg Festival” (OK, the latter is a DVD but as always a great nostalgia trip!)
SPACE RITUAL “Otherworld” The spirit of Hawkwind returns!
UNDERGROUND BALLROOM “Contradictions” Their ‘Drawing The Line’ has remained on my MP3 player for most of the year.
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR “Transmissions” A live performance of the entire ‘Godbluff’ album and the whole of A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers live as a bonus- bliss!
VARIOUS ARTISTS “As Good As It Gets: The Best of British Jazz 1951-1957” (I discovered a new name- Cy Laurie!) (Also superb linked releases featuring the talents of Humphrey Lyttleton, Chris Barber and Ken Colyer)
VARIOUS ARTISTS “Stone Island Records” (Welcome to a new label featuring old friends Census of Hallucinations, Clear Blue Sky and new acts)
WILCO “Sky Blue Sky” (double CD) (The album I always knew they were capable of!)
STEVE WILSON “Sideshows and Fairytales” Some great songs on there.

7 Records anniversary / Sheckley News

‘7’ RECORDS REACHES ITS 1Oth ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR AND A 15 TRACK PROMOTIONAL CD HAS BEEN MADE MOSTLY FOR RECORD SHOPS WHO STOCK THE CDs. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE DROP ME A LINE OR TWO: phil@paradoxone.co.uk

THE CD COVERS LATTER PARADOX ONE, SHECKLEY, DRUNKEN DALEK, URBMON 116 AND ORAC 2 WITH A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY THE OTHER HALF OF SHECKLEY RICHARD GORMAN WITH 4 TRACKS FROM HIS ‘POP ART’ ALBUM WHICH TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY. ‘POP ART’ CLEVERLY COMBINES AD HOC CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREET WHICH LINK THEMATICALLY TO THE SONGS AND IT WORKS BRILLIANTLY IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS INTERESTED IN RICHARD’S MUSIC PLEASE CONTACT phil@paradoxone.co.uk SO I CAN PASS ON HIS E-MAIL. THE MUSIC CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON BANDCAMP UNDER PARADOX ONE AND RICHARD GORMAN RESPECTIVELY.

 

SHECKLEY IS WORKING ON SOME NEW MUSIC AND I AM GOING INTO DUNDEE THIS AFTERNOON TO DROP A DEMO OF SIDES 1 AND 2 OF A FANTASY ‘LP’ (WE’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET ONE PRESSED!!) THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT FROM ‘SUNBURST’ EQUALLY EXPERIMENTAL WITH HINTS OF JAZZ. PROG ROCK AND EVEN TECHNO. IT IS INSPIRED BY ROBIN HOBB’S CAPTIVATING ‘LIVESHIPS’ TRILOGY OF BOOKS AND WE ARE BOTH HAVING A LOT OF FUN WITH IT- WHEN WE GET THE CHANCE!!

FESTIVE FAVOURITES TO FOLLOW

New Sheckley album underway – Liveships

RICHARD AND PHIL ARE WORKING ON A SECOND SHECKLEY ALBUM WITH THE WORKING TITLE OF ‘LIVESHIPS’, IT IS A CONCEPTUAL ALBUM INSPIRED BY ROBIN HOBB’S TRILOGY OF BOOKS WHICH HAVE PLEASURABLY OCCUPIED A SIZABLE PART OF PHIL’S LIFE RECENTLY. ALWAYS SIDESTEPPING CONVENTIONALITY RICHARD AND PHIL ARE WORKING SLOWLY AND ORGANICALLY TOWARDS MUSIC THAT IS IN PARTS EXPERIMENTAL, PROGRESSIVE AND ELECTRONIC. MELODY AND RHYTHM ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND THE QUEST IS NOT FOR PERFECTIONISM BUT FOR EXPRESSIONISM. WE ARE NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE RELEASED BUT IF INTERESTED IN A REVIEW COPY/ WHATEVER DROP US A LINE AT phil@paradoxone.co.uk

WE ARE ALSO DOING SOMETHING RARE FOR US- REHEARSING! IN FACT WE HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH DRUMMER HARVEY WALLER TO DO SOME IMPROVISATIONS AROUND NUMBERS LIKE ‘BLUE TRAIN’, ‘I AM THE WALRUS’ AND ‘SET THE CONTROLS FOR THE HEART OF THE SUN’. MAYBE SOME DAY OUR OWN ORIGINAL JAMS CAN FORM A RELEASE OF SOME KIND.

UNTIL THEN THERE IS NEW MUSIC ON BANDCAMP TO EXPLORE; RICHARD HAS BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE STUDIO PRODUCING LOTS OF CDs. HE REALLY IS PROLIFIC AND WRITES GREAT SONGS WITH GREAT LYRICS- PLEASE CHECK OUT HIS SOLO WORK ON BANDCAMP. AS FOR PHIL THERE IS THE DRUNKEN DALEK PROJECT FOR SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISED PIECES SUCH AS ‘PREMONITION BLUES’ WHICH CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY IN AS A VOCAL VERSION IN BITE SIZED SEGMENTS ON BANDCAMP. WHY THE DRUNKEN DALEK i HEAR YOU SAY- WELL THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU IS IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LATE, GREAT SPIKE MILLIGAN.

ANYWAY THAT’S ENOUGH FOR NOW- PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH VIA E-MAIL OR CHECK OUT PHIL’S FACEBOOK PAGE AND BANDCAMP.

Sheckley review by Kev Rowland

Sheckley review by Kev Rowland :

Sheckley are basically a duo, created by Phil Jackson (keyboards, percussion, also in Paradox One) and Richard Gorman (guitar, vocals, percussion), although they are joined by Thierry Sportouche (Silver Hunter) on one song where he provides keyboards and vocals. This is music with a great deal of space within it, and a rawness that one rarely finds within progressive rock. At times I am reminded of Gong, at others Robert Wyatt, while Hawkwind have also been an influence. It also has a lot in common with the more ambient workings of Brian Eno, but never falling into the trap of New Age.

This isn’t always easy music to listen to, with songs such as “Solar Flares” channeling a RIO feel to proceedings with repetitive and contradictory musical themes, with drums that make an appearance here and there almost as an afterthought, but having an important part to play. By the time I had finished playing it the first time I couldn’t actually say that I enjoyed the album, possibly more “endured”, but there was something about it that did make me go through it again. There really is something quite compelling about this, even though it is hard to put it into words. With this one it really is a case of listening to it and everyone making their own decision. Available as a cut-price CD, it is also possible to stream through Bandcamp where you can hear the songs. https://paradoxone.bandcamp.com/album/sunburst-full-album-by-sheckley

Paradox One – Radio play and interview

Radio play news

Playlist 654
The Overflow hosted by Garry Lee is playing ‘The Unknown Unknowns’ by Paradox One

In other news:

Phil has been interviewed by Acid Dragon on his music as Paradox One, his collaborations with Stone Premonitions, with Richard Gorman and Thierry Sportouche in Sheckley and much more.

Impromptu spacerock concert and video

 

Phil joined with Thierry Sportouche of Silver Lining, Lyon and Tim Hunter of Northern Soundscapes for an impromptu concert at the Orb Community Centre, Knaresborough, Yorkshire on 29th March, 2017.

The You Tube video is below and photos of the event can be seen on Facebook.

While there Phil unveiled a solo version of a new multi-part number he has started working on with Richard Gorman as Sheckley for a projected second Sheckley album. This was ‘Liveships’ named after the brilliant ‘Liveship Traders’ series of fantasy books by Robin Hobb.

 
Another piece unveiled was a techno one called ‘Space Elevator’- slightly chaotic on the night as I couldn’t hear the backing well!

ADVENT 40- here it comes again! The year 2016 – continued

ADVENT 40- here it comes again! The year 2016

Although you won’t see this until the new year I thought it would be fun to share this list. I have been doing this since not long after John Peel died and it appears on my paradox one website. What I’d really like to know is what 2016 was like to our readers and contributors! NB 1 or 2 from 2015, slow starter!

In random order:

MARTIN ARCHER  STORYTELLERS       DISCUS          PROGRESSIVE JAZZ

ASTRAL SON  MIND’S EYE          SULATRON               PSYCHEDELIC SPACE ROCK

VASIL HADZIMANOV BAND  ALIVE     MOON JUNE            JAZZ FUSION

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE   VISIONS OF….SPACE ROCK PRODUCTIONS   SPACE ROCK

SANGUINE HUM    WHAT WE ASK IS WHERE WE BEGIN  ESTOERIC ANTENNA          PROGRESSIVE ROCK

17 PYGMIES                        ISABEL 11: ABADDON RISING  TRAKWERX   COLDWAVE

GLODBLUG  GLOBULE      STONE PREMONITIONS   SPACE ROCK

GANDALF     TO ANOTHER HORIZON  ESOTERIC      (Reissue)

GANDALF     MAGIC THEATRE   ESOTERIC      (Reissue)

JIM WELLMAN       DAWN TO DUSK    ACID JAZZ/ SOUL/ FUNK  10

KEVIN HEARD         CYDONIA     STONE PREMONITIONS   SPACE ROCK

NAIMA         BYE                 CUNEIFORM                        PROGRESSIVE JAZZ ROCK

OSSICLES      OSSICLES                  KARISMA      PROGRESSIVE ROCK

WEST SPACE LOVE            WEST SPACE LOVE                        PROGRESSIVE ROCK PRODUCTIONS

SEVEN IMPALE                   CONTRAFAGGIO               KARISMA      PROGRESSIVE ROCK

PANZERPAPPA       PESTROTTEDANS   AVANT PROG

SISYPHOS     AGAINST THE GRAIN       MOON C       PROGRESSIVE ROCK

VARIOUS ARTISTS             THE FRUITS DE MER GUIDE TO HITCH-HIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

TANGERINE DREAM         THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG SERIES VOLUME 2  ESOTERIC ANTENNAE (reissue)

ANTHONY PHILLIPS          WISE AFTER THE EVENT  ESOTERIC BOX SET (reissue) 20

TONY PATTERSON                        EQUATIONS OF MEANING         ESOTERIC ANTENNA

EDEN SHADOW      MELODIES FOR MALADIES        WHITE KNIGHT RECORDS            PROG METAL

P J HARVEY              THE HOPE SIX DEMOLITION PROJECT                        VAGRANT

DAVID BOWIE        BLACK STAR                        COLUMBIA

GONG            REJOICE, I’M DEAD!                      PROGRESSIVE/ PSYCH/ CANTERBURY

THE RESONANCE ASSOCIATION          PILGRIM       BANDCAMP             ELECTRONIC/ EXPERIMENTAL/ DRONE

CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER        CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER        ELECTRONIC/ SYNTH/ STEREOLAB SIDE PROJECT

ELECTRIC MOON   THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE       SULATRON   SPACE ROCK

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR             WILD              BLUES

EMPIRICAL              CONNECTIONS                   CUNEIFORM RECORDS 30

THE LUCK OF EDEN HALL                        THE ACCELERATION OF TIME                HEADSPIN/ KICKSTARTER           PROG ROCK/ PSYCH

SUN DIAL                 MADE IN THE MACHINE             SULATRON               SPACE ROCK 32

GERMAN ARMY    FUNAI           KIKIMORA TAPES               ???

SHACKELTON WITH ERNESTO TOMASINI                 DEVOTIONAL SONGS        HONEST JON’S

THUNDERCAT         THE BEYOND/ WHERE THE GIANTS ROAM  BRAINFEEDER          JAZZ/ SOUL/ CROSSOVER

Still a few spaces to fill.

ADVENT 40- here it comes again!

ADVENT 40- here it comes again!

Although you won’t see this until the new year I thought it would be fun to share this list. I have been doing this since not long after John Peel died and it appears on my paradox one website. What I’d really like to know is what 2016 was like to our readers and contributors!

In random order:

The first 29:

MARTIN ARCHER  STORYTELLERS       DISCUS          PROGRESSIVE JAZZ

ASTRAL SON  MIND’S EYE          SULATRON               PSYCHEDELIC SPACE ROCK

VASIL HADZIMANOV BAND  ALIVE     MOON JUNE            JAZZ FUSION

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE   VISIONS OF….SPACE ROCK PRODUCTIONS   SPACE ROCK

SANGUINE HUM    WHAT WE ASK IS WHERE WE BEGIN  ESTOERIC ANTENNA          PROGRESSIVE ROCK

17 PYGMIES                        ISABEL 11: ABADDON RISING  TRAKWERX   COLDWAVE

GLODBLUG  GLOBULE      STONE PREMONITIONS   SPACE ROCK

GANDALF     TO ANOTHER HORIZON  ESOTERIC      (Reissue)

GANDALF     MAGIC THEATRE   ESOTERIC      (Reissue)

JIM WELLMAN       DAWN TO DUSK    ACID JAZZ/ SOUL/ FUNK

KEVIN HEARD         CYDONIA     STONE PREMONITIONS   SPACE ROCK

NAIMA         BYE                 CUNEIFORM                        PROGRESSIVE JAZZ ROCK

OSSICLES      OSSICLES                  KARISMA      PROGRESSIVE ROCK

WEST SPACE LOVE            WEST SPACE LOVE                        PROGRESSIVE ROCK PRODUCTIONS

SEVEN IMPALE                   CONTRAFAGGIO               KARISMA      PROGRESSIVE ROCK

PANZERPAPPA       PESTROTTEDANS   AVANT PROG

SISYPHOS     AGAINST THE GRAIN       MOON C       PROGRESSIVE ROCK

VARIOUS ARTISTS             THE FRUITS DE MER GUIDE TO HITCH-HIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

TANGERINE DREAM         THE OFFICIAL BOOTLEG SERIES VOLUME 2  ESOTERIC ANTENNAE (reissue)

ANTHONY PHILLIPS          WISE AFTER THE EVENT  ESOTERIC BOX SET (reissue)

TONY PATTERSON                        EQUATIONS OF MEANING         ESOTERIC ANTENNA

EDEN SHADOW      MELODIES FOR MALADIES        WHITE KNIGHT RECORDS            PROG METAL

P J HARVEY              THE HOPE SIX DEMOLITION PROJECT                        VAGRANT

DAVID BOWIE        BLACK STAR                        COLUMBIA

GONG            REJOICE, I’M DEAD!                      PROGRESSIVE/ PSYCH/ CANTERBURY

THE RESONANCE ASSOCIATION          PILGRIM       BANDCAMP             ELECTRONIC/ EXPERIMENTAL/ DRONE

CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER        CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER        ELECTRONIC/ SYNTH/ STEREOLAB SIDE PROJECT

ELECTRIC MOON   THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE       SULATRON   SPACE ROCK

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR             WILD              BLUES

EMPIRICAL              CONNECTIONS                   CUNEIFORM RECORDS

THE ONES I HAVEN’T CHECKED OUT YET?

ANDERSON- STOLT           INVENTION OF KNOWLEDGE

NEAL MORSE BAND         SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM

DREAM THEATER  THE ASTONISHING

DUNGEN      HAXAN

OPETH           SORCERESS

Sunburst by Sheckley – the fabulous new album

Sunburst by Sheckley – the fabulous new album is out now at Bandcamp.

• Comes in CD case with stunning artwork and pictured and designed by Richard Gorman. Solar flare photograph courtesy of NASA. Postage rates for EU and rest of world are approximate- please enquire.

  Includes unlimited streaming of Sunburst (full album) by Sheckley via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

  ships out within 2 days

  	1.	Launchpad 02:12
  	2.	Red Ghost a Sharik 02:05
  	3.	Red Ghost: Poyekhali! 04:14
  	4.	Red Ghost: Kirzach 02:16
  	5.	Lament 01:33
  	6.	Sunspots 04:06
  	7.	Sunburst 10:33
  	8.	Dawn 03:04
  	9.	Solar Flares 04:23
  	10.	Sunset 02:09