I start the August new additions with some new arrivals from South
America. Here is the first:

AKINETÓN RETARD ~ AKRANANIA

2nd album (recorded 2001) by the Chilean Avant-Prog / RIO band and a
formidable successor to their breathtaking debut album. There is no
doubt about Akinetón Retard being one of the most interesting new...

On 1 Aug 2006 08:50:38 -0700, "Jazzis" jazzis.com> wrote:

For a minute there I got confused, and thought I was still in a Raja
thread.

Another South American beauty added today:

GRUPO UM ~ REFLEXÕES SOBRE A CRISE DO DESEJO./

2nd album (recorded 1981) by Brazilian Jazz-Rock pioneers Grupo Um and
a landmark in the band´s career. With the newcomers Rodolfo Stroeter
(Pau Brasil, Divina Increnca, Symmetric Ensemble) on the bass and the
German-born multi-instrumentalist Felix Wagner (Divina Increnca,
Symmetric Ensemble), the group developed some of their most complex
themes ever, mixing extremely elaborated compositions with incredibly
musicianship, achieving outstanding results. The group was founded by
the Nazario brothers (Lelo and Zé Eduardo) in 1979 and their debut
album ("Marcha Sobre a Cidade") is still considered as Brazil's first
proper Jazz-Rock album. All the musicians are top class and the
compositions, which mix rock, jazz and Brazilian rhythms are
outstanding. Definitely worth investigation!

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It is the 22nd day of war. The cease-fire is over and we already had
the sirens wailing this morning. This is definitely not something
anybody can get used to.

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The long awaited Soft Machine CD+DVD added today:

SOFT MACHINE ~ GRIDES

The Soft Machine archives keep offering new treasures on a pretty
regular basis, taking the fans by surprise time after time. This album
offers a live recording in Amsterdam from October 1970 (with the...

A great UK jazz album added today, recorded way back in the 1970s:

MILLER, HARRY / ISIPINGO ~ WHICH WAY NOW

Originally from South Africa, Harry Miller was one of the main forces
on the UK jazz scene in the 1970s. He recorded and performed with all
the major players during that period (John Surman, Centipede...

CURRENT EVENTS

I could not post anything yesterday as Haifa was under unprecedented
attack from the North and I had to spend a lot of time in the shelter.
Later at night I just did not have the energy to write anything,
especially in view of the results of the bombings, the dead and
wounded. The 26th day of war was the toughest we have experienced so
far.

My stomach turns when I watch the nonsense shown on TV in Europe. The
one sided / false and totally non-objective coverage is just shameful.
No wander people around the world have no sympathy for us and don't
understand us. How can they with such one-sided reporting?

Today was relatively easier with only a few visits to the shelter. 27th
day and we are all emotionally drained out and weary. We bury our dead
and pray and weep, hoping for better days.

JAZZIS WEB SHOP

Excellent rare album recently reissued added today:

SKIN ALLEY ~ SKIN ALLEY

1st album (recorded 1969) by this little known, but nevertheless
excellent early Prog / Jazz-Rock group. Both the music and the playing
are heartwarming. Add to that the complex, yet well-crafted and melodic
compositions and you get a gem of an album that has been forgotten for
much too long. This newly remastered edition is far superior to the
previously available 2 on 1 (with the follow up album To Pagham And
Beyond) edition (See For Miles), which had rather poor sound quality
and missed a track from the original album. Most warmly recommended.

=====================================

It is the 28th day of war. Relatively quiet here today (so far) with
heavy fighting on the border and more of our soldiers killed.
Diplomatic efforts are in full swing but the implementation of any
agreements could be still way ahead.

=====================================

Trying to keep business as usual against all odds.

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Have Fun!

The second Skin Alley reissue added today:

SKIN ALLEY ~ TO PAGHAM AND BEYOND

2nd album (recorded 1970) by this little known, but nevertheless
excellent early Prog / Jazz-Rock group. It is every bit as good as
their debut album and quite similar as far as the music is concerned.
This is an excellent example of the era, when everything was allowed,
especially mixing styles and exploring the unknown. The intricate and
well-constructed compositions and the gifted musicianship make the
music sound as fresh today as it was at the time of its release. This
newly remastered edition is far superior to the previously available 2
on 1 (with the self-titled debut) edition (See For Miles), which had
rather poor sound quality and missed a track from the original album.
Most warmly recommended.

=====================================

It is the 29th day of war. No evidence of an immediate solution as far
as I can see, in spite of diplomatic efforts. We have visited the
shelter several times already and the day is still young.

=====================================

Trying to keep business as usual against all odds.

Finally the last recording by the legendary Elton Dean is here:

SOFT MACHINE LEGACY ~ SOFT MACHINE LEGACY

2nd album (recorded 2005) by this particular variation of Soft Machine
(Dean, Etheridge, Hopper & Marshall). This time it is a studio
recording and a follow up to the live album recorded just a few month...

Great Blues / Rock album added today:

WHITE, SNOWY / WHITE FLAMES ~ LITTLE WING

This is a most welcome reissue of a little known Snowy White album,
which was recorded in 1997 and released only in Europe. White returns
to the Blues / Rock format, which of course is his forte. The trio
format serves him perfectly and the rhythm session is superb. He wrote
all the music except the title track (by Hendrix of course) and one
track contributed the drummer. He re-visits a few older songs, but most
of the material is new. There is plenty of space for some formidable
guitar playing, as the tracks are relatively long (up to 9+ minutes),
which should make his many fans quite happy. Definitely one of his
better albums and far superior to his mainstream efforts. Warmly
recommended.

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It is the 31st day of war. We woke up this morning to a hellish barrage
of Hezbollah rockets on Haifa, probably the heaviest we experienced so
far. Fortunately no dead among the many injured. It seems that the
cease-fire efforts are unsuccessful so far and we are in for more of
this insanity.