The Art Of Living

I checked on the internet today but I wasn’t able to find this album anywhere.

The record label that released it, “Molon Lave”, was a heavy metal label but strangely enough, this is not a heavy metal album.

It is a post-punk release…

Nick Frontman’s album,“The Art Of Living”, has a strange story.

The band members appeared here using nicknames .

Nick Frontman (Nikos Koustakas) was a close friend of the Greek dark wave band The Drops (who where about to be signed to Molon Lave records).

In other ways, we are talking about a release of The Drops with a different singer…

Tracklist:

A Side

1. Lonely Man

2. Betrayed Love

3. The Art Of Living

4. The Winner

5. Awake or Dreaming

 

B Side

1. Under The Wheel

2. Talking

3. The Spy In The Cab

4. The Mysterious Green Eyes

Apart from the cover version of the Bauhaus track “The Spy In The Cab” the rest of the album is consisted by originals.

The opening track, “Lonely Man” is the only one with real drums.

The Drops

For the rest of the songs, the drummer Dimitris Stevis (appears here as Steve James – he will later join the bands Nexus and New Zero God) was doing the programming.

In general the album sounds close to the style of Alien Sex Fiend.

Sounds like the boys were having a great time in the studio.

I can imagine them making jokes and having fun.

It is something which one can tell by looking on the back of the album where it is marked that the album was “Made In Germany”…

Ofcourse it was made in Greece.

The photo (that has a lot of problems on the printing) on the front cover was taken in the well known Greek goth club Rebound.

The band played live in a few Athenian clubs for a while before focusing on their own recordings in stead of Nick Frontman’s.

Strangely enough, the Drops would release their album “Suicide In Heaven” and their single “Fatal Fall” through an other record label and not through Molon Lave….

 Nick Frontman released in 1997 a second album titled “Eternity is a Moment”. Aris Psihas, of the Dead Babies did most of the guitar work on that.

 

Days Of Future Passed vol. 7

We posted about R.R. Hearse a couple of times in the past.

The blog Tape Recorder posted the one and only release of that project for free downloading, here.

It is a very rare cassette that was released in 1985.

We post here today one more video taken by the Opticoacoustic Bomb VHS compilation that was released in 1992.

One more vid can be found here.

 

Fun Video Day

It’s a lazy, hazy Saturday … completely braindead … and in search of mindless entertainment …

Here’s a video of how 1,500+ CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines spend their days.  This isn’t the completed version and we do hope you enjoy the teaser.

And if your Saturday is as lazy as mine has been, thus far, here’s a 20 minute documentary of the prisoners at the maximum security prison of Cebu.  They are considered the most dangerous offenders in the Philippines … murderers, rapists, violent drug criminals … but because of the four hours they dedicate to dancing each day, their behaviour has been transformed.

“Previously, Cebu prison was a wretched place ruled by rival gangs. But when the warden introduced dance lessons, everything changed. ‘Everyone became friends’.  Now the prisoners spend most of the day practising new routines.”

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Sending you our wishes for a relaxing and humorous weekend!

 

Sky Saxon

Sky “Sunlight” Saxon (born Richard Marsh) who was best known as the leader of the 1960′s Los Angeles band The Seeds, is no longer with us.

 He died yesterday,  June 25, 2009.

Sky Saxon was hospitalized since last Thursday in an Austin, Texas hospital with what doctors suspected was an infection of the internal organs, but the cause of death has not yet been released.

On her Facebook page, his wife, Sabrina, announced his death as follows: “Sky has passed over and YaHoWha is waiting for him at the gate. He will soon be home with his Father. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep him here with us. More later. I’m sorry.”

He was reported to be 63 years old..

 

Michael Jackson – Part II

UPDATED:  7:40 pm (EST)

Confirmed reports are in now … Michael Jackson has been pronounced dead. 

Regardless of any allegations made over the years, I put my personal feelings aside and pay tribute to a man who had made a huge impact on the music industry.  We all grew up watching him and being entertained by the brilliance of his musical talent.

So, I bow my head, I raise my glass high for the second time today and third time this week (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett), and wish Mr. Jackson Godspeed with peace and serenity.

I’ll end this post with a clip from my favorite “Jackson” era … when times were simplier and life was grand.  He truly was talented …

 

—————————————

@ 22:30:

Unconfirmed reports coming in that Michael Jackson has died. 

…

 

Michael Jackson

A strange day, indeed…

Reports coming in over the wires that Michael Jackson has been rushed to the hospital after he stopped breathing in his home.  Official reports at the moment have listed that the singer was in cardiac arrest with no further details of his condition being reported at this time.  Patient confidentiality laws prohibit the hospital from releasing any further information, but … I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before some “un-official” reports come in.

According to paramedics, Jackson was revived prior to transport.

Will let you know as more details come thru.

 

Farrah Fawcett

Very sad news coming over the wires right now …

Well-known icon Farrah Fawcett (Charlie’s Angels, The Burning Bed) has lost her three-year battle with cancer. She died moments ago at 9:28 am (Pacific) with long-time love Ryan O’Neal (Love Story) and best friend Alana Stewart (ex-wife of George Hamilton and Rod Stewart) by her hospital bedside.

MSNBC recently aired a very poignant video documentary of her struggle with cancer.  Just two days ago Ryan announced that he and Farrah would finally tie the knot after a 28-year relationship.  They are the parents of Redmond O’Neal who also appeared in the documentary.

Godspeed, Miss Fawcett .. may you finally be painfree after an extremely courageous fight.

Biography – HERE

Updated News - HERE

Details and clip from her recent documentary, “Farrah’s Story” - HERE

 

A new snack by Baby Trio

George Kontrafouris is one of the top Greek Jazz musicians. He was born in Athens in 1967, studied classical piano but at the age of 16 he switched to jazz music.

He was the founding member of the jazz band “Page One“, and later joined the bands  “Exit” and “Houston Pearson Quartet“.

He worked with many international musicians, such as: Arild Andersen, Carey Bell, Bob Brozman, Carla Cook, Keith Copeland, Wayne Dockery, Stepko Gut, Marc McDonald, Markus Stockhausen, Louisiana Red, Andy Shepard and participated in many recordings.

After releasing three solo albums,  he formed Baby Trio along with two very young but talented musicians, guitar player Alexandros Vichos and drummer Vangelis Kotzabasis.

Tracklisting

1. The Insane Attack of the Komodo Waran
2. 5 to 7
3. 3. Daddy Giorgos

On this mini CD of theirs, titled “A New Snack”, Kontrafouris continues exploring the world of Hammond organ like he did on his album “Little Daddy’s Blues” (which was released through Tony Monaco’s record label Chicken Coop)

These three great Greek jazz musicians released in 2008 a limited edition CD (777 copies) of groovy jazz which is close enough to the style of Mel Rhyne and Jimmy Smith.

More about mr. Kontrafouris can be found here

 

The Syndromo syndrome

I have to admit that I witnessed only once in my life the funk rock band of Syndromo.

I wrote about that time on this post. They were playing with Mousikes Taxiarhies and were both supported by the Soldiers of Anarchy (and some other band by the name Psychovgaltes).

Formed in 1980 by singer/guitar player Nikos Ginnis, the band had the following line up on their first album: Nikos Ginnis vocals/guitars, Vasilis Korovesis guitars/percussions, Panos “Chiko” Katsakiotis drums and percussions, Costas Theodorakos on the bass and percussionist Costas “Coco” Eftathiou.

Their sound was close enough to that of Mousikes Taxiarhies (engl. Music Brigades ελλ. Μουσικές Ταξιαρχίες) but Sundromo were a lot more funky.

In any case, this was a band that unfortunately came about 5-10 years late as their sound would fit great in the early/mid 70’s but not in the early ’80′s.

They released only one album titled “Syndromo” through Vertigo, which came out with a bonus 7” single in 1982.

The tracklist of the album:

A Side

1.Stis Anagkis ton Apanthropo Rythmo

2. Panta Monos

3. Τi Thes Na Kano ?

4. Skorpios Skopos

5. Xeneroma

 

B Side

1. Rizes

2. Rebela Zise To Rock

3. Ιos

4. Fatses Sto Avrio

5. Vlepo Na Hanis

The bonus single had “Agapi mou Iro” on the first side and the track “Rihno Psema, Psofio Thema” which was recorded live, on the flipside.

My humble opinion is that sometimes the band appeared to be influenced by Frank Zappa. Some other times, by the Rollin Stones….

The song “Rihno Psema, Psofio Thema” is one of these moments but on the other hand, to be honest, it’s a great track.

It catches the atmosphere of the band on stage.

The album had some very nice songs, like the track “Rebela Zise To Rock” (which reminds me of the Rolling Stones of the late ‘60’s-early ‘70’s) and “Ios” which finds the band members in great shape.

Although the sound production is not great, the album probably had great sales.

On the other hand, the band was very active, being constantly on the road and the audience was thirsty for Greek rock bands.

In general, “Syndromo” represents the Greek “anarcho-hippy” spirit of the late ‘70’s/early 80’s.

After the release, Antonis Loxas (I think he played with Vanakos for a while and also released a solo album later) replaced their drummer Katsakiotis and bass player Giorgos Kaliviotis replaced Costas Theodorakos.

With this line up they released in 1983 a 12” EP with with English lyrics.

Actually, only the track “You”  which was on the first side had lyrics.

“Rizes” on the second side was an instrumental but very interesting track as it was close enough to David Byrne’s works.

The last time that Syndromo had an other release was in 1988 when a compilation of live recordings of 30 Greek artists came out featuring their track “To stigma tis stigmis”.

The title of the compilation was “Ihi tou himona” (engl. Sounds of the winter ελλ. Ηχοι του Χειμώνα)

I found yesterday a photo of Nikos Ginis  on this blog.

It’s about the making of a documentary and Nikos looks absolutely great.

 

Groovin’ Over Beirut with the Proxies

It’s a pity I can’t find any video of the next band.

It would give you an idea about the sound of Proxies.

They could easily fit in your synth-pop record collection next to bands such as O.M.D., Heaven 17 and the early Depeche Mode.

Coming from the city of Thessaloniki, singer Giannis Nastas, guitar player Dimitris Bizenis, drummer (?) Lazaros Pliambas and keyboard player Manolis Trichakis formed the Proxies in 1980.

When they released their debut album “Groovin’ Over Beirut” in 1983, they created a sensation.

Tracklisting:

 A Side

1.Photocollage

2.Let The Radio Play

3.Something Went Wrong

4.Little Lorraine

5.Fantasy

 

B Side

1.Luxury

2.Its A Life-Life

3.Groovin’ Over Beirut

4.These Boots Are Made For Walking

5.Romantic

I think this was the very first Greek synth-pop release and for sure the boys would have a better luck if they were in some other country.

You can listen to one of their songs here.

 By the same year, CVR, their record label released a very smart cover of the Greek folk song “Fishing Boat” on a 12” EP which became a club hit.

Thanks to the “Fishing Boat” track, they were discovered by the Greek audience.

The band never managed to repeat their success and disbanded after 5 albums sometime in the mid 90’s.

For their last two albums they turned their name to Greek, “Προξις”.

Although Proxies  should be well respected for their contribution to the Greek new-wave, synth-pop scene, their first album is nowdays very rare and there is not even a single track of theirs on youtube…