Stardust [Remastered] - John Coltrane

Advantages: Some of the all time best jazz saxophone ever.
Disadvantages: Some ommissions.

...The Very Best of John Coltrane Some folks in commenting on a previous review wanted me to review some 'hard jazz'; well here goes. This was just one of the 'best of' or 'greatest hits' type albums, of several that have been issues since the great mans death at the tender age of 41. It seems that the saxophone 'greats' die young and tragically; Charlie Parker, Albert Ayler. Although primarily a tenor player, he also played an awful lot of soprano (as on much of this album) and occasionally alto and clarinet, though I've not heard much of this. He was an absolute giant amongst jazz saxophonists, and along with Parker, probably (though in different ways) the most influential saxophonist ever. He played with many of the greats too, in fact some of his collaborations with Miles Davies (trumpet) such as Bye Bye Blackbird, have... Read review

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Advantages: A seminal work
Disadvantages: grown up jazz for grown ups

...A Love Supreme is universally acknowledged as the absolute zenith of Coltrane’s career – it bears an intensity and frankness which forty years on people still find uncomfortable and intimidating, yet somehow entrancing. I can’t confess to having been a Coltrane fan for the greater part of my life. I can’t even claim to have a deep-seated love and understanding of modern jazz as a jaunre. I bought this particular album a month or so ago for two distinct reasons; I heard a documentary on it on the radio, - my local record shop had a ‘special edition’ two CD copy of the album at around £30 – not being entirely convinced I’d even like it, I opted to buy a SACD copy off the intrenet. Let’s get the CD format over and done with, if you don’t like technospeak, skip a few paragraphs! The Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA) standard... Read review

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Advantages: Classic electro album, remastering adds a real boost
Disadvantages: None

...Metamatic was the first solo outing from John Foxx after he split with Ultravox! Ultravox! went on to rather greater fame with the replacement lead singer, some Midge Ure guy but for Ultravox! fans, John Foxx was the real deal. Metamatic deals with many themes and obsessions such as car crashes, Europe, relationships and too much J G Ballard and Philip K Dick which were bouncing around Foxx's head at the time as well as having elements of a story he was working on (and still is!). The lyrics are often full of grey cold imagery but all laced with an almost minimalist electro sound that was years ahead of it's time. It has to be said, he does also write some plain out and out baffling lyrics too - perhaps he uses the old Bowie 'cut up words' technique sometimes? Unlike the previous CD release which was fine but sounded like... Read review

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