Your five musical things, an occasional series, a round up, a gathering together of five musical things that have landed in our in-boxes in recent days, five musical things worth sharing, no particular order, no messing about, here we go, your latest five slices of music….

Part of PoiL yesterday, one part of seven headed thing called PinoiL..

1; Benjamin Lazar Davis –  the New York musician who has played with Okkervil River, Joan As Policewoman, and Cuddle Magic, has announced his debut solo album “Nothing Matters”. Written and recorded in his childhood bedroom in Saratoga Springs, Nothing Matters showcases Davis’ tranquil melodies and fluid lyricism and includes co-writes with Alex Toth of Rubblebucket and Kimbra. Along with the album announcement, Davis released the dreamy first single “A Love Song Seven Ways.”

“A Love Song Seven Ways” is a celebration of the miracle of love in an overwhelmingly damaged world. Drifting in on a psychedelic breeze of synth and drums, Benjamin Lazar Davis’s gentle falsetto soars like a warm sunbeam giving way to euphoria. This is the first single to be released from Davis’s debut solo album ‘Nothing Matters,’ out May 4th on 11A Records.

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2: Kristin Hersh has just released a rather impressive animated video to accompany her song Wonderland, a track of her most recent solo album….

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Wonderland can be found on Kristin Hersh’s album Wyatt At The Coyote Palace (Animation by Wyatt True).

3: Gong Expresso – Here, for your delight, as one of your five essential pieces of ear food, is a taste of Gong Expresso’s New Album “Decadence”. The band, featuring Gong Alumni Francois Causse, Benoit Moerlen and Hansford Rowe are about to release a new album this February…

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Says Hansford, “ ‘Decadence’ is the title tune on the new Gong Expresso album. Here the word means ‘falling away.’ I hope this tune and all the music on the album somehow addresses this in an unadorned, direct way. When I play with these 3 musicians I am convinced there is something special happening, a coming together. Benoit Moerlen (vibes, marimba) and Francois Causse (drums, perc) and I began playing together in early 1977 in PM’s Gong and our rapport is of the kind only long term relationships can provide. On the other hand Julien who is 25 has been alive less time than I have been playing with the others. Yet our musical relationship feels infinitely long. We are recording in two cities, Paris and Montreal. Francois’ studio in Paris is a tuned percussion church and Piccolo Studios in Montreal…”

PM’s Gong was a major branch of the massive Gong tree. In the mid 1970’s drummer Pierre Moerlen separated from Daevid Allen marking an end to the Flying Teapot period and a powerful jazz/rock unit was formed and signed to Virgin Records. Pierre’s brother Benoit Moerlen, Hansford Rowe, Francois Causse, Allan Holdsworth were core members. Many major guests joined them both on albums and touring. Mick Taylor, Mike Oldfield, and French violinist Didier Lockwood were key participants. Mike Oldfield occasionally used the PMG rhythm section for touring also calling on members for albums such as “Ommadawn”, “Incantations”, “Exposed” and “Platinum.” Pierre Moerlen sadly passed away on May 5th, 2005. In concert Gong Expresso mines their huge repertoire and has exceptional guests joining them regularly. Along with the release of their new album, the band will be releasing a new video soon. Gong Expresso’s “Decadence” will be distributed digitally worldwide through The Orchard on Feb 20, 2018. To pre-order Gong Expresso’s “Decadence” go here

before we leave we need done floating Anarchy don’t you think….

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4: Nostalgist are from Seattle, they’ve just let loose a taste of things to come, is that a hint of Catherine Wheel in there eating dust? A touch of Big Country, maybe some Comsat Angels intelligence?  ‘Present:Tense’ is the first single off their forthcoming ‘Disaffection’ album  

P”ost-punk outfit Nostalgist has announced their forthcoming album ‘Disaffection’, slated for vinyl and digital release in March. The six-track offering includes five original songs and a cover of ‘Texture’ from shoegaze legends Catherine Wheel’s 1992 classic ‘Ferment‘.  Already now, the Seattle-based band is previewing the lead track ‘Present:Tense’ as a proper teaser of their new long-play.  We’ll be back with the album review in a day or two….

5:  PinioL, the lustful and strapping meeting of the seven musicians (two drummers, two guitar players, two bassists and a keyboardist) have a new album called Bran Coucou on in April, here’s some of the seven head prog-monster  live at Ca fait zizir festival back in Sept 2016 in Lyon, France, expect more on the new album over the next few weeks…

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Part of Piniol are the band called Poil…