New Albums - Page 107

Bassist Simon Sammut has released his sophomore solo album called Crossing. Following up on 2011’s Bassic Attitude, the effort is an evolution of his sound, which he describes as “fluid in texture and inspiration.” “The musical score and complimentary paintings are based on a common theme of ‘crossing,'” he writes. “Essentially it is about crossing barriers or boundaries whether they...

Former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters is back with his fifth solo album, entitled Is This The Life We Really Want? It’s his first studio album since 1992’s Amused to Death. As one might expect from the songwriter’s past and present stances, the album is politically-charged. Although he regularly expresses his opinions on the current administration, Is This The Life...

Composer John Zorn has released the sixth album with his 21st-century ensemble Simulacrum, called The Garden of Earthly Delights. The powerhouse band is comprised of bassist Trevor Dunn, keyboardist John Medeski, drummer Kenny Grohowski, guitarist Matt Hollenberg, and vocalist Sara Serpa. The exploratory album celebrates the 500th anniversary of the death of renowned painter Hieronymus Bosch. “A visionary of unparalleled...

Asia has released a 2-CD/DVD live set called Symfonia – Live In Bulgaria 2013. The release captures the band in a concert at a second-century Roman theater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra. It also features the lineup of original Asia members John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Geoff Downes with guitarist Sam Coulson. After Wetton passed away two...

Thundercat’s long awaited full-length followup to 2015 EP The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam is finally out. Drunk is a 23-track exploration of the bassist/vocalist’s dark humor marked by shorter, more intense musical vignettes. As always, his unique six-string chordal playing creates a dream-like sonic playground punctuated by funky licks and quirky lyrics. Thudercat, aka Stephen Bruner, enlisted a...

Drum legend Peter Erskine has worked with a slew of the world’s best bass players, and that’s once again documented on two new albums from his projects. First up, Erskine’s “Dr. Um” band has followed up their successful debut album with Second Opinion. Where the original album featured Janek Gwizdala, the former Weather Report drummer tapped bassist Benjamin Shepherd to...

Ever since Julie Slick teased the album back in October, we’ve been patiently waiting for the new EchoTest album. Now we’re basking in the goodness that the band calls From Two Balconies. Slick shares bass duties in the band on her Bass VI with fellow phenom Marco Machera, who plays on a five-string. Slick gave the lowdown on their third...

Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has released a new box set chronicling the live performances of his band The Rhythm Kings. The Kings Of Rhythm Volume 4: Race With The Devil contains three DVDs and a CD of the 10-piece blues and soul band with Wyman at the helm. “The band has a core rhythm section but features a...

Halo Orbit’s new self-titled debut album is available now. The trio is anchored by bass heavyweight Juan Alderete (Mars Volta, Deltron 3030), with drummer Mark Guiliana (David Bowie’s Blackstar, Beat Music) and guitarist suGar Yoshinaga (Buffalo Daughter). Each member’s unique voice blends to create incredible sonic explorations that range from atmospheric improvisations to trance to hip hop to grunge. “Back...

English alt-rock band Elbow has returned with their seventh studio album, Little Fictions. Inspired by topics ranging from love to Britain’s pending exit from the European Union, the entire album is rooted by Pete Turner, who dishes out melodic bass lines to punctuate dreamy songs. Little Fictions is available now on , and as a digital download ( and )....

Train has returned with their eighth studio album entitled A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat. The album includes the bass work of Hector Maldonado, who has anchored the band since 2009. A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat is available on , and as a digital download ( and ). Check out the band’s first single from the album, “Play That...

Miles Mosley’s long awaited album, Uprising, is now available. The monster double bassist created the album with his band the West Coast Get Down during the intense month-long recording session that also yielded The Epic for saxophonist Kamasi Washington. Mosley utilizes his distinct bass playing to serve each song, either with a solid groove or other-worldly effects. Uprising has the...