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Archive for the ‘news’ Category

Gone to Lunch, Back Soon!

April 24th, 2012

Gadzooks! Has it really been over a month since the last posting on HFoS?

I suggest somebody pulls their finger out and gets a proverbial wriggle on… That would be me then.

Just to let you know, HFoS hasn’t died, nor the bloke what does the writing. It will, in fact, return shortly. Largely because this backlog of Esoteric reissues in need of review, isn’t getting any smaller.

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folk rock, music vid, news

Normal Service will be Resumed

February 8th, 2012

Jeffman, writer of this here HFoS blog, has developed a temporary fault. Normal service will be resumed, once we’ve found the manual and figured out how to reboot him. This may take a week or two.

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news

HFoS into 2012

January 16th, 2012

Back again. Yes, despite the best efforts of an aircraft hangar’s worth of booze and a blossoming addiction to Mike Oldfield’s ‘On Horseback’, HFoS has made it through yet another Christmas.

king crimson hear the bad newsKing Crimson react to the news HFoS survived another Christmas

This year I’ve resolved to beat the post-seasonal hangover by remaining drunk, which, thus far, has proved to be an agreeable tactic… Pay no heed if my eyes glaze over or I lose my train of thought mid

As is customary this time of year, I will be making one or two rash promises, none of which I have any intention of adhering to. So we might as well get those out of the way first.

2012 will see a new look website and a raft of new features, as well as the return of some old ones.

There, pretty much the same as last year, minus the enthusiasm.

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music vid, news, prog rock, progressive folk

Apologies

June 14th, 2011

Sincere apologies to those who took the trouble to post comments over the past week. A security issue meant that HFoS had to undergo surgery. Unfortunately the last week’s worth of contributions were casualties that, sadly, didn’t make it through.

Thanks to all the commentators, on what was an unusually busy week, for taking part. Sorry your efforts have been lost to the digital sawbones.

news

Pink Floyd Reissues Announced

May 14th, 2011

Two items of Pink Floyd news hit the headlines last week… Yes, two! Quite remarkable for a band whose ability to entertain all but ran dry following the departure of Syd Barrett and the release of their second album,  1968′s A Saucerful of Secrets – though 1970′s Atom Heart Mother and 1975′s Wish You Were Here do have their moments.

pink floyd 2011 album reissues

In the first bit of news, Roger Waters’ current 2011 touring of his criminally overrated snorefest The Wall, threw out a surprise for those fans who’d paid to see it at the O2 arena on Thursday night and somehow managed to stay awake. For only the second time in 30 years, he was joined on stage by the surviving members of Pink Floyd. Former adversaries, Dave Gilmour and Nick Mason.

Now, thankfully, I wasn’t there, but I can imagine it to have been a smug burying-of-the-hatchet type moment, accompanied by the musical equivalent of an overdose of Mogadon. Apparently, Nick Mason played a tambourine.

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feature, news, occasional musings, prog rock, psychedelic rock

The End article in Record Collector magazine

February 24th, 2011

For those of you that read these nonsensical ramblings on a regular basis and – dare I say it? – enjoy the incessant stream of barely coherent jibber-jabber that spills from my keyboard, you may be interested to learn that Head Full of Snow has once again ventured beyond the confines of HFoS Towers to grace another publication with our carelessly chosen words.

record collector cover - march 2010

As before, it is Record Collector magazine (March 2011) that is the beneficiary of what passes for wisdom within these hallowed halls, with an article penned by my good self, detailing the brief existence of 60s psych band and Bill Wyman proteges, The End.

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news, psychedelic rock

Celebration

February 9th, 2011

Trilbies at the ready, for now we are two. Yes, Head Full of Snow is now officially into its third year.

somebody informs elp that HFoS will be around for another yearSomebody informs ELP that HFoS will be around for another year

The more eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that yesterday was in fact the anniversary of this date, but it’ll come as no surprise to anybody who visits regularly to learn that we forgot.

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music vid, news, prog rock

HFoS into 2011

January 5th, 2011

Oh dear! It would seem the frankly insane predictions I made for Head Full of Snow’s future at exactly this time last year have failed to bear the promised fruit. Pretty much as I anticipated.

soft machine react to news of HFoS's broken promisesSoft Machine reacts to HFoS’s broken promises (image source)

Instead, as opposed to moving away from a format based exclusively on reviews, we have slid further in that direction than ever before. HFoS punted the odd interview here and there in 2010, along with the occasional vid, but it was pretty much reviews that ruled the day.

This year, we have decided to do nothing as reckless as making plans for the future. Whatever will be, will be. Maybe there’ll be a return of the long defunct Who is/Are and Cover of the Week features, as hinted at last year. There probably won’t, but who knows?

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news

Wakeman Vs Emerson (press release)

September 2nd, 2010

For those who like their progressive rock to be pompous, oppulent, lavishly overloaded and thoroughly overblown (you had me at pompous), the following press release may be of interest:

rick wakeman and keith emerson at the height of their powers

Airing: Saturday 4th September 2010. 10am (Repeated Friday 1oth September. 10pm)

Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson, two of the keyboard giants of the classic progressive rock era, have recorded a rare interview together for Planet Rock Radio.

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news, prog rock

Dantalian’s Chariot Article in Record Collector

May 13th, 2010

If you’re a glutton for punishment, visiting here on a somewhat regular basis, but find that two or so posts a week are not quite enough, then you could do worse than rushing out and purchasing a copy of this month’s Record Collector magazine.

record collector magazine cover june 2010

That would be the June 2010 issue. The one with a photo of Keith Richards at the height of his powers on the cover.

Along with an extensive feature on the making of The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street (Not, as most would have you believe, their best album ever), there’s also a three and a half page article on Zoot Money’s psychedelic troupe, Dantalian’s Chariot, written by, of all people, yours truly.

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news, psychedelic rock

A Few Words on Behalf of the Management

April 14th, 2010

For those of you who visit here regularly (yes, both of you), expecting a weekly mixture of nonsense, clear bias and unconstructive criticism, I can only apologise for the threadbareness of the site of late.

Illness has struck at HFoS Towers, rendering the principle scribe bereft of what little faculties he had remaining.

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music vid, news

Blue Beard – Losing You

February 16th, 2010

Here’s a rarity for you.

fantastic voyage records logo

‘Losing You’ is a psychedelic-edged track from little known rock act Blue Beard, who are so arcane, in fact, that their album never got beyond test pressings.

It’s taken from the recently released compilation Looking Towards the Sky, which collects together the psychedelic, prog and folk rock output of the UK’s indie label, Ember Records, between 1969 and 1972. Needless to say it’s obscurity heaven with acts so deep underground, you’ll need Steve Austin implants to hear them.

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news, psychedelic rock

Head Full of Snow, One Year Old Today

February 8th, 2010

It would seem that Head Full of Snow is one year old this very day. That makes us six months older than my own shouty daughter.

jeff lynne and the boys react to the news of Head Full of Snow's first birthdayJeff Lynne and the Idle Race boys react to the news HFoS is one year old

365 days may have passed since the first proper posting here, but as I promised at the start of the year, we shan’t be doing anything to celebrate.

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music vid, news, psych-pop

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown set for 2-disc Deluxe Edition

February 3rd, 2010

Good news for anybody taken by the psychedelic stylings and off-the-wall showmanship of mad-as-a-shrews-hatbox Arthur Brown, as February 22nd 2010 sees the release of a 2-disc deluxe edition of 1968′s self-titled The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

crazy world of arthur brown

Yes, the good people at Esoteric have given the one and only album by this iconic, psycho-delic rock band the royal treatment, delivering a remastered version of the original album and a host of extras, such as alternate mixes, a BBC session from 1968 and rare single tracks, including the wonderfully anarchic piss-take of the peace and love movement, ‘Give Him a Flower’ – “Don’t ‘it ‘im wiv a bottle, Give him a flower”

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news, prog rock, psychedelic rock

Head Full of Snow into the New Year

January 5th, 2010

2010. It may be January 5th, but the Christmas decorations are still up at HFoS towers, and the festive spirit will not wear off until at least April. But enough of that. The New Year brings a new decade, and inevitably more of my nonsense.

jethro tull look forward to another year of Head Full of SnowJethro Tull look forward to another year of HFoS

2010 marks the official first birthday of Head Full of Snow, February 8th last year being the hallowed date when all this started with a wee profile of lost psychedelic popsters and brief Beatles’ protégés, Focal Point.

To celebrate this momentous occasion we’ll be doing absolutely nothing. Should you wish to wear a sparkly hat or release a party-popper into the wild on said date, you’re more than welcome.

Which brings me to the intentions for Head Full of Snow into 2010.

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acid-folk, news, prog rock, psychedelic rock

See Emily Play (for the first time in 42 years) – Rare Pink Floyd Footage Discovered

December 2nd, 2009

The BBC reports that rare footage of a Syd Barrett-led Pink Floyd, playing on Top of the Pops, has been unearthed and will be shown for the first the time in 42 years.

lost pink floyd footage rediscovered - see emily playImage courtesy Capitol/EMI Archive

The damaged film stock, on 1 inch, reel to reel tape, was discovered in a private collection and has been restored to a state where it can once again be viewed.

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music vid, news, psychedelic rock

Esoteric Recordings November Releases

October 21st, 2009

Esoteric Recordings continue their sterling crusade of reissuing remastered psychedelic and progressive rock albums of the 60s and 70s.

barmy dutch prog rockers supersister

So as the leaves brown, the air gets colder and the door slowly creaks shut on 2009, what’s crackling away in the Esoteric fireplace, lined up for a November release?

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news, prog rock

The Beatles ‘Box of Vision’ Book for UK Release

October 14th, 2009

‘I’ve Got a Feeling’ this Christmas is going to be one made in heaven for the weathered Beatles fan, ‘Yes it Is’. Following on from a veritable ‘Helter Skelter’ of Beatles business to coincide with the 40th anniversary of their split – including the complete digital remastering of the Fab Four’s backcatalog, as well as the first official venture into the world of video gaming with The Beatles Rock Band – ‘Yesterday’ it came to the attention of Head Full of Snow that The Beatles Box of Vision is to be released in the UK in time for the festive period.

boxofvisioncover.jpg

Whereas, generally, ‘Happiness is a Warm Gun’ , true happiness can only be achieved by ‘Something’ such as this book/display case combo – the type which makes you want to scream in its general direction, “I’ve ‘Got to Get You into My Life’”…

… But crap punning aside, this really looks to be one for the collector, boasting three components that will leave a Beatles enthusiast foaming at the mouth.

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news

Procol Harum Week at Head Full of Snow

October 3rd, 2009

Just a quick announcement from the editorial staff here at HFoS towers that next week is officially declared Procol Harum Week.

procol harum

Kicking off tomorrow, Head Full of Snow is dedicating itself to the innovative progressive rock act that will, unfairly or otherwise, forever be associated with one song, ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’.

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news, prog rock

Gong UK Tour Dates and Live Shots

August 27th, 2009

As mentioned on Friday, there’s not only a new album by barking mad, 70′s progressive space rockers Gong, out on 21st September 2009, but they’re also embarking on a UK tour in November; featuring sometime Soft Machine member and founder of the group Daevid Allen, along with former core members Steve Hillage, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett and  Miquette Giraudy.

gong live in concert

Gong formed in 1968 during the Paris student riots, giving birth to a wealth of weird and wonderful albums, overflowing with psychedelic and progressive flavours, most notably the Radio Gnome Trilogy, of which the new album 2032 is to be the next installment.

gong november uk tour

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news, prog rock, psychedelic rock

Procol Harum 4-disc Anthology on the way

August 22nd, 2009

All This and More, a four-disc Procol Harum compendium has been announced by Salvo Records as part of their 40th anniversary reissue campaign.

procol harum's gary brooker and keith reid

To me, just from the scant information at my fingertips, it looks to be a dead cert for the Christmas list.

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news, prog rock, psychedelic rock

Esoteric Recordings October Releases

August 21st, 2009

Following on from the August and September release schedule for prog rock reissue merchants, Esoteric Records, October continues in earnest with the following CDs possibly of interest to Head Full of Snow readers.

barclay james harvest part of esoteric records october releases

First up is the reissue of Genesis keyboard-noodler, Tony Banks’ 1979 debut solo album A Curious Feeling. Released at a time when the rot that was Phil Collins had truly set in, this solo outing retains a feel for the early progressive sound of that once proud band. Further details of A Curious Feeling can be found here.

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news, prog rock