Billy T.K & Powerhouse - Move On Up: The Unreleased Tapes (1972-75-80 new zealand latin-tinged blues & funk rock - 2009 edition MP3 320K and FLAC)

After three years and three albums delivering electrifying riffs as part of cult progrock trio Human Instinct, Billy T.K was ready to explore more melodic themes.

Powerhouse experimented with Latin-tinged blues and funk rhythms with lush layers of vocal harmonies, brass and percussion all woven together with Billy's relentless but unmistakeable riffs and extended solos.

Like so much of New Zealand's early recorded history it was feared the debut album from Billy T.K & Powerhouse had been lost forever, or worse taped over, leaving little recorded evidence of this influential guitar-driven rhythmic big band.

This CD compilation of the lost Move On Up album recorded at EMI studios in 1972, with selections form the live concert at Wellington's St James Theatre in 1975 and a single recorded with session musicians in Hollywood in 1980, delivers a solid overview of post-Human Instinct Billy T.K. for the first time.


Southern Man:


Track List:
01.Bottle Of Red Wine
02.Move On Up (Pts. 1 & 2)
03.Hum Along And Dance
04.Into The Mystic
05.Marbles
06.Guajira
07.Goodbye Post Office Tower Goodbye
08.Southern Man
09.Dance With The Spirit
10.Rhythm Of Your Love
11.Heaven's Melody (Live)
12.Beyond The Material Sky (Live)
13.Race Into The infinite (Live)

Billt T.K:
*Billy T.K : Lead Guitar, Vocals
*John Bilderbeck : Guitar
*Steve Webb : Drums
*Gav Collinge : Bass
*Ara Mete : Rhythm Guitar
*Jamie Tait-Jamieson : Keyboards, Saxophone
*Arnold Tihema : Congas & Lead Vocals
*Mahia Blackmore : Vocals & Percussions
*Dick White : Saxophone


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Michal Urbaniak - Fusion III (1975 polish jazz rock , funky fusion with great arrangements, excellent violin and Larry Coryell in guitar - FLAC)

Very engaging and funky fusion disc from 1975, featuring not only Urbaniak's soaring gypsy drenched violin but also the other-worldly vocalese of his then-wife Ursula Dudziak (quite an original vocal artist in her own right).

The songs combine a lot of playfully twisty be-bop like melody lines with rip-snorting funk, chiming electric pianos and fiery rock sensibilities, particularly the searing guitars of John Abercrombie (check out the spine-chilling solo on "Metroliner") and Larry Coryell (who seriously rocks out on "Bloody Kishka"). plus a killer rhythm section of bassist Anthony Jackson with drummers Steve Gadd and Gerry Brown.

My favorite tracks include the bluesy and yet thoroughly unpredictable "Roksanna" that builds from a loping 3/4 time swing to a fiery romp with those bop lines by Michal and Urszula weaving in and out of each other like mad! As mentioned earlier, "Metroliner" with it's grand sweeping chord progressions and John Abercrombie's thick searing legato solo.

"Prehistoric Bird" soars like its namesake, and then gets downright funky, with bassist Anthony Jackson laying down a relentless and creative groove the whole way through as Steve Gadd plays like he had only 5 minutes to live.

Other highlights include the alternately mournful and playful "Kuyaviak Goes Funky" the mysterious "Cameo" and the crazed funk of "Chinatown" Pts 1 AND 2, part one sees Abercrombie dueling with Michal, and on Pt 2, it's Larry Coryell's turn.

If you like your fusion with lots of funk and soem East European gypsy flavor thrown in, you can;t go wrong with Michal Urbnaniak's Fusion III.

Chinatown, Part 1 :


Track List:
01.Chinatown, Part 1 (5:22)
02.Kuyaviak Goes Funky (6:12)
03.Roksana (5:42)
04.Crazy Kid (2:38)
05.Prehistoric Bird (5:18)
06.Bloody Kishka (4:19)
07.Cameo (4:41)
08.Stretch (6:19)
09.Metroliner (4:42)
10.Chinatown, Part 2 (3:56)

Michal Urbaniak:
*Michal Urbaniak: electric violin, violin synthesizer
*Urszula Dudziak: voice, percussion, electronic percussion
*Wlodek Gulgowski: electric piano, Moog, and electric organ
*Anthony Jackson: bass guitar
*Gerald Brown: drums
*Steve Gadd: drums
*Larry Coryell: guitar
*John Abercrombie: guitar
*Joe Caro: guitar
*Bernard Kafka: voice


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Sinto - Right On Brother (1972 german krautrock mix of jazz-rock, funk rock and progressive - APE lossless format)

Here is one of the true jewels of German prog-rock. Sinto's Right On Brother is my recent discovery and it quickly became one of the favorites.

Those expecting kraut-rock must stop here. It's nothing but pure prog in the British tradition and in fact there's almost no "Germanity" on this album, it could have been easily recorded in UK around the same time (1974).

Sinto's complex prog is wonderfully diluted by some funky elements - that can probably make this album appealing for both prog- and mainstream rock fans.

Instrumentation is very rich including not only guitar (Alfred Jones produces some blistering solos throughout the album) and keyboards (funky piano of Peter Holzwig is superb!), but also violin, which plays a prominent part in the whole mix.

Plus, here is a special guy who plays on different congas, bongos and other percussive instruments and his inclusion makes the rhythm-section more versatile.

All the tracks are song-oriented, but this shouldn't repulse you. Vocalist is no Demetrio Stratos, but he does a nice job and it seems that there is no accent in his pronunciation (which is characteristic of many German vocalists daring to sing in English).

Despite the simple structure of most of the tracks (the closing "Another Voice" is the only exception), they are quite unusual harmonically so that they can be labeled progressive rock by all means.

The musicianship is of the highest class and the interplays between guitar and violin are simply great.

Here are some up-tempo rocking songs with obvious funky stylings (opening title-track, "In My Times", 'Don't Wait") and some sad and extremely beautiful ballads ("Rome").

Closing "Another Voice" reminds me of Sinto's compatriots from Pell Mell - the same dark piano riff and violin extravaganza on the top.

Overall, this is a wonderful album. Due to the skillful combination of catchy funky parts and complex instrumental showoffs it can surely please both prog bigots and mainstream rock lovers.

To be honest, I'm pretty surprised this album is fairly obscure, since it seems consciously made for satisfying the wide audience.

Anyway, I highly recommend everyone to check it out. (www.progressiveears.com).

In My Times:


Track List:
01.Right on brother
02.Rome
03.Things I see
04.In my times
05.Don't wait
06.Everytime
07.Another voice

Sinto:
*Hannes Beckmann: amplified violin, acoustic bass, percussion, vocals
*Cotch Black: congas, lead percussion, laughter and vocals
*Abu Dram: drums, percussion, vocals
*Ralph Fischer: bass, percussion, vocals
*Peter Holzwig: piano, organ, marimbaphone, percussion, vocals
*Alfred Jones: guitar, percussion, vocals


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