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Jan Akkerman – Close Beauty (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:04:54 minutes | 703 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Music Theories Recordings
Jan Akkerman, the renowned Dutch guitarist who shot to fame during the 60s and 70s with bands like Focus, Brainbox and The Hunters, and was once voted Best Guitarist in the World by Melody Maker, will release his new album “Close Beauty” on October 25, 2019 via Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings.
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![Jan Akkerman - Oil In The Family (Remastered) (1981/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz] Download](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/07/04/zegsscepqejpc_600.jpg)
Jan Akkerman – Oil In The Family (Remastered) (1981/2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 48:14 minutes | 1,90 GB | Genre: Jazz, Funk, Soul
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Soul/Funk/R&B
Recorded as a result of a bet ( which he won ) with a Dutch DJ that he could make an album in 24 hours, the always unpredictable and enigmatic Akkerman came out with this middle- eastern influenced disco beat gem as one of the tracks, Disc-O-Asis, would suggest. Fueled by heavy rythmic synthesizer guitar and bass this album became a big seller in Turkey. As far as prog fans are concerned, if this was played without previous knowledge that it was an Akkerman project, they would probably think it was from the top ten list from Egypt or Iran. With the exception of the more laid back Blue In the Shadow, get ready for Jan Akkerman goes disco. However it is done very tastefully and has some pretty catchy guitar hooks ( repetetive as they are ) which remind me of some early stuff by Canadian fusion band UZEB. Though not of particular interest to the traditional prog fan, Focus and Jan Akkerman completists might want to check out this interesting musical experiment from one of the world`s foremost guiar virtiousos.
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Jan Akkerman – Profile
Vinyl | LP Cover (1:1) | FLAC | 24bit/96kHz & 16bit/44kHz
Label: Sire Records Company / SAS 7407 | Release: 1972 | Genre: Progressive-Rock
What can a man do with a guitar?
Being referred to as one of the best guitarist on the globe this moment had to come: the ultimate guitar solo record. To be more specific: the ultimate guitar side of a record.
Side one is filled with the Fresh Air piece, roughly based on some strange concept I don’t understand really well. The sub-parts itself however correlate with their titles. The song opens with psychedelic keys played by Akkerman himself on Fender piano, a great atmospheric start. Soon the Wrestling to get out part begins and a non-melodic jazz extravaganza is about to unfold. The title being the best way to discribe Akkerman’s guitarplaying: it’s like a mad rage to do the extreme. You will hear sound you’ve never heard before and speed beyond the imaginable. The basslines by Bert Ruiter (Focus) and drums by the masterfull Pierre van der Linden guide us to the best of hard jazz/rock or heavy fusion (which do you prefer?). I love the groovin’ bassplaying. Fresh air – blue notes for listening is again a track with a title that doesn’t need no explanation when you’ve heard it. One of the few relaxing tracks of the album. Jan Akkerman drops the speed for atmospheric guitar play, reminding me a bit of Robert Fripp. This is a welcome piece of music between two storms. For after this we’ll get to hear some more Akkerman solo’s of mad musicianship. This is the best track Jan Akkerman ever recorded in my opinion.
Side two. I don’t listen to it very often but it is a midiocre collection of lute and blues songs which don’t mach at all. I’m not even goin to tell something about it.
Conclusion. Now.. can a one side record make a masterpiece. I think in this case it does. The Fresh Air suite is a progressive masterpiece, a Fusion end point (this is fusion in the extreme) and a guitar axeman track of the highest skill. One of my most important records in my collection. Five stars! (but just for side one).
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