Log #76 - Two Rock Mavericks at Opposite Ends of the Scale - Introducing Holger Czukay and Alex Harvey

Favourite record this week is a little known gem from German maverick Holger Czukay (1938-2017).  Most famous for his work with German rock band Can the late Czukay was also a much sought after collaborator working with artists like David Sylvian, Jah Wobble, Brian Eno and The Edge, and also produced a string of his own very original solo albums.

Unfortunately it seems it is quite hard to come by his albums these days (although coincidentally a 6 cd retrospective boxset is just about to be released this week) – I managed to pick this one up on ebay while researching my Can album ranking post.  Moving Pictures (not to be confused with his most famous and in my opinion best album Movies) is very ambient in the most gentle of ways. I had it on rotation all day before I even noticed it consciously, but meanwhile my subconscious had been enjoying its subtle and relaxing beauty.  Czukay’s wife U-She provides ghostly vocals. Sadly she died last year and Czukay followed only a month later.

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1. Erukah Badu - Baduizm

2. Carole King - Tapestry

3. Marianne Faithfull - A Stranger On Earth

4. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Next

5. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Live

6. Holger Czukay - Moving Pictures

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Another maverick of Rock was Scottish singer Alex Harvey (1935-1982).  Joining forces with his “Sensational Band” he produced a series of well received albums in the mid 70s that bridged a gap between blues, rock, and glam, with a unique vaudeville flavour. These two albums are a good representation of the SAHB:  Next being many fans' favourite and having a good mix of rock (The Faith Healer), cabaret (Next and Giddy Up a Ding Dong), and epic (The Last of The Teenage Idols); and Live being a sample of one of their incendiary live shows including the theatrical Framed. For a full run down of the Alex Harvey discography please see my album ranking.

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