New York state of mind

It doesn't happen everyday but it seems to be occurring with more frequency lately.I call it the NYC blues. Basically what I'm saying is that I am homesick. But not for the New York City in the Jay Z and Alicia Keyes' MTV videos, all spruced up, clean and picture-perfect pretty.

I long for the days of my childhood, back in the NYC of the 70's.

In particular, I miss those hazy lazy summer days... the gritty feel of the dirty asphalt under your feet and the sweltering sun above.The spray of the illegally opened fire hydrants and snow cones from Mister Frosty. The strutting, the attitude.

 Music seemed to be playing everywhere. Rock, soul and latino styles all mixed freely through the air, whether it came from a ghetto blaster on a front stoop or from the open window of a passing car. The radio was an essential part of this moment of musical freedom. The DJ's spun the latest hits and never failed announce the rising temperatures outside in the concrete jungle.

So when I slipped on my headphones to listen to OPA, it was as if I had stepped into a time machine.  "Back Home: The Lost 1975 Sessions" is a consummate tribute to the sounds of the 70's. Their music is the missing piece to animate my memories. All I had to do was to close my eyes and listen to songs like "Goldenwings" and "Brooklynville" to see the scenes of the city pass through my mind like a film. A combination of instrumental and vocal pieces all with a funky, jazz-fusion, retro beat and a serious touch of Milton Nascimento, plus a healthy pinch of psychedelia. The CD has a hundred different sounds, and they're all beautifully orchestrated. The more you listen, the more you love it.

The story of the band is intricate and fascinating but much too long to sum up in a few lines, so you'll just have to pick up a copy and read it for yourself. A whole-hearted thanks has to go out to Vince Tornatore of Lion Productions for reissuing these lost tracks. Lion Productions is a unique concept. A representation of outstanding musical styles. Vince best describes it himself :" Lion Productions is an independently owned label and wholesale distribution company started in 2001. The LP label concentrates on creating respectful re-releases of music first recorded during the "psychedelic era" (1965-1973); as a distributor, we offer similar reissues made by other labels from locations all across the globe."

        

Keep tuned to this music blog because it is not the last time that Lion Productions will be mentioned.

In the meantime if you would like to know more about OPA and Lion Productions at: www.lionproductions.org.

Tell Vince I sent you!

 

 Karin Andrea Halliwell

 

Artists permanently (and randomly) "on air" at present date: OPA(USA), Nora Keyes (USA), Simona Gretchen(Italy), Facciascura (Italy), hiiragi fukuda (Japan), Stardog(Italy), I Got A Violet(Italy), The Agrarians (USA); Feldmaus (Russia); Red Velvet (Italy - France); Eigenheimer (Holland); Drugs Made Me Smarter (Mexico); Kelvin & Speedy Peones (Italy); Tidy Kid (USA);  NIMM (Italy); MorningPaper (Italy), Edgar Graves (Czech Republic), Marshmallow (Croatia), David Morley (England/Belgium); Bancale (Italy); Antony Raijekov (Bulgary); Amélie (Italy); Celestial Aeon Project (Finland); Channel in Channel out (USA); Madrigali Magri (Italy), Gimme 'hat Moonshine (Belgium), Krakenti (Latvia), Wheelchair Discotheque (Latvia), TheOneOnTheIsland (Slovakia), Maok (Slovakia), LaBon (Slovakia), Jordan Jordan (Slovakia), Social Society (Slovakia), Batte (Norway), Orange Crush (Norway), Oriental Music System (Hong Kong), Iamsum (Hong Kong), Rex Cody (Hong Kong), Donkey Valium (Hong Kong), Smiling Buddhas (Hong Kong), O-M (Hong Kong), Hvoya (Ukraine), Automatic Pilot Required (Brazil), Yogi (Brazil), Light Merchants (South Africa), The Slowmovies (Italy); I am this (USA); Kråkvind (Sweden); Planet Brain (Italy); Lebatol (UK); Sarah Schuster (Italy); Krt 963 (Italy-Japan); Flap (Italy); Nicker Hill Orchestra (Italy); Menrovescio (Italy); Annabel (USA); Karmatest (Italy); The Dada Weatherman (France); Diablo Swing Orchestra (Sweden); Japanese gum (Italy); Above the tree (Italy); Volcano Playground (Canada); Linz (Italy); Anomie Belle (USA), Christophe Marc (France), Death Valley Sleepers (Denmark), Jeremy Sparrow (Denmark), Zoon van snooK (England), Systemton (Germany), Matti Bye (Sweden), Manuzik (Japan), Chances (Italy), Hometaping (Great Britain...?), Ping (Norway), Frey (New Zealand), Manhan (Japan), One Chef (Sweden), Mijagi (Poland), Pandacetamol (Scotland), Lu-Sin (Argentina), Thomas Solgaard (Denmark), Wonderboy (France), Los Hermanos Butaca (Argentina), La Biyuya (Argentina), Negro Fluo (Argentina), Sempai (Italy), Riccardo Vianello (Italy), Wolther goes stranger (Italy), Eildentroeilfuorieilbox84 (Italy), Buzz Aldrin (Italy), Stefano Roveda (Italy), Rosso! (Italy); manzOni (Italy).