Louis Tillett & Charlie Owen "The Ugly Truth" (1993)

A CD release on the german limited-edition series Return To Sender, (sub-label of Normal Records and distributed via mail only), "The Ugly Truth" can work, for newcomers, as a very good and finely performed introduction to the lyrical, bluesy world of Louis Tillett. Oldcomers though, or ones who have missed some earlier episodes will find here interesting new material along with refreshing alternate versions of tracks from his first works.

The album was recorded in Australia in 1993 with Louis on piano, hammond, voice, percussion and Charlie  Owen (guitarist in Beasts Of Burbon, New Christs and others) on production, guitar and percussion. Tillett is a little known, perhaps, in Greece, Germany and, i guess, Australia, but the ugly truth is he generally remains an unjustly neglected  artist.

The Ugly Truth

Louis Tillett - An Ancient Song (live, 1999)
(from "Live @ The Basement", Return To Sender, 2001)

MAGGIE NICOLS & PETER NU "Nicols 'N' Nu" (UK, 1985)

MAGGIE NICOLS - words, voice
PETER NU - piano

Avant vocalist Maggie Nicols and not so much known improv figure, Peter Nu unfold here a bare and incredibly daring piano-voice exploration, a free-music adventure which, further than any sum of its elements, leads to the inner aspect of the work, revealing regions of the artistic act, usually neglected, sightless.

Recorded in London in 1985, released from Leo Records and reissued later on CD. Still available.

tracklist

01. don't assume (21:40)
02. touching faces (2:50)
03. dynamite dream (3:45)
04. kids (9:40)
05. chad's blues (3:30)
06. after the storm (1:00)
07. i could write (1:30)
08. moments (8:15)
09. one note leads to another (17:40)

MAGGIE NICOLS & PETER NU - Moments

THE DEADLY HUME "Passenger Blues", 7'', (AUS, 1986)

Formed circa 1985 in Sydney. Took their name from Hume Highway. Their first recordings -"Basement Tapes" - released on a (very rare now) 12'' called "Starving Whipped!".
"Passenger Blues", their debut 7'' release, comprises two very good songs in the great tradition of australian alternative blues.
They also made the LP "Me Grandma, Iliko & Hilarian" (i think you can find it in the web), the mini LP "Lonely Mr. Happy"(1988) and some more singles...

Passenger Blues / Bed As Big As A Boat

new link!

WET TAXIS "C'mon / Clock On TheWall", 7'', (AUS, 1984)

Aussie avant-blues master, Louis Tillett, in some psych-garagy sins with his early outfit. Active till 1987, WET TAXIS remained finally in the shadow of Tillett's brighter soloing days.

C'mon / Clock on the wall, 7''

New Link !

M.OXLEY & C. ABRAHAMS coal (AUS,1994)

Chris Abrahams, a "visible" and "invisible" (jazz) musician of the legendary 80`s australian underground, member or session man of several bands of the era (Laughing Clowns, Benders, The Sparklers, a.o.), after released some not very famous albums, found finally wider recognition by adding his keys to the ceremonial cosmic pulse of THE NECKS (avant post jazz trio). In the meanwhile he had a hand to some gems, that his later success should have normally moved out of shade. "COAL" is one of them. Chris plays almost all instruments here (keys, guitars,drums), leaving...Melanie Oxley`s magical vocals to "navigate" through hammond rivers of eerie flowing ... the bitter sweet songs.

Full of simple, straight, indie-soul-blues ballads, "COAL" sounds a very cool, modest and calm title for the album. It isn`t, considered this aussie fairy sets hearts on fire...

aussie fairy in rivers of eerie flowing

COAL (52mb)