I wonder if anyone can remember The Units from the early 80's. They were a bit punk, a bit New Wave, a bit Kraftwerk, a bit Blondie, a bit Talking Heads. Rough edged new wavey synth punk, a lot of fun. Anyway this just popped into my head after remembering a friend used to play it non stop when we were kids. 
 

sharke
I wonder if anyone can remember The Units from the early 80's. They were a bit punk, a bit New Wave, a bit Kraftwerk, a bit Blondie, a bit Talking Heads. Rough edged new wavey synth punk, a lot of fun. Anyway this just popped into my head after remembering a friend used to play it non stop when we were kids. 
 

They sound more like Devo to me!

Well, you've managed to find two groups that are NOT in my collection James! 
 

Hi,
 
NP:
 
HERD OF INSTINCT - Manifestation (new album)
Shatterpoint (stuck on it ... played it like 25 times already ... awesome guitar and continuity! Totally superb. 
 
This album, almost feels like a brand new DJAM KARET album, but it is different and it does have a few touches here and there that are totally Robert Fripp/King Crimson ... though they are a bit subtle and not always clear ... period of Red/Starless bit or so.

Hi,
 
NP:
 
KC - Live in Toronto 2015 - Starless
 
For the 5th time in a row ... what a blow out that was! And the concert in Seattle was almost exactly like this one, except that "One More Red Nightmare" was not done here.
 
The CD notes are interesting. Because of some stubborn fans, the band refused to play the encore of "21st Century Schizoid Man". But the next night they ripped it ... on the CD!
 
My funny thought ... Gavin Harrison can play Bill Bruford even better?

sharke
The Emotions - Flowers. Great example of a 70's mix which sounds absolutely fantastic, even if the music isn't your cup of tea (I love it tho...)
 
That bass is just the right amount of bass and sits in the mix perfectly. 

They all look happy, so shouldn't they be called Emotion (singular)? 

craigb

sharke
The Emotions - Flowers. Great example of a 70's mix which sounds absolutely fantastic, even if the music isn't your cup of tea (I love it tho...)
 
That bass is just the right amount of bass and sits in the mix perfectly. 

They all look happy, so shouldn't they be called Emotion (singular)? 

I don't know, the one on the right looks like she just saw a bear eating her picnic....

That's off her first album; don't have that one...  Sounds a lot jazzier than her most popular stuff - I may have to look for it. 

sharke
Just came across this stunning video of Bob James performing the theme from "Taxi" live....
 

I love this tune. I found really odd that he played the head on the synthesizer that was sitting directly on top of his Fender Rhodes.
 
That's just wrong.
 
Thanks for sharing!

Here's a rip roaringly cracking bit of African tinged soul, love the interaction between the horns and the bass
 

Snarky Puppy is amazing but I'd sure hate to have to pay everyone in the band! LOL.

outland144k
Perhaps the single most seriously amazing synthesizer solo ever (really)....
 

I have to say, up until the keyboard solo, I wasn't blown away. To be honest, I've heard better jazz funk and it sounded a little too polished for my tastes (I like a bit of rough). Having said that, I do agree that that keyboard solo is probably one of the best I have ever heard. That guy just killed with his musical taste and technique. 

outland144k

sharke

outland144k
Perhaps the single most seriously amazing synthesizer solo ever (really)....
 

I have to say, up until the keyboard solo, I wasn't blown away. To be honest, I've heard better jazz funk and it sounded a little too polished for my tastes (I like a bit of rough). Having said that, I do agree that that keyboard solo is probably one of the best I have ever heard. That guy just killed with his musical taste and technique. 

As a horn player, I appreciate the tightness, but I know what you're saying; it is almost antiseptic. And the other two solos (tenor and trumpet) aren't that amazing. They're okay, but not great. The synth player, though, is astounding. The drummer is also absolutely wild as and backs up the solo so well. And I love the writing.
 
BTW, the synth player's name is Cory Henry.

Yeah I looked him up. I grew up in a 70's household awash with stuff like the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, that sort of thing, and I have a real appreciation for the feel of the jazz funk/fusion of that period. The whole attitude and "outsideness" of it all. When I hear young players playing that kind of music today I always think that yeah they have the technique and the theory but it just doesn't have that attitude. I always like to put it down to modern musicians not smoking enough weed, lol, but I know it's not as simple as that. This Cory Henry, however, has it DOWN! The whole atttiude. He would have kicked up a storm in the 70's and would have felt quite at home playing with the likes of Stanley Clarke and John McLaughlin.