So i’m currently wending my way through the massive slab of music that is the new Crippled Black Phoenix  album ((Mankind) The Crafty Ape and I’m wondering why it’s sounding so much like “Dark Side of the Moon”  at the beginning – pleased to advise though it sorts itself out from track three onwards and turns out to be a rather interesting slab of progressive post-rock.  There are two CDs worth here so if you are going to take the plunge then I suggest you set aside an evening to give it a good chance of being heard in totality as that’s the best way to do it.

Also being listened to is Dale Cooper Quartet with the Dictaphones  whose new album is called “Metamanoir” ; again the influence of mid period Floyd tends to bubble under the floating synthesis – this is being described by those in the know as Dark Jazz whatever the hell that means? – there is a definite laminal ambient ECM feel to it with its breathy tenor and shimmering guitar chords – the vocals echo ’50s cool jazz……albeit the lyrics are a tad maudlin in places (I suppose that’s the dark part of the jazz?).  Bit of a grower this one I think.

Note that Mr Springsteen has a new album due (and tour) which is described by Rolling Stone as “wild” —– hmmm, we will see.

Anyway on this weeks Aural Delights Radio Show  we have an interesting balance of indie, rock and prog (some of it nu-prog) – you can check out more information about the artists on their varicose Farcebook pages as linked below, and we conclude as usual with a Kiwi Farley Fumble…….listen here