Frank Zappa – Apostrophe (‘) CD (Zappa Records)
The unique and timeless Zappa at his most eclectic on this 9 track album from 1974. If you’re not familiar with the moustachioed genius this is as good a place to start as any as it contains all the elements of Zappa we know and love – beautifully executed extended guitar segments, absurdist lyrical lunacy and a musical diversity seldom rivalled; embracing jazz (‘Nanook Rubs It’), blues, 70s easy listening rock (‘Cosmik Debris’) and as always Zappa’s own unique experimentalism. Musical genius and I do not use the term lightly. Ian Pickens