Freedom to Music
Archive for May, 2010
Dirty Blues Band – Dirty Blues Band (1967) (@256)
31 May 2010
(Review from amazon)
Part of a relatively obscure West Coast blues scene based in Riverdale, California, in the late 1960s, the Dirty Blues Band played straightforward, lovingly attentive, and competently rendered electric blues. Their selftitled debut album was rushly recorded in two days.
Despite being based on the West Coast, the Dirty Blues Band deliver tough Chicago style blues, having been heavily influenced by the Paul Butterfield band. Its hard to believe that Rod Piazza was barely 19 when he recorded this album. His trademark fat toned harmonica sound and technique were surprisingly already well developed. Organist Pat Malone plays nice vibrant fills.
Comprised of covers of blues standards and a few Piazza originals in the same mold, this album is similar to the early Butterfield records.
The band seemed to have a promising future ahead of them. However the group’s whole rhythm section was called to military. After this event, Campbell exited seeing no future for the group.
Line-up:
- Rod Piazza / Harmonica, Vocals
- Glenn Ross Campbell / Guitar
- John Millikan / Drums
- Les Morrison / Bass
- Robert Sandell / Rhythm Guitar
with
- Pat Maloney / Keyboards
Track List:
01. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ – 2:58
02. What Is Soul Baby – 3:59
03. Hound Dog – 2:56
04. New Orleans Woman – 1:55
05. I’ll Do Anything Babe – 4:24
06. Checkin Up On My Baby – 3:43
07. Shake It Babe – 3:00
08. Worry Worry Blues – 3:47
09. Born Under A Bad Sign – 2:50
10. Spoonful – 3:54
11. Chicken Shack – 4:06
Link in comments.
Agitation Free – River Of Return (1999) (@256)
29 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
The reunion album of Agitation Free is quite fine and worthy of them. Most of the core members are in in fine form and many guest provide the world-music instruments. All of the tracks are of very good standard, maybe not of the impossibly high adventurous type of the early 70s, but manage to resemble what a fan might hope for such an album: honest , worthy and artisticly sound.
Most tracks will remind you of the good old days but without any nostalgic feelings that might alter your judgment. The adding of a sax player (he obviously is very influenced by Supertramp’s Helliwell) gives Lutjens and Ullbrich some space to breathe.
Line-up:
- Lutz “Luul” Ulbrich / guitar, keyboards
- Gustl Lutjens / guitar, keyboards
- Burghard Rausch / drums
- Johannes “Alto” Pappert / saxophone
- Michael “Fame” Gunther / bass, keybopards
Guest musicians:
- Chris Dehler / overtonevoice, Didgeridoo
- Koma / Bagpipe
- Minas Saluyan / percussion
- Bernard “Potsch” Potschka / guitar, Mandoline, Udu
Track List:
01. River Of Return – 8:24
02. 2 part 2 – 5:45
03. Fame’s Mood – 4:09
04. Susie Sells Seashells At The Seashore – 10:01
05. The Obscure Carousel – 5:16
06. Nomads – 7:06
07. Das Kleine Uhr Werk – 5:04
08. 177 Spectacular Sunrises – 13:08
09. Keep On – 3:56
Link in comments.
Agitation Free – Other Sides of (1974) (@256)
28 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
This posthumous release is actually two core members playing all sorts of fusion jazz with invited guests, rather than an actual Agitation Free album.
The sound is more akin to second period Doldinger’s Passport.
Line-up:
- Michael “Fame” Gunther / bass
- Gustav Lutjens / guitar, vocals
- Mickie Duwe / vocals
- Harald Grobkopf / drums
- Dietmar Burmeister / drums
- Jochen Bauer / drums
- Konstantin Bommarius / drums, percussion
- Manfred Opitz / keyboards, vocals
- Christian “Bino” Brero / piano
- Bernd Gruber / keyboards
- Klaus “Maus” Henrichs / saxophone
- Lou Blackburn / trombone
Track List:
01. Atlantic overcrossing – 5:34
02. Abulafia – 6:17
03. 6th floor – 5:11
04. Deliverance – 4:23
05. Latino Catherine – 3:36
06. Get it out – 4:21
07. Offstage – 2:46
08. Song fur einen Proletariersohn Teil 1 – 5:38
09. Song fur einen Proletariersohn Teil 2 – 2:54
10. Song fur einen Proletariersohn Teil 3 – 1:35
Link in comments.
Agitation Free – Fragments (Live 1974) (@256)
27 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
Recorded live in 1974, here the band plays in a psyche jam style with excellent guitar, as usual. The music can be described as a cross of Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead for the acid guitar sound. But there’s also a more jazzy direction in “Fragments”, thanks to keyboards. “Fragments” has been also compared to Santana, mainly because of percussions.
The summit is reached with the piece “We Are Men” which begins with excellent drum and aerial keyboard layers, contributing to this floating, almost jazz rock feel, but the psychedelic guitar parts and the space rock developments reminds that it’s top psyche prog jam style.
Line-up:
- GustI Lutjens / guitar
- Lutz Ulbrich / guitar
- Michael Gunther / bass
- Michael Hoenig / keyboards
- Burghard Rausch / drums
Track List:
01. Someone’s Secret – 17:11
02. Mickey’s Laugh – 9:56
03. We Are Men – 10:17
04. Mediterranean Flight – 3:58
Link in comments.
Agitation Free – Last (Live 1974) (@256)
26 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
This live album is very different but somewhat the logical follower of “Second” but reversely so. Here the electronics predominate the electric and acoustic music. It was recorded partly live in 1974 and partly in spring 1973 from a radio broadcast and parts from a successful French tour the next year with yet another guitarist.
The first side is made up of two tracks and they don’t make for an easy adaptation of Agitation Free’s evolution since their second album. Gone is the warm pastoral sound of “Second” or the torrid cosmic feel of Malesch. We are left with a glacial music, sometimes not very well recorded The flipside is filled by a sidelong comp “Looping IV”, which is relatively eventless. as this is mostly electronic layers and sounds evolving and leading to some delightful music that AF had gotten us used to in their first two.
This is a definite tougher listen. You’ll find that it never gets fully tamed, but in time, you should warm up to it.
Line-up:
- Michael Hoenig / synthesizer, keyboards
- Dietmar Burmeister / drums
- Michel Gunther / bass
- Gustl Lutjens / vocals
- Burghard Rausch / drums, keyboards, vocals
- Jorg Schwenke / guitar
- Lutz Ulbrich / guitar, keyboards
Track List:
01. Soundpool – 5:54
02. Laila II – 16:58
03. Looping IV – 22:41
Link in comments.
Agitation Free – Second (1974) (@256)
25 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
In some ways, “Second” is the logical successor to Malesch with its twin guitar “attack”; these two are so mellow that it seems a shame to call them an attack. But the name “attack” is now apt for the drumming since the group enlisted a second drummer, thus giving an exacting edge that only the Allman Brothers Band had before. Losing the second drummer just prior to recording their aptly-titled Second, AF retained all of the inertia and the album has a fantastic ABB fluidness wherever necessary. Graced with a drought, than rain season artwork, this second album lost all ethnic touches of Malesch, one passage excepted, proof that their debut’s rep was indeed overdone.
Starting on the First Communications, you can hear the Floydian cosmic/psych influences of Malesh will also be relatively absent as well. Dialogue & Random is an electronic free jazz improve leading into the two-part Leila, which is strongly reminiscent of the ABB’s Elizabeth Reed and fades into Silence Of The Morning sunrise with electronic birds chirping along to tranquil electric guitars gliding along the organ mist layers. Superb music. The birds lead you to a slow Quiet Walk into a cosmic dark hole (Tangerine Dream’s Zeit is not far away here) if it wasn’t for an electric Indian-laced guitar (the only real ethnic moment of this album), before stretching itself out maybe a tad too long. The closing Haunted Island is the only sung track of the album, filtered, almost recitative over a superb mellotron, and once over, the two guitars take over and soar in the sky for a grandiose finale.
Although AF’s second album holds some fairly different influences, trading in the Arabian and cosmic /psych Floyd ambiance, for a more pastoral west coast sound, both albums can be regarded as AF’s crowning achievements, although neither reaches perfection.
Line-up:
- Stefan Diez / guitar
- Micheal Gunter / bass
- Micheal Hoenjo / synth, keyboards
- Burghard Rausch / drums, assorted percussions, voice, Mellotron
- Lutz Ulbrich / guitar, 12 string guitar, Bouzouki
Track List:
01. First Communication – 8:10
02. Dialogue & Random – 1:51
03. Laila, Part 1 – 1:41
04. Laila, Part 2 – 6:47
05. In The Silence Of The Morning Sunrise – 6:33
06. A Quiet Walk: a) Listening b) Two – Not Of The Same Kind – 9:15
07. Haunted Island – 7:11
Link in comments.
Agitation Free – Malesch (1974) (@256)
24 May 2010
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
A classic of the German space genre, Agitation Free’s music is a combination of progressive rock and new instrumental music, with touches of Jazz and passages dedicated to an experimentation near to ambient. Their originality is due to the blend electronic and repetitive musics with a lot of ethnic elements.
Malesch, the band’s debut, was recorded after a trip to Egypt. The Middle Eastern influence brought back from this sojourn courses through the veins of the music, with live banter and incidental music recorded in Cairo serving as a link between tracks.
The album contains seven tracks running more or less continuously based in improvisational rock, with the individual tracks serving to divide the music by mood conjured. Like a lot of jamming, parts of tracks begin with the band finding its feet before everyone is on the same page, at which point the results are captivating and hypnotic.
Agitation Free is not as noisy as many of their peers, and sound almost like e-music at times (it is of note that Michael Hoenig later wrote some of the best Berlin school electronic music). There is a definite Middle Eastern sound aimed for, which is somewhat superficially achieved but leads to some nice harmonic variety all the same. Apart from closing track “Rücksturz”, with its stunning riff, no individual cut here blows me away. It is the aggregate of all the cuts which results in a half hour of excellent, involving mood music.
Line-up:
- Peter Michael Hamel / keyboards
- Michael Hoenig / synthesizer, keyboards
- Michel Gunter / bass
- Uli Pop / bongos
- Burghard Rausch / drums, keyboards, vocals
- Jorg Schwenke / guitar
- Lutz Ulbrich / guitar, keyboards
Track List:
01. You Play For Us Today – 6:15
02. Sahara City – 7:51
03. Ala Tul – 4:57
04. Pulse – 4:51
05. Khan El Khalili – 5:34
06. Malesch – 8:24
07. Rucksturz – 2:11
Link in comments.
Going away for a few days
19 May 2010
I’m out for the rest of the week, travelling to wonderful places.
See you on Monday.
Heaven and Hell – Devil You Know (2009) (@256)
18 May 2010
(Review from allmusic, blabbermouth.net, wikipedia)
After the band’s successful 2007 world tour, “Heaven & Hell” entered the studio to record the album “Devil You Know”.
This is a heavier album than any of its three predecessors with the same line-up (Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer); whether it’s due to the bandmembers’ advancing age or the influence of anxieties felt throughout the world outside the studio.
The first songs of the album that make up the bulk of its running time, are like slow-motion avalanches, Iommi’s riffs and Appice’s drumming punishing the listener like medieval monks scourging unbelievers. Dio’s lyrics, too, seem to embody an almost Old Testament world-view, positing a universe of darkness, fire, and despair. His voice is as powerful as ever, but he’s no longer offering self-esteem lessons the way he once did; he seems consumed by fear and doubt. This gives The Devil You Know a feeling of genuine doom that leaves little opportunity for the catharsis provided by classic heavy metal.
It’s not until “Eating the Cannibals”, that the band revs into high gear the way it did on “Neon Knights” and “Turn Up the Night” 20-plus years ago.
Dio still sounds amazing, writing in a lower register these days but possessed of a grandeur and gravity that’s just awe-inspiring. He’s always been a consummate professional, able to give the dodgiest material a patina of class and grace, and when he’s working with Iommi and Geezer Butler, he’s clearly inspired to kick things up a notch. And speaking of Butler, the band’s oft-underrated secret weapon is all over “The Devil You Know”, his bass high up in the mix, with a larger-than-life tone and plenty of sly accents and fills burbling under the obsidian sheen of Iommi’s riffing.
Due to the death of Ronnie James Dio, this would be the band’s only studio album.
Line-up:
- Ronnie James Dio / vocals
- Tony Iommi / guitar
- Geezer Butler / bass guitar
- Vinny Appice / drums
Track List:
01. Atom & Evil – 5:13
02. Fear – 4:46
03. Bible Black – 6:26
04. Double The Pain – 5:23
05. Rock And Roll Angel – 6:02
06. The Turn Of The Screw – 5:00
07. Eating The Cannibals – 3:35
08. Follow The Tears – 6:09
09. Neverwhere – 4:32
10. Breaking Into Heaven – 6:53
Link in comments.
Ronnie James Dio died yesterday :(
17 May 2010
This is heart-breaking news for me.
Ronnie James Dio is, and probably always be my favorite singer. Whether it be with Rainbow, Black Sabbath or with his own band as Dio; even with the early Elf.
I was finally going to see him live with Black Sabbath at the end of June. Actually he was the primary reason I was even going to the festival.
I am at a loss of words.
Fade away, fade away… :(
Demon Fuzz – Afreaka (1970) (@256)
17 May 2010
(Review from headfullofsnow.com)
Five tracks pitch Demon Fuzz somewhere between progressive rock and psychedelic soul-laced jazz excursions, with a threadwork of world music, tribal beats and the ever-trusty wah-wah pedal weaving its spell somewhere beneath.
The opening instrumental of ‘Past, Present and Future’ begins in purest progressive rock style with the meandering showmanship of a grinding bass, prior to some sultry horns kicking in and the song taking on a psychedelic jazz /soul feel that wouldn’t sound out a place on the backing track to a 70s blaxploitation flick. It continues to blend styles for just shy of ten minutes, and amazingly, for a song that is both instrumental and of a jazz-influence, doesn’t get boring.
The first of three vocal tracks, ‘Disillusioned’, keeps the jazz infusion ball rolling, through the faster paced ‘Another Country’, and leading to the eight minute long ’Hymn to Mother Earth’, a gently drifting paean to the ecosphere that bursts with dramatic interludes and is underscored by the prog rock weapons of choice, the organ (sounds like a Hammond) and flute.
The three bonus tracks, features Demon Fuzz’s rendition of the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins classic ‘I Put a Spell On You’ – albeit in a markedly different arrangement from the original – the social commentary of ‘Message to Mankind’ and the more traditional jazz/world sound of ‘Fuzz Oriental Blues’.
Track List:
01. Past, Present And Future – 9:55
02. Disillusioned – 4:59
03. Another Country – 8:33
04. Hymn To Mother Earth – 8:12
05. Mercy (Variation No. One) – 9:40
06. I Put A Spell On You (Bonus) – 3:55
07. Message To Mankind (Bonus) – 3:54
08. Fuzz Oriental Blues (Bonus) – 6:45
Link in comments.
I Santoni – Noi (1972) (@256)
16 May 2010
(Review from itailanprog.com, sleeve)
I Santoni were formed in Florence in the second half of the 60s. The group’s sound is based on the Hammond organ played by Bruno Mosti, accompanied by the flutes and saxes of Bettazzi and Gorini.
Their only studio album, released in 1972, is strongly influenced by a sixties sound. It combines progressive rock & jazz arrangements against Mediterranean folk themes.
The LP gave the group the chance to play all over Italy and later in France and Switzerland, until their break-up in 1974.
Line-up :
- Bruno Mosti / vocals, keyboards
- Franco Bettazzi / sax, flute
- Giorgio Gorini / sax, flute, vocals
- Giovanni Rondelli / bass, acoustic guitar
- Fabrizio Prussi / drums, vocals
Track List:
01. Quelli Come Noi – 3:16
02. Ma CI Sara – 4:47
03. Forse Un Sogno – 3:50
04. Continuare Dimenticando – 3:04
05. La Terra Del Sole – 3:16
06. Che Farei – 4:10
07. L’uomo Sbagliato – 4:32
08. Verita – 5:33
09. Ancora Niente – 4:02
Link in comments.
Eloy – Visionary (2009) (@256)
15 May 2010
(Review from seaoftranquility.com)
A decade after “Ocean 2: The Answer”, Eloy graces us with new music. With the arrival of “Visionary”, Frank Bornemann and crew once again bring some of their unmistakable sounds to the progressive rock legions on the 40th anniversary of the band.
Bornemann has brought back members from classic Eloy line-ups of the past. It’s all very ‘Eloy’ sounding, as the band seem to be trying to channel their classic period on albums. The Pink Floyd-ish space rock elements are here, complete with lots of keyboard noodling, tasty guitar work, and Bornemann’s trademark vocal style.
“Age of Insanity” is a fine piece that covers all these bases, a real throwback to the glory years of the band circa the mid 70′s, featuring plenty of ripping synth & guitar solos. You’ll love the melodic flute on the fetching “The Secret”, and the dreamy epic “Mystery (The Secret, Part 2)” is a moody, symphonic number chock full of synth washes that will just take you away on a intergalactic journey.
There’s enough here to bring back memories of the glory days of yesteryear, and for that, “Visionary” is quite enjoyable, and a welcome return for one of the most beloved progressive bands of all time.
Line-up:
- Frank Bornemann / lead and backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars
- Klaus-Peter Matziol / bass
- Michael Gerlach / keyboards
- Bodo Schopf / drums, percussion
- Hannes Folberth / additional keyboards (2, 3, 4 & 6)
with
- Anke Renner / vocals (2, 4, 5 & 6)
- Tina Lux / vocals (2, 4 & 6)
- Volker Kuinke / renaissance flute (1 & 2)
- Christoph Littmann / keyboards, orchestra sounds (5)
- Stephan Emig / additional percussion (4 & 6)
Track List:
01. The Refuge – 4:54
02. The Secret – 7:44
03. Age Of Insanity – 7:55
04. The Challenge (Time To Turn, Part2) – 6:43
05. Summernight Symphony – 4:27
06. Mystery (The Secret, Part 2) – 9:01
07. Thoughts – 1:22
Link in comments.
Corpus – Creation A Child (1971) (@256)
14 May 2010
Corpus was an American rock blues combo hailing from Corpus Christi, a little town in Texas.
Privately pressed at the time, their only album offers a great dose of bar-rockers and some inspired idle ballads. The songs boast a soft and smooth guitar work, great vocals and a laid-back rhythm section. There are vocal harmonies and ringing guitar work coupled with some heavy riffs.
Line-up:
- Willam Grate / lead guitar, back vocals
- Richard Deleon / rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- James Castillo / bass
- Frudy Lianes / drums
with
- Gilbert Pena / lyrics
Track List:
01. Cruising – 3:49
02. Joy – 6:18
03. Marriage – 3:35
04. Creation A Child – 6:52
05. Just A Man – 3:15
06. We Can Make It, Luv – 2:28
07. Not Mine – 3:28
08. Where Is She – 3:34
09. Mythical Dream – 4:55
Link in comments.
Eric Woolfson – Alan Parsons Project That Never Was (2009) (@256)
13 May 2010
(Review from allmusic, amazon)
Eric Woolfson sang lead on the softest, smoothest hits Alan Parsons Project had in the band’s career.
Digging up his vaults, Woolfson found a batch of unfinished songs that he decided to complete for this album, rounding out the record with some songs that he would have submitted if the band had indeed recorded more albums.
As expected, Woolfson follows the silken road he paved with those soft rock hits: this is Alan Parsons Project as if Woolfson were in charge, emphasizing melody. The result is a combination of art rock songs such as “Golden Key” and “Immortal” with more pop songs such as “Nothing Can Change My Mind” and “I Can See Round Corners”.
This is sweet, soft rock, the kind of which that has been unheard since Woolfson sung on those Alan Parsons Project hits more than two decades ago.
Alas, this was Woolfson’s final album before he died of cancer in December of that year.
Track List:
01. Golden Key – 4:12
02. Nothing Can Change My Mind – 4:00
03. Rumour Goin – 4:39
04. Any Other Day – 3:08
05. I Can See Round Corners – 5:16
06. Steal Your Heart Away – 3:20
07. Along The Road Together – 3:22
08. Somewhere In The Audience – 4:36
09. Train To Wuxi – 4:19
10. Immortal – 6:02
Link in comments.
Ainigma – Diluvium (1973) (@256)
12 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
Ainigma of Germany only released one album which is a mysterious, dark stoner rock effort. It is pure krautrock, totally explosive in terms of emotions, obviously rocking and lovely psychedelic.
“Prejudice” starts with dreamlike introspective organ atmospheres then rapidly catch the essence of a jam session, with abundant improvised Hammond organs, heavy guitars. “All Things Are Fading” is a moody, depressive but furiously rocking with damaged riffs and sad guitar solos. The closer title track, “Diluvium” is a standard heavy rock epic with melancholic guitar breaks, touching melodies, dynamic, captivating organ melodies.
Line-up:
- Willy Kluter / organ, lead vocals
- Wolfgang Netzer / guitar, bass, backing vocals
- Michael Kluter / drums
Track List:
01. Prejudice – 5:32
02. You Must Run – 7:30
03. All Things Are Fading – 5:12
04. Diluvium – 17:51
Link in comments.
El Ritual – El Ritual (1971) (@256)
11 May 2010
(Review from progressive.homestead.com)
El Ritual is a Mexican band featuring well crafted progressive/psych bluesy rock with nice organ, some Tull like flute here and there, nice guitars, with softer and harder rock/prog/bluesrock passages, sometimes with rather hard rock vocals, and a few times Uriah Heep-kind of vocal harmonies, with lyrics in English.
The fourth track, “Satanas” is more experimental, theatrical track mixed with bluesy rock, and a long drum solo, a song about being the devil. “Muerto E Ido” has a slight Canterbury touch.
Line-up:
- Gonzalo Chalo Hernandez / bass
- Alberto Lalo Barcelo / drums
- Frankie Barreno / lead vocals, guitars, flute
- Martín Mayo / keyboards
Track List:
01. Satanas – 3:13
02. Peregrinacion Satanica – 3:09
03. Groupie – 4:24
04. Muerto E Ido – 8:01
05. Easy Woman – 4:17
06. La Tierra De Que Te Hable – 6:34
07. Bajo El Sol Y Frente A Dios – 3:54
08. Conspiracion – 4:21
09. Tabu – 2:54
Link in comments.
Embryo – Live 2001 Vol. 1 (@256)
11 May 2010
(Info from embryo.de)
This is a live album consisting of recordings from 2001, in the same vein as its predecessor Live 2000.
The Far East is represented by one of the most important pipa (Chinese flute) players: Mu Sat Xizhi sits on his knee on the worn violin sounds, also plays plenty of other instruments from the Middle Kingdom as the large mouth organ Cheng black bamboo, which could come from a science fiction movie, as strange flutes and shawm. On the track “Sommerhopp”, we can hear his voice on what can be called a Chinese rap.
On four tracks we hear “European exotic” sounds. On one hand we have the musical ambassador of Bulgaria in Germany, Stefan Daskalos the gadulka, violin player. On the other, we hear Efgeni Atanasov, bringing a significant gypsy sound from the Black Sea. Stefan’s style is dreamy melancholy. Efgeni, only 20 years old, embodies his wildness riddled with magic tricks.
Also for the first time with Embryo on an album is the guitarist Atze Wehmeier, the founding member of Missus Beastly. He has taught generations of string players, including the bassist Jens Pollheide who appears with his bizarre flute improvisations here.
Worth mentioning is that there are four percussionists on the album, Embryo alternates between them on each piece.
Just two days after the shock of September 11, Embryo was in concert where Afghan and US musicians were present. “No War” is the clear message, Afghanistan being one of the most beautiful countries Embryo has experienced.
Line-up:
- Christian Buchard / drums (8-9-13-14), percussion (1-10), vibes (4-6-11-12), santour (2-3-7), vocals (5)
- Stefan Daskalos / gadulka (1-10)
- Karsten Hochapfel / guitar (2 to 4-13-14), cello (1-5-11)
- Chris Karrer / oud (6)
- Xizhi Nie / erhu (2-12), scheng (4), vocals (5-13), flute (8-14)
- Jens Pollheide / flute (1-5-10), bass (2 to 4-7-13-14)
- Didak R. / percussion (3-6-7)
- Dieter Serfas / drums (2), talking drum (9), percussion (3-7-13-14)
- Lothar Stahl / percussion (1), drums (3-5-7), marimba (10)
- Atze Wehmeier: guitar (3-5-7-13)
- Michael Wehmeyer / keyboards (2-4-14), percussion (6)
- Max Weissenfeldt / percussion (1), drums (10-11)
with
- Renee Ahmend / guitar (9)
- Fredi Alberti / cello (1-10)
- Efgeni Atanasof / violin (3-7)
- Parvis Ayan / tabla (11)
- Chuck Henderson / soprano saxophone (11)
- Gotz Liekfeld / trumpet (11)
- Nick McCarthy / bass (11)
- Jamal Mohammand / harmonium (11)
- Mu Sa / pipa (12)
Track List:
01. Darmstadta – 4:34
02. Berlin 17 – 2:36
03. Sinti – 2:54
04. Scheng – 3:02
05. Sommerhopp – 2:29
06. Cafe des Artes – 12:29
07. Schamania – 10:56
08. Pentai – 2:27
09. Yorubagroove – 2:24
10. Gadulka – 7:10
11. No war (Krieg nein Danke!) – 1:43
12. Konfuzius – 6:07
13. Festivalmoments – 3:28
14. Schleusenkrug – 3:38
Link in comments.
Eden (Canada) – Eden (1978) (@256)
10 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
This sole album from Quebecois band Eden is strongly influenced by Yes, Ange and Atoll , sung in French (no special Quebec accent is noticeable).
A slowed down Yes influence is the dominant characteristic , but the vocal delivery remind heavily of Atoll singer Andre Balzer even if the timbre is not the same. Most of the tracks are mid-tempo and rely heavily on the overly symphonic side of progressive that was common in the late 70′s.
The first side is relatively slow going and is content of rather sub-par symphonic progressive, not being overly demonstrative either. The second side has much shorter tracks and shows them in a more exploratory mood.
Line-up:
- Jean-Bernard Borja / vocals, bass
- Robert Boileau / keyboards
- Gilles Favreau / guitar
- Jean Remillard / drums
Track List:
01. Alias – 4:42
02. Pavane – 8:01
03. La Ballerine Musclee – 5:13
04. Transe – 4:45
05. Arabesque – 3:00
06. Louis Le Cancre – 6:11
07. Intuition – 2:12
08. La Foret – 2:03
Link in comments.
Embryo – Live 2000 Vol. 1 (@256)
10 May 2010
Another Embryo live album, this time featuring recordings from 2000.
Line-up:
- Christian Burchard / vibes, percussion, santour, bayka, vocals
- Marty Cook / trombone
- Michi Wehmeyer / keyboards, piano
- Dieter Serfas / percussion
- Lothar Stahl / marimba, percissopm
- Jens Pollheide / flute, bass
- Karsten Hochapfel / guitar, oud, cello
- Yulyus Golombeck / oud
- Karuna Murti / tavil
- Klaus Gehn / percussion
- Sharif Kavalli / percussion
- Izzet Kizil / percussion
- Mac Grimmen Sesler / vocals
- Mural Ertel / sazc
- Goetz Liekfeld / trumpet
- Larry Porter / keyboards, rhubab
- Chris Karrer / oud
- Serguei Letov / soprano sax
- Jurji Parfenov / trumpet
- Masaro Nischimoto / flute
- Max Weissenfeldt / percussion
- Nick McCarthy / bass
- Xizhi Nie / erhu
- Monty Waters / alto sax
- Geoff Goodman / guitar
Track List:
01. 3 Continents – 7:43
02. Kawalli – 2:04
03. Turkish drums – 4:20
04. Robbed in Spain – 6:52
05. Yulyus in Madurei – 7:53
06. Blues 21 – 6:50
07. 2 Keys – 6:31
08. Rhubabdreams – 4:57
09. Chlebnikov – 3:53
10. Mejor venti – 3:01
11. Flip out – 6:57
12. Burru gara dara – 9:04
Link in comments.
Artcane – Odyssee (1977) (@256)
09 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
Odyssee is the one and only album from this French quartet.
Each 6 songs holds it’s own captivating personality. The title track lets the listener know what’s in store on the rest of the album. The song pulses with energy, aggressive rhythms and arresting melodic choices setting the tone. It crashes into the mellow beginnings of “Le Chant D’Orphee”, which builds and builds and eventually succumbs to Jack Mlynski’s incredibly powerful riff construction. Vocals are sparse on ‘Odyssey’, but when introduced on “Le Chant” they are enigmatic and ghostly.
The album’s real centerpiece is “Artcane I”, a lengthy track encapsulating everything great about Artcane: patient crescendos of cosmic atmospherics; hypnotic keyboard repetitions courtesy of Alain Coupel; the nimble yet heavy-handed drumming of Daniel Locci; creepy, dark vibrations all over the place; spurts of jazz-rock rhythms; moments of pure heaviness like the most metallic moments of ’70s-era Rush.
Two of the most exciting moments come second-hand from themes laid down by King Crimson. A rhythm and melody in King Crimson’s “Red” (heard in third track “Novembre”) are borrowed quite liberally. Additionally, the first two “Larks’ Tongues In Aspic” movements are referenced in fourth song “25e Anniversaire”. Mlynski’s Frippian style straddles the line between homage and plagiarism.
‘Odyssee’ is full of ideas, chemistry, talent and power. A very enjoyable ride only the most resentful Crimson fans would shun.
Line-up:
- Daniel Locci / drums, percussion
- Jack Mlynski / guitars, vocals
- Stanislas Belloc / bass, vocals
- Alain Coupel / keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Track List:
01. Odyssey – 2:30
02. Le Chant d’Orphee – 3:41
03. Novembre – 9:42
04. 25e Anniversaire – 4:44
05. Artcane I – 16:18
06. Nostalgie – 4:48
Link in comments.
Embryo – Tour 98 Istanbul Casablanca (1998) (@256)
09 May 2010
(Review from gnosis2000.net)
The double album Istanbul Casablanca – Tour 98 is another document of the band’s live performances.
Sound is of varying quality but the performances are lovely. As always a wide variety of influences can be heard, but as the title suggests, the music from Turkey and Morocco stands in the spotlight.
On several tracks Embryo is joined by the Turkish band Oriental Wind. “Istanbul Suite” is based on a famous Turkish folk melody, but it has been turned into a great jam with a prominent role for Oriental Wind’s percussion player Okay Temiz.
“All Alone” is a beautiful ballad showing once more that boundaries between jazz and ethnic music are not necessarily existent. It features great solos for flute, vibes and clarinet among others. Most of the second disc contains music recorded on their Moroccan journey reporting the intense collaboration with Mahmoud Gania.
There are also a few tracks with Chinese master musician Xizhi Nie on erhu and one poorly recorded track features the outstanding lyra player Ross Daly.
Line-up:
- Christian Burchard / percussion, santour
- Roberto Licci / tambourine, vocals
- Xizhi Nie / flute, erhu, scheng
- Yulius Golombeck / oud
- Lothar Stahl / percussion, marimba
- Okay Temiz / percussion
- Ahmed Özden / surna
- Hüsnü Senlendirici / clarinet
- Jens Pollheide / bass, flute
- Roman Bunka / oud
- Karsten Hochapfel / cello, guitar
- Murat Ertel / saz
- Mamadou Diop / percussion
- Gökhan Aya / saz, guitar
- Salih Nazim / saz, guitar
- Ross Daly / lyra
- Sascha Alexandr Alexandrov / bassoon
- Malik Dogan / vocals
- Lam Nordlaw / prep. piano
- Alan Praskin / alto sax
- Edgar Hofmann / alto sax, clarinet
- Chuulunbat Munkh / erdene yatga
- Dadgan Ganpu / bass murin khuur
- Sharav / muriu khuur
- Arildi Boldbator / muriu khuur
- Dangaa Khosbayar / overtone, sin-ging
- Götz Lieckfeld / trumpet
- Dieter Weberpals / flute
- Eugen de Ryck / guitar
- Jurij Parfionov / trumpet
- Cecilia / vocals, guitar
- Mahmoud Genia / vocals, gembri
- Mohammed Abdellaoui / vocals, percussion
- El Moukthtar Gania / vocals, percussion
- Mohammed Outanine / vocals, percussions
- Abdallah Gania / vocals, percussion
- Abdellaoui Hamani / vocals, percussion
- Abdelativ / vocals, percussion
- Ahmed Geurfti / violin
- Rashid Ahmed / oud, vocals
- Dieter Serfas / percussion
- Sascha Alessandrov / bassoon
- Niklas Olschewsky / percussion
Track List:
CD1
01. Roberto – 5:39
02. Nasredin – 9:00
03. Renk – 5:45
04. Bisterve – 4:49
05. All Alone – 11:13
06. Istanbul Suite – 12:36
07. 3-2-3 – 5:49
08. Air – 3:46
09. Mirhaba Herzberg – 1:07
10. Mongolenblues – 8:34
11. Session 2, Part 1 – 3:41
CD2
01. Telefon – 4:52
02. Chinese rap in 9 – 7:36
03. Rumba di Llanca – 2:26
04. Saat Holm – 10:17
05. Pirata – 2:19
06. Gnawamagic – 12:56
07. Andalouse – 2:46
08. Essaouira – 9:16
09. Banda Banda – 2:28
10. Nayi! – 2:18
11. Onibo – 4:00
12. Session 2, part 2 – 1:46
Link in comments.
Morgen – Morgen (1969) (@256)
08 May 2010
(Review from allmusic, forcedexposure.com)
From New York, this short lived band evolved around the namesake guitarist Steve Morgen.
A foreboding bass riff and staccato drumming introduce ‘Welcome To The Void’, and for the next thirty-eight minutes one is hurled headlong into a vortex of dual-guitar overload, lyrically woven with romantic and Victorian imagery residing on a tab of microdot.
There are some cool passages here, like the sudden rush of Jimi Hendrix/the Who-hybrid notes in “Love” as a jungle beat throbs in the background, and the lasciviously fey vocal and sweetly fuzzy guitar sustains in “Of Dreams.” “Eternity in Between” does make it clear Morgen was a big Who fan, with its lifts of the chord sequence from “Underture” and the stuttering distortion of “My Generation”.
Line-up:
- Steve Morgen / vocals, guitar
- Rennie Genossa / bass
- Bob Maiman / drums
- Barry Stock / rhythm guitar
Track List:
01. Welcome To The Void – 4:47
02. Of Dreams – 5:37
03. Beggin Your Pardon (Miss Joan) – 4:49
04. Eternity In Between – 5:06
05. Purple – 4:11
06. She’s The Nitetime – 3:30
07. Love – 10:53
Link in comments.
Embryo – Ibn Battuta (1994) (@256)
08 May 2010
(Review from gnosis2000.net)
On Ibn Battuta, Embryo’s focus has shifted towards music from the Middle East.
Quite an excellent album mixing jazz, fusion and above all various styles of Arabic music. On the title track Edgar Hoffman plays some lovely Turkish clarinet. “Simai Ka” features a Coltrane like soprano sax solo by Chuck Henderson, and Edgar Hoffman plays a dreamy solo on the ney (a type of flute often used in North African/Arabic music). Burchard adds several virtuoso contributions on vibraphone/xylophone. “Kletta” is an interesting piece trying to merge percussive elements and structures of three continents. Dieter Serfas plays on the African talking drum and Yusuf Esqah joins on Indian tablas, while Burchard plays the hackbrett (hammer dulcimer).
Line-up:
- Christian Burchard / drums, percussion, vb., vocals, marimba, 1/4 tone marimba, cymbal
- Roman Bunka / guitar, oud
- Chuck Henderson / sax (soprano), vocals, percussion, handclapping
- Dieter Serfas / gangan, drums
- Chris Lachotta / bass
- Christoph Karrer / percussion, oud
- Norbert Stamberger / sax (bass)
- Albrecht Huber / 1/4 tone trumpet
- Marty Cook / trombone
- Janal Mohmad / vocals, harmonium
- Sime Mohmand / vocals
- Yusuf Eshaq / tabla
- Edgar Hoffmann / sax (alto), Turkish clarinet
- Roland Schaeffer / nagaswaram
- Fathi Salama / synths
- Khamis Henkesh / darabouka
- Rama Kishna / bass
- Ibrahim Gaulala / salamaia
- Adeeb Refala / oud
- Alman Shafik / violin
Track List:
01. Code 7 – 5:50
02. Ibn Battuta – 7:52
03. Komet 41 – 10:59
04. 1/4 Tone Jazz, Part 1 – 5:14
05. Man Bekhod Wa To Bekhod – 3:44
06. Prelude – 6:10
07. Beat From Bagdad – 7:11
08. Simai Ka – 7:28
09. 1/4 Tone Jazz, Part 2 – 1:28
10. Kletta – 4:49
11. El Qalb Yeshak Kulli Gamil – 3:45
12. Andalusian Beat – 3:59
13. Zeinab – 4:13
Link in comments.
National Head Band – Albert 1 (1971) (@256)
07 May 2010
(Info from sleeve)
In many ways, Albert One has a familiar story: Label sign experimental band, band makes album, label doesn’t promote band, band make no money, band split.
The moniker turned out to be apt — for this is musically an intelligent, experimental expose of progressive influences and excesses, played by a bunch of talented, passionate guys who knew (more or less) what they were doing.
The band members had eclectic tastes and strong personalities. Schelhaas was a soul fan, whereas Ford’s background had largely been blues and Paull was ostensibly a folkie. Only Kerslake had had a crack at the post-Beatles rock that was now spreading like wildfire on the underground. Progressive rock heavyweight Eddie Offord, fresh from success with Yes’ The Yes Album became the album’s producer.
The resulting album is a piquant mix of blues, folk and progressive interlaced with a harder, rockier sensibility.
“Got No Time” begins the record, starting out as a rock standard, the track gave way at the bridge to an extended percussion solo from Kerslake. Picking up on the riff from the opener, “You” is more pastoral and showcases the band’s talent for harmonising. “Too Much Country Water” — often misleading attributed to Uriah Heep due to the Kerslake connection, is, by that virtue the band’s best known track. Heavy and rockin’, it has the band at their colourful best; ending with a great riff. “Lead Me Back” is perhaps the most Beatles-que number on the album, with a clear cue coming from Abbey Road. It features Paull’s best bass-playing and some magic moog work from Schelhaas.
The highlight of the whole record, “Listen to the Music” is another Beatles inspired ballad, mixing four-part hormonies, blended effortlessly with an intricate rock template that remains all their own.
With the Harmonium driving “For Islington Farm”; it becomes a lush, poetic number full of soaring harmonies and melancholy. A rhythmic, folk ballad follows in the shape of “Try to Reach You” which again features some blistering bass from Paull. “Brand New World” contains insightful lyrics and is another intelligent mix of styles, a big stab at rock.
A two-parter ends the album and brings together all the aforementioned skills with delicious aplomb. Beginning as an intense rock-out, with all and sundry playing hard, it gives way halfway to their most pastoral and wistful side.
Experimental, but tied both to an array of influences and the mood of the time, it stands as a snapshot of a music scene undergoing a huge shift and a talented band who deserved more recognition.
Jan Schelhaas would later join Caravan and Camel, Lee Kerslake would go on to Uriah Heep.
Line-up:
- Neil Ford / guitar, moog, vocals
- Lee Kerslake / drums, moog, vocals
- Dave Paull / bass, mood, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Jan Schelhaas / piano, organ, harmonium, moog
Track List:
01. Got No Time – 5:00
02. You – 3:59
03. Too Much Country Water – 4:12
04. Lead Me Back – 4:01
05. Listen To The Music – 6:30
06. Islington Farm – 3:12
07. Try To Reach You – 4:20
08. Brand New World – 6:24
09. Mister Jesus – 8:10
Link in comments.
Embryo – Jazzbuhne Berlin (Live 1989) (@256)
07 May 2010
(Review from gnosis2000.net)
In the second half of the 80s, the band focused on African (percussive) music as can be heard on this live album.
The “Talking-Drum”-Ensemble Yoruba Dun Dun Orchestra stands in the spotlight for about half of the album. Also featured is the Morrocan singer and gembri player El Hussaine Kili.
The highlight of the album is “Sawaba”, a typical Embryo jam uniting all kinds of ethnic influences in a beautiful way.
Line-up:
- El Hussaine Kili / gembri, vocals
- Christian Burchard / vibes, hackbrett, pilala
- Chris Karrer / saxophone, oud, vocals
- Michi Wehmeyer / piano, organ
- Dieter Serfas / drums
- Lamidi Ayankunle / dun dun, bata
- Rabiu Ayandokun / gudu gudu, imelaku, gangan
- Ojetunde Ajayi / vocals, dance
Track List:
01. Maroccaine Wind – 7:19
02. Knaur Power – 4:45
03. Quarter Node Jazz – 9:50
04. Shogun-Oriki – 4:40
05. Masc Dance Music – 5:09
06. Imelaku I. – 2:28
07. Obatala – 4:11
08. Imelaku II. – 4:13
09. Sawaba – 3:55
Link in comments.
El Shalom – Frost (1976) (@256)
06 May 2010
(Review from waysidemusic.com)
El Shalom founded in Rheinhausen in 1970, released their LP Frost in 1976, followed by a 7′ single in 1978. A quintet of guitars/flutes/saxes, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and vocals; they definitely had elements of the big progressive bands of the day, such as Yes or Genesis, but in a more underground/primitive/rock kinda way.
Owing to different musical tastes of the band, there is a large range of diverse styles that the band has to cope with. By making productive use of these different styles rather than fending them off, a synthesis is created which is interesting and exciting for both the musicians and the audience, integrating elements of jazz, classical music and folk into rock music.
This edition of the album has the 7′ single, plus two live tracks as a bonus.
Line-up:
- Joachim Brands / Keyboards
- Gunter Christ / Guitar
- Helmut Meier / Bass
- Wolfgang Merkens / Drums
- Karlheinz Schmitz / Guitar, Sax, Flute
Track List:
01. Der Werbegnom – 3:37
02. Princess June – 5:28
03. Kreislaufkollaps – 5:55
04. Alvin Zweistein – 7:30
05. Frost – 8:03
06. H. A. Und Zwirn – 6:43
07. Birthday Song – 2:58
08. Leipzig – 4:42
09. Birthday Song (Bonus Single) – 3:13
10. Geld (Bonus Single) – 3:18
11. In The House Of The Blue Light (Bonus Live) – 5:33
12. Second One (Bonus Live) – 2:46
Link in comments.
Embryo – Zack Gluck (1984) (@256)
06 May 2010
(Review from gnosis2000.net)
On this album Embryo’s mix of ethnic musics, jazz, fusion and (kraut)rock sounds completely convincing again. Zack Glück is much more quirky and focused than their other releases from this period.
Probably most surprising is the experimental “U-Bahn” (generally the German word for “metro” or “subway train”) capturing the band on a claustrophobic ride through the rock underground. It is actually not unlike early Kraftwerk, Harmonia or Cluster and features some austere violin playing on top.
The two-part “Che Mangerai Domani Vipera” and “Hör, Spiel und Vergiss” are more typical, but great Embryo tracks fusing rock, ethnic and jazz music.
Line-up:
- Roman Bunka / oud, guitar
- Christian Burchard / drums, marimba, vibes, cymbalon, vocals
- Buze Fischer / tavil (6)
- Edgard Hofmann / flute, saxes, violin, vocals
- Gerald Luciano / tavil, bass, vocals, percussion
- Wolfgang Neumann / hackbrett (4)
- Michael Wehmeyer / keyboards, percussion
Track List:
01. Che Mangerai Domani Vipera – 2:47
02. Dage Django – 4:02
03. Zack – 2:18
04. Hor, Spiel, Vergieb – 7:44
05. Electraunico – 5:36
06. Montespertoli – 3:46
07. Che Mangerai Domani Vipera (Part Two) – 6:50
08. U-Bahn – 12:03
09. Ali Baba – 4:27
Link in comments.
Embryo – La Blama Sparozzi (1982) (@256)
05 May 2010
(Review from amazon)
This recording is like a carnaval…many exotic sounds and unusual instrumentation even by Embryos’ standards. There are a lot of musicians in different studios in dates ranging from 1979 to 1982… a number of composers and several live recordings.
Disc 1 is more cohesive, Roman Bunka writes and sings the 1st song and the title track and others…expirimental, interesting world fusion true to Embryos’ moniker (in a state of growth) forming as it forms. The title track with its cool off beat tempo, flute, sax, acoustic guitar, oud, percussion and a killer bass part is the center-piece.
Disc 2 highlights include “El Moro”, pure gypsy manna delivered ala Chris Karrer on guitar, and Bunka on oud with flute, trumpet, trombone and percussion with a mid-eastern flavor. “Wasserrader” was recorded in Egypt with Sehnap Eizard singing in a foriegn dialect, very sexy, female vocal… The keyboard makes you feel like your on the back of a camel in the cool desert moonlight with the breeze in your face.
Being a hodge-podge of recordings, this uneven album will have its own ups and downs for every listener.
Line-up:
- Werner Aldinger / tuba, vocals (1.6/7/8. 2.1/2/5/9)
- Ulli Bassenge / bass, vocals (1.6/7/8, 2.2/9/10)
- Roman Bunka / guitar, vocals, drums, bass, synths, oud (1.1 to 6, 8/ 9/10, 2.2/3/5/10)
- Christian Burchard / drums, marimba, percussion, dharbuka, organ, piano, vocals, tapes, guitar, quartertone, cimbalero, vibes, xylophone (1.1 to 9, 2.1/2/3/5/7 to 10)
- Sehnap Eizard / vocals, percussion (2.8)
- Wilfried Grotens / trumpet (1.8)
- Muhammed Hilal / keyboards, arrangements (2.8)
- Edgar Hofmann / shinai, Soprano saxophone, clarinet, violin (1.2/4/7/9, 2/2/4/5/9)
- Ibrahim / Salemeia (2.8)
- Abdul Jabar / tula (2.7)
- Chris Karrer / guitar (1.7/8/10, 2.2/5/9/10)
- Gerald Luciano / bass, vocals, percussion (1.2/9, 2.3/4)
- Abdul Madjid / tambur (2.7)
- Schamsdin Masrur / dotar, vocals (2.7)
- Malang Negrabi / zerbagali (2.7)
- Colin Offord / Australian mouth arch, vocals (2.1)
- Ustad Mohammed Omar / rubab (2.7)
- Muraina Oyelami / talking drum (2.1/6)
- Salah Ragab / piano, drums, percussion (2.9)
- Machin Abdul Raschid / saranda (2.7)
- Ustad Salin / dilruba (2.7)
- Freddy Setz / drums, casio, vocals, percussion (1.2/4/10, 2.3/4)
- Ramesh Shotam / dhol, mrindangam, tavil, drums, percussion, vocoder, morsing, gong (1.1/2/4 to 9, 2.1/2/6/10)
- Micheal Wehmeyer / synthesizers, piano, vocals (1.6/7/8, 2.2)
- Grace Youn / vocals (2.10)
- Jay Ziehr / guitar (1.5)
- Brazilian Musicians / birimbau, percussion, vocals (2.3)
Track List:
CD1
01. Abart – 4:19
02. Reportage – 6:53
03. Xingu – 1:35
04. La Blama Sparozzi – 6:58
05. Jay – 1:26
06. Computer Killer – 2:52
07. Cimbalero – 2:53
08. Zapata Pasteta – 7:24
09. Kehlig Selig – 7:45
10. Duo – 2:30
CD2
01. Mundbogen 9 – 4:29
02. El Moro – 6:26
03. Fun-Bahia – 7:37
04. Auf Gottes Auge Wachst Kein Gras – 4:42
05. Evas Zimmer – 0:48
06. Nigeria, Karnataka – 4:39
07. Pia Pia – 5:29
08. Wasserrader – 6:10
09. Egypt Straat – 4:02
10. Grace – 1:35
11. Cimbaleros (Bonus) – 11:06
12. Salam Salah (Bonus) – 5:51
Links in comments.
Peacepipe – Peacepipe (1970) (@256)
04 May 2010
(Review from allmusic, peterjolly.co.uk)
Peacepipe were a power trio that played Southern California and Arizona in the late 1960s.
If you’re into heavy psych guitar, you’re in for a treat. Uzonyi has a monstrous tone on guitar, similar at times to Jimi Hendrix’s feedback dive-bombing, but the two have very different playing styles. The material ranges from superheavy guitar insanity to more poppy material. Vocals on the other hand can be a bit rough at times.
Opener “Sea Of Nightmares” is a stunning piece of acid rock. “Angel Of Love” and “I Can Never Take Your Dreams Away” are more straight ahead US rock. “A Biker’s Tune” and “Open Your Mind” herald the return of the acid guitar for some great freak-out guitar solos and “The Day The War Has Ended” is stretched to over ten minutes to include some stunning guitar and organ interplay. “Carry On Together” is just a bit too rock’n’roll to really fit with the rest of the album, and although “Love Shines” is mellow compared to the rest of the songs it does not sound as out of place.
Three extra tracks extends the original LP — both sides of their 1968 single, plus the out of place but decidedly pop-py “Keep A Smilin’ Cari”.
Line-up:
- John Uzonyi / Guitar, Vocals
- Gary Tsuruda / Drums
- Rick Abts / Keyboards
Track List:
01. Sea Of Nightmares – 6:28
02. Angel Of Love – 4:12
03. I Can Never Take Your Dreams Away – 6:26
04. Carry On Together – 2:45
05. A Bikers Tune – 2:51
06. Open Your Mind – 4:51
07. The Day The War Has Ended – 10:10
08. Love Shines – 3:14
09. Keep A Smilin’ Cari – 2:51
10. The Sun Won’t Shine Forever – 2:53
11. Lazy River Blues – 3:39
Link in comments.
Embryo – Every Day Is Okay (Anthology 1980) (@256)
04 May 2010
(Info from sleeve)
Released in 1980 to celebrate the group’s tenth anniversary, this record entitled “Anthology” is an exceptional collection of unedited, live and rare tracks.
Early images of a journey which has lasted until this day, a work which turns history on its head, acknowledging Embryo, with their colorful mixture of rock, jazz and ethnic music, as having lead the way, ahead of many others, to “fusion”.
A record which reveals one of the most interesting periods in European avant-garde music.
Line-up:
- Maria Archer / vocals (7)
- Roman Bunka / acoustic guitar (5-11), electric guitar (3-8), saz (4-5), bass (6-8), vocals (5-6-7), percussion (7)
- Christian Burchard / vocals (1-2), drums (1-2-4 to 8, 10-11), synthi-vibes (1-2), percussion (1-2-6-7), electric vibes (3), marimbas (5), keyboards (6-8), clavine (7), vocals (3-5 to 8, 11)
- Remigius Drexler / electric guitar (1-2)
- Hansi Fischer / flute (10)
- Ralf Fischer / bass (10)
- Edgar Hofmann / violins (1-2-4), Soprano saxophone (1-2-10), flute (1-2)
- Alfred Jones / acoustic guitar (10)
- Dave King / bass (5)
- Charlie Mariano / Alto saxophone (8)
- Dieter Miekautsch / percussion, vocals (7)
- Uve Müllrich / bass (1 to 4, 7-11), electric saz (1-2)
- Burkard Schmiedl / synthesizer (11)
- Michael Wehmeyer / organ(1-2-3), piano (1-2-11), harmonium (1-2)
Track List:
01. Old Days, Old Violinos – 1:12
02. Road To Asia – 12:04
03. Muhldorf – 6:21
04. Sunsinging – 3:26
05. Back From Africa (I) – 3:03
06. Back From Africa (II) – 3:50
07. Empty Pocket Blueeyed Voice – 4:17
08. Every Day Is Ok – 5:10
09. Dawai, Dawai – 2:39
10. Tv Story – 1:31
11. Political Prisoners – 4:43
Link in comments.
Mellow Candle – Virgin Prophet (1969-70) (@256)
03 May 2010
(Review from amazon, progarchives.com, progreviews.com)
Having gained greater appreciation among folk collectors over the intervening years, this archival album made up of previously unreleased demo recordings and assorted tracks was released.
Recorded in 1969 and 1970, the arrangements are a little different than the latter studio album, more up-tempo, but still good.
Devoted fans of the Mellow Candle will find many things to pick over and enjoy.
Line-up:
- Clodagh Simonds / lead vocals, keyboards
- Allison Williams / lead vocals
- Frank Boylan / bass
- William Murray / drums
- David Williams / guitar, vocals
Track List:
01. Heaven Heath – 2:37
02. Waterman Weatherman – 4:01
03. Sheep Season – 3:38
04. Buy Or Beware – 2:51
05. Break Your Token – 2:32
06. Lonely Man – 3:34
07. Lords Of The Green Grass – 1:59
08. Dan The Wing – 2:34
09. Silver Song – 4:10
10. Poet & The Witch – 2:22
11. Boulders On My Grave – 2:45
12. Reverend Sisters – 3:44
13. Crabtree – 3:45
14. Pretty Polly – 5:28
15. The Virgin Prophet – 3:13
Link in comments.
Embryo – Life (Live 1980) (@256)
03 May 2010
(Review from amazon)
With “Life” Embryo takes their adventurous nature with world music to the extreme.
Much of this album sounds like it was recorded by Indian musicians, rather than jazz-fusion Germans. Although the famous jazz sax player Charlie Mariano is sitting in on this set, you also have the “Karnataka College of Percussion” providing a thick bed of Indian percussion. Since Embryo is a band lead by a jazz drummer that went rock in the 1970s, this thick percussion sound works with the Embryo band concept.
This is the band, as explorers of world music, with jazz icing on the cake. The recording is clean and sharp, and the orchestrated plethoria of drums represents itself well.
Embryo’s more extreme, purist world musical experiments ended up influencing a lot more followers of this genre than they are given credit for.
Line-up:
- Christian Burchard / electric vibraphone (A1/2, B2), marimbaphone (B2)
- Edgar Hofmann / Soprano saxophone (A1/2, B2)
- Friedo Josh / flute (A1/2, B2)
- Charlie Mariano / Soprano saxophone (A1, B2)
- Uve Mullrich / bass (A1/2, B2)
- Michi Wehmeyer / harmonium (A1/2, B2)
- Jay Zier / acoustic guitar (A1/2, B2)
with
- Principal T.S.A. Mani / Mrindangam
- T.N. Ashok / vocals
- B.N. chandramouli / khanjira
- V.R. Chandrashekar / khol
- N.N. Dinesh / dholki
- M. Gururaja / morsing
- M.N. Mohankumar / pakwaj
- M. Raghavendra / vocals
- R.A. Rajagopal / dholak
- T.N. Ramesh / ghatam
- T.N. Shashikumar / dholak
- S. Srishyla / mridangam top pitch
Track List:
01. Cello Cello – 15:26
02. Telisirama – 7:25
03. Tala Tarangini – 14:46
04. Moroccan Pirates – 11:21
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Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (1972) (@256)
02 May 2010
(Review from progreviews.com, progarchives.com)
Mellow Candle were an Irish group from Dublin, with an English folk-rock sound in the vein of Fairport Convention and Fotheringay.
Clodagh Simonds and Alison Williams share vocal duties, and work exceptionally well together. They are at their most reliable on slower songs, such as the wonderfully atmospheric “Reverend Sisters” or “Silver Song”, but also manage to pull out an exceptional performance on the more raucous songs, such as the final track, “Boulders on My Grave”.
The songwriting is very solid, and is, despite a number of fairly conventional songs, occasionally quite adventurous. Most songs are in a comfortable triple meter, but on a few tracks they jump from one time signature to the other. The compositions are approached with a sense of naïve adventure, and are played with such energy and clear enjoyment.
Highlights include “Dan the Wing”, a song about an encounter with the spirit world in the great folk tradition, whose supernatural theme is accentuated by its shifting metre. “Reverend Sisters” is an example of a straightforward song written well; a piano with the sustain pedal down accompanies a simple yet haunting melody sung in close harmony. The closing “Boulders on My Grave” is the closest the band come to Irish folk, with its jig rhythm, and is a wonderful way to finish the album.
Their fusion of traditional and contemporary folk-rock was dubbed a ‘tax loss’ by the NME. Disillusioned and dispirited, the group persevered for a while but they were unable to avoid the inevitable break-up.
Line-up:
- Alison Williams / vocals
- Clodagh Simonds / vocals, keyboards
- Frank Boylan / bass
- William Murray / drums
- David Williams / guitar, vocals
Track List:
01. Heaven Heath – 3:03
02. Sheep Season – 5:00
03. Silver Song – 4:26
04. The Poet & The Witch – 2:51
05. Messenger Birds – 3:43
06. Dan The Wing – 2:48
07. Reverend Sisters – 4:21
08. Break Your Token – 2:30
09. Buy Or Beware – 3:07
10. Vile Excesses – 3:16
11. Lonely Man – 4:31
12. Boulders On My Grave – 3:29
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Embryo – Wiesbaden 1972 (Live) (@256)
02 May 2010
(Review from progarchives.com)
The Wiesbaden gig saw an audience of 1200 people – not to believe! Three core members are on the stage here at the end of 1972. Roman Bunka, one of the most important german jazz rock guitarists ever who adopted oriental elements to his style more and more playing saz and other ‘unsual’ instruments at that time. Furthermore Dieter Miekautsch – the master of the Fender Rhodes piano and Christian Burchard, founding member and alltime drummer.
The band offers fine improvised jazz rock/fusion here in any case. The first six songs are one long jam devided in several sections – compelling and a great dream for every open-minded jazz rock fan. Roman Bunka and Christian Burchard are starting the show with a long marimba and saz collaboration; an excellent warm-up with an intensive oriental flavour. For the last minutes on “Sunrising” Burchard changes to the drums, Bunka later to the traditional electric guitar and then Miekautsch is interfering with his piano – the ultimate jazz rock jam is on the run now fitting exactly.
Some patches and fragments from the later recorded studio albums are to notice clearly. “Space to no place to go” appears one year later on ‘We keep on’ as ‘No place to go’ for example. “Master plan of Pharoa” is derived from Pharao Sanders’ ‘The creator has a master plan’. At the end some audience action is to hear when the band announces a short break. The following long track “Pygmäen überall – Back from Africa” is basically continuing the ‘Space to no place to go’ jam. Hansi Fischer adds some nice soprano saxophone contributions to the song which serves an oriental world music mood once again.
“Clockwork Blue” finally is a bonus track from the following Aus Dem Nichts performance – an Embryo and Xhol related band which presents this song in a very jazzy freestyle version.
The concert was recorded by organiser Muck Krieger who used an Uher tape recorder. The sound quality is not top-notch always.
Line-up:
- Roman Bunka / guitar, saz, vocals
- Dieter Miekautsch / piano, percussion
- Randy Stiletti / bass
- Klaus Gotzner / percussion
- Christian Burchard / drums, marimba, vocals
with
- Hansi Fischer / soprano sax (7)
Track List:
01. Overture Marimbasaz – 7:09
02. Sunrising – 6:16
03. Dieter Plays – 6:46
04. Space To No Place To Go – 7:40
05. Andalucia Si – 6:13
06. Master Plan Of Pharoa – 9:40
07. Pygmaen Uberall – 21:03
08. Clockwork Blue (Bonus-Track von Aus dem Nichts) – 12:36
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Snafu – All Funked Up (1975) (@320)
01 May 2010
(Review from rlwl.co.uk, wikipedia, allmusic)
Solley left the band to join Procol Harum. Brian Chatton and Tim Hinkley was recruited to complete the lineup that would record the band’s third album.
As the title suggests, the overall sound is very funky rock with an evident blues debt. Micky Moody’s overdriven slide adds a touch of Southern boogie to the mixture. The laidback country-rock groove sustained throughout has held up remarkably well in the quarter-century since its release.
Shortly after the release of the album, the general feeling of disillusionment and loss of direction which dominated the established British rock scene in the mid-seventies finally caught up with Snafu as well. During a tour of Germany, Micky Moody was invited to join David Coverdale (for the band which would become Whitesnake) and he accepted. Snafu was no more.
Line-up:
- Bobby Harrison / vocals, percussion
- Micky Moody / guitar
- Colin Gibson / bass, percussion
- Terry Popple / drums, percussion
- Tim Hinckley / piano, organ
- Brian Chatton / keyboards
Track List:
01. Don’t Keep Me Wondering – 5:21
02. Bloodhound – 5:25
03. Lock And Key – 2:56
04. Hard to Handle – 3:22
05. Every Little Bit Hurts – 4:41
06. Turn Around – 4:23
07. Deep Water – 5:27
08. Keep on Running – 3:24
09. Barroom Tan – 3:48
10. Dancing Feet – 5:51
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