Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Maneige
MANEIGE is probably the Quebec band that epitomizes best the Quebec Prog boom from 74 to 79. Their music are probably one of the best example of what Fusion music can be by blending in classical and folk elements together with jazz tones the whole thing having a very progressive rock ideal and could also fit the chamber rock style. Their style can only be really compared to other Quebecois group as SLOCHE and OPUS-5. Taken from ProgArchives
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Maneige - Maneige (1975)
Maneige - Les Porches De Notre Dame (1975)
Maneige - Ni Vent... Ni Nouvelle (1977)
Maneige - Libre Service (1978)
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Maneige - Maneige (1975)
Maneige - Les Porches De Notre Dame (1975)
Maneige - Ni Vent... Ni Nouvelle (1977)
Maneige - Libre Service (1978)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Harmonium - Si on avait besoin d'une cinquième saison (1975)
Basically, the masterpiece here is the 17-minute suite entitled "Histoire Sans Parole". The epic starts off with one of the most beautiful flute, mellotron, acoustic guitar themes ever recorded, followed by countless beautiful themes for the remaining 15-minutes. The other songs on the album don't really match the quality of the epic, but they are nothing to complain about. I really like "Dixie", a fun song drenched with early American-jazz influences. The one thing that most listeners will catch is that HARMONIUM didn't have a drummer, yet the lack of drums doesn't take away too much from the music due to the increased interaction between flutes, saxes, acoustic guitars, piano, and mellotron. I would say that HARMONIUM were inspired by early GENESIS, and the calmer moments from early KING CRIMSON. Overall, what a perfect album to start your French Canadian prog collection with! Steve Hegede Prog ArchivesRate Your Music
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Lokomotive Kreuzberg - Kollege Klatt (1972)
Along with Ton Steine Scherben, Lokomotive Kreuzberg were the most important political rock band to emerge from Berlin. Five left-wing ex-students formed the band at the beginning of 1972. Powalla was replaced by Manfred Praeker in the Spring of 1973. Uwe Mullrich replaced Volker Hiemann for six months, then he moved on to Munich and Embryo being replaced by Bernhard Potschka in Lokomotive Kreuzberg in the Summer of 1974. Like Floh De Cologne, Lokomotive Kreuzberg had theatrical live shows, where the music only served as a texture and background for their 'cabaret performances'. Kollege Klatt (1972), and all subsequent albums, contained a full variety of musical styles. The liner notes for the album were written by none other than Floh De Cologne! In addition to their four albums, two singles were issued on Plane: "Chile '73" coupled with "Hey Mr. America" (1974) and "Arbeitslos" coupled with "Teddy Tex" (1976). Fette Jahre (1975) is usually considered to he their best achievement musically. From Cosmic Dreams At PlayRate Your Music
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Monday, June 25, 2007
Genfuoco - Dentro L'Invisible (1979)
A band from Tuscany, formed in the mid-70's in Siena, they released a self produced nine-track tape, Antichi confini, in 1976, and being part of the international Gen christian movement they were invited to play in various european Genfest festivals.Their first and only album in 1979 was on the religious Città Nuova label that had also produced bands with similar names like Gen Verde and Gen Rosso.
Dentro l'invisibile had a limited distribution mainly in bookshops, and is rare to find now, though not a particularly interesting album for prog fans.
Acoustic, soft atmospheres are prevalent with good use of flute, sax, keyboards, like in the opening Ouverture, but the tracks have limited instrumental interludes and are mainly built on the vocal parts.
The album marked the end of the band, that split around 1980.
The group has recently reunited in 2000 with all the original members, playing in Florence, and managed to release a live CD recorded in 1976-78.
A well recorded CD with eight-tracks (though none of the album tracks are included here), this is a good document of the live activity of the band, with two tracks over 10 minutes.
The cover doesn't mention any recording details, but the tracks included surely come from different concerts with different lineups, and the musicians involved include the six members that were on the LP along with percussionist Marco Scala and drummer Marco Masotti.
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Morse Code - Procréation (1976)
A year after releasing the classic album “La Marche Des Hommes”, Canada’s MORSE CODE released another masterful concept album titled “Procreation”. Following very closely their patented formula of progressive rock, this album will simply make all prog fans drool. Imagine a blend of HACKETT’esque guitar swoops with lots of beautiful mellotron/organ, creative bass and drum interplay and highly imaginative song writing and you have "Procreation". MORSE CODE is really a perfect marriage of classic ANGE with GENESIS ! Vocals are sung in French and really remind me of the theatrical presence of Christian Decamps (ANGE's vocalist). This album showcases the epic 26+ minute epic title piece which blends a highly British 70's prog character with their unique Québécois flavour. Overall another killer album that everyone needs to have in their collection... absolutely essential album! loserboyRate Your Music
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Città Frontale - El tor (1975)
Still another band from Naples, and also connected to Osanna, formed by Lino Vairetti and Massimo Guarino when that band split in 1974. But Città Frontale were in fact two different bands, the first one being active in 1970 before Osanna were formed with four of that later band members and Gianni Leone, that left to join Balletto di Bronzo.The new Città Frontale retained some of the main elements that strongly characterized Osanna's sound, like the strong use of sax and flute and the mix of prog and mediterranean folk sounds, but with a more melodic and somehow commercial approach. Compared to Osanna's albums, El Tor sounds much more lightweight.
Having a nice cover design by drummer Massimo Guarino (he also produced the nice cover painting on Osanna fourth album) the LP starts with the long Alba di una città /Solo uniti, that could easily find its place in Osanna's Landscape of life, but the rest is not particularly original, with even some Zappa or jazz-rock influences. All in all a positive album, but Osanna were a different thing. ItalianProg
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Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Levi Smith's Clefs - Empty Monkey (1970)
Based around Barrie McAskill this was a continuation of The Clefs. The first three line-ups went to Sydney and had a residency at the Whiskey A Go-Go for eighteen months. The next one was formed in Sydney in 1968 after most members of the earlier line-up had left to form Tully and play in 'Hair' the musical. The next line-up toured frequently and recorded "Empty Monkey". The album captured the band moving towards progressivism on the title cut, the single "Lisa" and an 11½ minute rendition of Lennon-McCartney's "We Can Work It Out". Their soul and R'n'B influences were apparent still on covers of The Hunter and Junior Walker's "Shotgun". This line-up also backed Doug Ashdown on his double album "Age Of Mouse", but Jurd, Blisset, Howe and Buettell left then to form Fraternity. In late 1969/early 1970 the band returned to their residency at the Whisky A Go-Go. Later they moved on to a new residency at Chequers in Sydney. By 1971, they were playing Blood Sweat & Tears and Chicago material six nights a week at Chequers.
The line-up in 1972 was also known as McAskill's Bear Brigade. Later that year they moved to Melbourne with a new line-up. Most of the later line-up became Mighty Mouse. The 1973 line-up was based in Sydney, but in 1974 they returned to Melbourne.You can also check out "Lisa" and "Road Runner" on "Festival 70". "Gonna Get A Seizure" has also resurfaced on "So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star" (3-CD), as has a version of "Take A Little Piece Of My Heart" credited to Linda Cable and Levi Smith's Clefs.
Taken from "Dreams, Fantasies and Nightmares" by Vernon Joynson, an extensive guide to Canadian / Australian / New Zealand and Latin American psych and garage music 1963 - 1976. Alex Gitlin
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The Dimensions - From All Dimensions (1966)
Super rare privately pressed garage album by this band from Illinois. Released in 1966 it's a strong selection of high energy rock and roll psychedelic garage with cover versions of "Gloria", "Route '66", "I Need You" and other similar numbers all performed with a powerful intensity. Classic US '60's sounds. Freak EmporiumRate Your Music
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Raik's Progress - Sewer Rat Love Chant (1967)
Drawing on wild and woolly influences as diverse as Capt.Beefheart, Them and the Animals, these San Joaquin Valley boys helmed by Steven Krikorian,later to reinvent himself as hitmaking Tonio K cut an albums worth of material best described as jawdropping!Tracks such as "Sewer Rat Love Chant" and "Why Did You Rob Us","and "Tank" have been gathering dust since..God know's when!Now this brilliant unearthed 60's album has got it's first release and contains the band's quirky garage recordings,circa 66. Freak EmporiumRate Your Music
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Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Freckleface - S/T (1972)
For sure, the rarest Lp from Belgium (only 300 were pressed).. Great creeping blues rock with long tracks,guitar and weired vocals by Arno(not unlike Captain Beefheart) .. This Lp is highly recommanded if you can like a mixture between Savoy Brown and Creepy John Thomas.. It comes in a cover with tiny reproduction of a painting by belgian surrealist painter Elias.. Highly collectable item overhere for both Arno diehards and blues rock purists.. (no real damages on cover but normal wear of oldness like some ringwear and cracles LP plays stll great but here and there some light noise and also between the tracks but if you find a mint you will hear some noise this was not the best press that time.Rate Your Music
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Opus-5 - Contre-courant (1976)
OPUS 5 were a 5 Piece ensemble from Quebec Canada who released IMHO one of Canada’s finest pieces of 70’s prog rock with “Contre-Courant” in 1976. Line up included Olivier Duplessis (claviers, vocals) , Luc Gauthier (guitars, vocals), Serge Nolet (flute vocals), Christian Leon Racine (bass, vocals) and Jean-Pierre Racicot (percussion, vocals). OPUS 5 were essentially a mix of lighter fusion / jazz prog with folk leanings at times and somewhat reminiscent of the Canterbury school of prog (i.e. HATFIELD & THE NORTH, EGG…). Instrumentally these guys blend tempo challenging aspects with acoustic and synthesizer runs offering the listener quite a fine variety of rhythm and tones. “Contre-Courant” is a very expressive album with all 5 members adding vocalization throughout and is delivered with great emotion. Sometimes albums just seem to have everything and fulfills your mind, ears and spirit and that is the case with this album for me. Absolutely 100% essential. By loserboy PROG ARCHIVESRate Your Music
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Jelly Bean Bandits - S/T (1967)
Hailing from Newburgh in New York State with one of Mainstream's better albums came the Jelly Bean Bandits. More punk than psychedelic it includes some searing guitar and good effects. The album contains the classic Generation, which was arguably their finest moment with a bizarre intro about flying saucers giving way to a driving assault on the senses with searing guitar, powerful vocals and sound effects.Originaly known as The Mirror, they managed to score a three-album deal with Mainstream on the basis of three demo tracks. Unbeknown to label boss Bob Shad, these were the only songs the band had written and a week-long marathon song-writing session ensued, before they were whisked into the cavernous Columbia Studio "A" to record the album in a generous twelve hours stretch.
Mainstream pulled the plug before the band could start on their second album, although a demo for one track, Salesman was recorded, and the other material written back in '68 may yet see the light... the band are still in touch and have released a second album in the same style & manner as they had intended to do thirty years ago... "look to the skies... the flying saucers will always be there!"
For more information check the bands website:- http://www.jellybeanbandits.com
(Vernon Joynson/Max Waller w/thanks to Mike Raab/Billy Dee)
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