Sycamore - One Night With Venus, A Lifetime With Mercury (1976)

Very rare dutch folk/psych

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Horton - Dancehall for Midgets (1976)

For 1976 this was certainly an odd album - in fact I wouldn't be surprised to see it date back to 1971 or earlier. The band consists of maestro Bill Horton on guitar and a couple of his friends handling bass and drums. Being a private release (and quite a legendary album among psych collectors), "Dancehall For Midgets" has that familiar raw and unpolished sound, which is so characteristic of low-budget hard-rock obscurities - however, unlike most albums of the genre, Horton isn't too keen on simplistic three-chord riffs and 4/4 rhythms. Instead, their brand heavy rock is stuffed with weird Beefheart-ian psychedelicacy - and since the band obviously had a knack for free-form jamming, the album often sounds almost like an outsider's take on "Trout Mask Replica”. Rambling, unstructured guitar improvs is what it's all about - add a healthy dose of expressive vocals (Mr. Horton obviously wasn't afraid of singing out of tune), and you'll probably get the full picture. Sure, the 1976 album couldn't be all like this, so be prepared for a couple of fairly conventional heavy-blues-rock numbers as well - good thing is that they are very few and far between, hence they don't spoil the impression. Overall this is quite a unique and unparalleled document of America's 1970s rock underground. Was it successful or not - please decide for yourself. By Lev Gankine Gnosis2000

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Le Groupe X - Frrrrrigidaire (1973)

Interesting, and very obscure, Italian band with 2 albums. Frrrrrigidaire is unique in the annals of the vast Italian progressive rock scene. Instrumental, jazzy and at times even a lounge sound pervades. The album is a fun listen and I can imagine being a minor hit with the those that engage in the Retro-club lounge scene or those that seek out albums that would make a great soundtrack to 70's films. Hardly an essential item but still worth a spin and can be considered a good nightcap type of album. By ashratom

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Stonepillow - Eleazar's Circus (1969)

Originally released 1969 in the US on London. Great pop psych

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Boule de Son - Just'en passant... (1975)

Beautiful Cano/Troisieme Rive like private release.

Sylvie Granger / vocals

Daniel Lepage / piano, vocals

Pierre Moisan / Bass

Jean-Luc Etheier / recorder

Jean-Jacques Bourdeau / guitars

Denis Toupin / / drums

A1 Arc-en-ciel 3:00

A2 Just'en passant 0:40

A3 Voler en rond 3:10

A4 Réveil 4:00

A5 Levez les yeux 4:50

B1 Le temps est venu 4:30

B2 Galarneau 3:10

B3 Inconnue 2:50

B4 Apprendre à prendre 6:00

B5 Des choses à dire 2:00

review at ProgQuebec

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Silüetler - Silüetler (1967)

"Siluetler was probably the biggest rock'n roll attraction in Turkey in the 1960's after Gökçen Kaynatan's band (whom they were actually an offshout of). Led by the talented young guitarist Mesut Aytunca, the band took Turkish Rock'n'roll out of the identity crisis, producing the first real examples of Turkish Rock music blending traditional music with rock. Tragically Aytunca was strangled to death (in extremely sordid circumstances) in 1976." Gökhan Aya, Jay Dobis

-Many of the songs remind very much at The Shadows.- Various of the songs are even too ? much in this English Shadows style without much Turkish crossover influence left .

I wondered if Siluetler meant Shadows..so I asked about it, and did recieve this answer :

"Siluetler is Turkish for 'silhouette'. Gölgeler would be shadows. But the name is clearly derived from The Shadows. When I first heard Kak Oyunu oddly referred to as Kak Havas on your site I smiled at the name reference, since the lead guitar could have been being played by Hank Marvin himself. It's a great recording."

PS. "The Shadows were known as The Drifters until the original American Drifters threatened legal action. I believe it was meant to mean that they were Cliff Richard's shadows.)" Can Altinbay

"Well, we can call them "Turkish SHADOWS", mostly instrumental composes, with beautiful guitars. The band's guitarist Mesut Aytunca was playing "Hank Marvin" style.

Siluetler means "Silhouettes" Really beautiful guitars, for the 60's period of Turkey. Face A of this single is the final song of 1965 Altin Mikrofon Song Contest.

About most known single :

"Kasik Havasi" is a well known Turkish music, performed by guitars playing beat & rock sound. One of the early samples of Turkish traditional music in west sound.

"Sis" (The Fog) is a Siluetler adaptation, seems like "The Shadows"' slow composes. " Guner

Taken from here

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Renhjärta - Glitt-Glitt (1971)

Lasse Hoflund (vocals, guitar), Stenne Moberg (guitar), Ulf Wallander (saxophone), Cary Wihma (bass), Tjomple Johansson (drums)

This progressive band from Uppsala recorded one highly sought after album of self-penned instrumental tracks. There are also four covers sung in English, including a version of "My Friend" by Jimi Hendrix. The album was released on California label, home to fellow Uppsala band San Michael's. Cary Wihma went on to join Panta Rei, while Ulf Wallander was later in
Ramlösa Kvällar and Arbete & Fritid. Taken from Tobias Petterson's & Ulf Henningsson's "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979" (c) 2007 Premium Publishing More details about the book here (sold out)

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Kjol - Take it on (1979)

Obscure and underrated jazz rock from Germany, private press issued in 1979.

Many thanks to KC! Rare Prog Blog publications

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Firma 33 - Se Först (1978)

Nimm Fünf / Der Herr Im Haus / Stille Nacht? / An Sich Bin Ich Ganz Friedlich / Flugversuch / Alleine / Agrippa, Das Schwein / Liebes Lied / Abscheid

LP Triangel 0331 (1979)

Berlin country "Lieder" rock?! Well, that was our impression based on the "Vor 10 Jahren" track, for which they were promptly dumped in the "Rejects & Misfits" section in the book version of "The Crack In The Cosmic Egg".

More recently though, I found a report on the album SE FÖRST that said "progressive jazzrock with underground flair, typical Krautrock fusion riffs, freaky reefer comedy lyrics, brilliant guitar and brass, groovy Guru Guru vibes..." and another report says "one of the best German private pressings for sure. Like a mix of Kraan, Guru Guru and the Danish band Dr. Dopo Jam. Excellent!" - and extraordinarily both these descriptions are pretty close, except the "excellent" as I'd say that Firma 33's twist on the eccentric Zappa inspired style is very much an acquired taste! Taken from "The Crack in the Cosmic Egg CD-Rom Edition

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Entrance - The Pond (1983)

Unknown and underrated psych prog from Germany with jazz and Canterbury influences, issued on a small label in 1983.

Many thanks to KC! Rare Prog Blog publications

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Windy Corner - The House at Windy Corner (1973)

"The House at Windy Corner" is one of the most sought after and expensive albums in the world, with copies known to fetch four figures. Windy Corner play a delicate and sparse folk rock with acoustic guitar, organ and dreamy vocals.

original post

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Cannock - Waiting for the Night (1980)

Obscure interesting psych prog from Germany, female vocals, private press issued in 1980

Many thanks to KC! Rare Prog Blog publications

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Ar Skloferien - Folk Celtique (1973)

French Celtic folk group from Nantes with male/female vocals, violin. Pre Sklof. In the ancient tradition of the popular Breton bards, Ar Skloferien intend to contribute to the evolution of Celtic music, using instruments such as violins, flutes, guitars, banjos, bass, mandolin.

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Oratorium - Oratorium (1972)

One of the best hidden treasures of German early 1970s psych Krautrock private pressings! The only LP from this young 6-piece group (3 brothers and friends) from Hof (Bavaria), 9 great songs full of haunting melodies, swirling, wailing Farfisa organ, guitars, sparkling piano, bass and drums, and - in opposite to most other private Krautrock LPs - superb vocals. The dark echo-ey / reverb-laden sound sometimes reminds me of Mary Butterworth and gives this LP this particular spine-chilling, goosepimples-producing feeling of those magnificent 1960s psych-garage ballads. By lyrkoss

Sounds more like a 1968 era American garage psych album, than anything typically coming from Germany circa 1972. Excepting the semi-narrated vocals in German of course. Somewhat like Ainigma's "Diluvium", but a better reference is some of the 45's coming from the German underground as featured on Garden of Delight's "Psychedelic Gems" series. Straightforward rock n roll songs, with Farfisa organ, slightly fuzzy guitars, echoed piano and a lot of vocals. A very unusual sound for Germany, so I can understand the collector appeal. Taken from here

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Rontheo - Rontheo (1976)

The name of this group comes from the first components blocks: RONNIE DI TOMASO (guitar, voice) and THEO BUSCH (violin, percussions). With their friend YEDZ they recorded this good LP in Germany in 1976... it's fresh folk rock, sung in English, and as usual many sellers consider it as psychedelic folk rock (maybe to sell it at a better price), anyway this is another little jewel coming from Germany and its value is growing day by day (400 US Dollars)... the gatefold cover is also great with a beautiful fantasy design... [www.celononcelo.com/rontheoen.html] Taken from here

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Syphax - Syphax (1978)

Algerian outfit recorded this jewel in France, psych prog with jazzy and ethnic influences, private press issued in 1978

Many thanks to KC! Rare Prog Blog publications

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G.L. Unit - Orangutang! (1969)

This experimental big band was lead by Gunnar Lindqvist and featured a huge cast of improvising musicians. Among jazz stars like Bernt Rosengren and Maffy Falay? we also find prominent Movement musicians like Ove Karlsson, Torsten Eckerman, Roland Keijser, Bosse Skoglund, Bengt Berger (all five of whom were in Arbete & Fritid)., Allan Olsson and Sune Spangerberg (both of Iskra) and Gunnar Bergsten (Flasket Brinner). The influence of G.L. Unit showed up in the music of later groups like Forkladd Gud, Lokomotiv Konkret and Iskra. Gunnar Lindqvist were also the producer for EMI acts Solar Plexus, Panta Rei, Energy and Storm. Taken from Tobias Petterson's & Ulf Henningsson's "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music 1967-1979" (c) 2007 Premium Publishing More details about the book here (sold out)

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Kaleidoskop - Kaleidoskop (1974)

Look And Smile / Being Twice, Can You Decide? / Those Stagge's Nights / Compos. Intern. / Long Way / Einstand / Stranger Blue / Remember Those Lines

LP Ton Cooperative Hannover TCH 0002 (1974)

Günter Blendermann (bass), Peter Burkhold (saxophone), Ulrich Framke (saxophone, clarinet), Wolfgang Schmeer (saxophone, flute), Dietmar Schmidt (drums, percussion), Wolfgang Schmidt (organ, electric piano, steel guitar)

A band with their roots in Bremen/Hannover, going back to the 1960's. It was reputedly "extraordinary soul jazz rock album with great grooves and charming careless playing" according to one source - which turned out to be not too far off the mark. Kaleidoskop played a richly textured jazz-prog that was actually quite dated for 1974, with lots of winds, and 90% instrumental, with hints of Nucleus, Xhol and Zappa/Mothers styles, but less experimental and a touch cheesy in some of the jazz breaks. The song in "Stranger Blue" takes the sound Emergency territory.

After a change in style, and a shake-up in line-up, 7 years later they resurfaced as Kaleidoskop Band. Taken from The Crack In The Cosmic Egg

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Prisma - Phantasma (1977)

Never before released heavy progressive krautrock from RED LOUNGE's hometown Karlsruhe, recorded in 1977. Superb electric guitar leads, over the top keyboards/hammond organ, bass, drums and great lead vocals in English. Very complex and profilic musicianship in the best Italian progressive rock tradition, but still with that raw krautrock private pressing feeling. Long elaborated tracks. Get strictly limited vinyl reissue at RED LOUNGE.


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Virgin's Dream - Sophisty (1980)

Virgin's Dream, on "Sophisty" at least, are very much a product of the late 70s and early 80s German fusion scene. Perhaps a bit more tropical, and funky, than most. Comparisons to Michael Borner's Sun or some of Syncrises' work wouldn't be out of line. As usual, the guitar work is exemplary, a trademark of the time and place. Taken from here

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