Cry Freedom ~ Germany

Volcano. 1976 private

Sunny Day. 1979 Erlkonig

Nobody's Fool. 1980 Erlkonig

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/28/10

Energy ~ Sweden

Energy. 1974 Harvest

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/25/10

Fly ~ Germany

Die Fahrt mit dem Gläsernen Ballon. 1979 Ballong

Primarily instrumental melodic progressive rock similar to many from the time and place like Novalis, Surgery, Indigo, Morpheus etc... There's a light fusion sound that prevails, lead by soprano sax, electric piano, soft electric guitar and some choice synth leads. Goes at its own pace, with seemingly nowhere to go. Pleasant and soothing.

Priority: 3

4/22/10

Lost Nation ~ USA

Paradise Lost. 1970 Rare Earth

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/19/10

Synthesis ~ France ***REISSUED***

Synthesis. 1976 Arc-RCA

***Reissued by Dare Dare in 2002  

Well, it turns out there is a CD on the Dare Dare label from 2002, nullifying this entry.

UMR review

2002 (complete); 4/18/10 (new entry)

Gramigna ~ Italy

Gran Disordine Sotto il Cielo. 1977 Ultima Spiaggia

Not an easy one to describe. Quirky, like all on the label (including the namesake band). Some chamber rock, some pop, some fusion. Sort of an RIO pop album. Elements of Stormy Six and Henry Cow are apparent.

Priority: none

4/17/10

Lodestar ~ USA

Lodestar. 1979 private

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/13/10 (new entry)

Orchestra Njervudarov ~ Italy

Con le Orecchie di Eros. 1979 EMI.

Orchestra Njervudarov are another one of those crazy late 70's Italian acts, mixing in rock, jazz, humor, Zappa, and whatever else pops in their nutty heads. Not too far off from Roberto Colombo, Ultima Spiaggia, and Gramigna. Definitely has that original RIO spirit ala the second Picchio dal Pozzo album.

Priority: 3

4/10/10

Psi Nukli ~ England

Side Effects. 1987 private (MC)

Not heard this one yet.

Number Nine. 1988 private (MC)

This cassette is made up of a collective of two related bands: Psi and Nukli. Both groups were intimately involved with the UK festival space rock psychedelic scene. And the recording media choice of the day was the cassette. By 1989, most had moved on to CD, so this was released at the tale end of the movement. It's about 90 minutes, so it uses the full length of the cassette. It could use a good editing, and contains about 60 minutes of great space rock / experimental found sounds material. Like a more unhinged and unfocused version of Ozric Tentacles. Would be nice for someone to tackle this project, as the potential is mighty. Nukli finally managed a CD on Delerium sometime in 1997, but the group was just a shadow of their former selves by then. Psi Nukli has at least two other cassettes during the 80s, but as with most of the scene, info is scarce and dodgy at best.

Priority: 3

4/7/10

News: Rocket Records to reissue Fantasia and Scapa Flow!

Thanks to a tip from Laser Ken, we learned that Rocket Records of Finland will be reissuing two of our High priority wishlisters: Fantasia and Scapa Flow. Also look for the first reissue of Uni Sono, an obscure spacey rock album from 1975.

They're the label that we announced awhile back that recently released the Kaamos - "Deeds and Talks" and Seppo 'Paroni' Paakkunainen - "Plastic Maailma" albums.

It doesn't look like I ever publised my blurb for Scapa Flow. Here's the entry from the Original Wish List:

Scapa Flow - Uuteen Aikaan (Finland) 1980 Kompass. Outstanding Finnish progressive folk rock, similar to German acts like Carol of Harvest and Rebekka.

Fantasia ~ Finland ***REISSUED***

Fantasia. 1975 Hi-Hat

***Reissued by Rocket Records, Apr 2010

UMR review

Priority: 1

9/1/09 (new entry); 4/2/10 (complete)