Games ~ USA

Stargazer. 1977 Cascade Court

Los Angeles based group who pretty much stick to the progressive oriented AOR album formula, like their Midwest brethren to the north. The music also recalls the all female UK group Mother Superior, which was reissued on the Audio Archives label a few years back. And, on my last listen, I picked up a whiff of classic Alan Parsons Project. Overall, a mix of complex progressive and more pop oriented material

Priority: 3

11/30/10

The Facedancers ~ USA

The Facedancers. 1972 Paramount

UMR review

Priority: 2

11/29/10 (new entry)

Den Za Den ~ Macedonia

Den Za Den. 1980 RTV Ljubljana

Funny, as the data I had on this was it was released in 1977 and from Montenegro. I have no idea where I got that notion, as I cannot find any reference for either. In studying my LP copy there is no mention of the date, and the album was released by the Slovenian branch of the various state labels. But plenty of internet references clearly point Den Za Den as being from Macedonia, and many of them also call out a similar sound to that country's most known group: Leb I Sol.

Personally I don't hear it so much, as Den Za Den are way more fiery, with a stronger melodic sense. Still there's no denying the late 70's fusion sound. What separates Den Za Den from the pack is the exceptional guitarist, the distinct melodies, and perhaps best of all, the insane drumming along the lines of Arti + Mestieri. I'm a sucker for active drummers, so I naturally rate this one higher than other fusion albums of the era. Maybe Slovakia's Fermata is the closest comparison amongst the usual suspects like Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report. Like most East Euro LP's, the sound quality is extremely muddy. Experience has shown the master tapes are well preserved, so a CD reissue is likely to raise the rating another point. This one desperately could use a reissue.

Priority: 1

11/27/10

Celluloid ~ USA

Neptune. 1983 Wax Museum Art Corps
Mercury. 1983 Cindicate

Celluloid is the non de plume of Chuck Minuto. Neptune is entirely performed on mellotron and thus sounds like a mellotron sampler album, especially considering the number of tapes used. Mercury is slightly more diverse, but still heavily focused on the mellotron. Unless you can't get enough of the instrument, these albums are hard to recommend. Even more strange is these were released in the early 80s, when everyone was ditching the heavy analog equipment. 

Priority: none

***There exists a cdr comp of both albums. Not sure how legit it is.

11/25/10

News: BTF releases Garybaldi archive album

If nothing else, what an absolutely AMAZING cover. Wow, I wish all new releases took the time and effort to put out something like this. Time to put away the Photoshop tools I think, and get back to real paintings such as this.

This cover of course is an homage to what I consider one of the top 10 LP covers of all-time: The triple fold out of "Nuda". One of my prized possessions.

Garybaldi - Note Perdute

"An amazing collection of rarities for one of the most important bands of Italian 70′s prog-rock: Garybaldi. This anthology contains a track that was meant to be included in their Gleemen debut, some live and alternate versions recorded between 1969 and 1998, and an amazing gem, three live tracks recorded during the Naples Be-In festival of 1973, one of the very few testimonies of those legendary festivals, as in those times no one used to record gigs in Italy! The CD version of this release also includes a special DVD documentary dedicated to Garybaldi with some amazing interviews and vintage videos. Also a vinyl version for collectors will be released.
The artwork has been entirely conceived by Matteo Guarnaccia, one of the most important psychedelic painters in Italy: inspired by the famous “Nuda” cover art, he draw a marvellous triple gatefold artwork.

This record will be celebrate in 4 different releases:
1) Triple gatefold LP with 180g black vinyl and a 25x60cm poster with vintage pics of Garybaldi/Gleemen.
2) Triple gatefold LP with multicolor vinyl, a 25x60cm poster with vintage pics of Garybaldi/Gleemen, a special glossy deluxe transparent 60x90cm maxiposter with 24 original comic cartoons drawn by Matteo Guarnaccia, numbered and autographed by the artist himself. Limited edition of 100 copies.
3) “Garybaldi-Guarnaccia” box containing: Triple gatefold LP with 180g black vinyl, the two 25x60cm photographic and 60x90cm comic posters, the CD+DVD release and one of the 24 original drawings inclued in the deluxe poster. Limited edition of 24 copies, available only on Matteo Guarnaccia exhibitions.
4) CD+DVD in triple papersleeve format. Contains the CD and the DVD with over one hour of Garybaldy rock-umentary, with interviews of all band members and many vintage videos of the golden age of Italian prog.

Tracklist:
Il volto stanco della gente (unreleased)
Hai messo al rogo M. H. (alternate version)
Harold (live 1998)
Luci buie (Live 1973)
Madre di cose perdute (Live 1973)
Sette? (Live 1973)
Passaminabirra (unreleased, live)"

News: BTF releases a new archival discovery: Le Vite Parallele

BTF has a few exciting looking items on the horizon (including a new album by Nuova Era, one of my favorite Italian bands of the late 80s and early 90s).

This one looks to be an embryonic work, and a missing link as it were from the Italian beat scene to the progressive one. Unlike in the US or England, the Italian progressive rock scene just seemed to "wake up" one day, and there it was. No doubt there were other bands / recordings like this one (going off the notes below of course). Looks like a great discovery! Also, really interesting story about the first Formula 3 album cover (one of the all-time great covers on an otherwise mundane beat styled album).

"Le Vite Parallele are a sensational discovery, since we are dealing with a concept album, recorded in Milan between 1969 and 1970 and never published until now!
Formed by singer Enzo Maolucci and recorded in the famous "Basilica" of Mina, arranged by Nando De Luca (the one of "Azzurro"!) and nearly released by Sandro Colombini, boss of the famous "Numero Uno " label, this work is also remarkable for the wonderful cover made by Tullio Rolandi: when Alberto Radius saw the sketches, he immediately contacted him, and that is how the artwork of the famous "Dies Irae" of Formula Tre was created.
This record is a remarkable document because it comes in a moment in time when Italian prog records could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Even more surprising that it is a concept album! Musically it is strongly focused on melodies, with relatively short tracks, but baroque arrangements and a use of keyboards that predicts the symphonic prog scene, that would be developed shortly thereafter by the big ones.
So this is a fundamental step to understand evolution of Italian prog in its beginnings and it is still unbelievable how such a fundamental piece of work has been left in oblivion for all these years.
Limited edition of 500 copies, deluxe papersleeve containing a large poster showing the history of the band and all the wonderful graphic sketches made in 1970.

1 STREGA D’APRILE
2 IL BUCO NEL MURO
3 SUI BALZI ROSSI
4 PER MIKE McCOY
5 IN QUESTA SELVA
6 CROCE PESANTE
7 PER DEOLA
8 I DABI LAMA LINDE
9 LA VECCHIA E LA STORIA
10 SCIMMIE NUDE
11 CALCI IN FACCIA
12 DI ERIKA
13 LE MELE D’ORO"

Bounty ~ USA

Bounty. 1977 H-Arts

UMR review

Priority: 2

11/24/10 (new entry)

After Life ~ France

Cauchemar. 1975 Discophon

UMR review

Priority: none

***Reissued on LP by Wah Wah (2005)

11/23/10 (new entry)

Alpha du Centaure ~ France

Contact. 1979 Spirals

Imagine if Jimi Hendrix played in front of a jazz rhythm duo. Wild fuzzy wah wah guitar screaming over stand-up bass and scattered jazz drumming. If only the guitarist played that way for the entire duration - that would be some album! There's also some typical jazz guitar and on those cuts, you'll be wishing you had your Grant Green albums handy instead. 

Priority: 3

11/22/10

Brèche ~ Canada

Carapace et Chair Tendre. 1979 La Tamanoir

Uplifting progressive folk rock with a multitude of acoustic instruments like guitar, flute, violin. Recalls other similarly minded Quebec groups like Connivence, Harmonium, Les Karrik, and label mates L'Engoulevant. Maybe Malicorne as well from the mother country.

Priority: 3

11/5/10

Crossfire ~ Australia

Crossfire. 1975 Harvest

With the soprano sax, and occasional hard guitar lead, Crossfire brings to mind the German group Aera, or maybe a slightly less rocking Secret Oyster. Fellow Australians Mackenzie Theory could almost be sited as a reference, though trading the violin in for soprano sax. All instrumental save the last track (and the vocals proved to not be a good idea). 

Crossfire went on to release at least seven (?) further albums starting in 1978, presumably even more fusion oriented than their debut. I have not heard any of these to date.

Priority: 2

11/4/10

News: First 3 Lighthouse albums due to be reissued

Well known (at least by the standards of this site) Canadian horn rockers Lighthouse, are set to have their first 3 albums put on CD by a label called Bandiera Music. I cannot find any info about the label, which is usually a red flag. However it is being distributed by a reputable company that does not deal in boots, and the description adamantly insists they are from the original RCA master tapes. So for now we'll presume they are legit. I suspect more data will come out about these releases over time. I think they will do well in the reissue market, as Lighthouse had a couple of radio hits in the early 70s.

Dizzy Bats ~ Switzerland

The Light and the Dark. 1974 Swiss Records

One of many records to be compared to an "x Placebo" where x = country of execution. In this case we supposedly have the Swiss Placebo (though I thought Lost Peace was closer in style). Still a pleasant bit of instrumental jazz funk with funky bass, sax, flute, etc... - speaking of which, there are a couple of flute driven numbers that do indeed recall Marc Moulin's bunch.

Priority: 3

11/3/10

Mitglieder der Berliner Philharmoniker, Germany ***REISSUED***

Mitglieder der Berliner Philharmoniker - Einstein in Eden. 1981 Polydor.

***8/22/24 note: Until now I thought the group and title were Einstein in Eden, Apparently it was performed by a classical collective and it has been reissued on CD by Polydor with no date attributed.

Interesting album that is truly symphonic rock - as in a symphonic band plays rock music. Side 1 is the more interesting piece that mixes epic classical soundtrack with electronic music. I could see fans of Art Zoyd appreciating this aspect of the group. Side 2 has more of a rock feel, with big fat beats approaching disco, that gets awfully close to Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band - and genuine hokum ensues. Eventually they get back to their senses and close the album similar to how it started. But the stains are already on the carpet. Hard to get out.

Priority: none

11/2/10 (complete)

Fourth Sensation ~ Italy

Fourth Sensation. 1970 Ricordi

UMR review

***Reissued by Cinedelic on LP (2017).

Priority: 3

11/1/10