Random, USA-Illinois

Nothin' Tricky. 1977 Hell Yes Productions

Random are a very interesting avant progressive band from Illinois. Starts off with a disco (?!) track, but you know it's a head fake from the beginning. Mostly the band goes for a chamber music sound, with all sorts of other styles mixed in, most notably jazz. Highly inventive for 1977, and one has to presume Henry Cow were an influence here.

Priority: none

12/27/11 (new entry)

Columbus Circle, USA-Connecticut

On Saint John's Eve. 1976 Pharoah

Columbus Circle are a very interesting group from Connecticut. Side 1 is a bombastic serious symphony with rock elements thrown in. Almost like a proto-Art Zoyd if you can imagine that. Side 2, on the other hand, is almost the complete opposite and features a more simplistic horn rock sound with female vocals, organ, and guitar. The second side of the album is about half a dozen years too late on the pop scene, but I found it the more enjoyable portion. Really strange, almost anachronistic album. 

Priority: 3

12/20/11 (new entry)

Apprentice, USA-Illinois

Rough Draft. 1982 Mainstream Records (not the Mainstream Records)

Chicago based Apprentice could be classified as a straight ahead fusion album, but it has just enough of an edge, especially in the 70's inspired guitar work, to add it here as a featured item. There's no mistaking its 1980s heritage though, especially noticeable in the thin sounding synthesizers, warm bass tones, and slick production qualities.

Priority: 3

12/17/11 (new entry)

Smoke, USA-California

Smoke - Everything. 1973 MPS

Everything is a varied, but super cool atmospheric jazz rock album. Freaky in the MPS tradition, though group is California based (rather than German as is often thought). The bass clarinet piece recalls Lard Free on I'm Around Midnight. Speaking of which, lots of great midnight lounge organ sounds. No other album like this one. A kozmigroov classic.

They have another album from 1970 that I understand to be different (more jazz influenced), though I haven't heard it.

Priority: 2

***Reissued on LP by Q-Tape (2004)

12/16/11 (new entry)

Tony Palkovic, USA-California

Deep Water. 1980 Deep Water

And, as you'll see below, guitarist Tony Palkovic has a couple of other 1980s albums. I've only heard this title.

Throwing this one out there for you fusion fans who are looking for new items to uncover. The one element of Palkovic's music I enjoyed is the heavy use of electronic-music styled synthesizer within the usual guitar fronted jazz rock instrumental setting. The guitar tone is a bit too light for me to sink my teeth into, and it's not exactly a tear-up session ala Bill Connors on Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy. But that's not the purpose of the album I'm sure. Apparently Palkovic is an artist who has received great praise from the guitar playing community. The below segment is taken directly from Palkovic's own website. Best I can tell, none of his 1980s works are available, and the original LPs currently sport a high price tag.

"Praised by the prestigious Guitar Player and 20th Century Guitar Magazines, Tony Palkovic has performed in clubs and concert halls including the BET television network... He studied music and film for six months at Columbia College in Chicago before transfering to Berklee College of Music in Boston where he spent the next four years finishing with a Bachelors Degree in Composition... After graduating, he started leading his own band playing jazz-fusion in the Midwest, but eventually moved to Los Angeles which has been his home since 1983... In 1980, Palkovic released his first album "Deep Water" which made many Top 10 lists for airplay on Jazz Radio stations all over the U.S. , Canada and eventually in Europe. This led to the recording of his second album "Every Moment" following the same path in '83, "Born With a Desire" in ’85...

...If you haven't yet heard Tony Palkovic's brand of music, you don't know what you're missing - Guitar Player Magazine"

Priority: none

***Born With a Desire (1985) was reissued on LP by Numero (2024)

12/12/11 (new entry)

Pollen, Belgium

Ry d'Oxhe. 1978 Beo

Pollen's sole album is an odd combination of Dylan-esque street folk, depressing blues, and dramatic Ange inspired progressive rock - all sung in French. A bit outside my interest area, but there's some challenging and compelling music to be found here. 

Priority: none

12/10/11 (new entry)

Mike Warren + Survival Kit, USA-California

Please Yourself First. 1978 Xound (or Dobre)

Mike Warren's sole album is a fine mix of typical late 70's fusion (side 1) with a more ferocious side 2, bordering progressive rock, and which even includes some psychedelic guitar. Progressive rock laced fusion with acid guitar is one of my favorite mixes! And this has to be the only jazz rock album I've heard that uses timpani extensively. Overall a mixture of Pierre Moerlin's Gong, Colosseum II, Randy Roos, and Frank Zappa. I'm sure the latter was a major influence and one hopes Frank's philosophical outlook is the inspiration behind the title of the album. Otherwise, a rather unfortunate choice of words...

Priority: 2

12/6/11 (new entry); 7/1/18

Henk Werkhoven, Netherlands

Orphical Positions. 1982 VMU

Once I saw the album cover, I was intrigued. After hearing this once, I bought an LP on the spot. Based on an article I read, Werkhoven is another one of those Renaissance guys, constantly in creativity mode, yet few know who he is or what he does. As you read the bio, you could come away thinking this is a new age album. Couldn't be further from the truth.

Basically Orphical Positions is good old fashioned instrumental progressive rock lead by flute, violin, and guitar (acoustic and electric), along with exotics like sitar. A crack rhythm section keeps the proceedings moving along at a crisp pace. At once I'm reminded of Camel's Snowgoose and Rousseau's Flowers in Asphalt. But I also hear Anthony Phillips, Kenso, Flairck, Coda, and Verdaguer. 

Priority: 2

12/5/11 (new entry)

The Machines, Canada-Ontario

The Machines Have Landed Part One. 1981 North Shore Records

The Machines Have Landed is an interesting mix of spoken word, space rock via the mid 70's Pink Floyd lens, and early 80s synth-pop. Somewhat like the Body Album from England, mixed with the Human Adventist Concept and FM. 

Priority: none

12/3/11 (new entry)

Fungus, England

Premonitions. 1973 private (demo only)

Fungus issued this one demo album, released in a plain white sleeve. It's about 38 minutes long and the music is a mix of progressive rock and electronic oriented music. Fungus is post Second Hand / Chillum and pre-Seventh Wave - and the music seems to be the transition from one style to the other. It's an orchestral oriented progressive rock, with long instrumental electronic journeys. A ridiculously rare artifact that is near impossible to find.

I've had this on tape for close to 20 years. I gave it to a friend a few years ago without realizing its historical importance, and I didn't make a copy for myself. Unfortunately my friend had misplaced the tape - and it took 3 years to find! But after an exhaustive search through his home - he found it! So here we are. Not the greatest album I've ever heard, but a nice one for the UK progressive style as found on the Dawn or Transatlantic labels.

Priority: 3

10/27/11

Window, USA-California

The Empyreal Ballet. 1978 Cottage

Window were a San Francisco / Bay Area based group, and they released this one very good progressive rock album. Honestly, I was certain I was going to find out the band were from Illinois or Missouri, because it does have that Midwest progressive rock sound, especially apparent in the vocal sections. The mix of complex progressive rock, piano jazz-rock, and AOR FM radio ambition only cements the comparison. Excellent electric / acoustic guitar work, flute, tuned percussion, with a horn section and complex rhythms is what you'll find on Empyreal Ballet.

---

Last night's listen almost resulted in a +1 as it's really an exceptionally great album. Side 1 in particular is strong. I'm not sure how I managed to get through that first review without mentioning Gentle Giant as that's the most obvious influence here. Fireballet also comes to mind, in both sound and overall aesthetic. I've seen some folks go out of their way to poo-poo this release, but don't pay attention to them. For whatever reason the mere mention of horns along with melodic songwriting sends them into a rage they cannot seem to control. This is an album for hardcore prog fans. For us alone.

Priority: 1

Beyond, USA-Oklahoma

Music and Beyond. 1980 Tuhlottesound

The music is a mixture of classic hard edged arena rock and all-out complex progressive rock. A little heavier than the usual Midwest progressive rock sound that we've featured extensively with a small to non-existent keyboard presence, but in reality Beyond were under the same influence as other groups from the region. Converse to tradition, Side 2 is the more commercial oriented part of the album, and it leaves one with a slightly bitter taste at the end (which is why I think the album never resonated with me prior). The complex songs do recall Astre, another Tulsa based group. Some fantastic acid guitar throughout, with some fuzz bass, and even some jazzy tuned percussion. A very cool relic from America's heartland.

Generally you'll read the group is from Texas (mainly due to an error in the Acid Archives book). But actually they're from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the management of the group is from Coffeyville, Kansas (on the border with Oklahoma). Purple Peak Jeff met the drummer years ago and confirmed the data. So I suspect various members are from the NE OK, SE KS area.

Dec 2013 update: OK, I now have the vinyl of this. The record is officially on the Tuhlottesound label (one word) and is based in Copan, Oklahoma - which is north of Bartlesville, Oklahoma near Coffeyville, Kansas as stated above. The album was further mastered in Dallas in 1980 so that would be the final release date.

Priority: 3

7/21/11 (new entry); 12/15/13

Quasar Light, USA-Pennsylvania

Experience This. 1981 Jet Eye

Quasar Light were from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, which sits in the southeast part of the state, in and around Amish country. This isolation in the middle of farm country may explain a few things, as these guys were tapped into something that has yet to be followed up with anywhere else.

One of the absolute funniest reviews I've ever read concisely stated the following: WTF is.... this?  That got a belly laugh out of me. How many times have I felt exactly like that? Who knows, but no album I've heard qualifies that expression more than Quasar Light.

WTF is this indeed. I don't even know where to begin. Umm... yea, it's exactly like... OK wait. You can compare them to... No...  but.... yea, that.

The first four songs on the album sound like some kind of alien pop with nimble hard rock guitar picking and disembodied female vocals. There is no mistaking its 1980's heritage here. 'Don't Ever Leave Me' seems to be heading down a somewhat normal path, to the point of discouragement. Starting with 'Secret of  the Stars', Quasar Light begins to go completely off the rails. This sounds like a off-kilter version of this list. Then Side 2 all bets are off. They were in their own world. Not that it's avant noise or anything so overt as that. No, they're still going strong with actual composed songs. But they're strange, twisted, distorted, and downright complex at times. It's progressive rock from the 6th dimension. There is absolutely no reference here. Based on their location, one begins to wonder if they're Amish on a Rumspringa binge. The only reference I could find on this album was a stream of consciousness rant from the Quasar Light founder. Yea, a surprise that. Underground America at its weirdest right here. A must.

Priority: 2

Crow, England

Live at the Oyster Stores. 1992 private cassette
Medicine Wheel. 1992 private cassette
The Tides of Apsaroke. 1993 private cassette

As we are in the midst of the unknown UK festival psych scene of the 1980s and early 90s, I'm happy to announce what may be the absolute best group I've heard in the entire genre: Crow. 

Holy moly! This is the good stuff right here. No pussyfooting around with electronica or reggae. Just hardcore space rock, in high flight mode most of the time, with loads of effects applied to the guitar. The guitarist plays not only fast solos, but a multitude of rhythm wah-wah that drives the music forward in an exciting way, with plenty of meter and thematic shifts to keep you guessing all the way through. There are sparse vocals, generally applied to add a trance-like effect and do not deter or become the centerpiece at any time. There are no keyboards to speak of, so the guitar and bass have the responsibility for all the tones and atmosphere - and they do a fantastic job at just that.

Medicine Wheel is the more psychedelic of the two albums, with plenty of tribal drumming and freaky guitar sequences with intense build-ups and actual climax releases. Both albums add didgeridoo to great effect. The Tides of Apsaroke ups the ante to a whole new level of intensity. Dare I say the guitar is almost heavy metal? Not a 1992 post-Metallica palm mute method, but rather a 1979 NWOBHM sound, similar to maybe early Saxon or Iron Maiden - but with the sound on sound fuzzy technique like Ed Wynne of Ozric Tentacles. I've never heard anything like it! And what an exciting path for other bands to pursue! There are a few more vocals on this album, and the material is definitely angrier, but no less satisfying for space rock heads. I haven't heard the live album, though the two live "bonus" tracks on Medicine Wheel are pretty rough in the recording department - so hopefully it's better than that would imply. Of the two albums, I prefer the purest Medicine Wheel, but Tides is the more adventurous and also just plain awesome.

So filtering the above, what do we have: Take the heavier Ozric Tentacles tracks like 'Eternal Wheel' and 'Dissolution', mix with the punk angst of Omnia Opera, toss a little pyrotechnic Mandragora jamming, throw in the progressive tendencies of 'White Rhino Tea' Ozric or the obscure band Blim, and add a dash of metal to the guitar sound. Almost sounds like the perfect formula - not sure I could have drawn that one out any better in the playbook.

Crow was awesome, and definitely the best band from the UK psych scene no one's heard of (even besting Blim). 

Priority: 1

7/5/11 (new entry)

Omnia Opera, England

Beyond the Tenth. 1986 private cassette
Celebrate for Change. 1987 private cassette
Omniasphere - Surfing the Zuvuya. 1990 private cassette
Omnia - Seeking the Elusive. 1997 private cassette

As of this update the following has not happened:

From their website: "Squalor studios is currently engaged on a project to digitally remaster the popular Omnia Opera early cassette albums: 'Beyond the Tenth' and 'Celebrate for Change'. A project that is long overdue for those whose originals have worn-out! The final decision as which record company to use has yet to be made but there are rumours that Voiceprint may be taking an active role in promotion and distribution."

---Omnia

August 3rd, 2015 update:  If there was ever a title more apropos than Seeking the Elusive, I sure would like to know. But the AC has persevered and we now have finally heard this rarity! The AC notes "Very obscure cassette album by this post Omnia Opera group (it's basically the regular band lineup, just with a different drummer). A more stripped-down and guitar-oriented recording, with lots of thrashing, heavy Hawkwindian riffage and angsty vocals over a steadily pounding rhythm section, with the usual keyboards and spacey effects used only sparingly. All of the techno/electronica elements that had crept in on "Red Shift" are completely out the window here, and the songs tend to be a bit more concise, making for nothing but a full frontal assault. This one has seemingly been lost to history, and aside from a reworking of "Second Skin" on their comeback album "Nothing Is Ordinary", none of this material has ever appeared elsewhere." And really, while on the topic of Nothing is Ordinary, clearly this was the path Omnia Opera were heading even at this stage some 15 years prior. If you like the 1993 debut CD, then for certain Seeking the Elusive will be of great interest. Perhaps a bit rawer in sound quality, but compositionally very familiar.

Priority: 2

7/1/11 (new entry); 8/3/15; 10/13/17

AMA, England

Not Blobs. 1988 Poultry Productions
Liveloudandlumpy. 1988 Poultry Productions
Genuflex. 1989 Poultry Productions

These were all pressed on cassette originally. The date of Not Blobs is based on the catalog number. Genuflex is listed 3rd as that's how the Freeman's from Ultima Thule have it ordered. Given that Liveloudandlumpy is from November 1988, I'll surmise this one is from 1989. But it's only a guess.

AMA can quite simply be described as long and improvised, primitive sounding guitar-bass-drums psychedelic instrumental music with a muddy production. The kind of group that makes Tangle Edge sound like Conservatory students with an academic pedigree. A little of this kind of music goes a long way. Probably the Improvised Drop Outs sessions from Tangle Edge are the best reference here. It has a hypnotic effect as background music, but close inspection reveals all sorts of cracks, lines and warts. Like going to a dark restaurant and appearing on the surface to look beautiful, only later to be exposed in the bright lights to demonstrate the ugly truth. Personally I like the raw intensity of the recordings, though probably not enough to lobby for a reissue. Perhaps the cassette format is perfect for these kind of recordings in that, like the medium itself, it's old and creaky.

Start with "Not Blobs" if you're curios, as that one has an inkling of compositional acumen at least.

Priority: none

6/25/11 (new entry)

Syncope, Canada-Quebec

Syncope. 1981 Productions Cram

A very obscure LP from Quebec. I hear a mix of way-past-its-sell-date horn rock, late 70s fusion, complex progressive rock similar to Opus 5 / Pollen, and even a little downer blues rock. The more I hear it, the better the album gets. The horn rock angle is really weird given the 1980 date, especially since it's of the 1969 Chicago / BST variety.

If you do decide to go surfing the web on this one, what you will find is fellow Gnosis colleague Sean Trane's excellent analysis of the album, which I'll quote here: "Hiding behind a poetic musical dawn artwork (see the full artwork PA's site), this septet is a very brassy affair, presenting a bit like a Quebecois version of Chicago through seven tracks ranging from four to six and a half minutes and one splendid mini-epic nearing eleven minutes.

The aptly-named septet develops some excellent syncopated prog-enhanced brass-rock, that sounds very Quebecois, not least through the relatively accent-less duo French vocals (often close to Opus-5), bar the swingy blues Bleu d'Hull track, which sticks out a bit too much from the rest of the album. Indeed the four tracks of the opening side sound like a calm and thoughtful version of Chicago or a less-kitschy Lighthouse without being derivative, the main difference being in the double vocals and an uncompromising songwriting. The flipside opens on the album's centrepiece, the instrumental self-titled mini-epic lasting almost 11 minutes, often running quite complex and even symphonic (grandiose intro on a church pipe organ), but never needlessly so. After an average mainly-sung track, the album closes on two splendid tracks, the first Cible (target) sounding like a brassy Opus-5 song, while the amazing instrumental finale of Rage features some wild Spanish-sounding horns that draws chills in the back of the neck. What an awesome way to finish an album.

If you'll make the exception of the sung-swing-song closing the A-side that ruins its cohesiveness, the album is a very impressive, filled with often-superb brass-rock that is probably more brilliant than the early Chicago classic albums."

Priority: 2

6/22/11 (new entry)

Kashmir / Patrice Guenat / Laurent Beguelin, Switzerland

Alarme! (aka Je Suis...). 1979 Kiswell. (Je Suis... was the original private issue)
Histoire Cruelle. 1982 Kobold.

Kashmir's debut Alarme! is similar to other electronic duos like Eden (France), Jonathan (Germany) and Space Art (France).

I hear their second album Histoire Cruelle better than the debut. It is, however, not an easy album to describe. Four listens in, and I'm not sure what I can tell you here. It's a mix of Tangerine Dream styled electronic, new wave synth pop, keyboard heavy progressive rock with fat fuzzy guitar leads and early Klaus Schulze styled dirges. There's a lot here to discover, and I think it could be a grower.

---1/22/24

In hearing Histoire Cruelle again last night for the first time since, it really doesn't fit neatly into any kind of bucket. In my overall ranking system (not music rating) I have a +1 metric for being "unique". This album gets awarded that one point and that appellation generally buys shelf space at the UMR household. When hearing it with my current perspective, I'm also moving it out of the progressive electronic collection and into the x-wave collection. 80s music as it were. And while its foundation remains steadfastly that of an electronic based musician, it's very clear band leader Patrice Guenat is striving for more variety. This is also magnified by the fact that no less than 10 musical guests appear on the album.

Patrice Guenat / Laurent Beguelin - Les Reflets du Lac. 1986 label unknown.

2/14/24: Strawbsfan back to the rescue! Here are my notes:

While researching the band again, I had finally found some info about the third Kashmir album Les Reflets du Lac. Except it wasn't really a Kashmir album at all. I decided to reach out to my friend (Strawbsfan) who had provided me with the Histoire LP originally. As it turns out, he did have a copy to share with me (online)! So let's see what the contents contain: After the electronic rock of Kashmir's debut, and the bizarre 80s amalgamation that was Histoire Cruelle, it should come as no surprise that this third effort is different than both. The first side (I think) is made up of eight short vignettes. Starting off mostly as a pleasant new age album with the unfortunate 80's digital synth technology being pushed towards the front. It does get interesting in the middle section with the French narration and an orchestral brass movement. This leads to the 18 minute lengthy suite 'Les Oiseaux du Parc', the music does appear to be a classical oriented symphony about "birds in the park". Throughout one can hear Klaus Schulze (especially the use of digital percussion), Deuter, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jerome Froese era Tangerine Dream, and a host of others from the middle 80s. Unpredictable as ever, Guenat offers up challenging music for the discerning listener.

---

Priority: 3 (for Histoire Cruelle)

6/17/11 (new entry); 1/22/24; 2/14/24

Floyd Hunchback Group, Switzerland

Floyd Hunchback Group. 1978 Sunrise

Yet another obscure Swiss band to feature. My first couple of listens last summer didn't convince me to list it separately. As I hear this again after about a nine month break, I think it crosses the line into what I tend to enjoy. 

Floyd Hunchback Group is a tough album to describe. You can tell they're jazzers, and the typical late 70's fusion elements are all out in force (Rhodes, sax, funky bass). But they have this mean streak too, and some of the gymnastic rhythms, coupled with Moog and guitar solos, point to a love for complex instrumental progressive rock. The drumming is quite exceptional. Strangely I'm hearing more of a mid 70's Eastern European sound here, as found in bands like Fermata or SBB.

Priority: 3

4/23/11 (new entry)

Emerald Web, USA-Florida

Dragon Wings And Wizard Tales. 1979 Stargate

The Florida based duo of Kat Epple and Bob Stohl debuted with Dragon Wings and Wizard Tales which is a nice mix of sequencer based electronic music, fluttering flute, airy female voice and acoustic/electric guitar. Excellent atmospheres and even a few heavy rocked out moments towards the end that are well placed to add some much needed spice. A quite varied album, that needs a few listens to appreciate.

The duo went on to record a few more albums, though supposedly in the new age genre. I remember seeing these 80's albums back then and avoided like the plague, but I haven't heard them to be fair.  Tragically, Bob Stohl died in a drowning accident in 1989.

Priority: 3

***Reissued on LP by Sebastian Speaks (2012) and Long Hair (2017)

4/21/11 (new entry); 11/21/12

Trocarn, Switzerland

Trocarn. 1977 Studiovox.

Trocarn play in that charming, but hopelessly low budget, maudlin, French progressive folk genre. Epic but somewhat confused. Towards the end of the album, we're presented with a loud burst of fuzz guitar, coupled with the freaky fast complex changes. It appears the band possessed tons of pent-up anger and went nuts at the end. More of that interspersed throughout would have made for a monster album. One has to think there is more of that sound in a canister somewhere. From the French section of Suisse. File next to Emeraude, Subversion, and Alpha Centauri.

Priority: 3

Dragon, New Zealand

Scented Gardens for the Blind. 1976 Vertigo

Dragon are one of the premier, if not the premier, New Zealand symphonic rock acts. Very similar to other Australasian bands like Sebastian Hardie or Ragnarok. Also Ireland's Fruupp comes to mind here as well.

---4/6/23

One of the charter members of my Yacht Prog designation, New Zealand's Dragon play a sophisticated form of melodic progressive rock with commercial sensibilities. Similar to Sebastian Hardie, later Fruupp, and Kestrel. Dragon went on to become pop stars in Australia and released many albums which I've not heard. It's easy to see the band crossing over to that realm, as there's evidence of that sound here.

Priority: 2

***Reissued on LP by Replica (2023)

Universal Radio was reissued in 2009 by Aztec, and this title was announced for the following year, but it never happened.

4/17/11 (new entry); 4/6/23

Eardance, USA-Illinois

Seek Opposites. 1982 Touch

Of all the bands operating in the 80's Music/prog rock space, Chicago's Eardance are the most overtly 1980's King Crimson influenced. Right down to the Chapman Stick while the vocalist sounds exactly like Belew (or tries to). The primary difference between Eardance and KC is that our featured band today is definitely more jazz influenced, which adds a neat twist to a recognizable sound.

---3/22/23

This represents last night's listen as well. You just can't escape the Discipline vibes here. I almost get the impression they didn't really have a prog background until they heard the latest incarnation of Crimson. 

Priority: 3

4/4/11 (new entry); 3/22/23

Granicus, USA-Ohio

Granicus. 1973 RCA

Granicus were a Cleveland based hard rock group. Probably the single best example from the US to attempt a Led Zeppelin like raucous electric blues sound. Has a Midwest America sensibility and directness as found in other bands from the region (Poobah for example), but otherwise Page and company is definitely the influence here. Mellotron and acoustic guitar touches combined with Robert Plant styled high pitched vocals puts this album somewhere between Zeppelin's IV and Houses of the Holy. This is essential for hard rock fans, especially those who like a little adventurous progressive compositions mixed in.

---10/13/22

Yea, I'll stand by that. In fact I enjoyed a +1 revisit last night. Like with progressive rock, the US didn't do too much to support our hard rock scene either. Every once in a while a band would pop up and receive a major label signing, only to not be promoted and dropped shortly thereafter. Most bands like Granicus just thrived in the underground and released their albums privately. Really great hard guitar and screaming vocals - it's the boilerplate for the Midwest hard rock sound.

Priority: 1

4/15/11 (new entry); 10/13/22

Earwacks, USA-Missouri

Earwacks - Distances. 1981 private

We frequently speak of the late 1970s Midwest progressive rock sound on the CDRWL, and the St. Louis based Earwacks would seem an obvious candidate. But it's really not. There's no bid for AOR airplay here. This is truly private press land - an oddball album that is more 1960s in spirit and early-1970s in sound. The shelf date for this kind of music had expired a full ten years before its release. I could see this as a pointed retro album from the late 90s or 2000's, but have absolutely no idea where the inspiration came from in 1981? A scattered mixture of pop, rock (and both styles decidedly non-1980s sounding) and epic progressive rock (with mellotron, flute, sax and fuzz guitar).


Priority: none

4/14/11 (new entry)

Jenghiz Khan, Belgium

Well Cut. 1971 Barclay

It was in the late 1980's that I first began to trade with dealers from around the world. And Jenghiz Khan was one of the first albums I traded for, and it cost me some rare gems (at least for what I had to offer at the time). "A psychedelic progressive masterpiece from Belgium." I don't think I could have been more disappointed. In fact, I thought it was terrible and I'd just been taken to the cleaners. An early lesson for me in "dealer hype". See my definition of hype in the Passenger (UK) entry. Anyway, looking back on it, I can see where Jenghiz Khan would be popular with a certain fan base. So no way would I call it hype today. And it's aged a bit better for me, but no chance would I froth about it either. Jenghiz Khan are a fairly typical early 70s hard rock / blues rock band with organ and guitar leads, and half-way decent English vocals. Very ordinary songwriting. Somewhat like the UK blues rock scene ala Ashkan and Elias Hulk, but far more inconsistent. Last track, clocking in at 10 minutes, is the clear winner of the bunch. 

Priority: none

***Reissued on LP by PhilMarie (2011)

4/12/11 (new entry)

Famous Actors from Out of Town, USA-Virginia

Famous Actors from Out of Town - F.A.F.O.O.T. FA3574. 1986 private (MC).

And while on the theme of 1980s era avant progressive US groups, might as well throw in Richmond, Virginia's Famous Actors from Out of Town.

Famous Actors from Out of Town is a self-described "improvo-instrumental" group. Exactly the kind of album you'd expect to find on the nearby Cuneiform label. As with any such venture, there are bits that should have been edited out, but there are also plenty of inspired moments as well. Some fine guitar work with tricky and complicated rhythms. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this album.

Description below provided by the Free Music Archive - and you can hear the album there as well.

Comprised of former members of the Orthotonics, Idio-Savant, the Tom & Marty Band, House of Freaks, Sparklehorse, Cracker and Gutterball, FAFOOT made ambitiously composed and arranged instrumental music built on two of the city's best drummers working intricately in tandem.

"FA3457" (sic) was a limited-edition, cassette-only release and in 2009 Chris Bopst of the syndicated "Bopst Show" said: "For years I have been looking to secure a digital copy of the cassette tape made by the late, great Richmond instrumental band, The Famous Actors From Out of Town (FAFOOT). I had long ago lost my tape of the group’s one and only release and wanted to get it back into my collection. I contacted one of the group’s drummers, Pippin Barnett and asked him if he had an extra copy of it lying around somewhere. Within 10 minutes of my request, the Art Blakey of Richmond percussion wrote back saying he had a burned CD copy he could give me and after a few more exchanges, he dropped off the CD at one of my places of employment. It was as good as I remembered it. The four-man group consisting of Marty McCavitt on keyboards, Paul Watson on guitar, trumpet & bass and Pippin and Johnny Hott on drums were amazing live and the recording captures their weirdo, late 70’s/early 80’s art, rock, jazz, noise sound pretty well. The 23-year old recording sounds as vibrant today as it did back then."

Priority: none

4/5/11 (new entry)

Newcross, USA-California

Newcross. 1986 private (EP) 

King Crimson were the only major left standing in the 1980s (or at least they were smart enough to pack it in during the tumultuous late 70s, only to reemerge stronger than before), so it's not too surprising that they were the major influence on a lot of bands during this lost period of progressive rock. As we saw with yesterday's Regressive Aid, and you'll note with the band we feature tomorrow, Crimson truly did hold court back then. Newcross is probably closest to Ixt Adux, in that they mix contemporary Discipline era KC with the more aggressive sounds of Red. However, unlike Ixt Adux, there's no leftover VDGG traces. It would be heartening to know if there was more high quality recorded material from Newcross, as a full reissue would be highly satisfying

Priority: 3

4/3/11 (new entry); 4/26/22

Regressive Aid, USA-New Jersey

Why Settle For Less When You Can Regress? 1981 Rhesus
Effects on Exposed People. 1983 Rhesus

Awhile back I wrote about a Japanese band called Nishin and their one album Dai Dai, and I have to say New Jersey's Regressive Aid reminds me quite a bit of that. The early 1980's sound is very apparent here, from the use of digital technology to the fast punkish pace of the music. There's no mistaking the Discipline era King Crimson influence, though Regressive Aid appear to have drawn the same conclusion as Fripp rather than just obsequiously following the master. By the time of the all instrumental Effects on Exposed People (like the EP before is itself a very short album clocking in just under 30 minutes), the Crimson influence is more apparent and the production values are of a higher quality. Another group that reminds me of Regressive Aid, but showed up a couple of years later, is the Virginia-based Famous Actors From Out of Town.

Priority: 3

4/2/11 (new entry)

Archimedes Badkar, Sweden

Badrock För Barn I Alla Åldrar. 1975 MNW
Archimedes Badkar II. 1976 MNW

Here's a band I figured would already have their albums out on CD. I admit to procrastinating a bit on this entry for that reason. MNW is still around, and every once in awhile they'll toss out a CD reissue bone to keep the dogs from barking too loud. Archimedes Badkar's third album, the overtly titled Tre, was reissued in 2003. 

For their first album, Archimedes Badkar could be considered an alternative to Kebnekaise. Whereas the latter mixed Swedish folk with blues and psych rock, Archimedes Badkar took the folk music through the jazz rock blender. It's a fascinating fusion, and the ethnic components are out front, so they're quite serious about it. The cover of Big Boy in space reminds me of the first Austin Powers movie. I doubt they had Big Boy's in Sweden in 1974 (or maybe they did?), so a bizarre sight indeed. Comes with a cool multi-page newspaper of lyrics and a postcard! 

On the double LP second album, Archimedes Badkar moves from Swedish folk to that of India and Tibet (though the homeland still is featured). Here the jazz and rock components are toned down a bit. But with two albums to stretch over, the band has plenty of time to explore the various different creative avenues they set out for themselves. Archimedes Badkar were four years ahead of Embryo's landmark double LP Embryo's Reise for this kind of European jazz fusion east-west sound. The second LP of the set goes for broke and the listener will experience a more experimental sound with hit and miss results.

Priority: 2 

4/1/11 (new entry)

Avel Nevez, France

La Belle de Josselin. 1978 Arfolk

Service Compris. 1979 Arfolk

There's a fine line between electric folk rock and folk influenced progressive rock. With Brittany, the majority of the bands are the former (Malicorne, Gwendal, etc...). Avel Nevez, on Service Compris at least, is probably the most clear example of the latter, at least from this most unique of French regions. There's no mistaking the patriotism and indigenous melodies that define the Breton area (the regional map in the trashcan says all you need to know politically). However the guitar, and in particular the synthesizer work, points to a deep 1970's knowledge of French and UK progressive rock. If you're familiar with the mid 90's band Kadwaladyr, then Avel Nevez is probably closest in sound to that high spirited bunch.

Priority: 2

3/31/11 (new entry)

Polestar 1, USA-Maryland

Flying Thru the Universe. 1980 Rascal Records

Polestar 1 are a Baltimore based heavy progressive rock band that in many ways reflect the same standards and sound as their Midwest brethren close by. There's a certain directness from America's premier political region, and you hear it in bands such as The Muffins, Oho, Heavy the World, Mars Everywhere, and Id's Where are We Going. The latter two groups in particular seem to have parallels with Polestar 1, especially the cosmic themes, vocal styling and guitar-centered space rock nature of the recordings. Like the Midwest groups, the playing is compact but complex.

Priority: 2

3/30/11 (new entry)

Proteus, USA-Illinois

Infinite Change. 1981 Proteus International Records.

Proteus are a Chicago based fusion group, not too far in style from another Windy City favorite that we recently featured: Streetdancer. The highlight is the constant and fiery guitar work, and the compositions are more geared towards progressive rock than slick fusion. Side 1 is flat out awesome, whereas the other side begins to add the dreaded funky chicken components that were all too common for the era. Still, we're never too far away from another blazing guitar solo, and all is right again. An excellent album that is a must for fusion and instrumental progressive rock fans.

Priority: 2

3/29/11 (new entry)

Pat Cool, Netherlands

Daybreak. 1973 Delta

Pat Cool were an obscure band from The Netherlands that released only this one album. Overall their music could be described as jazz influenced progressive rock, very much from the Dutch 70s school. The group is comprised of two keyboardists, flutes, bass, and drums. The clear leader of the band is Gé Titulaer, who not only provides the distinctive lead vocals, but also is one of the keyboard players (Mini-Moog, Hammond Organ, and Fender Rhodes), not to mention his extensive use of recorder and Chinese flutes. There are some long Hammond organ jams here, for fans of the instrument like myself. A quote from an online Dutch Encyclopedia tells us "...and the voice of Gé Titulaer is very prominent also". This would have to rank as one of the all-time great understatements. It's quite apparent to me that he was trying very hard to emulate a one Tom Jones, which is... interesting. So I'll offer another great understatement: His voice is an acquired taste. Overall a very solid Dutch progressive rock album, with jazz and lounge undertones - and a disorienting voice (for the genre). Worth investigating.

Priority: 3

3/27/11 (new entry); 4/3/19

Other Music, USA-California

Prime Numbers. 1980 Nth Degree
Incidents Out of Context. 1983 Flying Fish

Other Music were a band from Marin County north of San Francisco who managed to put out two albums before splintering. To date I haven't heard their debut Prime Numbers but Incidents Out of Context is a fine example of World Fusion and experimental music. A mix of systems electronic music, Asian ethnic scales/instruments, unusual tuned percussion, classical chamber music structures and.... fuzz guitar. This latter element just slays me every time, especially in this context (so to speak). One of a kind, that's for sure.

Priority: 3

3/26/11 (new entry)

Cosmology, USA-Virginia

Cosmology. 1977 Vanguard

Following from my comment about the Vanguard label on the Flying Island entry, I did listen to The Open Window and Cosmology. The former I put in the main list, but this one is worth a separate entry I think.

Looking at the cover, you'd think this was an album from 1970. Those sideburns alone point to another era. Maybe they were friends with the English band First Aid, another anachronistic wonder from 1977. And musically it also points to a 1970 heritage. Produced by Collin Walcott (and he guests on sitar for one track), Cosmology is primarily an old fashioned horn rock album, though rooted in jazz fusion rather than pop rock. The lovely female vocals somewhat reminded me of both Quebec's Contraction and France's Cortex. But this isn't going to be on any hipsters A-list anytime soon. These guys are squares. But I found the myriad of styles at play here entirely refreshing - and completely unique. You'll see folks trying hard to get this one lumped in with the late 70s funk crowd, but good luck with that. I don't hear it myself. If any of this sounds good to you, pick this one up.

Priority: 3

3/24/11 (new entry)