Anamorphose, France

Palimpseste. 1986 private

Anamorphose's sole work can simply be described as a very active jazz fusion album. At times I'm reminded of Abus Dangereux's debut, and others you'll hear some of Yoch'ko Seffer's 1970s works. The rhythms are smoking throughout! I prefer the tracks where the lead instrument is flute verse the more favored soprano sax, an instrument that can grate on me over time (we can all blame Kenny G. for this). There's some great interludes of violin as well. Good album for the date, especially considering the wasteland that was 1986.

Priority: 3

9/24/10

Mendoza, Sweden

Mendoza. 1972 CBS

Despite sporting a cover of a very mean looking mustachioed dude with a dangling cigarette and sunglasses - and who would presumably be the band's namesake - Mendoza are in reality a 6 piece band made up of names like Arne Gustafsson, Lennart Palmefors, and Björn Larsson. The evidence is before the court, and methinks these Swedish lads were cashing in on the Santana concept. Ya think? I guess if they went by LARSSON or OLSON it wouldn't have the same impact now would it? No matter, because if this was the second coming of Abraxas, I could use any rationalization I felt like to justify my praise. But, alas, it's not. Though the opening instrumental is a smoker that held quite a bit of promise. For the most part, Mendoza sound like a typical American band, playing typical early 1970s American roots rock. Naturally enough, the guitar work is the highlight, not surprising given the genre.

Priority: none

9/23/10

Greg Sneddon, Australia

Mind Stroll. 1975 Mushroom

Well done symphonic progressive rock from multi-instrumentalist Sneddon. Nice keyboard work in particular. Reminds me of other Australian artists of the day like Mario Millo (Epic III and leader of Sebastian Hardie) and Chris Neal's Winds of Isis. There's a certain commercial slant found here, which is not uncommon for progressive rock artists operating in Australasia. 

Priority: 3

9/21/10

Masala Dosa, Denmark

Masala Dosa 77. 1977 Kong Pære

Like just about every 1970s Danish band, Masala Dosa maintain a rural rock foundation. The songs on Side 1 are pretty weak, but are saved by some very fine guitar solos. Side 2 is primarily instrumental and considerably the better half. Again, the guitar sections here are nothing short of phenomenal. In this way, Masala Dosa are more a throwback to the early 70s works by Culpeper's Orchard, Midnight Sun, and Day of Phoenix. Despite the Indian name, there's sparse reference to Indian culture save a little sitar. 

Priority: 3

9/20/10

Ananga Ranga, Portugal

Regresso Às Origens. 1979 Metro-Som
Privado. 1980 Metro-Som

Jazz rock ensemble that reminds me some of Tantra, but perhaps more influenced by the bigger names of the day like Passport and Weather Report. First album has violin which definitely adds points. Privado begins to introduce funk, which probably wasn't the best idea. 

Priority: 3

***Both reissued by World Record on LP in 2024

9/19/19

Amish, Canada-Ontario

Amish. 1972 Sussex

Amish were an Ontario based group who recorded their sole album in Detroit, due to the Sussex label having ties to Motown. Amish simply could be described as a hard rock / heavy prog band with Hammond organ and electric guitar providing the solo leads. But where Amish stands out is the superb progressive oriented organ work, and I really like the way they wah-wah-riff the rhythm guitar parts. There's even some strange throwback psychedelic era interludes that recall bands such as Stone Circus or even Strawberry Alarm Clock. They also cover Traffic's 'Dear Mr. Fantasy', a very interesting choice (though probably the weakest of the album). Every track is a winner, with 'Wise Man' being a highlight. If looking for comparisons, I'd offer up debut album era Uriah Heep, along with obscurities like fellow Ontario based Warpig and New York's Micah. Bassist Mike Gingrich later became a member of the progressive rock group Nightwinds. Strong album that comes recommended.

Priority: 2

9/17/10

Aquila, England

Aquila. 1970 RCA

Aquila were an obscure band from England, a spin off from the relatively popular Blonde on Blonde. Somewhat typical of the era, Aquila utilized saxophone and flute to augment the usual guitar, Hammond, bass, and drums format. The vocals are rough hewned, yet another hallmark of the era. Echoes of Diabolus and the debut albums from Gravy Train and Raw Material come to mind here as well. Fine organ solos throughout with some nice contrast provided by the acoustic guitar. I like the way the band jams over the harmony lines. Album closes in a melodic horn rock way similar to perhaps Blood, Sweat & Tears, or more to the point, Brainchild. Overall a very solid entry for fans of the early UK progressive rock sound.

Priority: 2

9/16/10

Patrice Meyer, France

Racines Croisees. 1983 Music'Al
Dromadaire Viennois. 1986 FMR

Two solid instrumental albums from guitarist Patrice Meyer, who recruited some famous Canterbury names like Pip Pyle, Hugh Hopper, and Didier Malherbe (from Gong) to participate on the latter solo effort. Dromadaire Viennois has some Zeuhl bass and is the more interesting of the two albums. When Meyer plugs in, he can be quite kinetic. Both albums are rooted in jazz, and possess a tranquil side to offset the more energetic pieces. Not essential, but very good for the era, especially the latter album.

Priority: 3

9/15/10

Strongbow, USA-Ohio ***REISSUED***

Strongbow. 1975 Southwind

***Reissued by ProgAOR Jun 2024

I didn't get a chance to feature this fine hard rock / AOR album. The CD doesn't include neither track from their excellent 1973 single, but does have three other bonus tracks.

Priority: 3

7/1/24 (complete)

Michel Moulinie, France

Chrysalide. 1978 Crypto

One man show Michel Moulinie crafted his sole work for the Crypto label in 1978. Perfect for the time and place, Moulinie's work is similar to other like minded French underground artists such as Phillippe Besombes and Richard Pinhas. The use of acoustic guitar gives the recording a warm touch, that can be missing from the more clinical works of the era. I would guess that Moulinie was quite familiar with some of Mike Oldfield's classic works at this stage. The violin (or as it is credited "guitare violin") has a haunting, almost mellotron-like sound. On 'L'Echo de L'Acier' and 'Lente Course', Moulinie experiments with sound on sound techniques, that recall Manuel Gottsching on Inventions For Electric Guitar. A very beautiful album, and one that has no peer in terms of sound and execution.

Priority: 1

***Reissued on LP by WRWTFWW Jul 2024

7/10/10

Might of Coincidence, Switzerland

The Birth of Might of Coincidence. 1971 Entropia

Might of Coincidence play a typical acid folk prog in the trippy German tradition similar to Emtidi’s Saat or especially Amon Duul’s Paradieswarts Duul. Tranced female / male vocals over tablas, wood flute, and electric / acoustic guitar. Most of the tracks sound similar, except the last one which is considerably more cosmic and experimental. A whole album of that I think would’ve resulted in a better experience. 

Priority: 3

9/12/10

Subversion, France

Subversion. 1976 Pole

Certainly the most obscure album on the experimental Pole label. Featuring a crude black and white cover, it's exactly the sort of album you would expect to find on the FLVM label a few years later. This pre-Falstaff outfit mixed complex progressive rock in the Memoriance / Pulsar vein, along with jazz rock sections and some introspective folky moments. Not much cohesion, but they did well with each style they attempted. Very different from anything else on the label, except maybe Emergency Exit. And like that band, Subversion was also not repressed by Tapioca later in the decade, adding to its obscurity.

Priority: 3

***Reissued on LP by Replica (2021)

9/11/10

Sixty Nine, Germany

Circle of the Crayfish. 1973 Philips
Live! 1974 Philips

Sixty Nine were a rock based instrumental organ & drums duo following in the footsteps of Hansson and Karlsson. This was something of a popular idea back in Germany during those days, and other such duos like Magma, Minus Two, and Twogether had a similar lineup / idea. Given the limitations of the small setup, it takes quite a bit of imagination and sound variation to keep things interesting. On Circle of the Crayfish, they do manage to get some outlandish sounds out of that organ, and combined with the rip-roaring tempos, the group do keep things hopping for the most part. There's even an introspective electronic piece. Even with all of the innovations applied, the album still sounds too monolithic overall for its own good. Sixty Nine are to be commended for their mighty effort here, but it's for a niche within a niche audience.

Priority: 3

***Both albums reissued on LP by Long Hair (2018)

9/10/10

Mars Everywhere, USA-D.C.

Industrial Sabotage. 1980 Random Radar

Live & Unrehearsed. 1988 Galactus (MC)

Visitor Parking. 1989 Audiofile (MC)

Random Radar was the ancestor to the popular Cuneiform Records label. They had some interesting acts, but none were more intriguing than Mars Everywhere's Industrial Sabotage. The music here is a cross between, Canterbury (due to The Muffins influence), space rock, avant prog, and free rock. Gets a little loose and annoying in places, but when they catch a groove, the fireworks are undeniable. Some brilliant guitar work, and it's just this space rock element that becomes the album's ace in the hole. 

I have not heard the cassettes to date.

Priority: 3

9/9/10

Booth Davis and Lowe, USA-Arizona

Prototype. 1978 Titicaca

Booth, Davis and Lowe are from Arizona, but sound like they're from the great Midwest (Albatross, Ethos, Surprise, etc...). Classic Yes is the obvious starting point, but like many bands of their era, BD&L made a concentrated effort for radio airplay, mixing in some tame but charming AOR songs. A mixed bag, but very much a product of the American underground.

Priority: 3

9/8/10

Alpha Omega, Australia

Alpha Omega. 1976 Clear Light of Jupiter

Steven Maxwell, most known for his group Cybotron, also plays synthesizers for this most interesting fusion group. Perhaps Cybotron's Colossus is a good reference, mixing in saxophone lead rock with electronic sequences. Alpha Omega is more rooted in jazz, however, which includes some free blow sax and shredding guitar solos. It's an odd combination. Passport's Infiniti Machine is also similar to this, though for certain more tame. 

Priority: 3

9/7/10

Arc, France

Maquette. 1980 Le Kiosque d'Orphee / Game

Maquette is an earnest attempt to recreate the Ange / Mona Lisa style of dramatic French language progressive rock. Similar to other such efforts like Elohim's Le Mana Perdu (1983), Trefle (1979), or Elixir's Sabbat (1987). It's a distinctly French form of rock, and for what it is, it's pretty good. Don't expect Ange though.

Priority: 3

9/6/10

ES, Germany

Wham Bang. 1979 Fran

Now here's a strange bird. ES is made up of former members of Krautrock veterans Tomorrow's Gift and the Release Music Orchestra. On the surface, Wham Bang is a straight ahead pop rock / disco album. And after each track's cringe worthy vocal section finishes, one might expect a short instrumental followed by some more tawdry vocals. Except the instrumentals don't always stop and ES begins to introduce a more common jazz fusion sound, as one might find on an earlier RMO release. Every time I was about to write Wham Bang off as a cheap European knockoff, then wham! bang! I'd hear an impressive instrumental bit. Yes, I think the album may have been a conscious satire on the current music trends of the day. Not among the greatest albums of all time, but a fun one to own for the collection. Keep expectations reasonable, and you may enjoy it too.

Priority: 3

9/5/10

Miklagard, Sweden

Miklagard. 1979 Edge

Miklagard's sole album is bread and butter keyboard trio prog rock, with nice leads (some fat analog, some thin cheesy), and the always pleasant sound of Swedish vocals. 

Priority: 3

9/4/10

Sunday, England

Sunday. 1972 Bellaphon

Sunday's sole album is a mix of organ rock, hard rock, and progressive. Another UK band whose only release was in Germany (like Diabolus, Odin). Good record and an even better album cover.

Priority: 3

9/3/10