The Forum Quorum ~ USA

The Forum Quorum. 1968 Decca

UMR review

Priority: 2

12/30/10 (new entry)

Skyeros ~ USA

Skyeros. 1975 private

Skyeros (from Farmington, Missouri) reminds me a lot of another band we featured a few days ago - Luna Sea. Both are from the Midwest, and pretty much play in a straightforward rock style with a rural tinge. But whereas Luna Sea dedicated all of Side 2 to their more progressive ambitions, Skyeros waited until the final lengthy track, and even at that, it's marginally progressive. A few changes here and there, but it's pretty conservative. Some nice organ and guitar work can be found on this track. Doesn't really fit the "Midwest progressive" sound that we feature quite a bit here. This one is more rock / AOR oriented. 

This album came in courtesy of Heavyrock's collection, and from that we learn the album was recorded at Golden Voice Studios, which is in Pekin, Illinois (near Peoria). The studio is not a stranger to fans of the Midwest progressive crowd, as its where Pentwater, Starcastle's debut, and Styx's Man of Miracles laid down their recordings. Fellow St. Louis based rock group Head East also recorded there.

Priority: none

12/30/10

Cosmic Eye ~ England

Dream Sequence. 1972 Regal Zonophone

UMR review

Priority: 3

***Reissued by The Roundtable on LP (2018)

12/29/10 (new entry)

The Collective Star ~ USA

Music of the Mantric Wave, Part II. 1974 Unaminous Anonymous
Garuda. 1975 Unaminous Anonymous

UMR review

Priority: 3

12/28/10 (new entry)

Zadri & Mo ~ France

Erebus. 1982 Polydor

Zadri & Mo, despite looking like the bad guys in a Luc Besson film, have created quite an exquisite analog electronic album before the market became saturated with third rate amateur done-in-the-bedroom digital variations. Not only is there a duo on keys and sequencers (and that extra person definitely adds to the creativity), they also brought along Heldon's drummer François Auger for the ride. And he adds an urgency to the proceedings, just as he did for Richard Pinhas. Erebus continually changes in a progressive rock sort of way, never settling too long on any one sequence. Real drums in an electronic setting has always been appealing to me, and there aren't that many examples. So file this along with Klaus Schulze's Moondawn, Klaus Krüger era Tangerine Dream/Edgar Froese, You's Electric Day, and Wolfgang Bock's Cycles. Or imagine Zanov with another synthesist and analog drums. Despite the listing of a guitar player, he unfortunately doesn't make his presence felt. A rave up ala Pinhas would've put me under for good I think...

Thanks again to the AC for this one (I later picked up the LP).

Priority: 2

12/27/10

Getriebe ~ Germany

Syncron. 1975 Pauer (EP)

Here we have about a 17 minute EP, long enough for a one sided LP. Getriebe was lead by Detlev Schmidtchen, future keyboardist for none other than Eloy starting on the Dawn album and ending with Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes (and then left to form the rather lackluster Ego on the Rocks). Ironically, Getriebe will remind listeners of Inside or Floating era Eloy (and the CDRWL's favorite period for Eloy) more so than the streamlined and sophisticated Dawn and beyond albums. In fact, Getriebe sound like many of the organ lead German bands from 1971. The same off-key blues vocals in English, heavy guitars, fat bass and thudding drums. And that one critical component: Hammond organ. The AC informs us: "Detlev Schmidtchen formed this group in 1971 in Hanover, and in 1975 they won some local band competition called "Pop '75". The prize was time in a local recording studio, where they recorded "Syncron" (so it is from '75, and not '72 as I've seen listed elsewhere). Apparently, they also won the chance to have dinner (?!) with Eloy, who were the guest headliners at this competition/festival. This led to Eloy poaching Schmidtchen for themselves, which caused Getriebe to break up on the spot." 

Priority: 2

12/25/10

Luna Sea ~ USA

Luna Sea. 1976 Luna Tunes

Well, this really is lunacy. About as dramatic a difference in A-side, B-side as the Eik - Speglun album.

This is a newly discovered rarity out of Nebraska, that's just starting to make the rounds. Interesting to note that Queen used the exact painting on their 1991 "Innuendo" album, except in color (thanks Waxidermy for that info!).

This is another rarity sent in from The AC. I thought he did a magnificent job at describing the album, so take it away AC:

"It's the lone private press LP by an almost totally unknown US band named Luna Sea. They were from Blair, Nebraska of all places, but the album was recorded in Iowa. The first side is going to really test your willpower, as it's just straight radio-rock a la the Eagles, so you'll just have to "man-up" and slog through it. There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, though, because side 2 is totally different. Suddenly the synths appear, and things start getting a lot more interesting. It starts out in a still fairly accessible style, but things get proggier literally by the minute, until the last track "Rousing The Ghost", which is a fantastic piece of instrumental symphonic prog with great guitar, keys, and even a little flute. Oh, and be sure to stay tuned for the unlisted (and totally stupid) outro! A completely schizophrenic album, but even the band seemed to know this as they named the first side the "Light Side" and the second side the "Dark Side"! Hard to tell what they were really trying to accomplish here. But, such is the nature of the US underground. One part confusion and one part inspiration. I guess that's kind of the charm! In any case, this thing is seriously rare. It only first emerged onto the collector scene within the last year or two, and since it was first discovered only like two or three copies have popped up." 

So very true on the question "what are they trying to do here?". It was very typical for bands in the 1970's to try for a radio hit while mixing in their progressive rock ambitions. That strategy never did work.

One of those bands you just hope has more on tape somewhere, to make for a truly great album. The last track is brilliant but Side 1 is indeed dreadful...

Be sure to read insights from friends of the band in the comments section!

Priority: none (way higher if they have unreleased material like Side 2)

12/24/10

Genre ~ USA

Commercial Success. 1978 Black Gold

Now here's one that was buried deep in my LP collection. I first discovered this one while on a record buying trip in 1992 to Albuquerque with my old buddy Purple Peak Jeff. At one store there was a pile of sealed local albums, almost all of them pop or country. But this fusion album looked like it was worth taking a chance on - so we did. One reason is that we were both looking for the hard rock Message It'll Be Awhile album (also on Black Gold).

Lead by the guitarist - a slightly chunky black dude with a cool fro - named L.A. Jenkins, Genre play a fairly typical late 70's fusion with toned down guitar leads and Rhodes piano as the lead instruments. While Side 1 isn't particularly noteworthy, Side 2 opens with the excellent 'All Mixed Up' where Jenkins lets loose with a more psychedelic tone to the guitar. And this continues throughout the side, though the standard fusion motif is never strayed from too far.

---

8/22/24 - The reputation of this album has skyrocketed since I first penned these notes.

Priority: 2

12/22/10 (new entry)

Akropolis ~ Denmark

Half A Million Hours Symphony. 1979 Circle

What says PROG like that cover, eh? The dude in the white overalls gives me nightmares. Was he auditioning for The Village People before the photo shoot?

This is one that Midwest Mike sent in, but I put it off thinking perhaps he lost his mind. He swore it was much better than it looked. And, as usual, he was right.

In fact, while listening to it, I began to question if Denmark had cities named Toledo, Detroit, Kansas City, Columbus and Ft.Wayne. Blindfold me, tell me nothing else, and I say 1978 Midwest progressive rock. You know, it's just got that sound. The one where St. Louis college aged students, who've been drinking a case of Falstaff and listening to KSHE past midnight - decide to start a band. One of those albums that makes no sense, but it's really good for fans of American progressive rock. Seriously, file next to Albatross, Ethos and Surprise.

If someone does the reissue, one would hope for a redesigned album cover. I'm sure there is a story behind it. At least I HOPE there is a story behind it. 

Priority: 2

12/22/10

Opus III & Friends ~ Sweden

Opus III & Friends. 1970 Sonet

UMR review

Priority: 3

***Reissued on LP by the parent label on RSD (4/20/13)

12/21/10

Train ~ Germany

Coo-Coo Out. 1977 private

German band Train puts the jazz in jazz fusion. Mostly this is sax and toned down guitar driven jazz rock. But there's also some acoustic guitar pieces, and the opener 'Solution' is pure funk. The best track is saved for last, a slow atmospheric exotic percussive Middle Eastern piece with flute as the lead, appropriately enough titled 'Arabesque'.

Recommended to fans of the jazzier side of the large German fusion scene.

Train is another rarity sent in from The AC.

Priority: 3

12/20/10

Working Progress ~ France

Working Progress. 1975 RCA

We have a new patron of the CDRWL - The Alaskan Connection (later known as The AC and is featured heavily from 2011-2015). And here's his first submission. I wasn't familiar with it prior, not even on one of my many esoteric want lists. And of course guess who's involved? None other than Mr. Obscuria himself - J.P. Massiera. Also the ubiquitous drummer Andre Ceccarelli.

This one starts off in the funky fusion style, but it's a head fake, something you can almost predict with Mr. Massiera. Within the album you'll find sweetly sung soft female vocals ala Cortex, indigenous islander music, a little Zeuhlish horns - flute and vocal piece, and even some straight jazz. For certain, all of that is fine and dandy, but it doesn't prepare you for the middle of the album with the lengthy West Indies tribal percussion and underground fuzz guitar soloing. This sequence elevates the album to a must listen experience, even it's not entirely consistent.

Priority: 2

12/19/10

News: Surgery's "Übermorgen" released on Garden of Delights!

Last week we reported on the Sündenfall II reissue. Now we get word that they will also reissue Surgery's "Übermorgen", one of our Priority 3's! It's been on GoD's Coming Soon list for a couple of years, so I'm glad to see it come to fruition.

This is an album that I first heard courtesy of Midwest Mike, sometime in 2007 or so. And we recently featured the album here on the blog.

Surgery ~ Germany ***REISSUED***

Übermorgen. 1980 Yregrus

UMR review

***Reissued by Garden of Delights, Dec 2010

Priority: 2

7/30/10 (new entry); 12/18/10 (complete)

News: Tangle Edge releases archival "Dropouts"

I saw this a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn't quite sure what it was. Now I've come to find out it's a 3LP / 2CD set of recordings the band did from 1982 and 1983.

While I haven't found any conclusive data to support this, I'm suspecting this is a reissue of their first 1983 cassette "Improvised Drop Outs" (on Mushroom originally, later reissued in 1990 (also on cassette) by Ultima Thule's Aurical label), but with considerably more bonus tracks. Or the remainder of the sessions I suspect.

All the tracks on Improvised Drop Outs are also on Dropouts, but I'm not sure if they're the same versions or not. I have been wanting to hear the Improvised Drop Outs tape for a long time. So it appears I'll have that chance.

More data here and here

That leaves two further cassettes still left to be reissued, both from 1986: "In The Presence of Aphrodite" and "Radio Stroganoff". I haven't heard these either. But I'm a big fan of all their LPs and CDs released starting in 1989 with "In Search of A New Dawn".

BTW, be sure to head over to Wayside or The Laser's Edge, as both are running a fantastic sale on the first two Tangle Edge CDs. Both are excellent albums in the psychedelic space rock field.

The Albert ~ USA

The Albert. 1970 Perception (plp 4)
The Albert. 1970 Perception (plp 9)

UMR review

Priority: none

12/17/10

Profil ~ Germany

For You. 1982 Brutkasten

We've posted on the Brutkasten label before. It's the original German DIY label, like France's FLVM. So there's really no consistency to what's on it - a true grab bag of styles. After listening to Profil for the first time on Saturday, I'd say it's in the top four albums I've heard on the label to date, along with Sirius' Running to Paradise, Gebärväterli's Im Tal der Emmen and the label's most famous underground album - Carol of Harvest.

Profil can be simply described as instrumental rock driven by guitar and synthesizer. But what I found fascinating was how expressive the guitarist is, and the choice times when the synthesizer would lay down a fat solo. And the tracks seem to extend longer than usual, but with an irregular rhythm giving off a trance like effect. There's little variation of this sound, save a couple of tracks, including one funky bit. I've been trying to think of a comparison for 3 days now. About the best I can come up with is the debut of Flaming Bess (Tanz Der Gotter) minus the narration parts of course. You know how that album just keeps driving forward, with guitar solo after guitar solo. It's kind of like that. Despite the rather simplistic and generic description, Profil's album is somewhat unique in this space. 

Priority: 2

12/15/10

Gian Piero Pramaggiore ~ Italy

Chan. 1982 Mama Barley

Chan features primarily acoustic guitar, soprano sax, and a variety of flutes in a rock setting along with some wordless voice. Definitely a variation on the post 70s jazz fusion display. A good album, with a high energy level. It appears that Pramaggiore is currently active in conducting music workshops.

Priority: 3

12/11/10

Awake (Rino de Filippi) ~ Italy

First Born. 1972 Smash. Reissued as Riflessi under the name Rino de Filippi (1978 Edipan).

To me this sounds like an Italian film library album, for which there are dozens. It has that cool 60's jet-set jazz funk feel - music for the martini drinking James Bond crowd. The thing is, many of these library albums went by different titles and artist names.

---

For a long while we could not find any data about this album which we thought the band name was First Born.

Augusto Croce, author of the the Italian Prog site, later discovered more info about the album. And I  was right - it sure enough is a film library album. The artist is Rino de Filippi, going by what appears to the name of Awake. I can't tell by the front cover, but Augusto tells us: "The author is Rino De Filippi, a library music composer using the nickname Awake in this case. The album was released on Smash, a minor label that also issued the rare album by I Boom."

Today (8/22/24), Discogs has complete info about the album and the artist who went on to release at least four more albums.

Priority: none

***Reissued on LP (the Riflessi issue) by Sonor Music Editions (2015).

12/10/10

Ada le Fol ~ France

Les Années d'Errance. 1980 Velia Disques

UMR review

Priority: 2

12/8/10

News: Transubstans to reissue Taste of Blues

Great news here, and one that Record Heaven had announced over a year ago. I hadn't featured this one in the hopes that the reissue would come out - and here it is! I had the Garageland LP that came out in the 1990s, but it was never reissued on CD until now.

Record Heaven says: "
TASTE OF BLUES
Schizofrenia (CD)
Finally we see the re-issue of this old Swedish underground psychedelic monster. Formed around Claes Ericsson, who would later perform in ASOKA and 70's band LOTUS. The album open with the title track, which is a feast of krautockish voodoo rhytms, and flips over to more bluesy style on the 2nd side. The booklet holds a complete history of the band. Very recommended !! "

My entry from the CDORWL:

Taste of Blues - Schizofrenia (Sweden) 1969 SSR (released only in Denmark). One side is a cool free rock jam, like the best of the Krautrock and Swedish artists like International Harvester. The other side is more traditional electric blues, so the album is indeed schizophrenic. Garageland reissued it on LP in 1992.

Synchro Rhythmic Eclectic Language ~ France ***REISSUED***

Lambi. 1976 Moshe-Naim

***Reissued by the parent label prior to the CDRWL. I just didn't know about it!

UMR review

12/7/10 (complete)

Metronic Underground ~ Germany

Illusion (Electronic aus Bonn). 1981 private

Produced by Conny Plank, this is an excellent entry into the large scale German electronic scene. Not really a Berlin School album, though some rhythmic sequencing is present, but still very much informed by late 70's Berlin based artists like Edgar Froese (especially Ages), Ash Ra around the time of New Age of Earth, and Klaus Schulze circa X. Haunting synthesizers with THAT vibe combined with lightly sprinkled fuzzed and acoustic guitars makes for an album the CDRWL recommends. Side 2 of the album shifts gears a bit and features some vocal numbers that are quite a bit different than the other contents but are strangely engaging all the same. 

Priority: 2

12/6/10

News: Garden of Delights reissues Sündenfall II

Here's a big time rarity that has been on Garden of Delights Coming Soon list for awhile. I remember seeing this on ebay a few years back and fetching an enormous sum. I haven't heard it, but it definitely sounds intriguing. Should be available in the next couple of weeks.

"SUNDENFALL II from the Kevelaer area at the Lower Rhine played a mixture of folk and jazz, influenced by Jethro Tull. While their predecessors SUNDENFALL exclusively dedicated themselves to jazz, the group included folk after a change in line-up and band name (following the example of Amon Duul II). In 1972, Hubert Schmitz invited the band into his Trepitia film and sound studio in Alpen-Dorfor free recordings, as he wanted to test the newly installed equipment after a recent move into the new location. Thus the recordings were made for the album SUNDENFALL II (Trefiton HS 1017), which was released in a small edition of 200 copies at the end of 1972. Today it is sold at a price of about 500 to 1000 in mint condition. The track "Montpellier", chosen for the sampler on hand, stands out due to the distinctive trumpet play both at the beginning and at the end."

Mediterraneo ~ Spain

Estrechas Calles De Santa Cruz. 1978 Aphrodita

It's been years since I had heard this album. I had the LP in the early 90s, but didn't enjoy it much then, and promptly sold it (and it's always been a rare piece). Then totally forgot about it until recently. Musically, it's a bit of a disappointment if you're looking for Spanish regional influences. In fact, some of this reminds me of the slow moving German symphonic music of the day (Shaa Khan, Albatros, Indigo, etc...). There's also an impossibly long drum solo that ruins the flow. There are some nice guitar leads in the Camel vein, though, that makes it worth a listen or two. Starting with their second album Tabarca, the band moved into a more specific pop direction, and released five more albums. 

Priority: none

12/5/10

I.D. Company ~ Germany

I.D. Company. 1970 HorZu

Split album between two soon-to-be well known female vocalists. Side 1 features Frumpy's Inga Rumpf and her masculine vocal style. The music is a combination of blues, jazz, and Indian music - and sounds like some of the better moments of Krokodil's An Invisible World Revealed. Dagmar Krause's side is considerably more experimental, foreshadowing her later work with Slapp Happy, Art Bears, and Henry Cow among others. The music follows in a similar manner, and is clearly going for a free jazz sound. It's all a bit much to be honest, but fans of unhinged music + vocals will love it. 

Priority: none

12/2/10

Heavy Joker ~ Denmark

Heavy Joker. 1976 Polydor

Peter Klixbull and Heavy Joker - Jumbo. 1977 Polydor 
Caesar's Palace. 1978 Mercury

Earlier this year (in 2010 that is), I'd heard Caesar's Palace for the first time. I quickly dismissed it as an all too typical fusion album of the era, describing it as thus: "Warm and slick, this smooth jazz album is similar to the American group Spyro Gyra. Presumably the first album is considerably better, but I haven't heard it." 

Midwest Mike pointed out to me that the first album was indeed much better, and so he sent me a cdr to see if I agreed with him. Wow - what a difference! Opening with a Canterbury like sequence, I knew instantly he was to be right. The next couple of tracks would foreshadow the direction they would follow on Caesar's Palace, with some slick playing and somewhat trite melodic interplay. But they close side 1 similar to how it began in superb fashion. This leads to the excellent side long track broken up into 4 movements, that recalls some of the finest Kraut fusion bands (Missus Beastly, Frob, Kraan, etc..) while still maintaining the Soft Machine/Nucleus approach of quirky sophistication. Overall, a very pleasant surprise.

Priority: 2

12/1/10