Spell ~ USA

Time Waves. 1979 Tsunami

Spell is the duo of synthesist's Jack Tamul and Joe Deihl, both based in Jacksonville, Florida. They do a fine job at emulating the Berlin School style of electronics, especially within the cosmic atmosphere category, perhaps a bit like fellow Americans: Earthstar. Though there is little in the way of sequencing... unfortunately. Quite a bit of acoustic piano adds a warm touch, though it pushes the contents towards the New Age scene at times.

Priority: 3

2/24/25 (new entry)

The Mesmerizing Eye ~ USA

Psychedelia - A Musical Light Show. 1967 Smash

The Mesmerizing Eye's sole album is a short affair made up of 23 minutes of psychedelic incidental music. It appears the entire album consists only of the "weird" parts from Friendsound, Fifty Foot Hose, Silver Apples, etc... I'm sure you can gather this is an exploitation album. One that was likely sold at the cash register of K-Mart's back in the 1960s - a good starter album for the middle-class, bored white couple set, about to embark on their first neighborhood swinger party...

Priority: none

This was one of those "CDRWL main list" albums that I never featured. Not that it deserves one, but trying to be thorough here.

Love the cover though. Great use of fonts and art.

2/23/25 (new entry)

Lodestone ~ USA

Lodestone. 1981 private

UMR review

Priority: 1

2/22/25 (new entry)

Curtis Knight ~ USA

Down in the Village. 1970 Paramount

I'm sure others are worthy of consideration, but this is the only title I'm familiar with.

UMR review

Priority: 1

2/22/25 (new entry)

Chasar ~ Scotland

Chasar (Gypsy Roller). 1983 MPM (MC); 1985 American Phonograph (LP)

UMR review

Priority: 1

2/22/25 (new entry)

Relayer ~ USA

The Relayer Album. 1979 Hamilton Street

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/22/25 (new entry)

Progresiv TM ~ Romania

Dreptul de a Visa. 1976 Electrecord

UMR review

Priority: 1

I never added this prior thinking the Rockin' Beat reissue was legit. But apparently not and it's never been rectified.

2/22/25 (new entry)

Jargon ~ Finland

Jargon. 1980 Dig It

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/22/25 (new entry)

Leviathan ~ USA

Leviathan. 1974 Mach

UMR review

Priority: 2

2/22/25 (new entry)

Atlantic Ocean ~ Sweden

Tranquillity Bay. 1970 Love

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/21/25 (new entry)

Kjol ~ Switzerland

Take It On. 1979 Tonstudio Zuckerfabrik

Brigeen Doran's Kjol with Fernando Saunders – Sunny Day. 1981 Roof

Kjol were a Swiss based jazz rock quartet, lead by renowned saxophonist Brigeen Doran, and her brother Dave on drums. That would be her image on the front cover. Kjol is a Swedish word for "skirt", so it appears this is how the band wanted to announce their feminine leanings. Whether it was an inside joke, or a sincere defiant statement, it's safe to say the moniker hasn't aged well in these politically correct times.

Musically, Kjol are playing a mid 70s styled jazz rock, as one might hear on the German MPS label during this era. Other than the somewhat trite funky opener, the remainder is long form, sax driven, heavy fusion with some fine guitar and keyboard leads. A good one for the genre, and a new addition for my Kraut Fusion list!

Priority: 3

2/21/25 (new entry)

Nebu ~ Canada

Nebu. 1978 Les Disques Cadence
Motus. 1980 Les Disques Cadence

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/21/25 (new entry)

The Next World ~ USA

Symphonic Rock. 1973 Era

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/21/25 (new entry)

Affirmation ~ USA

Identity Crises. 1985 Rhombus

Much more edgy and interesting than their 1980 debut. There's almost a bit of "Kraut Fusion" here (think Real Ax Band), combined with the more obvious electric viola driven Jean-Luc Ponty styling. Rare that a jazz rock album from 1985 has any personality at all, much less surpassing one from a better era. Nice album here.

Priority: 3

Their Inner City debut Lost Angeles was reissued on CD by Rhombus (the label this LP is on). Strange.

2/21/25 (new entry)

Chalibaude ~ France

Les Noces du Papillon. 1976 Cezame

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/21/25 (new entry)

Crysys ~ USA

Hard as Rock. 1981 Long St.
Crysys Strikes. 1990 Empire (MC)

UMR review

Priority: 2

2/21/25 (new entry)

Metamorfosis ~ Spain

Papallones i Elefants. 1982 Apolo

Despite the surreal cover art, Metamorfosis do not belong to the Spanish progressive rock revival of the late 1970s. Rather, this is a homage to Chick Corea's Return to Forever, or perhaps even fellow countrymen Iceberg. Minus the insane chops that is. No matter, as the melodic content is high, and the compositions are well written. Had this been a private American album from 1982, fusion enthusiasts would be hollering about it everywhere. And so yes, recommended indeed.

Priority: 2

2/21/25 (new entry)

Sod ~ USA

Sod. 1971 Decca
Face the Music. 1972 Decca

Coming from Las Vegas, Nevada, Sod are one of many horn rock albums from the late 60s and early 70s to have emerged onto the scene. There are some really great tracks on this one, especially 'Too Loose to Get Tight' parts 1 and 2, 'Things I Wanna Say', and 'Makin' It'. As is often the case with the genre, the random dabbling in blues and soul pop drag down the immense potential classic this could have been. Oh well... still one not to miss if coming across in a rummage sale.

You'll often see the name stylized as the acronym SOD, but best I can tell, especially considering the album cover, the band name is Sod - defined as "the surface of the ground, with the grass growing on it."

Priority: 3

2/21/25 (new entry)

Iguazu ~ England

Iguazu. 1984 Music Factory

Very obscure UK band with a Latin tinged fusion sound. First half of their sole album is a light and breezy fusion with flute and acoustic guitar in the lead role with wordless male/female vocals. At this point, I was recalling Galie from Mexico or perhaps Brazil's Cheiro de Vida. The second half becomes aggressively edgier, with more guest stars on electric guitar, synthesizer, and saxophone - almost to the point of freaky, and thus the revelation of a great find is at hand. However there's no denying its 1984 heritage (especially in the keyboard tones and overall production). Despite that fact, this is something of an essential work.

Priority: 2

2/21/25 (new entry)

Chango ~ USA

Chango. 1975 ABC

For whatever reason I never added Chango to the CDRWL. The Akarma issue is considered unauthorized by the band (though Discogs hasn't mentioned it) and that still hasn't been rectified. 

UMR review

Priority: 1

2/21/25 (new entry)

Think ~ New Zealand ***REISSUED***

We'll Give You a Buzz. 1976 Atlantic

***On Frenzy with eight bonus tracks. This is the same label that reissued the first Ragnarok album.

UMR review 

Priority: 2

3/14/10 (new entry); 2/1/25 (complete)