Swegas ~ England

Child of Light. 1970 Trend
Beyond the Ox. 1971 BASF

UMR review

Priority: 2

6/1/10

News: Mediterranea to be reissued by BTF

This one sort of fell under the radar, but noticed while browsing around this afternoon. A pretty good Italian progressive rock album from 1981. I never published my entry separately, but here it is!

Mediterranea - Ecce Rock (Italy) 1981 Amiamoci. Relatively simple, but fun, instrumental guitar trio with quite a bit of mandolin as well. As is expected by the title and the cover of the Italian version (frankly the Japanese cover that was issued simultaneously is nicer), it has a Turkish/Greek/Arabian vibe. (note: Fortunately BTF agrees and they used the Japanese cover)

Topper ~ USA

At Last. 1977 Scot

UMR review

Priority: 3

5/29/10

Vindication ~ USA

Vindication. 1974 Custom Fidelity

UMR review

Priority: 1

5/28/10 (new entry)

Fernando Yvosky ~ Venezuela

Dos Mundos. 1975 private

Yvosky's sole album is a good example of the pastoral progressive rock that was coming out Italy in 1972/1973, and perhaps closer to home, in Argentina. Early PFM combined with Aucan is what you can expect here. Well worth discovering. Features a beautiful gatefold cover, which is hard to imagine given that it's a private press from a country not known for that.

Priority: 3

5/25/10

Rancid Poultry, England

Rancid Poultry - Controlled Exposure. 1989 Poultry Productions. Cassette only release.

Rancid Poultry came out of the 1980s festival scene, but arrived with some influences out of the industrial movement. Had they stuck around another year or two, most likely they would've been on a label like Mystic Stones or Demi Monde. Good raucous space rock - with some interesting screamed vocals. They had other cassettes, but this is the only one I purchased back then. Comes with a nice booklet as well.

Priority: 3

Thanks to the Alaskan Connection, we know their other cassettes as the following:

Rancid Riffs (1985) Land of Yrx
Leyline Lords of the Motorway Web (1986) Land of Yrx
Midnight Disendowed (1986) Land of Yrx
* Delicate Creatures (1986) Land of Yrx
* Rock 'N' Roll Won't Never Die! (1987) Poultry Productions
* Lungs Full of Lead (2xMC, 1989) Poultry Productions
HTIABR! (1990) Poultry Productions
* Live In Leads (But Steve Doesn't) (1992) Poultry Productions
* Musicide (19??)
* Qaotic Pestilence (19??)

The AC has provided me with many of these (noted with an *), which will probably take me until summer to get to. He's also provided me with the AMA album, which is related to Rancid Poultry.

Stefano Pantaleoni ~ Italy ***REISSUED***

Alle Muse. 1989 LMC

Dark and brooding electronic album that recalls Arturo Stalteri's debut or maybe even Franco Leprino's Integrati...Disintegrati. Very obscure album that I owned on LP for a few years after first hearing it in Rome.

Update: Well, leave it to Laser Ken to let me know this has already been reissued on CD! Looks like a private job on the Maestro label. Still no original cover, but I've pasted in the CD front. And I've also updated the year to 1989.

Priority: none

As I update this post (6/12/24), the CD still isn't listed in Discogs. I'm going to mark it complete for now given the credibility of the source. I also had his name misspelled this whole time.

5/17/10 (new entry); 2002 (complete)

Omega Plus ~ France

Omega Plus - How to Kiss the Sky. 1969 Pitch

Featuring Claude Engel on guitar (later with Magma, Dayde, Univeria Zekt and many others), How to Kiss the Sky is generally considered France's first psychedelic record (see also Dickens, Octopus 4, and Popera Cosmic). This is a good example of the Hendrix psych sound, and with the addition of flute, adds more than the usual copyist acid psych rock that many American bands were doing during this time. Also includes one long free rock improvisation that's pretty interesting. A short record, that doesn't even break the 30 minute mark. 

Priority: 3

5/16/10

Chris Neal ~ Australia

Winds of Isis. 1974 M7

Winds of Isis is an instrumental, mellotron heavy, symphonic rock work. At its best, the music recalls the early albums by Duncan Mackay and Mike Oldfield. The music is relatively simplistic, but highly melodic. I was also reminded some of the French group Catharsis and even Roland Bocquet's Paradia. This is certain to appeal to fans of lush symphonic rock and comes recommended. 

Priority: 2

5/15/10

Magic Spell ~ Switzerland

Is There Anywhere a Gasstation? 1980 Musk

Just when you think you've heard all the private press progressive albums from Switzerland, on comes another one. I first heard of Magic Spell through a German catalog a few years ago, but given the title of the album, I just presumed it was another hyped piece of trash, which this catalog was prone to do. But in this case, they were right! This is fastball-down-the-middle progressive rock, with clear nods to early Genesis, late 70s Eloy, mid 70s Grobschnitt and a host of other Swiss bands like Agamemnon, Elysium, and Eloiteron. One of the better ones I've heard from this peculiar Swiss scene. Side 1 is particularly strong, whereas Side 2 takes on a bit more of a commercial stance.

Priority: 2

5/13/10

News: Esoteric to reissue rare Asgaerd album

Other than a rare Japanese press from the 90s, this is the first reissue of their sole album. Here's our entry from the OCDRWL:

Asgaerd (Asgard) - In the Realm of Asgaerd (England) 1972 Threshold. I had this on LP many years ago, and recently received a request to add here. I don't recall much about it but ProgArchives says "A sound very reminiscent of the Wooden Nickel era Styx, Asgærd combine Dennis deYoung-like vocals with Uriah Heepish guitars and the overall pastiche of bands like Rhapsody, only at the height of the progressive (aka art) rock era. In other words, they were dead-on for their time. The sound doesn’t wear all that well with time, but some accommodation must be made since this album was released in the very early seventies."

Other Esoteric reissues include:

June
Aphrodites Child-End of the World (rain and Tears)
Aphrodites Child-Its Five O clock
Soft Machine-Softs
Brainticket-Psychonaut (Reactive)
Brainticket-Celestial Ocean (Reactive)
High Tide-High Tide
High Tide-Sea Shanties
Flash-In the Can
Lloyd Langton Band-Night Air (atomhenge)

July
Soft machine-Land of Cockayne
Fields-Fields
Jade Warrior-Waves
Jade Warrior-Floating World
Eela Craig-One Niter (Reactive)
Trifle-First meeting (jazz rock)

Many of these have also fallen OOP.

(Feta) Heta Linjen ~ Sweden

Heta Linjen - Won't You Step Inside? 1971 Odeon

Feta Heta Linjen - Med Kisa, Brass & Brudar. 1971 Polydor

UMR review

Priority: 3

5/10/10 (new entry)

Gemini ~ England

Counter Balance. 1981 Airship

UMR review

Priority: 2

5/8/10

The First International Sex Opera Band ~ Netherlands

Anita. 1969 Sexclusief

Despite the band name, and the location of said group, this is decidedly NOT erotic in the least bit. The female vocals (more like nagging shrieks, heavy sighs, rollercoaster screams and other irritants) are completely annoying. On this front, the closest comparison would be to Japan's JA Caesar, but without any of the purpose and tension they bring. Musically, FISO is fairly interesting, as the band pretty much play in a loose free rock style with decent guitar and organ leads. My guess is this album was influenced by the Vampyros Lesbos movie/album from Germany, that enjoyed a cult following even back then.

Priority: none

***Reissued on LP by Music on Vinyl 2021

5/7/10

Champignons ~ Canada

Premiere Capsule. 1972 Les Jeunes Artistes Associés

UMR review

Priority: 1

***Reissued on LP by Return to Analog (2019)

The label above stated at the time they were to reissue this album on CD as well but apparently lost interest. Pity.

5/6/10 (new entry)

Victor Brady ~ USA

Brown Rain. 1970 Polydor

UMR review

Priority: 2

5/5/10 (new entry)

Alcatraz ~ Germany

Energie Programm in Rock. 1978 private
Live: Trockeneis zum Frumstruck. 1980 private
No. 4. 1982 private

UMR reviews

Priority: 2

5/4/10

Cry Freedom ~ Germany

Volcano. 1976 private

Sunny Day. 1979 Erlkonig

Nobody's Fool. 1980 Erlkonig

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/28/10

Energy ~ Sweden

Energy. 1974 Harvest

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/25/10

Fly ~ Germany

Die Fahrt mit dem Gläsernen Ballon. 1979 Ballong

Primarily instrumental melodic progressive rock similar to many from the time and place like Novalis, Surgery, Indigo, Morpheus etc... There's a light fusion sound that prevails, lead by soprano sax, electric piano, soft electric guitar and some choice synth leads. Goes at its own pace, with seemingly nowhere to go. Pleasant and soothing.

Priority: 3

4/22/10

Lost Nation ~ USA

Paradise Lost. 1970 Rare Earth

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/19/10

Synthesis ~ France ***REISSUED***

Synthesis. 1976 Arc-RCA

***Reissued by Dare Dare in 2002  

Well, it turns out there is a CD on the Dare Dare label from 2002, nullifying this entry.

UMR review

2002 (complete); 4/18/10 (new entry)

Gramigna ~ Italy

Gran Disordine Sotto il Cielo. 1977 Ultima Spiaggia

Not an easy one to describe. Quirky, like all on the label (including the namesake band). Some chamber rock, some pop, some fusion. Sort of an RIO pop album. Elements of Stormy Six and Henry Cow are apparent.

Priority: none

4/17/10

Lodestar ~ USA

Lodestar. 1979 private

UMR review

Priority: 2

4/13/10 (new entry)

Orchestra Njervudarov ~ Italy

Con le Orecchie di Eros. 1979 EMI.

Orchestra Njervudarov are another one of those crazy late 70's Italian acts, mixing in rock, jazz, humor, Zappa, and whatever else pops in their nutty heads. Not too far off from Roberto Colombo, Ultima Spiaggia, and Gramigna. Definitely has that original RIO spirit ala the second Picchio dal Pozzo album.

Priority: 3

4/10/10

Psi Nukli ~ England

Side Effects. 1987 private (MC)

Not heard this one yet.

Number Nine. 1988 private (MC)

UMR review

Priority: 3

4/7/10

News: Rocket Records to reissue Fantasia and Scapa Flow!

Thanks to a tip from Laser Ken, we learned that Rocket Records of Finland will be reissuing two of our High priority wishlisters: Fantasia and Scapa Flow. Also look for the first reissue of Uni Sono, an obscure spacey rock album from 1975.

They're the label that we announced awhile back that recently released the Kaamos - "Deeds and Talks" and Seppo 'Paroni' Paakkunainen - "Plastic Maailma" albums.

It doesn't look like I ever publised my blurb for Scapa Flow. Here's the entry from the Original Wish List:

Scapa Flow - Uuteen Aikaan (Finland) 1980 Kompass. Outstanding Finnish progressive folk rock, similar to German acts like Carol of Harvest and Rebekka.

Fantasia ~ Finland ***REISSUED***

Fantasia. 1975 Hi-Hat

***Reissued by Rocket Records, Apr 2010

UMR review

Priority: 1

9/1/09 (new entry); 4/2/10 (complete)

Symphonic Metamorphosis ~ USA

Symphonic Metamorphosis. 1970 London

UMR review

Priority: 3

3/31/10 (new entry)

Total Issue ~ France

Total Issue. 1971 United Artists

UMR review

Priority: 2

3/21/10

Totty ~ USA

Totty. 1977 Our First Record Company

The Totty Brothers of Tulsa, Oklahoma provide us with a strong hard rock entry, complete with a mixed up Christian-score-with-chicks message. And just how many righteous men have gotten religion for a chance at a piece of sweet ass? Hmmm-mmm, homeboy know! No matter though, 'cause this delivers the goods in the layman's sense - solid distorted guitar fronted hard rock. Pre NWOBHM, but with that same take no prisoners attitude. File alongside Truth & Janey and Poobah. This is the good stuff.

I recall their second album to be more straight ahead AOR music

Priority: 2

3/20/10

Os Mundi ~ Germany

Latin Mass. 1970 Metronome

One of the earliest examples of what we now call Krautrock. Nice organ and guitar leads, with the added gimmick that they sing in Latin (years later, this idea was picked up by the Italian group Deus Ex Machina). Still has a holdover 60s psych rock sound, making it somewhat unique for German rock.

43 Minuten was reissued by Repertoire (1998).

Priority: 2

***Reissued on LP by Missing Vinyl (2014)

3/18/10

News: Sireena to reissue the Curt Cress Clan album in May.

Germany's Sireena, along with Garden of Delights and Long Hair, continues to give us hope that some of the more obscure German albums will eventually see a reissue.

Our original entry about the album said: "Curt Cress Clan - s/t (Germany) 1975 Atlantic. Hot funky fusion from Cress' mid 70s band. Typical jazz fusion of the era, something we've heard 100s of times before, but perfectly executed. A safe bet if you're a fan of said style."

TOuCH ~ Germany

Traumwerk 1. 1980 private

TOuCh's sole album is a nice example of Berlin School electronics mixed with rock elements, primarily in the form of real drums and flute. Not as dynamic as Klaus Schulze's Moondawn or Wolfgang Bock's Cycles, but some of the sequences are inventive and the album holds up well to modern ears. The group owns a large palette of keyboards, not uncommon for the genre, though it doesn't appear they took full advantage of the tones available to them, and the album could use some color. This is particularly true on the opening 'Gethsemane 1', which is a bit dull. Once the sequencers and drums kick in on part 2, the album gets more interesting. In fact, I'd argue each subsequent track is better than the prior. The group's name is an amalgamation of the two protagonist's "TOm und CHarly". Worth seeking out for fans of the genre.

Priority: 3

3/17/10 (new entry)

Third Quadrant ~ England

Seeing Yourself As You Really Are. 1982 Rock Cottage

One of my favorite titles ever, the philosophical Seeing Yourself As You Really Are was released just a few months prior to the New Wave of Progressive Rock movement (aka Neo Prog). It arrived just a tad early to receive the press and distribution it needed to survive. It's considered one of the major rarities from the era, along with the Airship label groups like Protos and Gemini. Musically it's fairly under produced, but does possess a strong mid 70's Genesis to late 70's Pink Floyd feel. 

Mellow Records reissued a later cassette called Layered many years ago, but never did tackle this one. 

Third Quadrant have two earlier cassettes that I will attempt to hear at some point.

Priority: 3

3/16/10

Mama Bea Tekielski ~ France

La Folle. 1976 Isadora

Mama Bea's debut album is clearly indebted to Catherine Ribeiro & Alpes' early 1970s works, but honestly this is much more dense, and truth be told, completely unhinged. Perhaps it's Ribeiro's Portuguese heritage verse Tekielski's Polish background, but there's something far more disturbing going on with La Folle than anything Ribeiro coughed up (literally). While Ribeiro is far from an easy listen, she still comes across as the mysterious troubled damsel in distress. Perhaps it's her runway-fashion-model looks, but Catherine seems to be reaching out for help while still dominating all that is around her. With Mama Bea, she delivers 100 ragged nights of booze, pills and rock and roll. She has both the look and the attitude. The cover of her smoking a cigarette, with a face that says that she's had just about enough of this crap, is priceless. And so she takes out her frustrations on this recording. There are times when it would seem more appropriate that the medics come in and hustle her off to safer pastures. Meanwhile all the earmarks of a classic underground album are going on in the background, with plenty of psychedelic guitar, rumbling bass (a trademark of the French scene) and pounding percussion. It's all a bit unsettling, but it's also too real to ignore. A real grower if I ever heard one.

Priority: none

3/12/10

Tau ~ Germany

Tau. 1981 Plane

Simply put, Tau play a symphonic rock style, with bits of humor spread throughout. The progressions are very much out of the early Genesis school, and Tau could be considered contemporaries of Ivory or even Neuschwanstein. But there's also a strain of late 70s Grobschnitt found throughout, both in the zaniness and even in the AOR moments. Sung in German, which is unusual for this type of prog rock. Lots of mellotron for an 80s album. Fans of neo progressive rock are likely to enjoy this one.

Priority: 3

3/9/10

L.S. Bearforce ~ Germany

L.S. Bearforce. 1983 Up Art

UMR review

Priority: 2

3/8/10 (new entry)

Tantalus ~ Germany

Sitting in a Dream. 1980 Srilanca

Sitting in a Dream is a generic, but tasteful, symphonic progressive. Elements of Camel and Pink Floyd abound. Nice keyboard and guitar leads, and mediocre vocals. Pretty much what you would expect from this era of German symphonic rock. File next to Shaa Khan, Fly, and Indigo.

Priority: 3

3/7/10

News: Long Hair to reissue Amos Key archive material

It's been a little slow on the news front of late, so it was with great excitement that I saw the latest gem from Long Hair. Amos Key's album "First Key" is still not on CD, so maybe Long Hair will pick that one up as well. In the meantime, this CD certainly looks intriguing!

Amos Key - Keynotes: The Lost Tapes SWF Session 1973.

Long Hair says: "For the first time on CD: The radio session of classical rock influenced great German krautrockers Amos Key. Amos Key owed great debts to Bach, Beethoven and Schumann, adding a heavy krautrock twist to a music closely resembling the Nice or Egg, full of angst and weird psychedelic and space-rock touches (Freeman Brothers: In A Crack In The Cosmic Egg). Amos Key lived in Munich and consisted of great organ-player Thomas Molin, congenial bass-player Andreas Gross and superb drummer Lutz Ludwig. This fairly competent outfit recorded the radio sessions before they released their famous and very rare album "First Key" in 1973 on label "Spiegelei". Sadly bandleader and organ-player Thomas Molin passed away in the 90ies but bass-player Andreas Gross tells the band story in a very vivid and funny way. 24 pages booklet contains also a lot of unseen photos. Sound is perfect; remastered from the original tape. Don't miss this superb item."

Not sure the term "fairly competent outfit" is the way I'd advertise it... LOL.