Noah ~ USA ***REISSUED***

Brain Suck. 1969 (archival)

***Reissued by Guerssen May 2021

UMR review

Priority: 2

12/20/09 (new entry); 5/14/21 (complete)

Ma Banlieue Flasque ~ France ***REISSUED***

Ma Banlieue Flasque. 1979 Celluloid

***reissued by the band Mar 2021

UMR review

Priority: 2

6/27/10 (new entry); 3/31/21 (complete)

Octopus ~ Norway ***REISSUED***

Thaerie Wiighen. 1981 private 

***Reissued by Norske Albumklassikere in May 2021

Extremely rare symphonic album, with an incredible cover and libretto booklet insert. The music is not unlike many of the Swiss private progressive albums found in this list (Eloiteron, Agamemnon, Sicher, etc...). Also the Norwegian band Thule, who came along a few years later, would be a reference. 

Priority: 3

10/12/09; 3/16/21 (complete)

Saga ~ Sweden ***REISSUED***

Saga. 1974 Sonet

***Reissued by Arcangelo in 2020  

UMR review

Priority: 1

8/8/09 (new entry); 12/16/20 (complete)

Jackie Orszaczky ~ Australia ***REISSUED***

Jackie Orszaczky - Beramiada. 1975 Real. 

***Reissued by Aztec Sep 2020

Naturalized Australian citizen Orszaczky (RIP 2008), most known as the bass player for the Hungarian band Syrius as well as the Australian group Bakery, put together this fine progressive, sometimes funky, fusion album with the guitarist from Blackfeather. A good choice for Aztec. 

Priority: 3

6/4/10 (new entry); 9/20/20 (complete)

Scope ~ Netherlands ***REISSUED***

Scope. 1974 Atlantic
Scope II. 1975 Atlantic

***Both albums reissued (separately) by Sireena in 2020

UMR review

Priority: 2

8/6/09 (new entry); 7/3/20 (complete)

Sab ~ Japan ***REISSUED***

Crystallization. 1978 Vanity

***Reissued by Remodel in 2020

On the super rare Vanity label (Dada, Aunt Sally, etc...). Sab is primarily a tranquil electronic album including some sequencing, with solo segments for sitar and piano. I have to imagine that both Klaus Schulze and Popol Vuh were a huge influence here - and both were highly popular in Japan at this time.

Priority: none

I'm still a bit concerned about the legitimacy of this reissue. It's the only one on the label, but the markings are good. Considering it complete unless other data emerges.

12/7/09 (new entry); 2020 (complete)

Nattura ~ Iceland ***REISSUED***

Náttúra - Magic Key. 1972 private

***Reissued by Belle Antique Apr 2020

UMR review

Priority: 1

7/20/09 (new entry); 4/25/20 (complete)

Randy Holden ~ USA ***REISSUED***

Randy Holden - Population II. 1970 Hobbit

***Reissued by Ridin Easy Apr 2020

UMR review

Priority: 3

12/12/13 (new entry); 4/6/20 (complete)

Popera Cosmic ~ France ***REISSUED***

Les Esclaves. 1969 CBS

***Reissued by Musea Jan 2020

UMR review

Priority: 3

7/31/10 (new enthry); 1/7/20 (complete)

Tortilla Flat ~ Germany ***REISSUED***

Für ein ¾ Stündchen. 1975 private

***Reissued by Long Hair Nov 2019

UMR review

Priority: 1

6/18/09 (new entry); 10/24/19 (complete)

Legend ~ USA ***REISSUED***

From the Fjords. 1979 Empire

***Reissued by Cult Rock (Cult Metal) Classics of Greece 2019

UMR review

Priority: 2

6/27/09 (new entry); 10/17/19 (complete)

Peak ~ Australia ***REISSUED***

Peak - Ebondazzar. 1982 Cement (1983 Innovative Communications)

***Reissued by Round About Oct 2019

Here's an album I must have passed over 100 times in the used record bins, thinking it was some kind of New Wave album, that was somewhat typical of Klaus Schulze's Innovative Communications label. Then a friend of this site sent me the LP recently to check out.

Peak play in the style of "electronic rock", a place that Tangerine Dream visited with their Cyclone and Force Majeure albums. There are no vocals here (some samples), but for the most part this is driving sequencer based electronic with some wonderful electric guitar, and quite a bit of invention. 

Priority: 2

***6/10/24 update: Just learned about this reissue while researching the entry.

12/18/09 (new entry); 10/15/19 (complete)

Splash ~ Sweden ***REISSUED***

Splash - Ut På Vischan. 1972 Polydor
Splash - s/t. 1974 PLA
Splash - Splash 2. 1978 PLA

***All albums reissued by the band in 2019 in a 5 CD + 1 CDR box set.

UMR review

Priority: 2

9/27/10 (new entry); 10/9/19 (complete)

Atila ~ Spain ***REISSUED***

Reviure. 1978 Odeon

***Reissued by Belle Antique Aug 2019

UMR review

Priority: 1

9/21/09 (new entry); 8/25/19 (complete)

Firyuza ~ Turkmenistan ***REISSUED***

Firyuza. 1980 Melodya

***Reissued by Soviet Grail Aug 2019

UMR review

Priority: 2

8/11/10 (new entry); 8/1/19 (complete)

The Grodeck Whipperjenny ~ USA ***REISSUED***

The Grodeck Whipperjenny. 1970 People

***Reissued by Now Again Apr 2019

UMR review

Priority: 2

8/31/09 (new entry); 4/26/19 (complete)

Group 1850 ~ Netherlands ***REISSUED***

Live. Release: 1973 Orange. Recorded: 1969
Polyandri. 1974 Rubber
Live on Tour. 1976 Rubber. Recorded: 1973

***All albums reissued by Pseudonym in 2019 as part of the Purple Sky box

UMR review

Priority: 2

6/30/09 (new entry); 10/17/15; 4/19/19 (complete)

Nemo ~ France ***REISSUED***

Nemo. 1973 Agave
Doin' Nuthin'. 1974 Agave

***Both albums reissued by Musea Apr 2019

Nemo are a mix of funk, rock, jazz fusion. First album has more vocals and recalls to mind Santana in places (the best parts actually). 'Doin' Nuthin', their sophomore effort, is mainly instrumental. Good stuff overall and features Francois Breant, who later had some success as a solo artist. Both albums are similar in their eclectic style.

Priority: 3

6/29/10 (new entry); 4/2/19 (complete)

Time ~ England ***REISSUED***

Time. 1975 Buk

***Reissued by Belle Antique (Japan) March 25, 2019

UMR review

Priority: 1

6/13/09 (new entry); 3/25/19 (complete)

Soular System ~ France

Birth of Paradise. 1976 BASF

UMR review

Priority: 2

10/3/10 (new entry); 11/23/18 (update)

Artcane ~ France ***REISSUED***

Odyssee. 1977 Philips

***Reissued by Musea Sep 2018

UMR review

Priority: 2

9/22/09 (new entry); 8/26/18 (complete)

Jupu Group ~ Finland ***REISSUED***

Ahmoo! 1975 Hi-Hat

***Reissued by Svart Jul 2018

UMR review

Priority: 3

11/7/09 (new entry); 7/2/18 (complete)

Grasland ~ Germany ***REISSUED***

Echt Null! 1981 Torpedo

***Reissued by New Music - Green Tree 2018

I was a bit surprised at the heaviness of the first track, almost a proto metal sound permeates. There are other times further in where the guitar is grungier than you would expect. Overall, I'd say it's like a harder edged Rousseau, around the time of Retreat (but minus the flute), mixed with some straightforward rock with German vocals. This latter element made me think of late 70s Novalis. Overall a pretty decent album, and worth seeking for a couple of listens.

Priority: 3

12/16/10 (new entry); 7/15/18 (complete)

Noa ~ Japan ***REISSUED***

Tri-Logic. 1987 Pam

***Reissued by Belle Antique Jun 2018

In the 1980s there were a lot of Japanese progressive bands flying well under the radar (a few examples would be Nishin, Dada, Heretic, Saisai Koubou, Orpheus, Picaresque of Bremen - and many more). Noa would have to be considered in this group of bands. Musically a strong guitar fronted fusion / King Crimson hybrid, with typical 1980s era sounding keys. I've seen one Heldon reference in researching, but I don't hear it myself. Good album and worth seeking out.

Priority: none

1/30/10; 6/20/18 (complete)

Ex Vitae ~ France ***REISSUED***

Ex Vitae. 1978 private

***Reissued by Musea, Jun 2018 No bonus tracks unfortunately

UMR review

Priority: 3

2/18/11 (new entry); 6/19/18 (complete)

Sukellusvene ~ Finland ***REISSUED***

Vesi- Ja Lintumusiikkia. 1979 Love

***Reissued by Svart, Jun 2018

UMR review

Priority: 2

11/11/09 (new entry); 6/17/18 (complete)

Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami ~ Japan ***REISSUED***

Introducing "Ponta" Murakami. 1976 Toshiba EMI

***Reissued by Universal Music Apr 2018

Starts off pretty much in the funky fusion bag, similar to many European fusion albums of the era. Plenty of funky Rhodes, clavinet, and bass. But then by the third track, Murakami goes all George Hirota, and delivers spacey electronics with indigenous Japanese percussion. Suddenly the album becomes more interesting, though unfortunately the drums become a bit too dominant. Last track brings it altogether. A good album, though not as consistent as it could have been, especially with the percussion focus being a bit strong. 

Priority: none

10/9/10 (new entry); 4/4/18 (complete)

Earthrise ~ USA ***REISSUED***

Earthrise. 1977 ArcEden

***Reissued by the band properly in Apr 2018

UMR review

Priority: 2

6/18/15 (new entry); 3/18/18 (complete)

Fondation ~ France

Sans Etiquette. 1980 Eurock (MC)
Metamorphoses. 1980 private (MC)
La Vaisseau Blanc. 1983 Tago Mago (MC)

***Compilation issued by Bureau B Jan 2018. Since none of the albums have been reissued in full, the entry stays.

Fondation were a duo made up of Ivan Coaquette (Spacecraft, Musica Elettronica Viva) on guitar and electronics and Annanka Raghel on organ and voices. For Sans Etiquette the first side contains one long, dark electronic soundscape (primarily droning organ), with haunting female voice. The other side is more rhythmic with some fine guitar. Metamorphoses is the best of the three featuring a more varied palette, and tracks closest to the Heldon / Spacecraft model (though more dynamic and interesting than Spacecraft). No less worthy, the final album features female French narration from Annanka (she has a beautiful speaking voice), with plenty of excellent guitar and electronics floating on top.

Priority: 2

***La Vaisseau Blanc reissued on LP by Tunnel Vision (2017)

8/4/10; 1/12/18

Snakes Alive ~ Australia ***REISSUED***

Snakes Alive. 1974 private

***Reissued by Belle Antique, Nov 2017

UMR review

Priority: 3

9/13/10; 11/25/17 (complete)

A.R. & Machines ~ Achim Reichel, Germany ***REISSUED***

Echo. 1972 Polydor
A.R. 3. 1973 Zebra. Turns out there was a reissue on the Spectrum label from 1996. 
IV. 1974 Zebra
Autovision. 1974 Zebra. Exact same with A.R. 3
Erholung. 1975 Brain

***Sept 2017 update: All albums reissued in late 2017 as part of a 10xCD set on Warner/BMG

UMR review

Priority: 1

7/7/09 (new entry); 10/27/17 (complete)

White Wing ~ USA***REISSUED***

White Wing. 1976 ASI

***Reissued by Blood and Iron Sep 2017

I recently got back into the Asia (Rapid City, South Dakota) albums that were diligently reissued on CD by Michael Piper / The Wild Places back in 1995. While reading the liners, I had forgotten that the precursor to that band was White Wing, an album I heard way back when and completely forgot about (didn't even have it rated anywhere).

There's nothing really special about White Wing. It's pretty much a mix of hard rock and AOR styles with some good organ runs and mellotron strings. Recorded in the same studio (ASI) as the Minnesota group Cain, and there are some similarities regarding the hard rock aspects. Not at the same level as the successor band Asia, especially Armed to the Teeth, but an album worth hearing a couple of times for certain.

Priority: none

12/4/11 (new entry); 9/20/17 (complete)

Zanov ~ France ***REISSUED***

Green Ray. 1977 Polydor
Moebius 256 301. 1978 Polydor
In Course of Time. 1983 SFPP

***In Course of Time reissued by Groove Unlimited Apr 2015 
***Green Ray reissued by Groove Unlimited Nov 2016 
***Moebius 256 031 reissued by Groove Unlimited Sep 2017 

UMR review

Priority: 2

5/26/10; 9/3/17 (complete)

Dennis ~ Germany ***REISSUED***

Hyperthalamus. 1975 Nova

***Reissued as part of a 5xCD set called Krautrock 3. Unfortunately the rest of the set includes unrelated CDs that have already been reissued. But technically it has been reissued on CD. Sort of like those Sensations Fix albums.

UMR review

Priority: 2

1/16/11 (new entry); 8/4/17 (reissue complete)

Mingo Lewis ~ USA ***REISSUED***

Flight Never Ending. 1976 Columbia

UMR review

***Reissued by Wounded Bird Jun 2017

2/24/10 (new entry); 6/16/17 (complete)

Saluki ~ Norway ***REISSUED***

Saluki. 1977 Compendium

***Reissued on CD and LP by the Norwegian record shop Big Dipper May 2017

UMR review

Priority: 3

5/7/12 (new entry); 5/30/17 (complete)

PSI ~ Germany ***REISSUED***

Horizonte. 1977 Bacillus

***Reissued by Chickadisc Mar 2017

UMR review

Priority: 2

6/3/10; 3/17/17 (complete)

Rob Thomsett ~ Australia ***REISSUED***

Yaraandoo. 1975 Kubernete

Hara. 1976

***Both albums reissued by Now-Again Mar 2017

UMR review

Priority: 1

2/1/12 (new entry); 3/1/17 (complete) 

The AC's original notes: "Fascinating and somewhat unique psychedelic/progressive jazz-rock artifact from down under. Originally released as a tiny run of 100 copies with handmade covers, and finally reissued last year by small Australian label The Roundtable. Unfortunately, it's an LP only reissue, and while it does include a nice insert, I'd much prefer to see a proper CD version with more extensive liner notes, photos, etc. In any case, this one is certainly deserving of wider exposure. It's a short album (barely topping 30 minutes), but the interconnected suite of tracks flow together seamlessly on both sides, being a sort of concept album based on ancient aboriginal "dreamtime" mythology. It's highly evocative and dripping with the hazy, surreal atmospheres of the Australian outback. Flutes, percussion, droning synthesizer and mellotron, and of course Thomsett's excellent guitar-work make for a very pleasing sound overall, despite the somewhat primitive nature of the recording. Thomsett actually returned to this work years later and released a new, re-recorded version of it on CD in 2004. While obviously not at the same level as the original, it's still quite good in its own right and is well worth tracking down if you enjoy this LP."

In regards to this 2004 CD, I have one on the way to me now so I can compare for myself. And, as the AC points out, the only flaw of the original is it's too short. I could have easily digested 45-60 minutes of this!

Dusty Groove writes: "A strange, cool and stylistic boundary busting set from Australian jazz rock guitar player Rob Thomsett! Yaraandoo is a 1975 set inspired by Aboriginal folklore. It has some spare, dryly wispy bits of percussion and bamboo flute that feels that gives it that feel – but Thomsett also brings in some loose, proggy and jazzy rock dynamics with heavy drums and electric guitar, some improvisational jazz inspired passages, plus some tape delay and other effects."