BAKERY - MOMENTO-(1972 masterpiece heavy prog-jazz)

Vi sto postando roba buona eh???questo è un disco australiano molto bello! sentite "The Gift"!!!!ahhhh!!!da orgasmo!il disco si muove su un prog abbastanza heavy ma soft in certi tratti...la mia personale opinione è che la canzone the gift sia effettivamente nata per sbaglio perchè molto diversa dal resto dell'album!probabilmente un riff che successivamente è stato "esagerato"!basta parole,mo musica! ciao!

Originally released in 1971 this Australian underground act recorded this moody progressive album which contained European influenced hard rock full of sprawling,progressive rock cuts like "Faith to Sing a Song",the jazzy "Living With A Memory" & "Holocaust" through to an eight minute barrage of bombastic riffs on the "Gift" which features great solo's and swirling Hammond organ in the vein of Deep Purple and Leafhound

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-61652

FANNY ADAMS - SAME (71-aussie hard rock)

vi posto questo disco anche se purtroppo non ho molte info se non che è uscito recentemente in digipack e che vengono dall'australia!!buon gruppo con un hard rock direi classico e senza fronzoli...i nostri 4 sono il classico 4tetto rock alla "zeppelin" e proprio a loro il sound si avvicina anche se i led sono ancora lontani!dovrebbe essere del 71 il disco ma se toppo perdonatemi!ciao

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-61653

VELVETT FOGG - ST
(69-MASTERPIECE HEAVY-PSYCH PROG)

questo disco è una perla! Si dovrebbe comprare anche solo per la canzone "yellow cave woman"!!
è un capolavoro!e tutto il resto del disco non è male!Vi lascio questa recensione che ho trovato bighellonando qua e la!

"...c'è parecchia buona musica in questo disco; ricorda Velvett Fogg, ne sentirai ancora parlare...". Così John Peel concludeva la redazione delle note di copertina dell'unico album inciso dai Velvett Fogg. Se si può pienamente concordare sulla prima parte dell'affermazione, il riferimento a un futuro ricco di soddisfazioni resta purtroppo lettera morta e a posteriori suona (per quanto in buona fede) come ingloriosa beffa. Eppure in quell'unico LP c'è veramente tanta buona musica. A iniziare da Yellow Cave Woman (scritta da Law) che presenta una rigida struttura seriale, percussiva e ipnotica, resa corposa dalle evoluzioni dell'ottima chitarra di Eastment e arricchita dall'organo, fluido ed essenziale, di Wilson; per continuare con la splendida ballata di Once Among The Trees (ancora Law l'autore, una delle più belle ballate di tutto l'underground inglese) che si svolge su un'esile trama di chitarra d'origine folk, percorsa da efficaci linee d'organo e valorizzata dalla prestazione solista di un Eastment particolarmente ispirato. E ancora, la notevole versione di Come Away Melinda (Hellerman - Minkoff, recuperata dal primo album omonimo del 1967 del cantautore americano Tim Rose), in anticipo su quella eseguita dagli Uriah Heep nel 1970 per l'album ...Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble. Introdotta dall'organo di Wilson, la cover sviluppa un suono moderno e innovativo, allo stesso tempo decadente, poetico e inquietante, ricco d'insoliti effetti elettronici. Potrebbe bastare, ma non si possono tralasciare lo scarno strumentale di Owed To The Dip, giocato sui contrappunti di chitarra e hammond, e la buona resa di New York Mining Disaster dei Bee Gees (un successo a 45 giri nel 1967 per il gruppo dei fratelli Gibb). Tanto meno si possono trascurare la curiosa e originale Wizard Of Gobsolod, la cadenza ipnotica di Lady Caroline (forse dedicata alla coraggiosa stazione radio privata dell'underground inglese, ma John Peel la pensa diversamente; entrambe le canzoni sono composte da Eastment), le soluzioni ritmiche della bella Within The Night (ancora di Law, caratterizzata da una linea lirica orientaleggiante e da un potente inserto strumentale) e dell'ossessiva Plastic Man (Wilson - Mullett). E' davvero triste constatare che una formazione come Velvett Fogg, dotata d'idee originali e buona tecnica strumentale, sia passata inosservata e ancora oggi resti ai margini di un recupero generalizzato di complessi e musicisti a volte di qualità inferiore.

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-61650

THE GHOST WHEN YOU'RE DEAD - ONE SECOND1970

Questo è il disco nato sulle ceneri dei velvett fogg e ho deciso di postarlo subito dopo il primo...non all'altezza del predecessore, ma c'è del buono...vi lascio ancora una recensione non mia...

Nell'unico album da loro inciso e pubblicato, i Ghost si dimostrano gruppo di indubbio valore creativo e di ottima caratura tecnica, capace di agire con naturalezza nell'ambito di strutture strumentali tutt'altro che semplici e scontate, mostrando al tempo stesso una invidiabile asciuttezza espositiva. Già l'eccellente apertura di album con When You're Dead è significativa: costruita su un ritmo incalzante fornito dalla potente e sicura sezione ritmica, con misurati ma caratterizzanti inserti di organo, la canzone esprime trame vocali aggressive e oscure a mezza strada tra California e Germania e si avvale di un convincente assolo di Eastment. Too Late To Cry si affida a un torrido, insistito riff rock blues ai confini con l'hard, spaziato da ampie parti solistiche di Eastment; molto bella anche la solida ballata rock di For One Second, condotta dall'ottima voce di Guy. Il contrasto con le partiture folk apportate dalla Kent è evidente: la rilassata ballata di Hearts And Flowers e la raffinata Time Is My Enemy (sottolineata dalla chitarra di Eastment) forniscono la base per la voce profonda ed espressiva della cantante. Gustoso è il R&B organistico di In Heaven, in tipico stile Sixties e dotato di originali armonie vocali; curiose e avvincenti le trame liriche di Night Of The Warlock e della frizzante My Castle Has Fallen. Indian Maid impressiona per la duttilità delle voci che recuperano emozioni "californiane", capaci di innestare misteriosi rituali indiani su una base strumentale duttile e mutevole. The Storm incolla l'inflessione folk della voce della Kent sulla chitarra rock blues di Eastment, in un affascinante ibrido dai toni inquietanti, mentre la cadenzata ballata di Me And My Loved Ones (ancora con l'eccellente voce di Guy) chiude brillantemente un disco dallo stile a tratti discontinuo a causa delle differenti vocazioni creative dei compositori (Eastment, Guy, Kent), ma proprio per questo motivo ricco di spunti originali e di grande interesse.

Link http://link-protector.com/x-61651

PROSPER-BROKEN DOOR 1975
(KrautJazz?!?!)

Ciao a tutti!il disco di oggi potremmo definirlo Krautjazz...èmolto particolare e vi rimando al disco stesso per ogni eventuale altre definizione del genere...l'unica song rock orineted dovrebbe essere l'8 o l'ultima, ora non ricordo...ascoltatelo e ditemi!

Link http://link-protector.com/x-61643

FRANZ K. - SENSEMANN (1972-Krautrock)

Eheheh...bel disco!mi piace! ottimo krautrock (non come gli eulenspygel ma accontentatevi!) con forti venature jazz-Heavy prog e secondo qualche persona anche un pre-metal(leggi sotto!!!)
che dire se non ascoltatelo (come tutto il resto!!!)?!?!?

A real treasure is this slab, seldom talked about trio who bash out heavy prog rock with enough styles to please everyone from psych heads to pre-metal heads. Add in a dose of jazz and you get a good chunk of krautrock for your next acid test.

Very good album this krautrockers : Peter Josefus (bass, vocals), Stefan Josefus (drums), Mick Hannes (guitar).

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-61644

TROYA - POINT OF ERUPTION (1976)

Ancora Prog per voi! questo è un disco molto bello ance se non proprio comune ma sicuramente necessita di un paio di ascolti...parte piano con melodie semplici ma molto intriganti(non vi aspettate poi chissà quali evoluzioni di corni o qunt'altro...molto semplice! Questo disco dimostra come si può far progressive senza particolari assembramenti di persone...)Molto consigliato!

Link http://link-protector.com/x-61630

LIGHT OF DARKNESS - S/T (good krautrock 1971)

Mi dispiace!mi dispiace ma non riesco a dare una valutazione migliore di un "good". Il disco è un krautrock album ma fortemente tendente ad un hard rock...chitarre graffiante rovinate dalla voce non sempre all'altezza (graffiante anch'essa per la verità...forse troppo...)comunque rimane un buon disco che farà passare piacevoli "mezz'orette"a molti di voi!

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-61631

Kornet!!!(superb Jazz fusion-prog)
Bellissimi dischi!mi sono piaciuti! (il primo molto di più) Sono dischi belli da ascoltare perchè si sono divertiti i suonatori...e si sente!A voi!


Kornet - Kornet(1975)

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50287

Kornet - Kornet III(1977)

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50288

Vi posto alcuni lavori di musica prog belga! è molto particolare il sound proposto dai gruppi provenienti dal Belgio in quanto si sente una originalità e una personalità forte!...i Jules Verne propongono un prog che sembra la colonna sonora di un film(!) con un abbondante uso di strumenti a fiato...non sono un amante ma probabilmente molti di voi apprezzeranno!

Julverne review(chamber rock prog):
Ensembles performing a chamber music variation of progressive rock often get compared to Univers Zero and Art Zoyd, but if the list is stretched, Belgians Julverne are likely to find themselves in the number three slot. Taking their name from one of the earliest speculative fiction writers, Julverne peform a classically inspired music, whose (very) occasional tangents into darker territory within this chamber sort of format undoubtedly draw comparisons to their more well known Belgian contemporaries. They included a revolving line up led by flute and sax player Pierre Coulon and violin and trombone player Jeannot Gillis.
In fact, Julverne has shared musicians with Univers Zero, including Dirk Descheemaker and Michel Berckmans. So there is really no surprise that there are similarities in style to both bands. However, Julverne is more like Univers Zero's happier, more cosmopolitan younger brother. The ensemble's first album was released in 1979, and unlike their more aggressive musical brethren, Julverne don't have any drums. In fact, they only seem to be a rock band by comparison, as this truly seems to be a chamber group performing original music with influences of Satie, Bartok, Debussy, and the less dissonant measures of Stravinksy. The instrumentation is typical of chamber music with piano, strings, horns and winds, and these are arranged in many lovely ways over Coulonneux's ten-track duration. In fact, the similarities to Univers Zero and Art Zoyd are largely the musical format, as this is never angry or strident in the least. However, Julverne was certainly considered an experimental band by the musical collective that made it up, and the compositions reflect an exploratory ethic in their use of keys, modes and arrangements. Without getting into music theory, it can still be said that most of the compositions often start out in a fresh and accessible mode before veering off into a tangent belying the 20th Century influences of the band. It's a gorgeous album and rather idiosyncratic, even in comparison to the ensemble's RIO-drafted contemporaries.
A Neuf was an even more mature effort, starting with an ambitious three-piece suite. While Julverne's chamber music approach implies a sort of serious study, musically there were bits of humor sneaking into the compositions nonetheless, such as the second part of the suite, "Un Peu Pretentieux" (A Bit Pretentious). Musically this is also true, with the ensemble's occasional tangents into sly, goofy, or zany territory. One may be listening to some beautiful arranged chamber piece before the whole group speeds off in another direction, as if Bugs Bunny was yet again leading Elmer Fudd off on another wild goose chase. In fact, if anything sets apart Julverne from cousins Univers Zero, it's this omnipresent playfulness. Only a group of skilled musicians and composers could pull off such a thing in such complex and involved compositions. Not a piece of music is anything but entertaining here, rich in ideas, spontaneity, dynamic diversity and mood. Perhaps it's more a tribute to such classy music that Julverne finds itself in such company with bands like Univers Zero in Belgium's most interesting lineage of experimental chamber music ensembles.
While the first two albums by Julverne might be considered the formative work of the ensemble, the band would release two more albums, 1983's Emballade and 1986's Ne Parlons Pas de Mahleur, before dissolving. In 1992, the Igloo label would release a retrospective of these albums (Le Retour du Captain Nemo) including a great deal of music from the early albums. Julverne also reformed recently to release 2000's Le Pavillion des Passions Humanies.

Julverne 1979-Coulonneux

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50307

Julverne 1980 A Neuf

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50306

Fraction - Moon Blood (good US Heavy Psychedelia 1971)

Scusate...ho postato questo disco oggi ma non ho aggiornato il calendario...perdonatemi!
Come riportato dalla descrizione parliamo di un album di musica heavy psych statunitense...non esaltantissimo anche se ci sono belle
song...in particolare mi senti di notare come il cantato sia in una certa misura molto simile e rispecchi i canoni del cantato Metal
odierno un una voce "cattiva"...Un ascolto non guasta!

This 1971 release on the Angelus label (Angelus 571) was limited to only 200 copies, so originals are worth a small fortune. Fraction, with vocalist Jim Beach bearing an uncanny vocal resemblance to Jim Morrision (although he was singing on Sunset Strip long before Morrison took to the stage), were often compared favourably with the Doors, although their quasi-religious message would probably not have found favour with the recently-departed Morrison. Indeed, this rather fine album was once famously described as the album the Doors
probably wished they had made! Underpinned by guitarist Don Swanson's superb Ritchie Blackmorestyle guitar work, this is an album full of beautiful psychedelia, acid and hard rock, at once emblematic of the era but not dated by its association. The five original compositions are all of the highest quality and the contribution of Beach's Morrison-esque
vocals place a stamp of originality on the recording that endures from beginning to end.

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50345

THE BANGOR FLYING CIRCUS-SAME
(1969 good jazz-prog)

I saw these guys live a number of times. They were practically the house band at The Cellar in Arlington Heights, IL in the late 60's. This album pretty much captures their sound at that time. It's definitely on the jazzy side of rock, but with some of the finest distortion-heavy lead guitar of that era. Their pumped-up version of "Norwegian Wood" is my favorite, with some outstanding drumming. Tight, imaginative arrangements, in a somewhat eclectic mix of songs.

Link;http://link-protector.com/x-53

Finch(superb holl-synph.prog)!!!
ottimo esempio di un bel prog sinfonico proveniente dai paesi bassi!
molto belli entrambi i dischi!sopratutto il primo lavoro è parecchio ispirato e pieno di "verve" prog con grande uso di tastiere, organo su tutti! ve li consiglio!

Finch - Glory of the Inner Force(1975)

Finch were formed in 1974 by bassist Peter Vink and drummer Beer Klaasse, who were both ex members of the renowned group Q65 from the Hague.
An ex Q65 road manager told Peter Vink of a 19 year old guitar virtuoso named Joop van Nimwegen. Joop's style of playing was very simular to Jan Akkermans in some ways, though he claims his biggest influences were blues guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) and the guitar wizards John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra) and Steve Howe (Yes). After a telephone call, Joop agreed to come to the Hague to meet the other band memebers. Singer Dickie Koppenhagen sang with the band fro 7 months, and after one concert he left the band. Serious considerations were being made to go instrumental. The band even experimented with having a second drummer, Marco Vrolijk (ex Supersister), but this was confined only to the rehersal studio. Paul Vink comes to play the keyboard. He used to play in the band The 'Swinging Soul Machine' having written the instrumental hit 'Spooky's Day Off' for them. At this point, several auditions for a singer have taken place, but no one was chosen. Now they've decided to go instrumental, and the name Finch was chosen. Contrary to what most people believe, the name has nothing to do with the little bird of the same name. Translated in English, the word Finch means Vink! Eventually they are loaned 'Alquin's practice studio, and procede to make a demo tape. EMI offers the band a chance to make an album on their sub-label Negram, but are only given three days to complete it. Thanks to the professional level of Finch, producer Roy Beltman (at a later stage to be successful with BZN) is able to complete the venture successfully. Meanwhile keyboard player Paul Vink pulled out because he wanted to play funk. Taking up the advice of sound technician Arie Van Dam they ask Academy Of Music student 'Cleem Determeijer' as his successor. He and guitarist Joop Van Nimwegen hit it off right from the start. Thus the first Finch album is born! The four tracks on this LP are prime examples of the best progressive rock to ever emerge from Holland. The musicianship here is outstanding, with Joop giving Akkerman and Howe a run for their money. Cleem's classical training is really evident here, as he and Joop play off each other very well. Remarkable chemistry. Beer Klaasse's drumming is solid throughout, and Peter Vinks bass playing is superb, at times reminding me of Chris Squire, and playing a Ricky might help with that.
After it's Dutch release on the 'Negram' label, it was released in the USA on 'Atco'. Billboard Magazine wrote a very possitive review, and the next thing you know, 20,000 copies are sold!
I own both the US Atco, and the Dutch Negram pressings. At that time, Atlantic (Atco) were really pressing some shitty recycled vinyl, so try and find the Negram pressing if you can, there is a marginal difference in sound quality. Even the Atlantic pressings made in Canada sound better than the US pressings from this period.
Recommended.
Link: http://link-protector.com/286070/
Finch - Galleons of Passion(1977)

There were many ways for a prog rock band to end their career in the late '70s: turn to AOR, go mainstream, start writing more pop-oriented material that might not endear them to their old fans (but few wanted to latch on to the punk scene). Luckily Finch refused to fall in to the punk/disco/AOR trap that brought down many prog bands at that time. No longer recording for Negrum, Finch was now recording for Ariola (actually a division called Bubble Records), with two new guys. With keyboardist Cleem Determeijer and drummer Beer Klaase out of the picture, the band brought in Ad Wammes for keyboards and Hans Bosboom for drums. Here the band was going for a more conventional prog rock direction, mostly avoiding jams, as demonstrated on "Unspoken is the Word" and "Remembering the Future". "With Love as the Motive" starts off a bit experimental before going on to some great guitar riffs, before ending up in that dreaded "Beyond the Bizarre" (from Beyond Expression) territory by being rather cheesy. The final cut, "Reconciling" totally blew me away! Without a doubt, the band harking back to the best moments of Glory of the Inner Force, with some intense passages. This is where the band really gets jamming, something they hadn't really done on the rest of the album. Musically, there's no getting around the fact that this is 1977 (that is, the 1977 for those who refused to acknowledge punk rock existed), as the string synths are quite dominant here, with that spacy feel on some of the cuts. Good album, but nothing beats Glory of the Inner Force.
Link:http://link-protector.com/286069/

Flyte - Dawn Dancer (1979 belgium prog)

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50303



Spin - Spin(1976 prog jazz)

Very entertaining, well played, good compositions.
http://link-protector.com/x-50304

Grupo Agua - Transparencia (1978 guatemala psych prog)

There has always been a faint and difficult-to-describe difference between the musical projects that become well-known and the ones which doesn't, and it isn't just about quality. Sometimes, the band has an already famous spreader (see the example of The Velvet Underground), a good marketing campaign (as it happens so often nowadays) or even a little bit of luck (as is the case of The Sonics, Nick Drake and another infinty of artists that achieved a good number of fans decades after their disband). The popularization of internet has shown to be the best friend of the members of this third group, because it made much easier the search for obscure bands from all around the world. Since than, the term "world music" is used with regularity when people are talking about musical genres that cannot be search anywere but in a particular region of the globe.

And, more than any other kind of bands, there are those which have been forgotten by the world. If not for some old vinyls, it is impossible to find any trace of their existance. Usually, it happens with mediocre, not-creative groups. But there are some rare cases when relative good, unlucky bands, suffer from this same disease. Those bands never had any kind of re-issue, and the remaining copys of their records are sold from a collector to another. Grupo Agua is surely one of them.

First of all, it's important to declare that they are not the best band ever. It's common to rare records owners to think about their copies as being as great as their unavailability, but it's all bullshit. The musicians, all of them Chileans, are not incredible, and the compositions are regular. The only amazing thing about them is the fact that they used to play only to achieve money and keep traveling around South America. It has surely influenced their musical development (the track Baioncito, for example, is a mix of samba and chorinho, two musical genres original from Brazil). All the tracks are played with Andean instruments, unknown on the non-Latino countries, as the Charango and the Pã Flute (the translation of their names to English doesn't even exist).

The main problem about this record is that the musicians are multi-instrumentists and, sometimes, they can't play some of the instruments as well as an exigent listener would expect. Some of the tracks doesn't have a totally satisfactory recording, too. But the album isn't unpleasent, just kind of weak.

Even so, It's a record that every fan of different cultures should listen to, for some simple reasons:

* Some psychedelic bands from the 60's introduced Indian music for people on Europe and America, but nobody did the same thing for the music from the Andes (and for a lot of other genres that I'm anxious to dicover). Probably, if you're reading it, it's 99% sure that you know what a scitar is and, if you're not from South America, the same 99% sure that you have no idea of what is a charango or a Pã flute, which I've metioned before).
* This record is a good way to discover Andean music , because it is not extremely folk. So it is that it contains a famous traditional music, that has been recorded by the Argentinian great (and popular) singer Mercedes Sosa, Volver a Los 17 (which, by the way, is possibly the most beautiful lyric in Spanish I've ever heard).
* If you are an exhibitionist, I can secure you that none of your friend who are musical freaks have ever heard about Grupo Agua. They don't even know the instruments, believe me.
* Finally, if you buy it, you may not like it, but at least it will be the most beautiful album cover on your vinyl collection. And, if you buy it from a Brazilian, it's not even that expensive! Mine was just the equivalent of 16 dollars. In case you're an acid listener and have heard almost everything, it's time to start looking for new things. And your list, why not, can start here.

So, you might fight against you're laziness and go look for it right now! Or, at least, search some bands that represent your country and your culture, and let me know their names. I will do all I can to hear it. On the end of counts, nothing is better to music than being exotic. If it wasn't so, you could buy only one record and be happy with it until the day you die. You would never get tired of it and you wouldn't be curious to listen to other ones. And, in my case, it's fucking impossible to choose even my 100 island records. On the end of counts, albums that are "just nice" are fundamental, too. What really matters is to learn about other cultures.

My favorite tracks: La Luna Lenna, Baioncito and Volver a Los 17.

http://link-protector.com/x-50329



Alux Nahual - Alux Nahual(1981 smph. prog hard rock mexico?)

http://link-protector.com/x-50330

Hardin & York - Tomorrow Today (1969 uk psych prog)

1:http://lix.in/-4c4331
2:http://link-protector.com/x-50325

Hardin & York - World's Smallest Big Band (1970)

1:hardin__york_-_1970_-_the_worlds_smallest_big_bandukPsyPrP1
2:hardin__york_-_1970_-_the_worlds_smallest_big_bandukPsyPrP2

RAMSES - ETERNITY RISE

Vi posto questo gruppo tedesco che ha spiccate influenze prog ma che possono essere ben descritte assimilando il loro sound a quello dei primi camel!personalmente lo raccondando a tutti!

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50314

RAMSES - LA LEYLA (great kraut-artrock 1976)

ho toppato, vi avrei dovuto postare prima quasto!perdonatemi!rimangono valide le cose dette nel precedente post!ottimo prog tedesco riconducibile più ai camel che ad altri gruppi teutonici!

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50315

Holland Prog!!!!

Kayak (superb melodic prog)

Kayak - Kayak 1974

This is a great album! Powerfull combination of symfonical influences and rock-guitar / pop. The songs are now and then very catchy with polyphone voices a la beatles, sometimes it souns like Yes or early Genesis.
The quality of this album is, that it is progressive and still poppy in a better way then Moody blues for example, in my humble opinion.

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50284

Kayak - Royal Bed Bouncer 1975

A wonderful, melodic, bouncy album by Kayak. The mood is lighter than even the most ethereal Genesis of the 1970's, but the playing, arranging, and words are top flight. I love the title track "Royal Bed Bouncer," the charming "You're So Bizarre," and the showstopping "Said No Word" which stands up to any proggy forceful song shy of heavy metal leanings. Nothing goes wrong on this album, but for all the enegry and finesse, there themes and silliness eventurally lessen the overall effect.

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50285
link: http://link-protector.com/x-50286

SUPERB BELGIAN STUFF!

Isopoda - Acrostichon(1978 bel prog art rock)

vi avevo proposto tempo fa il3 disco degli isopoda(mi fa un certo effetto leggere questo nome...)questo lavoro non si discosta dal lavoro successivo che probabilmente non è superiore a questo...ve ne consiglio l'ascolto anche se come al solito...qualcosina di più potevano dare...basta sentire uno degli ultimi pezzi dove...si "incazzano" un po'!a voi!

http://link-protector.com/x-50298
http://link-protector.com/x-50299



Isopoda - takin root 1979(prog-art rock)

Link1: http://link-protector.com/x-50300
Link2: http://link-protector.com/x-71794(fixed)

NATURE (sweden prog psych hard!!!)

Lo sapete che amo le sonorità svedesi ma devo dire che qui ci sono solo degli highlights e non riesco a gridare al capolavoro come in altri casi...siamo di fronte ad un r&r psychedelico progressivo (solo in parte) che offre bei momenti di divertimento ed altri (personalmente) un po' vuoti...a voi il giudizio!

Nature - Nature(1972)

Link: http://link-protector.com/297600/

Nature - Earthmover(1974)

Link:http://link-protector.com/297602/

MACHIAVEL (GREAT BEL PROG ART ROCK)

Machiavel - Jester 77

Belgium's progressive rock scene seems a bit obscure, I guess it has to do with the country, being sandwiched in between The Netherlands to the north, France to the south, and Germany to the east, and all neighboring countries had prog rock better represented (France having Angle, Atoll, Pulsar, Magma, Sandrose, Carpe Diem, and Gong, the Netherlands gave Focus, Earth & Fire, Alquin, Supersister, Ekseption, and Trace, and Germany had too many to mentioned from Krautrock of Can, Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Duul II, Tangerine Dream, etc. to the most traditional symphonic of Eloy, Grobschniit, Novalis, etc.).
Most people associate the Belgian progressive rock scene with Univers Zero, their offshoots, and similar bands, but they also had their share of symphonic bands too, and Machiavel is by far the best known of these. In 1976, they released their self-entitled debut, apparently one of those "shows promise" albums (like the first two Yes albums or Genesis' Trespass), the following year comes Jester and the addition of Mario Guccio (presumably Italian, if not born there, definately of ancestary, given his name) on vocals, with the occasional wind instruments. It seems that keyboardist Albert Letecheur and bassist Roland De Greef does the bulk of the songwriting. This is regarded as their finest album, right there with their following, Mechanical Moonbeams before they pulled a Genesis on everyone by going commercial starting with Urban Games. Well, Machiavel does show their influences, showing a Yes, Genesis, Supertramp and Pink Floyd influence. Albert Letecheur lays it on thick with string synths, Minimoog, Mellotron and electric piano (he tends to play that latter instrument similar in style to Supertramp's Rick Davies, hence the Supertramp comparison). One thing needs pointing is the band really needed to polish on their English, because they mispronounced a lot of words, meaning they likely barely knew English while recording this. Regardless, this is top-notch symphonic progressive rock, and what a better way to start the album than with "Wisdom". It has this nice pulsing synth sound, some electric piano, and nice use of string synth, with some rather dramatic vocal passages. "Sparkling Jaw" is another highlight for me, starts off rather spacy, with lyrics describing New York City as a concrete jungle, but then the Supertramp influence is shown quite well with Rick Davies "Dreamer" and "Logical Song"-like electric piano from Albert Letecheur. "Moments" is a nice acoustic ballad, done progressive style, with the Mellotron rearing its head, while the environmentally themed "In the Reign of Queen Pollution" starts off slowly, but then picks up speed with that strong Supertramp feel, especially in the electric piano playing. There's really disturbing theme of genetic mutation where after a thousand years of wearing a gas mask day and night, the children were finally born with the face in shape of a gas mask, all because of environmental pollution got totally out of control. The rest of the album is of equal quality, most great synth and Mellotron work, and complex arrangements, but the band also knew what great melodies were too, that in itself is probably a great reason why they were so big in Belgium.
I am rather surprised this album was released at all. The reason: the artwork by Celle. The gatefold is quite sexually explicit, but done in that surrealistic style you expect prog rock artwork. But still Bravo to Celle for doing it in the first place, and EMI/Harvest to have the guts to release it even if they feared it might be banned in many places.

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50292


Machiavel - Mechanical Moonbeams 78

Great followup to Jester, Mechanical Moonbeams is regarded as the final album prog rock fans should worry about, because after this, they apparently went a more commercial route, like Genesis was doing around the same time. Apparently going commercial didn't hurt Machiavel's popularity in Belgium, as "Fly" off their 1980 album New Lines was a hit there. But never mind that, and let's focus on their third album. It's interesting to see the band try new things on this album. Jean Paul Devauxe's guitar is more upfront, and some of the harsh vocals start bringing to mind AC/DC (something that should get me running like hell, as I'm hardly an AC/DC fan in any stretch of the imagination), it's only that some of the vocals sounds like Bon Scott (or his replacement, Brian Johnson). No, the band didn't suddenly abandon prog rock for AC/DC style hard rock. It's still progressive as ever. Albert Letecheur lets his Mellotron be ever present, plus his usual setup of keyboards. The Supertramp influence has all but disappeared, except for "Summon Up Your Strength", and even that sounds like a strange AC/DC/Supertramp hybrid with great progressive arrangements (strange). "Rope Dancer" is a borderline soft rock ballad that works surprisingly well, parts of it oddly sounds '80s-like, but most of it still '70s-sounding. "After the Crop" starts off mellow, but I like how this piece pick up, where Albert Letecheur does some creative twists on his Mellotron. "Mary" is a nice prog rock ballad much like "Moments" from Jester. "The Fifth Season" has lyrics that have references to "Jester" (the title track to their previous album, of course) (lyrics that went "His barrel organ played "Jester", a tune of the seventies").
Cover artwork is by someone name Celle, same person who did the artwork to Jester, and even a lot of the artwork is similar, but in color this time (largely red and blue), with similar sexual overtones and obsessions with odd stringed instruments and devices you can't figure out what they were (I am surprised these albums were allowed to be released, especially the gatefold artwork to Jester, but I'm glad they were).

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50293

neil merryweather - kryptonite (us great 1975 heavy psych rock)

Nonostante la copertina orrenda il disco è esplosivo!!!!stiamo parlando delle vera heavy psych con chitarre particolarmente ruggenti che si discostano fortemente dai primi lavori delle stesso Neil che avevano una maggiore docilità e spaziavano tra i generi andando dalla musica psych al blues...

Link1: http://link-protector.com/170382/
link2:http://link-protector.com/x-50281

Atlantis Philharmonic - Atlantis Philharmonic(us v.good prog)

Bel disco!!!mi è piaciuto!il disco è equamente diviso in canzoni molto progressive (anche hard!)e altre molto più melodiche!no vi farà balzare sulla sedia ma ve lo consiglio!!!!

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50282

SMAK!!!!

Smak - Crna dama (Yug.1977 Prog)

SMAK was formed 1971 in Kragujevac, the present Serbia and Montenegro, by a guitar virtuoso Radomir Mihajlovic nicknamed "Tocak" (the Wheel). The first stable line-up was assembled in late 1974 including Slobodan Stojanovic (drums), Zoran Milanovic (bass), Boris Arandjelovic (vocals) and Lazar Ristovski (keyboards). During 1977-78 Ristovski was replaced by first Miki Petkovski and then by Tibor Levay on keyboards, while in the period 1979-81 Dado Topic (ex TIME, KORNI GRUPA) collaborated with SMAK as producer and occasional guest vocalist before the band broke-up in late 1981. The original line-up gathered again in 1986 with a new keyboardist Milan Djurdjevic, but after the release of one LP they split again. The third comeback of SMAK happened in 1992 with Ristovski again as a member, when they mostly played concerts in Serbia and issued a live album. Finally, in 1994 SMAK re-appeared again, this time along with Tocak and Stojanovic they added younger musicians: Dejan Stojanovic (second drum kit), Dejan Najdanovic (vocals), Vlado Samardzic (bass) and Milan Milosavljevic (guitar).
SMAK was celebrated for Tocak's virtuosity in guitar playing, modelled on J. Hendrix and J. Page style, and for interesting, if not always successful, fusion of hard rock, prog rock, jazz rock with strong blues backing, with Arandjelovic's falsetto vocal often used as an instrument rather than singing. "Ulazak u harem", a folk-inspired instrumental issued as hit-single in 1975, showcased Tocak as one of the guitar-heros of ex-Yugoslavian music scene of the 1970s, while albums "Crna dama" ("Black Lady") and "Stranice naseg vremena" ("The Pages of Our Time") were highly celebrated among prog fans and were even released in English versions for the Western market. Their reunion, from the second half of 1980s onward, turned the musical direction of the band into less-inspired mainstream hard rock, abandoning any prog elements. As a comparison, one can mention similarities in style with artists such as DEEP PURPLE, TASTE, TRAFFIC, DOOBIE BROTHERS, SANTANA, LEB I SOL.

Link1: http://link-protector.com/x-50276
Link2: http://link-protector.com/x-50277

Smak - Stranice našeg vremena (1978)

link: http://link-protector.com/x-50278

Tako(prog)!!!!
Tako - Tako (1978 prog)

As it turns out Yugoslavia had their share of prog acts. Smak, Korni Grupa, Leb i Sol, and this particular band, Tako are some examples. Tako managed only two albums, in which this self-entitled album was their debut. The band consisted of bassist/vocalist Dušan Æuæuz, keyboardist/flautist/harmonical player Ðorde Illijan, guitarist/vocalist Miroslav Dukiæ, and drummer Slobodan Felekatoviæ. Ðorde Illijan tends to use a lot of Elka Rhapsody string synth, as well as electric piano. Some of the music tends to have a bit of a fusion influence. A couple of songs have vocals, including the opening cut "Probudi Se". It's in Serbo-Croation, so it's nice to hear the language in a prog setting. This song tends to be dominated by Illijan's Elka. "Sinteza" shows the more fusion-end of the band, especially when Illijan uses the Fender Rhodes electric piano. Perhaps my favorite is "Utapanje Sunèeve Sveltlosi U Pešèanu Memoriju", where the band goes through several changes. Again the vocals appear here. I especially like the guitar work of Miroslav Dukiæ found here. "Lena" is a short, flute-dominated piece that bears more than a passing resemblance to Hungary's Solaris (making me believe Solaris was influenced by Tako, since Solaris' debut did not appear until the 1980s). "Minijatura" is another flute-dominated piece, that brings to mind Jethro Tull. Then the album closes with the 16 minute epic "Druga Strana Mene". The CD reissue comes with a bonus cut, "Put Na Jug", which is a nice addition, this one also has vocals. I don't exactly call this album essential. For one thing, the production isn't all that great (but then I expect that, coming from a communist country), and now I got to hear their second and final album U Vreci Za Spavanje, I have to say that second album is quite a bit better and I guess that's what all the hype of this band is all about. I really suggest you go for that album before you come here.

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50279

Tako - U vreći za spavanje(1980 prog)

OK, so I had to say that Tako's debut wasn't an album that blew me away. It was decent enough, but then I also have to remember this was an Eastern European band (this band being from what was then Yugoslavia), having to play by communist rules to get their music released. I really thought the biggest weakness of their first album was the vocals, which, although used on only two cuts (and one more on the bonus cut on the Brazilian CD reissue). Really I am really surprised with their second album, U Vreci Za Spavanje (translates as "In the Sleeping Bag", which the original LP shows the band members in sleeping bags). One thing the album was released in 1980 so I expected it to be not as good as their 1978 debut, instead it's even better. I was expecting some nasty early '80s sounds to be found, not at all! The fusion elements of their debut has gone, and so are the vocals, which is a wise decision! Dorde Ilijan seems to use the same keyboards as before, he tends to use the Elka Rhapsody the most (I seen photos of him with Mellotron, but I sure don't notice any on either of their albums, although I might notice some tron flute buried with real flute at the end of this particular album).
Basically all the good things of their debut made even better here. Anyway, notice something familiar with the opening title track? The droning synths, the Moog leads? Sounds like them copying Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", something Eloy did a year before on their "Astral Entrance" (from their album Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes). But then the flute kicks in and they get off of the Floyd kick. "Senke Proslosti" is the second cut, and I really dig those heavy guitar riff with that spacy synth backdrop.
Nice to see in 1980 a band creating great prog rock, that is simply the exception not the rule by that time. Even in communist Yugoslavia, the progressive rock scene there got cut short by the punk rock explosion of the late '70s, and of course, Tako fell victim.

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50280

Träd Gräs och Stenar (swe psych folk-prog exp)
Non so per quale motivo nutrivo molto interesse per sentire questo gruppo ...non sono entusiasta!è una sorta di psych sperimentale!spesso registrata in presa diretta...interessanti sono le cover di Hendrix, degli Yardbirds e Stones...nulla più!
Träd, Gräs Och Stenar - Träd, Gräs Och Stenar (1969 swe psych)

First record under the name "Träd, Gräs Och Stenar" by the swedish psych/underground heroes Pärson Sound/International Harvester/Harvester/Träd, Gräs Och Stenar. Not as good as earlier recordings, but "Sanningens Silverflod" is a classic.
Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50265

Träd, Gräs Och Stenar - Mors Mors (1973)

This is the Trad Gras record that I return to most. It's maybe not as endlessly deep as the head-spinning Parson Sound reissue or as drool-enducing as some of the jams on Sov Gott Rose-Marie, but that doesn't mean it's not worthy. This was one of the last releases from their first period together and it sounds like they're totally at ease, improvising, jamming and having amazing fun... Chrisboogie is one of their best, the guitars just effortlessly circling each other and lifting the rest of the band ever upwards. Last Time starts off a pretty straight Rolling Stones cover, before going all glassy-eyed and zoned out, the guitars icing over and locking into repetitive mantras. They did this on other records with 'All Along the Watchtower', and 'Satisfaction'; when it happens it turns pretty average covers into beautiful and mesmeric trance-outs. The drumming is also totally perfect, light and energetic and completely breathless throughout the 16 minutes of Sommerlaten. I absolutely love this record and would recommend it as a great starting point for anyone.

Link1: http://link-protector.com/x-50266
Link2: http://link-protector.com/x-50267

A Bolha-Um Passo a Frente
(1973 very good braz.psych prog)

Ottimo lavoro!come dicevo tanto tanto tempo fa il Brasile ha partorito tanti bei gruppi!questo disco non fa eccezione!la musica oscilla tra un rock classico passando per un prog (non complesso) ma ha anche una vena psych...!a voi!

Link1http://link-protector.com/x-50259
2:http://link-protector.com/x-50260

Bango - Bango (braz 1970 psych)

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50261

Brazilian Stuff!!!!

Info quasi nulle...unica nota sono due dischi belli ma non superbi, il primo ha un mix tra prog e tradizione brasiliana (e si sente)mentre il 2 ha il problema di un cattivo missaggio delle traccie e il suono risulta un po' impastato ma si può sentire!Da sentire invece il disco dei Bango!

Azimuth - Azimuth (1975)

I guess only Brazilian musicians, well branded in the blending of and conceptually permeated by radically diverse musical traditions, could make a lounge-jazz easy listening album like this, loaded with funky accent and lush riffs. Approach this release with care, as you might become addicted to listen to this after each complex and demanding album that you go through. This is a perfect sonic afterglow music; the album of the "afterwards

1:http://link-protector.com/x-50256
2:http://link-protector.com/x-50257
Veludo - Ao Vivo(1975)

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50258

Roky Erickson & The Aliens - I Think Of Demons
(1973 USA Psych)

Disco molto strano...a cavallo tra una musica psych molto heavy e il pop americano!non ci sono miscugli ma canzoni che propendono da un lato (molto belle) e altre che invece lasciano un po' l'amaro in bocca...se ci fossero solo le prime sarebbe un vero e proprio capolavoro! ditemi voi comunque!

Link1: http://link-protector.com/x-50249
Link2:http://link-protector.com/x-50250

Mason - Harbour(superbUs 1971 Heavy Psych)

Disco bellissimo di heavy psych!lo consiglio caldamente!ottime canzoni spesso accompagnate da piccole jam di organo-chitarra(ma non siamo davanti ad un gruppo prog, anzi!!!)Buon ascolto!

A great mix of hard rock, mellow acoustic, and horn driven R&B all in one from this band from Virginia. Fantastic guitar organ interplay, this is a highly underrated album. Check out the stompin' " Tell Me", the horn blowin' "Electric Sox and All", and the fantastic organ driven "Harbour". Another fine reissue from GearFab

Link:http://link-protector.com/x-50254

Oggi vi ripropongo un po' di krautrock...anche se nei Frame potete riconoscere molto delle tradizione prog europea...ve li consiglio entrambi!
Hallelujah - Hallelujah Babe(1971 krautrock)

http://link-protector.com/x-41441


Frame - Frame of Mind(1972 kraut)

http://link-protector.com/x-41442

Harvester - Hemåt (1969)

link:http://link-protector.com/x-50268

Sogmusobil-telefon (swe 1971 psych vinyl rip)

Vi posto qualcosa di swedese(!) come al solito ma stavolta un album non propriamente heavy prog come di solito faccio ma piuttosto un album che gira sui classici standard psychedelici ma anche quelli del r&r...spero apprezziate!

Link: http://link-protector.com/x-50269