Ship of Fools - Out There Somewhere. 1994 England

Out There Somewhere is the second and last album from Ship of Fools. They were one of the last of the UK Festival bands to emerge before the scene began to die down. Their formula was a bit different than the others, and perhaps they were more a reflection of their era - the early 1990s. While not an electronica group per se, Ship of Fools incorporated many of the key elements of the scene. Primarily Ship of Fools were about atmosphere & melody over pyrotechnics. They would typically use synthesizers along with sampled instruments and voices to build the mood. After which a heavy guitar riff may appear, giving off a hint of something more dramatic than is actually happening. This is the mastery of dynamics, a skill many bands of their era, and even more so today, could learn from. There are rarely any tricky meters, or flashy guitar solos, and yet there are many heart pumping moments to be found.  They quit at a good time I think, as they'd said what they needed to, without becoming mind-numbingly repetitive.

Ownership: CD: 1994 Dreamtime

3/23/10 (new entry)

Made in Germany - s/t. 1971 Germany

Made in Germany are yet another example of the many great female vocal lead proto progressive albums coming from Europe during the 1971 era. Sometimes panned as a "pop" album that hasn't "aged well", there are truly only scant examples of that to be found here (opening tracks on each side are pure plays for pop stardom). Anyone familiar with the continental European scene of this time, will instantly recognize the Berlin based Made in Germany as a prototypical adventurous band for their time. Listen for organ, flute, acid guitar and the husky female vocals that are all associated with the genre. Joy Unlimited would have to be considered Made in Germany's closest comparison.

CD: 2002 Long Hair

A year after this release, Metronome launched the Brain label, and that's most certainly where Made in Germany would have been placed had they still been around. The CD is a typically great Long Hair reissue, with unique liner notes, photos and many bonus tracks. The bonus tracks do show the band going into an entirely pop direction and are of iffy quality.

Jonesy - No Alternative. 1972 England

Jonesy (named after guitarist and primary songwriter John Jones) were one of the finest of the Dawn label bands, providing a blue collar progressive rock sound - which was in deep contrast to some of the more hoity-toity bands coming from the UK at this time. Their debut No Alternative catches the band at their heaviest, and demonstrates a more bluesy proto-progressive sound. Perhaps a year past its prime, but nonetheless a good example of said style. Every track features mellotron, giving it the requisite dreamy contrast. In this way, early King Crimson becomes an obvious reference.

Ownership: LP: 1972 Dawn. Gatefold. Found at Bill's Records in Dallas (1988). I've always enjoyed the working class British cover.

CD: 2001 Victor. Papersleeve edition. Part of the Dawn Records box set.

CD: 2006 Strange Days. Papersleeve edition. Has two very cool bonus tracks in Quad that sound magnificent.

I'll probably sell the Dawn box set at some point. Still working through that.

1988; 3/21/10 (new entry); 8/26/19

Focus - Focus 3. 1972 Netherlands

Like the Eloy we posted yesterday, Focus 3 is a relatively well known title that the UMR enthusiastically recommends. Focus were at the peak of their career here with Akkerman's blazing solos, and Van Leer's flute and organ forays. 26 minute long jam misspelled 'Anonymus 2' needed to be trimmed down by about half, with the annoying drum solo sucking the life out of the disc by the end, but still is an excellent album overall.

Ownership: LP: 1972 Sire (USA). Single sleeve die-cut cover with room for 2 LPs. I have a long history with this album, with the first copy obtained in 1984 from Ralphs Records in Lubbock while still in college. If I remember right, I overpaid for it and it wasn't in the best shape either. This was one of the first LPs I replaced with a CD (IRS). I kept that CD for over 30 years and decided to part with it at the very end of 2021. It has a short essay, but it's the same one that's in my Moving Waves CD that I got around the same time, and I'm still holding onto it. In the 2010's I picked up online the original UK version with the yellowish picture of Van Leer on the flute. Then I acquired this copy online (2015). Normally I would keep the original, but in this case I prefer the US edition. I sold the UK LP some years ago.

3/19/10 (new entry); 11/4/19; 12/28/21 (update)

François Thollot - Contact. 2002 France

Though a percussionist by trade, Thollot's second solo album Contact features his guitar and keyboard work. Thollot then went about to recruit the rhythm section of One Shot (a band created as an offshoot of the Magma reunion), and released this one incredibly powerful album.

In fact, I'd say Contact is one of the Top 10 albums of the last decade - and that's quite an achievement in a very busy, and very qualified ten years. What Thollot managed to create is an album about as close to Heldon's Stand By as you'll ever find post-1979. Stand By as many of you know, was Richard Pinhas' swansong for the famed Heldon, and he must have left the studio still smoldering from the inferno he had just unleashed. It's also worth noting that Stand By was the one time that Pinhas had incorporated a little bit of the Zeuhl style, and the mix was a stroke of brilliance. In that manner, Contact is basically intense guitar filled electronic rock with a Zeuhl undertone as provided by the One Shot guys. Absolutely stunning album.

Ownership: CD: 2002 Soleil Zeuhl

2003; 3/18/10 (new entry)

Eloy - Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes. 1979 Germany

Eloy were one of Germany's most famous symphonic rock groups. They had a few phases, but their most popular was the era Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes was released in, when they were in full blown Pink Floyd mode. What I like about Eloy is their ability to provide space. This leads to the appreciation of the big, fat riffs that cascade throughout. The guitar and keyboard leads are profound, if not necessarily complicated or overly inspired. An easy band to enjoy on initial impact, I highly recommend Eloy to progressive rock fans who are looking for something new beyond the well-known bands. For old hands, as cynical as they may be, Eloy always manage to deliver as well. A very good album.

Ownership: LP: 1979 Harvest. Gatefold. Acquired from a record store in Columbia, Missouri (1991).

Former ownership: CD: 1995 Si-Wan (Korea). Jewel case with liner notes in Korean.

1991 (first listen); 1996; 3/18/10 (review / new entry); 12/23/24

Neu!. 1972 Germany

Ah, good ole Neu! The band that neo-hipsters think invented Krautrock - or defines Krautrock. Featuring ex-Kraftwerk members, and the music is remarkably similar. In fact, Neu! defined the direction Kraftwerk were to go into before Kraftwerk themselves actually did. To be fair, Neu! were a groundbreaking group and were one of the original bands on Brain/Metronome. And as time has passed, certainly the most beloved of the original bands on the label - if not the most popular. For my tastes, I have this album rated as very good, but nothing more.

Ownership: LP: 2010 Gronland (Europe). Gatefold. Trade credit from a local store (2020).

Despite Neu!'s immense popularity with the hipster crowd, the band's works were only available as a bootleg for many years (ahem, early Kraftwerk is still in that same state). Then in 2001, a British label named Grönland rectified the problem. They were also licensed to the popular NYC indie label Astralwerks here in the US.

2004; 3/17/10 (new entry); 1/29/22

Viima - Ajatuksia Maailman Laidalta. 2006 Finland

It’s getting to the point that everything that’s from Finland is great. They are to the current decade what the French were to the 1980s. And thank goodness for that. Wasn’t sure what to expect here. Was told it was Finnish folk prog, and about the only band I associate with that is the obscure and rare Scapa Flow. It’s not really like that however. Even though it’s sung in beautiful Finnish, the album has more of a UK feel than one from continental Europe. The female vocals are one distinguishing factor. What’s interesting to me are the guitar breaks, which are rooted in hard rock – a clear departure from the acoustic folk psych of the base material. I quite liked this one.

Ownership: LP: 2018 private. Beautiful gatefold with lyrics. Recent online acquisition (2022).

CD: 2006 private. Jewel case.

12//2006 (new review); 3/15/10; 5/4/22 (LP acquire)

Madrugada. 1974 Italy

Madrugada's debut album is a diverse mix of styles. On Side 1 the album opens with a light instrumental, which is then followed by some rather straightforward singer songwriter material - and quite off-putting and dull at that. Side 2 is far more expressive with elaborate jazzy progressive rock compositions, including some wonderful Moog runs. Of course, it’s the latter half that holds my interest. This is a quintessential Italian sounding album, so if you’re a fan of all that might encompass, you’ll want to hear it for sure. Otherwise, this obviously isn’t the perfect place to start.

Yours truly did the "adaptation" on the 2006 AMS CD (mini-LP format). Basically I translated the translation. On this one, it is credited to my friend Jim Hresko, but it was me who did the work this time - and the label basically f'ed up, and they apologized to me. Whatever. I did my best, but it was very difficult material to work with, so not sure I'm too upset about not getting the credit. Speaking of f'ed up, the mastering is very poor - and the LP used was not the best quality. At the end of the day, I decided to sell this one

5/30/18

Avalanche - Perseverance Kills Our Game. 1979 Netherlands

Here's my original review for Gnosis about nine years ago. Edited slightly.

For hardcore collectors of progressive rock music, the obscure megabuck private pressing almost always ends up being somewhat of a disappointment. The hit ratio of great quality obscurities is quite low. There are many reasons for this including low budgets, amateur musicians, lack of direction and so on. So when a pure gem like Avalanche is found while wading through the chaff, there is some real cause to take notice and celebrate.

On the mostly instrumental Perseverance Kills Our Game, Avalanche achieves all that makes a low-budget production endearing. First of all, the playing is true to the heart - an intangible that is subtle though very recognizable for those who hear these type of recordings on a regular basis. The musicianship here is superb though hardly symphony orchestra quality. And there is a real intimacy that surrounds the atmosphere - as if you're in the room while they're recording. And perhaps the fact that Avalanche have six full-time members helps keep the album from the one-dimensional nature of most private releases.

Side one is primarily a folk rock affair with wonderful acoustic guitar, piano, bass, drums and sparse (one track), but well done vocals. The real highlights, though, have to be the gorgeous flutes (various types) and the soaring and spiritual electric guitar work. For pure haunting folk, 'Cola-tik' is the embodiment of melancholy whereas the progressive folk rock number 'Maiden Voyage' displays the band's talent with extended compositions.

While the opening side is excellent, there is no foreshadowing of the brilliance to be found on the flip side. It moves beyond folk rock to a more complex prog rock sound and climaxing at the end of the album with a psychedelic space rock sequence not found since the glory days of Krautrock and bands like Ash Ra Tempel. 'Transcendence' starts this side with serene piano and is augmented by bombarde and flute. Then a powerful electric guitar enters to play the same beautiful melody. The tone gets noticeably louder until there's a dramatic break. Here, Avalanche display a ferocity that is a complete contrast to the delicate and mellow nature displayed so far. A soft, two-minute acoustic ballad is inserted to calm the nerves before the massively powerful 'Oblivion enters. This 11-minute plus opus is the high water mark for folk rock. As on 'Transcendence', the composition opens softly with a stunning acoustic guitar melody which is then offset by some dire sounding flutes followed by harmonium. It's just unbelievably pretty yet somehow very sad. Just when you're ready to cry, the electric rhythm guitar begins a simple, jazzy pattern. The bass and drums follow shortly thereafter creating a head-moving groove. Entering unannounced is a twin guitar attack which begins to pulverize your senses. The sound is heavy and acidic like that of Manuel Göttsching, and the playing has the same soul the Ash Ra guitarist has. The solo contains a number of original melodies within that add to the special quality. And this goes on for close to seven minutes to solidify one of the most intense and beautiful guitar solos in rock history. The album ends at the peak of the solo; one almost wishes for another 15 minutes to be found from the same tape. What a trip through the emotions!

Ownership: LP: 1979 Starlet. Single sleeve. My first encounter of this album was via a cassette tape from a well known Dutch dealer back in the early 90s. He sold dubs of rare albums for a reasonable price (after all - it did take time to do + cassettes weren't free either), and this was long before the internet and Youtube. I bought a few rare items from him (again, dubs on cassette), and this was my favorite. I couldn't afford the album back then (not even close). It was fitting, then, that I did buy the original LP from the same gentleman (by this time, more of a personal friend) in 2010.

CD: 2015 Guerssen (Spain). Jewel case. There are no bonus tracks, but there are great historical notes from Richard Allen as well as some nice photos. 

For many years the band didn't want to go forward with a reissue because the master tapes were lost. But another old acquaintance of ours, Guerssen, must have said the right words - and with modern technology - has created a wonderful sounding reissue.

1993; 4/2/01 (Gnosis); 3/9/10 (new entry); 3/22/15; 10/5/16

Supersister - Present From Nancy. 1970 Netherlands

Present From Nancy is a top 50 album for yours truly. At this point they were a bunch of teenagers who studied Soft Machine Volume 2 and somehow managed to improve on it. Perhaps it's the single minded focus that youth can possess, while employing a yet-to-be-disillusioned imagination. Whatever the case, Supersister distilled the best parts out of Soft Machine and Caravan, and left an artifact for the ages. Stips' keyboard playing is top notch, employing the fuzz organ as much as possible, while the remainder of the band puts the tight and complicated rhythms together behind him. Add some beautiful and melodic flute, and the soft affected vocal style that the Dutch seem to have mastered as much as the English, and you have an album that is irresistible.

Ownership: LP: 1970 Polydor. Gatefold. True first pressing. Acquired from a friend (1992). 

CD: 1990 Polydor. Jewel case with To the Highest Bidder.

My first copy was the low budget 2-for-1 CD (1990). 

1990; 1992; 3/9/10 (new entry); 3/17/17

Minimum Vital - La Source (Huit Chants De Lumiere). 1993 France

Minimum Vital were, and still are, a highly original progressive rock group coming out of France. The basic formula is take a medieval or traditional French folk melody and add jazz plus rock influences over the top. Digital keys, programmed primarily to the brass sounds, along with ferocious guitar soloing, are the trademarks of Minimum Vital's sound.

By the time of La Source, Minimum Vital had begun to incorporate some pop influences as well, with female vocals out front, and the final result may be a surprise to hardcore fans - but it's a winning formula both musically and commercially.

Ownership: CD: 1993 Musea

1993; 3/8/10 (new entry)

Ricordi D'Infanzia - Io Uomo. 1973 Italy

While not the ideal place to start for any fan new to the Italian progressive rock scene, Ricordi D'Infanzia is a fine example of the middle-tier of the style. It's more song-oriented than the top tier hyper imaginative albums that one can overdose on quick. But if a dedicated fan, this is one you'll want to own eventually. Great vocals with fine organ, piano, and guitar work.

CD: 2004 Strange Days / Universal (Japan)

Gnidrolog - Lady Lake. 1972 England

I had longed questioned the quality of Lady Lake, Gnidrolog's sophomore effort. It seemed to be highly-touted among collectors worldwide, many times at the expense of the debut In Spite of Harry's Toe-Nail - an album I enjoyed from the first time I heard it. I had always figured it was to increase the value of the album, rather than an honest assessment of the music itself. And while I still prefer the herky-jerkiness of the debut, I've come to the realization that Lady Lake is indeed a fine work. It's not as immediately apparent for someone who is as meter focused as I tend to be, but yet there's a maturity and depth that I missed in my overanxious youth. In fact, the album ties in well with other top level UK albums like Raw Material and Spring - other works that took awhile for me to appreciate. Now I can't get enough of this peculiar breed of UK rock from the early 1970s. The addition of a prevalent woodwinds player also helps considerably. The title track comes close to horn rock, which I find a welcome development, but likely to further irritate those who are not fond of the genre.

Ownership: LP: 1972 RCA. Single sleeve. Online acquisition (2018).

The above replaced the Si-Wan reissue LP which was my original copy (1998).

1998; 10//04; 2009; 3/7/10 (new entry); 6/10/21

The Human Beast - Volume 1. 1970 Scotland

On the surface, it would seem The Human Beast's sole album to be typical of the era, given the guitar-bass-drums trio format. But these guys aren’t Cream plagiarists, nor did they go the Led Zeppelin, Ashkan, Elias Hulk psychedelic power variation of the blues. No, we’re moving towards the freaky, to the astral zone of Clear Blue Sky, but even beyond. The lyrical concept and overall acid feel gives the feeling that Vangelis may have stumbled onto the album before launching into 666 for his Aphrodite’s Child group. And yes, I’m sure Human Beast digested plenty of Saucerful of Secrets and Ummagumma before heading into the studio. One of the most creative of the UK power trios, no doubt.

Ownership: CD: 2007 Decca (Japan). Papersleeve. Acquired new upon release. This was my introduction to the album.

LP: 2008 Sunbeam. Gatefold with historical liner notes. A mint UK original can set you back 4 figures (one sold recently for over $2,000), so that's a tough option. I'm up for trying to get the German original though.

7/21/07; 3/7/10 (new entry); 9/14/23 

THTX - Ultimately. 2004 USA-Michigan

THTX are a group (though primarily a vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Matthew Smith) from Detroit who play in the space rock bag. In general, despite the rather small duo lineup (+ guest on keyboards), they avoid the usual trappings that the noise-makers of today tend to fall into. So rather than an Acid Mothers Temple wank-fest, THTX provides novelty items like structure, dynamics, texture and atmosphere. Much of this is accomplished via non-traditional instruments such as acoustic guitar and trumpet. And, oh sure, there's the electric guitar all fuzzed out and wah-wah'd to ensure you get blown to oblivion. But the latter can only happen when the stage is set properly - something the majority of modern bands don't seem, or want to, understand. Ultimately is the second album by THTX and they succeed for the most part, but there are sections that can still become nauseating with the sonic overload.

'Application for Explosion of Time' is a bit much in places (non stop assault), but at less than 6 minutes, one can appreciate a sledgehammer opener. 'Voyage Into Space' is where THTX really shines. Acoustic guitar, haunting keyboards (from special guest Keir McDonald), slow burning fuzz guitar and pounding drums. It builds to a raga like intensity, recalling Ummagumma era Pink Floyd, or its many Krautrock imitators. Incredible! 'Supersonic Phoenix' has a killer groove with an infectious rhythm, but again the sonics can be a bit much towards the end and it's hard to appreciate the song textures underneath. THTX could have benefited from taking their foot off the gas for most of this. The title track wisely starts off with acoustic guitar, calming the proceedings down considerably. But it doesn't take long and the group is painting the walls with Moog swirls and guitar fuzz. Quite honestly it becomes annoying after awhile and it makes me recall the all-time wankers: Acid Mothers Temple. Finally, at around the 15 minute mark, the jam begins to take some shape and becomes listenable. It actually finishes quite strong, but it took too long to get there. A good dose of editing is usually required for bands like this, and I'd like to see THTX get the scissors out more.

Ownership: CD: 2004 Cosmo-Revolution Technologies

3/5/10 (new entry)

Ville Emard Blues Band - Ville Emard. 1975 Canada-Quebec

Fresh on the heels of the Kaczynski album, here's another ProgQuebec reissue. Ville Emard Blues Band was a very large ensemble that was yet another band built around the foundation of Contraction / Franck Dervieux.

The album itself is very diverse, and features anything from good time bar tunes to lengthy psychedelic jams. A fine album, that comes recommended.

CD: 2004 ProgQuebec w/Live à Montréal

CD is titled Complete VEBB au complet 1973-1975 

International Harvester – Sov Gott Rose-Marie. 1969 Sweden

On the Heldon Electronique Guerilla post, I spoke of the anarchic subversiveness to which that particular album portrays. When compared with International Harvester, Heldon comes across as a conservative Reaganite, preaching the values of capitalism. While left wing politics were typical in late 60s, early 70s European progressive rock, especially from France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, International Harvester has to be one of the most overt of all of them. Typically playing in clubs sponsored by the Communist Youth League, International Harvester were laying their own brand of radical free rock. On the album you'll hear screaming chants of "Ho Chi Minh" which pretty much sums things up from a philosophical standpoint. But this is no polit-rock album (known as Progg in Sweden), of which I'm not usually a fan, but rather one of the first examples of primarily instrumental avant garde rock that one could buy on the market, along with early Can and Amon Duul (I and II). An important evolutionary work. International Harvest evolved from Parsson Sound, a group we all learned about in the late 1990s due to Subliminal Sounds' great archival release. The group evolved into Harvester and Träd, Gräs och Stenar, and some members found their way onto to perhaps the greatest avant garde rock album of all time: Älgarnas Trädgård's Framtiden Är Ett Svävande Skepp, Förankrat I Forntiden.

CD: 2001 Silence
LP: 1984 Silence

Pretty rare as an original, and not even released in their native Sweden, no doubt due to its subversive political views. Years later, Silence bought the rights from Love and reissued it on LP. Had International Harvester come out one year later, most assuredly it would have been released on Silence, a label known for radical free thinking music groups.

Ash Ra Tempel - The Private Tapes Vol. 3. 1971, 1973-1974 (archival)

The tracks on this CD:

There are three Gottsching solo guitar tracks from 1973. These were all in preparation for the Starring Rosi album and predate the concept he'd use eventually on Inventions for Electric Guitar.

There's one lengthy 27 minute track from 1974 with Lutz Ulbrich from Agitation Free and later a member of the Ashra trio with drummer Harald Grosskopf. It's a long spacey track focused on keyboards, but with some fine guitar work as well. Relates closest to Le Berceau Du Cristal, another archival release from Manuel Gottsching.

The final track is a 32 minute freakout jam from 1971 along the lines of the debut album ('Le Bruit des Origines').

CD: 1996 Manikin

This is one of the legendary 6 volumes that Manikin unleashed on the public in 1996. They came out in the late spring while I was backpacking through Spain in 1996. When I arrived home, I was told about it. The retail price was $100, and I was a bit short on cash from my trip. I went ahead and got them anyway, at the encouragement of some friends, who all knew I was a big fan of the band. Thank goodness, as this set is known to go for ten times the price I paid. Manikin reissued a 2 CD compilation, but for some reason these 6 CDs remain without another reissue.