Galliard - Strange Pleasure. 1970 England

Galliard's debut is a mixture of typical 1970 horn rock and British styled psychedelic rock, complete with soft affected vocals - along with a clear undercurrent of straight ahead folk-rock mixed with baroque styled classical, that was predominant from the era as well. Honestly I think Galliard are at their best when in brass rock mode (e.g. 'Skillet', 'Pastorale', 'Blood'), and tend to drag a bit when hitting the woods for a bit of folk. There was a distinct compositional improvement on their follow-up New Dawn, though no doubt the cover art of the debut is more preferable.

Ownership: CD: 2009 Esoteric. Jewel case with full liner notes and two bonus tracks taken from a single.

2008 (first listen); 3/28/12 (review / new entry); 1/23/24 

Wigwam - Being. 1974 Finland

A long time friend, musician, and album collector once told me that Wigwam's Being is his single favorite progressive rock album of all time. That took me aback, as the album didn't really even register with me much on first listen some 20+ years ago. But on subsequent careful listens, you can certainly understand one's passion for it. It is a highly stylized, complex and dense work that requires an enormous amount of focus and attention. This same friend is also a co-leader of a contemporary progressive rock band, who have released a couple of albums that are much respected, and it's very clear to me that Being has been a huge influence on his songwriting. I won't mention who this band is. I'll let you all try to figure it out :-)

There's much debate among Wigwam fans on which is their finest hour. I tend to fall into the Fairyport camp, preferring the more loosely structured proto-progressive sound, but Being is certainly a close second.

Ownership CD: 2010 Esoteric (UK). Jewel case reissue that reprints all the original lyrics and liners, along with a short essay written by founding member Jim Pembroke.

3/28/12 (new entry); 10/7/23

Randy Roos - Mistral. 1978 USA-Massachusetts

Boston based Berklee graduate guitarist Randy Roos was originally in a band called Orchestra Luna, an album that used to turn up quite a bit in my crate digging days. This album is quite a bit different from that, and is a guitar fronted instrumental jazz fusion - a style that was quite popular back in those days, especially from Masters level grad students like Roos. It's the rougher edge that Roos brings forth that I find appealing, and thus scores an extra point from me. Roos is clearly a master of his instrument of choice, and overall Mistral will occasionally call out Al Di Meola circa Elegant Gypsy or Casino. I was also reminded of the German group Syncrisis, in the more fiery moments. Essential for fans of guitar fronted fusion.

The CD label describes the music as: "Masterfully playing a variety of fretted and fretless guitars, Roos demonstrates why its time for this overlooked gem to be revisited. Mistral is pure high energy fusion that will appeal to fans of Jeff Beck and Return To Forever."

Ownership: LP: 1978 Spoonfed. Single sleeve. Clear vinyl. Online acquisition in 2015.

CD: 2012 Modulus. High quality mini-LP sleeve similar to the Japanese, though it appears the Modulus label was a one-time experiment that didn't translate to profits. There are no bonus tracks, but a fantastic essay was provided by a well known music journalist. This is an album that was introduced to us by Midwest Mike on the CDRWL. Because of his enthusiasm and faith in the music, he was a moving force in getting this title reissued (with an assist from the CDRWL of course...)

2/14/11 (CDRWL); 3/25/12 (new entry); 7/17/18

Het Pandorra Ensemble - III. 1978 Netherlands

Taking Side 2 of King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black as a blueprint, Het Pandorra Ensemble went about releasing one of the more bizarre progressive rock albums of the era. There's quite a bit of ambient atmospherics, augmented by louder rock sections with compressed fuzz tone Frippian guitar. But unlike the decidedly atonal Crimson, Pandorra follow the European model of melodic, almost jazzy, progressive rock. This is a one of a kind album, with no regards to any kind of pre-conceived audience. The album cover is not indicative at all of the music within (though the back cover is far more interesting). See also Zog, their followup group, who also play an entirely unique music, yet still different from Pandorra Ensemble. These guys were on their own planet. Despite the title, III is their debut. Strange lads.

What's even more amazing, is the bonus tracks are even better! Same style of improvised melodic dissonance (how's that for an oxymoron), but perhaps a bit more focused than the album proper. Rare is the case where the bonus tracks exceed the original product.

LP: 1978 Disaster Electronics
CD: 2012 Modulus (USA)

The CD is a beautifully packaged gatefold mini-LP, with incredible sound, tons of bonus material, a history, photos, etc... A stunning package - as gorgeous as any Japanese mini-LP. It's worth noting that the original is a single sleeve, so this is an improvement in that category as well.

My own history of this album goes back to the early 90s. I had befriended a well known Dutch dealer circa 1992 or so. He recorded for me on cassette many obscure Dutch albums, including this one, all of which became favorites quickly. In 1996 I made a blockbuster trade with another well known European dealer, that landed me a pile of albums. Every one of them I still own and cherish. Het Pandorra Ensemble was one of those albums. The cover itself is very misleading, giving off a whiff of punk or glam rock. But it's nothing of the sort, of course. The rather artsy sketch on the back cover is more indicative of the contents within.

Pete & Royce - Suffering of Tomorrow + Days of Destruction. 1980-1981 Greece

Pete & Royce combine the sounds of mid period Pink Floyd with a hazy early 1970s songwriter aesthetic. The kind of album, had it instead been a private American release, would have sent shock waves throughout the collector community. The Greek music scene of the early 80s is one that has proven to be fascinating, and like Spain only a couple of years before them, combines the angst of having been politically oppressed while showing a peaceful optimism for the future. "Days of Destruction" is more compact and radio friendly, though still very much a product of the underground. I think it was wise for them to release both albums together, as the market for their second album is likely to be limited - at least on a worldwide scale.

This is a great start for MusicBazz, and I very much look forward to future releases by them and their more modern Cosmic Eye label.

MusicBazz describes the music as thus: "Pete & Royce are considered as one of the top and totally unique psych/progressive rock bands coming from Greece. Wired around Panagiotis "Pete" Tsiros, during the late '70s through to the early '80s, Pete & Royce offered to the European prog underground scene an astounding blend of trippy moods and moves: flashy melodies, hard guitar biting-fuzz, night crawling rhythms, mystifying electronic shifts and strange lyrics like oracles from an unknown book of Apocalypsis (very compatibly, two key members of another top progressive Greek group named Apocalypsis were also involved importantly in the recordings of Pete & Royce, the keyboardist Vasilis Dertilis and the vocalist Giannis Palamidas). Both albums of Pete & Royce are internationally sought after for their dreamy Pink-Floydian atmosphere, the brilliant vocals and guitars of Tsiros himself, the topnotch fiery interplay of all the participating musicians (especially of the key member, keyboardist and co-composer, Vasilis Ghinos) and the rarer but equally mind-blowing cosmic funk moments."

CD: 2012 MusicBazz
LP: 1981 Ocean (Days of Destruction)

The CD is officially titled Suffering of Tomorrow + Days of Destruction and features both albums in a really nice tin foil mini-LP package with embossed lettering. Plenty of original written content and unique photos rounds out this first class work.

Älgarnas Trädgård - Framtiden Är Ett Svävande Skepp, Förankrat I Forntiden. 1972 Sweden

Many times, as die-hard music fans, we boast about our top 10. It becomes somewhat of a joke, as we all know that most people have 50 albums in that space of 10! I think, though, I can honestly say that Älgarnas Trädgård's original opus is truly a top ten album for me.

For me, Älgarnas Trädgård (Algarnas Tradgard if searching) is the reason I collect music. It's so transcendent. It takes me places in my mind that I didn't know existed. I've never been a drug user (just beer and wine for me thanks), but I would imagine the experience must be similar. This album could have been released in 2972. There's absolutely nothing like it in the world. As psychedelic an album as has ever been made. No sonic overload of fuzz like today's bands. But something way more surreal. Another world, another culture. As the album cover indicates. Sometimes I think those Ancient Aliens guys (History Channel) might have a point. Here's the soundtrack that they left behind.

Paul Major's review from 1988 (Sound Effects catalog) is too good to not share. Check this out: "Intense otherwordly acidtrip classic! Where you wanted 'Saucerful of Secrets' to take you... ...Primordial rhythms creep out overlaid with trance dual fuzz guitars, chants, atmospheres, barking dogs, and eerie voices - in one weird cover of old men sitting in another world! ... Holding this in your hand is like touching a lost fragment of some ancient pre-human civilization!

Ownership: LP: 1972 Silence. I first heard of this album in the mid 1980s, when I first started collecting underground 70s music and gathering mail order catalogs. The description alone had me salivating. I finally secured a copy from Paul Major (see quote above) in 1988. The original label, Silence Records of Sweden, was still quite active in the late 80's. The way to tell the reissue is the label color is bright yellow (rather than pale), and it does not come with the original insert. Over time, I secured the 1972 original. Or so I thought. The guy I bought it from just sent me the original insert with the album. No cover! But he swore that's how it was originally released. I never believed him. I gave that version to my friend Purple Peak Jeff and he still has it for reference. Eventually I bought the real original with the cover and original inner sleeve. One of my treasured vinyl records.

CD: 2011 Belle Antique (Japan). Of course I bought the CD in 1995 the day it came out, and the two bonus tracks proved to be wonderful additions. Later I picked up the Japanese version that has an additional bonus track. As most of you know, the Japanese mini-LPs are quite reliable on the small details of what the original looked like (except the label oddly enough, which they entirely avoid - never quite understood that). I had to know what the original looked like! Was it truly the brown inner sleeve or did it have the amazing cover? Sure enough, it's what I suspected: Cover with inner sleeve. Now I know. And with a cover like that - a Japanese mini-LP is a must for collectors. The 3rd bonus track, while nice, is not enough to make a difference. So if you already own the Silence CD, and don't care about the collecting aspect, just hold onto it. I decided to move out the Silence CD myself, as there wasn't much reason to keep it. 

LP: 2015 Subliminal Sounds. 2xLP set that includes one LP of entirely unreleased material! I have that listed under its own entry, but including here as well since it has the full album.

1988; 7/29/07; 5/28/09; 3/16/12 (new entry)

Blood Ceremony – Living with the Ancients. 2011 Canada-Ontario

I personally love the combination of female vocals, flute, organ, and fuzz guitar - so Blood Ceremony can almost do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Jethro Tull is an inevitable comparison because of the flute, but there are no similarities beyond that. Personally I think bands like Tomorrow's Gift (first album), Goliath (UK 1970), Room, and Affinity are closer to the sound here than Tull. And if you don't know these bands, and enjoy Blood Ceremony, then cool - new albums for you to discover right? (though I feel compelled to mention that none of these groups have a metal component).

Ownership: CD: 2011 Metal Blade. Digipak with booklet. 

3/14/12 (new entry); 9/11/23 

TEE - Trans-Europe Expression. 2012 Japan

So it appears TEE is going to be an acronym that remains fluid. For their debut album, they were known as The Earth Explorer. And now it is Trans-Europe Expression. Perhaps The Egg Enema won't be far behind...

Let me take you back 20 years to 1992. At that time, much was made of Änglagård bringing progressive rock back to its original splendor. Their appearance at the first Progressive Rock Festival in 1993 only solidified the legend. And I wholeheartedly agree with all the enthusiasm laid at the feet of this great Swedish band.

However, for myself and a few others, there was another album that had as much impact, but is not as well remembered. Two years prior to Änglagård, a band from Hungary released their second album: The mighty 2 LP opus 1990 by Solaris. It was a jaw dropper, a truly complex progressive rock album, with outstanding keyboards, guitars and flute. Perhaps it's only downfall for the revisionists is its lack of 1970s vintage analog equipment. And while I too would have enjoyed that, it has zero impact on my enjoyment of that amazing album.

Trans-Europe Expression is the second coming of Solaris' 1990!

This is a magnificent work, with some of the most melodic flute and guitar driven progressive rock I've heard in over 20 years. I find music like this irresistible. Love the European hill town photograph artwork as well.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Musea

3/13/12 (new entry)

Garden Wall - Assurdo. 2011 Italy

For those folks that are constantly asking to hear an album that is truly "progressive" rather than "it's progressive in the 1970s sense of the word", then I offer up to you Garden Wall's Assurdo. Garden Wall has always been a creative bunch, but they've really upped the ante this time. After about 5 listens, I cannot possibly describe this album. Many others have attempted to do so however. All of them very thorough, and quite excellent. No two are alike. I don't think it's possible for anyone to hear this album the same as someone else. About the only continuity in the reviews I've read is that Assurdo is unique. That's for sure.

They still have the Van der Graaf Generator meets thrash metal backbone of Forget the Colours, but do not be scared by that description. There's so much at play here, that at times you imagine you are hearing the classic Italian progressive rock scene being played out 200 years from now. Is it genius? How could I know - I'm for certain not one, but it is impossible to deny that Garden Wall continues to push the boundaries of progressive rock. This isn't tuneless cacophony in the name of Avant Garde, but rather a fully realized and coherent work. Check it out for yourself. Write a review. It will be different than the others you have read.

Ownership: CD: 2011 Lizard. Jewel case release with lyric booklet.

3/13/12 (first listen / review / new entry); 1/22/24

October Equus - Saturnal. 2011 Spain

Saturnal is the 3rd album from arguably Spain's most complex rock band. Their first album was almost like a psychedelic Present (Belgium), a very interesting combination that I found highly appealing. With each subsequent release, October Equus ups the ante on complexity, while toning down the more jamming aspect of their sound. It's pretty clear this is a band that now must play live with scored music charts, rather than rehashing more simple material and letting loose on occasion. On Saturnal, October Equus has entered the realms of a new force of music - one that was pioneered by Thinking Plague - and now mastered by many more. Sophisticated, dense, mathematical, academic are a few adjectives that can describe the music within. It's the blueprint sound of the AltRock label. Avant progressive at its most pure. And for me, each new album becomes a little less exciting but more intelligent. The fun and creative high school kid is going to be a doctor. His mother would be proud.

Overall, I still find October Equus to be an excellent band. I just wish they'd loosen up a bit.

Ownership: CD: 2011 AltRock (Italy)

Removed from collection (2022)

3/12/12 (new entry); 9/20/22