Drahk Von Trip - Heart and Consequence. 2005 Sweden

Drahk von Trip are a southern Swedish group who play a unique mix of space rock and aggressive neo psychedelia. A large scale 6 piece band complete with female vocals and plenty of different instrumentation (violin, flute, "vintage synthesizers", multiple percussion contraptions, and some highly unusual wind instruments like the yidaki, a specific type of didgeridoo, as well as the Didjeribone). Some of the guitar work found here is quite inspiring. Though they have elements of many bands from White Willow to Hawkwind to Azalia Snail to Ozric Tentacles to Magma (mainly found in the bass work on 'One of a Kind' and 'Gahn'), Drahk Von Trip do not remind me of any one particular group. 10 lengthy, and somewhat complex, tracks allow for much discovery for each future listen.

Ownership: CD: 2005 Transubstans

11/26/15 (new entry)

Darediablo - Feeding Frenzy. 2003 USA-New York

Welcome to the Hard Rock Cookin' Show. Today we have Darediablo from New York City. Tell us, Darediablo, what is your secret recipe?

Thanks for having us on the show today, Bob. We look at both the past and present for our recipes. On Feeding Frenzy, from the past we take one part Uriah Heep and one part Captain Beyond. And from the modern chefs, we like one part Kyuss and one part Tortoise. Blend. Drain the vocals out. Serve.

Yum.

Darediablo are very much a typical Under the Radar band from the 2000's. They never really had much exposure to the progressive rock community, and yet that may have been a better audience for the group in the long run. Today, the band seems long forgotten, only brought to life by archivists like myself. Like many before them, Darediablo arose from the New York City indie scene. They did have quite a bit of exposure 15 years ago, with their music showing up most prominently on ESPN's The Life among others. Their sound has been described (as recounted by the band themselves) as anything from Medeski, Martin & Wood meets MC5, to a combo of Black Sabbath and AC/DC. Since I've only heard Feeding Frenzy, I can't really say if these comparisons are accurate or inaccurate. My own description certainly points to another branch of the progressive hard rock tree. After Twenty Paces, the band seems to have disappeared altogether, and I cannot find any active internet presence. At some point, I need to make an effort to hear their other three albums, as Feeding Frenzy is most certainly a solid organ based instrumental progressive hard rock album. 

Ownership: CD: 2003 Southern. Jewel case. Simple booklet with recording details.

1//05; 11/23/15 (new entry)

Stardrive ~ USA ~ New York

Stardrive Featuring Robert Mason (1974)

If only... if only Robert Mason was instead Robert (pronounced row bear) Massonne and he wrapped his neck in a wool scarf, wore octagonal glasses, and had a cigarette dangling from his lips... and he recorded on the Pole label... man, wouldn't he be the hipster's choice in these enlightened times? And, sacrebleu!, there's even a track called 'Pulsar'! Ah, but it wasn't meant to be for our downtrodden American protagonist. He is Robert Mason, a doppelganger for any male extra on Fargo, who released this buck bin LP special, only to be further driven to indignity by having it reissued on CD by Wounded Bird. No info, no enthusiasm, no nothing. But then again, there is hell to pay for naming a track 'Air Sauce', now isn't there?

There's a review in there somewhere. Remember the magazine Highlights at the dentist's office when you were a kid? It's kind of like that.

Ownership: 2009 Wounded Bird (CD)

7/31/09 (acquired); 11/18/15 (review); 10/8/25

Also once owned Intergalactic Trot.

11/18/15 (new entry)

Devil's Kitchen ~ USA ~ San Francisco, California

Devil's Kitchen (1968-69 / 2011)

Very fine discovery of live / studio recordings from legendary San Francisco band of the late 60s. Jamming psychedelic and blues rock are the main drivers here. Hard to avoid a Quicksilver Messenger Service reference here and definitely fits the "West Coast" sound.

---7/4/26

Devil's Kitchen never released anything in their lifetime, not even a 45. A1, B1, B2, and B5 are from the studio. The rest are live recordings.

I think the primary interest here lies in the archival nature of the recordings. As time passes, the amount of authentic psychedelic music from that era which was never released, is quite limited. There's a lot of extended jamming on this album, and blues is the foundation for most of the compositions. Is it essential that it was released? Absolutely. Is it essential to own? Not for me, but I can appreciate why others feel differently.

The band were originally from Carbondale, Illinois (same town as Thunderpussy), though it appears they were based in San Francisco for their professional career.

Former ownership: 2011 Lysergic Sound Distributors (LP). With postcard bill insert. Copy #819 / 1000. The website that was provided for the band history, photos, etc.. is now gone. That's the problem with that method of providing historical data. Should have been included in the LP package. The pressing is also of substandard quality. Acquired in 2015. Downsized in 2026.

11/14/15 (review / new entry); 7/4/26 (update)

Rogue Element - Premonition. 2004 England

Not only is the duo of Rogue Element's debut influenced by Tangerine Dream, but very specifically 1976 and 1977 era Tangerine Dream. There's gobs of mellotron (as played by both gentlemen), "Modular System" sequencer action, and electric guitar soloing. If you love everything about Stratosfear, Sorcerer, and Encore, and the multitudes of bootlegs (official or not) from this era, then Rogue Element will fit in perfectly with your listening routine. Make sure the CD is labeled, or you may confuse it with your existing Tangs collection. From my perspective, this is a style that allows for multiple interpretations, so other variations are much welcome.

Ownership: CD: 2004 Acoustic Wave

11/2/15 (new entry)