Vega - Sol de Oscuridad. 1981 Spain

Sol de Oscuridad is Vega's 3rd album, and is a move from Rock Andaluz over to more traditional jazz fusion. The album cover is the first giveaway, as the stunning Puebla paintings are replaced by... well what is that anyway? Side 1 also contains some vocals that add little value. Side 2 gets back to what Vega does best, and the traditional sounds of southern Spain are reintroduced, though a bit more watered down than prior. Side 2 saves the game, and I probably should give to 3 stars, but I'm a fan so... half point more it goes.

Ownership: LP: 1981 Movieplay. Single sleeve with a pinched spine design. Promo. Recent online acquisition (2016). No reissues exist.

10/22/10 (first listen); 3/26/16 (review/new entry)

Asia Minor - Between Flesh and Divine. 1980 France

Between Flesh and Divine is the second and last album (of the original incarnation) from Paris based Asia Minor. The band name is appropriate given the leaders are Turkish, though there is no mistaking this is a group born from the late 70s French symphonic progressive rock tradition. They are certainly one of the most well known and respected among the prog rock faithful, and history has been kind to Asia Minor. And for good reason. Understanding the scene in which Asia Minor derived from will go a long way to erasing the "80s stigma" - France was the one country successfully holding on to the glorious 70s at this time. And I for one do not hear Asia Minor as a "band of the 80s".

The music has a kinetic crispness to it, with flute and psychedelic tinged guitar, and a hyperactive rhythm section propelling the proceedings forward. Camel is often thrown out as a reference, and its probably the most accurate, especially when one considers albums like Mirage, and the fact that Camel were more psychedelic than usually given credit for. If the opening two tracks don't grab you, then I would suggest going no further, as these are arguably the highlights. 'Boundless' sounds like a rougher version of The Alan Parsons Project circa Pyramid, and the murkiness makes it more enjoyable. Side 2 is a mirror image stylistically speaking, though perhaps just a bit lesser in quality. An album worthy of its lofty reputation.

Ownership: LP: 1980 WAM. Single sleeve. Acquired online from a friend in Japan (2013).

CD: 1991 Musea. Jewel case with historical liner notes. No bonus tracks.

The original LP is a private press that didn't sell that well initially. There were two factors that pushed Asia Minor into the limelight among collectors of the day. One was the British mail order channel Lotus Records. This drew the attention of an 80s cash rich Japan. And subsequently the remaining backstock was purchase in bulk and brought back home. So if you're in the market for one, look at the Japanese market where you're likely to find one at a very reasonable price. And sure enough, my mint copy came from there. The first copy I purchased was the Musea LP (1989)

1989; 3/22/16 (new entry)

Ampledeed - BYOB. 2016 USA-California

BYOB is the second effort from Ampledeed of Los Angeles. The Canterbury edges are beginning to get rubbed out, though there's still plenty of excellent instrumental progressive rock to be had, especially on the bookends of the recording. But creeping in the middle is that annoying whiny indie psych that just doesn't resonate with me, and one can only hope it goes away quickly. I think they're trying to do more of an Art Bears thing, and it comes out more like Of Montreal. As Steve of Wayside says about a potential title for the 3rd album: "C is for Canterbury". That would be my vote too. In any case, still a fine effort overall, but they're targeting a different audience I fear.

Ownership: CD: 2016 private. Digifile sleeve. 

3/18/16 (new entry); 11/15/23 (removed)

Obskuria - Discovery of Obskuria. 2007 Germany-Peru-USA

Obskuria, a moniker that is most certainly appropriate, was born out of some impromptu jam sessions that took place in Mannheim circa 2006. The core group is made up of Peru's La Ira de Dios along with the keyboardist from native Karmic Society, and the guitarist from Cleveland, Ohio's Dragonwyck. So not only do we have an international space rock troupe, but one that crosses multiple generations. Most of the music is a fine example of instrumental Krautrock, with Hammond organ starring in a major role, and some fine acidic guitar leads with tribal drumming. It is this element that I would think will be of most interest to potential future buyers. The rest, including the two openers and closers, are cover tunes that give the project a novelty feeling, which is rarely a good thing. Though I have to admit the maudlin cover of Metallica's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' was intriguing, and interesting to hear the tune swathed in organ. Overall, a very good album for fans of that early 70s German Krautrock sound, without too many surprises.

Personal collection
LP: 2007 World in Sound

I currently own the LP, which is a 2 disc set, that comes in a fine high quality gatefold as one would expect from World in Sound. The LP does leave off the final track however, though it's one of the cover tunes as mentioned above, so I'm not sure how essential it is in any case.

3/11/16 (new entry)

Gestalt - Gomorrha Vs. Khan. 1999 Japan

Gestalt were a band from Japan, who released this one long forgotten album, and into the mists of time they went. With a title like Gomorrha vs Khan, one might hope for a hard driven Krautrock sound melded with the melodic playfulness of the Canterbury scene. No such luck. Their sound isn't atypical of the 90s Japanese scene, and at first reminded me of Golden Avant Garde, a band that calls themselves "cyber rock". And the alien textures and clipped mid 70s King Crimson clinical sound does give off that impression. It's a bid tough sledding at first, but as the album goes, the ears warm up to it. And then comes the fantastic 'Wakt El Istikhad' which reminded me of the brilliant Happy Family. The Gomorrha side (latter half) has more of a Middle Eastern space rock sound, though again it's more crisp and darkly textured - not psychedelic in the least. 'Black Hole' is the highlight of the latter set. There is a Zeuhl underpinning here, but only in its most aggressive state. A fine album that will appeal to fans of turn of the century hard driving Japanese prog rock. Somewhere between Bondage Fruit, Ruins, Happy Family, and Koenji Hyakkei you will find the sound of Gestalt. 

Ownership: CD: 1999 Musea. Jewel case. Booklet in both Japanese and English.

2000 (first listen); 3/2/16 (review / new entry)

Galaxy-Lin - Galaxy Lin + G. 1974-1975 Netherlands

Galaxy-Lin were a side project of Dutch superstars Shocking Blue, and is a mix of progressive rock and vocal pop tracks. One unique aspect is the use of mandolin as a lead instrument. The vocal tracks are more commercial in nature (of course they are) and tend to drag the album down a bit. But the instrumentals are particularly well written (especially 'Utopia'). The band were to improve on their 1975 follow up G.

I don't have any notes for G, but they graded out about the same, but did note that the edge went to "G".

Ownership: CD: 2002 Rotation. Titled G and utilizing its cover, this CD is a compilation of both Galaxy-Lin albums in full - and they still had room for a B-Side single. Why the label doesn't advertise it as such, is anyone's guess. Without knowing any better, you would think you were only getting the second album G with bonus tracks (even the artwork is the second LP only). This a straight reissue with no liner notes or anything else. The Polydor release is done in the "Original Album Series" slipcase style and comes in their original sleeves.

2009 (first listen); 3/1/16 (review / new entry); 2/17/24