Zyma - Thoughts. 1978 Germany

Zyma's debut full length album finds itself somewhere between the mid to late 70s Continental European prog sound - as influenced by Frank Zappa - and the instrumental greatness that was Tortilla Flat. You'll often see references to Canterbury for Thoughts -and I'm one of those who do that - but really it falls to the margins of said sound. Certainly one of the better private presses coming from Germany during this time, and there are many of them. If you like bands as diverse as Bonfire, early Solution, Ma Banlieue Flasque, early Nine Days Wonder - and especially the less goofy elements of Dr. Dopo Jam, then Thoughts is one you'll want to add to your stack. Great album in my estimation.

The CD adds two bonus tracks, both taken from the Proton 1 album, and their sound in 1974 was much more geared to this list of bands Post psychedelic, proto progressive with female vocals than what Thoughts delivers. I would love to hear a whole album from this era of the band.

Ownership: CD: 1998 Garden of Delights. Purchased online new upon release. Considering the bonus tracks, great sound, and the full history, I can't see any need to own anything more than this. I'll take an original of course, but it's expensive and not necessary. In those same liner notes referenced above, Garden of Delights promises us that their second album Brave New World will be issued sometime in 1999. Umm... looking at their website, it's still on their Coming Soon list. No rush guys...