Brainticket - Celestial Ocean. 1973 Switzerland

If I were to be entirely objective, I would submit that Celestial Ocean best represents who Brainticket really were. It has both the psychotic nature of the debut with the measured progressive rock of Psychonaut. And honestly this may very well be my favorite album by the band. But they never go to the first division, always coming back to that solid Gnosis 11. There's just enough doubt on every listen for me not to list it as a favorite. Not sure what that magic ingredient is, but Brainticket doesn't have it, despite their radical approach to music. 

Ownership: LP: 1973 RCA (Italy). Gatefold with poster. Online acquisition (2015). Awesome package. 

Former Ownership: CD: 2003 Cleopatra. Cardboard gatefold.

My first copy was a cheap bootleg CD (1991) followed by the above Cleopatra CD (2003). 

1991 (first listen); 2003; 2/15/23 (review / new entry)

Magma - Kohntarkosz. 1974 France

One of the most frustrating albums in my entire collection is this one. Even though it's smackdab in the middle of their classic period - and it's highly rated by fans - I think it's their worst album of the 70s (well OK, not counting Inedits, but that one shouldn't count lol). It baffles me. Its predecessor is currently #12 in My 25 Most Important LPs list (see tab above). The first album is #16. Magma Live is one of the all-time great live albums, and includes a large segment from this very album. Udu Wudu features the monstrous 'De Futura', perhaps their best track ever. But Kohntarkosz? Yea, I mean it's good for sure. I'm not looking to ditch it or anything. It just seems dark and foreboding for its entire length. It misses the joyous melodies and insane climaxes of their other albums. I really anticipated a +1 to +3 bump here since it's been ages I'd sat down with it and I figured I just blew the call. But nope - the pedestrian Gnosis 10 remains. Sigh. 

Former ownership: CD: 1993 Seventh. Jewel case with no info.

LP: 198? Celluloid. Single sleeve.

Interestingly I've never even owned an original of this (US or French). Originally I bought the Celluloid LP while in college (so cheeeepy).

The 1988 CD version adds a 29 alternate version of this, and has never been reissued since.

1986 (first listen); 10/30/14; 2/15/23 (review / new entry)

Zao - Z=7L. 1973 France

In 2006 I wrote the following (slightly updated): 

Zao's first and, arguably, best album. The first and last tracks are the most challenging, especially when considering the operatic scat vocals, which can be a soprano shriek or a frightening guttural growl. They're a bit more abrasive and experimental on these bookend tracks than what is found on the rest of the album. Joel Dugrenot shows off his bass chops worthiness here and gives Top/Paganotti/Moze a run for their money. My-Troung is outstanding behind the kit trying to keep up. Cahen and Seffer can carry any melodic line, and it's just this characteristic that makes the album special.

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Last night I heard this for the first time in 17 years and Z=7L continues to impress. Also it occurred to me while listening that this album sounds like Embryo (especially with Maria Archer) trying their hand at Zeuhl.

Ownership: LP: 1973 Vertigo. Gatefold. Online acquisition (2020). 

CD: 1993 Musea. Fine reissue that includes historical liner notes, though no bonus tracks.

My first copy was the single sleeve Cryonic reissue purchased back in 1987, which was replaced by the CD above. It's been said that the title Z=7L is a play on the word Zeuhl.

1987 (first listen); 1995; 3//06 (review); 2/14/23 (update/new entry)

Deep Purple - In Rock. 1970 England

I recently wrote for the follow up album Fireball: "While seemingly half of Europe was copying Deep Purple In Rock's innovations with hard rock, the band themselves regressed back into blues rock.". In hearing In Rock for the first time in many years, I think I managed to underestimate it. Every track is a hard rock winner, with Blackmore and Lord trading the heaviest solos of their career. Ian Gillan provides the blueprint for every hard rock, and later, heavy metal vocalist. Paice and Glover are on fire here. 'Child in Time' is a track for the ages. 

Ownership: LP: 1973 Warner Bros. (USA). Gatefold. Acquired from a store in Albuquerque (2022). 

My first copy was a European EMI single sleeve reissue from the 80s.

1986 (first listen); 2006; 2/2/23 (new entry)

Vecchio - Afro-Rock. 1971 Argentina

New CD came in last night, so I revisited the music. This is an old CDRWL discovery. Here are my notes from back then:

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Afro-Rock is the debut album by Argentine keyboardist Luis Vecchio, later resident of the Canary Islands. Recorded for the sound library label DeWolfe, the album is frequently mentioned in hushed reverence among the beat digger DJ collecting crowd. And it's easy to see why, given its massive brass charts, funky bass lines, fluttering flute, choppy organ, and additional hand tribal percussion. Unlike most incidental film music, Afro-Rock works more like a regular instrumental album and isn't just a disparate bit of sounds and rhythms. Each song can hold its own, and is definitely positioned well for repeated listens. To my ears, Afro-Rock seems a prototype for a group like The Budos Band, who were to show up some 35 years later with a similar sound.

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I'm doubling down on The Budos Band reference. It's as if that Brooklyn based band absorbed this album completely before going to the studio for the first time!

Ownership: CD: 2022 Kray (Italy). Straight up reissue without any further data. Been confirmed to be legit. Looks like the label obtained the license from the original label (Music DeWolfe) but didn't collaborate with the artist(s). Lost opportunity. Originals are price prohibitive in relation to my interest in it, so this CD will have to do. The sound is good at least.

10/18/09 (CDRWL); 11/16/18 (new entry); 2/1/23 (CD update)