Brainticket (& related) ~ Switzerland

Celestial Ocean (1973)

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: 1973 RCA Italy (LP). Gatefold with poster. Acquired in 2015.

First copy: HF (CD). Unauthorized. Acquired in 1991.

1991; 2003; 2/15/23 (review)

Psychonaut (1971)

Brainticket's sophomore effort is much more melodic and in-the-rails than the insanity of Cottonwoodhill. At times I wish there were some psychotic ramblings - it's almost too safe. It's not even Krautrock (as we know the term), closer to traditional prog rock with female vocals. Solid stuff though, not one to leave the collection anytime soon, if ever. 

Ownership: 1971 Durium (LP). This is the real original and pretty scarce at that. Bellaphon licensed and released it in Germany to a much larger audience (one year later), including multiple pressings and importing it around the globe. Worth noting that this features the full artwork (see images), that the Bellaphon pressings obfuscated with a border. Acquired in 2014.

First copy: 1982 Bellaphon (LP). Acquired in 1990.

1990; 1998; 12/18/14; 2/1/23 (review)

Cottonwood Hill (1971)

One of the earlier Krautrock albums for me to obtain, Brainticket's debut could almost be considered an exploitive album for the movement, if such a movement existed real time. It's obviously very self-conscious of promoting its LSD nature, and the music goes to great lengths to prove it. For my tastes, I've always enjoyed the opening two tracks with the Leslie affected vocals. Adding flute and female vocals to 'Places of Light' makes that song the highlight of the album for me. The album is most known for its two part self-identifying 'Brainticket' opus. And like a lot of people, I feel it's too much of the same thing. Were I to edit, I would have taken 'Brainticket, Part II', which encapsulates best what the group is trying to accomplish. That would have left 12 to 15 more minutes of tracks like 'Black Sand' one would hope. In any case, this last portion has some of the most intense and freaked out parts of "Dawn"'s psychotic rambling. The bits with "Arthur" and the "communication breakdown between you and you" represent some of the crazier highlights. The improvised choppy Hammond riff, the insane female narration, and the sound effects are all legendary by now. Just wish there wasn't so much repetition.

Ownership: 

1971 Hallelujah (LP). Gatefold. You can spot the first edition by the numbered ticket "X 606" on the front cover. Sometimes I think I like the cover more than the music. Though some of the quotes are a bit silly in retrospect, but probably had impact at the time. As I said above - a bit exploitive. Acquired in 2015.

1977 Bellaphon (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 1988.

1989 Bellaphon (CD)

10/8/88; 10/18/12; 6/30/22 (review)

Formerly owned: Adventure; Industrial Retrospect

6/30/22 (new entry)