INXS - The Swing. 1984 Australia

By the time INXS really made a name for themselves in the late 80s, I was so far detached from contemporary music I barely knew who they were. The Swing is one of their earlier albums, and comes at a time when I might have heard some of this, but wouldn't recollect it - or care about it. Now is the right time for me to digest albums such as this. I enjoy INXS at this stage of their career for the same reason I like Duran Duran. It's fast paced, crisp, a touch of funk, and catchy. Best of all is that INXS brings 2 guitarists to the party so there's more than a nod to hard rock here - buried under the glossy production mind you. Not all of The Swing is convincing, and it can get way too close to ordinary pop at times. But I heard enough to give it some space for the short term anyway.

Ownership: LP: 1984 ATCO. Gatefold with printed inner bag. Not a lot of gatefolds in the 80s, so that's something different. And yes, yet another great deal at the Denver Record show, though this title surprisingly doesn't go for that much compared to other 80s albums of its ilk.

10/24/22 (new entry)

Cloven Hoof. 1984 England

Cloven Hoof's debut is my kind of NWOBHM. One of those quirky all-over-the-place releases that seemingly have no rhyme or reason. All within the confines of late 70s hard rock and early 80s metal. This was an era of great invention, but strictly in the underground. Somewhat like Legend in that way. Cloven Hoof were about 2 years too late to capture the audience they needed. By 1984, thrash was the name of the game, and antiquated pseudo proggy heavy bands were being pushed to the sidelines. Had I discovered this real time, most assuredly I would have considered this one of the greatest metal albums in my collection. 38 years later, I finally heard it. Never too late. Looking for the interesting side of the NWOBHM movement? Listen to Cloven Hoof.

Ownership: LP: 1984 Neat. Single sleeve with lyric inner. One more from my local seller friend. This will be the last one I cover until the next round of new arrival LPs. I still have a few Anthem's and Axewitch's, and hopefully a bunch of new acquisitions from him by then too.

9/13/22 (new entry)

Dio - The Last in Line. 1984 USA

Pretty much everything I said about Holy Diver I could say about the group's sophomore effort The Last in Line. I had this rated slightly lower, and have now put them on equal footing again. This is meat and potatoes heavy metal. 'Egypt' even introduces some mild complexity. Want a perfect example of basic 80s metal to play for your friends and relatives? Here you go.

Ownership: LP: 1984 Warner Bros. Single sleeve. A familiar tale by now. Bought this when it came out, then ultimately tired of this kind of metal, and sold it off. Bought the CD many years later for the price of a pack of gum, and thought it better than I remembered. And then the original LP is offered back to me in perfect shape for dirt cheap. OK, I'll buy it again lol. From the same local dealer as the others. I'll probably sell it again at some point, but we'll give it some space in the near term.

3//14; 7/29/19; 8/22/22 (new entry)

Fastway - All Fired Up! 1984 England

Fastway was originally created by Fast Eddie Clarke of Motorhead and Pete Way of UFO (hence the name), but the latter didn't stick around long enough to record. This new band was all the talk in the metal magazines of 1982 and 1983. When I heard the debut - or at least parts of it - it wasn't heavy enough for me, and I passed on the band. Here we are some 38 years later, and I'm hearing a Fastway album for the first time all the way through. All Fired Up! is their sophomore effort, and isn't really metal at all. This is tried and true mid 1970s hard rock, bluesy style. Better than Whitesnake, but not as nuanced as Led Zeppelin. Dave King is an excellent singer and Clarke's guitar riffs and solos are solid. Good album for the style, though nothing that climbs a new mountain. I'll keep it for now. Maybe it's just me, but doesn't Clarke look like one of the Founding Fathers? Put a powdered wig on him and take a gander. There's a thought - Fast Eddie Clarke penning the US Constitution. Why not - everything else seems to have happened in the last 5 years...

Ownership: LP: 1984 Columbia (USA). Single sleeve. Always happy to find albums by bands like Fastway in the thrift bin, which is highly unusual, especially in mint condition like this. 

1/30/21; 12/10/21 (new entry)

Plasticland. 1984 USA-Wisconsin

I certainly knew of Plasticland but never actually heard their music until now. Wow! I had no idea that America was harboring such an authentic psych band - in the early 1980s! These guys were retro long before it became fashionable. I've heard plenty of 80s bands with some psychedelic influences, but they're still 80s sounding bands, many of them coming from the New Wave camp. Not Plasticland. This is late 60s psych all the way. And the songwriting is fantastic, very much like the best of those 45/SP compilations (and there's 15 tracks - almost as many as on a CD comp!). Great acid fuzztone guitars, and plenty of mellotron too (an extinct instrument in the 80s, not to mention there isn't that much use of it in authentic 60s psych either). Considering the out-of-time space rock band F/i, Milwaukee had it going on in the 80s, that's for sure. This predates Sun Dial's Other Way Out by 6 years, and it's very much on the same plane. Easy recommendation for fans of neo psych.

Ownership: LP: 1984 Pink Dust/Enigma. Single sleeve. Pink vinyl. One of the real anomalies in RT's collection - hope to find more like this! Surprisingly not that expensive of an album, so worth snapping up if you get a chance. Doesn't the guy on the right (I think he's the main songwriter) look like Elton John?

Stone Fury - Burns Like a Star. 1984 USA-California

Stone Fury are most known for being the breeding ground for vocalist Lenny Wolf, later of the popular Led Zeppelin copyist band Kingdom Come. Burns Like a Star is a hybrid of hard rock and 1980 styled heavy metal. Obviously Wolf's vocals take center stage, and one can tell with a bit of training, he could tame his voice to be that of Robert Plant's. He can be a bit overwrought here though. Even better though is the inventive guitar riffing. I didn't expect much from the album, but this is definitely a cut above for the style. My favorites are 'I Hate to Sleep Alone' and 'Tease'. Also to mention there's some good solos here and the songwriting is more thought out than one might initially think. A little bit of "80's balladry" here and there, but this one's solid. Keeper.

Ownership: LP: 1984 MCA. Single sleeve. 50 cent bin raid from Independent (2020). 

11/25/20 (first listen / review / new entry)

Trouble. 1984 USA-Illinois

I had my hands on this album a couple of times in the 80s while still in college, but just couldn't pull the trigger. I had recently purchased The Skull, and as mentioned in that post, I wasn't overwhelmed at the time. It's an album that has grown in stature with me some threefold. Obviously new copies of the debut were still around at normal prices. In retrospect, it probably was the right move, only in that the debut is not that dissimilar to The Skull. Perhaps a bit more Black Sabbathy and less mid paced 80s metal crunch, but essentially it's in the same ballpark. And because of that, I also think this album is great. They were pioneers of thoughtful slow metal, when just about everyone else was going a mile a minute - and not necessarily thinking it through either. Trouble has transcended time very well.

Ownership: LP: 1984 Metal Blade. Single sleeve. Recent acquisition from a local Denver record store. It was on the wall where the expensive and rare stuff is. And it wasn't cheap for sure, but still a bargain compared to what it's selling for online. Mint too and still in shrink. Even if I bought one new in 1985 or 86, it's likely it would not have remained in this good of shape!

new entry

Lahost - Erotic Antiques. 1984-1985 England (archival)

Lahost are a very good example of the 1980's New Wave of British Progressive Rock scene. Tight, energetic, melodic, complex, and fun.

The above represented my scratch off notes from nearly a decade ago. And probably I need not say more, as that about covers it. But I will anyway... I first read about Lahost in the metal magazines of the middle 80s (like Kerrang for example), who dabbled with the much smaller ongoing progressive rock scene (many of the UK music writers in those days had prog backgrounds). But nothing really ever emerged from Lahost, originally known as The Host. Two cassettes were released, though neither are shown on Discogs as I write this. The 2 cassettes, plus a single, and a live recording make up Erotic Antiques.

It would be hard to find a more perfect definition of the NWOBPR movement than to play Erotic Antiques for someone. They definitely played to the commercial wing of said movement, and yet no matter how hard they tried, every track comes out very much a progressive rock composition. Only 'Just Breaking Away' comes across as one that panders to the masses. On the other side of the aisle sits 'The Drowning Pool', the only overt progressive rock track found here. They absolutely nail the ethos of the era. We're talking big puffy white shirts and poofy hair to go with it. It's Friday night in 1984, and we're headlining the Marquee club. So when I say "tight, energetic, melodic, complex, and fun", those adjectives cannot be escaped. Imagine a head-on collision between Saga's Heads or Tales and IQ's The Wake, with some early 80s Peter Gabriel solo era collateral damage, and you have found the sound of Lahost.

Lahost is the progressive rock definition of 1984 London, for better or worse. If you love the cassette culture of the era, as I do, then Erotic Antiques is an absolute must. For those where the word "commercial" makes you cringe, then you might want to give a wide berth around.

Personal collection
CD: 1992 UGUM (France)

Sadly this represents the entirety of Lahost's output, though no doubt any subsequent releases would have only become more slick and unbearable. The CD today has become quite hard to source.

Solaris - Marsbéli Krónikák. 1984 Hungary

If you ask a hardcore progressive rock fan what the worst decade of music was, "The 80s" is the automated response. And while I'll stand by that same position, a deep dive into the decade gives us another perspective. 1980 was in reality an extension of the 70s artistically speaking. 1981 to 1983 held plenty of wonderful privately released progressive rock gems primarily from France, Scandinavia, USA, and Germany. Not to mention the promise the original New Wave of British Progressive Rock once projected. And then from 1987 onward, we experienced the renaissance that continues to this day. But the real barren years did exist in the middle - 1984 to 1986 was a graveyard for traditional progressive rock. Fans of fringe areas - like avant prog - will counter that it may have been the golden age as bands like Univers Zero and Present were at their peak. And of course other genres, like heavy metal and various forms of electronic, were also experiencing new high water marks. But if you wanted 70's styled symphonic prog, well it was going to be tough sledding for sure.

I bring this point up in a Solaris review, because Marsbeli Kronikak is the gem in the rough - the very best symphonic prog album in that three year time frame. Isolated in still Communist Hungary may have played a role in that - not to mention a relatively more lenient regime in regards to the arts than other Iron Curtain countries at the time.

Recently I had reviewed Tako's second album, and talked about symphonic fusion - a genre that isn't recognized today, but was frequently referred to 25 years ago and beyond. And that's exactly where you'll find the music of Solaris. The primary difference here is the copious use of sequencer based electronics that lay the bedrock for the symphonic progressive music on top. Attila Kollar's flute is magnificent as ever,and he often drives the instantly-recognizable Solaris style melodies. Istvan Cziglan's hard edged guitar, and Robert Erdesz's fine synthesizer work round out the leads.

For us prog fans back in the mid 80's who were desperate for quality 70s styled progressive rock, Solaris was a godsend. In retrospect some 35 years later - they still are.

Ownership: LP: 1984 Start. Single sleeve.

CD: 1995 Gong. The CD has 2 bonus tracks, that sound a bit more modern than the album proper.

You - Wonders From the Genetic Factory. 1984 Germany

Wonders From the Genetic Factory is You's 3rd studio album, and definitely the weakest from the original incarnation. This one has quite a bit of computer drum work and happy melody lines, which can get a bit nauseous after awhile. However, there's a surprising amount of mellotron on here, which is a very unique combination, and thus I moved it up to "keeper" status. Imagine mid 1970's Stratosfear-era Tangerine Dream playing Le Parc. Well, I know, but try. They were to bounce back mightily on their 4th album Laserscape, which is one of the 1980's best Elektronik Musik albums... meiner Meinung nach, of course.

Personal collection
CD: 1996 Cue

Uppsala - s/t. 1984 France

Where to even begin here? Uppsala is a square-on bulls-eye for the Zeuhl genre... via a mutant early 1980s New Wave lens. They would hardly be alone with the New Wave bit when one considers Superfreego, Foehn, and Fiction-era Eskaton. But... no, it's not like that either. Band leader Phillippe Cauvin sings in a strange high pitched voice (not in Kobaian, but a crazy scat / French hybrid - or onomatopoeic as the liner notes state), at times even evoking Devo of all groups. There's a strain of complex jazz fusion, as well as early 80s Belew era King Crimson. Highly unique for sure, and if you can tolerate those distinct early/mid 1980s tones, then Uppsala is going to be an instant hit in your household. Even stranger is the 3 bonus tracks on the Musea CD, where the band is playing live in 1995, and continuing on as if not much has changed in 10 years. But now with early 70s styled psychedelic guitar layered on top (recalling Cauvin's own past with Absinthe) - something that would have added at least a half point to the original studio recording. There's nothing else quite like Uppsala. I think it's appeal is wide if considering Zeuhl, early 80s Crimson, and late 70s fusion. Though dedicated fans of all 3 may be scratching their head, trying to understand what the other genres are doing to screw up their style. Yea, this is one to get for sure.

Personal collection
CD: 2001 Musea

Circles - More Circles. 1984 Germany

In comparison to their debut, More Circles not only moves Circles much further ahead in time to their current era, but also about one country to the west. There is no doubt the duo was heavily influenced by one Richard Pinhas on a track like 'Several Steps...'. Some of these compositions could have been outtakes from Heldon's Interface or Pinhas' own Chronolyse. While I was amazed at how the debut captured the zeitgeist of the original Krautrock scene, here they seem to have completely embedded themselves into 1979 France. If you're like me, and your idea of a good time is listening to loud fuzz guitar up front with synthesizers providing the backdrop, well then... grab yourself a copy of More Circles. One will also pick up a distinct Tangerine Dream influence circa Phaedra, especially with the echoed "bird calls". In addition to this, there are also some far out avant garde ideas as well ('Mental Dart' in particular). Final track 'Spiral Dance' reminds one of classic Neu! Overall, an uncompromising piece of music.

Personal collection
CD: 2016 Mental Experience (Spain)

Exact same situation as with the debut: The CD reissue is taken from vinyl (masters are gone), but remastered nicely by Alan Freeman (Ultima Thule) and includes his full liner notes as well. An excellent reissue. Also to mention, Alan Freeman reviews each album individually per release, which is a nice touch. 

Cytrus - Kurza Twarz. 1980-1985 Poland (archival)

If you ever wondered what it would sound like if mid 1970s Kansas mixed with early 1980s Solaris - and who wouldn't wonder about that? - then you now have your answer. With perhaps some additional guitar rave-ups similar to late 70s Fermata. It's obscure prog blender night! Seriously though, this archival release from Poland's Cytrus is absolute dynamite. Recorded from various radio studio sessions over a period from 1980 to 1985, the band goes on to prove they are an instrumental tour de force. At least for the first 11 tracks presented here (1980-82, 84). The final 4 tracks (1983; 85) apply vocals to a bit more conventional songwriting, though they never stray too far away from a creative break... or three. Cytrus' wunderkind is Marian Narkowicz, the inventive gentleman who provides both the violin and the flute.

Personal collection
CD: 2006 Metal Mind

The CD comes with full liner notes in Polish, but laid out so one can easily discern the salient facts. Many photos as well. Wonderful sound too.

Intra - s/t. 1976-1990 USA (archival)

Over a year ago, we featured a fantastic archival find from Pittsburgh by a band called Arabesque. Prior to that, Shroom hit gold with Intra. After years of silence, Shroom has reappeared, so hopefully they have more archival discoveries like this!

This is yet another classic progressive rock album from the Midwest USA - this time Cleveland. The UK group Yes once again plays a major role in the overall sound, though snippets of other progressive rock groups enter here and there. A bit more complex, and less radio friendly than some of their peers. Hence they never found anyone to release their material in the first place! Definitely a product of the region it comes from.

The below matrix represents the recording dates:

Tracks 1-5. 1976
6-7. 1984
8-9. 1990
9-11. 1980 live

Perhaps most remarkable is the consistency of the music quality across the 15 year duration.

CD: 1999 Shroom

Werwolf - Creation. 1984 Germany

Werwolf are somewhat typical of the early 1980's German symphonic rock scene. Not particularly complex, with emphasis on melody and atmosphere, and some fine guitar work. There's a Christian undertone to the lyrics and they're predictably sung by an airy sounding female. Their music fits squarely with others of its ilk like Eden, Credemus, Rousseau, Rebekka, Amenophis, even Epidaurus. Very pleasant.

CD: 2004 Black Rills (Switzerland)
CD: 1992 Laser's Edge (USA)

A very obscure album in original form, I learned of this album like most folks via The Laser's Edge reissue, which I bought immediately upon release (1992). Black Rills later reissued it (since it was long OOP) with 3 bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are also found on Garden of Delights' Psychedelic Gems 3 compilation, which I own as well.  Ultimately I kept just the Black Rills version, which is similar in sound to The Laser's Edge release, with a little enhancement.