Agnus - Pinturas y Expresiones. 1980 Argentina

Not only is this a private pressing, but the music is surprisingly great and reasonably well recorded. The type of album, had it been on a major label, would have likely been an all-time classic, though I have to admit to enjoying the amateurish charm. This is progressive rock with a capital P, so not one to miss out on if you're a dedicated fan.

Ownership: CD: 1996 Progressive Rock Worldwide. Purchased new upon release. Excellent reissue with full album details, a history in English, and many photos. No bonus tracks. Also, the label decided to reorder the tracks. It appears they "front loaded" the more progressive songs. Personally I think the original LP order flows better. One can always reprogram the CD to that effect.

1996; 4/19/20 (new entry)

Sweet Slag ~ England

Tracking with Close-Ups (1971)

Like its moniker, Sweet Slag's album is a very messy affair, but intriguing all the same. More like a free rock album with jazz components and an unusual vocalist. There's really nothing like it, maybe The Running Man, but even that is a distant guidepost. No commercial potential whatsoever and will always be a cult like favorite. For me, it's a bit out of bounds, but something I do enjoy on occasion and plan on keeping.

Ownership: 2006 Air Mail (CD). Textured papersleeve. Liner notes in Japanese. Acquired in 2020.

6/15/07; 8/13/19; 4/19/20 (review / new entry)

Electric Sandwich. 1972 Germany

'China' is about as great a representation of the entire 1972 Krautrock scene as one could ever find. It's heavy, it's psychedelic, and it has that vibe. From here, the music moves towards more hard rock realms, but also some jazzy sequences, and all out progressive rock. One of my favorite albums on Brain - no small feat considering how many great albums are on the label.

Ownership: LP: 1972 Brain. Gatefold. Online acquisition (2019). 

CD: 1997 Repertoire. Jewel case with liner notes and two bonus tracks from their subsequent 45. This was my introduction to the album, one of the last classic Brain albums for me to hear.

5//98; 4/16/20 (new entry)

Frumpy - Frumpy 2. 1971 Germany

Frumpy are one of those bands that I tend to forget what they sound like. I've had all 4 albums, and 3 are no longer around. It's only their sophomore album that seems to have made the grade. In listening to Frumpy 2 for the first time in 20+ years, it becomes apparent as to why my memory banks slip here. Quite frankly, there's not much songcraft with Frumpy. I've never really cared much for Inga Rumpf's masculine delivery. Had the music been more blues based, perhaps I could savor it more. She's kind of annoying actually. With that prelude, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Frumpy were named Germany's best band by the music press in 1971. In reality, there were many such bands like Frumpy back then - long flights of instrumental rock music dominated by organ and guitar. But it was Frumpy who got the recognition while the others were left to the bargain bins, only to be rediscovered 15 to 20 years later - by then collector's items all.

And while revisits to their 2 studio albums that bookend this one have yet to yield favorable results, Frumpy 2 continues to satisfy on multiple fronts. And songwriting isn't one of them. So what is the allure then? It's the instrumental work. In particular, Jean-Jacques Kravetz (whose solo work is also great) shines on the Hammond organ, and even the mellotron. The final 12 minute track is a corker, and it's here that guitarist Rainer Baumann gets his moment in the sun. Overall, it's Frumpy at what they do best: Jam. And not in the modern sense, but one with urgency, as if there's no tomorrow. If looking to venture into Germany's "best group", Frumpy 2 is definitely the place to start.

Ownership: CD: 1993 Repertoire. This pressing is sufficient, with original photos as well as the full lyrics, plus a short history of the group. Purchased online in the late 90s.

Vinegar. 1971 Germany

This is exactly why I love the original era of Krautrock so much! This is unhinged psychedelic creativity from the grassroots movement itself. No major label advance towards commercialism or a modern day studied approach to revisionism - just simply the real deal. And this one has it all: Tribal drums, acid guitar, wordless female voice, primitive organ and handmade electronic "devices". Starts out in a subtle way, recalling oddly enough the Dutch group Ahora Mazda or the French band Ame Son. But as those excellent bands head off into freaky jazz mode, Vinegar go classic underground Krautrock. Right at the 7 minute mark when the organ enters, we are in prime Amon Duul II territory - fresh off the grooves of Yeti and Tanz der Lemminge. And the last track could have been an outtake from Side 2 of Ash Ra Tempel's Schwingungen. In fact, the album itself easily could have been an original Ohr release.

Ownership: LP: 1971 Phono Verlag Werner Purrmann; CD: 2003 Garden of Delights. I obtained the original LP via a European catalog circa 1998 or so. It wasn't cheap, but a bargain compared to today's prices. The CD is the usual great GoD job with full liners. No bonus tracks, which tells us there were none be found.

5/13/11 (RYM) 

Odin ~ Germany

Odin (1972)

I thought I'd already published this on UMR, but guess not. OK, here are some old notes: "I've felt for a long time that Odin is one of the finest of the organ based progressive hard rock groups. They are closer in sound to Orange Peel, Eiliff, and Eloy circa Inside than they are to Nektar, a band they are frequently compared to (I think it could be the expatriate-in-Germany thing). Odin also adds an air of sophistication, as they are clearly indebted to Frank Zappa's jazz rock offerings. The long bookend tracks here are absolute monsters, but there's a tiny bit of mediocrity that creeps in the middle, which is the only thing keeping this from being 5 stars. But still a classic. Oh my, those organ jams are indeed sublime!". And my view now is very similar. I never tire of the classic Krautrock bands with heavy organ, loud guitar, and jazzy dispositions.
 

Ownership: 1972 Vertigo (LP). With poster. Swirl label; 2007 Long Hair (CD). Liner notes and one lengthy live track (only decent sound, but great music).

1997 (acquired); 10/30/07; 3/24/20 (review / new entry)

Imperium ~ Netherlands

Too Short a Season (1993)

---4/28/01

One of those time and place albums for me. In 1994, there still wasn't a ton of this kind of music on the market, and I was hungry for it. There's a Dream Theater component, but much rawer, and still traces of thrash throughout. I find the raw sound, and higher pitched and relatively calm singer, very appealing. There's quite a bit of innovative riffing and plenty of rhythmic changes to keep it interesting. Today, music like this can be easily found - having been done countless times, and likely by bands more talented. But I appreciate the enthusiasm and pioneering spirit. If you already have a lot of music like this, then Imperium will likely not move the needle. But if not, and coming at it from an historical perspective, you may be pleasantly surprised. It's an album I've enjoyed consistently for over 25 years.

Ownership: 1994 Leviathan (CD). Standard layout with lyrics. Acquired in 1994.

1994; 4/28/01 (review); 5/15/20 (update / new entry)

Trúbrot ‎- Undir Áhrifum. 1970 Iceland

Many years ago I had heard a couple of the Trubrot albums as well as the Odmenn release. None really impressed me that much. A recent bulk buy included this title, Trubrot's second, which I had yet to hear prior. It's much better than I expected. Starts off a bit slow, but by track 4 'Relax', the album improves considerably. 'Sunbath' might be my favorite of the album. All of Side 2 is excellent. The music is at the crossroads of the early progressive/psych sound, and the shorter songs are more psychedelic pop in nature. There is a bit of a Beatles' effect on Side 1 - that is there is no consistency - but Trubrot pull it off reasonably well. A surprise addition to my collection.

Ownership: CD: 2009 Shadoks. Excellent reissue with full liner notes, photos, and lyrics. No bonus tracks though.

Ramses - Eternity Rise. 1978 Germany

Eternity Rise naturally sees the band moving toward more commercial waters. In retrospect though, it's only the two side openers that put much effort into radio charting. The remainder isn't that much different than La Leyla. Today, I hear both albums as excellent, one no better than the other. 

Ownership: LP: 1978 Sky CD; 1993 Sky w/ La Leyla. The LP is a recent online acquisition. The CD is discussed on the La Leyla entry.

Super Freego ~ France

Pourquoi Es-Tu Si Méchant? (1982)

If you ever wondered what it would sound like if The Human League or Missing Persons were a Zeuhl influenced group, then Super Freego gives you a window into that world. Stylistically it fits in the early 80s New Wave synth pop camp. Except all these irregular rhythms combined with the familiar male/female chanting clearly point to that most unique French school of music. And it gets weirder as you go through the album, that by Side 2 it's almost purely Zeuhl. I've seen a couple of YouTube videos that demonstrate that Super Freego were a far wilder group on stage than in the studio, which gives me some hope there might be some crazy Zeuhl music sitting in a canister somewhere. The only other album that even comes close to sounding like this is Eskaton's Fiction, though that album is far closer to pure Zeuhl than Super Freego. Maybe Foehn's Faeria, though Super Freego are much more intense than that. Excellent album.

No reissues exist as of 5/21/25.

Ownership: 1982 RCA (LP). With lyric insert. Acquired in 1997.

1997; 10/24/10 (review); 4/14/20 (update / new entry)

Aku Aku ~ Czech Republic

Humanquake (1991)

Like the Saisei Koubou album from Japan, Bohemia's Aku Aku seem to have digested King Crimson's darkest period, that of Larks Tongues in Aspic through to Red. The heavy guitar, bass, and violin are obvious earmarks of the Wetton years. Of course the Czech vocals give it a local flair. There's also a distinct punkish feel in a couple of places. In this way, they remind me of another sentimental favorite Czech 90s group - Dunaj.

As an aside, the Czech scene of the early 90s was an exciting time (MCH Band, Stromboli, Dunaj, Iva Bittova, Uz Jsme Doma, etc..), and I was privileged to experience a lot of these bands from 1990-1994, as I spent a good percentage of my backpacking years in post Communist-Eastern Europe. I didn't discover Aku Aku until after that, though.

Ownership: 1991 Pro Art (LP). Gatefold

1//97 (acquired); 2/16/11 (review); 4/14/20 (update / new entry)

The Union ~ USA ~ Los Angeles, California

Distance Traveled (1986)

The Union, from Los Angeles, is another new discovery for me. It's been a known quantity for some years, but I hadn't heard this album prior. I think I looked for it on YouTube once and it's not there. As luck would have it, I was able to secure a copy on ebay for cheap, and that's the way I prefer to first hear things anyway - on my stereo!

The general consensus is The Union is an out-of-time early 70s UK styled hard rock / prog album. It definitely isn't an 80s type album, and it does very much sound like an album from the 70s, where the only concession would be the synthesizer solo work. And the cover is really great, once again pointing to an earlier era. I had secretly hoped for one of those classic US late 70s private pressing hard rock albums - those that are proggy but still belong to hard rock. Like UHF, Legend, early Manilla Road, etc... No such luck. I would submit that The Union are grounded in folk rock, but with clear progressive rock ambition. Side 2 is a one track long epic with sub-titles like 'The Evolution of a Realization' and 'In the Heart of the Cerebral Forest'. Thunderpussy anyone? Perhaps closer to the mark, but there's no proto metal here. The instrumental work is progressive rock all the way, and there's plenty to enjoy. But the vocal pieces are straightforward folk rock numbers (for example 'Hope to Find' and 'Why Not Laugh') that lack the ingenuity within that one looks for on a prog rock record. It's almost yin / yang in that way.

For 1986, this is an incredible find. I cannot think of a year worse for progressive rock music. From an overall perspective, it remains a very good album, though not great by any means. Well worth seeking out for sure.

Ownership: 1986 Laughing Tree (LP)

4/14/20 (review / new entry)

Maelstrom ~ USA ~ Florida

Maelstrom (1973)

Maelstrom were a band originally from Florida (and later Indiana) who mixed in Canterbury type sounds with more traditional prog rock. At times they were brilliant, and others a bit more meandering. This latter element would show up more for their next album, which was closer to free jazz, and is a difficult listen.

I have confirmed with the owner of Black Moon that 1973 originals really do exist. There's less than five known copies. Highly likely it was just a test press, perhaps to send out to record companies. As of 10/11/25, the original is not in Discogs.

Ownership: 1997 Black Moon (CD). Booklet with full credits, live bonus tracks, and original artwork (what is shown here). 

5//97 (acquired); 10/30/15; 4/5/20 (review / new entry)

Introducing our newest blog - Unknown Vinyl Records

I inadvertently picked up a new hobby while seeking albums for our Purple Peak Records store (and my personal collection). That is - the unknown record. Or little known...

This is not another progressive rock oriented blog, but rather covers all (well, most) kinds of music. It's really for the amusement and curiosity of my fellow crate diggers. The good news for me is that while my competition are all battling at the estate sales for the same Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd albums, I'm peacefully going about looking for crazy obscurities. And sure, anything I can sell of value through our shop or at the record shows. It's been a fun year, that of course is temporarily on hold due to the virus at hand. Colorado was hit relatively hard, so I suspect our Governor is going to keep us in our houses longer than some other states will. And we will abide. With any luck at all, we'll be back out there soon enough. Let's hope for that.

The blog is here: https://unknownvinylrecords.blogspot.com/

More info about it here: https://unknownvinylrecords.blogspot.com/2020/03/now-what-are-you-doing.html

Almost done with the 45s and will be adding the LPs soon.

Enjoy and stay safe out there!

Amanita - L'Oblio. 1996 Italy

Amanita's sole album is one of those hidden gems buried deep in my collection. I bought this not long after it was released and always found it fascinating, though I'm not sure it struck me as anything great originally. In fact, I probably thought about selling it in the 90s. Times change, and our ears evolve. For some of my collection, the music hasn't aged well for me - usually the cold, clinical, technical side of progressive rock. Amanita is pretty much the opposite of that, and what one would normally associate with the 90s. Basically L'Oblio is old school early 70s Italian prog with a predominant flute presence - it's rough, amateurish at times, and wonderfully adventurous. But it gets better. Not only do they tap into that obscure 70s sound like Capitolo 6 and Delirium, but the guitar sound - and overall production - reminds me of the late 70s American private press hard rock culture! So imagine Legend (Connecticut) playing the music of Osanna. Singing properly in Italian. This is more in tune with what's going on today with the retro prog bands. Ironic in that they were ahead of their time. Not intentional by any means I'm sure. In fact, I doubt they were trying to emulate anyone. Even better as far as I'm concerned. Not for everyone of course, but the review above will resonate with those of us who appreciate these kind of sounds. Even the person who released it only gave it 3 stars on RYM. So there you have it.

Ownership: CD: 1996 Mellow. Standard jewel case new album with a fine booklet. Purchased new online upon release.

Tangerine Dream - The Official Bootleg Series Volume Three. 1977; 1982 Germany

These vintage Tangerine Dream live albums never fail to satisfy. The 1977 set is the Detroit live concert of which snippets were taken for the Encore album. 'Cherokee Lane' and 'Monolight' apparently were scripted for most of the concerts, so no major revelations there. But once Edgar plugs in the guitar for 'The Emerald Beyond', it becomes absolutely jaw dropping. 'Conjuration' also features some intense Froese soloing. I never knew that Tangerine Dream ever revisited their Electronic Meditation years - but the Detroit concert (and probably others from the tour) proves that they did!

The 1982 set is from Sydney, Australia. They played the entire White Eagle album, and it's verbatim to the original. So that's disappointing (the music is great, just it's the exact same). However, the live versions - and placement - of their Force Majeure, Exit, and Logos material are excellent and do vary from the original source. In addition there's about 35 minutes of unique material, at least from a studio album perspective, all of it excellent. So once again, it's a revelation. I really enjoy the early Schmoelling years of Tangerine Dream, and this live set gives me one more album to savor.

Ownership: CD: 2019 Reactive/Esoteric (UK). These Tangerine Dream box sets are Esoteric's best work in years. And the liner notes, posters, photos, etc... are entertaining and insightful. Essential for fans.

Flower Travellin' Band - Satori. 1971 Japan

When talking great hard rock albums, here's yet another brilliant example. To be honest, I'm not a huge Flower Travellin' Band fan (though revisits are certainly overdue), but Satori is everything one could want from the style. Impassioned vocals, screaming electric guitar, tribal drums, indigenous themes, and just mayhem in general. Super.

Ownership: CD: 1991 Warner Bros. Old school jewel case with liner notes in Japanese, long before the mini-LP revolution. Has one bonus track.

1997 (first listen); 7/2/15; 3/16/20 (review / new entry)

Seedog ~ Germany

We Hope to See You... (1974)

On a label most known for two highly regarded avant Krautrock albums - Code III and Sand - Seedog couldn't be more different. This album has a poor reputation, most likely a reaction to the fact its not anywhere near the same style of the two aforementioned bands. It's not Krautrock in the traditional style, yet many of the elements are present: Soaring flute, long tracks, and loud guitar solos. It would be passable as an album on Brain, perhaps a companion piece to albums by Cornucopia, Lava, and Satin Whale. We Hope to See You is song oriented, with way too many vocals in accented English. But it's surprisingly listenable with a chugging acoustic guitar driving the generally happy tone of the album. Had Agitation Free added a multitude of vocals after their Second album, then I could imagine Seedog coming from that. And, as it turns out, a former Agitation Free member indeed is a member of Seedog. Much better than I expected.

No reissues as of 3/28/25.

Ownership: 1974 Delta-Acustic (LP)  

1/21/10; 3/13/20 (review / new entry)

Xalph. 1975; 1980 France (archival)

Xalph were one of many French bands to take the Magma baton and run with it. From the Monster Melodies reissue, we learn that Xalph had many different group lineups throughout their history. It becomes apparent, in retrospect, that Xalph not recording an album proper was a major lost opportunity. The original mover and shaker of Xalph was guitarist and chief songwriter Jean-Pierre Daran and the lion's share of this archival release comes from what is known as the Xalph 2 lineup (1975). During this time, it would appear Zao to be more the primary influence than Magma themselves. It's all instrumental with an underground jazz rock vibe. Guitar, Rhodes, and saxophone (light) lead the solo and melodic lines. Historically speaking, this is a great find, as these recordings were not known to exist even 25 years ago (and likely more recent than that). The recording quality is very good - certainly not ready for prime time, but excellent for something like this. The last track 'Gya-Tei' is from a completely different era of Xalph (known as Xalph 7). This two part song was recorded in 1980, and was previously released by Musea for their Enneade compilation. There are no shared band members between the 2 recordings. However, keyboardist Serge Korjanevski joined the Xalph 3 group, which was formed very shortly after the recordings above. So he most certainly was well versed in the Xalph repertoire and style. Various incarnations of the group continued to form and thus the Xalph legacy was secured, despite no original members remaining. For Jean-Pierre Daran, he finally called it quits in 1978 and Korjanevski took the reins. If you're not already familiar with the track itself, it's a bit closer to the Zeuhl center with chanting vocals layered on top of the Zao styled sound the band had always pursued. For Zeuhl fans, this archival release is a must own item.

Ownership: LP: 2018 Monster Melodies. Recent online acquisition. One cannot accuse of Monster Melodies of skimping on their product. Once again we are treated to a lavish package, perhaps the only complaint being that they went forward with a single sleeve cover. Well, and the lack of historical liner notes, which seems a bit crazy at this point. On the plus side though, there's a poster, a ticket stub, a letter in French from Magma vocalist Klaus Blasquiz (a record label offer I think), and a band family tree. The poster is from a 1979 concert that also featured Univers Zero, Art Zoyd, and Vortex (wow!). And the ticket stub is from a 1978 show with Noetra, who I didn't realize went that far back. It's pressed on clear vinyl for those who care about such things (not I). If you do own the Musea Enneade comp, then you will find a brief history of Xalph, though it's not very informative to be honest.

Psychotic Waltz - The God-Shaped Void. 2020 USA-California

I should have waited and read the reviews first, as most of them are pretty accurate. I wanted more from this release - perhaps a hint of A Social Grace or Into the Everflow, but no such luck. Mostly this is grounded in the alt-metal sound of the 90s - especially the vocals, which is not in my wheelhouse. But all is not lost. There is a psychedelic quirkiness in the songwriting, and some unexpected twists - not the jarring kind, but rather something odd sounding. And the flute goes a long way to helping the sound palette. I found the second half much better than the first (though the opening track is great too). It's good enough to keep, so I'll report it here. We'll see if I still agree a few years from now when the standards will likely be even more strict. 

CD: 2020 InsideOut. Standard jewel case. The booklet has a fine layout, with lyrics, original artwork, and a current photo of the band.

3/10/20 (new entry); 6/8/22 (removed from collection)