Record Reviews

CHITINOUS ENSEMBLE ~ CHITINOUS VOCALION 8405 (Barcode: 765387840525) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2005 This strange and beautiful album would have never been released at the time if not for the openness of the DeramFind albums on this label label to issue even the most eccentric material, as long as it had musical merit. The Chitinous EnsembleFind albums by this artist was as fictitious as they come, so named by cellist / composer / arranger Paul BuckmasterFind albums by this artist, who assembled the musicians to perform an ambitious piece of orchestral music he composed. Buckmaster was a gifted and accomplished musician, who was in great demand in UK as arranger and composer, working with top Rock stars like Elton JohnFind albums by this artist, the Bee GeesFind albums by this artist (see OdessaFind albums with this title) and even the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist (see Sticky FingersFind albums with this title). He also composed numerous film scores, including the amazing soundtrack for Roman PolanskiFind albums by this artist’s MacbethFind albums with this title, where he cooperated with the Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist. The ensemble Buckmaster assembled to perform this complex extended composition includes a large string section and a large deployment of his Jazz buddies, all top British Jazz players like Ian CarrFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist on bass, John MarshallFind albums by this artist on drums and many more. The music is a mixture of classical influences with Jazz-Rock rhythmic patterns and modern sound vistas, all combined together into a wonderful sonic experience. It sounds absolutely great today as if time only enhanced the intrinsic beauty included therein. Wholeheartedly recommended for more adventurous listeners.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

G. F. FITZ-GERALD ~ MOUSEPROOF SUNBEAM 5016 (Barcode: 5051125501618) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2006 Scottish guitarist / singer / songwriter G. F. Fitz-GeraldFind albums by this artist recorded his only album with a bunch of excellent musicians, including some legendary figures like singer Judy DybleFind albums by this artist (Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist), tabla virtuoso Sam GopalFind albums by this artist, sax and flute player Geoff LeighFind albums by this artist and many others. The album was a complete commercial failure at the time of its release, disappearing entirely from the market, to be remembered only by a very few people who ever heard it as a gem of great interest. Finally after so many years the album was reissued, for all of us to enjoy. Fitz-Gerald moved on in the meantime into experimental improvised music (see his album with Lol CoxhillFind albums by this artist) and never recorded in the studio again. The album lost nothing of its original charm and magic and after all these years it’s still an absolute gem. Resembling the efforts of groups like ComusFind albums by this artist and perhaps Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist, this is a completely zany, funny, crazy, wonderful mixture of Psychedelics, Jazz, early Improvised Music and Folk. As usual with such mixtures, it is absolutely beyond any specific genre and placing it under Progressive Rock is the best I can do. I really recommend to everybody to try and get hold of a copy of this – it very well might eventually become your favorite album – you never know. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

INCREDIBLE STRING BAND ~ ACROSS THE AIRWAVES HUX 087 (Barcode: 682970000879) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1974 Released: 2007 Incredible String BandFind albums by this artist was one of the most bizarre phenomena on the UK Folk-Rock scene. Formed in 1966 by two folkies Mike HeronFind albums by this artist and Robin WilliamsonFind albums by this artist the band carried on until 1974 with ever changing lineups and kept releasing albums and building up a cult status. They were quite unique in their approach to music, expanding the basic folk roots (both UK and US) into Psychedelic and World Music areas as well as Brechtian cabaret. They always preferred experimentation and hippie attitude to music perfection. The band often included members with very limited musical abilities (girlfriends, roadies and dancers) with off-key singing and seemingly sloppy musical approach, but thanks to the extraordinary songwriting by Heron and Williamson it all worked out magically. One might put the ISB in the same camp with other weird Folk-Rock based ensembles like Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist, Tyrannosaurus RexFind albums by this artist or ComusFind albums by this artist. This album is of immense importance as it collects for the first time recordings of the ISB BBC sessions recorded between 1969 and 1974. As with all other matters, ISB approach to their BBC appearances was quite different from most bands. They used the sessions to perform new material, which was mostly not included on any of their albums, therefore making most of the music included here available for the first time. For all ISB fans this is quite a revelation of course and they’ll surely be delighted to put their hands on this album. For people not familiar with ISB output, this is a wonderful opportunity to try them out. Recommended.

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SHIMSHON MIEL ~ ORCHARD OF THE WHISPERING EMBERS ARS 001 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1977 - 2002 Released: 2007 This is undoubtedly the rarest and most esoteric Israeli Prog release ever. Shimshon MielFind albums by this artist recorded and privately released his solo album in 1977 – something that was practically almost never done at that time. The 200 copies of this legendary LP disappeared almost completely from the surface of earth over the years and the few remaining ones are listed among the rarest of Prog collector’s items, reaching astronomical prices on the market. However, the rarity of the album is not the only reason why this piece of music is so unique. Miel’s Avant-Garde and completely unique approach to music making had only a few parallels at the time (artists like ComusFind albums by this artist, Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist and especially Tyrannosaurus RexFind albums by this artist come to mind). A mixture of Folk, Prog, Psychedelics and Mysticism all combined into a strange and fascinating amalgam. Miel plays all the instruments by himself, multi-tracking acoustic and electric guitars, some percussion instruments and vocals, which are harmonized beautifully. Of course at the time of its release the album had no commercial potential whatsoever (not that anything has really changed in that department since) and was ignored completely, only to emerge 30 years later in its full glory. Kudos to Ozi Ezrati (ex-MIOFind albums on this label Records) for digging out and releasing this gem as a brave act of Prog archeology. The bonus tracks include several home recordings made by Miel over the years. An absolute must for all lovers of weird music and Israeli Prog collectors.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SLINA ~ 42’00” GUSSTAFF 2107 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Polish Improvised Music quartet SlinaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Matylda GerberFind albums by this artist, guitarist Filip ZakrzewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Mikolaj NowickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Stanislaw OlekFind albums by this artist. Synthesizer player Michal SkrzypczynskiFind albums by this artist appears as guest. This time the album presents three tracks, which remain uncredited and therefore assumed to be co-composed by the participating musicians. The music continues the concept introduced on the quartet’s debut from 2019, which offers a slowly developing musical continuity, building up towards a climax, which sounds like meditation music and requires complete submission and concentration in order to listen to all the detailed performances or alternatively simply ignoring the details and flowing passively on the sonic waves. Since the musical concept and overall aesthetics of the music are no longer surprising, it does not stir the same sensation the debut managed to create, but on the other hand the conceptual consistency and the attempt to expand it should be appreciated. The Rock undercurrents, created by the electric guitar, are now even more potent with the addition of the synthesizers, and the music brings fond memories of the British Prog ensembles of the late 60s / early 70s like Third Ear BandFind albums by this artist, early Soft MachineFind albums by this artist, ComusFind albums by this artist, Incredible String BandFind albums by this artist and others, which of course emphasizes the “nihil novi sub sole” principle, for those who know their music in depth. Nevertheless, this is still very exciting (despite its intrinsic sluggishness) music, different from most other stuff within the Polish Avant-Garde scene. Although the slogan of GusstaffFind albums on this label Records, the label that released this album, is “unnecessary music” (no pun intended), this music certainly is quite necessary in every sense and definitely worth being heard,

Updated: 22/05/2021Posted: 22/05/2021

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

THIRD EAR BAND ~ ALCHEMY / ELEMENTS GOTT DISCS 010 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 1st & 2nd albums from 1969 & 1970 by this UK band. Although part of the Prog genre, they were certainly a class in themselves. Using only accoustic instruments (violin, viola, oboe, cello, hand percussion, etc.) and combining ethnic motiffs from the Middle and Far East, they sounded nothing like your average Prog group. The music is instrumental, mostly improvisational in nature and quite dark. The 1st album consists of 8 shorter pieces but the 2nd includes only 4 long raga-like extended soundscapes. They reached only very limited audiences with their visionary music at the time and the albums sold poorly, but they were asked to write and perform the soundtrack to Roman Polanski`s film version of Macbeth (their 3rd album). In retrospect this sounds today every bit as good as it did then, which should be a good enough reason to re-discover them.

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

THIRD EAR BAND ~ THE MAGUS ANGEL AIR 173 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 4th album from 1972. Third Ear Band were one of the most interesting and challenging Prog groups to appear on the UK scene in the late 60`s and early 70`s. Their purely acoustic music, using unusual instrumentation (oboe, violin, etc.) and heavily influenced by mysticism and eastern musical forms, was decades ahead of their time. They released 3 albums (including the last one, which was the soundtrack for Roman Polanski`s Macbeth) and sadly disappeared. Now their 4th album, which remained unreleased till now, is finaly out for all of us to enjoy. What a delightful discovery!

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend