Record Reviews

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

BEGNAGRAD ~ BEGNAGRAD MIO 006 ~ SLOVENIA ~ Progressive Rock Excellent album (recorded 1982) by this Slovenian Prog group, which is considered close in spirit to the RIO movement, although the group members did not hear of their Western counterparts. A very strange and interesting mixture of folklore influenced music with Jazz and contemporary Classical, with rhythmic changes springing out of nowhere and naver a dull moment around. An absolute must to all the more advanturous Prog listeners and of course an important document of the East-Eauropean culture.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SHMULIK KRAUS ~ A CRIMINAL RECORD MIO 007 ~ ISRAEL ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 Israeli singer / songwriter Shmulik KrausFind albums by this artist is one of the founders of Israeli Pop / Rock. A member of the first legendary Israeli Pop group - The High WindowsFind albums by this artist - he wrote scores of tunes, many of which are considered as classics today. He still continues to write and record. This album was his second solo effort and was written entirely while Kraus was imprisoned after a drug related trial. Accompanied by some first rate musicians (like Haim RomanoFind albums by this artist - the guitarist of The ChurchillsFind albums by this artist and Aharon KaminskyFind albums by this artist - later of The PlatinaFind albums by this artist) he delivers a fiery set of songs which mix pop, rock and psychedelia. A piece of history!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PHILIPPE BESOMBES ~ LIBRA MIO 008 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Besombes was one of the most important French Avant-Garde artists in the 1970`s and this - his first album (recorded 1973) - is a great example of his work. The music was composed as a soundtrack to an experimental film of the same title and it is a strange mixture of electronic music with Pop, Psychedelia, early Prog and early Fusion. What may sound to an untrained ear as confusion and chaos, is in fact a highly sophisticated and well designed piece of modern music, although surely not for everybody`s taste.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PHILIPPE BESOMBES / JEAN LOUIS RIZET ~ POLE MIO 009 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock A collaboration project between the two French pioneers of electronic and electro-acoustic composers / performers (recorded 1976), released originally as a double LP, now on one CD. The music ranges between conteporary classical and Progressive (see Faust, Heldon, etc.). This is deeply demanding music and not easy to enjoy, but for the conossieurs of the genre a gem not to be missed.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PHILIPPE BESOMBES ~ CESI EST CELA MIO 010 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Another example of the compositional talents of the French avant-gardist Besombes. This album is a reissue of his second album (recorded 1974-1975), which includes music composed for contemporary ballet performances. The music is closer to electronic and ambient than the first album. It also marks the first collaboration with another French avant-gardist Jean Louis Rizet, who will work with Besombes later. The bonus material includes both earlier and later unreleased material.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

POCKET ORCHESTRA ~ POCKET ORCHESTRA MIO 013 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock This completely obscure US Prog group produced some of the most incredible music, which unfortunately never made it to the music market beyond a cassette in 1983. This reissue makes up for the lost time and presents the remastered original tapes in addition to some earlier (1978-79) recordings by an earlier incarnation of PO, called Knebnagauje. The music is breathtaking, an insane (in the best meaning of the term) mixture of rock, jazz, free, RIO and you name it - truly beyond words but surely not beyond ears! They were not called the US Samla in vain. Fascinating stuff!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FLAMEN DIALIS ~ SYMPTOME-DEI MIO 014 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Only album (recorded 1978) by this French Prog group. They were one of the most bizzare and advanterous groups to ever appear on the French scene with a musical style totally undescribable. There are elements of free improvisation, humor, esoteric outwordly atmosphere, etc., all this excellently performed and somehow making perfect sense. This reissue includes their ultra-rare single as bonus tracks.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

BEN-ISRAEL, DANNY ~ BULLSHIT 3 1/4 MIO 016 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock When this album was released in Israel in 1970 nobody would touch it with a stick, but many years later it is considered a gem of early Psychedelia and a super rarity. The album sounds like a long LSD trip with strong instrumental support by the band `Electric Stage`, who support Danny on this album. His expressive vocals and provocative lyrics are truly prophetic.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

KYRIE ELEISON ~ THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS MIO 017-019 ~ AUSTRIA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 - 1978 A beautiful reissue project by the Israeli label MIO Records collecting all existing material by the Austrain Prog group Kyrie Eleison recorded between 1974 and 1978. The package includes 3 CDs worth of material with many never previously released recordings and live performances. A truly collector`s item.

CD 3 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ATMOSPHERA ~ LADY OF SHALOTT MIO 020-021 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Atmosphera were a short lived Israeli group who never managed to record and release a proper album and this long anticipated release presents for the first time their entire recorded output. The two long studio tracks were recorded in 1977 and the rest of the material consists of different recordings by the band members during a period of several years. The group included two Zingale members and stylisticly is very close to Yes around the `Fragile` period. The album also includes rare video in VCD format.

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DECIBEL ~ FIAT LUX MIO 022-024 ~ MEXICO ~ Progressive Rock This wonderful Box Set collects all the recordings by the Mexican band Decibel (recorded betweem 1976 and 2001). Decibel were the only Mexican band connected with the RIO movement (most Mexican bands were / are purely symphonic) and they were heavily influenced by European groups (like Henry Cow, Magma, Faust, a.m.o.). They added a lot of their own elements to the influences and created a superb body of work that remains fascinating to this day. As their original releases are impossible to find, this reissue project is most welcome! Individually Numbered Limited Edition

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 3 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

COHEN-SOLAL, JEAN ~ FLUTES LIBRES / CAPTAIN TARTHOPOM MIO 025 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock This beautiful reissue presents the first two albums (recorded in 1971 and 1973) by the French virtuoso flute player Jean Cohen-Solal, both of which were for many years among the most sought after collector`s items. Cohen-Solal`s music and incredible performances were years ahead of their time and include many elements adopted by musicians only many years later. Both albums are very interesting and include a variety of themes and sounds which is quite amazing. An absolute must for all the (many) flute nuts!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MR. TOAD ~ TRENCH ART MIO 028 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Mr. Toad are a group of young Israeli Prog musicians, who create some of the most interesting music recorded here in a long time. Stylistically they are similar to past greats such as Gryphon, Amazing Blondel and other ensembles, who mixed early music with folk and jazz in order to create a unique blend of delicate acoustic sounds an complex compositions. Mostly instrumental with some vocals in English. This is their debut album recorded in 2003. The MIO Records reissue is a different mix than the original album self-released by the group, which is now deleted.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MOSAIC ~ ULTIMATUM MIO 029 ~ FRANCE ~ Progressive Rock Only album (recorded 1978) by this excellent French Prog band, founded by the Brebion brothers (Hubert and Yves) with other band members changing frequently. They recorded a demo in 1977 (included as bonus on this reissue) and managed to record just one studio album before disbanding in late 1978. The music mixes elements of Prog, Jazz and Avant-Garde, mostly instrumental with plenty of space for extended improvisations. Definitely worth investigating.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PLATINA ~ THE GIRL WITH THE FLAXEN HAIR MIO 030 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1976 Released: 2003 PlatinaFind albums by this artist were the most important Israeli Jazz Fusion band in the 1970s and this first time release of their "lost" 3rd album is a monumental event on the local scene. Led by Roman KuntsmanFind albums by this artist, a gifted player and composer who immigrated to Israel in 1971 from the USSR, and Israeli-born drummer Aharon KaminskyFind albums by this artist they performed extensively and recorded two albums, which were amongst the first Israeli jazz albums ever recorded. The music is most interesting and well performed, including the bonus live tracks. Kuntsman`s tragic death in 2002 was a terrible blow to the local jazz scene.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend