Oldish Psych and Prog

genre: psych, avant, prog

country: italy

quality : lossless (WavPack, cue, log, scans)

time: 40'26" size: 286 mb

ProgArchives:

A very important artist from Naples, ALAN SORRENTI released his first album in 1972 on Harvest. He had a Welsh mother and had lived in Wales as a child.

"Aria" is a very good album, with two different sides: the first only contains the long title track, a dreamy suite starting with acoustic guitar and based on the marvellous, instrument-like voice of Sorrenti, and culminating in the final part with a memorable violin solo by Jean-Luc Ponty. Side 2 is softer, with three tracks, two of which ("Vorrei incontrarti") also appeared as a single. The album was successful in Italy, and Alan Sorrenti was one of the few solo artists to compete with other prog groups in the open air festivals of the time. The album was also released abroad, but to little success.

A second album, with the long title of "Come un vecchio incensiere all'alba di un villaggio deserto" was released a year later. It was based on the same formula as "Aria", but probably lacked the fresh impact of its predecessor. Once again a side-long title track was complemented by some shorter, softer tracks, this time with help from Francis Monkman (Curved Air) and Dave Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator), along with Neapolitan percussionist Toni Esposito.

His third, self-titled album is usually considered the least convincing of Alan's early production, despite some very good tracks, his style slowly shifting toward more a more mainstream song format. The remake of the traditional Neapolitan classic "Dicitencello vuje", included on the album and also released as a single, was seen as treason by his early fans, and, while it gave the album very good sales and a high chart placement, it caused the artist to be boycotted in many summer festivals.

After a two-year break, a new Alan Sorrenti came back in 1976, with a more commercial style, influenced by dance music, and totally breaking with his past experience as a prog artist. Sorrenti's long career ended with an album released in 1992 - though in 2003 he released an album by the title of "Sott'acqua", containing previously unreleased material.

Michael (Micky) and Raffaella (Raff) Berry

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genre: canterbury

country: uk

quality : lossless (WavPack, cue, log, booklet scans)

time: 1:13'15" size: 490 mb

misc.: rec. live '70

01. Eamonn Andrews 12:15
02. Mousetrap 5:24
03. Noisette 0:37
04. Backwards 4:47
05. Mousetrap (reprise) 0:26
06. Hibou, Anemone and Bear 9:21
07. Moon In June 6:55
08. 12/8 Theme 11:25
09. Esther's Nose Job 15:00
10. We Did It Again 7:15

- Elton Dean / alto sax , saxello

- Lyn Dobson / soprano sax, flute, vocals

- Hugh Hopper / bass

- Mike Ratledge / electric piano, organ

- Robert Wyatt / drums, vocals

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genre: neo prog

country: sweden

quality : mp3 (230k, scans)

time: 1:03'30" size: 154 mb

ProgArchives:

Here's another gem from the amazing Mellotron-loaden Skandinavian progrock scene, this time a Swedish band including Mattias Jarlhed (percussion), Jonas Hallberg (guitar and backing vocals), Daniel Fäldt (lead - and backing vocals, sitar) and Stefan Renström (bass, keyboards, voices). Releases: album "Ceinwed" from '95 and "Paradise Square" from '02. Main influence: mid-GENESIS.

The second album is superior to their debut, in my opinion "Paradise Square" is one of the best releases from 2002! Most of the 7 songs are long, alternating and elaborate pieces with lots of surprising ideas: classical guitar and piano, a jazzy intermezzo, sensitive Spanish guitar or sitar and tablas. The 24-carat symphonic sound is very inspired by mid-GENESIS but has also echoes from ANGLAGARD (sumptuous Mellotron waves), SPOCK'S BEARD (shifting moods and fiery electric guitar), MARILLION (keyboards) and MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND (Minimoog flights with pitchbend). The vocals are at some momens a bit theatrical but in general strong and convincing. Funny self-mockery: SIMON SAYS has integrated some musical moments from GENESIS albums ("The Lamb..." and "Foxtrot") but the way they have done this, showcases the mature compositional skills. Recommended.

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genre: beat

country: uk

quality : lossless (ape, cue, log, 90's scans)

time: 56'03" size: 367 mb

Tapestry of Delights:

The Searchers formed in Liverpool in 1960. Founding member John McNally took their name from a John Ford epic Western movie. Chris Curtis and Mike Pender had been schoolmates of his and Pender had previously played with two other Liverpool groups, The Wreckers and The Confederates. The group soon started playing local clubs and, like The Beatles, also had a spell in Hamburg. They were soon discovered by Tony Hatch who provided them with Sweets For My Sweet from the hit-writing American Pomus/Schuman team and they soon became Liverpool's No 2 band to The Beatles with their faultless, crisp, vocal harmonies. Hatch followed their chart-topper with a composition of his own (written under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale), Sugar And Spice, which peaked at No 2 and was only kept off the top spot by Gerry and The Pacemakers' You'll Never Walk Alone.

Their next success Needles And Pins had been written by Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono (later of Sonny and Cher) and had been a minor US hit for Jackie de Shannon in 1963. The Searchers added their own unique vocal interpretation to the song and scored their second No 1. The follow-up, Don't Throw Your Love Away, gave them a third No 1 and also followed Needles And Pins into the American Top 20.

In early 1964, Tony Jackson, who often felt something of an outsider in the group since the other three had been at school together, left to form his own group, The Vibrations and Mike Pender took over the lead vocals with Frank Allen, from Cliff Bennett's Rebel Rousers, coming in on bass. For their next single they covered Jackie de Shannon's When You Walk In The Room, which climbed to No 3 and they also enjoyed a Christmas hit with the haunting, What Have They Done To The Rain?, whilst Love Potion No 9 was a big US hit for the team on the Kapp label.

In the Spring of 1965 they enjoyed another hit with Goodbye My Love and followed this with their first self-penned 'A' side, He's Got No Love. Their strength had previously come from adapting other artists' material but He's Got No Love was a strong song in its own right, but as the beat boom declined so did The Searchers' popularity. In mid-1966 Chris Curtis left the band, cut one solo single Aggravation, did some production work for Pye and then formed his own band Roundabout. John Blunt came in as his replacement. Their last Top 20 hit was with a P.F. Sloan song, Take Me For What I'm Worth. Thereafter they failed to keep pace with the rapidly changing musical scene but continued to record a string of technically faultless 45s of which, Western Union, a hit for The Five Americans in the States, and Popcorn Double Feature, were technically the best. Their dwindling popularity forced them increasingly onto the cabaret circuit but still they soldiered on... recording for RCA in the mid-seventies and then surprisingly signing to Sire in 1979 with a new line-up (D), which included Billy Adamson on drums. Mike Pendergast finally left in 1986. His replacement was Spencer James from First Class.

Castle's Ultimate Collection CD compilation, a 24-tracker, is as good a collection of the band's finest moments as one is likely to get.

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genre: beat

country: uk

quality : mp3 (192k, cover)

time: 31'53" size: 45 mb

issue: german lp

ManchesterBeat

01. Hello Josephine 2:24
02. Johnny B Goode 2:25
03. Keep A-Knockin 1:50
04. Some Other Guy 2:44
05. Just One Look 2:50
06. Just Like Me 2:12
07. Ann-Louise 3:17
08. Bye Bye Johnny 2:45
09. Rip It Up 2:27
10. What Did I Say 3:18
11. Not Fade Away 2:22
12. Baby Back Now 3:19

Peter Lewis - lead vocals
Anthony Postill - lead guitar/vocals
Rodney Postill - rhythm guitar/vocals
Tony Briley - bass guitar/vocals;
Mike Delaney - drums

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genre: prog

country: germany

quality : lossless (WavPack, cue, log, booklet scans)

time: 51'38" size: 421 mb

issue: 1998

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genre: psych

country: germany

quality : lossless (WavPack, cue, log, scans)

time: 1:11'18" size: 499 mb

01. Take Off (THG Aula) 8:43
02. Das Rodeo (THG Aula) 7:21
03. About My Town (Volkspark) 22:45
04. Die Maschine (Volkspark) 13:24
05. About My Town (HDB) 19:15

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genre: sympho prog

country: spain

quality : mp3 (320k, scans)

time: 37'21" size: 94 mb

issue: 2002

ProfArchives:

The first thing I expected when I heard the name GOTIC mixed with Spain was a dark form of Flamenco, probably oriented towards the late Medieval period mixed with Spanish Inquisition, but it was just the opposite, GOTIC is light, optimistic and high quality music that gently combines the warm and relaxing sound of CAMEL with early PFM and roots in Spanish ethnic sounds from Cataluña, a great exponent of Spanish Symphonic.

The band was formed in the late 70's by the famous Rafael Escote in the bass, Jep Nuix (Flute and Piccolo), Jordi Vilaprinyo (Keyboards) and Jordi Marti in the drums and percussion.

As I said before the main influences of their only album Escenes released in 1978 are Camel and PFM, but there are some other easy to identify Prog references to Gentle Giant and some form of Fusion that reminds me of the Jazz-Symphonic sound of Chick Corea's keyboard in his RETURN TO FOREVER era.

The best track of the album is the 10:15 minutes Epic "Historia d'una Gota d'Aigua" (History of a Drop of Water) with the dramatic change between the relaxing introp and the breathtaking closing section.

Sadly they didn't had the chance to evolve because the debut album was more than promissory but as a consolation Rafael Escote has a very prolific career as member of the Fusion band Pegasus and as a soloist.

Iván Melgar Morey - Perú

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genre: psych
country: germany
quality : lossless (flac, cue, log, booklet scans) & mp3 (320k, booklet scans)
time: 1:16`55"
size: 534 & 181 mb
issue: 1998

genre: psych

country: germany

quality : mp3 (160k, covers)

time: 42'32" size: 53 mb

Crack in the Cosmic Egg:

Golem's ORION AWAKES is the only original LP on the obscure Pyramid label that I've seen for real, back in 1995, aged and tatty displayed on the wall of a Berlin record shop, and with a high price tag too.

On first listen Golem come across as a lost classic of Krautrock without a doubt. Totally instrumental, and a feast for guitar fans, Golem's style was highly derivative, yet also full of invention. A space-rocking hybrid of Gila and instrumental Hendrix type moves, in a music that also blends everything from Neu! to Novalis, and all crammed full of solos.

Although the CD cover credits that it dates from 1972/1973, the production and sound is often close to Mythos' Venus label releases circa 1978/1979. Clearly it was never intended as an album originally, seemingly from at least three different sessions, each with a different studio sound and style. This is especially notable with the new-wave edge of "The Returning".

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genre: canterbury

country: uk

quality : lossless (ape, cue, log, covers)

time: 58'15" size: 300 mb

misc.: compil.

1. With Lady And Friend (4:25)
2. You're Disguised (17:52)
- a) Orange Diamond
- b) Northern Gardens
- c) Phil's Little Dance
- d) Northern Gardens
3. Island Of Rhodes (6:52)
- a) Paper Boat
- b) As If Your Eyes Were Open
4. Extract (9:27)
5. One End More (9:11)
- a) Phil's Little Dance
- b) Worlds Of Zin
6. Arriving Twice (1:41)
7. Notwithstanding (4:21)
8. Lady And Friend (4:06)

- Alan Gowen / piano, electric piano, synths
- Phil Lee / guitars
- Mike Travis / drums
- Neil Murray / bass on 1, 2
- Peter Lemer / electric piano on 3, 4
- Steve Cook / bass on 3, 4
- Jeff Clyne / bass on 5, 6, 7, 8

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