genre: heavy, blues
country: germany
quality: lossless (ape, cue, log, scans)
time: 38'46" size: 245 mb
misc.: 2004
Cosmic Dreams:
This release marked the start of Curt Cress' long and impressive career. He was then only 17 years old, and still studying the art of percussion, when the Orange Peel album was recorded late in 1969 at the Dierks studio (actually one of the first Dierks productions I know about!). The result was a vintage blend of progressive music, comparable to Tomorrow's Gift (1st album) or Nosferatu. The four mainly instrumental tracks sounded somewhat unfinished. Orange Peel disbanded in 1970. Bassist Helm Mohn replaced Michael Ertl in Epsilon in time for their second album Move On (1971), while Curt Cress went on to Emergency, Passport, Atlantis and several other bands. Gradually he built up his reputation as one of Germany's finest session drummers.
01. You Can't Change Them All 18:15
02. Faces That I Used to Know 3:11
03. Tobacco Road 7:17
04. We Still Try to Change 10:03
Curt Cress / drums, percussion
Peter Bischof / percussion, vocals
Leslie Link / guitar
Heinrich Mohn / bass
Ralph Wiltheiß / organ
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genre: avant prog / rio
country: italy
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 50'58" size: 217 mb
misc.: japan
ItalianProg:
A unique group in the italian scene, Opus Avantra mixed together contemporary classical music with avantgarde and a light progressive rock inflience, giving an original result that's often considered too difficult to listen for straight prog rock ears. Their name was obtained from their three main interests, opera, avantgarde and traditional music.
Formed in Veneto in 1973 around the nucleus of soprano Donella Del Monaco (the niece of famous tenor Mario Del Monaco), pianist-composer Alfredo Tisocco, philosopher Giorgio Bisotto and producer Renato Marengo, and aided in the years by many other musicians, the group released their first album in 1974, Opus Avantra - Donella Del Monaco (often referred to as Introspezione, from the title of the first track) on the collectible Trident label.
Usually considered their most accessible work, the album is built on classical-inspired themes with complex arrangements and dominated by the nice soprano voice of singer Del Monaco and good flute playing, with just an instrumental track, Rituale. The band also had a good live activity promoting their album in Veneto and Rome.
Donella Del Monaco was absent on the second album Lord Cromwell (plays suite for seven vices), that follows in the same style as the previous work, being replaced by an american chorus. Former Nuova Idea drummer Paolo Siani played on this album, that like the first one contains some interesting passages for the adventurous listeners.
Both Alfredo Tisocco (along with Gruppo Italiano di Danza Libera in 1975's Katharsis) and Donella Del Monaco (with 12 canzoni da battello in 1977 and Schoenberg Kabarett in 1978) also released individual albums in the same vein, and the duo reunited under the name Opus Avantra for a third album in 1989, Strata, and a CD-only fourth release in 1995, Lyrics.
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genre: prog
country: italy
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 59'31" size: 442 mb
ItalianProg:
A six-piece from near Rome, Officina Meccanica deserve a mention because judging from their Bambini innocenti single and the TV clip that was released at the time, they could have been a very important group had they ever had the chance of recording an album.
The band only released five singles, the first three on the elusive Picci label that also produced La Seconda Genesi. They mixed brass rock influences (including in the line-up a horn section) like in Stranger in his country or Signora Marisa, with a dramatic prog feeling, like in the marvellous Bambini innocenti or Un prato e poi sognare.
The band came to its end in 1978, and three of the original members (Maiozzi, Barbati and Bentivegna) formed rock band Stazione Termini (from the name of Rome central railway station) with three new members, being augmented by Officina Meccanica bass player Canini in 1985.
Guitarist Gianni Barbati now plays in Genesis cover band Estro.
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genre: sympho prog
country: armenia
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 56'03" size: 337 mb
01. Anthem: The Unseen Land 0:48
02. Water Spark 6:26
03. Elfy 1:31
04. The Way Back Home 9:29
05. Talybont 2:47
06. On Reflection 4:41
07. Time Out 4:00
08. Conquest Of The Pacific (I. Jester's Pipe) 3:10
09. Conquest Of The Pacific (II. Merlin's Jig) 2:48
10. Conquest Of The Pacific (III. Across The Atlantic) 6:16
11. Conquest Of The Pacific (IV. Ocean's Web) 6:07
12. Conquest Of The Pacific (V. Golden Hind) 8:02
Vahagn Papayan / bass
Anna Adamyan / keyboards
Valery Tolstov / flute
Koryun Bobikyan / violin
Vardan Gasparyan / guitar
Ashot Korganyan / drums & percussion
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genre: prog
country: italy
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 37'56" size: 215 mb
Gnosis:
Osanna's debut album L'Uomo is a pretty sensational album. Basically, all the elements of their sound are already present on their debut. The basis of their sound here is original heavy guitar rock often in combination with amazing flute solos. Additionally, more spacey, Pink Floydian parts and quiet interludes with acoustic guitar and flute can be heard as well. Besides the great flute playing, good vocals (if sung in Italian), the excellent guitar playing, and a fairly active drummer are the most ear pleasing features. As a reference point, think of a mix of Jethro Tull, early Roxy Music, the heavier side of Cream, and ocassionally Focus. Otherwise imagine a more sophisticated version of Golden Earring (of the early 70's). L'Uomo is a remarkably mature album and easily one of the best Italian rock albums before 1972 (the year that the Italian prog scene exploded with creativity).
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genre: prog folk
country: uk
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 41'49" size: 262 mb
From ProgressiveRock :
By the time Anderson got around to writing this, Jethro Tull’s tenth studio album, he had moved outside London for a life in the country and presumably gotten over the fact that he was indeed too young to die. Although the subject matter of the album (and image on the cover) may have turned folksy, there’s little folk music on the album. The title track opens with Anderson’s multi-tracked vocals, before breaking into a typical Tull style rocker. The new man finally on board was longtime orchestral arranger David Palmer, now giving the band four hands on the keyboards. "Hunting Girl" and "Pibroch (Cap In Hand)" both featured a good arrangement, making the most of both keyboardists and some great guitar from Martin Barre. "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" was first released the previous November for the holiday season and managed to chart in the UK Top 40. The second side’s "Velvet Green" is primarily acoustic, while "The Whistler" has the folk hook and a great instrumental break. The single managed to chart in the US, albeit in the lower reaches of the singles chart. However, the album charted well, reaching No. 13 in the UK and No. 8 in the US. Jethro Tull completed their first tour of the UK in over three years later in the year.
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