 genre: soft, pub country: uk quality: mp3 (256k, scans) time: 1:13'27" size: 159 mb misc.: 1998
Tapestry of Delights: A progressive outfit, formed in 1969 and who also have one track, Street Songs, on the All Good Clean Fun compilation and two live tracks, Eddie Waring and Mona, on Christmas At The Patti.
Their first album is rather mainstream progressive rock meets pub rock, despite some excellent songs written by Malcolm Morley including the excellent Deborah. Most of the musicianship on the album is raw and derivative (with exception of Richard Treece's guitar) and consequently the punters weren't at all interested. After its release, Whaley departed for
Ducks Deluxe and was replaced by Paul Burton.
Strange Affair exhibited a strong US West Coast influence with greater musical improvisation and some fine moments like American Woman. Beware Of The Shadow continued in much the same vein. Listen out for their magnum opus, Reaffirmation, on this one.
Ken Whaley rejoined the band in 1973, hence the title of their final album.
After their demise, Malcolm Morley had a spell with
Man (and Ken Whaley later joined him there). The rest of the band joined
Deke Leonard's Iceberg, and Treece was later in The Flying Aces.
(Vernon Joynson / Max Waller / Dennis A. Riley) |
genre: heavy psych
country: uk
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 44'01" size: 274 mb
misc.: 1994
Tapestry Of Delights:
From Birmingham, this act evolved out of the remnants of Bakerloo and were heralded by their management as the follow-up to Black Sabbath. Their album, like most releases on this label, has become a minor collectable and is a Van der Graaf Generator-style progressive, housed in an odd gatefold sleeve. The vocalist is strongly influenced by Family's Roger Chapman whilst their music is strong, pleasant, jazz rock.
01. Look Upon Me 6:37
02. Winds Of Change 7:29
03. Bent For A Friend 10:30
04. 1066 6:31
05. Wet Legs 4:47
06. Winter 8:06
- ALEX BOYCE vcls
- JACK GRIFFITHS bs
- BILL HUNT keyb'ds, horns
- ADRIAN INGRAM gtr
- JOHN PARKES drms
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genre: prog
country: switzerland
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, booklet scans)
time: 1:12'47" size: 431 mb
misc.: 1996
Gepr:
Island's Pictures is easily the best reissue The Laser's Edge has put out since the Schicke Führs and Fröhling two-disc set released in 1993. As I listen to Pictures the band that comes to mind is another Swiss national: Circus and their wonderful album Movin' On, which came out the same year as Pictures. While some comparisons can be made between Circus and Island, it's not for musical comparisons that I think of Circus but more for band structure and level of talent. Circus was a parsed down ensemble of percussion, bass, sax, vocals and a little acoustic guitar and flute. With a sparse ensemble, each musician in the band must possess a robust talent to create a full sound. Indeed, Island is a parsed but very talented ensemble of keyboards (Peter Scherer), percussion (everybody!), vocals (Benjamin Jager) and sax with a smattering of clarinet and flute (Rene Fisch). In addition to the drummer (Guge Jurg Meier), all the other members play percussive instruments. And this doesn't even count the piano as a percussive instrument! Meier is a great drummer and does, in fact, remind me of the excellent Fritz Hauser from Circus. Meier must carry the band because, except for the bass pedal work played by Scherer, he is the base rhythm section, supplemented by the other percussion. While on the subject of percussion, a special mention should be made of Bob Katz and Digital Domain, who mastered the CD. His wonderful work fully brings out the propulsive forces of the percussive and bass pedal work that drives this music. But no single man is Island. Equally import is the keyboard and bass pedal work of Scherer. His bass pedals are as much a force as the percussion and is classical and jazz-influenced keyboard work is marvellous: tasteful, energetic and imaginative. The sax work is easily as talented: fluid and often used as another layer of instrumental depth rather than as a mere solo instrument. All of the six songs, which includes a 23 minute bonus track, are excellent. Of them all, "Pictures" is perhaps a pinnacle among tall peaks and representative of the entire album. "Pictures" is a 16 minute masterpiece from the opening gong to the final sustain of the keyboards. "Pictures" begins with triangle, tambourine and other percussion. After several moments, the keyboards join in and the vocals arrive. After the first couple of verses, the real fun begins. The long instrumental passage between now and the final verses begins quietly. Layers of percussion are surrounded by quiet "ooh"s. This is followed by keyboards, sax, driving bass pedals and wonderful snare work, marking an increase in the energy level. In fact, this general structure marks all of the songs, alternating between pulsating drive and deep, wide-open spaciousness. Again, I can't stress enough how excellent the depth and layering of percussion is, drawing the listener ever deeper into the album. You may have heard of Island being compared to Happy the Man. Only for "Zero," the "short" six minute tune, is there a real Happy the Man comparison. The rest is uniquely Island. The bonus track, rescued from some dank, dark vault by The Laser's Edge, is well worth the inclusion, despite the "good bootleg" sound quality. The quality of the performance more than makes up for this deficiency. The original cover art, by H.R. Giger, only adds to the package. An important reissue and *very* highly recommended. -- Mike Taylor
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genre: heavy, psych
country: belgium
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, booklet scans)
time: 1:01'23" size: 447 mb
misc.: 2007
ProgArchives:
IRISH COFFEE officially started in 1970, originating from another band called "The VOODOO". In the beginning they played only covers from British & American bands, such as DEEP PURPLE, LED ZEPPELIN, The WHO, The KINKS etc... This band from Belgium, is killer hardrock with seering leads and really strong vocals, well composed songs.
They wrote and recorded a single album of their own music. IRISH COFFEE did a lot of live-gigs those days and were a support-act for bands like: FOCUS, Dr. FEELGOOD, YES, and many others. Unfortunately the band band splitted-up in 1975. But now the vocalist, guitarist and drummer have re-banded with a new organist and bassist and are touring in 2002-2003 playing their old stuff.
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genre: psych
country: uk
quality: mp3 (320k, coverss)
time: 36'32" size: 86 mb
no info about sadly,
very good English Psychedelia!
01. Venetian glass 1:57
02. Space shanty 5:40
03. Same girl 3:04
04. Taxman 2:58
05. (I'm in love with) a girl like you (stereo take) 2:28
06. I've got you under my skin (instrumental) 2:35
07. time keeper 4:07
08. Venetian glass (instrumental) 1:58
09. Pattern people 2:43
10. (I'm in love with) a girl like you (mono take) 2:27
11. I've got you under my skin 3:35
12. Taxman (instrumental) 2:59
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genre: psych
country: us
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 1:17'36" size: 524 mb
misc.: 2004
Fuzz Acid & Flowers:
This band originated in Portland, Oregon, but went to LA in an attempt to make it. There they released their first single, Colors, and the above-mentioned Strictly From Hunger album, which is now a rare collectors' item. Colors is recommended listening. Likewise is Workshop, another track from the album. These are its two strongest tracks, although The Mind Machine and The Truth on side two contain some good organ work. The sequence on side one is different to that on the record cover.
Overall, the album is overrated - not a bad effort, containing a couple of rather laboured instrumentals, it's not worth the money copies of the original pressing change hands for, but the reissues are worth picking up.
The Not So Fine/No Shame 45 was released as by The Touch and both tracks feature on the LP (Not So Fine retitled as Trying To Make The Best, having been slightly reworked. A modified line-up of the band also made a later album, which didn't go beyond the test pressing stage of manufacture. This was issued in a plain sleeve with no label or number and would certainly fall into the R6 category. Only one copy of the test pressing is known to exist, which consists of superior re-recorded and/or re-mixed versions of tracks from the Strictly From Hunger album. Overall, the album is transformed from a wheezy - organ garagey effort to a sinister heavy guitar monster!
Workshop was later covered by U.K. psych band Glass Keys (on Rubble 9).
(Vernon Joynson / Max Waller / Clark Faville)
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genre: heavy prog
country: norway
quality: lossless (flac, cue, log, scans)
time: 1:04'46" size: 433 mb
misc.: rec. 1975-78 & 91
Scented Gardens of Mind:
Høst came from the Østfold-area, roughly situated between Oslo and the Swedish border. They were strongly influenced by Swedish bands such as November and Life. Høst ("Autumn") became the only important Norwegian progressive rock group of the 70's to sing in their native tongue.
På Sterke Vinger (1974) was a great combination of Lasse Nilsen's screaming guitars, Svein Rønning's symphonic keyboard textures and Geir Jahren's poetic Norwegian lyrics. His powerful way of singing is reminiscent of several Italian groups. Several people cite this as the best ever Norwegian progressive rock album, and this is understandable. However, the reliance on Swedish rock was perhaps too strong: "På Sterke Vinger" was almost a remake of November's "En Lang Dag Är Över", and "Fattig Men Fri" paraphrased the lyrics of Solar Plexus' "Den Tanklöse Spelmannen" (written by Emil Hagström). This version of Høst soon dissolved with main writer Svein Rønning soon forming the ill-fated group Déjà-Vu.
Jahren and Bodahl recruited three new members, among them the talented guitarist Fezza Ellingsen (ex-St. Helena). He composed most tracks on Hardt Mot Hardt (1976), not surprisingly a more guitar-oriented heavy rock album.
Their record company woudn't finance a third album and only allowed Høst to record three new tracks. The group had intended to record a complete album with English lyrics for international release under their new name Ice Band (with Fezza Ellingsen replaced by John Hesla). Tired of the rock business, the group finally called it a day in 1978. The first Høst line-up has reformed on several occasions doing sporadic concerts.
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genre: prog
country: italy
quality: lossless (wv, cue, log, booklet scans)
time: 1:10'00" size: 469 mb
1. Tema (1:14)
2. Animale senza respiro (5:33)
3. Mirror Train (7:14)
4. L'uomo (3:53)
5. 'A zingara (5:37)
6. Ce vulesse ce vulesse (5:52)
7. Fuje 'a chistu paese (6:37)
8. Il castello dell'Es (7 :06)
Formentera Medley :
9. Oro caldo (2:34)
10. My Mind Flies (1:26)
11. L'amore vincerà di nuovo (1:47)
12. Everybody's Gonna See You Die (4:23)
Blue Sky Medley:
13. In un vecchio cieco (1:56)
14. Vado verso una meta (3:07)
15. Solo uniti (3:31)
16. Theme One (3:58)
17. There Will Be Time (3:55)
David Jackson / saxophones, flute
Lino Vairetti / lead vocals, guitar, blues harp
Gennaro Barba / drums
Fabrizio Fedele / electric and acoustic guitar
Nello D'Anna / bass
Sasà Priore / kayboards, organ, synth, vocals
Irvin Vairetti / synth, pad, vocals, mellotron
Guest musicians
Lello Brandi / bass
David Cross / electric violin
Gianni Leone / organ, vocals
Tim Stevens / bass
Sophya Baccini / vocals
Mariano Barba / drums
Gabry Borrelli / percussion
Oderigi Lusi / Fender Rhodes
Alfonso La Verghetta / organ
Gianluca Falasca / violin
Roberto Petrella / acoustic guitar
Solis String Quartet / strings
also:
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