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Various Artits – Peter and The Wolf {UK} [1976] @256 (Classical-Jazz-Prog Crossover Extravaganza)

The idea of recording a Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and The Wolf rock version was developed by clarinet player Jack Lancaster and keyboard player Robin Lumley around 1976. Lumley and Lancaster had belong to a band called “Soul Searchers” which later would become the fusion act Brand X. Peter and the wolf is the first of two albums that Lancaster and Lumley released together (the second is Marscape from 1977)

The goal with Peter and The Wolf, was to make a version of this musical fairytale that could appeal to younger audiences.

To achieve this plan the followed Prokofiev’s original idea of assigning each instrument a role inside the frame of the tale of Peter, the hero that saves the day by hunting down a horrible wolf that threatened his village.

In the original version, for example, we had the duck represented by an oboe, but here the oboe is substituted by Chris Spedding dizzying wah-wah electric guitar. The wolf itself is re-created by Brain Eno and his menacing synthesizers. The hunters become rock drummers.

To make things clear let’s check the incredible line-up of this album:

Narration Viv Stanshall (The same guy that presented the instruments in the original Tubular Bells)
Peter. Manfred Mann (keyboards)
Bird Gary Brooker (synths)
Duck : Chris Spedding & Gary Moore (guitar)
Cat: Stephan Grapelli (Violin)
Wolf (eno (synths)
Pond : Keith Tippett (Piano)
Grandfather: Jack Lancaster (clarinet)
Hunters and Villagers: Phill Collins, Bill Bruford, Cozy Powell, Jon Heisman, Alvin Lee, Julie Tippett and the English Chorale.

Most of the songs are Prokofiev original score, subtly and smartly arranged by Lancaster and Lumley. The rest are original songs inspired in the classic work. Obviously this is the typical over ambitious album that many rabid critics of progressive rock tend to hate.

And yes, it was very pretentious but it had indeed some great moments. Listen carefully to the “cat” bluesy and jazzy dance and you’ll understand what I mean.

Although Peter and The Wolf is part of the agonic years of Classic Progressive Rock, it is nonetheless and album that shouldn’t be missed in any serious collection.

And hey… it is pretentious yes, but let’s not forget that it is also a child’s tale, so it is also funny and fresh, with a nice happy ending.

Enjoy it and...

Keep Listening…!!!

From Peter and The Wolf - Cat Dance...

MIA - ''Cornonstipicum'' {Argentina} [1978] @256 (Symphonic prog.)

Independent Musicians Associated (MIA) was a group of musicians, technicians and drawers gathered together by Lito and Liliana Vitale's parents. They produced their own records and concerts in an independent way. Their music is a complex symphonic rock with definite Argentinean/latin folk influence with multiple corals and vocals beautifully contrasting with the keyboards and a great guitar sound upon a strong rhythmic section.

The increase of the musical energy functions as a crucial factor for this album’s impressive caliber, although it retains much of the bucolic flavour that had clearly appeared two albums; it’s just that this album’s repertoire goes to far more places. Meanwhile, Lito Vitale’s role on keyboard becomes more prominent in the mix, and that means that the multicolored sonic sources that the band so majestically combines in their prog style are given an extra intensity thanks to the augmentation of the orchestral feel in many passages of “Cornonstipicum”. The symphonic stuff sounds more grandiose than ever, the jazzy sections sound more exuberant than ever, and the weird stuff receives an air of magical flamboyance – this is a very powerful album, indeed, one of those gems from faraway countries that could make the day for sensible prog collectors. (reviewed by Cesar Inca)

MIA were a unique musical ensemble with a definite progressive ethic.

MIA - Cornonstipicum:

Link in comment. Enjoy!

Maneige - ''Les Porches'' {Canada} [1975] @192 (Quebecois fusion) (vinyl rip)

It is still one of those few masterpieces never re- released on Digital format. I think that this is true for all but two of Maneige's albums. so i posted a vinyl rip.

MANEIGE is probably the Quebec band that epitomizes best the Quebec Prog boom from 74 to 79.
Except for this lone LP where one number is sung, Maneige is an instrumental group that lets you know right from the start that they will take full advantage of this and will not allow you one second of inattention. The group mixes acoustic and electric instrument with such dexterity that they make it look easy and sound simple. NOT SO! Although people will classify this group in the fusion section , this is only partly correct as ther is some jazz & folk, but there is an uncommon percentage of classical music but nothing stolen from the historical composers. This album and the debut as well as the recently released live 74-75 are highly undiscribable melange of all sort of academic musics. Maneige's sound is a cross between Univers Zero and Gentle Giant for the construction complexities but Maneige is so much more melodic and harmonious to your ears, that GG is rather distant cry from them.

Les porches de Notre-Dame, a glorious mixture of Bergeron's delicate flutes and Yves Léonard's contrapunctual bass, and an intense blend of Baroque and progressive folk. As piano gradually takes over, and strings build up, it comes as a surprise to hear the mournful vocals of guest Raoul Duguay execute a passage of passionate pain on Désouverture, which is the fifth segment of the track; it is followed by a superb trombone solo and an all-out rockish jam that is actually my favourite bit of Maneige music ever.

La Grosse Torche is a short lively Baroque instrumental lasting just over a minute, so the rest of the album is essentially the 16 minute excursion entitled Les aventures de saxinette et Clarophone xylophone introduces an exuberant electric piano driven form of jazz-rock that's topped off by the sax and clarinet (as one would expect given the title of the track) ... it's all quite Canterbury in fact. Until that is a vicious biting riff that would make Gentle Giant proud takes over at the 4 minute mark the percussive jam that follows is quite superb, and while the track goes through a number of further mutations it is sax and percussion that occupy centre stage. I must say though that the ending is a tad cheesy. The final track Chromo is a propulsive flute-driven percussion-heavy bit of jazz-rock that foreshadows some of the music on Ni Vent Ni Nouvelle.(compiled from progarchives)

absolutely masterful and orgasmic music.

Maneige - Les Porches:

Link in Comment.

Barış Manço - "2023" {Turkey} [1975] @320 (psychedelic folk rock) (vinyl rip)

Merhaba. Barış Manço was one of the most influential Turkish musicians of all times. In his early career he and his bands contributed to the Anatolian rock movement by combining traditional Turkish music with rock influences, which is still one of the main trends of Turkish popular music.

His visual image characterised by his long hair, mustache and big rings softened the reaction of otherwise conservative Turkish public opinion regarding the marginal visual appearances.

His experimentation with electronic instruments in the late 1980s contributed to the 1990s sound of Turkish popular music.

His lyrics with diverse themes, mostly following a somewhat modernized version of the "aşık" (wandering folk poets) tradition were heavily marginal in the popular music scene... read more here Keep listening & links in comments.

Barış abi yerin kalbimizde.

BaYkocA dEstAnI..

(ps. this album reissued in 94 with poor sound quality and wrong tracks..thanks to my friend Oguz for supplying the vinyl to me)

Collegium Musicum - "Konvergencie" {Czechoslovakia} [1970] @224 (excellent prog/art rock)

I havent got a top 10 list..but if i had one,this band surely be in this list..sorry busy with phd exams..help yourselves for the review.keep listening.

Links in comments..

sUtA pO tiSic. ..

Prog Not Frog Radio & The Herbalist Go Back in Time By Kind Request of Our Extraordinary Listeners

I am re-posting The Voice of The Moon # 001 and # 006 by kind request of Carlos, from Brazil. (please see the comments below): Muito Obrigado amigo.

I also want to use this post to thank, on behalf of the ProgNotFrog Team, all the listeners of The Voice of The Moon, and the visitors of the site, specially those who have left here very nice and really encouraging comments.

Thanks indeed. We'll do our best to keep pleasing you all.

I also want to invite our visitors to go back in time and to check the archives. I am sure that you'll find many musical recommendations that will please your ears.

We hope you enjoy our job as much as we enjoy doing it.

Those of you who visit us often surely have read our annoucements regarding improvements and experiments that are being currently carried out on this site.

We're working to make ProgNotFrog a better place for the encounter of cultures, art expression and freedom of speech and thought. Recommend PNF to your friends. Feel free to quote us, copy us, link to us, etc, etc etc.

And... as usual...

Keep Listening...!!!

Shakti: “Natural Elements” {UK-India} [1977] @256 (Superb & Virtuoso Indian Fusion)

After John Mc Laughlin decided to end Mahavishnu Orchestra he spent sometime in India recruiting the band he had been dreaming of during a long time. An ensemble capable of blending the traditions of India’s classical music and folklore with the World of contemporary western music (jazz and some rock elements).

What he found was even beyond his wildest dreams, because Shakti is one of the greatest bands ever assembled. At least it is so in terms of the abilities of its members, each one of them a master in his instrument.

Mr. Mc Laughlin played a modified guitar with resonant strings that made this happy contraption a hybrid between western guitar and eastern sitar.

Zakir Hussain was in charge of tablas, bongos and other hand percussion instruments.

L. Shankar played the violin, in a way that was at the same time beautiful and mind blowing.

T.H Vinakayara played ghatam (Clay Pot), juice harp, assorted percussion. He also helped with Indian vocal acrobatics.

Although Shakti was a short lived band (the members has later a brilliant solo career and they are still pretty active) it was highly praised by musicians and very well received by the fusion and even the rock audiences (at least the progressive rock audiences, used to experiments and all kind of musical blends)..

They reunited again in the 00’s for a series of events called “Remember Shakti” , editing an album and a DVD.

Be prepared for a deep musical experience, With Shakti you will hear a guitar doing you things you haven’t even imagined. Crazy rhythms, ritual chanting interwoven with jazz scales… and more.

Welcome to another musical universe. This is the music that the gods of India dance to.

Keep listening…!!!

Shakti - Peace of Mind ...

Moondog: H’art Songs {USA} [1979] @256 (Unique Composer and Singer-Author, This Album is a Must-Have)

Extraordinary composer Louis Hardin was born in Marysville, Kansas in 1916. Blinded in an accident when he 16, he dedicated his life to music, poetry and fantasy.
In the mid 50’s he appeared in New York City, selling poetry in the streets and dressed as a Viking or a druid magician.

All his life is surrounded by the aura of a happy musical enigma.

He admired and was admired by giants of Jazz like Charlie Parker, and later by Phillips Glass and many other composers immersed in minimalism.

For more about him and for those interested in getting the magnificent Moondog album from 1969 go here.

H’art Songs shows Moondog as a singer-author of sorts. He was not only an orchestra composer but also a man of lyrics and beautifully simple songs.

H’art Songs is a compilation of the dazzling dreams of an old, blind wizard.

I bet Homer would have loved Moondog’s music.

This album is highly recommended.

Keep Listening…!!!

Moondog - Enough about human rights ...

Manduka - Manduka {Brazil} [1979] @320 (folk rock)

Hello friends! a few weeks ago i found an album of manduka (1972)..in this album (manduka '72) there was a song called "Entre Y Sale" i like it very much..Altough i am not more into jazzy things i love the voice and singing style of Flora Purim..and in this song a lady sings the song with flora's style..i asked myself "may this singing lady be Flora?" "this singing style is very characteristic..i met this singing style many times in albums from Brasil..was this style of singing have name?" i did a net search..couldnt find any valuable results..then i asked my friends from Brasil..Thanks to Isabel, she gave me many smilar names and informations..(i will share my researches in future posts) and Eduardo said he has own vinyl rip of manduka(1979)..i downloaded from him..after listening it i said wow!! i like the album very much till i downloaded, i become addict of some songs..you know what kind of a copy/paster i am..Altough Manduka have many albums,works with los Jaivas i couldnt find a good review in english..some reviewers tells the albums like: you may feel like you are listening the album when reading..i am not like them. so you gonna listen and you gonna rate them for your own :) please feel free to write informations/reviews in comments..one of my favorite..KeEp liSteNinG!

Thanks to mr.melody for sharing this great viny rip with us.

LiNks iN CommEnts..

jAndirA..