Picchio Dal Pozzo(Canterbury Scene)

PICCHIO DAL POZZO are considered to be one of the very few "Canterbury" inspired bands that emerged from Italy's fertile 1970's progressive rock musical scene. The sextet known as "Picchio dal Pozzo" surges forth via romantically melodic overtones, swiftly implemented time signatures and jazzy interplay in concert with the proverbial peaks, valleys, knotty twists and circuitous turns. "Camere Zimmer Rooms" is a must for all those enamoured of both Italian prog as well as the Canterbury music scene. Essential for their fans, as well as fans of groups like CARAVAN, HATFIELD & The NORTH, HENRY COW, SOFT MACHINE & FRANK ZAPPA.
''Picchio Dal Pozzo''[1976]@320
Picchio dal Pozzo carries on in a tradition paying (rocking) homage to Zappa and the Canterbury scene with an extremely soporific quality that almost makes it seem as if it comes to you from underwater in slow motion. It's a super-swank moving album replete with blurbs and tidbits that bubble to the surface calmly and then release into an ether above the brow, a heady adventure

Soft machinations of a fluid nature begin the capitulation in the middle, howling with dreamy massed vocals beckoning your wispy attentiveness. Robert Wyatt-style gentleness comes in to further capitulate the daze. Open up a general field and lie in it. The passing shapelessness of the clouds may take you on over this way. Before I can get enough and decide to park, it's over and I hardly blinked. Did it really happen!?

''Camere Zimmer Rooms''[1977~1980 recordings]@224
Album released in 2001 "Camere Zimmer Rooms". It is a demonstration sound source made from 1977 to 1978. Only the fourth tune is recorded in 1980. The member is almost the same as the second work. A straight performance is comparatively done in this work. It is an Electric jazz with power. A melodious performance with a lot of repetitions is the main. It is different in the Canterbury sound and it is unique. Excellent article that makes effect sound of good and "La Citta" that exchanges scat lucid and is delightful. It is unquestionable for tone quality. All tunes are unpublished tunes.

Picchio Dal Pozzo - Seppia:

Opus-5 {Canada}(Quebecois fusion)

As the progressive movement was making more and more adept in La Belle Province, more and more groups got contracts and as Celebration record lost Harmonium to CBS , they offered a contract to OPUS-5 . This band can be seen as a good cross in between HARMONIUM and MANEIGE or SLOCHE. Some GENTLE GIANT and JETHRO TULL influences are also evident. Their first album is full of delicious melodies with soft yet incisive vocals and great flute passages all on 5 superb compositions by five superb musicians. Unfortunately , their record label went bankrupt just as the recording of their second album was finished . That album will have to wait until 89 to see the light of day. Part of the band will form CONCERT that will release one album in 60 as the disco tsunami had swept everything in that part of Canada.

Opus-5 can be highly recommended to fans of the above-mentioned bands but also everyone who enjoy calm folkish fusion.(Hugues Chantraine)
''Volume 1: Contre Courant''[1975]@192
The title says it all Contre Courant - against the flow (mainstream).

“Contre-Courant” is a very expressive album with all 5 members adding vocalization throughout and is delivered with great emotion. Quite different than other Quebecois band but just as incisive in contents , here the singing is of crystal- clear French without the typically local accent and it is refreshing, but it does take some mastering of the languages to fully grasp how good this album is. Those texts on top of it are politically engaged, mind-challenging, thought-provoking, environementally-conscious and socially oriented. The music is accompanying such superb vocals and texts is in the same vein: Food for thoughts. Just like your cereal breakfast (and just as indispensible as that first meal) it just crackles, snaps and rocks and will nourish your body and feed your brains so well that even your asshole boss cannot screw-up your day.

Mosts of the numbers present long instrumental passages only slightly interrupted by very on-the-dot lyrics (Les Saigneurs instead of Seigneurs). Absolutely 100% essential.

''Volume 2: Serioux Ou Pas''[1989]@192
Opus-5 's second album has an unfinihed feel to it and also an odds & ends touch. This is quite normal knowing that their record label Celebration (Harmonium had released their first two albums on that label) went bankrupt during the recording of this second album, so the recording got abruptly stopped , probably got seized as asset in the bankruptcy and this might explain why this did not get released until the very late 80's and probably released with not too much production job other than what was on tape at the time. I don't know for sure the exactitude of my reasoning but I must not be far from the truth.

Serieux Ou Pas has much shorter numbers than Contre Courant and while it has some very good moments, it does not have any epic of the style of Les Saigneurs or Temps des Piussenlits. Some of the numbers (the two super short numbers) were apparently recorded as inside jokes - probably not meant to be released (see my remark on the production) but those are not able to hide some of the more brilliant numbers that brings back memories from their debut. I may embroider the facts but I would like to trhink that some of these numbers were meant to be assembled together to make some longer tracks in the spirit of their first album.(reviewed by Hugues Chantraine)

links in comments.

Mezquita - "Recuerdos De Mi Tierra" {Spain} [1979] (prog rock)

Mezquita's 'Recuerdos de mi Tierra' is, IMHO, the definite masterpiece of Flamenco oriented prog, and most certainly, one of the highlights of Spanish prog in general. From the beautiful city of Córdoba, Mezquita managed to elaborate a prog style firmly rooted in the Flamenco traditions, and watered by the influential flows of 73-75 Yes (with less meandering), the melodic side of KC, the fire of Rush, and some hints to classic hard rock. The result is simultaneously powerful and exuberant, since the four musicians' skills are top notch. The fluency of the interactions between the guitars and the keys is simply awesome, and so is the precision with which the rhythm section lays the proper foundations for this intrincate, energetic material. The opening title track is per se a manifesto of Mezquita's personal style. The following three tracks are the most explosive ones, full of tempo changes, pyrotechnics (never reaching at a gratuitous level) and genuine enthusiasm (oh!, that chanting/clapping passage right before the end of 'Ara Buza', that is special gypsy magic of Flamenco at its purest) - a special mention goes to the opening instrumental section of 'Desde que Somos Dos', my personal fav. Track 5 is more somber, due to the dark solemnity of the subject (a massive suicide), but still manages to capture the intense magic of South Spanish folk, as well as the band's punchy swing. The fusion touches that were somewhat moderate in previous tracks, emerge more clearly in the instrumental closure - once more, a superb number. The occasional use of a guest string quartet enhances the Arabic air of some compositions (string quartets are very recurrent in Moroccan folk tunes), making the exotic thing compatible with the rock side of Mezquita's music. Well, let me finish by reiterating that this is a Spanish prog gem that should not be missed in any good prog collection.(Review by Cesar Inca/progarchives)

liNks in commenTs..

el biZco de LoS PAtiOs..

Feo - "Eg Meini Teo" {Denmark} [1971] (accoustic psych folk rock)

Sometimes we all need to slowdown a bit and find the peace innerself..you know i call this kind of albums "candy,sweet,a box of chocolate..." not only a few tracks but also most of the tracks very sweet in this album..i couldnt find a good information on the net.i wish you enjoy it..happy listenings!

linKs in commentS..

jUnI..

Phoenix - "Mugur De Fluier" {Romania} [1974] (prog folk rock)

This is one of the best album of the genre. it's inspired by historical tales about ancient living heroes of romanian people. This five songs "Lasa, lasa" are witty couplets. The song "Mica Tiganiada" is about old lifestyle of gipsy people. "Mugur de fluier" is ispired by Jethro Tull's "A Christmas Song", but the lyrics are very beautiful. "Muzica si muzichia" it's a mery song, short but very funny. Try to find and listen this album, you'll never regrete!(reviewed by mgionescu,taken from progarchives)

LiNKs iN commEnts..

oChii nEgRi. ..

Midnight Circus - "Midnight Circus" {Germany} [1972] (requested)

A very obscure and difficult to locate album produced in Germany in the early-70's. This is a dreamy progressive folk album that appears to be a duo augmented by sessions musicians (in the manner of Witthuser + Westrupp but with vocals sung in English). The album does venture out into a tougher rock sound at times while at others it will float on a bed of mellotron sound which hazily recalls the sound of early King Crimson or The Moody Blues. A very interesting and rare album which is well worth a listen.(freakemporium)

liNkS iN cOmMeNtS..

InDiaN ImPreSSioN..

Jonas Og Einar - "Gypsy queen" {Iceland} [1972] (psych folk rock)

One of my favourite album from iceland scene..Einar (songwriter) and Jonas (singer) came from Iceland to Sweden, where this album was made ca 1970..you are welcome to share knowledge/reviews in comments. Gypsy women! the real heartbreakers ;)

liNks iN commeNts..

gYpsY qUeEN..

Arkay IV - "For Internal Use Only'' {USA} [1968] (requested)

Well not my type..as i know this one reissued with a name "The Mod Sound Of The Arkay IV" this album introduced in one of 1001 collector's dreams series..for me its good to listen it (some songs really sweet) and worth adding this to your collections..i am sure some will like it..happy listening Fred! and you all.

Links in coMMents..

i'll kEEp oN Tryin..

Apes of Wrath - "Apes of Wrath" {USA} [1982] (requested)

An interesting album..i searched for an info.there are some confusion on release date
of the album..you are welcome to share reviews/knowledge..keep lintening

LiNks In CommeNtS..

[Edit]: i fixed the link..

bAck tO fLayin AGaIn..

Robert Fripp : “Let The Power Fall” {UK} [1980] @VBR (Semi Forgotten But Essential Frippertronics Extravaganza)

Ok Robert Fripp is very famous.

Ok We specialize in rare stuff and Robert Fripp’s stuff is not that rare.
Ok.Ok Ok.
But…

I believe that this is one of Fripps forgotten albums and I also believe it truly deserves a second listen.

Most people worship Fripp because of his abrasive riffs in King Crimson. Others worship him because of his arithmetical playing, so disciplined, never making a mistake. He’s a machine. He is always in control.

All those things are valid, true, valuable and undoubtedly extremely influential.

Fripp is a giant among guitar players and he’s not as famous as Clapton or Gilmopur, because he is a semi reclusive intellectual that doesn’t get along very well with fame.

But… there’s one side of Fripp that I believe people should pay more attention, or at least one area of his career that people doesn’t mention often enough: the Frippertronics era.

I feel it is my duty to remind everybody that Frippertronics happened years before the digital age. Nowadays sound morphing is much, much easier. Let’s go back briefly to 1976 or 1978. The addition and mingling of delays, flagers, echoes, compressors and who-knows-what weird gadgets that we came to know as Frippertronics is the result of long hours of experiments that Fripp did in the mid 70’s after the first death of King Crimson. Stabilizing the effects was difficult and nightmarish. Fripp finally tamed the monsters he had created.
Frippertronics also owes much to Brian Eno, and we could say that ambient music was officially born with the Eno-Fripp collaborations (Evening Star and No Pussy Footing. (Although there are many albums released before those, that nowadays we could consider as “ambient music”)

Anyway, “Let The Power Fall” is an album I have always liked and an album I have always needed to come back to.

The way the guitar sounds there has never been repeated, not even by Fripp, which is a pity because there are sonic moments here that deserve further exploration. But I guess Fripp wanted to put the seed in the soil so others would collect the fruit. That’s what ha has been doing all his life anyway.

I hope that this post reminds us, that beyond the progressive side, beyond the neurosis and the improvisational explosions of 90’s and 00’s King Crimson, Fripp also half-invented a totally different genre that has become extremely popular among contemporary listeners.

Get ambiental and…

Keep Listening…!!!

Robert Fripp - 1986...

David Darling: “Cello” {USA} [1991] @VBR (Intense and Beautiful Experimental Solo Cello)

Please, do yourself a favor and download this album.
It deserves some serious and deep listening.

David Darling was born in 1941 in Indiana, USA. He had classical training as a cellist since the age of 10.

In 1970 Darling joined the internationally acclaimed Paul Winter Consort, an experience that widened his musical horizons beyond the frames of jazz and classical music.

After nine more years of experimentations with Paul Winter and his musicians (the same group of virtuosos that later would become Oregon), Darling participated in Ralph Towner’s album “Old friends, New Friends” for for the influential ECM records. His performance called the attention of ECM owner and producer, the visionary Manfred Eicher. Thus, a fruitful relation between David Darling and this excellent label gave birth to several albums with some of the big names of European jazz like Ketil Bjornstad, Terje Rypdal, Jan Garbarek, Niels Peter Mollvaer, etc. Heeventually did something that not many cellists would dare to do: a couple of Solo cello albums.

I have selected one of those for you, from 1991, called simply: “Cello”

Some of you are robably used to listen to rock bands or jazz ensembles and thus, might think that a solo cello album could be something a bit dry and even boring. I’d say you need to give this one a chance. The blend of electric and acoustic cellos creates an off-world texture that feels like a slow, profound, thick and beautiful flow.

David Darling’s music brings to one’s mindç oceans, forests, incredibly wide, expansive and overwhelmingly poetical landscapes over which one’s mind could float and wander.

This might be an extreme psychedelic experience, although no one would called this album psychedelic.

Is it classical music?
Is it avant-garde?
I am not sure.

Surely it is extremely well crafted and intensely played. There are not many albums like this one.

I am sure you’ll enjoy it.

Be well and…


Keep Listening...!!!

David Darling - Darkwood I...

Paulos Sidiropoulos & Spyridoula - "Flou" {Greece} [1978] @192 (Rock)

Pavlos Sidiropoulos(1948 – 1990) began his career in 1970 in Thessaloniki where together with Pantelis Delliyannides he founded the rock group “Damon and Fidias”.It was through this group that Sidiropoulos first experimented with combining Greek and rock music. In 1976 Pavlos Sidiropoulos together with Spiropoulos brothers, he founded the music group “Spiridoula”, they created the album "Flou", considered by many the most important album in Greek rock music, with nice guitars, horns,listener can find elements from progressive ,psychedelic and jazz rock ,”Flou” came to a season that greek rock was in it’s worst period ,for this record Pavlos Sidiropoulos didn’t sign a contract but a “paper” that he must refuse the earnings from the sales of the record, Spyridoula sing a contract as players for 4 % . From 1978 and after “Flou” is a measure for the greek rock scene, unfortunately this record stands insuperable further for his creator, its not accidental that the radio stations after 28 years from the birth of “Flou” are playing still this record.

Pavlos Sidiropoulos – singer. percussion

Spiridoula :
Vassilis Spyropoulos – electric & acoustic guitar
Nikos Spyropoulos - electric & acoustic guitar, piano, synth ,flute
Tolis Mastrokalos – bass
Andreas Mouzakitis – drums

Guest Musicians : Tasos Fotodimos – drums, Andreas Gavogiannis - trombone, Makis Papatheodorou – tenor sax, Giannis Fanariotis – alto sax, clarinet, Dimitris Leontaridis – trumpet ,Nikos Politis – bass, slide guitar, Dimitris Politimos – piano, Dimitra Galani – female voice, Giorgos Maglaras – violin

To '69 Me Kapoio filo..

links in comments.