Bowl - "Bowl" {Netherlands} ['75-'77] progressive rock

bowl appeared in the scene of netherlands at mid seventies. they did several concerts. as far as i know they never came up with a release under a label, however several songs recorded on their live concerts in time, and what we got in this album is the songs that rescued from old tapes. about the album, it has so nice atmosphere beautified with baraque elements. the sound is similar to the bands like camel, alquin and kayak. there is not even a dull song on the album, and for some songs i like to listen over and over. as the time passes some members changed, some new joined. musicians in the records were; Hessel Hoornveld(Bass guitar, guitar), Hans Elmers(Vocals), Johan Spiering(Keyboards), Bas Blom(Guitar), Hans Andringa(Drums), Herman Meyer(Guitar), Bob Schaafsma(Guitar). A hidden gem for the lovers of 70s progressive rock.

tHe pLacK..
staNding beFoRe thE winDoW..

thanks to ertwen :)

Giger Lenz Marron - "Beyond" {Germany} [1977] jazz/fusion

Formed by former Dzyan members Peter Giger and Eddy Marron, along with jazz bassist Günter Lenz, this super trio offered a more jazz oriented yet similar music to Dzyan, but with a jazzier feel. Without the electronics and weirdness of Dzyan, their music centred around Peter Giger's flowery percussion and Eddy Marron's multi-guitars and ethnic saz, and was much more jazz-fusion based. Giger.Lenz.Marron dabbled with unusual time signatures and lots of experimentation with Eastern musics and off-beat rhythmic structures. read more here

beYoNd..

Mara! - "Images" {Australia} [1984] prog folk

Mara!’s musicians are among the most highly regarded world and jazz players in Australia. Together in Mara! they create one of Australia’s most exciting, innovative and uplifting ensembles.
Over the last 25years, Mara! have developed a unique musical style which fuses folk roots with modern jazz expressionism, adding influences from rock to early music, while journeying through Anglo-Celtic, middle Eastern, Balkan and Mediterranean traditions. Nowadays Mara! perform many original works which are a musical mirror where these flavours find their dazzling reflection. Fronted by the remarkable and magnetic voice of Mara Kiek, Mara! have brought their virtuosic concert performances…read more here


dAance oF ZalonGou..
sAdina jaNA..
NeSa NeSa..

The Helpful Soul - "A Thousand And One Night" {Japan} [1969]

The career of the Helpful Soul was a real case of wrong place, wrong time - for they hit their blues stride just as heavy blues was becoming hard rock, and graduated to heavy rock too late to capitalise on even that brief fad. However, they recorded one outstanding track, the ten-minutes-plus of "Peace For Fools", which appeared on their otherwise bog-standard blues dirge debut LP. This track in itself separates them from all Japanese blues bands for it is a Kim Fowleyan masterpiece of Jim Morrison mystical doggerel/truly possessed nihilist genius. Unfortunately, leader Junio Nakahara was so inspired by witnessing a performance by Blues Creation, when his band supported them at the Too Much Festival, that he was soon after driven to change his own name to Tstomu Ogawa while his band became known as ... Too Much. http://www.japrocksampler.com/artists/japrock/helpful_soul/




I think this album is a soundtrack of a movie and I'm sorry but I'm not sure it is complete. Maybe I just have the tracks of the band Helpful Soul. Any information or help is welcome. (New link with complete album in comments)

- Junio Nakahara – lead vocalist and slide guitar
- Gene Shoji – lead guitar
- Charles Che - bass
- Eiichi Tsukasa – drums

Discography:
- A Thousand And One Night (Victor, 1969)
- Aladin's Theme 7" EP (Victor, 1969)
- The Helpful Soul First Album (Victor, 1970)

The Dance Of The Bandits...
The Torture...

Link in comments...

Arkadaş - "Arkadaş & Live in Poland" {Switzerland} ['84-'86] turkish jazz/fusion

If you enjoy the works of Okay Temiz like Oriental Wind, Sevda; then this is something for you. The band name arkadaş means friend in turkish. arkadaş was a swiss band appeared in early 80s and did 2 nice albums. Their music is a kind of free form jazz fusion with turkish folk spices. a hidden treasure for the lovers of east meets west works.

aRkadAs..
LiVe pL..

thanks to osurec :)

Akacis - "Akacis" {Latvia} [1979] progressive rock

Akacis, a musical group that existed from 1977 into the 1990s, was the longest lived Latvian-American rock band of its time. While groups like Čikāgas piecīši and Trīs no Pārdaugavas performed and were influenced by traditional songs, Akacis was one of the first Latvian-American groups to be guided by more contemporary sounds, with aspects in its music of pop, hard rock, progressive rock, and even jazz rock, folk and reggae.
The group performed throughout North America and Europe at Latvian song festivals, American Latvian Youth Organization (Amerikas latviešu jaunatnes apvienība, or ALJA) events and many other functions. The band also toured Latvia during the cultural exchanges of the Third National Awakening from 1989-1990.
The group’s name means “pit in a bog” in English, and is similar to the literal definition of the word “quagmire,” something the group would later allude to when it gave itself the more “American” name of Quags. Why the band chose the name Akacis (the name itself was suggested by drummer Aivars Šmits) remains unclear, but apart from the standard reason of “it sounds cool,” there is also ...read more here

doMaS..

a hidden treasure! Thanks to Valdis :)

Percewood's Onagram - "Lessons For Virgins" {Germany} [1971]

Percewood's Onagram had already found its own, original style of music and it wasn't "Kraut-Rock" at all, they sounded more like an English or American band. P. O.'s music is a strange and unique combination of R&B, Beat, Psychedelic, Folk and (garage-, livingroom-, prewave-) Rock. Catchy, timeless songs, rough and beautiful at the same time with pretentious sometimes provoking critical - but again timeless lyrics. Presented by the band in perfect English and unusual phrasing and backed up by strong acoustic & electric guitars, piano, harmonica, drums and bass. (A combination and sound of instruments that many new groups of today go back to ...)

01 - High in the Sky
02 - Seven Minds
03 - Summer Song
04 - Good Time on Earth
05 - Lesson for a Virgin
06 - Set You Free
07 - Mike, Are You Comin'...
08 - Seven Minds
09 - Sumer Song
10 - Good Time on Earth

- Wolfgang Michels (vocals, guitar)
- Klaus Kaufmann (piano)
- Eddy Muschketat (harp, percussion)
- Hans Jürgen "Jojo" Ludwig (drums, 1969-73)
- Peter Conant-Schaffer (lead guitar, 1973-74)
- Geary Priest (drums, 1973-74)
- Gerald Heinemann (vocals, percussion, 1973-74)
- Uwe "Bass" Meyer (bass, 1974)

05 - Lesson for a Virgin...
06 - Set You Free...
07 - Mike, Are You Comin'......

link in comments...

Steve Drake Band - "Nature Intended” {USA} [1976]

It’s not known exactly how Steve Kaczorowski/Drake and Tiger Lily got hooked up; possibly he simply sent them a demo of one of his karaoke collections, as was his style, and Tiger Lily released it with no strings attached, as was their style. In any event, it is appropriate to the label that the Kacz-man here took his karaoke rock concept to even further heights: he stopped bothering with the vocal overdubs, but simply taped a bunch of tracks from obscure UK import albums and christened them Steve Drake Band recordings! The selection is even more schizophrenic and unlikely, throwing you abruptly between different soundscapes and moods. As on the earlier albums, several tracks inexplicably retain their original titles, rather than being anonymized under new headings. more... http://www.lysergia.com/LamaWorkshop/Kacz/lamaKacz.htm

A1 Nature Intended
A2 Rap On
A3 Slark
A4 Adam And I
B1 Somebody
B2 Dave Ross & Me
B3 Eastern Wind
B4 Perfect Love
B5 Jennie's Extravaganza

Thanks to obscuremusic

A1 Nature Intended...
A4 Adam And I...

Link in comments....

Puppenhaus - "Jazz Macht Spazz" {Germany} [1973-74] (prog jazz-rock)

No progressive rock music fan should be misled by the album title "Jazz macht Spazz", a bowdlerization of "jazz makes fun", this is progressive jazz-rock at its best. Büdi Siebert (flutes and saxes), Herbert Binder (gt), Frank Fischer (bass), later with Release Music Orchestra, Thomas Rabenschlag (keys) and drummer Bea Maier (later with Zomby Woof and Moira), all well trained on the instruments, played a varied, inventive, melodic and often furious kind of music with lots of Krautrock magic influenced by Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Soft Machine and Weather Report. 5 titles on this CD were recorded at German radio station SWF, 2 titles are live recordings (taped from the soundboard), all in all 77 minutes of great flute and sax playing, furious and lyrical guitar and bass work, hypnotic rhythm patterns and perfect keyboard sounds. Hard to believe, that Puppenhaus never recorded an album. In 1980 Büdi Siebert with friends recorded an album under the name "Herrgottsax", which also will be released in the next month on Long Hair. Digitally remastered from original master tapes. CD comes with comprehensive booklet, band story by the musicians, many photos and especially with a wonderful cover based on a painting by drummer Bea Maier. Highly recommended http://www.krautrock-musikzirkus.de/de,Puppenhaus_Jazz-macht-Spass_3147,N.html

01 - Anfang
02 - Jazz Macht Spazz
03 - Elefanten
04 - Let The Pig Out
05 - Imporvisationen
06 - 5 Mal Schnitzel
07 - Sabanone

- Herbert Binder - guitar
- Frank Fischer - bass
- Berthold Maier - drums
- Thomas Rabenschlag - keyboards
- J.P. 'Büdi' Siebert - flutes, saxes

01 - Anfang...
02 - Jazz Macht Spazz...

Thanks to Osurec :o)

link in comments....

Perspectiva - "'Lá Fora' A Cidade / Os Homens da Minha Terra" + "Rei Posto Rei Morto / O Oitavo Sorriso" {Portugal} [1976-77] (Singles, Prog)



A partir do grupo Plexus, banda que tocava Rock copiando os ídolos da época, formaram-se os Perspectiva, uma importante banda no panorama do Rock português, na Segunda metade dos anos 70 do século XX. O núcleo duro da banda era constituído por Tó Pinheiro da Silva (guitarra, flauta e voz) e Carlos Viana (piano eléctrico). Os restantes membros do grupo eram: Luís Miguel (baixo), Raul Rosa (bateria), Vítor Real(voz). A estes juntar-se-iam, mais tarde, José Firmino (percussões e voz) e José Manuel (guitarra).
A banda, uma das primeiras a enveredar pelo estilo "sinfónico" e "progressivo" (a par dos Tantra), formou-se no Barreiro. Tó Pinheiro da Silva era membro de outra banda muito importante, nessa época, a Banda do Casaco.
Após tentarem contrato com a Valentim de Carvalho, através da entrega de uma "maqueta" a Mário Martins, começam a ensaiar a sério (após terem sido expulsos de um local na sua cidade-natal porque faziam muito "barulho", passaram a fazê-lo num velho moinho abandonado) e a participar em muitos espectáculos pelo país.
Em 1976 conseguem um contrato discográfico com a Imavox, para onde conseguiram entrar após terem sido ouvidos por Sérgio e Madi, produtores dessa companhia discográfica, onde pontuavam como directores António Pinho e Nuno Rodrigues. O primeiro disco gravado pela banda foi o "single" intitulado "Lá Fora A Cidade", que continha no lado dois o tema "Os Homens Da Minha Terra". Estes temas tiveram acompanhamento de uma orquestra sinfónica, para dar um tom mais "sinfónico" à música da banda. Muito elogiado pela crítica, este disco é hoje uma das grandes raridades discográficas portuguesas.
Em 1977 gravam novo "single" com o título "Rei Morto, Rei Posto" em que o lado B era ocupado com o tema "O Oitavo Sorriso". O letrista ao serviço da banda era José Beiramar que escrevia os poemas com grande intensidade e revelando grandes sentimentos humanísticos e apontando problemas sociológicos comuns ao povo português.
A revista "Rock Em Portugal", à época o único meio de comunicação social a interessar-se pelo fenómeno do Rock cantado ou feito por portugueses foi, desde sempre defensora acérrima da qualidade da banda, tendo-a destacado como uma das "Bandas do Ano" em 1977. Foi também a "Rock Em Portugal" que convidou os Perspectiva a participarem na festa de lançamento da revista, através da participação num Festival Rock no pavilhão do Clube Atlético de Campo de Ourique, em Lisboa, onde os Perspectiva foram os grandes vencedores. Participaram também os Kontrol e os Hosanna.
Em Maio de 1978 a mesma revista produz uma longa entrevista com os membros da banda, que são capa da edição. Nesta entrevista ficou a saber-se as dificuldades que os músicos de Rock passavam na altura. O mercado estava virado para o que vinha do estrangeiro (e ainda não havia Play-Lists nas rádios) e o que era português não era muito bem aceite pelo mercado.
A curiosidade desta entrevista foi a presença numa fotografia do "Nacib" da telenovela brasileira "Gabriela", após o entrevistador ter solicitada a Armando Bogus (infelizmente já falecido) a sua autorização para posar junto com os Perspectiva. Num dos espectáculos ao vivo, realizado nas ruínas do Convento do Carmo, a banda chegou a actuar com a orquestra sinfónica da RDP, mas a experiência não foi muito bem sucedida e acabou por ser abandonada.
Outros temas da banda, tornados conhecidos através dos seus concertos, eram "A Quinta Parte Do Mundo"(um longo poema/hino à liberdade) para além de "Sul", "Norte" ou "A Primeira Flor". Esteve programada a gravação daquele que viria a ser o primeiro LP da banda que até tinha título. Seria intitulado "A Quinta Parte Do Mundo", mas nunca chegou a ver a luz do dia, porque a banda deu por terminadas as suas actividades musicais.
Tó Pinheiro da Silva continuou nas lides musicais, não só como membro da Banda do Casaco, até ao seu desaparecimento, mas, também, como técnico de gravação em estúdio e técnico de som. Com esta última especialidade teve oportunidade de correr o mundo, já que foi técnico de som dos Madredeus até 1997. Como técnico de estúdio gravou com uma infinidade de artistas portugueses alguns discos importantíssimos do nosso panorama musical. ARISTIDES DUARTE - http://rockemportugal.blogspot.com/2005/04/biografia-perspectiva.html
more http://a-trompa.net/recordacoes/recordacoesla-fora-a-cidade-perspectiva


'Lá Fora' A Cidade / Os Homens da Minha Terra [1976]
















A - "Lá Fora" a Cidade...
B - Os Homens da Minha Terra...


Rei Posto Rei Morto / O Oitavo Sorriso [1977]
















A - Rei Posto Rei Morto...
B - O Oitavo Sorriso...

Link in comments....

Rixsta - "The Language Of My Spirit" {UK} [2009] Exclusive for PNF!

English Guitarist/Singer “Rixsta” received his first guitar as a birthday present and started recording in 1999 on his home computer at the age of 16, inspired by the sounds of soul and rock, especially from the 70’s.
Rixsta’s latest recordings are becoming inspired by jazz, blues & progressive rock.

This albums put together by the artist himself explores some of his best moments in 2007 to 2008
Mostly recorded improvisation at home and song ideas

Instrovization
--
"The lead guitar was recorded on the third take, totaly improvised throughout.
i remember letting go of all this emotion as i played.
Atho this has no words i belive it to be very true to how i was feeling that day :)
"

01 - Searching Out
02 - Somethin' About Somethin'
03 - Love Keeps Shinin' On
04 - We Can Heal Each Other (But I Could Heal Myself)
05 - Popfunk
06 - Wake Up (From Your Dream)
07 - Walkin' In The Park
08 - Winter Meloncholy Dream
09 - Jazzy Baby
10 - Sometimes Life Is Hard
11 - Just Can't Take It Anymore
12 - Jam
13 - Lighten Up My Friend
14 - Lonely Blues
15 - Exploding Within
16 - Rhythms Call You
17 - Instrovization

01 - Searching Out...
08 - Winter Meloncholy Dream...
09 - Jazzy Baby...
17 - Instrovization...

check out more rixsta at
www.Rixsta.co.uk
www.last.fm/music/Rixsta
www.myspace.com/tuanehammer

link in comments....