FINCH - Glory of the Inner Force [1975]

 Tracklist
1 Register Magister 9:22
2 Paradoxical Moods 10:43
3 Pisces 9:29
4 A Bridge To Alice 13:13
Bonus Tracks
5 Colosus Part 1 3:28
6 Colosus Part 2 3:36
Credits
Bass, Synthesizer [Pedal Bass] – Peter Vink
 Design [Sleeve Design] – Beer Klaasse
Drums – Beer Klaasse
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Joop van Nimwegen
 Organ [Hammond L100], Mellotron, Grand Piano [Steinway], Electric Piano [Cei Carnaval], Synthesizer [Arp Pro-solist], Piano [Honky Tonk] – Cleem Determeijer
 Written-By – Joop v. Nimwegen

FINCH - Glory of the Inner Force [1975]

Pseudonym 1994  CBR320 / scan

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EGG - DISCOGRAPHY [1970-1974] 3CD

With a strong Canterbury influence implanted into their sound, Egg's first album has the band looking to establish their niche as a progressive group, with Dave Stewart's sharp, effective keyboard work outlining much of the album's overall feel. Mixing jazz and progressive rock drifts, the tracks on Egg contain rhythms and meters that are never at a standstill, with ongoing instrumental action encompassing nearly every track. Numerous classical overtones make for a familiar listen against a backdrop of loose-ended jazz fusion and an unordered yet inviting array of haphazard progressive spillages. The fragmented instrumentals sport an attractive inexperience, especially on "Bulb" and "The Song of McGillicudie the Pussilanimous," which also introduce Egg's lighthearted whimsy. Both "Blane" and "I Will Be Absorbed" represent the most colorful example of Egg's progressive rock fundamentals, with quick tempos and assertive keyboard runs. Although Egg's cohesiveness as a band is in its early stages, Dave Stewart ascertains himself as an elite keyboard player throughout the album, later moving on to play with Hatfield and the North and National Health. Egg's next album, 1971's Polite Force, has them sounding firmer and more self-contained, but their debut presents an entertaining example of different progressive genres playing off of one another. by Mike DeGagne   

1970 Egg

Tracklist 

1 Bulb 0:09

2 While Growing My Hair 3:53

Engineer – Roy Thomas Baker

3 I Will Be Absorbed 5:10

4 Fugue In D Minor 2:46

5 They Laughed When I Sat Dawn At The Piano... 1:17

6 The Song Of McGillicudie The Pusillaminous (Or Don't Worry James, Your Socks Are Hanging In The Coal Cellar With Thomas) 5:07

7 Boilk 1:00

Symphony No. 2

8 First Movement 5:47

9 Second Movement 6:20

10 Blane 5:28

11 Third Movement 3:11

12 Fourth Movement 3:10

13 Seven Is A Jolly Good Time 2:45

14 You Are All Princes 3:45

Credits

Bass, Vocals – Mont Campbell

Drums – Clive Brooks

Organ, Piano, Audio Generator [Tone Generator] – Dave Stewart

 

1971 The Polite Force

Tracklist

1 A Visit To Newport Hospital 8:25

2 Contrasong 4:21

3 Boilk 9:23

4 Long Piece No. 3 - Part 1 5:06

5 Long Piece No. 3 - Part 2 7:39

6 Long Piece No. 3 - Part 3 8:01

7 Long Piece No. 3 - Part 4 2:51

Credits

Artwork By [Cover Design], Photography [Cover] – Terry Yetton

Engineer – Robin Black

Engineer [Assistant] – Mike Butcher, Peter Flanagan, Simon Baron

Music By, Words By – Egg 

Producer – Neil Slaven

1974 The Civil Surface 

Tracklist  

1 Germ Patrol 8:31

Bassoon, Oboe – Lindsay Cooper

Clarinet – Tim Hodgkinson

2 Wind Quartet I 2:20

Bassoon – Chris Palmer 

Clarinet – Maurice Cambridge

Flute – Stephen Solloway

French Horn – Mont Campbell

3 Enneagram 9:07

4 Prelude 4:17

Vocals [Vocal] – Amanda Parsons, Ann Rosenthal, Barbara Gaskin

5 Wring Out The Ground (Loosely Now) 8:11

Guitar – Steve Hillage

6 Nearch 3:22

Bass – Dave Stewart

Bassoon, Oboe – Lindsay Cooper

Clarinet – Tim Hodgkinson

7 Wind Quartet II 4:48

Bassoon – Chris Palmer 

Clarinet – Maurice Cambridge

Flute – Stephen Solloway

French Horn – Mont Campbell

Credits

Bass, Voice, Piano – Mont Campbell

Drums – Clive Brooks

Engineer – Dave Ruffell, John Purdy

Organ, Piano – Dave Stewart

Producer – Egg 

EGG - DISCOGRAPHY 

[1970-1974] 3CD / CBR320 / scan

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MONA LISA - DISCOGRAPHY 1974 - 2000 [7 ALBUMS] FLAC / FRENCH / PROG

Founded in 1973, in Orleans, this is a symphonic band in the style of Genesis, but with a distinctively French flair (Because of it's peculiar stage show they are labeled as French Theatric Symphonic in some sources). 

Another close comparison is Atoll, with some references to Osanna and Premiata Forneria Marconi. 

The first album was recorded with Christian Gallas on electric guitar and violin, Jean-Luc Martin on bass, Jean-Paul Pierson on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals, Francis Poulet on drums, percussion and backnig vocals, Gilles Solves on additional guitars, and Dominique LeGuennec on lead vocals, sax, flute, and percussion. Solves would not remain for the next album, and Gallas would be replaced by Pascal Jordan for the third release. This lineup stayed intact for two albums. 

Disillusioned by lack of success, singer Dominique LeGuennec left the band. He was soon followed by Jordan. This led to a major reshuffling of personnel, and assignments. Drummer Francis Poulet pulled a Phil Collins, and became the lead singer for 1979's "Vers Demain." This would be the last of any semblance of the original Mona Lisa. 

In 1998 Le Geuennec reformed the band with most of the members of Versailles. A younger band, who were influenced by Mona Lisa and Ainge. This Lineup recorded "De l'ombre à la Lumière," and "Progfest 2000" (with only one change in personnel). 

The band is described as being highly orchestral, and very theatrical. Dominique LeGuennec receives constant comparisons to Peter Gabriel. They may not have had the notoriety of their contemporaries, but they are strongly recommended. H.T. Riekels (bhikkhu) Mona Lisa official website  by .progarchives

1974 - L'Escapade (1991)

Tracks Listing

1. Prélude A L'Escapade (2:10) 

2. La Fantôme De Galashiels (6:38) 

3. Voyage Vers L'Infini (3:42) 

4. Les Vieilles Pierres (8:43) 

5. Le Colporteur (8:12) 

6. Petit Homme De La Terre (12:04) 

Total time 41:29

Bonus tracks on CD release:

7. Diableries (8:49) 

8. Les Vieilles Pierres (5:35) 

Link

Line-up / Musicians

- Dominique Le Guennec / lead vocals, alto sax, flute, percussion

- Christian Gallas / electric guitar, violin

- Gilles Solves / acoustic & electric guitars

- Jean-Paul Pierson / keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

- Jean-Luc Martin / bass

- Francis Poulet / drums, percussion, backing vocals

1975 - Grimaces (1994)

 

Tracklist

La Mauvaise Réputation 3:30

Brume 5:05

Complainte Pour Un Narcisse 4:25

Le Jardin Des Illusions 6:35

Accroche-Toi Et Suis-Moi 6:00

Au Pays Des Grimaces 6:15

Manèges Et Chevaux De Bois 7:00

Credits

Bass Guitar, Vocals – Martin Jean Luc

Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Poulet Francis

Guitar, Effects [Special Effects], Vocals – Gallas Christian

Keyboards [Diverse Keyboards], Guitar, Vocals – Pierson Jean Paul

Vocals, Flute, Alto Saxophone [Sax Alto], Tambourine – Leguennec Dominique

Link

1977 - Le Petit Violon de Monsieur Grégoire  (1995)

Tracklist

Le Chant Des Glaces 4:30

Allons Z'Enfants 6:15

Le Publiphobe 2:27

Solaris 2:50

Le Petit Violon De Mr Grégoire

La Folie 5:37

De Toute Ma Haine 5:56

Plus Loin Vers Le Ciel 9:00

Credits

Bass Guitar, Vocals – Jean-Luc Martin

Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Francis Poulet

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Pascal Jardon

Engineer – B. Belan*, J.P.Massiera*

Illustration, Concept By – Philippe Huart

Piano, Organ, Synthesizer – Jean-Paul Pierson

Realization – Jean-Claude Pognant

Vocals, Flute, Synthesizer – Dominique Le Guennec

Link

1978 - Avant Qu'il Ne Soit Trop Tard

Tracklist

Avant Qu'il Ne Soit Trop Tard 3:30

La Peste 6:00

Souvenirs De Naufrageurs 7:00

Tripot 4:00

Léna 5:00

Créature Sur La Steppe (9:45)

I. Comme Dans Un Rêve

II. L'Oppression

III. Avec Le Vent

Credits

Bass Guitar – Jean-Luc Martin

Drums, Percussion – Francis Poulet

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer – Pascal Jardon

Illustration, Concept By – Michel Lecoeur

Mixed By – Philippe Omnès

Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Mellotron – Jean-Paul Pierson

Realization – Jean-Claude Pognant

Vocals, Flute, Percussion – Dominique Le Guennec

Link

1979 - Vers Demain (1994)

 

Tracklist

Maldonne 2:00

Prélude A L'Enfer 3:26

Bla Bla Bla 2:50

Le Rat Débile Et Le Rat Déchanté 4:05

Vers Demain 3:20

Curriculum Vitae 4:50

Maria 3:15

A Tombeau Ouvert 3:20

Rien Ne Va Plus 4:00

Rétrospective 4:30

Credits

Bass, Effects [Pedal Bass], Acoustic Guitar – Jean Betin

Cover – Bob Anton

Drums, Percussion – Patrick Moriniere

Engineer – Richard Loury

Guitar, Keyboards – Jean-Paul Pierson

Keyboards, Bandoneon – Michel Grandet

Vocals, Percussion – Francis Poulet

Link

1998 - De l'ombre à la Lumière

Tracklist

1 Captif De La Nuit 7:00

2 L´échiquier De La Vie 5:22

3 Les Guerriers 7:12

4 Passions 7:27

5 Voyage Avec Les Morts 10:28

6 Souvenirs 3:18

7 Quelque Part Sur Un Quai 6:12

8 Les Noces De Cendre 4:11

9 Comme Un Songe 5:26

Credits

Bass – Philippe Maury

Drums, Percussion – Benoit de Gency

Guitar, Flute, Vocals, Choir – Guillaume de la Pilière

Keyboards, Vocals, Choir – Alain de Lille

Vocals, Flute – Dominique Le Guennec

Link

2000 - Mona Lisa - Progfest 2000

Tracklist

1 Captif De La Nuit

2 Le Petit Violon De Mr Grégoire

3 Les Sabots De Lena

4 Voyage Avec Les Morts

5 L'Échiquier De La Vie

6 Les Guerriers

7 Tripot

8 Les Noces De Cendres

9 Au Pays Des Grimaces

10 Comme Un Songe

Link

MONA LISA - DISCOGRAPHY

1974-2000 / Symphonic Rock

| FLAC |tracks+.cue, image+.cue |lossless |

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KAIPA: The DECCA Years 1975-1978 (LIMITED EDITION 5CD-BOXSET - 3 STUDIO ALBUMS + 2 BONUS DISCS) Sweden / 2005

Kaipa is definitely the best Sweden progressive band ever and one of the most phenomenal from the 70s. Their first three albums are highly and deservedly praised, therefore that's why Revisited Records just did the obvious: they released this limited edition box with the first three albums accompanied by some bonus tracks plus two bonus CDs, one with some live recordings and the other with pre-debut album studio recordings. Besides, there's also a 56-page booklet fulfilled with pictures and text written by Roine Stolt himself. Impossible to be better than this! Run and download it right away!

Kaipa (1975)

 Tracklist:
01 Musiken är ljuset (7:04)
02 Saker har två sidor (4:34)
03 Ankaret (8:40)
04 Skogspromenad (3:40)
05 Allting har en början (3:12)
06 Se var morgon gry (8:53)
07 Förlorad i Istanbul (2:24)
08 Oceaner föder liv (9:28)
Bonus Tracks
09 Från det ena till det andra (2:49)
10 Karavan (2:54)
Line-up:
Roine Stolt - electric and acoustic guitars, vocal
Ingemar Bergman - drums, percussion, vocal
Tomas Eriksson - bass, vocal
Hans Lundin - Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Grand piano, Yamaha SY1 Synthesizer, Harpsichord, Logan String-machine, Glockenspiel, lead vocal

Originally released as Grammophon AB Electra/Decca SKL 5221

Inget nytt uner solen (1976)

Tracklist:
01 Skenet bedrar (21:41)
a) Uppvaknandet (2:43)
b) Bitterheten (3:10)
c) Hoppfullheten (4:44)
d) Överheten (8:12)
e) Vilseledd (2:52)
02 Ömsom sken (3:17)
03 Korståg (5:19)
04 Stengrodornas parad (0:56)
05 Dagens port (2:34)
06 Inget nytt under solen (6:10)
Bonus Tracks
07 Awakening/Bitterness (6:10)
08 How might I say out clearly (3:38)
09 The gate of day (2:26)
10 Blow hard all tradewinds (6:18)
Line-up:
Roine Stolt - electric guitar, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitar and rattle
Ingemar Bergman - drums, temple blocks, rattle & vocals
Tomas Eriksson - bass, synth-bass & voice of the Almighty
Hans Lundin - Hammond organ, Grand piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Mellotron, Yamaha & Korg synthesizers, Logan string machine, Hohner Clavinet, vibes, marimba, prepared piano & lead vocal
Lars Hoflund - lead vocal on tracks 7, 9 & 10

Originally released as Decca SKL 5260

Solo (1978)

Tracklist:
01 Den skrattande grevinnan (4:46)
02 Sen repris (3:22)
03 Flytet (2:46)
04 Anar dig (4:05)
05 Frog funk (3:35)
06 Visan i sommaren (3:35)
07 Tajgan (3:25)
08 Respektera min värld (6:16)
09 En igelkotts död (3:40)
10 Total förvirring (7:25)
11 Sist på plan (7:38)
Line-up:
Roine Stolt - 6 and 12-string electric guitars, acoustic guitars, guitar-synthesizer, percussion, vocal
Ingemar Bergman - drums, percussion, laughing
Mats Lindberg - bass, Moog Taurus pedals, percussion
Hans Lundin - Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, grand piano, Mellotron, Mini and polymoog synths, Korg String 2000, Hohner Clavinet, vocal
Mats Löfgren - lead vocal, percussion

Originally released as Decca SKL SKL 5293

Kaipa Live

Tracklist:
01 Total förvirring (8:42)
02 Skenet bedrar (16:29)
03 Visan i sommaren (3:23)
04 En igelkotts död/Ömsom sken (4:35)
05 Inget nytt under solen (8:02)
06 Copenhagen House-jam (5:48)
07 Flytet (2:54)
08 Musiken är ljuset (7:30)
09 Se var morgon gry (9:13)
10 Noice-village-stone-frog (5:49)
11 Oceaner föder liv (End part) (7:05)

Line-up:
Tracks 1-7
Roine Stolt - electric guitar
Ingemar Bergman - drums
Mats Lindberg - bass, 12-string electric guitar, Moog Taurus pedals
Hans Lundin - Fender Rhodes, Minimoog, Crumar organ, Korg String 2000, vocal
Mats Löfgren - vocal, electric guitar, percussion, glockenspiel Tracks 8-11
Roine Stolt - electric guitar, Talk-box
Ingemar Bergman - drums, vocal
Tomas Eriksson - bass, vocal
Hans Lundin - Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, Yamaha SY synthesizer, Logan string-machine, vocal

Tracks 1-7 recorded at Huset, Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 25th 1978
Tracks 8-9 recorded at Östanåskolan, Eksjö, Sweden on March 2nd 1976
Track 10 recorded at Bullerbyn, Stockholm, Sweden, on April 7th 1977
Track 11 recorded at Stenungsundsgymnasiet, Stenungsund, Sweden, on April 27th 1977

1974 Unedited Master Demo Recording

Tracklist:
01 Saker har två sidor (6:44)
02 Under stora gröna träd (3:01)
03 På färd (12:32)
04 Taktus (3:47)
05 Folke 2 (1:38)
06 Allting har sin början genom solen (5:07)
07 Cirrus (1:07)
08 Akrobaternas flykt (5:50)
09 Akrobaternas dans (2:31) (Homage to Samla Mammas Manna)
10 Nattens affär (4:06)
11 Karavan (2:51)
Line-up:
Roine Stolt - electric guitar & vocal
Ingemar Bergman - drums & vocal
Tomas Eriksson - bass & vocal
Hans Lundin - Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, Davoli synthesizer & vocal

Artist: Kaipa

Album: The Decca Years 1975-1978

Genre: Symphonic Progressive Rock

Year: 2005

Country: Sweden

Label/Catalog: Revisited Records/SPV / SPV 48722 BOX

CBR320 /scan

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HAIKARA - Discography [5CD]

A prog rock band from Lahti, Finland founded in 1971 by Vesa Lattunen and Markus Heikkerö. Timo Vuorinen, Harri Pystynen and Vesa Lehtinen joined them soon and the band released their first album in Autumn 1972. Singer Vesa Lehtinen left soon after and he was replaced by Auli Lattunen, Vesa Lattunen's sister. This was the lineup on Haikara's second album Geafar in 1973. 

Haikara released their third album Iso Lintu in 1975. The singer had changed again; Matti Heinänen sang on the third album. After this album the band split up. Vesa Lattunen soon gathered new musicians and founded the band again, this time to play more funk-influenced music. The lineup was Lattunen, Eljas Holm, Jorma Nikulainen and Hannu Rontu. This lineup released only one single in 1976. 

Vesa Lattunen reformed the band in the 1990s and Haikara released albums in 1998 and 2001. The last lineup was Lattunen, Jan Schaper, Tommi Mäkinen, Jukka Teerisaari, Saara Hedlund and Hannu Kivilä. Lattunen died in 2005 and Haikara hasn't been active after that.

1972 HAIKARA 

1. Köyhän pojan kerjäys - The Beggings of a poor boy (5:41)
2. Luoja Kutsuu - The Lord asks for you (7:45)
3. Yksi Maa & Yksi Kansa - One Land & One Nation (9:33)
4. Jälleen on meidän - It's ours again (10:56)
5. Manala - Underworld (10:37)

Line-up / Musicians
- Vesa Lehtinen / vocals, tamburine, cow bell, Eberhard Faber 1146 No. 2
- Vesa Lattunen / vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, piano, organ, bass
- Harri Pystynen / flute, Tenor saxophone
- Timo Vuorinen / electric bass
- Markus Heikerö / drums, tubular bells, triangle

1974 Geafar 

1. Change (8:10)

2. Kun menet tarpeeksi kauas tulevaisuuteen, huomaat olevasi menneisyydessä (8:09)
3. Kantaatti (2:32)
4. Laulu surullisesta pilvestä (3:57)
5. Geafar (13:57)
...Bonus tracks:
6. Picnic (2:27) (previously unreleased)
7. Oman onnen seppä (3:09) (previously unreleased)
8. Pilven poika (2:57)
9. Jumbo (3:30)
Total Time: 48:48

Line-up / Musicians
- Vesa Lattunen / vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, bass, piano, organ
- Auli Lattunen / vocals
- Harri Pystynen / flute, Tenor saxophone
- Timo Vuorinen / electric bass
- Markus Heikerö / drums, tubular bells, triangle

1976 - Iso Lintu

1. Hotellinainen (The Hotel Woman) (3:12)
2. Kuinka ollakaan (What a Surprise) (4:38)
3. Romanssi (Romance) (4:12)
4. 2 + 2 = 5 (2:31)
5. Leppäkerttu (Ladybug) (2:57)
6. Golgata (Golgotha) (3:06)
7. Für Hanna (2:14)
8. Aamu (Morning) (4:20)
9. Jäähyväiset (Farewell) (2:27)

Line-up / Musicians
- Vesa Lattunen / vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, piano, organ, bass
- Matti Heinänen / vocals
- Harri Pystynen / flute, Tenor saxophone
- Timo Vuorinen / electric bass
- Markus Heikerö / drums, tubular bells, triangle

1998 Haikara IV: Domino


1. Polku (8:24)
2. Portti (7:24)
3. Ykseys (12:43)
4. Lady (3:05)
5. Gloria Deo (9:28)
6. Kultamalja (3:08)

Line-up / Musicians
- Vesa Lattunen / acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Jan Schaper / Alto saxophone, Soprano saxophone, Alto recorder, Soprano recorder, vocals
- Tommi Mäkinen / electric bass, smoke machine
- Jukka Teerisaari / drums, timpani effects
- Ruja Salmi / Crescendo cymbals
- Jukka Kotialho, Markku Helle / Monk choir

STEVEN WILSON - To the Bone [2017] FLAC

Restlessness has been a defining characteristic of Steven Wilson's musical career. One need only consider his many projects as evidence: No-Man with Tim Bowness, Blackfield with Aviv Geffen, Porcupine Tree, Bass Communion, and I.E.M., and his four earlier prog/pop solo projects, Raven That Refused to Sing, Hand. Cannot. Erase, Grace for Drowning, and Insurgentes. He even whet punters' appetites for To the Bone by reissuing his cover singles as an album, and 4 1/2 to reveal the more accessible side of his songwriting.

To the Bone's press materials describe it as Wilson's "...hat-tip to the hugely ambitious progressive pop records of his youth...." Sources cited are Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Kate Bush, etc. One can hear their traces, especially David Bowie's.

This is the most "song"-oriented record in Wilson's catalog. Each tune could have been recorded in a vacuum. Wilson includes members of his road band and others, and features Israeli singer Ninet Tayeb -- who nearly steals the show on several tracks. On the stellar title opening cut -- complete with Pink Floyd-esque guitars (à la "Time") Tayeb's and Dave Kilminster's backing vocals buoy the tune's hook, and add operatic support to Wilson's lead. On "Pariah," Tayeb alternates lead vocals with Wilson. The lithe harmonic architecture with lilting synths, restrained guitars, and loops creates a backdrop for his vulnerable delivery, yet her refrain resonates with emotional authority and encouragement for the protagonist's doubt. It echoes the interplay of Gabriel and Bush on "Don't Give Up" and is just as distinctive. "Refuge" takes a couple of minutes to emerge from its (mostly) electronic intro, but when it does, its sultry melody is supported by a trilling string section and thundering tom-toms, squalling harmonica and power chords to become an anthem.

Speaking of which, the utterly infectious "Permanenting" with its hooky melody (again with Tayeb's backing vocals adding heft and sincerity) nods directly at Tears for Fears' glorious harmonies while simultaneously reflecting a love of Northern soul (à la Curtis Mayfield's "Get on Up"), though its urgent guitars and popping drums are pure Wilson. "People Eat Darkness" is a fist-pumping rocker that sounds like Bowie fronting Swervedriver. Wilson nods at the post-trip-hop sounds of No-Man with "Song of I," with its loops and handclaps atop piano and strings. Its vocals are delivered in duet with Sophie Hunger. The nine-minute "Detonation" weds prog to adventurous pop with a glorious result, while closer "Song to Unborn" (featuring only his road band) is majestic; it could easily sit with the songs on either Raven or Hand. While To the Bone sometimes seems inconsistent, it's an illusion; repeated listening reveals that Wilson's brand of progressive pop is so multivalently textured and expertly crafted that its aesthetic and sonic palette refuse to be contained under a single rock umbrella. As such, To the Bone stands with Wilson's best work.  by Thom Jurek   

1. To The Bone

2. Nowhere Now

3. Pariah

4. The Same Asylum As Before

5. Refuge

6. Permanating

7. Blank Tapes

8. People Who Eat Darkness

9. Song Of I

10. Detonation

11. Song Of Unborn

O Púbis da Rosa

ACQUA FRAGILE - Acqua Fragile [1973] Italy /Prog

ACQUA FRAGILE - Acqua Fragile [1973] 

Italy / Progressive  Rock / 320

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COMUS - Song To Comus (The Complete Collection) UK / FLAC

Comus' first album contains an imaginative if elusive brand of experimental folk-rock, with a tense and sometimes distressed vibe. Although there are elements of traditional British folk music, there's an edginess to the songwriting and arrangements that would be entirely alien in a Fairport Convention or Pentangle disc. At times, this straddles the border between folk-rock and the kind of songs you'd expect to be sung at a witches' brew fest, the haunting supernatural atmosphere enhanced by bursts of what sound like a theramin-like violin, hand drums, flute, oboe, ghostly female backup vocals, and detours into almost tribal rhythms. All of this might be making the album sound more attractive than it is; the songs are extremely elongated and fragmented, and the male vocals often have a grating munchkin-like quality, sometimes sounding like a wizened Marc Bolan. The lyrics are impenetrable musings, mixing pastoral scenes of nature with images of gore, torture, madness, and even rape, like particularly disturbing myths being set to music. Richie Unterberger

First Utterance

1. Diana 4:35

2. The Herald 12:10

3. Drip Drip 10:51

4. Song To Comus 7:29

5. The Bite 5:29

6. Bitten 2:18

7. The Prisoner 6:17

Maxi Single

8. Diana 4:24

9. In The Lost Queen's Eyes 2:50

10. Winter Is A Coloured Bird 8:01

Previously Unreleased

11. All The Colours Of Darkness 7:21

CD2

To Keep From Crying

After the dark twisted masterpiece of First Utterance, Comus came back a few years later with a second LP, To Keep From Crying. Even with Henry Cow bassoonist Lindsay Cooper and Gong saxophonist Didier Malherbe added to the ranks, To Keep From Crying does not get anywhere near the power of the first album. There are some dark folk songs here with both female and male vocals and a lot of progressive touches, but at the same time the record has a far more conventional rock sound, especially on the bouncy opening tracks on each side of the record, "Down (Like a Movie Star)" and "So Long Supernova." "Touch Down" is a bit creepier, with more acoustic guitars, as well as what sounds like a ghostly children's chorus and some cosmic synth tones. Other pieces like "Figure in Your Dreams" and "Perpetual Motion" offer some unusual vocal arrangements (and the latter ends with a cool tape loop effect), though nothing in the realms of the earlier record. The three experimental drone-scapes, "Waves and Caves," "Panophany," and "After the Dream," end far too quickly, as they clock in at well under a minute apiece. The record is pretty good, but it has the misfortune of paling in the shadow of its nightmarish predecessor.

1. Down (Like A Movie Star) 4:06

2. Touch Down 4:45

3. Waves And Caves 1:33

4. Figure In Your Dreams 3:10

5. Children Of The Universe 5:38

6. So Long Supernova 3:21

7. Perpetual Motion 4:07

8. Panophany 0:30

9. Get Yourself A Man 7:08

10. To Keep From Crying 5:39

11. After The Dream 1:00

Roger Wootton Solo Single

12. Roger Wootton Fiesta Fandango 3:50

13.  Roger Wootton New Tide 2:59

O Púbis da Rosa