BEGGARS OPERA — Pathfinder (1972-2005) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Beggars Opera's third album offered up another dramatic change in pace and style from a band that had already demonstrated its musical schizophrenia well enough. Considerably more song-oriented than either of its predecessors, Pathfinder set out its stall with the pounding pop of "Hobo" before delving deep into period preoccupations with a truly visionary assault on "MacArthur Park" -- imagine Vanilla Fudge if Brian Auger had created their arrangements. Eight minutes seem too short a time in which to layer all of the group's ideas, but they succeed with room to spare, and deliver what is probably the definitive reading of the song. The pulsating "The Witch," the fusion and folk-inflected "From Shark to Haggis," and the closing menace of "Madame Doubtfire," with its glance back at the soundscapes of Act One, are the album's other highlights -- particularly if you catch them on headphones. From beginning to end, though, Pathfinder is a powerful record, dramatically produced and deliriously delivered, a wild smorgasbord of musical innovation and staggeringly brilliant ideas. Dave Thompson  
Tracklist :
1     Hobo 4:24
Alan Park
2     Macarthur Park 8:18
Jimmy Webb
3     The Witch 6:04
Ricky Gardiner / Dennis Scott
4     Pathfinder 3:43
Ricky Gardiner
5     From Shark to Haggis 6:42
Ricky Gardiner / Dennis Scott
6     Stretcher 4:48
Ricky Gardiner
7     Madame Doubtfire 4:18
Ricky Gardiner
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals – Gordon Sellar
Drums – Raymond Wilson
Illustration [Sleeve illustration] – Peter Goodfellow
Keyboards – Alan Park
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Ricky Gardiner
Lead Vocals – Martin Griffiths
Producer – Beggars Opera 

EAST OF EDEN — Jig-A-Jig (1971-1997) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Jig-A-Jig is a nine-track compilation from this wonderfully enthusiastic British band, spotlighting their jovial blend of folk-rock and jazz elements. With most of the material emerging from 1970's Snafu album, East of Eden's flighty, progressive atmosphere comes to life through the mixture of flute, saxophone, and, especially, electric violin. One of their most energetic numbers entitled "Nymphenburger" uses six violin tracks and four guitar tracks with some electric alto sax piled on top, entirely overdubbed with the result sounding beautifully clean, mainly because of the familiar "Rondo" theme, which was later made famous by the Nice. It's Ron Gaines' saxophone that gives "Ramadahn" its mesmerizing flow and tribal-like sound, while the fully instrumental "Jig-A-Jig" went to number seven on the U.K. charts in 1971, thanks to the cordial nature of the song's pop sound. The eight-plus minutes of "Gum Arabic" contrasts the airiness of the flute with the resonant chant of bagpipes, emerging as a truly eccentric piece of music, and "Confucius" focuses mainly on the guitar, causing the rhythms to stand out with a rockier tempo. East of Eden may not have gained the attention that the band was hoping for, even within the progressive rock ranks, but some of the members did go on to greener pastures. Drummer Geoff Britton went on to play in Paul McCartney's Wings for almost a year in 1974, and violin player Dave Arbus became a renowned session man, lending his craft to the Who's Who's Next album. Because East of Eden's material may be hard to come by, Jig-A-Jig stands as a brief but fit example of the band's progressive/folk collage. Mike DeGagne  
Tracklist :
1.    Jig-A-Jig 3:35
 -Traditional
Arranged By – East Of Eden 
2.    Nymphenberger 6:12
Written-By – East Of Eden 
3.    Ramadhan 6:14
 – Unknown
In The Snow For A Blow (Medley)    
3b    Part I
Written-By – East Of Eden 
3c    Better Git It In Your Soul
Written-By – Mingus
3d    Part Ill
Written-By – East Of Eden 
4.    Northern Hemisphere 4:31
Written-By – Caines
5a    Gum Arabic 8:17
Written-By – East Of Eden 
5b    Confucius
Written-By – Drummond
6.    Isadora 4:17
Written-By – Nicholson, Caines, York
7a    Leaping Beauties For Rudy 7:01
Written-By – East Of Eden 
7b    Marcus Junior
8.    Jig-A-Jig (7" Version)    3:42
9.    Marcus Junior (7" Version) 3:56
Written-By – Drummond
Credits :
Bass Guitar – Andy Sneddon
Drums – Geoff Britton
Electric Guitar – Geoff Nicholson
Electric Violin, Flute – Dave Arbus
Keyboards – Ron Caines
Saxophone – Dave Arbus, Ron Caines
Vocals – Geoff Nicholson, Ron Caines

CURVED AIR — Air Cut (1973-1996) Two Version | APE + FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Curved Air's fourth album featured a very different lineup and is considered by many a weaker effort. Of course, it does not have the bombast of Phantasmagoria (Francis Monkman's classical touch is cruelly missed), but it still has its share of strong moments. By 1973, only singer Sonja Kristina remained of the original members, but her voice suffices to keep the flame burning. She and bassist Mike Wedgewood, introduced with the previous LP, are joined by drummer Jim Russell, guitarist Gregory Kirby, and an 18-year-old violinist/keyboardist by the name of Eddie Jobson. "The Purple Speed Queen," a decent light psychedelic rock song, became one of the group's best-known tracks, and the ten-minute "Metamorphosis" still ranks high among the classic tracks of British progressive rock (here Jobson comes very close to Monkman's virtuosity at the piano). Side two of the original LP comprised a string of more straightforward rock numbers in the vein of Babe Ruth. Less striking, it pictured a group trying to widen its audience without sounding convinced it was the right thing to do. The album closer, "Easy," a lusher ballad, was nonetheless a good song. The only LP released by this lineup and the only Curved Air album with Jobson on it (he would join Roxy Music right after its completion), Air Cut is mostly remembered for introducing the future member of UK, Jethro Tull, and many other prog rock-related bands. François Couture

Tracklist :
1. The Purple Speed Queen (1:32)
2. Elfin Boy (4:13)
3. Metamorphosis (10:38)
4. World (3:43)
5. Armin (3:42)
6. U.H.F. (5:07)
7. Two-Three-Two (4:10)
8. Easy (6:40)
Credits :
Kirby Gregory - Guitars, Vocals
Eddie Jobson - Keyboards, Violin, Vocals
Sonja Kristina - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Jim Russell - Drums, Percussion
Mike Wedgwood - Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals (Lead Vocal on Two-Three-Two)

GRAVY TRAIN — Gravy Train (1970) Mini LP | Three Version | WV + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Jethro Tull and Comus had a baby, and they named it Gravy Train. That's not strictly accurate, of course, but as the band's eponymous debut opens with the fluid changes of "The New One," it's not too far of a reach, either. Richly harmonic, daringly jam-laden, and peppered with guitar roars that simply defy comparison, Gravy Train is the sound of the British underground at its most joyously liberated peak -- a time when a bunch of apparent freaks could simply go into a major recording studio and let rip. Except Gravy Train's concept of "letting rip" has more in common with a symphony orchestra than the Edgar Broughton Band. Without, of course, the orchestra. But there's a moment in the midst of "Think of Life" that cannot help but put one in mind of later Deep Purple, as the flute and guitar battle for supremacy, while the blues workout "Coast Road" is as breathtaking as any of that genre's better-feted exponents. If Gravy Train has any faults whatsoever, the fascination with peculiar vocal effects can grow a little wearing, especially as frontman Norman Barrett already appears to have a fabulous range of his own -- "Dedication to Sid," in particular, glories in such trickery, although the heartbeat bassline that runs through the number is so hypnotic that it's easy to forget everything else that's going on. In fact, Gravy Train is littered with moments like that, an album of so many surprises that even when you think you know it, you can still find something else you'd never noticed. And it all adds up to a genuine minor classic. Dave Thompson 
Tracklist :
1 The New One 5:15
2 Dedication To Sid 7:17
3 Coast Road 6:46
4 Enterprise 6:20
5 Think Of Life 5:10
6 Earl Of Pocket Nook 16:11
Credits :
Bass, Vocals – Les Williams
Drums – Barry Davenport
Engineer – Keith Harwood
Flute [Alto, Simultaneous Alto And Tenor], Vocals – J.D. Hughes
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Norman Barrett
Written-By, Composed By – Gravy Train

KIN PING MEH — Nº2 (1972) Two Version | WV + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Again, this is the album that does not have prog component in the music. However, it's nice to enjoy this classic rock band. The music offered here is similar with bands like Tea (Germany), Humble Pie, or Mountain with unique singing style of its lead vocalist, Wrener Stephan. The opening track "Come Down to the Riverside" (3:13) is like a combination of The Beatles and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It seems like the band tried to explore the southern rock style, especially through the guitar licks as well as singing style. It's really enjoyable. It moves in similar vein into next track "Don't Force Your Horse" (3:46) where guitar still plays critical role in putting the music style of the song. Supported with vintage recording quality, enjoying this track gives me a "different" experience that brings me back to the glory days of seventies where rock music dominated the music industry.

The Beatles cover "Come Together" (6:00) is another place that I can find joy of listening to this album. No, it's not that due to the original version of this song it's already excellet, but the re-arrangement by Kin Ping Meh makes it "something new" for me and it has made me repeating this song over and over whenever it reaches third track. I like the fact that the guitar sound has been made different than those of original version. It reminds me to the guitar player of a band named as MAHOGANY RUSH - the guitarist is Frank Marino. The guitar solo at the end of this track is really stunning.

"Together Jam" (4:55) starts with jamming mode through guitar solo supported with bass guitar and drums, plus organ. The use of two guitars separated with left and right channel has made this composition is really excellent. The guitar solo is really the main thing from this track and it satisfies me to the bone! The bass guitar is also given a chance to perform its solo. It's an uplifting track!

"Liveable Ways" (8:00) is probably the progressive attempt that the band tried to make. The combined guitar and bass guitar works at the opening of the track is truly stunning. The vocal line is also excellent, performed with energy. The song also inserts some ambient portion right after intro part. "Day Dreams" (7:56) provides musical break through ambient nuance at intro part with guitar fills. "Very Long Ago" (2:54) is a country rock music, using banjo as main rhythm section. The album concludes nicely with "I Wanna Be Lazy" (2:58) in Southern style. progarchives
Tracklist :
1.    Come Down To The Riverside    3:13
Written-By – Groß / Stephan
2.    Don't Force Your Horse 3:46
Written-By – Dr. Gassenmaier / Groß 
Bagpipes [Dudelsack] – Dieter Kuhlmann
3.    Come Together 6:00
Written-By – Lennon/McCartney
4.    Together Jam 4:55
Written-By – Kin Ping Meh
5.    Livable Ways    8:00
 Written-By – Frank Dostal /Groß 
6.    Day Dreams    7:56
Written-By – Dr. Gassenmaier / Groß / Stephan
7.    Very Long Ago 2:54
Written-By – Willie Wagner
Banjo – Erich Doll
8.    I Wonna Be Lazy    2:58:5
 Written-By – Reichel / Dostal
– BONUS TRACKS –
9    Sometime (Single Version)    4:33
Written-By – Wagner / Schmitt
10    Sunday Morning Eve    3:58
Written-By – Wroe /Mrozek / Groß
Credits :
Bass, Vocals – Torsten Herzog
Drums, Percussion – Kalle Weber
Electric Guitar, Guitar [Fingerstyle Guitar] – Uli Groß
Guitar – Gerhard (Gagey) Mrozeck
Guitar, Vocals – Willie Wagner
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion – Werner Stephan
Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Mellotron 400, Vocals – Fritz Schmitt 

BIRTH CONTROL — Backdoor Possibilities (1976-1997) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Backdoor Possibilities emerges as a rather fragmented and patchy concept album about a businessman who becomes trapped in an elevator with death himself, who, in turn, tries to convince the man that life is more important than schedules and the blandness of everyday ordinance. With 14 tracks that mostly fall under the five-minute range, Birth Control's main story line loses its grasp quickly, but the music itself almost instantly takes over and blurs the band's allegorical idea, replacing it with detours of jazz- and rock-styled excursions. The album arises as an art rock piece with progressive rock penchants surrounding the perimeter, using a multitude of peculiar instruments like finger cymbals, congas, sand blocks, and sonor drums to instill the abstractness of the intentioned concept. Both of the six-minute tracks, "Behind Grey Walls" and "No Time to Die," are the best at keeping the anecdote intact while dishing out the album's heartiest example of Birth Control's progressive flair. Zeus B. Held's entourage of synthesizers, as well as his sporadic use of the alto saxophone, grant the majority of the songs their ornamental appeal. Some of the shorter pieces, like "Subterranean Escape" and "Legal Labyrinth," have the band trying so hard to catapult the philosophies of their esoteric yarn to the forefront that some of their instrumental resolution is thrown to the wayside. Although a few of the songs are a minor diversity, Backdoor Possibilities still ingrains the root of Birth Control's progressive sound, and the relevance of the album's concept really isn't missed. Brain's 1997 reissue includes two additional bonus tracks that are noticeable additions. Mike DeGagne
Tracklist :
One First Of April :    
1.    Prologue    
2.    Physical And Mental Short Circuit    
3.    Subterranean Escape    
Beedeepees :    
4.    Film Of Life    
5.    Childhood Flash-Back    
6.    Legal Labyrinth    
7.    Futile Prayer
La Cigüena De Zaragoza:    
8.    The Farrockaway Ropedancer    
9.    Le Moineau De Paris    
10.    Cha Cha D'amour    
11.    Behind Grey Walls
12.    No Time To Die
– BONUS TRACKS –
13.    Fall Down
14.    Laugh Or Cry
Credits :
Bass, Vocals – Peter Föller
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Bruno Frenzel
Lead Vocals, Drums, Marimba, Timpani, Vibraslap, Finger Cymbals, Percussion [Guero], Cabasa, Percussion [Flexitone], Congas, Claves, Percussion, Instruments [Sand Blocks] – Bernd 'Nossi' Noske
Organ, Organ [Hammond], Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Organ [Farfisa], Grand Piano, Alto Saxophone, Tubular Bells, Vocals, Synthesizer [Arp String Ensemble] – Zeus B. Held
Written-By – Bernd Noske (tracks: 5, 9), Bruno Frenzel (tracks: 4 to 11, 13, 14), Zeus B. Held (tracks: 1 to 7, 11, 12, 14)

EMBRYO - Rocksession (1973-1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Progressive rock provides the framework but jazz-rock gives the flavor to this powerfully seductive album-length workout, four extended numbers (on which the vocals who are present are buried so far down in the mix that these are essentially instrumentals) that surge forth with saxophone solos and keyboard runs to rival the best-known English and U.S. prog rock bands -- and Christian Burchard's myriad percussion sounds (outdoing even his keyboard timbres at times) are in a class of their own. The difference between Embryo and their English-speaking rivals is that Embryo are content to take their time, even compared with acts such as King Crimson, getting where they're going, and don't mind going in long, extended detours into the funkier side of jazz. "Entrances" -- which, despite its title, is the second track on the album -- is worth the price of admission by itself for its seeming digressions, which all pull together around Jorg Evers' amazing bass work. And the rest of the record is no letdown, even after the quarter-hour of soaring excursions on that number. It all should have been more widely heard outside of Germany and Central Europe. Bruce Eder 
Tracklist :
1 A Place to Go 04:10
Christian Burchard
2 Entrances 15:41
Mal Waldron
3 Warm Canto 10:12
Mal Waldron
4 Dirge 09:43
Mal Waldron
 Credits :
Bass – Dave King, Jörg Evers
Drums – Christian Burchard
Electric Piano [E-Piano] – Mal Waldron
Guitar – Siegfried Schwab
Organ [Orgel] – Jimmy Jackson
Producer [Uncredited] – Embryo
Saxophone, Violin – Edgar Hofmann