Chêne Noir-Aurora

I think I complained about thespians before here, right?  Well, if not, they suck.  Let’s just throw that out there right up front.  Remember back to high school and there was that crowd of assholes that wanted to prance through the halls, emoting nonsense, in some sad plea for attention.  And if there’s one thing that makes thespians oh so repulsive it’s that aching desire for the attention of others.  Why?  Ever notice that you have never met one person who actively seeks attention and that person was anything less than a complete shit bag?  Fast forward some years and realize that adult actors are probably even worse because they still haven’t given up that dream that they will eventually become some teen idol or something.  So imagine my surprise when hearing such an amazing album was created by a theater troupe.  I’m willing to bet that this collective wasn't anything like the actor sort that I previously described.  No weirdos willing to create such cosmic darkness are striving to be the next Dirk Bogarde, or even the next Norman Fell (what the world needs now is a new Norman Fell however).  Of course, this gets bonus points for being French.

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Brave New World-Impressions on Reading Aldous Huxley

I don’t think I’ve read Brave New World since I was in junior high, so my own impressions are a bit hazy (thank you drugs).  Whatever my initial reactions were, I can definitively state that they did not conjure up some desire to create a bizarro prog epic.  But apparently it had that effect on several people.  Well, enough people to actually make this record.  I guess it took some German/Irish transcontinental connection to gather enough souls willing to commit to this project.  But I’m glad they we’re able to share their mutual appreciate of the psychedelic pioneer.  Perhaps not as Krautish as I would have desired, yet still highly enjoyable.  And another from the NWW list.

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Raymond Boni-Rêve en Couleurs

Weirdo guitar alert.  And maybe you are familiar with his guitar antics/heroics from the NWW listed Operation Rhino platter.  Perhaps not though (I’ll eventually post that too).  In the meantime, if you’re someone who has even the slightest gravitation toward the outer limits of guitarsmanship then this is your golden ticket.  I guess that makes me your Willy Wonka.  But then, does that mean that Boni is an umpa lumpa since he’s technically the producer of the product and I’m the mere purveyor of the goods (my ex used to tease me that I look like Gene Wilder)?  Not too sure if I want to push that analogy too far otherwise I’m apt to turn my students into blueberries and torture them in other masochistic ways.  So just listen to this and I’ll shut up now.  And the 20 minute eponymous close out is makes this entire album worth nabbing.

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Dschinn

I know things can often get a little too out around here and it can all start to seem like an exercise in esoterica. This post is to remind us all that there is nothing qrong with rock and roll. I know it's fallen out of fashion as of late, and few people seem to just want to play some rock music. Those fuckers who drape themselves in irony have tried to poach legends (ZZ Top, et al.). Despite their passionless attempts to pilfer quility rock and scornfully wear their faux vintage concert tees, I cannot turn my back on simple beauty on the simple beauty of well constructed rock. And that's more or less what you get here, albeit filtered through a very German understanding of the genre. It's also a NWW listed band. Final note, people stop pretending to like things that you don't actually like. No one finds you charming just because you have a perm and wear a Scorpions shirt (of course I love them to death as well).

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Art Zoyd-Symphonie Pour Le Jour Où Brûleront Les Cités

There will never be any apologies by me for my love of prog. And it doesn't even have to be "cool" prog. Hell, I love spending the day fantasizing I was Keith Emerson's karate instructor on the ELP '77 tour. While I can definitely handle the cheesy aspects of the genre, I'll cop to the fact that I do tend to like the less commercial acts. This obviously falls in the later category. There's just something sinister and creeping about these tracks that make it an apt soundtrack to night stalking or other pleasure sports. If this had some creep out cover and a band name that didn't sound like a matchbook illustrator, then maybe this would receive more esteem. Again, another NWW list (my goal is to get up at least one album per band--expect Franz de Byl; I don't want to deal with that nutter).

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Agitation Free-Malesch

When your early line up includes members who later joined Guru Guru and Tangerine Dream (love 'em both), then you know you've got something worth pursuing. This is something that I kept thinking I've already posted but somehow I suppose it just slipped by. But I'm always fucking up something or other. At least this is one of those mistakes that I can actually correct, unlike some of those that will haunt me forever (ooh, how spooky and mysterious I know). But the even graver mistake is missing out on this prime slice of NWW listed kraut goodness. It's not super obscure or anything but that doesn't mean that it isn't one of the classics of the genre. Or of any genre for that matter.

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Il Balletto di Bronzo-Ys

Because I just saw that another good blog (michael jacket) has gotten its ass pummeled by our beloved mediafire I figured I'd post something you could have found over there before the deluge swept away all of their links. And who doesn't need more Italian prog in his/her life? And it's another NWW list for the list lovers. Wow, two in one day. You lucky dog. I am just too kind.

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The Outsiders-C.Q.

Totally fucking essential Dutch psych is not a phrase one hears too often. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty good to be found from that scene, but I won't say everything is a must own. This one, however, does happen to fall into that rare category. The cover rules. Wally Tax's androgenous performance is especially noteworthy (check his release as Tax Free-terrible pun, great John Cale affiliated album). The guitars were more than capably handled by the deftly monickered Ronnie Splinter. The list I just provided should clue you into how special this record is. Oh, and it's also culled from the NWW list for more cultural cache.

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John Cage with David Tudor-Present Variations IV

By now, I surely doubt that there is anyone who requires an explanation as to who John Cage is. And I'm not gonna give it. If any soul actually needs me to explain this man's work then they should probably hop into his steam punk, time traveling submarine and go back to when new music started. While you're jaunting around you might as well familiarize yourself with, oh say, Shakespeare. Perhaps Rembrandt as well. And what the shit is with these steam punks anyways? It reminds of a sphynxian riddle "are steam punks ugly because they are steam punks or are steam punks steam punks because they are ugly?" No joke, I have never seen any fool all done up in this nonsense that didn't deserve even more ridicule that s/he received. I'm holding off on all trends until nuclear Phoenicians starts happening. Then I'll be all over that shit.

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Arbete och Fritid

More NWW listers for open eared listeners. These Swedes reach for the weirdo outer cosmos propelled by trad Noric fuel and prog rock juice. My love of Swedish psych has now been long documented (and links quickly erased) so if you look back at some of the old posts you'll find a list of kindred spirits who participated in some strange transcultural synthesis. Normally, I'd say keep your horns away from my rock, but it somehow isn't some horrible bleating here and finally, in one of those rare turns, works. This album is all over the place and is only better for it.

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Blue Sun

More NWW list business to attend to. A lesser known and heralded work on that daunting list of plenty of overratedness. These Danes can get plenty cheesy, but there’s still some good moments to be found, like in the mellow improv of their eponymous cut. I dunno, this one seems more for the collectors then the dilettantes. Still, I’ll stand by track two.

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Amon Duul II-Wolf City

Perhaps the lumbering giant in a catalogue deep enough to drown molasses. I admit my bias here in that I love both Amon Duul and Amon Duul II to an unhealthy degree. And even with my rose colored glasses on, this album still took a while to grow on me. Where is that thuggish caveman tude that blessed the chaos of mach I? The more stream lined mind fuckery of there early releases doesn't seem to be as prevalent on initial listen, but dig, dig deep my friend. It shant take long since the lead track is already positioning you towards some outer recess that most dare not explore. Fuck those who claim this as their softening. Sure I still miss those elements already address, but if those ears are pricked they cannot deny the wigged out brilliance of this under rated classic.

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Urban Sax

Yo cuz, why you gettin' all jeffy with me? Don't be gettin' all ornery and shit. Bro, you know this album is crispy, right? So why you tryna play? Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag. Swag.

See, it's true. Teachers do learn from their students. Just don't ask me to translate.

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Art Bears-Winter Songs

Art rock in the way that the term used to mean before a buncha kids in plushy costumes started to breath their rancorous breath into some melodica whilst a naked drummer molests an audience member. There's no art in that shit. It's all tacky gimmickry. And it's stale at that. So art kids, stay away from rock (please don't mention that the Talking Heads wend to RISD--they suck too). And please stay away from art for that matter. I've seen your work and you'd be lucky to get it hung on a convalescent home's wall. So that's why albums like this are important, see? I'm sure everyone is aware that anything with Fred Frith's involvement is at least worth a listen (not going to say that it's all gold however). But this shit is 32 years old (if I recollect correctly) and it still out weirds most of the lame-os who think beards and ironic shirts are edgy. I can't wait for you dumb shits to explain to your equally dumb children why your tattoo of a bunny fucking a robot is hilarious.

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Aqsak Maboul-Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits

I'm a lover of weirdo combinations that don't seem to make sense when explained to me. Those moments when you finally hear the tracks and the descriptions your friends were trying to convince you about finally make sense are truly scared moments. But I guess that's all a bit of a teaser since I don't really plan on describing this one. I will say this, however. Moments of this seem right for a weirdly drugged out senior home dance where feeblemindedness and nostalgia seem to ensconce the room. And I can also some someone sniffing glue to this and really laughing at how disconnected his/her hand seems from the rest of his/her body. You ever do that? Don't hands sometimes seem like such a weird thing? Like it's not even part of you but some odd appendage that is almost separate from your body.

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Steve Lacy-Lumps

Most of the time, when I see that phallic soprano sax being raised to some jazzbo's lips I can't help but to feel like my ears are about to be raped by something horribly non-jazz, or god forbid, smooth jazz. Somehow, this motherfucker made it work. It's not like it hasn't been done before, but it's just that there's so few people who can do it well. I guess when you're aided and abetted by fellow NWW listers like Han Bennink (love him) and Michel Waisvisz playing some weirdo electronics (see previous posts on both of these dudes) you can play an electric toilet seat and still sound pretty great. I don't think this is the Lacy album most people go to (they probably grab the e.s.p. disk stuff) but i think this is aces.

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Verto-Krig/Volubilis

As black and as deep as space itself, this album is in many ways the synthesis of all the fantastic achievements of French prog/psych. If you're familiar with the releases on the legendary Pôle label then you can imagine a group who took from all of those bands (Besombes, Pôle, Mahogany Brain, etc.), stirred in some Magma & Gong, then threw it in a tar pit, you might be approaching these sounds. It's not that these guys were plagiarist or anything, so don't think that's what I'm saying. But they just seemed to absorb so much of the goodness that was going around and still produce something utterly unique. So, if you're like me and are obsessed with all things Francophone (especially the proggy things) then this is essential listening. However, if you are not like me then you may keep your comments to yourself.

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Alan Sondheim-Ritual All 7-70

Doctor my eyes, my lungs, my exoskeleton (I’m half bug)…God damn, I have been super fucking sick, hence the lack of posts of the past weeks. It’s really rare that I ever get even a cold, so I was super surprised that this fever/flu/cold/allergies combo really knocked me on my ass. But now that I’ve had a chance to recover I better make with the posts before people forget about this thing (suck fickle readers you are). I had the good luck of spending some time with this fella last week, so I figure I might as well post some of his early work. And this should appeal to many record goons as its on the NWW list and E.S.P-Disk. Alan’s a nice guy and spending a day with him is like sprinting through a museum. Glad to know this guy’s still hard at work.

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Anal Magic & Reverend Dwight Frizzel-Beyond the Black Crack

Well, I'm a little hesitant to post this since I'm a little afraid that this might draw complaints from prudes. I'm also a little worried that this might elicit an unusual crowd. But hey, if you want to see people with wizard wands sticking out of their asses, then who am I to complain? I don't think I'm going to write anything about this one since I'm kinda curious to see how many people will just download it. Honestly, there's nothing to fear, it's quite good.

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Ash Ra Tempel-Schwingungen

Again, this one is for my friends who have been giving Manuel Gottsching's album a lot of ear time. Some of them have told me that they've never heard his original band. And now you may though it's not going to sound anything like that album. Of course, Gottsching is a guitar god so that doesn't change here, but instead of sound sculptures that massage the mind, this album is like taking ten hits of acid. Heavily stoned krautrock in its pure form that gives you that mind leaving the body feeling. And would it be nice to take a trip right now? Not sure guys, maybe you'll like this one. But I suppose you can always delete it, so what's the harm.

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