Vega - Andaluza (1978)

"VEGA were one of several Andalusian and Spanish bands who flourished in the mid- to late seventies by making music that blended flamenco, folk and jazz at times with English progressive tendencies, often resulting in a colorful and rich fusion sound. Acts like TRIANA, CAI, MEZQUITA and AZAHAR would establish themselves as the preeminent players on these scenes, along with the more contemporary counterparts like LOS CANARIOS and ALAMEDA." - Bob Moore

- Tomás Vega / guitars

- Guty López / bass

- Larry Martin / drums

- Pedro Ample / percussion

- Rafael Guillermo / piano, organ, mini-Moog

- Enrique Carmona / guitar

- Julián Llinás / string arrangements

1. Triana (3:55)

2. Zona rosa (5:53)

3. Origen (5:07)

4. Arco Iris (3:30)

5. Andaluza (5:32)

6. Lamentos (6:06)

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Claudio Rocchi - Volo Magico N.1 (1971)

"This is in my opinion Claudio Rocchi best work and one of the best italian psychedelic rock albums of all time.The album has only 4 songs but what songs.The short La Realtá Non Esiste and Tutto Quello Che Ho Da Dire are sweet melodic and intimate with only Claudio Rocchi and his piano.Giusto Amore is longer,clocking at about 13 minutes,this time with the full band playing.Claudio made this song up while they were playing so this is basically an improvised jam and last the song which gives the name to the album.In this song or even better suite being 18 minutes long, there is everything that makes psychedelic music great.It starts with a few notes of an acoustic guitar then is just a crescendo, you get celestial voices,eastern sounds,hippie messages and screming and howling guitars and finishes with the sweetest notes a piano can play,it really is a magic flight.The quality of the recording is not the best but in this case,who cares,what is really important is the quality of the music and in Volo Magico there plenty of that.So give it a try,it is really worth it. " - Franco58 - SilverainTR

1. Volo Magico N. 1 (18:31)

2. La realta' non esiste (2:33)

3. Giusto amore (11:10)

4. Tutto quello che ho da dire (4:05)

- Claudio Rocchi / guitars, vocals, piano (4)

- Eugenio Pezza / keyboards, piano, mellotron

- Alberto Camerini / guitars (1, 3)

- Ricky Belloni / guitars (1, 3)

- Eno Bruce / guitars, bass, harmonica (1,3)

- Lorenzo Vassallo / drums (1,3)

- Donatella Badi / vocals (1)

- Gigi Belloni / vocals (1)

- Michel Kanah / vocals (1)

- G. F. Lombardi / vocals (1)

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The Trip - The Trip (1970)

"The TRIP were but one of many Italian bands combining rock, classical, jazz, pop and folk to produce what is now known as the Italian rock renaissance. They are another three man classical rock band in the realm of the NICE and Le ORME.
All four of their albums are completely different and bear the stamp of another international group or movement. "Caronte" was considered their best album by psych collectors. On their third, "Atlantide", The TRIP looks squarely at EMERSON LAKE and PALMER for inspiration. The both are recommended to ELP or Le ORME fans."

- Billy Gray / guitars, vocals

- Arvid "WEGG" Andersen / bass, vocals

- Pino Sinnone / drums, percussion

- Joe Vescovi / organ, vocals

1. Prologo

2. Incubi

3. Visioni Delualdila

4. Riflessioni

5. Una pietra colorata

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Gravy Train - Gravy Train (1970)

"GRAVY TRAIN from Lancashire were formed in 1970 by guitarist/vocalist Norman Barrett. They managed to get a contract with the famous Vertigo label. And their first outing aptly named "Gravy Train" hit the street in early 1971. Second album, by many critics and followers hailed as their best, came later that same year (december 1971) titled:"Ballad of a Peaceful Man". That also saw the ending of contractaul obligations with Vertigo. However Dawn records signed them for another 2 albums. "Second Birth" were released in 1973 and "Staircase to the Day" 1974. After that nobody really heard of them... rumour has it, that Barrett saw the light in Christian music and apparently he were involved in the MANDALABAND project (see elsewhere in ProgArchives).
My favorite album by GRAVY TRAIN is "Staircase to the Day", even though many, as mentioned, swear to "Ballad to a Peaceful Man". Musically they´re sort of a mix of good solid UK prog / rock / folk (plenty of wonderful flute playing.) Ccheck them out, you might be in for a surprise! - Tonny Larsen

- Norman Barrett / guitar, vocals

- Barry Davenport / drums

- J.D. Hughes / keyboards, vocals, wind

- Lester Williams / bass, vocals

1. The New One

2. Dedication To Syd

3. Coast Road

4. Enterprise

5. Think Of Life

6. Earl Of Pocket Nook

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Univers Zero - Ceux Du Dehors (1981)

"From the second I played this album, it blew me away. It was bizarre and it was awesome. Such complexity and audacity, and using only acoustic instruments!? This band/album quickly became one of my biggest avant-prog pleasures. I'm not usually into such music, so the fact that I appreciate this has to mean something. So much is going on here that it's hard to comprehend for some time, and even after listening to it numerous times, these pieces still throw you off when you're trying to play air instruments or merely trying to test your memory of these pieces. What we have here is a more rock-oriented approach to chamber-orchestra music. Though the use of acoustic instruments really makes it sound less like rock and more like a really bombastic classical group. The group mixes up the full- fledged parts with some sonic experiments which only rarely get boring or nerve-wrecking. The highlights here are the two 12-minute topping powerhouses: the album opening "Dense" and "Combat," which does have this uncanny subtle emination of a combat scene throughout; the ending of it has one of few memorable melodies. It's not for everyone, though, and the longer tracks are the only truly amazing & compelling tracks. Fans of the avant-garde must hear this, everyone else must at least hear "Dense" and "Combat."" - Moatilliatta-ProgArchives

- Michel Berckmans / bassoon, oboe, English horn

- Daniel Denis / drums, percussion

- Patrick Hanappier / viola, violin

- Andy Kirk / harmonium, organ, piano, mellotron

- Guy Segers / bass

WITH:

- Jean Debefve / hurdy-gurdy

- Jean-Luc Aime / violin

- Ilona Chale / voice

- Thierry Zaboitzeff / cello

1. Dense (12:26)

2. La Corne du Bois des Pendus (8:42)

3. Bonjour Chez Vous (3:52)

4. Combat (12:53)

5. La Musique d'Erich Zann (3:29)

6. La Tete du Corbeau (3:11)

7. Triomphe des Mouches (5:36)

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Sweet Smoke - Just A Poke (1970)

"Although everybody agrees that SWEET SMOKE is of an international nature, they were formed in NYC, but were most popular in Germany and Benelux. Their music is one of the most loosely arranged happy-hippy-rock, very "jammy" as well as being very jazz-tinged also. Their average tune was 20 min long with the notable exception of their second studio album where shorter tracks (some were still 12 or 13 min long) are more common and they recorded all of them in Conny Plank's studio Germany. Their short career will end with a live album (recently re-released with extra tracks) but very worthy of them since it was new non-studio material.
Highly recommended to people who love good time happy music, very danceable but very suited for more intimate moments with your partner too." - Hugues Chantraine

- Andrew Dershin / bass

- Jay Dorfman / drums, percussion

- Marvin Kaminowitz / lead guitar, vocals

- Michael Paris / tenor saxophone, alto recorder, vocals, percussion

- Steve Rosenstein / rhythm guitar, vocals

1. Baby night (16:24)

2. Silly Sally (16:22)

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Nektar - Recycled (1975)

"This is one of those rare magical albums which feels like its own planet out in space somewhere, inhabited by little sounds and creatures that you become familiar with over time and pay repeated visits to. Great keyboards, great vocals (even a choir, masterfully done), and one of the most grand and epic atmospheres possible to experience on record. I think Larry Fast's synth contributions make for a large part of this, which is why, for me, this is the Nektar album that stands apart from the rest and breaks through into the realm of classics. Flowing concept-style albums don't get much better than this" Corbet -ProgArchives

- Roy Albrighton / lead vocals, guitars
- Mick Brockett / visual environment
- Alan "Taff" Freeman / keyboards, backing vocals
- Ron Howden / drums, percussion
- Derek "Mo" Moore / bass, backing vocals

Guest:
- Larry Fast (Synergy) / orchestral Moog arrangements & playing

The English Chorale conducted by Robert Howes, arranged by Christian Kolonovit


The Original Album Mix

Recycled part One
1. Recycle (2:47)
2. Cybernetic consumption (2:32)
3. Recycle countdown (1:51)
4. Automaton horrorscope (3:08)
5. Recycling (1:46)
6. Flight to reality (1:18)
7. Unendless imagination? (4:36)
Recycled part 2
8. São Paulo sunrise (3:05)
9. Costa del Sol (4:04)
10. Marvellous Moses (6:37)
11. It's all over (5:11)

The Geoff Emerick Mix

12. Recycle (2:49)
13. Cybernetic consumption (2:10)
14. Recycle countdown (1:51)
15. Automaton horrorscope (3:03)
16. Recycling (1:51)
17. Flight to reality (1:25)
18. Unendless imagination? (4:38)
19. São Paulo sunrise (3:05)
20. Costa del Sol (4:03)
21. Marvellous Moses (6:35)
22. It's all over (5:25)

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