SIXTY-NINE is a little known German progressive rock duo formed in 1969 by Armin Stöwe (organ, piano, synthesizer, guitar, vocals) and Roland Schupp (drums, percussion, gongs). SIXTY-NINE gained significant popularity as a live act and consequently had the opportunity to play, often as an opening act, at a variety of rock festivals with the likes of popular bands such as GOLDEN EARRING, AMON DÜÜL II, UFO, BEGGAR'S OPERA, PETE YORK, WEST BRUCE & LAING, BIRTH CONTROL, JUD'S GALLERY, AGITATION FREE, FRUMPY, and GURU GURU.
The sole solo-album by Australian composer and instrumentalist Greg Sneddon, originally released in 1974, is now available on CD. Musically one may expect a tasteful delivery of space rock, pop and strong keyboard driven progressive rock. Sneddon would later become a founding member of Men At Work.
CD-reissue of a noteworthy album from the Dutch psychedelic scene of the late '60s-early '70s. Reminding of fellow Dutchmen s.a. Cosmic Dealer, Outsiders ('CQ'-era), Group 1850 and late Q65, this album (originally dating from 1970) offers driving progressive/psych rock with lots of organ, howling guitars and functional use of echo.
J.E.T.’s name is not only known to progressive Italian rock fans, but also to a wider audience, given that from their ashes, already in the mid-’70s, the soon-to-be-famous Matia Bazar were born: this new incarnation was able to rework J.E.T.’s last phase most ‘commercial’ hints, leading to a long successful career that still goes on today. Contrarily to what these words might suggest, J.E.T.’s only LP, originally published in 1972, is so far from the term ‘commercial’ as close to the Italian prog of the golden age: four long and complex tracks – plus the short ending “Sfogo” – with religion-themed lyrics, strong hard rock influences, a solid rhythmic section, keyboards always in evidence and beautiful vocal harmonies, sometimes reminiscent of the typical New Trolls’ falsetto. A timeless album, which still today leaves the listener astonished for its beauty and magniloquence, but also a bit disappointed by the fact that the band didn’t manage to release a follow-up to this masterpiece.
Nemo was a French collective formed in 1972. Their line-up included François Bréant, the keyboardist and lead vocalist, already acclaimed musician on French prog scene (often collaborating with various members of Magma); Marc Perru on guitars and vocal duties, Pascal Arroyo on bass and piano, Clement Bailly on drums, Emmanuel Lacordaire on percussion and guitar, Ronnie James on trumpet, Albert Marcoeur on saxophones and clarinets (another unique avant artist), Claude Samard on dobro, Arthur Young on trumpet and José Bartel on tumbas and gongs. The band released two albums, ''Nemo'' and ''Doin' Nuthin''' in '73 and '74 respectively. Their music will be appealing to one who like 70's funk and jazz rock, but with edgy experimentation meandering from avant overtones to classical harmonies. They disbanded in 1975.
Well they are finally back after a decade away and the worry was will it be as good as previous releases. Well the good news is that it's not as good, it's even better! This is probably the bands strongest release. The line up is the same as previously, William Kopecky ' bass, Dan Maske ' keyboards, Angela Schmidt ' cello & Craig Walkner ' drums with the addition of guest Jerry Loughney ' violin. It still features all the rehearsal intensive composed music but rocks and bounces like a beast. For fans of Univers Zero, Henry Cow, DAAU, with 20th century classical composer references in a rock setting this is a must have.
GruGrü is a nice instrumental Prog/Jazz Rock/Fusion quartet. GruGrü is a music that oscillates well between genres, leaving a very pleasant impression of permanent surprise. GruGrü is a big rock sound, a free jazz spirit and a furious groove. GruGrü is a concentrate of savagery and delicacy, power and finesse.
This US act initially comprised Steve Hayton (guitar/vocals), Cliff Carrison (drums) and Kurt Palomaki (bass/clarinet/vocals). The trio spent its early months on a farm in New York state, before moving location to New Mexico. The promise of work in films brought the group to Europe in 1969, and although such plans were later aborted, they decided to settle in England…
By the sound of Hard Heart Singin', Douglas Fir must have been a smoking little blues-rock combo. They may have existed purely as a bar band, but the Pacific Northwest dives where they honed their sound must have been some pretty trippy little establishments, as evidenced by the brooding, ominous, mildly psychedelic (depending on your definition of the genre) nature of their rock & roll…
A legend is back! Remember: the famous Crypto label, created by Jean-Claude Pognant, contributed in discovering French bands as essential as Ange by the mid seventies…