1971 Lucifer Black Mass CD

Two years after Mort Garson composed and arranged an entire series of albums based on the 12 zodiac signs, the pioneering electronic musician delved into the occult with the 1971 LP Black Mass, simply credited to the artist name Lucifer. Originally issued by UNI Records, the release has often confused record store patrons who have stumbled upon it - it isn't a recording of an actual Satanic mass (Anton LaVey released the first one in 1968) nor is it a doom metal album. Instead, it's a soundtrack-like set of haunting Moog-based pieces which interpret various supernatural and demonic themes. While it's hard to tell exactly what Garson's perspective on the album's subject matter was, it's easy to assume that he was merely fascinated by the occult rather than someone who actively held Satanic beliefs or practiced such rituals…

Two years after Mort Garson composed and arranged an entire series of albums based on the 12 zodiac signs, the pioneering electronic musician delved into the occult with the 1971 LP Black Mass, simply credited to the artist name Lucifer. Originally issued by UNI Records, the release has often confused record store patrons who have stumbled upon it - it isn't a recording of an actual Satanic mass (Anton LaVey released the first one in 1968) nor is it a doom metal album. Instead, it's a soundtrack-like set of haunting Moog-based pieces which interpret various supernatural and demonic themes. While it's hard to tell exactly what Garson's perspective on the album's subject matter was, it's easy to assume that he was merely fascinated by the occult rather than someone who actively held Satanic beliefs or practiced such rituals…

Two years after Mort Garson composed and arranged an entire series of albums based on the 12 zodiac signs, the pioneering electronic musician delved into the occult with the 1971 LP Black Mass, simply credited to the artist name Lucifer. Originally issued by UNI Records, the release has often confused record store patrons who have stumbled upon it - it isn't a recording of an actual Satanic mass (Anton LaVey released the first one in 1968) nor is it a doom metal album. Instead, it's a soundtrack-like set of haunting Moog-based pieces which interpret various supernatural and demonic themes. While it's hard to tell exactly what Garson's perspective on the album's subject matter was, it's easy to assume that he was merely fascinated by the occult rather than someone who actively held Satanic beliefs or practiced such rituals…

This bizarre collection of Moog compositions is credited to a band/artist named Lucifer (or is it "Black Mass?"), but the man behind the machine is better known by his more ordinary given name of Mort Garson…

Though it was released under the name Ataraxia, The Unexplained is one of innovative electronic composer Mort Garson's best-known albums, along with Lucifer's Black Mass and Mother Earth's Plantasia. And while ataraxia is a term for inner calm, this wild exploration of supernatural phenomena couldn't be further from that state of mind. During the late '60s and early '70s, the occult was a major pop culture trend, and one that Garson dove into deeply with Black Mass and his astrology-themed series. As on those releases, the unearthly sounds of his Moog are perfect for expressing the magical and mysterious. On the opening track "Tarot" alone, he combines weightless atmospheres, metallic percussion that feels like a precursor to Suicide's taut mechanical rhythms, and organ-like tones that belong in a church - or a horror movie. "I Ching" is even more lurid, with a monstrously fuzzy bass drum, brittle cymbal-like crashes, and gurgling textures…

Though it was released under the name Ataraxia, The Unexplained is one of innovative electronic composer Mort Garson's best-known albums, along with Lucifer's Black Mass and Mother Earth's Plantasia. And while ataraxia is a term for inner calm, this wild exploration of supernatural phenomena couldn't be further from that state of mind. During the late '60s and early '70s, the occult was a major pop culture trend, and one that Garson dove into deeply with Black Mass and his astrology-themed series. As on those releases, the unearthly sounds of his Moog are perfect for expressing the magical and mysterious. On the opening track "Tarot" alone, he combines weightless atmospheres, metallic percussion that feels like a precursor to Suicide's taut mechanical rhythms, and organ-like tones that belong in a church - or a horror movie. "I Ching" is even more lurid, with a monstrously fuzzy bass drum, brittle cymbal-like crashes, and gurgling textures…

In 1976, early electronic composer Mort Garson released an album called Mother Earth’s Plantasia, subtitled "warm earth music for plants… and the people that love them." In the decades following its release, the album went out of print while amassing a cult following among record collectors and plant enthusiasts alike. Sacred Bones has now announced the CD's first official reissue. Mort Garson was a pioneer of electronic music in the 1960s and an early user of Robert Moog's synthesizer. 'Plantasia' released in 1976 added warmth to the previously darker and colder melodies of earlier electronic releases. By turn playful, surreal or sinister, this is a diverse collection of sounds from a true innovator.

In 1976, early electronic composer Mort Garson released an album called Mother Earth’s Plantasia, subtitled "warm earth music for plants… and the people that love them." In the decades following its release, the album went out of print while amassing a cult following among record collectors and plant enthusiasts alike. Sacred Bones has now announced the CD's first official reissue. Mort Garson was a pioneer of electronic music in the 1960s and an early user of Robert Moog's synthesizer. 'Plantasia' released in 1976 added warmth to the previously darker and colder melodies of earlier electronic releases. By turn playful, surreal or sinister, this is a diverse collection of sounds from a true innovator.

The debut LP from the group Coven is noteworthy for reasons more historical than musical. That is not to say it is a bad record; it is more of an interesting record that is unique and listenable. With an elaborate package released on Mercury in 1969, a good trivia question can be made of the fact that bassist Oz Osborne performs on this album, whose opening track is "Black Sabbath."…