Hakuchyu no Shikaku Aka Dead Angle (1979)

"The question of the quality of joy seems to me today to be increasingly vital — it is intrinsically linked to the way in which humour can find its full expression in a world that constantly limits access to lighter moods." Fabrizio Cassol

Aera originated from Nürnberg, with roots going back to the late 1960. Although related to Ihre Kinder, Aera were always more of that great tradition of Bavarian/South German jazz-rock. One could compare them to other such bands as: Embryo, Missus Beastly, Munju, Moira, etc. Whilst fronted by Muck Groh they recorded two albums that were as much Krautrock as jazz-rock, with multi-tracked guitar riffing and near on ever-present wind solos, plus violin and ex Wind drummer Lucky Schmidt on their second. After that they got jazzier, due to big changes in personnel, with wheelchair-bound saxophonist Klaus Kreuzeder taking over as leader. Further albums diversified, with Roman Bunka from Embryo joining for a while, before they returned to the patent Aera Kraut-fusion style.

Doomsday (1979). Gravestone play somewhat somber Progressive Rock of a rough nature. This is a re-release of their 1979 album on the Garden of Delights label. The music is at times jazzy and bouncy, and there are hints of blues throughout, and the majority of the tracks are instrumental. There is a lot of improvisational blues styled stuff going on here. The guitars are the main lead instruments, although there is an organ tickling the background, the guitars are full front, screaming in true psychedelic fashion on the latter tracks of this album.
War (1980). In the eighties, Gravestone from Illertissen, Swabia, became quite famous as a hard rock and metal group. What many people don’t know is that they initially - and with a different line-up - released two LPs with progressive rock and critical lyrics, namely “Doomsday” from 1979 and “War” from 1980, in small editions of 1000 copies each…

Downwind (1979). Eagerly awaited re-press for this classic album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong featuring Mike Oldfield, Steve Winwood & Mick Taylor. Booklet with restored artwork, photos & liner notes. By the late 1970s Percussionist Pierre Moerlen had taken over the leadership of Gong and had steered the band away from Psychedelic Space Rock and took the band into a Jazz Rock direction, one in which the band excelled. After recording several albums with Virgin, the band now featured Hansford Rowe on bass, Ross Record on guitar, Benoit Moerlen on vibes and Francois Causse on percussion. Moerlen signed with Arista Records in 1978 and recorded this excellent album partially in Mike Oldfield’s studio. Oldfield guested on the superb lengthy title track with fellow guest Steve Winwood, whilst Mick Taylor appeared on the track "What You Know"…

Pancake from Winnenden near Stuttgart in Suabia emerged from their psychedelic predecessor Nyrvana Pancake in 1974 and now played progressive rock with clear symphonic tendencies. With changing members they released three LPs with self-written tracks, namely "Roxy Elephant" from 1975, "Out Of The Ashes" from 1977, and "No Illusions" from 1979.
Pancake's debut, "Roxy Elephant" is a good representative of the German rock sound of the mid 1970s. So it's not really Krautrock per se, but it definitely has a progressive mindset, with plenty of good ideas. There are no keyboards, and the songs are driven by dual guitars. From a compositional perspective, mid 70s Jane and Birth Control would probably be a good guidepost here…

Uncommon wit runs through the lyrics of this varied set, certainly one of the more intriguing Chicago blues albums of the late '70s. Johnson's high-pitched vocals are particularly soulful on the impassioned "I Need Some Easy Money" and "Ashes in My Ashtray," while "The Twelve Bar Blues" and "Poor Boy's Dream" are upbeat entries that don't sound as comfortable for the guitarist. Johnson gets away with a honky-tonk reprise of Ernest Tubb's country classic "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin," but his rehash of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" should have stayed on the bandstand.

Well, it was hot and new back in 1979 when this hard rockin’ album was first released. Ten Years Later was the group Alvin put together to replace Ten Years After, when he wanted to get back on the road after the original band split in 1974. Alvin teamed up with Tom Compton (drums) and Mick Hawksworth (bass), fine musicians who are featured on the ‘live’ and ‘studio’ recordings that comprised the original LP. The leader described the live recording featured as ‘A true and faithful recording of Ten Years Later on stage with no overdubs or effects’. You can hear Alvin and the boys get stuck into ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Shakin’, ‘Hey Joe’ and, of course, ‘Going Home’ - a blistering eight-minute version of the famed boogie shuffle. The other five tracks were recorded in Alvin’s Space Studio…