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BigHairyMonster View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Your favorite prog obscurities?
    Posted: August 07 2005 at 18:55
Some folks around here wish to discuss something other than Pink Floyd or Dream Theatre.  Fine.  Let's see if this thread grows legs and stays on topic:  So far in 2005, what obscure CDs (from any era) have you picked up that are obscure surprises...discs by bands you never heard of before, took a chance on, and loved!

My top 10 so far this year:
1.  Area - Crac!:  Awesome Italian prog beyond words, wierd and funky!
2.  Arachnoid - Arachnoid:  I am quickly becoming a fan of French prog, and this together with
3.  Ange - Au Dela Du Delire: are my two favorites.
4.  Virgil Moorefield - Distractions On The Way To The King's Party:  A strange Zappa meets Coltrane meets Univers Zero vibe on here.  A fine listen that cost me $4.00
5.  Dun - Eros:  Zeuhl jazz with Zappa-esque mallet percussion.  Tres cool!
6.  Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden:  I used to have this on cassette years ago, but never really got into it much...now, I am re-evaluating it and I am very pleased with it.
7.  The Red Masque - Feathers For Flesh:  Modern Goth-Prog.  King Crimson meets Comus with a healthy dash of White Willow or Renaissance.  Excellent stuff!
8.  Gnidrolog - Lady Lake/In Spite Of Harry's Toenail:  English proto-prog in the vain of Jethro Tull, Van Der Graaf Generator, and KC.
9.  Kaipa - Mindrevolutions:  Roine Stolt kills on this one.  This is brand new to me, but very impressive!
10. Yezda Urfa - Sacred Baboon: Another oldie but goodie!  Wish I heard this one sooner!

Ok, bring em on!  Now is your chance to discuss something other than Porky Tree, Floyd, or LaBrie's vocals.



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2005 at 18:59
Focus - Hamburger Concerto! Love it!  
I'm so prog, I clap in 9/8
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2005 at 23:12

Anubis Spire - Old Lions In A World of Snarling Sheep

This remains one of my favorites. The lead guitarist makes Petrucci sound boring. Not on the archives, but I would put it under "fusion". It has a definate middle eastern sound to it. Recording quality sucks, but it was recorded in a barn.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2005 at 23:15

Atomic Rooster - Tomorrow Night

It's catchy, I just really enjoy it for some reason.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 00:23

try these:

Eardance - Seek Opposites - 1983 - USA - if you enjoy '80's King Crimson and Talking Heads from around Remain In Light this worth looking for.

Shadowfax - Watercorse Way - 1975 - USA - anyone who likes Happy The Man and Mahavishnu Orchestra should find much to enjoy here.

St. Elmo's Fire - Artifacts Of Passion - 2001 - USA - If you like that big Trick Of The Tail & In The Court Of The Crimson King sound mixed with a hint of Larks Tongues you will like this one for sure. 

St. Elmo's Fire - Splitting Ions In The Ether 1998 - USA - If King Crimson's USA and Genesis Live are your cup of tea, this ones sure to please.

Aorta - Aorta - 1968 - USA - Early cool stuff from the Great Lakes region, ace performances from the Keys, Bass & Drums. If they had used a mellotron instead of real strings and brass, you'd already know about this album.

The Fireman - Rushes - 1998 - UK - Who'd a thunk it, Paul McCartney assumes a new identity and puts out a really good spacey-electronic album. If Klaus Schultz's Blackdance or Tangerine Dream's Pheadra please you, this album will too. A good dose of mellotron too.

Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins - 2005 - USA - Bummed out and tired of waiting for ENO to put out another Here Come The Warm Jets or Taking Tiger Mountain type of album? Get this CD right away! Clever lyrics and quirky tunes that will stay with you for days if not weeks.



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 00:28

Nucleus: Elastic Rock, excellent jazz fusion

Gong: Downwind, Time is the Key, two great latter-day albums

Soft Machine: Softs

Khan: s/t

Matching Mole: s/t

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 00:58
  Birth Control "Plastic People" .A true hidden gem,full of surprises and cleverly written.        Zomby Woof from germany,same thing aplies,great violin and synths.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 06:14
I ran out of money around the same time I started moving from safe prog to the crazier stuff so I don't have any albums . The Dün and Area I've heard is excellent though
 
I think Trouserpress will have a field day here
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 07:47
YES!! Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden - one of the greatest albums ever. Just stick the headphones on, relax and listen to this.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 07:51

Earth and Fire - Song of the marching children
Kayak - Merlin, Bard of the Unseen
Neuschwanstein - Battlement
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
David Sylvian - Dead bees on a cake

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:12
Originally posted by goose goose wrote:

 
I think Trouserpress will have a field day here


I sure have! Ooh it's been a long time since I composed a reply in MS Word!

Trousepress' Favourite Obscuritosities:

5uu’s – Hunger’s Teeth - For anyone who has reached Henry Cow and doesn’t know where to go from there.

Absolute Zero – Crashing Icons - If Enrique Jardiness and Aislin Quinn were as well known as Pip Pyle then I’d call this an RIO supergroup! They sure sound like one.

Alamaailman Vasarat – Vasraasia
– You ain’t heard nothing like it!

Area - 1978 Gli Dei Se Ne Vanno Gli Arrabbiati Restano!
– Their best apart from Crac! (which has already been mentioned, fortunately)

Bacamarte – Depois Do Fim
– Symphonic prog with Yessy bits and Gianty bits but with a whole lotta creativity to boot!

Banda Elastica - Los Awakates de Nepantla
- To call this fusion would be to do it a disservice. Influences as disparate as funk, RIO and circus music are all present in what is an inspired and very playful jazz-rock album.

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic –
Yet more masterful US avant-prog.

Bubu – Anabelas
– Symphonic jazz? Indeed it is, and what’s more it’s astoundingly good!

Capt. Beefheart – Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)
– All the good aspects of Trout Mask Replica without all the bad aspects.

Cardiacs – On Land And In The Sea
– Progressive punk exists and this is what it sounds like when it’s good. Recommended for VDGG and GG fans with a sense of adventure (which you must have a bit of else you wouldn’t listen to VDGG and GG!)

Carnascialia – S/t
– A sadly shortlived Italian prog/folk/world music album boasting members of PFM and Area! No two tracks are alike and the album exudes an intelligence and warmth that I wish a few more albums could manage.

Circus – Movin’ On
– If you can forgive the accented vocals and don’t mind a lack of electric guitar then you’re in for a treat.

Colonel Claypool’s Bucket of Bernie Brains – The Big Eyeball In The Sky
– Thanks to Retrovertigo I’ve reappraised Mr Claypool and by ‘eck I’m glad I did!

Czeslaw Nieman – Aerolit
– Polish blues rock singer goes Prog! Sounds like a terrible idea, but it’s anything but!

Demetrio Stratos – Concerto all'Elfo
– Avant garde voice experiments from Area’s vocalist. Not exactly easy listening but great to lie back and close your eyes to if you like to take your brain on adventures.

Dun – Eros
– It’s been covered already, but this is simply the one of the best Zeuhl albums ever!

Et Cetera – S/t
– French Canadian Gentle Giant with female vocals! No substitute for the original, of course, but a good collector’s item for GG fans.

Faust – Faust
– Insane.

Fred Frith – Gravity –
A lot sillier and jollier than I expected! That was a nice surprise.

French TV – The Violence of Amateurs
– That’s right, more US avant-prog!

Gnidrolog – Lady Lake –
Already mentioned, but worth mentioning some more. These chaps deserved far more success.

Goblin – Suspiria OST –
Freeeeeeaky… *shudders*

Gong – Camembert Electrique
– Early Gong. Harder to get into than albums like You but in my opinion superior!

Gryphon – Raindance
– The Gryphon album they all forget.

Hands – S/t
– GG-ish US sympho that was well and truly buried and forgotten. More’s the pity.

Here & Now – Give and Take
– Gong with old school punk vocals! Worth it for the first track alone.

Hugh Hopper & Richard Sinclair – Somewhere In France
– Take two Canterbury greats, a minimal recording studio and stick them in France and what do you get? A very very  laid-back Canterbury album.

Il Balletto Di Bronzo – Ys
– Some people have told me that they find Italian prog a bit lightweight. I tell them to listen to this.

Isuldur’s Bane – MIND Vol 2 Live
– This has to be the most unusual live album of all time! Apart from containing vastly rearranged songs and about 75% new material, it’s been mixed and produced in such a way that it barely feels like a live album at all, despite the enthusiastic applause that punctuates the music.

Jan Akkerman – Profile
– The jam on side 1 is sheer Akkerman magic and justifies the fluff and filler on side 2.

Kevin Ayers – Whatevershebringswesing
– A delightful, summery album!

Krakatoa – We Are The Rowboats
– My first album from Cuneiform, and indeed my first avant-prog album. Needless to say it has a special place in my heart.

Los Jaivas – Todos Juntos
– Prog can be such fun when it’s fused with world music!

Machine and the Synergetic Nuts – Leap Second Neutral –
This is the most energetic fusion I have EVER heard. I love it.

Magma - Üdü Wüdü –
This album has a track called De Futura. I like said track a lot.

Malicorne – Malicorne II
– Gorgeous prog folk of a traditional Brittany persuasion!

Matching Mole – S/t –
This is the first verse… This is the first verse…

Maxophone – S/t –
There are more genres crammed into the first song on this album than most bands would fit in their discographies!

Metamorfosi – Inferno –
Brilliant Italian prog that reminds me of the bits that made ELP good sometimes.

Mirthrandir – For You The Old Woman
– One of the most challenging symphonic albums I own. A good stepping stone between Yes and Henry Cow!

Mr Bungle – Disco Volante
- Say what you like but it's certainly interesting!

The Muffins – Chronometers
– Mana/Mirage is the one everyone knows, but I think this album is sliiiiiiiiiightly better.

Murple – S/t
– One of my favourite Italian albums ever, and not JUST ‘cause it’s a concept album about an invisible penguin!

Novalis – Sommerabend
– Sorry Baldies but I don’t think the drumming’s bad on this album at all! Furthermore I think it’s a cracking bit of German sympho and lies somewhere between symphonic and krautrock, with its blend of lush keyboard dominated chord patterns and repetitive slow-developing arrangements.

Osanna – Palepoli
– Forgive the awful production and patchwork arrangements and you’ll hear some of the greatest Italian prog ever.

Parzival – Legend
– English folk prog at it’s finest… Despite the fact they’re German.

Pholas Dactylus - Concerto Delle Menti
– Singing? Who needs singing when you’ve got a NARRATOR! Note – if anyone knows where to find a translation of the words to this album then please for the love of God let me know!!

The Residents – Eskimo
– Indescribable.

Ruins – Symphonica
– Japanese Zeuhl! Yes oh yes!

Samla Mammas Manna – Kaka
– I’ve never heard such a joyous reunion album! The purveyors Swedish jazz-rock insanity at their finest, IMO.

Spiro Gyra – St Radiguns
– Thanks Mr Chantraine!

Taal – Skymind –
Modern French classical-folk-metal…ish…stuff… Oh, it’s just good! Trust me!

Tomita – Pictures at an Exhibition
– ELP might’ve slaughtered it, but Isao Tomita did an excellent synth-only interpretation that I’d recommend to all classic keys enthusiasts! (And indeed fans of the original suite).

Univers Zero – Heresie
– Perfect accompaniment to brooding, wintry nights.

Von Zamla – 1983
– Classic RIO from the SMM spinoff group!

Yatha Sidrah – A Meditation Mass
– Krautrock chillout. Great for lounging around to.

Yezda Urfa – Sacred Baboon
– Hyperactive American GG-Yes hybrid! Sounds like fun? It is!

So yep... I've just realised that I've made an excellent list of albums to review. I've got no excuse for not doing them now!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:12

Czar- CZAR; Brilliant album- drenched in mellotron and with some lovely, subtle prog pop songs

Spring- SPRING- classic; again, full of mellotron and beautifully crafted songs

Fields- FIELDS; an unsung classic- some beautiful playing and singing

Cressida- CRESSIDA; great album with some ace harmonies and organ solos

Cressida- ASYLUM; more ambitious with great arrangements

T2- IT'LL ALL WORK OUT IN BOOMLAND; terrific heavy prog album

East Of Eden- MERCATOR PROJECTED; wondrous Eastern-prog

Stray- STRAY; unsung heavy rock/prog classic- by far their best album

Jonesy- KEEPING UP...; a superb album with great songs

Curved Air- SECOND ALBUM; overshadowed by its predecessor, I think this is their best work

Curved Air- AIR CUT; heavier with a rock feel but some superb solos

The Gods- GENESIS; terrific pre-Heep band; I love 'Towards The Skies'

Aardvark- AARDVARK; great organ filled album

Rare Bird- RARE BIRD; too underrated, yet they were one of the first and best prog bands

Rare Bird- AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY; great stuff with an early side long epic

Titus Groan- TITUS GROAN; very subtle album with sublime songwriting

Fruupp- entire catalogue; I think this band were incredible without any weak work to speak of

High Tide- SEA SHANTIES; solo laden brilliance with great vocals

High Tide- HIGH TIDE; same as above only more so

Warhorse- WARHORSE; almost as good as bands like Heep and Purple...Ashley Holt's on fire

Quatermass- QUATERMASS; best album Deep Purple never made...sorry that's damning it with faint praise- whatever, it's a classic

Room- PRE-FLIGHT; raw yet ambitious album

Spooky Tooth- SPOOKY TWO; one of the best and most influential late 60s albums yet gets too little credit

Keef Hartley Band- HALFBREED; great and quite ambitious blues/jazz fusion

Bakerloo- BAKERLOO; one of the best blues rock LPs

Leafhound- GROWERS OF MUSHROOM; very heavy classic

Thin Lizzy- THIN LIZZY; this is quite proggy and is an excellent album

Aphrodite's Child- 666; one of the most mad yet brilliant albums ever

Indian Summer- INDIAN SUMMER; great album with good vocals and soloing

Gravy Train- BALLAD OF A PEACEFUL MAN; one of the unsung classics

That's enough for now....some truly progressive classics..

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:17

Yezda Urfa

comus

Henry Cow

All the RIO i have (which sadly isn't much)

Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:23

RUFUS ZUPHALL "Weiss Der Teufel"

I bought this at the early 90's only by the impressions I got from the LP covers (Little wing). I still listen this often!

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:24
Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Yezda Urfa

comus

Henry Cow

All the RIO i have (which sadly isn't much)



Oooh... I forgot about Comus! And as for Henry Cow... they might be osbcure outside of prog but in the world of prog they're at the very least infamous so do they really count as obscure?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:27
Originally posted by Trouserpress Trouserpress wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Yezda Urfa

comus

Henry Cow

All the RIO i have (which sadly isn't much)



Oooh... I forgot about Comus! And as for Henry Cow... they might be osbcure outside of prog but in the world of prog they're at the very least infamous so do they really count as obscure?

Well, i only count them because i've never heard of them, until i came here, and then still it took about 6 months. I consider them obscure, granted nothing compared to yours

Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:30

Some more:

Toe Fat- TOE FAT 2; not heard the first album, but I play this album a lot- great heavy prog stuff

Andromeda- ANDROMEDA; very heavy, very progressive- and in 1968 too!

Wild Turkey- BATTLE HYMN; nice album with Glen Cornick of Tull and Gary Pickford Hopkins of Rick Wakeman...



Edited by salmacis
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:33
Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Originally posted by Trouserpress Trouserpress wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Yezda Urfa

comus

Henry Cow

All the RIO i have (which sadly isn't much)



Oooh... I forgot about Comus! And as for Henry Cow... they might be osbcure outside of prog but in the world of prog they're at the very least infamous so do they really count as obscure?

Well, i only count them because i've never heard of them, until i came here, and then still it took about 6 months. I consider them obscure, granted nothing compared to yours



Fair enough! This isn't some competition in obscurity. This might shock some people but I don't actually listen to the music I do BECAUSE it's obscure.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:41
Originally posted by Trouserpress Trouserpress wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Originally posted by Trouserpress Trouserpress wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Yezda Urfa

comus

Henry Cow

All the RIO i have (which sadly isn't much)



Oooh... I forgot about Comus! And as for Henry Cow... they might be osbcure outside of prog but in the world of prog they're at the very least infamous so do they really count as obscure?

Well, i only count them because i've never heard of them, until i came here, and then still it took about 6 months. I consider them obscure, granted nothing compared to yours



Fair enough! This isn't some competition in obscurity. This might shock some people but I don't actually listen to the music I do BECAUSE it's obscure.

Oh, i know it's not a competition, i was just trying to say that you know more about obscurity and thus wouldn't think something that "common" would be considered obscure. Ahh well...good is good.

Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2005 at 08:50
Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Originally posted by Trouserpress Trouserpress wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Originally posted by Trouserpress Trouserpress wrote:

Originally posted by Man With Hat Man With Hat wrote:

Yezda Urfa

comus

Henry Cow

All the RIO i have (which sadly isn't much)



Oooh... I forgot about Comus! And as for Henry Cow... they might be osbcure outside of prog but in the world of prog they're at the very least infamous so do they really count as obscure?

Well, i only count them because i've never heard of them, until i came here, and then still it took about 6 months. I consider them obscure, granted nothing compared to yours



Fair enough! This isn't some competition in obscurity. This might shock some people but I don't actually listen to the music I do BECAUSE it's obscure.

Oh, i know it's not a competition, i was just trying to say that you know more about obscurity and thus wouldn't think something that "common" would be considered obscure. Ahh well...good is good.



Oh, I know you know! That was just directed at people in general who might get the wrong end of the stick with me as much as it was you. Obscure music is fun because it's weird, not because no one's heard of it, even if the two go hand in hand!
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