ABB's Random Recent Purchase Poll - vol 1

Hello all! At the final record fair for the year down here in Melbourne, I recently picked up a few random titles on both LP and CD over numerous genres, and I'd like to know what you think! Which ones should I be excited to own, and which did I make a horrible mistake with (Peter Baumann's `Trans-Harmonic Nights', I'm looking in your direction there! ). Please vote for your favourite, and offer any opinions, both positive and negative on any you may have heard!

I think S.F.F. will walk away with this, and well deserved! One of my absolute favourites, and I was very lucky to snap up a pristine vinyl of it, that cover looks amazing on the larger LP format.

But I think I might vote for one of the underdogs here myself!

Zravkapt, you are totally right about me spelling Hoerning's name wrong, and I thought I checked that poll a dozen times before posting it! Thanks for the heads up!

I'm enjoying that Embryo album a lot, just not quite as much as others from them like `Steig Aus' and `Rocksession'! `Father Son....' is very repetitive, rough, and a little unfocused! I was a little bummed that a few tracks even end on fade-outs! Ah well, still good! I've got it ready to go in the car as I head for work shortly!

I know about half of these, I guess I'll go with Beggars Opera, very nice indeed but haven't heard it in a few years.

I only know Oxygene which is probably my favourite debut album. Took electronic music to another level.

richardh wrote: I only know Oxygene which is probably my favourite debut album. Took electronic music to another level.

Richard! I was saying to Nick (Progbethyname) the other day that I only heard this for the first time a few days ago! I picked the CD of this up for a mere $2 at the Record Fair on the weekend, and I braced myself for a drippy and bland new-age album....and instead I find it to be one of the loveliest, most melodic and endlessly enjoyable electronic albums! I completely understand why it was popular in it's day. Very impressed! I think it would make for a perfect introduction to someone wanting to get their foot in the door of the progressive-electronic genre.

Oxygene by a mile!

Symphonic Pictures

Thanks everyone for voting!

Thomas, that Hoening is pretty decent for an 80's release! Of course it's got some plastic sounding digital production and playing once in a while, but it's much better than I expected. I looked it up on a blog site, and the reviewer mentioned that although the vinyl can be snapped up pretty easily and cheaply, that CD goes for upwards of $150!!!

Logan, I'm finding the Morton Subotnick a bit of a struggle, but I plan on giving it a few more spins! if I can grow to love Vangelis' `Beaubourg', I think I can get my head around this one! I mentioned in an email to my friend Doug from the Archives here that my first impression was that it sounded like `R2D2 on a bad acid trip', and not a lot of actual music! We'll see...

And speaking of Doug, I thought you might go the Beggars Opera one! I love so much the tracks `I've No Idea' and `Nimbus' especially.

Later on, I'll post some Youtube clips of the various albums, highlight some of their best bits.

Yes, I like that Beggars Opera one, but damn...I've loved the SFF one for so many years that it's kind of on a pedastal all it's own! Just a flawless instrumental album.

At the record fair, I mentioned above how none of the other `proggy' vendors had heard of it, and they were asking what it sounded like. I struggled....kind of suggested maybe ELP or parts of Focus without the classical elements, maybe Finch without the blistering lead guitar...I don't know, I really drew a blank trying to explain it.

Any thoughts, Tom, so I can be prepared next time?!

I can't compare them to any other band. The production of the album is amazing for the time. I love how Heinz Frohling split into halves a Gibson Les Paul guitar and a Rickenbacker bass and joined them together for his convenience. Very clever. And the 'tron is played like never before. Anglagard owe a lot to this album. Funny how I've never thought as highly of their next album 'Sunburst'.
So, did you like Silver Peacock (Intro & song) ?? I don't think there's a duff moment on Waters Of Change, although it hasn't aged well.