Hi everybody, I hope you all had a nice Christmas! I threw in a couple extras this time as I will probably be gone next week, and unable to post. Here we go -

Nine Days' Wonder - Nine Days' Wonder (1970)

From the extreme end of the Krautrock spectrum, this is an essential album, though it may not be an easy listen for some. Obviously influenced by Frank Zappa, maybe King Crimson and others, the first release from these guys is marked by excellent musicianship, long free-jazz type passages, sudden tempo changes and complex time signatures.

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Tonton Macoute - Tonton Macoute (1971)

This British band's only release "is full of jazz-inspired prog rock with long instrumental interplay in even longer tracks. Their music oozes fun and good-natured moods and should please most everyone, even the ones wary of jazz-tinged music, as this is hardly their only inspiration. Highly recommended to the progheads that seek to deepen their knowledge of early 70's prog rock and looking for unknown gems such as this one"
(progarchives)

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The Great Society - Live At The Matrix (1968)

This is a fine set from The Great Society, which featured Grace Slick, with a brilliant version of "Sally Go Round The Roses", and terrific pre-Jefferson Airplane versions of "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love", 17 tracks. Note: this is the same album as "Collector's Item", so if you already have that, not much point!

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Agamemnon - Part I and II (1981)

The only release from this Swiss band is one of those albums where nothing really jumps out at you, but it is a thoroughy enjoyable listen all the way through, with two long suites telling the story of Agamemnon. It really brings to mind "Atom Heart Mother"-era Pink Floyd at times. My rip @320.

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Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails (1968)

Sporting one of the great album covers, I think this record was the best to come out of the 60's San Francisco psychedelic scene, and maybe one of the best albums ever! These guys were tight, the interplay between guitarists John Cippolina and Gary Duncan is awe-inspiring. Fully half the album is a dedication to Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love", recorded live at the Fillmores East and West, and this is rock and roll at it's best. My favorite tracks, though, are two Gary Duncan pieces, "Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" and "Calvary", they are downright mystical. "Call It Anything You Want"!!

Part 1 Part 2

Carol Of Harvest - Carol Of Harvest (1978)

At the other end of the Krautrock spectrum from Nine Days' Wonder, this surely must be an unheralded classic of 1970's folk-rock from this German band. The songs are based on warm acoustic melodies, accompanied by beautiful, emotive female vocals, with lots of synthesizer and ripping guitar leads in the mix, making it a kind of symphonic folk/prog. The three bonus tracks at the end were recorded live, and rock a little harder. Altogether, a very worthwile listen.

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Xhol - Hau-Ruk (1970)

A live album from this obscure German progressive rock group, consisting of three long instrumental pieces, the music is at different times cosmic, bluesy and psychedelic, and will appeal to fans of experimental spacey rock. A lack of studio effects, found on their other releases, doesn't hurt this a bit.

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Hawkwind - Space Rock From London (1972)

A great show with great sound quality recorded at the Dream Machine on Oct. 14th, 1972. Note: although edited slightly differently, this is the same show as "BBC Radio 1 Live". "Born To Go", "Master Of The Universe", "Silver Machine" and four other tracks.

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Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum (1968)

Not a lot to say about this classic, except that it's the heaviest, most chaotic, noisiest, most aggressive psychedelic rock ever made probably.

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Kraftwerk - Autobahn (1974)

Another classic, a great album.

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Jimi Hendrix - Message From Nine To The Universe Vol. 1 (1969)

Five jams recorded at the Record Plant and the Hit Factory in 1969. The title track, a 19 minute long jam with Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums is by itself worth the download.

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OK ladies and gentlemen, that's it. See you in a couple weeks! .

Great news - I haven't frozen to death, not yet. It actually got above freezing today, the first time in two weeks. The blog -

String Driven Thing - The Machine That Cried (1973)

OK this is an uneven album. There are some slow ballad-y numbers that seem to hamper the proceedings, but I have gotten to like them over time. Actually, maybe it's just that I don't mind them so much! This is their third album, and their first foray into progressive rock territory, thanks to the addition of Grahame Smith (later of Van Der Graaf Generator) on electric violin. The manic psychedelic tracks like "Sold Down The River", "Heartfeeder" and a few others make this worth getting.

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Ax Genrich - Psychedelic Guitar (1994)

Ax Genrich was the guitarist for Guru Guru in the early 70's, and somehow, the fact that he is making great music still 30 years later warms the heart. This is pure ear candy for those of us that like this kind of stuff. Favorite track is "South", with a driving Bo Diddley beat and a great female singer, I don't know who she is.

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Check you later.

Man it's so damn cold around here i can hardly stand it! Winter hasn't even really started yet, this is a bitch. Well on with the show!

Mogul Thrash - Mogul Thrash (1971)

Formed by ex-Colosseum guitarist James Litherland in 1971, Mogul Thrash's only album was produced by Brian Auger, who also played on one track. Also included was John Wetton, who provides some meaty bass, and Roger Ball and Malcolm Duncan, who went on to form Average White Band. This is a brass-driven, jazzy slice of progressive rock with some strong guitar and saxophone jamming. If you like Colosseum, you'll like this.

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Randy California - Kaptain Kopter And The (Fabulous) Twirly Birds (1972)

Randy California of Spirit played in a band with Jimi Hendrix before Hendrix became famous, so the story goes, and some people think that he influenced Jimi, rather than the other way around! Regardless, I don't know what this album is if not a tribute to Jimi Hendrix. I mean, it has Noel Redding on it. This is some hot stuff.

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Paternoster - Paternoster (1972)

Amongst the most legendary of Austrian underground bands, but with a virtually undocumented history, Paternoster originated from Vienna, and existed for only two years in the early-70's, disbanding after the release of just one album. Paternoster were heavy, but their complex progressive blend was patently of the Krautrock ilk. Fronted by a most unusual vocalist, with an equally bizarre use of song, their music drew on that trippy Pink Floyd style. Akin to Gila, Virus, and Jane on occasions, the Paternoster style blended heavy classical motifs, psychedelic flights into the cosmos, and much more. The result is, that every track amounts to a lively potpourri of surprises. (From "Crack In The Cosmic Egg")

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Jimi Hendrix - Axis Outtakes

This 2-disc set consists of, you guessed it, outtakes from the Axis: Bold As Love sessions. Some great Jimi here. This is my first rip using Exact Audio Copy - hope everything came out ok.

Part 1 Part 2

Odin - Odin (1972)

Odin was a British band, but all the members lived in Germany. Their self-titled debut and only album is one of the many obscure gems released on the Vertigo swirl label. Odin's style was organ dominated progressive rock with influences from hard rock, jazz and some folk. Tracks like "Life is only" and "Clown" are stuffed with lengthy organ passages and good melodies. "Be the Man you are" was an airy acoustic track of the kind that most progressive rock groups would have one or two of on their albums. "Eucalyptus" was an atmospheric instrumental with some nice use of string-synths. "Tribute to Frank" (probably Zappa) was a bit quirkier, with some quite interesting and unusual chords. And the guys used their voices as instruments in the cheerful "Turnpike Lane" with good result. (Review stolen from vintageprog)

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Monument - First Monument (1971)

This album was recorded during an all-night substance abuse session by members of the band Zior, which is probably why its such a mish-mash of tempo changes and different styles. Mystical and eerie sometimes, this is some solid hard progressive rock, emphasis on hard. OK maybe doom rock would better describe it. Interesting album all around.

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Klaus Schulze - Black Dance (1974)

Blackdance is one of Klaus Schulze's early albums. The tempo changes are smooth and sure and the sequences are varied — some are deep and strong, others are long on atmosphere. Schulze mixes these elements seamlessly with experimental timbres and spatial textures. He adds an organ drone to give the disc a Baroque attitude and sinister overtones. This is more atmospheric than most of his albums. (Unknown reviewer)

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Allright then, see you in a week if I'm not frozen to death in the meantime!

Here we go -

Ibliss - Supernova (1972)

The German band Ibliss released only one album, which is probably more fusion/jazzrock than it is progressive rock. There are four long tracks, the last one, "Athir", being the best in my opinion. This thing is a percussion extravaganza, with most of the first track sounding like a hippie drum circle, only with really good drummers. Lotta flute, sax, and early 70's cosmic-ness.

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Sameti - Sameti (1972)

Sameti had some members who were late of Amon Düül II and the German band Embryo, and the highlight on this is a 22 minute long improvisation, "anotherwaytosee", which definitely sounds very Amon Düül II-ish, and wouldn't sound out of place on one of the classic Düül albums like "Tanz Der Lemminge". Another semi-structured song is called "Big Fat Brother Joint", and likely provides a glimpse into these guys' personal habits!

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Web - I Spider (1970)

This is a great album, featuring Dave Lawson of Greenslade, though we can be thankful his brilliant organ/mellotron work and vocals sound nothing like he put out with them! A little 'dark' sounding, this is driving, intense jazzrock. This is the British group's third album, the only one with Lawson. After this release they changed their name to Samurai.

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Cosmic Eye - Dream Sequence (1972)

I like this album but I don't know what the hell it is really. Prog? Jazz? Avant-Garde? Lotta sitar, tabla, violin. From what I can glean from the net, this is a crew of British jazz musicians from the early 70's taking a stab at psychedelia and doing a damn good job of it.

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Roger Waters - In The Flesh (2000)

Roger Waters' sixth solo release is an awesome sounding collection of live performances from his 1999 tour, showcasing some of his best work. His solo versions of Pink Floyd material are unbelievably good.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Prof. Wolfff - Prof. Wolfff (1972)

Prof. Wolfff sounds like an angrier, more progressive and more electric version of "Ihre Kinder" which isn't too surprising since their only album was produced by Ihre Kinder's manager. This is a good album that may not hit with everybody. Hard prog with classical-sounding keyboard workouts and political lyrics in German with large doses of great sometimes raw-sounding guitar.

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P205 - Vivat Progressio - Pereat Mundus (1978)

This is P205's second album and what it is, is good basic rough-edged rock and roll from the German underground. No "lost treasure of Krautrock" or anything, but there are moments here and there that make you wonder what might have come with a little financial success. When I'm in the mood for this kinda stuff, this album really hits the spot.

Part 1__Part 2

The Beatles - Men & Horses, Hoops & Garters

This is a different kind of Beatles bootleg! This website will explain what it's all about:

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rickenbacker/Beatleg_10/Men_Horses_Hoops_Garters.htm

Part 1 Part 2

Various Artists - Heavy Christmas (1971)

And finally, last but not least, a dang Krautrock Christmas album! Two of the bands we've met before, "Virus" and "Dies Irae", we'll meet "Ardo Dombec" later, the other bands I don't know. My favorites are Virus's "X-Mas Submarine" and Dies Irae's "Silent Night".

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OK! Hopefully this will hold you lunatics for a week!