Saturday 28 February 2009

The Plastic People Of The Universe



The Plastic People of the Universe were a experimental Czech underground rock band. The band was formed in 1968 but had its license to perform revoked by communist authorities in 1970; the band was arrested on put on trial in 1976. Protests of these arrests led to the formation of the dissident group Charter 77 that eventually formed the backbone of the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Ironically, however, the band itself splintered around that time, with founding member bassist Milan Hlavsa starting a splinter group, that toured the West. Former czech president Václav Havel is a big fan of this group.

The band managed to record their first album, “Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned” in 1974, although it would not be released until 1978 in France. Members of both the band and their audiences were often arrested, and at one such underground performance at Budejovice in 1974, state police rounded up hundreds of fans and band members, imprisoning six and expelling dozens from their universities.

In the spring of 1976 Czech police raided dozens of flats and communal homes; arrested twenty-seven members of the Plastics and other underground bands; confiscated and destroyed most of their instruments and equipment; and seized countless texts, music sheets, tapes and photos. Five members of the Plastics were imprisoned including Jirous, who would suffer three more arrests and convictions in the coming years. By the late seventies several members of the band had relocated to Vienna, where they continued to perform and record. The band would ultimately release “Co znamená vésti koně” in 1981, “Kolejnice duní” the following year, and “Půlnoční myš” in 1986. They also recorded but did not release “Hovězí porážka” in 1984. “Co znamená vésti koně” had to be completely re-recorded after the original tapes were destroyed in a mysterious fire the day after they were produced. The album was ultimately released on the mysterious Canadian label Boží Mlýn, which was registered in Canada with the same address registered to former band member and friend Paul Wilson.

For band Members and other info see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plastic_People_of_the_Universe


They have been described as similar to The velevet Underground and Frank Zappa.


Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned [1978]




1 - A Leste Do Sol, Oeste Da Lua
2 - Zacpa
3 - Toxika
4 - Magicke Noci
5 - M.G.M.
6 - Okolo Okna
7 - Elegie
8 - Podivuhodny Mandarin
9 - Nikdo
10 - Jo - to se ti to Spi
11 - Ja a Mike
12 - Ranni Ptace
13 - Francovka
14 - Jednou Nohou
15 - Spfa Blues
16 - Apokalypticej Ptak
17 - Pisen Brance

Plastic People Of The Universe - Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned [1978]


Kolejnice duní [1984]





1 - Sel pro krev
2 - Prasinec
3 - Kanarek
4 - Nenavist vola k reznickymu psu
5 - Petrin
6 - Moucha v rannim pive
7 - Bleskem do hlavy
8 - Spatna vec
9 - Papirovy hlavy

Plastic people Of The Universe - Hovezi Porazka [1984]


Kolejnice duní [2001]



1 - 100 Bodu
2 - Dopis Magorovi
3 - Phil Esposito
4 - Metastáze
5 - Kolejnice Duní
6 - Sociálne Blízcí

Plastic People Of The Universe - Kolejnice Duní

Terpandre - Terpandre [1981]



Terpandre was formed In France in 1974 and in 1978 recorded this there only 1 album and then in 1981 it was released. The lineup concists of ernard Monerri (guitar, percussions), Jacques Pina (keyboards), Michel Tardieu (keyboards), Patrick Tilleman (violin), Paul Fargier (bass) and Michel Torelli (drums, percussion). This is quite gentle progressive music, has a very warm sound and is quite melodic, this is a very nice album indeed, it keeps you interested throught the album. Highly recommended.

1 - Le Temps
2 - Conte En Vert
3 - Anne-Michaele
4 - Histoire D'Un Pecheur
5 - Carrousel
6 - Conte En Vert [Bonus Track]
7 - Musique Pour Clair Obscur [Bonus Track]

Terpandre - Terpandre

Shampoo - Vol. 1 [1972]



Amazing Progressive Jazz Rock from Belgium and very little known and this is only release by them, this is one of my favoutites, this is jazz rock at its best!

Luk Smets (keyboards, vocals)
Marcel de Cauwer (drums)
Giorgio Chitschenko (saxophone)
François Maes (saxophone)
Rudi Pincé (bass)

1 - Brother
2 - Keep the Day Cool
3 - Some Reason
4 - Summer
5 - Hot Dog
6 - Hurry Up
7 - My Sweet Honeybee

Shampoo Vol. 1

Tangle Edge - In Search Of A New Dawn [1989]



1st album by Norwegian Psych gods Tangle Edge, this album is a classic and I had to list this with the other album by them. every track here is a gem, its one of those albums that has to be played from start to end, the last track is a monster! This is the CD Remix Issue released in 1994.

1 - Isis At The Invisible Frontispiece
2 - Caesar's Integrated Flaw
3 - Nephthys
4 - A Secret Inside Clopedia
5 - The Approaching Triptykhon Sunset
6 - The Centipede's Tune
7 - Later Than The Pinworm-Era
8 - Mushy Shadows From A Lost Caravan
9 - Solorgy

Tangle Edge - In Search Of A New Dawn

Tangle Edge - Tarka [1997]



This is probably the best Psychedelic band to come out of Norway, Everything Ive heard by them is a gem and each album they release is completely different to the previous one, this is quite gentle and spiritual and at the same time it rocks. Excellent album by an excellent band that people havnt really been introduced to, they have been releasing albums for quite a few years now and they are still going strong to this day and they have just released a new 7" ep on the 16th of February 2009 called Long Time Since I saw An Egg/Ambrosia Parallels and limited to 200 copies which I will be getting very soon, but anyway if you like psych then this band are about as good as they get.

1 - Vata:Nadi
2 - Stygian Walls
3 - Yatantah - Part I
4 - Yatantah - Part II
5 - Yatantah - Part III
6 - Canopeus
7 - Hesperus
8 - Cinta
9 - Spirea
10 - Durra Durra
11 - Verbina
12 - Eidolon
13 - Vata:Kala

Tangle Edge - Tarka

Moving Gelatine Plates - Removing [2006]



One of my favourites from France is this band who only released 2 albums, here is the reunion album which they recorded when they got together in 2006.

1 - Removing
2 - Like a Flower
3 - Enigma
4 - Comme Avant
5 - Breakdown
6 - Nico
7 - Bellidor
8 - Waiting for the Rain
9 - Theo

Moving Gelatine Plates - Removing

Kultivator - Barndomens Stigar + Waiting Paths [1981-2007].



2008 Remaster with bonus CD with new material. I think most of you know of this band so I want go on.

1 - Hoga Hastar
2 - Vemod
3 - Smafolket
4 - Kara Jord
5 - Barndomens Stigar
6 - Grottekvarnen
7 - Varfol
8 - Novarest
9 - haxdans [Bonus Track]
10 - Tunnelbanan Medley [Bonus Track]
11 - Novarest - Live [Bonus Track]

Bonus CD - Waiting Paths

1 - In the Darkness' Plait
2 - Bringing Water
3 - Another Day In Life
4 - Waiting Paths

Kultivator - Barndomens Stigar + Waiting Paths

Group 1850 - The Great Single Tracks [1966-1971]



There is some nice early stuff on this, quite a nice little compilation by a nice little band.

1 - Zero
2 - Frozen Mind
3 - Don't Let it Be
4 - Sun is Coming
5 - We Love Life
6 - Little Fly
7 - I Know
8 - I Want More
9 - Mother No-Head
10 - Ever, Ever Green
11 - Have You Eer Heard
12 - Fire
13 - Look Around

Group 1850 - The Great Single Tracks


Group 1850 - Polyandri [1975]



One of finest acid rock bands around, I think everyone should know this band, if you don't you've been missing out.

1 - Jojo
2 - Between Eighteen and Fifty Part: 1850
3 - Flower Garden
Thousand Years before
5 - Starfighter
6 - Silver Earing
7 - Patience
8 - U.S.S.R. Gossip
9 - Cages
10 - Avant Les Pericles
11 - Pumping Up the Rubber Tree


Group 1850 - Polyandri

Feste Mobile - Diario Di Viaggio Della [1973]



One of the best Italian Prog albums to these ears, great piano and guitar works on this one, excellent stuff, highly recommended to those who like italian progressive rock.

1- La Corte Di Hon
2 - Canto
03 - Aristea
4 - Ljalja
5 - ritorno

Feste Mobile - Diario Di Viaggio Della

Blast - Puristsirup [1991]



1st album by the Avantegarders. This one is amazing, nice bass and sax on this one. sometimes reminds me of Present. I think those who like rock in opposition stuff will adore this one.

1 - Rotart Sully
2 - Surrealistic Alphabeth
3 - Rugged
4 - Rupture
5 - Antrupo Antipode
6 - Grammar
7 - Stairs
8 - Slash & Burn
9 - Rolling Imrovisation Fragment
10 - Gorgonomics
11 - Puristsirup

Blast - Puristsirup




Blast - A Sophisticated Face [1999]



Blast Formed in 1989 in the Netherlands. Between 1991 and 2007 they have released 6 very nice RIO/Avantgarde Prog albums, there music is very complex stuff and there is some very nice saxophone in the music. Highly recommended to the Avante Rocker!

Blast - A Sophisticated Face



Asia Minor - Crossing The Line [1979]



First album by Asia Minor, Excellent album, an essential!

1 - Preface
2 - Mahzun Gozler
3 - Mystic Dance
4 - Misfortune
5 - Landscape
6 - Visions
7 - Without Stir
8 - Hayal Dolu Guler Icin
9 - Postface

Asia Minor - Crossing The Line


Asia Minor - Between Flesh And Divine [1981]



Nice sweepy Prog from Paris France similar style to camel with guitars, drums, flute and keyboards.

1 - Nightwind
2- Northern Lights
3 - Boundless
4 - Dedicace
5 - Lost In A Dream Yell
6 - Dreadful Memories

Asia Minor - Between Flesh And Divine


Accordo Dei Contrari [1997]




Accordo dei Contrari was formed in 2001 in Bologna Italy. Accordo dei Contrari are very well crafted Progressive rock Fusion. Nice guitars, piano, Organ and drums, theres lots going on and constant time changes here to make everyone happy.

01 - Lester
02 - Meghiste Kinesis
03 - ScalaQuadro
04 - Gondwana
05 - Anexelenkton
06 - Om

Accordo Dei Contrari