ELOY-ELOY-

Released in 1971 this album is divider of opinions. Heavily dosed with prog/space/hard rock it´s a pure joy to hear that no borders are unexplored. This outfit origin from Hannover in Germany and fronted by guitarist Frank Bornemann. They don´t fit in the folder as”Krautrock” but yet almost as “Spacerock” like Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Hawkwind.

Their debut album has got Heavy influences of Deep Purple but they give the songs a very personal touch in a good way.

The lyrics are very political thanks to keyboard player Eric Schriever. The message is the same as for example “Something Yellow”, capitalism, smog, death and sorrow….happy thoughts anyone?? The rather cool album cover suggest a litter bin which opens and inside you´ll see……i don´t wanna spoil the surprise so you have to find out yourself… 🙂

What about the drummer, Helmut Dracht? It is almost impossible not to be impressed by prog drummers. Fast Changes in the beat, odd timing, dynamic playing and an overall feeling to follow the other musicians  Here are some things to evaluate further.

This is not an album for nonprog fans, you got to be in the right state of mind to fully enjoy this recording. It helps to indulge a few beers and sing along….

Good reissues is available for a small amount of cash but if you have started to listen to Eloy in more recent albums this one´s not for you. The tendensies to more hard rock sound is unavoidable on more recent albums and to me that´s a little sad. For proglovers this is a goldmine.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

CHARLEE-CHARLEE-

This enourmous album was released in 1972. Walter Rossi had put together a three piece setting and got a deal with RCA. If you´re in to hard/rock with a spicy deal of psych, this one´s already in your record collection. If not, you´re in for a treat!

With it´s pretty anonymous front cover this album is a wolf in sheep clothing. Nothing on the album cover reveals that this is a heavyweight champion when it comes to Hendrix influenced guitarplaying. Strong songs mixed with great overdubs, gritty vocals from Walter himself and one of the best produced albums ever from 1972. True followers of Walter Rossi knows he´s one of Canadas great guitarists. ´Nuff said.

Bassplaying is shared between Jack Greisinger, Harry Marks and Walter Rossi. No bad words on their impact on the songs, great delivery.

The same goes for the shared task when it comes to the drummers. Both Mike Driscoll and Barry Keane are doing an excellent job when it comes to flow and percistance. Nothing that rocks the Earth but it just fits the whole production. Very nice…

This albums impact on future guitarists is undeniable, it is a great album, a true partycracker which benefits to be played LOUD!!

Their are some different issues with different covers to get for affordable hard earn cash. Just get a great copy and your weekend is saved. For now..

VINYLRATING/GRADE

VERY GOOD-GAME,SET AND MATCH-

TOAD-TOMORROW BLUE-

This is the second album from Swiss rockers Toad and released in 1972. A chunk of blues and a real dose of progressive attitude gives this album a real mix of hard´n´heavy blues/rock/prog tunes.

The album has its focus on a brilliant bass player, Werner Frölich. The rhythm section is a nice pair of kickass boots. The guitarist, Vic Vergeat, impresses in both feeling and speed. He possesses a great voice too.

Now to the most valuable member, the drummer. This guy by the name of Cosimo Lampis(!!) is a great chameloen. All he does seems to be just in time, perfectly matching the bass. It´s fun to listen to his playing because he makes the rhythm interesting. Great flow and timing but not making it all the way through. A perfect match for the rest of the band.

This is a great rock/blues/prog album with some awesome playing from time to time. The producer is the famous Martin Birch and he knows what he´s doing. Great sound, nice levels and a great drum sound.

If you´re a slightest interested in 70´s hard/blues/prog this is a cornerstone in history.

There are some reissues out to grab for less money so get on it…come on..

VINYLRATING/GRADE

7-VERY GOOD-GAME, SET AND MATCH-

BLACK SPIDERS-SONS OF THE NORTH-

This album was released in 2011. As branded an underground outfit this is a mystery how the band lost it´s direction. I am very much in the dark about this album. It has a  great  sound to it and really good songs but lacks originality. Nothing stands out in terms of songwriting and it leaves a feeling is that everything is thouroughly considered before release.

To bad because this album could have been a contender for the “kick  the face” in 2011.

The production is almost to good with some overdubs that might rub you the wrong way. It has a great guitar sound and the vocals are fine. The bass player is doing a good job.

And, whatabout the drummer? Simon “Tiger” Atkinson is really doin´his thing. Heavy impact, great fills and cool backbeating in some places. It´s not the drummers fault that this album doesn´t reach the distance. It is a bit of disappointment that grabs me after a while. Why didn´t the band go for energetic, more personal approach than stick to what has been heard so many times Before. A bit sad..

I would recommend to look in to their follow up album “Savage land”. A much more personalized record in my opinion.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

4-CHEESY-AVARAGE-

BLACK CAT BONE-BARBED WIRE SANDWICH-

An exciting record released in november 1969. A few years before this album was recorded, this group was set up by Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke on drums. We all know that they later would find fame and fortune in Free together with Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser.

Replacement guitarist Rod Price would later be in Foghat and Brothers Stu and Derek Brooks would later create the more heavier Leafhound so it´s not a bad starting Point for any of the member of this heavy blues/prog outfit.

The album itself got lots of influences from both Cream and The Bluesbreakers all cooked up in a frying pan of prog seasoning. To bad the guitar lacks a bit of bite and all in all it´s just a photofinish that the album doesn´t get boring musically. A strange feeling because  the songs are strong, vocals are great, the bass is kind of funky and production flawless.

What about Phil Lenoir, the drummer? His contribution to this album is avarage, just keepin´the tempo and beat with no surprises yet no bad interactions. He´s  like a cheese and ham sandwich, good to go when you´re hungry but nothing you´d choose for a fancy dinner date.

The big question is how this outfit would have evolved if contuined? Leafhound, Free and Foghat are all monsters of bands so the thought is tickling..

If you´re in to English hard/heavy/blues with a bit of prog this is an album to get. Reissues are out there which is good because you probably couldn´t afford an original copy… very expensive. Maybe the great artwork has something to do with that.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

BUFFALO-VOLCANIC ROCK-

This album was released in 1973 and Buffalo hit out big time on their second release. The band hit some criticism for their avantgarde album cover and that´s understandable. Who puts a penisshaped rock above a giants head  standing on the top of a rock, shaped like a women who´s menstruating?? Bold move…

This is a fierce album with one of the best opening tracks from a hard psych/rock album ever! The album was cut in a live sequence recording with only vocals and guitars as overdub. You can really hear the intensity och raw power as the album plays along. I don´t think the Black sabbath influences are intentional, rather a summery of the time period but it´s adorable.

The producer of this recordis named Spencer Lee and he has done a terrific job. John Baxters guitarsound is up with the best,  the vocals from Dave Tice is like sandpaper in your ears… the bassplaying is heavy and infectious.(Peter Wells)

And how about the drummer?? Jimmy Economou could easily be mistaken for Jack Sparrow the pirate character. Full swing on the drums make you wanna set sail and get on the seven seas. It´s full throttle bashing with no pardon.This is how it should be done on an album like this. No fancy pancy dynamic crap, just head on and I like it!!

Standout track would be “sunrise (come my way)” thanks to the fierce guitar riff and howling vocals. A definitive contender for best rock/psych song of the 70´s.

Please note that this is just one year before Australias biggest rock export released their debutalbum.No comparison to AC/DC whats so ever  because they didn´t interact with one another and to be honest, this is a much better album and not even in the same category.

A small piece of info; as Buffalo disbanded the bassplayer Peter Wells Went on to form Rose Tattoo and this time on slide guitar . But that´s another story and review  in the future.

It is not an option tryin´to avoid this album. It will come in to your life someday. There are good reissues available out there. This is a record must have. I´ll promise…

VINYLRATING/GRADE

8-EXCELLENT-HEAD ON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES COLLISION WITH A FREIGHT TRAIN

GROWL-GROWL-

Sometimes I wonder what makes you wanna buy an album like this one? Released in 1974 it has every potentiell to be that cool hardrock killer  album but no sir…not in a longshot.

The album cover suggests a twisted tone towards Alice Cooper with the bands five members decapitated on a silver tray with blood…but all alikes end here.

Rised from the rest of an american west coast outfit  called “Utopia” this Donald Duck album is one of my worst decisions to buy. There´s is nothing right with this record. The producer must have left the soundboard while the band is so underachieving that it is a real pain to hear. Hangover anyone? Must be..

I have really tried to find something nice to write about it but, as soon as i listen to this album I just fall in to a void of sorrow and misery.

The drummer is doing an avarage job, nothing to blaze off to your friends about. I think that he too suffered from poor ignition as the rest of the band. Contagious apparently..

I am sad to say  it could have been a much better album with another producer and some attitude from the musicians. But hey! If your´re in to rare albums with growling vocals as in your local karaokebar, why not, it is affordable. They probably give it to you just to get rid of it.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

2-CRAP-A DELIRIUM, TO SAY THE LEAST-

SHORT CROSS-ARISING-

Released in 1971 this album is one great mystery. Originated from Richmond Virginia there´s not much to find out about this plaster piece of gold, but it´s one hell of an album.

Startin´of with a cheesy horn-arrangement on the first song, which in it self is pretty catchy, the rest of the songs evolves in a great way. The “suicide blues” tune is one of the greatest i´ve ever heard from this type of band. How blue can you get? Sometimes you almost feel the vibe of the Allman Brothers or maybe a touch of Grand funk railroad and that´s not a bad sign. The mix between psych/prog/blues and a touch of hard rock, this is a rare record for this timeperiod and it almost keep things together.

Whatabout the drummer?? Gray McCalley is his name and there´s nothing to be ashamed of on this album. The tendensies to drag in some tunes are obvoius but really not much to be upset about. Yet it´s not something you would copycat in the first place. It´s like a glass of clean wholesome milk, tasty but boring in the long run. Avarage to be precise.

The only misfit is the Beatlesque ballad “Ellen”. What a piece of crap. It sounds like Jeff Lynne and the Beatles have had a joint venture….what a nightmare.

But aside from that, the album is top notch. I would easily recommend you to buy it.

The producing is a great piece of work. I found myself put this album on the turntable just for the pure joy to hear it, fenomenal! To bad there´s only this recording made by the band.

I would recommend you to listen to this interview made by Klemen Breznikar:

http://psychedelicbaby.blo…ith-velpo.html

VINYLRATING/GRADE

7-VERY GOOD-GAME, SET AND MATCH-

As soon as you master the craft of tuning your drums, problem number two occurs. How do I stay in tune?

The answers are as many as there are drummers. Some prefer a start up set of tuning and then by fellow musicians adjust the drumheads after each time you rehearse or play gigs.

The tip of the day would be for you to invest in descent tuning equiptment such as a drum tuning key or even better, an electronic drum tuner.

A first for percussionists, an electronic drum tuner  is a quick and accurate method to tune your drums. With a simple clip to the hoop and strike of the drum, the tuner will filter out overtones and give you a measurement of the pitch of the individual lugs in Hz or notes. This is about to change the way you tune your drums, and more importantly, change the way your drums sound.

The other tool you need is a drum key torque. Preset the torque drum key’s handle to release at a specified tension ensuring even tuning at each lug. The drum key’s has good comfort and fast spinning. A slip-resistant magnetized head holds the key in place without rattling for fast adjustments during play. This is a great first aid kit when you need to adjust your drumkit during outdoor playing or/and fast temperature differences.

Don´t forget to experiment.

Enjoy.

http://www.drumfactorydirect.com

BEDLAM-BEDLAM-

There is no question who is in the drivers seat on this album from 1973. As Cozy Powell departed with Jeff Beck he ended up in Bedlam. This is all about Cozy´s powerhouse drumming and everybody else just has to adapt.

This is a strange album in the sense that if anybody but Cozy,( with exception from John Bonham) had played on it, it would have been a sad story to listen to. Trying to create a bluesy, hardrock album with some funky parts, feels like you´re  wearing your shoe on the other foot. Powells contribution saves the day. You want to find out what is he gonna do in the next song and that´s comforting.

The production is a bit flat although it´s Felix Pappalardi who is behind the album. The guitar sounds strained, the bass lacks of depth but the vocals gets a thumbs up.

Whatabout Cozy Powell? As I mentioned earlier this is a drummers album. It just throws out fills, rudiments and other goodies at you. Sometimes it feels like Cozy is trying to push the drumkit through the floor. Great impact and delivery. On the bad side, some of the softer songs does not help an anxious Mr. Powell.

To sum up the album it is not a total loss due to the “last day on Earth” drumming. Cozy Powells tribute to the world is really a work in progress on this record. The master´s degree would be heard on”Rising” by Rainbow.

As for an odd blues/hard/rock album it might tickle your senses but be aware; it´s a walk on the razor´s edge here, yet it could be worth buying just for the funky cover.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-4-Cheesy-Avarage-