FANNY ADAMS-“FANNY ADAMS”

When I first stumbleupon  this record I had already been in to Buffalo and Coloured Balls.

This album was released in 1970. A motley crew of highly qualified musicians gathered in Australia which was bubblin´ with inspiration from England. Yet this one  seperates itself from the rest of the albums from 1970. This is a bluesbased progproject with really suggestive cool songwriting. Definately ahead of it´s time and as for the vocals, provided by Doug Parkinson,  he fits like a glove with the rest of the band. Nobody is overshadowing anybody. Still there are no standouts or misfits at all on the album. To me that´s a high five. Good, clean fun songs through out both sides. However;

It´s like you are having a well deserved cup of coffee but the china  is to thin so the coffee  gets cold to quick. No big deal really but, not entirely perfect.

How about the drummer?  Johnny Dick plays better than his surname suggests but he brings nothing new to the table. Solid beats, clear as a bell strikes and a good production of the drums. You can almost hear  which drumhead he uses on the snare. That´s always nice.

If you have any interest in bluesbased hardrock prog from the early 70´s this is a must have record. In some sense this is one of those great “lost but found albums”. Great timeless production, nice following of the songs and some jawdropping guitarriffs.

Hey, even my girlfriend  toetapped to some songs. (Believe me that is a good sign)

There are some reissues out to grab for descent money so what are you wating for?

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6- GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

ASHKAN-“IN FROM THE COLD”

Released in1969 this album is just what you´d expect from the timeperiod. Heavy and very much prog and with attemps of tryin´to match Free or maybe even Joe Cocker but with their own angle of things. The guitar playing from Bob Weston is great. The vocals from Steve Bailey are howling and snorling.

As from a drummer side of things (Terry Sims) this record has a kind of funky feeling about the playing with lots of fills and floortoms and congas. The drums has a nice sustain sound about them even though you hear the early production faults. The producing suffers from a “blanket” kind of sound. It feels like you are listening to it through your nextdoor neighbours apartment.

Stand out tracks are “practically never happens”, “one of us two”. Maybe not the best songs on mother Earth but definitely a lot of medicinal herbs involved in those two…

As for a rock/prog/blues album this one got its own personality but lacks continuity. It´s to far apart between the songs, but yet it´s still a heavy album. Sad this is the one and only album from Ashkan.

Not an album to recommend for avarage Joe but if you like prog/rock/blues english style, this one´s right up your alley.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-4- Cheesy-avarage.

PRIESTESS -HELLO MASTER-

This album has got Everything that all other sleaze/punk/rock wannabe band don´t have. Raw energy right down to the bone. Relesead in 2006, the most famous song may be “Lay Down” as it featured a nice spot on the guitar hero game series.

Actually it was just that particular song that drew my interest to this canadian outfit in the first place. There is no weak spots on this album and at same time, which is a rare thing, every song has its own almost energetic aura around it. As soon as a new song comes on i´ve completely forgot the one before, a strange but very good feeling.

And how´s the drummer doing? Sensational! As I listen, the beat and rhythm changes the whole time. This is a nice treat for an old drummers ears,  it never gets boring. Every verse and chorus leaves a colourful surprise to make you nod your head. This is an album that you wish you had played on.

Standout tracks in my book are “I am the night colour me black”, “Run Home”, “Everything that you are” although no song drops below zero. This record is a true challenger to be a real rockclassic in the future, it almost reaches the mountain top , but just almost. The rerun part on “Everything that you are” is just an adorable pastiche rock´n´roll passway. Fabulous.

If you can get it for decent money you should buy it. Pronto.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7- Very good-  Game, set and match.

TRAPEZE “MEDUSA”

Recorded in 1970 and released later that year this is a record i´m always been curios about. Ever since I started to listen to Deep Purple and specifically the album “Burn” I have wondered what Glenn Hughes did before joining Deep Purple. Now I know.

Medusa is a killer album. This is a true rock´n´roll classic that is often not mentioned as one of the most influential albums of the time period. I don´t think this album have any weak spots but some of the songs is on the brink of falling out of the music pattern.

Setting of as a trio on their second album I can´t see what´s missing on this album. Mel Galleys guitar playing is as catching as the HongKong flu. The potential of Glenn Hughes we all know of, but in my opinion the most anonymous player is Dave Holland. There is nothing wrong with the drumming, it´s flawless but a bit cautious. This is no near his heavy impact he delivers later on with Judas Priest. Yet it´s still amusing and toetapping to hear his drumfilling on doublebass drum in songs like “Black cloud” and “jury”.

It is easy to recommend you to buy this album. The production has really stood the test of time and it got this nice warm feeling about the whole sound picture. This album should be in anybodys rockrecord collection and I bet you on my grandmothers false teeth, that you will have a hard time to get the riff from the title song “Medusa” out of your head. It will haunt you.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7-Very good-  Game, set and match.

-HAYSTACKS BALBOA-

Hello and lets start with a personal favourite at the moment on the turntable.

Haystacks Balboa is one of those lost gems of progressive heavy rock from 1970.

This band originated from NYC and they really stood out with their fuzzy guitarsound and really cool backbeat drumming from Mark Babani.

It is a fresh slap in the face when it comes to the personal and thriving drumming. In company with bass player Mark Polott they create their own fuzz on the toes, carpet of groove, totally unaware of what the guitar is playing. Brilliant.

Yet it is not”all in”. Yet there are nice hints of really dynamic playing which the album must get credit for.

When it comes to the production it is one of the best albums i´ve heard from 1970. From the backside of things the songs on the album do tend to bend to much in every direction.

There are some real cool rockriff buttkickers such as “Spoiler”, “The Children of heaven” and “Sticky finger”  but in all the record is to uneven. That said, it always find itself on the top when it comes to obscure albums of the 70´s.

All in all it´s a pleasant listen because of the funky rhythmsection. Here are some things for the kids to pick up. Just listen to the satanic laugh in “The Children from heaven” Great!

RATING/GRADE

-5-  OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-.