The ultimate thing in this World would be the invention of a drop-free stick. I wonder how many times, especially on overload, the harder you engage in playing the slippery the sticks get. But no worries, here´s the tip of day.

It´s a simple thing to just get yourself a nice can of drummers wax to rubb in to your eehh.. stick(s)…and why not? Guitarists and bass players are always complaining about bad strings, fuzzy sound etc, etc…so it´s time to recognize the problem of slippery sticks.

Personally i´m not a big fan of drummers gloves, this abomination should be banned from planet Earth. It´s enough that Matt Sorum thinks there cool to take a stand against them…

There are times when humidity, moist and other factors out of your Control  makes you drop a stick and  it´s always bad timing when this occurs.

Here´s one for you drummers out there, a piece of Sex wax for your rough palms!!

I know there are other brands but this one´s highly recommended and use to serve surfers and their boards and that´s just plain cool…

Do notice the recommendations and DO NOT EAT or CHEW..just in case 🙂

My final tip of the day about slippery sticks comes from Mikkey Dee, notorius drummer with Motörhead;

“-Just pour a bottle of Coca-Cola in a bowl and dip your hands in it, let it dry out and you got yourself the best sticky surface when it comes to slippery sticks”

A good and clean enviromental way to get the grip.

Enjoy.

http://www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/0443296/details.html

MEGATON-MEGATON-

Released in 1971 this album is a true mystery. Little is know of the origins of the musicians that´s contributing to this Heavy/hard/prog rock tasting jewel.

This one/off experience by Les Humphries and Jimmy Bilsbury, who made their fame in europe by singing more or less schlagers and fine tuned melodies, is an all forgotten gem when it comes to copying the time periods mastodonts, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.

When you dissect this album it´s a funny, good production with great playing, awesome singing and great tunes overall. Yet I wonder why someone names a song”Coo Cooki Choo”?? Or sings about “waiting for the teapot”….. WTF!!… Hilarious… 🙂

The album does seem to have a serious approach when it comes to the musicians who, apparently, no one knows who they are. There just the ghosts behind the band. Strange..

Some of the guitar playing is up with the best of ´71. A lot of flute, congas and other overdubs gives the songs a touch prog with a sprinkle of glamdust over it. Not bad but very difficult to Place in a category.

Drummer?? Who ever this is, there are no complaints from my side. Good delivery, clean sound and not over shadowing anything.  A very nice job.

If you have an interest in early Heavy/hard/prog rock from Britain a lá 1971 this ones for you. Good Clean rocksongs that would fit in your record collection.

Defintive a  rooster in the henhouse…

VINYLRATIN/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

GOMORRHA-I TURNED TO SEE WHOSE VOICE IT WAS-

This album was released in 1972 and the last album from Krautrock kings of Gomorrha.

Barely recognized back in the day the impact from this album always get full acclaim when it comes to top lists of the 70´s most influential prog bands.

Hard driven riffs mixed with heavy dosage of english blues, organ and gritty vocals gives this record an unbelieveble tour de force of Krautrock/prog smash in the face.

Great guitar solos makes an extra cool dimension to explore so, hats of to guitarists Ade Ochel and Ali Claudi. The producer is Conny Plank, a legend in Krautrock at Brain records and this is a good piece of work. Some misfits here and there but the overall result is stunning. Great vocals, great guitarsound, an organ sounding like a racecar and the drums are just beautiful….Big smile, Big smile…

 And what about the drummer??

Helmut Pohl is one of the founding members of this outfit from Rhineland Germany. His great fowarding on the drums are in a league of its own. Drivin´the band in some complex tunes are a real treat for any drummer and to keep up in a technical, fast action, playing style is just hard candy adult style!!! Really great playing.

It´s easy to recommend you to buy this album. The cover doesn´t reveal much but as most good albums, don´t judge by the cover…this is a Diamond in the rough!!

This is one of the great Krautrock/prog/hard rock albums and it is difficult to find a comparison record from this time period.

The sad thing is that Gomorrha disbanded one year later and no one contuinued with music. Such a shame.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

7-VERY GOOD-GAME, SET AND MATCH.

BIRTHA-BIRTHA-

Released in 1972 this is a debut that will give your prejudices a bit of a wobble. The first time I heard this record I was convinced that it was a female singer with a bad boy band..WRONG!! This is one of the best albums by female asskickers you´ll ever hear!!

This band originated from LA California and formed in 1968. Heavy touring and club gigs got Dunhill Records interested and an album debut was cut in early ´72. This album has got almost everything a good rock/funk album should have. Great producing makes it good even by todays standards, the guitar by Shele Pinizzotto is awesome. Bassplayer Rosemary Butler got the right groove together with keyboard player Sherry Hagler. All Girls share the vocals and it´s a really nice treat for your ears, excellent!!

And now to one of the greatest i´ve ever heard, the drummer Oliva “Liver” Favela. This drummer deserves a chapter of her own.

I use to let my friends guess who´s the drummer  without revealling the the name and I get suggestions like Ian Paice, Simon Kirke,  Carmine Appice etc…It is with great joy when i tell them who´s playing, this is a Mammoth drummer!!

Her style is fresh, fast, persistant, clear strikes and fantastic dynamics. I always get on a good mood when I turn this album on, very inspiring. In my opinion she brings out the best of all four bandmembers. She´s got balls…Plenty of it!!

Standout song would be the single track “Free Spirit” Another great passway is the drumfills in “Judgement day”  Splendid!! To bad the album suffers from some cheesy ballads but hey! Nobody´s perfect…

Birtha released another album before disbanded in 1975 but this is the one to get.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD-WORTH BUYING-

CREATION-WITH FELIX PAPPALARDI-

Released in 1976 this album is either called as the headline or the other way round if you got the US edition.

This blues outfit originated from Japan called “Blues Creation”and  had already released an acclaimed album back home in japan and came in contact with Felix Pappalardi during Mountains japanese tour in 1973.

Back in ´75 guitarist Kazud Takeda got in touch with Mr. Pappalardi and they got together and co-wrote this album.

The album is as rollercoaster blend of psychadelic ballads, hardrock and fusion songs.The most obvious thing is the lack of sheer power and attitude. There is some really brilliant playing from the guitarist and some songs has got Mountain DNA in them but you just got to admit that this is not the best produced album in 1976.

Sometimes I just wondered if there´s a malfunction on my HiFi. Dull, muffed  is the soundpicture through the whole album, the guitar has got a jazz sound to it and that´s not helping….

The drummer, Masayuki Higuchi, doesn´t make you wanna strip your clothes and run around naked. Avarage playing with a cautious attitude gives a perfect fit for the album in a non positive way. More volume and attitude during production would make this album climb a bunch of notches.

The album is not a total loss. There are some good things to pick up but it´s just to much of a pendulum to give it a go for purchase. It just stumbles from bad to cheesy.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

CHEESY-AVARAGE-