RAMATAM-RAMATAM-

As this is an American Project created by Mike Pinera with Mitch Mitchell on drums and April Lawton on lead guitar this might just tickle your senses a bit. This album was released in 1971 and is a Hard/Psych/Prog/Blues rock album with the intention to steer towards a jazzy/funk feel with a lot of Jimi Hendrix seasoning blend in to it.

Perhaps one´s should have higher expectations  when producer Tom Dowd is involved but here we got living proof that the producer must step in and say no and not let the band be left to their own devices.  Instead there´s a lot of brass/horn arrangements that tilt with the whole soundframe. The problem is what to focus for. It´s hard to digest the musical input due to the what is happening all around you. It´s like they are trying to top Everything and just go full throttle, everywhere!! Messy is the impression here.

The song´s are good fundamentaly but are so f**cked up with strange loops, effects and experimental vocal inputs that they don´t reach through. To bad because there are some gold nuggets buried in here.

Whatabout the drummer, Mitch Mitchell?? There´s a lot that doesn´t shine through and sometimes it is almost as they don´t extract the potential out of Mr. Mitchel. The striking abilities are great and the hit ratio is there but sometimes he´s stuck in “Loop” playing without anyway to get out of it. This is not one of Mitch better performances and very much so, he did leave the Project soon after this album was released.

Well If you´re interrested in an American disoriented Hard/Psych/Prog/blues record, this is up there as contender for first Place. The only benefit is the great guitar playing by April Lawton, with splendid riffs and technique. Great copies are out there and as you might just figured out the price tag is low for descent albums. There are reissues also but I just might give a head´s up warning that this is not that great of an album you thought it should be. Just a very  strange one.. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

3-BAD-A DISAPPOINTMENT-

GOLIATH-HOT ROCK & THUNDER-

Having the oppression from the Music scene in Chicago breathing down you´re neck, you must just confess that this outfit from Terre Haute Indiana delivers a pretty Amazing album.On a shoestring budget and no expectations of succes. The certain drive to play and record Music for the after World is just what I like to recognize. This album have a Hard/blues/prog rock approach with an uneven mix of both killer Classic rock till you drop tunes to pubrock shuffles standards.

The production is above avarage with a great interaction between the guitar and the high pitched vocals. Singer Jim Kitchen´s high note delivery is one the albums most memorable moments together with the high drive performance put into every song. To bad that the material is torn in half between an undecided path. This is for sure a management problem but it is so obvious on this, all in all, terrific recording.

Whatabout the drummer, Steve Peters?? The overall impression is that Mr Peters is concentrating very hard to leave a spotless mark on this recording. The result is a strained, boring listening adventure that really doesn´t reveal much. The striking abiliries are fine but there are a great lack of drive and determination. Nothing to complain about but the personality are all gone here. A very pale grade for this fellow.

This recording is so unusual that this should make the searcher´s for new frontiers interested. If you´re into Hard/blues/prog rock with totally own ideas and Little input from the record labels this is a precious gem. Great copies are out there for a hefty price tag. The recommendation is that this is something you shouldn´t miss by purpose. It is to good to dismiss without a proper listen and that is what it´s all about?? 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD-WORTH BUYING-

FAT-FAT-

Well if your where brought up in New England Massachusetts and if your in the right age span this is a familiar name in the Prog/Hard/Blues/Psych rock scene. This tremendous popular band, in New England that is,  got a record deal from RCA and where sent to the opening slot for Allman Brother´s band. The album didn´t make it  commercially but it created a Buzz amongs the critics and off with the band to record album number two.

This is the sole release by the band from 1970 and the production is timetypical with an edge towards the more “pop” oriented soundframe. The vocals are strong together with the material. There are no top ten hits but yet no rock bottom findings either. And why didn´t this outfit release more albums?? Well Before the second album were released they where caught in a drug bust and then, dropped by the label and never recovered. Busted!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, William Benjamin?? This is as boring as watching paint dry…Cautious is the shining light here and there are few suprising moments during this album. The striking abilities are ok but there is so much to wish for. In the hit ratio department and the lack of drive make´s you wanna scream at the speaker´s:” WTF come on!!” Sorry but this is one of the weakest input so far…..very depressing…

Yet if you are in for Prog/Hard/Blues/Psych rock records this is definitely one to investigate. Nice songs with a some hard edge but perhaps a bit non personal, to make the tipover for the other side of popularity. Prices tend to bend in every different direction and my advice is put your Money on a reissue if you´re interested. There are better gem´s out there and this one´s never gonna reach legendary status in the eye´s of the collectors. Hold on to your wallet, you don´t wanna lose the oppertunity when the “album” comes your way.. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

4-CHEESY-AVARAGE-

MOTHERSHIP- HIGH STRANGENESS-

Sometimes you do need to come out of your bubble and try some new stuff. The risk of being caught in the ´70s is a much closer danger than you might Think. This outfit from Dallas Texas released their new album in 2017 and they put both heaviness and time machine recognision up on the table. As musicians evolve and get better on technique´s and craftmanship you cannot fall into the pit of ingnorance when it comes to musical input and groove.

This is just what Mothership doesn’t do on their new album. This is a true love affair towards the much loved sound of Stoner/Hard/prog rock that perhaps never will die. The songs are strong with a superb production with well balanced interaction between vocals and instruments. The fresh boldness to go out on the limb in some of the softer tunes just brings dynamic and personality to this very good album. Amazing job!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Judge Smith?? As all modern drummers this is very self Confident man with impressive striking abilities and a great drive. The hit ratio and Dynamics are splendid but yet there is something that does not stick to your memory. I got a bit of trouble pointing it out what it is but I don´t sense anything to pick up that I have not already Heard. Maybe this is todays avarage level of drumming and this make´s it a bit more difficult to hear the personal styles amongs drummers of today???

This is a really great treat for you that wants Another fresh input with a modern touch but won´t back down when it comes to defend the ´70s in style and Music. This is something to bring over to the dinosaur Cave and shine upon your friends just to say that the new doesn´t have to be worse. Great copies are out everywhere so maybe pick it up at your local vinylfair next time and you will get a decent price and a great album back home to put in the collection … 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD!-WORTH,BUYING-

WARPIG-WARPIG-

As a band of it´s time and yet totally on their own, this Canadian outfit released their sole album in 1970 on the independent label Fonthill records. This is a mystified Prometal/Hard/psych rock gem that will light up the even darkest corner of the forgotten musicpond! Talk about shadowplay.. This is some serious plying, way Before it´s time and the production just follow suite. This is a very good record!!

There are strong songs on the album and the courage to take sideways in their Music profile just lift´s this album up several notches. The unaccidental Deep Purple influence are just sign of times and some the passages are decades Before hitting the album charts with other acts. This is brilliant!!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Terry Hook?? Well this is obviously not the best drummer in Canada and there are some more shortcomings. The striking ability are fine but the hitratio and Dynamics are to soft and there are a lack of drive in the harder songs. The dry mixing sound gives you an oppertunity to listen closely but there are few highlights and then again maybe this is what was available??…..Another drummer would have made a big difference.

To sum things up, this is Another of those obscure treasures from Canada and few albums can measure up to this goldmine from the timeperiod. Prometal/Hard/psych fans already certainly  knows of it´s excistence but for all other “Psychhead´s” this is something to get your hands on. Great reissues are out there so don´t bother to hurry, there´s a copy for you too… 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7-VERY GOOD!-GAME, SET AND MATCH-

HILLOW HAMMET-HAMMER-

Maybe not the best way to confess that time flies but here we go. One year has passed since this site and blog published its very first inlay. And what a good idea to return to the country were the very first record was published and yet an Another American outfit to celibrate this occasion. From Washington DC, this outfit really hits it out on their sole release and to be honest, this a such a great record that you might wonder how it fell under the radar??

The production is up with the best and the vocals are screamiing like a V8 on full throttle. The Bass is just perfectly balanced with that evil twist on the distortion button. The guitars shreds through the soundframe with pure passion, Just plain great. The songs are strong and noone´s falls off the wagon. This is impressive work!!  This albums was so under the radar that nobody really knew who the musicians where. Thanks to the internet that riddle got solved. This is the forgotten Hard/psych/Prog rock album that have become thee precious gem from the time period.

Whatabout the drummer, Gary Coleman?? This is a cautios fellow with excellent striking abilities and a very good drive. The Hitratio and Dynamics are fine but as I wrote, the lack of that final punsch, to drive the rest of the band forward, is missing. Not a bad effort but just a Little bit anxious for my taste. To bad because this could have been a much more brutal affair…in a positive sense… 🙂

As this is a kind of celebration, the recommendation for this Hard/Psych/prog rock album is my gift to this site and to all of you who follow my adventures in this strange World of Music. This is a great record and good original copies are out there for a decent buck but I would put my Money on the reissue with better soundquality and with some Money leftover for a sixpack of beer as a reliable companion. Let “Tempus Fugit” my friends….. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7-VERY GOOD!-GAME, SET AND MATCH.

TIGER B SMITH-TIGER ROCK-

This German outfit released this album in 1972 and let me just get on thing clear, this is not a glam album!! This is a true contender for the most confusing album cover of all time. Although it screams “Glam” it is far from it and leaning more towards Hard/Prog/Kraut rock with an insane distorted bass, furious vocals  and a drive only to be compared with contemperary Black Sabbath.

The Production is great and almost drowns in effects but nothing that disturbes the musical input. The songs are strong except for the last out of Place tune “Tigerblues”. The feeling you get of this record is big “F.Y.” towards the establishment with an exceptional front cover and “in your face” attitude going into the songs. This is something you can´t ignore but yet there is nobody out there who recognize this great album. I can only say ” Hail Tiger!!” with a big smile upon my face!! Splendid!!

Whatabout the drummer, Karl-Heinz Traut?? This is a hard striking man with furious drive and impeccable hitratio. The lack of Dynamics just prove that this is the man for the job in this outfit. Spectacular!!!

This album is a true landmark in German Hard/Prog/kraut rock history and even though the band never actually toured and did zero promotion for their albums this is just what to expect from Holger B Schmidt. A totaly insane Project just for the fun of it! This is just what rock´n´roll is about!!  A Very good job!!

There are original copies out there for lots of Money but also reissues and CD´s for an affordable penny. That doesn´t mean it´s gonna come cheap. But this is such a cool record that the other thing´s that you´re saving up for just have to wait…. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7- VERY GOOD!-GAME, SET AND MATCH-

STONE GARDEN-STONE GARDEN-

As the decade was turning from the ´60s to the ´70s this outfit from Lewiston Idaho release their sole album and talk about hard as a rock. This Psych/Hard/blues/prog rock album got all influences from back in the day but most important, in it´s own personal style. Formed in the early ´60s by brothers Gary, Paul & Neal Speer these youngsters teamed up to start a band and would set their mark in their own way.

The production is lame and thin but there is something lurking in the shadows that will awake your interest to continue to listen to this strange brew of highly personal songs. There is nothing that really stand out here except maybe the bassplayer, Dan Merrell. As this is also a sort of tribute to all the great British acts from the timeperiod you always forgive some of the stolen riffs and soundframes. This is great fun to listen to!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Neal Speer?? As this is a selftought drummer there are some bits and pieces missing. The drive and enthusiasm is there but you can´t bring nothing back from the striking abilities and hitratio. The dynamics are questionable to. The strong card is the interaction together with the bassplayer which brings a steady ground for the rest to lay back on. But overall a story you quickly forget.

As this record is so versatile and tend to bend at every direction, it brings a colorful palett to discover. Youthful boldness brings the songs up several notches but maybe this is most for the fanatics of Psych/Hard/Blues/prog rock from the timeperiod.

Great copies of reissues are out there for less money and why not? This album is certainly not your everyday digestive cracker! Get on the limb and try out a new sensation in early American Psych history! You might just like it! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

SPEED, GLUE AND SHINKI-EVE-

This is a just to good to be true in the sense of band´s name, songs and the complete insane history of this Japanse outfit and their sole album from 1971. The sound style is in Hard/blues/psych rock style with a dominant presences of a Heavy distorted bass and great guitar playing. The production is thin and hollow but this is a less bother due to the passionate drive and jamming style in the songs. You need to be patient getting into this album.

The name of the band is just crazy as you might expect. It came about from drummer Joey Smith´s use of amphetamines, bassplayer Masayoshi Kabe´s interest in sniffing bondglue in the ´60s and the first name of guitarist Shinki  Chen. The latter recognized as the answer to Japan´s Jimi Hendrix. Short after this albums release the band imploded due to different sights of personal living styles. The best intentions were there though… 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Joey Smith??? His arrival to this outfit was when Shinki saw him perform in Yokohama and his origin is the Philippine islands. This overdosed drummer got a sensational drive and impressive heaviness to his playingstyle. The striking abilities are great with an awesome backbeat technique. It could have something to do with illegal substances but you never know it might be talent too…. 🙂 The grade is above avarage due to his ability to handle the vocals as well. I do tend to give up a smile when I hear this album and that is Always a good sign in my book…Great Job!!

This album maybe just is for the purist to early ´70s Hard/blues/psych rock but if you give te record a few spins on your turntable it will provide some genuine vibes to your ears. Great original copies are out there for an insane amount of Money and my advice is to go for the reissues with a HQ sound. This is just as rare as the name of the band and that is an achievment itself…. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

VALHALLA-VALHALLA

This outfit released their only album in 1969 and they originated from Long Island NYC. The most striking impact is their crossdressing Music style that tend to bend in a wary way of directions. Blues/prog/psych rock with touch of Jazz with an instant resemblence to Deep Purple, Cream, ELP and Procul Harum. This is a very good record and no song falls of the wagon.

The Production is time typical with a great organ drive into the tunes and the guitar is splendid. The rhythm section is solid as a rock!! Mark Mangold who´s started the outfit would later persue a career with American Tears after Valhalla dissolved soon after this albums release.

Whatabout the drummer, Eddie Livingston?? As this fellow is the one and only not sharing the vocal task you could have expected a Little more of excitement in his playing style. The lack of drive is apparent but the striking abilities are fine. The hitratio and Dynamics are there but this is not a new Ian Paice! Together with percussion and bass the rhythm section is great as awhole but it is not thanks to Mr. Livingstone´s personal achievement. Sorry to say.

An open mind toward´s the 60´s Hard/Blues/prog/psych rock Music brings this recording to new height´s. If you´re in for a Deep Purple kind of sound and style, this is right up your Alley. Great original copies are out there for a healthy sum of Money but you can also get reissues and CD´s. For an American band this pretty cool sounding and brings some toetapping to the party! Funny!!

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-