חדשים על המדף!

[jazzis]

חדשים על המדף!

3 great new Prog items added today: ISILDURS BANE / LA TORRE DELL`ALCHIMISTA ~ GOUVEIA ARTROCK 2004 The 2004 Gouveia Prog Rock Festival in Portugal was a most successfull event, but the most important contribution for posterity is of course this 3 hours long DVD documenting the event, with half of it dedicated to a remarkable performance by the best Prog group on the scene - Isildurs Bane. The bands plays a fantastic set, which includes material never prevously heard and is as breathtaking and magnificent as anything else they do. The performances by the 2 Italian bands (La Torre dell`Alchimista & Periferia del Mondo) are excellent as well, but honestly everything pales in comparison to the mighty Swedes. Get it now! GENTLE GIANT ~ IN A GLASS HOUSE (35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) 5th album (recorded 1973). Reduced to a quintet after the departure of Phil Shulman (the 3rd Shulman GG), the group produced, what is considered by many their most perfect album. Both the compositions and the performances are brilliant all the way through and they reached level of vocal and instrumental perfection of awesome proportions, admired to this very day. This is the only GG album that was never released in the US. GENTLE GIANT ~ FREE HAND (35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) 7th album (recorded 1975), it ranks among the best achievments by this group and certainly is the group`s last perfect album. The steady quintet line-up, performing extensively over the period of 2 years, gives them a new dimention of perfection and interplay which reaches its peak on this recording. The compositions are brilliant, as always, and the album sounds today as fresh as it did upon its release. Exceptional and essential music. ====================== 50 new One Of A Kind items were added in the last couple of days, as usual a variety of stuff with some great Electronic / Ambient stuff and some great Portugese music among others. The sales of the OOAK items were pretty slow this month so the total number of available items did not go down considerably - which is a pity as you are missing some superb stuff out there for an incredible price. As it is a weekend now you should really take your time and browse those items again - a true treasure chest. Use the new Advanced Search to make your browsing easier, as there are a lot of them ======================== Have Fun! Adam Baruch Jazzis Web Shop https://www.jazzis.com/shop/​

 

[jazzis]

עוד חדשים - גם VDGG

Here is the last batch of new releases for this month. First 2 releases on the Israeli label MIO Records: POCKET ORCHESTRA ~ POCKET ORCHESTRA This completely obscure US Prog group produced some of the most incredible music, which unfortunately never made it to the music market beyond a cassette in 1983. This reissue makes up for the lost time and presents the remastered original tapes in addition to some earlier (1978-79) recordings by an earlier incarnation of PO, called Knebnagauje. The music is breathtaking, an insane (in the best meaning of the term) mixture of rock, jazz, free, RIO and you name it - truly beyond words but surely not beyond ears! They were not called the US Samla in vain. Fascinating stuff! MR. TOAD ~ TRENCH ART Mr. Toad are a group of young Israeli Prog musicians, who create some of the most interesting music recorded here in a long time. Stylistically they are similar to past greats such as Gryphon, Amazing Blondel and other ensembles, who mixed early music with folk and jazz in order to create a unique blend of delicate acoustic sounds an complex compositions. Mostly instrumental with some vocals in English. This is their debut album recorded in 2003. The MIO Records reissue is a different mix than the original album self-released by the group, which is now deleted. Next 2 beautiful Folk / Rock albums: DENNY, SANDY ~ THE NORTH STAR GRASSMAN AND THE RAVENS 2nd album (recorded 1971) by the First Lady of the British Folk / Rock movement. After the breakup of her short-lived band Fotheringay, Danny recorded this (her real first) album. which was produced by former Fairport Convention band mate Richard Thompson. Most of the songs are self-penned by Danny and the album emphasizes her fantastic voice and artistic approach to singing. In retrospect this is a true gem, which was overshadowed for years by Danny`s work as soloist with Fairport Convention and Strawbs. A must to all Folkies! DENNY, SANDY ~ RENDEZVOUS Last studio album (recorded 1977) completed shortly before her tragic and untimely death at the age of 31. Her sublime voice and superb songwriting are somehow overshadowed by extensive production on this album, but all her qualities are present at their best. Hearing this work after so many years brings up the somber thoughts of waste, as she would have enriched out world with many more outstanding performances if only she lived on. A classic! And finally the VDGG Remasters: VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR ~ THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS WAVE TO EACH OTHER 1st album (recorded 1969). Well in fact technically it is a second album, following the release of `Aerosol Grey Machine` a year earlier, but that was really a solo album by leader Peter Hamill, released eventually under the VDGG name. VDGG always were a vehicle for the leader / poet (?) Peter Hamill, whose somber, cathastrophic and mystical lyrics and theatrical vocals dominated the band`s image. Musically located somewhere between the experimental King Crimson and the lyrical Genesis, VDGG were undeniably an impostant part of the early UK Prog mosaic, with fans and foes alike. The music is a bit shaky here, to be much improved on the two following albums. VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR ~ H TO HE WHO AM THE ONLY ONE 2nd album (recorded 1970) and considered by many as the band`s finest hour, the VDGG crystalized their sound and dark, somber musical approach. Using the heavy Hammond sound and the (unusual in most bands) saxophone, they acheive an overall overwhelming effect, close to the `wall of sound` approach used in free jazz. With much improved songwriting, this is a classic of the genre. With songs in the 10+ minutes range and innovative instrumentation, they certainly broke plenty of uncharted ground. A classic! VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR ~ PAWN HEARTS 3rd album (recorded 1971) and the last one of the first phase of the group, until they surface again in 1975. This is a well planned albumm with just 3 tracks, the last one an extended suite 23+ minutes long. Close in sound to the previous album, with Hamill`s theatrics exposed even further (somewhat like Gabriel`s work with Genesis) but with the lyrics getting ever more obtuse and obscure and extremely hard to follow. In retrospect this stands the test of time rather well, assuming you like the band to start with. Another classic of the genre. ====================== Have Fun! Adam Baruch Jazzis Web Shop https://www.jazzis.com/shop/​