Music From the body
Friday, March 6, 2015
Roger Waters- Music from the body
Frank Zappa -We are only in it for the money
We are only in it for the money
This album is great. It's pretty obvious that The Beatles used this as a basis for their Abbey Road album, showing how inspirational it was at the time. When I purchased the Record in the 70s, it had a different cover though. It was yellow and had all the band members on it and the CD cover was the gatefold. This confused me a lot. It was probably a manufacturing error. This album outdated now but it's a classic in the Mothers catalogue.
I'd encourage Mothers fans to get this CD and listen to it a few times to really understand how great it is.
Its sounds trippy with headphones on.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Ash Ra Tempel - Schwingungen
Schwingungen
Schwingungen, which is probably my favourite Ash Ra Tempel album, opens
with the utterly sublime Look at Your Sun. This is a towering
psychedelic tour de force, building gently with the most beautifully
laid-back guitar and bass and lyrics of a direct intense simplicity ("I
look out my window and see the blue sky", "and I know, we are all one"),
through the maniacally frantic central section and then back to the
classic Gottsching lonely guitar sound as the track drifts away.
Flowers Must Die is a stunning trippy powerhouse of a song belted out by a manic John L, who sounds totally out of his tree. In places vaguely Hawkwind-ish, the overall feel of this track is surprisingly punk/new wave and therefore many years ahead of its time.
The extended third track, Schwingungen (Vibrations) covered the entire second side of the original album and is a brilliant example of the definitive Ash Ra Tempel cosmic/ambient sound.
A warning though! This track is significantly hypnotic and mood-changing, and it is not recommended to listen to this while you're driving!
The sleeve notes on the original album said something like "You're not hearing this music for the first time - you are recognising it once more" and you will understand what is meant when you listen to this. That classic Ash Ra Tempel chord sequence (later reprised in the Time sequence on the Seven Up album) does seem to grab you at a visceral or primordial level and, once heard, will be with you for ever.
Existing Ash Ra Tempel fans will surely not be able to resist this, and those of you yet to experience this music will not regret letting it into your lives!
Flowers Must Die is a stunning trippy powerhouse of a song belted out by a manic John L, who sounds totally out of his tree. In places vaguely Hawkwind-ish, the overall feel of this track is surprisingly punk/new wave and therefore many years ahead of its time.
The extended third track, Schwingungen (Vibrations) covered the entire second side of the original album and is a brilliant example of the definitive Ash Ra Tempel cosmic/ambient sound.
A warning though! This track is significantly hypnotic and mood-changing, and it is not recommended to listen to this while you're driving!
The sleeve notes on the original album said something like "You're not hearing this music for the first time - you are recognising it once more" and you will understand what is meant when you listen to this. That classic Ash Ra Tempel chord sequence (later reprised in the Time sequence on the Seven Up album) does seem to grab you at a visceral or primordial level and, once heard, will be with you for ever.
Existing Ash Ra Tempel fans will surely not be able to resist this, and those of you yet to experience this music will not regret letting it into your lives!
Monday, August 11, 2014
Klaus Schulze- Irrlicht
Irrlicht
The year was 1972 when former Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel member Klaus Schulze embarked on his lengthy solo career which continues to this day.
Although it is considered to be a pioneering classic in Electronic music today, Schulze's solo debut "Irrlicht" was not well received when it was first released 34 years ago. Many listeners (as well as members of the orchestra which Klaus used on the album) didn't quite know what to think at the time. However, the listening public finally caught up with Klaus's crazy ideas and the album has since become a blueprint for the ambient/drone genre.
Although Klaus Schulze has long been regarded as a pioneer of synthesizers, "Irrlicht" was actually created without any synths whatsoever as Klaus did not own one yet. The instruments and tools that were used were the above-mentioned orchestra as well as a primitive electric organ, a broken guitar amplifier, echo and effect devices as well as other miscellaneous objects.
"Irrlicht" is essentially an album-length piece divided into three distinct movements. The opening 23-minute movement "Ebene" opens with a giant orchestra rush which leads into a low-end organ drone centered around D-minor. As the organ drone shifts and pulsates, the orchestra creates and intense cinematic atmosphere around it. After about 10-minutes, the mood becomes more intense as Klaus brings in a dark chord sequence which builds with suspense. The panning effect as well as the shrieking background noises used towards the end of the movement add further intensity until it's all washed away by loud gong-like crash.
The crash begins the short second movement, "Gewitter". While it sounds like there is a primitive synthesizer being used on this track, it actually is Klaus using a broken-down amplifier and a rewired organ. The intense organ theme of the first movement is pushed to the backround while strange sound effects as well as various percussive sounds (which sound like cymbals, gongs and trash cans being hit while being drenched with echo) come to the forefront.
The last movement, "Exil Sils Maria", is probably the most experimental movement of the three. It begins with a dark orchestral/organ theme similar to the first movement only more forboding. This leads into an extremely avant-garde section consisting of a droning collage of backward-sounding noises and what sounds like a car motor being amplified. This section is a real treat to be heard with headphones. Afterwards, the movement shifts back to how it began with its dark organ theme.
The newly remastered edition includes a highly informative essay from Klaus Schulze himself as well as a never before released bonus track. "Dungeon" was supossedly recorded in 1976 (although there is speculation that it could have been recorded earlier in the liner notes) but is very much in the same style as the original "Irrlicht" album with its long held chords and drones.
With this said, if you've never heard Klaus Schulze's "Irrlicht" before, now's the time to do so especially since it has been given pristine treatment on this reissue. The sound is amazing and so is the music. This is definitely music that was way ahead of its time when it was first released in 1972. Now, three decades later, it's an influential classic!!!
Although it is considered to be a pioneering classic in Electronic music today, Schulze's solo debut "Irrlicht" was not well received when it was first released 34 years ago. Many listeners (as well as members of the orchestra which Klaus used on the album) didn't quite know what to think at the time. However, the listening public finally caught up with Klaus's crazy ideas and the album has since become a blueprint for the ambient/drone genre.
Although Klaus Schulze has long been regarded as a pioneer of synthesizers, "Irrlicht" was actually created without any synths whatsoever as Klaus did not own one yet. The instruments and tools that were used were the above-mentioned orchestra as well as a primitive electric organ, a broken guitar amplifier, echo and effect devices as well as other miscellaneous objects.
"Irrlicht" is essentially an album-length piece divided into three distinct movements. The opening 23-minute movement "Ebene" opens with a giant orchestra rush which leads into a low-end organ drone centered around D-minor. As the organ drone shifts and pulsates, the orchestra creates and intense cinematic atmosphere around it. After about 10-minutes, the mood becomes more intense as Klaus brings in a dark chord sequence which builds with suspense. The panning effect as well as the shrieking background noises used towards the end of the movement add further intensity until it's all washed away by loud gong-like crash.
The crash begins the short second movement, "Gewitter". While it sounds like there is a primitive synthesizer being used on this track, it actually is Klaus using a broken-down amplifier and a rewired organ. The intense organ theme of the first movement is pushed to the backround while strange sound effects as well as various percussive sounds (which sound like cymbals, gongs and trash cans being hit while being drenched with echo) come to the forefront.
The last movement, "Exil Sils Maria", is probably the most experimental movement of the three. It begins with a dark orchestral/organ theme similar to the first movement only more forboding. This leads into an extremely avant-garde section consisting of a droning collage of backward-sounding noises and what sounds like a car motor being amplified. This section is a real treat to be heard with headphones. Afterwards, the movement shifts back to how it began with its dark organ theme.
The newly remastered edition includes a highly informative essay from Klaus Schulze himself as well as a never before released bonus track. "Dungeon" was supossedly recorded in 1976 (although there is speculation that it could have been recorded earlier in the liner notes) but is very much in the same style as the original "Irrlicht" album with its long held chords and drones.
With this said, if you've never heard Klaus Schulze's "Irrlicht" before, now's the time to do so especially since it has been given pristine treatment on this reissue. The sound is amazing and so is the music. This is definitely music that was way ahead of its time when it was first released in 1972. Now, three decades later, it's an influential classic!!!
Klaus Schulze-Galactic Supermarket
Galactic Supermarket
Galactic Supermarket" is very spacey to open and it's building as guitar and drums join in. It settles as whispered words come in then guitar. It turns spacey with organ and drums come in. Very experimental to end this first part.The second part is calm to begin with as percussion and a beat starts. Sounds like flute too.The guitar is making some noise. Synths before 4 minutes as drums pound. Organ late.The last part opens with Klause and Female vocals that echo. Very psychedelic. Drums are joined by the guitar which starts to lead with spacey synths joining in as well. Crazy out of control stuff here as spoken words are heard. A wall of sound after 7 minutes to the end.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Deep Purple-Deep Purple
Deep Purple
What artwork! On this the 3rd album by Deep Purple, Rod Evans, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice and Nick Simper produced another gem. Nice opening track "Chasing Shadows", the psychedelic-pop of "Blind", really like the modern jazz playing by Jon Lord, Blackmore also gives a stand up job too. Donovan's "Lalena", Rod Evans vocals are fantastic, nice cover. "Fault Line/The Painter", one of my favorites from early Deep Purple, Blackmore's guitar work is freakin' great, Lord's organ and Ian Paice's drumming is tops. this should be played on every classic rock station! "Bird Has Flown", with that funky beginning, almost reminds me of Evans' Captain Beyond. Another solid effort here, after this album bassist Nick Simper and vocalist Rod Evans would be fired, months later in came Ian Gillan and Roger Glover from Episode Six. Next studio album would be "In Rock", for 1970. A big change in direction for the band. I own this CD and probably heard it first (Vinyl) around '70/'71. I loved it right away and did my early trippin' to it. What memories! As the other reviewer said, this stuff beats out the following more commercial material. The sound quality is the best you're gonna get. It amazes me how the original tapes have held up after 35/40 years. If you like acid rock with a few twists (the Donovan song "Lalena") you will be glad you made this purchase. Go for it!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Klaus Schulze- Cosmic Jokers & Galactic Supermarket
Cosmic Jokers and Galactice Super Market
COSMIC JOKERS
This is the first of the (in)famous Cosmic Jokers releases, culled from master tapes of jams by members of Ash Ra Tempel, Wallenstein, et al that Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser surreptitiously released on his Cosmic Couriers label...eventually resulting in the demise of that and the Ohr label, as well as R-U Kaiser's career! Seems that these jams came out without the permission (or compensation!) of the artists involved, and at the time those circumstances were highly controversial. Controversy aside, though, this initial Cosmic Jokers release is a wonderful thing, a pair of truly psychedelic (supposedly the sessions were highly LSD-drenched affairs) and flowing jams reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, and then-current efforts of Tangerine Dream (viz their "Electronic Meditiation" album). A very trippy landmark of space-rock, to be sure.
This is the first of the (in)famous Cosmic Jokers releases, culled from master tapes of jams by members of Ash Ra Tempel, Wallenstein, et al that Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser surreptitiously released on his Cosmic Couriers label...eventually resulting in the demise of that and the Ohr label, as well as R-U Kaiser's career! Seems that these jams came out without the permission (or compensation!) of the artists involved, and at the time those circumstances were highly controversial. Controversy aside, though, this initial Cosmic Jokers release is a wonderful thing, a pair of truly psychedelic (supposedly the sessions were highly LSD-drenched affairs) and flowing jams reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, and then-current efforts of Tangerine Dream (viz their "Electronic Meditiation" album). A very trippy landmark of space-rock, to be sure.
=======================================
GALACTIC SUPERMARKET
Here is a truly amazing spacy Krautrock album worth looking in to. Cosmic Jokers was an unintended gathering of some of the biggest names to record for the Ohr, Pilz, and Kosmische Musik labels. This was the project that killed the career of Rolf Ulrich Kaiser and the labels he ran: Ohr, Pilz, and Kosmische Musik, because of lawsuits against him. This was the big reason why the likes of Klaus Schulze moved to Brain and Tangerine Dream moved to Virgin, and many others to other labels (often Brainm who were founded by ex-Ohr employees who didn't feel all was right at Ohr). Musicians involved were Manuel Göttsching, Klaus Schulze, Harald Großkopf, Jürgen Dollase, Dieter Dierks, Rosi Müller, and Gille Lettmann, names familiar to all who are in to this type of music. With associations with the likes of Ash Ra Tempel, Tangerine Dream, Wallenstein, etc., you know what to expect with the Cosmic Jokers. Galactic Supermarket was the second in a series of Cosmic Jokers albums, all released in 1974, and is one tripped-out jam, ranging from guitar-oriented jams that sound like they came off Ash Ra Tempel's Join Inn, to percussion experiments, heavy on synthesizers, lots of electronic effects, the occasional female spoken dialog from Rosi and Gille, and so much more. The music is certain to keep you glued from start to finish. There's even a passage on the first cut, "Kinder des Alls" where the Mellotron rears its head.
GALACTIC SUPERMARKET
Here is a truly amazing spacy Krautrock album worth looking in to. Cosmic Jokers was an unintended gathering of some of the biggest names to record for the Ohr, Pilz, and Kosmische Musik labels. This was the project that killed the career of Rolf Ulrich Kaiser and the labels he ran: Ohr, Pilz, and Kosmische Musik, because of lawsuits against him. This was the big reason why the likes of Klaus Schulze moved to Brain and Tangerine Dream moved to Virgin, and many others to other labels (often Brainm who were founded by ex-Ohr employees who didn't feel all was right at Ohr). Musicians involved were Manuel Göttsching, Klaus Schulze, Harald Großkopf, Jürgen Dollase, Dieter Dierks, Rosi Müller, and Gille Lettmann, names familiar to all who are in to this type of music. With associations with the likes of Ash Ra Tempel, Tangerine Dream, Wallenstein, etc., you know what to expect with the Cosmic Jokers. Galactic Supermarket was the second in a series of Cosmic Jokers albums, all released in 1974, and is one tripped-out jam, ranging from guitar-oriented jams that sound like they came off Ash Ra Tempel's Join Inn, to percussion experiments, heavy on synthesizers, lots of electronic effects, the occasional female spoken dialog from Rosi and Gille, and so much more. The music is certain to keep you glued from start to finish. There's even a passage on the first cut, "Kinder des Alls" where the Mellotron rears its head.
It seems that Klaus Schulze was most angered. He calls these recordings an embarrassment and he wished they never existed. Manuel Göttsching thought better of these recordings and had a much better opinion of Kaiser than did Schulze. Plus he did think highly of the music, and for good reason. There seems to be too many stories regarding Kaiser (as well as Gille Lettmann, his girlfriend), but apparently they were not driven out of Germany. They simply gave up on the music industry altogether and went into seclusion (which lead to rumors of mental illness not unlike Syd Barrett).
Regardless what's the real truth behind the story of the Cosmic Jokers and Kaiser, I have to still say that Galactic Supermarket (as well as their other releases) is a complete must have for those who enjoy Krautrock, particularly Schulze and Ash Ra Tempel fans.
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