Agitation Free - Malesch (1972)

Malesch (Germany 1972)
Album Length: 40.03
Genre: Ethnic
Release Info: 1992 CD Reissue SPALAX 14250

The debut album by Agitation Free followed a somewhat different path than your average Krautrock band, veering unexpectedly toward the Middle East, specifically Egypt, in search of atmosphere and material. Underneath the dueling guitars and spacy synth work, desert rhythms and taped sounds of dusky cities percolate, adding depth and spice to the otherwise smooth, Teutonic grooves. It's a tribute to the apparent sincerity of the band that the use of these motifs does not sound at all contrived, instead integrating quite well. The delicate, intricate percussion that concludes "Ala Tul," for instance, sounds as lively as anything by Steve Reich from around the same period. Tapes of street songs emerge surprisingly and effectively toward the end of the otherwise stately march "Khan El Khalili," providing a bridge to the Terry Riley-ish organ trills that begin the title track. "Malesch," like many of the tracks, spins off into a leisurely stroll, sounding unexpectedly close to some Grateful Dead jams. Even when it picks up pace, there's an unhurried quality that fits in nicely with the Saharan undertones of the album. Malesch is a solid, even inspired recording that stands somewhat apart from the usual clichés of the genre. Fans of German progressive rock from this period will certainly want to hear and enjoy it. (Review by Brian Olewnick)

Lutz Ulbrich, guitars, zither, Hammond; Jörg Schwenke, guitar; Michael Hoenig, synthesizer, electronic devices, steel guitar; Michael Günther, bass, tapes; Burghard Rausch, drums, marimbaphone, vocals; with Uli Popp, percussion; Peter Michael Hamel, Hammond

Tracklist:

1. You Play for Us Today — 6:08
2. Sahara City — 7:42
3. Ala Tul — 4:50
4. Pulse — 4:43
5. Khan el Khalili — 8:10
6. Malesch — 8:10
7. Rücksturz — 2:09

Agitation Free - Malesch (1972)

Various Artists - The Mood Mosaic - The Hascish Party (1997)

The Mood Mosaic, Volumes 1 to 12, present different aspects of 60's and 70's soul jazz, jazz funk, jazz groove and just plain old psychedelic freakout but groovy, tripped out but accessible, and the weird but fun.

This compilation from Italy, the first in a long-running series, presents a collection of easy listening, jazz, and film soundtrack cuts that have a loungeish edge to them. Although it doesn't flow like a good compilation should, it offers up enough intriguing oddities to satisfy lounge cultists. Subtitled "The Hascisch Party," this disc divides its time between psychedelic instrumentals drenched in all sorts of trippy sonic effects and subtler, Latin-styled tracks with a jazz feel to them.
In the psychedelic arena, the best moments include "Pygar's Persecution/The Black Queen's Beads," a rare cut by Bob Crewe from the Barbarella soundtrack that pits easy listening horn arrangements against some wild fuzz-guitar solos, and "En Melody," a Serge Gainsbourg instrumental built on a duel between slashing electric guitar leads and some funky, serpentine basslines.
In the easy listening corner, the top picks are "Lamento," a breezy Nelson Riddle instrumental that layers breezy strings and light horns over a gentle Latin beat, and George Shearing's easy-jazz instrumental version of "Aquarius," which recreates the song's melody via jazzy piano and vibes against a thick backdrop of Brazilian-styled percussion. Unfortunately, the two extremes never really blend together and this makes for some abrupt shifts in tone that make Mood Mosaic: The Hascisch Party a difficult listening experience.
There are also a few lesser cuts that could have been bypassed; the most annoying is Luis Enriquez's bizarre version of "Mas Que Nada," which veers back and forth between a straight rendition of the song and what sounds like drunken gibberish. Despite this problem, most of the cuts on this disc are entertaining and almost all of them are tough to come by. In the end, Mood Mosaic: The Hascisch Party is not an ideal pick for the lounge novice, but offers more than enough rarities to please the seasoned veteran.

Tracklist:

1 Bob Crewe - Pygar's Persecution/The Black Queen's Beads (4:30)
2 Klaus Doldinger - Sitar Beat (1:52)
3 Serge Gainsbourg - En Melody (3:27)
4 Michel Legrand - Marins, Amis, Amant Ou Maris (2:36)
5 Nelson Riddle - Lamento (3:00)
6 Marian Mc Parland - Love For Sale (4:00)
7 Gabor Szabo - Sophisticated Wheels (5:05)
8 Phil Moore III - Batucada (2:30)
9 Luis Enriquez - Mas Que Nada (2:30)
10 George Garvarenz - Hascisch Party (2:58)
11 Shocking Blue - Ackta Raga (3:10)
12 Claude Denjean - Kiss This (3:00)
13 George Shearing - Aquarius (3:25)

Various Artists - The Mood Mosaic - The Hascish Party (1997)

Rock Shop - Mr. Lee's Swingin' Affair Presents (1968)

Listen to 'Soap Suds And Cream':



Personnel:
ALAN CLARK vcls, ld gtr, bs,organ A
JOHN DALBECK gtr A
PAT EDWARDS bs A
PETE STEVENS drms A

ALBUM:
1(A) MR. LEE'S "SWING 'N AFFAIR" PRESENTS THE ROCK SHOP (Lee-Mo) 1968 R3

NB: (1) pirated on vinyl and CD. Reissued legitimately on vinyl and CD (Bacchus Archives BA 1115) 1997.

45:
1 Is That Your Halo?/State Of Your Mind (Rowena 853) May 1967

From Monterey, California. A very rare album of fuzz guitar-led blues and pop rock. It has a very funny cover depicting the group as the next Beatles and hairdresser-cum-rock promoter "Mr. Lee" as God!

According to Tony Sanchez in the liner notes to Fuzz, Flaykes, And Shakes, Vol. 4 (LP & CD), the above 45, both sides of which appear on the comp, is by a different band to the one who recorded the LP - can anyone confirm this? Is That Your Halo is an intensely menacing punker that rumbles into Yardbirds' rave-up territory at the bridge where incendiary leads battle with rasping harmonica; State Of Your Mind is an almost equally powerful acid-punker - truly a double-whammy of a 45.

(Vernon Joynson/Clark Faville/Max Waller/Alec Palao/Matt Moses/Nick Kontogouris)

1. Soap Suds And Cream
2. Stop
3. Leaving Just Isn't Fair
4. Yes, I Love You
5. Bad Case Of Booze (Pete's Theme)
6. Goodbye Sunshine
7. Why Not Three Or Four
8. Lay It On The Line
9. Mediocre Blues
10. It's Hurting Me
11. Looky, Looky, Look
12. I Can't Go On

Rock Shop - Mr. Lee's Swingin' Affair Presents (1968)

Various Artists - Turkish Freakout 2: Psych-Folk 1970-1978 (2011)

Last summer, indie label Bouzouki Joe brought you a choice selection of some of the finest rare Turkish funk and psych-rock grooves, painstakingly unearthed direct from the source in Istanbul. The result: you freaked out (in a good way). With that in mind, we present the second installment of Turkish Freak Out!, featuring another batch of classic tracks from the Golden Age of Turkish music. With spiritual guidance from Mister Jason, this compilation, comprised entirely of original 7 recordings from Turkey's most creative and experimental artists, is guaranteed to deliver another five-star freak-out. (amazon.com)

1. Afet Serenay - Yarim Gitti Cesmeye
2. Kerem Guney - Aglayi Aglayi
3. Gokben - Eninde Sonunda
4. Baris Manco - Estergon Kalesi
5. Gülcan Opel - Bari Bari
6. Sevil And Ayla – Irgat
7. Kamuran Akkor - Kim Ne Derse Desin
8. Afet Serenay - Maden Dagi
9. Edip Akbayram - Mehmet Emmi
10. Baris Manco – Mozart
11. Cem Karaca & Mogollar - Obur Dunya
12. Özel Türkbas - Ozel’s Dance Routine
13. Perihan - Nerden Nereye
14. Sakir Oner Gunhan - Ben Bu Yaralara Nerden Dus Oldem
15. Gülcan Opel – Tamammi
16. Sirin - Sevgili Golgem
17. Kenan - Viens Dans Ma Vie

Various Artists - Turkish Freakout 2: Psych-Folk 1970-1978 (2011)

V.A. - Those Shocking Shaking Days: Indonesian Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk 1970-1978 (2011)

The progressive music scenes in 1970s Indonesia were largely underground as a result of strict censorship imposed by the dictator Suharto. Those who performed music marked by relentless fuzz, over the top, politically charged lyrics, strong rhythms and a cranky low-fidelity were truly rebellious. And the resulting output has been largely outside of the confines of this island nation unheard or ignored. Indonesia, based in large part on the restrictions imposed by Suharto, is better known for the coffee it exports than the music it creates. This situation hasn't been remedied by the rough-hewn Indonesian bootlegs that dotted the psychedelic landscape over the past five years. Thanks now to the tireless and expensive research of Canadian hip hop producer and Southeast Asian music specialist Jason Moss Connoy - and the trust that Indonesian rock legend Benny Soebardja placed in Now-Again Records as he traversed his homeland's islands securing the rights necessary for us to offer you this anthology - we feel like we can, in good spirits and conscience, shine the light on some of the most impressive organizations to offer their take on the psychedelic and progressive rock and funk sounds during the early shocking, shaking days of Suharto's regime. (amazon.com)

Tracklist:

1. Panbers – Haai
2. Brims, The – Anti Gandja
3. Rollies – Bad News
4. Super Kid – People
5. Shark Move – Evil War
6. Golden Wing – Hear Me
7. Aka – Do What You Like
8. Ivo's Group – That Shocking Shaking Day
9. Ariesta Birawa Group – Didunia Yang Lain
10. Terenchem – Jeritan Cinta
11. Benny Soebardja And Lizard – Candle Light
12. Koes Plus – Mobil Tua
13. Gang Of Harry Roesli, The – Don't Talk About Freedom
14. Black Brothers – Saman Doye
15. Aka – Shake Me
16. Rasela – Pemain Bola
17. Freedom Of Rhapsodia – Freedom
18. Rhythm Kings – The Promise
19. Duo Kribo – Uang
20. Murry – Pantun Lama

V.A. - Those Shocking Shaking Days: Indonesian Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk 1970-1978 (2011)

Gordon Wasson - Mushroom Ceremony Of The Mazatec Indians Of Mexico (1957)

Folkways Records FR 8975, this is a US pressing of the impossible to find "Mushroom Ceremony Of the Mazatec Indians Of Mexico". This recording, made by Gordon Wasson in 1956, attempts to chronicle a religious ceremony involving the ingestation of psychedelic mushrooms by Indians who are attempting to communicate with the Divine Spirit. Lots of wild, hallucinatory chanting and the like, which might even appeal to fans of phonetic sound poems or dadaist utterings. Another unusual historical document that only Folkways would have released. The originals came out in 1957 with a blue cover and this press has the tan cover from 1966. "HERE IS A SHAMANIC PERFORMANCE COMPLETE. DR WASSON, A PIONEER IN THE STUDY OF THE ROLE OF MUSHROOMS IN RELIGIOUS RITUAL, GIVES US A TRANSCRIPTION OF AN AUTHENTIC "CONSULTATION" OF THE SACRED MUSHROOM, IN SOUND. THE OCCASION WAS THE ILLNESS OF A YOUTH. THE MUSHROOM, THROUGH THE MOUTH OF MARIA SABINA, A FEMALE SHAMAN, DECREED THAT THE BOY MUST DIE. HE HEARD THE BAD NEWS AND DIED DAYS LATER. DR. WASSON TAPED THE ENTIRE VELADA. DR. WASSON IS ABLE TO PROVE THAT THE WORDS AND UNDOUBTEDLY THE CHANT ARE PRE-CORTES, GOING BACK FOR MANY CENTURIES. NOTHING LIKE THIS RECORD HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE NEW WORLD; IT IS RIVALED IN THE OLD WORLD ONLY BY THE VEDIC CHANTS OF INDIA". Recorded by V. P. & R. G. Wasson in Huautla de Jiménez, in the Mazatec Mountains in the northern corner of the State of Oaxaca, July 21, 1956


1. Chjon Nka
2. Chjon Nka Catsin
3. Santo...nana
4. Papa Papai
5. Na Ai - Ni Tso
6. Santo...Ji nai...na
7. Jan Jesu Cristo
8. Ji Nai
9. San Pedro
10. Soso Soso
11. Name of Plants
12. Pedro Martinez
13. Don't Be Concerned, Old One
14. Birds
15. Humming, etc.
16. Soft Singing
17. Finale

R. Gordon Wasson - Maria Sabina And Her Mushroom Velada (Ethno-mycological studies)

Tirogo - Float (1977)

Originally released in Nigeria, 1977. "Tirogo is another great sample of lost African psychedelic music. It was recorded in Nigeria in 1977 and originally released on EMI, same as the great album BLO - Chapter One. This Nigerian rock-psych band Tirogo is similar to bands such as Ofege, BLO, Founders 15, Doves, and Aktion. Great African songs covered with wild guitar solos, spooky organ, great beats and strong vocals. 4 guys on the cover / 6 were actually in the band looking pretty young. It is getting harder and harder to find lost African bands since there is a big rave in the International music scene to hunt for good material. With the massive help of collectors and Now Again Records in the USA, who actually went to Nigeria to sign the boys, we are able to present this amazing album to you. It will suit the same music lovers who like Amanaz, The Witch, Question Mark and BLO." (fusetronsound.com)

Tracklist:

1. Float
2. Devil's Gonna Get You
3. Ajufo
4. Tirogo
5. Gypsy Girl
6. Let's Feed the Nation

Tirogo - Float (1977)