This bizarre collection of Moog compositions is credited to a band/artist named Lucifer (or is it "Black Mass?"), but the man behind the machine is better known by his more ordinary given name of Mort Garson. Along with scoring films, producing easy listening records, and co-writing the hit tune "Our Day Will Come," Garson released several electronic music LPs with themes like the Zodiac, the Wizard of Oz, and plant growth stimulation. Black Mass/Lucifer (the cover art is ambiguous as to title) is Garson's exploration of the dark arts, an all-instrumental soundtrack for a horror film that never existed. Garson conjures up a sinister, minor-key atmosphere on tracks with titles like "Incubus," "Witch Trial," and "The Evil Eye" often achieving a tone similar to the scores that Italian horror-rock band Goblin would record for Dario Argento films later in the decade. The technology available to Garson in 1971 was still being developed, and the record occasionally sounds dated, particularly when some very corny synthetic drums ruin the mood. There's some evocative music on Black Mass/Lucifer, to be sure, but ultimately it's just not as wild of a recording as legend has painted, perfectly rendered for a psychedelic Halloween party but hardly strong enough to raise evil spirits on its own. Garson's Wozard of Iz album is a freakier Moog ride, a kaleidoscopic retelling of the L. Frank Baum tale. Line-up / Musicians Mort Garson/All Instruments Discography
Black Mass 1971
1.Solomon's Ring 2.The Ride of Aida (Voodoo) 3.Incubus 4.Black Mass 5.The Evil Eye 6.Exorcism 7.The Philosopher's Stone 8.Voices of the Dead (The Medium) 9.Witch Trial 10.ESP
Ptarmigan - Ptarmigan 1974PTARMIGAN were a Psychedelic Folk Progressive rock band from Vancouver Canada who released a genuine beautiful album in 1974. PTARMIGAN's debut album …Read More
Mantis - Mantis 1973This, the only album from seventies Canadian band Mantis, only has three truly prog songs, but somehow remains quirky and likeable throughout. Like ma…Read More
Garolou - Garolou 1978GAROLOU was a pan-Eastern Canadian group with members from Ontario thru to the Maritimes. Its origins could be traced to Franco Ontarian brothers Marc…Read More
VIIth Temple - Under The Burning Sun 1978To the best of our knowledge, 15 copies of this 1978 private pressing were actually produced which suggests that fewer than 50 people have ever heard …Read More
ExCubus - Mémoires incubussiennes 1974In the mid 70's in Montreal existed a Hammond-driven prog rock quartet Incubus (there was also a US group of that name in those years) that could've b…Read More
