Murasaki were a Japanese hard rock band, competitive, though a little too derivative (to say the least): their style was too influenced by Deep Purple for their own good. This self-titled album from 1975 it’s ok, good musicianship, not very good sound, and making a music that Deep Purple were making 3 or 4 years before (“Devil woman” for instance is almost a rip-off from “Hard lovin’ man”). There are more bluesy moments, like in “Rock and roll nightmare”, where can be heard some synths, or in the Murasaki’s version of Deep Purple’s “Lazy”, which is correct. The Deep Purple impersonation goes on with “Maze”: over 9 minutes of a quite dull hard rock with a solo of the drummer in the end. Possibly the song to pick up here (and that save the album) could be the last one: “Far away” that seems to have some note of distinction, other than that, Murasaki were mostly a replica of the Mark II, lacking the personality of their paisans The Flower Travellin’ Band, for example, and surviving only as a footnote in the 70s Japanese rock. Line-up / Musicians George Murasaki/keyboards Eiichi Miyanaga/drums Masao Jouma/vocals Ikuo Shimoji/guitar Kiyomasa Hika/guitar Toshio Jouma/bass
Discography(Album) Murasaki 1975
1.Double Dealing Woman 2.Devil Woman 3.Rock and Roll Nightmare 4.Lazy 5.Do What You Want 6.Maze 7.Far Away
One of the finest from the Spanish progressive scene in the seventies, N.H.U. contains everything that made the Spanish scene so special. Strong compositions marked by many changes. Fat keyboards, loud acid guitar and a complex, exciting rhythm section make up the centerpiece of the group. An excellent vocalist and a strong fusion edge ala Mahavishu Orchestra rounds out one of the true bona fide classics of the Spanish scene. An absolute must hear. Line-up / Musicians Tino Grandío/bass Roberto Abal/guitar Xurxo Pérez/Hammond,keyboards Xosé Garea/drums,vocals Julio Garea/percussion Antonio Fernández/guitar Emilio Cao/violin
Discography N.H.U. 1978
1.Na Terra do Verde Chan 2.A Titiritada 3.Friky & Alexo 4.Doente 5.Hay un tren 6.A trancas e barrancas
Thirsty Moon was one of the German bands from early '70s from Brain records label together with Emergency or Cornucopia who wanted to make a name in progressive/jazz rock field. Well, the second album You'll never come back from 1973 is definitely their best work from the catalogue and for sure an album that must be discovered by younger generation. Combining jazz rock passages with some progressive moves and as well interlude with long spacey instrumental sections with brass parts this album is a winner. Trash Man is the perfect example and the best tune of the album. Only 5 pieces, two of them quite long where the musicianship is more then ok, lots of tempo changes, sax make quite a nice figure here. This is a pleasant album, with plenty of memorable passages, maybe nothing is groundbreaking or innovative, but is well constructed and as well a very nice voice from Harald Konietzko. Line-up / Musicians Jurgen Drogies/guitar,percussion Norbert Drogies/drums,percussion Michael Kobs/piano Harald Konietzko/bass,guitar,percussion,vocals Erwin Noack/congas,percussion Willi Pape/saxophone,clarinet,flute,percussion Hans Werner Ranwig/organ,percussion,vocals Discography(Album) Thirsty Moon 1972
1.Morning Sun 2.Love Me 3.Rooms Behind Your Mind 4.Big City 5.Yellow Sunshine
This Spanish band came from Gijon, the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The members were Alex Cakrul (bass), Alberto Fontaneda (guitar, flute and vocals), Mento Heria (keybaords and vocals), Manda Jimenez (drums) and Rafael Rodriguez (guitar).Their only album "Si Todo Hiciera Crack" ('80) from CRACK is one of the jewels of the Spanish progressive Rock. It contains seven tracks, all with a beautiful harmony between keyboards, guitar and flute. There are hints of early GENESIS (sensitive piano chords and moving Mellotron waves) and JETHRO TULL (flute) but the typical Spanish climate and the elaborate compositions makes this album to an enthralling and emotional experience. Line-up / Musicians Alex Cabral/bass Alberto Fontaneda/guitar,flute,vocals Mento Hevia/keyboards,vocals Manolo Jiménez/drums Rafael Rodríguez/guitar Discography Si Todo Hiciera Crack 1979
1.Descenso en el Mahellstrong 2.Amantes de le Irrealidad 3.Cobarde O Desertor 4.Buenos Deseos 5.Marchanda Una del Cid (Pt. 1, 2) 6.Si Todo Hiciera Crack 7.Epillogo
Argentinian band CANTURBE was formed towards the end of the 1970's, with Jorge Garacotche (guitars, vocals) as the main and founding member. The first stable line-up of the band saw him joined by Luis Blanco (bass), Alejandro Fiori (guitars) and Gabriel Pelizzari (drums), and the foursoume issued their debut album El Vuelo de los Olvidados towards the end of 1980. For the next few years the band would build themselves a steady following in their home town of Bueons Aires, both due to extensive live activity but also due to their lyrics, most of which were centered around persons and events placed in that city. A second album, Bonpland, followed in 1983, while Clandestine was released in 1986. Fernando Bellini replaced Blanco on 1989's Del Magico Munde, while Litto Nebbia and Maria Jose Cantilo joined their ranks for the following years En Venta.Canturbe broke up in 1992, but just over a decade after the band had called it quits they reformed again. This has so far resulted in an additional chapter in their discography, issued in 2008 as Sociedad Secreta de Melancólicos. Line-up / Musicians Jorge Garacotche/vocals,guitars,percussion,harmonica Alejandro Fiori/guitars Gerardo Antonel/drums Luis Blanco/bass Discography(Album) El Vuelo de los Olvidados 1980
1.Leccion de Sangre 2.Amurado en tu Puerta 3.Suenos de Ayer 4.En Virtuo del Obsecado 5.De Toros los Inventos 6.Medidas de Sol 7.Los Perros de Villa Gesell 8.Linyera de Alcoba 9.El Vuelo de los Olvidados
This 1970 album by Charlies is one of the most rare and valuable vinyl records from Finland. The album is full of hard rocking material with magnificent lead guitarwork. There are clear progressive elements thrown all over the place on this record and their sound includes lots of blues rock influences as well. When it comes to the value of the original first press vinyl of Buttocks this one gets pretty close to Elonkorjuu's Harvest Time. Harvest Time is often called as the most valuable Finnish vinyl record but Buttocks isn't far behind. Very good hard rock album from the early 1970's Finland. Line-up / Musicians Eero Ravi/guitars Kari Lehtinen/bass Igor Sidorow/flute,saxophone,piano Ari Ahlgren/drums Vellu Lehtinen/vocals,harmonica Discography(Album) Buttocks 1970
1.Tuesday Song 2.Like The Purpose Told Me 3.Smoggy Story 4.Try,Try Or You Will Never Die 5.Feeling That Feeling 6.Living For Myself (I'm A King Dreamer) 7.Madness And Other Kind Of Influences 8.For You Catherine And Before You
