From: mkmclatchey@ucdavis.edu
Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive
Subject: Prog Music Update
Date: 23 Nov 1992 20:53:44 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


This was originally destined for Gibraltar, but...

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A Progressive Music Update (Part One)

     Since I haven't had net access for many months, I figured the
best way to jump back in is to catch up on some news of what has
been happening on the progressive scene in various other countries
over the last few months.  As the scene is thriving so well, there
is much news to be imparted that may be of interest to the new-
music fanatic.  Much of the information in the following two (maybe
three?) articles have been culled from many sources and will
hopefully leave little out.
     A few things before I continue.  Progressive music fans have
very wide tastes in music, in fact there are some of us that
completely disagree with each other in taste.  If you are heavily
into Marillion, IQ, Pendragon, Pallas, and their imitators or
followers of music style, than you will probably disagree often
with my views.  I am quite well versed with the progressive network
and know that even though I haven't heard them, bands like
Landmarq, Jadis, and Clepsydra are probably much too mainstream for
my tastes, due to reports from those of you who generally like this
music.  Therefore, you will probably see very few reviews of this
area of the progressive genre, and maybe those of you who have been
so offended in the past by my forward style of writing will either
a) use my article to know what NOT to buy or b) skip the damn thing
completely.  This is not to say that I will never comment on
something that I feel is inferior; I just want to save some of the
readers from another redundant flame war.
    I don't plan on being any more conservative with my approach
than I used to be, and any personal letters (this has happened
before) suggesting that I tone down my inaccessibility will be
ignored.  If I can say anything about past articles - they did spur
some lively discussions, and gave the readers an idea of how people
with completely different tastes can both claim to like the same
genre of music.
    For those of you who weren't subscribing earlier this year, I
plan to give you a broader view of the progressive scene and will
often delve into the Rock In Opposition (Henry Cow, Samla Mammas
Manna, Univers Zero etc.) and Electronic fields of progressive
music, two "subgenres" that are rarely touched on, due to the
fascination most of us have with symphonic rock.
     Just to set the record straight, I still like old Yes, I still
like old Genesis, and the contribution that Marillion made to the
revival of the progressive scene cannot be ignored.  The reason I
don't dwell on these facts, is because of the multitude of much
more obscure music that the average Yes fan would probably like,
yet will never find out about unless someone writes about them.
     Remember, I take time to write these articles for free, not as
a personal ego trip, but to turn those of you that are interested
on to music that is a little less exposed than the mainstream or
neo progressive bands.  But remember, I am one opinion, and for
those of you that don't have money to blow, consult a few other
readers before buying something I recommend.
     Anyway, here goes....

*Italy*
     As is often the case, Italy is thriving with new releases and
reissues.  There are many to cover, even in the six or so months
since my Italian article.  I will be sending an updated version of
the Italian Discography (eventually) to the archives that will
hopefully account for the ongoing slew of reissuing.
     Mellow Records (or MM Records) is a fairly new Italian label
specializing in opening the time-lost vaults of Italian prog, and
they're flooding the market with releases.  One of the people
involved is Ciro Perrino who was the synth/percussionist of
Celeste, a band who put out one of the monster albums in Italian
history "Principe Di Un Giorno" (available on Japanese CD - if you
don't have this yet, and like PFM circa "Per Un Amico" this one
will set you alight.)  A few of the albums being released on Mellow
Records have Perrino in their ranks.  Two of these are previously
unreleased Celeste albums - "II" (on LP only) and a lost soundtrack
from 1974 that predates their 1st album "I Suoni In Una Sferna."
(This one may be called "Soundtracks")  Also with Perrino are two
supposedly Gong like albums from two bands that never saw an album
in the seventies after Celeste broke up - "La Compania Digitale"
(sp?) and St. Tropez's "Icarus."  
     Of much more interest are lost second albums by Biglietto Per
L'Inferno and Corte Dei Miracoli.  Biglietto's "Il Tempo Della
Semina" like many of Mellow's releases is lacking in the sound
quality area (excellent bootleg sound at best) but the music is
superb with long tracks of excellent Italian classical rock with
two keyboards.  Corte Dei Miracoli's "Dimensione Onirica" dates
from 1973/1974 and has comparable sound quality as well, yet is
over seventy minutes of incredible music from a band who only
released one self-titled album that is now out of print on Japanese
CD.  (If you can find it, it's quite excellent)  The dual keyboards
on this, with tantalizing Hammond organ runs will make you forget
about the mediocre sound quality.  
     One of the most interesting novelties of Mellow's reissue
series is the lost second album by Jacula entitled "Anno Demoni". 
Jacula's first "Tardo Pede In Magiam Versus" is often quoted as the
rarest Italian progressive album, so it was quite interesting to
see why.  Why a novelty?  If you look at the back you will see that
the album was supposedly composed by spiritualist seance.  The
titles are all rather "dark" (to be euphemistic) and the last song
"Soul Satan" will give you an idea of this bands bent.  Musically,
Jacula are quite unique with loads of ominous sounding church organ
and chanting vocals in Latin that sound like they are from the
gates of hell.  Evidently Mellow had to pay big for this one, and
the (approx.) $25 price tag accounts for this.  Worth a listen for
those of us who aren't scared of the dark.  (Note:  If you can read
Japanese, there is an article on this band in Marquee #43.  Looks
very interesting.) 
     Mellow is also reissuing albums by bands that never saw the
light.  Both Il Sistema's "Il Viaggio Senza Andata" and Il Giro
Strano's "La Divina Commedia" are also poor quality copies yet fill
an important space in Italian rock history, the latter album being
especially good.
     Transcribed from an LP copy on CD (rather well actually) is
Murple's "Io Sono Murple"  Wrapped up in a sentence - another
classic of Italian progressive.  This is my pick as Mellow' best
reissue.  Two side long suites of refined and original progressive
rock with a very good keyboards player.
     One of the weirdest line-ups for a concert I have ever heard
of was a concert in France with Magma, IQ, and Jumbo.  Certainly a
wide variety of moods!  Italian band Jumbo's opening set was saved
for posterity, since they basically reformed for this show.  This
must have been an intense opening set, and Jumbo remain true to
their original compositions, with the majority of material coming
from their third and best album "Vietato Ai Minori..."  This CD is
presently available, as is their first two "Jumbo" and "DNA"  Jumbo
is a progressive group that juxtaposes quieter folky sections with
very heavy Italian-styled classical rock. 
     Museo Rosenbach only had one (a must) album ("Zarathustra") in
the seventies, but Mellow has released three previosuly unreleased
albums by these guys - "Live '72", "Rare And Unreleased", and
"Rarities"(LP only.)  Further documentation of an Italian great but
mostly only for the collector.  Evidently there are curiosities
like a Beatles cover on one of these!  Latte E Miele's previously
unreleased "Live 1974" is also available as is the very rare Laser
album "Vita Sul Pianeta."  For the serious collector, a mini CD of
English outtakes from Il Balletto Di Bronzo's "Ys" is also
available.  Very recently reissued is the very rare Gen Fuoco album
"Dentro L'Invisible" and Francesco Buccheri's "Journey" specially
packaged with the previosuly unreleased "2nd Journey."
     These guys actually have a LOT more planned, including a
second album and a live (1973) album (all previously unreleased) by
Italian great Alphataurus.  If you picked up their excellent debut
on Japanese CD, you'll probably be looking forward to this one. 
Two previosuly unreleased Latte E Miele albums are also on their
way, as are prev. unr. albums by Locanda Delle Fate and Apoteosi. 
Reports on many of the previously mentioned albums will be
forthcoming.
     Mellow Records basically will only appeal to the Italian
progressive fanatic, and those of you not familiar with the scene
should try PFM, Banco and some of the more common bands before
investing a lot of money (Celeste II actually has had price tags as
large as $60 already!) in what is basicallu curios and archive
material for the collector.
     Without going into too much detail (more on these in future
issues) are the following reissues: Aktuala "La Terra",
Alphataurus' classic debut, Alusa Fallax's classic "Intorno Alla
Mia Cattiva Educazione", Capsicum Red's "Appunti Per Un'Idea
Fissa", Garybaldi's "Nuda", Goblin's "Il Fantastico Viaggio Del
Bagarozzo Mark", "Maxophone" (Italian lyrics), Sensitiva Immagine's
"E Tutto Comincio Cosi...", and Zauber's previously unreleased
"Phoenix."  Reviews of many of these will be forthcoming.
     Much more reissuing on the prog market soon.  Nuova Idea's
second and third ("Clowns" and "Mr E. Jones"), Blocco Mentale's
"Poa", Errata Corrige's "Mappamonda" (I''ve also seen this called
"Il Sogno Americano" (probably an unreleased second)) and Latte E
Miele's "Papillon" (English lyrics) will be out soon.  Nuova Era's
"Io E Il Tempo", their LONG awaited follow up to the classic "Dopo
L'Infinito" should be released soon, as is Sithonia's second
"Spettacolo Annullato."  Musea should be releasing neo-prog band
Fancyfluid's second "King's Journey" soon as well.  The New Trolls
also have a new album out, but somehow I doubt it would interest
many progressive fans.

*France*
     Usually Musea would take the spotlight here, and although they
have many new items of interest - in a sec - French label Spalax is
catching up quickly in prominence.
     Spalax recently reissued the first six Ash Ra Tempel albums,
an excellent choice since many of these are classic.  In fact it
would be difficult for me to say which one(s) to start with
although my favorites are their first and "Join Inn."
     Spalax newest onslaught of reissues include a reissue of many
of the VERY best Popol Vuh albums.  For those of you that are only
familiar with the strangely packaged Celestial Harmonies reissues
"In The Garden of Pharoah/Aguirre" (basically the English
equivalent of "In Den Garten Pharao" - their second - plus a
retitling ("Aguirre") of the first track "Lacrimae De Lei" from the
soundtrack "Aguirre" and a previously unreleased Florian Fricke
piano piece) and "Tantric Songs/Hosianna Mantra" ("Hosianna Mantra"
is Popol Vuh's third, and "Tantric Songs" is not the same as the
Brain album of similar name, but a compilation of tracks from the
late seventies - many of them that will be on up and coming Spalax
reissues - all with English titles) - although these are great
albums, it is what Popol Vuh did after "Hosianna Mantra" that is
more impressive.  While their debut "Affenstunde" (this was
reissued on CD sometime ago on Bell in Germany), and "In Den Garten
Pharao" are more in an electronic vein, Fricke decided to drop the
synthesizers and concentrate on making very beautiful and spiritual
music starting with "Hosianna Mantra."  With the joining of Daniel
Fichelscher (of Amon Duul II and Niagara), who amazingly enough
will play almost all of the guitars and percussion on most of the
rest of the Popol Vuh albums, the band would go on to make a string
of classic and essential progressive albums.
     Spalax has reissued five initial Popol Vuh albums including
their fourth, fifth, and six masterpieces "Seligpreisung",
"Einsjager Und Siebenjager", and "Das Hohelied Salamos."  These
albums are simply amazing, with ethereal piano, often multi-tracked
and fluid guitar work and great drumming that sends the music to
incredible heights. In between these types of songs are more
tranquil and beautiful songs, often with excellent vocals by Djong
Yun, and sometimes with oboe or tambura.  Also reissued, and just
as good (but in a slightly different direction) is the soundtrack
"Couer De Verre" (This is actually a French subtitle that was
released on Egg, the Brain subtitle is "Herz Aus Glas".)  The fifth
immediate reissue is "Sei Still, Wisse Ich Bin", originally
released on Klaus Sculze's early eighties label Innovative
Communications.  This is even farther away from the mid seventies
style (this one was release in 1981) with a different sound, thanks
in part to ex-Amon Duul II members Chris Karrer and Renate Knaup.
     Spalax has many more Popol Vuh reissues planned including
"Hosianna Mantra" (this would make this the third reissue of that
title), "Aguirre" (the soundtrack, not the compilation(s)), "Letze
Tage, Letze Nachte", "On A Way To A Little Way/Nosferatu", "Bruder
Des Schattens, Sohne Des Lichts", "Spirit Of Peace" and "Agape-
Agape, Love-Love."  All of these seem to be in the plans for
reissue, although there doesn't seem to be any plans for "Yoga" or
the Brain album "Die Nacht Der Seele: Tantric Songs" - yet.
     Also reissued by Spalax are Agitation Free's aptly titled
"Last", Conrad Schnitlzer's "Ballet Statique" (a reissue of "Con")
and Robert Rich's "Geometry."

     Musea are also quite busy, although a tentative schedule of
releases of 1992-3 hasn't really gone as planned.  Fortunately,
Musea are still about the best label around with lavish packaging,
great pictures, informative bios, and often extra tracks that go to
show you just how much these guys care about their products.
     Recently released is Laurent Thibault's "Mais, On Ne Peut Pas
Rever Tout Le Temps" a stunningly beautiful release that is often
compare to Magma (since he was their pre first album bassist) and
a lot of it does sound like that band, yet this is fairly more
accessible and easy to get into.  A long awaited reissue is the
only self-titled album by Weidorje a band often heralded as the
meeting of Magma and Heldon like styles.  Bernard Paganotti and
Patrick Gauthier from those bands respectively are given full rein,
and the overall effect comes off far more like Magma than Heldon
(excepting the opening track).  Paganotti's bass playing is amazing
here and this is a great album to showcase this "French" style of
bass playing that he and Jannick Top are fairly well known for. 
With two excellent live tracks, this one is a must for Magma fans. 
Also recently dragged from the cellars (CBS, of course) is the
first and self-titled album by Moving Gelatine Plates, a fantastic
album that is obviously heavily influenced by Soft Machine, except
with a French bent that reminds me a little of contemporaries Ame
Son or Couer Magique.  With four extra tracks from a reformation
album called "Moving" from the eighties, two of them containing the
talents of Bloomdido Bad De Grasse, this is an essential purchase
for those of you interested in a different bent on the Canterbury
scene a la Supersister.  One that has been out for a while yet
deserves mention, is Eris Pluvia's beautiful debut "Rings Of
Earthly Light."  This one is extremely accessible, borders
mainstream, but never gets too overtly commercial.  I particularly
like the use of recorder, which gives the music an ethereal and
pastoral effect.  As usual, this one is fairly overproduced (for my
tastes) but this clean and modern sound is one many neo-progressive
fans are fond of. IMHO, the quality of the music more than makes up
for this (as is the case with Nuova Era's "Dopo L'Infinito.")
     Also very very recently released by Musea are reissues by
French band Grime (their self-titled album), German band
Neuschwanstein's "Battlements", and unknown (all I know is that
this used to be on CBS) self-titled album by Nightrider.
     Musea should be releasing in the next couple of months - Step
Ahead (this one's got extra tracks), Dun's "Eros", Kerrs Pink's
"Mellom Oss" (With SIX bonus tracks), and the previously mentioned 
Fancy Fluid album.  Unknown when they will be released but should
be soon are Alpha Centaury, Pentacle's "La Clef Des Songes", Moving
Gelatine Plate's "The World Of Genius Hans", Minimum Vital's new
"La Source".  I'm not particularly sure what the status of the next
few are, but CDs by III Milenio (I'm not sure if this is new, or is
a reissue of their good debut "Alianca Dos Tempos"), Galahad (those
of you into neo-progressive probably know the status of this one),
North Star (???), Ezra Winston's great "The Myth Of The
Chrysavides", Seven Days Of A Life, Jean Pascal Boffo's new one,
the reissue of Orion's "La Nature Vit...", Atoll's fourth (not
quite as good as the first three) "Rock Puzzle", Carpe Diem's "En
Regardant Passer Le Temps" and "Cuielle Le Jour" (these were
considered for release on 1 CD, but the status is fairly unknown),
Iman's self titled debut (Spanish fusion band - reissue), and
"Camino Del Agua", and many others were potentially going to be
released.  I'm sure time will tell all.

This is already one of my longest articles, so I'll save more for
my second part including a look at the initial Scandinavian
reissues by Japanese labels Marquee and Moon Witch, an update on
USA progressive labels Syn-Phonic, Laser's Edge, and Cuneiform, a
quick look at Norwegian label Colours that has been responsible for
releasing some of the finest new Scandinavian progressive bands
including a Norwegian version of Landberk's "Lonely Land" called
"Riktigt Akta", and a quick look at what Brazilian label
"Progressive Rock Worlwide" has been reissuing/distributing such as
Tellah, Tisaris, Sagrado Coracao De Terra, and Pantanal.  This one
should follow very soon after this one.

The long planned Episode interview will be along in the fairly near
future as will be a detailed look at the Syn-Phonic label.

Mike McLatchey

PS - I have a sale list for those of you who are interested.  Write
me.