domingo, 15 de dezembro de 2013

SPETTRI - Spettri (1972 Italian Progressive Rock)


VENENO ITALIANO E UMA BOA RARIDADE PARA OS ENVENENADOS!! BANDA ORIGINÁRIA DE FLORENCIA E FORMADA EM 1964 COMO UMA BANDA BEAT, PERÍODO EM QUE GRAVARAM ALGUNS EPs!! DEPOIS DE VÁRIAS MUDANÇAS NA FORMAÇÃO, EM 1970 O SOM DOS CARAS COMEÇA A MUDAR UM POUCO!! O BEAT E O RYTHM BLUES SAEM DE CENA E COMEÇA OS COVER DE BANDAS COMO SPIRIT, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE E OUTROS DESSA LINHA!! MAS NOS SHOWS DA BANDA ENTRA O EXPERIMENTALISMO MUSICAL INSPIRADOS EM BANDA COMO KING CRINSON E COLOSSEUM!! A PARTIR DAÍ COMEÇA O PERÍODO PROGRESSIVO QUE É O TEMA PRINCIPAL DESSE ALBUM QUE É UMA SUÍTE COMPOSTA NOS ANOS DE 1970-71 E GRAVADO EM 1972!! USAVAM O BÁSICO PARA UM CONJUNTO DE ROCK: GUITARRA ELÉTRICA, BAIXO, BATERIA E ORGAN HAMMOND!! UM BOM E RARO VENENO PROGRESSIVO ITALIANO!! TUTTI BUONA GENTE!! 

SPETTRI was a five-piece band from Florence, formed by brothers Ugo and Raffaele Ponticiello in 1964. They had a fairly long career and released several singles during the height of the Italian beat era although their sound gradually evolved and by the turn of the decade they had turned to performing covers of songs by contemporary heavy rock groups from the UK and USA. The band also underwent a number of personnel changes during the intervening years and among the musicians who came and went was drummer Mauro Sarti of CAMPO DI MARTE fame. The youngest member of the Ponticiello clan, Vincenzo, joined in 1971 thus making the venture a real family affair.

Between 1970-71 the band had also written enough original material for a full-length album that was later recorded in a single session on 13 October 1972, with a sound that is rather primitive and badly produced. However, the album never saw the light of day until 2011 when Black Widow Records released a re-mastered version of the self-titled work almost on the eve of its 40th anniversary. It's a concept album that portrays one man's search for his inner self by means of a séance, although it's also an allegory on the selfishness and hypocrisy of modern society and the erosion of humanity. The protagonist's journey to the abyss is aptly accompanied by a dark atmosphere of heavy guitar riffs and Hammond organ that together sounds like a collision of BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE. 

SPETTRI had a good live activity but eventually disbanded in 1975; according to the album's liner notes the various band members followed different musical paths due to ''growing public indifference to refined music'' around that time. Describing SPETTRI as ''refined'' might strain the listener's credulity somewhat as the main appeal of this band seems to be characterised by its very defects, its rawness and its sheer exuberance. 


- Ugo Ponticiello: vocals
- Rafaelle Ponticiello: electric and acoustic guitars
- Vincenzo Ponticiello: bass
- Stefano Melani: Hammond organ
- Giorgio Di Ruvo: drums

1. Introduzione (0:55)
2. Prima Parte: Stare Solo (5:32) 
3. Seconda Parte: Medium (9:55)
4. Terza Parte: Essere (12:03)
5. Quarta Parte: Incubo (11:00)

quinta-feira, 12 de dezembro de 2013

STRANGE - Souvenir Album (1974-1976 US Psych Folk Soft Rock)


ONLY 100 ORIGINAL COPIES PRESSED!! 
REISSUED BY SHADOKS IN 2009!! 
IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND...
ONLY A FEW KNOWN ORIGINALS EXIST!!

A GRAVADORA SHADOCKS MAIS UMA VEZ NOS BRINDA COM UM RELANÇAMENTO OBSCURÍSSIMO DA BANDA STRANGE, CUJO DESTAQUE ERA O GUITARRISTA E MULTI-INSTRUMENTISTA DAVID CHAMBERLAIN!! A BANDA ERA DE WASHINGTON E MESMO NAS CERCANIAS NÃO ERA MUITO FAMOSA E DEIXOU APENAS ALGUMAS CANÇÕES GRAVADAS!! MAIS TARDE, DEPOIS DA BANDA JÁ TER SIDO DISSOLVIDA, AS MASTER TAPES FORAM RECUPERADAS POR CHAMBERLAIN QUE QUERIA AGRUPAR ELAS NUM ALBUM!! PARA ISSO ENTREGOU A UM CONHECIDO QUE TINHA UMA PEQUENA GRAVADORA CASEIRA ONDE O MESMO SELECIONOU AS MELHORES PARTES DA BOBINA PRINCIPAL E DESCARTOU ALGUMAS QUE JÁ ESTAVAM DANIFICADAS!! 

MAIS TARDE ENTÃO A SHADOCKS USOU ESTA MASTER TAPE PRA PRODUZIR UM LP COM TIRAGEM BEM LIMITADA A APENAS 100 CÓPIAS!! VEJAM ENTÃO QUE É UMA CÓPIA DA CÓPIA, POR ISSO EM ALGUMAS CANÇÕES A QUALIDADE DO SOM NÃO É MUITO BOA, MAS DÁ UM CERTO "CHARME COLLECTORS" A ELAS!! A QUALIDADE DO SOM VARIA ENTRE AS MÚSICAS E AS VEZES A GENTE ESCUTA ATÉ O DESGASTE DOS SULCOS (UM CHARME PRA QUEM APRECIA O VINIL)!! O ALBUM FOI ORGANIZADO DE FORMA ALEATÓRIA E A TRAJETÓRIA MUSICAL É DESARTICULADA, ESTRANHO, COM FADE-IN E OUT E ALGUMAS COLAGENS OCASIONAIS OU FORA DE ORDEM!! SÃO TRUQUES DE PRODUÇÃO QUE FAZEM A GENTE SE PERGUNTAR O QUE AFINAL A BANDA ESTAVA PENSANDO COM ISSO!! MAS...AFINAL A BANDA SE CHAMA STRANGE NÉ!!

A SONORIDADE NUMA PRIMEIRA AUDIÇÃO PARECE UM POUCO COM PINK FLOYD DA FASE INICIAL COM UM POUCO DE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE E TOQUES DE NEIL YOUNG!! COMPLEXO NÉ?? MAS É MAIS OU MENOS ISSO!! É BASICAMENTE UM FOLK ROCK PSYCH OU UM SOFTO ROCK PSYCH!! TEMOS DE ESCUTAR SEMPRE TENDO EM MENTE QUE OS CARAS GRAVARAM COM EQUIPAMENTOS NÃO APROPRIADOS E NUM ESTÚDIO CASEIRO, O QUE SE MOSTRA O VALOR DOS CARAS E A CAPACIDADE DELES, APESAR DE SOAR MEIO JUVENIL É AÍ MESMO QUE SOA ORIGINAL!! EU SEMPRE IMAGINO O QUE ELES FARIAM COM ESSE MESMO ALBUM GRAVADO COM EQUIPAMENTOS APROPRIADOS E NUM VERDADEIRO ESTÚDIO!! SÓ CURIOSIDADE!!  

-------------------

Shadoks Music has rescued yet another obscure recording for our enjoyment – Souvenir Album by Strange. The disc features eight songs proper and four segments of other tunes recorded from 1974 to 1978, and more than anything highlights the songwriting abilities of David Chamberlain, the band’s multi-instrumentalist and singer.

Even in their hometown of Olympia, Washington, Strange was far from a household name, and never really broke beyond playing local venues. By 1978, as Chamberlain was putting the material together for an actual album, Strange had disbanded. Still, Chamberlain waded through tapes of old material, committing the best bits to a master reel, and then handed them over to a gentleman named George Yantiss, “who had a small ‘record label’ in his home,” according to the liners. Yantiss “mastered” the tape and Chamberlain distributed copies for free to friends. Yantiss’ work will never be confused with the studio mastery of, say, Bob Ludwig or Alan Parsons, but the roughness around the edges gives Souvenir an odd grace, like the photos your parents took with an Instamatic camera.

The music ranges from early Pink Floyd to Jefferson Airplane to Neil Young and beyond. “Somebody” is a sorrowful ballad, that brings to mind Bill Fay and Nick Drake. Chamberlain’s guitar solo is masterful, an emotion-drenched line that tugs at the heart. Pianist Robert Rensel and bassist Carl Dexter add some lovely harmony vocals, as well. “The Ballad Of Hollis Spaceman” is a trippy number that brings together Syd Barrett and San Francisco rock, with a fantastic guitar workout from Chamberlain and Tom Hackett – these guys are players! “Four-Eyes” is Strange’s “Planet Caravan” replete with bongos and drippy electric piano notes. Rensel’s vocal on “A Faced Dream” is a treat, imbuing the tune with his clear and musical delivery. Drummer Rick Rackleff steps to the mic, as well, on his own ballad “Rick’s Song,” and proves more than able to take the lead. Although the sound quality isn’t great (it’s a copy of a copy) “Lies By Poetic License” is a stellar track, given a magical boost  by Rensel’s French horn. “Twelve Boats,” the sole Hackett composition here, is another minor-key laden tune that’s got more going on than is easily heard (it’s an audience recording), but it’s well worth some deep listening to hear it all. Chamberlain’s “The Last Song,” appropriately closes the record. This gorgeous lament sounds like a lost Procol Harum track and could have been a huge hit given some radio play. It would make a great addition to a soundtrack, too.


Carl Dexter - Vocals 
David Chamberlain - Guitar 
Tom Hackett - Guitar 
Robert Rensel - French Horn, Keyboards, Vocals 
Rick Rackleff - Bongos, Drums, Organ 
Don Morris - Bass, Saxophone, Vocals 
Ron Redifer - Drums 
Jim Eager - Drums

1. Segment from Barapp 1:14 
2. Somebody 6:10 
3. The Ballad of Hollis Spaceman 7:06 
4. Four Eyes 5:39 
5. Segment from Barapp 0:41 
6. A Faced Dream 4:18 
7. Rick's Song 2:30 
8. Segment from Mushroom Wednesday 5:37 
9. Twelve Boats 5:05 
10. The Last Song 4:31

quarta-feira, 11 de dezembro de 2013

BETHLEHEM ASYLUM - Commit Yourself (1970 US Psych Folk Jazz Blues Rock)


BANDA OBSCURA INFLUENCIADA POR ZAPPA E QUE FAZIA UM ROCK BEM ECLÉTICO COMO UMA MISTURA DE JAZZ COM FOLK, COUNTRY, BLUES E PSICODELIA!! A BANDA TINHA UMA BOA REPUTAÇÃO NO SUL DOS E.U.A. COM SEUS SHOWS AO VIVO E EXCURSIONAVA REGULARMENTE JUNTO COM A "THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND" FAZENDO A ABERTURA DO SHOW DELES!! A BANDA TINHA UM BOM TRABALHO DE PIANO E SAX E UMA AGRADÁVEL FLAUTA ROLANDO!! BUDDY HELM MAIS TARDE TOCOU ALGUMAS VEZES COM FRANK ZAPPA E TIM BUCKLEY!! CHARLES DECHANT FOI TOCAR COM A BANDA HALL AND OATES!! DANNY FINLEY FOI PARA A KINKY FRIEDMAN E COM A TEXAS JEWBOY!! CHRISTIAN GANDHI NÃO SE SABE O QUE FOI FAZER E QUALQUER INFORMAÇÃO SOBRE O CARA É BEM-VINDA!! JÁ JIMMY NEIMAN INFELIZMENTE FALECEU!! VENENO RARÍSSIMO E BOM!!

I also know that the band toured extensively and regularly opened for The Allman Brothers Band. This band's two albums are worth a listen with the first album being the better of the two. It contains lots of jazzy instrumentation and the better tracks are Sea Rider (which has lots of good piano work), Sailboat Ride (which features some nice sax and flute) and Earth (which also has some good flute pieces and jazzy piano). The final cut It's About starts with some rather discordant guitar work. The first 45 was taken from this album but consisted of the two most commercial but least interesting tracks. There's more of a country influence on the second album, particularly to the vocals - a good example of this would be Ring My Bell, which was also issued as a single. Also of note are Blind Man's Buff, which is quite bluesy and has some good flute pieces and Tales From The Citadel for its spacey intro. which soon gives way to the sort of jazzy instrumentation that characterises both albums.

Buddy Helm (ex-Those Five) went on to play briefly with Frank Zappa and then Tim Buckley. Charles Dechant later played with the Hall and Oates band, with whom he has spent the last 15 or more years. The guitarist/vocalist Danny Finley went on to the Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys band and co-wrote many songs over several albums. Christian Ghandi has been missing many years, any info would be appreciated and Jim Neiman is now deceased.


Charles Dechant: Vocals, Saxophone, Flute 
Christian Gandhi: Keyboards, Saxophone, Trombone, Alto Flute
Danny Finley: Vocals, Lead Guitar
Jimmy Neiman: Vocals, Bass
Buddy Helm: Drums, Percussion

01. Child Of The Mountain (3:27) 
02. Sailboat Ride (3:15)
03. Earth (9:46)
04. Sea Rider (6:52)
05. Talkin' 'Bout Love (2:07)
06. It's About (5:22)

segunda-feira, 9 de dezembro de 2013

BACCHUS - Revisited (2003 US Hard Stoner Rock Psych)


POWER TRIO RARO QUE FOI FORMADA NO INÍCIO DOS ANOS 70 POR ERIC TURNER E CHARLIE SOUZA, E CUJO NOME É UMA HOMENAGEM DOS CARAS AO DEUS DO VINHO E DA FERTILIDADE!! NO INÍCIO ABRIRAM SHOWS DE VÁRIAS BANDAS FAMOSAS COMO GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, CACTUS, BB KING E JOHHNY WINTER, ALÉM DE PARTICIPAREM DO POP ATLANTA FESTIVA E SAIR EM TURNÊ COM A MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA!! GRAVARAM APENAS SINGLES E SOMENTE EM 2003 É QUE ELES FORAM LIBERADOS E TRANSFORMADOS NESSE LP REVISITED!! VENENO RARO E RECOMENDADO!!

POWER TRIO RARE THAT WAS FORMED IN 70 YEARS OF HOME BY ERIC TURNER AND CHARLIE SOUZA! THE NAME IS A TRIBUTE TO GOD OF WINE AND FERTILITY! JUST RELEASED SINGLES ONLY RECORDED IN 2003 AND THAT TRANSFORMED LP REVISITED! GOOD, RARE AND RECOMMENDED LP!! 


Eric Turner - guitar
Charlie Souza - bass
Bill Peterson - drums

01. Carry My Load - 03:27
02. Ya Ya Ya - 02:47
03. Espero - 02:57
04. Good Time - 02:52
05. Celebration - 02:54
06. We Like To Boogie - 02:22