Your last listen

[Fretless]

Grobschnitt 'Rockpommel's Land' (1977)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Ae6fGYq4KW

The greatest album that Yes never made.
Just to prove that they were more than a bunch of over-talented weirdo's, Grobschnitt came up with their own conceptual prog epic, including a genuine Roger Dean cover painting.

They had the whole album rehearsed and prepared so well that when they went into Conny Plank's studio they did an initial run-through for him and he was so blown away that he said 'I should have recorded that!' - so they played it again, twice, identically.

Seriously good this. But I have never heard it before - probably because I thought they were a bunch of over-talented weirdo's. Just to prove the strangeness of Grobschnitt, the entire run of (superbly) remastered reissue CD's have a running time of precisely 79.10 for every single disc.
Teutonic humour.


EDIT: the double-CD of 'Rockpommel's Land' is still available, new, at Dodax UK for under 10 pounds.

[slinger]

Happy 47th Birthday to this little beauty, released on this date in 1973...

[NSNO2021]

New to me via an eBay vinyl purchase J B Hutto and his New Hawks - Slippin & Slidin.

Probably one of best guitar blues albums I heard for a good while, went to bed very happy, the LP is in mint condition and the dynamics are spot on. I will be looking out for more of J B's albums.

[NSNO2021]

A bit like BB King, that (to my ears). Seriously good blues.




Meanwhile in the yellow corner, all the way from Planet Weird ...

Grobschnitt 'Illegal'



I vaguely remember actually having this LP back in the early 80's. Got it in a bargain bin expecting that it would be a sort of Punky / New Wave outfit. It wasn't and I couldn't get my head around it so it was soon ditched (a friend in Huddersfield had a 2nd-hand record shop and was always pleased with my cast-offs).

Starting off with 'The Sniffer' which has Jethro Tull-ish folky overtones before going into some tasty Yes-style guitar & synth doodling. Then a shift of gear for US arena rock on 'Space Rider'. Then you hear lovely Oldfield-style instrumentals, experimental post-punk, hard rock, gentle ballads. No two tracks are even in the same genre here. No wonder my teenage brain couldn't make heads or tails of this record. Now I can appreciate it as a showcase of ability and versatility.

File under 'intriguing'.

[Fretless]

Hey - this is an album that I remember I actually liked.

Grobschnitt 'Merry-Go-Round'



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2lnmFDyIOQ

Constructed of familiar Genesis/Yes building blocks and with the strangeness-quota heavily restrained, this is an likeable and listenable album that has that great 70s prog vibe while still allowing the band to display their flair and instrumental prowess.

Coming back to Grobschnitt after 30+ years, it appears that I had more exposure to them than I thought. But their sound is so eclectic and varied that it does take a bit of genuine effort and patience to enter their oddness-filled universe. I suppose the closest comparison would have to be Frank Zappa's blazing musicality and scatalogical intermissions or Stackridge's uber-English playfulness.

Anyhow - this one is going to get some long-overdue attention.




EDIT: there are still Grobschnitt reissue CD's (including the above) for well under a fiver at Dodax UK - what are you waiting for?

[CN211276]

Katatonia - The fall of hearts
Led Zeppelin - In through the out door

[NSNO2021]

Nothing too adventurous, just an 11-CD (and 1DVD which I will never get round to playing) set from Chris Rea, tracing the history of the blues. It's called "Blue Guitars," so, no surprise there then.

Album One: (Beginnings)
Album Two: (Country Blues)
Album Three: (Louisiana & New Orleans)
Album Four: (Electric Memphis Blues)
Album Five: (Texas Blues)
Album Six: (Chicago Blues)
Album Seven: (Blues Ballads)
Album Eight: (Gospel Soul Blues And Motown)
Album Nine: (Celtic & Irish Blues)
Album Ten: (Latin Blues)
Album Eleven: (60s & 70s)
Album Twelve: (Dancing Down The Stony Road DVD)

I've reached CD 5 so far.

Following in your footsteps I got this brand new off fleabay for under £30 inc postage and the presentation/packaging is stunning. I have only heard the first 2 discs but that's enough to convince me this will my musical bargain of 2020 so big thanks for alerting me to it

[slinger]

Another arrival from the Nektar back-catalogue:

Nektar 'Time Machine' (2013)



A surprisingly fine record this, as my expectations weren't high. After a 20-year hiatus, Nektar had resumed operations in the 2000's with a sound that was more 'American' but still firmly based in their 70's prog roots.

Whilst making the covers album 'A Spoonful of Time' with an all-star musical line-up, the band had met part-time Yes member Billy Sherwood who joined Nektar as bassist / engineer / producer for the 'Time Machine' project. Which was to be leader Roye Albrighton's final studio album before he passed away in 2016.

'Time Machine' is an interesting mix of Billy Sherwood's tightly arranged techno-rock stylings, a bit like Yes spin-off group Circa, and Nektar's own more organic and jam-based character. The end result comes very close to Yes ((he contemporary version) but is earthier and less cerebral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEi9LD9mvLM
Thoroughly enjoyable.

[tweet_my_ribbon]

Ozric Tentacles - Arborescene - LP

[slinger]

Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter