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viewing 1 To 10 of 10 items
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CD
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GM 212CD
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2015 release. Granadilla Music present a reissue of The Soul Explosion's Soul Fire, originally released in 1968. Detroit? Chicago? Well, no not at all. This 1968 release came from a German band playing some lush and dynamic soul pop with an emotionally exalted vocal style reminiscent of Tom Jones at times. The songs range from powerfully onward grooving booty shakers, to striking melodic tunes with great, enlightening chorus lines. After listening, you will realize these folks had a sense for the classic beat music of just a few years prior to this release. But since The Soul Explosion spice up everything with a dark and brooding back street club atmosphere at the right moment, they could do what they wanted and they always sounded exciting and fresh. It's hard to tell the difference between these krauts and any popular British or North American act in their genre. There is passion, sheer lust, a wild, animalistic drive, and a mesmerizing, ongoing groove. Technically, this is a really solid group that knows when to let loose, but they keep the energy flow under control. Fanatics of soul and early rock fusion from the '60s will go insane. Soul Fire strikes your deepest inner self and sets your spirit aflame. The melodies are amazing and the rhythms shake you with an inescapable, everlasting pulse. Think of later-day Animals, The Four Tops, and The Equals, all thrown into a mixer on full-throttle.
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LP
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GM 212LP
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LP version. 2015 release. Granadilla Music present a reissue of The Soul Explosion's Soul Fire, originally released in 1968. Detroit? Chicago? Well, no not at all. This 1968 release came from a German band playing some lush and dynamic soul pop with an emotionally exalted vocal style reminiscent of Tom Jones at times. The songs range from powerfully onward grooving booty shakers, to striking melodic tunes with great, enlightening chorus lines. After listening, you will realize these folks had a sense for the classic beat music of just a few years prior to this release. But since The Soul Explosion spice up everything with a dark and brooding back street club atmosphere at the right moment, they could do what they wanted and they always sounded exciting and fresh. It's hard to tell the difference between these krauts and any popular British or North American act in their genre. There is passion, sheer lust, a wild, animalistic drive, and a mesmerizing, ongoing groove. Technically, this is a really solid group that knows when to let loose, but they keep the energy flow under control. Fanatics of soul and early rock fusion from the '60s will go insane. Soul Fire strikes your deepest inner self and sets your spirit aflame. The melodies are amazing and the rhythms shake you with an inescapable, everlasting pulse. Think of later-day Animals, The Four Tops, and The Equals, all thrown into a mixer on full-throttle.
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CD
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GM 203CD
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AKA's 1970 debut album Do What You Like (GM 201CD) combines earthy, heavily buzzing, and fuzzed-out rock monuments in the vein of classic UK and US bands with a few tunes in the Continental European heavy rock style, with big chorus lines and a bit of a pop thrown in for good measure, plus great melodic ballads and pop tunes in their native Indonesian language. The Indonesian band carried their trademark sound through whole recording career, including Reflection, their fifth album, originally released in 1974 and reissued here for the first time. Different melodies and titles but the same wild crossover of styles, with a change between each and every song. Lush epic ballads, powerful heavy rock, a great beat tune with a flowery feel that drags you straight to the dancehall, and another epic and utterly heavy blues rock and psych freak-out. At the time of its original release, most of the tunes would have seemed retro in the west -- except for the heavy rockers -- but everything here comes well-performed and executed with passion, and the stuff that diverges from the more accessible pop sound will definitely swallow your brain into a gorge of swirling colors. Fans of '60s US west coast dream pop who can stand heavier tunes and devoted music-lovers who go for the classic '60s and early '70s sound will go nuts!
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GM 205LP
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LP version. Gwydion Pendderwen was one of the more chatoyant figures of the folk music underground. Both of his albums -- Sings Songs for the Old Religion (1975) and The Fäerie Shaman (1982) -- were far above the average standard folk of his time, especially on his second album from 1982, reissued here for the first time. The Neo-Pagan and environmentalist tried a different path seven years after his haunting debut album, mixing bluegrass, country, gospel, and dixie into classic folky singer/songwriter tunes of enchanting beauty. Most of the time the atmosphere on this album is rather friendly and lightweight, with bright melodies and a cheerful mood. Just take a walk in spirit through the garden of sound created by the delicate arrangements and rich, mostly acoustic instrumentation. Will you ever wish to return to what people call reality? Doubtful. There are also moments of melancholy and musing, but this is just a little shade of evening, the moment when the sky turns dark blue and the two worlds come as close as they could. This album breathes a flaming joy of life, and one would not expect that it was released shortly before Gwydion Pendderwen lost his life in a car accident. The music presented on The Fäerie Shaman swallows you like a river; you may ride like a valkyrie upon the raging waters or dive deep inside and be enchanted by the magic world beyond the surface. This should have been a classic and it is a real gem for fans of Planxty, Hamish Imlach, Dulcimer, The Pentangle, and Steeleye Span.
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CD
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GM 207CD
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The '70s were the decade of progressive rock music of all calibers. And it seems not one country of this world was spared when the new kind of sound spilled over like a giant wave of inspiration. Even the European Eastern Bloc countries, where rock music was regarded as subversive by the authorities, had their share of rock bands with a hippie, heavy, or freaked-out direction. These include Omega from Hungary, SBB from Poland, Modry Efekt from the Czech Republic, and, of course, Phoenix from Romania. The latter were the biggest rock music export of their home country, but there were others with them, building a solid spine for the still young and expanding rock scene. One of these unknown forces was the Romanian band Progresiv TM, a band not easily categorized. They loved big melodies with yearning vocals, and mixed blues, folk, jazz, and playfully twisted rock patterns. The guitar had a scratchy and fuzzy distortion that came close to what Tony Iommi ripped off his fretboard on the very early Sabbath albums, even when the composition itself rather felt like a relaxed and jazzy ballad. What you get here on this debut album released in 1976 is a captivating, well produced, and even better played piece of rock music combining influences from everything that was cool at the time the band was formed, around 1972. Folky and catchy heavy rock like Golden Earring or Jethro Tull, dreamy Eastern rock like Omega and Phoenix, utterly grinding guitar power like early Black Sabbath, and some wicked progressive freak-outs along with jazzy breaks. If you are looking for a hot-blooded and steaming yet relaxed unique rock album from the '70s and can get along well with a band singing in its native tongue rather than English, grab this masterpiece.
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LP
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GM 207LP
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LP version. The '70s were the decade of progressive rock music of all calibers. And it seems not one country of this world was spared when the new kind of sound spilled over like a giant wave of inspiration. Even the European Eastern Bloc countries, where rock music was regarded as subversive by the authorities, had their share of rock bands with a hippie, heavy, or freaked-out direction. These include Omega from Hungary, SBB from Poland, Modry Efekt from the Czech Republic, and, of course, Phoenix from Romania. The latter were the biggest rock music export of their home country, but there were others with them, building a solid spine for the still young and expanding rock scene. One of these unknown forces was the Romanian band Progresiv TM, a band not easily categorized. They loved big melodies with yearning vocals, and mixed blues, folk, jazz, and playfully twisted rock patterns. The guitar had a scratchy and fuzzy distortion that came close to what Tony Iommi ripped off his fretboard on the very early Sabbath albums, even when the composition itself rather felt like a relaxed and jazzy ballad. What you get here on this debut album released in 1976 is a captivating, well produced, and even better played piece of rock music combining influences from everything that was cool at the time the band was formed, around 1972. Folky and catchy heavy rock like Golden Earring or Jethro Tull, dreamy Eastern rock like Omega and Phoenix, utterly grinding guitar power like early Black Sabbath, and some wicked progressive freak-outs along with jazzy breaks. If you are looking for a hot-blooded and steaming yet relaxed unique rock album from the '70s and can get along well with a band singing in its native tongue rather than English, grab this masterpiece.
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CD
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GM 204CD
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Quintal de Clorofila's O Mistério dos Quintais, originally released in 1983, contains a wild and captivating crossover between Celtic and South American folk from the Andes plus many elements of traditional music from Southern Europe and some more contemporary singer/songwriter aspects with a mystical atmosphere. All the participating musicians are enormously skilled, and the distinctive multi-voice vocals capture your attention in just a second when you take a closer listen to the 12 songs on this album. A few steps into pop music with a slight psychedelic edge, manifest in a saxophone here or synthesizer there, make for vivid, mind-blowing music. From harmonium to pan flutes, you will find all kinds of instruments backing the beautiful acoustic guitars and haunting voices. Almost a South American version of The Incredible String Band, reminiscent of several gypsy and folk acts from southern and southeastern Europe. The whole album has a rather epic feel and drags you deeply into a colorful world of sound. Truly majestic, unearthly, and enchanting.
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GM 208CD
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On the third album by AKA, the leading Indonesian rock band of the '70s, there was a slight change concerning the overall direction. With three exceptions -- the powerful funk-rock of the opening title-track, the dirty garage beat of the B-side opener "Skip Away," and the energetic up-tempo soul-pop of "Raja Jalan" -- the band turns to soft rock and Indo-pop ballads on this LP. And guess what -- these folks really knew how to pull it off, even with lush pop harmonies that often touch the borders of the tear-jerker field. Crazy Joe, originally released in 1972 and reissued here for the first time, is a rather courageous album, with those three rawer and more energetic tunes alongside the gentle plush of the pop tunes. All those who dare to listen between the notes will find a massive load of delicate arrangements and rather striking melodies. This is rather solemn Indo-pop but it is well composed and well executed by musicians who know how to bring the passion even in such dreamy clouds of sound. The depth of the arrangements has to be explored to show its entirety and the playing is just excellent. These melodies project pictures of greatest emotions into the listener's mind, on a journey into a beautiful romantic love story. Well, if you're in for some feel-good pop rock music that still goes beyond the typical trash, grab a copy of this but beware; most titles are sung in the band's native tongue and have this exotic touch despite all catchiness. For fans of exotic pop like Baris Manco, late '60s to mid '70s soft rock like The Hollies, and East German emotional pop rock like Karat and the Puhdys. Not exciting, just utterly beautiful.
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CD
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GM 201CD
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Reissued for the first time. AKA might have been one of the top acts of the Indonesian rock scene in the late '60s and early '70s. It does not necessarily mean that any international audience for heavy rock and psychedelic sounds would have noticed that back then, but we change that now. Do What You Like is a colorful album with a diversity of moods. Of course you find hard-driving, wild, grooving rock with simmering guitars and pumping rhythms. Go to the next song and some gentle, nearly ethereal dreamy psych-pop will alter your mind. Another step ahead on the tracklist and some easy and melodic '60s beat makes you want to dance the night away. The special factor of this album is the musical flavor of Indonesian pop that all of the songs sung in their native tongue show, while the few English tracks can compete against all of the popular hits from those days from American or European acts. AKA know how to heat you up with their psychedelic sound explosions and eruptive beats. They also know how to calm you down again and lay your soul to rest in a flow of gentle harmonies. Fans of '60s power pop with a regional feel presented by bands such as Omega from Hungary and of the '60s U.S. West Coast psych and pop scene will go crazy about this record.
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CD
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GM 202CD
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Remastered! This cutie actually should be one of the crown jewels of British folk music from the early 1970s, but as things sometimes happen, the greatest art often gets its deserved praise not before the second spring. This is the case with Silver Birch, a group which is still active in a different incarnation up to today. Their only album from 1973 was a beautiful affair with clearly-structured folk tunes, mostly traditionals, based on haunting vocal arrangements and an all acoustic but very rich instrumentation with fiddle, acoustic guitars, harmonium, tambourine and bells for the rhythms, and mandolin, weaving a fine-meshed lattice of melodies on which the enchanting vocals can find a solid footing. Close your eyes while you take a listen and take a journey to the royal courts of King Arthur to the smoky pubs where the peasants celebrate their joy of life. Silver Birch prove their dedication to this music with their vivid, passionate, and often steaming performance, even in the most fragile moments. A grand piece of classic, song-driven folk music that is highly recommended to everybody who loves acts such as Mellow Candle, Dulcimer or the great late Gwydion Pendderwen.
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