Rock /
Past Or Beyond
Seeking refuge in songcraft, D. Charles Speer and the Helix spin tales of mental instability and institutional exploitation into a thick, heady, groove laden brew. The professorial attack of the ivories, the sear of the strings, the pounding of drum skins amass into a righteous storm bound to overwhelm those uncoverted. This is an unholy mix of heart ripped vocal, Longhair piano, and guitar work drawing from both Mike Bloomfield and Norman Westberg. Featuring silk screened covers and hand stampe…
In Madagascar / Bar-Abbas Blues
The newest release from D. Charles Speer & the Helix highlights narratives presented as gospel and then revoked in the wink of eye. Serpentine guitars encase a dirty groove on both sides of the slab, while the piano and bass smother the listener with affection. This single features a plethora of voices, with D. Charles, Margot Bianca, and Hans Chew all clocking time on the mic. A precursor to the full length “Distillation” due later this year, “In Madagascar” contains two exclusive tracks as it …
Some Forgotten Country
A true solo endeavor, this LP is the debut of D. Charles Speer on long player. Recordings over a span of 4 years have been assembled here into a rumination on loss in its many forms - loss of direction, loved ones, home, mental acuity, money, and emotional stability. Pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl and limited to 500 copies.
Hosianna Mantra
Hosianna Mantra has finally been remastered with sparkeling and sharp sound quality. The bonus track Maria (Ave Maria) was recorded at the same time as Hosianna Mantra (1973) and is considered to be Popol Vuh’s poetic album. A beautiful album and a beautiful bonus track.
Chronolyse
2007 repress of the 2nd Pinhas solo album, originally released in France in 1978. Performed by: Didier Batard (bass) François Auger (drums, percussion), Richard Pinhas (guitar, synthesizer, mellotron). Composer, guitarist & electronics innovator Richard Pinhas is recognized as one of France's major experimental musicians & is a pivotal figure in the development of electronic rock. This was his 2nd solo and is absolutely one of his very finest works: half live Moog electronics that make fantastic…
Rhizosphere
"Rhizosphere" is Pinhas' first solo album from 1977 and it's all electronics (Moog 55 and ARP 2600 synthis to he exact), with a guest appearance by Francois Auger on drums on the title track. These intricate compositions are comprised of hyperactive pulsings and subterranean machinery--truly awesome work. The title track is one of electronic music's alltime classic pieces.
Ufo
The first 2 Guru Guru releases, both from 1971. Musically, these 2 represent (along with their 3rd, Kanguru) the reigning moments of this acid-destroyed-jamming Krautrock outfit, and are essential artifacts of pure thunder.
Comme A La Radio
COMME A LA RADIO features vocalist Brigitte Fontaine backed by The Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Import reissue of 1971 album for the French vanguard pop chanteuse & The Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Here, the Art Ensemble provide the perfect mysterious ethereal backdrop for her vocal explorations. With strangely charted arrangements & mixing, the ten tracks here defy any & all conventions & result in the most provocative popular recording of 1971. The entire album runs all over the stylistic map while no…
Maledetti (Maudits)
1976 was a year of flux and change. For the recording of the fifth Area album, the core membership of Stratos, Fariselli, Tofani and Tavolazzi were present, but drummer Capiozzo only appears on about half of the album, replaced on various tracks by either Walter Calloni or Paul Litton. Steve Lacy augments the band, as do several other studio musicians (including a string quartet). Perhaps it was the contributions of this eclectic group of guests that gives Maledetti its bi-directional feel. On o…
Are(A)zione
The 4th album from the band that I consider to be possibly the finest Italian progressive rock band of the 1970's, & certainly a band in the top tier of all early 1970's progressive bands worldwide! Area combined jazz/rock/stolen ethnic music (mostly from Eastern Europe and the Middle East)/the avant garde and more. Superb playing from all (vocals/organ, guitar, electric piano/synths, bass & drums). This includes a thick booklet with rare photos, notes, etc. While everyone shines, the vocalist, …
Introspezione
An album which fuses the melodic sensibilities common of the RPI movement with a wild lust for invention, and variously tempers its rage with gentle beds of flute, piano and strings and focuses it into dissonant nightmare-scapes. The result is an accomplished record which oscillates between the avant-garde and almost pastoral, traditional folk songwriting and freeform music. Rare legit reissue from the late 80s, very few copies available
The Jewelled Antler Library
Ultra limited, 1 copy available left..."With 13 groups, 59 tracks and over 4 hours of music and sounds, the Jewelled Antler Library box-set brings together experimental music from the U.S., Finland and New Zealand that ranges from psychedelic, abstract drone, soft psych, noise, folk and field recordings, to the outright strange and bizarre. This set collects together the entire 12 volume set of the limited edition Jewelled Antler CD-R Library, plus the limited edition recording of The Ways of Go…
It\'s After Dark
Religious Knives = Maya Miller and Mike Bernstein of Double Leopards and Nate Nelson of Mouthus. I have a special place in my heart for both groups, and was enamored with the first Religious Knives record, Remains, a compilation of CD-R, seven-inch, and vinyl-only material. The tracks were an amalgamation of the more droning aspects of both groups, fleshed out with some ghostly vocals and ’70s Italian horror movie-style keyboard supplements. Given the nature of the noise scene’s penchant for col…
Leather And Lacy
The album consists of live versions of the jazz tunes created by the legendary Steve Lacy. The tapes are from the Wellington Jazz Festival 2006, where Malcolm dresses Lacy's melodies in a free folk influenced suite of noise. Malcolm is known for playing three guitars at the same time: two with each foot And one in the conventional way (with his hAnds And arms), And this is how he performs also this songs. The outcome has recently been edited And mastered by Kai Mikalsen. Greg Malcolm has earlier…
Legendary Live Collection Of Hijokaidan Vol. 1
DVD-R: NTSC, region free, color. Recorded Live at Studio Ahiru, Osaka, January 4, 1981. Released in 2008.
Legendary Live Collection Of Hijokaidan Vol. 2
DVD-R: NTSC, region free, color. Hijokaidan: Jojo Hiroshige (electric guitar, voice), Toshiji Mikawa (electronics, voice) and Fumio Kosakai (electronics, voice). Recorded Live at Waseda University, Tokyo, November 4, 1994. Released in 2008.
Legendary Live Collection Of Hijokaidan Vol. 3
DVD-R: NTSC, region free, color. Hijokaidan: Jojo Hiroshige (electric guitar),Toshiji Mikaw (electronics) and Junko (chair throwing). Recorded Live at LOft, Shinjuku, Tokyo, January 11, 1988. Released in 2008.
Legendary Live Collection Of Hijokaidan Vol. 4
DVD-R: NTSC, region free, color. Hijokaidan: Jojo Hiroshige (electric guitar, voice), Junko (voice), Fumio Kosakai (electronics, voice) and Masami Akita (drums). Recorded Live at Antiknock, Tokyo, September 19, 1992. Released in 2008.
Legendary Live Collection Of Hijokaidan Vol. 5
Japanese noise band formed in Kyoto in 1979 by Jojo Hiroshige and Naoki Zushi. They released their first LP「蔵六の奇病」(Zouroku No Kibyou) on Unbalance in 1982, and this DVD is the live release party for that first LP.
25th Anniversary Live
DVD-R: NTSC, region free, color. Hijokaidan: Nao Shibata (drums), Toshiji Mikawa (electronics), Fumio Kosakai (electronics), Junko (voice) and Jojo Hiroshige (electric guitar, voice). Recorded Live at Club 24, Yokohama, November 28, 2004. Released in 2008.