Obscure Gems From The "Classic" Prog/Rock Era

[Hepcat]

The Moody Blues were a seminal band in the prog rock movement. Yet incredibly enough there are Moody Blues fans who fail to fully embrace this early hit of theirs with the band's later efforts:

 

[joe]

Often compared to ELP and for good reason, Triumvirat from Germany perform a highly technical progressive rock with more of a melodic/pop approach than ELP. If you like over-the-top, pompous prog, I do, this is for you.The following three tracks are taken from the suite Illusions on a Double Dimple from 1973. The band recorded seven albums from '72-'80. IMO, Illusions on a Double Dimple and the follow up Sparticus are the essential Lp's.

 

[DaKillerWolf]

Formed in 1976 in the murky , sweltering, gator infested swamp lands of Florida , better known for southern hard rock and death metal then symphonic prog, this extremely talented group of musicians released this one excellent self titled studio album in 1978 .
I love the magnificent time changes preformed by this band .



BABYLON :

 

[joe]

Krautrockers Electric Sandwich's eponymously s/t release from 1972 is a smoldering fusion of blues, psych, and jazz. "China" is an absolute epic krautrock onslaught. These guys are full throttle. To the floor.

 

[joe]

Welch band Man can be tagged with many musical labels through out the '70's. The first album is a full fledge psych concept Lp followed by more of an experimental/space rock on the next two albums. Subsequent albums showed them in a more of a pub rock/jamming direction. It was in the mid '70's that the band's compositions were more tighter and structured in a progressive sense. An extensive array of musical diversity through out Man's catalogue.

 

[joe]

Haunting and horrifying, unique and bizzare are only some words that can describe First Utterance by the UK prog/folk band Comus. This 1971 release contains songs about murder, rape, despair, and insanity as the band twists John Milton's masque(poem) upside down. Spooky, creepy, and yet gorgeous in a pagan-esqe ambience.

 

[DaKillerWolf]

Japanese Psychedelic / Progressive/ Jazz Fusion all descriptions that apply to this hard rocking band that feature Skinki Chen on guitar ( better known for proto-metallers Speed Glue & Shinki ) .They released one album 1970 's Bansan (Social Gathering) , before breaking up .The Japanese are not known as inventive for no reason that is certain .

FOOD BRAIN :

 

[joe]

^^^ Good stuff Wolf.

Here's another Japanese band, Far Out who would, after thier s/t debut from 1973 change thier name to the Far East Family Band. The album contains side-long suites though the CD reissue does contain some bonus tracks. "Nihonjin" some what captures the Japanese culture and thought. A psych/space rock Oriental ambience.

 

[DaKillerWolf]

One of my very favorite of the obscure Progressive rock recordings that have been re-issue decades later.
This SwissKruat band is another tripped out prog group with ties to one of my favorite obscure proto-metal bands TOAD ( as does Brainticket who Joe posted about earlier ) hypnotic, tribal beats , free jazz freakouts and highly melodic prog keyboards make this one and only release an interesting and entertaining listen for these ears . Side one is a live performance
recorded between 70 - 72 while side two is one 22 minute long track called "The Psychedelic Journey" which it definitely is . Love this stuff ,from the album ALPHA


DEAF :

 

[joe]

Novalis is from Germany and is not a "krautrock" band but is a symphonic prog. artist with a romanticism of melody, poetic German lyrics(limited) and instrumental beauty. Genesis and Yes come to mind with passages of Pink Floyd and King Crimson. May be a comparison of countrymen contemparies Eloy and Grobschnitt would be more appropiate. Dreamy, relaxing and grand lush prog.