Psyche van het Folk, Radio Centraal, Antwerp.
3rd week of September 2000.
New Swedish Progressive (and associations) (-Most products with much mellotron-) :
Intro (Interludium) (900-930 AM) :
Björn Johansson : Discuss Ursi (S,DUI,1998) *°
Tr. 6, "Discus Ursi's Rapsody"
21 min
Pär Lindh & Björn Johansson : J.R.R.Tolkien's "The Hobbit"-BILBO (S,Crimsonic,1997?) **
Tr.1, "The Shire" 5 min
tr.2, "Gandalf the magician" 4 min
Psyche van het Folk (930-1200 AM) :
Pär Lindh & Björn Johansson : J.R.R.Tolkien's "The Hobbit"-BILBO (S,Crimsonic,1997?) **°
tr.15, "Shire Song" 5 min
* White Willow : Ignis Fatuus (S,Laser's Edge 1995) ****'
Tr.2, "Lord of Night" 7 min
tr.5, "The Withering of the Boughs", 8 min
tr.6, "Lines on an autumnal Evening", 6 min
This album was to me best album of the year 1995, and it is amongst my favourite 100.
* White Willow : Ex Tenebris (S,Laser's Edge,1998) ****
* White Willow : Sacrament (S,Laser's Edge,2000) ****
Tr.3, "The crucible" 8 min
tr.5. "Gnostalgia" 11 min
All White Willows are first class and highly recommended ! Most instrumentation and involvement of people on first and last one.
* Finnforest (Fin,Laser's Edge,1975) **
Tr.1, "Mikä Yö ("What a night")" 6 min
* Landberk : Lonely Land (S, Laser's Edge,1992) **°
Tr.4, "Song from Kallsedet", 6 min
tr.5, "No more White Horses" 7 min
*Anekdoten : Vemod (S, Arcélangelo, 1994) **°'
Tr. 6, "Longing", 5 min
*Anekdoten : Nucleus (S, Border Music,1995) ****°
Tr.3, "Book of Hours" a) Pendulum Swing, b) The Book
tr.6, "Here" 7 min
tr.7, "This Far from the Sky". 9 min
*Anekdoten : From Within (S, 2000) ****
Tr.2, "Kiss of Life" 5 min 140
tr.5, "Slow Fire " (943 na vorige track) (fragment) max.
* Morte Macabre : Symphonic Holocaust (S,1999) ****'
Track 1 : "Apoteosi del Mistero" (Frizzi) (rest of time).
Morte Macabre is two members of Anglagard and two of Anekdoten. Morte Macabre play original interpretations of classic Italian Horror soundtracks. Unfortunately Anglagard I do not possess. It could have fitted perfectly within this area. One more group could have been associated here : Ragnarok. I do have one album which is quiter and still falls in the shadow of my preferences.
Anekdoten and first works from King Crimson have similarities. The mellotron and drive in the group is enormous. One of the best prog groups of today with no doubt.
Thanks Mark Mushroom for taping for the radioprogram "From Within" and "Symphonic Holocaust".
Psyche van het Folk, Radio Centraal, Antwerp.
Italian New Progressive ('s Powerful voices, and associations) :
Area, Area Palea, Deus Ex Machina, A Thriggering Myth (USA), (Spiral Architekt (N)?)
*Demetrio Stratos/Lucio Fabbri : Recitarcantado (I,Cramps,1978) *****
Tr.6, "Cometa Rossa" 10 min
tr.8, "Flautofonie ed altro" (fragment -> 3min) 3 min1
*Demetrio Stratos : Cantare la voce (I, Cramps, 1978) *****
Tr.1, « Investigazioni (diplofonie e triplofonie) » :
520-628, 853-1043,1326-1438 4 min
Tr. 3, « Criptomelodie infantili » ->310
Area : Arbeit Macht Frei (I,Cramps, 1973) *****
Tr.4, Le Labbra del Tempo 6 min
(Area : Caution Radiation Area (I, Cramps)
* Area : Maledetti (I, Cramps, 1978) ****
Tr. 3 : "Gerotoncrazia" 247 ->end 5 min
*Alphataurus (1971)
*Area Palea : Zoicekardi'a (Lizard,I,1996) ***
tr.4, "Verso la foresta" 7 min
tr.6, « Cuore di metallo » 5 min
*Area Palea : Danze d'ansie (Picup ,I,1997) **
Deus Ex Machina (Kaliphonia,I , 1993) ***
Tr.1, « Ad Montem » (fragment) 5 min
tr.5, "Cor Mio"(outro uitfaden) 5 min
Deus Ex Machina : De republica (I,Kaliphonia,1994) ***°
Tr.1, « Exordium » 10 min
Tr.9, « Perpetua Lux II » 6 min
Tr.3, "Res Publica II" 6 min
A Triggering Myth : The Sins of our Saviours (Laser's Edge, USA,1998)**
Tr.6, "Stato di confusione avanzata" 6 min
Deus Ex Machina : Gladium Caeli (I, Kaliphonia, 1994) ***
Tr.2 (fragment 020->7) "Arbor" 7 min
Tr. 7, (fragment 520->end) 4 min
Deus Ex Machina : Equilibrismo Da Insofferenza (I,Kaliphonia,2000)**:
tr. 4, « Amor Difficili » 6 min
Tr. 5, « Incomunicabilita' » (fragment) 10 min
Spiral Architekt : A Sceptic's Universe (Sensory, N,2000)
track 5, "Insect" 7 min
Track 6, "Cloud Constructor" 6 min
Ruins : Symphonica (Tzadik, Jap,1998)
Psyche van het Folk, Radio Centraal, Antwerp
Anthony Philips and some other refined symfonic pieces.
(a cooperation with "the Woolfeman")
February 7th 2001
Regarding Genesis-influences I make two categories.
The first category goes into a more cool pure melody inspired instrumentation which leads to almost all of the most clearly Genesis inspired sympfonic groups (PFM,Apoteosi,Episode,..) and to the Marillion-inspired groups who exaggerate this one line melody even more, later even leading into neo-symphonic clones. The second category chooses the more refined depth in composition by beautiful sound layers of many different kinds of mostly accoustic instruments. I can make more remarks towards to what the Genesis music leaded next, but that's another story. This program focuses this second category I made, not in perticulary regarding all good examples concerning the groups ; the tracks I picked out did have their own story in between this concept.
Anthony Philips influence on Genesis can be heared very clearly on their album "Tresspass". I don't like the drumming ery much on that album, but the refinement was actually very great and it leaded to a new kind of music which was soon to be categorised as symphonic music (although some use the term as refeing to the symphonic orchestra as inspirations with this element).
If you hear Anthony Philips first albums you cn clearly hear some structures and much which can be recognised in early Genesis work.
Hit & Run : Anthony Phillips : The geese and the ghost (1977) ****:
Track 3, "Henry ; portraits from tudor times, part 1-6" 13 min
Track 4, "God if I saw her now" 5 min
Track 5, "Chinese mushroom cloud" 1 min
Track 6, "The geese and the ghost" 17 min
Track 8, "Sleepfall, the geese fly West" 5 min
Arista : Anthony Phillips : Private parts and pieces 1972-1976 (1978) ***:
Track 1, "Beauty and the Beast" (1972) 5 min
Track 2, "Field of eternity" (1976) 6 min
track 6, "Trigena Afternoons" (1976) 8 min
Jem Rec.Anthony Phillips : Private parts and pieces IV : A catch at the tables (1984) :
Track 1, Arboretum Suite, part 1, 3 min
Polygram Harmonium : Si on avait besoin d'une cinquème saison (1975) ****°,
Tr.5, « Histoires sans paroles » 17 min
One of my favorite instrumentals of the seventies is this piece. In part 4 of it I sometimes wish I could stay forever.Harmonium is a Canadian group. I have three albums of them. This album is their most progressive. With beautiful mellotron and layers of instrumentation. Very recommended.
Spalax Tangerine : De l'autre côté de la foret. *** Track 7, "Time".
Although the album is progressive folk, the track fits perectly with the Harmonium track. From Tangerine I know 3 albums (one of them actually originally being under the name of Valery Btesh) from which this one I think is their best.
Mellow Rec.Il Paesi Dei Balocchi (1972) ****,
tr.5, "Risveglio e visione del Paese dei Balocchi" 5 min
tr.7, « Canzone della verità » 1 min
tr.8, « Narcisismo della perfezione » 1 min
Due to the succes of groups like Genesis, ELP, and the today almost forgotten Gentle Giant, from which their influence can be heared in many recordings from Italian 70's groups in the Italian progressive the composition became very important. Life was though for the musicians in Italy. Their first record was often their only chance to make it or not. That's why the perfection and attention with which lots of albums were made was so immense. Unfortunatly most of the groups only made it in having left collector items nowadays. Il Paesi dei Blocci has also more classical instrumentations and some more Gemnesis-melody inspired tracks.
Virgin Rec.Steve Hackett : Voyage of the Acolyte (1975) ***:
Tr.2, "Hands of the priestess, part 1"& 3 min
Tr.3, "A Tower struck down"& 5 min
Tr. 4, "Hands of the priestess, part 2" 2 min
Tr.5, "The Hermit" 5 min
Hackett stayed with Genesis more or less untill 1977 ? After that Phil Collins wanted to make the group much more into a song-based structure and the power in expression of the melody itself felt somewhat apart. This solo album of Hackett stands on its own in the Genesis area..We never liked very much Hackett's wife's artwork on the covers but it looks better on the smaler CD covers. Later Hackett attempted to sing too. He never realy had a very outstanding voice, which might make his later music less interesting. His power was into melody as well.
If I reconsidder the whole history of Genesis it was not only melody and instrumentation layers and extremely good musicians which made the group so unique it was also because Genesis had such members (Peter Gabriel,Phil Collins, Rutherford, Philips) who were all strong personaities with different ideas and approaches which might have caused such a bit of tension, enough to make it work as a constant source for a combination of rich inspiration throughout the years of working together. Genesis made actually a new approach in pop music and therefore real history for musicality too. Unfortunatly, end seventies, when recording techniques changed, it was deffinitly the end of this new genre too ; people did loose interest in it and that's how great albums like those those from Anthony Philips never received the deserved attention).
Contempo Rec.Reale Accademia Di Musica (197?) ***, tr.2,"Il Mattino"9 min
LineRupert Hine : Unfinished Picture (1973) **?
Track 1, "Orange Song"5 min
Track 5, "Anvils in five"7 min
IslandRupert Hine : The wildest wish to fly (1984) °?
Tr."Firefly in the Night"4 min
Although Rupert Hine's approach started from a more orthodox vision in the tracks I picked out it gives us an idea of how it all evolved or could evolve in those days. Simon Jeff from Penguin Café Orchestra made orchestration for those tracks (he did them for Barcley James Harvest too). Rupert Hine noadays is a very known producer.
Virgin Rec.Peter Hamill : Chameleon in the shadow of the night (1973) ****? :
Tr.6, "Easy to slip away"5 min
Most of the time Peter's music is very individualistic, where the listener sometimes comes so annoying close. This track has a beautiful instrumentation, theatrical approach in vocals which makes it into this concept very interesting to hear.
Mellow Rec.Dragon : Kalahen /Plus (1977) ***
Tr.1, "Children are playing game"5 min
One of the more interesting groups from Belgium from the seventies. This is their second album which was here for the first time released on CD (the LP came shortly before that).
I still couldn't trace their first one. Beware : there exist another group with the same name.
Reserf :
VirginVandergraaf Generator : Second Generation (scenes from 1975-1977) ?
Track 8 (1976?),""Cat's Eye-Yellow Fever (running)" 5 min
"Psyche van het Folk", Radio Centraal, Antwerpen.
February 14th 2001,
Flowing Glass Music Productions, ( + some Tolkien inspired products
and some other somewhat (mostly German) Middle Age inspired Acid (Prog) Folk).
Flowingglass Music : Avalon Rising (US,1995)***°
tr.2, "Where sunset is golden" 6 min
tr.3, "Andray Soulet"(Matteo de Perugia,arr.) 6 min
tr.5,"Contre le temps/Toda Cousa » (Thibaut de Champagne/court of Alfonso X) 5 min
tr.7, "God walks among us" 5 min
Extremely good outbalanced combination of rich instrumentation, middle age inspired songs and real old songs and progressive music. Recommended.
Flowing Glass M.Maragaret Davis : Princess of Flowers (US,1998)***
Tr.2, "Douce dame jolie"(G.De Machaut) 5 min
tr.4, "Tha Mi Sgith"(trad.,arr) 6 min
tr.10, "The Boatman" (trad.,arr.) 5 min
Middle Age music with a modern spontaneous touch which has the perfect balance between respect and traditional and reinvention, with lots of instruments like beautiful harp, clear female vocals. Very good as well. To dig into detail.
Flowing Glass M.Broceliande (US,2000)**,
Tr.3, Santa Maria,Strela do dia"(Court of Alfonso X,arr.) 4 min
track 4, "Dulamán"(words Christy Martin,arr.) 4 min
Brocceliande are only 2 members left of Avalon Rising, and they are a bit less adventurous (or without the progressive touches) and more traditional based (but still very spontaneous).
Websites for Margaret Davis,Brocceliande, Avalon Rising :
AstréeEsther Lamandier : Cantigas de Santa Maria (Alfonso el Sabio) (1980)****°
Tr.1, cantiga 384, « A que por muy gran fremosura » 4 min
For me Esther Lamandier is one of the most original interpreters of old songs. Her theory is to lime the notes together in a dancing way, almost like in more eastern music. She also has a beautiful voice.
Flowingglass Music : Broceliande (Marion Zimmer Bradley, Kristoph Klover and Margaret
Davis) : The Starlit Jewel.(2000)** (words by Tolkien)
Tr.1, "Elvish lullabye" 3 min
Tr.9, "Lament for Boromir" 6 min
Tr.11, "Durin's Day" 4 min
PS. the seven musical setting by fantasy writer Marion Zimmer Bradley, author of "the mists of Avalon" were originally titled "The Rivendell suite".
PrivatThe Hobbitons : J.R.R.Tolkien's Songs from Middle-Earth (NL,2000 ?)***°
(words by Tolkien)
Tr.2,"Bilbo's Song",tr.3,"The man in the moon stayed up too late", 6 min
Tr.7,"Old walking song,tr.8, "Goblin Town", tr.10, "Roast 'em alive",
tr.11, "Oliphaunt", tr.12,"the valley" 15 min
Almost psychedelic fun. (Very) Recommended ! Happy Acid folk. (Beside Elvendrums (from which can find more at the Wicca-Folk pages) for instance I don't know much really happy acid folk by the way). It reminds me a bit too at the Roger Water's "Music from the Body" experience (from 1970) although not musically, but in its humorous content. This item is still somewhat middle Age Music inspired (at least somewhat into that atmosphere), just like the last product.
Other Tolkien inspired music you can find at my web-page about it.
Taproot Prod.Changes : Legends (US,1998)°
Track 1, "part 1, Homeric" 4 min
The echoing voice an vibe in the singing reminds a bit at the days of for instance Jethro Tull songwriting (no flute, just guitars and voices). One long poem, and more or less one melody in different tracks. Inspiration originally from 1973.
* Change's track " Waiting For The Fall " on the cd compilation CD compilation " The Pact II" is produced by Ian Read from " Fire & Ice ").
Harm.MundiEnsemble Bären Gässlin (D,1982)***
Tr.2, « Zwei Schwestern »(text refers to Scottish ballad) 7 min
tr.5, « Twee Künings Kinner »(Niederdutch folkballad,arr.) 4 min
Very nice interpretations from Middle Ages songs and same style in their own songs. Not progressive, but very fine.
? Lilienthal : Jetzt ist (D,1981)***°? tr."Tod macht's mich leit" 3 min
Polydor Ougenweide : Liederbuch (D,1974-79) (no grading because of compilation
which has less value than original album compilations which are ****)
Tr.4, "Ouwe Wie Jaemerliche.." 5 min
Ougenweide is amongst the most original German Folk Rock bands. Most of their songs have roots in the Middle Ages. Unique style. Fairport Convention is known. Why not this band ? They don't even have any reissues except some Korean, and even this one was very limited ! Their last albums are not that worth to trace but they do made many perfect and very recommended albums.(if you read sounds at http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/sounds78n.htm it seems they were extremely popular those days so why no reissues, no websites ?)
Mooncrest R.Shelagh McDonald (UK,1970)***°?
Tr.7,"Let no man steel your thyme" 4 min
tr.8, "Peacock Lady" 4 min
Very beautiful Sandy Denny like voice. I'll say more about her later. (I have to listen to this item a few times more ; I only picked out these tracks for now, that's all).
ErewhonWater into Wine Band : Harvest Time (UK,1976)***°
track 2,"Waiting for another day"7 min
Long track and a few small once make this product very valuable in UK folrock history.
(still available at :
Garden of D.Gurnemanz : "No rays of noise"(D,1977)**°°
Track 2, "Libelle" 4 min
Very beautiful tracks in between ok tracks. Style is much more English folkrock then German, a bit early Fairport like (but more acid-folk).
TelefunkenParzival : BaRock (D,1972)***°
Track 8-9, "Thought"&"Paradise" 5 min
If time left :
SPVDark Reality : Oh Precious Haze pervade the Pain (D,1997)***
Tr.1, "Silberstreif" 4 min
My gradings I see as being gradings for purely historical and musical (originality) uniqueness.
° upgrade for some reasons
* not just ok but good
** very good
*** extremely good
**** very unique and only matter of taste not to miss it.
***** unmissable, a classic not only for historical and originality reasons, but definitely not
to be missed into your life (and musical) learning experience
"Psyche van het Folk", Radio Centraal, Antwerpen.
March 15th, 2001,
Part 1, Wicca-Folk : Lady Isadora.
Part 2, A selection from the Bellingham Indipendant Music Association-productions
(including a few Wicca items as well).
Private Lady Isadora with Lord Pan : The witching hour (1981),
Track 1, "The witching hour" 3 min
Track 2, "'Tis hallowe'en" 4 min
Private Lady Isadora : Priestess of the Pentacle (1990)
Track A1,"Priestess of the pentacle" 8 min
Tr.A4, "Table Round" (1358) 5 min
Tr.B1, "Royal Queen" 8 min
Tr.B4 (1541), "Letter to Anne Frank" 4 min
Private Lady Isadora : The Queen of Earth and Sky (1990) :
Track A2, "The queen of earth and Sky" 4 min
Track A6 (1555), "Witch" 4 min
Track B1,2 : Three songs for Yule : "Masters in this Hall", 3 min
"The Holly King" 3 min
Track B4 (818),"Eternal Child" 3 min
Track 6 (1432), "The Pentacle and the rose" 8 min
Track 7, "Swan Song" (Orlando Gibbons °1583-1625) 4 min
Lady Isadora is acclaimed to be one of the most important inspirations of a second generation of Wicca folk. Mostly accompanied by simple guitar, it often has a bit early Joni Mitchell like singing, although it has a different goal or starting point of inspiration. Now and then she overdubs her own voice twice. Websites with references to introductions, song texts you'll find on a separate page later (linked at the Wicca folk pages) dedicated to this Wicca priestess based in Iowa.
Email :
